# US 11,441,868 B2 · Slingshot football > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,868 B2 - Document ID: US11441868B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/130,161 - Filed: 2016-04-15 - Published: 2016-10-20 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-15 - Applicants: Marc Gregory Martino - Inventors: Marc Gregory Martino - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441868B2 ## CPC - F41B 3/02: Catapults, e.g. slingshots - A63B 43/002: {with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical (discs for throwing A63B65/10)} - A63B 43/007: {Arrangements on balls for connecting lines or cords} - A63B 65/122: {Hand-held mechanical projectors, e.g. for balls} - A63B 2225/01: Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages - F41B: WEAPONS FOR PROJECTING MISSILES WITHOUT USE OF EXPLOSIVE OR COMBUSTIBLE PROPELLANT CHARGE; WEAPONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (projectiles for fishing, e.g. fish-spears, A01K81/00; sports implements for throwing A63B65/00, e.g. boomerangs A63B65/08; stationary apparatus for projecting sports balls, e.g. tennis balls, A63B69/40; throwing or slinging toys A63H33/18; knives, axes B26B; projectiles or missiles other than those incorporating springs as projecting means F42B6/00) - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A launching and/or catching toy kit has a football and at least one associated slingshot. The football includes a generally elongated spheroidal body, a support non-movably attached to the body, a tail, and a first and a second elastic band hook oppositely disposed. The slingshot is configured to launch the football from a first user to a second user. The slingshot includes a handle and a pair of prongs connected and/or extending from the handle top. At least one elastic band is connected to each prong. Each of the at least one elastic bands are releasably captured by their respective first or second elastic band hook on the football during launching by the first user. When two slingshots are available, the users can shoot and catch the football between each other allowing for a game of catch. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A launching and/or catching toy kit, comprising: a football comprising: a) a generally elongated spheroidal body defined as comprising a longitudinal axis, where a length of the body along the longitudinal axis between a front end of the body to a back end of the body is longer than an equatorial diameter, wherein the equatorial diameter is at least 2 inches; b) a support non-movably attached to the body, where a first end of the support is disposed within the body or attached to the body and a second end of the support extends beyond the back end of the body; c) a tail attached to the second end of the support; d) a first and a second elastic band hook oppositely disposed about the longitudinal axis and attached to the body and/or the support; at least one divot disposed within the body behind the first or second elastic band hook; and at least two slingshots associated with the football, each slingshot configured to launch the football from a first user to a second user or from the second user to the first user, each slingshot comprising: a) a handle configured to be gripped by the first or second user; b) a pair of prongs connected and/or extending from a top of the handle, wherein the pair of prongs form an opening wherein the opening is at least as wide as a maximum width of the football; c) at least one elastic band connected to each prong of the pair of prongs; wherein each at least one elastic band is releasably captured by its respective first or second elastic band hook on the football during launching by the first or second user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The toy kit of claim 1, wherein the tail comprises a twisted shape configured to induce a spin of the football after launching. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The toy kit of claim 1, wherein the tail extends outwardly in a vertical plane aligned along the longitudinal axis which is generally perpendicular to a horizontal plane which is aligned along the longitudinal axis but also extends through the first and second elastic band hook, and wherein the tail does not extend outwardly along the horizontal plane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The toy kit of claim 1, wherein the tail comprises a finger grip feature formed as a continuous part of the tail, the finger grip feature configured to be easily grasped by the first user when launching. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The toy kit of claim 1, including a wrist lasso attached to a bottom of the handle, wherein the wrist lasso is configured to be wrapped and/or placed around a wrist of the first user. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The toy kit of claim 1, wherein the support is not disposed through the front end of the body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The toy kit of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the front end of the body comprises a Shore A durometer hardness substantially equal to or less than 25. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The toy kit of claim 1, wherein at least the front end of the body is football shaped. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The toy kit of claim 1, wherein an overall weight of the football is less than 100 grams. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The toy kit of claim 1, wherein the support comprises a hollow aluminum tube. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The toy kit of claim 1, wherein the body is comprised of a front section abutting a rear section, where the front section and rear section comprise different materials and where a rear section volume is at least double a front section volume. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The toy kit of claim 1, wherein the body, support and tail are made as a single manufactured part from the same material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The toy kit of claim 1, wherein the equatorial diameter is at least 2.5 inches. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The toy kit of claim 1, wherein the equatorial diameter is at least 3.0 inches. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The toy kit of claim 1, wherein the equatorial diameter is at least 3.5 inches. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The toy kit of claim 1, wherein the equatorial diameter is at least 4.0 inches.