Patent Application
20060042143
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tip assembly for underwater spear guns and particularly to removable assemblies.
2. Relevant Art
A wide variety of spears exist for use in underwater fishing. When the spear pierces the fish, the fish usually flips and turns through violent contortions to free itself of the spear. Unless the spear tip is fashioned with devices to prevent it from being retracted from the fish, the spear may be shaken loose by the contortions of the fish and the catch is lost. Spear tips of the prior art include some type of barb which was broader at its base than near the point so that reverse movement of the barb is inhibited.
Generally speaking, many spears employ a removable tip which is connected to a main spear shaft by a cable. What is desired is a tip assembly and cable connection that impedes accidental release of the tip. In addition, an improved barb is desired which is safer for the user, is easily replaced and enhances tip assembly release. Finally, a quick and easy method to replace the cable should be provided.
In accord with the present invention there is provided a spear tip assembly for an underwater spear gun having an elongated shaft adapted to be fired from a spear gun and having a long axis, a forward portion, and a rearward portion. A tip member includes front and rear portions with the tip member being removably attached to the forward portion of the shaft. An elongated flexible cable has a forward end attached to the tip member and a rearward portion attached to rearward portion of the shaft. A barb including a barb body is attached to the tip member adjacent the rear portion thereof and the barb has a rearwardly directed barb point. A rear cable restraint means is used for impeding movement of the cable and the tip member until the spear is fired from a spear gun. Cable restraint means is also used for releasably securing the forward end of the cable to the tip member. The tip member includes a rear portion releasably attachable to the forward portion of the shaft, a front portion having a sharpened tip, and a medial portion, and the forward end portion of the cable is attached to the medial portion of the tip member.
Aspects of the invention are seen in making the barb body removable from its attachment to the rear portion of the tip member, and the barb and barb body are integral and made of substantially rigid plastic material. The barb point is directed downwardly for engaging a far side of a speared fish to effect relative movement between a fish and the shaft to forcibly release the tip member from the shaft.
Other aspects are provided by the rear cable restraint means including a movable member mounted against a portion of the cable to provide frictional force against cable movement to inhibit the tip member from disengaging from the shaft prior to firing the shaft by a spear gun. The movable member includes a resilient O-ring carried by the movable member wherein the cable is slidingly frictionally engaged with the O-ring.
Further aspects of the invention are disclosed in the barb, which has a rearwardly directed arcuate point and a body attached to the tip member. A rear cable restraint means is used for impeding movement of the cable and the tip member until the spear is fired from a spear gun, the restraint means including a resilient O-ring in engagement with a portion of the cable. Cable restraint means is also used for releasably securing the forward end of the cable to said tip member. The cable restraint means includes a long channel disposed in the body of the barb for retaining a portion of the cable therein, the channel being parallel to the long axis. The barb and the body are integral and are removably attached adjacent the rear portion of the tip member. Securing means provides for attaching the barb to the rear end portion of the tip member, the securing means including a body surrounding the rear portion and carrying the barb at a predetermined location thereon. The body includes a channel disposed about 180° from the predetermined location of the barb, the channel being elongate extending substantially parallel to the long axis of the shaft and adapted to receive a portion of the cable therein and maintained therein until a speared fish exerts a force on the barb thereby releasing the portion of the cable from the groove. The barb carrying a portion of the cable close to the tip member reduces a drag profile of the cable. The second restraint means includes a collar mounted around the shaft, the collar having a passageway therethrough for carrying the cable close to the shaft to reduce a drag profile of the cable. The barb includes a barb body surrounding the tip member and having a long channel formed therein to receive and retain a portion of the cable therein, further including restraint means attached to the shaft and having a movable portion carrying a resilient O-ring engaged with another portion of the cable.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention provides for several improvements over the spear gun tip assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,450 to the present applicant. It is important to understand that the improvements are adaptable to a wide variety of spears having a removable tip assembly. The improvements are more specifically discussed below.
In accord with this invention, the tip is inhibited from deploying accidentally without the need for kinking of the cable connected between the tip and the rearward portion of the spear shaft. This feature is accomplished by providing a knurled cable retainer ring on the rearward portion of the shaft adjacent a retainer flange. The retainer ring has a slot machined circumferentially for a neoprene O-ring. The O-ring is mounted adjacent a passageway in the retainer flange through which the cable passes. The O-ring provides sufficient resistance to the movement of the cable to prevent the tip from slipping off the shaft, as by gravity, when the unit is pointed downward. The O-ring prevents premature deployment of the tip but still provides a smooth and predictable release of the tip when the fish has been speared and the barb engages the fish.
The barb according to the improvements employed herein is preferably formed as a substantially rigid nylon tip barb element and replaces the metal cable barb used in the previous tip assembly disclosed in '450 patent. The nylon barb ensures a positive release even in soft tissue and enhances the toggle action of the tip. Additionally, the improved barb is safer to use by the spear fisherman.
A cable catch is formed integrally with the nylon barb and is used to maintain the cable in a low drag profile close to the tip and spear shaft which increases the velocity and penetration of the tip and the barb. Further, the barb is easily replaced in the field.
In addition to the other improvements, the cable may be replaced in the field. Replacing the cable of the '450 patent required return to the manufacturer. Also, the cable attachment was such that it was difficult for the spear end user to sharpen the tip. In the new apparatus, the cable is readily removed by using a 3/32 Allen wrench to unscrew a cup point socket screw from inside the tip to allow for the removal of the cable from the tip. For cable replacement, a new cable end can be inserted into the tip and secured therein by tightening the socket screw.
With respect now to the drawings, a spear gun spear employing the improved tip assembly of the present invention is illustrated at numeral 20. The releasable tip member 22 is releasably mounted to shaft 23 via coupler 21 which may be a conventional socket arrangement to receive the end of shaft 23 or any other appropriate apparatus.
Cable 25 is connected between the forward tip member 22 having point 26 and a rearward cable restraint means, shown generally at 24. Ball 45 on one end of the cable 25 limits the separation between the spear shaft 23 and the tip assembly 22 to permit deployment of the tip within the fish speared on the other side of the fish as will be discussed hereinbelow.
With respect to
Adjacent the remote end of spear 20 (
Flange 37 includes at least one longitudinal passageway 50 through which passes the rearward portion of cable 25.
Cable 25 is preferably formed of metal and end balls 45 and 32, which are formed by melting the ends of cable 25 in an inert atmosphere as understood in the art.
Barb 48 is constructed of substantially rigid nylon or other strong and similar materials suitable for a marine environment. The barb 48 can be mounted onto rearward portion 29 of tip assembly 22 by any suitable means such as set screws (not shown) or through the use of a resilient inner surface that permits forcing into position along the rearward end portion 29 of tip member 22 to the proper position from the pointed end thereof by slowly and forcibly pressing rearwardly on the front surface 51 of body 46. An upper surface of barb body 46 includes a longitudinal channel 47 aligned with a long axis of the shaft 23 that is sized to releasably accommodate a major cross-sectional portion of the cable 25 therein without inhibiting release therefrom as clearly shown. Keeping the cable taut and close to the tip member 22 and shaft 23 reduces the drag profile of the spear 20 and cable 25.
The barb 48 is rearwardly directed and divergent from the long axis of the spear and is an arcuate point 49 at the lower portion of body 46, as clearly shown in
Spear 20 is attached to a spear gun (not shown) via connection flange 42 having socket 43. Flange 42 also acts as a stop for spring 41 mounted outwardly of and on the shaft 23 which biases the collar 40 forwardly to maintain O-ring 38 engaged against cable 25.
While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
