Patent Application
20220349671
This invention relates to toy weapons. More specifically, it relates to a slingshot having a multi-laminated or multi-layered tapered tubular band.
Slingshots, sometimes also referred to as catapults, are classic children's toys. A typical slingshot comprises a handle, a fork disposed on top of the handle, and an elastic band attached to the fork. One design currently known in the art involves a two-part band, wherein a first end of each band is attached to the fork while the opposite end is attached to a pouch configured to hold a projectile. To operate the slingshot, a shooter holds the handle in front of the shooter, generally at an arm-length away from the shooter's torso. Using the free hand, the shooter places a projectile into the pouch, grasps the pouch with the projectile positioned therein, and pulls back the pouch relative to the handle, stretching the band. To shoot the projectile so positioned, the user takes aim and releases the pouch while continuing to hold the handle.
The band is a critical component of a slingshot. Over the years, slingshot bands have undergone several charges. In the past, a typical slingshot band would have a rectangular cross-section and would be made of extruded rubber. This design had several flaws, one of which was limited elasticity. Subsequently, the material of choice for a slingshot band has become latex, which offers much greater elasticity. Typically, latex slingshot bands are either flat or tubular and have a uniform cross-section, including a uniform inner and outer diameters and uniform wall thickness. This uniform design is generally dictated by the manufacturing process associated with extruding or rolling. However, this design has a major flaw—uniformly shaped slingshot bands tend to fail due to fatigue and exposure to ultraviolet radiation in the region proximal to the slingshot fork. The point of failure most commonly occurs near the fork because this section of the slingshot band undergoes the greatest elastic deformation and is also subjected to damage from ultraviolet radiation and impact of misfired projectiles.
Thus, what is needed is an improved slingshot band having increased longevity by being reinforced against failure in the region of the band proximal to the slingshot fork.
One embodiment of the invention is a slingshot band assembly including two elastic bands with second ends connected to a slingshot pouch. Each of the elastic bands incudes (a) a first section with a first end configured for connection to a fork of a slingshot; (b) a third section connected to the slingshot pouch; (c) a second section between the first section and the third section; and (d) the first section having a first wall thickness greater than a second wall thickness of the third section.
Another embodiment is a slingshot band including a first section with a first end configured for connection to a fork of a slingshot and a third section opposite the first section. A second section is positioned between the first and third sections. The first section includes at least two layers of an elastic polymer and the third section includes a lesser number of layers of an elastic polymer material. An outer layer of elastic polymer on the first section tapers from a greater thickness proximate the fork to a lesser thickness more proximate to the third section.
For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form part hereof, and within which specific embodiments are shown by way of illustration by which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
In many embodiments, the slingshot band is tubular and has a hollow bore.
Although the polymer layers could be formed by many conventional or future developed techniques, in one preferred embodiment, the layers are formed by a dip coating process. In one dip coating example, a mandrel having an OD approximately equal to the desired band ID (e.g. typically between ½″ and ⅛″) is dipped into a vat of a latex compound while in its wet form, i.e., while stabilized in its dispersion medium (e.g., water). The temperature of the mandrel, the composition of the latex compound, and the time the mandrel remains in the wet latex compound are some of the factors that will determine the thickness of the latex layer formed on the mandrel when it is removed from the vat of wet latex compound. In many embodiments, the first layer of latex is formed on the mandrel at a thickness of between 0.02 and 0.2 inches, with one preferred first layer thickness being about 0.06 inches. The first layer will have a length along the mandrel approximating or somewhat greater than the desired length of the band (e.g., for a band length between 6 and 18 inches). After at least partial curing of the first layer, the mandrel (still carrying the first layer) is dipped in the same or another vat of wet latex compound. However, the second layer is typically applied to the mandrel along a second length that is between 10% and 75% (or any subrange in between) of the length of the first layer, i.e., as seen in
In certain embodiments, the band will be protected from environmental ultraviolet (UV) radiation by the application of a UV reflective coating. The UV reflective coating could be applied to the entire band, only the entire second layer, or to only a portion of the second layer proximate to the band's connection to the fork. A coating is considered “UV reflective” when it reflects at least 75% of the UV radiation it is exposed to, and more preferably between 75% and 95% of the UV radiation. Preferred coatings may be latex-based metallic colored (e.g., chrome or silver) coatings and will typically be applied prior to vulcanization. The preferred application process of such latex-based metallic coatings would likewise be a dipping process similar to that described above.
As an alternative to a separate UV reflective coating applied to the second layer, some embodiments of the band will modify the second layer to be more UV reflective. One modification to the second layer could be the addition of compounds to the latex which increase its rate of reflecting UV radiation. Another modification to second layer could be altering the color of the second layer such that the second layer reflects more UV radiation as compared to the first layer. For example, the second layer could be yellow or a lighter shade of green and would reflect more radiation than, for example, a black first layer of the band. As used herein, the term “color” includes black as an example of a relatively low UV reflecting hue and white as a high UV reflecting hue. In many embodiments, a second color is considered to have a higher UV reflection than a first color when the second color reflects at least 20% more UV than the first color. Thus, even somewhat dark shades of red or blue as a second layer may have a higher UV reflection than a first layer which is black.
The multi-layer tubular design of the slingshot band reinforces the region of the band that has the greatest potential for failure—the region near the fork end 11 of the band. This region undergoes the greatest elastic deformation and is also prone to being impacted by misfired slingshot projectiles. Furthermore, environmental factors—most significantly, UV radiation—may damage the slingshot band, reducing its ability to undergo elastic deformation without failure. By increasing the thickness of tubular wall in the region of the band subjected to the greatest elastic deformation, the present invention increases longevity of the band by reinforcing it in its most vulnerable region. At the same time, by providing a tapered design, the slingshot band does not present an excessive pull weight, enabling the users of all ages and strength levels to effectively fire the slingshot. As described above, the slingshot band can be coated, e.g., dipped—fully or partially in a reflective material layer to help shield the elastic polymer of the band from the harmful ultraviolet radiation (or the second layer of the band can have a less UV absorptive color).
The term “about” as used herein will typically mean a numerical value which is approximate and whose small variation would not significantly affect the practice of the disclosed embodiments. Where a numerical limitation is used, unless indicated otherwise by the context, “about” means the numerical value can vary by +/−5%, +/−10%, or in certain embodiments+/−15%, or possibly as much as +/−20%. Similarly, the term “substantially” will typically mean at least 85% to 99% of the characteristic modified by the term. For example, “substantially all” will mean at least 85%, at least 90%, or at least 95%, etc.
The advantages set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
This application claims the benefit under 35 USC § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 63/182,310 filed Apr. 30, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63182310 | Apr 2021 | US |
