Patent Publication Number: US-5154515-A

Title: Toesling game-balloon and baseball launcher

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to water-balloons or baseball launchers or the like and more particularly to a launcher that is activated by using the foot as well as the hands to activate the elastic members. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the past, a number of devices have been taught which provide means to launch balloons or baseballs or other objects, one being the well known &#34;sling shot&#34; such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,101,704 which is basically a fork with a handle and two elastic bands attached to the fork providing the propelling means. 
     Also the baseball throwing machine of U.S. Pat. No. 3,277,878 teaches a complicated device envolving pulleys and a substantially large framework which supports the device which has a number of working parts. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,396 also shows a device for launching a balloon which is a large device requiring at least three persons to operate. 
     While the prior art shows means to launch balloons, baseballs or the like, most of them are limited by the reach of the arms or in the case of large launchers, requires several persons to operate them. The present invention addresses these and other problems with the principal improvement being the interaction of using the foot or toe as the releasing member which allows the device to be stretched over the head of the person doing the launching, therefore, resulting in a far greater stretch than has been previously available. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     It is a primary object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a device which may safely launch a water-balloon, baseball or other object farther than a hand held launcher which is limited by the reach of the arms, by providing a launcher which uses both the feet, arms and hands to provide a longer stretch. 
     It is a further object to provide substantially a ring to which multiple elastic members may be attached to provide additional force to launch the objects, the objects being launched through the center of the ring. 
     Still another object is to provide in a second embodiment means to attach the ring to the feet of a person lying on their back which allows the person to launch the objects from a prone position. 
     Yet another object is to provide a tri-pod arrangement which allows the operator to more directionally hurl or aim objects, such as on a baseball diamond. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a substantially ring shaped base is provided to which is suitably attached multiple, elastic members with their distal ends suitably affixed to a pouch or pocket member, with the pouch or pocket member having toe or foot gripping means such as a strap, to enable the operator to engage and hold the pouch or pocket with his foot and the elastic members being of sufficient length to allow the operator to hold the ring in front of and substantially over their head, which tensions the devise and when the pouch or pocket is released by relaxing their toe or foot, the object in the pouch or pocket is hurled through the ring with a force sufficient to throw an object, such as a baseball, a substantial distance such as to the outfield of a baseball diamond. 
     Other objects and advantages will become apparent when taken into consideration with the following drawings and specifications. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention with an octagonal substantially round tubular base. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic view which shows how the device is used. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pouch and toe strap. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic view of action indicating some manners of use. 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a pouch with toe strap attached. 
     FIG. 7 is a section taken at A--A of FIG. 1 showing a cone plug as a retaining means. 
     FIG. 8 is a section taken at A--A of FIG. 1 of an optional plug for prolonged life of elastic tubular thrust bands. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the device when mounted on a tri-pod. 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of a rounded tubular base. 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of a square-cut round base, cut from a pre-formed plastic pipe. 
     FIG. 12-A is a top view of a square four-sided ring. 
     FIG. 12-B is a top view of FIG. 11. 
     FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the device being used in an inverted position and attached to the foot. 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the preferred embodiment of attaching a base to the feet, but shown in an open position. 
     FIG. 15 is a section taken at B--B of FIG. 13 showing the preferred embodiment of attaching a base to the feet, but shown in a closed position 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to the details wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the various views, 10 is a octagonal substantially round tubular base with 12 being mounting holes for elastic tubular thrust bands 14, elastic tubular thrust bands 14, being of a sufficient length to allow the user to stretch them substantially from the ground to a position which places the base into a position in front of and above the head while 16 is a pouch or pocket containing sleeves 18 which capture elastic tubular thrust bands 14 with 20 being a foot or toe strap suitably affixed to the pouch or pocket 16. 
     22 is a typical playing field showing a target 24 with 26 being a possible projectile path of the balloon or baseball or the like. 26 is a cone plug inserted into elastic tubular thrust bands 14 and acts as a retaining means while 28 is an optional protective sleeve for prolonged life of the elastic tubular thrust bands. 
     A second embodiment shows the present invention being mounted by pivotable mounts 30 to a yoke 32 which is affixed to upright 34, upright 34 being pivotable in a housing 36 which is suitably attached to tri-pod 38. It will be understood that the base 10 may take a number of forms and shapes such as the round tubular embodiment 40 shown in FIG. 10 or the round square-cut embodiment 42 shown in FIG. 11 and 12-B or the substantially square tubular base 44 shown in FIG. 12-A. 
     Yet another embodiment shows the foot 46 of the user being attached to one of the bases such as the square-cut base 42 by a hook and pile fastener such as VELCRO 48 and 50 being affixed together by means such as stitching 52. 
     It will now be seen that we have provided a game apparatus for throwing aerial projectiles such as water balloons, baseballs or the like. The game apparatus consists of a ring which can take several shapes and may be held comfortably with two hands, a pouch to capture and hold the projectiles with a plurality of elastic thrust bands that connect the ring, pouch and a foot strap affixed to the back of the pouch for the insertion of at least one toe, so that when the pouch is held to the ground by the toe and strap, the ring is positioned in front of and above the user so that when the toe releases the strap the now tensioned elastic thrust bands hurl the projectile through the ring in a forceful manner into the air. 
     It shall also be seen that we have provided an apparatus which can be attached to a tri-pod frame support which pivots and turns giving a wider range of launching angles, distances and uses. 
     It will further be seen that we have provided a game apparatus with its principle part being a ring which may be formed by injection molding or cut from pre-formed plastic such as a plastic pipe, while the elastic thrust bands may be made from rubber tubing such as surgical tubing, while the pouch may be fabricated by sewing from cloth or leather material. 
     It will further be seen that we have provided a game apparatus which may be used in a prone position for example when the user lies flat on their back they simply place their feet on the ring portion of the apparatus and attach by way of VELCRO straps, then grasp the toe-strap (in this position it may be called a hand strap) and stretch the elastic thrust bands until the desired tension is achieved, whereby, when the hand strap is released the aerial projectile is hurled through the ring in a forceful manner into the air. 
     It will also be seen that we have provided a game device which enables the user to launch a aerial projectile such as a water-balloon, baseball or the like farther than any previous hand-held launchers which are limited by reach of the arms. The present invention uses both the feet and the arms to provide a longer stretch. 
     It will further be seen that we have provided a game device which increases the force applied to the projectile, therefore, encouraging the projectile to travel farther. 
     It will also be seen that we have provided a game device which is simple, fun and safe to use. 
     Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but it is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.