The disclosure relates generally to an archery release used for releasing an arrow from a bowstring, and in particular to an thumb trigger-type archery release with an adjustable trigger position.
Archery releases hold a bowstring while an archer is pulling on the release to draw the bowstring. The archery release enables the archer to smoothly and consistently draw back the bowstring and release the bowstring for consistent and repeatable arrow flight.
A trigger-type archery release includes a trigger mechanism having an exposed trigger that typically actuate a hook or jaws operably connected to the trigger mechanism. The archer engages the trigger with a finger of the hand holding the archery release to disengage the bowstring.
A thumb trigger-type archery release includes a body, an exposed thumb trigger spaced from the body, and a release mechanism operatively connecting the thumb trigger to the hook or jaws.
Thumb trigger-type archery releases typically include a thumb trigger adjustment mechanism that enables an archer to adjust the position of the thumb trigger. A thumb trigger adjustment mechanism incorporates multiple parts and multiple screws and set screws. These multiple parts and screws address one adjustment of the thumb trigger at a time: adjust the distance of the thumb trigger from the body, adjust the angle/sweep of the thumb trigger, adjust the rotation or angular position of the thumb trigger, and the like.
It is desirable to have a thumb trigger adjustment mechanism for a thumb trigger-type archery release that is more convenient, simplifies the adjustment process, and is easier for the archer to use.
Disclosed is a thumb trigger adjustment mechanism for a thumb trigger-type archery release that is a unified thumb trigger adjustment mechanism. The disclosed thumb trigger adjustment mechanism simplifies the process of adjusting the thumb trigger on a handheld archery release and is easier and more convenient for the archer to use.
The disclosed thumb trigger adjustment mechanism allows for simultaneous adjustments of the thumb trigger at the same time. The disclosed thumb trigger adjustment mechanism has only one screw that enables multiple adjustments at once. The archer will position the thumb trigger at the selected length, angle and rotation and then tighten only the one screw. This one screw grips a rod or pin that holds the thumb trigger in a way that fixes the thumb trigger to effectuate the multiple adjustments at once. The disclosed thumb trigger adjustment mechanism is also ambidextrous for use by either right-handed or left-handed archers.
The one screw of the disclosed thumb trigger adjustment mechanism, when tightened, draws the rod against the trigger body gripping the rod that holds the thumb trigger. The rod in variant embodiments may be a knurled rod that is made of a harder material than the surrounding material so when tightened down the knurls will dig-in and lock the position of the rod.
The disclosed thumb trigger adjustment mechanism simplifies the process of positioning the thumb trigger for the archer and also greatly reduces the parts typically needed for providing thumb trigger adjustments, simplifying manufacture and reducing cost.
Other objects and features of the disclosure will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing sheets illustrating one or more illustrative embodiments.
The trigger arm 22 forms part of a release mechanism that operatively connects the trigger 20 to a movable hook 24. The trigger arm 22 shown separately in
The trigger 20 is connected to the trigger arm end portion 26. by a thumb trigger adjustment mechanism. The thumb trigger adjustment mechanism includes a through-hole 28 formed in the lower free end portion of the trigger arm 22 as seen in
The thumb post adapter 30 is shown in
The central tubular portion 38 of the thumb post adapter 30 is received into one side of the trigger arm through hole 28 and extends through the through hole 28 to locate the open end 44 of the thumb post flush or just short of flush with the other side of the trigger arm through hole 28. The set screw 32 is received from the other side of the trigger arm through hole 28 and threadingly engages and is thread into the threaded bore 42 of the thumb post adapter 30 and clamps and mounts the thumb post adapter to the trigger arm end portion 26.
The knurled rod 34 extends through and is closely received in the radial through hole 46 of the thumb post adapter and extends away from the thumb post adapter to the trigger 20. The rod 34 is used to locate and orient the trigger 20 with respect the trigger arm 22 as will be discussed later below.
The trigger 20 is shown separately in
To fix the position of the trigger 20 relative to the trigger arm 22, the set screw 32 is screwed into the thumb post adapter 30 to tightly and releasably clamp the thumb post adapter 30 against the trigger arm 22. The rod 34 is sandwiched between the collar 40 and the trigger arm 22 and is pressed against the trigger arm 22. Static friction, generated by the normal force applied to the rod 34 against the trigger arm 22 and the thumb post adapter 30, resists translation and rotation of the rod 34 in the radial through hole 46 of the thumb post adapter 30 thereby fixing the distance from and the relative angular orientation of the trigger 20 to the thumb post adapter 30. Friction also resists rotation of the thumb post adapter 30 in the trigger arm through hole 28, thereby fixing the angular position of the trigger 20 about the center line of the trigger arm through hole 28. The trigger 20 is effectively fixed in position relative to the trigger arm. See
To adjust the position of the trigger 20 relative to the trigger arm 22, the set screw 32 is loosened sufficiently to allow the rod 34 to rotate and translate in the radial though hole 46 of the thumb post adapter 39. This enables adjusting the distance of the trigger 20 from the thumb post adapter 30 and the relative angular position of the trigger 30 about the longitudinal axis of the rod 34. Loosening the set screw 32 also enables the thumb post adapter 30 to rotate in the trigger arm through hole 28 for positioning the angular position of the trigger 20 about the center line of the trigger arm through hole 28.
Once the thumb 20 is positioned by the archer as desired with respect to spacing from the thumb post adapter 30 and angular orientations about the rod 34 and the trigger arm through hole 28, the set screw 32 is re-tightened to fix this position of the trigger 20 with respect to the trigger arm 22.
The illustrated thumb trigger adjustment mechanism utilizes a set screw and internally threaded thumb post adapter to releasably clamp the thumb post adapter 30 against the free arm 22. Alternatively, the tubular portion 38 of the thumb post adapter 30 can be replaced with a solid cylindrical portion 38 as illustrated in
The disclosed thumb trigger adjustment mechanism enables fast and convenient positioning of the trigger by loosening and tightening only one fastening member such as the set screw 32 or the nut 50.
While this disclosure includes one or more illustrative embodiments described in detail, it is understood that the one or more embodiments are each capable of modification and that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to the precise details set forth herein but include such modifications that would be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art including (but not limited to) changes in material selection, size, operating ranges, environment of use, as well as such changes and alterations that fall within the purview of the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/838,352 “Archery Release with Unified Thumb Trigger Adjustment” filed Apr. 25, 2020, which priority application is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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6205991 | Summers | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6651642 | Powers | Nov 2003 | B1 |
7581536 | Porter | Sep 2009 | B2 |
7926475 | Jones | Apr 2011 | B2 |
10281231 | Springer | May 2019 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62838352 | Apr 2019 | US |