SLINGBOW ARROW REST
A slingshot having an arrow rest is described. The slingshot includes a handle, a riser unit and a stabilizer unit. The riser unit and the stabilizer unit are attached to a top of the handle. A forward portion of the stabilizer unit extends perpendicular from a top of the handle in a same direction in which an arrow or projectile would be projected from the slingshot. The slingshot further includes a removable arrow rest attached to the stabilizer unit, the removable arrow rest including a cylinder for resting an arrow, a bracket supporting the cylinder, and a receptacle for inserting the forward portion of the stabilizer unit.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/852,741 filed on Mar. 21, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure relates to slingshots and slingshot bows, also known as slingbows, and more particularly to an arrow rest for such devices.
BACKGROUNDA traditional slingshot includes a Y-shaped frame often made of wood, having a handle and two arms, or risers, each of which is collected to a length of rubber and/or elastic, which may comprise a strip or a tube or other enlongated shape. The two rubber strips are connected to a pouch, most often made of leather, in which a projectile such as a small rock can be placed. The user holds the handle in one hand, and with the other hand, pulls back on the pouch while holding the projectile therein. The rubber strips stretch and when the user releases the pouch, the rubber strips contract, accelerating the pouch and the projectile. The projectile is thrown from the pouch in a direction substantially perpendicular to the handle and opposite to the direction in which the pouch was pulled. Modern slingshot designs have used more advanced features, including more advanced materials and ergonomic designs. In addition, traditional slingshots have also been modified to provide a slingshot bow variety, also known as a slingbow for shooting arrows or bolts, instead of or in addition to projectiles. In order to function as a slingbow, or to at least provide a certain degree of control, the device typically needs some type of rest to support the arrow when flocking, aiming, and/or shooting the arrow. Other mechanisms for providing a slingbow arrow rest have been described and exist. However, these solutions are deficient insofar as once they are modified for slingbow functions, they are no longer capable of functioning as a slingshot or require substantial modification or effort to revert.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, the present disclosure discloses an arrow rest device for a slingshot. The arrow rest device includes a bracket, a cylinder for resting an arrow, and a receptacle for inserting a stabilizer unit of a slingshot. When the stabilizer unit of the slingshot is inserted in the receptacle, the cylinder for resting the arrow is disposed between two risers of the slingshot.
In another embodiment, the present disclosure discloses an additional arrow rest device for a slingshot. The arrow rest device includes a bracket, a cylinder for resting an arrow, a receptacle within the bracket for inserting a forward portion of a stabilizer unit of a slingshot, and a removable disc insert disposed within an inner circumference of the cylinder, for resting the arrow.
In still another embodiment, the present disclosure discloses a slingshot that includes a handle, a riser unit and a stabilizer unit. The riser unit and the stabilizer unit are attached to a top of the handle. A forward portion of the stabilizer unit extends perpendicular from a top of the handle in a same direction in which an arrow or projectile would be projected from the slingshot. The slingshot further includes a removable arrow rest attached to the stabilizer unit, the removable arrow rest including a cylinder for resting an arrow, a bracket supporting the cylinder, and a receptacle for inserting the forward portion of the stabilizer unit.
The teachings of the present disclosure can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONEmbodiments of the present disclosure disclose an improved slingshot/slingbow apparatus with a removable, clip-on/clip-off arrow rest. In one example, the arrow rest is arranged for use with any number of interchangeable brush inserts. Similarly, in one example the arrow rest further supports any number of accessories via an accessory rail. To aid in understanding,
In one embodiment, the riser unit 130 is composed of the same or other similar suitable material as the stabilizer unit 120. The riser unit 130 includes two risers 135, also referred to as arms, which extend forward and above the top of the handle 110. A central portion of the riser unit 130 sits above the handle 110 and above tubing of the central portion of stabilizer unit 120, but is below the adjustment/locking mechanism 126. The riser unit 130 also extends behind the handle 110 and behind the adjustment/locking mechanism 126, where the portions comprising the two risers 135 are connected to one another in a U-shape behind the handle, thus forming the integrated riser unit 130 that comprises both risers 135. As mentioned above, the riser unit 130 may be slidably attached to the stabilizer unit 120 and the handle 110. Therefore, the riser unit may be moved forward or backward relative to the handle allowing the slingbow 100 to accommodate users of different sizes, arm lengths, and strength as well as to as to adjust for the anticipated distances to desired targets.
Slingbow 110 includes two lengths of elastic 140 which are connected to each of the two risers 135 respectively. In one embodiment, the elastics 140 comprise rubber, rubber tubing or other elastomeric material. The opposite end of each of the elastics 140 is connected to pouch 150. When the pouch is pulled back away from the handle, the elastics 140 stretch, and when released, the contraction of the elastics 140 will propel a projectile in the pouch toward a target. In order to improve stability and accuracy, in one embodiment slingbow 100 includes wrist brace 125, which may also be referred to as a wrist guard, forearm strap or forearm brace. In one embodiment, wrist brace 125 is formed integrally with stabilizer unit 120. For example, the portion of stabilizer unit 120 that extends behind the top of handle 110 may form a single loop of bent steel tube such that when a user grasps the handle 110, the wrist brace 125 will lay over the top of the forearm/wrist of the arm that is used to grasp the handle. For example, the entire stabilizer unit 120, including wrist brace 125, may comprise a single rod or tube, e.g., a one quarter inch steel rod. In another embodiment, the wrist brace 125 is welded or bonded to the stabilizer unit 120 such that the wrist brace 125 is integral with the stabilizer unit 120. In still another embodiment, the wrist brace 125 comprises a leather strap that is attached on two sides to the stabilizer unit 120.
It should be noted that the foregoing examples are provided by way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation. Thus, it should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to any particular type or form of wrist strap, handle, stabilizer unit, riser unit, and so forth, nor is the present disclosure limited to any particular material or materials used to fabricate the exemplary slingshot/slingbow components described above.
In one embodiment, the arrow rest 200 is proportioned such that a center of cylinder 220 or a lowest point (e.g., along the Z-axis) of an inner circumference of the cylinder 220 sits along a line that extends between the two points where the risers 135 attach to the elastics 140 in
In one embodiment, the cylinder 220 includes an inner lip 225 for use in receiving and securing a brush insert, which is described below. The inner lip 225 allows the brush insert to be inserted into cylinder 220 and prevents the brush insert from falling out of the arrow rest. In one embodiment, the arrow rest 200 includes an opening 222 in the circumference of the cylinder 220 for use in flocking arrows. In particular, instead of nocking an arrow through the center of cylinder 220, the arrow can be nocked sideways. This allows the arrow to be nocked more quickly. In addition, the arrow can be nocked more safely insofar as the elastics do not need to be extended in order to support the arrow on the arrow rest.
In one embodiment, the arrow rest 200 also includes an accessory rail 240 below the bracket 210 and below the receptacle 230. In one embodiment, the accessory rail 240 comprises a Picatinny rail, a Weaver rail or the like. In particular a Picatinny rail is a standardized mounting platform for the placement of firearm accessories, such as scopes, lasers, flashlights, telescopes, knives/bayonets and so forth. In one embodiment, the accessory rail 240 may be used for mounting a line reel, e.g., for use in fishing/fish hunting. For example, a standard fishing line may be wound around the line reel and the end of the line may be attached to an arrow to be shot. When the arrow is shot, the line may play-out as the arrow flies towards a target. Whether or not the arrow strikes a target, the arrow, or the arrow and the target, may be retrieved by winding the line on the line reel. The accessory rail is a convenient location to mount the line reel forward of the handle and away from much of the remaining structure of the slingshot/slingbow. In addition, the ease of mounting and removing accessories from the accessory rail mounted in such location provides greater versatility to the slingshot/slingbow insofar as it can quickly and easily be modified for target shooting, hunting, fishing/fish hunting, night use, day use, and so forth. In one embodiment, exemplary dimensions of the accessory rail 140 are: 10 mm thick (e.g., along the Z-axis), 21 mm wide and 40 mm long.
It should be noted that the brush insert 300 may include any number of sets or groups of bristles 310. For example, as shown in
In one embodiment, the brush insert 300 may comprise a rigid plastic disc and the bristles may be composed of nylon or similar material. In one embodiment, the brush insert 300 is removable from, but fits integrally within the inner circumference of cylinder 220 of arrow rest 200 in
In one embodiment, a system may comprise an arrow rest, such as arrow rest 200 of
As further illustration,
The foregoing description, in conjunction with the figures illustrates an improved slingshot/slingbow apparatus with a removable, clip-on/clip-off arrow rest that is arranged for use with any number of interchangeable brush inserts and which can support any number of accessories via an accessory rail. While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. An arrow rest device for a slingshot, comprising:
- a bracket;
- a cylinder for resting an arrow; and
- a receptacle for inserting a stabilizer unit of a slingshot, wherein when the stabilizer unit of the slingshot is inserted in the receptacle, the cylinder for resting the arrow is disposed between two risers of the slingshot.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the slingshot comprises:
- the stabilizer unit; and
- a riser unit comprising the two risers.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the riser unit is slidably attached to the stabilizer unit.
4. The device of claim 2, wherein the slingshot further comprises:
- a handle.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein a top of the handle is attached to a central portion of the riser unit and to a central portion of the stabilizer unit.
6. The device of claim 2, wherein the slingshot further comprises:
- an elastic band attached to each of the two risers.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein each elastic band is attached on one end to one of the two risers and is attached on another end to a pouch.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the arrow rest device further comprises:
- an accessory rail.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the accessory rail is disposed below the bracket and below the receptacle.
10. The device of claim 8, wherein the accessory rail comprises a Picatinny rail.
11. The device of claim 8, wherein the accessory rail is for mounting one of:
- a flashlight, a telescope, a laser, a line reel or a knife.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein the cylinder comprises an opening in the circumference of the cylinder for receiving an arrow.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein the bracket, the cylinder and the receptacle are formed in an integral unit.
14. The device of claim 1, wherein the bracket supports the cylinder.
15. The device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is formed within the bracket.
16. The device of claim 1, wherein the cylinder is configured for receiving a brush insert.
17. The device of claim 16, wherein the cylinder includes an inner lip for securing the brush insert.
18. The device of claim 16, wherein the brush insert comprises a disc with a plurality of bristles.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of bristles form a central opening in the center of the disc.
20. The device of claim 18, wherein the brush insert comprises an opening in a circumference of the disc for inserting an arrow.
21. An arrow rest device for a slingshot, comprising:
- a cylinder for resting an arrow;
- a bracket supporting the cylinder;
- a receptacle within the bracket for inserting a forward portion of a stabilizer unit of a slingshot; and
- a disc insert removably disposed within an inner circumference of the cylinder, for resting the arrow.
22. A slingshot comprising:
- a handle;
- a riser unit;
- a stabilizer unit, wherein the riser unit and the stabilizer unit are attached to a top of the handle, wherein a forward portion of the stabilizer unit extends perpendicular from a top of the handle in a same direction in which an arrow or projectile is projected from the slingshot; and
- an arrow rest removably attached to the stabilizer unit, the arrow rest comprising: a cylinder for resting an arrow; a bracket supporting the cylinder; and a receptacle for inserting the forward portion of the stabilizer unit.
23. The slingshot of claim 22, wherein the slingshot is configured for shooting an arrow when the arrow rest is attached to the stabilizer unit and is configured for shooting a projectile when the arrow rest is removed.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 11, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 25, 2014
Inventor: MATTHEW JOSEPH MACCARRICK (Wall, NJ)
Application Number: 14/023,699
International Classification: F41B 5/14 (20060101); F41B 3/02 (20060101);