1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to slingshots. More particularly, the present invention relates to a high-velocity hunting slingshot.
2. The Prior Art
Prior slingshot designs have attempted to obtain more power by several methods that enhance the power of the rubber thrust bands or tubes, without actually increasing the size of the tubes. When the tubes are ⅜″ in diameter or greater, all prior designs fail to function at the longest stretch of the tubes. The failures result from the handle twisting in the hand, the handle being pulled backward, the tubes pulling away from the yoke or pouch, and the tubes tearing at the yoke or pouch.
What is needed is a high power and high velocity slingshot that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art and that falls between a bow and arrow and a slingshot as a hunting weapon, without resorting to mechanical means such as springs.
The present invention provides a high-power and high-velocity slingshot that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art and that falls between a bow and arrow and a slingshot as a hunting weapon, without resorting to mechanical means such as springs, offering several advantages over the prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an overall construction of a slingshot that enables the slingshot to be assembled and disassembled without tools.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a rotating top assembly enabling the top assembly of the slingshot to be rotated about 180 degrees from a shooting-ready position to a travel-ready position where one side of the slingshot is flat for attachment to a back pack.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a slingshot that shoots with greater velocity than the prior art slingshot. The slingshot is not a toy, but rather a true hunting weapon falling between a bow and arrow and slingshot, allowing further distance for small game targets and take down ability for larger prey that are too large for a slingshot and not desirable for a bow and arrow.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a slingshot having a uniquely shaped extended upper rod that extends the length of draw of the larger size tube to increase thrust.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a slingshot having a uniquely shaped extended forearm brace that is easy for the user to insert his hand through and quickly grasp the handle, can be shaped for a more secure fit against the asymmetrical top of the forearm, uses the forearm as a stronger brace than the wrist, and is designed to be shot like a bow and arrow, angled away from the handle, thereby forcing the shooter to hold the handle in the strongest position of the wrist.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a slingshot configured to use ⅜″ or larger thrust tubes. The slingshot uses these larger tubes at their longest stretch length for greater velocity than those tubes would produce if attached to the other designs. The reason for this advantage is that the other designs do not clamp the tube to the yoke and do not clamp the tubes to the pouch attachment. Furthermore, typical prior art designs do not swivel the yoke to prevent sidewall tearing of the tube, such as when the bend in the tube causes extra stress and tearing of the side wall where the tube presses against the end of the yoke.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a slingshot using clamps to secure the tubes. The clamps help prevent the tubes from pulling off of the end of the yoke and/or pouch attachment when large tubes are stretched for maximum power.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a slingshot using rubber end caps that make it even harder for the tubes to pull free from the yokes and/or pouch attachment. These rubber end caps also protect the inner walls of the tubes from being ripped by the steel yokes.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a slingshot having a large handle. The larger than usual handle makes a stronger overall weapon that has room inside for spare parts, not just ammunition.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a slingshot with an improved ammunition pouch design. The pouch preferably uses sewn in rings to attach to linchpins that then go into the tube. This combination results in an extremely strong pouch capable of drawing the tubes to their most powerful stretched position.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a slingshot that utilizes a swivel yoke design. The swivel yoke attaches to the rod assembly without tools. Due to the rotation of the yokes, the tubes are aligned in a V-shape between the yokes and the ammunition pouch, thereby allowing for the longest stretch of the tubes without sidewall stress to the tubes.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a slingshot that improves the angle of shooter's grip and stance. When the slingshot is held at an angle away from the shooter, the hand is turned at the wrist to such a degree that the top of the thumb bone is straight toward the direction of fire and horizontally aligned with the wrist bone for the strongest possible grip. The pull is close to 100 lbs. on the draw arm, the grip hand pushes forward to keep the aim level, and the grip arm pushes forward as well, resulting in the feel of power of the shot being closer to a bow and arrow than any slingshot.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a slingshot having high target penetration. In test firing of the present invention, the slingshot put steel shot through both sides of a soda can from 30 yards away. None of the prior art slingshot designs could possibly achieve this high degree of penetration.
This slingshot allows the user to hunt small game at greater distances. It also allows the hunting of larger game that cannot be hunted with a traditional slingshot and for which a bow and arrow is impractical.
The slingshot can be used by hunters and target shooters. It can also be an addition to emergency survival kits for home, military, backpackers, wilderness survivalists, campers, ocean vessels, airplanes, helicopters, and off-road vehicles.
In an exemplary embodiment, the slingshot of the present invention comprises a handle having a top end, a bottom end opposite the top end, an interior half, an exterior half, and a lengthwise axis separating the interior half from the exterior half. The slingshot also comprises a forearm brace configured to be coupled to the bottom end of the handle. The forearm brace comprises a first brace side and a second brace side, wherein the first brace side and the second brace side extend away from the bottom end, bending upward in a direction away from the lengthwise axis towards the interior half and then back towards the bottom end, and meeting each other to form a top brace side configured to receive and rest on a user's forearm when the forearm brace is coupled to the bottom end. The slingshot further comprises an assembly rod configured to be coupled to the top end of the handle. The assembly rod comprises a first assembly rod side and a second assembly rod side, wherein the first assembly rod side and the second assembly rod side extend away from the top end in a V-shape, first bending downward in a direction away from the lengthwise axis towards the exterior half, then bending upwards towards the lengthwise axis when the assembly rod is coupled to the top end. The slingshot further includes a left yoke branch configured to be coupled to the first assembly rod side opposite the handle such that the left yoke branch may swivel about the first assembly rod side, a right yoke branch configured to be coupled to the second assembly rod side opposite the handle such that the right yoke branch may swivel about the second assembly rod side, an ammunition pouch having a first end and a second end opposite the first end and configured to receive and release ammunition, a first tubular thrust band configured to couple the first end of the ammunition pouch to the left yoke branch opposite the assembly rod, and a second tubular thrust band configured to couple the second end of the ammunition pouch to the right yoke branch opposite the assembly rod.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following disclosure is illustrative only and not in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure.
In
In a preferred embodiment, slingshot 2 comprises a handle 1 having a top end 6, a bottom end 8 opposite the top end, and a lengthwise axis 4 separating an interior half from an exterior half. Slingshot 2 also includes a forearm brace 69 configured to be coupled to the bottom end 8 of handle 1. The forearm brace 69 preferably comprises a first brace side 10 and a second brace side 12, wherein the first brace side 10 and the second brace side 12 extend away from the bottom end 8, bending upward in a direction away from the lengthwise axis 4 towards the interior half of the handle and then back towards the bottom end 8 of handle 1, and meeting each other to form a top brace side 14 configured to receive and rest on a user's forearm when the forearm brace 69 is coupled to the bottom end 8.
Slingshot 2 also comprises an assembly rod 31 configured to be coupled to the top end 6 of the handle 1. The assembly rod 31 preferably comprises a first assembly rod side 16 and a second assembly rod side 18, wherein the first assembly rod side 16 and the second assembly rod side 18 extend away from the top end 6 in a V-shape, first bending downward in a direction away from the lengthwise axis 4 towards the exterior half of the handle 1, then bending upwards towards the lengthwise axis 4 when the assembly rod 31 is coupled to the top end 6 of the handle 1.
Slingshot 2 further includes a left yoke branch 43 configured to be coupled to the first assembly rod side 16 opposite the handle 1 such that the left yoke branch 43 may swivel about the first assembly rod side 16. Slingshot 2 also includes a right yoke branch 53 configured to be coupled to the second assembly rod side 18 opposite the handle 1 such that the right yoke branch 53 may swivel about the second assembly rod side 18.
Slingshot 2 further comprises an ammunition pouch 89, having a first end 20 and a second end 22 opposite the first end 20, configured to receive and release ammunition. A first tubular thrust band 47 is configured to couple the first end 20 of the ammunition pouch 89 to the left yoke branch 43 opposite the assembly rod 31 and a second tubular thrust band 57 is configured to couple the second end 22 of the ammunition pouch 89 to the right yoke branch 53 opposite the assembly rod 31.
Handle 1 is configured to function as both a gripping handle and a storage compartment for spare tubular thrust bands, securing zip ties, ammunition, and other slingshot equipment. In a preferred embodiment, handle 1 is substantially tubular in shape, having a hollow interior.
Slingshot 2 may include a top cap that is configured to receive the assembly rod 31 and secure the assembly rod 31 to the handle 1. The top cap may be formed from two halves: an exterior half 9a toward the direction of fire and an interior half 9b toward the shooter. The exterior half 9a and the interior half 9b are configured to sandwich the assembly rod 31. Exterior half 9a and interior half 9b each have an interior surface, 17 and 27 respectively, and an exterior surface, 13 and 23 respectively. The interior surface has a groove configured to receive the first assembly rod side 16 and a groove configured to receive the second assembly rod side 18, wherein the interior surface of the exterior half 9a and the interior surface of the interior half 9b are configured to be placed together such that the grooves on the exterior half 9a and the interior half 9b form receiver holes for receiving the first assembly rod side 16 and the second assembly rod side 18. These grooves may be linked to form one continuous hollowed out receiving groove, such as grooves 19 and 29 on exterior half 9a and interior half 9b, as seen in
The top end 6 of handle 1 and the top cap are configured to securely mate with one another. In a preferred embodiment, the handle 1 has a threaded interior surface 3 at the top end 6 and a threaded interior surface 5 at the bottom end 8, as seen in
The interior surface of the bottom end 8 of the handle 1 may be threaded as well in order to accept a bottom cap 61, which will be discussed in more detail below.
The handle 1 preferably comprises an aperture 7 on two opposite sides proximate the top end 6. In this preferred embodiment, the exterior half 9a and the interior half 9b of the top cap each comprise an aperture that corresponds in location and size to the apertures 7 on the handle 1 and extend from the interior surfaces 17 and 27 to the exterior surfaces 13 and 23. The apertures on the handle 1 and the top cap are configured to line up when the top cap is coupled to the handle 1 and to receive a securing mechanism, such as linchpin 37, such that the securing mechanism prevents the rotation of the top cap and the assembly rod 31 with respect to the handle 1. These apertures may be slightly elongated vertically so that if the top cap is rotated 180 degrees, the linchpin 37 will still be able to pass through them. Linchpin 37 may have a linchpin pull-ring 39 that goes through a hole in the linchpin 37 to aid in pulling the linchpin 37 out of the handle 1.
The assembly rod 31 is preferably configured to be rotated about 180 degrees from a shooting-ready position, where the user may shoot ammunition from the slingshot, to a travel-ready position, where the user may attach the slingshot to a back pack.
In a preferred embodiment, the first assembly rod side 16 and the second assembly rod side 18 each comprise a first bent portion 26, a horizontal portion 28, a second bent portion 30, and a vertical portion 32. The vertical portion 32 is configured to be coupled to the left yoke branch 43 and said right yoke branch 53. When the assembly rod 31 is coupled to the top end 6 of handle 1 in the shooting-ready position, the first bent portion 26 extends away from the top end 6 and bends downward in a direction away from the lengthwise axis 4 towards the exterior half 9a. The first bent portion 26 extends into the horizontal portion 28. The horizontal portion 28 is substantially straight and parallel with the horizontal axis 24 when the handle 1 is held such that its lengthwise axis 4 is at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal axis 24. The horizontal portion 28 extends into the second bent portion 30 that bends upwards towards the lengthwise axis 4 and leads into the vertical portion 32. The vertical portion 32 is substantially straight and perpendicular to the horizontal axis 24 when the handle 1 is held such that its lengthwise axis 4 is at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal axis 24.
As seen in
The vertical portion 32 of the first assembly rod side 16 comprises a left end 33 configured to be coupled to left yoke branch 43 and the vertical portion 32 of the second assembly rod side 18 comprises a right end 35 configured to be coupled to right yoke branch 53. Both the left end 33 and the right end 35 may be threaded in order to accept a left connector nut 41 and a right connector nut 51, respectively. Connector nuts 41 and 51 are preferably steel nuts that can be turned by hand to connect the vertical portion 32 of the first assembly rod 16 and the second assembly rod 18 to the left yoke branch 43 and the right yoke branch 53, respectively.
The left yoke branch 43 and the right yoke branch 53 each preferably comprises a vertical branch 36, having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a horizontal branch 38, having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end of the vertical branch 36 is configured to be coupled to the vertical portion 32 of the respective assembly rod side. The first end may be threaded in order to connect to the connector nuts and the assembly rod. The second end of the vertical branch 36 extends into the first end of the horizontal branch 38. In a preferred embodiment, the vertical branch 36 and the horizontal branch 38 are disposed substantially perpendicular with respect to one another and the horizontal branch 38 is substantially parallel with the horizontal axis 24 when the handle 1 is held such that its lengthwise axis 4 is at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal axis 24. The left yoke branch 43 and the right yoke branch 53 are preferably bent at an angle of about 90-degrees in order to provide a tip towards the shooter for attaching a tubular thrust band and any securing mechanisms.
The second end of the horizontal branch 38 on the left yoke branch 43 and the second yoke branch 53 is configured to be coupled to the first tubular thrust band 47 and the second tubular thrust band 57, respectively. The tubular thrust bands 47 and 57 are preferably rubber surgical tubing having an outside diameter of ⅜″ or greater. This size tubing provides greater thrust for the projectile ammunition than the smaller sizes contemplated by previous designs.
The second end of the horizontal branch 38 on the left yoke branch 43 and the second yoke branch 53 may comprise a left end cap 45 and a right end cap 55, respectively. End caps 45 and 55 may either be integrally formed with horizontal branch 38 or be separate components configured to be securely attached to the second end of horizontal branch 38. In a preferred embodiment, end caps 45 and 55 are rubber caps that are disposed over the second end of horizontal branch 38. End caps 45 and 55 are greater in diameter than the rest of the horizontal branch 38. Therefore, when the tubular thrust bands 47 and 57 go over and beyond the end caps 45 and 55, a securing mechanism, such as zip ties 49a and 59a, can be wrapped around the respective thrust band and horizontal branch behind the end caps in order to secure the thrust band to the horizontal branch. Without the clamping of the securing mechanism, the tension of the oversize tubing would pull the thrust bands free from the horizontal branch when drawn back by the shooter.
Ammunition pouch 89 is configured to receive and release ammunition. In operation, ammunition is placed in the pouch. The pouch is then drawn back to tension the tubular thrust bands, and then released to fire the ammunition. In a preferred embodiment, ammunition pouch 89 is a nylon strap. The first end 20 and the second end 22 of ammunition pouch 89 may pass through a left pouch attachment ring 91 and a right pouch attachment ring 93, respectively, and are doubled back to be sewn to the ammunition pouch. This configuration results in the pouch attachment rings 91 and 93 being looped through an extremely strong pouch.
The pouch attachment rings 91 and 93 may be used to attach the first end 20 and the second end 22 of the ammunition pouch 89 to the tubular thrust bands 47 and 57, respectively. The pouch attachment rings 91 and 93 may be secured to a left pouch tube connector 85 and a right pouch tube connector 87, respectively. Pouch tube connectors 85 and 87 may be pins, such as linchpins, comprising a hole 34 on one end configured to receive and secure the attachment rings 91 and 93. In this fashion, pouch tube connectors 85 and 87 are secured to ammunition pouch 89 by pouch attachment rings 91 and 93. The end of pouch tube connectors 85 and 87 opposite the hole 34 is configured to be placed into the respective tubular thrust band. This end of left pouch tube connector 85 and right pouch tube connector 87 may comprise a left end cap 81 and a right end cap 83, respectively. End caps 81 and 83 may either be integrally formed with the pouch tube connectors 85 and 87 or be separate components configured to be securely attached to the pouch tube connectors 85 and 87. In a preferred embodiment, end caps 81 and 83 are rubber caps that are disposed over the pouch tube connectors 85 and 87. End caps 81 and 83 are greater in diameter than the rest of their respective pouch tube connector. Therefore, when the tubular thrust bands 47 and 57 go over and beyond the end caps 81 and 83, a securing mechanism, such as zip ties 49b and 59b, can be wrapped around the respective thrust band and pouch tube connector behind the end caps in order to secure the thrust band to the pouch tube connector. Without the clamping of the securing mechanism, the tension of the oversize tubing would pull the thrust bands free from the pouch tube connector when drawn back by the shooter.
The forearm brace 69 is configured to receive and rest on the shooter's forearm when the forearm brace 69 is coupled to the bottom end 8 of the handle 1. The forearm brace 69 may be coupled to the bottom end 8 in a variety of ways. In a preferred embodiment illustrated in
The brace sides 10 and 12 may be secured to the bottom cap 61 in a variety of ways. In a preferred embodiment, the end 71a of the first brace side 10 is threaded and the end 71b of the second brace side 12 is threaded. These threaded ends 71a and 71b go through the receiving holes 63 and 65 in the bottom cap and protrude into the interior of the handle 1. Clamping nuts 73 and 77 are then screwed onto the threaded ends 71a and 71b, respectively, and clamp the bottom cap 61 between the bend in first brace sides 10 and 12 and clamping nuts 73 and 77.
As previously discussed, forearm brace 69 is a rod that is shaped at an angle turning upward away from the handle 1, then loops around, and returns back to the handle 1. The top of the loop may comprise a vertical bend 79, as illustrated in
Forearm brace 69 may also comprise a comfort pad 95 disposed around the top brace side 14 that is configured to cushion the downward pressure exerted against the top of the forearm by the forearm brace 69. Comfort pad 95 may be formed from a variety of different materials, such as foam or rubber.
As discussed above, slingshot 2 may be configured to have assembly rod 31 rotate about 180 degrees from a shooting-ready position, where the user may shoot ammunition from the slingshot, to a travel-ready position, where the user may attach the slingshot to a back pack.
It is contemplated that the main components of the present invention, such as forearm brace 69, handle 1, assembly rod 31, and yoke branches 43 and 53, may be formed from a variety of different materials. In a preferred embodiment, these components are formed from a metal material. For example, these components may be formed from steel or aluminum.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3306278 | Spatari | Feb 1967 | A |
3749075 | Saunders | Jul 1973 | A |
3812834 | Saunders | May 1974 | A |
3865094 | Sweeney | Feb 1975 | A |
3875923 | Horel | Apr 1975 | A |
3901209 | Woolsey et al. | Aug 1975 | A |
D297041 | Bongiorni | Aug 1988 | S |
4873963 | Lemmen | Oct 1989 | A |
5632262 | Hanson | May 1997 | A |
5894672 | Ellenburg et al. | Apr 1999 | A |
6595160 | Williamson | Jul 2003 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20080078367 A1 | Apr 2008 | US |