Bow holster

Abstract

A holster for a compound bow comprising a body-fitting curvilinear backing plate with a structure for affixing the plate to the hunter's body and having mounted thereon a diagonally disposed tubular member to receive the stabilizer of the bow, the tubular element having a notch in the upper portion of the tubular element extending from the upper terminus of the tubular element transversely across the tubular element in the direction of the width of the backing plate, the notch receiving the riser portion of the bow to which the bow stabilizer is attached. In a preferred embodiment, the backing plate has a tab extending from its bottom portion and the tubular element is connected in a rotational and locking relationship on a spacer situated on the tab.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to the field of hunting accessories. More particularly, the invention relates to carrying devices for securing a bow to a hunter's body for easy transport and use, as well as securing the bow to a tree stand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The sport of bow hunting has gained a great deal of popularity in recent years. All states have special hunting seasons for bow hunting. The hunter who chooses to use a bow and arrows must carry the bow and arrows, and the other equipment into the woods. Unlike gun hunters, bow hunters often hunt from tree stands, which puts a premium on balance and keeping hands free. Therefore, there is a need for a method of keeping the hunter's hands free as he proceeds through the woods or climbs to the stand, yet have the bow immediately available when the prey appears. Various carrying devices for bows are described in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,103,807; 4,121,743; 5,239,976; 5,697,537; and 5,816,461. The bow rest and support of the devices of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,121,743 and 5,697,537 utilize a holster mechanism that attaches to the hunter's body. However, these devices suffer the deficiency of not adequately securing the bow.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0004] The holster of this invention comprises a rigid curvilinear backing plate having means for anchoring the plate to the waist of the hunter, for example, slots to receive a belt or a flange extending rearwardly from the backing plate that snaps over the waist of the hunter's pants. The curvilinear backing plate is preferably contoured to lay comfortably about the side of the hunter's waist. Disposed diagonally across the front face of the backing plate, extending from an upper to lower portion of the front face, is a tubular element sufficient in size to receive the stabilizer of the bow; the tubular element having a notch, preferably U-shaped, in the upper portion of the tubular element extending from the upper terminus of the tubular element transversely across the tubular element in the direction of the width of the backing plate, the notch receiving the riser portion of the bow to which the bow stabilizer is attached; the notch acting to stabilize the bow against rotation about the hunter's torso. The subject holster differs from other known bow holsters in securing the bow snugly to the waist.

[0005] Further, in a first embodiment, the backing plate is constructed to accommodate the tubular member positioned for either a right or left handed hunter, the tubular element being rotated across the vertical axis of the backing plate (axis when the backing plate is positioned on hunter's hip).

[0006] In a further embodiment of the holster of this invention, and representing a preferred form of the holster, there is a tab portion extending from the bottom portion of the backing plate of the holster; the tab portion terminating in arm portions extending substantially parallel to the long dimension of the backing plate; the tab bearing a spacer element on its outer face. Affixed diagonally across the spacer element is a notched tubular element for receiving the stabilizer of the bow. Additionally, the tubular element may be attached to the spacer element through a swivel system that allows the tubular element to be rotated and locked at varying angles. A further additional feature of this preferred embodiment is that the notched end of the tubular element may be angled slightly away from the backing plate. Finally, a strap may extend from the arms at the base of the tab that allows the base of the holster to be strapped about the leg/thigh of the hunter.

[0007] The preferred embodiment offers the additional advantages of facilitating placement and withdrawal of the bow from the holster; because the bow sits lower on the waist/hip area; particularly withdrawing the bow due to a better draw angle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0008] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the holster of this invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a front view of the holster of FIG. 1, together with a schematic of a compound bow disposed for placement within the holster.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a side view of the holster of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the holster of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the holster of this invention affixed to a yoke-shaped adaptor for connection to a hunter's tree stand platform.

[0013] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a second and preferred embodiment of the holster of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] In FIG. 1, a holster, generally designated as (10) comprises a rigid backing plate (12), preferably rectangularly shaped and preferably, as better shown in FIG. 4, curvilinearly and convexly shaped across the front face of the backing plate (12). Slots (14) are provided at each end of the backing plate. The slots (14) provide a structure for attaching the backing plate (12) to a hunter's belt (not shown) or as described more completely hereafter, to attach the holster to a support affixed to a hunter's tree stand. Attached fixedly to the front surface (16) of the backing plate (12) is a tubular element (18), the tubular element (18) extending diagonally across the front surface (16). In the position shown in FIG. 1, the tubular element (18) is diagonally disposed for a left-handed hunter. Disposing the tubular element in a cross direction to that shown in FIG. 1 would be the appropriate disposition of the tubular element for a right-handed hunter. Additionally, and critical to the proper stabilization of the compound bow on the holster is the presence of a notch (20) at the top end of the tubular element (18).

[0015] The tubular element (18) is dimensionally-sized to receive the stabilizer of the compound bow (see FIG. 2) and the notch positioned to receive the riser element of the compound bow to which the stabilizer is attached. Placement of the riser element of the compound bow prevents said bow from rotational movement about the body of the hunter. Placement of the compound bow in the tubular element of the holster allows the hunter to traverse the woods, climb the hills of the wooded area, etc., with the bow positionally stabilized on the hunter's body and the hunter's hands free to aid maneuvering through the woods in search of prey.

[0016] It has been found that the holster of FIG. 1 with a backing plate having a dimension of seven and three quarter inches (7¾″) wide and three and five-eighth inches (3⅝″) high is satisfactory. Slots in the backing plate of two and one quarter inches (2¼″) in length have been satisfactory. Obviously, the length of the slots is dictated by the width of the hunter's belt, which is usually two inches wide.

[0017] The preferred holster of this invention, generally designated as 30 and shown in FIG. 6, comprises a rigid backing plate 32 having a tab portion 34 extending downwardly from the bottom portion 36 of the backing plate 32. The tab 34 has a bottom portion 38 having lateral arms 39. Spacer 40 is affixed to the outer surface of the tab portion 34. Diagonal tube element 42 is affixed to the spacer 40, the tube element 42 having a notched terminus 44 at one end. The spacer 40 may incorporate a swivel mechanism (not shown) so as to be able to rotate and lock the tube element at different positions about the spacer 40. Such a swivel mechanism is known to those skilled in the art. Affixed to the lateral arms 39 is a belt 46 which may be used to secure the holster about the thigh of the hunter.

[0018] It has been found that moving the tube element 42 approximately 1¾ inches outward from the backing plate yields a satisfactory and comfortable fit for the bow. Further, the plate portion of the backing plate extending 3¾ inches downward and being 2¾ inches and 6½ inches wide at the intermediate and lateral arm portions of the plate portion, respectively, is satisfactory.

[0019] The composition of the backing plate may be any rigid material, for example, rigid plastic, steel or aluminum plate and, for example, the thickness of the rigid material may be approximately ⅜ inch.

[0020] The color of the backing plate may vary, including, as a preferred color, a camouflage composite for the wooded venue.

[0021] Any mechanism for affixing the tubular member to the backing plate in a locked position may be used. For example, the tubular member may be injection molded as an integral unit to the backing plate or the tubular member may be joined to the backing plate through strapping the tubular member to the backing plate and fastening the straps through multiple nut and bolt arrangements, with intermediate washers, if desired on each side of the backing plate.

[0022] In FIGS. 2 and 4 is shown plural metal straps being anchored to the tubular member to the backing plate through four sets of bolts and nuts, with appropriate washers. By rotating the tubular member 90° through the vertical axis (top to bottom when positioned on hunter's hip) the position of the tubular member is appropriate for a right-handed hunter.

[0023] It is viewed that the backing plate and tubular element must be sufficiently rigid that these components do not fold over or yield to torsional forces so that the stabilizer and consequently the compound bow will remain in position of original stabilization relative to the hunter's body during the physical journey and resultant contortional movements through the hunt, and yet the compound bow is easily and rapidly accessed when the moment of hunt demands such action.

[0024] A further advantage of the holster of the subject invention is that it is readily attachable to a hunter's tree stand through affixing the holster to a yoke-shaped member that is attached to the tree stand's platform.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 5, a yoke-shaped support member, generally designated as (30), has a base portion (32) extending from which is a threaded portion (34); being bolted to, with wing nuts to the tree stand's platform. Extending upwardly and outwardly from the base portion (32) are arms (36); said arms (36) having vertical upper portions (38) that will align with the vertical slots (14) (see FIG. 1) in the backing plate (12). The backing plate (12) may be affixed to the upper portions (38) of the yoke-shaped support member (30) through any well known attaching mechanism, such as, for example, a stud and wing nut assembly. With the holster so anchored to the tree stand, the stabilizer of the compound bow may be inserted into the tubular element of the holster, ready for quick access by the hunter.

[0026] Although specific examples of the invention have been shown for purposes of disclosure, it is to be understood that various modifications can be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A holster for receiving and stabilizing a compound bow on a hunter comprising a rigid backing plate for placement on the hunter's hip, said backing plate having an outer surface and means for attaching the plate to the hip, said plate being dimensionally longer in the direction to be disposed horizontally about the hip, a tubular element, having an upper open terminus, disposed diagonally across the outer surface of the backing plate for receiving the stabilizer of the bow, and a notch in the upper end of the tubular element dimensionally sufficient to receive the riser element of the bow and prevent rotation of the bow within the tubular element.

2. The holster of claim 1 and further wherein the notch in the tubular element extends transversely across the tubular element.

3. The holster of claim 1 and further wherein the backing plate is curvilinear across the width of the backing plate.

4. The holster of claim 3 and further wherein the means for attaching the backing plate to the hunter's hip comprise an elongated slot at each end of the width of the backing plate.

5. The holster of claim 1, and further wherein the notch in the tubular element is U-shaped.

6. The holster as in any one of the preceding claims and further wherein the backing plate is substantially rectangular in shape.

7. The holster as in any one of claims 1-5, and further comprising a backing plate having means for positioning and affixing the notch end of the tubular element in one of two opposite diagonal positions on each side of the vertical axis of the backing plate.

8. The combination of a holster for receiving and stabilizing a hunter's compound bow and a support for the holster that is affixable to a hunter's tree stand comprising (a) a rigid backing plate for placement on the hunter's hip, said backing plate being dimensionally larger in width than in height, having an outer surface and having means for attaching the backing plate to the hunter's hip and a tubular element disposed in a fixed non-rotational, diagonal position from top to bottom across the outer surface of the backing plate, the tubular element having a notch dimensionally sufficient to receive the riser element of the bow. (b) a holster support having a base portion that is securable to the tree stand and divergent arms extending upwardly from the base having means at least one point along the length of each arm for affixing the support to the holster.

9. The combination of claim 8 and further wherein the base portion of the holster support has a threaded member extending downward from the base and the divergent arms are yoke-shaped having a bolt and wing nut portion disposed on the arms for affixing the support to the holster.

10. The combination of claim 9 and further wherein the backing plate is curvilinear across the width of the backing plate.

11. The combination of claim 9 and further wherein the means for attaching the backing plate to the hunter's hip comprise an elongated slot at each end of the width of the backing plate.

12. The combination of claim 9 and further wherein the notch in the tubular element is U-shaped.

13. A holster for receiving and stabilizing a compound bow on a hunter comprising a rigid backing plate, said backing plate having means for securing the backing plate to the hunter's hip, said backing plate having a tab portion extending below the bottom portion of the backing plate, a tubular element, having an open upper terminus, disposed diagonally across the outer surface of the tab portion for receiving the stabilizer of the bow and a notch in the upper end of the tubular element dimensionally to receive the user element of the bow and prevent rotation of the bow within the tubular element.

14. The holster of claim 13 and further comprising a spacer disposed on the plate portion and the tubular element diagonally disposed on the outer surface of the spacer.

15. The holster of claim 14 and further comprising means for rotating and locking the tubular element at different positions on the spacer.

16. The holster of claim 13 and further comprising a plate portion having laterally extending arms from the base of the plate, and a strap attached to the arms for securing the holster to the hunter.