A rifle bow assembly is disclosed herein. The rifle bow assembly includes: an outer barrel slide subassembly having an elongate cavity, the outer barrel slide subassembly configured to be attached to a bow assembly; a projectile barrel subassembly having a first end and a second end, the projectile barrel subassembly configured to be slidingly received within the elongate cavity of the outer barrel slide subassembly, and the projectile barrel subassembly having a helical projectile passageway extending in a lengthwise direction thereof; a magazine subassembly coupled to the second end of the projectile barrel subassembly, and having attachment means for securing a projectile magazine thereto; and a release subassembly coupled to an end portion of the magazine subassembly, the release subassembly including at least one string release mechanism for releasably engaging a bow string of the bow assembly. A rifle bow, which incorporates the rifle bow assembly, is also disclosed herein.

In at least one embodiment, a crossbow comprises a stock, a first limb, a first rotatable member, a second limb and a second rotatable member. A bowstring, a first cable and a second cable each extend between the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member. The crossbow defines a shooting axis. The first cable is offset from the shooting axis in a first direction and the second cable is offset from the shooting axis in a second direction different from the first direction.

In some embodiments, a connector attaches to an axle of an archery bow and comprises a cable terminal. The connector comprises a first body portion made from a first material and a second body portion made from a second material different from the first material. The first body portion defines an aperture therethrough arranged to engage the axle. The second body portion has a groove extending around at least a portion of its periphery, forming a teardrop shape. In some embodiments, the connector is configured to snap-fit onto an axle and be removable without tools.

A ball feeder assembly for a ball projecting machine includes a stand, an upper frame, a ball delivery element coupled to the frame, and a ball feeder member coupled to the ball delivery element. The assembly is configured for supporting a cylindrical ball bucket. The frame is movably coupled to the stand between at least a first position in which the frame is configured to support the bucket in a position with a top end at a higher elevation than a bottom end such that the longitudinal axis of the bucket is at angle within 0 and 80 degrees from a vertical plane, and a second position in which the frame is configured to support the bucket in a downward position with the bottom end at a higher elevation than the upper end such that the axis is within 5 to 90 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane.

Exemplary embodiments of a gas pressure regulator comprise a regulator body, an adaptor sleeve, a retainer and an indexing ring. The regulator body includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, a ported intermediate portion therebetween, and a main bore. The adaptor sleeve axially receives the distal portion and includes an outer threading for engaging an air source adaptor of a paintball marker. The retainer threadably engages the main bore within the distal end, thereby axially securing the adaptor sleeve onto the distal end. The indexing ring receives the distal portion therethrough for resiliently biased axial movement of the indexing ring between a locking position and an unlocking position. When the indexing ring is in its unlocking position, the adaptor sleeve is rotatable with respect to the regulator body. When the indexing ring is in its locking position, the adaptor sleeve is rendered substantially non-rotatable with respect to the regulator body.

A grip guard may be used with a crossbow that has a main beam including a stock and a barrel. The grip guard may have a first wall that is positioned between the stock and the barrel and a second wall that extends outwardly from the main beam. The first wall may have dampening properties to attenuate sounds and vibrations caused by firing the crossbow and the second wall may prevent a user's fingers from inadvertently extending from the handle toward the barrel.

A projectile shooter toy has a body with a sidewall forming a space for holding a projectile in a loaded state and a pathway leading away from the space and along which the projectile moves in a forward direction. An actuator is arranged to engage the projectile to move the projectile forward along the pathway. At least two pinching members are spaced forwardly along the pathway from the actuator. The pinching members are separate from, and movable relative to, the actuator and the sidewall, and are configured to exert a force on the projectile as the projectile passes between the at least two pinching members.

This invention belongs to the group of projectile throwing instruments working without an explosive or a combustible propelling charge in particular to the group of projectile throwing instruments using strained hard body energy and can be used for the design and construction of a missile throwing weapon using a string—namely a bow and crossbow.

An archery bowstring release has a single jaw for retaining a bowstring within a bowstring hook, in contrast to dual-jaw pincer-type releases. The bowstring hook is situated on a release head which bears a trigger for actuating the jaw and releasing the bowstring, and a release body extends between the release head and a release mount (which can connect the bowstring release to a wrist strap, glove, or other anchor affixed to the user's body). The release head and body are pivotally joined, and when the release is ready to fire, the central axis of the release body, and at least the rear of the release head, have central longitudinal axes which are aligned with the notch in the bowstring hook, and are thus aligned with the bowstring, and are parallel to or in line with the arrow. The release therefore has a comfortable, natural, and intuitive feel during operation.

A toy having a housing; a cover pivotally mounted to the housing for movement between a first position wherein an internal cavity of the housing is covered and a second position wherein access to the internal cavity is provided; a launching mechanism located within the internal cavity; a first projectile configured to be launched from the launching mechanism; a plurality of second projectiles configured to be launched from a plurality of projectile launchers secured to the housing; an actuation mechanism coupled to the cover, the launching mechanism and the plurality of projectile launchers, wherein operation of the actuation mechanism causes the cover to move from the first position to the second position and simultaneously launch the first projectile and the plurality of second projectiles from the launching mechanism and the plurality of projectile launchers.

An archery bow is comprised of at least a riser and two limbs that can be folded into a position forming its own case to protect the limbs, or taken down and reassembled with limbs of various draw weights. When taken down it may also be reconfigured to enable use by an archer with opposite handedness. In its folded state it is highly compact and transportable.

A toy pump action rifle for launching discs having an outer housing, a stock, a grip, a trigger, a handle for cocking the rifle and a revolving drum for storing multiple discs. Within the housing is a mechanism for removing discs, one at a time, from the drum where the discs are arranged in a first position, rotating each disc 90° to a second position, and transporting each disc to a discharge chamber. The mechanism includes a transfer arm to remove each disc from the drum, a disc pocket for receiving the removed disc, the pocket being rotatable to reorient the disc, and disc pocket also being slidable to carry the disc to the discharge chamber. Activation of the trigger releases a cocked launch arm that snaps forward and strikes the disc to cause discharge.

A crossbow 100 includes a rifle-style stock 22, barrel 23, bowstring 1, and a string release housing 21 with a novel string release assembly. The string release assembly in string release housing 21 includes a string latch 12 for retaining fully-drawn and cocked bowstring 1 against a string horn 19, a trigger 6 for releasing or shooting the arrow 2, a safety button 25 for the movement of the safety plate 7 from the safe position to the fire position, and a load lever 4 for loading the arrow 2. There is a safety button 25 on each side of the release housing 21 so that the safety of crossbow 100 may be operated by a right-handed or left-handed shooter. Bowstring 1 rests against the inclined surface 29 of the string horn 19 and is retained in the fully-drawn and cocked position between the string latch tangs 30 and 31 and the inclined surface 29 of the string horn 19. The load of the fully-drawn bowstring 1 is distributed between and born by the inclined the string latch tangs 30 and 31 and the inclined surface 29 of string horn 19.

The present invention relates to a device for delivering targets (2) comprising at least one column (4) for storing targets (2) capable of receiving a first target (11) at the lowest point of the column (4) and at least a second target (12) stacked on the first target (11), means for delivering the first target (11), and retention means for retaining the second target (12) in the column (4), characterized in that the retention means for retaining comprise a ramp (21) configured to exert a bearing force on the lower face of the second target (12) during the delivery of the first target (11). This invention also relates to a machine for launching targets (2) equipped with a device and a method for distributing the targets (2).

A sight and range finder for a projectile launching device are disclosed. The range finder calculates a range between a target and a projectile launching device, and transmits a signal indicative of the range. The sight visually aligns the target with the projectile launching device. A drive assembly moves an alignment member of the sight, and at least one processor receives the signal and actuates the drive assembly to move the alignment portion a selected distance based on the range.

A traditional archery bow assembly includes a handle assembly, a bowstring, and a first limb bolt assembly. The handle assembly includes a riser, an upper limb, and a lower limb, wherein the upper and lower limbs each include a distal end and a proximal end connected to the riser. The bowstring extends between the distal ends of the upper and lower limbs. The first limb bolt assembly is operable to connect one of the upper and lower limbs to the riser. The first limb bolt assembly includes a shank portion and a head portion, wherein the head portion defines a contact surface that faces and contacts the one of the upper and lower limbs, and is pivotable relative to the shank portion.

A ball throwing machine can include a hopper for receiving one or more balls and a ball delivery device. The ball delivery device can be used to throw or pitch a ball from the hopper to a user of the machine. The ball delivery device can include wheels to impart speed to the ball and a direction system to control the projection angle of the ball. The direction system can control at least one of the up and down angle and the side to side angle of the ball as it is thrown, among possibly other throwing parameters. A controller may be provided for controlling operation of the ball throwing machine.

The present invention discloses a device and method for wireless communication between a paintball marker or gun and it's associated paintball loading device. This wireless communication, whether bidirectional or unidirectional, allows for the transmission of “load” commands and various other useful information between the paintball marker and the paintball feeding device. When the “load” command, which is much more responsive than the “passive” communication found in the prior art, is wirelessly received by the paintball feeding device, the paintball feeding device loads a singular or plurality of paintballs into the paintball marker of appropriate conduit.

A line launching device is provided with a tube for receiving a projectile and including an externally threaded bottom and a cap put on the tube; a cylinder including a first externally threaded extension at one end, an internally threaded cup secured to the first externally threaded extension, a second externally threaded extension at an other end, and an internally threaded ring securing to both the second externally threaded extension and the externally threaded bottom; a hollow anchor fastened in one end of the tube; a hollow fin assembly in a bottom of the projectile and including slits on a housing, pivotal fins, and an internal biasing member biasing against the fins; and a rope having one end attached to the nose and an other end fastened in the anchor. The fins project out of the slits after the projectile being propelled out of the tube by pressurized gas.

An adjustable mechanical vibration limiting and absorbing device for an archery bow including a hollow housing and two groups of elastomer washers provided in the hollow housing with a means for preventing the first group from advancing out of the hollow housing and separating the first group from the second group. In addition, a fastener extends through the center of the first and second groups of elastomer washers and a lock nut and weight are provided on the projecting end of the fastener.

Methods, apparatus, systems, and kits for loading paintballs into a feed tube of a paintball gun are disclosed. A loader includes a chamber for holding paintballs, a feed mechanism having a rotational feeder within the chamber that feeds paintballs from the chamber along a feed channel when rotating to fill the feed tube, and a drive mechanism that drives the rotational feeder of the feed mechanism, ceases to drive the rotational feeder responsive to stoppage of the rotational feeder, and periodically attempts to rotate the stopped rotational feeder. Paintballs are loaded from a loader into a feed tube of a paintball gun by driving a rotational feeder within the loader, the rotational feeder configured within the loader to feed paintballs into the feed tube when rotating, ceasing to drive the rotational feeder responsive to stoppage of the rotational feeder, and periodically attempting to rotate the stopped rotational feeder.

A double-magazine (“Dmag”) able to house projectile ammunition for a projectile launcher having a first ammunition channel, a second ammunition channel, and a flexible projectile control bar (“FPCB”) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the first ammunition channel contains a first set or column of projectiles and the second ammunition channel which is situated in parallel to the first ammunition channel is configured to house a second set of projectiles. Dmag also includes a follower with a follower lock capable of moving along the first ammunition channel. The follower is configured to push the first set of projectiles toward a first ammunition supply port of the first ammunition channel. The FPCB has a first flexible flap which keeps the first set of projectiles from reaching the loading port of the launcher until the follower lock is released.

A projectile for launching through the air comprises a body and one or more projecting members integral therewith extending outwardly a distance from the body, which can be hollow or solid. The projectile is formed from an elastomeric material capable of being stretched to energize the projectile for launching. The projecting members are positioned a distance apart from one another and include openings disposed therethrough at distal ends for engaging sections of a launching device. The launching device includes a handle with the sections extending outwardly therefrom to accommodate placement of the projectile openings thereagainst for retaining the projectile before and during launch. The projectile is launched from the device by pulling the body away from the launching device to energize the projectile, and then releasing the energized projectile, causing it to be propelled from the launching device into the air and towards a desired target.

In some embodiments, a crossbow comprises a stock and a bow portion comprising at least one limb and a string. A riser attaches said bow portion to the stock. A latch is located in proximity to a butt of the stock. The latch is configured to retain the string in a drawn condition. A trigger is arranged to release the latch. An extension member extends from the butt of the stock to the latch. The extension member and the stock define a cavity, and the latch assembly is oriented within the cavity.

An electric toy gun with a plurality of firing modes includes a trigger, a power break holder, a power contact holder, a block member slidably coupled to the power break holder and having a first tooth and a second tooth at one lateral side thereof, a swing bar having an actuation portion and a push block connected to the actuation portion. A control mechanism enables the push block of the swing bar to be shifted to the rear side of the first tooth, the rear or front side of the second tooth. Lowering of the power break holder with the block member drives the push block to move the first or second tooth forward and then to push the first tooth forward. The block member is displaced relative to the stop portion of the link which moves the power break holder.

A magazine for an air gun is provided with first and second shells; an internal passage; a rotatable shaft including a lengthwise groove on a surface, and a transverse slot on the surface communicating with the groove; a pulley rotatably put on the shaft and having both ends rotatably secured to the first and second shells respectively; a ratchet mechanism mounted on the pulley; a pin inserted into the pulley to dispose in one end of the groove; a line having one end wound on the pulley, the line extending through the passage to have an other end engaged with a projectile support in the passage; a spring put on the line and biased between the pulley and the projectile support; and a spring biased knob disposed on an outer surface of the first shell and secured to the shaft.

A football passing machine is configured to eject a prolate-spheroid-shaped football. The football passing machine includes a frame member, an adjustable launch surface mounted to the frame member, a ball magazine positioned above the adjustable launch surface that is configured to contain a plurality of footballs, a moveable escapement arm that is configured to successively dispense footballs that are contained within the ball magazine onto the launch surface, a moveable ball carriage configured to move a football between a first point on the launch surface that is located directly beneath the ball magazine and a second point on the launch surface that is adjacent a football launch mechanism that is configured to eject a football from the football passing machine. An orientation of the adjustable launch surface is configured to be adjusted to change a launch angle of a football while the frame member and the ball magazine remain stationary.

A bowstring release having a removable safety pin that when engaged, allows for training. The safety pin physically preventing the release mechanism from fully releasing, while allowing enough movement to provide a tactile response that the release has been activated.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a toy dart launcher comprises a housing defining an interior recess and a launch assembly. The launch assembly is at least partially disposed within the interior recess and comprises: a projectile feed, a slidable frame, and a launch mechanism. The projectile feed is rotatably disposed within the interior recess and comprises a plurality of receiving chambers each adapted to receive one or more projectiles. The slidable frame has at least one engagement finger rotatably disposed thereon, and is movable with respect to the projectile feed so that the at least one engagement finger can engage and move at least one projectile through at least one receiving chamber. The launch mechanism is disposed rearwardly of the projectile feed and is configured to create a pressure differential about the at least one projectile so that the at least one projectile can be launched from the housing.

The present invention relates to the field of electromagnetic rail launchers, and particularly to a rail launcher and an associated projectile-launching process including at least two longitudinal rails connected to a power supply circuit of these two rails, these rails being at least partially surrounded by superconductor elements able to generate a magnetic induction of a direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the rails and located therebetween during the flow of a current therein, launcher wherein the supply circuit includes the superconductor elements.

A universal wrist strap, for connection to a plurality of different bowstring release mechanisms via a plurality of different connecting members, includes a flexible base member adapted to fit around the wrist of a user and a mounting assembly connected to the wrist strap. The flexible base member has first and second arms that converge towards an apex area. The mounting assembly is connected to the apex area and is adapted to receive and retain the plurality of different connecting members.

A dart launcher comprises a housing, a safety arm, and a trigger. The housing includes a launching section configured to receive a dart having a minimum threshold length. The safety arm is movably attached to the housing and extends at least partially across the launching section. The safety arm is positioned so that the dart having the minimum threshold length engages at least a portion of the safety arm upon insertion into the launching section. The trigger is movable with respect to the housing and is operable to cause the dart having the minimum threshold length to launch from the launching section.

The present invention relates to a three dimensionally fiber-reinforced riser and to the unitary or single-step methods of making the same. In one embodiment (a cross bow riser for example), the riser has an interior support with opposed side members and a front brace. The front brace has a depression centrally located therein. Two side ribs are also provided for structural support. Two pockets each optionally having a divider wall defining a top and bottom section are provided for receiving respective top and bottom pieces of a split limb, when a split limb is used. The riser can be made of a composite material having fibers aligned there within in the directions of the highest stresses for enhancing the structural strength of the riser. Other bow parts or components can likewise be made via composite material as well.

The apparatus for mounting at least one dampener and/or stabilizer to an archery bow to absorb shock and vibration realized by an archer upon the release of the archery bow. The present invention provides an elongated support structure releasably connectable to the at least one dampener and/or stabilizer. A releasable fastener is connected to one end of the support structure, and the releasable fastener is releasably connectable to the archery bow such that the support structure is extendible in a cantilevered position relative to the archery bow.

A bail guard for use with arm- or wrist-braced slingshots is disclosed. The bail comprises a thin, slightly arcuate body having upper and lower channels disposed on opposing sides, each upper and lower channel separated by a groove formed therebetween. The channels are dimensioned to receive and fictionally engage the distal ends of the arm or wrist brace of a slingshot such that the bail guard can be securely and removably mounted to the arm or wrist brace of the slingshot.

A water balloon launching cannon is disclosed. The water balloon launching cannon includes a slotted barrel for rapid and easy loading and uses compressed air as the propelling force for firing the water balloon. Namely, the water balloon launching cannon includes an I-beam support upon which is mounted an air delivery system and the slotted barrel. For ease of disassembly, (1) the air delivery system includes quick-release mechanisms and (2) a plunger assembly inside the barrel is held by an easily removable pin. Further, a method of operating and a method using the water balloon launching cannon are disclosed.

An archery bow vibration dampening and balancing device is attachable to an archery bow by means of an elongated clamp with a housing pivotably interconnected to the elongated clamp opposite the attachment point. A vibration dampening and balancing device is secured in an opening formed in the housing.

An archery stabilizer which, by utilizing a carbon fiber tube or a comparable material in a tube configuration, provides for preloading the tube in compression, thereby effectively increasing the stiffness of the tube. The stabilizer includes weights, and the preloading of the tube compensates for the bending moment applied to the tube by the weights attached to the end of the tube or contained within the tube. In effect, the present invention presents an apparatus and method for loading the tube so as to allow a user to adjust the elastic modulus of the tube.

A vibration dampened barrel for a crossbow preferably includes at least two vibration dampening chambers, which extend at least a portion of a length of the vibration dampened barrel. The at least two vibration dampening chambers are at least partially filled with a vibration dampening material, such as silicone, rubber, low density foam, high density foam, or any other suitable material that absorbs noise and or vibration. The vibration dampening material is preferably applied by injection, compression, spray, pouring or any other suitable method. The vibration dampening material is retained in the at least two vibration dampening chambers by curing or hardening; mechanically confinement including the use of fasteners or a plug; or with any other suitable method. The at least two vibration dampening chambers may be partially or fully filled. The vibration dampening material may also be placed on a surface inside an extruded barrel.

A wood turning tool having first and second cutting edges and which is suitable for carving many different configurations of recesses from wood. The tool has a shank portion and a cutting head portion, the cutting head portion having first and second arcuate segments, the first and second arcuate segments generally lie in different planes, the cutting edges being located adjacent the point of merger of the first and second arcuate segments.

The invention relates to a high-precision revolving center (10) for machine tools. Prestressed bearings 40 and 45 are brought into abutment on the one hand against internal 33 and external 25 cylindrical surfaces whose deviation, at any point on the surface, with respect to the theoretical surfaces centered on the axis, is less than 1 μm, and on the other hand against reference surfaces 26 and 34 perpendicular to the axis. Threaded elements 50, 55 enable the bearings 40, 45 to be stressed. Once the center 10 has been assembled and the bearings stressed, the revolving center is mounted on a grinder in order to give a precision finish to the tip 90, the concentricity reference surface 91 and the perpendicularity reference surface 92.

A face-driver assembly and method for accurate coupling of a face driver with the spindle of a rotary-drive machining device. The assembly includes a face driver, a hub on the spindle defining a prealignment bore, a pair of self-centering coacting tooth sets on the hub and face driver, an engagement post extending into the hub and forming a prealignment shaft closely complementary to the prealignment bore, and a releasable coupling to hold and draw the engagement post rearwardly and thereby join the tooth sets in a manner facilitating final accurate centering.

A manually directed lathe tool system for removal of internally disposed material and creating a void inside a lathe turned form. As shown in FIG. 1, an articulated boring bar (32) of a tubular crosssection is slidably manipulated and supported by a plane surface (140) during a cutting action. To increase offset cutting ability several different lengths of a detachable and hinged arm assembly (40) are used. Arm assembly can be fixed or moved to three different positions relative to boring bar (FIG. 2) by manipulating a hand knob (36). A moveable and replaceable cutting tool (198) is held at the end of the arm assembly. A wall thickness caliper system (44) which ends in a tip (130) of some flexible material to allow operator appraisal of the internally disposed cutting tool's position. A back restraint assembly (141) is used to prevent the downward pitch of the boring bar's cutting end during material removal and consequent upward pitch of the opposite end of the boring bar, and especially during a highly leveraged cutting action. An outrider (38) attached to the boring bar prevents rotational movement of the tool relative to its longitudinal axis, especially during a leveraged offset cutting action. The outrider is able to be attached at several different locations on the boring bar and also serves as the support for the caliper system. Platform base (34B) is mounted rigidly to the lathe bed (30) and maintains platform assembly (34A) at a proper height. A precise wall thickness that mirrors the outside form can be achieved with this system. The system can be used to hollow-out forms not possible with previous practice. A narrow and restricted mouth opening does not hinder hollowing-out large diameters and deep forms. The operator is in control during all leveraged cutting actions and experiences minimal operator fatigue.

One preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a wood turning tool comprising a handle portion (1) and a cutting portion (2). The cutting portion comprises a blade (3) which has closed curve cutting edges. The tool comprises a deflector (14) for preventing the cutting portion from becoming blocked by wood shavings. The tool also comprises a blade cover (11) which can move across the blade (3) to regulate the cutting capacity of the tool. A threaded cylindrical member (12) can be manually operated to reversibly move the blade cover (11) across the blade (3).

A wood substitute turning blank and method of making the same is described. The turning blank includes a body having an outer shell of relatively low tensile strength material positioned about a rotational axis of the body. An inner core of relatively high tensile strength material is positioned along the rotational axis of the body. The high tensile strength of the inner core allows this turning blank to be turned at high speed on a lathe or the like. The high tensile strength of the core enhances the overall tensile strength of the finished product.

A positioning device for a driving shaft of a lathe chuck includes a casing, a motor received in the casing with a driving shaft of the motor extending through a first end and a second end of the casing, and a disk disposed to the first end of the casing and threadedly mounted to the driving shaft. The disk has at least one hole defined therethrough and the first end of the casing has a plurality of holes defined therethrough so that a pin is removably extending through the hole in the disk and received in one of the holes in the first end of the casing to position the driving shaft to which the lathe chuck is connected.

A copying cutting device for wood lathes including two securing stems, two form securing devices each transversely mounted at the bottom end of each securing stem, a guide track device mounted above the securing stems, a cutter mounting device having a cutter mounted thereon screwably provided at the bottom side of the guide track device, and a form tracing device screwably disposed at the rear end of the cutter. The forms securing device positions a copy, and a tracing rod of the form tracing device urges against the tracing edge of the copy. The cutter slides in the cutter mounting device, which in turn slides in the guide track device. The cutter cuts the workpiece following the contour of the copy with the help of the tracing rod.

A versatile lathe chuck characterized by a chuck body threaded on the inside for attachment to a lathe spindle and to receive at its work-turning end a variety of fittings and further characterized by a jam or locking screw which threads into the inside of the chuck to lock the insert in place.

A method of and apparatus for positioning and supporting any of several different elongated workpieces of circular, substantially square, or substantially non-square rectangular cross-sectional configuration so that a central workpiece axis is located along the same axis for any one of said workpieces includes a tailstock fixture for supporting one end of the workpiece which includes a frustoconical cavity that extends coaxial with the axis for receiving the one end of the workpiece, and a headstock fixture for supporting a second end of the workpiece opposite the first end which includes a generally cylindrical cavity extending coaxial with the axis and four equiangularly spaced workpiece engaging blades within the cylindrical cavity for engaging and supporting the second workpiece end.

An improved carving blank and mandrel for mounting the blank in a carving machine enables accurate carving of prosthetic and orthotic positive shapes. The blanks are simple to mount and dismount and means are provided enabling a repeatable mounting position in one angular orientation only to be achieved. The blanks are firmly fixed in place on the mandrel during the carving operation, and they are simple and inexpensive to manufacture thus reducing manufacturing costs while achieving high shape accuracy.