Patent Publication Number: US-7900617-B1

Title: Launcher for a flying disc

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The field of the present invention relates to flying discs. In particular, apparatus and methods are disclosed herein for launching a flying disc. 
     A wide variety of launchers for disc-shaped objects have been developed over the years. Some of these are disclosed in: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,700,880 entitled “Target trap” issued Feb. 5, 1929 to Camp; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,124,738 entitled “Hand trap” issued Jul. 26, 1938 to Johnsen; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,438 entitled “Hand-operated target projecting device” issued Nov. 3, 1970 to Reed; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,208 entitled “Manual target throwing device” issued Aug. 26, 1975 to Laporte et al; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,361 entitled “Hand held disk launcher” issued Sep. 16, 1980 to Jackson et al; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,595 entitled “Disc launcher” issued Mar. 15, 1988 to Glass et al; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,556 entitled “Disk launcher” issued Jan. 15, 1991 to Glass et al; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,500 entitled “Pincers for throwing and catching a flying disc” issued Jan. 26, 1993 to Chamberland; and 
     U.S. Pat. No. Des. 346,183 entitled “Combined toy disk and launcher” issued Apr. 19, 1994 to Crane. 
     SUMMARY 
     An apparatus for launching a flying disc comprises an elongated handle member, an elongated launching member, a disc gripper, and a release mechanism. The launching member is connected at its proximal end to the distal end of the handle member so as to permit relative angular motion of the launching member and the handle member. The disc gripper is connected to the launching member at its distal end. The release mechanism is operatively coupled to the disc gripper and arranged so as to (i) enable the disc gripper to hold the flying disc with the launching and handle members forming an angle less than a release angle and (ii) cause the disc gripper to release automatically the held flying disc as the launching and handle members move to the release angle from an angle less than the release angle. 
     A method for launching the flying disc comprises: (i) arranging the launching and handle members to form an angle less than the release angle; (ii) loading the flying disc into the disc gripper; (iii) engaging the release mechanism to engage the disc gripper to hold the flying disc; and (iv) grasping the proximal end of the handle member and swinging the launching apparatus to cause the launching and handle members to move to the release angle and to cause automatically the disc gripper to release the flying disc, thereby launching the flying disc. 
     Objects and advantages pertaining to launchers for and launching of a flying disc may become apparent upon referring to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings and disclosed in the following written description and/or claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views of an exemplary disc launcher. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are plan views of an exemplary disc launcher. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are elevation views of an exemplary disc launcher. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are perspective views of an exemplary disc launcher. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are plan views of an exemplary disc launcher. 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  are plan views of an exemplary disc launcher. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are longitudinal partial cross-sectional views of a launching member and a disc gripper of an exemplary disc launcher.  FIG. 7C  is a plan view of the launching member and the disc gripper of the exemplary disc launcher. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are longitudinal partial cross-sectional views of assembled launching and handle members and a disc gripper of an exemplary disc launcher.  FIGS. 8C and 8D  are plan views of the assembled launching and handle members of the exemplary disc launcher. 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate schematically adjustment of the release angle of an exemplary disc launcher. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates schematically a detent mechanism for an exemplary disc launcher. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates schematically length adjustment of the handle and launching members of an exemplary disc launcher and alternate disc grippers. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates schematically a user launching a disc with an exemplary disc launcher. 
         FIGS. 13A and 13B  are longitudinal partial cross-sectional views of assembled launching and handle members and an exemplary disc gripper of a disc launcher.  FIGS. 13C and 13D  are plan views of the assembled launching and handle members of the exemplary disc launcher. 
         FIGS. 14A-14C  are plan views of another exemplary disc launcher. 
     
    
    
     The embodiments shown in the Figures are exemplary, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure and/or appended claims. It should be noted that the drawings depict an exemplary embodiment suitable for use by a right-handed user, however, it is intended that the present disclosure and claims shall encompass both right- and left-handed embodiments, as well as embodiments that can be used with either handedness. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for launching a flying disc is illustrated schematically in  FIGS. 1A-1B ,  2 A- 2 B,  3 A- 3 B,  4 A- 4 B, and  5 A- 5 B. In each pair of Figures, the “A” figure shows the disc launcher alone, while the “B” figure shows the disc launcher with a disc  900  in position to be gripped by the disc launcher (but not necessarily gripped). The disc launcher comprises an elongated handle member  12 , an elongated launching member  14 , a disc gripper  16 , and a release mechanism  18 . The launching member  14  is connected at its proximal end to the distal end of the handle member  12  so as to permit relative angular motion of the launching member and the handle member. Any suitable mechanical linkage can be employed for connecting the handle member  12  and launching member  14  that enable the relative angular motion, including but not limited to a clevis-and-pin joint (as in the exemplary embodiment), a hinge joint, a ball-and-socket joint, a disc-and-slot joint, or a universal joint. The clevis-and-pin joint of the exemplary embodiment comprises a disc-shaped rearward projection  14   a  of the launching member  14  positioned between a pair of opposed, spaced-apart disc-shaped forward projections  12   a  of the handle member  12  ( FIGS. 7A-7C  and  8 A- 8 D). The handle member  12  and the launching member  14  can be connected to permit angular motion about multiple axes; typically, the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  are connected to permit angular motion about a single rotation axis, which would be oriented roughly perpendicularly relative to a plane of motion in which the disc launcher would be swung when used to launch a disc (as in the illustrated exemplary embodiment). The handle member  12  and launching member  14  can comprise metal, plastic, wood, composite, or any other material or material combination having suitable strength and stiffness. Alternatively, the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  can comprise a single elongated flexible resilient member, and bending of the resilient member can provide the relative angular motion (as in  FIGS. 14A-14C ). Such a flexible resilient member can comprise any material having a suitable combination of strength and flexibility. 
     The disc gripper  16  is connected to the distal end of the launching member  14  and can be arranged in any suitable way for gripping the flying disc  900 . As illustrated schematically in  FIGS. 6A-6C , the release mechanism  18  is operatively coupled to the disc gripper  16  and arranged so as to (i) enable the disc gripper  16  to hold the flying disc  900  with the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  forming an angle (A) less than a release angle (R) and (ii) cause the disc gripper  16  to release automatically the held flying disc  900  as the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  move to the release angle (R) from the angle (A) less than the release angle (R). The handle member  12 , the launching member  14 , and the disc gripper  16  are typically arranged to enable motion only about a single rotations axis and so that the rotation axis is substantially perpendicular to the held flying disc  900 . Other suitable orientations of the held disc  900  relative to the rotation axis can be employed. The automatic release of the disc upon the handle and launching members reaching the release angle ensures that the disc leaves the launcher at a consistent point in its trajectory when swung by a user, enhancing the ability of the user to accurately direct the launched disc in a desired direction. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the disc gripper  16  comprises a pair of opposed gripping members  112  and  114  arranged for gripping the flying disc  900  positioned between them ( FIGS. 7A-7C  and  8 A- 8 B). At least one of the opposed gripping members (gripping member  114  in the exemplary embodiment) is pivotably connected to the launching member  14  so as to enable relative movement of the gripping members  112  and  114  away from and toward one another. As shown in the exemplary embodiment, the opposed gripping members  112  and  114  are arranged to hold the flying disc by engaging the disc&#39;s top and bottom surfaces, however, any suitable arrangement of the disc gripper  16  or gripping members  112  and  114  can be employed. The gripping members  112  and  114  can comprise metal, plastic, wood, composite, or any other material or material combination having suitable strength and stiffness. One or both gripping members can further include friction material or resilient material  124  positioned in any suitable way to make contact with the held disc  900  (indicated in  FIGS. 7B and 7C ). Suitable resilient materials can include but are not limited to natural or synthetic rubber, neoprene, vinyl, various plastics; any suitable friction material can be employed (e.g., sand-paper-like materials). One or both of the gripping members  112  and  114  can be curved to engage a portion of the disc&#39;s outer circumference in any suitable fashion. As shown in the exemplary embodiment, the gripping member  112  is curved so as to enable engagement with the inner circumferential surface of the lip on the underside of the flying disc  900  held between the opposed gripping members  112  and  114 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the release mechanism  18  is operatively coupled to at least one of the opposed gripping members  112  or  114  so as to (i) bias the opposed gripping members  112  and  114  toward one another to hold the flying disc  900  between them with the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  forming an angle (A) less than the release angle (R) and (ii) release automatically the bias on the gripping members  112  and  114  thereby releasing the held flying disc  900  as the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  move to the release angle (R) from the angle (A) less than the release angle. The release mechanism  18  can be thus coupled in any suitable way. In the exemplary embodiment, the pivotably connected gripping member  114  comprises an elongated distal arm of a lever and is arranged for gripping the flying disc  900 . The lever also comprises a proximal lever arm  116  arranged for engaging the release mechanism  18 , and is pivotably connected to the launching member  14  at a pivot point  118  between the lever arms  114  and  116 . 
     The proximal lever arm  116  of the exemplary embodiment includes a linear ratchet  120  arranged so as to (i) engage the release mechanism  18  to bias the gripping members  112  and  114  toward one another with the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  forming an angle (A) less than the release angle (R) and (ii) disengage automatically from the release mechanism  18  and release the bias on the gripping members  112  and  114  as the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  move to the release angle (R) from the angle (A) less than the release angle. In the exemplary embodiment, release mechanism  18  includes a flange  14   c  on the launching member  14  that is arranged so as to (i) engage the linear ratchet  120  with the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  forming an angle (A) less than the release angle (R) and (ii) disengage automatically from the linear ratchet  120  as the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  move to the release angle (R) from an angle (A) less than the release angle. In an alternative embodiment, such a flange could be positioned on handle member  12  instead (described further below). The proximal lever arm  116  can be arranged to engage or disengage from the release mechanism  18  in any other suitable manner. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, one of the projections  12   a  can be arranged to include a cam portion  12   c  ( FIGS. 8A-8D  and  9 A- 9 B). The cam portion  12   c  is positioned to allow engagement of the linear ratchet  120  and the flange  14   c  with the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  forming an angle (A) less than the release angle (R), thereby retaining the disc  900  held between gripping members  112  and  114 . Upon the launching and handle members  12  and  14  reaching the release angle (R), the cam portion  12   c  forces disengagement of the linear ratchet  120  from the flange  14   c  to allow movement of the lever arms  114  and  116 , thereby releasing the disc  900 . The linear ratchet  120 , lever arm  116 , or lever arm  114  typically should be sufficiently resilient to maintain engagement of the linear ratchet  120  and the flange  14   c  when gripping the disc  900 , while enabling the cam portion  12   c  to force disengagement of the linear ratchet  120  from the flange  14   c . The release angle (R) is determined by the location of the cam portion  12   c  on projection  12   a . The release angle (R) can be a fixed parameter of the disc launcher, or can be made adjustable, e.g., by arranging the cam portion  12   c  to be fixed at various angular positions on projection  12   a  ( FIGS. 9A-9B ). Any suitable arrangement for enabling adjustment of the release angle can be employed. 
     In an alternative embodiment ( FIGS. 13A-13D ), the flange  14   c  can be positioned on projection  12   a  of the launching member  12  and arranged so that the flange engages the linear ratchet  120  with the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  forming an angle (A) less than the release angle (R), as in  FIGS. 13A and 13C , but disengages from the linear ratchet  120  upon reaching the release angle (R), as in  FIGS. 13B and 13D . For example, the cam portion  12   c  can act as a portion of the flange  14   c . The radius of the flange  14   c  can be made to vary substantially continuously over a cam portion  12   c , so that the edge of the flange  14   c  engages the linear ratchet  120  at the angle (A), but does not engage the linear ratchet  120  at the release angle (R). Alternatively, the radius of the flange  14   c  can vary discontinuously (not shown). For example, the flange  14   c  can have a substantially constant radius that enables engagement of the linear ratchet  120 , but can also be provided with a radial slot or notch that aligns with the linear ratchet  120  at the release angle (R) to allow disengagement of the linear ratchet from the flange  14   c . Any other suitable arrangement of the release mechanism for engaging or disengaging from the linear ratchet can be employed. 
     The angle (A) formed between the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  typically has some minimum angle imposed by the nature of the mechanical joint connecting them. It may be possible to arrange the handle member  12  and launching member  14  so that the minimum angle is anywhere from 0° to 180°, but the minimum angle is typically greater than about 60°, more typically greater than about 90°, and most typically greater than or equal to about 120°. The angle (A) referred to in the present disclosure will typically be greater than the minimum angle and only extend beyond the release angle (R) by a few degrees (perhaps as much as about 10°). The release angle (R) is typically less than or equal to about 180°, and can range between about 150° and about 180° (note that angles greater than 180° indicate that the handle and launching members have moved through and beyond a parallel arrangement). The handle member  12  and the launching member  14  can be arranged so as to limit the relative angular motion to less than a maximum angle, which is at least as large as the release angle (R). In some instances the maximum angle is about equal to the release angle (R); in other instances the maximum angle is greater than the release angle (R). 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  are arranged so as to limit their relative rotation between the minimum and maximum angles. A wedge-shaped depression  14   b  on the rearward projection  14   a  of launching member  14  receives a wedge-shaped protrusion  12   b  on one of the opposed surfaces of forward projections  12   a  of handle member  12  ( FIGS. 7A-7C  and  8 A- 8 D). The angular positions and subtended angles of protrusion  12   b  and depression  14   b  determine the maximum and minimum angles for relative motion of the launching and handle members  14  and  12 . Any other suitable mechanical arrangement can be employed for limiting the angular motion. 
     A method for launching the flying disc comprises: (i) arranging the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  to form an angle (A) less than the release angle (R); (ii) loading the flying disc  900  into the disc gripper  16 ; (iii) engaging the release mechanism  18  to engage the disc gripper  16  to hold the flying disc  900 ; and (iv) grasping the proximal end of the handle member  12  (with one hand or with both hands, as desired) and swinging the launching apparatus to cause the handle member  12  and the launching member  14  to move to the release angle (R) and to cause automatically the disc gripper  16  to release the flying disc  900 , thereby launching the flying disc  900 . Typically, the plane of the swing, the plane of the disc, and the plane in which handle member  12  and launching member  14  rotate relative to one another are approximately parallel to one another to result in proper flight of the flying disc. Other arrangements can be employed if suitable or desired. A typical swing is illustrated schematically in  FIG. 12 . 
     Use of the disc launcher will typically include a backswing after the disc is loaded into the disc gripper. During the backswing, inertia will tend to move the launching member toward or beyond the release angle, causing the disc to be released prematurely. An variety of mechanisms or arrangement can be employed to prevent (or reduce the likelihood of) such a premature release. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated schematically in  FIG. 10 , a spring-loaded detent mechanism (depression  14   d  in the edge of projection  14   a  of launching member  14  and a rounded, spring-loaded piston  12   d  reciprocally moveable within handle member  12 ) can be employed to retain the launching member at a fixed loading position only a few degrees less than the release angle. Tension or friction on the detent mechanism can be made sufficiently large to retard motion of the launching member so as to substantially prevent movement of the launching member toward the release angle during a typical backswing, but sufficiently small so as to allow movement away from the release angle during the early portion of the forward swing and then toward and to the release angle during the latter portion of the forward swing (to release the disc). Alternatively, a manually operated bolt or pin could be employed to prevent angular motion of the launching member during the backswing and allow such motion during the forward swing, or any other suitable manual or automatic mechanism can be employed. 
     The direction of disc flight relative to the swing, the distance traveled by the launched disc, and the character of the disc&#39;s flight each depend on the dimensions and arrangement of the disc launcher. Any desired lengths can be chosen for the handle and launching members. The handle member is typically less than about 3 feet long, and often between about 2 feet long and about 3 feet long; the launching member is typically less than about 2 feet long, and often between about 1 foot long and about 2 feet long. A longer handle member  12  can result in longer disc flight, but too long of a handle member impedes swinging of the launcher due to increased weight and air resistance. The relative lengths of the launching member  14  and handle member  12  affect the amount of spin imparted onto the launched disc, which can be optimized empirically for each type of disc, for each user, or for desired disc flight characteristics. Both handle member  12  and launching member  14  can be constructed with telescoping or interchangeable shafts or barrels, to enable adjustments of their lengths to achieve such optimization ( FIG. 11 ). Likewise, the precise shape, size, or arrangement of the disc gripper  16  will affect the distance achieved of disc flight characteristics. Different disc grippers  16  can be provided and interchanged on the end of launching member  14 , to accommodate different users or different discs ( FIG. 11 ), including discs approved by the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA). As already described above, the release angle or the maximum or minimum angles can be adjusted to the swing characteristics for a specific user. Most of the preceding adjustments are typically made empirically, based on observed flight or performance characteristics of launched discs. 
     It is intended that equivalents of the disclosed exemplary embodiments and methods shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure and/or appended claims. It is intended that the disclosed exemplary embodiments and methods, and equivalents thereof, may be modified while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims. 
     For purposes of the present disclosure and appended claims, the conjunction “or” is to be construed inclusively (e.g., “a dog or a cat” would be interpreted as “a dog, or a cat, or both”; e.g., “a dog, a cat, or a mouse” or “a dog or a cat or a mouse” would be interpreted as “a dog, or a cat, or a mouse, or any two, or all three”), unless: (i) it is explicitly stated otherwise, e.g., by use of “either . . . or”, “only one of . . . ”, or similar language; or (ii) two or more of the listed alternatives are mutually exclusive within the particular context, in which case “or” would encompass only those combinations involving non-mutually-exclusive alternatives. For purposes of the present disclosure or appended claims, the words “comprising”, “including”, “having”, and variants thereof shall be construed as open ended terminology, with the same meaning as if the phrase “at least” were appended after each instance thereof.