APPARATUS FOR PROJECTING AN OBJECT

Abstract: Apparatus (2) for firing an object, which apparatus (2) comprises a body portion (4), a front fork formation (6), a rear fork formation (8), receptacle means (12) for receiving the object, and resilient means (14) for projecting the receptacle means (12) forwardly in order to fire the object out of the receptacle means (12) and away from the apparatus (2), the resilient means (14) being such that it is connected to the front fork formation (6) and extends rearwardly past the rear fork formation (8), and the distance between the front fork formation (6) and the rear fork formation (8) being such that slack in the resilient means (14) after firing of the apparatus (2) is controlled.

Description: APPARATUS FOR PROJECTING AN OBJECT. This invention relates to apparatus for firing an object . Apparatus such for example as catapults is well known. The apparatus has receptacle means for receiving the object and resilient means for projecting the receptacle means forwardly in order to fire the object out of the receptacle means and away from the apparatus. The known apparatus is used for firing a wide range of objects ranging, for example, from stones for target practice to bait for use in fishing. In the known apparatus, the receptacle means is pulled back in order to stretch the resilient means. The receptacle means is then released and firing takes place. After firing the resilient means becomes slack. As the resilient means becomes slack, it can be dangerous, for example striking the person firing the object. It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem. Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for firing an object, which apparatus comprises a body portion, a front fork formation, a rear fork formation, receptacle means for receiving the object, and resilient means for projecting the receptacle means forwardly in order to fire the object out of the receptacle means and away from the apparatus, the resilient means being such that it is connected to the front fork formation and extends rearwardly past the rear fork formation, and the distance between the front fork formation and the rear fork formation being such that slack in the resilient means after firing of the apparatus is controlled. The apparatus of the invention is such that immediately after firing, the distance between the front fork formation and the rear fork formation controls any tendency of the slack resilient means to flap about in a haphazard and dangerous manner. This helps to avoid injury to the person using the apparatus . Usually, the apparatus will be one in which the rear fork formation is in line with the front fork formation. This facilitates pulling the resilient means in a straight line, which in turn facilitates firing of the object over long distances and with good accuracy. The front fork formation is preferably larger than the rear fork formation. If desired however the front fork formation may be substantially the same size as the rear fork formation, or the rear fork formation may be larger than the front fork formation. The resilient means preferably extends through the rear fork formation. The apparatus may be one in which the body portion is an elongate body portion, and in which the receptacle means is positioned outside the elongate body portion. Access to the receptacle means is then easily obtained, for example for loading purposes or cleaning purposes . The receptacle means is preferably slidably mounted along the outside of the body portion. Such slidable mounting of the receptacle means facilitates accurate firing, in addition to having the receptacle means easily accessible. In a presently preferred construction of the apparatus, the body portion comprises a pair of members which are of circular cross section, and which are positioned one above the other in use of the apparatus. Other constructions for the body portion may be employed. The apparatus of the invention may include guard means positioned between the front fork formation and the rear fork formation. The guard means helps to guard against injury from the resilient means. The guard means is also able to keep the resilient means appropriately aligned for enabling the resilient means quickly to resume its normal state ready for being pulled back for another firing operation. The guard means further acts to hide much of the resilient means and this may be preferred for cosmetic purposes. Preferably, the guard means is formed by tubular members extending between the front and the rear forks. There may be two or three of the tubular members. Other constructions for the guard means may be employed. Preferably, the receptacle means is a rearwardly tapering receptacle means. Such a receptacle means is able firmly to receive objects of different sizes. If desired, other types of receptacle means may be employed. The receptacle means may be mounted on a carriage which slides along the outside of the body portion. The apparatus may include gripper means for being gripped for pulling the receptacle means rearwardly prior to firing. Firing is then effected simply by releasing the gripper means. Firing will usually be a two handed operation, with one hand holding an appropriate part of the body portion, for example a handle part, and the other hand pulling the receptacle means rearwardly and releasing it for firing. The apparatus of the invention may include sight means for accurate firing. The sight means may be just a front sight or, alternatively, the sight means may be front and rear sights. The apparatus of the invention may include adjustable distance-indicator means which is locateable at different positions along the body portion, the different positions each being the distance that the receptacle means needs to be pulled back in order to fire the object a predetermined distance. The different positions will usually be marked with firing distances. The apparatus may include a shoulder rest portion for resting the apparatus against a person's shoulder during firing. The use of the shoulder rest portion may give greater accuracy of firing. The resilient means will usually be a resilient elastic means. The resilient elastic means is preferably made of rubber. The resilient elastic means may be a single length of material, or it may be two, three or more lengths of material as may be desired. The object fired by the apparatus of the present invention may be any suitable and appropriate type of object for any suitable and appropriate type of use. Thus, for example, the object may be bait for use in fishing The apparatus is especially useful for firing bait for carp such for example as bait known as boilieε . The bait may also be sweetcorn. Live bait for other types of fish may also be fired. If the apparatus is to be used as a simple catapult for target practice. In all cases, the apparatus is able to be used to give good firing accuracy over long distances, and without danger from an unguarded resilient means. Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows part of first apparatus of the invention from above and one side; Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of part of the apparatus as shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows second apparatus of the invention from one side and behind; and Figure 5 shows the apparatus of Figure 4 from above and behind. Referring to Figures 1 - 3, there is shown apparatus 2 for firing an object. The apparatus 2 comprises a body portion 4, a front fork formation 6 and a rear fork formation 8. The apparatus 2 also comprises guard means 10 positioned between the front fork formation 6 and the rear fork formation 8. The apparatus 2 has receptacle means 12 for receiving the object. Resilient means 14 is provided for projecting the receptacle means 12 forwardly in order to fire the object out of the receptacle means 12 and away from the apparatus 2. The resilient means 14 is such that it is connected to the front fork formation 6 by means of a pair of retaining pegs 16 which locate in the front fork formation 6. As can be seen from Figure 1, the resilient means 14 extends rearwardly from the front fork formation 6 through the guard means 10 and beyond the rear fork formation 8. As best seen from Figure 1, the rear fork formation 8 is in line with the front fork formation 6. As shown, the rear fork formation 8 is of substantially the same size as the front fork formation 6. If desired however the front fork formation 6 may be larger than the rear fork formation 8, or vice versa. The resilient means 14 extends through a pair of holes 18 in the rear fork formation 8. The body portion 4 is an elongate body portion 4. As best seen from Figure 3, the receptacle means 12 is positioned outside the body portion 4. More specifically, the receptacle means 12 is slidably mounted along the outside of the body portion 4. The body portion 4 comprises a pair of members 20, 22 which are of circular cross section and which are positioned one above the other in use of the apparatus 2. The guard means 10 is a pair of tubular members 24, 26. The tubular members 24, 26 extend between the front and the rear fork formations 6, 8. The receptacle means 12 is a rearwardly tapering receptacle means 12 as best seen from Figure 3. Such a rearwardly tapering receptacle means 12 is able to receive objects of different sizes in a firm manner, whilst still being able easily to release the objects at the end of a firing stroke of the resilient means 14. Also as best seen from Figure 3, the receptacle means 12 is mounted on a carriage 28 which slides along the outside of the body portion 4. Morre specifically, the carriage 28 slides along the outside of the top member 20 of the body portion 4. The apparatus 2 includes gripper means 30 for being gripped for pulling the receptacle means 12 rearwardly prior to firing. The gripper means 30 comprises a knob 32 and a piece of cord 34 which attaches the knob 32 to the receptacle means 12. The body portion 4 includes a handle 36 and sight means in the form of a front sight 38. The front sight 38 is able to give accurate firing. The apparatus 2 may include adjustable distance- indicator means (not shown) which is locateable at different positions long the body portion 4. The different positions are each the distance that the receptacle means 12 needs to be pulled back in order to fire the object a predetermined distance. The different positions will usually be given as distance markings. The adjustable distance-indicator means may be a clip device fitting around the body portion 4 or it may be some other device such for example as a resilient ring which can be rolled backwards and forwards along the body portion 4. The apparatus 2 includes a shoulder rest portion 40 for resting the apparatus 2 against a person's shoulder during firing. The shoulder rest portion 40 helps to give greater accuracy of firing, especially when using the front sight 38. The resilient means 14 is resilient elastic means in the form of a single length of rubber. The apparatus 2 is especially useful for firing bait for carp fishing. The bait is preferably a boilie but any other suitable types of bait may be fired. Live bait for other types of fish may also be fired. The apparatus 2 will usually be operated with a person holding the handle 36 in one hand and pulling back the knob 36 with the other hand. Because the receptacle means 12 is mounted on the outside of the body portion 4, it is easily accessible for loading and cleaning purposes. The relatively long length of the body portion 4 together with the front sight 38 and the shoulder rest portion 40 gives good accuracy of firing. The carriage 28 slides easily along the top member 20 and firing of objects with good accuracy over long distances is easily achievable. There is no danger from the resilient means 14 becoming slack and whipping immediately at the end of a firing stroke because the distance between the front fork formation 6 and the rear fork formation 8 is such that the slack is controlled. Also, the resilient means 14 is guarded by the guard means 10 and quickly gets guided back into a position of rest as shown in Figure 1. Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown second apparatus 2 for firing an object. Similar parts as in Figures 1 - 3 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. In Figures 4 and 5, the guard means 10 has three tubular members 24, 25, 26. Each tubular member 24, 25, 26 receives a separate piece of rubber material, with the three pieces of rubber material forming the resilient means 14. The receptacle means 12 is freely mounted and it does not slide on a carriage like the carriage 28 shown in Figure 3. There is no shoulder rest portion 40 and the apparatus 2 shown in Figures 4 and 5 is hand held and fired like a catapult or pistol. The front sight 38 is mounted on the end of a shaft 42. It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the body portion 4, the receptacle means 12 and the carriage 28 may be shaped differently than shown. The front and rear fork formations 6, 8 may also be shaped differently than shown. The apparatus 2 may also fire objects other than bait for fish so that, for example, the apparatus 2 may fire objects for target practice. If desired, the guard means 10 may be omitted.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for firing an object, which apparatus comprises a body portion, a front fork formation, a rear fork formation, receptacle means for receiving the object, and resilient means for projecting the receptacle means forwardly in order to fire the object out of the receptacle means and away from the apparatus, the resilient means being such that it is connected to the front fork formation and extends rearwardly past the rear fork formation, and the distance between the front fork formation and the rear fork formation being such that slack in the resilient means after firing of the apparatus is controlled. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the rear fork formation is in line with the front fork formation. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the resilient means extends through the rear fork formation. 4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body portion is an elongate body portion, and in which the receptacle means is positioned outside the elongate body portion. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the receptacle means is slidably mounted along the outside of the elongate body portion. 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which the body portion comprises a pair of members which are of circular cross section, and which are positioned one above the other in use of the apparatus . 7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including guard means positioned between the front fork formation and the rear fork formation. 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the guard means is formed by tubular members extending between the front and rear fork formations. 9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the receptacle means is a rearwardly tapering receptacle means. 10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the receptacle means is mounted on a carriage which slides along the outside of the body portion . 11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including gripper means for being gripped for pulling the receptacle means rearwardly prior to firing. 12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including sight means for accurate firing. 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the sight means is a front sight. 14. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including adjustable distance-indicator means which is locateable at different positions along the body portion, the different positions each being the distance that the receptacle means needs to be pulled back to in order to fire the object a predetermined distance. 15. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a shoulder rest portion for resting the apparatus against a person's shoulder during firing. 16. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the resilient means is a resilient elastic means . 17. Apparatus according to claim 16 in which the resilient elastic means is made of rubber. 18. Apparatus for firing an object, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings .

Inventors: ODGER BARRY JAMES WILLIAM, ODGER, BARRY, JAMES, WILLIAM
Applicants: ODGER BARRY JAMES WILLIAM, ODGER, BARRY, JAMES, WILLIAM
Application year: 1997
Main classification: F41B3
IPC codes: F41B3