GB2269519A

GB2269519A - Catapult.

Info

Publication number: GB2269519A
Application number: GB9316907A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Raymond Nimmo
Original assignee: CENTREGRANGE Ltd
Current assignee: CENTREGRANGE Ltd
Priority date: 1992-08-15
Filing date: 1993-08-13
Publication date: 1994-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 2013-08-13
Also published as: GB2269519B; GB9217404D0; GB9316907D0

Abstract

A catapult having a frame consisting of a pair of generally similar Y-shaped sections 7a, 7b which together define a handle and a hollow tubular forked portion through which extends a length of elastic, characterised in that the free ends 8b of the forked part of one of the sections are shaped snugly to embrace the free ends 8a of the forked part of the other section. The catapult is particularly used by anglers for distributing ground bait. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: CATAPULT DESCRIPTION This invention relates to catapults, particularly, but not exclusively, for use by anglers when distributing ground bait.

Usually a catapult comprises a hand-held generally Yshaped frame, the stem of the Y-shape forming a user handle, and elastic cords being fixed to the free ends of the forked portion of the Y-shape, the other ends of the elastic cords carrying between them a pouch in which the missile is placed.

Catapults are however known in which the forked portion of the frame is formed as a hollow tube through which a single length of elastic cord extends to increase the effective length of the elastic. One known method of making such a catapult frame from a plastics material comprises moulding the forked portion together with the handle in two separate, but identical, substantially Yshaped halves'and then welding the halves together. The problem with constructing a catapult in this way is that because in use force is concentrated at the free ends of the forked portion, separate strengthening at the free ends of the arms of the forked portion is required. In one known catapult this is provided by caps placed over the free ends of the arms to hold the halves of the frame together.

An object of the present invention is to provide a catapult in which this problem is at least mitigated in a novel manner which does not depend on the strength of the weld uniting the halves of the catapult frame.

Accordingly the present invention provides a catapult, having a frame consisting of a pair of generally similar Yshaped sections which together define a handle and a hollow tubular forked portion through which extends a length of elastic, characterised in that the free ends of the forked part of one of the sections is adapted snugly to embrace the free ends of the forked part of the other section.

With such an arrangement, when the two sections are joined to form the frame, the free ends of the forked parts of the sections of the catapult are firmly united against separation during use.

Preferably the free ends of the forked part of one of the sections may be tubular and are adapted to fit snugly around the free ends of the forked part of the other section in the manner of a spigot and socket connection.

Preferably the two sections are moulded from plastics material and ' are united by snap connectors which are preferably integrally moulded with the sections.

Preferably two or more non-releasable snap connectors are spaced along the handle. It will of course be appreciated that other or additional methods of joining the moulded sections together, such as welding or gluing, may be used.

Ultra-sonic welding is preferred.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a catapult of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a catapult of the invention taken in the direction of the arrow A of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is an exploded scrap perspective view of a free end of one arm of the catapult of Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, a hand-held bait-propelling catapult 1 for using in angling has a frame of generally conventional form moulded from plastics material, and is generally Y-shaped with a handle portion 2 forming the stem of the Y-shape and a forked portion 3 forming the arms of the Y-shape. The forked portion 3 is formed as a hollow tubular member of semi-circular shape and in known fashion, a length of elastic cord 4 is threaded through the forked portion 3 of the catapult and its ends 5 are attached, in any convenient fashion, to a bait pouch 6, which may be of generally conventional form.

The frame of the catapult 1 consists of a pair of generally similar moulded sections 7a, 7b each of Y-shape, and which are joined together by ultra-sonic welding.

Alignment of the sections may be aided by internal integral dowels on one section and which mate with corresponding sockets on the other section, and/or by means of conventional non-releasable snap connectors (not shown), the co-operating parts of which are moulded integrally with the sections and spaced along the handle 2.

As shown in Figure 3, the forked parts 9 and 10 of the two sections 7a and 7b of catapult frame are generally semi-circular in cross-section so that when the moulded sections are assembled together the forked parts 9 and 10 form a tubular member for containing the elastic cord 4 so that the cord is freely movable within the tubular member.

The mutually adjacent edges 11,12 of the forked parts 9 and 10 of the two sections are arranged to interlock one with the other by means of co-operating flanges 13,14 further to stiffen the frame and to aid alignment of the sections.

Preferably the handle forming parts of the two sections are similarly arranged to interlock by means of co-operating flanges, not shown.

The free ends 8b of the forked part 10 of the moulded section 7b are moulded in a tubular shape snugly to receive the free ends 8a of the arm-forming portions 9 of the other moulded section 7a in the manner of a spigot and socket joint. This has the effect of firmly uniting the free ends of the forked parts 9 and 10 of the moulded sections positively to prevent separation due to the bending forces generated in use. At the free ends of the forked parts of the sections, the mouth of the tubular member is rounded to prevent the elastic cord from being damaged in use.

Although in the interests of clarity in Figure 3 the flanges 14 are shown to extend through the tubular shape free ends 8b of the forked part 10, it is preferred in practice to end the flanges 14 short of the tubular free ends so as not overly to complicate the mould tools.

Claims

1. A catapult having a frame consisting of a pair of generally similar Y-shaped sections which together define a handle and a hollow tubular forked portion through which extends a length of elastic, characterised in that the free ends of the forked part of one of the sections are shaped snugly to embrace the free ends of the forked part of the other section.

2. A catapult according to claim 1, wherein the free ends of the forked part of the said one of the sections are tubular.

3. A catapult according to claim 2, wherein the free ends of the forked part of the other said section are formed as spigots.

4. A catapult according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the two sections are moulded from plastics material and are united by ultra-sonic welding.

5. A catapult according to any preceding claim, wherein the two sections are aligned one with the other by means of integral dowel and socket connectors.

6. A catapult according to any preceding claim, wherein the mutually adjacent edges of the forked parts of the two sections interlock one with the other by means of cooperating flanges extending along the said edges.

7. A catapult according to any preceding claim, wherein the mutually adjacent edges of the handle parts of the two sections interlock one with the other by means of cooperating flanges extending along the said edges.

8. A catapult substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.