Patent Application
20170003096
Arrow rests for compound bows enable a user to more easily and more accurately draw, aim, and fire an arrow at a directed target. The rest provides the user with a steady surface on which the user can place the shaft of the arrow while preparing to fire the bow so that the user need not be concerned about dropping the arrow. In addition, arrow rests enable the user to make aiming adjustments based on the surrounding environmental conditions (e.g., wind speed and direction) while reducing the tendency of dropping the arrow.
A common problem with traditional arrow rests is that the fletching of the arrow would contact the arrow rest as the arrow passed through the rest upon firing of the bow. This would result in a change of trajectory and flight path of the arrow, thereby reducing accuracy. Fall away arrow rests were then developed in order to reduce the likelihood of this problem. Fall away arrow rests, such as those described and shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,789,536 and 8,701,643, include a launcher or support element that rotates down into a generally horizontal position once the arrow is fired such that the launcher or support element is completely out of the way and fletching contact is avoided. However, the designs for fall away arrow rests that are currently used in art contain inherent limitations. One common problem is that fall away arrow rests contain a complex and intricate construction of parts that can easily malfunction and are prone to failure, especially in rugged environments commonly encountered by bow hunters. Another common problem with currently used fall away arrow rests art is that they do not remain in an upright position when the string of a drawn bow is let down after the user decides not to fire. As a result, the arrow does not remain steadied such that the user may quickly redraw the bow and fire the arrow.
Accordingly, a need exists for a fall away arrow rest that contains a simple and durable construction and that is capable of remaining in the upright position when the string of a drawn bow is let down slowly so as to maintain the arrow in a steady position.
The present invention relates generally to a fall away arrow rest device for use with a bow. The arrow rest can include a y-shaped launcher fixedly mounted to a rotating shaft. The launcher can be configured to support an arrow a user is drawing and firing the bow. In addition, the launcher is configured to rotated down and out of the way of the arrow (when the arrow is fired) so that tail section and fletching of the fired arrow does not contact the launcher and and impact the arrows intended flight path.
The arrow rest and the launcher can be operated by an activator component also fixedly connected to the rotating shaft on the end of the shaft opposite the launcher. The activator component can be positioned within a housing that is attached to the bow in a manner that allows the shaft, the activator and the launcher to rotate relative to the housing. The shaft can also be coupled to the housing with a torsional biasing element (such as a spring) in a manner that urges rotation of the shaft. Within the housing can be a wall that is shaped and dimensioned to allow rotation of the activator component between three positions within the housing. Each position of the activator component corresponds to a position of the launcher. In the first position, the launcher is in a lowered configuration. In the second position, the launcher is in an upright arrow support configuration. In the third position, the launcher is in a tilted drawn arrow position. Due to the positioning of the torsional biasing element, as the activator component travels from the first position to the second position and then to the third position, the torque applied about the shaft (and therefore the activator component) increases.
The activator component can include a ball detent, depressible pin or similar structure that allows a portion of the top of the activator component to move underneath an obstruction defined into the wall of the housing. This obstruction can be selectively positioned so that the end of the activator component contacts the obstruction when the activator component is in the second position.
The torsional biasing element, ball detent and the wall obstruction can all be configured to operate the arrow rest. When the launcher is in its lowered position (and the activator component is in the first position), the launcher can be rotated upward toward the upright arrow support position. Upon reaching this position, the activator component is in the second position and can be configured to remain in the second position due to the wall obstruction preventing the ball detent from passing underneath. However, when the launcher is rotated further back into the drawn position, the activator component can also rotate further back into the third position. When the activator component is released from the third position, the torsional biasing element urges the activator component forward back toward the second position. Due to the rotational momentum of the activator upon reaching the second position, the ball detent depressed upon contact with the wall obstruction and the activator component is free to travel from the second position to the first position. During this rotation, the launcher can rotate from the drawn upright position to the upright arrow support position to the lowered position.
The foregoing sequence of positions can correspond to the firing of an arrow by a user of the bow. In order to facilitate the use of the arrow rest with the bow, the arrow rest can include a cord mount having a cord connected to the bow string of the bow. Thus, when the bow string is drawn and pulled back, the cord mount causes the shaft of the arrow rest to rotate, thereby causing rotation of the launcher and the activator component. When the user fully draws back the bow string, the launcher is in the drawn position and the activator component is in the third position. If the user decides to fire the arrow by releasing the string, the activator component rotates toward the second position where ball detent depresses underneath the wall obstruction allowing the activator component to continue rotation to the first position. During this time, the launcher rotates to its lowered position allowing the arrow to pass by the launcher without being obstructed. If however, the user decides not to fire the drawn arrow, the user can slowly let back the bow string. During this movement, the activator component rotates back toward the second position. However, the reduced angular momentum of the activator component prevents the ball detent from depressing and the wall obstruction prevents the activator component from rotating beyond the second position. Thus, the launcher remains in the upright arrow support position so that the arrow rest can continue supporting the unfired arrow.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the accompanying drawings figures.
In the accompanying drawing, which foam a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunction therewith in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts in the various views:
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.
The following detailed description of the invention references specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and the description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
The present invention is directed generally to an improved fall away arrow rest device 10 as shown in various embodiments throughout the several figures. Arrow rest 10 of the present invention can be designed and configured to overcome several deficiencies of previously-known fall away arrow rest designs. As shown in
As shown in
Turning now to
Arrow rest 10 can be used by placing shaft 210 of an arrow 208 on launcher 18 and engaging the nock (not shown) of tail section 212 of arrow 208 with bow string 204 so that bow 200 fires or shoots arrow 208 in a longitudinal direction forwardly of launcher 18. Arrow rest 10, and more particularly activator 24, can be configured to move launcher 18 from the upright support position, as shown in
In order to avoid arrow 208, launcher 18 can rotate downward or otherwise away from the flight path of arrow 208 (i.e., from the upright support position to the lowered position) and out of the way of a fired arrow 208. While the figures depict arrow rest 10 configured so that launcher 18 can rotate about a generally horizontal axis, it will also be appreciated that launcher 18 can rotate about an axis oriented at any desired angle relative to bow 200 or arrow rest 10. For example, arrow rest 10 can be configured so that launcher 18 can be oriented transversely and can rotate about a generally vertical axis.
Housing 12, as best shown in
As further shown in
Rotatable shaft 16 can include a first portion 40 rotatably mounted within housing 12 and extending transversely therefrom in a cantilevered fashion to a second portion 42 where launcher 18 can be fixedly mounted as shown in
Turning to
According to one embodiment, the first material is a molded plastic material and the second material is an overmolded elastic polymer material, such as rubber. In such an embodiment, launcher's 18 base 44 and arms 46 can generally be formed as a unitary element of plastic and include areas 56 and 58 of overmolded rubber. Rubber portions 56 and 58 can overlie and/or be embedded in at least potions of arms 46 and base 44. An area 60 proximate notch 52 can either be formed of the first material, the second material or different third material having properties differing from the first and second materials. The softer second material, as may be located in areas 56, 58 and 60, can be provided in order to reduce or substantially eliminate the noise developed as arrow shaft 210 moves or rattles within channel 50 or notch 52. Thus, launcher 18 can be desirably quiet (due to the softer second material) yet still have adequate stiffness and rigidity (due to the harder first material). In one embodiment, as indicated in
Support component 28 and activator 24 will now be described in greater detail with continuing reference to the aforementioned figures, and with particular reference to
Within support component 28 and cavity 64 can be a torsional biasing element 76 (as best shown in
Torsional biasing element 76 can have a restoring constant KT such as a spring force in a torsional spring. When activator 24 is rotated upward from the first or lowered position (as shown in
Activator 24 can include a body 74 that can be rigidly attached to first portion 40 of shaft 16 and a stopping component 78 for regulating rotation of shaft 16. Stopping component 78 can be housed at least partially within body 74. Body 74 and stopping component 78 can also be selectively adapted to interact with cavity wall 66 as illustrated in the figures.
As best shown in
Stopping component 78 can be a depressible detent, such as a ball detent or pin detent, movable linearly within a bore 86 defined within the activator body 74, as shown in
Stopping component 78 can also be selectively adapted for interacting with dowel pin 72, or similar bulge in cavity wall 66, such that a force must be applied to depress ball bearing 90 to enable the edge of activator body 74 to move past cavity wall 66 and/or dowel pin 72. Stop biasing element 88 can have a restoring constant KS that inhibits deflection of stop biasing element 88 and therefore ball bearing 90. In order for activator 24 to rotate past dowel pin 72, ball bearing 90 must deflect a distance x downward into bore 86, as shown in
When launcher 18 is in the lowered position and activator 24 is in the first position (as shown in
When activator 24 is in the second position, ball bearing 90 can be located within notch 100 and can contact dowel pin 72 (or similar bulge in wall 66), as shown in
Both stop biasing element 88 and torsional biasing element 76 can be selectively adapted so that when activator 24 is statically placed in the second position, the force FS is slightly greater than the opposing translated vertical component of force FT, denoted as FTy. This selective adaptation can be based on the relationship between the restoring constants KT and KS, the deflection angle θ of torsional biasing element 76, and/or placement and size of dowel pin 72 (or similar bulge in wall 66) which can influence the orientation angle a of the force FT. As a result, ball bearing or conical end 90 can be prevented from depressing into bore 86 and traveling past dowel pin 72, thereby maintaining activator 24 in the second position and the launcher 18 in the upright support position. A schematic diagram of the interaction of the forces is shown in
In order for activator 24 to rotate from the second position to the first position, an opposing force greater than FS of stop biasing element 88 must be applied to depress ball bearing 90 into bore 86 and allow stopping component 78 to move underneath dowel pin 72. Once the stopping component 78 moves past dowel pin 72 and away from first indentation 68, the torsional biasing element 76 urges rotation of activator 24 into the first position where launcher 18 is in the lowered position. This opposing force can be provided solely from the rotational moment or torque τ about the rotational axis of shaft 16 created by torsional biasing element 76 or provided in combination with another, separate force. As explained above, torque i creates a linear force FT perpendicular to the contact point 102 between ball bearing 90 and dowel pin 72 which has a translated vertical component force FTy directly opposing FS. The vertical component force FTy can be greater than FS when the torque τ about shaft 16 is increased, either by increasing the deflection angle θ or torsional biasing element 76 and/or applying an outside rotational moment or force. When component force FTy is greater than FS, ball bearing 90 depresses into bore 86 and stopping component 78 can move past notch 100 and dowel pin 72, thereby rotating activator 24. Activator can then rotate through cavity 64 from the second position shown in
Cavity 64 can have an arcuate wall 66 with a sliding surface that the ball bearing 90 of stopping component 78 can freely slide against once stopping component 78 clears dowel pin 72 and activator 24 begins rotation towards the first position. Alternatively, wall 66 can be positioned further away so that there is a gap between stopping component 78 and wall 66 as activator 24 moves between the first position and second position. Rotation of activator 24 and shaft 16 can continue until activator body 74 reaches a rotation limiting wall 92 of cavity 66. A rubber damper or stop 94 or similar object may be placed on rotation limiting wall 92 to engage the activator body 74 when it reaches the second position as shown in
Cavity wall 66 can also be selectively arranged so that activator 24 can rotate beyond the second position and away from the first position into the third position. When in the third position, there is a distance “d” between the stopping component 78 and dowel pin 72 (or alternatively a bulge in wall 66). Activator 24 can be moved into the third position as a result of the rotational force created by the tension in cord 26 and rotation of cord mount 20 when the bow string 204 of bow 200 is drawn back (or by any other suitable means). Placement of activator 24 in the third position can increase the torque τ applied about the axis of rotation of shaft 16. This can be due to the increase in the deflection angle θ of torsional biasing element 76. As explained above, when activator 24 is in the third position, torsional biasing element 76 has a deflection angle θ3 which is used in calculating the torque τ through the formula: τ=KT×θ3. Accordingly, the torque τ supplied by torsional biasing element 76 can be greater when activator 24 is in the third position than when in the second position. When activator 24 is released from the third position, such as when the drawn bow string 204 is released, activator 24 can rotate toward the second position with a torque τ equal to KT×θ3. The increased torque τ increases the linear force FT at the contact point 102 when ball bearing 90 reaches dowel pin 72, thereby increasing the translated vertical component force FTy that opposes the force FS pushing upward on ball bearing 90. When activator 24 is freely released from the third position, FTy may be greater than FS and ball bearing 90 of stopping component 78 may depress into bore 86 as it contacts dowel pin 72, enabling activator 24 to move from the third position to the second position to the first position. Accordingly, launcher 18 moves from the upright drawn position to the upright support position to the lowered position. A schematic of these interactions is shown in
Cavity 64 may also have a second indentation 70 with a ramp 96 formed into cavity wall 66. Such a design can entirely prevent or at least substantially eliminate any undesirable bounce back of activator body 74 and launcher 18 once activator 24 reaches the first position and launcher 18 has reached its lowered position. Once activator 24 nears the first position, second indentation 70 can allow ball bearing 90 of stopping component 78 to return to an extended position. As such, ball bearing 90 can engage ramp 96 as activator 24 approaches its first position. Once activator 24 reaches the first position, ball bearing 90 can continue engagement with ramp 96 to prevent activator body 74 (and thus launcher 18) from bouncing back towards its second position. In one embodiment, the linear force FS created by stop biasing element 88 of stopping component 78 against angled ramp 96 urges activator 24 towards its first or lowered position. This in turn can counteract any bounce back that activator body 74 would otherwise undergo and can keep activator 24 (and thus launcher 18) in its lowered position. Once activator 24 is in the first position and launcher 18 is in the lowered position, as depicted in
Second indentation 70 can be of any suitable size and depth and ramp 96 can be disposed at any suitable angle in order to prevent bounce back as activator body 74 contacts rotation limiting wall 92 and/or rubber damper 94. As will be appreciated, second indentation 70 need not extend clear to the rotation limiting wall 92 and only needs to be sized to accommodate the width of ball bearing 90. In another embodiment, second indentation 70 does not include a ramp 96 but rather has a steeper surface that creates a notch holding stopping component 78 in place.
Two possible methods of using the arrow rest 10 in connection with a bow 200 will now be described with reference to the aforementioned figures. However, it is understood these described methods are considered exemplary only and the use of alternative methods is considered within the scope of the present invention. In the first described method of use, a user first grasps launcher 18 and rotates it upwardly from the lowered position (shown in
In the second described method of use, arrow 208 is first loaded onto launcher 18 in the lowered position. Tail section 212 of arrow 208 is also engaged with bow string 204 to prepare for firing. Drawing bow string 204 back causes cord 26, which is clipped to bow string 204 or to bow cable 206, to pull on cord mount 20, which is fixedly attached to the terminal end of second portion 42 of shaft 16. As shown in
When the user releases bow string 204 to fire the arrow 208, activator 24 moves from the third position to the second position. As explained above, the torque τ (equal to KT×θ3) about the rotational axis of shaft 16 creates a force FT at ball bearing 90 as it contacts dowel pin 72 greater than the opposing force FS supplied by stopping component 78. Therefore, when stopping component 78 reaches notch 100 and contacts dowel pin 72 (or alternatively a bulge in wall 66), ball bearing 90 can depress a distance x into bore 86 and move out of notch 100 and past dowel pin 72. The torsional biasing element 76 can then urge continued rotation of activator 24 to the first position. Ball bearing 90 or stopping component 78 can remain in a partially depressed position until it reaches ramp 96 of the second indentation 70 of cavity wall 64 where it can begin to release to an extended position. Activator 24 can then cease to rotate once it reaches the first position and activator body 74 contacts rubber damper 94 and/or rotation limiting wall 92. The rotation of activator 24 corresponds to a rotation in shaft 16, which corresponds to a rotation in launcher 18. As a result, launcher 18 rotates from the upright drawn position to the upright support position to the lowered position before arrow 208 completely passes through arrow rest 10. This allows arrow 208 to pass through arrow rest 10 without arrow tail section 212 or fletching 214 contacting arrow rest 10. In other words, launcher 18 rotates out of the flight path of arrow 208 so that tail section 212 or fletching 214 of arrow 208 does not contact launcher 18 as arrow 208 travels past launcher 18.
The operation of the components of arrow rest 10 according to one embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to
When activator 24 is placed into the third position, the torque i about the rotational axis of shaft 16 can now be described as τ=KT×θ3. When freely released from the third position, activator 24 rotates toward the second position and ball bearing 90 contacts dowel pin 72. At this contact point 102, the downward force FT applied to ball bearing 90 can be described as FT=τ/[r×sin(α)], where τ=KT×θ3. However, the upward force applied by stop biasing element 88 remains the same as when activator 24 was statically placed in the second position and remains defined as FS=KS×x. In order for ball bearing 90 to depress a distance x into bore 86 allowing activator 24 to move to the first position, the vertical component force FTy of FT must be greater than FS. Using the above defined formulas, the operation of arrow rest 10 can be achieved using the following formulas:
F
Ty
<F
S (from second position)→[KT×θ2×cos(α)]/[r×sin(α)]<KS×x
F
Ty
>F
S (from third position)→[KT×θ3×cos(α)]/[r×sin(α)]>KS×x
The above formulas may be satisfied by selectively adapting torsional biasing element 76, stop biasing element 88, cavity wall 66, dowel pin 72, and/or activator 24 in a number of different combinations.
The use of stopping component 78 and dowel pin 72 (or alternatively a bulge in wall 66) can enable the user to slowly let down bow string 204 when making a decision not to fire a drawn arrow 208. The configuration allows arrow rest 10 to remain in the upright support position, even when bow string 204 is fully let down. When bow string 204 is slowly let down, the tension in cord 26 decreases at a much slower rate than when bow 200 is fired. This decreased rate of tension reduction reduces the torque τ applied to shaft 16 as activator 24 moves from the third position to the second position (as opposed to when activator 24 is freely released from the third position). As a result, when bow string 204 is slowly let down, the torque T applied to the shaft 16 when ball bearing 90 contacts dowel pin 72 can be described in the following formula: KT×θ3>τ>KT×θ2. This results in the linear force FT created by torque τ to have a vertical component FTy less than FS. This prevents ball bearing 90 from depressing a distance x into bore 86, thereby preventing activator 24 from passing by dowel pin 72 and into the first position. Arrow rest 10 can then continue to support arrow 208 until the user decides to redraw bow string 204 and fire arrow 208.
It should be understood that arrow rest 10 can be oriented in a number of other ways, including in the mirror image of what is shown in the figures in order to accommodate left-handed users. It should also be understood that while arrow rest 10 is shown in the figures as having a shaft 16 having a generally horizontal axis in order to rotate launcher 18 between upright and lowered positions, arrow rest 10 can be configured and mounted to bow 200 in a fashion such that launcher 18 can rotate on a different axis, such as a vertical axis, in order to move launcher 18 out of the way of arrow 208.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting.
The constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.
This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/188,241, filed on Jul. 2, 2015, to Michael J. Ellig, entitled “Fall Away Arrow Rest System,” currently pending, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62188241 | Jul 2015 | US |
