IP Library Granted Patent US 12,422,211
Granted Patent B1
US 12,422,211 · App. 19/075,598 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

String shooting device

Inventors: Stephen Giovanni Fazio (Atlanta, GA); Austin Mark Hillam (Atlanta, GA)
Assignee: ZIPSTRING LLC
F41B4/00A63H29/20A63H33/00A63H33/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,422,211
App. No.
19/075,598
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

Provided herein is a string shooting device, and more particularly, a string shooting device having that is wearable and operable by hand gestures or body movement. Embodiments include a wearable device for propelling a string including: a string shooting device; a band configured to attach to a body part of a user; and a holder, where the holder is secured by the band to the user; where, in response to the body part of the user being in a first position, the string shooting device is not actuated, and where in response to the body part of the user being in a second position, the string shooting device is actuated.

Claims (29)

1. A device for propelling a looped string comprising:

a body;

a pair of wheels supported by the body, wherein at least one wheel of the pair of wheels is a driven wheel;

a cavity sized to receive and store the looped string; and

an actuator including a first position that directs the driven wheel to rotate in a first direction to propel the looped string in a direction away from the body and into air, the actuator including a second position that directs the driven wheel to rotate in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to retrieve the looped string by propelling the looped string in the second direction toward the cavity and into the cavity where the looped string is gathered, wherein a length of the looped string within the cavity increases as the looped string is retrieved,

wherein a length of the looped string remains within a gap disposed between the pair of wheels when propelled away from the body and into the air and a length of the looped string remains within the gap between the pair of wheels when a portion of the looped string is received within the cavity.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a receptacle defining the cavity.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the receptacle is disposed at least partially within the body.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the driven wheel of the pair of wheels rotates in the second direction for a predetermined amount of time beginning when the actuator is moved to the second position.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the driven wheel of the pair of wheels rotates in the second direction until the looped string is disposed within the cavity other than a portion extending outside the cavity between the pair of wheels.

6. The device of claim 4 , wherein the driven wheel of the pair of wheels rotates in the second direction until a torque force on the driven wheel exceeds a predetermined threshold.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a strap configured to attach the body of the device to a body part of a user.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the body part of the user is selected from the group consisting of a hand and a wrist of the user.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the actuator is operable between the first position and the second position in response to a gesture made by the hand or wrist of the user.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the gesture comprises a movement of at least one finger relative to other fingers of the hand of the user.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the body comprises an extension, wherein the strap is configured to position the extension in at least a portion of a palm of the hand of the user.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the actuator is positioned on the extension.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is selected from the group consisting of a switch, selector, relay, control, and sensor.

14. A device for propelling a looped string comprising:

a body including a cavity having an opening;

a pair of wheels supported by the body, wherein at least one wheel of the pair of wheels is a driven wheel;

at least one actuator constructed and arranged to rotate the driven wheel between a first direction wherein the looped string is propelled in a direction away from the body and a second direction wherein the looped string is propelled in a direction toward the opening of the cavity; and

wherein the driven wheel in the second direction propels the looped string through the opening and into the cavity where the looped string is piled, without entanglement, within the cavity.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the device further comprises a receptacle defining the cavity.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the receptacle is disposed at least partially within the body.

17. The device of claim 14 , further comprising a strap supported by the body and configured to attach to a wrist of a user.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the body comprises an extension, wherein the strap is configured to position the extension in at least a portion of a palm of a hand of the user and the at least one actuator is supported on the extension.

19. The device of claim 14 , wherein the pair of wheels are configured to propel the looped string out of the cavity upon activation of the at least one actuator into a first position and to propel the looped string into the cavity upon activation of the at least one actuator into a second position.

20. The device of claim 14 , wherein the at least one actuator is selected from the group consisting of a switch, selector, relay, control, and sensor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2025
From: FAZIO, STEPHEN GIOVANNI; HILLAM, AUSTIN MARK
To: ZIPSTRING LLC
Reel/Frame 071640/0036 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63692214 · Sep 9, 2024
Provisional Application 63562770 · Mar 8, 2024
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