Torque Reduction System for Archery Bows
The torque reduction system provides a means of positioning stabilization elements on or in close proximity to the transverse axis of the archery Bow. More particularly, lightweight masses and/or shock-absorbing elements can be mounted onto the torque reduction system on the axis of or in close proximity to the throat of the archery Bow handle, thereby reducing any lateral torque caused by the archer's grip on the archery Bow handle.
This application is claiming the benefit of provisional application number 61-230,373-1777 dated July 2010.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a torque reduction system for archery bows. The torque reduction system provides a simple, positive and secure system for attaching stabilizers of various designs and configurations, shock absorbing devices, and simple weights on or close to the transverse axes of an archery bow.
2. Background of Related Art
All archery bows are subject to torque, vibrations, and movement based on inertial effects. These effects include, the vibration of the string after release, the effects of launching the arrow, the vibration of the limbs, the riser, the archers grip on the bow, as well as the inertial effects of attachments on the bow.
Arrow spine is a critical parameter. Both the static spine and dynamic spine affect arrow flight. The metric for static spine (stiffness) is the center deflection of the shaft of an arrow when placed on a fixture that supports the arrow shaft at two points. The dynamic spine (or flexing during flight) cannot be easily measured but its effect is determined in part by the weight of the arrow, nock length, fletching characteristics, string weight (number of strands), spring tension of the plunger, the position of the plunger, the mass weight of stabilizing elements, the number of elements, and the front-back rigidity of the riser.
There is a compromise between how much stabilization weight can be added to the archery Bow and the resultant fatigue of the archer. In the case of the recurve archery Bow, the riser portion of the bow can typically weigh between 2.5 and 3.5 pounds. This limits, in practice, the total amount of weight for any stabilization system that can be added. This makes the placement of any stabilization elements essential to achieve a maximal stabilization using the minimum weight. This parameter is more critical for heavier risers.
There are several products that claim to provide stabilization, torque reduction, balancing, and counter balancing of the archery bow. There are also products that claim to absorb the shock of the bowstring upon release of the string and launching of the arrow. All perform to varying degrees but compromises in the placement and means of attachment to the archery Bow limit their effectiveness.
Any item placed between the stabilizer-mounting device and the archery Bow effectively introduces a spring (mechanical compliance), which reduces the transfer of any movement of the archery bow to the stabilizing elements. Examples of items that introduce mechanical compliance include, ‘o’-rings, flat washers, and spring washers.
Some detachably mounted products provide a stabilizer receiver with provisions to add a single stabilizer. Some products also incorporate spacing to allow fingers to grip the archery Bow handle. These products however do not teach the addition of subsequent stabilizing elements and do not provide the means to mount any stabilizing elements in close proximity to the transverse axis of the archery Bow. The ability of these types of designs to mount a single stabilizer in different discrete levels or on a continuum along the transverse axis of the device not only complicates the selection of an “optimum” position but fails to anticipate the need for a single or multiple stabilizing elements positioned on or in close proximity to the transverse axis of the archery Bow.
The various designs of archery bow handles complicate where the pressure point of the hand is when holding the archery Bow. Vertical shock caused by the launching of the arrow is amplified by the angle of the handle. The hand placement is ideally at the throat of the handle. This provides the minimum point of contact of the bow hand on the archery Bow and minimizes any distortion in the arrow flight caused by either vertical or lateral torque.
The arrow flight is the ultimate parameter in determining the effectiveness of the stabilizer system and arrow grouping. This is especially true under adverse shooting conditions, including side winds, headwinds, and rain.
Any consistent control of dynamic arrow spine will have a positive affect on arrow flight. In this regard, the placement of any shock absorbing or stabilizing elements at or in close proximity to the transverse axis of the archery Bow provides archers at all skill levels with a means to achieve improved performance.
SUMMARYIn accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure a torque reduction system is provided. The torque reduction system provides a means of positioning stabilization elements on or in close proximity to the transverse axis of the archery Bow. More particularly, lightweight masses and/or shock-absorbing elements can be mounted onto the torque reduction system on the axis of or in close proximity to the throat of the archery Bow handle, thereby reducing any lateral torque caused by the archer's grip on the archery Bow handle.
One effect of the location of the torque reduction system is the reduction of right and left torque resulting in better and more consistent arrow flight. It also provides the possibility of the archer shooting lighter arrows and a lighter spined arrow. The attachment of energy absorbing elements at or close to the throat of the archery bow handle allows the archer to manipulate the dynamic spine of the arrow. The flight of the arrow as it is launched from the bow is thereby positively affected.
In one embodiment, the torque reduction system comprises two elements rigidly connected. This configuration provides versatility in adapting the torque reduction system to various archery Bow configurations. The upper portion of the torque reduction system allows mounting the stabilization elements on or in the proximity of the transverse axis of the archery Bow. The offset dimension of the vertical upper portion of the torque reduction system provides maximum rigidity along the transverse axis of the stabilization elements. The horizontal offset dimension of the upper portion of the torque reduction system provides clearance for the archer's hand while gripping the archery Bow handle. The position of the mounting holes used to attach the base portion of the torque reduction system to the archery Bow further enhances its versatility.
Another embodiment is a torque reduction system comprising a single or unitary construction. This construction includes a single machined, forged metal, casted, or molded component. The final form of the torque reduction system can be produced in a geometry that maximizes its ability to control torque and direct any inertial effects of the archery bow under shooting conditions to any attached energy absorbing elements. The final geometry and the fabrication material also provide control of vibration resonance. A higher frequency of vibration is preferable to lower frequencies, which produce a feeling of the archery bow bouncing in the archer's hand during shooting. The higher vibration frequencies provide the additional benefit of positive feedback to the archer by producing a smoother and more controlled feeling during shooting.
The construction of the torque reduction system provides an optimal placement of the attached energy absorbing elements, which minimizes the transmission of any vibration to the launched arrow. Upon string release, the archery bow has a more consistent and predictable response in the archer's follow through.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a lightweight and compact torque reduction system is disclosed. The form factor of the design provides a balance between the overall weight of the archery bow fitted with stabilizing elements and the effective control of vibration, torque and stability. The simple and effective placement of stabilizing elements to the torque reduction system reduces the complexity of balancing and tuning the archery bow.
There is a compromise between how much stabilization weight can be added to the archery bow and the fatigue of the archer during shooting. The riser portion of the recurve archery bow can typically weigh between 2.5 and 3.5 pounds. This limits in practice the amount of stabilization weight that can be added. The torque reduction system provides a solution to this dilemma and achieves a balance between maximum stabilization and minimum weight.
The geometry and weight of the torque reduction system provides additional benefits to archer's shooting compound archery bows. The additional effects of the design and alignment of the pulley systems further complicate the archery bow tuning. The effective placement and the stabilization versus weight characteristics of the torque reduction system provide an ideal component for bow hunters.
Archer's shooting traditional archery bows are limited in the number and dimensions of allowed attachments. The torque reduction system meets these restrictions while providing torque and stabilization of the archery bow during shooting. None of the prior art anticipates the addition of stabilizing elements to the traditional bow in the proximity to its transverse axis.
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the drawings wherein:
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It is envisioned that torque reduction system 1 includes all characteristics and mechanical attributes described for item 25. In particular, torque reduction system 1 can be rigidly mounted to bow riser 16 with the transverse axis of any weight and energy absorbing elements attachable at the transverse axis of the archery bow riser 16. It is anticipated that torque reduction system 1 will reduce any lateral torque at handle 8, reduce the effects of string torque, increase the front to rear rigidity of the archery bow 16, and allows the archer to manipulate the dynamic spine of arrows being launched in the archery bow riser 16. The addition of the torque reduction system provides the archer a means to affect the vibrational frequencies of resonance of the archery bow riser 16.
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The above described embodiments of the disclosure are intended to be merely exemplary, and those skilled the art will be able to make numerous variations and modifications of it. All modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure as in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A device comprising;
- a) a proximal element with a least one mounting hole,
- b) a distal element having a least one slot and configured to receive at least one attachment,
- c) a mechanical means to attach said distal and said proximal elements,
- said distal and said proximal elements detachably joined forming an assembly where said assembly has a vertical and a horizontal offset between said distal and said proximal elements, and said assembly is configured to be detachably mounted to an archery bow where the axis of the at the least one attachment is in proximity to the transverse axis of the bow.
2. A device as in claim 1 where the vertical offset is between 2½ and 4½ inches and preferably 3 inches, and the horizontal offset is between 1 and 3½ inches and preferably 1½ inches.
3. A device as in claim 2 where the width of the distal and proximal elements are between ½ and 1 inch preferably ¾ inches with a thickness between ¼ and ¼ inches and preferably ½ inch.
4. A device as in claim 1 further comprising an archery bow and at least one attachment on the proximal element, which controls the rigidity along the transverse axis of the archery bow which passes through the deepest recess of the handle, by the proximity of the axis of the attachment to the transverse axis of the bow,
5. A device as in claim 1 further comprising an archery bow and at least one attachment on the proximal element, which controls the dynamic spine of a launched arrow, by the proximity of the axis of the attachment to the transverse axis of the bow.
6. A unitary device comprising;
- a) proximal element with a least one mounting hole,
- b) a distal element having a least one slot and configured to receive at least one attachment,
- where said device has a vertical and a horizontal offset between the distal and proximal elements, and said device is configured to be detachably mounted to an archery bow, where the axis of the at the least one attachment is close to the transverse axis of the bow.
7. A device as in claim 6 where the vertical offset is between 2½ and 4½ inches and preferably 3 inches, and the horizontal offset is between 1 and 3½ inches and preferably 1½ inches.
8. A device as in claim 7 where the width of the distal and proximal elements are between ½ and 1 inch preferably ¾ inches with a thickness between ¼ and ¾ inches and preferably ½ inch.
9. A device as in claim 6 further comprising an archery bow and at least one attachment on the proximal element, which controls the rigidity along the transverse axis of the archery bow which passes through the deepest recess of the handle, by the proximity of the axis of the attachment to the transverse axis of the bow.
10. A device as in claim 6 further comprising an archery bow and at least one attachment on the proximal element, which controls the dynamic spine of a launched arrow, by the proximity of the axis of the attachment to the transverse axis of the bow.
11. A unitary device comprising;
- a) proximal element with a least one mounting hole,
- b) a distal element having a least one rib and configured to receive at least one attachment,
- where said device has a vertical and a horizontal offset between the distal and proximal elements, and said device is configured to be detachably mounted to an archery bow, where the axis of the at the least one attachment is close to the transverse axis of the bow.
12. A device as in claim 11 where the vertical offset is between 2½ and 4½ inches and preferably 3 inches, and the horizontal offset is between 1 and 3½ inches and preferably 1½ inches.
13. A device as in claim 12 where the width of the distal and proximal elements are between ½ and 1 inch preferably ¾ inches with a thickness between ¼ and ¾ inches and preferably ½ inch.
14. A device as in claim 11 where the device is molded from a plastic resin.
15. A device in claim 14 where the plastic resin is a polyimidamide.
16. A device as in claim 14 where the plastic resin is a glass filled polyimidamide.
17. A device as in claim 14 where the plastic resin is Ultem or a similar material.
18. A device as in claim 11 further comprising an archery bow and at least one attachment on the proximal element, which controls the rigidity along the transverse axis of the archery bow which passes through the deepest recess of the handle, by the proximity of the axis of the attachment to the transverse axis of the bow.
19. A device as in claim 11 further comprising an archery bow and at least one attachment on the proximal element, which controls the dynamic spine of a launched arrow, by the proximity of the axis of the attachment to the transverse axis of the bow.
20. A device as in claim 11 further comprising an archery bow and at least one attachment on the proximal element, which increases the vibrational frequencies of resonance of the composite system, by the proximity of the axis of the attachment to the transverse axis of the bow.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 31, 2010
Publication Date: Feb 3, 2011
Inventors: William T. Light (Cockeysville, MD), Richard H. Paschke (Timonium, MD)
Application Number: 12/848,162
International Classification: F41B 5/14 (20060101); F41B 5/00 (20060101);