Patent Application
20210254924
The disclosure is directed to a bow sling. The bow sling has a central member. The central member has a first cam cover at a first end of the central member. The first cam cover has a cord with a fixed portion attached to the first cam cover. The central member has a first cam cover cord connector. The first cam cover cord has a loose portion releasably attachable to the first cam cover cord connector. The central member may have a second cam cover on a second end opposite the first end. The second cam cover may have a cord with a fixed portion attached to the second cam cover. The central member may have a second cam cover cord connector. The second cam cover cord may have a loose portion releasably attachable to the second cam cover cord connector.
The bow sling 10 has a central member 12. The central member 12 may have a first cam cover 14 at a first end of the central member and may have a second cam 16 cover at a second end of the central member opposite the first end. Depending on the configuration of the bow sling and a bow to be used with the bow sling, only one cam cover may be provided at one end of the central member, and the opposite second end may have another fixture to attach to the bow. The cam cover (first and/or second) may comprise a hood-like member with a hollow interior sized and shaped in a manner to receive the cam of the bow when the cam of the bow is inserted therein.
In one embodiment, the central member may be a strap member extending longitudinally with the first and second cam covers at opposite ends of the strap member. In such a configuration, the central member does not cover the strings of the bow. In such a configuration, the central member may be adjustable in length to accommodate bows of different sizes. In such a configuration, the outer periphery of the cam cover may be provided with an elastic band and/or drawstring to allow the cam cover to conform to the cam of the bow.
In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the central member 12 has side panels 18,20 and a spine 22 that forms a generally U-shaped cross section and defines an interior into which the strings of the bow may be received. The outer periphery of the side panels 18,20 may be provided with an elastic band and/or drawstring to allow the central member 12 to conform to the size and shape of the bow. The cam cover 14,16 may be attached to the side panels 18,20 and the spine 22 so the bow sling may be stretched outward as needed to receive the bow with the cam of the bow in the cam cover. The cam cover 14,16 may then be secured in place around the cam of the bow using a system as described below. In the alternative, the cam cover may be attached only to the spine and not the side panels. In this configuration, the cam cover may be pivoted about its connection with the spine to allow the bow to be inserted in the central member. Once the bow is inserted in the central member, the cam cover may be moved to a position to cover the cam of the bow and secured in place, for instance, using a system as described below.
The bow sling 10 may include a shoulder harness 24. The shoulder harness 24 may be releasably attached to the central member at positions adjacent to the first and second ends of the central member. The shoulder harness may include a pocket 25.
The bow sling 10 may also include one or more bow securing straps 26. The bow securing strap 26 may extend from one side panel 18 of the central member and releasably connect to the opposite side panel 20 of the central member. In use, the bow securing strap 26 may be directed from one side panel 18, around a central riser portion of the bow (not shown), and releasably attached to the opposite side panel 20 of the central member. As shown in the drawings, two bow securing straps 26 are provided in an intermediate portion of the central member 12. The end of the bow securing strap 26 may have a clip portion 30 that releasably connects with a mating clip portion (not shown) on the opposite side panel 20 of the central member. The mating clip portion (not shown) may be provided within a pocket 30. Thus, when the clip portion 28 of the bow securing strap 26 is connected with the mating clip portion in the pocket 30, the clip is protected from inadvertent contact and potential disconnection. The bow securing strap 26 may have a buckle 32 allowing adjustment of the length of the bow securing strap to accommodate bows of different sizes. A cushioning pad 34 may extend from the outer periphery of the central member 12 adjacent to the bow securing strap 26. The cushioning pad 34 may be disposed between the bow securing strap and the central riser portion of the bow to protect the central riser portion of the bow from rubbing against the strap.
The cam cover (first and/or second) 14,16 may have a cord 40,42 with a fixed portion 44,46 attached to the cam cover and spaced from the spine 22 of the central member 12. As shown in the drawings, the cord 40,42 is fixed to the cam cover 14,16 at a position corresponding to the opening in the central member 12 between the side panels 18,20 that accommodates the bow. The central member 12 has a cam cover cord connector 50,52 for the respective cam cover cord (first and/or second) 40,42. The cam cover cord connector 50,52 may be disposed on the spine 22 of the central member 12 or otherwise facing the shoulder harness 24 of the bow sling. The cam cover cord 40,42 has a loose portion 54,56 releasably attachable to the cam cover cord connector. The cam cover cord loose end 54,56 may include a hook 58,60 that cooperates with the cam cover cord connector 50,52 of the central member 12. The cam cover cord connector 50,52 may be a loop that cooperates with the hook to releasably connect the cam cover cord to the cam cover cord connector. The hook and loop may be reversed on the central member and the cam cover. Other styles of quick disconnects between the cam cover cord and cord connector may also be provided, for instance, cooperating hook and loop (e.g., Velcro™) material, snaps, clips, magnets, etc. The cam cover cord may be elastic and may be a loop extending around both sides of the cam cover.
As will be described in more detail below, the cam cover cord connector 50,52 may be one of a plurality of cam cover cord connectors. In one embodiment, the cam cover cord connector 50,52 may comprise a plurality of loops, and each loop in the plurality of loops may be spaced apart from one another along a length of the central member. In the drawings, the first cam cover cord connector 50 comprises a first strap member. The first strap member is attached to the spine of the central member with spaced apart stitch lines extending across a width of the first strap member. The spaced apart stitch lines form loops in the first strap member that extend from the first end of the central member toward the second end of the central member. The hook 58 of the first cam cover cord loose end 54 may cooperate with each loop in the plurality of loops of the first strap member to secure the first cam cover 14 around the cam of the bow. The second cam cover cord connector 52 may be configured in a similar manner to accommodate the second cam cover 16, when the second cam cover is provided. As shown in the drawings, the first and second strap members are integrated (and be monolithically one strap) and extend along the longitudinal length of the central member, and a carrying handle 70 may be disposed between the first and second strap members. Thus, depending upon the size of the bow used with the bow sling, the first cam cover cord (and the second cam cover cord, as the case may be) may be releasably connected to different cord connectors to secure the cam cover around the bow and assist in retaining the bow in the bow sling.
When the user desired to gain access to the bow, the user may grasp the cam cover adjacent to the cam cover cord fixed end, and move the cam cover towards the spine of the central member so the cam cover comes off the cam. The elasticity of the cam cover cord allows the user to move the cam cover when the cam cover cord is connected to the cam cover cord connector. The cam cover cord may also be disconnected from the cam cover cord connector to release tension and allow the cam cover to be removed from the cam. The cam cover cord may also be disconnected from one cam cover cord connector and connected to another cam cover connector to release tension sufficiently to allow the cam cover to be removed from the cam.
As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not as limiting. The breadth and scope the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.
