US2661731A - Catapult with improved fork and sling - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 8, 1953 A. B. CASEY CATAPULT WITH IMPROVED FORK AND SLING Filed June 4, 1951 Fig. 2

m R m 6 Wm. M F B r 4 U am 0 Q r A V.. 3 B m F m Patented Dec. 8, 1953 CATAPULT WITH AND SLIN IMPROVED roan Arthur B. Casey, Montoursville, Pa. Application June 4, 1951, Serial No. 229,785

.2 Claims. (Cl. 124-20) The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in catapults, and has more particular reference to a construction which, in an over-all structural sense, is characterized by fork and handle means of unique design and, in addition, by a complemental composite sling.

As will be hereinafter made apparent, the instrumentality herein revealed is not to be construed as a simple toy-sized plaything. On the contrary, it is a precision type hunting catapult which, because of special adaptability and scientific designing, functions for shooting small game such as rabbits, squirrels, quail, birds, and the like.

It is a matter of common knowledge that catapults, more popularly known these days as slingshots, have been and are coming into great prominence for target shooting and small game hunting, since it has been found that when the components of the over-all construction are properly designed, any sportsman with hunting talent can, after practice, use slingshots quite skillfully and resultfully.

There has long existed a demand'for the production of a precision fashioned and made slingshotwith a correct grip and other proportionately correct facilities. It follows, therefore, that the general object of the invention is to provide a 'huntsmans catapult or slingshot in the category stated which is a significant improvement in this line of endeavor, and in which manufacturers and users will find their primary requirements and needs fully met, contained and effectually available.

More specifically, novelty is predicated on a solid wooden or equivalent fork construction characterized, as usual, by fork arms or prongs to accommodate the com-plemental bands on the sling but unique in that it embodies a laterally ofl'set handle which is joined to the base of the fork by a so-called stock, the stock and handle coacting in providing a comforting and hand fitting grip, one whichallows the user to really grasp the fork and to hold and aim it with requisite certainty and without the possibility of the handle twisting or turning in the hand.

Stated somewhat more explicitly, the handle is polygonal in cross section and joins the base of the fork by way of a sturdy web constituting the stock, the marginal edges of the latter being contoured to merge into the edges of the handle and also being further notched and otherwise contoured to provide a firm fitting seat on one side for the index finger and a reliable thumb rest on the other side.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on a container built into the handle for purposes of accommodating and carrying projectiles such as buckshot and the like.

In addition to theabove, novelty is predicated on the composite sling made up of sturdy rubber or equivalent bands joined together at corresponding ends by a soft leather (preferably buckskin) which constitutes a saddle and is fashioned with a pouch-like pocket to assist in pinching and holding the missiles until they are releasedwhen shot.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a perspective view of a huntsmans catapult or so-called slingshot constructed in accordance with the invention and showing the manner in which same is used.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the fork unit with portions in section, the view being on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the complete instrumentality showing all the details of the sling means.

Figure 4 is a view of the saddle portion of the sling means, which view may be said to be taken approximately on the lined-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

There are two essential components or units in the over-all construction; namely, the fork means or unit 6, on the one hand, and the sling means 8 on the other. The fork means is preferably constructed from a solid block of wood or equivalent material and is common in that-it includes the fork proper having spaced parallel prongs l0 and I2 defining. the customary crotch l4. The upper free ends'of the prongs or arms are formed with kerfs-lL-IB. The thing which is unique about this unit is that the handle I8 is polygonal in cross-sectionfand is offset in respect to the longitudinal lines which intersects the median part of the crotch M. In Figure 2, we see the handle offset to the right. The handle is joined to the fork by wayrof a body or web portion which may be bestgqdescribed herein as a stock 20. The stock is also broadened toward the right-hand side in Figure g. The edgeportions 22 and 24 merge handle. The cially shaped into the longitudinal edges of the remaining edge portions are espein the manner shown. There is,

for example, a shallow seat 26 which serves to accommodate the index finger, as shown in Figure 1. Then there is a longer ranging compound curve defining another recess 28 and this is, in efiect, a form fitting thumb rest. The stock with the finger rest in conjunction with the offset handle provide a form fitting or conformable grip for the user. The grip is well balanced and accurately, situated and designed to serve its intendedipu'rposes with requisite certainty and usefulness. The sling means is as shown and comprises a pair of duplicate sturdy rubber or equivalent flexible elastic bands 30-30. These have their end portions 32 wedged and thusre movably secured in the kerfs in order to be able to reverse the fork means 16 in respect tothe sling means for use by both right-handed and left-handed shooters. leather and is denoted by the numeral 3}! and comprises a relatively short wide length or buck-' skin. The ends of this are abutted with the ends of the rubber bands and patches of'vulc'a-nizing rubber, as shown'at 3B, are secured to these abutting ends, and thus the saddle is joined to the rubber bands. As stated, buckskin is preferably used because it is soft and will not blister the fingers of the user. The intermediate :portion is depressed into a pouch-like pocket which is pre iormed and retains its shape, said pocket being denoted at 3'8 and being adapted to accommoda'te a plurality of buckshot 'oro'ther missiles, for example, B2B buckshot, steel ball or similar projectiles. Briefiy summarized, here are some or the advantageous aspects of the over-all instrumental'ity, to-wit:

1. The stock is made of a good hard wood, the right weight to balance with the sling when shooting. It is made to lit the hand with ease and-comfort, which is necessary to give you accuracy. It will not twist or turn in the hand and it can be used either right or left handed by reversing the sling straps from one side of the stock to the other. It has a hole in the bottom oi the stock that carries twelve quarter inch balls or thirty BBs held in by a cork'stopper.

The sling straps are made from the best of gum rubber to give one power and hard hitting which is so important. The shot pouch is made of soft buckskin that will not blister the thumb or finger, and yet tough for long life. The rubber straps and leather shot pouch are smoothly vulcanized together, making the sling all in one straight piece, or you might say streamlined. There are no strings to break or pull loose, no twist in the straps as the old type.

3. The leather shot pouch has a shot pocket,

which one must have if he is'going to use shot.

The receded shot pocket in the center will carry from 'six to ten number 5 shot, three BBs or onenuarter inch steel balls, and when pinched together with the thumb and finger automatically closes the pocket and cannot roll out until released to shoot. One cannot lay "shot on a flat piece of rubber or leather "and fold it together and expect them to stay there.

The numeral 40 designates abo're in the handle serving as a convenient holder for small missiles, such as buckshot4'2, and the latter are kept in place by a stopper "44 fitting 'remo'vably into the bore.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device be quite apparent to those skilled in The saddle is of soft 4 this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and arrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

. ,1. Aprecision-type catapult expressly designed for shooting game comprising a onepiece structure embodying a substantially U-shaped fork having spaced parallel prongs and a crotch between said prongs, a handle, said handle being fpeiygonei in cross-section, and a finger-gripping stock providing a junctural connection between said'handle and fork, one marginal edge of said stock having a recess shaped to provide a thumb rest, the latter being situated in alignment with the adjacent longitudinal axis of one prong, the marginal edge of the "stock adjacent the other prong having a recess and a cooperating shoulder collectively defining a -seat for the butt of the index finger, said handle being offset relative to the center of the crotch and having its longitudinal axis disposed between said last named seat and the center of said crotch, and a sling having elastic band portions joined at corresponding ends by way of a connecting saddle and having their opposite ends joined with the I-r'eeend portions of said prongs.

2. A precision-type catapult expressly'd'esi'gned for shooting game comprising a one-piece structure embodying a substantially Lie-shaped fork having spaced parallel prongs and a crotch between said prongs, a handle, said handle being polygonal in cross-section, and a finger-gripping stock providing a junet-u-ral connection between said handle and fork, one marginal edge or said stock having a recess shaped to provide a thumb rest, the latter being situated in alignment with the adjacent longitudinal axis of one prong, the marginal edge of the stock adjacent the other prong having a recess and a -cooperating shoulder collectively defining a seat for the butt or the index finger, said handle being offset relative to the center of the crotch and having its longitudinal axis disposed between said last ma med seat and the center of said crotch, and a composite sling embodying a pair of balanced sturdy dupli cate rubber bands and a pliant leather saddle positively adjoining corresponding ends of said band, the central portion of said saddle being fashioned into a permanently distended pouch providing a pocket for a bucksh'ot or'a similar projectile, said pouch being generally concaveconvex but pliable in order that its shape may vary to fit the diflerent sizes of projectiles.

ARTHUR B. CASEY.

References Cited in' the file or this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 163,738 Be'g'g s June 26, 1951 ceases 'lS inith Apr. 5, 188i 5993747 Stoddard Mar. .1, 1B9 1,277,701 Depa's's se t. 3, 191 1,346,754 Jones July '13, 1920 2,293,505 pttm'an Oct. 13, 1942 2,600,524 Fern'sel June it, '19'5'2 FOREIGN PATENTS Number country Date I 84,015 Sweden s. c sun so. 1935

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