GB2311473A

GB2311473A - A catapult pouch

Info

Publication number: GB2311473A
Application number: GB9606206A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clifford Royston Fox
Original assignee: Fox Design International Ltd
Current assignee: Fox Design International Ltd
Priority date: 1996-03-25
Filing date: 1996-03-25
Publication date: 1997-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-25
Also published as: GB9606206D0; GB2311473B

Description

A catapult pouch The present invention relates to a catapult pouch.

Hitherto such a pouch has been attached to tubular lengths of elastic strands by means of spigot portions which are secured to the pouch. A disadvantage of such a construction is that the tubular elastic cannot rotate relative to the pouch. As a result, the elastic tends to become twisted, and possibly even tangled.

The present invention seeks to provide a remedy.

Accordingly the present invention is directed to a catapult pouch having at least two attachment members which can rotate relative to the pouch, whereby when the pouch is in use and elastic lengths are attached to the attachment members, twisting of the elastic is inhibited.

Preferably, with two attachment members, these are positioned on a perimeter of the pouch at diametrically opposition positions.

The attachment members may be spigots which are rotatable about their elongate axes. Tubular elastic lengths are readily attachable to such spigots.

Preferably, the spigots extend in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the pouch's periphery.

It is desirable for the periphery of the pouch to be circular.

It is also desirable that the pouch has a generally conical form extending in an intended rearward direction from its periphery.

Its conical portion is preferably of a mesh construction.

It is desirable for a stalk to extend rearwardly of the pouch to facilitate drawing the pouch back against tension in the elastic when the catapult is in use.

It is also desirable for each spigot to have at least one resilient shoulder portion which can snap-fit over a corresponding portion of the pouch's perimeter so that the spigot is held against axial displacement but at the same time is free to rotate about its axis.

The perimeter may be defined by a ring of material, preferably low density polythene.

Preferably the mesh and the spigots comprise nylon.

The present invention extends to a catapult having such a pouch.

An example of a catapult pouch made in accordance with the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the catapult pouch from one side and the front; Figure 2 shows a side view of the catapult pouch shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a further side view of the catapult pouch shown in Figure 1 rotated about its axis through 900 relative to the view shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a rear end view of the catapult pouch shown in Figures 1 to 3; and Figure 5 shows a front view of the catapult pouch shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The catapult pouch 10 shown in Figures 1 to 5 comprises a generally circular low-density polythene rim 12 to which is secured and rearwardly from which extends a generally conical nylon mesh 14, with that part of the mesh which constitutes the wider part of the cone being secured to the rim 12, thereby to create a hollow recess extending rearwardly from the rim 12 to the narrow end of the cone, into which hollow, for example, angling bait can be inserted which is to be fired away from the bank of a river or lake into the water. At the tip of the cone of the mesh 14 there is secured a plastics anchoring portion 16 which is also generally conical in shape, and which has an arrow head appearance in cross-section taken along the axis of the pouch. This anchoring portion 16 is secured to a rounded tip of the cone of the mesh 14. Extending rearwardly from the anchoring portion 16 and integral therewith is a stalk 18 at the distal end of which is a soft rubber oval-shaped bead 20. The latter is secured to the stalk by having a hollow which receives a further arrow-head attachment portion (not shown) at the distal end of the stalk 18.

Positioned diametrically opposite one another in the ring 12, and formed integrally therewith, are two sleeve portions 22. Each of these sleeve portions 22 receives an end portion 24 of a spigot 26. The end portion 24 terminates on a rearward side of the sleeve 22 with a head 28, and on the forward side of the sleeve 22 with a resilient shoulder portion 20. The latter has an annular face direction towards the sleeve 22, as does the head 28, but is concave on its other side whereby the shoulder 30 tapers towards its outer peripheral extremity. An elongate portion 32 of the spigot 26 to which tubular elastic may be attached extends forwardly from the shoulder portion 30.

During assembly of the pouch, each spigot may have its elongate portion 32 inserted into the associated sleeve 22, whereafter the spigot 26 can be pushed forwardly until the shoulder portion 30 snaps over the front face of the sleeve 22. The spigot is then secured against axial displacement, whilst at the same time is free to rotate about its axis. When a length of tubular elastic 34 of a catapult 36 is pushed on to the spigot 26 as shown in Figure 6, twisting of the elastic relative to the pouch and/or the catapult 36 is inhibited because of the ability of the spigot 26 to rotate about its axis.

It will be appreciated that more than two spigots could be placed uniformly around the rim of the catapult pouch where more than two elastic ends of the catapult are provided, for example by having each length 34 illustrated in Figure 6 forking at its end further from the catapult 36 into two diverging strands.

The shoulder portion 30 also provides a spacer between the elastic of the catapult and the rim 12 to inhibit frictional contact between the elastic and the rim.

The arrow-head shape of the anchoring portion 16 strengthens the conical shape of the mesh 14, reducing the likelihood that the anchoring portion 16 will move forwardly relative to the mesh 14.

Since the puller in the form of the rubber bead 20 is made of soft rubber, and because it is attached to a stalk 18, it is unlikely to cause any impact damage to a user's hand.

An eyelet or other means may be provided on each spigot 26 to enable solid elastic to be attached thereto.

Such solid elastic may be, for example, in a range from about 1/32" to about 1/8" in diameter (about 3mm to about 3wmm).

The rim 12 may be in other suitable synthetic plastics material instead of the preferred low-density polythene.

Claims

1. A catapult pouch having at least two attachment members which can rotate relative to the pouch, whereby when the pouch is in use and elastic lengths are attached to the attachment members, twisting of the elastic is inhibited.

2. A catapult pouch according to claim 1, in which the said two attachment members are positioned on a perimeter of the pouch at diametrically opposition positions.

3. A catapult pouch according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the attachment members are spigots which are rotatable about their elongate axes.

4. A catapult pouch according to claim 3, in which the spigots extend in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the pouch's periphery.

5. A catapult pouch according to any preceding claim, in which the periphery of the pouch is circular.

6. A catapult pouch according to any preceding claim, in which the pouch has a generally conical form extending in an intended rearward direction from its periphery.

7. A catapult pouch according to any preceding claim, having a mesh construction.

8. A catapult pouch according to any preceding claim, in which a stalk extends rearwardly of the pouch to facilitate drawing the pouch back against tension in the elastic when the catapult is in use.

9. A catapult pouch according to any preceding claim, in which each spigot has at least one resilient shoulder portion which can snap-fit over a corresponding portion of the pouch's perimeter so that the spigot is held against axial displacement but at the same time is free to rotate about its axis.

10. A catapult pouch according to any preceding claim, in which the perimeter of the pouch is defined by a ring of material.

11. A catapult pouch according to claim 10, in which the ring comprises low density polythene.

12. A catapult according to any preceding claims comprising nylon.

13. A catapult having a pouch as claimed in any preceding claim.

14. A catapult according to claim 13 read as appended to claim 3, in which tubular elastic is attached to the spigots.

15. A catapult pouch substantially as described herein and as illustrated with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A catapult substantially as described herein and as illustrated with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.