A Catapult

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority from United Kingdom Patent Application No. 07 20 668.3, filed 20 October 2007, the whole contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a catapult for dispensing fishing bait.

Background of the Invention

Catapults are known for dispensing fishing bait, particularly for use in coarse fishing. Bait is loaded into a pocket and the catapult is then stretched and upon release the bait is expelled from the pocket and distributed into the water. However, once the bait has been loaded into the pocket, the pocket must be tipped onto its side in order to aim and fire the catapult. At this point, it is common for some or all of the bait to fall out of the pocket, which results in a waste of bait, a waste of time, or both.

A further issue is that if the user is attempting to prevent spillage of bait, they tend to hold the catapult at an angle such that the opening of the pocket prevents spillage. In doing this it is more difficult to accurately aim the catapult. Also, in order to prevent spillage, a catapult may be aimed and fired in one continuous motion, so as to reduce time for bait to spill out. Again, this reduces the accuracy of aim. It also means that a larger "spread pattern" (the spread of the bait in the water) is produced. This is a disadvantage as a smaller spread is more desirable.

Figure A shows an example of a catapult according to the prior art. Catapult A01 has a pocket A02, an elastic portion A03 and a frame A04. A grip is provided A05 for a user to pull back on in order to aim and fire the catapult.

Brief Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a catapult for dispensing fishing bait, comprising: a pocket for receiving said bait, connected by an elastic portion to a frame; and an actuator connected to a flap for closing said pocket and configured such that when it is pulled away from said frame, said elastic portion is stretched and said flap closes said pocket such that bait placed inside said pocket is prevented from falling out.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of dispensing fishing bait, comprising the steps of: loading bait into a pocket of a catapult having a frame and an actuator; pulling said actuator away from said frame to close a flap over the pocket whilst taking aim; and releasing the actuator to fire the catapult, wherein when said actuator is released said flap is allowed to open so that said bait is released from said pocket.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawings

Figure A shows an example of a catapult according to the prior art; Figure 1 shows a catapult according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows the loading of a catapult pocket with bait;

Figure 3 shows the closure of the catapult pocket to prevent bait from being lost;

Figure 4 shows the operation of the catapult by a user; and Figure 5 shows the firing of bait from the catapult.

Description of the Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

Figure 1

A catapult 101 according to the present invention is shown in Figure

1 . A pocket 1 02 is provided for receiving bait. In this embodiment pocket 102 is made from mesh, but in alternative embodiments any suitable material could be used. An advantage of a material such as mesh, which defines holes, is that if bait is stored in water, excess water is allowed to drain from pocket 1 02 when the bait is loaded into it. An elastic portion is provided comprising two elongate bands, 103 and 1 04. A frame 1 05 is relatively rigid, and in this embodiment made from a plastics material. In alternative embodiments frame 104 may be constructed from metal such as aluminium or any other suitable material. In this example the frame is a rounded Y-shape, although any shape which allows operation of the catapult may be used.

A first end of band 103 is connected to pocket 102, and a second end of band 103 is connected to frame 105. Similarly, a first end of band 104 is connected to pocket 102, and a second end of band 104 is connected to frame 105. In the present embodiment, connections between bands 103 and 104 and pocket 102 are made by bands 1 03 and 1 04 being hollow, in this example with a circular cross section, and pocket 102 having protrusions at each side configured to fit inside each of bands 103 and 104. A suitable adhesive may be used to secure the bands onto the protrusions. Alternatively any suitable connecting means may be used. In this embodiment, each band 103 and 104 is connected to frame 105 by passing through an aperture in the ends of frame 105 and being secured with a stopper. Alternatively any suitable connecting means may be used.

An actuator 106 is provided. Actuator 1 06 provides a grip for a user to hold onto whilst aiming the catapult 101 . In addition, a flap 107 is provided. Flap 107 is configured to close the open end of pocket 102. Flap 107 is connected to pocket 102 by connecting means 108, connecting means 108 could be in the form of a hinge or any other means which would allow suitable connection between flap 1 07 and pocket 1 02. When in use, a

user pulls actuator 106 away from frame 105. Bands 103 and 104 are stretched. As a further result of pulling on actuator 106, flap 1 07 closes pocket 1 02. This prevents bait falling out, as will be further described with reference to later figures. It also allows the user to hold catapult 1 01 motionless while they take a steady aim, thus improving performance.

Allowing the user to take a steady aim also leads to a smaller spread pattern of the bait, which is desirable and leads to a better result.

Figure 2 The loading of catapult pocket 102, with bait 201 , is shown in Figure

2. Bait 201 is loaded into pocket 1 02 by a user. Flap 1 07 is shown in its open position in order to allow the user to load pocket 102 with bait 201 . Flap 1 07 is connected to actuator 106 so as to permit pocket 102 to close as a result of actuator 106 being pulled by a user during the aiming of catapult 101 . Alternatively when actuator 1 06 is not being pulled by a user flap 1 07 will be in its open position. Actuator 1 06 passes through an aperture in pocket 1 02 and is movable through the aperture in pocket 1 02 during the use of actuator 106 and therefore catapult 101 , as will be further described with reference to later figures.

Figure 3

The direction of movement 301 of actuator 106 is shown in Figure 3. As a user pulls actuator 106 in direction 301 flap 1 07 begins to close until it becomes fully closed preventing bait 201 from falling out of pocket 102. Actuator 106 is connected to flap 1 07 and flap 107 is in turn connected to pocket 102 by connecting means 108. In the present embodiment of the invention flap 107 is connected to actuator 106 using a suitable adhesive, alternatively any suitable means of connecting the flap and the actuator could be used.

In the present embodiment of the invention connecting means 108 is in the form of a hinge made from an elastic material and actuator 106 is an elongated member made from a non-elastic material. Flap 107 is composed from a plastics material. However in alternative embodiments connecting means 108 could be made from any material with or without elastic properties and actuator 106 could be composed of an elastic material. Flap 107 could be composed of any other relatively rigid material such as aluminium.

Figure 4

The operation of the present invention is shown in Figure 4. Actuator 106 is pulled in direction 301 by a user 401 , during the aiming of catapult

101. The movement of actuator 106 in direction 301 causes flap 107 to cover pocket 102, hence preventing bait 201 from falling out. User 401 grips actuator 106 between their thumb and forefinger and pulls in direction 301 when taking aim. The user also holds frame 102 in their other hand whilst aiming catapult 101. Elastic portions 103 and 104 are stretched in direction 301 when actuator 106 is pulled in direction 301 by user 401. As actuator 106 is pulled in direction 301 by user 401 , the actuator 106 passes through an aperture in pocket 102. As actuator 106 is pulled further in direction 301 flap 107 is pulled in the same direction causing it to close as can be seen in Figure 4.

Figure 5

The release of bait 201 from pocket 102, as a result of the user 401 releasing actuator 106, is shown in Figure 5. Once user 401 has taken aim and positioned catapult 101 for firing, the user 401 releases actuator 106 causing the movement of elastic portions 103 and 104, along with pocket

102, bait 201 and actuator 106, in direction 501. The release of actuator

106 causes flap 107 to open causing the bait to be released and travel in direction 501. Hinge 108 is configured so as to allow the uninhibited release of bait 201 from pocket 102. When actuator 106 is released flap

107 opens such that it does not inhibit the release of bait 201 from pocket 102 in any way.