Groundbait catapult

Abstract

 The groundbait catapult comprises a fork (1B, 1B) with a handgrip (1A) and a linear elastic member (3), fixed at its own ends to said fork and provided with a pocket (5) for containing groundbait. Each end (3A) of the elastic member (3) is connected with a respective end (D) of the fork through a connection with two degrees of freedom, which allows the elastic element to rotate relative to the fork according to two axes (A-A, B-B).
(Figure 1)

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to improvements to catapults, in particular to the so-called groundbait catapults, i.e. catapults used by anglers, especially during sport competitions, for groundbaiting in the water stretch where fishing is performed.

[0002] Groundbait catapults, analogously to catapults of other type or for other uses, include a fork with a handgrip, and to this fork a linear elastic member is connected, constituted for instance by a string or rubber tube or the like, that in turn bears or forms a pocket for containing the object or the material to be launched.

[0003] In fishing competitions the efficiency of the catapult is extremely important in groundbaiting. Commercial catapults resent many drawbacks, as the string or linear elastic member tends to wind around itself after launching and requires time to be correctly positioned for the subsequent launch.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a catapult which is more efficient and of more practical and comfortable use, which overcomes or alleviates one or more of the drawbacks of the traditional catapults.

[0005] Substantially in one embodiment the catapult comprises a fork with a handgrip and a linear elastic member, fixed at its ends to said fork and provided with a pocket for containing groundbait; each end of the elastic member is connected with a respective end of the fork through a connection with two degrees of freedom, which allows the elastic element to rotate relative to the fork according to two axes. In some embodiments said two axes are substantially orthogonal to each other.

[0006] Preferably each end of the elastic member is connected to the corresponding end of the fork through a pin in two portions rotating one with respect to the other around the axis of the pin, one first of said two portions being connected to the elastic member and the other of said two portions being connected to the corresponding end of the fork with a connection that allows the rotation thereof around an axis substantially nearly orthogonal to the axis of the pin.

[0007] Further advantageous features and embodiments of the catapult according to the present invention will be indicated in the attached claims, which form an integral part of the present description.

[0008] The invention shall be better understood by following the description and the accompanying drawing, which shows a non-limiting practical embodiment of the invention, wherein:

figure 1 shows a front view of the catapult; and

figure 2 shows an enlargement of the detail indicated with II in figure 1.

[0009] In the drawing a groundbait catapult is shown, indicated as a whole with number 1 and provided with a handgrip 1A, from which two arms 1B extend, which form a fork. At the ends 1D of the fork 1B, 1B a string or elastic member 3 is connected, that in the central part carries a pocket 5 for containing the groundbait.

[0010] The connection between the ends 3A of the string or elastic member 3 at a side and the ends 1D of the fork 1B, 1B is obtained so as to allow a rotation of each end 3A of the elastic member 3 with respect to the corresponding end 1D of the fork 1B, 1B according to two axes, preferably nearly orthogonal to each other and indicated in the figure with A-A and B-B.

[0011] In the illustrated example this connection is obtained with a structure shown in detail in figure 2 and described below. Each end 1D of the fork is provided with a U-shaped element, indicated as a whole with number 7, between the branches or arms of which is inserted a rod 9 with axis B-B, substantially 90° oriented relative to the axis of the handgrip 1A of the catapult 1. Each rod 9 crosses a hole 11A provided in a respective pin 11 acting as a connection between the U-shaped element 7 and the string or elastic member 3.

[0012] Advantageously, the pin 11 is made in two portions 11B and 11C, mutually articulated around the axis A-A constituting the axis of the pin 11. The portion 11C of the pin 11 is pressed at the terminal end and has the hole 11A, whilst the portion 11B has preferably an area with smaller diameter, indicated with 11D, which inserts by forcing inside the corresponding end 3A of the elastic member or string 3, configured in this case as a rubber tube. The string or linear elastic member 3 is therefore anchored to the portion 11 B of the pin 11 due to friction. In other embodiments it is possible to anchor the string to the pin in a different way, for instance by welding, gluing, or in other manner. Important is only that each end 3A of the string or elastic member 3 is anchored stably to the corresponding pin 11 and more exactly to the portion 11B thereof.

[0013] With this conformation each end 3A of the elastic member or string 3 can rotate around the substantially mutually orthogonal axes A-A and B-B with respect to the end 1D of the fork, thus making groundbaiting easier, as winding of the string or elastic member 3, following the release by the launcher, is avoided.

Claims

1. Groundbait catapult comprising a fork with a handgrip and a linear elastic member, fixed at its ends to said fork and provided with a pocket for containing groundbait, characterized in that each end of the elastic member is connected with a respective end of the fork through a connection with two degrees of freedom, which allows the elastic element to rotate relative to the fork according to two axes.

2. A catapult as claimed in claim 1, wherein said two axes are substantially orthogonal to each other.

3. A catapult as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each end of said elastic member is connected to the corresponding end of the fork through a pin in two portions rotating one relative to the other around the axis of the pin, one first of said two portions being connected to the elastic member and the other of said two portions being connected to the corresponding end of the fork with a connection that allows the rotation thereof around an axis substantially nearly orthogonal to the axis of the pin.

4. A catapult as claimed in claim 3, wherein said elastic member is formed at least partially by a rubber tube, in the ends of which the first portion of each of said pins has stuck.

5. A catapult as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein said connection is formed by a U-shaped element which is stably connected to the corresponding end of the fork and to which a transverse rod is fixed, that crosses a transverse hole in the second portion of the corresponding pin.

Drawing