Archery bow string release accessory

Abstract

This bow release accessory or “bow string loop” attaches to a bow string and is used with a trigger-style release aide device for smooth, predictable, properly-angled, and non-damaging release of the bow string after drawing and aiming. The string loop comprises two spaced-apart ends for attachment to the bow string, connected by a durable center portion around which clamp the jaws of the release aide clamp. The preferred string loop is made of bow string material or other durable, multi-filament string, for example, by coiling the string material in a figure-8, then tightly wrapping the center of the figure 8 multiple times to form and reinforce the string loop center portion, and then sealing or otherwise securing the end of the string material to the center portion. The ends of the string loop are then attached to the bow string in half-hitch-style, with the center portion extending out from the bow string in a half-circle. The string loop ends have no loose string ends at or near the bow string, but instead extend continuously around the bow string without knots or fasteners that could unknot under stress. This way, the preferred string loop is made of many coils of string material and is attached to the bow string in such a manner that it is will not unknot or easily break.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to archery and bow-hunting equipment, and, more especially, to devices for aiding the release of a bow string. The present invention relates to a device for connecting a trigger-style release aide to a bow string.

[0003] 2. Related Art

[0004] Many devices have been developed for facilitating the smooth and even of a drawn bow string in archery and bow-hunting. One category of such devices has a rigid hook or other rigid retaining member that the use places partially around the bow string in a position that will allow the archer to pull the bow string back by pulling on the hook/retaining member. After the archer draws the bow string by pulling on the rigid hook/retaining member and aims, he turns or otherwise moves the hook/retaining member to allow the bow string to slide out of the hook/member, thus releasing the bow string. Such rigid hook devices tend to have the negative characteristics of producing unpredictable and unreproducible results, and an increased change of hook slippage and the consequent premature firing of the arrow. Further, the direct contact, and relative movement, between the rigid hook and the bow string, tend to increase wear and damage of the bow string. Examples of such rigid hook/retainer devices are Baker (U.S. Pat. No. 2,133,650, issued June 1937); Halter (U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,467, issued April 1972); Hansen, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,456, issued Oct. 30, 1973); and Holland (U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,093, issued Oct. 16, 2001).

[0005] Another category of string release device is the rope-style device. Such devices include a string or rope member that is placed around the bow string such as is shown in Besaw (U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,821, see FIG. 3 for loop not wrapped around the bow string). The loop is anchored at its proximal end on a handle, and wrapped around the bow string so that the loop extends from the handle, around the bow string, and back to the handle, resulting in two potions of rope extending around the bow string, as shown in Besaw FIGS. 1 and 2. To fire the arrow, the user lets go, or operates the handle to let go, of the distal endre of the loop, thereby releasing the bow string.

[0006] A third category of release devices is the trigger-style release aide. In a particularly popular version of such aides, the device has a handle and trigger portion from which extend two jaws adapted to clamp around the bow string. After the user pulls back on the release aide with the captured bow string in its jaws, he/she simply pulls the “trigger,” which snaps open the jaws and to release the bow string.

[0007] The trigger-style aide is popular because of the sureness of the jaws' securement around the bow string and the ease and predictability of the trigger release. Still, archers have developed accessories that improve the convenience of operation of the trigger-style release aide, and that attempt to alleviate wear and tear on the bow string caused by the jaws. One such accessory is a rigid metal U-shaped device that is bolted onto the bowstring, as in FIG. 1A. Such a accessory provides an alternative member around which the jaws may clamp, preventing wear directly on the bow string due to movement of the bow string relative to the jaws. This U-shaped accessory, however, is made of metal and significantly “weighs down” the bow string, reducing its velocity and, therefore, reducing the velocity of the arrow. The effect of this U-shaped accessory on the bow string has been measured at about 11 feet/seconds velocity reduction.

[0008] Another accessory for trigger-style release aides has been constructed by archers themselves, by tying a length of bow string material onto their bow string in a loop. Such an accessory is shown in FIG. 1B. The archer knots each of the two ends of the string onto the bow string about two inches apart, so that a small loop extends from the bow string for clamping by the jaws. This “home-made” accessory may work for some time, but it offers the real danger of one or both knots letting go during drawing or aiming. If this happens, the get forces involved tend to throw the user's fist and the release aide backwards at the user, most likely at his/her face, resulting in significant injury.

[0009] Therefore, there is still a need for a bow string release system that is convenient, light-weight, and safe. Thee is a need for such a system that may operatively attach to the bow string for repeated use with little or no wear and tear of the bowstring. The present invention meets these and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention comprises a bow release accessory, hereafter also called “bow string loop” or “string loop.” The bow string loop attaches to a bow string and is used with a trigger-style release aide device for smooth, predictable, properly-angled, and non-damaging release of the bow string after drawing and aiming. The bow string acts as an extension of the bow string, and the release jaws clamp around the string loop, rather than around the bow string. The string loop comprises two spaced-apart ends, which surround the bow string, connected by a durable center portion around which clamp the jaws of the release aide clamp. The bow string loop ends have no loose ends at or near the bow string, but instead extend continuously around the bow string without knots or fasteners that could unknot under stress.

[0011] The bow string loop is placed on the bow string by forming both ends of the string loop into double-half-hitch knots and sliding the bow string through the knots. This is done when at least one end of the bow string is detached from the bow. The string loop ends are preferably structured so that they do not slide along the bow string once they have been placed on the bow string and adjusted to the preferred location.

[0012] The preferred bow string, is made of bow string material or a similar, durable, multi-filament string. The string loop is made of a main coil, which comprises a single string piece coiled several times into a circular form. The circular coil is pinched together in the center and a second piece of string is then wound around the center in tight windings to reinforce the coil and form an elongated, firm center portion. Thus, the bow string loop takes the form of an elongated center portion with two small loops at each end, wherein the two small loops attach to the bow string in half-hitch-style fashion to hold the center portion out from the bow string in a half-circular shape. The center portion held in the half-circular shape is received between the release aide jaws securely enough for the release aide to pull the string loop, and, hence, the bow string, back during drawing of the bow. After aiming, the archer operate the trigger to open the jaws, releasing the string loop, and hence the bow string, to fire the arrow.

[0013] In an especially-preferred embodiment, the first piece of string is coiled in a figure-8 pattern rather than a circular pattern before the second string is wound around the coil at the cross-over point of the figure-8. This creates an especially-durable and consistent-performance string loop.

[0014] The preferred method of making the string loop results in the two ends of the loop being made of many stands of string, extending from the reinforced and tightly covered central portion, which, under the cover, is also made of many stands of string. This structure results in a long-lasting string loop, wherein the ends tend to cling in place on the bow string, rather than slide down the bow string. The center potion is firm, although somewhat bendable, and is easily clamped by the release aide jaws.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1A is a prior art accessory for a trigger release aide, which is a metal U-shaped member bolted onto the bow string.

[0016] FIG. 1B is a prior art accessory for a trigger release aide, which is a single string tied at both ends onto a bow string.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a side view of one embodiment of the invented string loop, unattached from a bow string.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the string loop of FIG. 2, bent into the shape in which the string loop is used on the bow string.

[0019] FIGS. 4a-d illustrate the method of installing one end of the string loop of FIGS. 2 and 3 on a bow string.

[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the string loop of FIGS. 2-4 installed on a bow string, clamped by a release aide, and supporting an arrow nock.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a top view of the string loop embodiment of FIG. 5, in the release aide jaws.

[0022] FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a method of making a string loop according to the invention, by winding a figure-8 main coil.

[0023] FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a method of making a string loop according to the invention, by wrapping the figure-8 main coil with a tight cover.

[0024] FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of finishing the cover of FIG. 8 to secure the end of the string used for wrapping the cover.

[0025] FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of a method of making a string loop according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 2-9, there are shown some but not the only embodiments of the invented bow string release accessory. The bow string release accessory 10, or “string loop,” in FIGS. 2-5, comprises an elongated center portion 12 and two ends 14, 14′ that are each a loop. The string, and, more preferably, string coils 16 that form the loop-end 14 extend continuously at least to the opposite end (loop-end 14′) and, more preferably, continuously around the string loop at least one and one half coils, or at least 540 degrees. The especially-preferred embodiment comprises a continuous coil of string wound several times around in a circle or figure-8, which, when t each the coils cross over each other (figure-8) or are pinched together (circular) generally at the middle, forms two loop ends 14, 14′ at the end of an elongated center portion 12. Therefore, the especially-preferred loop-ends extend, in effect, several times around the coil without any ends to the string.

[0027] The inventor envisions that are other ways to make the invention, but it is important that the loop-ends are extremely-well anchored in the center portion. Therefore, one may say that the loop ends have distal ends 140 that extend all the way around the bow string and two proximal ends 142, 142′ that both extend to near the center 120 of the string loop and are both anchored to the center portion of the loop. In the preferred version, the loop ends are anchored by passing around and around the string loop through the center portions wrap cover, but the loop ends could terminate at or near the center 120 but be very securely anchored at or near the center.

[0028] The center portion is covered tightly with a durable and tight cover, which tightly retains the string coils 16 of the main loop in a double-ended noose form, so that they do not come apart and do not slide relative to one another. Thus, both loop-ends 14, 14′ may be pulled on with great force and the coils 16 will not uncoil or slide or otherwise become uncoiled, unraveled, or otherwise broken or disrupted. Further, the tight and durable cover reinforces the main loop in the center, and provides a tough, durable, and strong center portion which posses the strength, durability, and flexibility desired for the portion that is repeatedly clamped by the jaws 18 of the release aide 20.

[0029] The preferred cover for the center portion is formed by wrapping a single string of bow string material, around the middle area of the main coil, along about ⅓-½ of the length of the string loop. This string wrap is done so tightly that the center portion takes on a very firm characteristic, while still retaining some flexibility for the center portion.

[0030] The ends of the string used to form the wrapped cover are secured very surely, so that there is little or no chance that the string will begin to unwrap. The preferred methods are discussed later in this section.

[0031] To attach the string loop 10 to the bow string 30, the bow string is detached or left unattached from the bow at least at the bottom end. One end 14 is bent around to receive the center portion and the bow string is placed through the hole 32 that is formed thereby. This method is preferable to threading the end 14 through the other end 14′, because of the tendency of the many coils ends in each end 14, 14′ to get hung up or tangled in the other. Once the bow string extends through the first loop-end 14, the string loop 10 is slid up to the region of the bow string that marks the location of the top of the arrow nock 34, which is often represented on the bow string by a “top tie,” and the string loop is pulled to the tighten the half-hitch 40 on the bow string 30. Then, the same steps are repeated for the other loop-end 14′ and the lower end of the bow string 30 is threaded through that loop-end 14′. That loop-end 14′ is then slid to a position about ½ inch from the top loop-end 14, which represents the location of the bottom of the arrow nock 34. That loop-end 14′ is also pulled to tighten the half-hitch 42 on the bow string 30. This way, the string loop 10 forms a half-circle on the bow string 30, very tightly secured by the half-hitches 40, 42 of the loop-ends that are made of continuously coiled string, rather than ends of string knotted at the bow string.

[0032] The two jaws 18 of the release aide 20 are closed around the center portion of the string loop, without the jaws pinching or otherwise gripping the material of the string loop, but only extending and closing between the string loop 10 and the bow string 30. This is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. A benefit of the invented string loop 10 is that pulling on the string loop 10 further serves to further tighten the half-hitches but does not lead to any uncoiling or unraveling of the attachment to the bow string—because the string that forms the ends 14, 14′ extend many times around the entire string loop.

[0033] During aiming, the nock 34 of the arrow 50 is placed between the two half-hitches 40, 42. The trigger is actuated to open the jaws 18, thereby releasing the string loop 10 to allow the bow string to fire the arrow.

[0034] FIG. 7 illustrates one method of making a main coil 60 made of a plurality of wraps or coils 16. The coils 16 are shown loosely separated to illustrate the figure-8 pattern into which the string is coiled. Preferably, the string is coiled 360 degrees 3-8 times, and most preferably 5 times when using the preferred bow string material, such as BCY 450 (bow string by BCY Incorporated, of North Haven, Conn.), which is a waxed bow string that is {fraction (21/1000)} inch thick. Alternatively, other bow strings may be used, such as BCY 452, BCY 451, BCY 8125, or other strong, preferably, multi-filament materials. Also, other bowstring material is expected to produce high quality string loops 10, such as S4 ® (“no stretch, no creep composite material with strong single end strength—breaking strength 160 lbs”), S4 THIN® (breaking strength of 173 lbs), Ultra-Cam (breaking strength of 6,474 lbs), all from Brownell and Company, Inc. of Moodus, Conn.

[0035] The cover wrap string 70 is wrapped as shown loosely separated in FIG. 8, but the preferred method includes wrapping each wrap very tightly around the cross-point 80 of the figure-8 and a distance toward each end 14, 14′ from the cross-point. The wrapping should start near one end and go toward the other. A first end 71 of the cover wrap string is secured by virtue of the consecutive wrappings being wrapped over that end 71. Once the entire center portion is wrapped, the second end 72 is secured by being threaded back toward the opposite end, underneath several of the wrappings. This may be done by placing a temporary loop of thread (a separate piece of thread) under the last few wraps of thread 70, and using this temporary loop to capture the second end 72 and pull it back under the last few wraps and out from the cover midway along the cover. Then, the temporary loop is removed, and the exposed second end 72 is flame sealed to the surrounding string by a quick touch of a match or other heat source, as is represented by the tip 73 of end 71 being flattened and stuck to the wraps of the cover.

[0036] The preferred material for the wrapped cover string 70 is another archery material, 62 Braid Serving, by BCY Incorporated. With the many tight wraps, approximately 30-50, the center portion is very firm but still slightly flexible. After being bent into the approximate half-circle, it tends to stay in that shape, but is non-brittle and durable. For conventional bows and bow strings, the preferred string loop 10 is made to be about 2 ⅜ inches to 2 ¾ inches long, and about ⅛ inch in diameter at its center portion. This results in a string loop 10 that fits well on top and bottom of a conventional arrow nock, and curves out in about a ½ inch radius in a half circle from the bow string, until it is pulled by the release aide, at which time it further deforms into a half-oblong-shape, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0037] While the string loop 10 is a replaceable item because of the way it is removably attached to the bow string, it tends to be long-lived. Although the string loop 10 is very durable, an archer should change it periodically to ensure safe use.

[0038] An alternative method of forming the main coil is to coil the string in a circular coil 160, as suggested by FIG. 9, rather than a figure-8. Then, the circle is “pinched” together at pinch point 162 to move the coils together to form a center for the coil 160. The wrapped cover (not shown in FIG. 9) is then wrapped around the main coil, much as the figure-8 version. Alternatively, other configurations may be used, but the invented loop may be described as one in which the loop-ends extend all the way around the bow string and all the way to the center portion for being anchored at or under the center portion. This is unlike the knots in FIG. 1B, in which the ends of the string on the bow string may extend all the way around the bow string in that they are knotted on the bow string, but they do not have two portions (or two proximal ends) that extend all the way back to the center portion. The invented string loop may be described at a coil that extends at least two times (and preferably four times as it forms two half-hitches) around the bow string and the coil having two sides that are brought together (pinched or cross-over for example) and fastened together for being grasped/clamped/captured by the jaws of a release aide. On the other hand, the string in FIG. 1B does not have any coil that extends around the bow string except at its very ends and there is no coil or loop with sides brought together and fastened.

[0039] Although this invention has been described above with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An accessory for a trigger release aide for use with a bow string of an archery bow, the accessory comprising:

an elongated center portion a center portion and two opposing loop ends, each loop-end having a proximal end and two distal ends, the distal end extending all the way around around a bow string and the two ends extending to and being anchored to the center portion.

2. The accessory as in claim 1 which is made of a coil of string with a wrapping of sting pinching the coil of string together at a center portion.

3. The accessory as in claim 1 which is made of a coil of string coiled in a figure-8 shape having a cross-over point, and a wrapped cover over the cross-over point comprising a plurality of wraps of string.

4. The accessory as in claim 1 wherein each loop-end is made of string that extends through the center potion and around the opposite loop-end.

5. The accessory as in claim 1 which is made of a main coil or at least 3 coils of string pinched together at a center point, and a wrapped cover over the center point comprising at least 20 wraps.

6. A trigger bow string release system for a bow string, the system comprising a trigger release aide with jaws, and a string loop for being placed on a bow string, the string loop comprising two ends having distal portions that are half-hitch attachment loops around the bow string and two proximal portions that extending to and under a central cover that secures the proximal portions.

7. A trigger bow string release system for a bow string, the system comprising a trigger release aide with jaws, and a string loop for being placed on a bow string, wherein the string loop comprises a main coil string that circles a bow string in at least two places and has a center portion wherein two sides of the coil are brought together and held together by fastening system to form an elongated portion that is clamped by the jaws.