BOW STABILIZER ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A stabilizer assembly for an archery bow with a pair of keyed socket fittings frictionally secured within each side of a tube, and at least one pliable connector, which includes a keyed opening correspondingly shaped to the keyed socket fittings, frictionally connected to one of the keyed socket fittings. Each pliable connector includes a fastener secured within an opening formed in the connector, enabling the connector to be removably attached to a weight or to an archery bow. In a first embodiment stabilizer assembly, a pliable connector is connected to each one of the pair of keyed socket fittings and a weight is removably attached to the fastener of one of the pliable connectors. In a second embodiment stabilizer assembly, a weight with a keyed opening corresponding to one of the pair of keyed socket fittings is frictionally connected to the socket fitting.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

The invention relates generally to accessories for archery bows. More specifically, the invention is directed to a stabilizer assembly for an archery bow that includes a quick connect/disconnect at one or both ends of the stabilizer rod in order to provide easy connection and disconnection of the stabilizer assembly before and after use of the bow. Moreover, the connector for the stabilizer assembly of the present invention is formed from a material that will aid in dampening vibrations during use of the archery bow.

Background Art

Archery bows consist generally of a riser having a pair of ends. Each one of the ends of the riser is connected to a flexible arm. Each one of the flexible includes a generally outwardly extending split limb. A cam is rotatably mounted between the split limbs and a bowstring is strung around each one of the cams to complete the archery bow assembly.

Modern archery bows, when used, create vibration from the tension in the bow, which is transferred from the bow riser to the hand of the individual operating the bow. The transfer of the vibrations from the bow to the individual's hand has a detrimental effect on the accuracy of the individual aiming the bow and may potentially result in an inaccurate shot. The amplitude of the vibration in the bow can be affected by the design of the bow itself as well as the relative expertise of the individual operating the bow.

Many accessories have been designed for archery bows to aid in reducing vibration and to balance the bow in order to increase accuracy. These accessories are generally referred to as bow stabilizers. Bow stabilizers that attach directly to the bow riser are generally well known in the art. As archery bows have become more modern and sophisticated, the bow stabilizers have also become more complex. For example, bow stabilizer assemblies that include active mechanical type quick connect/disconnect devices have recently been introduced. These types of mechanisms include buttons that are depressed or mechanisms that are rotated to connect or disconnect the stabilizer from the bow riser. However, these active mechanical-type connectors are subject to wear and tear and they are susceptible to becoming jammed so that the connector fails to operate as intended. Moreover, these types of connectors, because they are complicated, are costly to manufacture.

Therefore, a need exists for a bow stabilizer assembly that overcomes the problems associated with prior art bow stabilizers and that provides a bow stabilizer assembly that is easily interchangeable, easy to connect and disconnect from the bow riser and also is simple in design in order to reduce manufacturing costs. The bow stabilizer assembly of the present invention achieves these goals by providing a stabilizer assembly for an archery bow that includes a connecter that is easily connected and disconnected from the bow riser. Moreover, the bow stabilizer assembly of the present invention is simple in design so that the costs of manufacture are generally reduced. In addition, the bow stabilizer assembly of the present invention provides for easy interchangeability of the weights of the bow stabilizer so that they can be changed without having to disassemble the entire bow stabilizer assembly.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a stabilizer assembly for an archery bow that that is easily interchangeable.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a stabilizer assembly for an archery bow that is easy to connect and disconnect from the bow riser.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a stabilizer assembly for an archery bow that is simple in design and reduces manufacturing costs.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a stabilizer assembly which enables easy interchangeability of the weights of the bow stabilizer.

These objectives and others are obtained by a stabilizer assembly for an archery bow comprising: at least one connector, each of the at least one connectors including a connector body formed of a pliable material, the connector body having a first end opening and a second end opening and a fastener disposed and secured within the second end opening, the fastener being capable of removably attaching the at least one connector to an archery bow or a weight; a pair of socket fittings, a first one of the pair of socket fittings being frictionally connected to the first end opening of the at least one connector; and a tube having a proximal and a distal end, the first one of the pair of socket fittings being partially disposed through and frictionally connected to the proximal end, and a second one of the pair of socket fittings being partially disposed through and frictionally connected to the distal end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention, illustrative of the best mode in which Applicant has contemplated applying the principles of the invention, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings, and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the claims.

FIG. 1. is a an exploded view of a first exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assembly of components of the bow stabilizer assembly including a pair of quick connectors, a plurality of weights, a pair of socket fittings and a tube;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged elevational view of one of the quick connectors shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the quick connector shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view in section of the quick connector shown in FIG. 3, showing the section taken along lines A-A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the quick connector shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the socket fittings shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a second exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assembly of the present invention, showing the components of the bow stabilizer assembly including a quick connector, a weight, a pair of socket fittings and a tube.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assembly of the present invention is shown at reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1, and will be described in detail below. Bow stabilizer assembly 10 is utilized in conjunction with an archery bow (not shown). Bow stabilizer assembly 10 includes a proximal quick connector 12, a tube 14, a pair of socket fittings 16 a distal quick connector 18 and a plurality of weights 20.

In order to better understand the structure of bow stabilizer assembly 10, each of the components of the bow stabilizer assembly will be described in detail below.

Turning now to FIGS. 2-5, proximal quick connector 12 is shown. Because proximal quick connector 12 and distal quick connector 18 are generally identical to one another, for purposes of clarity and conciseness, only proximal quick connector 12 will be described in detail below. Proximal quick connector 12 includes a body 22, a hex bolt 24, and a washer 26. Hex bolt 24 includes a hexagonal depression in one end and includes a series of threads 30 extending along the perimeter of its opposite end. The threaded end of hex bolt 24 is disposed through washer 26 and the hex bolt threadably engages an opening formed in the bow riser (not shown). Connector body 22 has a generally cylindrical shape and is formed from rubber or other pliable material. Connector body 22 is formed with a generally stepped opening 32 at a bottom end 34 of the connector body. Stepped opening 32 surrounds and is adhered or bonded to the head portion of hex bolt 24 and washer 26. The top end of connector body 22 is formed with a generally circular keyed opening 36 that corresponds to the shape of the end of socket fitting 16. Keyed opening 36 and stepped opening 32 are continuous with one another and allow for placement of a hexagonal wrench through the keyed opening to engage hexagonal depression 28 of hex bolt 24 and to rotate the hex bolt in order to attach it to the bow riser (not shown). Connector body 22 is formed with a series of ridges 38 spaced around its circumference to help aid in gripping quick connector 12.

Turning now to FIG. 6, socket fitting 16 is formed from steel, aluminum or other sufficiently ridged material and includes a keyed portion 40 that corresponds to the shape of connector body keyed opening 36. Socket fitting 16 also includes a raised ribbed portion 42 at the end opposite from its keyed portion 40.

A tube 14 formed from carbon or other similar material includes a generally tubular shape and including a proximal end 44 and a distal end 46. Proximal end 44 includes an opening 50 and distal end 46 includes an opening 48.

A weight 20 is formed from metal or other heavy material, is generally cylindrically shaped and is formed with a central opening 70 extending along the length of the weight.

Having now described the components of first exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assembly 10 of the present invention, the assembly of the bow stabilizer will now be described in detail below.

Proximal quick connector 12 is attached to the bow riser (not shown). More specifically, hex bolt 24 of quick connector 12 is threadably engaged within an opening formed in the bow riser (not shown). A hexagonal wrench is inserted through keyed opening 36 of connector body 22 in order to tighten hex bolt 24 into the opening in the bow riser (not shown).

Ribbed portion 42 of a first socket fitting 16 is disposed within proximal end opening 50 of tube 14. Because the diameter of ribbed portion 42 is only slightly smaller than the diameter of opening 50, the disposal of the ribbed portion into the proximal end opening results in a mated connection of the first socket fitting 16 into tube 14.

Likewise, ribbed portion 42 of a second socket fitting 16 is disposed within distal end opening 48 of tube 14. Because the diameter of ribbed portion 42 is only slightly smaller than the diameter of opening 50, the disposal of the ribbed portion into the distal end opening results in a mated connection of the second socket fitting 16 into tube 14.

Proximal end 44 of tube 14, which is mated with socket fitting 16, is connected to proximal quick connector 12. More specifically, keyed portion 40 of socket fitting 16 has a slightly larger diameter than keyed opening 36 of proximal quick connector 12. However, because proximal quick connector body 22 is formed from rubber or other sufficiently pliable material, insertion of keyed portion 40 of socket fitting 16 into keyed opening 40 of proximal quick connector 12 results in a friction fit of the socket fitting into the keyed opening. As a result, tube 14 is easily inserted into proximal quick connector 12 and subsequently easily removed from the proximal quick connector.

Distal end 46 of tube 14, which is mated with socket fitting 16, is connected to distal quick connector 18. More specifically, keyed portion 40 of socket fitting 16 has a slightly larger diameter than keyed portion opening 36 of distal quick connector 18. However, because distal quick connector body 22 is formed from rubber or other sufficiently pliable material, insertion of keyed portion 40 of socket fitting 16 into keyed opening 40 of distal quick connector 18 results in a friction fit of the socket fitting into the keyed opening. As a result, tube 14 is easily inserted into distal quick connector 18 and subsequently easily removed from the distal quick connector.

Weight 20, is and fastened onto distal end quick connector 18 to complete the assembly of bow stabilizer assembly 10 of the present invention. More specifically, the threaded end of hex bolt 24 of quick connector 18 is disposed through central opening 70 of weight 20.

Turning now to FIG. 7, a second exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assembly of the present invention is shown generally at reference numeral 110. Because second exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assembly 110 is similar in many respects to first exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assembly 10, only the differences between the two assemblies will be described in detail below.

Second exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer 110 generally includes proximal quick connector 12, tube 14, pair of socket fittings 16 and a weight 120. The structure and assembly of proximal quick connector 12, tube 14 and pair of socket fittings 16 is identical to the structure and assembly of first exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assembly 10 shown and described above. Instead of having a distal quick connector 18, second exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assembly 110 includes a weight 120 that is formed at one end with keyed opening (not shown) surrounded by rubber or other sufficiently pliable material, that corresponds to keyed portion 40 of socket fitting 16. In this manner, tube 14 is connected to weight 130 by inserting keyed portion 40 of socket fitting 16 into the keyed opening formed in weight 130. Because keyed portion 40 of socket fitting 16 has a slightly larger diameter than the keyed opening of weight 130, insertion of the keyed portion of the socket fitting into the keyed opening of the weight results in a friction fit of the socket fitting into the keyed opening. As a result, tube 14 is easily inserted into weight 130 and subsequently easily removed from the weight.

First and second exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assemblies 10,110 of the present invention overcome the problems associated with prior art bow stabilizers and provide a bow stabilizer assembly that is easily interchangeable, easy to connect and disconnect from the bow riser and also is simple in design in order to reduce manufacturing costs. First and second exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assemblies 10,110 of the present invention achieve these goals by providing a stabilizer assembly for an archery bow that includes a connecter that is easily connected and disconnected from the bow riser. Moreover, first and second exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assemblies 10,110 of the present invention are simple in design so that the costs of manufacture are generally reduced. In addition, first and second exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assemblies 10,110 of the present invention provide for easy interchangeability of the weights of the bow stabilizer so that they can be changed without having to disassemble the entire bow stabilizer assembly. Moreover, because first and second exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assemblies 10,110 of the present invention utilize a quick connector that is formed form rubber or other similarly pliable material, the friction fit connection of tube 14 provides additional dampening of tension forces from the bow riser during operation of the bow.

It is contemplated that first and second exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assemblies 10,110 of the present invention could be formed with keyed portions and keyed openings of almost any corresponding shape or size, without changing the overall concept or operation of the present invention. It is further contemplated that first and second exemplary embodiment quick connect 14 and socket fitting 16 of the present invention could be utilized to connect bow quivers, bow sights or other bow accessories to the bow riser without changing the overall concept or operation of the present invention. It is also contemplated that first and second exemplary embodiment quick connect 14 and socket fitting 16 of the present invention could be utilized on cameras, trail cameras and tripod mount cameras, without changing the overall concept or operation of the present invention. It is even further contemplated that first and second exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assemblies 10,110 of the present invention could be utilized on cameras, trail cameras, and tripod mount cameras without changing the overall concept or operation of the present invention. It is also contemplated that first and second exemplary embodiment bow stabilizer assemblies 10,110 of the present invention could be located at any position on the bow riser, extending forwardly, rearwardly or in a sideways direction, without changing the overall concept or operation of the present invention. It is also contemplated that more than one socket fitting 16 could be utilized with a single quick connect 14 having more than one keyed opening to prevent rotation and vice versa, without changing the overall concept or operation of the present invention.

Accordingly, the bow stabilizer assembly of the present invention is simplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient structure which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior art bow stabilizers, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. It shall be understood that this illustration is by way of example and not by way of limitation, as the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. Potential modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this disclosure, and it is understood that the invention includes all such modifications and alterations and equivalents thereof.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the bow stabilizer of the present invention is constructed, arranged and used, the characteristics of the construction and arrangement, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A stabilizer assembly for an archery bow comprising: a. at least one connector, each of said at least one connectors including: i. a connector body formed of a pliable material, said connector body having a first end opening and a second end opening;ii. a fastener disposed and secured within said second end opening, said fastener being capable of removably attaching said at least one connector to an archery bow or a weight;b. a pair of socket fittings, a first one of said pair of socket fittings being frictionally connected to said first end opening of said at least one connector; andc. a tube having a proximal opening and a distal opening, said first one of said pair of socket fittings being partially disposed through and frictionally connected to said proximal opening, and a second one of said pair of socket fittings being partially disposed through and frictionally connected to said distal opening.

2. The stabilizer assembly for an archer bow of claim 1, further comprising a weight, said weight having an opening, said second socket fitting being disposed within said weight opening to frictionally connect the weight to the second socket fitting.

3. The stabilizer assembly for an archery bow of claim 2, wherein said second socket fitting includes a keyed portion, said weight opening being correspondingly shaped to said keyed portion, said keyed portion being disposed within the weight opening to frictionally connect said weight to the second socket fitting.

4. The stabilizer assembly for an archery bow of claim 1, wherein said second socket fitting is frictionally secured within said first end opening of a second one of said at least one connectors.

5. The stabilizer assembly for an archery bow of claim 4, further comprising a weight removably attached to said fastener of said second one of said at least one connector.

6. The stabilizer assembly for an archery bow of claim 4, wherein said second socket fitting includes a keyed portion, said first end opening of said second one of said at least one connector being correspondingly shaped to said keyed portion, the keyed portion being disposed within the first end opening to frictionally connect the second of the at least one connector to the second socket fitting.

7. The stabilizer assembly for an archery bow of claim 1, wherein said connector body is formed with a continuous bore between said first end opening and said second end opening.

8. The stabilizer assembly for an archery bow of claim 7, wherein said fastener is a bolt, a head of said bolt being disposed and secured within said second end opening, said head being formed with a depression which enables rotation of the bolt by a tool disposed within said bore to allow attachment of said at least one connector to said weight or said archery bow.

9. The stabilizer assembly for an archery bow of claim 1, wherein said pliable material is rubber.

10. The stabilizer assembly for an archery bow of claim 1, wherein an exterior surface of said at least one connector is formed with a plurality of circumferential spaced longitudinally extending ridges.

11. The stabilizer for an archery bow of claim 1, wherein said pair of socket fittings are formed from a rigid material.

12. The stabilizer assembly for an archery bow of claim 11, wherein said rigid material is steel or aluminum.

13. The stabilizer assembly for an archery bow of claim 1, wherein said first socket fitting and said second socket fitting are each formed with a raised ribbed portion, said raised ribbed portion of each of the first socket fitting and the second socket fitting contacting an interior surface of said tube to frictionally connect said first fitting to said proximal opening and said second fitting to said distal opening.

14. The stabilizer assembly for an archery bow of claim 1, wherein said tube is formed of carbon.

15. The stabilizer assembly for an archery bow of claim 1, wherein said weight is formed of a metal.

16. The stabilizer assembly for an archery bow of claim 1, wherein said fastener of said at least one connector is capable of being removably attached to a member selected from the group consisting: a bow quiver, a bow sight, and a camera.

17. The stabilizer assembly for an archery bow of claim 1, wherein a second one of said pair of socket fittings is frictionally connected to a member selected from the group consisting: a bow quiver, a bow sight, and a camera.

18. A connection for a stabilizer assembly for an archery bow comprising: a. a connector, said connector including: i. a connector body formed of a pliable material and having a first end opening and a second end opening;ii. a fastener disposed and secured within said second end opening, said fastener being capable of removably attaching said at least one connector to an object; andb. a socket fitting, said socket fitting being frictionally connected to said first end opening of said connector.