Toy slingshot device for launching a projectile

A slingshot device includes a missile and a launcher for launching the missile, the launcher including a handle adapted to be grasped by a user, an elastic strap for projecting the missile, the elastic strap having a first end connected with the handle and a second free end, a launching wedge affixed to the free end of the strap for releasably coupling the free end of the elastic strap with the missile such that upon drawing the free end back away from the handle and then releasing the free end the missile is accelerated forward and launched beyond the handle, and a somewhat flexible control tube connected to the handle for restraining any uncontrolled whipping about of the elastic strap and essentially precluding travel of the free end of the elastic strap forward beyond the handle, the control tube essentially surrounding at least a portion of the length of the elastic strap so that the elastic strap is retracted within the control tube upon launching of the projectile and is precluded from following the projectile beyond the handle.

The present invention relates generally to slingshot devices and pertains, 
more specifically, to a toy slingshot device having safety measures 
designed to prevent injury to a user and to any bystander in the vicinity. 
Slingshot devices for launching projectiles are well-known. One type of 
slingshot includes a handle with an elastic strap, one end of which is 
secured to the handle while the other end is free. The user holds the 
handle and releasably couples a projectile with the free end of the 
elastic strap. Then, the projectile is pulled back, away from the handle, 
to stretch the elastic strap. When the projectile is released, the elastic 
strap returns rapidly from the stretched condition to its relaxed 
condition, accelerating the projectile and launching the projectile 
forward beyond the handle. 
However, for a number of reasons, toy manufacturers have been reluctant to 
produce slingshot devices for children. One reason is that after the 
elastic strap is released and the projectile is launched, the elastic 
strap itself has a tendency to whip about, and especially to travel 
forward beyond the handle, presenting a hazard in that the free end of the 
elastic strap becomes free to strike another child in the vicinity, in the 
eye or another part of the body, causing injury to the other child. In 
addition, children are tempted to use a slingshot device to launch 
dangerous objects, such as pebbles, rocks, or paper clips and the like, 
such use being especially attractive where a hook or some other readily 
coupled launching arrangement is made available at the free end of the 
elastic strap. 
The present invention provides a slingshot device which avoids many of the 
problems encountered in the above-outlined slingshot devices and exhibits 
several objects and advantages, some of which may be summarized as 
follows. First, the use of a somewhat flexible control tube surrounding 
the elastic band so as to enable retraction of the elastic band into the 
control tube upon the launching of a projectile prevents uncontrolled 
whipping about of the elastic strap, and especially precludes the elastic 
strap from travelling forward beyond the handle, during the launching 
operation, while still providing sufficient flexibility so as not to 
impede the launching operation. Second, the use of layers of closely sewn 
together elastic material to form the elastic strap provides an 
appropriate and effective integrated elastic component, while assuring 
that no open loops are available at the free end of the elastic strap for 
coupling an unauthorized object, such as a pebble, a rock or a paper clip, 
for launching. Further assurance against the coupling of such an 
unauthorized object with the elastic strap is provided by a specific 
coupling arrangement in which a launching wedge is affixed at the free end 
of the elastic strap, the configuration of the launching wedge being such 
that a child is precluded from hooking or otherwise coupling an 
unauthorized object, such as a paper clip, onto the elastic strap. 
The above objects and advantages, as well as further objects and 
advantages, are attained by the present invention which may be described 
briefly as improvements in a slingshot device of the type including a 
projectile to be launched, the projectile having an engagement device, and 
a launcher for launching the projectile, the launcher including a handle 
for being grasped by a user, an elastic strap for launching the 
projectile, the elastic strap having a first end affixed to the handle and 
a second end free to move relative to the handle, a releasable attachment 
for releasably coupling the free end of the elastic strap to the 
engagement device of the projectile such that drawing the free end 
rearward away from the handle to extend the elastic strap from a relaxed 
condition to a stretched condition and then releasing the free end to 
enable relatively rapid contraction of the elastic strap from the 
stretched condition to the relaxed condition causes the projectile to be 
accelerated forward and launched beyond the handle, and a generally 
tubular member for essentially preventing movement of the free end of the 
elastic strap forward of the handle, the tubular member essentially 
surrounding at least a portion of the elastic strap so that the elastic 
strap retracts into the tubular member upon contraction of the elastic 
strap and launching of the projectile and is precluded from following the 
projectile beyond the handle. Preferably, the tubular member has one end 
affixed to the handle and is constructed of a somewhat flexible material 
so as not to impede the launching operation. The elastic strap preferably 
is constructed of a plurality of superposed layers of elastic material 
sewn together to effectively form an integrated elastic component. 
The releasable attachment includes a launching wedge fixed to the free end 
of the elastic strap, and the engagement device includes an engagement 
track for receiving a portion of the launching wedge. More specifically, 
the projectile is a missile having an elongate cylindrical body 
constructed of a soft foamed synthetic polymeric material, and the 
engagement track includes a substantially U-shaped retainer fixed to an 
outer surface of the cylindrical body for receiving a portion of the 
launching wedge. The substantially U-shaped retainer also includes outer 
flanges for securing the launching wedge against release in a direction 
extending radially from the cylindrical body.

Referring now to the drawing, a slingshot device constructed in accordance 
with the present invention is illustrated generally at 10. Slingshot 
device 10 includes at least one projectile in the form of a missile 12 to 
be launched. Missile 12 has an elongate cylindrical body 14 including a 
front end in the form of an essentially conical tip 16. For safety 
purposes, cylindrical body 14 and conical tip 16 preferably are formed as 
a unitary structure made from a soft foamed synthetic polymeric material, 
such as an expanded polyethylene In order to increase aerial stability, 
three fins 18 are secured equiangularly about the outer surface of 
cylindrical body 14 adjacent the rear end of the cylindrical body 14, each 
fin 18 extending in the axial direction and projecting radially from 
cylindrical body 14. Fins 18 also preferably are made of a soft foamed 
synthetic polymeric material, such as an expanded polyethylene or the 
like. 
A coupling means in the form of a rigid engagement track 20 is located on 
the outer surface of cylindrical body 14, immediately rearward of conical 
tip 16. Engagement track 20 includes a substantially U-shaped retainer 22 
secured to the outer surface of cylindrical body 14. Specifically, 
substantially U-shaped retainer 22 includes a bottom wall 24 which is 
secured on the outer surface of cylindrical body, and parallel, spaced 
apart side walls 26 and 28 connected to and extending outwardly from 
opposite sides of bottom wall 24 so as to be substantially perpendicular 
to bottom wall 24. The upper free ends of side walls 26 and 28 have 
inwardly turned retaining flanges 30 and 32, respectively, which extend 
toward each other. A gap 34 is defined between the free ends of flanges 30 
and 32. 
Slingshot device 10 further includes a launcher 36 for launching missile 
12. Launcher 36 includes a handle 38 having a lower grasping section 40 
adapted to be grasped by a user 41, as shown in FIG. 1, and an upper 
securement housing 42, which will be described in greater detail 
hereinafter. Grasping section 40 includes a generally cylindrical body 44, 
preferably molded of a durable plastic material. Two substantially 
semi-circular holders 46 are secured to opposite sides at the upper 
portion of cylindrical body 44, each having a diameter slightly smaller 
than corresponding portions of the cylindrical body 14 of missile 12 for 
releasably holding two missiles 12 clipped to the body 44 at storage 
locations, as depicted in phantom in FIG. 2. 
Upper securement housing 42 is connected to the upper end of lower grasping 
section 40 and is formed of two half shells 48 and 50 which establish an 
internal cavity 52 when secured together. Half shells 48 and 50 can be 
secured together by any suitable means. For example, a bolt (not shown) 
can be inserted within an opening 54 in one half shell 48 and threadedly 
engaged within a threaded opening (not shown) in the other half shell 48. 
It will be appreciated that grasping section 40 can be formed in a similar 
manner so that a lip (not shown) at the upper edge of grasping section 40 
can engage a lower flange (not shown) of securement housing 42 for 
connecting securement housing 42 to grasping section 40. 
Launcher 36 also includes an elongate elastic strap 56 which preferably is 
made up of a plurality of layers 58 of elastic material bound together, as 
by sewing, to provide the desired elastic characteristics in elastic strap 
56. It is noted that layers 58, when so bound together, effectively form 
one integrated elastic component, such that no opening is available in the 
elastic strap 56 for a child to insert or otherwise couple an unauthorized 
object, such as a pebble, a rock, a paper clip or the like, with the 
elastic strap for launching. 
One end of elastic strap 56 is secured to securement housing 42 in any 
suitable manner. As one example of such a securement, half shell 48 can be 
formed with two parallel, spaced apart walls 60, each having a U-shaped 
recess 62 at its free end. A pin 64 is held within recesses 62. In order 
to prevent escape of pin 64, restraining walls 66 are provided in the 
other half shell 50, with restraining walls 66 functioning to close 
recesses 62. Thus, pin 64 is captured within the confines of recesses 62. 
With such an arrangement, one end of elastic strap 56 extends through an 
opening 68 of half shell 48, and pin 64 extends through the one end of 
elastic strap 56 so as to hold that end within cavity 52 of securement 
housing 42. 
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, further coupling 
means, shown in the form of a flat launching wedge 70, is fixed to the 
free end of elastic strap 56 such that no freely engaged loop is available 
in elastic strap 56. For example, a tight link 72 is formed at the free 
end of elastic strap 56 for attaching and securing launching wedge 70 to 
the elastic strap 56. In that case, link 72 is strongly secured to the 
upper and lower surfaces of launching wedge 70, as by stitching or with an 
adhesive, and launching wedge 70 is dimensioned to fit snugly within link 
72, so that a child cannot couple any unauthorized object, such as a 
pebble, a rock or a paper clip, to the elastic strap 56 for launching. 
It will be appreciated that launching wedge 70 is configured and 
dimensioned, as shown in FIG. 5, to wedge into the rear open end of 
U-shaped retainer 22 of engagement track 20 during the launching 
operation. In such case, retaining flanges 30 and 32 secure launching 
wedge 70 against movement in a direction extending radially from the 
cylindrical body 14 of the missile 12, thereby preventing escape of 
launching wedge 70 from U-shaped retainer 22 in the radial direction. 
With the aforementioned arrangement, the user 41 grasps cylindrical body 44 
of handle 38 at a position below semi-circular missile holders 46, with 
one hand. With the other hand, the user inserts launching wedge 70 
partially through the rear open end of U-shaped retainer 22 such that 
launching wedge 70 and U-shaped retainer 22 function as a releasable 
coupling between the elastic strap 56 and the missile 12. Then, the user 
pulls rearward on missile 12, that is, back away from handle 38, drawing 
the missile 12 back and extending the elastic strap 56 from a relaxed 
condition, as seen in FIG. 2,. toward a stretched condition, as 
illustrated in FIG. 1, until a desired stretch is attained in elastic 
strap 56. The missile 12 subsequently is released, freeing the elastic 
strap 56 for contraction and return to the relaxed condition. Upon 
releasing missile 12, elastic strap 56 contracts rapidly, accelerating 
missile 12 and flinging the missile 12 forward of handle 38 to launch the 
missile 12 beyond the handle 38 with a force determined by the 
aforementioned rearward stretch of elastic strap 56. 
However, as discussed above, with conventional slingshot devices, after the 
elastic strap is released, the elastic strap has a tendency to whip about 
in an uncontrolled manner, and especially to travel forwardly of the 
handle. Such uncontrolled movement is dangerous since the free end of the 
elastic strap could strike another child, in the eye or elsewhere, causing 
injury to the other child. Therefore, in accordance with another aspect of 
the present invention, a restraining means in the form of a restraining 
control tube 74 is provided for restraining uncontrolled movement of the 
elastic strap 56 and essentially precluding movement of the free end of 
elastic strap 56 forward beyond the handle 38. More specifically, control 
tube 74 extends rearward from the securement housing 42 and is arranged so 
as to surround at least a portion of elastic strap 56. In a preferred 
arrangement, control tube 74 extends along approximately four-fifths of 
the length of elastic strap 56 when the elastic strap 56 is in the relaxed 
condition and is retracted into the tube 74. Control tube 74 can be made 
of any suitable material which retains its shape in the absence of an 
external force, but which is somewhat flexible when bent by a user during 
a launching operation so as not to impede the launching operation. For 
example, control tube 74 can be made of a synthetic polymeric material, 
such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride). 
The forward end of restraining control tube 74 preferably is fixed relative 
to the forward end of elastic strap 56. One example for obtaining such 
arrangement is shown in FIG. 3 in which control tube 74 extends, in 
surrounding relation, through opening 68, and pin 64 also extends through 
the forward end of control tube 74 to affix this end within securement 
housing 42. However, the present invention is not so limited with respect 
to the attachment of control tube 74. For example, restraining control 
tube 74 can be secured to elastic strap 56, or even can be arranged on 
elastic strap 56 so as to prevent sliding movement without the control 
tube 74 being secured to elastic strap 56 or securement housing 42. 
Thus, elastic strap 56, when pulled rearward to the stretched condition, 
extends well beyond control tube 74. After the free end of elastic strap 
56 is released in the launching operation, elastic strap 56 contracts, due 
to its elastic nature, and returns rapidly to the relaxed condition. 
However, because of the surrounding arrangement of control tube 74, 
elastic strap 56 returns to the position shown in FIG. 2, retracted within 
control tube 74. In this manner, control tube 74 exerts control over 
unwanted movements of the elastic strap 56, and essentially prevents 
movement of elastic strap 56 forwardly of handle 38, without impeding the 
launching operation. Thus, a child can safely use slingshot device 10 
without fear of injury to himself or to anyone else in the vicinity. 
It is to be understood that the above detailed description of a preferred 
embodiment of the invention is provided by way of example only. Various 
details of design and construction may be modified without departing from 
the true spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended 
claims.