GB2615346A

GB2615346A - Shoulder mounted slingshot

Info

Publication number: GB2615346A
Application number: GB2201501.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Francis Carling Brian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-02-06
Filing date: 2022-02-06
Publication date: 2023-08-09

Abstract

This invented device is a slingshot used for launching balls of the type used in cricket or baseball match play or practice towards a batter with the purpose of allowing a batter to practice his or her stroke play. The slingshot comprises a frame 3 between 950mm and 1500mm in length constructed from plastic, metal or wood; a two-pronged fork 17 attached to the forward end 11 of the frame which are wide enough in distance to allow a ball to pass between them; a gripping means 23 for holding a ball; and one or more sets of elastic bands 22 that attach to the forks at one end and to the gripping means at the other end. The slingshot may have a triggering mechanism similar to the triggering mechanism on a traditional crossbow. This device is preferably shoulder mounted 6. The device may also have “stops” 28 to improve the consistency of the ball release and to aid loading.

Description

Shoulder Mounted Slingshot Background

Currently there are many ball launchers on the market. These fall into two basic types. The first type are generally called bowling machines. Bowling machines fall into two distinct categories. The first and most common category uses one or several spinning wheels driven by electric motors to impart forward motion on a ball. The balls are often designed specifically for a particular machine. Example W02007039727A2. The second, less common, category of bowling machine uses springs or a motor to drive a rotating arm that catapults the ball towards the batsman. Example US10603568B2. Bowling machines generally have a stand, often a three legged tripod, that both supports the machine and brings it to an appropriate height for launching a ball.

Bowling and pitching machines have been used in cricket and baseball for a long time. They enable batters to practice effectively without the need for human pitchers or bowlers.

However, bowling machines are expensive, bulky, usually require electricity and involve a lengthy set up. Compared to a bowling machine, the current device is electricity free, cheap, is small enough to fit in a cricket bag or be comfortably slung over a shoulder, and requires little setup.

The second common type of ball launcher is the Sidearm invented by Frank Thorogood in 2009 (GB2475396), or variants of it. This is a plastic, single piece, manual ball thrower that exaggerates the effects of the user's throwing arm. This device is often called a dogstick as it was modelled on the ball throwers used by dog owners to extend the range to which they can throw balls for their dogs.

The Sidearm is cheap and light but still requires a throwing action from the bowler/pitcher. It requires a degree of skill and physical strength to use. Parents giving throw-downs to their children often struggle for speed and accuracy, and conditions such as tennis elbow can be inflamed. Compared to a Sidearm the current device allows a less athletic user to launch the ball faster and more accurately, and tires them less quickly. It is designed to launch lighter and softer balls, reducing the risk of injury or need for so much protective clothing in batters. However, it is capable of firing regular cricket or baseballs though at a reduced speed.

Operating the device.

The reference numbers refer to the illustrations attached.

The text assumes a right eye dominant user, who would mount the device on their right shoulder. (Whether the device is used off the right shoulder or left shoulder is dictated by eye dominance. 67% of people are right eye dominant.) To set up the device for the right eye dominant user the removable and reversible shoulder piece(See fig6) has to be attached through the left hand side of the device. The telescopic section of the shoulder piece(5) will be under the right hand side of the device. The shoulder piece should be extended and locked into position(fig3).The front section(11) is extended forward to set the device to the desired length. This dictates the speed at which the ball will be fired. A clevis pin then locks the front section into place through the holes(8) in the main section and holes(l 2) in the front section. The user places the nose(15) of the device on the ground and, according to their height, sets the chest plate(2) against their belly or lower chest. The user reaches forward and takes hold of the ball cup(23) with either hand. They pull the ball cup back, bracing the device against their body, and hook the loop(24) at the back of the ball cup over the hook(I). The hook holds the ball cup in place, against the tension in the elastic bands(22). The user places a ball(25) in the ball cup. Holding the grip(5) on the shoulder piece in their right hand, the user places the device on their right shoulder and steadies the device by holding the left handle(] 0) with their left hand. The user aims the device by aligning the front end of the device with the batter. Aiming higher or lower will adjust for the point on the pitch on which the ball bounces. (In baseball the ball doesn't bounce and so the device will be aimed a lot higher and have a sight modified for use in baseball.) The user signals to the batter that he or she is about to launch a ball by raising their right hand. They then drop their right hand and push firmly on the appropriate trigger(9). The trigger releases the hook( I), allowing the elastic bands(22) to contract, propelling the ball(25) forward. The user takes hold of the grip(5) and lowers the device, placing the nose on the ground, ready for reloading.

Core features At its core the current device is a forked slingshot, scaled to fire balls used in cricket or baseball practice, set on a shoulder mounted solid frame and with a cocking device and trigger.

The shown embodiment has a main section(3) to which peripheral elements are attached. The main section is constructed from two symmetrical pieces of moulded plastic. However, wood or metal would also be suitable materials.

The main section is shaped in such a way as to contain the firing mechanism(fig7). The firing mechanism is reminiscent of a simple crossbow firing mechanism with a hook( I) that that pivots forward to release the ball cup(23) and a block(28) that prevents the hook from pivoting forward until the trigger(9) moves the block. In this embodiment the trigger and block are directly attached to one another effectively becoming a single mechanical device.

The device has triggers(9) and handles( I 0) on both sides to allow minimal set up change between left and right handed users. In fact, it is actually eye dominance that will dictate if a user will use the device left or right handed. Right eye dominant users will mount the device on their right shoulder and left eye dominant users will mount the device on their left shoulder. Triggers and handles on both sides will mean the user will only have to switch the shoulder mount around to allow for a different eye dominance.

The chest plate(2) is there to aid the loading of the device. During loading the nose of the device is placed on the ground and the chest plate is placed on the belly or chest of the user. The user then grips the cup in one or both hands and pulls back, bracing the device against their body. The chest plate is to spread the load on the body, making the loading process more comfortable.

The ball cup(23) has a solid loop(24) built into the rear of the cup. When cocking the device the loop of the ball cup is hooked onto the hook(1). The hook pivots on a metal bolt(30) but is prevented from doing so by the block(28). The block is a long metal rod that runs to the front end of the main section. There it is attached to the triggers(9). When the trigger on either side of the device is pushed forward the block moves forward releasing the hook. The hook rotates forward, releasing the ball cup which is accelerated forward by the elastic bands(22). A return spring(27) then returns the hook to its cocked position. Once the user's hand moves from the trigger a second return spring(26) returns the trigger and block to its cocked position. The device can then be reloaded.

The forks are mounted on a separate plastic bar, the front section(11), that can be extended to varying lengths from inside the main section. The front section is fixed to the main section by a clevis pin that enters holes(8) on both sides of the main section and goes through one of a number of holes(12) in the length of the front section, securing the front section at the required length. When fully retracted and secured by the clevis pin the device is in its storage and transportation mode and is 950mm long. This length may vary in different embodiments but would always be within ten percent of 950mm.

When the front section is fully extended the device is approximately 1400mm long. At this length the elastic bands(22) are fully stretched and thus release the most energy when retracting, firing a lightweight training ball at speeds of up to I 40kmthr (86mph).

The elastic bands attach to the front forks via shaped fixings(17) bolted onto metal braces(16) that are in turn welded to the front forks. The fixings have a slot into which the elastic tubing is inserted. The tightness of the slot acts to clamp the elastic in position. The elastic is then wrapped around the cuff and then reaches back to the cup. When the device is cocked, ie. the elastic is stretched to upto 6 times its unstretched length, a considerable force is placed on the fixing. However, friction on the cuff and the gripping action of the slot are enough to prevent the elastic bands from pulling free. Having no clamp allows the easy replacement of the elastic bands and ball cup on the device.

The elastic bands(22) are of natural latex tubing commonly used in physiotherapy as resistance bands. Any elastic with similar properties could be used although natural latex has the most desirable properties.

The cup(23) is shaped to gently grip the ball thus preventing the ball from falling out while the device is loaded and aimed. When the ball is launched the ball needs to leave the cup with minimal resistance so the cup must not grip the ball any more than necessary. To allow this the cup is made from a plastic such as polypropylene.

The stops(19) serve two functions. When the ball cup is released from the hook and elastic bands rapidly contract, the stops catch the elastic bands at the point at which they are almost fully contracted. This is also the point at which the cup begins to decelerate and the momentum of the ball carries it forward towards the batter. By catching the elastic bands the stops ensure the cup is fairly stable and pointing directly forward when the ball is released. This ensures a consistent ball release therefore making the device more accurate.

The stops' second function is to hold the ball cup in an easy to reach place to make loading more straight forward. During loading the user has to place the nose of the device on the ground and reach forward to take hold of the ball cup while simultaneously placing the chest plate against their belly or chest. The ball cup being in easy reach aids this process.

The shoulder mount(fig6) slots into two holes in the main section. It is held in place by friction. The shoulder mount can be detached from the main section, turned around and slotted into the other side. "[his allows the device to be used either left or right handed. When the device is mounted on the right shoulder the user's left hand will grip the left side handle. The user's right hand is then free to signal to the batter that he or she is about to launch the ball and then push firmly on the trigger. The user will aim the device with his or her right eye by lining up the nose of the device with the batter's body. Aiming higher or lower will change the length of the ball; this is: how far the ball pitches in front of the batter. Of course, in baseball the ball doesn't pitch in front of the batter. This will mean the device is aimed considerably higher for baseball practice than for cricket practice. Embodiments for use in baseball will have a sight to allow for the difference in ball trajectory.

Claims

Claims I. A slingshot mounted on a frame for launching a ball at a batter for the purpose of batting practice in cricket or baseball, the device comprising of: a frame of between 950mm and 1500mm in length built from plastic, metal or wood; a two pronged fork attached to the forward end of the frame the prongs of which are wide enough to allow a ball used in cricket or baseball practice to pass between them; a gripping means for containing a ball used in cricket or baseball practice; one or more sets of elastic bands that attach to the prongs at one end and to the gripping means at the other end in the arrangement of a traditional slingshot.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the gripping means for containing the ball is in the form of a cup, the cup having an opening formed to allow the receiving and releasing of a ball used in cricket or baseball training.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the cup has attaching points to which the elastic bands of the apparatus can be attached.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the cup has a solid loop opposing the opening which can be hooked onto a hook mounted on the frame.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the frame is mounted on the shoulder and the ball launched from the shoulder mounted position.
6. The apparatus of claim I and claim 5 wherein the elastic band sets are stretched solely through the physical effort of the operator.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a hook is mounted towards the rear of the frame is available for the loop of the cup. Once the loop of the cup is hooked onto the hook the hook prevents the elastic bands from contracting, thus preventing the ball cup from moving forwards.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the hook may pivot forward to release the ball cup but is prevented from doing so by a block in the cocked position.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the block may be moved from the blocked to the release position by a trigger, thus allowing the hook to pivot forward and release the ball cup.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the forward section of the frame can be moved backwards and forwards relative to the main section of the frame in a telescoping manner. The resulting change in distance between the hook and the forks being used to vary the speed of the ball as it is released from the cup.