Net launching tool apparatus

Abstract

Net launching gun apparatus includes a receiver for firing a cartridge having therein a gas propellant, a stock connected to one end of the action and including recoil absorbing elements therein, and a barrel assembly connected to the opposite end of the action which receives the gas propellant and directs the gas propellant to an appropriate barrel assembly in which is disposed weights which are connected to a net. The barrel assembly preferably includes four separate barrels, each of which receives a weight connected to one corner of a four cornered net disposed between the four barrels.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . Net launching tool apparatus for launching a net, comprising in combination: 
 receiver means for holding a gas producing cartridge;    gas manifold means adjustably secured to the receiver means;    barrel means, including a plurality of barrels secured to the gas manifold means for receiving a propelling gas from the gas manifold means;    stock means secured to the receiver means, including 
 handle means for holding the apparatus,  
 action means for firing the gas producing cartridge, and  
 recoil means for absorbing recoil energy from the firing of the gas producing cartridge; and  
   projectile means secured to the net and disposed within the barrels of the barrel means and defining projectiles launched from the barrels by the propelling gas.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which projectile means includes a plurality of projectiles, with a projectile disposed in each barrel of the plurality of barrels.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the plurality of barrels of the barrel means includes four barrels; and the plurality of projectiles of the projectile means includes four projectiles, each of which is disposed in a barrel, and adapted to be propelled out of the barrels by the gas from the gas producing cartridge to launch the net.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  which further includes a bucket disposed within the barrel means for holding the net prior to launching.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the gas manifold means includes valve means for varying the quantity of gas flowing to the barrels to provide a predetermined pattern for launching the weights from the barrels.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the stock means further includes a base stock, and the receiver and handle means are secured to the base stock.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  or  6  in which the stock means further includes recoil means for absorbing recoil energy from the firing of the gas producing cartridge.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  in which the recoil means includes 
 a first tube secured to the base stock;  
 a rod disposed in the first tube;  
 a second tube disposed in the first tube and movably secured on the rod; and  
 compression spring means disposed about the rod in the first tube for biasing the second tube out of the first tube and for absorbing recoil energy when the second tube is moved into the first tube against the spring bias.  
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  in which the stock means further includes a butt plate secured to the second tube remote from the base stock and adapted to be disposed against a user's shoulder when using the net launching apparatus.