Abstract:
Net launching gun apparatus includes a receiver for firing a cartridge having therein a gas propellant, a stock connected to one end of the action and including recoil absorbing elements therein, and a barrel assembly connected to the opposite end of the action which receives the gas propellant and directs the gas propellant to an appropriate barrel assembly in which is disposed weights which are connected to a net. The barrel assembly preferably includes four separate barrels, each of which receives a weight connected to one corner of a four cornered net disposed between the four barrels.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to tools or guns firing non-lethal projectiles and, more particularly, to tools or guns used for launching nets for capturing live game.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    For capturing live game, several different methods have been used, such as trapping the game in various types of traps. Such traps include traps large enough to contain the entire animal or traps which are designed to hold a particular part of an animal, such as paw or leg, until the animal can be tranquilized for capture.  
           [0005]    For capturing animals while the animals are moving, nets have been suggested. For the employment of nets, two types have been employed primarily. The first type is used in the prior art for capturing birds by enticing the birds into a particular location. At a time when a maximum number of birds are in a predetermined perimeter, a net which is folded along one side and connected to a plurality of projectiles, each of which is spaced apart from each other, and all of which are aligned generally parallel to each other, is caused to move upwardly and over the animals, carrying the net in an arcuate manner over the birds, thus trapping the birds underneath the net. For this type of apparatus, the net is anchored along one edge, and the net if folded or nested along that edge so that upon the firing of the projectiles connected to the free end of the net, the net moves outwardly and unfolds as it moves outwardly in a relatively straight or aligned manner. Since the net must be fixed at one end, it is obvious that a bird, or other animal which is trapped by the net, must be within a specific locale and must not be able to escape from that locale while the net is moving. This type, used mostly on birds, may also be used on other animals providing the animal can be enticed within the specified area. Obviously, such apparatus is not portable or cannot be taken to a moving animal. Rather, the animal must be brought to the net.  
           [0006]    The apparatus of the present invention is easily transported, both by land and by air, and may thus be used to capture a moving animal.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The invention described and claimed herein comprises a gun utilizing expanding gases from a cartridge. The gases from the fired cartridge are conveyed from the cartridge to a manifold of a barrel assembly where the gases are used to move projectiles down a plurality of barrels. With four barrels, each of which includes a projectile, a net connected to the projectiles is launched at a moving animal. The apparatus includes a recoil absorbing assembly to minimize the “kick” of the apparatus when the cartridge is fired.  
           [0008]    Among the objects of the present invention are the following:  
           [0009]    To provide new and useful gun apparatus;  
           [0010]    To provide new and useful net launching gun apparatus;  
           [0011]    To provide new and useful gun apparatus for launching a projectile by gas from a cartridge;  
           [0012]    To provide new and useful net launching gun apparatus having a plurality of barrels, each of which barrel includes a projectile secured to a net;  
           [0013]    To provide new and useful gun apparatus having a recoil absorbing assembly in a stock;  
           [0014]    To provide new and useful apparatus having a plurality of barrels for launching a net; and  
           [0015]    To provide new and useful apparatus for transmitting gas from a cartridge to a barrel for launching a projectile disposed in the barrel. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a view in partial section of the apparatus taken generally along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a side view in partial section of a portion of the apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in partial section of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 3, taken generally from Circle  4  of FIG. 3.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in partial section of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is a side view of a net holding bucket usable with the apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 6.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is a side view of a projectile usable with the apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 is an end view of the projectile of FIG. 8.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 is a plan view of net launched by the apparatus of FIG. 1.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 comprises a side view of net launching gun apparatus  10  of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view in partial section of a portion of the net launching gun apparatus  10  taken generally along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side view in partial section of a portion of the gun apparatus  10 . FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view in partial section of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 3, taken generally from Circle  4  of FIG. 3, showing details which are not clear from FIGS. 1, 2, and  3 . For the following discussion, reference will primarily be made to FIGS. 1, 2,  3 , and  4 .  
         [0027]    The gun apparatus  10  includes a stock  12 . A pistol grip  14  extends downwardly from the stock  12 . A trigger  16  extends downwardly from the stock  12  and a trigger guard  18  is disposed about the trigger  16  between the stock  12  and the pistol grip  14 .  
         [0028]    At the front of the stock  12  is a front grip  20 . The front grip  20  extends forwardly and downwardly from the stock  12 .  
         [0029]    At the upper portion of the stock  12  is a receiver  30 . The receiver  30  is a standard, well known receiver, with a chamber for receiving a single cartridge. A bolt  32  provides communication with the chamber, and, of course, locks the cartridge in the receiver. As is well known and understood, the trigger  16  is mechanically connected to a firing pin and the other well known elements associated with a firing a cartridge.  
         [0030]    A relatively short barrel  34  communicates with the cartridge chamber through which combustion gases from the firing of the cartridge flow to a barrel assembly  50 . The barrel assembly  50  includes a manifold  51  which has four arms  54 ,  56 ,  58 , and  60 . A manifold barrel  52  is aligned with the barrel  34 . The manifold barrel  52  is secured to the barrel  34  by a jam nut  40 .  
         [0031]    Within the manifold  51  is a bore  62  which communicates with bores in the barrels  34  and  52 . Each of the arms  54 ,  56 ,  58 , and  60  includes a manifold runner which also communicates with the bore  62 . The runners, shown in dashed line in FIG. 2, include runners  64 ,  66 ,  68 , and  70 , for the arms  54 ,  56 ,  58 , and  60 , respectively.  
         [0032]    Extending outwardly from the distal ends of the arms are internally threaded bosses to which are secured launch barrels. The four bosses extend outwardly at acute angles from the arms. The bosses include a boss  84 , a boss  86 , a boss  88 , and a boss  90  for the arms  54 ,  56 ,  58 , and  60 , respectively.  
         [0033]    The launch barrels include a launch barrel  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110 , which are secured to the bosses  84 ,  86 ,  88 , and  90 , respectively. The launch barrels are externally threaded and matingly engage their respective internally threaded bosses. Jam nuts are used to insure that the launch barrels are secured to their respective bosses and arms. The jam nuts shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and  4  include jam nuts  114  and  118  for the launch barrels and boss pairs  84 - 104  and  88 - 108 , respectively. The launch barrels communicate with the respective manifold runners for receiving the expanding gases from the fired cartridge to propel projectiles, connected to a net, outwardly . This will be discussed indetail below.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 5 is a side view in partial section through a portion or the gun apparatus  10  of FIG. 1 showing a recoil absorbing assembly  150 . The recoil absorbing assembly extends rearwardly from the stock  12 . For the following discussion, reference will primarily be made to FIGS. 1 and 5.  
         [0035]    Within the stock  12  is a shoulder  152 . Extending rearwardly from the shoulder  152  is a bore  154 . The bore  154  extends to a counterbore  156 . The counterbore  156  terminates at a rear shoulder  158  of the stock  12 .  
         [0036]    Within the bore  154  and extending partially into the counterbore  156  is an internally threaded bushing  160 . An outwardly extending flange  162  of the bushing  160  is disposed against the shoulder  152 .  
         [0037]    A tube  170  is disposed rearwardly of the stock  12  and extends into the counterbore  156  and against a flat washer  166  which is disposed against the shoulder  158 . The tube  170  includes a bore  172 . Within the bore  172 , and spaced apart a slight distance from the shoulder  158 , is a block  176 . The block  176  is appropriately secured within the bore  172 , as by welding. A bore  178  extends through the block  176 . The bore  178  is aligned with the internally threaded bore in the bushing  160 .  
         [0038]    A movable sleeve  180  extends partially into the bore  172 . The sleeve  180  includes a bore  182 . Within the bore  182  is a block  184 . The block  184  is appropriately secured to the sleeve  180 , as by welding. Extending through the block  184  is a bore  186 . Extending through the bore  186  is a rod  190 . The rod  190  includes a cap  192  at one end, with the cap  192  disposed against a washer  194 , and the washer  194  is in turn disposed against the block  184 . The cap  192  secures one end of the rod  190  to the block  184  and accordingly to the sleeve  180 . The opposite end of the rod  190 , remote from the block  184 , is threaded and extends through the block  176  and into the internally threaded bore of the bushing  160 . A washer  196  and a nut  198  are used to insure the securement of the threaded portion of the rod  190  to the bushing  160 .  
         [0039]    A compression spring  210  is disposed within the bores  172  and  182  between the blocks  176  and  184 . A washer  212  is disposed against the nut  198  at one end of the spring  210  to connect the spring  210  to the block  176 , and a washer  214  is disposed against the block  184  at the opposite end of the spring  210  to connect the spring to the block  184 . The purpose of the spring  210  is to absorb recoil energy from the firing of the apparatus  10 . The rod  190  may move through the bore  186  of the block  184  as relative motion between the tube  170  and the sleeve  180  takes place, as will be discussed in more detail below.  
         [0040]    At the end of the sleeve  180 , remote from the stock  12 , is a shoulder stock  220 , and a pad  222  is secured to the stock  220 . A flexible sleeve  230  is disposed over the sleeve  180  and the tube  170 . The flexible sleeve  230  extends from the shoulder stock  220  onto the tube  170 .  
         [0041]    Upon the firing of the apparatus  10 , recoil energy causes the stock  12  to move rearwardly. The rearward movement is transmitted through the spring  210  to the sleeve  180 . The rearward movement of the stock  12  and the tube  170  causes the spring  210  to compress and to absorb the recoil energy. At the same time, there is movement of the sleeve  180  relative to the stock  12  and the tube  170 , as the spring  190  compresses and extends as the recoil energy is imparted to it. The rod  190  moves through the block  184  as the relative motion occurs under the force of the spring  210  and the attendant recoil energy.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 6 is a side view of a net holding bucket or basket  240 . FIG. 7 is a front view of the bucket or basket  240  of FIG. 6. For the following discussion, reference will primarily be made to FIGS. 6 and 7.  
         [0043]    The bucket  240  includes a rear wall  242  and four side walls  244 ,  248 ,  252 , and  256 . The side walls taper outwardly slightly from the rear wall  242 . At the juncture of the side walls, there are four tapering recesses which receive the four barrels. The recesses include a recess  246  at the juncture of the walls  244  and  248 , a recess  250  at the juncture of the walls  248  and  252 , a recess  254  at the juncture of the walls  252  and  256 , and a recess  258  at the juncture of the walls  256  and  244 . In FIG. 5, barrels  104  and  104  are shown in dash dot line extending into the junctures  246  and  250 , respectively.  
         [0044]    The bucket  240  is generally symmetrical, and accordingly may be disposed easily within the barrels.  
         [0045]    For launching a net, projectiles are disposed in the barrels. FIG. 8 is a side view of a projectile  270 , and FIG. 9 is an end view of the projectile  270 . For the following discussion, reference will primarily be made to FIGS. 8 and 9.  
         [0046]    The projectile  270  includes a generally cylindrical body  272 , separated by a circumferentially extending groove  276  from a rounded nose  274 . Remote from the nose  274 , at the rear of the body  272  is a shoulder  278 . Extending outwardly from the shoulder  278  is a tab  280 . An aperture  282  extends through the tab  280 . The aperture  280  receives a flexible line that secures a net to the projectile. The groove  276  may receive a sealing o-ring to help hold the gases from escaping around the projectiles as the projectiles are propelled from the respective barrels. The o-rings also help to hold the projectiles in the barrels prior to firing by providing a frictional engagement between the projectiles and the barrels.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 10 is a plan view of a net  290  which may be launched from the apparatus  10 . The net  290  is shown as a generally square element. However, it is obvious that various configurations may be used for a net. At the corners of the net  290  are flexible lines  292 . At the ends of the lines  292 , remote from the net  290 , are projectiles  270 .  
         [0048]    In operation, a bucket or basket  240  is disposed within the four barrels  104 ,  106 , etc. The bucket or basket  240  may be secured by any convenient fastening elements, such as hook and loop fasteners, straps, etc. A net  290  is then loaded into the bucket  240  and tape, such as shown in FIG. 1 by reference numerals  300  and  302 , may be used to secure the net within the bucket. The use of the tape strips  300  and  302  holds the net  290  in the bucket  240  and yet allows the net to be launched easily from the apparatus  10 .  
         [0049]    A projectile  270 , secured to the net  290  by a line  292 , is then placed in each barrel. With four barrels, four projectiles  270  are required.  
         [0050]    A blank cartridge is loaded into the receiver by drawing the bolt  32  upwardly and rearwardly, as is well known and understood. Typically, closing the bolt also cocks the firing mechanism, as is also well known and understood.  
         [0051]    After aiming the apparatus  10 , pulling the trigger fires the cartridge and the gases from the cartridge flow as discussed above into the four barrels. The gases then propel the projectiles  270  outwardly from the barrels, and the lines  292  connected to the projectiles  270  and to the net  290  launch the net from the bucket  240 .  
         [0052]    While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such modifications, within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.