Abstract:
A finger release sling holder for a sling spear comprising a sling holder adapted to receive a spear shaft, said sling holder is notched to receive and hold the spear sling when tensioned until it is removed from the sling holder when ready to fire. The sling holder may be attached to the spear shaft in a variety of ways; however, once the sling holder is attached, the sling is placed therein. Now the sling spear is in a cocked position, allowing the user to lightly carry the weapon, making maneuvering through the water easier and more enjoyable. Once the prey is observed, the sling is removed from the holder and the holder is used as a handle improving the fisherman&#39;s ability to hold onto the spear during firing. Releasing grasp of the holder, while retaining the sling, allows the sling to propel the spear through the water towards the target.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This Non-Provisional Patent Application is based upon Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/177,869 filed Jan. 24, 2000, and hereby claims the benefit of the embodiments therein and of the filing date thereof. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention is in the field of fishing, and particularly in the field of spear fishing.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The sling spear, or “Hawaiian Spear”, is a hand-held, sling-propelled spear for underwater fishing. A sling spear has an elastic sling attached at one end of the spear, with a spear point located at the opposite end. To use a sling spear, one must grasp the sling and pull it towards the tip of the spear and, while simultaneously holding onto both the spear shaft and the sling, aim and release grasp of the spear shaft while maintaining the sling in hand. The spear is propelled forward through the water by the action of the sling. The sling spear is simple, relatively easy to operate, easy to maintain, and inexpensive, when compared to the more complex spear gun. Thus, it has maintained great popularity among underwater fishermen.  
           [0004]    Under the current state of the art, the sling spear fisherman must either ready the spear for firing prior to observing the game or after observing the game. If the spear is readied prior to observing the same, the fisherman is required to swim about with one hand holding the sling taut against the spear shaft. This makes maneuvering through the water more difficult and less enjoyable.  
           [0005]    If the spear is readied once the game is observed, the fisherman is required to ready the spear while in the water, a relatively difficult task under water, which requires time as well as the use of both hands. Unfortunately, readying the spear at the last minute often times allows the prey to escape.  
           [0006]    When the sling spear is readied to fire, the fisherman is required to hold the sling taut against the smooth spear shaft with his firing hand until the sling is released. Because of the liquid environment and the smooth spear shaft, the fisherman&#39;s firing hand can slip. If the firing hand slips completely, the spear will misfire. If, on the other hand, the firing hand slips only a little, this may have the affect of either reducing the firing force of the spear or altering the aim, and either scenario may result in an unsuccessful shot.  
           [0007]    It would be a great advantage to the sling spear fisherman to have the spear ready for firing or cocked at all times without also requiring the fisherman to hold the sling taut against the spear. This would allow the fisherman the opportunity to lightly carry the armed spear in one hand, while maneuvering through the water and to be able to discharge the weapon quickly and easily once the game is observed.  
           [0008]    It would also be advantageous to provide a handle or some other device for the fisherman to grasp hold of when the spear is ready to fire, thereby virtually eliminating any possibility of having the firing hand slip along the spear shaft.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    In light of the state of the art, as described above, the inventor set out to design a safe and reliable device for holding the sling in a ready-to-fire position without also requiring the fisherman to hold the sling taut at the same time. Additionally, that same device acts as a handle, which the fisherman can hold onto to reduce the firing hand from slipping.  
           [0010]    The invention has the following features:  
           [0011]    1. It provides a reliable and safe sling holder, which holds the spear sling in a taut position without requiring the fisherman to hold the sling.  
           [0012]    2. It provides a sling holder, which, once the sling is removed, can be used by the fisherman as a handle to grasp, thereby reducing the possibility of the firing hand slipping along the spear shaft.  
           [0013]    3. It provides a sling holder, which is inexpensive, easy to use and lightweight.  
           [0014]    4. It provides a sling holder, which allows the fisherman to accurately predetermine the amount of force to be applied by the sling spear.  
           [0015]    5. It provides a sling spear which, when ready to fire, can be transferred from hand to hand or from diver to diver without fear that the spear will discharge.  
           [0016]    6. It provides a sling holder which is transferable and fits onto virtually any spear.  
           [0017]    Each of these objectives is accomplished in accordance with this invention.  
           [0018]    In one illustrated embodiment, a sling holder is affixed to the forward end region of the sling spear by a metal or nylon strap. The metal or nylon strap has one end attached to the sling holder. The sling holder is secured to the spear shaft by wrapping the loose end of the metal or nylon strap around the spear shaft and connecting the loose end of the metal or nylon strap to the sling holder.  
           [0019]    In yet another embodiment, the sling holder is made of one molded piece contoured to the shape of the spear shaft and fastened to the shaft by any means.  
           [0020]    In another illustrated embodiment, the sling holder is more readily transferable from spear to spear by utilizing a hook and pile strap. This “quick release” embodiment also allows the fisherman the ability to quickly and easily move the sling holder forward or rearward in order to change the firing tension of the sling.  
           [0021]    In yet another embodiment, the sling holder is a flat, unitary body made of a pliable material, such as metal, plastic, nylon, or a composite. Once it is determined where the sling holder is to be positioned along the spear shaft, the sling holder&#39;s nylon or metal strap is folded around the shaft and both ends are attached to themselves by any fastening means. This embodiment may be in two parts attached to itself by means of hook and pile fasteners for adjustability to spear shaft.  
           [0022]    In still another embodiment, a unitary sling spear may be manufactured having a sling holder.  
           [0023]    In any embodiment, once the holder is rigidly fixed to the spear shaft, it is ready to receive the sling, which is secured in any conventional manner to the rear end region of the spear. The holder is contoured to accept the sling spear shaft and the holder is notched to receive and retain the sling, when tensioned. The sling is pulled toward the tip end of the spear and is attached to the sling holder at the notch leaving the spear in a cocked position.  
           [0024]    To fire, simply grasp the sling with the firing hand, while simultaneously grasping the spear shaft nearest the spear point with the non-firing hand, then slip the sling off of the holder with the firing hand. With the firing hand, grasp both the spear shaft and the sling holder, while retaining the sling, then release hold of the spear shaft with the non-firing hand. The sling spear is now ready to fire and is held by the firing hand. To complete the firing process, the fisherman aims the spear at the desired target and releases grasp of both the sling holder and spear shaft, while retaining the sling. The spear is propelled through the water by the sling.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0025]    This invention may be more clearly understood with the following detailed description and by reference to the drawings in which:  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sling spear with a sling holder attached and the spear depicted is not in a cocked position;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sling spear with a sling holder attached and the sling spear depicted is in a cocked position;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a metal strap embodiment of the sling holder;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a metal strap embodiment of the sling holder of FIG. 3;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a hook and pile strap embodiment sling holder and its components showing the hook and pile strap, hook and pile strap lock and hook and pile strap lock pin;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a hook and pile strap embodiment of the sling holder of FIG. 5 attached to a sling spear;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 is a top view of a third embodiment of the invention, a unitary sling holder in a flattened condition;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 8 is a side view of the sling holder of FIGS. 9 and 10 fixedly attached to a sling shaft;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 9 is a top view of the sling holder of FIG. 8 wrapped around a sling spear shaft;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 10, which is comprised of FIGS. 10  a,    10   b,    10   c,    10   d,    10   e,  and  10   f,  is a perspective view of how a sling spear, adapted with a sling holder, is fired; and  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the tri-point spearhead generally used by sling spear fishermen.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0037]    Referring to the drawings in general, and in particular FIG. 1, which illustrates a sling spear holder  10  in accordance with the present invention, attached to a conventional sling spear  11 , said sling spear  11  having a spear shaft  16  with an elastic sling  12  attached to one end of the spear shaft  16 , and a spear point  13  located at the opposite end of the spear shaft  16 . In many sling spears  11 , the spear point  13  is actually comprised of three or more spear points  13 , best shown in FIG. 11. The sling spear  11 , depicted in FIG. 1, is not in a cocked or ready to fire position.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 2 also illustrates a conventional sling spear  11  with a sling spear holder  10  attached. The sling spear  11 , depicted in FIG. 2, is in a cocked or ready to fire position. The sling  12  in FIG. 2 is extended and held by the sling holder  10  at its grooved or notched  14  position.  
         [0039]    Because the sling spear shaft  16  is smooth, and the environment in which the sling spear  11  is used is wet, it can be difficult for the user to maintain a grip on the sling spear shaft  16  especially when ready to fire. Thus, a secondary benefit of this invention is the ability of the user to improve the user&#39;s hold of the sling spear  11  when ready to fire by using the sling holder  10  as a “handle”. The sling holder  10  is easier to grip than the smooth spear shaft  16  of the sling spear  11 .  
         [0040]    [0040]FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate more details of the sling holder  10 . The sling holder  10  of FIGS. 3 and 4 is designed or molded to provide a concave surface to conform to the shape  15  of most sling spear shafts  16  and may be made from a variety of materials, e.g., aluminum, nylon and plastic, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and styrene. The preferred materials, however, are nylon, plastic and stainless steel. The sling holder  10  is also designed with a notch  14  for receiving and holding the sling  12 . The notch is contoured to have generally rounded edges so as not to fray the sling  12 . Once the sling  12  is placed into the notch  14  of the sling holder  10 , the sling spear  11  is in a cocked or ready to fire position.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIGS. 3 and 4 depict one embodiment of the sling holder  10  wherein the holder  10  is attached to the sling spear  11  by way of a metal strap  20 . The first end of said metal strap  20  is rigidly attached to the sling holder  10  by a fastening means, such as screws, machine bolts or rivets, while the second or loose end of said metal strap  20  is tightly wrapped around the sling spear shaft  16  and rigidly attached to the sling holder  10  by a fastening means, such as screws, machine bolts or rivets. In the preferred embodiment, screws  21 S are used as the means for attaching the metal strap  20  to holder  10 .  
         [0042]    In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the distance of the point of attachment of the holder  10  from the point of attachment of the sling  12  may be adjusted by the fisherman before use by loosening, for example, screws  21 S, sliding the holder  10  along the spear shaft  16 , to the desired position, followed by tightening screws  21 S. Moving the holder  10  toward the spear point  13  increases the tension of the sling  12  when cocked, and thus the driving force of the spear  11  and, of course, moving the holder  10  toward the rear of the spear  11  reduces the tension on the sling  12  when cocked, and thus the driving force of the spear  11 . Hence, a tertiary benefit of the invention is the ability of the user to accurately predetermine the desired driving force of the spear  11  when fired. Such ability may aid in catching a particular type fish.  
         [0043]    Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, which illustrate yet another embodiment, a hook and pile strap sling holder  30 .  
         [0044]    Turning to FIG. 5, which illustrates the hook and pile strap sling holder  30 , with a hook and pile strap  31 , a hook and pile strap lock  32 , and a hook and a pile strap lock pin  33 . The hook and pile strap  31  has a hook and pile fastener  31  p located on the top side portion and under side portion of the strap  31 .  
         [0045]    The hook and pile strap sling holder  30  of FIGS. 5 and 6 is similar in size and shape to the holder  10  in FIGS.  3 - 4 . The hook and pile strap sling holder  30  of FIGS. 5 and 6 has one end of the hook and pile strap  31  attached to the outside of the top portion of the holder  30  by a fastening means, such as screws, rivets, machine bolts, or molded directly to holder  30 . The holder  30  also has an opening  43  through it for receiving the hook and pile strap  31 . The hook and pile strap sling holder  30  also has a pin opening  44  for receiving the strap lock pin  33 . The strap lock pin  33  is used to attach the hook and pile strap lock  32  to the back of the hook and pile strap sling holder  30 .  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 5 also illustrates the hook and pile strap lock  32 , which has a strap lock opening  40  for receiving the strap  31  and a pair of side tabs  45 , each with a tab opening  41  for receiving the strap lock pin  33  for securing the strap lock  32  to the hook and pile strap sling holder  30 . It is understood that the strap lock  32  may be attached to the holder  30  by other means, such as screws, machine bolts, rivets, and the like.  
         [0047]    Referring to FIG. 6, which illustrates the hook and pile strap sling holder  30  attached to a sling spear shaft  16 . The hook and pile strap sling holder  30  is fitted with a strap lock  32 , which is placed onto the outside back portion of the hook and pile sling holder  30 . Lock pin  33  secures the hook and pile strap lock  32  to the sling holder  30  at pin opening  44 . The strap lock  32  pivots about the strap lock pin  33 .  
         [0048]    To secure the hook and pile strap sling holder  30  to the sling spear shaft  16 , the loose end of the hook and pile strap  31  is placed around the sling spear shaft  16 , through the sling holder opening  43 , over the outside of the strap lock  32  through the strap lock opening  40  and pulled tight to rigidly fix the sling holder  30  to the spear shaft  16 . The strap lock  32  locks the strap  31  in place and securely attaches the hook and pile sling holder to the spear shaft  16 . Finally, to eliminate the loose end of the hook and pile strap  31 , it is attached onto itself at the hook and pile surface  31  p, FIG. 6.  
         [0049]    The hook and pile strap embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 is used in the same manner as the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 but has the added feature of being readily adjusted in position along a spear shaft  16  without the use of tools as the strap holder  30  may be moved from spear to spear merely by:  
         [0050]    1) loosening the end of strap  31 ,  
         [0051]    2) releasing the strap lock  32 , and  
         [0052]    3) removing the holder  30  from one spear,  
         [0053]    4) placing the holder  30  onto a different sling spear  11 ,  
         [0054]    5) wrapping the strap  31  around the spear shaft  16 , through the sling holder opening  43  over the strap lock  32 , through the strap lock opening  40 ,  
         [0055]    6) pulling the strap  31  tight,  
         [0056]    7) snapping the strap lock  32  closed, then  
         [0057]    8) fastening the loose end of strap  31  onto itself.  
         [0058]    It is recognized that the sling holder can also be fabricated from a single metal or plastic piece, which is designed in a U-shape and secured to itself by any fastening means, such as screws, bolts or rivets after it is placed around the spear shaft. Such an embodiment may be the most economical to manufacture. Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 9.  
         [0059]    Since the filing of the provisional patent application, applicant has improved the invention, whereby FIG. 7 illustrates a flat, unitary piece sling holder  50 , which is similar in size and shape to holder  10  in FIGS. 3 and 4, and holder  30  in FIGS. 5 and 6. Sling holder  50  may be made from a variety of materials so long as they are resistant to the liquid environment, strong enough to grasp and maintain the sling  12  in a taut condition, and finally pliable enough to be folded around and conform to the shape of the spear shaft  16 . Folding the sling holder  50  gives it a U-shape as discussed above. FIG. 7 also illustrates the openings  51  in holder  50  through which sling holder  50  is fixedly attached to spear shaft  16 . The strap  52  may be of varied lengths to adapt to different diameter spear shafts.  
         [0060]    In another embodiment, FIG. 7 may be made in two parts  80  and connected to itself by way of a strap  81  or fastened by hook and pile or other means.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 8 illustrates the sling holder  50  of FIG. 7 wrapped around a spear shaft  16 .  
         [0062]    Turning now to FIG. 9, which illustrates the sling holder  50  wrapped around spear shaft  16  and attached to itself at opening  51  by any fastening means, such as screws  60 .  
         [0063]    Now referring in general to FIG. 10, and specifically to FIG. 10 a,  which depicts the sling spear  11  with a sling holder  10  in a cocked position. For the purposes of the demonstration, sling holder  10  will be used; however, sling holders  30  and  50  may be substituted and are used in exactly the same manner. This allows the fisherman the freedom to maneuver through the water without having to hold the sling  12  taut against the spear shaft  16 .  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 10 b  depicts the traditional manner in which a “right-handed” sling spear fisherman begins the process of readying the sling spear for firing. The non-firing hand tightly holds the sling spear shaft  16  in a location, which will not interfere with the removal of the sling  12  from the sling holder  10 . With his firing hand, the fisherman places the sling between his thumb and forefinger (FIGS. 10  b  and  10   c ) and pulls the sling  12  toward the spear tip a sufficient distance to allow removal of the sling  12  from the slinger holder  10  (FIG. 10 d ). While the spear shaft  16  is held in the fisherman&#39;s non-firing hand, the fisherman tightly grasps the slinger holder  10  with either the fingers or thumb of the firing hand; and with the balance of his firing hand, the fisherman grasps the spear shaft  16  (FIGS. 10  e  and  10   f ). Once the sling holder  10  and spear shaft  16  are grasped with the firing hand, the non-firing hand can be removed from the spear shaft  16 .  
         [0065]    The spear sling holder  10  now acts as a “handle” or “trigger” for the fisherman (FIGS. 10  e  and  10   f ), allowing the fisherman to hold onto something more than the smooth shaft  16  of the sling spear  11 . Now all that the fisherman must do is to aim the sling spear  11  and release his grip of the spear sling holder  10  and spear shaft  16 , while simultaneously holding onto the sling  12 . The sling spear  11  is propelled through the water by the sling  12 .  
         [0066]    The above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. The scope of the present invention instead shall be determined from the scope of the following claims including their equivalents.