Patent Grant
8387608
The present invention relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for controlling and/or selecting for activation one or more accessory devices for an archery apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to circuitry for controlling and/or selecting for activation one or more electrical accessory devices for a compound archery bow.
Various disclosed embodiments (i.e., one, some, or all) of the present invention relate to a compound archery bow comprising: a bow string; and an elongate body operatively coupled to the bow string. The body can include an integrated selector, a grip portion having an integrated momentary switch, an integrated electrically conductive stabilizer mounting port, and a plurality of integrated electrically conductive ports. The selector can be electrically connected between the momentary switch and each of the electrically conductive stabilizer mount port and the plurality of electrically conductive ports, wherein electrical connectors from the momentary switch to the selector and from the selector to each of the electrically conductive stabilizer mount port and the plurality of electrically conductive ports are disposed substantially within the body. In various embodiments, each of the electrically conductive stabilizer mount port and the plurality of electrically conductive ports provides an electrical coupling for respective electrical accessory devices for electrical connection to the selector by way of respective electrical connectors. The selector is configured to selectively couple the momentary switch to one or more of the integrated conductive stabilizer mounting port and the plurality of integrated electrically conductive ports, and the momentary switch is configured to be activated so as to provide power to the selectively coupled one or more of the integrated conductive stabilizer mounting port and the plurality of integrated electrically conductive ports.
Various embodiments also include an archery apparatus comprising: a bow string; and a body operatively coupled to the bow string. The body can include a selecting device, a grip portion having a switching device, and one or more accessory ports. The selecting device can be electrically connected between the switching device and each of the one or more accessory ports, with respective electrical connections connecting the switching device to the selecting device and the selecting device to each of the one or more accessory ports. Each of the accessory ports providing an electrical coupling for respective electrical accessory devices for electrical connection to the selecting device by way of respective electrical connections. The selecting device is configured to selectively couple the switching device to the one or more accessory ports, and the switching device is configured to be activated so as to provide power to the selectively coupled one or more accessory ports. Furthermore, the selecting device can comprise visual indicators of the selected one or more accessory ports, the switching device is configured to be activated by a user of the archery apparatus, the activation of the switching device providing power to respective electrical accessory devices coupled to associated ones of the selectively coupled one or more accessory ports, and the power can be provided from an internal power source, internal to the body of the archery apparatus.
Various embodiments also can include a system for controlling activation of one or more accessory devices electrically coupled to an archery apparatus. For example, the system can comprise means for controlling power supplied to said one or more of said accessory devices for activation thereof; and means for coupling to a first external body portion of the archery apparatus said means for controlling power. Optionally, the system can further comprise means for selecting said one or more accessory devices for activation thereof; and means for coupling to a second external body portion of the archery apparatus said means for selecting said one or more accessory devices for activation. Said means for controlling power can include connection means for removably electrically connecting to said means for selecting said one or more accessory devices for activation, said connection means being exposed from the body of the archery apparatus.
Various embodiments can also include a method comprising: coupling at least one device having an electrical component to a receptacle for use with a compound bow, such that the device is electrically coupled to at least one of a momentary switch and a selector; and activating one or both of the momentary switch and the selector to provide power to the electrical component of the device. Optionally, the method can comprise coupling at least one of the momentary switch and the selector to a body of a compound bow.
The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. The disclosed subject matter will be best understood by reading the ensuing specification in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like elements are designated by like reference numerals, and wherein:
Generally speaking, various embodiments of the present invention involve an archery apparatus, such as an archery bow used for hunting game, for example, wherein the archery apparatus can provide for user control and/or activation of one or more electrical or electronic accessory devices coupled to the apparatus, either substantially permanently or removably. The archery apparatus can be “configured” and/or “reconfigured” by coupling thereto any suitable electrical or electronic accessory device. Various embodiments can comprise, for example, an integrated momentary switch mounted on the grip of the archery apparatus so that a user can activate any electrical or electronic device mounted on the archery apparatus with a touch of a button, while at full draw, for instance.
For example,
Compound bow 100 can comprise a body having an upper limb 102, a lower limb 104, a riser 106, a grip 108, a stabilizer mounting port 110, and an arrow rest 112. The physical arrangement and shapes of the aforementioned features can be such as shown in
Optionally, stabilizer mounting port 110 can be an electrically conductive mounting port connected to circuitry integrated into the body of the compound bow 100 and for connection to electrical or electronic accessory devices, such as a stabilizing light. Such an electrically conductive mounting support can provide both mechanical and electrical coupling for one or more electrical or electronic accessory devices configured to be coupled mechanically and electrically thereto.
Optionally, various embodiments of compound bow 100 also can have a momentary switch 202, one or more accessory mounts 204, and one or more electrical ports 206. Optionally or alternatively, compound bow 100 can have a selector 208. Optionally, compound bow 100 can have one or more power supplies (not explicitly shown) integrated in the body of the compound bow 100.
Momentary switch 202 can be of any suitable configuration, including configurations capable of being depressed or otherwise “switched” by a user of the compound bow 100 (e.g., a continuity switch). Momentary switch 202 can be integrated or formed essentially in one piece with the body of the compound bow 100, for example, during the manufacturing process. Furthermore, momentary switch 202 can be provided at any suitable location on the body of the compound bow 100. Generally speaking, momentary switch 202 can be arranged on the body of the compound bow 100 at a position where a user may access the momentary switch 202 at particular instances, such as when the user is “shooting” or “aiming” the compound bow 100, using the compound bow 100 for guidance or tracking purposes (e.g., activating a flashlight coupled to the bow and switch), etc. Incidentally, momentary switch 202 can be arranged on either side of the body of the compound bow 100, depending on the “handedness” (i.e., left or right “handed”) of the compound bow 100.
In various embodiments, momentary switch 202 can be used to control or activate one or more accessory devices coupled to the compound bow 100 (devices not shown in
Momentary switch 202 can be operative in any suitable way for making and breaking electrical contact. For example, momentary switch 202 can operate such that when activated, by a user of the compound bow 100, for example, the momentary switch 202 makes contact for a set time period and then automatically releases, after a delay (which can be set and/or adjusted by the manufacturer or the user), to open the circuit, regardless of whether the switch is “held down” or released. Such feature can be advantageous in that the user may not have to concentrate on holding down the button, for example, while aiming or shooting. Alternatively, momentary switch 202 can remain closed as long as the user holds or pushes down a button or otherwise activates a mechanism associated with activation of the momentary switch 202.
In various embodiments, momentary switch 202 can be electrically coupled to the stabilizer mounting port 110 (if the stabilizer mounting port 110 is of the conductive type), to one or more of the accessory mounts 204 (if of the conductive type), and/or to the one or more electrical ports 206. In various embodiments, the electrical connections or connectors (e.g., circuitry, such as wires, contacts, switches, etc.) between the momentary switch 202 and the stabilizer mounting port 110, the one or more accessory mounts 204, and the one or more electrical ports 206 can be integrated into or within the body of the compound bow 100. That is to the say, in various embodiments, substantially none of the electrical connections or connectors can be seen in plain view. Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention provide internal connectivity.
Momentary switch 202 can be used to control or activate one or more electrical or electronic accessory devices electrically coupled thereto. For example, activation and deactivation of the momentary switch 202 can control a signal, power, voltage, or current supplied to a light electrical accessory device, such as a stabilizing light electrically accessory device, electrically and mechanically coupled to stabilizer mounting port 110. Incidentally, a stabilizing light electrical accessory device can be mechanically and/or electrically coupled to the momentary switch 202 by a threaded female receptacle or boss in the body of the compound bow 100, for example, the same as or similar to receptacles used for coupling of a stabilizer bar to the compound bow 100. In various embodiments that are comprised of momentary switch 202 without selector 208, activation of the momentary switch 202 may control and/or activate all or some of the electrical or electronic accessory devices electrically coupled to the body of the compound bow 100. Control and/or activation can include supplying a power source, such as power, voltage, or current to one or more accessory devices. Optionally, control and/or activation can include providing a signal, control or otherwise, to one or more of the accessory devices.
As mentioned above, optionally or alternatively, compound bow 100 can have a selector 208. Though the term “selector” has been used to describe element 208, its function is not limited to “selecting.” For example, selector 208 may be manipulated to control one or more of the electrical or electronic accessory devices electrically coupled to it. As but one example, after activation of a video camera (using the momentary switch 202 and/or the selector 208), selector 208 may be manipulated, by the user, to stop recording, pause recording, zoom in, zoom out, etc. Other electrical or electronic accessory devices can be controlled in a similar fashion, based on their respective characteristics.
Selector 208 can be integrated with the body of the compound bow 100, for example, during the manufacturing process. Optionally, selector 208 can be electrically coupled between momentary switch 202 and each electrical port 206 and each accessory mount 204 that is also an electrical conductor. Selector 208 can allow none, only one, only some, or all electrical or electronic accessory devices electrically coupled to the body of the compound bow 100 to be operated or controlled at one time or substantially simultaneously. Thus, momentary switch 202 can be electrically coupled directly to each electrical or electronic accessory device or can be routed through selector 208 for selectively controlling the electrical or electronic accessory devices electrically coupled to the body of the compound bow 100.
Selector 208 can be of any suitable configuration, such as one or more pushbuttons, levers, etc. Selector 208 in the dashed box ‘A’ in
In an alternative embodiment, selector 208 can replace completely momentary switch 202. Thus, electronic or electrical accessory devices coupled to the body of the compound bow 100 can be controlled and/or activated based on only selector 208. Selector 208 can provide a signal, such as a control signal, and/or power to one or more of the selected electrical or electronic accessory devices.
The one or more accessory mounts 204 can be of any suitable configuration, such as a male, female, or combination male/female mount for mechanically and/or electrically coupling various electrical or electronic accessory devices to the body of the compound bow 100. Each individual accessory mount 204 can be integrated or formed essentially in one piece with the body of the compound bow 100, for example, during the manufacturing process.
The one or more electrical ports 206 can be of any suitable configuration, such as a male, female, or combination male/female receptacle for electrically coupling various electrical or electronic accessory devices to the body of the compound bow 100. Each electrical port 206 can be integrated or formed essentially in one piece with the body of the compound bow 100, for example, during the manufacturing process.
In various embodiments, one of said electrical ports 206 may be associated with a corresponding accessory mount 204. For example, a non-conductive accessory mount 204 may be for physically or mechanically coupling a particular electrical or electronic accessory device to the body of the compound bow 100 and an electrical connection for the electrical or electronic accessory device may be provided by the corresponding electrical port 206. In such embodiments, the electrical coupling means (e.g., a wire) from the accessory device to the electrical port 206 may be visible in plain view, with an end of the coupling means being plugged into, for example, the electrical port 206.
In various embodiments, the compound bow 100 can have one or more power supplies for supplying power to various electrical or electronic accessory devices. Each of the power supplies can be integral with the body of the compound bow 100 (e.g., arranged in a hollow portion of the body), or can be electrically and mechanically coupled to the body of the compound bow 100, for example, by using one or more mounts 204 and corresponding one or more of the electrical ports 206. Thus, various embodiments of the present invention can have power supplied to momentary switch 202 and/or selector 208, and consequentially to the mounts 204 of the electrically conductive type and electrical ports 206, and to the corresponding electrical or electronic accessory devices based on an external or internal power supply. Optionally, the power supply can come from one or more of the electrical or electronic accessory devices electrically coupled to the body of the compound bow 100. Optionally, the momentary switch 202 and/or selector 208 may provide a ground path for a power supply provided on the electrical or electronic accessory devices electrically coupled to the body of the compound bow 100. Optionally or alternatively, the compound bow 100 may have one or more solar panels to charge a battery integral with or affixed to the body of the compound bow 100, the battery in this case being the power supply or an alternative (e.g., backup) power supply for the various electrical or electronic accessory devices.
Applicants' invention is not limited to the specific compound bow 100 configuration shown in
Electronic or electrical accessory devices for coupling to an archery apparatus according to various embodiments, such as compound bow 100, can include any suitable devices, such as for safety or for providing information to a user in real time. Such electronic or electrical devices can include a stabilizing light, a spot light (where legal), a video recorder (e.g., a camcorder operated on a closed or open circuit), a photographic camera (including combined video/photographic devices), an audio enhancement pickup device, a fishing reel (e.g., for bow fishing), a game call, a range finder, a sight, an electric motor-driven device, etc. Optionally, a range finder device implemented with the archery apparatus according to various embodiments can provide for one touch integrated range finding at full draw with LED display. Furthermore, sights that use lights, for example, can be implemented with the archery apparatus according to various embodiments such that the lights of the sight are activated only when needed, with a touch of the momentary switch 202 and/or selector 208. Such features can save battery life and eliminate extra movement in a tree stand, for example. Optionally, a range finder and a sight device may be a fully integrated system, whereby the range finder can compute distances to various objects and relay the information to an electronic sight that delivers accurate sight pin placement. In various embodiments, momentary switch 202 and/or selector 208 can assist with relaying information to the electronic sight.
Typically, the stabilizing light 300 would attach to the stabilizing mounting port 110 of the compound bow 100. As mentioned earlier, in various embodiments, all or substantially all conductivity points can be integrated within the bow body, which can mean no or substantially no external wiring or cords.
When installed, the stabilizing light 300 can be operated by pressing the momentary switch 202, for example. In various embodiments, the stabilizing light 300 can be functional to provide a light source when it is coupled to the stabilizer mounting port 110, or, in alternative embodiments, when not coupled thereto, since, in various embodiments the stabilizing light 300 can have its own power source (e.g., batteries). In the case where it is used while decoupled from the compound bow 100, on/off switch 306 can be used for controlling output of light. Stabilizing light 300 can be removed and replaced with a conventional stabilizer without alterations to the compound bow 100.
Generally speaking, the non-integral system 400 can function in the same manner as the integral system described above with respect to
System 400 also is non-integral in the sense that an electrical connection or connections 403 (e.g., a connector wire, wires, or cabling) from momentary switch 402 to the selector 408 (if implemented) or directly to an electrical or electronic accessory device coupled to the body of the compound bow is exposed. Similarly, respective electrical connections 451 from selector 408 to one or more of the electronic accessory devices 4501-n coupled to the body of the compound bow are exposed.
Momentary switch 402 can be removably coupled at any suitable position on the body of the bow, by any suitable means, such as at grip 108 via hook-and-loop fasteners 404, for example. In terms of electrical functionality, momentary switch 402 can function substantially the same as momentary switch 202 described above. Momentary switch 402, however, can be configured for direct electrical connection to an electrical or electronic accessory device (for example, devices 4501-n in
Selector 408 can be removably coupled at any suitable position on the body of the bow, by any suitable means, such as below or above grip 108 via hook-and-loop fasteners, for example (not shown). In terms of electrical functionality, selector 408 functions substantially the same as selector 208 described above. Selector 408, however, can be configured for direct electrical connection from one or more electrical or electronic accessory devices (devices 4501-n in
As an example of an electronic or electrical accessory device 450 for use in system 400, can be a female stabilizing coupling or boss 4501 that is tapped 455 for receiving a stabilizer light (or a stabilizer) and configured with a threaded rod 457 such that it can be threaded into a stabilizer mounting port, such as that described above with respect to
Method 500 can begin at S502 and proceed to S504, whereby either (1) a momentary switch and/or a selector are coupled to the body of an archery apparatus; or (2) one or more electronic or electrical accessory devices are coupled to a momentary switch and/or a selector of the archery apparatus. The one or more electronic or electrical accessory devices can be electrically coupled to the momentary switch and/or selector. If (1), the method can proceed to S506, whereby one or more electronic or electrical accessory devices can be coupled to the momentary switch and/or a selector. As discussed hereinabove, the one or more electronic or electrical accessory devices can be electrically coupled to the momentary switch and/or selector. In either case, the method can then proceed to S508, whereby an optional step of setting, operating, or otherwise activating or using the selector (if optionally implemented) to select which electrical or electronic devices to control, operate, or activate. After either S506 or optional S508, at S510 the momentary switch can be operated or activated to control or activate one or more electronic or electrical accessory devices coupled thereto or one or more electronic or electrical accessory devices selected using the selector. The method can then proceed to S512 where the method ends.
While the invention(s) has/have been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations would be or are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, Applicants intend to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and variations that are within the spirit and scope of the invention(s) described herein.
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| Entry |
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| Non-Final Office Action dated Nov. 26, 2012 received in U.S. Appl. No. 12/874,941. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20110277737 A1 | Nov 2011 | US |
