Collapsible slingshot bow

Abstract

A collapsible slingshot bow for firing an arrow has a head comprising a first U-shaped member including a central post and a pair of arms extending laterally of, and from, the post, the arms terminating in free end portions that extend rearwardly of the post. One end of the post opposite the arms includes a connector, and the head includes a bow string for engaging and launching the arrow. A handle is formed as an elongated handgrip portion having another connector at one end for engagement with connector on the post. An arm support includes a second U-shaped member attached to the handgrip portion via a releasable connector carried by the arm support. A flexible strap having a nock-engaging portion spans the length between the ends of the pair of arms. In using the bow, an archer inserts one of his hands between the ends of the U-shaped member so that his forearm is positioned below the strap; he then grasps the handgrip portion of the handle with the inserted hand thereby securely holding the bow in a fixed position while supporting the bow against his arm so that he can load and launch an arrow with his other hand.

1 . A collapsible sling bow for firing arrows, comprising:
 a head comprising a first U-shaped member including a central post and a pair of arms extending laterally of, and from, the post, said arms terminating in free end portions that extend rearwardly of the post, one end of said post opposite the arms including connection means, said head further including bow string means for engaging and launching the arrow,   a handle comprising an elongated handgrip portion having connection means at a first end for detachable engagement with the post connection means, and   an arm support comprising a second U-shaped member detachably attached to the handgrip portion via releasable connection means carried by the arm support and cooperating with the connection means of said handle, and a flexible strap spanning the ends of the U-shaped member,   whereby in using the bow, an archer inserts one of his hands between the ends of the U-shaped member toward the handgrip so that his forearm is positioned below the strap, and then he grasps the handgrip portion of the handle with that one hand to securely hold the bow in a fixed position while supporting the bow against his arm so that he can load and launch an arrow with his other hand.   
   
   
       2 . The sling bow of  claim 1 , wherein said bow string means comprises a power band made of a length of elastic material attached to, and spanning, the free end portions of said arms, said length of elastic material having attached thereto a nock-engaging loop located substantially centrally of the distance between said free end portions. 
   
   
       3 . The collapsible sling bow of  claim 2 , wherein said arms emanate from said post to define a V-shaped notch against which the shaft of an arrow rests while the arrow is being loaded and launched. 
   
   
       4 . The collapsible sling bow of  claim 3 , and further including a guide element overlying said notch, said guide element having opposing ends, each of said ends being secured to a respective arm adjacent to said notch. 
   
   
       5 . The collapsible sling bow of  claim 1 , wherein said handle further includes a cushion element surrounding a major portion of the length of the handgrip portion. 
   
   
       6 . The collapsible sling bow of  claim 1 , and further including tubing segments secured to the free end portions of the arms, and bundled bow strings attached to said tubing segments in such a manner as to form a power band coupled to and spanning the distance between said tubing segments, said power band having a nock-engaging loop connected thereto. 
   
   
       7 . The collapsible sling bow of  claim 1 , wherein the head can be pivotably positioned relative to the handgrip to permit use of the bow by either a right-hander or a left-hander merely by loosening the connection means between the handle and the bow head, repositioning the handle and bow head to a new relative position, and tightening the connection means to secure the handle in the new position relative to the bow head. 
   
   
       8 . The collapsible sling bow of  claim 7 , wherein in either position used by a right-hander or a left-hander the bow head is preferably maintained in a horizontal orientation. 
   
   
       9 . In a slingshot bow having opposed arms, a bowstring comprising:
 a multistrand section of bowstring material having a central substantially rigid twisted portion and end portions comprising loops, and   a pair of tubing segments having opposing ends, one end of each segment being secured to a respective one of the arms of said bow and the other end of each segment being secured to a respective one of the loops of said multi-strand bowstring, said bowstring extending between said bow arms and defining a power band for launching projectiles from said bow.   
   
   
       10 . The slingshot bow of  claim 9 , and further including a loop of material secured substantially centrally of said central portion, and defining a nock-engaging element. 
   
   
       11 . The bow of  claim 10 , wherein the end of each tubing segment comprises a double-walled portion having a short length of tubing folded into the bore of the tubing, and further wherein each said loop of said bowstring extends radially through both walls of said double walled portion of tubing and is secured on the outside of said tubing. 
   
   
       12 . A method of forming a power band for attachment to a slingshot bow having opposing arms, said method comprising:
 providing a finite length of a multi-strand bowstring having a central portion located between and interconnecting opposing loop portions;   attaching one loop portion of the bowstring to a first segment of tubing;   attaching the other loop portion to a second segment of tubing; and   securing each of the first and second segments of tubing to a respective one of each arm of the bow.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said step of attaching one loop portion to the first segment of tubing comprises
 (a) separating each loop portion into two sub-loops,   (b) attaching each sub-loop to a needle-like instrument,   (c) inserting the needle-like instrument longitudinally into the end of the tubing,   (d) radially piercing the wall of the tubing with the needle-like instrument,   (e) drawing each sub-loop with the needle-like instrument radially through and out of the tubing,   (f) detaching each sub-loop from the needle-like instrument;   (g) wrapping the sub-loop over the central portion of the bowstring extending out of the tubing and over the tubing end, and   (h) exerting a longitudinal pulling force on the central portion to tightly secure the sub-loop circumferentially about and in encircling engagement with the tubing end.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said step of attaching the other loop portion to the second segment of tubing comprises
 (a) separating each loop portion into two sub-loops,   (b) attaching each sub-loop to a needle-like instrument,   (c) inserting the needle-like instrument longitudinally into the end of the tubing,   (d) radially piercing the wall of the tubing with the needle-like instrument,   (e) drawing each sub-loop with the needle-like instrument radially through the tubing wall and out of the tubing,   (f) detaching the sub-loop from the needle-like instrument;   (g) wrapping the sub-loop over the central portion of the bowstring extending out of the tubing and over the tubing end, and   (h) exerting a longitudinal pulling force on the central portion to tightly secure the sub-loop circumferentially about and in encircling engagement with the tubing end.