Mechanical guns and projectors – Spring – Elastic band
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-21
2003-08-05
Ricci, John A. (Department: 3712)
Mechanical guns and projectors
Spring
Elastic band
C124S016000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06601574
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to Australian application number PQ 1793, filed Jul. 22, 1999.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a catapult assembly. In particular, this invention relates to an assembly suitable for training retriever dogs or for use in field trials and hunt tests.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The training of retriever dogs has traditionally involved throwing an object, such as a duck, a pigeon or a retrieving dummy, and practising the retrieving dog in retrieving the object. The proficiency of retriever dogs can be measured in field trial or hunt tests, which are basically types of simulated hunting tests for dogs.
In the past, it has been common for a retrieving object to be simply thrown by hand. This is labour intensive and usually involves several assistants for the trainer.
In another form of prior art, the birds or dummies to be retrieved have been ejected into the air by single shot, manually loaded catapults. These generally require two or more people to operate efficiently and consequently restrict the ability of a single trainer to train or practise his dogs for field trials and hunt tests. In addition, prior art catapults need to be manually loaded after one shot.
It is an aim of the present invention to overcome or substantially alleviate some or all of the disadvantages suffered by the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention deals with several aspects in relation to training of retriever dogs and conducting field trials and hunt tests. In one aspect, this invention provides a catapult assembly including:
a launching pouch;
tensioning means for the pouch;
a carriage movable between first and second positions;
means for connecting the pouch to the carriage at or near the first position;
means for drawing the connected pouch and carriage to or near the second position while tensioning the tensioning means;
means for automatically feeding a retrieving object into the pouch when at or near the second position; and
release means for disconnecting the pouch from the carriage.
In the assembly of the invention, the launching pouch preferably comprises a cradle of aluminium or the like. To reduce weight, the aluminium cradle may include a plurality of apertures. The launching pouch may be made of any other suitable material.
The tensioning means may take any desirable form but, in a preferred embodiment, the tensioning means comprises a plurality of strong elastic or rubber bands, optionally operated via pulleys. While the invention is not limited in this respect, the preferred number of bands is four since it is believed that this can provide smoothness in launching the retrieving object from the pouch. However, the assembly of the invention can cater for retrieving objects of different weights. In the case of retrieving objects which are relatively heavy, such as ducks, it may be desirable to use more than four bands, for example, six bands. The bands may be flat or round, or a mixture of these shapes.
When the tensioning means comprises rubber bands, each is preferably anchored in a suitable location and attached to the pouch by a rope and pulley system. In another embodiment, each rubber band may be mounted on a roller situated near the pouch. It is a further option to include a guide to ensure, as far as possible, that the rubber bands are retained in position on the rollers when the pouch is launched.
The means for drawing the connected power and carriage to the region of the second position may also comprise any suitable means. In the preferred embodiment described in the drawing, these means include a machine screw driven by an electric motor powered by a battery.
The means for automatically feeding a retrieving object into the pouch when the pouch is in the region of the second position is preferably capable of holding a plurality of retrieving objects, for example, six retrieving objects. These means may include a number of cylinders, such as six, preferably arranged in a circular pattern on a pair of plates, which form a drum. In this embodiment, each cylinder is open at each end. Continuing with this embodiment, the drum is mounted over a base plate which comprises a disc with one cylinder-shaped cut-out (the edges of which are slightly curved so that there are no sharp edges to cause damage to the retrieving objects). To automatically feed a retrieving object from the automatic feeding means into the pouch, the drum is rotated by suitable means until one of the cylinders lines up with the cut-out in the base plate. The retrieving object which has been previously inserted in that cylinder then falls, through the influence of gravity, into the pouch. The assembly is then ready for release of the pouch from the carriage so that the retrieving object can be thrown in the desired manner. The means for rotating the drum in this embodiment may be any suitable means. One example is described in connection with the drawings, below.
Preferably, the drum containing the cylinder is demountable from the assembly for transportation, as may the base plate. It is also preferred that the drum is supplied in at least two different sizes so far as the cylinders are concerned. In this way, the assembly of the invention can be used to catapult game of different sizes. For example, the cylinders of one drum may be sized to accept pigeons, while the cylinders of a larger drum may be sized to accept ducks or pheasants.
It is also preferred that the drum is easily changed in the field, preferably without the need of tools.
The carriage is preferably assembled on a frame. In this embodiment, the pouch is located at an upper end of the frame and accordingly the first position is at the upper end. It is also preferred that the second position represents the “cocked” position and that this is located at the lower end of the frame.
The means for connecting the pouch to the carriage at or near the first position may take any desirable form. One particularly preferred form is described below in connection with the drawings. In that embodiment, a hook on the back of the pouch is connected by means of a latch to the carriage. In this embodiment, the release means include a trigger which causes the latch to disconnect from the hook, thus releasing the pouch. The release means may be the same as or similar to known cross-bow release mechanisms.
It is greatly preferred that the catapult assembly of the invention is capable of remote control. In particular, it is desirable that the apparatus of the invention can be controlled remotely to operate the release means to release the pouch. For example, a radio frequency receiver may be attached to or communicate with the electric motor, so that the motor can be controlled by a remote radio transmitter.
Preferably, the assembly of the invention is mounted on wheels and is demountable for transportation. It is contemplated that, at least in some embodiments, the assembly of the invention can be demountable into a form which will fit into the trunk of a typical vehicle. In one embodiment, to demount the assembly of the invention, the battery is removed and may have a handle to facilitate this purpose. The wheels supporting the carriage may be removed and the wheel-holding structure collapsed in the same manner as for a known hand-drawn golf buggy. The folded structure, if desired, may be held down with one or more straps. It may be possible to demount the assembly without the need for any tools.
The battery in this embodiment may be mounted in a cradle for easy removal during transportation. The method of mounting and demounting the battery in the cradle can be any suitable method, including those presently used in relation to battery-operated golf buggies. In this embodiment, the battery may be mounted on a cradle on a brace set between a pair of wheels for the assembly, or on a frame for the assembly.
In another aspect, this invention is concerned with training or trialing dogs to retrieve game shot by another person in the field.
Traditionally, in this type of situation
Ricci John A.
Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP.
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