The present invention relates to a sighter for aligning the sight on a crossbow to at least approximately the location where the crossbow bolt strikes after being fired.
This invention relates to a sighter for calibrating a crossbow sight to align with the groove axis of a crossbow for the purpose of calibrating the crossbow sight. The calibration process of a crossbow scope to align the sight with the crossbow groove axis now requires that several bolts be fired so that the sight can be gradually adjusted to align with a target point that the bolts strike. The crossbow sight can be a physical sight or an optical scope. Crossbow sights and crossbow structures are known to those skilled in the art.
A crossbow sighter for projecting an axis of a crossbow groove is used to align a crossbow's sight with the groove axis. The crossbow sighter (or “sighter”) comprises a body that minimizes errors in alignment. The body is extended so it is long enough to be positioned in the crossbow groove and to have the bow string, when in its relaxed position, rest upon the body to help retain the sighter in the groove. The body has a proximal (or first) section, in which a laser is mounted, and that is received in the groove, and a distal (or second) section, which extends past the bow string, when the string is in its relaxed position. The bow string is positioned against the side of the second section to apply cross-axial force to the sighter and help retain it in the groove.
A sighter according to the invention may have a one-piece body, or a multi-piece body. Either way, it is designed to be axially aligned with the crossbow groove when positioned in the groove. In this manner, a beam of laser light emitted from the sighter travels in a straight path along the axis of the crossbow groove. The crossbow sight is then calibrated to the point at which the laser beam strikes.
Turning now to the drawings where the purpose is to describe preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit same,
The crossbow sighter 10 comprises an elongated body 12 having a body axis 14. The body 12 has a proximal (or first) section 16 and a distal (or second) section 18. The proximal section 16 and distal section 18 may have the same diameter, or (as shown) the diameter of the proximal section 16 may be different from, and greater than, the diameter of the distal section 18.
Also shown in
The first cavity 60 has a cavity diameter. The switch 66 is cylinder with a switch diameter that is less than the cavity diameter, so that switch 66 has the freedom to rotate (see e.g.,
The switch 66 has a top, or first outside surface 80 which is radially disposed around the switch axis. The first surface 80 has a conductive area 84. The first surface 80 also includes a cam 86.
The switch 66 has a third outside surface preferably radially disposed around the switch axis 82, having a third conductive area. When the switch 66 operates as a passive electrical conductor, the third conductive area can be a conductive rod. In some aspects, the conductive rod may pass all the way through switch 66 from the first surface 90 to the third surface. Alternately, the switch 66 can be a metal, such as aluminum, which may be anodized or coated with an insulator, except for areas on the first surface 80 and third surface which act as conductive areas 84 and the third conductive area, so that the switch 66 may be a conductor. As explained in more detail below, the switch 66 may be a battery housing in some aspects of the invention, and the third conductive area can be the battery terminal 110, the spring 64, or the combination of battery and spring 64.
The first cavity 60 may have a fourth surface preferably radially disposed around the body axis 12, having a fourth conductive area which is not explicitly shown. The fourth surface can be a part of the inside surface of proximal end 16, as is the second surface 88. However, the fourth surface is actually the light source 62 electrical terminal. Also as shown, the electrically conductive spring 64 is preferably substantially aligned along the body axis 12 between the third surface and fourth surface. Therefore, when the switch 66 is in the “on,” position, the second conductive area (if used) is connected to the fourth conductive area through the switch 66 and spring 64.
In some aspects of the invention the power supply 68 is housed elsewhere in the body 12 (not shown), but in the preferred embodiment power source 68 is housed in switch 68. The switch 66 then acts as a selectively engagable passive conductor which completes an electrical circuit between the second conductive area and fourth conductive area from power source 68, to the light source 62, with the return ground path from the light source 62 through the electrically conductant inside surface of proximal end 16. In a preferred aspect of the invention the batteries are housed in the switch 66, as shown in
Power source 68 is preferably a number of (three are shown) coin batteries arranged end-to-end in a battery cavity 112. The power source 68 can also be any other suitable source. Power source 68 has a first polarity (+) connected to the switch's first conductive area 84 and a second polarity (−) connected to the switch's third conductive area in one preferred embodiment. An axial plug 114, with a center hole to admit spring 64, may be used to seal the end of battery cavity 112.
Turning again to
Proximal end 18 has two openings 18A that receive fasteners 19, which are preferably thread screws. Fasteners 19 can be tightened against, or retracted from, laser 62 to move it up and down, or side to side.
In a preferred embodiment, proximal end 16 has approximately the same diameter as a crossbow bolt and is received in the crossbow groove in the same manner as a bolt. Extended distal end 18, as shown, has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of proximal end 16. Body 12 can be one piece, or more than one piece, as long as it is sufficiently aligned along axis 14 so laser light emitted from laser 62 aligns with the axis 14 ad the axis of the crossbow groove. The length of body 12 is preferably 7″, or at least 5″, at least 6″, or at least 7″, or between 6½″ and 7½″. Body 12 preferably has a length that permits it to function with most, if not all, crossbows.
Some exemplary, specific examples of the invention are set forth below:
A crossbow sighter for projecting a beam of light along the axis of a groove used to retain a crossbow bolt, the crossbow sighter comprising a body with a length greater than the distance between the groove and the crossbow string when the string is in a relaxed position, an outer surface dimensioned to be received in the groove, and a light source to emit a beam aligned with the groove axis.
The crossbow sighter of example 1 wherein the body is cylindrical and has a uniform diameter.
The crossbow sighter of example 1 wherein the diameter of the body varies.
The crossbow sighter of example 3 wherein the light source is inside the body and there is an opening in an end of the body through which the light is emitted.
The crossbow sighter of example 4 wherein the opening is covered by a lens.
The crossbow sighter of any of examples 1-5 further comprising a power source connected to the light source.
The crossbow sighter of example 6 further comprising a switch to selectively connect the power source to the light source.
The crossbow sighter of example 7 wherein the body includes a first cavity to house the light source, the switch, and the power source.
The crossbow sighter of example 8 wherein the body includes a second cavity connected to the first cavity to form an opening from which the light source beam is projected.
The crossbow sighter of example 7 wherein the body includes a channel formed between the body surface and the first cavity to expose the switch.
The crossbow sighter of example 10 wherein the switch is a partial cylinder, and wherein the switch is rotatable to selectively connect the power source to the light source.
A The crossbow sighter of example 11 wherein the switch includes a first outside surface radially disposed around a switch axis and having a first conductive area and cam; wherein a first cavity of the body has a second surface radially disposed around the body axis, having a second conductive area and a channel to receive the switch cam; and wherein the switch cam cooperates with the second surface channel to selectively connect the first and second conductive areas.
The crossbow sighter of example 12 wherein the switch has a third outside surface radially disposed around the switch axis, having a third conductive area, and wherein the first and third conductive areas are connected through the switch; wherein the first cavity has a fourth surface radially disposed around the body axis, having a fourth conductive area; and further comprising: an electrically conductive spring substantially aligned along the body axis between the third and fourth surfaces; and wherein the second and fourth conductive areas are selectively connected through the switch and spring.
The crossbow sighter of example 13 wherein the body includes a conductive path, through the light sources, between the second and fourth conductive surfaces; wherein the switch includes a battery cavity; wherein the power source includes at least one battery, housed in the switch's battery cavity, having a first polarity connected to the switch's first conductive area and a second polarity connected to the switch's third conductive area; and wherein the light source is selectively powered with the battery.
The crossbow sighter of example 1 wherein the light source is a laser.
The crossbow sighter of any of examples 1-15 wherein the body is at least 5″ long, or at least 6″ long or at least 7″ long.
The crossbow sighter of any of examples 1-16 wherein the body is comprised of multiple sections.
The crossbow sighter of any of examples 1-16 wherein the body is formed of a single section.
The crossbow sighter of any of examples 1-18 wherein the body is comprised of aluminum, steel or plastic.
Having thus described some embodiments of the invention, other variations and embodiments that do not depart from the spirit of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope of the present invention is thus not limited to any particular embodiment, but is instead set forth in the appended examples and the legal equivalents thereof. Unless expressly stated in the written description or examples, the steps of any method recited in the examples may be performed in any order capable of yielding the desired result.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/136,316, filed on Mar. 20, 2015. U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,947 is incorporated herein by reference to the extent its disclosure is not inconsistent with the present disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62136316 | Mar 2015 | US |