HAND-HELD CLAY TARGET THROWER

Abstract

Disclosed is a hand held clay target thrower for throwing one or more targets simultaneously. The associated method is also disclosed. The thrower comprises a handle and a head. The head has two arms which run next to each other and extend laterally from the handle at an angle. The arms are flanged to create inward facing channels wherein clay targets are loaded. The thrower comprises a means for gently holding the targets in place such as a spring positioned in a channel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE AND RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/72,880 filed Nov. 20, 2012 by the present inventor.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to disk throwers and more particularly to clay target throwers where clay targets are thrown into the air and a shooter attempts to shoot them. Such games are often referred to as trap or skeet. Some common ways to add challenge to these games include throwing two or more targets at once or throwing targets faster. Players also desire reliable throwers that seldom break targets prematurely.

Prior art contains many variations, all of which have at least one. Most designs are complicated and expensive to make, having multiple mechanical components. Other designs are simple to make but difficult to use, including several variations of a design that requires a lot of force to insert and extract the target from semi-flexible plastic jaws. Moreover, these throwers frequently break targets prematurely. Most designs are unable to throw more than one target at a time. Many designs tend to throw at low speeds and many designs do not work for both left and right handed people.

The need remains for a better, more economical hand held clay target thrower that is easy to use with both left and right hands, and can simultaneously throw multiple targets at high speeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an overall view of one embodiment of the hand held clay target thrower.

FIG. 2 shows a section view of an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, depicting a clay target positioned in the head of the thrower.

FIG. 3 shows a spring in the leading channel of an embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a spring assembly of an embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a section view of an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, depicting the spring holding two targets in place.

FIG. 6 illustrates throwing clay targets.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment with two heads.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment with springs integrally formed on the leading flanges.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment shown in FIG. 8 and depicts how the springs hold the targets in place.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment where the springs are integrally formed in the leading channel.

FIG. 11 is a section view of an embodiment shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a section view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, depicting how the springs hold the targets in place.

Presented is a clay target thrower that is economical, easy to use for both left and right handed individuals, and throws a plurality of targets at once.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-6 show an embodiment for a hand held clay target thrower capable of throwing one or more clay targets simultaneously. The invention may also be adapted to throw other disc shaped objects. The thrower may be cut from wood or formed out of plastic. The thrower comprises a head 20 integrally connected to a handle 21. The head comprises a leading arm 22 and a trailing arm 23 which run alongside each other. A bridge 24 integrally connects the back of the arms to the handle 21.

The arms 22, 23 cooperate to receive and throw one or more clay targets 60. FIG. 2 illustrates this with a section view of a target positioned between the arms 22, 23. As an integral part of the leading arm 22 there are two leading flanges, a leading upper flange 22A and a leading lower flange 22B. These flanges extend towards the trailing arm 23. The leading flanges 22A, 22B form the sides of a leading channel 22C which runs the length of the leading arm 22. Likewise, the trailing arm 23 comprises two integrated trailing flanges, a trailing upper flange 23A and a trailing lower flange 23B. The trailing flanges 23A and 23B extend towards the leading arm 22 and make up the sides of a trailing channel 23C which runs the length of the trailing arm 23.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 the two channels 22C, 23C open towards each other so that the clay targets 60 go in both channels at the same time. Standard clay targets have an outer ring 61 and an inner ring 62. FIG. 2B shows how the channels 22C, 23C cup over the targets outer ring 61. The channels 22C, 23C are deep enough to allow or nearly allow the inner ring 62 to contact one of the flanges 22A, 22B, 23A, 23B before the outer ring 61 contacts the bottom of one of the channels 22C, 23C.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 the targets are thrown by swinging the thrower in a circular motion. The thrower is symmetrical in such a way that the targets can be inserted with the opposite orientation (upside down). This enables both clockwise and counterclockwise swings, and therefore can be used by both left and right handed people. When thrown, centrifugal force causes the targets to bear into, and roll along the trailing arm 23. This gives the targets a necessary spin for stable flight. It does not matter if the outer ring of the target rolls along the bottom of the trailing channel 23C or the inner ring rolls along one of the trailing flanges 23A, 23B.

The arms 22, 23 as depicted in the embodiment presented in FIGS. 1-6 are slightly curved in some embodiments to enhance speed and control. However, in other embodiments the arms 22, 23 are straight for ease of production. In some embodiments, the arms 22, 23 are substantially parallel, having either parallel curved arms or parallel straight arms so that the distance between them is substantially constant for the entire length thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, some embodiments have the arms 22, 23 extend laterally from the handle in an obtuse direction, to create an obtuse angle φ up to 180 degrees as shown in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the average direction of the arms may be used to calculate the angle between the arms and the handle, particularly when the arms are curved or for some other reason have no uniform direction. Note that it is the leading arm 22 that is closer to the handle than the trailing arm 23. A spring 30 exposed in the leading channel 22C gently urges the targets to remain in the thrower head 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 the spring 30 may comprise a spring base 30A, an outer tab 30B and an inner tab 30C. The tabs 30B, 30C may integrally extend out from opposing ends of the spring base 30A and laterally towards the targets as shown in FIG. 5. Some embodiments contain a hole 30D located in the spring base 30A for a fastener 31 such as a nail or screw to go through and secure the leaf spring 30 to the leading arm 22. FIG. 5 shows a spring sized and positioned so that the inner tab 30B urges a first target to the back of the thrower head 20, contiguous to the bridge 24. In some embodiments the outer tab 30C urges another target next to the first target. When targets enter or exit the head of the thrower 20, the outer and inner tabs 30B, 30C flex, yielding to the targets. The springs are flexible enough to allow for easy loading yet stiff enough to keep the targets in place until the right moment during the throw.

There are several embodiments that hold true to the spirit of the invention. A few are mentioned here.

One embodiment has a thrower with a plurality of heads. FIG. 7 illustrates a thrower having two heads. As heretofore mentioned, another embodiment has arms 22, 23 that are straight instead of curved. In another embodiment the spring 30 is disposed in the trailing arm instead of the leading arm. Another embodiment has a plurality of springs instead of a single spring providing a means for holding two or more targets in the thrower head.

Another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, has the entire thrower made from a single piece of plastic with a plurality of flange springs 40 along the leading arm 22, more specifically the leading arm flanges 22A and 22B. The flange springs 40 are long and slender, flexing under cantilever type loading. They run substantially in the same direction as the leading arm 22. One end of each flange spring 40 integrally connects to the leading flanges 22A or 22B while the other end reaches out to hold the targets in place.

Again, another embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-10 also has the entire thrower molded into a single plastic piece with cantilevered flange springs 50A, 50B integrally formed in the bottom of the leading channel 22, whereby holding the targets in place.

It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. Moreover, any reference to claim elements in the singular, such as in the articles “a,” “an,” or “the,” should not limit the element to the singular. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A hand-held clay target thrower comprising:

a handle; and

a head for receiving and throwing clay targets, said head comprising a plurality of arms, wherein the average direction of said arms forms an obtuse angle with said handle.

2. The clay target thrower as recited in claim 1 wherein the distance between said arms is substantially constant throughout.

3. The clay target thrower as recited in claim 1 wherein said angle is obtuse.

4. The clay target thrower as recited in claim 1 wherein said arms are straight.

5. The clay target thrower as recited in claim 1 wherein said arms are curved.

6. The clay target thrower as recited in claim 1 wherein said arms comprise inward facing channels for receiving at least one clay target.

7. The clay target thrower as recited in claim 6 wherein said arms are curved, the distance between said arms being substantially constant throughout.

8. The clay target thrower as recited in claim 6 wherein the average direction of said arms and said handle form an obtuse angle.

9. The clay target thrower as recited in claim 8 further comprising a means for urging the targets to remain in said channels.

10. The clay target thrower as recited in claim 9 wherein said means is at least one spring disposed in at least one of said channels.

11. The clay target thrower as recited in claim 10 wherein said at least one spring comprises a base and apposing tabs which extend up towards the targets.

12. The clay target thrower as recited in claim 9 wherein said means is at least one spring integrally formed in at least one of said channels.

13. Clay target thrower comprising:

a handle;

a head for receiving and throwing clay targets, said head comprising a plurality of arms, wherein the average direction of said arms form an obtuse angle with said handle, wherein the distance between said arms is substantially constant throughout the length thereof, and wherein said arms comprise inward facing channels for receiving the clay targets.

14. The clay target thrower as recited in claim 13 further comprising at least one spring for urging the targets to remain in said channels.

15. A method for throwing clay targets using a hand-held thrower comprising:

a handle; and

a head for receiving and throwing clay targets, said head comprising at least two arms, wherein the average direction of said arms each form an obtuse angle with said handle.

16. The method in claim 16 wherein said arms comprise inward facing channels for receiving at least one clay target.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said thrower further comprises a means for urging the targets to remain in said channels.