Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention relates to projectile launchers, more particularly, to a trigger release mechanism to retrofit a manual launcher.
Projectile launcher are well-known. A typical launcher is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,577, entitled Apparatus for Propelling a Projectile. In summary, the apparatus has a shaft and head at one end of the shaft. The head has a pair of elongated arms that extend paraxially away from the shaft to form a generally Y-shaped configuration. The arms curve back to the shaft until the ends of the arms are generally parallel to the shaft. One end of each of a pair of elastic tubes slide onto the arm ends. The other end of each of the elastic tubes attach to a pouch, forming a sling assembly. A loop is attached to the pouch. The shaft slides onto the top end of an elongated pole.
In normal operation, the user places the end of the pole on the ground and places a weight into the pouch. The user pulls back on the loop to apply tension to the elastic tubes. The user then releases the loop to cause the elastic tubes to propel the weight upwardly.
The normal operation of the launcher has several drawbacks. Launching accuracy and distance is inconsistent due to randomized pull of the projectile pouch. A lot of energy is used to maintain and support the pouch in the stationary firing position prior to launch. As a result, fatigue often leads to poor shot accuracy and/or distance. Repeated inaccurate firings can lead to premature wear on the pouch. From a safety standpoint, accidentally releasing the tensioned tubing can cause harm to oneself or property.
The present invention is a trigger assembly for a projectile launcher that is attached to the launcher pole by a cylindrical cuff. The cuff is composed of a trigger half-cylinder and a pole half-cylinder that are attached at one edge by a hinge.
The inner surfaces are optionally textured to produce friction against the pole, either by molding or roughening the inner surfaces or attaching separate rubber inserts.
An attachment mechanism secures the cuff around the pole. In the present design, the attachment mechanism is a quick-release mechanism that employs a cammed paddle pivoting on a lever rod. One end of rod is pivotally attached to the free edge of the trigger half-cylinder. The other end is attached to the pivot edge of the paddle. The length of the rod can be non-adjustable or adjustable.
Adjacent to the free edge of the pole half-cylinder is an elongated, concave bearing surface. At the bearing end of the paddle is an elongated, convex bearing surface. In cross-section, the bearing surface is eccentric, being smaller in radius where it initially contacts the concave bearing surface and increasing in radius around the circumference.
To attach the cuff to the pole, the half-cylinders pivoted apart, placed around the pole, and pivoted until the free edges are adjacent to each other. The paddle is pivoted toward the pole half-cylinder until the paddle bearing surface is in contact with the pole half-cylinder bearing surface. The paddle is pivoted toward the pole half-cylinder outer surface until it rests against the outer surface. As the paddle pivots inwardly, the radius of the paddle bearing surface in contact with the pole half-cylinder bearing surface increases, pushing the half-cylinder free edges together.
The trigger mechanism is in a housing on the outside surface of the trigger half-cylinder.
The trigger is an elongated, curved, finger. One end of the trigger bend 90° to a stem. The trigger pivots perpendicularly to the system axis in a slot in the housing on a pin.
A release bar extends paraxially in the housing. One end is pivotally attached to the trigger stem, so that, when the trigger is pulled inwardly, the trigger pulls the release bar rearwardly. A coil spring biases the release bar toward the front.
The launcher loop is held in the trigger assembly by the catch, a generally wedge-shaped component with an arm extending from a pivot. The pivot rotates in a radial slot in the front of the housing on a pin. The arm extends from the pivot. In the capture position, the rear edge of the arm slopes outwardly and rearwardly from the pivot and forms a notch with a hollow in the outer surface of the housing that retains the launcher loop.
At the junction between the pivot and arm is a ledge that faces outwardly. In the capture position, the ledge is generally parallel to the system axis. The ledge and release bar operate together to retain the catch in the capture position. When in the capture position, the trigger spring pushes the release bar forwardly and outwardly of the ledge so that the front of the release bar overhangs the ledge.
An optional safety latch mechanism prevents inadvertent operation of the trigger mechanism. A latch has a pivot, a hook finger, and a release lever. The latch pivots outside of the trigger at the pivot. A torsion spring biases the latch in the latched position. The hook finger has a forward-facing hook notch that fits around a latch pin in the trigger. In the latched position, the pin is within the notch, preventing the trigger from being pulled. The latch release lever enables the user to disengage the latch by pushing it outwardly to the unlatched position.
To use the trigger mechanism, it is first put in the capture position where the catch is pivoted fully backward to form the notch with the hollow. The trigger is pivoted fully outwardly so that the release bar is biased over the ledge. The safety mechanism is engaged in the latched position. The launcher loop is pulled back and hooked around the catch. The operator pushes the latch release lever outwardly to the unlatched position and then pulls the trigger. As the trigger pivots inwardly, it pulls the release bar from the catch ledge and the forward force of the loop pulls the catch forwardly, thereby releasing the loop to fly forwardly.
Objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following drawings and detailed description of the invention.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention is a trigger assembly for use with a projectile launcher, such as that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,577, described above.
In the present specification, the front of the trigger assembly 10 is toward the head 3 of the launcher 1, up in
The trigger assembly 10 of the present invention is attached to the launcher pole 2 by a cylindrical cuff 12 that surrounds the pole 2. The cuff 12 is composed of two half-cylinders, the trigger half-cylinder 20 and the pole half-cylinder 22, shown in
The present invention contemplates any type of structure for the hinge 23 that is robust enough. One example is a living hinge, where the cuff 12 is made as a single component with the two half-cylinders 20, 22 attached by a thin, bendable strip that operates as the hinge 23. In the design shown in the figures, the hinge 23 is composed of alternating and interlocking knuckles 27 with a pin 28 passing through aligned holes 29 in the knuckles 27.
The inner surface 32 of each half-cylinder 20, 22 is optionally textured to produce friction against the pole 2 to keep the trigger assembly 10 at the desired location on the pole 2. The present invention contemplates several different methods of texturing the half-cylinder inner surfaces 32.
In one method, the inner surface 32 is textured by molding the half-cylinders 20, 22 with a roughened inner surface 32. In another, the inner surfaces 32 are roughened after forming the half-cylinder 20, 22.
In another method, shown in
The insert 34 also provides sizing for poles 4 of different diameters. For a given diameter cuff 12, the radial thickness of the insert 34 determines the pole diameter onto which the trigger assembly 10 will properly fit.
Any manner of attaching the insert 34 is contemplated, including adhesives. In the present design, the outer surface 38 of the insert 34 has fingers 40 that fit into apertures 42 in the half-cylinder inner surface 32 to retain the insert 34 properly. Optionally, the fingers 40/apertures 42 can be designed so that the fingers 40 snap into the apertures 42 for better retention.
The cuff 12 is secured around the pole 2 by an attachment mechanism 46. In the present configuration, the attachment mechanism 46 is a quick-release mechanism that employs a cammed lever 48. The lever 48 has a paddle 50 mounted to pivot on a lever rod 52. The cuff end 54 of the rod 52 is attached at the free edge 25 of the trigger half-cylinder 20 so that the rod 52 pivots paraxially. The paddle end 56 of the rod 52 is attached to the pivot edge 68 of the paddle 50 so that the paddle 50 pivots on the rod end 56.
In a non-adjustable configuration of the pivoting attachment, shown in
In a first adjustable configuration of the pivoting attachment, shown in
In a second adjustable design of the pivoting attachment, shown in
The paddle end 56 of the rod 52 can be attached to the bearing end 80 of the paddle 50 by any of the above-described mechanisms using a rotating pin 76 in aligned holes 78 in the bearing end 84 of the paddle 50.
If there is an adjustable mechanism, the length of the rod 52, which determines how tightly the cuff 12 adheres to the pole 2, is adjusted by turning the paddle 50, which causes the rod 52 to rotate in/out in the threaded hole(s) 68.
Adjacent to the free edge 26 of the pole half-cylinder 22 is an elongated, concave bearing surface 84, shown in
At the bearing end 80 of the paddle 50 is an elongated, convex bearing surface 100. In cross-section, the bearing surface 100 is eccentric, as shown in
Optionally, the paddle 50 is curved, as at 114, to follow the outer surface 92 of the pole half-cylinder 22.
Optionally, the paddle 50 fits into a depression 116 in the pole half-cylinder outer surface 92 so that the paddle 50 is generally flush with cuff 12 when attached to the pole 2.
The present invention contemplates that any attachment mechanism known in the art can be employed. For example, the half-cylinder free edges 25, 26 can be secured together by one or two bolts. In one configuration, shown in
As shown in
The trigger 150 is an elongated, optionally curved, finger. One end of the trigger 150 has an approximately 90° bend 152 to form a stem 154. There is a hole 158 transversely through the stem 154 at the pivot end 156 of the stem 154. The stem 154 fits into a radial slot 160 at the rear 162 of the housing 148 such that the stem 154 extends radially from the system axis 18 and the trigger 150 extends rearwardly. A pin 164 extends through aligned holes 166 in the sides of the housing 148 bracketing the stem 154 and through the pivot hole 158 in the stem pivot end 156. The trigger 150 pivots on the pin 164 perpendicularly to the system axis 18 in the housing 148.
A release bar 170 extends paraxially in a channel 182 in the housing 148. At the trigger end 172 at the rear of the release bar 170 is a transverse through hole 174. The release bar trigger end 172 fits into a radial slot at the front of the trigger bend 152. A pin 178 extends through aligned holes 180 in the sides of trigger 150 bracketing the release bar 170 and through the hole 174 in the release bar 170. Because the release bar pin 178 is spaced from the trigger pin 164, when the trigger 150 is pulled inwardly toward the system axis 18 (toward the pole 2), the trigger 150 pulls the release bar 170 rearwardly, as seen in
A coil spring 184 biases the release bar 170 toward the front. The spring 184 extends between a wall 186 in the housing 148 and a stop 188 extending inwardly from the release bar 170. When the trigger 150 is pulled, the release bar 170 is pulled rearwardly, causing the stop 188 to compress the spring 184 against the wall 186, as seen in
The launcher loop 7 is held in the trigger assembly 10 by the catch 198, as seen in
The arm 200 extends from the pivot 202 generally opposite the middle 220 of the semicircle. In the capture position 214, the rear edge 222 of the arm 200 slopes outwardly and rearwardly from the pivot 202 and forms a notch 224 with a hollow 228 in the outer surface 226 of the housing 148. The front edge 230 of the hollow 228 acts as a stop for the catch 198 when pivoting rearwardly to the capture position 214. The notch 224 retains the launcher loop 7 as described below.
At the junction between the pivot 202 and arm 200 at the rear of the catch 198 is a ledge 236 radial to the pivot pin 208. The ledge 236 faces outwardly and extends toward the pivot hole 204. In the capture position 214, the ledge 236 is generally parallel to the system axis 18.
The ledge 236 and release bar 170 operate together to retain the catch 198 in the capture position 214. When in the capture position 214, the trigger spring 184 pushes the release bar 170 forwardly and outwardly of the ledge 236 so that the catch end 190 at the front of the release bar 170 overhangs the ledge 236, as seen in
The present design incorporates an optional safety latch mechanism 250 to prevent inadvertent operation of the trigger mechanism 10. The main element of the latch mechanism 250 is the latch 252. The latch 252 is a flat sheet of rigid material, such as a metal or plastic, with three components: a pivot 254, a hook finger 256, and a release lever 258. The pivot 254 fits into a latch slot 260 in the housing 148 outside of the trigger stem bend slot 160. The latch slot 260 and the trigger stem bend slot 160 may be the same slot. A latch pivot pin 264 extends through aligned holes 266 in the sides of the housing 148 bracketing the latch pivot 254 and through a pivot hole 268 in the latch pivot 254. The latch 252 pivots on the pin 264 perpendicularly to the system axis 18 between a latched position 270 and an unlatched position 272, as explained below. A torsion spring 274 mounted on the pin 264 biases the latch 252 in the latched position 270.
The latch hook finger 256 has a forward-facing hook notch 280. The notch 280 fits around a latch pin 282 in the trigger 150. A pair of aligned holes 284 straddle a slot 286 in the trigger 150 rearwardly of the stem bend 152. The pin 282 extends between the holes 284 transversely across the slot 286. In the latched position 270, the pin 282 is within the notch 280 and the inside wall 288 of the notch 274 prevents the trigger 150 from being pulled, as seen in
The latch release lever 258 enables the user to disengage the latch 252. The lever 258 extends rearwardly and outwardly from the pivot 254 and hook 256. When the lever 258 is pushed outwardly to the unlatched position 272, the hook 256 is removed from the pin 282, as seen in
To use the trigger mechanism 10, it is first put in the capture position 214. In the capture position 214, the catch 198 is pivoted fully backward to the hollow 228 to form the notch 224, as at 240 in
To prepare to release the loop 7, the operator first pushes the latch release lever 258 outwardly, as at 242 in
To release the loop 7, with the latch mechanism 250 disengaged, the operator pulls the trigger 150. As the trigger pivots inwardly, it pulls the release bar 170 from the catch ledge 236. The forward force of the loop 7 pulls the catch 198 forwardly, thereby releasing the loop 7 to fly forwardly, as shown in
The components of the trigger assembly is are composed of rigid materials, such as rigid plastics, composites, and/or metals. One preferred plastic is ABS for its strength and rigidity. The pins are typically made of metal, such as steel, for its strength.
Thus it has been shown and described a projectile launcher trigger. Since certain changes may be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is intended that all matter described in the foregoing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3895621 | Kellogg | Jul 1975 | A |
5551412 | Warnke | Sep 1996 | A |
5887577 | Sherrill | Mar 1999 | A |
6161532 | Goff | Dec 2000 | A |
6286496 | Bednar | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6968836 | Kees | Nov 2005 | B1 |
8720013 | Chen | May 2014 | B2 |
8720014 | Chen | May 2014 | B2 |
9395139 | Pena | Jul 2016 | B2 |
Entry |
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Big Shot Release Trigger, Sep. 29, 2015. |
BIGshot Snap, Sherrill, Inc., Mar. 4, 1999. |