Abstract:
A spear gun includes two spears disposed in laterally spaced relation to one another. A separate trigger is dedicated to each spear. Each spear is received within the lumen of a forward spear guide tube and a rearward spear guide tube. Each forward spear guide tube includes a laterally extending post to which is attached the forward end of an elastomeric member. The rearward end of each elastomeric member engages an inclined notch formed in the trailing end of its associated spear. The trailing end of each spear is notched and the notch is engaged by a mating notch formed in a pivotally mounted detent plate. Pulling a trigger pivots the detent plate so that the notches disengage and the bias on the elastomeric member unloads to propel the spear forwardly. A safety latch prevents pulling of the trigger by preventing pivoting of the detent plate.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates, generally, to spear guns of the type used in fishing. More particularly, it relates to a spear gun having a pair of spears disposed in lateral relation to one another. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The simplest spear gun includes a single spear but more advanced spear guns include two spears, mounted in an over-under arrangement. An example of such a spear gun is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,741,190 to Lopez. Two spears double the chances of a successful hunt. As depicted in Lopez, in an over-under spear gun, a first trigger is positioned directly in front of a second trigger. This can make finding the second trigger difficult when the user is in a hurry due to a missed or otherwise inadequate first shot. 
     A spear gun is an inherently dangerous instrument. However, the known spear guns either lack safety locks or have inadequate safety locks. 
     Moreover, the known spear guns are quite heavy and mechanically complex. Thus they require substantial maintenance. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a light-in-weight, simple yet elegant-in-design, durable spear gun construction that requires little maintenance, includes safety locks, and provides two spears, each of which has an easily accessible trigger. 
     However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the art could be advanced. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for an improved spear gun is now met by a new, useful, and nonobvious invention. The novel spear gun of this invention includes an elongate barrel having a first forward spear guide tube mounted to a leading end thereof. A second forward spear guide tube is mounted to a leading end of the elongate barrel in laterally spaced apart relation to the first forward spear guide tube. A first rearward spear guide tube is mounted to a trailing end of the elongate barrel in axial alignment with the first forward spear guide tube and a second rearward spear guide tube is mounted to a trailing end of the elongate barrel in laterally spaced apart relation to the first rearward spear guide tube and in axial alignment with the second forward spear guide tube. 
     A first spear is adapted to have a trailing end thereof slidingly received within a lumen of the first rearward spear guide tube and a leading end thereof slidingly received within a lumen of the first forward spear guide tube. A second spear is adapted to have a trailing end thereof slidingly received within a lumen of the second rearward spear guide tube and a leading end thereof slidingly received within a lumen of the second forward spear guide tube. 
     A first elongate elastomeric member has a leading end adapted to be releasably attached to a leading end of the spear gun and a trailing end adapted to be releasably attached to an inclined notch formed in the first spear near a trailing end thereof. A second elongate elastomeric member has a leading end adapted to be releasably attached to a leading end of the spear gun and a trailing end adapted to be releasably attached to an inclined notch formed in the second spear near a trailing end thereof. 
     A first trigger is adapted to launch the first spear and a second trigger is adapted to launch the second spear. A first detent means has a first position that releasably engages a trailing end of the first spear and a second position that is unengaged from the trailing end of the first spear. A second detent means has a first position that releasably engages a trailing end of the second spear and a second position that is unengaged from the trailing end of the second spear. 
     A first laterally extending mounting post is secured to the first forward spear guide tube and a second laterally extending mounting post is secured to the second forward spear guide tube. The leading end of the first elongate elastomeric member is releasably attached to the first laterally extending mounting post and the leading end of the second elongate elastomeric member is releasably attached to the second laterally extending mounting post. 
     The novel spear gun includes an elongate barrel against which the spears are disposed in laterally spaced apart relation to one another. A handle has a forward end secured to a trailing end of the elongate barrel. An arm support has a leading end secured to a trailing end of the handle and the arm support is parallel to the elongate barrel. The handle is disposed at an angle relative to the elongate barrel that is between about ninety degrees to about one hundred thirty five degrees. The elongate barrel, handle, and arm support are disposed in coplanar relation to one another and are positioned in a common substantially vertical plane when the spear gun is used. 
     A cavity is formed in the trailing end of the elongate barrel and a vertically disposed base plate is positioned within the cavity in substantial coincidence with a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the elongate barrel. The first trigger is mounted for pivotal movement about a first pivot point on a first side of the base plate and the second trigger is mounted for pivotal movement about a second pivot point on a second side of the base plate. The first trigger includes a lower finger-engageable part that extends downwardly from the cavity and that has a free end positioned below the trailing end of the elongate barrel. The second trigger includes a lower finger-engageable part that extends downwardly from the cavity and that has a free end positioned below the trailing end of the elongate barrel. The first trigger has a flat, rigid arm extending upwardly from the first pivot point. The flat, rigid arm is disposed in overlying relation to the first side of the base plate. The second trigger has a flat, rigid arm extending upwardly from the second pivot point. The flat, rigid arm is disposed in overlying relation to the second side of the base plate. 
     The first detent means is pivotally mounted. A first biasing means is provided for urging the first detent means to pivot toward the base plate. The flat, rigid arm of the first trigger is disposed between the base plate and the first detent means and prevents full pivoting of the first detent means when the first trigger is in repose. The second detent means is also pivotally mounted. A second biasing means is provided for urging the second detent means to pivot toward the base plate. The flat, rigid arm of the second trigger is disposed between the base plate and the second detent means and prevents full pivoting of the second detent means when the second trigger is in repose. 
     A straight notch is formed in the trailing end of the first spear. A mating straight notch is also formed in the first detent means. The notch formed in the first spear and the mating notch formed in the first detent means are disposed in engaged relation to one another when the first trigger is in repose. The notch formed in the first spear and the mating notch formed in the first detent means are disposed in disengaged relation to one another when the first trigger is pulled. The pulling of the first trigger causes the first trigger to pivot about the first pivot point so that the first, flat rigid arm rotates away from the base plate. The first biasing means urges the first detent mean to pivot into its second, fully pivoted position where it bears against the base plate. The first spear is propelled from the spear gun by the first elongate elastomeric member when the respective notches are disengaged from one another. 
     The straight notch formed in the second spear and the mating notch formed in the second detent means are disposed in disengaged relation to one another when the second trigger is pulled. The pulling of the second trigger causes the second trigger to pivot about the second pivot point so that the second, flat rigid arm rotates away from the base plate. The second biasing means urges the second detent mean to pivot into its second, fully pivoted position where it bears against the base plate. The second spear is propelled from the spear gun by the second elongate elastomeric member when the respective notches are disengaged from one another. 
     An important object of this invention is to provide a spear gun having spears disposed in lateral relation to one another. 
     An object closely related to the foregoing object is to provide a spear gun having two triggers, neither of which obstructs the other. 
     Yet another important object is to provide a spear gun that is safe to operate. 
     These and other important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become clear as this description proceeds. 
     The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the description set forth hereinafter and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational, partially broken away view of the novel spear gun; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view taken along line  2 — 2  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  on FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view taken along line  4 — 4  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5A is a top plan view of the firing assembly when both spears are ready to be fired; 
     FIG. 5B is a top plan view of the firing assembly when one spear has been fired and the second spear remains ready to be fired; and 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the firing assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, it will there be seen that the reference numeral  10  denotes an illustrative embodiment of the present invention as a whole. 
     Spear gun  10  includes an elongate solid barrel  12  having a leading end  14  and a trailing end  16 . Leading end  18  of handle  20  is fixedly secured to trailing end  16  of barrel  12 . Leading end  22  of arm support  24  is secured to trailing end  26  of handle  20 , and cradle  28  is secured to the trailing end  30  of arm support  24 . 
     Barrel  12  and arm support  24  are interconnected to one another by handle  20  and are disposed in parallel relation to one another. 
     Angle Î□s about one hundred ten degrees (110Â°). Any angle from about ninety degrees (90Â°) to one hundred thirty five degrees (135Â°) should be acceptable. The angular range is not critical to this invention and a handle disposed at an angle outside the range disclosed herein would still function and fall within the scope of this invention. When a user grips handle  20 , the forearm of the user rests atop the trailing end of arm support  24 . 
     Forward spear guide tubes  30  and  32  (FIG. 2) are secured to the leading end of barrel  12  on opposite sides thereof and rearward spear guide tubes  34 ,  36  (FIGS. 5A and 5B) are secured to the trailing end of barrel  12  on opposite sides thereof. More particularly, first forward spear guide tube  30  is in axial alignment with a first rearward spear guide tube  34  and second forward spear guide tube  32  is in axial alignment with second rearward spear guide tube 36 . Spear guide tube plate  13  (FIG. 2) overlies the top of barrel  12 , is secured thereto with screws  13   a ,  13   b  or other suitable fastening means, and interconnects forward spear guide tubes  30 ,  32  to one another. A recess is formed in the leading end of barrel  12  to accommodate the thickness of plate  13  so that said plate is flush with the top of said barrel. 
     The hexagonal outer structure of spear guide tubes  30 ,  32 , as depicted in FIG. 3, is ornamental. Each forward guide tube has a cylindrical lumen that slidingly receives the leading end of a spear  38 ,  40 , and each rearward guide tube has a cylindrical lumen that that slidingly receives the trailing end of a spear. This ensures that each spear will travel in a straight line in a direction determined by the position of barrel  12  at the moment of trigger activation. The leading end of each spear is barbed as at  42  in FIG.  1 . 
     Trigger guard  44  (FIG. 1) has a leading end  46  secured to an underside of barrel  12 , a trailing end  48  secured to an underside of arm support  24 , and a medial part  50  disposed in generally parallel, spaced apart relation to handle  20 . 
     Triggers  52   a ,  52   b  depend from a hollow cavity formed in the trailing end of barrel  12 . 
     The firing mechanism is best depicted in FIGS. 2,  5 A,  5 B, and  6 . As depicted in FIG. 2, transversely disposed post  31  is secured to forward spear guide tube  30  and transversely disposed post  33  is secured to forward spear guide tube  32 . The forward end of a first elongate elastomeric member, not shown, is secured to post  31  and the forward end of a second elongate elastomeric member, not shown, is secured to post  33 . Shield  35 , preferably of metallic construction, has a trailing end secured to the underside of barrel  12  as depicted in FIG. 1 and a leading end that extends in leading relation to said posts. As its name implies, shield  35  protects the leading ends of said elongate elastomeric members from being abraded or knocked off of their respective posts  31 ,  33 . 
     As indicated in FIGS. 5A,  5 B, and  6 , straight notch  38 a is formed in the trailing end of spear  38  and straight notch  40   a  is formed in the trailing end of spear  40 . Horizontally disposed detent plate  54  is pivotally mounted about pivot point  56  and said detent plate  54  has a notch  58  formed in its outboard side. The trailing edge of notch  38   a  formed in the trailing end of spear  38  engages the leading end of notch  58  when spear  38  is in position for firing. When a first elongate elastomeric member having a leading end wrapped about post  31  and a trailing end positioned within inclined notch  39 , the engagement of the trailing edge of notch  38   a  and the leading edge of notch  58  prevents said spear from being launched by the bias provided by said elongate elastomeric member. A torsion spring, not shown, urges detent plate  54  to rotate in a clockwise direction relative to pivot point  56 . If such clockwise rotation were to occur, the respective notches formed in detent plate  54  and spear  38  would disengage from one another and said spear would be launched. 
     In the same way, horizontally disposed detent plate  62  is pivotally mounted about pivot point  64  and said detent plate  62  has a straight notch  66  formed in its outboard side. The trailing edge of straight notch  40   a  formed in the trailing end of spear  40  engages the leading end of notch  66  when spear  40  is in position for firing. When a second elongate elastomeric member having a leading end wrapped about post  33  has a trailing end positioned within inclined notch  41 , the engagement of the trailing edge of straight notch  40   a  and the leading edge of straight notch  66  prevents said spear from being launched by the bias provided by said elongate elastomeric member. A torsion spring, not shown, urges detent plate  62  to rotate in a counterclockwise direction relative to pivot point  64 . If such counterclockwise rotation were to occur, the respective notches formed in detent plate  62  and spear  40  would disengage from one another and said spear would be launched. 
     The structure and operation of trigger  52   a  is best understood in connection with FIG. 6, it being understood that unillustrated trigger  52   b  has the same structure and operation but is not depicted in FIG. 6 because it is directly behind trigger  52   a.  Both triggers are positioned in the cavity formed within elongate barrel  12  near its trailing end. The cavity is oblong in configuration and can be seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B but is unnumbered to avoid cluttering of the drawings. A vertically disposed base plate  78  is positioned in said cavity in substantial coincidence with a longitudinal axis of symmetry of barrel  12  as perhaps best understood in connection with FIGS. 5A and 5B. The triggers are pivotally mounted to said base plate  78  on opposite sides thereof, as more fully set forth below. 
     Leaf spring  70  (FIG. 6) engages slotted base  72  of trigger  52   a  and biases said trigger into its position of repose. Thus, trigger  52   a  cannot be pulled until a force is applied thereto that exceeds the bias provided by leaf spring  70   a.  A safety means, disclosed below, when set prevents pulling of said trigger even when a force exceeds said bias. 
     Trigger  52   a  is mounted for pivotal rotation about pivot point  74 . Rigid arm  76   a  of trigger  52   a  is on the opposite side of pivot point  74  relative to trigger  52   a  so that rearward motion of trigger  52   a  causes simultaneous forward motion of rigid arm  76   a.  More particularly, as depicted in FIG. 6, trigger  52   a  moves clockwise with respect to pivot point  74  when pulled by a user, and rigid arm  76   a  moves clockwise as well. 
     Rigid arm  76   a  when in repose is positioned between vertically disposed base plate  78  and horizontally disposed detent plate  62  as perhaps best understood in connection with FIG.  5 A. Accordingly, when rigid arm  76   a  moves in a forward, clockwise direction in said vertical plane, it clears the leading end of detent plate  62  and said detent plate  62  rotates in a counterclockwise direction in said horizontal plane under the bias of the aforementioned torsion spring until it encounters said base plate  78  as depicted in FIG.  5 B. Such counterclockwise rotation causes disengagement of straight notches  40   a  and  66  and spear  40  is launched as perhaps best understood by comparing FIGS. 5A and 5B. 
     Similarly, trigger  52   b,  not shown, is also mounted for pivotal rotation about pivot point  74 . Rigid arm  76   b  (FIGS. 5A and 5B) of trigger  52   b  is on the opposite side of pivot point  74  so that rearward motion of trigger  52   b  causes simultaneous forward motion of rigid arm  76   b.  More particularly, trigger  52   b  moves clockwise with respect to pivot point  74  when pulled by a user, and rigid arm  76   b  moves clockwise as well. 
     Rigid arm  76   b  when in repose is positioned between vertically disposed base plate  78  and horizontally detent plate  54  (FIG.  5 A). Accordingly, when rigid arm  76   b  moves in a forward, clockwise direction in a vertical plane, it clears the leading end of detent plate  54  and said detent plate  54  rotates in a clockwise direction in a horizontal plane under the bias of the aforementioned torsion spring until it encounters said base plate  78 . Such clockwise rotation causes disengagement of straight notches  38   a  and  58  and spear  38  is launched. 
     A safety mechanism is provided to avoid an unintentional launching of either spear. In FIG. 5A, the safety lock for spear  38  is denoted  80  and the safety lock for spear  40  is denoted  82 . Safety lock  80  is mounted for pivotal rotation about pivot point  81  and safety lock  82  is mounted for pivotal rotation about pivot point  83 . Both safety locks are manually operated. When the respective free ends of said safety locks are turned inwardly toward one another as depicted in FIG. 5A, said free ends are positioned in abutting relation to the leading edges of rigid arms  76   b  and  76   a,  respectively. Thus, neither trigger  52   a  nor  52   b  can be pulled, even if a force that greatly exceeds the bias of leaf spring  70  is applied. Safety lock  80  must be rotated in a clockwise direction to move out of obstructing relation to rigid arm  76 b and safety lock  82  must be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to move out of obstructing relation to rigid arm  76   a.  In FIG. 5B, safety lock  80  is unrotated and spear  38  cannot be released. Safety lock  82  has been rotated, trigger  52   a  has been pulled, rigid arm  76   a  has moved forwardly a distance sufficient to clear the leading edge of detent plate  62 , and said detent plate  62  has rotated in a counterclockwise direction about pivot point  64 , thereby causing the disengagement of straight notch  40   a  from straight notch  66  and spear  40  has been released and propelled forwardly under the bias of its associated elongate elastomeric member. 
     Barrel  12 , handle  20 , and arm support  24  are preferably formed of wood although such material is not critical. To apply the elongate elastomeric members, spear gun  10  is held in a generally vertical direction while the user is seated. Cradle  28  is placed atop a thigh to facilitate the pulling of the trailing end of each rubber band to an inclined notch formed near the trailing end of its associated spear. More than one inclined riotch is formed in each spear to enable a user to adjust the power of the elastomeric members. Safety locks  80  and  82  are in their respective locked positions at all times and are released only when the user in is the water and has aimed the spear gun at a fish and no other person is on the opposite side of said fish. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. 
     Now that the invention has been described,