Spear gun tip assembly

Abstract

A spear assembly for an underwater spear gun has an elongate shaft adapted to be fired from a spear gun and has a long axis, a forward portion, and a rearward portion. A tip member includes having front and rear portions with the tip member being removably attached to the forward portion of the shaft. An elongated flexible cable has a forward end attached to the tip member and a rearward portion attached to rearward portion of the shaft. A barb including a barb body is attached to the tip member adjacent the rear portion thereof and the barb has a rearwardly directed barb point. A rear cable restraint is used for impeding movement of the cable and the tip member until the spear is fired from a spear gun. Another restraint means is also used for releasably securing the forward end of the cable to the tip member at a medial portion thereof.

1 . In a spear assembly for an underwater spear gun having an elongated shaft adapted to be fired from a spear gun and having a long axis, a forward portion, and a rearward portion, and a tip member having front and rear portions, said tip member being removably attached to said forward portion of said shaft, an elongated flexible cable with a forward end attached to said tip member and a rearward portion attached to rearward portion of said shaft and a barb, the improvement wherein said barb including a barb body attached to said tip member adjacent said rear portion of said tip member and having a rearwardly directed barb point.  
   
   
       2 . In a spear assembly as defined in  claim 1  further including rear cable restraint means for impeding movement of said cable and said tip member until said spear is fired from a spear gun.  
   
   
       3 . In a spear assembly as defined in  claim 1  further including cable restraint means for releasably securing said forward end of said cable to said tip member.  
   
   
       4 . In a spear assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein said tip member includes a rear portion releasably attachable to said forward portion of said shaft, a front portion having a sharpened tip, and a medial portion, said forward end portion of said cable being attached to said medial portion of said tip member.  
   
   
       5 . In a spear member as defined in  claim 1  wherein said barb body is removably attached to said rear portion of said tip member.  
   
   
       6 . In a spear member as defined in  claim 1  wherein said barb body is made of substantially rigid plastic material.  
   
   
       7 . In a spear member as defined in  claim 1  wherein said barb point is directed downwardly for engaging a far side of a speared fish to effect relative movement between a fish and said shaft to forcibly release said tip member from said shaft.  
   
   
       8 . In a spear assembly as defined in  claim 2  wherein said rear cable restraint means includes a movable member mounted against a portion of said cable to provide frictional force against cable movement to inhibit said tip member from disengaging from said shaft prior to firing said shaft by a spear gun.  
   
   
       9 . In a spear assembly as defined in  claim 8  wherein said movable member includes a resilient O-ring carried by said movable member wherein said cable is slidingly frictionally engaged with said O-ring.  
   
   
       10 . A spear assembly for an underwater spear gun comprising an elongated shaft adapted to be fired from a spear gun and having a long axis, a forward portion, and a rearward portion, and a sharpened elongate tip member having front and rear portions, said tip member being releasably attached to said forward portion of said shaft, an elongated flexible cable with a forward end attached to said tip member and a rearward portion attached to rearward portion of said shaft, and a barb having a rearwardly directed arcuate point and a body attached to said tip member.  
   
   
       11 . The spear assembly as defined in  claim 10  further including rear cable restraint means for impeding movement of said cable and said tip member until said spear is fired from a spear gun, said restraint means including a resilient O-ring in engagement with a portion of said cable.  
   
   
       12 . The spear assembly as defined in  claim 10  further including cable restraint means for releasably securing said forward end of said cable to said tip member.  
   
   
       13 . The spear assembly as defined in  claim 12  wherein said cable restraint means includes a long channel disposed in said body of said barb for retaining a portion of said cable therein, said channel being parallel to said long axis.  
   
   
       14 . The spear member as defined in  claim 10  wherein said barb and said body are integral and are removably attached adjacent said rear portion of said tip member.  
   
   
       15 . A spear assembly for an underwater spear gun comprising an elongated shaft adapted to be fired from a spear gun and having a long axis, a forward portion, and a rearward portion, and an elongate tip member having front, rear and medial portions, said tip member being removably attached to said forward portion of said shaft, an elongated flexible cable having a forward end and a rearward portion, a first restraint means mounted on said tip member for securing said forward end of said cable to said tip member and a second restraint means mounted on said rearward portion of said shaft for securing said rearward portion of said cable to said rearward portion of said shaft for holding said cable taut to inhibit movement of said tip member until said spear is fired from a spear gun, and a barb attached to said rear portion of said tip member.  
   
   
       16 . The spear assembly as defined in  claim 15  further comprising securing means for attaching said barb to said rear end portion of said tip member, said securing means including a body surrounding said rear portion and carrying said barb at a predetermined location thereon.  
   
   
       17 . The spear assembly as defined in  claim 16  wherein said body includes a channel disposed about 180° from said predetermined location of said barb, said channel being elongate extending substantially parallel to said long axis of said shaft and adapted to receive a portion of said cable therein and maintained therein until a speared fish exerts a force on said barb thereby releasing said portion of said cable from said groove.  
   
   
       18 . The spear assembly as defined in  claim 17  wherein said barb has a first portion with a rearwardly directed arcuate point and a second portion approximately 180° opposed from said first portion, including a channel parallel to said long axis of said shaft for carrying a portion of said cable to reduce a drag profile of said cable.  
   
   
       19 . The spear assembly as defined in  claim 17  wherein said second restraint means includes a collar mounted around said shaft, said collar having a passageway therethrough for carrying said cable to reduce a drag profile of said cable.  
   
   
       20 . The spear assembly of  claim 15  wherein said barb includes a barb body surrounding said tip member and having a long channel formed therein to receive and retain a portion of said cable therein, further including restraint means attached to said shaft and having a movable portion carrying a resilient O-ring engaged with another portion of said cable.