Abstract:
A hybrid compound bow slingshot. The device utilizes a riser, bow limbs and string that are positioned in a plane perpendicular to the device handle such that the riser, bow limbs and string are horizontally disposed relative to the ground when in use. The handle may be hinged, and is hinged in the same plane as the riser, bow limbs and string. The device may include an arm brace that is offset to the vertical centerline of the handle, and the arm brace may be adjusted for left-handed or right-handed shooters. The device may be used with arrows, and may be configured to utilize shot with an ammo receiver positioned in the string.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This Application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional applications 61/770,771 and 61/863,754. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Humans designed and first started using bows and arrows for hunting and warfare possibly as early as 9,000 BCE (Before the Common Era). Bows have been created in many forms, longbows, composite and recurve bows. Modern bows incorporate many older design features, but also may incorporate more recent innovations, in particular the use of pulleys and/or cams. The use of modern materials and the mechanical advantage provided by incorporating pulleys into the draw mechanism of a bow allows the use of stiffer—and shorter—limbs to provide the same energy delivered to the arrow as would be delivered by an older design that did not incorporate pulleys and modern materials. Compound bows store more energy and shoot arrows faster for equivalent draw-weight older bow designs, thus allowing the compound bows to be smaller than the predecessor non-compound bows. 
         [0003]    Slingshots are based upon slings—ancient weapons for hunting and war—and a forked design that appears as a “Y” with the upper portion forming the fork of the weapon. A slingshot relies upon elastic or other material to be stretched back from the fork of the weapon. Generally, a slingshot uses materials such as latex rubber and the like to stretch back from the forks, storing energy that is released as a projectile is accelerated out of a pocket held at the back of the elastic material. Slingshots are used for target practice, small game, and have been used for military purposes. The slingshot has the advantage of being an extremely small, light weapon. However, the slingshot&#39;s power is limited by its size and the materials used for the elastic. 
         [0004]    It is desirable to have a weapon that approaches the size and portability of a slingshot, while incorporating the power and accuracy of a compound bow. It is also desirable that such a weapon use existing projectiles such as arrows and ball shot so as not to incur additional costs for new types of projectiles, and also to maintain similarities for users so that the new device will be easy to use successfully, especially for an experienced bowman and/or slingshot user. 
         [0005]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hybrid combination of a compound bow and a sling shot. 
         [0006]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a compound bow and sling shot that may fire standard arrows. 
         [0007]    It is further object of the present invention to provide a hybrid combination of a compound bow and slingshot with a foldable, adjustable grip that provides for ambidextrous use of the weapon. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hybrid combination of a compound bow and slingshot that is an ambidextrous weapon. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention is a hybrid combination of a compound bow and a sling-shot. The resulting weapon is a compact horizontally-configured design that provides the force-multiplying design of a compound bow in a stable, small size that is easy to operate and is easier to transport and handle than a full-sized hunting bow. Further, because of the compact size of the weapon, it is easier to use in the field, especially in conditions where a hunter is operating in brush and/or trees that can make it difficult to operate a full size weapon. Despite the reduction in size, however, the weapon fires full size arrows with a similar power range of a full size compound bow. 
         [0010]    The device has a horizontal riser and a handle attached to the bottom of the riser, resulting in a “T” shape to the weapon when seen head on. The horizontal riser is positioned on the same horizontal plane as the bow limbs and string. The handle may be hinged at the front, middle, or rear of the top of the handle where it is hingedly connected to the riser, but in any configuration the handle is hinged in the same horizontal plane as the riser, bow limbs, and string and further includes a locking mechanism so that the handle may be adjusted for different users, as well as for stowing flat to take up less space for transport. The combination of the planar relationship between the riser, bow limbs, string, and hinge allows the riser and bow limbs to pivot about the common horizontal axis while in use. The device may further comprise an arm brace, extending out from the grip. The arm brace is connected offset to the bottom of the handle, and may be adjusted left or right to accommodate a left—or right—handed shooter. 
         [0011]    The horizontal riser may further comprise a central portion with a shelf, the shelf containing a recess in which an arrow rests while the arrow is being nocked, drawn, and the arrow released. 
         [0012]    The horizontal riser may further have accessory mounts, comprising threaded holes and the like to accommodate commercially available archery accessories. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of the present invention showing the top of the device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective of the present invention showing the back and underneath. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective of the present invention showing the front and underneath. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective of the present invention showing the front of the device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective of the present invention showing the device with an arrow loaded to be fired. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a detail of the present invention showing the ammo receiver. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a detail of the present invention showing an arrow positioned within the ammo receiver. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a detail of the present invention showing a ball shot positioned within the ammo receiver. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a detail of the present invention showing a ball shot positioned within the ammo receiver. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a detail of the present invention showing an arrow positioned within the ammo receiver. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a detail of the present invention showing the back of the ammo receiver. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  shows the present invention in use by an operator. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is an oblique view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is front view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the device  101  is shown from a top view (the handle hidden from view under the riser  102 ), showing the riser  102  with a center portion  103  and two side portions  104 . The side portions are the mounting points for the limbs  105 . The limbs  105  have cams  107  mounted in the limbs  105 . It will be understood that there are various, well-known means of mounting the cams, which include having cams mounted in recesses in the limbs, mounted on the outside of the limbs, and the like. Further, design of the device  101  allows the use of a riser  102  that is shorter than risers in traditional bow designs. The best method of mounting known for this device, however, is having the cams mounted in recesses in the limbs  105  or between an upper portion and lower portion ( FIGS. 2-5 ,  201  and  202 ). The cams  107  have a bowstring  108 , which may further comprise a loop  109  for drawing either by hand or with a release trigger. It will be understood that the limbs may be of various designs, including solid and split-limb configuration, without deviating from the scope of the invention. It will also be understood that it is well known in the art the method of choosing bow strings as well as the methods of stringing bow weapons both with and without cams. It will further be understood that, although the invention is described in detail utilizing limbs with cams, bow limbs without cams may be utilized without deviating from the scope and intent of the invention. 
         [0029]    The center portion  103  of the riser  102  may further comprise a mount  110 , for accessories such as an optical sight  111 . It will be understood that the manner of affixing the limbs  105  to the riser  102  is well known in the art, and various methods may be used for the structure of the mounting of the limbs  105  without deviating from the scope of the invention. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the device is shown as seen from the bottom showing the handle  201  attached to the center portion  103  of the riser  102 . Also shown is the embodiment of the invention where the limbs  105  comprise an upper portion  201  and a lower portion  202 , with the cams  107  rotatably mounted between the upper portion  201  and the lower portion  202  at the end of the limbs  105  away from the riser  102 . The bottom of the handle  201  may further have a threaded hole to which an adjustable monopod can be attached. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the device is shown in perspective view from the front of the riser  102  with the handle  201  shown attached to the center portion  103  of the riser  102 . The device is further shown with the accessory mount  110 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective of the device as shown from the front in the upright position, with an optical sight  111  attached to the accessory mount  110 . The device further shows an arrow rest  401 . The arrow rest  401  shown is a “whisker” type of arrow rest (commonly sold under the name “Whisker Biscuit”), but it will be understood that the type of arrow rest may be changed to any known in the art to accommodate the needs and desires of the operator. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective of the device with an arrow  501  nocked for firing. The fletching end  502  of the arrow and the nock  503  are held in an ammo receiver  504  (see  FIG. 6 ,  504  and  FIG. 7 ,  504 ). As shown, the device bowstring  108  is not drawn for firing. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8  and  9  show a detail of the ammo receiver  504 .  FIG. 6  shows the ammo receiver  504  without an arrow. The ammo receiver  504  has an outer portion  601  with a hole  602 , and a string  603  affixed to the outer portion  601  on either side of the hole  602 , with the portion of the string  603  within the circumference of the hole  602  being longer than the diameter of the hole  602 , allowing the excess string  603  to flex into a loop behind the hole  602 . In this manner, when an arrow is nocked as shown in  FIG. 7 , the arrow nock  503  extends partially through the hole  602 , with the arrow nock  503  engaging the string  603 . Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the ammo receiver  504  is further adapted such that a standard ball bearing shot  801  may be disposed within the hole  602  of the ammo receiver  504 , the string  603  (not visible in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ) restraining the shot  801  and allowing the device to be used to fire shot  801  as well as arrows. 
         [0035]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the device with an arrow  501  positioned within the ammo receiver  504  in preparation for firing. 
         [0036]      FIG. 11  shows a detail of the ammo receiver  504  as seen from behind. 
         [0037]      FIG. 12  shows a perspective of the device  101  in operation. The shooter  1201  has an arrow  501  nocked and drawn for firing. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 13 , a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The riser  102  is shown with stabilizing rods  1301 . The stabilizing rods  1301  are affixed within the riser  102  (means of affixing stabilizing rods within bow risers is well known in the industry) such that the stabilizing rods  1301  are perpendicular to the riser  102  and the string  108 . The stabilizing rods  1301  are positioned underneath the bowstring  108  such that when the string  108  is drawn ( FIG. 12 ) the stabilizing rods  1301  remain under the plane of the string  108  and offset the string  108  while shooting so that projectile fletching will clear the bowstring  108  when shooting. While the stabilizing rods  1301  are preferentially comprised of carbon graphite or the like, it will be understood that other materials may be utilized without deviating from the scope and intent of the present invention. The handle  201  is shown in an embodiment wherein the handle  201  comprises a forked portion  1302 , the forked portion  1302  having two arms  1303 . The arms  1303  are hingedly attached to the riser  102  by means well known in the art, such as bar passing through a corresponding hole in each of the arms  1303 , the bar being affixed in the riser  102  by set screw or other means. It will be understood that other means of hingedly attaching the handle  201  to the riser  102  are well known, and the description and figures herein are merely examples and should not be construed as limiting the scope or intent of the invention. It will also be understood that the handle  201  may by hingedly attached by adjustable means, such the handle may be hingedly affixed at various locations on the riser  102  to adjust for different shooter physiology. For example, the handle  201  may be hingedly attached at the front, middle, or rear portion of the riser  102  in order to accommodate different users. The combination of handle  201  and hinge attachment to the riser  102  comprises the pivot point discussed above, which changes the angle between the vertical axis of the handle  201  and the horizontal plane of the riser  102 , limbs  105 , cams  107  and bow string  108  to accommodate the stance and draw of different shooters. The invention further has an arm brace  1304 , which is hingedly attached to the bottom of the handle  201 . The arm brace has a cross member  1305 , two or more bars  1306  that extend rearwards from and horizontally to the cross member  1305 . An arm strap  1307  is attached to the bars  1306 . While a user is shooting the present invention, the arm extends through the space made by the arm strap  1307  and the bars  1306  while the user is gripping the handle  201 . The arm strap  1307  rests on the upper arm of the user, providing a solid brace for shooting. The cross member  1305  has two or more offset holes  1308  (the hole through which the cross member  1305  is attached to the handle  201  is not visible in this Figure). By attaching the arm brace  1304  to the handle  201  through one of the two or more offset holes  1308 , the invention may be adjusted to an individual user&#39;s comfort and physical differences, including allowing the arm brace  1304  to be adjusted to accommodate a right handed or left handed shooter. The device as shown has a set bolt  1309  affixing the cross member  1305  to the handle  201 , with the corresponding threaded bolt hole (not shown) in the bottom of the handle  201 . The set bolt  1309  may be adjusted for individual users, and in a preferred embodiment the set bolt  1309  is chosen such that, when the set bolt  1309  is tightened, the cross member  1305  may still rotate about the vertical axis of the handle  201 , further allowing for micro-adjustments of the device to an individual shooter ( FIG. 14 ). The two or more offset holes  1308  in the cross member  1305  allow the grip to be adjusted for a left-handed or right-handed shooter. 
         [0039]      FIG. 14  shows and embodiment of the present invention showing the handle  201  partially rotated with respect to the riser  102 .  FIG. 14  further shows the arm brace  1304  with the cross member  1305  partially rotated with respect to the vertical axis of the handle  201 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 15  shows a front view of the present invention with the handle  102  hingedly attached to the riser  201 , with the handle in the firing position—perpendicular to the plane of the arms  105 , the cams  107 , and the bowstring  108 . The bow arms are shown with adjustment screws  1501 , which are known in the art. 
         [0041]    The invention has been described above and in the drawings to achieve certain objects, features, and advantages. Although these have been described herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that substitutions, additions, deletions, modifications and/or other changes may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention.