GB2282517A

GB2282517A - A catapult

Info

Publication number: GB2282517A
Application number: GB9419767A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clifford Royston Fox
Original assignee: Fox Design International Ltd
Current assignee: Fox Design International Ltd
Priority date: 1993-09-30
Filing date: 1994-09-30
Publication date: 1995-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-30
Also published as: GB9320131D0; GB9419767D0; GB2282517B

Abstract

A catapult (10) comprising a frame (12) with two portions (24) across which a length of elastic material (52) (Fig 7) extends at least when the catapult (10) is in use. These portions (24) are swivellable about respective generally parallel axes which extend in a direction at right angles to the intended direction of fire of the catapult (10). As a result, these portions (24) are able to follow the elastic material (52), in a directional sense, as it passes between them. The catapult may be used by anglers to fire bait. <IMAGE>

Description

A catapult The present invention relates to a catapult, especially but not exclusively a catapult for use by anglers to fire bait.

Typically, such a catapult has hitherto comprised a generally U-shaped frame downwardly from which extends a handle of the catapult, with a length of elastic material extending across the upper ends of the generally U-shaped frame. The elastic material may comprise a single length attached at its two ends to the upper ends of the frame of the catapult, or it may comprise two lengths of elastic material connected respectively to those ends of the frame, and having their other ends connected to opposite sides of a pouch of the catapult into which such bait can be placed ready for firing.

As the elastic material is released during a firing action, it passes between the ends of the U-frame so that, at the points of connection of the elastic material to the frame, it is doubled back on itself. This causes wear on the elastic material, and also a certain degree of inaccuracy.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate one or more of these disadvantages.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a catapult comprising a frame with two portions across which a length of elastic material extends at least when the catapult is in use, which portions are swivellable about respective generally parallel axes which extend in a direction at right angles to the intended direction of fire of the catapult, to enable them to follow the elastic material, in a directional sense, as it passes between them.

Preferably, the said portions are provided with respective spigots which can be embraced by generally tubular elastic material.

The said portions may be swivellable in a resilient manner so that they tend to be oriented in such a manner that the elastic material extends rearwardly from the frame.

Preferably, such resilience is provided by a metallic spring component, which may be in the form of a coil, or alternatively a compression spring extending along a generally arcuate path around the associated axis of swivel.

An example of a catapult made in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the catapult from one side and below; Figure 2 shows a further perspective view of the catapult shown in Figure 1 from that side and above; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the catapult shown in Figure 1 from one end and from above; Figure 4 shows the same view as in Figure 1 of a slightly modified form of catapult; Figure 5 shows an exploded view of each of two ends of the frame of the catapult shown in Figures 1 to 3 or in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a side view of a part used in conjunction with the parts shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the catapult as shown in Figure 1 with a piece of the elastic material connected across the ends of its frame; Figure 8 shows an axial sectional view of a modified rotor for the catapult shown in Figure 1 or Figure 4, taken along the line VIII-VIII shown in Figure 9; Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the rotor shown in Figure 8, taken along the line IX-IX shown in Figure 8; Figures 10 to 12 show a top view of a lower half, an exploded axial sectional view and a top view respectively of a further modification of rotor; and Figures 13 to 15 show views corresponding to those of Figures 10 to 12 for yet a further modified form of rotor.

A catapult 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a generally U-shaped frame 12 made of solid aluminium rod at the respective free ends of which are secured attachment heads 14. A rubber handle 16 extends in an intended downward direction from the frame 12 (albeit horizontally with regard to the orientation it is in Figure 1) via a plastics connecting block 18 which is formed with a thumb depression 20. The frame 12 is in-moulded in the block 18.

The arrangement of the handle 16 and the connecting block 18 has an ergonomic shape for comfort in handling.

Each attachment head 14 comprises a plastics connecting portion 22 which is hollow and which forms a tight fit with the associated end of the frame 12, a cylindrical plastics rotor 24 formed with a spigot mount 26 from which extends a spigot 28 in a generally rearward direction, being the same as the direction in which the thumb depression 20 faces. A free end 30 of the spigot 28 is rounded.

Figure 4 shows a slightly modified construction of catapult in which the generally U-shaped frame 12 has elongated straight sections 32 extending outwardly from the connecting block 18, to increase the span of the catapult between the two attachment heads 14.

Figure 5 shows further internal details of each attachment head 14. It shows how the connecting portion 22 is provided with a hollow upwardly projecting spigot 34 on to which is tight fitted a cylindrical nylon bushing 36.

The rotor 24 is threaded on to the nylon bushing 36 and held in position thereon by means of an end screw 38 which has a downwardly projected screw-threaded spigot 40 which threads into the upwardly extending internally screwthreaded hollow spigot 34 of the attachment member 32.

This secures the rotor 24 in position, whilst at the same time enabling it to swivel about the nylon bushing 36. A stainless spring steel wire 42 shown in Figure 6 is bent into the shape of a coil with two parallel ends 44 projecting outwardly from the plane of the coil. These engage a notch 46 formed in a flange 48 of the bush 36, and also a shoulder 50 formed on the inside of the rotor 24, to urge the latter into a position in which the spigot 28 extends rearwardly, but enabling the rotor and with it the spigot 30 to rotate 180 , so that the two spigots 28 at one stage extend towards one another.

When the catapult shown in Figures 1 to 3 is prepared ready for use, a piece of tubular elastic material 52 has one of its ends threaded over one of the spigots 28, and the other of its ends threaded over the other spigot 28, so that the elastic material 52 extends across the ends of the U-shaped frame 12, as shown in Figure 7. The internal diameter of the tubular elastic material 52 is just a little less than the external diameter of each spigot 28, so that it forms a tight fit thereon, and any effort to pull the elastic material from the spigot 28 is resisted by the frictional forces between the elastic material and the spigot, in such a manner that the harder the elastic material is pulled, the more elongated it tends to be, the narrower its cross section tends to be, and the tighter the frictional grip of the material on the spigot 28. Furthermore, the relative cross-sections of the elastic material 52 and each spigot 28 are such as to minimise the "sucking" action where the elastic material meets the spigot end 30. The bait pouch 54 may be provided half way along the elastic material 52, midway between the attachment heads 14.

When the catapult is in use, it is held with the frame in a generally horizontal plane so that the pouch 54 hangs underneath it. Bait may now be easily inserted into the pouch whereafter the latter is held in the finger and thumb of the right hand, and the left hand holds the handgrip 16 with the left thumb inserted in the thumb depression 20. The catapult may now be held upright and the pouch pulled back away from the frame 12. A sudden release of the pouch 54 will therefore cause the latter to shoot forwards under the action of the elastic material 52.

As the latter passes between the attachment heads 14, the rotors 24 and with them the spigots 28 are free to follow the elastic material in a directional sense. As a result, the elastic material is never doubled back on itself where it meets the frame 12. This increases the wear of the material and improves the accuracy of the catapult.

In the modified rotor 24 shown in Figure 8, the rotor 24 comprises an upper and lower half 60 and 62 glued or welded together for example by ultra-sound welding. The lower half 62 has a spigot 64 which engages a recess 66 in the upper half 60 to inhibit relative rotation between the halves. The spigot 28 has a plate 70 intergral with its inner end trapped and fixed securely within a recess 72 formed in the two halves 60 and 62 of the rotor 24. The shoulder 50 inside the lower half 62 forms an abutment for a compression spring 68. The latter is held on the inside of the rotor 24 in a generally arcuate path around the swivel axis of the rotor 24. Its other end abuts a part 69 fixed relative to the catapult in such a manner that the rotor 24 is swivellable up to 1800, but is urged back to its initial position by the spring 68.

The modification in Figures 10 to 12 shows a construction in which the lower half 60 of the rotor 24 has three spigots 64 engaging three recesses 66 on the upper half 60. These spigots and recesses are each four sided in cross-section. In the modification shown in Figures 13 to 15, they are generally circular in cross-section.

Numerous variations and modifications to the illustrated catapult will readily occur to a person of ordinary skill in the art without taking the resulting modification outside the scope of the invention. For example, the rotors 24 may be provided with generally horizontally extending annular grooves instead of spigots 28, to facilitate attachment of looped ends of the elastic material directly on to the rotors 24. The attachment heads may be made of a die-cast metal instead of plastics, although all the components of the attachment heads could be made of a self-lubricating nylon. The handle 16 may alternatively be made of a plastics material, which may be covered wholly or in part by a rubber material. The frame 12 may be made of aluminium or titanium tubing instead of solid aluminium rod.

Claims

1. A catapult comprising a frame with two portions across which a length of elastic material extends at least when the catapult is in use, which portions are swivellable about respective generally parallel axes which extend in a direction at right angles to the intended direction of fire of the catapult, to enable them to follow the elastic material, in a directional sense, as it passes between them.

2. A catapult according to claim 1, in which the said portions are provided with respective spigots which can be embraced by generally tubular elastic material.

3. A catapult according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the said portions are swivellable in a resilient manner so that they tend to be oriented in such a manner that the elastic material extends rearwardly from the frame.

4. A catapult according to 4, in which such resilience is provided by a metallic spring component.

5. A catapult according to claim 5, in which the metallic spring component is in the form of a coil.

6. A catapult according to claim 5, in which the metallic spring component is a compression spring extending along a generally arcuate path around the associated axis of swivel.

7. A catapult substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, 5 and 7 of the accompanying drawings, with or without the modification shown in any one of Figures 4, 6 and 8 to 15.