Modular hybrid speargun

Abstract

A system for underwater hunting contains a plurality of components which allow for customization of the speargun based on the user's needs and the conditions where a user is hunting. By allowing rapid additions or removals of certain components, the invention allow the user to easily modify the firing characteristics of the speargun, and thus target a wider range of prey across a wider range of environmental conditions than those designs currently available in the prior art.

Claims

1. A speargun, comprising: a barrel removably inserted within a stock allowing for barrels of varying lengths to be utilized, a spear, the stock featuring a left side and a right side, each of said right side and said left side of the stock configured to receive a ballast unit, the ballast unit comprising at least one hydrodynamic ballast wing configured to be removably and directly attached to at least one of the right side and the left side of the stock such that the hydrodynamic ballast wing extends laterally from the stock and allows a user to increase or decrease an overall buoyancy of the speargun during use, a handle connected to the stock, a trigger housed within the handle, said trigger containing a mechanism for releasing the spear when activated, and a means for propelling the spear when the trigger is activated.

2. The speargun of claim 1, wherein the barrel features an elongated track on the barrel for direct insertion and retention of the spear.

3. A speargun, comprising: an elongated barrel with a muzzle end and a stock end, said barrel featuring a retention track on an external surface of the barrel formed for directly receiving a spear, said spear configured to be retained within the retention track on the barrel until released by activation of a trigger mechanism by a user, a means for propelling the spear when the trigger mechanism is activated, a stock with a barrel end and a butt end, said stock featuring a handle containing a trigger mechanism, said stock further featuring at least one ballast attachment point, and at least one hydrodynamic ballast wing configured to be removably and directly attached to the at least one ballast attachment point on at least one of a right side and a left side of the stock such that the hydrodynamic ballast wing extends laterally from the stock and allows a user to increase or decrease an overall buoyancy of the speargun during use.

4. The speargun of claim 3, wherein the barrel is removably inserted within the stock allowing for insertion of barrels of varying lengths.

5. The speargun of claim 3, wherein the means for propelling the spear is at least one stretchable band.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention, as it would be seen in its completely assembled configuration;

(2) FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention, as would be seen if viewed from the top in a completely assembled configuration;

(4) FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of a portion of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown the preferred embodiment of the present invention as assembled. At the anterior end A, there is shown a muzzle 102 attached to a barrel 100 leading into the stock 200 at the posterior end B. The stock 200 is generally defined as having a dorsal side, a ventral side, a left side, and a right side. Attached to the left and right sides of the stock 200 are a plurality of removable wings 202 which though not apparent from FIG. 1, may contain lead or any other material of suitable density to function as a ballast to help achieve the desired buoyancy underwater. The user may choose to utilize the wings 202 or not, depending on his/her particular needs.

(6) Still referring to FIG. 1, the stock 200 features a handle 204 extending downward from the ventral surface of the stock 200 for the user to grasp when using the present invention. Located within the handle 204 is a trigger 400 which allows the user to fire the shaft 300 when s/he so desires.

(7) Pictured separately within FIG. 1 is an exemplary band 500 for illustration purposes. In use, at least one band 500 would be positioned within the muzzle 102, pulled towards the posterior section and notched on the shaft 300 in order to propel the shaft 300 forward when the user desires. Though not required for operation or a required component of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 also shows a reel 600 with rigging line, which could be attached to the ventral surface of the stock 200, should the user so desire. Users targeting larger prey at greater distances will often utilize a reel 600.

(8) Referring now to the dorsal view of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2, there is shown the stock 200 with a plurality of wings 202 extending from either side of the stock 200 and connected at a plurality of connection points 206. Also shown is the track 302 running traverse along the stock 200 and the barrel 100. The preferred embodiment of the present invention calls for the track 302 to be of a semi-enclosed design, known colloquially as an enclosed spear track. In such a design, the shaft 300 (depicted within FIG. 2 as within the track 302 itself) would be supported through a portion of the track 302 which is mated to the stock 200 along the barrel 100. FIG. 4 will further demonstrate the interplay between the shaft 300, track 302, barrel 100, and stock 200. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may utilize and open track 302 design, where the shaft 300 rests atop the track 302 prior to firing.

(9) FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the wings 202 when the needs of the user call for use of the present invention to be assembled in the configuration allowing the greatest power. In this configuration, the additional mass of the wings 202 help to counteract the recoil that would be created by the use of additional bands 500 that would be needed for targeting prey at greater distances.

(10) FIG. 2 also demonstrates the configuration of the hood 700 at the rear dorsal portion of the stock 200. Current inventions within the prior art do not allow for the user to easily access portions of the trigger and line release mechanisms without tools and are not particularly well-suited for adjustments in areas of use, such as in the water or on a boat. The preferred embodiment of the present invention seeks to remedy these deficiencies by allowing the user to remove a pin 702, which further allows the user to then lift the entire hood 700 from the stock 200. Once the hood 700 has been removed, the user may then access portions of the trigger 400 as needed to make quick adjustments in the field.

(11) FIG. 3 demonstrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a configuration that would provide the greatest power and range, though with reduced maneuverability. In order to convert the present invention as shown in FIG. 3 to an alternative configuration allowing greater maneuverability, the user would remove the wings 202 from the stock 200 and would desire to use a shorter barrel 100, shorter shaft 300, and less powerful bands 500.

(12) To reduce the barrel 100 length and power of the present invention after removal of the wings 202 from the stock 200, the user would then select a barrel 100 of shorter length, as well a lesser number of, or alternative band(s) 500. The modular nature of the present invention would also allow for the user to choose a longer barrel 100 and muzzle 102, as well as additional more powerful band(s) 500 if the user wished to instead increase the power and range of the present invention. Typically, the user would not remove the wings 202 from the stock 200 if power and range were to be increased, however the present invention supports a plurality of configurations to suit any particular user's needs.

(13) The modular nature of the present invention also allows the user to utilize different length shafts 300 depending on his or her setup for the hunt. Typically, the user will want to utilize a shaft 300 extending only slightly past the muzzle 102.

(14) Though not clearly depicted by the Figs., the present invention may allow the use of a locking mechanism where the barrel 100 terminates within, or at any place along, the stock 200.

(15) FIG. 4 provides a close-up cutaway depiction of how the shaft 300 interacts with the barrel 100, as well as the track 302, and how all (100, 300, & 302) travel through the stock 200 when fully assembled. FIG. 4 also shows a configuration of the present invention with the wings 202 attached.

(16) While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.