Patent ID: 7637255

Claim:
A target launcher comprising: a pair of spaced-apart triangular frame members, each of said frame members including a nominally vertical mounting leg having an upper end and a lower end, as well as a mounting side, a nominally horizontal upper leg joined to said upper end of said vertical mounting leg and extending in a direction away from said mounting side of said vertical mounting leg to a far end of said horizontal upper leg, a diagonal leg extending between and joined respectively to said far end of said horizontal upper leg and said lower end of said vertical mounting leg, and defining a junction of said diagonal leg with said horizontal upper leg; a pivot element supported by said spaced-apart frame members in the general location of said junctions of said diagonal legs with said horizontal upper legs; a target throwing arm supported between said triangular frame members, said target throwing arm having first and second ends, a pivot point intermediate said first and second ends connected to said pivot element, a target holder adjacent said first end, and an elastic device attachment at said second end, said target throwing arm pivoting about said pivot point between a cocked position and a throwing position; an elastic device connected to said elastic device attachment for urging said target throwing arm from the cocked position to said throwing position; a controllable latch for holding said target throwing arm in the cocked position and for releasing said target throwing arm when a target is to be launched; and a latch-engaging element attached to said target throwing arm near said first end thereof, said latch-engaging element including a substantially horizontal segment supported below said target throwing arm when said target throwing arm is in the cocked position; said controllable latch in turn comprising: a latch receiver including a pair of spaced-apart side plates each defining a “V” guide opening configured at the bottom to receive said horizontal segment, a pivot element below the bottom of the “V” guide openings, said pivot element defining a pivot axis perpendicular to and extending between said side plates, and a generally “C” shaped pivotable keeper located in between said side plates, said pivotable keeper having a lower pivot point cooperating with said pivot element, an upper segment-engaging surface, and an actuator arm extending perpendicularly to the pivot axis.