GB2393667A

GB2393667A - Toy throwing arrow

Info

Publication number: GB2393667A
Application number: GB0222745A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sebastian William Arth Chapman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-02
Filing date: 2002-10-02
Publication date: 2004-04-07
Also published as: GB0222745D0

Abstract

The present invention provides a toy throwing arrow comprising a shaft 2 having a first end that is weighted with a nose weight 4 and a second end having four flights 6. A sleeve 8 is slidably mounted on the shaft 2 and is capable of being locked to the shaft 2. To launch the toy throwing arrow the sleeve 8 is secured to the shaft 2 at a suitable position along the shaft 2 and a throwing string is releasably secured to the shaft 2 adjacent the sleeve 8. The toy throwing arrow is then launched like a javelin while the throwing string is kept taut. The toy throwing arrow has a two-part shaft that is assembled together using a screw fixing.

Description

TITLE Toy throwing arrow DESCRIPTION

5 Technical Field

The invention relates to toy throwing arrows, and in particular to toy throwing arrows that are launched with the assistance of a throwing string.

Summary of the Invention

10 The present invention provides a toy throwing arrow comprising a shaft having a first end and a second Lighted end, and a sleeve slidably mounted on the shaft and capable of being locked to the shaft, wherein a throwing string can be releasably secured to the shaft adjacent the sleeve when launching the toy throwing arrow.

15 The use of a throwing string allows the throwing arrow to be thrown further and faster than it can by hand because the string increases the efficiency and duration of the energy transfer.

People who are older or have more ability can throw the throwing arrow a greater 20 distance if the sleeve is secured to the shaft at a first position. On the other hand, people who are younger or have less ability can throw the throwing arrow a greater distance if the sleeve is secured to the shaft at a second position. Because the sleeve can be moved and secured at any position along the shaft it allows the throwing arrow to be used by a variety of ages and abilities.

The position along the shaft at which the sleeve is secured influences the flight characteristics of the throwing arrow and the person throwing the throwing arrow can therefore alter the position of the sleeve to obtain the best possible results in different environmental conditions. For example, the position of the sleeve can be adjusted 30 depending on the strength and direction of the wind.

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- 2 The sleeve is preferably locked to the shaft by means of a locking screw. The locking screw can be locked and unlocked using an Allen key or similar device.

The shaft is preferably made of a fibreglass material because it is strong, flexible and 5 light. However, other alternative materials include aluminium and carbon fibre.

For ease of transportation, the shaft can be formed in two pieces that can be assembled together by means of a screw fixing.

10 The first end of the shaft is preferably weighted. The second end of the shaft preferably includes four flights made of a flexible plastics material. l Drawings Figure I shows a throwing arrow according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a throwing arrow having a shaft 2 made of fibreglass. The front end of the shaft 2 is weighted with a metal nose weight 4 and the rear end has four flights 6 for aerodynamic stability, only two of which are shown. A throwing string retaining sleeve 8 is slidably mounted on the shaft 2 and can be secured to the shaft by means 20 of a locking screw 10 using an Allen key.

To launch the throwing arrow the throwing string retaining sleeve 8 is moved along the shaft 2 to a predetermined position and is secured to the shaft using the locking screw. The predetermined position is selected depending on the age or ability of the 25 person launching the throwing arrow. For example, if the person throwing the throwing arrow is between 6 and 9 years old then the throwing string retaining sleeve 8 should be secured to the shaft 2 at the position labelled A on Figure 1. If the person throwing the throwing arrow is between 9 and 16 years old then the throwing string retaining sleeve 8 should be secured to the shaft 2 at the position labelled B on Figure 30 1. If the person throwing the throwing arrow is over 16 years old then the throwing string retaining sleeve 8 should be secured to the shaft 2 at the position labelled C on Figure 1. Generally, if the person throwing the throwing arrow is older or more able C174001

then the throwing string retaining sleeve 8 should be positioned closer to the flights 6 and therefore further away from the centre of gravity of the throwing arrow.

A throwing string (not shown) is used to launch the throwing arrow and this consists 5 of a length of high-grade string having a high breaking strain. The throwing string has a ball knot at one end and this end is releasably secured to the shaft 2 using a simple hitch knot. To do this the throwing string is wrapped once around the shaft 2 just behind the throwing string retaining sleeve 8 so that the end of the throwing string with the ball knot is trapped between the throwing string and a retaining shoulder 12 10 of the throwing string retaining sleeve 8.

Keeping the throwing string taut the throwing arrow is gripped at a balanced position along the shaft 2 and the free end of the throwing string is wrapped around the hand of the person launching the throwing arrow to take up the slack. The throwing arrow 15 can then be launched into the air in the same way as a javelin but preferably with a straight arm. As soon as the throwing arrow has been launched, the tension on the throwing string is released and the simple hitch will spill instantly. The throwing string is therefore retained by the person throwing the throwing arrow and will not impede the throwing arrow during its flight.

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Claims

1. A toy throwing arrow comprising: a shaft having a first end and a second Lighted end; and a sleeve slidably mounted on the shaft and capable of being locked to the 5 shaft; wherein a throwing string can be releasably secured to the shaft adjacent the sleeve when launching the toy throwing arrow.

2. A toy throwing arrow according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is releasably 10 secured to the shaft by means of a locking screw.

3. A toy throwing arrow according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the shaft is made of a fibreglass material 15

4. A toy throwing arrow according to any preceding claim, wherein the shaft is formed in two pieces that can be assembled together using a screw fixing.

5. A toy throwing arrow according to any preceding claim, wherein the first end is weighted.

6. A toy throwing arrow as herein described and with reference to the drawing.

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6. A toy throwing arrow according to any preceding claim, wherein the second end includes four flights made of a flexible plastics material.

7. A toy throwing arrow as herein described and with reference to the drawing.

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1' Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A toy throwing arrow comprising: a two-part shaft that is assembled together using a screw fixing and having a first end and a second Lighted end; and 5 a sleeve slidably mounted on the shaft and capable of being locked to the shaft; wherein a throwing string can be releasably secured to the shaft adjacent the sleeve -when launching the toy throwing arrow.

10 2. A toy throwing arrow according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is releasably secured to the shaft by means of a locking screw.

3. A toy throwing arrow according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the shaft is made of a fibreglass material 4. A toy throwing arrow according to any preceding claim, wherein the first end is weighted.

5. A toy throwing arrow according to any preceding claim, wherein the second 20 end includes four flights made of a flexible plastics material.