Slingshot, slingshot releaser, and releaser-incorporated slingshot device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6823855
  • Patent Number
    6,823,855
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, July 9, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 30, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A slingshot device having an improved target hitting rate. The slingshot device includes a slingshot, which is provided with a front sight and a handgrip, and a releaser, which is provided with a rear sight. The releaser is used to stretch an elastic band of the slingshot. The drawing distance of the elastic band is adjusted by changing the position of the handgrip. The front sight is movable in directions that are perpendicular to the shooting direction of a pellet. The rear sight has a sight slit, which is used to determine the drawing direction of the elastic band.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention is related to a slingshot, a slingshot releaser, and a releaser-incorporated slingshot device.




In the prior art, to shoot a slingshot, a user sets a pellet in a pellet pouch, which is attached to an elastic band, such as a rubber tube. The user then draws the elastic band while holding the pellet pouch and takes aim at a target. Since the user relies only on his or her eyes when taking aim, the target hitting rate is low in the prior art.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is an object of the present invention to provide a slingshot, a slingshot releaser, and a releaser-incorporated slingshot device that improves the target hitting rate.




To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a slingshot including an elastic band, which is used to shoot a pellet and has two ends, and a pouch, which is connected to the elastic band. The slingshot includes a main body. First and second connecting elements connect the two ends of the elastic band to the main body. The first and second connecting elements are separated from each other on the main body. The pellet is shot through a shooting space defined between the first and second connecting elements. A front sight is attached to the main body near one of the first and second connecting elements.




A further perspective of the present invention is a releaser of a slingshot. The slingshot includes an elastic band, which is used to shoot a pellet, and a pouch, which is connected to the elastic band. The releaser includes a clamp for holding the pouch. The clamp is selectively arranged at a closed position, in which the clamp holds the pouch, and an opened position, in which the clamp releases the pouch. A rear sight is arranged near the clamp.




A further perspective of the present invention is a slingshot device including a slingshot and a releaser. The slingshot includes a main body, an elastic band having two ends and connected to the main body to shoot a pellet, and a pouch connected to the elastic band. First and second connecting elements connect the two ends of the elastic band to the main body. The first and second connecting elements are separated from each other on the main body. The pellet is shot through a shooting space defined between the first and second connecting elements. A front sight is attached to the main body near one of the first and second connecting elements. A releaser stretches the elastic band. The releaser includes a clamp for holding the pouch. The clamp is selectively arranged at a closed position, in which the clamp holds the pouch, and an opened position, in which the clamp releases the pouch. A rear sight is arranged near the clamp.




A further perspective of the present invention is a slingshot including an elastic band, which is used to shoot a pellet and has two ends, and a pouch, which is connected to the elastic band. The slingshot includes a frame extending in a direction the pellet is shot and a front sight base attached to the frame. The front sight base is movable in a first direction, which is perpendicular to the frame. A front sight is attached to the front sight base. The front sight is movable in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the frame and to the first direction. Two brackets are fixed to the frame. Each of the two brackets supports one of the two ends of the elastic band. The two brackets are separated from each other in the first direction. First and second connecting elements are each fixed to one of the two brackets. The first and second connecting elements connect the ends of the elastic band to the two brackets. A handgrip is attached to the frame. The handgrip is moved along the frame to change the distance from the handgrip to the first and second connecting elements.




Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which:





FIG. 1

is a plan view showing a releaser-incorporated slingshot device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a side view showing the slingshot device of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 3A

is a front view of the slingshot taken from line


3


A—


3


A of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3B

is an enlarged view showing a front sight of

FIG. 3A

;





FIG. 4A

is a front view of a releaser taken from line


4


A—


4


A of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4B

is a cross-sectional view of the releaser of

FIG. 4A

;





FIG. 5

is a plan view showing the slingshot device of

FIG. 1

in a state set for a right-handed user;





FIG. 6A

is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a handgrip of the slingshot of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 6B

is a partially cross-sectional view showing a front sight base and a positioning screw;





FIG. 7

is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an elastic band and an anchor connector;





FIG. 8A

is a front view showing a further example of a releaser;





FIG. 8B

is a cross-sectional view of the releaser of

FIG. 8A

; and





FIG. 9

is a plan view showing the slingshot device of

FIG. 1

in a state set for a left-handed user.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




A preferred embodiment of a releaser-incorporated slingshot device


10


according to the present invention will now be discussed with reference to the drawings.




As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the releaser-incorporated slingshot device


10


includes a slingshot


11


and a releaser


12


, which is arranged behind the slingshot


11


during usage. The user holds the slingshot


11


with one hand and holds the releaser


12


with the other hand. The slingshot


11


includes a main body


15


, an elastic band (power band)


13


, which is connected to the main body


15


, and a pouch


14


, which is attached to the elastic band


13


. It is preferred that the elastic band


13


be a rubber tube and that the pouch


14


be made of natural leather or synthetic leather. The releaser


12


holds a pellet


73


and the pellet pouch


14


. The main body


15


has a support frame


18


and a front sight base


19


, which is supported by the support frame


18


. As shown in

FIG. 2

, the front sight base


19


is attached to the support frame


18


at a right angle.




The support frame


18


supports an arm brace


17


. A handgrip


20


is fixed to the front end of the arm brace


17


. A semicylindrical armrest


21


is fixed to the rear end of the arm brace


17


. The handgrip


20


and the armrest


21


are arranged on the left side of the arm brace


17


, as viewed in

FIG. 1. A

guide sleeve


22


is attached to the arm brace


17


. The support frame


18


is inserted through the guide sleeve


22


. The guide sleeve


22


is axially movable along the support frame


18


. As shown in

FIG. 6A

, the support frame


18


is hollow. The support frame


18


has a left wall


23


, as viewed in FIG.


6


A. The left wall


23


has a plurality of positioning holes


24


arranged in the longitudinal direction of the support frame


18


. A positioning pin


25


is provided on the distal end of the arm brace


17


. A compression coil spring


26


urges the positioning pin


25


so that the positioning pin


25


engages one of the positioning holes


24


. The guide sleeve


22


has a right wall in which a fastening screw


27


is arranged and a bottom wall in which a fastening screw


28


is arranged, as viewed in FIG.


6


A. When the fastening screws


27


,


28


are fastened, the distal ends of the fastening screws


27


,


28


are respectively abutted against the right wall and the bottom wall of the support frame


18


. This fixes the guide sleeve


22


to the support frame


18


. When the user loosens the fastening screws


27


,


28


and pulls out the positioning pin


25


from the positioning hole


24


against the elastic force of the compression coil spring


26


, the guide sleeve


22


, together with the front sight base


19


, may be moved along the support frame


18


to change the distance L between the handgrip


20


and the front sight base


19


. After moving the guide sleeve


22


to obtain the desired distance L, the user engages the positioning pin


25


with the corresponding positioning hole


24


and fastens the fastening screws


27


,


28


to position the guide sleeve


22


(i.e., handgrip


20


) on the support frame


18


.




Referring to

FIG. 3A

, a connecting plate


29




a


is fixed to the front end of the support frame


18


. The connecting plate


29




a


connects two U-shaped arms, or upper and lower anchor brackets


29


. The upper anchor bracket


29


is located above the support frame


18


, and the lower anchor bracket


29


is located below the support frame


18


. A connecting element, or anchor connector


30


, is attached to each anchor bracket


29


. The anchor brackets


29


connect the elastic band


13


to the main body


15


(FIG.


1


). Accordingly, the anchor brackets


29


and the connecting plates


29




a


support the anchor connectors


30


on the support frame


18


.





FIG. 7

is a cross-sectional view of the lower anchor bracket


29


and the elastic band


13


. The anchor connector


30


is hollow and has a cylindrical portion and a conical portion. The cylindrical portion has an inner cylindrical surface


35


, and the conical portion has an inner conical surface (engaging surface)


35




a


. The surfaces


35


,


35




a


define an engaging hole


32


. The anchor connector


30


has a front opening (first opening)


34


and a rear opening (second opening)


33


, which are connected by a slit


36


that extends through the side wall of the anchor connector


30


(FIG.


3


A). The two ends


13




a


of the elastic band


13


are each connected to one of the two anchor connectors


30


. More specifically, a ball


37


is inserted in each end


13




a


of the elastic band


13


. The elastic band


13


extends through the rear openings


33


of the anchor connectors


30


, and each end


13




a


of the elastic band


13


is held between the corresponding ball


37


and conical surface


35




a


. This prevents the elastic band


13


from falling out of the anchor connectors


30


. The slits


36


facilitate the attachment of the elastic band


13


to the anchor connector


30


. Referring to

FIG. 7

, it is preferred that the two ends


13




a


be relatively thick or that the two ends


13




a


each be folded in an overlapping manner. Since the portion of the elastic body


13


that contacts the walls of the rear openings


33


are relatively thick, the elastic band


13


is prevented from tearing and securely attached to the anchor connectors


30


.




A pellet (ammo)


73


is shot through a shooting space


31


defined between the upper and lower anchor connectors


30


.




Referring to

FIG. 3A

, a threaded shaft


38


, which extends horizontally, is attached to the upper portion of the front sight base


19


. The threaded shaft


38


has a basal end, which is engaged with nuts


40


,


41


. The position of the threaded shaft


38


relative to the front sight base


19


is determined by the nuts


40


,


41


. A front sight


39


is attached to the distal end of the threaded shaft


38


. The front sight


39


is arranged at the outer side of the shooting space


31


and along a line connecting the upper and lower anchor connectors


30


. The front sight


39


includes a ring


44


, a sight point


42


, and a level


43


, which are used to take aim. In the preferred embodiment, the distal end of a threaded pin


45


, which is engaged with the ring


44


, is used as the sight point


42


.




A guide sleeve


46


is fixed to the front end of the support frame


18


. Referring to

FIG. 6B

, the guide sleeve


46


includes a positioning screw


48


. When the positioning screw


48


is loosened, vertical movement of the front sight base


19


through the guide sleeve


46


is permitted. Further, in this state, the front sight base


19


may be removed from the guide sleeve


46


. As shown in

FIG. 2

, a gauge


47


is provided on the right surface of the front sight base


19


. The user refers to the gauge


47


to adjust the position of the front sight base


19


and fastens the positioning screw


48


to fix the front sight base


19


to the guide sleeve


46


. This adjusts the height of the front sight


39


.





FIG. 4A

is a front view of the releaser


12


, and

FIG. 4B

is a cross-sectional view of the releaser


12


. The releaser


12


includes a grip


12




a


and a clamp


49


, which holds the pellet pouch


14


. The clamp


49


has two arms


50


, which are selectively arranged between an opened position and a closed position. Opposing holding rollers


51


are arranged on the distal ends of the two arms


50


. The holding rollers


51


are rotatable. A clamp drive mechanism


52


opens and closes the arms


50


. More specifically, the clamp drive mechanism


52


includes a trigger


53


and a slider


54


. The slider


54


slides when the user operates the trigger


53


. When the slider


54


is located at a front position, the basal ends of the upper and lower arms


50


are arranged close to each other. This closes the arms


50


. When the slider


54


is located at a rear position, the basal ends of the upper and lower arms


50


are separated from each other. This opens the arms


50


.




A rear sight


56


is attached to the releaser


12


by means of a bracket


55


. The rear sight


56


includes a rear sight plate


59


and a holding base


58


, which supports the rear sight plate


59


. A pin


57




a


pivotally supports the holding base


58


. A spherical body


60


and a compression coil spring


61


, which biases the spherical body


60


in an upward direction, are arranged in the bracket


55


. Two recesses


62




a


,


62




b


are formed in the holding base


58


. When the rear sight plate


59


is held upright, the spherical body


60


engages the recess


62




a


. When the rear sight plate


59


is folded, the spherical body


60


engages the recess


62




b


. The position of the rear sight plate


59


is determined by fastening the pin


57




a


with a nut


57




b.






The rear sight plate


59


includes two apertures, or upper and lower sight points


63


,


64


. More specifically, the lower sight point


63


is separated by distance H


63


from a plane of contact between the two rollers


51


, and the upper sight point


64


is separated by distance H


64


from the plane of contact between the two rollers


51


. A lower vertical reference line, or lower sight slit


65


, extends in the longitudinal direction of the rear sight plate


59


along a line connecting the clamp


49


and the lower sight point


63


. An upper vertical reference line, or upper sight slit


66


, extends along a line connecting the lower sight point


63


and the upper sight point


65


.





FIGS. 8A and 8B

show a further example of the releaser


12




b


. The releaser


12




b


includes a movable rear sight plate


67


, which is removable. The structure of the releaser


12




b


is the same as that of the releaser


12


of

FIG. 4

except for the movable rear sight plate


67


. The movable rear sight plate


67


is movable along the upper sight slit


66


of the rear sight plate


59


. A fastening screw


68


fastens the movable rear sight plate


67


to the rear sight plate


59


. The movable rear sight plate


67


has a movable sight point


69


and a movable vertical reference line, or movable sight slit


70


, extending along a line that connects the movable sight point


69


and the fastening screw


68


. The movable sight point


69


and the movable sight slit


70


are used to take aim at a target. The distance H


69


between the plane of contact between the rollers


51


and the movable sight point


69


is adjusted by moving the movable rear sight plate


67


along the rear sight plate


59


. The movable rear sight plate


67


has a round window


71


, through which the upper sight point


64


of the rear sight plate


59


is exposed, and a slit, or elongated window


72


, through which the upper sight slit


66


and the lower sight point


63


are exposed.




The procedure for using the releaser-incorporated slingshot device


10


will now be discussed.

FIGS. 1

,


2


, and


5


show an example of the releaser-incorporated slingshot device


10


, which is used by a right-handed user.




The clamp


49


of the releaser


12


or


12




b


is first opened. The pellet


73


is enveloped in the pellet pouch


14


. The pellet pouch


14


is then arranged in the clamp


49


and the clamp


49


is closed. This fixes the pellet


73


to the releaser


12


or


12




b


. The user grips the handgrip


20


of the slingshot


11


so that the front sight


39


is faced upward and his or her arm rests in the armrest


21


. Further, the user grips the grip


12




a


of the releaser


12


or


12




b


with his or her right hand. Then, the user draws and stretches the elastic band


13


. The user inclines the slingshot


11


upward or downward to determine the angle of the slingshot


11


with respect to a reference plane


412


(i.e., shooting angle θ, refer to

FIG. 2

) in accordance with the height of and distance to the target. The user also uses the level


43


and corrects the holding position of the slingshot


11


so that a vertical reference plane


513


of the slingshot


11


is vertical. The user aligns the sight points


63


,


64


, or


69


of the rear sight


56


with the sight point


42


of the front sight


39


on the slingshot


11


to take aim at a target along sight line I


63


, I


64


, or I


69


. Further, the user adjusts the position of the releaser


12


so that elastic band


13


may be seen through the sight slits


65


,


66


,


70


of the rear sight


56


. That is, the user adjusts the position of the releaser


12


so that the pellet


73


is arranged along the vertical reference plane


513


. When the user operates the trigger


53


and opens the clamp


49


, the elastic force of the elastic band


13


shoots the pellet


73


through the shooting space


31


.




The preferred embodiment may be modified as described below.





FIG. 9

shows an example of the releaser-incorporated slingshot


11


used by a left-handed user. In this case, the slingshot


11


is set so that the handgrip


20


extends from the right side of the slingshot


11


. The user loosens the positioning screw


48


to remove the front sight base


19


from the guide sleeve


46


. Then, the user turns the slingshot


11


upside down and reattaches the front sight base


19


to the guide sleeve


46


so that the front sight


39


is faced upward. The user holds the handgrip


20


with his or her right hand and holds the releaser


12


or


12




b


with the other hand. The left-hand slingshot


11


is otherwise used in the same manner as the right-hand slingshot


11


.




The level


43


of the front sight


39


does not have to be used to change the angle of the slingshot


11


with respect to the horizontal reference plane


412


. Accordingly, the level


43


may be eliminated.




The pellet


73


may be shot using only the slingshot


11


.




The front sight base


19


may have an additional front sight


39


located under the lower anchor connector


30


along a line connecting the anchor connectors


30


. This enables the slingshot


11


to be used by both right-handed and left-handed users without having to remove the front sight base


19


. In this case, the two front sights


39


may both be removable from the front sight base


19


.




The user may hold the slingshot


11


so that the handgrip


20


is located at a position lower than the support frame


18


. In other words, the slingshot


11


may be held so that the two anchor connectors


30


are arranged horizontally. In such a case, it is preferred that the front sight


39


be attached to the front sight base


19


above the shooting space


31


defined between the two anchor connectors


30


.




The preferred embodiment has the advantages described below.




The front sight


39


of the slingshot


11


improves the target hitting rate.




The front sight


39


includes the sight point


42


and the level


43


. The level


43


is useful for preventing the slingshot


11


from being held in a tilted manner. The user uses the level


43


to correctly hold the slingshot


11


and uses the sight point


42


to shoot the pellet


73


at a target. This further improves the target hitting rate of the slingshot


11


.




The front sight


39


is movable along a plane


523


, which is perpendicular to the shooting direction of the pellet


73


(forward direction). In other words, the height and horizontal position of the front sight


39


is adjustable. Accordingly, the front sight


39


is positioned at the optimal location in accordance with the user. This facilitates aiming for various users and improves the target hitting rate of the slingshot


11


.




The front sight


39


is located near the anchor connectors


30


and outside the shooting space


31


. More specifically, the front sight


39


is arranged along a line connecting the two anchor connectors


30


and above the upper anchor connector


30


. Since the front sight


39


is located outside the shooting path of the pellet


73


, the pellet


73


is shot smoothly without being interfered by the front sight


39


.




The front sight base


19


may be removed from the support frame


18


. Thus, the front sight


39


may be arranged at an optimal position regardless of with which hand the user holds the slingshot


11


. Accordingly, the slingshot


11


is easy to use.




The slingshot


11


is provided with the handgrip


20


and the armrest


21


. This enables the user to securely grip the slingshot


11


.




The distance L between the handgrip


20


and the two anchor connectors


30


is adjustable. Thus, the drawing length of the elastic band


13


can be adjusted. For example, when shooting a far target, the distance L is increased. When shooting a relatively near target, the distance L is decreased. Further, the slingshot


11


may be held properly regardless of the user's build.




Each anchor connector


30


has the rear opening


33


, the diameter of which is smaller than the ball


37


, and the front opening


34


, the diameter of which is larger than the ball


37


. When the elastic band


13


is stretched toward the rear, each end


13




a


of the elastic band


13


engages the conical surface


35




a


of the corresponding anchor connector


30


. This prevents the ends


13




a


of the elastic band


13


from falling out of the rear openings


33


.




The relatively thick portions of the elastic band


13


come into contact with the rear openings


33


. This prevents the elastic body


13


from tearing and rigidly connects the elastic band


13


to the anchor connectors


30


.




Part of the elastic band


13


is exposed from the front openings


34


. This facilitates the replacement of the elastic band


13


. The slit


36


extends through the wall of each anchor connector


30


to connect the rear opening


33


and the front opening


34


. This facilitates the attachment and replacement of the elastic band


13


.




The releasers


12


,


12




b


are each provided with the clamp


49


, which holds the pellet


73


, and the rear sight


56


. The rear sight


56


increases the target hitting rate of the slingshot device


10


.




The rear sight


56


includes the sight points


63


,


64


,


69


, which are used when taking aim, and sight slits


65


,


66


,


70


, which are used to adjust the drawing direction of the elastic band


13


. The elastic band


13


is drawn in a manner that the elastic band


13


is seen through the sight slits


65


,


66


,


70


. This properly draws the elastic band


13


in a direction opposite the shooting direction. As a result, the target hitting rate of the slingshot device


10


is improved.




The rear sight


56


has the sight points


63


,


64


,


69


. The optimal one of the sight points


63


,


64


,


69


is selected in accordance with the target position, the shooting angle θ, and the user. Thus, the slingshot


11


is held at the optimal position when shooting the pellet


73


. Accordingly, the target hitting rate of the slingshot device


10


is improved.




As shown in

FIG. 3A

, the handgrip


20


is arranged between the two anchor brackets


29


(anchor connectors


30


). Accordingly, the slingshot


11


is held in a stable manner when the elastic band


13


is drawn.




It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalence of the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A slingshot including an elastic band, which is used to shoot a pellet and has two ends, and a pouch, which is connected to the elastic band, the slingshot comprising:a main body; first and second connecting elements for connecting the two ends of the elastic band to the main body, wherein the first and second connecting elements are separated from each other on the main body, and the pellet is shot through a shooting space defined between the first and second connecting elements; and a front sight attached to the main body near one of the first and second connecting elements and located outside the shooting space.
  • 2. The slingshot according to claim 1, wherein the front sight is arranged along a line connecting the first and second connecting elements.
  • 3. The slingshot according to claim 1, wherein the first and second connecting elements have a slit for facilitating the attachment of the elastic band to the first and second connecting elements.
  • 4. A slingshot including an elastic band, which is used to shoot a pellet and has two ends, and a pouch, which is connected to the elastic band, the slingshot comprising:a main body; first and second connecting elements for connecting the two ends of the elastic band to the main body, wherein the first and second connecting elements are separated from each other on the main body, and the pellet is shot through a shooting space defined between the first and second connecting elements; and a front sight attached to the main body selectively at a first position, which is close to the first connecting element, and a second position, which is close to the second connecting element.
  • 5. A slingshot including an elastic band, which is used to shoot a pellet and has two ends, and a pouch, which is connected to the elastic band, the slingshot comprising:a main body; first and second connecting elements for connecting the two ends of the elastic band to the main body, wherein the first and second connecting elements are separated from each other on the main body, and the pellet is shot through a shooting space defined between the first and second connecting elements; and a front sight attached to the main body near one of the first and second connecting elements, wherein the front sight includes a sight point, which is used to take aim, and a level.
  • 6. A slingshot including an elastic band, which is used to shoot a pellet and has two ends, and a pouch, which is connected to the elastic band, the slingshot comprising:a main body; first and second connecting elements for connecting the two ends of the elastic band to the main body, wherein the first and second connecting elements are separated from each other on the main body, and the pellet is shot through a shooting space defined between the first and second connecting elements; and a front sight attached to the main body near one of the first and second connecting elements, wherein the position of the front sight is adjustable along a plane that is perpendicular to the shooting direction of the pellet.
  • 7. The slingshot according to claim 6, wherein the main body includes:a support frame for supporting the first and second connecting elements; and a front sight base movably attached to the support frame to support the front sight, wherein the front sight base is supported by the support frame so that the front sight base is movable in a direction parallel to a line connecting the first and second connecting elements, and the front sight is supported by the front sight base so that the front sight movable in a direction intersecting the line connecting the first and second connecting elements.
  • 8. The slingshot according to claim 7, further comprising:an arm brace attached to the support frame, wherein the arm brace includes a handgrip, and the arm brace is movable in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the front sight base.
  • 9. A slingshot including an elastic band, which is used to shoot a pellet and has two ends, and a pouch, which is connected to the elastic band, the slingshot comprising:a main body; first and second connecting elements for connecting the two ends of the elastic band to the main body, wherein the first and second connecting elements are separated from each other on the main body, and the pellet is shot through a shooting space defined between the first and second connecting elements; wherein each of the first and second connecting elements is hollow and has a first opening, which is opened in the shooting direction of the pellet, a second opening, which is opened in a direction opposite to the shooting direction of the pellet, and an engaging surface, which is defined between the first and second openings, and wherein the elastic band extends through the second opening and is held by the engaging surface; and a front sight attached to the main body near one of the first and second connecting elements.
  • 10. The slingshot according to claim 9, wherein the elastic band is an elastic tube having two ends with a ball being held in each of the ends, the first opening has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the ball, the second opening has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the ball, and the engaging surface is conical.
  • 11. A releaser of a slingshot, wherein the slingshot includes an elastic band, which is used to shoot a pellet, and a pouch, which is connected to the elastic band, the releaser comprising:a clamp for holding the pouch, wherein the clamp is selectively arranged at a closed position, in which the clamp holds the pouch, and an opened position, in which the clamp releases the pouch; and a rear sight arranged near the clamp, wherein the rear sight includes a sight point used when taking aim and a sight slit used to adjust a direction in which the elastic band is drawn.
  • 12. The releaser according to claim 11, wherein the sight point is one of a plurality of sight points, each sight point separated by a different distance from the clamp.
  • 13. The releaser according to claim 11, wherein the sight point is movable and the distance between the sight point and the clamp is adjustable.
  • 14. A slingshot device comprising:a slingshot including: a main body; an elastic band having two ends and connected to the main body to shoot a pellet; a pouch connected to the elastic band; first and second connecting elements for connecting the two ends of the elastic band to the main body, wherein the first and second connecting elements are separated from each other on the main body, and the pellet is shot through a shooting space defined between the first and second connecting elements; and a front sight attached to the main body near one of the first and second connecting elements and located outside the shooting space; and a releaser for stretching the elastic band, wherein the releaser includes: a clamp for holding the pouch, wherein the clamp is selectively arranged at a closed position, in which the clamp holds the pouch, and an opened position, in which the clamp releases the pouch; and a rear sight arranged near the clamp.
  • 15. A slingshot including an elastic band, which is used to shoot a pellet and has two ends, and a pouch, which is connected to the elastic band, the slingshot comprising:a frame extending in a direction the pellet is shot; a front sight base attached to the frame, wherein the front sight base is movable in a first direction, which is perpendicular to the frame; a front sight attached to the front sight base, wherein the front sight is movable to a second direction, which is perpendicular to the frame and to the first direction; two brackets fixed to the frame, wherein each of the two brackets supports one of the two ends of the elastic band, and wherein the two brackets are separated from each other in the first direction; first and second connecting elements each fixed to one of the two brackets, wherein the first and second connecting elements connect the ends of the elastic band to the two brackets; and a handgrip attached to the frame, wherein the handgrip is moved along the frame to change the distance from the handgrip to the first and second connecting elements.
  • 16. The slingshot according to claim 15, wherein the elastic band is an elastic tube having two ends with a ball being held in each of the ends, wherein each of the first and second connecting elements is hollow and has a front opening, which is opened in the shooting direction of the pellet and has a diameter that is larger than that of the associated ball, a rear opening, which is opened in a direction opposite to the shooting direction of the pellet and has a diameter that is smaller than that of the associated ball, and a conical surface, which defines the rear opening.
  • 17. The slingshot according to claim 16, wherein the elastic band is extended through the rear opening of each connecting element and held between the corresponding conical surface and ball.
  • 18. The slingshot according to claim 15, wherein the front sight base is removable from the frame and may be selectively arranged at a first position, which is close to the first connecting element, and a second position, which is close to the second connecting element.
  • 19. A slingshot including an elastic band, which is used to shoot a pellet and has two ends, and a pouch, which is connected to the elastic band, the slingshot comprising:a main body; first and second connecting elements for connecting the two ends of the elastic band to the main body, wherein the first and second connecting elements are separated from each other on the main body, and the pellet is shot through a shooting space defined between the first and second connecting elements; and an adjustable front sight attached to the main body and located outside the shooting space.
  • 20. A releaser of a slingshot, wherein the slingshot includes an elastic band, which is used to shoot a pellet, and a pouch, which is connected to the elastic band, and wherein the releaser is a separate member of the slingshot and, the releaser comprising:a clamp for holding the pouch, wherein the clamp is selectively arranged at a closed position, in which the clamp holds the pouch, and an opened position, in which the clamp releases the pouch; and a rear sight arranged near the clamp, wherein the rear sight is foldable.
Priority Claims (2)
Number Date Country Kind
2001-251297 Aug 2001 JP
2001-283846 Sep 2001 JP
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5762056 Kysilka Jun 1998 A
5894672 Ellenburg et al. Apr 1999 A
6564787 Barry May 2003 B1