Mechanical projector with variable leverage device
First Claim
1. A mechanical projector for launching projectiles, comprising:
- an elongated stock member;
an elongated prod mounted extending across one end of said stock member, said prod having a resilient deflectable limb disposed on either side of said stock member;
a drawstring extending across said stock member and adapted to be drawn rearwardly on said stock member, said drawstring constituted by a pair of drawstring segments each mounted to extend away from either side of said stock member from a central point whereat said segments are connected to each other, said central point engageable with a projectile to be launched on said stock member;
a pair of variable leverage devices mounted on either side of said stock member;
each variable leverage device including a rotary element rotatably mounted to one side of said stock member and connected to a respective drawstring segment to be rotated as said drawstring is drawn;
means generating stored energy by resilient deflection of said prod limbs upon rotation of said rotary elements of each of said variable leverage devices by drawing of said drawstring;
said means including a pair of load cables separate from said drawstring, each connecting a respective prod limb tip and wound on a rotary element of a respective variable leverage device;
each of said variable leverage devices including means varying the leverage exerted by said respective drawstring segment on a respective load cable as said drawstring is drawn to reduce the effort required to cause deflection of said prod limbs as said drawstring is fully drawn;
a slide mounted for sliding movement along the length of said elongated stock member; and
,synchronizing means drivingly connecting said slide and said rotary element of each of said variable leverage devices constraining a said rotary elements to rotate in synchronism with each other, comprising said drawstring segments each fixed to said slide so as to prevent lateral movement of said drawstring relative said stock member to thereby constrain rotation of said rotary elements, each of said drawstring segments extending directly from a respective rotary element to said slide.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved mechanical projector is disclosed of the type including a stock member and a drawstring extending across the stock member to engage a projectile lying along the stock member axis. Variable leverage devices are mounted in various ways on either side of the stock member, drivingly interconnecting the drawstring and at least on resiliently deflectable member such as a pair of prod limbs or a pair of elastic elements. Each variable leverage device includes a rotary element connected to a drawstring segment and causing flexing of an associated deflectable member by drawing of the drawstring with increasing leverage with advancing draw movement. The rotation of the rotary element in each variable leverage is synchronized by a constraint imposed by a driving connection to a slider element movable along the length of the stock member. In the disclosed embodiments, the driving connection is provided by affixing the drawstring to the slide and alternatively to load cables also attached to the rotary elements causing deflection of the deflectable members by drawing of the drawstring.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A mechanical projector for launching projectiles, comprising:
-
an elongated stock member; an elongated prod mounted extending across one end of said stock member, said prod having a resilient deflectable limb disposed on either side of said stock member; a drawstring extending across said stock member and adapted to be drawn rearwardly on said stock member, said drawstring constituted by a pair of drawstring segments each mounted to extend away from either side of said stock member from a central point whereat said segments are connected to each other, said central point engageable with a projectile to be launched on said stock member; a pair of variable leverage devices mounted on either side of said stock member;
each variable leverage device including a rotary element rotatably mounted to one side of said stock member and connected to a respective drawstring segment to be rotated as said drawstring is drawn;means generating stored energy by resilient deflection of said prod limbs upon rotation of said rotary elements of each of said variable leverage devices by drawing of said drawstring; said means including a pair of load cables separate from said drawstring, each connecting a respective prod limb tip and wound on a rotary element of a respective variable leverage device; each of said variable leverage devices including means varying the leverage exerted by said respective drawstring segment on a respective load cable as said drawstring is drawn to reduce the effort required to cause deflection of said prod limbs as said drawstring is fully drawn; a slide mounted for sliding movement along the length of said elongated stock member; and
,synchronizing means drivingly connecting said slide and said rotary element of each of said variable leverage devices constraining a said rotary elements to rotate in synchronism with each other, comprising said drawstring segments each fixed to said slide so as to prevent lateral movement of said drawstring relative said stock member to thereby constrain rotation of said rotary elements, each of said drawstring segments extending directly from a respective rotary element to said slide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
Specification