GB2262019A

GB2262019A - Catapults

Info

Publication number: GB2262019A
Application number: GB9223434A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter James Townsend
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-11-07
Filing date: 1992-11-09
Publication date: 1993-06-09
Also published as: GB9223434D0

Abstract

A catapult particularly for use by anglers to throw bait has a guard 32 of flexible, plastics material which, in use, at least partially covers the fingers of the person holding the catapult. The first ends of the the elastic members are attached to the frame by each being attached to swivel members 18. The swivel members are located between bifurcated topmost parts of the Y-shaped frame. The catapult has a support 78 comprising a metal framework pivotally mounted in or on and extending to one side of the handle part and frame such that the end of the support spaced from the handle part of the frame in use will rest on the wrist or forearm of the user holding the catapult. The end of the support which in use contacts the wrists or forearm of the user is provided as a flexible strap (84) (Figure 5). <IMAGE>

Description

CATAPULTS DESCRIPTION The invention relates to catapults, more particularly, but not exclusively, to catapults for use by anglers to enable them to throw bait to a swim some distance from where they stand.

In this specification and in the claims attached hereto the term catapult is to be taken to mean a device having a frame to which are attached first ends of two or more lengths of elastic material the other ends of which are adapted to receive a charge to be fired by the device. Usually, but not invariably, said other ends of the elastic members are attached to a pouch for receiving a charge to be fired by the device.

The frame may be supported by a user in one hand who with his other hand places a charge (for example of bait in the pouch) and then pulls the charge away from the frame against the bias of the elastic members - the subsequent release of the charge enabling it to be urged toward the frame by the elastic members until it passes through or above the frame and is thrown away from the device.

Commonly catapults comprise a generally Yshaped body to the upper ends of the upper part of which the first ends of the elastic members are attached, and the root part of the Y-shaped body forms a handle by which the catapult may readily be held.

Other forms of catapult may of course be provided, for example, comprising a generally U or Vshaped frame the base or lowermost part of which frame is grasped by a user as the catapult is used.

Again, the frame shape may differ from the Uor V-shapes noted, in one form known to me the frame is O-shaped member and it may carry three or more elastic members. By increasing the number of elastic members which are provided the power, and accuracy, with which the catapult may be used may be enhanced.

In whatever form a catapult takes there are certain difficulties met in using them; some of these are: - Firstly, the power and accuracy of the device may be reduced by the effects of the elongate elastic member once the charge is released. As these members carry the charge towards the frame they relax and, on approaching the frame, tend to fold or distort reducing the power with which a charge may be expelled from the device and affecting the accuracy with which a charge may be aimed.

Secondly, the knuckles of a user gripping the catapult may be struck by the elastic members (and/or pouch) once they have passed through or over the frame and released the charge. It will be appreciated that once the elastic members have passed through or over the frame they will be carried by the impetus given by their initial release in a path which falls down that side of the frame on which the knuckles of the person using the catapult are located.

Thirdly, many users find difficulty in holding the catapult frame steady against the bias of the elastic members as the charge is being pulled away from the frame. It will be appreciated, particularly if the elastic members are of a highly resilient material that the act of pulling the pouch and charge away from the frame will impose a significant tension on the frame.

Because of this tension it often becomes difficult for a user to hold the frame steady until the pouch and charge are released - thereby reducing the accuracy with which the catapult may be aimed.

Objects of the present invention include the provision of catapults having features which alleviate and/or overcome one or all of the above noted difficulties.

In one aspect the invention provides a catapult comprising a frame to which are attached first ends of two or more lengths of elongate elastic material the other ends of which are adapted to receive or are coupled to means adapted to receive the charge to be fired by the catapult, wherein the catapult is further provided with a guard carried by the frame, to extend, in use, to a position at least partially covering the fingers of the person holding the catapult.

The catapult may be generally Y-shaped, the top part of which comprises said frame and the root part of which comprises a handle for the catapult, and wherein the guard extends from the top part generally along and spaced from the root of the Y-shaped member so as to cover the knuckle parts of the fingers of the person holding the catapult by said root part.

Desirably the guard is of flexible material, advantageously of plastics material.

The guard is preferably fixed to the body of the catapult by screwing, bolting, gluing or the like.

A second aspect of the invention provides a catapult comprising a frame to which are attached first ends of two or more lengths of elongate elastic the other ends of which are adapted to receive or are coupled to means adapted to receive a charge to be fired by the catapult, wherein said first ends of the elastic members are pivotally attached to the frame.

Preferably said first ends of the elastic members are attached to respective swivel members each of which is pivotally attached to said frame.

The catapult may be generally Y-shaped, the top part of which comprises said frame and the root part of which comprises a handle for the catapult, wherein said swivel members are located between bifurcated topmost parts of the upper arms of the Y-shaped frame.

In this arrangement said swivel members may be mounted in the bifurcated topmost parts of the catapult by pins, screws or bolts which pass through holes therein and are received in bores formed in the facing parts of the bifurcated topmost parts of the frame.

A third aspect of the invention provides a catapult comprising a frame to which are attached the first ends of two or l.iore lengths of elongate elastic material the other ends of which are adapted to receive or are coupled to means adapted to receive a charge to be fired by the catapult, wherein said frame is provided with a handle part by which the catapult may be held, the catapult being further provided with a support extending to one side of the handle part and frame such that the end of the support spaced from the handle part of the frame in use will rest on the wrist or forearm of the user holding the catapult.

Said support is preferably pivotally mounted in or on the handle part.

Desirably the said support comprises a metal framework.

The metal framework of the support may be cranked at the end at which it is attached to the handle part such that in use parts of the metal framework contact the body of the catapult to limit the pivotal movement of the support in use.

Contact bearing surfaces may be formed on the handle of the catapult against which, in use, metal parts of the framework of the support bear to limit pivotal movement of the support.

The end of the support spaced from the handle part of the frame and which in use contacts the wrists or forearm of the user may be provided as a flexible strap.

In a fourth aspect the invention provides a catapult having a generally Y-shaped body the root part of which forms a handle for the catapult, the upper part of which has attached pivotally to its upmost ends first ends of elastic members extending to a pouch in which a charge for the catapult may be placed, the catapult being further provided with a guard provided on the catapult to extend downwardly from the base of the upper part to at least partially cover the fingers of a user holding the catapult and a support pivotally mounted on the handle to extend to one side of the frame such that in use the endmost part of the support rests on the wrists and/or forearm of the user.

Catapults embodying the invention are preferably of a moulded plastic material.

Catapults embodying the invention when provided with a handle are desirably provided with a handle formed as a hollow member.

Again, catapults embodying the invention are provided such that at least one surface of any handle part thereof is contoured to readily adapt to the shape of the fingers of the person holding the catapult.

The above aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following the description of a catapult embodying the invention now made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a catapult embodying the present invention, Figures 2 and 3 are face and side views respectively of the body of the catapult shown in Figure 1, Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the catapult shown in Figure 1 Figure 5 is an enlarged scale detailed view of a swivel member included in the catapult shown in Figure 1, Figure 6 is an enlarged scale detailed view of a guard member forming part of a catapult shown in Figure 1, and Figure 7 is a scrap perspective view of a support member forming part of the catapult shown in Figure 1, With reference now to the drawings.The catapult shown is formed from a moulded plastics material, such as nylon, and has a boy comprising a handle 12 and a head frame 14. Head frame 14 is generally U-shaped and is carried by handle 12 approximately at its mid point. The combination of the handle 12 and head frame 14 so far described forms a generally Y-shaped catapult of standard form.

The upper end of each arm 16 of the head frame 14 is bifurcated as shown at 18.

First ends of natural or synthetic rubber elongate elastic members 20 are linked to head frame 14 by being attached to swivel members 22 (see Figure 5).

The first ends of members 20 are attached to swivel members 22 by being passed through apertures 24 in wider ends thereof, looped back on themselves and then whipped or bound together.

The other, narrower, ends of the swivel members 22 are provided with apertures 26 each receiving a pin (not shown) which extends through the member 22 and into, in use, apertures 28 in the bifurcated ends 18 of the arms 16.

The elongate elastic members 20 are joined at their other ends by a pouch 30 in which a charge to be fired by the catapult may be placed.

As can be seen from the Figures the lowermost part of head frame 14 extends generally normally of the uppermost ends of the arms 16 and has attached thereto a guard 32. Guard 32 comprises a tang 34 which is apertured at 36 to receive a screw, rivet or bolt 38 by which the guard is attached to the catapult. Screw 38 is received in a hole 40 in the base part of the frame 14 -the part of frame 14 adjacent handle 12.

The guard widens in moving away from tang 34 to form a skirt 42 which extends downwardly generally parallel to the handle part 12, of the catapult and slightly spaced from the front surface thereof.

Handle 12 is preferably provided as a hollow element formed by two parts.

The first, front, part 50 of handle 12 supports and is formed integrally with head frame 14 and is formed with spigots 52 extending rearwardly from the back of the front of part 50 each and having a bore 54 which may be threaded for receiving (when the handle is assembled) screws 56 passed through apertures 58, in the rear wall of the second, back, part 60 of handle 12.

Arcuate cut-outs 62 are provided in side walls 64 of part 50 of handle 12 as shown. Similarly side walls 66 of handle part 60. are provided with arcuate cut outs 68. The cut-outs 62 and 68, when the two parts 50 and 60 are assembled, are in register one with the other to form generally circular opposed apertures on either side of the handle 12. The upper end wall of handle part 60 is provided with an arcuate aperture 70 which, when the parts 50 and 60 are assembled partially surrounds the aperture 40 in frame 14 for receiving screw 38.

It is to be noted that the front surface 72 of the front part 50 of handle 12 is contoured or shaped as shown to adapt to the fingers of a user gripping the handle 10 of the catapult. Similarly, the rearmost surface 74 of part 60 is contoured to adapt to the shape of a thumb of a user.

The two parts 50 and 60 of handle 12 are assembled and fixed together by the screws 56 or in any other suitable way (for example, by using an adhesive) after a cross bar 76 of a metal (for example, aluminium) support framework 78 has been located to extend across the handle 12 and through the opposed apertures formed by the arcuate cut-outs 62 and 68. Cross bar 76 of support 78 is at either end attached to a cranked portion 80 of an arm 82 as shown. The free ends of arms 82 are joined by a flexible plastics material strap 84 as shown.

It will be seen that support 78 is free to pivot in the opposed apertures formed by the arcu'e cut outs 62 and 68 of handle 12 by an amount which is limited. Thus member 78 may pivot upwardly (as viewed in Figure 1) until the cranked parts 80 of arms 82 are carried into abutment with bearing or contact surfaces 86 on flanges 88 formed on the side walls 60 of handle part 50 which prevent further pivotal movement of the support 78.

To increase the strength of the catapult the side arms 16 of frame 14 are T-shaped in section (see Figure 6) having a top bar 90 and a root 92 running around the outer surface of each arm 16 to join the flanges 88 on walls 60 of handle part 50.

After assembly a user may use the catapult by simply picking it up in either hand and holding it by the handle 12. Strap 84 of the support 78 will "automatically" rest on the lower part of the users forearm, or on his wrist, to give extra support.

The user may then with his other hand place a charge (for example, of bait) in pouch 30 attached to the elongate elastic members 20 and then pull the loaded pouch away from frame 14 until members 20 are adequately tensioned. Thereafter release of the pouch 30 will allow the members 20 to relax - carrying pouch 30 and the charge therein forwardly until it is fired from a catapult.

The swivel members 22 provided at the uppermost ends of the arms 16 of the frame 14 rotate about the axis of the pins on which they are mounted as the elastic members 18 pass the centre plane of the catapult and thereby give less restriction to the travel - and the accuracy - of the charge than would have been the case had the elastic members been fixedly attached to the frame 12.

After the charge is expelled from the pouch the elastic members 20 and pouch 30 continue to rotate about the axis of pins on which members 22 are mounted past the ends 18 of arms 16 and will carried down until they contact the skirt 42 of guard 32 - which prevents them striking the knuckles of the person holding the handle 12.

It will be seen that various modifications may be made to the described arrangements without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As described the head frame is shown as a Ushaped member, however, it will be appreciated that the frame may take any other suitable form.

The swivel members 22 may be modified. For example if the elastic members 20 are provided as hollow tubes they may be attached to the swivel members by simply being pushed over their ends - attachment of the elastic members 20 to the swivel members 22 being effected by the resilient gripping of the swivel member ends by the elastic members.

Rather than provide the swivel members 22 it will of course be possible for ends of the elastic members 20 to be looped around pins which pass between the bifurcated ends 18 of the arms 16.

The catapult body, the handle 12 and frame 14 may be formed by moulding any suitable plastics material and not simply the material noted above; and the support 78 may be provided in any suitable plastics or metal material (although aluminium is preferred). The strap part 84 of support 78 may be of any suitable flexible plastics, fabric, leather or other material Other modifications which may be made the arrangements now described without departing from the scope of the present invention include the particular shape of the head frame. The head frame of the catapult described may, rather than be formed as a U-shaped member, be formed as an O-shaped member.

In these circumstances three or more elastic members may be provided each running to a central pouch.

By placing a charge on the pouch and gripping the handle in the way described above it will be possible for a user to pull back the pouch and release it such that it passes through the O-shaped head frame. Such an arrangement will, it is believed, increase the accuracy with which the catapult may be used.

It will be appreciated various other modifications may be made the arrangements now described without departing from the scope of the present invention which in its broadest aspects provides a catapult the power and accuracy of which are not reduced by the effects of the elastic members once the pouch is released; the knuckles of a user gripping the catapult cannot be struck by the elastic members and/or pouch on firing the catapult; and in which there is provided an adequate and automatically operable steadying support for a person taking aim with the catapult.

Claims

1. A catapult comprising a frame to which are attached first ends of two or more lengths of elongate elastic material the other ends of which are adapted to receive or are coupled to means adapted to receive the charge to be fired by the catapult, wherein the catapult is further provided with a guard carried by the frame, to extend, in use, to a position at least partially covering the fingers of the person holding the catapult.

2. A catapult as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said catapult is generally Y-shaped, the top part of which comprises said frame and the root part of which comprises a handle for the catapult, and wherein the guard extends from the top part generally along and spaced from the root of the Y-shaped member so as to cover the knuckle parts of the fingers of the person holding the catapult by said root part.

3. A catapult as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said guard is of flexible material.

4. A catapult as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said guard is of plastics material.

5. A catapult as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said guard is fixed to the body of the catapult by screwing, bolting, gluing or the like.

6. A catapult comprising a frame to which are attached first ends of two or more lengths of elongate elastic material the other ends of which are adapted to receive or are coupled to means adapted to receive a charge to be fired by the catapult, wherein said first ends of the elastic members are pivotally attached to the frame.

7. A catapult as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said first ends of the elastic members are attached to respective swivel members each of which is pivotally attached to said frame.

8. A catapult as claimed in Claim 6Or Claim 7, wherein said catapult is generally Y-shaped, the top part of which comprises said frame and the root part of which comprises a handle for the catapult, wherein said swivel members are located between bifurcated topmost parts of the upper arms of the Y-shaped frame.

9. A catapult as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said swivel members are mounted in the bifurcated topmost parts of the catapult by pins, screws or bolts which pass through holes therein and are received in bores formed in the facing parts of the bifurcated topmost parts of the frame.

10. A catapult comprising a frame to which are attached the first ends of two or more lengths of elongate elastic material the other ends of which are adapted to receive or are coupled to means adapted to receive a charge to be fired by the catapult, wherein said frame is provided with a handle part by which the catapult may be held, the catapult being further provided with a support extending to one side of the handle part and frame such that the end of the support spaced from the handle part of the frame in use will rest on the wrist or forearm of the user holding the catapult.

11. A catapult as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said support is pivotally mounted in or on the handle part.

12. A catapult as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12, wherein said support comprises a metal framework.

13. A catapult as claimed in Claim 12, wherein said metal framework of the support is cranked at the end at which it is attached to the handle part such that in use parts of the metal framework contact the body of the catapult to limit the pivotal movement of the support in use.

14. A catapult as claimed in Claim 13, wherein contact bearing surfaces are formed on the handle of the catapult against which, in use, metal parts of the framework of the support bear to limit pivotal movement of the support.

16. A catapult as claimed in any one of Claims 13 to 15, wherein that end of the support spaced from the handle part of the frame and which in use contacts the wrists or forearm of the user is provided as a flexible strap.

17. A catapult having a generally U-shaped body the root part of which forms a handle for the catapult, the upper part of which has attached pivotally to its upper most ends first ends of elastic members extending to a pouch in which a charge for the catapult may be placed, the catapult being further provided with a guard provided on the catapult to extend downwardly from the base of the upper part to at least partially cover the fingers of a user holding the catapult and a support pivotally mounted on the handle to extend to one side of the frame such that in use the endmost part of the support rests on the wrists and/or forearm of the user.

18. A catapult as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and made of a moulded plastic material.

19. A catapult as claimed Claim 18, when provided with a handle part formed as a hollow member.

20. A catapult as claimed in Claim 19, wherein at least one surface of any handle part is contoured to readily adapt to the shape of the fingers of the person holding the catapult.

21. A catapult as claimed in Claim 1, and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.