Thrower board with magnetic spur and method of using the same

Abstract

A spear-throwing apparatus including a spear-thrower with a magnet spur, the projecting end of which extends substantially along the body of the spear-thrower. The spear-thrower may contain a recessed loading groove to receive a spear shaft (projectile) that has a socket with a metallic element embedded in it to receive the magnet spur. During use, the magnetic spur connects magnetically to the embedded metal element to join the spear-thrower and the spear shaft with enough force to be suspended without a need for force or pressure from a practitioner.

1 . A projectile system comprising:
 a projectile support board having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end having a recess in an upper surface of the board;   a metallic plate affixed in the recess of the proximal end and dimensioned to define a spur as a protrusion of the metallic plate that extends along the projectile support board towards the distal end with upper surfaces of the metallic plate and the spur being substantially flush with the upper surface of the board; and   a projectile shaft having a first end corresponding to the proximal end and containing a socket at the first end;   wherein the socket is dimensioned to accommodate the spur therein and to partially surround the spur when the projectile shaft and the projectile support board are cooperated with one another to have the projectile shaft lie on the projectile support board;   wherein the socket includes a metallic element therein; and   wherein at least one of the spur and the first end contains a magnet.   
     
     
         2 . The projectile system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:
 a) the spur is configured to be reversibly spatially-connected with the projectile support board via a threaded connection;   b) the spur contains said magnet; and   c) the protrusion extends substantially parallel to a surface, of the projectile support board, that carries the projectile shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The projectile system according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:
 i) the threaded connection is formed through the metallic plate;   ii) a portion of a perimeter of said recess substantially coincides with a portion of a perimeter of the metallic plate.   
     
     
         4 . The projectile system according to  claim 1 , wherein the projectile support board is configured to contain a groove nearing or at the proximal end and substantially facing the protrusion, wherein the protrusion is spatially separated from a bottom of the groove. 
     
     
         5 . The projectile system according to  claim 4 , wherein a bottom surface of the protrusion is separated from a surface of the groove with a spatial gap to accommodate a portion of the socket in the groove when the projectile shaft and the projectile support board are cooperated with one another to have the projectile shaft lie on the projectile support board. 
     
     
         6 . The projectile system according to  claim 1 , wherein said metallic element at the first end of the projectile shaft protrudes through an outer surface of the projectile shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The projectile system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said metallic element contains a thread.   
     
     
         8 . A method of employing a projectile system, comprising:
 in a forward motion, propelling or casting a projectile shaft disposed on a projectile support board that supports said projectile shaft and that has
 a proximal end, a distal end, and a metallic plate affixed in a recess in an upper surface of the support board at the proximal end and that is dimensioned to define a spur as a protrusion of the metallic plate extending along the support board towards the distal end such as to have upper surfaces of the metallic plate and the spur be substantially flush with the upper surface of the board, 
   
       while separating the projectile shaft from the projectile support board and, at the same time, maintaining physical contact and magnetic contact between a metallic element of a socket and the protrusion,
 wherein the socket is disposed at a first end of the projectile shaft and a portion of the protrusion is accommodated by and inside said socket, 
 wherein the metallic plate is made of a magnet and/or the metallic element contains a magnet; 
 
       and
 ceasing said physical contact by physically separating the socket from the protrusion to fully release the projectile shaft. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , comprising at least one of:
 1) forming said forward motion by straightening of at least one of an arm and a wrist; and   2) in a continued forward motion, mutually rotating the projectile shaft and the projectile support board about a point of contact between the protrusion and an internal surface of the socket while maintaining physical contact between said magnet and a responsive one of the spur and the metallic element.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , comprising:
 positioning the projectile shaft on the projectile support board while establishing a physical contact between said magnet and a responsive one of the spur and the metallic element.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:
 a) said positioning includes accommodating a portion of the protrusion in the socket; and   b) said positioning includes sliding the first end of the projectile shaft in the groove that is formed in a surface of the projectile support board at the proximal end, wherein a surface of the groove is spatially separated from a lower surface of the spur.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , comprising
 removably attaching said metallic plate to the projectile support board such that a lower surface of the plate is positioned at a level below that of the upper surface of the board or reversibly separating said metallic plate from the projectile support board.   
     
     
         13 . A throwing device configured for throwing an elongated object rested on the throwing device, for use by a person who holds the throwing device in a hand, the device comprising:
 an elongated body of the device having distal and proximal ends and dimensioned to hold the elongated object rested on top of and along the body;   a metallic plate made of a magnet and removably attached in a recess in an upper surface of the proximal end such as to have an upper surfaces of the metallic plate be substantially flush with the upper surface of the proximal end and a) to direct a protrusion of the plate along the body towards the distal end thereof and b) to magnetically bias the elongated object to remain in a rest position on top of the body due to magnetic interaction between the protrusion and an inner surface of a socket of the elongated object until a sufficient force is applied thereto as a result of acceleration of the throwing device by the hand.   
     
     
         14 . The throwing device according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 a) the plate is configured to be reversibly spatially-connected with the throwing device via a threaded connection formed transversely to the upper surface of the plate;   and   c) the protrusion extends substantially parallel to a surface, of the throwing device, that carries the elongated object in operation of the device.   
     
     
         15 . The method for modifying the elongated object for use with the device configured according to  claim 13 , the method comprising:
 disposing an element made of a magnetic material within the socket to be brought in magnetic and physical contact with the protrusion.