GB2380921A

GB2380921A - Catapult for placement of ground bait

Info

Publication number: GB2380921A
Application number: GB0125075A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gregg Charles Holloway
Original assignee: Hopkins & Holloway Ltd
Current assignee: Hopkins & Holloway Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-19
Filing date: 2001-10-19
Publication date: 2003-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-19
Also published as: GB0125075D0; GB2380921B

Abstract

A pouch 10 for a catapult comprises an open end 12 and a closed end 14. The open end 12 enables bait to be located within the pouch 10 and to be retained by the closed end 14. The pouch 10 has a first region 16 and second region 18. The first region extends from the closed end to an intersection 20 where the first region 16 meets the second region 18. The rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area or radius of the second region 18 moving towards the first region 16 is greater than the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area or radius of the first region 16 moving away from the second 18. In use, the bait is located predominantly in the first region 16 and the shape and size of the first region 16 results in the first region 16 being relatively robust such that the first region 16 will not entirely collapse and compress any bait contained therein.

Description

Catapult Apparatus Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pouch for a catapult, a catapult including a pouch and a method of operating a catapult.

Background to the Invention Catapults are frequently used in angling in order to distribute bait or ground bait into the water around the area which is being fished. This bait attracts fish into the area. Catapults are generally used in order to direct and distribute the bait over long distances and more accurately or precisely than manually distributing the bait.

Prior art catapults include a pouch into which the bait is located. However, such prior art pouches are cup shaped or plane cone shaped. As the pouches are drawn back the pouches distort and may crush or compress the bait therein. Accordingly, this can damage delicate bait. In addition, the bait is located over a relatively disperse area such that the distribution of the bait is inaccurate.

It is an aim of the present invention to overcome at least one problem associated with the prior art whether referred to therein or otherwise.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pouch for a catapult comprising a closed end for retaining bait and an open end through which bait can be propelled from the pouch, the pouch comprising a retaining wall for retaining bait within the pouch, the retaining wall defining a front cross-sectional area within the pouch, the plane of the front crosssectional area being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pouch which runs from the closed end to the open end, the pouch further comprising a first region located towards the closed end and a second region located between the first region and the open end, wherein the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area in the second region on moving towards the first region is greater than the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area in the first region on moving away from the second region.

Preferably, the first region connects to the second region at an intersection. Preferably, the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area in the second region extending to the intersection is greater than the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area in the first region extending away from the intersection.

The intersection may comprise a gradual change in the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area of the pouch in moving from the second region to the first region. Preferably, the intersection is a stepped intersection and there is a sudden change in the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area of the pouch on moving from the second region to the first region.

The pouch comprises a side cross-sectional area defined in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the pouch.

Preferably, the tangent of the retaining wall in the side cross-sectional area in the first region adjacent to the intersection creates an angle between 00 and 1800 with the tangent of the retaining wall in the side crosssectional in the second region adjacent to the intersection. Preferably, the intersection angle is less than 1350. Preferably, the intersection angle is greater than 45 and more preferably is greater than 900.

Preferably, the second region extends from the first region to the open end.

Preferably, the first region extends from the second region to the closed end.

Preferably, the second region has a substantially circular front cross-sectional area.

Preferably, the first region has a substantially circular planar cross-sectional area.

Preferably, the retaining wall in the second region has a substantially frusto-conical side cross-sectional area. The edges of the frusto-conical side crosssectional area of the second region may be convex.

Preferably, the first region has a substantially frusto-conical side cross-sectional area. The edges of

the frusto-conical side cross-sectional area of the first region may be convex.

The first region may have a substantial eliptical side cross-sectional area.

Preferably, the pouch comprises gripping means in order for the pouch to be manually gripped. Preferably, the gripping means enables the pouch to be moved between a rest position and a firing position.

Preferably, the pouch comprises a flexible material.

Preferably, the pouch comprises a resilient material.

Preferably, the pouch comprises a net material. The pouch may comprise a cloth and may comprise a PVC cloth.

The pouch may comprise a moulded plastic member.

Preferably, the pouch comprises reinforcement means in order to encourage the shape of the pouch to be retained.

Preferably the reinforcement means comprises resilient means.

The reinforcement means may comprise a first annular reinforcement member located around the open end of the pouch in order to maintain the open end in an open position.

Preferably, the reinforcement means comprises a reinforcement member located at the intersection.

Preferably, the reinforcement member maintains the end of the first region located towards the open end of the pouch in an open position.

Preferably, the reinforcement means improves the strength of the pouch along the longitudinal axis of the pouch.

Preferably, the reinforcement means inhibits the front cross-sectional area of the pouch from decreasing and thereby compressing any bait located therein.

Preferably, the pouch comprises securement means to secure the pouch to a catapult. The securement means may comprise a first securement member and may comprise a first and second securement member.

The or each securement member may comprise a lug and preferably comprises shaped lugs. The or each lug may be arranged, in use to be inserted into hollow elastic sections of a catapult and preferably secured therein through an interference fit. The or each lug may have an eyelet defined therein. The eyelet may enable the elastic of the catapult to be secured therethrough.

The closed end may have a securement aperture defined therein. The securement aperture may enable a gripping member to extend therethrough. The gripping member may comprise a section of a flexible member. The flexible member may comprise a single section of string having a first knot and a second knot which may be arranged, in use, to locate either side of the securement aperture in order to retain the flexible member to the pouch.

The gripping member may comprise an elongate member extending outwardly from the closed end of the pouch. The elongate member may comprise a plastics member.

Preferably, the second region provides a funnel in order to urge the bait towards the first region.

Preferably, in use, the concentration of the bait is greater in the first region than the second region.

Preferably, the first region is located centrally relative the second region.

Preferably, the periphery of the first region is located radially centrally around the longitudinal axis of the pouch. Preferably, the periphery of the second region is located radially centrally around the longitudinal axis of the pouch.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a catapult comprising a pouch, the pouch comprising a closed end for retaining bait and an open end through which bait can be propelled from the pouch, the pouch comprising a retaining wall for retaining bait within the pouch, the retaining wall defining a front cross-sectional area within the pouch, the plane of the front cross-sectional area being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pouch which runs from the closed end to the open end, the pouch further comprising a first region located towards the closed end and a second region located between the first region and the open end, wherein the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area in the second region on moving towards the first region is

greater than the rate of decrease of the front crosssectional area in the first region on moving away from the second region.

Preferably, the catapult comprises a handle portion.

Preferably, the catapult comprises two elastic sections for securing the catapult to the pouch. Preferably, two securement lugs provided on the pouch locate in two hollow elastic sections provided by the catapult.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a catapult, the catapult being in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, the method comprising locating bait in the pouch.

Preferably, the method comprises locating bait in the pouch such that the concentration of bait in the first region is greater than the concentration of bait in the second region.

Preferably, the method comprises urging the pouch between a rest position and a firing position. Preferably, the method comprises substantially retaining the shape of the pouch between the first position and the second position.

Preferably, the bait comprises fishing bait.

Preferably, the method comprises propelling fishing bait to a predetermined fishing area.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pouch for a catapult comprising a closed end for retaining bait and an open end through which bait can be propelled from the pouch, the pouch comprising a retaining wall for retaining bait therein, the pouch further comprising a first region and a second region wherein the retaining wall of the first region projects outwardly from the retaining wall of the second region in order to form a projecting region in the retaining wall of the pouch in the second region.

Preferably, the projecting region is a concave region.

Preferably, the projecting region projects outwardly along a normal to the periphery of the retaining wall in the second region.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pouch for a catapult comprising a closed end for retaining bait and an open end through which bait can be propelled from the pouch, the pouch having a first region located towards the closed end and a second region located between the first region and the open end, wherein the rate of decrease of the crosssectional area inside the pouch in the second region on moving towards the first region is greater than the rate of decrease of the cross-sectional area inside the pouch in the first region on moving away from the second region.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawing that follow, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a catapult including an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of part of an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, a pouch 10 for a catapult comprises an open end 12 and a closed end 14.

The open end 12 enables bait to be located within the pouch 10. The closed end 14 enables the pouch to retain the bait located therein.

The pouch 10 has a retaining wall 11 for retaining bait within the pouch 10. The pouch 10 has a first region 16 and a second region 18. The first region locates at, adjacent or towards the closed end of the pouch 10. The first region extends from the closed end to an intersection 20 or join where the first region 16 meets the second region 18. The second region 18 extends from the intersection 20 to the open end 12.

The retaining wall 11 forms a front cross-sectional area within the pouch 10. This front cross-sectional area relates to the amount of space defined within the pouch.

The front cross-sectional area is in a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 30 of the pouch 10. The longitudinal axis runs centrally along the pouch from the closed end 14 to the open end 12.

The rate of decrease of the front cross-sections area or radius of the second region 18 moving towards the first region 16 is greater than the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area or radius of the first region 16 moving away from the second region 18. These changes of decreases are located adjacent to the intersection and preferably comprises the part of the relevant region located at the intersection.

In the preferred embodiment, a stepped intersection 20 is shown. However, the intersection 20 could be more gradual and curved rather than an abrupt step.

The rate of decrease in the second region 18 at the intersection 20 in the direction of the intersection 20 is greater than the rate of decrease in the first region 16 at the intersection 20 moving away from the intersection 20. The tangent 51 of the periphery 50 of the second region 18 makes an angle or intersection angle 54 with a tangent 55 of the periphery 52 of the first region 16, as shown in Figure 4. The insersection angle 54 is between 900 and 1800.

The first region 16 and the second region 18 comprise circular front cross-sectional area. The first region 16

and the second region 18 are located radially centrally around the longitudinal axis 30 of the pouch 10. The side cross-section of the first region may be frusto-conical with convex sides. The side cross-section lies in a plane that passes through the longitudinal axis, for example, the longitudinal axis lies in the side cross-section. The side cross-section of the first region is preferably part of an elipse having a closed end 14 and the first region also having an open end 15 located at the intersection 20 and communicating with the second region 18. The side cross-section of the second region 18 is frusto-conical and the sides of the second region are also convex, as shown in Figure 2.

The pouch 10 has securement means provide thereon in order to secure the pouch 10 to the elastic 22 or propulsion means of the catapult 24, as shown in Figures 1 to 3. The securement means comprise lugs 26 or projections which extend outwardly from the open end 12 along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis 30 of the pouch 10. The lugs 26 are arranged, in use, to be inserted into the hollow elastic sections 22 of the catapult 24 and to be secured and retained therein by an interference fit. The lugs 26 are shaped in order to aid the securment. Alternatively, the lugs may provided eyelets through which the elastic may pass through and then tied in order to secure the pouch to the catapult.

The pouch 10 comprises a net material. The net material is resilient and preferably comprises a plastics material. The net material enables small debris and liquid to pass therethrough. In addition, the pouch 10

including the net material comprises a waterproof material.

Alternatively, the pouch may comprise a cloth or textile material for example a PVC cloth. The pouch may comprise a moulded plastics material.

The pouch 10 has reinforcement means in order to retain and reinforce the shape of the pouch 10. The reinforcement means is arranged to encourage the pouch 10 to maintain its shape whether in a rest position or stretched into the firing position. Accordingly, this inhibits the pouch 10 from compressing any bait contained therein and also strengthens the pouch 10. The reinforcement means comprises a resilient material and preferably comprises a plastics material.

As shown in Figure 2, the reinforcement means includes an annular reinforcement member 34 which extends around the periphery of the pouch 10 adjacent to the open end 12.

In addition, the reinforcement means comprises a second reinforcement annular member 36 which extends around the pouch 10 at the intersection 20 between the first region 16 and the second region 18. Finally, the reinforcement means comprise a first extending portion 38 and a second extending portion 40. The first and second extending portions 38,40 extend between the first annular reinforcement member 34 and the second annular reinforcement member 36. The first and second extending portions 38,40 extend longitudinally along the pouch 10 and reinforce the pouch longitudinally which helps to transmit any force from the open end to the closed end for

example when the pouch is pulled back by the gripping means with the pouch secured to the catapult.

The first region 16 is arranged to retain the bait therein although, in use, some bait may locate in the second region 18. However, the concentration of bait in the first region 16 will be greater than the concentration of bait in the second region 18. The first region 16 is located centrally along the longitudinal axis 30 of the pouch 10 and will encourage the bait to the fired centrally from the pouch 10 which will result in greater accuracy and inhibit dispersion over a wide area. In addition, the shape and size of the first region 16 : results in the first region 16 being relatively robust such that the first region 16 will not entirely collapse

and compress any bait contained therein. 4 The second region 18 may act as a funnel in order to direct the bait towards the first region 16 when placing the bait in the pouch 10.

The pouch 10 includes gripping means in the form of a flexible member 60. The flexible member 60 extends through a securement aperture 62 defined in the closed end of the pouch 10. The flexible member 60 has a first knot 64 and a second knot 66 in order to retain the flexible member 60 to the pouch. The flexible member may comprise a section of string. Alternatively, the gripping means may comprise a flexible member which extends through an eyelet provided on the outer surface of the closed end of the pouch. The flexible member, for example a section of string, may extend through the eyelet and then the ends of

the string may be tied together in order to provide the gripping means.

The gripping means may comprise an elongate member extending outwardly from the closed end of the pouch, for example, the elongate member may comprise a section of a moulded plastics material which may be moulded on to the pouch in order to extend outwardly therefrom.

In use, the bait is loaded predominantly into the first region 16 of the pouch 10. The flexible member 60 is manually gripped in order to move the pouch 10 from a rest position to a firing position in which the elastic sections 22 of the catapult are stretched from the handle portion 24. The flexible member 60 is then released to project the bait or more specifically the fishing bait to the required position for example the area being fished.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

Claims 1. A pouch for a catapult comprising a closed end for retaining bait and an open end through which bait can be propelled from the pouch, the pouch comprising a retaining wall for retaining bait within the pouch, the retaining wall defining a front cross-sectional area within the pouch, the plane of the front cross-sectional area being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pouch which runs from the closed end to the open end, the pouch further comprising a first region located towards the closed end and a second region located between the first region and the open end, wherein the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area in the second region on moving towards the first region is greater than the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area in the first region on moving away from the second region.
2. A pouch according to claim 1 in which the first region connects to the second region at an intersection.
3. A pouch according to claim 2 in which the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area in the second region extending to the intersection is greater than the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area in the first region extending away from the intersection.
4. A pouch according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the intersection comprises a gradual change in the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area of the pouch in moving from the second region to the first region.

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5. A pouch according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the intersection is a stepped intersection and there is a sudden change in the rate of decrease of the front crosssectional area of the pouch on moving from the second region to the first region.
6. A pouch according to any preceding claim in which the pouch comprises a side cross-sectional area defined in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the pouch.
7. A pouch according to claim 6 in which the tangent of the retaining wall in the side cross-sectional area in the first region adjacent to the intersection creates an angle between 00 and 180 with the tangent of the retaining wall in the side cross-sectional in the second region adjacent to the intersection.
8. A pouch according to claim 6 in which the intersection angle is less than 1350.
9. A pouch according to claim 6 or claim 7 in which the intersection angle is greater than 900.
10. A pouch according to any preceding claim in which the second region extends from the first region to the open end.
11. A pouch according to any preceding claim in which the first region extends from the second region to the closed end.

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12. A pouch according to any preceding claim in which the second region has a substantially circular front crosssectional area.
13. A pouch according to any preceding claim in which the first region has a substantially circular planar crosssectional area.
14. A pouch according to any preceding claim in which the retaining wall in the second region has a substantially frusto-conical side cross-sectional area.
15. A pouch according to claim 14 in which the edges of the frusto-conical side cross-sectional area of the second region are convex.
16. A pouch according to any preceding claim in which the first region has a substantially frusto-conical side cross-sectional area.
17. A pouch according to claim 16 in which the edges of the frusto-conical side cross-sectional area of the first region are convex.
18. A pouch according to any preceding claim in which the pouch comprises gripping means in order for the pouch to be manually gripped.
19. A pouch according to claim 18 in which the gripping means enables the pouch to be moved between a rest position and a firing position.

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20. A pouch according to any preceding claim in which the pouch comprises a flexible material.
21. A pouch according to any preceding claim in which the pouch comprises a net material.
22. A pouch according to any preceding claim in which the pouch comprises reinforcement means in order to encourage the shape of the pouch to be retained.
23. A pouch according to claim 22 in which the reinforcement means comprises a first annular reinforcement member located around the open end of the pouch in order to maintain the open end in an open position.
24. A pouch according to claim 23 when dependent upon claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 22 when dependent upon claim 2 in which the reinforcement means comprises a reinforcement member located at the intersection.
25. A pouch according to claim 24 in which the reinforcement member maintains the end of the first region located towards the open end of the pouch in an open position.
26. A pouch according to any preceding claim in which, in use, the concentration of the bait is greater in the first region than the second region.
27. A catapult comprising a pouch, the pouch comprising a closed end for retaining bait and an open end through which bait can be propelled from the pouch, the pouch

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comprising a retaining wall for retaining bait within the pouch, the retaining wall defining a front cross-sectional area within the pouch, the plane of the front crosssectional area being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pouch which runs from the closed end to the open end, the pouch further comprising a first region located towards the closed end and a second region located between the first region and the open end, wherein the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area in the second region on moving towards the first region is greater than the rate of decrease of the front cross-sectional area in the first region on moving away from the second region.
28. A method of operating a catapult, the catapult being in accordance with claim 27 the method comprising locating bait in the pouch.
29. A method according to claim 28 in which the method comprises locating bait in the pouch such that the concentration of bait in the first region is greater than the concentration of bait in the second region.
30. A pouch substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, any of the accompany drawings.
31. A catapult substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, any of the accompany drawings.
32. A method of operating a catapult substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, any of the accompany drawings.