US2970839A

US2970839A - Catapult device

Info

Publication number: US2970839A
Application number: US741624A
Authority: US
Inventors: Emmett H Halverson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-10-13
Filing date: 1958-06-12
Publication date: 1961-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 1978-02-07

Description

Feb. 7, 1961 E. H. HALvERsoN 2,970,839

CATAPULT DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 13, 1956 FIG 8 5f/mez? $4. Wnden QW! kwa/mm# U1,

2,970,839 Y u Y CATAPULT DEVICE LI' Emmett H. Halverson, 104 E. Claredon,

Prospect Heights, Ill.

1 Claim. (Cl. 273-1065) My present invention relates to catapult devices, and more particularly to a Slingshot which is adapted to be held in the hand for projecting arrows toward a desired target. Specifically, this application is a division of a prior application, Serial No. 613,730 and tiled October 3, 1956 now Patent Number 2,876,760.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved Slingshot which can be used with relatively great accuracy in propelling an arrow toward a target.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved Slingshot for engaging an arrow near the tip end thereof to propel the arrow toward a target.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved arrow which is particularly adapted for use with slingshots.

Another object of the present inventoin is to provide a new and improved relatively short arrow which will maintain a relatively true course in its motion toward a target.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved arrow which includes means for reducing the penetration of the arrow into a target.

Very briefly, the above and further objects are realized in accordance with the present invention by providing a Slingshot which comprises a body portion having a pair of upwardly extending arms between which is secured a two-part elastic sling, a releasable latch being provided at the center of the Sling for interconnecting the Itwo parts thereof. An arrow to be propelled by this sling is provided with a flange near the tip end thereof and the two parts of thisk sling are latched together between this ange and the feathers at the tail end of the arrow. Wh'en the arrow is then pulled back from the body to stretch .the sling, the flange on the arrow engages the latch and holds it in a latched position while the sling is-being stretched and held taut. When the arrow is released, and the sling propels it between the arms, the latch iS released, and the sling separates to permit the tail end of the arrow to pass freely of the sling without damage to the feathers and without interference with the direction of travel of the arrow toward the target.

Further objects and advantages and a better understanding of the present invention may be had from the following detailed description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of my improved Slingshot and arrcw in an assembled condition ready for Shooting;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the releasable latch assembly employed in the Slingshot of Fig. 1, showing the latch in a locked position;

Figs. 3 and 5 show the latch in a locked position as the sling is being stretched by an arrow during tiring;

Fig. 4 shows the latch being released as the arrow is fired; i

Fig. 6 iS a plan view of an arrow embodying an alternative form of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a view of the arrow of Fig. 6 taken along the line 7-7 thereof; and I Fig. 8 Shows the arrow of Fig. 6 penetrating a-target.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, there is shown a Slingshot 10 tol which an arrow 12 is attached for being catapulted thereof towards a target. The Slingshot 10 comprises a body 14 having a depending handle portion 15 and a pair of upwardly extending arms 17 and 18. A two-part elastic sling comprises a pair

ofelastic bands

20 and 21 which are attached at their respective ends to the arms 17 and 18 and are connected at their other respective ends to

separable parts

23 and 24 of a latch assembly 25. The part 24, which is generally U-Shaped, has the associated end of the band 21 attached to the biglit thereof by any suitable means and has off-turned ends 24a for holding the part 23, which is a latching pin, in engagement therewith when the

bands

23 and 24 are held taut. In order to facilitate the use of the latch 25 with Grecian type hunting arrows, such as the arrow V12.*, the center portions of the arms of the member 24 are provided with reverse bends 24b to provide aligned notches in which the trailing edge of a triangular tip 27 on the arrow 12 may be positioned while the body 28 of the arrow extends rearwardly between the legs of the member 24.

The extremities of the arms 17 and 13 are provided with

crossed slots

30 and 31 so that the

elastic bands

20 and 21 may be readily secured to the arms 17 and 18 by rst laying respective intermediate portions thereof into the bottom of the grooves 31, wrapping the forwardly extending portions of the

bands

20 and 21 around the respective arms 17 and 18 toward the opposite arm 17, 18, and then laying the remaining end portions in the grooves 30 over the portions of the

bands

20 and 21 which are at the bottom of the slots 31. In this manner, no knots or other holding devices need be provided on the

elastic members

20 and 21 and, as a result, they may readily be replaced when necessary.

Moreover, in order to insure that the

bands

20 and 21 do not slip out of the arms 17 and 18, the

slots

30 and 31 are considerably narrower than the thickness of the

bands

20 and 21. Consequently, the

bands

20 and 21 must be stretched in order to place them into the slots.

With the sling attached to the body 14, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, the Slingshot is particularly adapted for use by a right-handled person who holds the slingshot 10 in his left hand and holds the arrow 12 in his right hand. Therefore, in order to facilitate the holding of the Slingshot 10 while a high stretching force iS exerted on the sling by the force exerted on the arrow 12, the body 14 includes a thumb rest portion 35 which iS asymmetrical with respect to the opposite Side of the body 14 so as to provide a thumb rest which is well removed from the line of iire. In addition, a 'flanged heel portion 35a is provided on the opposite side of the handle from the portion 35 to counteract the force exerted by the thumb and prevent the handle from twisting in the hand. Obviously, if the Slingshot is to be used by a left-handed person, the same body 14 is used but the

elastic members

20 and 21 are attached in the reverse direction So that they extend from the back of the body 14 as viewed in Fig. 1.- Preferably, the. arms 17 and 18 are relatively widely spaced and are of substantial length so that a relatively wide, deep opening is provided in the frame so that clearance for the arrow and bands is provided since the bands do not Separate from, the arrow until the head of the arrow approaches and passes between the arms 17 and 18.

In using the Slingshot 10 to catapult the hunting arrow 12, the body portion 28 of the arrow is slipped Patented Feb. 7, 196i within the latch 24 and the pin 23 is slipped over the ends 24a and held in position until a slight tensile stress s exerted on the elastic members 20 and` 21 to maintain the bands 2t! and 21, taut and to hold. the latch 25 in a locked position. A knobular end portion 37 on the arrow 12 is then grasped by the right hand and the arrow 12 is then pulled back with respect to the Slingshot lil, which is held by means of the handle 15`with'the thumb resting on the portion 35. Preferably, the knob 37 is streamlined in shape so as to reduce the drag on the arrow 12 when it is catapulted. The arrow is thus pulled back until the bands and 21 are stretched a suliicent amount to catapult the projectile a desired distance to the target, and while the arrow 12 is pointed at the target it is released by the right hand. When the arrow 12 is released, the elastic bands 20 and` 21 contract to pull the arrow between the arms 17 and 18 and catapult it toward the target. As the arrow head 27 passes through the arms 17 and 18, the latch 25 releases, as illustrated in Fig. 4, to-permit the feathers 38 on the arrow 12 to pass through the separated parts of the Sling without damage and without catching the arrow 12 either to completely stop its movement toward the target or at least to deflect it.

It has been found that the knob 37 in addition to facilitating the withdrawing of the arrow 12 with respect to the Slingshot il) also improves the flight of the arrow toward the target since it adds some Weight to the rear of the arrow and prevents wobble which has been found to occur with short arrows not having the weighted tail end portion.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an arrow 46 which is particularly adaptedfor use with the Slingshot 16. The arrow 49 has an elongated body portion 41, a bullet tip 42; attached to the forward end, a plurality of feathers 44 for providing the necessary vanes, and a streamlined knobular end portion 46. As shown, the arrow 4t) is provided with an annular ange 47 just aft of the tip 42 for providing a forward stop against which a washer 43 abuts during the catapulting of the arrow 4t). The washer 48 provides a means for engaging the arms of the member 24 to hold the latch 2S in a latched condition during shooting as well as providing means for propelling the arrow 40 toward the target when the arrow 46 is released and the sling contracts.

The arrows which are used in connection with my improved Slingshot are relatively short as compared with the usual arrows used with conventional bows, having an overall length of only a few inches so that if they are red from close range into a target damage might result to the feathers 44 which are positioned only a short distance back of the tip 42. Therefore, for the purpose of preventing this damage as well as to facilitate removal of the arrow 4t) from the target, a ange 5l) is provided iwi", t.. L

on the body 41 of the arrow a short distance forward of the feathers 44 and the washer 48 is slidable along the body 41. Preferably, affriction t is provided between the washer 48 and the body 41 so that in order to slide the washer 48 along the body 41 either a true axial force must be applied thereto or a considerably larger non-axial force must be applied. As a result, the washer 48 acts to slow down the penetration of the arrow 40 into a target'52 as the washer slides back along the body 41 and when the washer 48 reaches the ange 56 further penetration of the arrow 40 is prevented. After the arrow is removed from the target the washer 48 may be easily moved forward against the flange. 47 by applying a relatively small axial force thereon.

if desired, the arrow tips of Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, may be replaced by a rubber suction cup head and the latch member 24 may engage the rear end of the suction cup or, in the alternative, a separate ange may be provided adjacent the head of the arrow which is engageablewith the latch 24.

It may thus be seen that the present'invention'provides a new and improved combination Slingshot and arrow `which may be used for target shooting or for hunting vby Letters Patent of the United States is:`

An arrow for use in a Slingshot, comprising a shaft,l a sharp head on one end of said shaft, a plurality'of vanes on the other end of said shaft, a first retaining ring secured to said shaft adjacent said sharp'head, a second. retaining ring secured to said shaft intermediate said irst ring and said vane, a retarding collar positioned on said shaft between said rst yand second retaining rings, said collar having a substantially greater cross sectional area than said first-ring and having substantial frictional engagement with said shaft so that ay substantial force is required to move said collar between said first and lsecond rin gs as the arrow enters the target, thereby to prevent deep penetration of the arrow into the target and damage to said vanes.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS- 2,135,414 Shores Nov. l, 193.8A 2.620.190 Bean Dec. 2, 19521 2 691.973 Hutson Oct. 19; 1954 2,796,691 Norris J une 25,119.57v

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