GB2031743A - Catapult - Google Patents

Abstract

A catapult in which each fork arm has a ring 4 at its end to which the catapult "elastic" 5 is secured by means of loops 6 or by means of rings 8 threaded through the rings 4 and attached to the ends of the "elastic" 5. In this way, twisting of the "elastic" in use is minimised and the user can employ the catapult sequentially from opposite sides. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to catapults This invention relates to catapults and has particular but not exclusive reference to catapults used for projecting fishing bait.

Conventional catapults comprise a length of elastic secured at its ends to the extremities of the spaced fork arms of a frame whose lower portion comprises a handle by which the catapult is held by a user. The length of elastic may include, along its length, a holder, for example a pouche, for the article to be projected. It is found that the user tends to operate the catapult from one side only of the frame and this results in twisting of the elastic and this impairs the effectiveness of the catapult.

According to the present invention, a catapult comprises a frame having spaced fork arms at whose extremities are formed or provided with ring connectors to which the ends of the catapult "elastic" are secured by means of connecting loop.

In one embodiment of the invention, the connecting loop is provided by the turning back of each end of the catapult "elastic" in a loop. In another embodiment, the connecting loop is a component separate from the "elastic" and which is threaded through the ring connector on the fork arm and to which the free end of the "elastic" is secured.

The connector rings may be formed integrally with the respective fork arms or the rings may be separate members fixed to the ends of the fork arms in some suitable way.

By way of example only, embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figures 1 and 2 are front and side views respectively of a catapult frame, and, Figures 3 and 4 show different ways of connecting the catapult "elastic" to the frame.

The frame shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises spaced fork arms 1, 2 whose lower ends are inturned and mounted in a common handle 3. At the extremity of each fork arm is a connector ring 4.

Fig. 3 shows one method of joining the catapult "elastic" to the connector rings 4.

Each free end of the elastic 5 is turned back to form a connecting loop 6, passed through a connector ring 4 and secured as indicated at 7.

An alternative method of joining the "elastic" to the connector ring is shown in Fig. 4.

In the alternative method a separate connector loop 8 is used. The loop 8 is a metal ring which is threaded through the connector ring 4 as shown in Fig. 4 and the end of the "elastic" is threaded through the loop 8 and secured as indicated at 9.

A catapult embodying the invention is used in the conventional way to project an article.

As the "elastic" is released by the user to project the article, the "elastic" is also projected forwardly between the fork arms 1, 2 but because of the way in which the "elastic" is connected to the fork arms, the "elastic" swings over to the other side of the catapult frame with minimum twisting of the "elastic" in any way. The user next uses the catapult from that other side tending to unwind any twisting that has taken place.

The user thus employs the catapult sequentially from opposite sides.

The term "elastic" is intended to cover not only a single filament but also multi-filament constructions and both of these may be of round, flat or other shape.

1. A catapult comprising a frame having spaced fork arms whose extremities are formed or provided with ring connectors to which the ends of the catapult "elastic" are secured by means of connecting loops.

2. A catapult as claimed in claim 1 in which the connecting loops are formed by turning back the ends of the "elastic" in loops.

3. A catapult as claimed in claim 1 in which the connecting loops are separate components to which the free ends of the "elastic" are joined and which are threaded through the ring connectors.

4. A catapult as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the ring connectors are separate members fixed to the fork arms.

5. A catapult as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the catapult "elastic" is of multi-filament form.

6. A catapult substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to catapults This invention relates to catapults and has particular but not exclusive reference to catapults used for projecting fishing bait. Conventional catapults comprise a length of elastic secured at its ends to the extremities of the spaced fork arms of a frame whose lower portion comprises a handle by which the catapult is held by a user. The length of elastic may include, along its length, a holder, for example a pouche, for the article to be projected. It is found that the user tends to operate the catapult from one side only of the frame and this results in twisting of the elastic and this impairs the effectiveness of the catapult. According to the present invention, a catapult comprises a frame having spaced fork arms at whose extremities are formed or provided with ring connectors to which the ends of the catapult "elastic" are secured by means of connecting loop. In one embodiment of the invention, the connecting loop is provided by the turning back of each end of the catapult "elastic" in a loop. In another embodiment, the connecting loop is a component separate from the "elastic" and which is threaded through the ring connector on the fork arm and to which the free end of the "elastic" is secured. The connector rings may be formed integrally with the respective fork arms or the rings may be separate members fixed to the ends of the fork arms in some suitable way. By way of example only, embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figures 1 and 2 are front and side views respectively of a catapult frame, and, Figures 3 and 4 show different ways of connecting the catapult "elastic" to the frame. The frame shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises spaced fork arms 1, 2 whose lower ends are inturned and mounted in a common handle 3. At the extremity of each fork arm is a connector ring 4. Fig. 3 shows one method of joining the catapult "elastic" to the connector rings 4. Each free end of the elastic 5 is turned back to form a connecting loop 6, passed through a connector ring 4 and secured as indicated at 7. An alternative method of joining the "elastic" to the connector ring is shown in Fig. 4. In the alternative method a separate connector loop 8 is used. The loop 8 is a metal ring which is threaded through the connector ring 4 as shown in Fig. 4 and the end of the "elastic" is threaded through the loop 8 and secured as indicated at 9. A catapult embodying the invention is used in the conventional way to project an article. As the "elastic" is released by the user to project the article, the "elastic" is also projected forwardly between the fork arms 1, 2 but because of the way in which the "elastic" is connected to the fork arms, the "elastic" swings over to the other side of the catapult frame with minimum twisting of the "elastic" in any way. The user next uses the catapult from that other side tending to unwind any twisting that has taken place. The user thus employs the catapult sequentially from opposite sides. The term "elastic" is intended to cover not only a single filament but also multi-filament constructions and both of these may be of round, flat or other shape. CLAIMS

1. A catapult comprising a frame having spaced fork arms whose extremities are formed or provided with ring connectors to which the ends of the catapult "elastic" are secured by means of connecting loops.

2. A catapult as claimed in claim 1 in which the connecting loops are formed by turning back the ends of the "elastic" in loops.

3. A catapult as claimed in claim 1 in which the connecting loops are separate components to which the free ends of the "elastic" are joined and which are threaded through the ring connectors.

4. A catapult as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the ring connectors are separate members fixed to the fork arms.

5. A catapult as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the catapult "elastic" is of multi-filament form.

6. A catapult substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.