Archery Sight for a Bow for Shooting Arrows

Abstract

An archery sight for a bow for shooting arrows is disclosed. The user sight portion is disposed and configured to promote user eye contact with a target in the event of a bow string stretching and/or twisting. The sight is detachably secured to an external portion of a bow string, such that a center of gravity of the sight is aligned with the bow string. The sight minimizes bow string wobble after shooting an arrow. The sight allows the user to adjust forward and rear sight members of an archery bow in cooperation with the sight for increased accuracy.

Description

This is a Continuation-In-Part Application of application Ser. No. 13/890,018, filed on May 8, 2013, presently pending, which is in turn claimed priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/688,363, filed on May 8, 2012, currently expired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to archery sights secured to a bowstring, and more particularly, to an archery sight that has a center of gravity aligned with a bowstring when the sight is intertwined with the bow string, and in an alternative embodiment, an archery sight that has a center of gravity aligned with the bowstring when the sight is secured to an outer portion of the bowstring without being intertwined with the bowstring.

2. Background of the Prior Art

Prior art archery sights are intertwined with a bowstring such that the orientation and accuracy of the sight will change when the bowstring stretches, resulting in the prior art sight rotating to a degree that makes the sight useless when an archer attempts to view and align a forward pin secured to the bow with a target, or when viewing a target with only the sight. Prior art archery sights have attached an elastic tube to the sight, then stretched and attached to the tube to the bowstring to ultimately ‘pull’ the sight in line with the archer's line of sight. A problem with the elastic tube is that the tubes have broken and snap into the archer's eye. A need exists for an archery sight that secures to the bowstring that provides alignment for the archer's eye irrespective of bowstring stretch and rotation; and that maintains a center of gravity in constant alignment with the bowstring to minimize sight wobble and decreased sight accuracy after an arrow is shot from the bow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an archery sight that attaches to a bowstring via intertwinement, and that maintains contact between an archer's line of sight and a target. A feature of the archery sight is a plurality of arcuate surfaces, each having a different orientation. An advantage of the archery sight is that at least one edge portion of at least one arcuate surface maintains contact between an archer's line of sight and the target, irrespective of bowstring stretch and sight twist.

Another principal object of the present invention to provide an archery sight that attached to an outer portion of a bowstring, and that maintains contact between an archer's line of sight and a target. A feature of the archery sight is a securing portion that is detachably secured about an outer portion of a bowstring. An advantage of the archery sight is that the sight maintains a predetermined position upon the bowstring without intertwinement between the sight and the bowstring. Another advantage of the archery sight is that it maintains contact between an archer's line of sight and a target, irrespective of bowstring stretch and sight twist.

Another object of the present invention is to minimize wobble of the archery sight after an arrow is shot from the bow. A feature of the archery sight is a center of gravity that is maintained in alignment with the bowstring irrespective of the bowstring stretching with use. An advantage of the device is that the bowstring stretching does not degrade the accuracy of archery sight when aligning an archer's line of sight with a target, irrespective of the archery sight being secured to an outer portion of the bowstring, or being intertwined with the bowstring.

Yet another object of the present invention is to minimize the mass of the archery sight. A feature of the archery sight is a plurality of protuberances that removably receive fasteners therethrough. An advantage of the sight is that the wobble of the archery sight is minimized after an arrow is shot from the bow.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sight portion with sight options for an archer. A feature of the archery sight is a recess sight or an aperture sight for an archer's use. An advantage of the archery sight is that the recess sight can be used for shooting at moving targets, which require a broader area of view. Another advantage of the archery sight is that the aperture sight can be used for shooting at stationary targets, which require a narrow area of view.

Briefly, the invention provides an archery sight for a bow for shooting arrows comprising a user sight portion disposed and configured to promote user eye contact with a target in the event of a bow string stretching and/or twisting; and a securing portion for detachably securing said sight to an external portion of a bow string such that a center of gravity of said sight is aligned with the bow string, whereby said sight minimizes bowstring wobble after shooting an arrow, and allows the user to adjust forward and rear sight members (both members being well known to those of ordinary skill in the art) of an archery bow in cooperation with said sight for increased arrow shooting accuracy.

Further, the invention provides an archery sight disposed about a bowstring comprising a front portion having a front wall providing access to securing means, and a back wall with a string recess for receiving a bowstring, said front portion including a front sight portion for a user of said archery sight; a back portion having a back wall providing access to securing means, and a front wall with a string recess for receiving the bowstring, said back portion including a back sight portion for a user of said archery sight, said back portion being congruently configured with said front portion such that when said front and back portions are detachably joined via securing means, said front and back sight portions form a user sight portion and a bowstring aperture; and an archery sight configuration that results in a center of gravity for said archery sight being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bowstring when the bowstring is disposed in said string aperture formed via the joining of said front and back portions, whereby said archery sight remains in a substantially fixed position upon said bowstring when the bowstring is drawn back by a user, thereby allowing the user to continuously view a front bow sight through said user sight irrespective of the twist and/or stretch urged upon the bowstring by the user when the user draws the bow string back to shoot an arrow at a target.

Also, the invention provides an archery sight intertwined with a bow string comprising an upper first arcuate member; an upper second arcuate member, said upper second member cooperating with said first upper member to form an upper apex portion of said sight; a lower first arcuate member; a lower second arcuate member, said lower second member cooperating with said first lower member to form a lower apex portion of said sight; a first upper recess configured via a lower portion of said upper first arcuate member; a second upper recess opposite said first upper recess, said second upper recess configured via a lower portion of said upper second arcuate member; a first lower recess configured via an upper portion of said lower first arcuate member; a second lower recess opposite said first lower recess, said second lower recess configured via an upper portion of said lower second arcuate member; a first aiming groove formed via said first upper and said first lower recesses; a second aiming groove opposite said first aiming groove, said second aiming groove formed via said second upper and said second lower recesses; and means for maintaining the position of said upper first and second arcuate members, and said lower first and second arcuate members relative to a bow string, whereby an individual operating a bow for shooting arrows is able to align his or her eye with said sight and a pin connected to the bow and distal to said sight, said first and second grooves of said sight cooperating to constantly provide eye and pin alignment irrespective of bow string twist, thereby enabling the individual to place an arrow upon a predetermined portion of the target irrespective of bow string twist and the resulting sight orientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrative embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an archery sight in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is front elevation view of the archery sight in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the archery sight in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top elevation view of the archery sight in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative archery sight in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the archery sight in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the archery sight in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top elevation view of the archery sight in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a first clamp member of another alternative archery sight in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second clamp member of the archery sight in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the archery sight of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the inner walls of separated first and second clamp members of the archery sight in FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is an upper, left side perspective view of an arcuate archery sight secured to an archery string in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a lower perspective view of the archery sight in FIG. 13 when the archery sight is disposed at an optimum position via a drawn bowstring.

FIG. 15 is a left side elevation view depicting an arcuate sight portion of the archery sight in FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of a front wall of a front portion of the archery sight in FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a back elevation view of a back wall of the front portion in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a top elevation view of the front portion in FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a back elevation view of a back wall of a back portion of the archery sight in FIG. 13.

FIG. 20 is a front elevation view of a front wall of the back portion of the archery sight in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a top elevation view of the back portion in FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is an exploded view of the archery sight in FIG. 13.

FIG. 23 is an upper, left side perspective view of an aperture archery sight secured to an archery string in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a lower perspective view of the archery sight in FIG. 23 when the archery sight is disposed at an optimum position via a drawn bowstring.

FIG. 24a is a sectional view of FIG. 24 taken along line 24a.

FIG. 25 is a left side elevation view of the archery sight in FIG. 23.

FIG. 26 is a front elevation view of a front wall of a front portion of the archery sight in FIG. 23.

FIG. 27 is a back elevation view of a back wall of the front portion in FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a top elevation view of the front portion in FIG. 26.

FIG. 29 is a back elevation view of a back wall of a back portion of the archery sight in FIG. 23.

FIG. 30 is a front elevation view of a front wall of the back portion of the archery sight in FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 is a top elevation view of the back portion in FIG. 29.

FIG. 32 is an exploded view of the archery sight in FIG. 23.

FIG. 33 is a side elevation view of an archers bow with a drawn string and said archery sight secured thereto, and a line of sight from an archers “eye,” through a bow sight and extending toward a target.

FIG. 34 is as side view of the arcuate archery sight secured to the bowstring in FIG. 33.

FIG. 35 is a front perspective view of the arcuate archery sight of FIG. 34.

FIG. 36 is a side view of the aperture archery sight secured to the bowstring in FIG. 33.

FIG. 37 is a front perspective view of the aperture archery sight of FIG. 36.

FIG. 38 is a front perspective view of the arcuate portion of the arcuate archery sight as seen by the archer's eye in FIG. 33 as the bowstring is drawn back by the archer in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a front perspective view of the arcuate portion of the arcuate archery sight as seen by the archer's eye in FIG. 33 when the bowstring has been drawn back to dispose the arcuate archery sight at an optimum position in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a front perspective view of the aperture portion of the aperture archery sight as seen by the archer's eye in FIG. 33 as the bowstring is drawn back by the archer in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a front perspective view of the aperture portion of the aperture archery sight as seen by the archer's eye in FIG. 33 when the bowstring has been drawn back to dispose the aperture archery sight at an optimum position in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, an archery sight in accordance with the present invention is denoted by numeral 10. The sight 10 is a solid piece of material that can be manufactured from a myriad of different materials including but not limited to plastic, wood, stainless steel, carbon steel and carbon fibers. The sight 10 is relatively small and light weight with a symmetrical configuration. The sight 10 has substantially about a one inch longitudinal dimension and substantially about a one-half inch lateral dimension. The sight 10 has a weight substantially about one-quarter of an ounce.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a first embodiment of the sight 10 is depicted. The sight 10 includes an upper first arcuate member 12, an upper second arcuate member 14, a lower first arcuate member 16 and a lower second arcuate member 18. The upper first and second arcuate member 12 and 14 have substantially the same configurations, which cooperate to form an upper apex portion 20. The lower first and second arcuate members 16 and 18 have substantially the same configurations as the upper first and second arcuate members 12 and 14. The lower first and second arcuate members 16 and 18 cooperate to form a lower apex portion 22.

The upper first arcuate member 12 includes a lower first recess 21 configured via a lower portion 24 of the upper first arcuate member 12. The upper second arcuate member 14 includes a lower second recess 26 configured via a lower portion 28 of the second arcuate member 14. The lower first arcuate member 16 includes an upper first recess 30 configured via an upper portion 32 of the lower first arcuate member 16. The lower second arcuate member 18 includes an upper second recess 34 configured via an upper portion 36 of the lower second arcuate member 18. The first upper and lower recesses 21 and 30 cooperate to form a first aiming groove 38. The second upper and lower recesses 26 and 34 cooperate to form a second aiming groove 40 opposite the first aiming groove 38. The first and second aiming grooves 38 and 40 compensate for a rotation of the sight 10 relative to a bow string 8 after an arrow is shot from a bow (not depicted), thereby allowing the individual shooting arrows into a target (not depicted) to group the arrows irrespective of sight twist. The placement of the grooves 38 and 40 oppositely allows left or right handed archers to use the sight 10, irrespective of the unlikely event of the sight 10 pivoting from an original to a new position after an arrow is shot from the bow.

The position of the sight 10 relative to a bowstring 8 must be maintained to provide optimum sighting for an individual operating a bow to shoot arrows into a target. The sighting is achieved by an individual aligning his or her eye with the sight 10 and a pin (not depicted) connected to the bow but distal to the sight 10. The first and second grooves 38 and 40 cooperate to constantly provide eye and pin alignment irrespective of the twist of the bow string, thereby enabling the individual to shoot an arrow into a predetermined portion of the target irrespective of bow string twist and the resulting sight orientation.

Means for maintaining the position of the sight 10 relative to the bow string 8 includes relatively planar side walls 42 for the upper first and second arcuate members 12 and 14, and the lower first and second arcuate member 16 and 18. The planar sidewalls 42 promote a symmetrical configuration to provide a center of gravity that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bow string, thereby minimizing the rotation of the sight after an arrow is shot from a bow. The position maintaining means further includes opposite front and back longitudinal recesses 44 and 46 extending between the upper and lower apexes 20 and 22. The front and back longitudinal recesses 44 and 46 ultimately receive predetermined portions of a bow string 8 therein. The bow string 8 is comprised of a plurality of twines 9 that are substantially equally distributed longitudinally across each of the longitudinal recesses 44 and 46, resulting in the sight 10 being secured within the bow string 8 such that the position of the sight remains fixed relative to the bow string 8, thereby optimizing the sight-pin alignment for the individual shooting an arrow from the bow.

To diminish the chance of the sight 10 pivoting to a different position, securing members such as collars 48 or a cord wrapped around the bow string 8 and cooperating upper and lower apex portions 20 and 22 may be used, thereby maintaining the position of the sight 10 relative to the bow string 8 when an arrow is shot from the bow.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-8, an alternative embodiment for an archery sight in accordance with the present invention is denoted by numeral 100. The sight 10 includes an upper first conic portion 102, an upper second conic portion 104, a lower first conic portion 106 and a lower second conic portion 108. The upper first and second conic portions 102 and 104 have substantially the same configurations, which cooperate to form an upper apex portion 120. The lower first and second conic portions 106 and 108 have substantially the same configurations as the upper first and second conic portions 102 and 104. The lower first and second conic portions 106 and 108 cooperate to form a lower apex portion 122.

The upper first conic portion 102 includes a lower first recess 121 configured via a lower portion 124 of the upper first conic portion 102. The upper second conic portion 104 includes a lower second recess 126 configured via a lower portion 128 of the second conic portion 104. The lower first conic portion 106 includes an upper first recess 130 configured via an upper portion 132 of the lower first conic portion 106. The lower second conic portion 108 includes an upper second recess 134 configured via an upper portion 136 of the lower second conic portion 108. The first upper and lower recesses 121 and 130 cooperate to form a first aiming groove 138. The second upper and lower recesses 126 and 134 cooperate to form a second aiming groove 140 opposite the first aiming groove 138. The first and second aiming grooves 138 and 140 compensate for a rotation of the sight 100 relative to a bow string 101 after an arrow is shot from a bow (not depicted), thereby allowing the individual shooting arrows into a target (not depicted) to group the arrows irrespective of sight twist. The placement of the grooves 138 and 140 oppositely allows left or right handed archers to use the sight 100, irrespective of the unlikely event of the sight 100 pivoting from an original to a new position after an arrow is shot from the bow.

The position of the sight 100 relative to a bowstring 8 must be maintained to provide optimum sighting for an individual operating a bow to shoot arrows into a target. The sighting is achieved by an individual aligning his or her eye with the sight 100 and a pin (not depicted) connected to the bow but distal to the sight 100. The first and second grooves 138 and 140 cooperate to constantly provide eye and pin alignment irrespective of the twist of the bow string 101, thereby enabling the individual to shoot an arrow into a predetermined portion of the target irrespective of bow string twist and the resulting sight orientation.

Means for maintaining the position of the sight 100 relative to the bow string 101 includes conic side walls 142 for the upper first and second conic portions 102 and 104, and the lower first and second conic portions 106 and 108. The conic sidewalls 142 promote a symmetrical configuration to provide a center of gravity that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bow string 101, thereby minimizing the rotation of the sight after an arrow is shot from a bow. The position maintaining means further includes opposite front and back longitudinal recesses 144 and 146 extending between the upper and lower apexes 120 and 122. The front and back longitudinal recesses 144 and 146 ultimately receive predetermined portions of the bow string 101 therein. The bow string 101 is comprised of a plurality of twines 103 that are substantially equally distributed longitudinally across each of the longitudinal recesses 144 and 146, resulting in the sight 100 being secured within the bow string 101 such that the position of the sight 100 remains fixed relative to the bow string 101, thereby optimizing the sight-pin alignment for the individual shooting an arrow from the bow.

To diminish the chance of the sight 100 pivoting to a different position, securing members such as collars 148 or a cord wrapped around the bow string 101 and into cooperating radial recesses 150 in upper and lower apex portions 120 and 122 of the sight 100 may be selected, thereby maintaining the position of the sight 100 relative to the bow string 101 when an arrow is shot from the bow.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-12, another alternative embodiment for an archery sight in accordance with the present invention is denoted by numeral 200. The sight 200 includes first and second congruently configured clamping members 202 and 204. The clamping members 202 and 204 can be fabricated from materials that include plastic, wood, stainless steel and carbon steel. Each clamping member 202 and 204 has planar outer and inner walls 206 and 208 with each inner wall forming a lineal string recess 209 for receiving a bow string 210 therein. The clamping members 202 and 204 are mirror images of each other with each member having an upper arcuate portion 212, a lower arcuate portion 214 and a lateral arcuate portion 216. Each arcuate portion 212, 214 and 216 includes an aperture therethrough 218 such that when the clamping members 202 and 204 joined together, the apertures are congruently aligned such that a securing bolt 220 can be snugly inserted therethrough to ultimately receive a locking nut 222, thereby detachably joining the clamping members 202 and 204 together after the bow string 210 has been inserted into the string recesses 209. The string recesses 209 include grasping ridges 211 longitudinally extending within the recesses 209 such that the ridges “bite” into the bow string 210 as the first and second clamp members 202 and 204 are joined together with the string 210 disposed in the recesses 209, thereby maintaining the radial position of the sight 200 relative to the bow string 210 irrespective of the bow string 210 twisting after an arrow is shoot from the bow. In the event that the sight 200 should radially twist a relatively small amount relative to the bow string, the sight recess 224 is still effective in aiding the individual operating the bow to maintain accuracy when shooting at a stationary or moving target.

Each clamping member 202 and 204 further includes a lateral sight recess 224 that provides a sight for an individual after the lateral sight recess 224 are congruently disposed together. The arcuate portions 212, 214 and 216 together with the sight recess 224 are configured and dimensioned to provide a sight with a center of gravity that aligns with the longitudinal axis of the bow string 210 by disposing the string recess 209 such that the upper and lower arcuate portions 212 and 214 are positioned on one side of the string 210, and the lateral arcuate portion 216 is positioned on the opposite side of the string 210, thereby preventing the sight 200 from wobbling on the string 210 after an arrow is shot, resulting in the sight maintaining its position upon the string 210 and optimizing the sight recess 224 position for maximum accuracy when shooting an arrow.

To further secure the longitudinal position of the sight 200 upon the bowstring 210, a cord 226 is wrapped about the bowstring 210 such that cord coils engage outer joined walls 228 of the upper and lower arcuate portions 212 and 214 of each clamping member 202 and 204, resulting in the sight 200 being secured to the bow string 210 such that the position of the sight 200 remains fixed relative to the bow string 210, thereby optimizing a sight-pin alignment for the individual shooting an arrow from the bow.

Thus, an individual operating a bow for shooting arrows is able to align his or her eye with the sight 200 and a pin connected to the bow and distal to the sight 200. The sight recess 224 constantly provides eye and pin alignment irrespective of bow string 210 twist, thereby enabling the individual to shoot an arrow into a predetermined portion of the target irrespective of bow string twist and the resulting sight 200 orientation (see FIGS. 9 and 10).

Referring now to FIGS. 13-22, and 33-35, another alternative embodiment for an archery sight for a bow for shooting arrows in accordance with the present invention is denoted by numeral 300. The arcuate archery sight 300 includes an arcuate sight portion 302 disposed and configured to promote an archer's eye 299 contact with a target 374 in the event of a bow string 304 stretching and/or twisting as the bowstring 304 is drawn back by the archer. The archery sight 300 further includes a securing portion 306 for detachably securing the sight 300 to an external portion 308 of a bow string 304 such that a center of gravity 310 of the sight 300 (which is determined via means well known to those of ordinary skill in the art) is aligned with the bow string 304, whereby the sight 300 minimizes bow string lateral oscillation or wobble after shooting an arrow (not depicted). The securing portion 306 includes three fasteners 356 disposed such that one fastener 356 is on one side of the bowstring 304, and two fasteners 356 are disposed on the opposite side of the bowstring 304 and between the sight portion 302 and the bowstring 304. The fastener distribution 356 relative to the bowstring 304 and sight portion 302 further minimizes bowstring 304 wobble. The minimized bowstring 304 wobble maintains the position of the sight 300 upon the bowstring 304, thereby increasing and maintaining the accuracy of the sight 300 when cooperating with a forward bow sight member 370 (see FIG. 33), which is integrally secured to an archery bow 372, to ultimately increase arrow accuracy when shooting the arrow at a target 374.

The arcuate sight 300 includes a front portion 330 and a substantially similar configured back portion 342 that cooperates with the front portion 330 to form the arcuate sight portion 302 and the securing portion 306. When the front and back portions 330 and 342 are detachably joined together, the sight portion 302 is formed via arcuate, oppositely inclined walls 303 and 305 that join at a midpoint line 307, which is perpendicular to both a front wall 332 of the front portion 330 and a back wall 344 of the back portion 342.

In a preferred embodiment, arcuate, inclined upper wall 303 begins at an inclined upper edge 309 that forms an upper angle 311 (see FIG. 15) of substantially about thirty-two to thirty-three degrees with the front wall 332. The inclined upper edge 309 lineally extends from the front wall 332 to the back wall 344. The arcuate, inclined upper wall 303 arcuately extends from the upper edge 309 at an inclined angle or slope that continually and proportionately is reduced from the upper angle 311 until integrally joining a relatively small wall portion 307 at a midportion of the arcuate sight portion 302. The wall portion 307 is perpendicular with the front and back walls 332 and 344. The wall portion 307 integrally joins the inclined lower wall 305, thereby forming a perpendicular wall with the front and back walls 332 and 344 at only the midportion of the arcuate sight portion 302. The arcuate sight portion 302 is competed by inclined lower wall 305 extending from the wall portion 307 at an inclined angle or slope that continually and proportionately increases the same amount as the inclined upper wall 303 for the same arcuate distance from the midpoint line 307. However, the slope of the inclined lower wall 305 is opposite to that of the inclined upper wall 303 from the wall portion 307 to a lower edge 301, whereupon the lower edge 301 forms and angle 313 with the front wall 332 of substantially about thirty-two to thirty-three degrees.

The changing slope of inclined arcuate walls 303 and 305 of the sight portion 302 provides sharp edges for the archer's eye 299 to view and align the sight portion 302 with the forward bow sight 370 attached to the bow 372, thereby providing increased accuracy when sighting a moving or stationary target 374 via the sight 302, when the bow string 304 is drawn to a shooting position (FIG. 33), then releasing a fully drawn arrow with the intent of striking the target 374.

The archery sight 300 can be manufactured from a myriad of different materials including but not limited to plastic, wood, stainless steel, carbon steel and carbon fibers. The preferred material is a lightweight plastic to minimize weight and sight wobble after shooting an arrow. The sight 300 is relatively small and light weight with a non-symmetrical configuration with one screw 356 disposed on one side of the bow string 304, and two screws 356 disposed on an opposite side of the bow string 304. The sight 300 has substantially about a one inch “X” axis, substantially about a one inch “Y” axis, and substantially about a one-half inch “Z” axis. The sight 300 has a weight substantially about one-quarter of an ounce.

Referring now to FIGS. 23, 24, 24a, 25-33, 36 and 37, yet another alternative embodiment for an archery sight for a bow for shooting arrows in accordance with the present invention is denoted by numeral 320. The aperture archery sight 320 includes an aperture user sight portion 322 with an aperture 324 disposed and configured to promote an archer's eye 299 contact with a target 374 in the event of a bow string 304 stretching and/or twisting as the bowstring 304 is drawn back by the archer. The archery sights 300 and 320 are substantially similar except for the arcuate sight portion 302 and the aperture sight portion 322, respectively. Further, the aperture sight 320 is slightly larger and heavier due to the extra material required to form the aperture 324 in the sight 320. The preferred material of fabrication for the aperture sight 320 is lightweight plastic, and both sights 300 and 320 have a center of gravity 310 aligned with the bowstring 304 via means well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The archery sight 320 further includes a securing portion 306 for detachably securing the sight 320 to an external portion 308 of a bow string 304 such that a center of gravity 310 of the sight 300 (which is determined via means well known to those of ordinary skill in the art) is aligned with the bow string 304, whereby the sight 320 minimizes bow string lateral oscillation or wobble after shooting an arrow (not depicted). The securing portion 306 includes three fasteners 356 disposed such that one fastener 356 is on one side of the bowstring 304, and two fasteners 356 are disposed on the opposite side of the bowstring 304 and between the sight portion 302 and the bowstring 304. The fastener distribution 356 relative to the bowstring 304 and sight portion 302 further minimizes bowstring 304 wobble. The minimized bowstring wobble maintains the position of the sight 320 upon the bowstring 304, thereby increasing and maintaining the accuracy of the sight 320 when cooperating with a forward bow sight member 370 (see FIG. 33), which is integrally secured to an archery bow 372, to ultimately increase arrow accuracy when shooting the arrow at a target 374.

The aperture sight 320 includes a front portion 330 and a substantially similar configured back portion 342 that cooperates with the front portion 330 to form the aperture sight portion 322 and the securing portion 306. When the front and back portions 330 and 342 are detachably joined together, the aperture sight 324 is formed via an upper sloping wall portion 303 and a cooperating but opposite sloping lower wall portion 305. The aperture sight 324 is essentially two arcuate sight portions 302 having approximately one hundred and eighty degrees each that have been combined to form a three hundred and sixty degree aperture 324. Further, the aperture 324 includes two opposite lateral midportion walls 307 that are both perpendicular to the front and back walls 332 and 344, and one upper maximum sloping or inclined wall portion 309 and one lower maximum oppositely sloping wall portion 301. Both the upper and oppositely sloping lower wall portions 309 and 301 form respective upper and lower acute angles 315 and 317 (see FIG. 24a) with the front and back walls 332 and 344. The upper maximum inclined wall portion 309 is disposed at a midpoint of the upper sloping wall portion 303, and the lower maximum inclined wall portion 301 is disposed at a midpoint of the lower sloping wall portion 305. As with the arcuate user sight portion 302, the aperture sight portion 322 includes the changing slope of the sloping wall portions 303 and 305 to provide sharp edges for the archer's eye to view and align the sight portion 320 with a bow sight 370 attached to a bow 372, thereby providing increased accuracy when sighting a moving or stationary target with the sight 320, to ultimately increase arrow accuracy when shooting the arrow at a target 374.

In a preferred embodiment, the arcuate, inclined upper wall 303 begins at one of the two side walls 307 that are perpendicular to the front and back walls 332 and 344. The upper wall 303 then arcuately extends upward to the upper wall portion 309 at an inclined angle or slope that continually and proportionately is increased from the side wall 307 to the upper wall portion 309, which forms an angle 315 of substantially about thirty-two to thirty-three degrees with the front and back walls 332 and 344. The inclined upper wall portion 309 lineally extends from the front wall 332 to the back wall 344. The arcuate, inclined upper wall 303 then arcuately extends downward from the upper wall portion 309 to the other lateral wall 307 at an inclined angle or slope that continually and proportionately is reduced from the upper wall portion 309 until lineally joining the other sidewall 307, thereby forming a perpendicular wall portion 307 with the front and back walls 332 and 344 at only the side wall 307, midportion of the aperture sight portion 322. The aperture sight portion 322 is competed by inclined lower wall 305 extending from the sidewall 307 at an inclined angle or slope that continually and proportionately increases the same amount as the inclined upper wall 303 for the same arcuate distance from the sidewall 307. However, the slope of the inclined lower wall 305 is opposite to that of the inclined upper wall 303. The lower wall 305 extends from the sidewall 307 to the lower wall portion 301, whereupon the lower wall portion 301 forms and angle 317 with the front and back wall 332 and 344 of substantially about thirty-two to thirty-three degrees. The lower wall portion 305 then continually and proportionately extends upward to the original side wall 307 such that the slope of the lower wall 305 relative to the front and back walls 332 and 344 is reduced from substantially about thirty-two to thirty-three degrees until becoming perpendicular with the front and back walls 332 and 344 at the original side wall 07.

The main difference between the two sights 300 and 320 is one of choice for the user. More specifically, archers sight preferences vary from a more “open” or arcuate sight portion 302 where a moving target is easier to maintain in the sight viewing area; compared to the more “restricted” or aperture sight portion 322 used when an archer wants to limit the viewing area of a stationary target, thereby making it easier for the archer to maintain focus upon the target when involved in competitive target shooting.

The securing portion 306 for the archery sights 300 and 320 includes a front portion 330 having a front planar wall 332 providing access to securing means 334, and a back planar wall 336 with a string recess 338 for receiving the bowstring 304. The front portion 330 includes a front sight portion 340 for a user of said archery sights 300 and 320. The securing portion 306 further includes a back portion 342 having a back planar wall 344 providing access to securing means 334, and a front planar wall 346 with a string recess 348 for receiving the bowstring 304. The back portion 342 includes a back sight portion 350 for a user of said archery sights 300 and 320. The back portion 342 is congruently configured with said front portion 330 such that when the front and back portions 330 and 342 are joined, the front and back sight portions 340 and 350 form the user sight portions 302 and 322, and the string recesses 338 and 348 form a bowstring aperture 352 with knurled walls 354 for gripping the bow string 304 to maintain the position of the sights 300 and 320 upon the bowstring 304.

Irrespective of the archery sight 300 and 320 selected, the archery sight configuration results in a center of gravity 310 for the archery sight 300 and 320 being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bowstring 304 when the bowstring 304 is disposed in the bowstring aperture 352. The aligned center of gravity 310 and the bow string 304 results in the archer sight 300 and 320 remaining in a substantially fixed position when the bow string 304 is drawn back by a user or archer, thereby allowing the user to continuously view a front bow sight (not depicted but well known to those of ordinary skill in the art) through the user sight portions 302 and 320, irrespective of the twist and/or stretch urged upon the bow string 304 by the user when the user draws the bow string 304 back to shoot an arrow at a target.

The securing means 334 for the archery sights 300 and 320 can include a myriad of fasteners well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, but the preferred securing means 334 for the present invention includes countersunk screws 356 and cooperating nuts 358 that are rotationally joined via apertures 360 disposed such that at least two of the screws 356 are positioned with the bowstring aperture 352 therebetween.

The securing portion 306 of the archery sights 300 and 320 includes a side protuberance portion 362 disposed opposite the user sight portions 302 and 322. The side protuberance 362 is configured and dimensioned such that the center of gravity 310 of the archery sights 300 and 320 is aligned with the bowstring aperture 352. The securing portion 306 further includes upper and lower protuberance portions 364 and 366 oppositely disposed and longitudinally aligned, such that both the upper and lower protuberance portions 364 and 366 are positioned opposite to the side protuberance portion 362. The bowstring aperture 352 is parallel to and offset from the longitudinally aligned upper and lower protuberance portions 364 and 366. The bowstring aperture 352 is positioned between the side protuberance portion 362 and the longitudinally aligned upper and lower protuberance portions 364 and 366.

A myriad of configurations can be used for the sights 300 and 320 including but not limited to spherical, oval and cylindrical. The preferred configuration of the presented invention is the use planar walls and protuberances 362, 364 and 366 that cooperate to provide minimum surface area for securing the sights 300 and 320 to the bowstring 304; to maintain the alignment of the center of gravity 310 of the sights with the bowstring 304; and to minimize the mass of the sights 300 and 320 thereby minimizing the wobble of the sights after an archer shoots and arrow from the bow, which correspondingly maximizes the accuracy of the sights 300 and 320 for shooting the next arrow from the bow.

Referring now to FIGS. 33-41, when attaching one of the sights 300 and 320 to a bowstring 304, a forward sight member 370 is placed on the bow 372. The archer then draws the bowstring 304 to a full draw position; a second person then marks (not depicted) the bowstring 304 in a horizontal line with the eye 299 position of the archer. The mark on the bowstring 304 is the location where the selected archery sights 300 or 320 is ultimately secured to an outer portion 308 of the bowstring 304. The sights 300 and 320 are secured by disposing the front portion 330 of the sight 300 and 320 such that the center point of the screw 356 inserted in the aperture 360 of the side protuberance 362, when lineally aligned with the mark on the bowstring 304, forms a right angle with the bowstring 304. The back portion 342 of the sight 300 and 320 is then secured to the front portion 330 via the nuts 358 being threaded upon the screws 356, until the front and back portions 330 and 342 tightly crimp the bowstring 304, thereby maintaining the sights 300 and 320 upon the bowstring 304 irrespective of the vibrations generated by the bowstring 304 when released from a full draw position.

When an archer draws the bowstring 304 back such that as one of the sights 300 and 320 attached to the bowstring 304 approaches the eye 299 of the archer, the sight portions 302 and 322 for the respective sight 300 and 320 appear to the eye 299 as depicted in FIGS. 38 and 40 for the respective sight 300 and 320. As the bowstring 304 is continually drawn back, until the selected sight 300 and 320 reaches an optimum position relative to the archer's eye 299 as depicted in FIG. 33, the sight portions 302 and 322 for the respective sight 300 and 320 appear to the eye 299 as depicted in FIGS. 39 and 41 for the respective sight 300 and 320. The arcuate sight portion 302 is substantially a semi-circle in FIG. 39 and the aperture sight portion 322 in FIG. 41 is substantially a circle, thereby providing a minimum field of view for the eye 299 of the archer for aligning the bow sight member 370 with the target 374, resulting in maximum accuracy when shooting an arrow at the target 374.

All the aforementioned drawings and description are for an archer that holds the archery bow 372 with their left hand and draws the bowstring 304 back with their right hand. For an archer that holds the archery bow 372 with their right hand and draws the bowstring 304 back with their left hand, the same sights 300 and 320 can be used by just reversing the position of the sights 300 and 320 such that the back walls 344 become the front walls. However, reversing the position of the sights 300 and 320 reduces the accuracy of the sights 300 and 320. To maintain sight accuracy, the configuration of the sights would be mirror images of the sights 300 and 320 depicted in the drawings. For example, FIGS. 13 and 23 would depict the respective sight 300 and 320 with the side protuberances 362 to the left of the bowstring 304, and the upper and lower protuberances 364 and 366 to the to the right of the bowstring 304. Further, the respective arcuate or aperture portions 302 and 322 would be positioned on the right side of the bowstring 304, and right of the upper and lower protuberances 364 and 366.

The foregoing description is for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of protection accorded this invention. The scope of protection is to be measured by the following claims, which should be interpreted as broadly as the inventive contribution permits.

Claims

1. An archery sight for a bow for shooting arrows comprising:

a user sight portion disposed and configured to promote user eye contact with a target in the event of a bow string stretching and/or twisting; and

a securing portion for detachably securing said sight to an external portion of a bow string such that a center of gravity of said sight is aligned with the bow string, whereby said sight minimizes bow string wobble after shooting an arrow, and allows the user to adjust forward and rear sight members of an archery bow in cooperation with said sight for increased arrow shooting accuracy.

2. The archery sight of claim 1 wherein said user sight portion includes an arcuate configuration with oppositely sloping wall portions.

3. The archery sight of claim 1 wherein said user sight portion includes an aperture configuration with oppositely sloping wall portions.

4. The archery sight of claim 1 wherein said securing portion includes a string aperture for receiving the bow string.

5. The archery sight of claim 4 wherein said string aperture includes gripping means for maintaining the position of said sight upon the bowstring.

6. The archery sight of claim 5 wherein said gripping means includes a knurled aperture wall.

7. The archery sight of claim 6 wherein said securing portion further comprises:

a front portion having a front wall that provides access to securing means, and a back wall with a recess for receiving the bowstring, said front portion including a front sight portion for a user of said archery sight; and

a back portion having a back wall that provides access to securing means, and a front wall with a recess for receiving the bow string, said back portion including a back sight portion for a user of said archery sight, said back portion being congruently configured with said front portion such that when said front and back portions are joined, said front and back sight portions form said user sight portion and said string aperture.

8. The archery sight of claim 7 wherein said securing means includes countersunk screws and cooperating nuts that are rotationally joined via apertures disposed such that at least two of said screws are positioned with said string aperture therebetween.

9. The archery sight of claim 7 wherein said securing portion includes a side protuberance portion disposed opposite said user sight portion, said side protuberance portion being configured and dimensioned such that the center of gravity of said archery sight is aligned with said bowstring aperture.

10. The archery sight of claim 9 wherein said securing portion includes upper and lower protuberance portions oppositely disposed and longitudinally aligned, such that both of said upper and lower protuberance portions are positioned opposite from said side protuberance portion with said bowstring aperture being parallel to and offset from said longitudinally aligned upper and lower protuberance portions, said bowstring aperture being positioned between said side protuberance portion and said longitudinally aligned upper and lower protuberance portions.

11. The archery sight of claim 1 wherein said user sight portion includes an arcuate sight portion having an inclined, arcuate upper wall begin at an inclined upper edge that forms an optimum upper acute angle with front and back walls, said inclined upper edge lineally extends from said front wall to a said back wall, said arcuate, inclined upper wall arcuately extending from said upper edge at an inclined angle or slope that continually and proportionately is reduced from said upper angle until integrally joining a relatively small lateral wall portion at a midportion of said arcuate sight portion, said lateral wall portion being perpendicular with said front and back walls, said lateral wall portion integrally joining an inclined, arcuate lower wall, thereby forming a perpendicular lateral wall with said front and back walls at only said midportion of said arcuate sight portion, said arcuate lower wall extending from said lateral wall portion at an inclined angle or slope that continually and proportionately increases the same amount as said inclined, arcuate upper wall for the same arcuate distance from said lateral wall portion, said arcuate lower wall ultimately extending from lateral wall portion to an inclined lower edge lineally extending from said front wall to said back wall, said lower edge forming a lower acute angle with said front and back walls, thereby completing said arcuate sight portion.

12. The archery sight of claim 11 wherein said upper and lower acute angles are optimum at substantially about thirty-two to thirty-three degrees, thereby forming an arcuate sight configuration of substantially about a half-circle when viewed by an archer's eye when the bowstring is drawn back to dispose said archery sight at an optimum position relative to the archer's eye, resulting in increased arrow shooting accuracy.

13. The archery sight of claim 11 wherein said slope of said inclined lower wall is in the same direction as the slope of the inclined upper wall, thereby forming a “half-funnel” configuration with walls having varying slopes of straight line or curved configurations.

14. The archery sight of claim 11 wherein said slope of said inclined lower wall is in an opposite direction to the slope of said inclined upper wall, thereby completing said arcuate sight portion 302 by extending an opposite inclined, arcuate lower wall from said lateral wall at an inclined angle or slope that continually and proportionately increases the same amount as the inclined upper wall for the same arcuate distance from the lateral wall, said inclined lower wall extending from said lateral wall portion to a lower edge, whereupon said lower edge forms an acute angle with said front and back walls.

15. The archery sight of claim 14 wherein said upper and lower acute angles are optimum at substantially about thirty-two to thirty-three degrees, thereby forming an arcuate sight configuration of substantially about a half-circle when viewed by an archer's eye when the bowstring is drawn back to dispose said archery sight at an optimum position relative to the archer's eye, resulting in increased arrow shooting accuracy.

16. The archery sight of claim 1 wherein said user sight portion includes an aperture sight portion having an arcuate, inclined upper wall beginning at one of two lateral wall portions that are perpendicular to front and back walls of said aperture sight portion, said upper wall then arcuately extending upward to an upper maximum sloping wall portion at an inclined angle or slope that continually and proportionately is increased from said lateral wall to said upper maximum sloping wall portion, which forms an acute angle with said front and back walls of said aperture sight portion, said inclined, maximum sloping upper wall portion extending from said front wall to said back wall of said aperture sight portion, said arcuate, inclined upper wall then arcuately extending downward from said upper maximum sloping wall portion to a second lateral wall portion at an inclined slope that continually and proportionately is reduced from the upper, maximum sloping wall portion until lineally joining said second lateral wall portion, thereby forming a perpendicular second lateral wall portion with said front and back walls of said aperture sight portion, said second lateral wall portion integrally joining with a lower wall portion extending from said second lateral wall to a lower, maximum sloping wall portion, whereupon said lower, maximum sloping wall portion forms an acute angle with said front and back walls of said aperture sight portion, said lower wall then continually and proportionately extending upward from said lower, maximum sloping wall portion to said original lateral wall such that the slope of said lower wall relative to said front and back walls is reduced until said lower wall becomes perpendicular with said front and back walls at said original lateral wall portion.

17. The archery sight of claim 16 wherein said slope of said inclined lower wall is in the same direction as the slope of said inclined upper wall, thereby forming a “full-funnel” configuration with walls having varying slopes of straight line or curved configurations.

18. The archery sight of claim 16 wherein said upper and lower acute angles are optimum at substantially about thirty-two to thirty-three degrees, thereby forming an aperture sight configuration of substantially about a full-circle when viewed by an archer's eye when the bowstring is drawn back to dispose said archery sight at an optimum position relative to the archer's eye, resulting in increased arrow shooting accuracy.

19. The archery sight of claim 16 wherein said slope of said inclined lower wall is in an opposite direction to the slope of said inclined upper wall, thereby completing said aperture sight portion by extending an opposite inclined, arcuate lower wall from said lateral walls at an inclined slope that continually and proportionately increases the same amount as the inclined upper wall for the same arcuate distance from the lateral walls, said inclined lower wall extending from said lateral wall portions to an inclined maximum sloping lower wall portion, whereupon said maximum sloping lower wall portion forms an acute angle with said front and back walls of said aperture sight portion.

20. An archery sight disposed about a bowstring comprising:

a front portion having a front wall providing access to securing means, and a back wall with a string recess for receiving a bowstring, said front portion including a front sight portion for a user of said archery sight;

a back portion having a back wall providing access to securing means, and a front wall with a string recess for receiving the bowstring, said back portion including a back sight portion for a user of said archery sight, said back portion being congruently configured with said front portion such that when said front and back portions are detachably joined via securing means, said front and back sight portions form a user sight portion and a bowstring aperture; and

an archery sight configuration that results in a center of gravity for said archery sight being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bowstring when the bowstring is disposed in said string aperture formed via the joining of said front and back portions, whereby said archery sight remains in a substantially fixed position upon said bowstring when the bowstring is drawn back by a user, thereby allowing the user to continuously view a front bow sight through said user sight irrespective of the twist and/or stretch urged upon the bowstring by the user when the user draws the bow string back to shoot an arrow at a target,

said archery sight configuration comprising:

an aperture sight portion having an arcuate, inclined upper wall beginning at one of two lateral wall portions that are perpendicular to front and back walls of said aperture sight portion, said upper wall then arcuately extending upward to an upper maximum sloping wall portion at an inclined angle or slope that continually and proportionately is increased from said lateral wall to said upper maximum sloping wall portion, which forms an acute angle with said front and back walls of said aperture sight portion, said inclined, maximum sloping upper wall portion extending from said front wall to said back wall of said aperture sight portion, said arcuate, inclined upper wall then arcuately extending downward from said upper maximum sloping wall portion to a second lateral wall portion at an inclined slope that continually and proportionately is reduced from the upper, maximum sloping wall portion until lineally joining said second lateral wall portion, thereby forming a perpendicular second lateral wall portion with said front and back walls of said aperture sight portion, said second lateral wall portion integrally joining with a lower wall portion extending from said second lateral wall to a lower, maximum sloping wall portion, whereupon said lower, maximum sloping wall portion forms an acute angle with said front and back walls of said aperture sight portion, said lower wall then continually and proportionately extending upward from said lower, maximum sloping wall portion to said original lateral wall such that the slope of said lower wall relative to said front and back walls is reduced until said lower wall becomes perpendicular with said front and back walls at said original lateral wall portion.