Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
For use with an archer's bow having a central portion and two ends and including a bowstring passing between the two ends, an attachment permitting projection of a ball or other missile, comprising: a barrel including a straight hollow tube having a muzzle end and a breach end, and having slots extending longitudinally along opposite sides from a position near said muzzle end to a position near said breech end, the bowstring passing through said slots; a carrier positioned within said barrel, engaging said barrel in a loose slidable fit so as to be freely slidable longitudinally, said carrier including retaining means for yieldably holding the missile to said carrier so that the missile is retained when said barrel is pointed downwardly and is released toward the muzzle upon deceleration of said carrier, said carrier associated with the bowstring so as to be drawn back toward the breech end with the bowstring when it is drawn and so as to be driven toward the muzzle end by the bow-string when it is released from a drawn position; and, attachment means for rigidly connecting the muzzle end of said barrel to the bow, said attachment means adjustably affixable to the bow to permit the muzzle end of said barrel to be selectively rigidly connected to the bow at various inclinations with respect to the bow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
For use with an archer's bow having a central portion and two ends and including a bowstring passing between the two ends, an attachment permitting projection of a ball or other missile, comprising: a barrel including a straight hollow tube having a muzzle end and a breach end, and having slots extending longitudinally along opposite sides from a position near said muzzle end to a position near said breech end, the bowstring passing through said slots; a carrier positioned within said barrel, engaging said barrel in a loose slidable fit so as to be freely slidable longitudinally, said carrier including retaining means for yieldably holding the missile to said carrier so that the missile is retained when said barrel is pointed downwardly and is released toward the muzzle upon deceleration of said carrier, said carrier associated with the bowstring so as to be drawn back toward the breech end with the bowstring when it is drawn and so as to be driven toward the muzzle end by the bow-string when it is released from a drawn position; and, attachment means for rigidly connecting the muzzle end of said barrel to the bow, said attachment means adjustably affixable to the bow to permit the muzzle end of said barrel to be selectively rigidly connected to the bow at various inclinations with respect to the bow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The attachment of claim 1 wherein said retaining means is so shaped that the missile can be brought into holding engagement with it by inserting the missile through the muzzle end of said barrel and moving the missile toward the breech end of said barrel until it engages said carrier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The attachment of claim 2 wherein said carrier is a hollow cylinder open toward the muzzle end of said barrel, and has an inside portion of such size as to receive a portion of the missile.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The attachment of claim 3 wherein said retaining means further comprises packing material between the missile and said carrier to produce a tight yieldable fit therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The attachment of claim 3 wherein said retaining means further comprises a plug of wadding material extending across the open end of said cup-shaped carrier so as to yieldably hold the missile in said carrier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The attachment of claim 1 wherein the bow-string is attached to said carrier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The attachment claim 1 wherein the bore of said barrel is sufficiently large relative to the lateral cross section of the missile that, after the missile has separated from said carrier, the missile does not contact said barrel.