ACHERY RELEASE AID
An archery release aid for drawing the string of a bow using a substantially rigid cuff mounted on an archer's upper arm above the elbow comprising a substantially rigid cuff, a strap to transmit pulling force, and a means for attaching said archery release aid to known bow-string arrow trigger release devices. This archery release aid increases pull-force by relying on strength from the archer's upper arm and back instead of the lower arm and hand, and increases stability and shot accuracy by freeing the archer's hand and wrist from tension during release. Moving the point of pull above the elbow provides better leverage to the archer that allows him to pull a bow more easily or to pull a stronger bow than he would otherwise be able to pull. As the wrist is freed from tension the archer is better able to control release of the trigger, resulting in better consistency and accuracy of arrow placement.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to accessories for use with an archery bow, particularly to those devices which aid in pulling the string of a bow, and more particularly to pulling devices operated directly by the human arm.
2. Description of the Related Art
Over history many improvements have been made in the design of archery bows and accessories for use with bows to increase arrow speed and to improve accuracy of arrow placement.
In recent years the use of compound bows designed with cables and pulleys and constructed of high strength composite materials has become common. During the act of drawing, the pull-force of these bows starts out very high until the bow is almost fully-pulled. Then, as the bow approaches the fully-pulled position, a series of mechanical cams reduces the pull force to partially relieve stress in the arm of the archer. With a compound bow an archer may be able to pull a stronger bow than with older designs since the high force pulling period is shortened and the onset of fatigue can he delayed. Ultimately the pull force of the standard bow must be limited to the tension that can be supported by the archer. No practical means of providing mechanical leverage for a standard bow has emerged as the pull of the bow-string is transmitted along the bones of the forearm through the joint of the elbow. The distance from the elbow to the shoulder joint sets the length of a cantilever. The triceps and deltoid muscles in the upper arm and the teres and latissimus muscles in the back provide the force to rotate the cantilever, thereby pulling the string. A need exists for a means of reducing the length of this cantilever and thereby increasing the pull-force that can be achieved by a given archer.
Traditionally a string and nocked arrow are held by the archer using their finger-tips. With this method the joints of the fingers, hand, wrist, and elbow are placed under force in addition to the joint of the shoulder. Various means of relieving stress on the archer's hand have been tried. One such device is a strap which encircles the bowstring and connects to the wrist of the archer disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,072,115 issued Jan. 8, 1963 to Johnson. In recent years the use of a mechanical release has become popular. See
The traditional means for releasing a normal bowstring is to extend the tips of the fingers holding the string, allowing the string to roll free and return to its rest position, driving the arrow to flight in the process. When a mechanical release is used it is activated to shoot the arrow by pulling a trigger with one finger, similar in action to a gun trigger. Using a mechanical release the archer can obtain much more consistent accuracy because the fingers are free to be manipulated by the archer and the slight pressure required to activate the trigger is much less disruptive to string action than is the rolling side-ways motion imparted by the fingers of an archer not using a mechanical release. But, the hand or wrist remains under tension with these devices, somewhat constraining motion of the finger used to release the trigger.
Cuffs have been designed to encircle the upper arm for various purposes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,153 issued Mar. 18, 1986 to Zagorski et al. teaches a medical brace for maintaining broken bone position during the healing process. Slings which attach to the upper arm are in common use in rifle shooting for the purpose of holding the rifle steady while aiming. U.S. Pat. No. 2,357,363 issued Sep. 5, 1944 to H. P. Smith et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,155 issued Jan. 21, 1992 to Salvador discuss such rifle slings. These slings are not intended to apply tension and impart motion. To the contrary they are intended to prevent motion. A need exists for a means of allowing the hand, wrist and forearm to stay relaxed during the release process to further increase arrow accuracy. A further need also exists for a device with a comfortable cuff to impart pulling motion to a bowstring using only the strength in the upper arm, shoulder and back.
Devices to aid the archer in pulling a bowstring have been invented. The cranks and levers used to arm a cross-bow have been used since medieval times. More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,314 issued Apr. 20, 1993 to Green, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,957 issued Sep. 14, 1993 to Neilson show devices using electro-mechanical devices or pre-stretched elastic cords to aid the archer in pulling a bowstring. U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,232 issued Mar. 20, 1990 to Carella teaches an exercise device to teach an archer correct muscular control. None of the devices provide a practical aid to archers in pulling a bowstring during normal archery shooting.
Some people with damaged hands or arms cannot use a normal archery bow. Therefore a need exists for a device which allows injured or handicapped people to draw and release a bow.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides advantages and alternatives over the prior art by providing, an archery release aid providing a practical means for increasing the ability of an archer to pull a strong bow, reducing muscle strain and increasing stability while aiming and releasing the arrow.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an archery release aid allowing an archer to draw a bow with reduced effort and greater ease and greater accuracy in holding the draw and in releasing the arrow comprising in cooperative combination: a substantially rigid cuff generally conforming to a portion of the archer's upper arm having a pair of adjustable mounting straps allowing attaching of said substantially rigid cuff to the upper arm of an archer; a pair of sling straps attached at their distal ends by attaching means to said substantially rigid cuff, and attached together at their proximal; a connecting strap having a first end attached to said attached proximal ends of straps and a second end capable of connecting to an arrow trigger release device and secured at a desired position by a securing means; a securing means for securing said connecting strap second end along said connecting strap at a desired point; and a retaining strap thereby allowing an archer to draw a bow and knocked arrow using the upper arm and back muscles while eliminating muscle tension in the forearm, wrist, and hand.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an archery release aid allowing an archer to draw a bow with reduced effort and greater ease and greater accuracy in holding the draw and in releasing the arrow comprising in cooperative combination: a substantially rigid cuff generally conforming to a portion of the archer's upper arm having a pair of adjustable mounting straps allowing attaching of said substantially rigid cuff to the upper arm of an archer; a sling strap having two ends passing around the circumference and attached to said substantially rigid cuff, and attached together at said two ends; a connecting strap having a first end attached to said attached two ends of said sling strap and a second end capable of connecting to an arrow trigger release device and secured at a desired position by a securing means; a securing means for securing said connecting strap second end along said connecting strap at a desired point; and a retaining strap thereby allowing an archer to draw a bow and knocked arrow using the upper arm and back muscles while eliminating muscle tension in the forearm, wrist, and hand. It is to be appreciated that in this preferred embodiment straps 6 and 7 may be formed from a single length of strap material, preferably flat nylon webbing.
By leaving most of the arm in a relaxed condition while drawing, holding, and triggering the bow, archer fatigue is decreased and the user has more stability in controlling arrow release, thereby increasing arrow placement accuracy. The archer may choose to use any of a number of available release mechanisms and, regardless of which style is used, will experience better control during the trigger pull since the hand is in a more relaxed condition than it would be without using this sling.
A handicapped or injured archer without normal use of his hand or arm, who would otherwise be unable to operate a bow, may be able to shoot a bow once again using this sling.
The present invention thus advantageously provides an archery release aid that reduces the effort required to draw the bow and further realizes the advantage of not putting the finger, hand, wrist, and forearm joints and muscles under tension in drawing the bow.
Figure a is a top plan view showing the position of an archer's arm at the point of maximum moment about the elbow joint without the present invention.
Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein to the extent possible like reference numerals are utilized to designate like components throughout the various views. Referring to
Referring now to
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Suitable materials for the substantially rigid cuff 5 include, for example, sheet metal, leather or cloth covered sheet metal, plastic, engineered composite materials and the like. Presently preferred is an aluminum sheet metal enclosed in a removable cover comprising thin padding under flannel fabric having a nylon webbing strap 6 enclosed within said flannel fabric cover to secure said strap 6 to said substantially rigid cuff 5.
Suitable materials for the various straps include, for example, flat webbing, braided cord, sheathed cord such as parachute cord, hollow flat webbing, and the like. Presently preferred is flat nylon webbing.
By leaving the hand, wrist, and forearm in a relaxed condition while drawing, holding, and triggering the bow archer fatigue is decreased and the user has more stability in controlling arrow release, thereby increasing arrow placement accuracy. The archer may choose to use any of a number of available release mechanisms and, regardless of which style is used, will experience better control during the trigger pull since the hand is in a more relaxed condition than it would be without using this sling.
A handicapped or injured archer without normal use of his hand or arm, who would otherwise be unable to operate a bow, may be able to shoot a bow once again using Applicant's claimed invention.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed; various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
1. An archery release aid allowing an archer to draw a bow with reduced effort and greater ease and greater accuracy in holding the draw and in releasing the arrow comprising in cooperative combination:
- a substantially rigid cuff generally conforming to a portion of the archer's upper arm having a pair of adjustable mounting straps allowing attaching of said substantially rigid cuff to the upper arm of an archer;
- a pair of sling straps attached at their distal ends by attaching means to said substantially rigid cuff and attached together at their proximal;
- a connecting strap having a first end attached to said attached proximal ends of straps and a second end capable of connecting to an arrow trigger release device and secured at a desired position by a securing means;
- a securing means for securing said connecting strap second end along said connecting strap at a desired point; and
- a retaining strap
- thereby allowing an archer to draw a bow and knocked arrow using the upper arm and back muscles while eliminating muscle tension in the forearm, wrist, and hand.
2. An archery release aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said substantially rigid cuff comprises a material is selected from the group comprising sheet metal, cloth covered sheet metal, leather-covered sheet metal, semi-rigid plastic, rigid plastic, engineered composite materials, and combinations thereof.
3. An archery release aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said sling straps, said adjustable mounting straps, and said connecting strap comprise a material selected from the group comprising flat webbing, hollow webbing, braided cord, sheathed cord, and combinations thereof.
4. An archery release aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said adjustable mounting straps comprise a material selected from the group comprising flat webbing, hollow webbing, braided cord, sheathed cord, and combinations thereof.
5. An archery release aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said sling strap distal end attaching means is selected from the group comprising rivets, screws, nuts & bolts, staples, sewing thread, and adhesives.
6. An archery release aid allowing an archer to draw a bow with reduced effort and greater ease and greater accuracy in holding the draw and in releasing the arrow comprising in cooperative combination:
- a substantially rigid cuff generally conforming to a portion of the archer's upper arm having a pair of adjustable mounting straps allowing attaching of said substantially rigid cuff to the upper arm of an archer;
- a sling strap having two ends passing around the circumference and attached to said substantially rigid cuff, and attached together at said two ends;
- a connecting strap having a first end attached to said attached two ends of said sling strap and a second end capable of connecting to an arrow trigger release device and secured at a desired position by a securing means;
- a securing means for securing said connecting strap second end along said connecting strap at a desired point; and
- a retaining strap
- thereby allowing an archer to draw a bow and knocked arrow using the upper arm and back muscles while eliminating muscle tension in the forearm, wrist, and hand.
7. An archery release aid as claimed in claim 6 wherein, said substantially rigid cuff comprises a material is selected from the group comprising sheet metal, cloth covered sheet metal, leather-covered sheet metal, semi-rigid plastic, rigid plastic, engineered composite materials, and combinations thereof.
8. An archery release aid as claimed in claim 6 wherein, said sling straps, said adjustable mounting straps, and said connecting strap comprise a material selected from the group comprising flat webbing, hollow webbing, braided cord, sheathed cord, and combinations thereof.
9. An archery release aid as claimed in claim 6 wherein, said adjustable mounting straps comprise a material selected from the group comprising flat webbing, hollow webbing, braided cord, sheathed cord, and combinations thereof.
10. An archery release aid as claimed in claim 6 wherein, said sling strap distal end attaching means is selected from the group comprising rivets, screws, nuts & bolts, staples, sewing thread, and adhesives.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 15, 2008
Publication Date: Apr 16, 2009
Inventor: Nathaniel David Graves (Lebanon, OR)
Application Number: 12/251,980
International Classification: F41B 5/18 (20060101);