Patent Application
20250231002
Release devices are used in archery to assist the archer in pulling a bowstring to a fully drawn position and then releasing the bowstring to fire an arrow. Some release devices use grippers for engaging a bowstring or a nock mounted on the bowstring. Other release devices use a rope looped around the bowstring. Handheld releases are generally of two types, using either a trigger or back tension to fire the shot.
The present invention relates to an archery release, and more particularly to a handheld archery release which includes adjustable finger beds.
Virtually all handheld archery releases include a handle which is configured for gripping by the archer. Usually, the handle is gripped by the index and middle fingers of the archer, with the fingers being supported by contoured finger beds in an upper surface of the handle. It is known in the art to provide a handheld archery release with radially adjustable finger pieces as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,618,295. However, the side portions of the release handle are generally fixed which inhibits repeatable finger bed placement by the archer which limits accuracy of a shot. The present invention was developed in order to overcome the drawbacks of existing handheld releases by providing angularly adjustable finger beds in the side walls of an archery release handle. The angular adjustability allows the head of the release to be pointed toward a target from an axis that is perpendicular to the radial finger adjustability of prior handheld archery releases.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide an improved handle for an archery release. The handle is preferably formed of two mating handle portion which are joined together. Each handle portion has a longitudinal axis, top and bottom portions, and exterior and interior side surfaces between the top and bottom portions. The top portion contains at least one concave surface which acts as a finger bed to support a finger of an archer. A finger bed is pivotally connected at one end with the handle top portion for rotation about a pivot axis parallel to the handle longitudinal axis for movement of the other end of the finger bed toward and away from the handle portion to a desired position. Preferably, the finger bed is arranged in a first recess in an exterior side surface of each handle portion and includes a pair of first projections extending in opposite directions from a top portion of the finger bed which are arranged in corresponding openings in the handle portion for rotation therein. Thus, the angle of the finger bed relative to the handle portion can be adjusted as desired by the archer for an optimal fit and to better position a head portion of the archery release toward a target.
The finger bed preferably contains a tapered recess in an outer side surface thereof to improve the ergonomics of the handle. The depth of each tapered recess decreases toward the finger bed bottom portion. Similarly, the length of each tapered recess further decreases toward the finger bed bottom portion. The upper portion of the tapered recess extends a length equal to the longitudinal length of the concave surface.
According to a preferred embodiment, the finger bed includes a second projection extending from a bottom portion thereof in the direction toward the handle portion. The handle portion contains an opening configured to receive the second projection. A locking screw is arranged in the handle and is operable to lock and release the finger bed second projection to retain the finger bed in a selected angular position.
According to an alternate embodiment, the finger bed includes top and bottom portions corresponding with the top and bottom portions of the handle portion and a projection which extends outwardly from an edge thereof to define a channel within the finger bed intermediate the finger bed top and bottom portions. A drive assembly includes a link having a boss which is displaceable within the finger bed channel to pivot the finger bed about the pivot axis relative to the handle portion.
The drive assembly further includes a screw rotatably connected with the handle portion and threadably connected with the link. Rotation of the screw in a first direction displaces the link within the finger bed channel toward an open end of the channel and rotation of the screw in a second direction displaces the link within the channel toward a closed end thereof to adjust the angle of the finger bed relative to the handle portion.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which:
A preferred embodiment of a handheld archery release having an angularly adjustable finger bed according to the invention is shown in
The handle portion 2 is shown in more detail in
The finger bed 4 is shown in detail in
The finger bed further includes front 28 and rear 30 surfaces. At the top portion of these surfaces, a pair of nubs or stubs 32 extend along a finger bed axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle. The stubs are configured to fit within the corresponding recesses 22 in the handle portion to swing freely within the recesses so that the finger bed pivots about the finger bed axis. As such, the top portion of the finger bed is retained in the recess 20 of the handle portion while the bottom portion of the finger bed moves toward or away from the handle portion.
The finger bed 4 further includes a projection 34 which extends rearwardly from a bottom portion thereof toward the handle portion. The projection preferably curves upwardly and includes a spaced pair of wings or prongs 36 defining a gap therebetween. The handle portion 2 contains a pair of openings 38 in the recess 20 to receive the prongs. The prongs extend freely through the respective openings during pivotal movement of the finger bed relative to the handle portion. However, a locking mechanism is provided to lock the finger bed in a selected angular orientation relative to the handle portion as selected by the archer.
One example of a locking mechanism is shown in
In operation, the archer turns the screw 42 in a direction to release it from the finger bed projection. The archer then manually pivots the finger bed to a desired angle relative to the handle portion. Once positioned, the screw is then tightened against the finger bed projection to lock the finger bed in position.
Referring now to
The handle portion 102 is similar to the handle 2 of the preferred embodiment and includes top 106, bottom 108, front 110 and rear 112 portions and exterior 114 and interior (not shown) side surfaces. The top portion 106 contains front 116 and rear 118 spaced contours having a concave configuration to support the index and middle fingers, respectively, of the archer. Below the front contour 116, the handle portion exterior surface 114 of the handle portion contains a recess 120 in which the finger bed 104 is arranged. The handle portion further contains notches or second recesses 122 to support the finger bed.
The finger bed 104 differs somewhat from the finger bed 4 of the preferred embodiment. It has a generally triangular configuration with a concave upper surface 124 corresponding with the front contour of the handle portion. The front surface of the finger bed contains a tapered recess 126 extending from the concave upper surface toward the bottom portion of the finger bed. The finger bed further includes left side 128 and right side 130 surfaces from which a pair of nubs or stubs 132, respectively, extend along a finger bed axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle. The stubs are configured to fit within the corresponding recesses 122 in the handle portion to swing freely within the recesses so that the finger bed pivots about the finger bed axis toward or away from the handle portion.
The finger bed 104 further includes a tab or projection 134 which extends outwardly from the left side surface 128 to define a channel 144 intermediate the top and bottom portions thereof. A drive assembly for pivoting the finger bed relative to the handle portion is arranged in handle portion.
The drive assembly includes a link 146 which is shown in
As shown in
While the preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the inventive concepts set forth above.
