Apparatus and method for identifying a position of a bowstring

Abstract

An apparatus and method for identifying a position of a bowstring relative to an archery bow. A position indicator includes one body mounted with respect to the archery bow and another body moveable with respect to the one body. With the bowstring in a drawn position, a contact can operate or not operate the indicator to show an archer that the bowstring is in the fully drawn position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device and method that can be used to identify a position of a bowstring, for example, so that an archer can identify when the bowstring is or is not in a fully drawn position.

2. Discussion of Related Art

When an archer draws a archery compound bow, the archer first experiences increasing forces necessary to pull the bowstring. Then, after reaching a peak force necessary to draw the bowstring, the archer experiences a decreased force necessary to hold the compound bow in a fully drawn position, which is approximately 20% to 35% of the peak force value. Thus, when aiming the archery bow, the archer can hold the compound bow in a fully drawn position, but at a much lesser pulling force.

Quite often, as an archer continues to hold the bowstring in a fully drawn position, for example when aiming a drawn arrow at a target, the archer may fatigue which can result in a decrease of the required holding force. As the required holding force is decreased, the compound bow begins to follow the force versus distance curve, but in a reverse direction. As the archer allows the compound bow to return from the fully drawn position, a force delivered by a released bowstring can be significantly decreased. Even if the archer only slightly moves the bowstring away from the fully drawn position, the difference between a discharge force from the fully drawn position and only slightly away from the fully drawn position can result in several inches of inaccuracy, such as where a discharged arrow hits a target.

Because different hunting or other target shooting events require an archer to hold a fully drawn compound bow for a relatively long time period, there is an apparent need for an apparatus and a method that alerts the archer when the bowstring is moved even slightly away from the fully drawn position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of this invention to provide a position indicator that can inform an archer when an archery bow is or is not in a fully drawn position.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method for drawing a bowstring, particularly of an archery compound bow, and indicating to an archer when the bowstring is in a fully drawn position and also when the bowstring creeps away from the fully drawn position.

The above and other objects of this invention are accomplished with a position indicator that includes a first body, such as a cable slide, mounted with respect to an archery bow and a second body, such as a stop element, moveable with respect to the first body. A lever or other mechanical component is mounted with respect to the second body. In certain embodiments of this invention, when the bowstring is in a drawn position, such as a fully drawn position, the lever or other mechanical component operates an indicator.

In some embodiments according to this invention, the indicator can emit a signal when the bowstring is and/or is not in the drawn position. For example, a light source or an audible signal can be switched on or operated when the bowstring is in the fully drawn position. When the bowstring creeps or moves away from or out of the fully drawn position, the light source and/or the audible signal can be switched off to indicate that the bowstring is not in the fully drawn position.

In certain embodiments of this invention, the second body can be mounted with respect to a bus cable of the archery bow. As the bus cable moves when the bowstring is drawn, the second body moves with respect to the first body. Such movement can be calibrated to complete an electrical circuit and thus operate the indicator, for example, only when the bowstring is in the drawn position. For example, releasing the bowstring from the fully drawn position can, for example, cause the indicator to no longer operate. With such embodiments, the archer can identify when the bowstring has crept away from and is no longer in the fully drawn position. Then, the archer can choose to apply more drawing force and move the bowstring back into the fully drawn position, to achieve a maximum discharge force of an arrow from the archery bow.

In other embodiments of this invention, the second body or a connected or integrated component can be mounted or otherwise attached to an arrow shaft. As the arrow shaft is moved into an fully drawn position, the second body can be used to close or complete an electric circuit or can be detected, such as electromagnetically, electromechanically optically and/or magnetically, and similarly operate the indicator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and objects of this invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in view of the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a first body shown as a cable slide, according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the cable slide, as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the cable slide, as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the cable slide, as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the cable slide, as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of the cable slide, as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a perspective top view showing bus cables mounted within a cable slide, according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective front view of the cable slide, as shown in FIG. 7, and also with a stop element and a contact mounted on one of the bus cables;

FIG. 9. is a perspective top view showing how a stop element is clamped onto a bus cable, according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 10 shows a front view of the stop element, with twisted serving material used to prevent the stop element from sliding with respect to the bus cable;

FIG. 11 is a perspective side view of a cable slide with an indicator as an illuminated light, according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective front view of the cable slide, as shown in FIG. 11, but with the indicator in an off position; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a position indicator, according to one embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show position indicator 20, according to one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 13 schematically shows position indicator 20 mounted with respect to archery bow 21 and bowstring 22, according to one embodiment of this invention.

In certain embodiments of this invention, position indicator 20 comprises body 30 mounted with respect to archery bow 21. As shown in FIG. 13, body 30 comprises cable slide 32 slidably mounted along rod 33 which is fixed with respect to archery bow 21. In certain embodiments, at least one bus cable 25 is slidably mounted with respect to body 30. As shown in FIGS. 7-9 and 11-13, two bus cables 25 are slidably mounted with respect to body 30.

As shown in FIGS. 7-9 and 11-13, body 30 can be slidably mounted with respect to rod 33. Any other suitable mechanical arrangement can be used to moveably mount or otherwise allow body 30 to move with respect to archery bow 21.

As shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 11-13, body 40 is moveable with respect to body 40. In certain embodiments of this invention body 40 comprises stop element 42, such as shown in FIGS. 9-12. Body 40 and/or stop element 42 can be clamped, attached, secured or otherwise frictionally or mechanically fit onto or with respect to bus cable 25. In such embodiments, when bowstring 22 is drawn, each bus cable 25 moves with respect to body 30. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, for example, clamp 45 is used to attach body 40 and/or stop element 42 to bus cable 25. Thus, when bowstring 22 is drawn, stop element 42 can be positioned at a specific location along bus cable 25. The particular location of stop element 42 or any other body 40 can be calibrated and/or calculated so that when bowstring 22 is in a fully drawn position, stop element 42 of body 40 abuts contact 36 and moves contact 36 into a position in which contact 36 completes or closes an electrical circuit and activates indicator 50. As shown in FIG. 8, there is a space between contact 36 and body 30, so that when stop element 42 does not abut contact 36, the electrical circuit is open or not complete and indicator 50 is deactivated.

With bowstring 22 in a fully drawn position, the completed electrical circuit can be designed to either activate or deactivate indicator 50. Thus, body 40 and/or stop element 42 can be used to operate indicator 50.

In some embodiments of this inventions, indicator 50 is operated when bowstring 22 reaches a fully drawn position. As used throughout the specification and in the claim the phrase fully drawn position is intended to relate to and be interchangeable with the phrase drawn position. Because many archers hold a drawn position for a relatively long time period, such as when aiming at a target, the archers can benefit from knowing when bowstring 22 is in a fully drawn position and when bowstring 22 begins to move or creep away from the fully drawn position. There can be an advantage to the archer launching an arrow from a fully drawn position rather than a crept away position.

The dimensions and shape of body 40 can be selected to allow stop element 42 to move away from contact 36, to turn off or not operate indicator 50. Thus, the archer can identify or be alerted or alarmed when bowstring 22 moves away from the fully drawn position.

As shown FIGS. 1-6, indicator 50 comprises light source 51, such as a powered LED or other suitable light source, mounted to body 30. Light source 51 can be aimed so that the archer can see when light source 51 is activated or operated. Light source 51 may also comprise a shield, a diffuser or any other mechanical device for protecting light source 51 and/or improving visibility during certain surrounding conditions, such as a daylight condition.

Indicator 50 may comprise any other suitable visual device that can indicate an on position or an off position of indicator 50. For example, indicator 50 may also comprise a suitable audio tone, audio signal, or any other signal that can be sensed by the archer.

In some embodiments of this invention, indicator 50 can emit an alarm when the bowstring is in the drawn position. The alarm can include any visual signal, audio signal or other signal that can be sensed by the archer. The alarm can be switched between on and off or between off and on, to indicate when bowstring 22 is or is not in the drawn position.

In other embodiments of this invention, clamp 45 is attached to body 40, such as shown in FIG. 10. As shown in FIG. 10, clamp 45 can comprise a band of conductive material, such as a metal material, surrounding body 40, which can be an elastomeric element or another metal and/or non-metal element. In other embodiments of this invention, body 40, stop element 42 and/or clamp 45 may comprise a conductive lever, a conductive stop element, a conductive leaf spring or any other suitable conductive and/or non-conductive mechanical member that can be used to interfere with contact 36 and thus operate indicator 50.

In other embodiments of this invention, body 40 comprises a conductive band positioned on arrow shaft 23, such as band 24 as shown in FIG. 13, a conductive strip applied to arrow shaft 23 or any other suitable conductive or non-conductive element that can be used to send a signal to and/or operate indicator 50. For example, any suitable electromagnetic, magnetic, electromechanical, optical or other sensing device, such as sensor 55 as shown in FIG. 13, can be used to indicate relative movement or a position of bowstring 22 and/or arrow shaft 23 relative to archery bow 21. Sensor 55 can send a signal to operate indicator 50.

A method for identifying a position of bowstring 22 relative to archery bow 21, comprises drawing bowstring 22 and moving, preferably simultaneously moving, body 40 with respect to archery bow 21. Upon reaching the drawn position, indicator 50 is operated. Thus, the archer can identify when bowstring 22 is or is not in the fully drawn position. As long as indicator 50 remains in an operated condition, for example, the archer will know that bowstring 22 is in the fully drawn position. When indicator 50 does not operate, for example, the archer will know that an additional pulling force is necessary to bring bowstring 22 into the fully drawn position.

It is also possible to reverse roles of elements in this invention so that indicator 50 remains operated or switched on when bowstring 22 is not in the fully drawn position, and also remains not operated or switched off when bowstring 22 is in the fully drawn position. For example, the opposite bus cable 25 could be used to accomplish the role reversal.

While in the foregoing detailed description this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of this invention.

Claims

1. A position indicator for identifying a position of a bowstring relative to an archery bow, the position indicator comprising:

a first body mounted with respect the archery bow, a second body moveable with respect to the first body, an indicator, and with the bowstring in a drawn position a movement of the second body operating the indicator.

2. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the first body is moveable with respect to the archery bow.

3. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the first body is slidably mounted with respect to the archery bow, and at least one bus cable each is slidably mounted with respect to the first body.

4. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the indicator is mounted to the first body.

5. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the first body is a cable slide.

6. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the second body comprises a stop element with a mounting attachable to a bus cable of the archery bow.

7. The position indicator according to claim 6, wherein a clamp is attached to the second body.

8. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the indicator emits an alarm when the bowstring is in the drawn position.

9. The position indicator according to claim 8, wherein the alarm includes a sensed signal.

10. The position indicator according to claim 9, wherein the sensed signal is at least one of a visual signal and an audio signal.

11. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a light source.

12. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein an electrical conductor is mounted with respect to at least one of the first body and the second body.

13. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor comprises at least one of a conductive band, a conductive lever and a conductive stop element.

14. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein with the bowstring in the drawn position the contact completes an electrical circuit that activates the indicator.

15. The position indicator according to claim 1, wherein the second body comprises an arrow shaft.

16. The position indicator according to claim 15, wherein the contact comprises at least one of a conductive band positioned on the arrow shaft and a conductive strip applied to the arrow shaft.

17. A method for identifying a position of a bowstring relative to an archery bow, the method comprising:

drawing the bowstring and simultaneously moving a body with respect to the archery bow; and

upon reaching a drawn position, operating an indicator.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein with the bowstring in the drawn position, the indicator emitting a signal that can be sensed.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein with the bowstring in the drawn position a contact completes an electrical circuit that activates the indicator.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein moving the bowstring from the drawn position deactivates the indicator.