TECHNICAL FIELD
The apparatus described herein relates generally to an attachment to a compound archery bowstring or cable, collectively called a bow cord, in particular an improved structure and mechanism for attaching an attachment to a bow cord utilizing a constriction of the opposing bundles of fibers of a split bow cord to retain the apparatus.
BACKGROUND
A compound archery bow typically includes a pair of pulleys, with at least one of the pulleys having a cam surface to provide a mechanical advantage while drawing the bow. Typically, an archer will purchase a bow at a Pro shop and frequently return the bow for tuning and maintenance. Once a bow (used or new) is purchased, there is a need to place a peep within the bowstring. The peep will have to be adjusted to correct eye level before the archer can see the pins attached to the bow sight. After the peep is adjusted to the correct eye level, the peep must be secured within the bowstring.
A bowstring may consist of up to twenty or more strands of string to make a complete bowstring. Approximately one-half of the total bowstring will follow a groove on the peep, while the other half will follow the groove on the other side of the peep. If not properly secured, with BCY, or other string material, the peep will move with ease, or fly forward independently of the bowstring once shot. The serving process takes time and skill. Usually, Pro Shops do this process as a customer service associated with the purchase of a new bow. The same process occurs when tying in a cord that attaches between the drop away rest and cable. Each time this process occurs, it costs both the customer and dealer time and money.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The embodiments described in this disclosure enable an archer to secure an eye piece, referred to as a peep sight, or simply a peep, on a bowstring without having to “serve” or secure it to the bowstring. The embodiments described are applicable to both bowstrings and bow cables. In this disclosure, a reference to a bow cord therefore may be considered as being applicable to a bowstring or a bow cable.
With the inventive concepts disclosed herein, there is no longer a need to serve or clamp a peep, or any other apparatus mounted on a bow cord (bowstring or cable). The bowstring or cable generally is divided or split in half into two bundles of fibers, with one side following the channel or string path on one side of the peep, and the other follows the same on the other side. A series of pegs extends outward and forms a travel path, causing a taught bowstring or cable to wrap on each peg, so the string or cable no longer is linear, and the other side doing the same. The non-linear travel path in the channels constricts the peep sight and restricts its movement. While the term peg is used, any substrate or other projection that changes the course of a taut bowstring, or cable, within the channel can be used within the scope of the invention.
The device is inserted into the bowstring or cable when the bow limbs are collapsed such as by a bow press, removing tension on the cable and string. The peep can then move freely due to no constriction between the bowstring and the pegs. After the bow limbs have been released, the string tightens and effectively wraps in the channels of the pegs, securing the peep in place.
The constriction of the parted bowstring wrapping around the pegs or any substrate that deflects or changes the natural course of a taut bowstring or cable, will hold any apparatus from moving up or down on the bowstring or cable. In addition to a peep being secured by a peg or similar substrate, a speed weight, kisser button, d-loop, or any apparatus, may also be secured by the deterrent pegs located on the peripheral edge of the aperture, or incorporated in the stem(s).
Another use for this securing device is to secure a drop-away rest cord to the bow cable. Common current designs require that the drop-away rest cord be served-in, or crimped by a clam with a screw, to secure the position of the drop-away rest cord to the cable. The other option is to serve the end of the drop-away cord to the cable. This is very time consuming and requires experimentation to get the correct length of cord necessary to activate the drop-away rest. The need to quickly install a peep, weight, or drop-away rest cord is paramount for the end user or employee of the Pro Shop in terms of time, money, and functionality. With the design described here, the bow cord (bow string or cable) weaves through the captured device in one or more deflection points, and holds in place, any apparatus deemed necessary to aid the archer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a side perspective showing various embodiments in an archery environment.
FIG. 2 is a detail view taken from FIG. 1 of a peep sight attached to a bowstring with an archer's line of sight indicated;
FIG. 3 is a detail view taken from FIG. 1 of a knotting device attached to a bow cable;
FIGS. 4-13 show various views of the Drop-away rest cable knotting device;
FIG. 4 is a right-side view of the knotting device;
FIG. 5 is a left-side view of the knotting device;
FIG. 6 is a top view of the knotting device;
FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the knotting device;
FIG. 8 is a front view of the knotting device;
FIG. 9 is a back view of the knotting device;
FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the knotting device;
FIG. 11 is a top view showing the portions of the split cable laid into respective grooves of the knotting device;
FIG. 12 is a right view of the split cable laid into respective grooves of the knotting device;
FIG. 13 is an isometric view of the split cable laid into respective grooves of the knotting device;
FIGS. 14-20 shows various views of a peep-sighting device;
FIG. 14 is a right side view of the peep-sighting device;
FIG. 15 is a left side view of the peep-sighting device;
FIG. 16 is a top view of the peep-sighting device;
FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the peep-sighting device;
FIG. 18 is a front view of the peep-sighting device;
FIG. 19 is a back view of the peep-sighting device;
FIG. 20 is an isometric view of the peep-sighting device;
FIGS. 21-23 show a peep-sighting device showing the string path followed by a pair of strands of a bowstring weaving between pegs attached to peep-sighting device;
FIG. 21 is a top view of the split bowstring laid into respective grooves of the peep-sighting device;
FIG. 22 is a right side view of the split bowstring laid into respective grooves of the peep-sighting device;
FIG. 23 is an isometric view of the split cable laid into respective grooves of the peep-sighting device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Particular features and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with one or more of the accompanying FIGS. 1-23 of the figures:
The following Reference Numbers may be used in conjunction with one or more of the accompanying FIGS. 1-23 of the figures.
- 100 bow
- 110 bow cord
- 120 bowstring
- 122 bowstring first strand
- 124 bowstring second strand
- 130 bow cable
- 132 bow cable first strand
- 134 bow cable second strand
- 300 peep-sighting device
- 310 bowstring offset peg
- 320 bowstring adjacent offset peg
- 350 peep-sighting device aperture
- 352 peep-sighting device body
- 360 peep-sighting device string grooves
- 364 peep-sighting device first side string path
- 366 peep-sighting device second path
- 400 knotting device
- 402 knotting device body
- 410 bow cable offset peg
- 414 knotting device first side string path
- 416 knotting device second side string path
- 420 adjacent bow cable offset peg
- 450 drop-away rest
- 480 drop-away rest cord
A bow 100 as used in archery is depicted in the side perspective view of FIG. 1. The system as shown includes various accessory devices attached to bow cords 110. The focus of this discussion will be on the attachment mechanism by which the accessory devices are connected to the bow cords 110, which is generically used to reference both a bowstring 120 used to propel an arrow, or a bow cable 130 which is used to tension the bow.
FIG. 1, shows an archer drawing a bowstring 120. A peep sight 300 is positioned in the bowstring 120. A knotting device 400 is attached to bow cable 130. A drop-away rest 450 attached to the bow 100 supports an arrow as the archer prepares to draw the bowstring 120. An accessory cord 480 provided as a drop-away rest cord, is connected at one end to the drop-away rest 450. The other end of the accessory cord 480 ties into a knotting device 400 (FIG. 3) which is attached
to the bow cable. The knotting device is positioned between the opposing strand bundles 132, 134 of the bow cable.
As the archer draws the bowstring 120 the bow cable 130 moves downward taking with it the knotting device 400 which pulls the accessory cord 480 downward causing the drop-away rest 450 to drop support away from the arrow. This allows the arrow fletching to clear the forks of the rest to avoid all contact between the arrow fletching and the rest so as to not impede the arrow's flight path at the time the bowstring 120 is released. After the bowstring is released, the bow cable 130 retreats upward and the drop-away rest 450 is allowed to flatten parallel to the riser shelf.
Each of the knotting device and peep, as well as other accessory attachments can be constructed with features that cause the strands of a split cord to adopt a wave pattern between the features. When the cord is taught, such as when removed from a bow press, the tension of the cord against the projections in a wave (or S-shape) on each side of the apparatus retains the apparatus between the opposing strands of the split cord. The tension in a typical bow cord is high enough to securely retain the device due to the increased friction of the bow string against the pegs/projections.
As can be seen in FIGS. 3-13 the knotting devices 400 described above is attached to the bow cord 130 by a specialized attachment device. The knotting device 400 is attached to the bow cord 130. In each of these cases the attachment is secured by a special connector of the present design. For installation of a knotting device or other device according to the inventive concepts disclosed herein, generally the bow cord is split into two strand bundles, 132, 134 usually containing an equal numbers of strands, and the knotting device 400 is set into the opening between the split portions of bow cord material.
FIGS. 4, 5 are the right side view and left side view of the knotting device 400. These figures depict bow cable offset pegs that interrupt the linear travel of the opposing strands 132, 134 of the bow cable 130. Depicted are 4 pegs 410, 420 on each opposing edge or side that offset the linear bow cable formation by deflecting the bow cable or string downward or upward as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5. The terms downward and upward are relative terms used when the device is shown in the orientation of FIG. 1, and generally refer to the deflection of the string up or down relative to the peg projections. Once the bow cord has formed a wave formation due to the offset pegs, the connector 400 will become stationary on the bow cord. In the depicted embodiments the pegs forming the projections are static. However, the apparatus can be configured with dynamic pegs that are forced into position to force the bow cord to adopt a wave configuration after the device has been secured to the split strands.
FIGS. 6-7 are a top and bottom view of the knotting device 400. As depicted there are 8 offset projections having grooves that cause the string to make a wave configuration (alternatively referred to as an s-shape), and the effect is the knotting device 400 becomes stationary and retained on the bow cord 130. The pegs and grooves therein form a first side cord path 414 and a second side cord path 416. The channel or travel path of each of the split bundle of fibers is formed in or on opposing sides of the body 402 of the knotting device, between each of the offset projections. The projections extend perpendicular to the parallel edges of the knotting device. The opposing projections force the cable to a wave configuration in which the cable wraps around each projection.
FIGS. 8-9 are the front and back view of the knotting device 400. Depicted are offset peg grooves 410, 420 that deflect and offset the bow cord 130. This secures the knotting device 400 on the bow cord 130. In the depicted embodiment the grooves are U-shaped.
FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the bow string connector. Depicted are eight (8) offset grooved pegs 410, 420 designed for the purpose of deflecting a linear bow cord in an offset configuration. Once the bow cord is tight, the bow cord will no longer be linear but will offset causing the knotting device to be static.
FIGS. 11-13 depict a top, right side, isometric view of a knotting device 400
encompassing a bow cord 130. Depicted in FIGS. 11-13 are offset grooved pegs 410, 420 which cause the bow cord to offset its natural linear course. The bow cord is split into two strand bundles 132, 134 with the knotting device positioned between the two strand bundles. The two opposing strand bundles are positioned within the first side cord travel path and the second side cord travel path.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, an archer draws a bowstring 120 to look through a peep sight to aim the bow. A peep sight 300 includes an aperture serving as a sight bore 350 to provide the archer with a line of sight 380 directly through the middle of the bowstring 120 and looking typically at a sight pin for aiming the bow.
FIG. 2 depicts a closeup side view of a peep-sighting device 300 held in place by a split bowstring 120.
FIGS. 14-20 show a standalone peep-sighting device 300 with various perspectives.
FIGS. 14-15 show a right side and left side view depicting 4 offset pegs 310, 312 on each side of peep-sighting device 300. The offset pegs 310, 320 deter a linear positioning of the bowstring 120 when tight, and once the bow is relaxed in a bow press device. In the depicted embodiment the parallel edges are formed as legs extending from the peep body. Alternate embodiments can be utilized with the edges and peep body associated in alternate configurations.
FIGS. 16-17 show the top and bottom view of the peep-sighting device 300. Depicted are two through holes 360 which deter the linear position of the bowstring as seen on FIG. 22. FIGS. 16-17 depict top and bottom view of offset pegs 310, 320 attached to peep-sighting device. An aperture 350 is formed in the body 352 of the peep sighting device to allow a line of sight of the target.
FIGS. 18-19 show the front and back view of the peep-sighting device 300. Depicted are 8 bowstring offset pegs 310, 320 (four (4) on each side) to deviate the linear position of the bowstring 120 as seen in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22. The bowstring is weaved through these pegs for the purpose of securing the peep-sighting device in place. When the bow limbs are released from a press, the limbs apply tension to the string, securing the device in place.
The pegs or projections form a first cord path 364, in this instance a bowstring path, and a second cord path 366 on opposite sides of the peep sighting device.
FIG. 20 shows an isometric view of the peep-sighting device 300. Attached to the peep-sighting device 300 are offset bowstring pegs 310, 320. An aperture 350 is for the purpose of identifying the target.
FIGS. 21-23 show the top, left side, isometric view of the peep fighting device encompassing the string 120. The peep sighting device is positioned so as to split the bowstring into a bowstring first strand bundle 122 and a bowstring second strand bundle 124. The offset bowstring pegs 310, 320 force each strand bundle 122, 124 of the bowstring to deviate from a linear line position. An aperture 350 is depicted in FIGS. 21, 23.