Disc launching and catching device

• US 7,878,929 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Randolph T. Perry-Smith
• Original Assignee: Randolph T. Perry-Smith
• Inventors: Perry-Smith, Randolph T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US12/124,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20080293523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 473/505, 473/513, 473/512, 473/511, 473/510, 473/509, 446/486, D21/724, D21/723, D21/722
• US Class Current: 473/505
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/30 forming hand-held throwing or catching aids for use with rings, discs, wheels or cylindrical throwing-bodies, or for use with balls having a central bore
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/20 with two handgrips
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/14 Starting or launching devices for toy aircraft; Arrangements on toy aircraft for starting or launching for launching objects from an aircraft A63H27/004
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/18 Throwing or slinging toys, e.g. flying disc toys discs used in athletics A63B65/10as part of a game A63F9/02; sling weapons F41B3/00; spring toy guns F41B7/08

Abstract

A device for use in launching and catching flying discs includes a frame having a handle section and an open forked section. The opened forked section includes a pair of opposing forks wherein each fork has a distal end and a proximal end with the distal end being free and the proximal end adjoining the proximal end of the opposing fork. Flexible material such as nylon netting is strung between the opposing forks in a manner which enables the formation of a relatively deep elongated channel having an open end so that a forceful swing of the device will cause a flying disc placed in the channel to roll in the channel and out through the open end of the channel at a high rate of speed. A method of using the device to launch a flying disc as well as a novel flying disc are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A device for launching a flying disc comprising:

a frame having a handle section and an open forked section, said opened forked section including a pair of opposing forks wherein each said fork has a distal end and a proximal end with the distal end being free and the proximal end adjoining the proximal end of the opposing fork; and

,

flexible material forming a V-shape and located between said opposing forks and being attached to said opposing forks along each said fork between said distal and proximal ends of each said fork so as to be capable of forming a relatively deep elongated channel having an open end such that a forceful swing of the device will cause a flying disc located in the channel to roll in the channel and out through the open end of the channel at a high rate of speed.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible material is netting.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said netting is nylon netting.

4. A method of launching a flying disc using the device of claim 1, said method comprising:

including;

a frame having a handle section and an open forked section, said opened forked section including a pair of opposing forks wherein each said fork has a distal end and a proximal end with the distal end being free and the proximal end adjoining the proximal end of the opposing fork at a pivot point; and

,

flexible material located between said opposing forks and being attached to said opposing forks along each said fork between said distal and proximal ends of each said fork so as to be capable of forming a relatively deep elongated channel having an open end such that a forceful swing of the device will cause a flying disc located in the channel to roll in the channel and out through the open end of the channel at a high rate of speed, and wherein said forks cooperate with each other so that when the proximal ends of said forks are gripped and squeezed the forks pivot about the pivot point and move inwardly towards each other to form said channel in said flexible material, said forks further being outwardly biased relative to each other so that they spring back about the pivot point to an open position when a user'"'"'s grip on the forks'"'"' proximal ends is released;

providing a flying disc;

gripping and squeezing the proximal ends of the forks so that the forks pivot about the pivot point and move inwardly towards each other to form said channel in said flexible material;

placing the flying disc in the channel of the flexible material adjacent the proximal ends of the forks; and

,

swinging the device so that the flying disc rolls in the channel and out through the open end of the channel at a high rate of speed, said swinging action thereby launching the flying disc and imparting a spinning action to the flying disc as it is launched.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising partially releasing the grip on the device as the device is swung so that the forks of the device partially open as the device is swung.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising positioning the disc in the channel so that the plane of the disc is generally perpendicular to the plane in which the forks move and pivot.