Launcher for a flying disc

An apparatus for launching a flying disc, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongated handle member;
• an elongated launching member connected at a proximal end thereof to a distal end of the handle member so as to permit relative angular motion of the launching member and the handle member;
• a disc gripper connected to the launching member at a distal end of the launching member;
• and
• a release mechanism operatively coupled to the disc gripper and arranged so as to (i) enable the disc gripper to hold the flying disc with the launching and handle members forming an angle less than a release angle and (ii) cause the disc gripper to release automatically the held flying disc as the launching and handle members move to the release angle from an angle less than the release angle,
• wherein the launching and handle members comprise a single elongated flexible resilient member, and bending of the resilient member provides the relative angular motion.

A method for launching a flying disc, the method comprising:

• arranging an elongated handle member and an elongated launching member of a disc-launching apparatus to form an angle less than a release angle, the handle member being connected at a distal end thereof to a proximal end of the launching member so as to permit relative angular motion of the launching member and the handle member;
• loading the flying disc into a disc gripper, the disc gripper being connected to the launching member at a distal end of the launching member;
• engaging a release mechanism operatively coupled to the disc gripper so as to engage the disc gripper to hold the flying disc while the launching and handle members form an angle less than the release angle, the release mechanism being arranged so as to cause the disc gripper to release automatically the held flying disc as the launching and handle members move to the release angle from an angle less than the release angle;
• and
• grasping the proximal end of the handle member and swinging the launching apparatus to cause the launching and handle members to move to the release angle and to cause automatically the disc gripper to release the flying disc, thereby launching the flying disc,
• wherein:
• the disc gripper comprises a pair of opposed gripping members arranged for gripping the flying disc positioned between them;
• at least one of the opposed gripping members is pivotably connected to the launching member so as to enable relative movement of the gripping members away from and toward one another;
• and
• the release mechanism is operatively coupled to at least one of the opposed gripping members so as to (i) bias the opposed gripping members toward one another to hold the flying disc between them with the launching and handle members forming an angle less than the release angle and (ii) release automatically the bias on the gripping members to thereby release the held flying disc as the launching and handle members move to the release angle from an angle less than the release angle.

A method for launching a flying disc, the method comprising:

• arranging an elongated handle member and an elongated launching member of a disc-launching apparatus to form an angle less than a release angle, the handle member being connected at a distal end thereof to a proximal end of the launching member so as to permit relative angular motion of the launching member and the handle member;
• loading the flying disc into a disc gripper, the disc gripper being connected to the launching member at a distal end of the launching member;
• engaging a release mechanism operatively coupled to the disc gripper so as to engage the disc gripper to hold the flying disc while the launching and handle members form an angle less than the release angle, the release mechanism being arranged so as to cause the disc gripper to release automatically the held flying disc as the launching and handle members move to the release angle from an angle less than the release angle;
• and
• grasping the proximal end of the handle member and swinging the launching apparatus to cause the launching and handle members to move to the release angle and to cause automatically the disc gripper to release the flying disc, thereby launching the flying disc,
• wherein the launching and handle members comprise a single elongated flexible resilient member, and bending of the resilient member provides the relative angular motion.