U.S. patent number 3,878,788 [Application Number 05/190,833] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-22 for powerhead.
Invention is credited to Lawrence J. Ah Sam.
United States Patent |
3,878,788 |
Ah Sam |
April 22, 1975 |
Powerhead
Abstract
A powerhead which comprises a cylindrical barrel to receive and
retain a cartridge. The barrel is placed over a cylindrical head
attached to the end of a fishing spear. The head is capped with a
firing pin which is held spaced from the cartridge rim and in
cocked position by at least one friction ring interposed between
the barrel and the head. The cartridge is fired by thrusting the
spear to jam the outer end of the barrel into the shark or fish,
thereby pushing the barrel back past the friction ring to where the
firing pin on the head strikes the cap of the cartridge. The kit
comprises a mount which is strapped on the fisherman's arm and is
provided with several of these loaded powerheads and an ordinary
spear tip which may also be placed on the end of the spear and held
by at least one friction ring. This permits the fisherman to fish
with the usual spear tip, but in the event of the appearance of a
shark or other predators, rapidly to substitute a loaded powerhead
for such spear tip.
Inventors: |
Ah Sam; Lawrence J. (Los
Angeles, CA) |
Family
ID: |
22702984 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/190,833 |
Filed: |
October 20, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/371;
43/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C
9/06 (20130101); A01K 81/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01K
81/00 (20060101); F41C 9/06 (20060101); F41C
9/00 (20060101); F42b 013/54 () |
Field of
Search: |
;102/48 ;43/6 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Stahl; Robert F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pavitt, Jr.; William H.
Claims
I claim:
1. A powerhead combination, said powerhead comprising:
A. an elongated element, said element being securable to the end of
a fishing spear as a projection thereof and having a configuration
such that its cross-section is substantially identical for a
pre-determined distance from its free end, said element being
tipped on its free end with a firing pin;
B. a barrelhead, said barrelhead comprising a sleeve having:
i. a first section axially orificed to permit the discharge fired
from a cartridge to pass therethrough;
ii. a second and counterbored section to receive a cartridge shell
and to retain it for firing; and
iii. a third axially orificed section, the cross-section of said
third section being identical in configuration to the cross-section
of said elongated element for said predetermined distance, but
sufficiently larger in its dimensions, compared to those of the
cross-section of said elongated element, to permit slidable
insertion of said element, in the axial orifice of said third
section in a close telescoping fit; and
C. yieldable means interposed between the adjacent surfaces of said
element and the orifice-defining wall of said third section to
provide a predetermined quantum of frictional resistance to the
telescoping of said element and said third section of said
barrelhead;
Whereby, when a cartridge is loaded into said second section of the
barrelhead and the third section of the barrelhead is partially
axially slipped over said element, the cartridge will be fired by
any impacting of the free end of the barrelhead occasioned by
jamming the spear into an object, which impacting is sufficient to
overcome said predetermined quantum of frictional resistance and
thereby cause the further telescoping of the element and barrelhead
to where the firing pin strikes the cap end of the cartridge
disposed in the second section of the barrelhead.
2. The powerhead combination as described in claim 1, wherein the
cross-sections of the element and third section of the barrelhead
are circular.
3. The powerhead combination as described in claim 2, wherein the
yieldable means comprises at least one groove circumscribing the
said element and a split friction ring seated in said groove, said
ring having a radius slightly greater than the radius of said
element.
4. The powerhead combination as described in claim 2, wherein the
yieldable means comprises:
a. a pair of grooves spaced axially from each other and
circumscribing the said element; and
b. a split friction ring seated in each said groove, each said ring
having a radius slightly greater than the radius of said
element.
5. A spear fishing kit for use with a spear to one end of which is
secured an elongated element as described in claim 1, said kit
comprising a flat holding member, said member having means to
secure it to a spear fisherman for easy manual access to the
member, said member also having means to releasably hold, and
including:
i. at least one cartridge-loaded barrelhead, also as described in
claim 1; and
ii. a spear head, said spear head having a pointed tip at one end
and being axially orificed at its other end, the cross-section of
said orifice being identical in configuration to the cross-section
of the said elongated element described in claim 1, but
sufficiently larger in its dimensions, compared to those of the
cross-section of said element, as to permit slidable insertion of
said element in said orifice in a close telescoping fit; and
yieldable means interposable between the adjacent surfaces of said
element and the wall defining the orifice in said spearhead when
the latter is placed over said element, to provide a predetermined
quantity of frictional resistance to the telescoping of said
element and said spear head.
6. The spear fishing kit as described in claim 5, wherein the means
releasably to hold said barrelhead and said spear head comprise
elements similar in configuration and dimensions to those of said
element described in claim 1, and include similar yieldable means
similarly interposable; and each of the kit elements is pivotable
outwardly from said flat member about one of the ends of said
element.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention falls in the field of spearfishing devices and
particularly relates to powerheads for enabling the underwater
fisherman to ward off or defend himself against sharks or other
undersea predators.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For more than a dozen years efforts have been made to provide
suitable powerheads for underwater fisherman or divers. Typical of
such efforts are those which are disclosed in the following
patents:
Patentee Patent No. Date Granted
______________________________________ Frohlich 2,970,399 Feb. 7,
1961 Willcox et al 3,145,494 Aug. 25, 1964 Liberatore 3,210,877
Oct. 12, 1965 Messina et al 3,274,936 Sept. 27, 1966 Belcher et al
3,300,888 Jan. 31, 1967 Hendricks 3,580,172 May 25, 1971.
______________________________________
The principle of a powerhead generally is to provide for holding
some type of projectile, together with means to project it, in a
barrel or other receptacle on the end of a spear, and causing the
projectile to be discharged by telescopic action produced by
jamming the end of the spear on which the powerhead is disposed
into the side, head or other vulnerable part of the body of the
shark or other underwater predator. In all but one of the prior art
patents the projectile is a bullet disposed in a standard cartridge
and the discharge of the bullet is accomplished by providing some
means through the telescopic action of the head to bring a firing
pin into impacting contact with the cap containing base of the
cartridge.
As may be seen from the disclosure of these patents, there are
obviously many ways to accomplish this desired result. However,
these prior art powerheads have been either complicated and
expensive to manufacture, unreliable in use, and/or difficult
rapidly to replace for a second or third shot, should the first
prove ineffective to destroy or ward off the shark.
Another problem with these prior art powerheads is that they
require a diver to carry with him a second spear with the usual
spear tip if he wishes to fish in the normal manner and yet still
have available his powerhead for defense against sharks or other
underwater predators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved powerhead which is
extremely simple in construction so that it may be easily and
inexpensively fabricated.
In essence, the end of the spear is provided with an adapter which
may be threaded onto the end of the spear. This adapter includes a
cylindrical axial projection which is tipped with a firing pin, and
is circumscribed by at least one, and preferably two, grooves in
each of which is disposed a friction ring which protrudes slightly
beyond the cylindrical surface of the axial projection. The
powerhead itself comprises a barrel to pass the cartridge bullet,
an intermediate slightly counterbored section to receive the
cartridge shell and a second and main counterbored section having
an outside diameter such that it slidably receives in a close fit
the cylindrical axial projection of the adapter and resistingly
engages the friction ring or rings in the circumferential grooves
about said projection.
The powerhead is first loaded with a cartridge and then the main
counterbored section of the barrel is forced partially over the
friction rings where it is held on the end of the end of the spear.
There then remains a chamber between firing pin tipped end of the
projection and the base of the cartridge. The barrel wall defining
this chamber is orificed to permit water which accumulates therein
to be extruded therefrom upon the telescoping of the main
counterbored section over the cylindrical axial projection. Such
action occurs when the other end of the barrel is forcibly jammed
into the body or head of the shark, thereby overcoming the
resistance of the friction rings inside the main counterbored
section so that the firing pin is caused to strike the cartridge
base cap.
Since the powerhead is only secured to the spear end projection by
the frictional engagement of the rings, it may be readily removed
therefrom by gripping it with one's hand and jerking it off.
Because of this feature, the present invention also contemplates
providing an arm mounted kit or set comprising a plurality of
loaded powerheads and a conventional spear tip, each of which is
also adapted to be mounted by friction rings both on a pivotable
cylindrical element on a narrow plastic platen strapped on the
diver's arm, as well as on the cylindrical axial projection of the
spear end.
With the use of this kit, the diver is equipped to spear fish with
a conventional spear head, but with the appearance of a shark or
other dangerous predator, he may jerk off the conventional spear
tip, place it on its kit holder and quickly substitute on the spear
end a loaded powerhead. Further, should his first shot fail, he may
in sequence replace the first powerhead with two more loaded
powerheads.
Thus, the present invention offers great advantages to the skin or
scuba diver or other underwater fishermen over the prior art
powerhead devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view partly in section of a kit made up in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, showing further the
removal of the barrelhead.
FIG. 4 is an elevation partly in section showing a conventional
speartip type head attached to the end retainer element; and
FIG. 5 is an elevation partly in section showing the manner in
which the barrelhead may be substituted for the spear head shown in
FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the pivotable member for
mounting a barrelhead or speartip.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a flat elongated element
10 which is provided with pairs of straps 12 at each end so that
the element may be strapped around the spear fisherman's forearm.
The element 10 includes a plurality of spring clip members 14 which
are preferably aligned and spaced from each other in the manner
shown, and a plurality of registering pivoted members 16. Each of
the pivoted members 16 includes trunion-type base 18 which supports
a perpendicular riser 19 orificed at 20 to permit a pin 22 to be
passed therethrough and through the bifurcated lower ends 24 of the
cylindrical member 16. The upper area of the member 25 is
circumscribed by a groove 26 into which is seated a split friction
ring 28. The function and use of this type mounting will be
explained more fully at a later point in this specification.
As may be seen from FIG. 1, there may be mounted on the element 10
a plurality of barrelheads 30 and a pointed spear-tip 32.
Considering first the barrelhead 30 which is shown in FIG. 5
mounted on the end of a fishing spear 34, the actual spear mount
comprises an elongated cylindrical element 36 which may be
internally orificed and threated at 38 to be screwed on to the
threaded tip 40 of the spear 34. The element 36 projects axially
from the threaded spear tip and includes an end portion 42 of a
pre-selected diameter. At least one and preferably a pair of
grooves 44 spaced from each other circumscribe the end portion 36
and similarly receive a split ring 46. The outer end of the element
36 is tipped with a sharp projection 45 which serves as a firing
pin.
The barrelhead 30 comprises a first section 48 having a bore 49
which is of sufficient diameter and length to allow a bullet 50 to
be shot therethrough and therefrom; a second section 52, which is
counterbored at 53 sufficiently to receive a cartridge shell 54;
and a third counterbored section 56 having a counterbore 57 of a
sufficient diameter to permit the base 58 of the cartridge shell 54
to move axially therethrough. This diameter is only slightly
greater than the preselected diameter of the element 36 whenever
referred to. The spear tip 32 includes an axial bore 60 of the same
diameter as that of the counterbore 57 in the section 56 of the
barrelhead 30.
In use, it may be seen first that a scuba diver or other spear
fisherman, when equipped with a kit in accordance with the present
invention, may initially cap his spear with the spear tip 32 in the
manner shown in FIG. 4. To do so, it is only necessary for him to
force the bore 60 on to the end portion 42 of the element 36
sufficiently to overcome the frictional engagement of the inner
wall defining the bore 60, which engagement is caused by the
friction rings 46.
In the event that the underwater fisherman sights a shark or other
predator or even a large fish which he may not be able to kill with
the spear tip 32, he may simply grasp the tip 32 and jerk it off
the end bore 32 of the element 36. He would thereupon mount the tip
32 on the lefthand holder of his kit, as shown in FIG. 1,
essentially reversing the steps shown in FIG. 2. When the tip 32 is
thus remounted on the armholder element 10, the fisherman grasps a
barrelhead 30 from one of the three mountings on the right side of
the element 10, pulling it away from the latter in the manner shown
in FIG. 3. He then partially forces the barrelhead 30 on to the
portion 42 of the element 36 to the point where only the forward
friction ring 46a is moved out of sight and the inner friction ring
46b is brought into abutment with the chamfered seat 62 which
constitutes the outer end of the bore 57. At this point, the spear
is now equipped as a powerhead and the cartridge may be fired by
the fisherman simply by jamming the end 31 of the barrelhead 30
against the body of the shark or fish with sufficient force to
overcome the frictional resistance provided by the ring 46b in the
chamfered seat 62 of the bore 57. As may be seen from FIG. 5, when
the barrelhead is disposed upon the end portion 42 of the element
36, the firing pin 45 is spaced from the cap base 58 of the
cartridge shell 54, there being in effect a small chamber 64 which
is vented to the water by an orifice 66. With the jamming of the
end 31 of the barrelhead 30 against the body of the shark, the
barrelhead is telescoped over the end portion 42 of the element 36
to bring the firing pin 45 into impacting contact with the shell
base, thereby discharging it.
Should the fisherman ascertain that this shot is not sufficient to
kill the shark or fish, and he has sufficient time, he may jerk off
the barrelhead with the spent cartridge, replace it in the clip
from which it was removed, and repeat the operation with a second
or even third loaded barrelhead.
It may be seen, therefore, that with this novel powerhead
combination and kit arrangement, a scuba diver, skin diver or other
under water fisherman may be versatilely equipped to engage in
normal spear fishing as well as to defend himself or augment his
spear fishing "kill" capacity.
The units, moreover, being both simple in construction may be
manufactured at a low cost and very readily utilized.
* * * * *