Retractable projectile device and method

Abstract

This application relates to a retractable device that takes the retractable leash concept and adapts it to a projectile. The tethered projectile can be advanced by the user by kicking, throwing, hitting, or any other method of advancing a projectile. When the user initially advances the projectile, for example by throwing, the momentum of the projectile overcomes the spring force and the projectile advances a certain distance relative to the force applied to it. Once the projectile' s momentum diminishes to a level below the spring force, the spring causes the spool to reverse direction and the slack is taken up and the projectile is retrieved.

1 . A retractable projectile device comprising:
 a strap;   a housing adapted to said strap for retaining a retracting mechanism;   and a projectile functionally tethered to said retracting mechanism.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the projectile further comprises retrieving means at least on a portion thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein in the retrieving means is selected from the group consisting of magnet, Velcro, a sticky semi-malleable material, and suction cup. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the projectile is spider shaped. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the projectile is a bean bag type material. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the projectile includes retrieving means at least on a portion thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the retracting mechanism includes:
 a spool that is used to hold a leash;   a spring functionally adapted to said spool such that when the leash is pulled from the spool, the spring is put under tension and when the tension in the leash is below that of the spring, the tension in the spring is released and the spool is reversed and the leash is retracted back into the housing.   
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the leash enters and exits the housing in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to and pointing toward the center of the spool. 
   
   
       9 . A method of using a retractable projectile device in a game, the method comprising:
 strapping the retractable projectile device to an object;   advancing a projectile;   and retracting the projectile.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the step of advancing a projectile includes advancing a projectile toward an item of interest by some form of advancing means and knocking down the item of interest. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the advancing means is throwing. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising awarding points if the item of interest is knocked down. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the projectile further comprises retrieving means at least on a portion thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of advancing a projectile includes
 advancing a projectile toward an item of interest by some form of advancing means and retrieving the projectile and the item of interest attached to said projectile.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising awarding points if the item of interest is retrieved. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the projectile is a bean bag type material. 
   
   
       17 . A retractable projectile device comprising:
 a strap;   a housing adapted to said strap for retaining a retracting mechanism, wherein the retracting mechanism comprises a spool that is used to hold a leash; a spring functionally adapted to said spool such that when the leash is pulled from the spool, the spring is put under tension and when the tension in the leash is below that of the spring, the tension in the spring is released and the spool is reversed and the leash is retracted back into the housing, and wherein the leash enters and exits the housing in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to and pointing toward the center of the spool; and,   a bean bag type projectile functionally tethered to said retracting mechanism by attachment to said leash.   
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the projectile further comprises retrieving means at least on a portion thereof. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein in the retrieving means is selected from the group consisting of magnet, Velcro, a sticky semi-malleable material, and suction cup. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the projectile is spider shaped.