USOO6789346B1

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 6,789,346 B1

HOller (45) Date of Patent: Sep. 14, 2004

(54) HUNTING HARPOON AND ASSOCIATED 3,456,376 A * 7/1969 Chappell ......................... 43/6
METHODS 3,486,265 A 12/1969 Cheesebrew ..................... 43/6
3,532,375 A * 10/1970 Heartness ........................ 43/6
(76) Inventor: Christopher A. Holler, 2449 Via E. A : ES
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Sisy Ave., Winter Park, FL (US) 4,518,162 A * 5/1985 Oates ............ ... 403/349
4,624,068 A 11/1986 Howard, III ..................... 43/6
(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this E. A : .1.
2Y- 2
g st al... .
CISCW C al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p isis d adjusted under 35 4,896.450 A * 1/1990 Rogers ............................ 43/6
S.C. 154(b) by 26 days. 5,033,220 A * 7/1991 Phelps ............................. 43/6
5,094,463 A 3/1992 Dryden ............. 273/416
(21) Appl. No.: 10/402,448 5,094,464 A 3/1992 Musacchia, Sr. ................. 43/6
(22) Filed: Mar. 28, 2003 5,119,579 A * 6/1992 Hullihen et al. ................. 43/6
(51) Int. Cl." ................................................ A01K 81/04 (List continued on next page.)
(52) U.S. Cl 43/6 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
AU 26864 B1 5/1930 ...................... 43/6
(58) Field of Search ........................... 43/5, 6, 294/126; IT 411731 B1 6/1945 ...................... 43/6
473/564 IT 412037 B1 9/1945 ...................... 43/6
IT 582637 B1 9/1958 ...................... 43/6
(56) References Cited JP 5-115233 B1 * 5/1993
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS JP 2002-360122 B1 * 12/2002
NO 61185 B1 7/1939 ...................... 43/6
21,949 A * 11/1858 Doyle ............................. 43/6
126,388 A * 5/1872 Freeman . ... 43/6 Primary Examiner Darren W. Ark
206,694. A * 8/1878 Taylor ..... ... 43/6 (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm- The Torpy Group
1,072,172 A * 9/1913 Schell ..... ... 43/6
1,302.457 A 4/1919 Ureck ............................. 43/5 (57) ABSTRACT
1,344,693 A 6/1920 Hinsdale .......................... 43/6
1,498,741 A 6/1924 Loop ............................... 43/6 A harpoon includes a handle to be grasped by a user for
1536,494 A 5/1925 Henkes .... ... 102/371 placing the harpoon and a shaft having a proximal end
1,581,321 A 4/1926 Raithel ............................ 43/6 connected to the handle. A distal end of the shaft has a pin
2,236,427 A 3/1941 Garrison .......................... 43/6 receiving passageway formed therein. The pin receiving
2,289.284 A 7/1942 Chandler . ... 473/584 passageway may include a releasing portion and a retaining
2,353,662 A 7/1944 Goldman ......................... 43/6
2,522,060 A 9/1950 Ridland ....... ... 124/22 portion in communication therewith. The manual harpoon
2,659,273 A 11/1953 Trautmann ....................... 43/6 may also include a harpoon tip having an open proximal end
2,667,814 A * 2/1954 Blackmon .... ... 43/6 for being received over the distal end of the Shaft, and a pin
2,770905 A * 11/1956 Efraimson ... ... 43/6 carried by the open proximal end of the harpoon tip. The pin
2,784,712 A 3/1957 Cassidy ... ... 43/6 may cooperate with the pin receiving passageway to retain
2,796,691 A 6/1957 Norris. ..... ... 43/6 the harpoon tip on the Shaft when the pin is in the retaining
3,004,362 A * 10/1961 Day ........ ... 43/6 portion of the pin receiving passageway, and to release the
3,036,395 A * 5/1962 Nelson .... ... 43/6 harpoon tip from the Shaft when the pin is in the releasing
3,036,396 A * 5/1962 Swails ..... ... 43/6 portion of the pin receiving passageway.
3,072,428 A * 1/1963 Johnson ... ... 43/6
3,150,460 A 9/1964 Dees ............................... 43/6
3,423,781. A 1/1969 Henson ...................... 403/349 24 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets

32
 US 6,789.346 B1
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U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 5,811,713 A 9/1998 Gudgel ....................... 89/134

6,055,761 A 5/2000 Chaprales ........................ 43/6
5.243,778 A * 9/1993 Henley ............................ 43/6 6,311,623 B1 11/2001 Zaruba ....................... 102/371
5,335,439 A 8/1994 Horton ............................ 43/6 6,550,178 B1 * 4/2003 Rogers ............................ 43/6
5,480,108 A 1/1996 Amiand et al. ............. 244/115
5,570,530 A 11/1996 Lee ................................. 43/6 * cited by examiner
U.S. Patent Sep. 14, 2004 Sheet 1 of 3 US 6,789,346 B1

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U.S. Patent Sep. 14, 2004 Sheet 2 of 3 US 6,789,346 B1

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U.S. Patent Sep. 14, 2004 Sheet 3 of 3 US 6,789,346 B1

82

84
POSITION OPEN
PROXIMALEND OF
HARPOON TIPON SHAFT

POSITION PIN IN REANING

PORTION OF PIN RECEIVING
PASSAGEWAYTO REAN
HARPOON TIPON SHAFT

CONNECT HARPOON
LINE TO PASSAGEWAY
NHARPOON TIP
80

CONNECT
BUOYO
HARPOON LINE

92
POSITION PIN IN RELEASING
PORTION OF PIN RECEIVING
PASSAGEWAY TO RELEASE
HARPOON TIPFROM SHAFT

RETRIEVE HARPOON
TPFROMTARGET
FROM SHAFT

FIGURE 6
 US 6,789,346 B1
1 2
HUNTING HARPOON AND ASSOCATED passageway. Accordingly, the harpoon tip may advanta
METHODS geously be readily retained and released from the shaft.
The harpoon may further comprise a Spring mounting the
pin in the open proximal end of the harpoon tip. The Spring
FIELD OF THE INVENTION may be a coil spring having an axis aligned with an axis of
The present invention relates to the field of hunting tools the open proximal end of the harpoon tip. The pin may
and, more particularly, to the field of hunting harpoons and extend transversely through a medial portion of the coil
asSociated methods. Spring. Accordingly, the Spring advantageously allows the
pin to be moved within the harpoon tip to cooperate with the
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION pin receiving passageway. The Spring also advantageously
provides Sufficient force to retain the harpoon tip on the shaft
Harpoons have been used to hunt various fish and game, by keeping the pin in communication with the retaining
Such as alligators, for example. When hunting game, Such as portion of the pin receiving passageway.
an alligator, a harpoon tip on an end of a Shaft is typically The harpoon may also comprise a connector for connect
used to penetrate the hide of the alligator and attach a 15
ing the handle to the shaft. In Some embodiments, the
harpoon line thereto. A conventional harpoon includes a connector may be a threaded connector, and the proximal
Wooden handle, a Shaft connected thereto, and a detachable end of the shaft may be threaded to receive the threaded
harpoon tip that may be held in place with rubber bands. COnnectOr.
These types of harpoons, however, are heavy, may be quite
cumbersome, and may be difficult to use. Wooden handles The harpoon tip may comprise a distal sharpened end and
are also easily broken when hunting wild, and Sometimes a proximal Sharpened barb extending rearwardly therefrom.
aggressive, animals, Such as alligators. Another problem The harpoon tip may also have an opening therein, and the
with these harpoons is that it may be difficult to release the harpoon may include a harpoon line having a first end
harpoon tip into the animal. connected to the opening. A buoy may be connected to a
U.S. Pat. No. 2,796,691 to Norris discloses a harpoon 25 Second end of the harpoon line.
including a harpoon tip that is releasably retained on a shaft The handle may comprise an aluminum tube and foam
by a magnet. Upon impact with a target, a collar adjacent the material therein, for example. The shaft and harpoon tip may
shaft releases the harpoon tip from the magnet So that the each comprise StainleSS Steel, for example.
harpoon tip is released from the Shaft and remains within the A method aspect of the present invention is for using a
target. This harpoon, however, may not be reliable in retain harpoon. The method may include positioning an open
ing and/or releasing the harpoon tip. proximal end of a harpoon tip over a distal end of the Shaft.
A fish tag harpoon for tagging fish with a Sonic tracking The method may also include retaining the harpoon tip on
tag is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,761 to Chaprales. This the shaft using a pin in a retaining portion of a pin receiving
harpoon includes a shaft that is held in a sleeve, a dart on the passageway, and releasing the harpoon tip from the shaft
end of the Shaft, and a line connecting the Sonic tracking tag 35 when the pin is in a releasing portion of the pin receiving
to the dart. The line is held to the dart using a rubber band. passageWay.
Rubber bands to connect the line to the dart may, however, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
be unreliable. Further, the dart merely rests within the sleeve
and is retained therein by a rearward pressure caused by the 40 FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a manual harpoon
line which is connected to the dart by rubber bands. Again, according to the present invention.
the use of rubber bands to retain the dart in the sleeve may FIG. 2 is an exploded side elevational view of the manual
be unreliable. harpoon shown in FIG. 1.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through line 3-3
45 of FIG. 2.
In View of the foregoing background, it is therefore an FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through line 4-4
object of the present invention to provide a harpoon and of FIG. 1.
asSociated methods that are reliable, easy to assemble and FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken through
use, light in weight, and reusable. line 5-5 of FIG. 1.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the 50
present invention are provided by a harpoon having a FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of using the
harpoon tip that is releasable into a target. More Specifically, harpoon according to the present invention.
the harpoon may comprise a handle to be grasped by a user, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
and a shaft having a proximal end connected to the handle PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
and a distal end having a pin receiving passageway formed 55
therein. The pin receiving passageway may include a releas The present invention will now be described more fully
ing portion and a retaining portion in communication hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
there with, and may have a hook shape, for example. which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown.
The harpoon may also include a harpoon tip having an This invention may, however, be embodied in many different
open proximal end for being received over the distal end of 60 forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodi
the Shaft, and a pin carried by the open proximal end of the ments Set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are pro
harpoon tip. The pin may cooperate with the pin receiving Vided So that this disclosure will be thorough and complete,
passageway to retain the harpoon tip on the shaft when the and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those
pin is in the retaining portion of the pin receiving passage skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements
way. The pin may also cooperate with the pin receiving 65 throughout.
passageway to release the harpoon tip from the shaft when Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a manual harpoon 20 according
the pin is in the releasing portion of the pin receiving to the present invention is now described. The manual
 US 6,789,346 B1
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harpoon 20 illustratively includes a handle 22 to be grasped includes a connecting tab receiving passageway 28 formed
by a user for placing the manual harpoon. The manual in the distal end 26 thereof for receiving the connecting tab
harpoon 20 is typically operated by a user when hunting fish 72 to thereby connect the distal end 26 of the handle 22 to
and game, Such as alligator, for example. the proximal end 74 of the connector 70.
The manual harpoon 20 also illustratively includes a shaft The connector 70 is illustratively a threaded connector,
30 having a proximal end 32 connected to a distal end 26 of and the proximal end 32 of the shaft 30 is threaded to receive
the handle 22. A pin receiving passageway 40 is formed in the threaded connector. More specifically, a distal end 76 of
a distal end 34 of the shaft 30. The pin receiving passageway the connector 70 illustratively includes a threaded passage
40 illustratively includes a releasing portion 42 and a way 78 so that the threaded proximal end 32 of the shaft 30
retaining portion 44 in communication therewith. In the may receive the threaded passageway. The connector 70
illustrated embodiment, the pin receiving passageway 40 has advantageously provides a Secure connection between the
a hook shape, but may have other shapes in which the handle 22 and the shaft 30 so that a user may reliably use the
releasing portion 42 and retaining portion 44 are in com harpoon 20 without the shaft 30 inadvertently coming apart
munication with one another, as understood by those skilled from the handle.
in the art. 15 The connector 70 may advantageously be interchangeable
The manual harpoon 20 further illustratively includes a with many different shafts 30 so that a plurality of shafts
harpoon tip 50 having an open proximal end 52 for being having harpoon tips 50 connected thereto may be connected
received over the distal end 34 of the shaft 30. A pin 60 is to one handle 22. In other words, a plurality of harpoon tips
illustratively carried by the open proximal end 52 of the 50 may be released into a plurality of targets without the
harpoon tip 50 and cooperates with the pin receiving pas need to take the time to reattach the harpoon tip to the Shaft
sageway 40 to retain the harpoon tip 50 on the shaft 30 when 30.
the pin is in the retaining portion 44 of the pin receiving The harpoon tip 50 illustratively comprises a distal sharp
passageway (FIG. 4). The pin 60 also cooperates with the ened end 54 and a proximal sharpened barb 56 extending
pin receiving passageway 40 to release the harpoon tip 50 25
rearwardly therefrom. The distal sharpened end 54 advan
from the shaft 30 when the pin is in the releasing portion 42 tageously allows for the harpoon tip 50 to readily penetrate
of the pin receiving passageway. The harpoon tip 50, the pin a target. An alligator, for example, has a very thick and tough
60, and the spring 65 may define a harpoon tip assembly. hide and, accordingly, a harpoon tip 50 having a sharpened
FIG. 3 illustrates the harpoon tip 50 before being con distal end 54 is advantageous when hunting Such animals.
nected to the shaft 30, or alternatively, after it has been The proximal sharpened barb 56 advantageously aids in
released from the shaft. FIG. 4 illustrates the harpoon tip 50 ensuring the harpoon tip 50 remains within the target after
after the pin 60 has been positioned to cooperate with the having been inserted therein.
retaining portion 44 of the pin receiving passageway 40 to The harpoon tip 50 illustratively has an opening 58
retain the harpoon tip in the shaft 30. To release the harpoon therein, and a harpoon line 45 having a first end 46 is
tip 50 from the shaft 30, a forward pressure is applied to the 35 illustratively connected to the opening. The harpoon line 45
harpoon tip to thereby move the pin 30 from the retaining may, for example, be rope, or any other type of line as
portion 44 and into the releasing portion 42. When in the understood by those skilled in the art. A buoy 48 is con
releasing portion 42 of the pin receiving passageway 40, nected to a second end 47 of the harpoon line 45. The buoy
there is no obstruction to the pin and, accordingly, the 48 advantageously allows the user to track the location of the
harpoon tip 50 may be readily released from the shaft 30. 40 target after the harpoon tip 50 as been inserted therein.
The releasing portion 42 and the retaining portion 44 of the Another advantage of the buoy 48 is that it may drain energy
pin receiving passageway 40 advantageously allow for Sim from the target when connected thereto Via the harpoon tip.
plified use of the manual harpoon. 20. Further, the configu In other words, when using the manual harpoon 20 to hunt
ration of the pin 60 cooperating with the pin receiving alligator, the drag of the buoy 48 may cause the alligator to
passageway 40 advantageously allows for the harpoon tip 50 45 tire and therefore, be leSS aggressive.
to be readily reused. The handle 22 illustratively has a circular outer surface
The manual harpoon 20 also illustratively includes a 36, or any other shape as understood by those skilled in the
spring 65. The spring 65 is within the harpoon tip 50 and art. The outer portion of the handle 22 may comprise an
mounts the pin 60 in the open proximal end 52 of the aluminum tube, for example. Material 38, Such as foam, is
harpoon tip. The Spring 65 is connected to an interior portion 50 within the tube to thereby advantageously provide a light
of the open proximal end 52 of the harpoon tip 50, and may weight manual harpoon. 20. The material 38 is preferably
be a coil spring having an axis that is aligned with an axis low in density so that the handle 22 of the manual harpoon
of the open proximal end of the harpoon tip. The pin 60 20 advantageously floats if inadvertently dropped in water,
illustratively extends transversely through a medial portion for example. Those skilled in the art will understand that the
of the coil spring. The Spring 65 advantageously allows the 55 outer portion of the handle 22 may be any lightweight
pin 60 to move transversely to align with the pin receiving material, and the material 38 within the outer housing may
passageway 40 So that the pin may move from the releasing be any lightweight, low density material.
portion 42 to the retaining portion 44 thereof. Further, the The shaft 30 and the harpoon tip 50 may each comprise
Spring 65 also provides a predetermined amount of force Stainless Steel. Any other material that is light in weight, high
when the pin 60 is in the retaining portion 44 to retain the 60 in Strength, and not prone to corrosion may also be Suitable,
harpoon tip 50 on the shaft 30. as understood by those skilled in the art.
The manual harpoon 20 further illustratively comprises a Referring now additionally to the flow chart 80 of FIG. 6,
connector 70 for connecting the handle 22 to the shaft 30. a method of using the manual harpoon 20 is now described.
More specifically, the connector 70 connects the distal end From the start (Block 82), the open proximal end 52 of the
26 of the handle 22 to the proximal end 32 of the shaft 30. 65 harpoon tip 50 is positioned on the shaft 30 at Block 84. At
The connector 70 includes a connecting tab 72 that extends Block 86, the pin 30 is positioned in the retaining portion 44
from a proximal end 74 thereof. The handle 22 illustratively of the pin receiving passageway 40 to retain the harpoon tip
 US 6,789,346 B1
S 6
50 on the shaft 30. The harpoon line 45 is connected to the a harpoon tip having an open proximal end for being
opening 58 in the harpoon tip 50 at Block 88. At Block 90, received over the distal end of said shaft;
the buoy 48 is connected to the harpoon line 45, and at Block a pin carried by the open proximal end of Said harpoon tip
92, the pin 60 is moved from the retaining portion 44 to the and cooperating with the pin receiving passageway to
releasing portion 42 of the pin receiving passageway 40 to retain Said harpoon tip on Said shaft when Said pin is in
release the harpoon tip 50 from the shaft 30. At Block 94, the the retaining portion of the pin receiving passageway,
harpoon tip 50 is retrieved from the target, e.g., the hide of and to release Said harpoon tip from Said Shaft when
the alligator A. After retrieving the harpoon tip 50 from the Said pin is in the releasing portion of the pin receiving
target at Block 94, it may again be received on the shaft 30 passageway; and
at Block 84. 1O a Spring mounting Said pin in the open proximal end of
A manual harpoon 20 is described in detail above, but Said harpoon tip.
those skilled in the art will understand that the harpoon may 10. A manual harpoon according to claim 1 wherein Said
be delivered by other means, Such as an explosive gas, for Spring comprises a coil spring having an axis aligned with an
example. Accordingly, many modifications and other axis of the open proximal end of Said harpoon tip; and
embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one wherein Said pin extends transversely through a medial
15
skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings pre portion of Said coil Spring.
Sented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated 11. A manual harpoon according to claim 9 further com
drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention prising a connector for connecting Said handle to Said Shaft.
is not to be limited to the Specific embodiments disclosed, 12. A manual harpoon according to claim 9 wherein Said
and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be harpoon tip comprises a distal Sharpened end and a proximal
included within the Scope of the appended claims. Sharpened barb extending rearwardly therefrom.
What is claimed is:
1. A harpoon comprising: 13. A manual harpoon according to claim 9 wherein Said
harpoon tip has an opening therein; and further comprising
a Shaft having a distal end and a pin receiving passageway a harpoon line having a first end connected to the opening.
formed in the distal end, the pin receiving passageway 25 14. A manual harpoon according to claim 13 further
having a hook shape and including a releasing portion comprising a buoy connected to a Second end of Said
and a retaining portion in communication there with; harpoon line.
a harpoon tip having an open proximal end for being 15. A manual harpoon according to claim 9 wherein Said
received over the distal end of said shaft; handle comprises an aluminum tube and foam material
a pin carried by the open proximal end of Said harpoon tip therein.
and cooperating with the pin receiving passageway to 16. A manual harpoon according to claim 9 wherein Said
retain Said harpoon tip on Said shaft when Said pin is in shaft and said harpoon tip each comprises stainless Steel.
the retaining portion of the pin receiving passageway, 17. A harpoon tip assembly comprising:
and to release Said harpoon tip from Said Shaft when a harpoon tip having an open proximal end;
Said pin is in the releasing portion of the pin receiving
passageway; and 35 a pin carried by the open proximal end; and
a Spring mounting Said pin in the open proximal end of a coil Spring mounting Said pin in the open proximal end,
Said harpoon tip. and having an axis aligned with an axis of the open
2. A harpoon according to claim 1 wherein Said Spring proximal end;
comprises a coil spring having an axis aligned with an axis Said pin extending transversely through a medial portion
of the open proximal end of Said harpoon tip; and wherein 40 of Said coil Spring.
Said pin extends transversely through a medial portion of 18. Aharpoon tip assembly according to claim 17 wherein
Said coil Spring. Said harpoon tip comprises a distal sharpened end and a
3. A harpoon according to claim 1 further comprising a proximal sharpened barb extending rearwardly therefrom.
handle to be grasped by a user for placing the manual 19. Aharpoon tip assembly according to claim 18 wherein
harpoon; wherein Said shaft has a proximal end; and further 45 Said harpoon tip comprises Stainless Steel.
comprising a connector for connecting Said handle to the 20. Aharpoon tip assembly according to claim 17 wherein
proximal end of Said Shaft. Said harpoon tip has an opening formed therein for receiving
4. A harpoon according to claim 3 wherein Said handle a harpoon line therethrough.
comprises an aluminum tube and foam material therein. 21. A method for using a harpoon comprising:
5. A harpoon according to claim 1 wherein Said harpoon 50 positioning an open proximal end of a harpoon tip over a
tip comprises a distal sharpened end and a proximal Sharp distal end of a shaft having a hook shaped pin receiving
ened barb extending rearwardly therefrom. passageway formed therein;
6. A harpoon according to claim 1 wherein Said harpoon retaining the harpoon tip on the Shaft when a pin carried
tip has an opening therein; and further comprising a harpoon by the open proximal end of the harpoon tip is in a
line having a first end connected to the opening. 55 retaining portion of the pin receiving passageway,
7. A harpoon according to claim 6 further comprising a wherein a Spring mounts the pin in the open proximal
buoy connected to a Second end of Said harpoon line. end of the harpoon tip; and
8. A harpoon according to claim 1 wherein Said Shaft and releasing the harpoon tip from the Shaft when the pin is in
Said harpoon tip each comprises Stainless Steel. a releasing portion of the pin receiving passageway.
9. A manual harpoon comprising: 60 22. A method according to claim 21 further comprising
a handle to be grasped by a user for placing the manual connecting a proximal end of the Shaft to a handle.
harpoon; 23. A method according to claim 21 further comprising
a shaft having a proximal end connected to Said handle, connecting a first end of a harpoon line to the harpoon tip.
and a distal end having a pin receiving passageway 24. A method according to claim 23 further comprising
formed therein, the pin receiving passageway having a 65 connecting a buoy to a Second end of the harpoon line.
hook shape and including a releasing portion and a
retaining portion in communication there with; k k k k k