Patent Application
20080264400
The present invention is a device for dampening the harmonic vibrations of a bowstring to reduce noise and hand shock in an archery bow following the release of an arrow.
1. Background of Invention
A great many of today's modern archers are using very light carbon arrows fired from high performance compound bows with velocities well over 300 feet/second. There are several bow companies advertising velocities over 320 feet/second with a 70 pound draw force and 30 inch draw length bow, shooting a 350 grain arrow. This is an I.B.O. standard of 5 grains of arrow weight per pound of draw force of which all bow manufactures use for advertising. When this tremendous amount of stored energy is released most of it is transferred to the arrow sending it down range, some of this energy is also transferred to the bow in the form of vibration. This vibration creates unwanted noise and hand shock.
Many inventions have been introduced over the years to address this unwanted vibration. There are now a number of companies advertising that their products reduce vibration, noise and hand shock in archery bows. These products include string silencers, limb dampeners, stabilizers, and dampening devices mounted in the risers of archery bows. While a great many of these products by themselves and in combination with other products seem to reduce unwanted vibration, there is still more that can be done.
Recently there have been several inventions that address the bow string oscillation following the release of an arrow from an archery bow. These inventions are usually some form of an elastomeric polymer part mounted to the bow and in contact with the bow string when the bow is at rest. When an arrow is released from the bow there is the tendency for the bowstring to travel as much as an inch or more forward of it's normal rest position. How much the string oscillates is dependant on several factors such as the axle to axle length of the bow, the limbs, the cams, the arrow weight, style of arrow nock, and the combined weight of the bowstring accessories such as peep sights, nocking loops and string silencers.
Some of these devices to reduce or eliminate string oscillation are mounted near the limb tips of the bow, while others are mounted to the cable guide rod or to the front or rear stabilizer holes on the bow riser. When an arrow is drawn back, the bow string is pulled off of the elastomeric component. Then after the arrow is released from full draw the string returns to the elastomeric component stopping oscillation of the string and the subsequent vibration, noise and hand shock.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Prior art which relates to the present invention, include the following patents and other known inventions:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,892 Windedahl et al discloses a silencer for reducing the noise made by an archery bow when an arrow is shot. An elastic member having one end attached to the limb is stretched to its full length when the bowstring is drawn and returned to the relaxed length when the bowstring is returned to its brace height.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,704 Winebarger discloses a combination cable guard and vibration dampener whereby the sliding movement of a cable retaining means on a cable rod causes a spring member having a cushioning material therein to converge upon and embrace the bowstring after the shot. The patent recites that this device causes bowstring vibration and attendant noise to immediately cease.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,168 Martin discloses a dampening apparatus formed of a semi-solid substance which is located in the handle of the archery bow. This patent notes that a wide range of cable guards and cable guard sliders have been developed to reduce noise.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,269 Saunders discloses a cushioned member of sound dampening material in physical contact with the bowstring. When the bowstring is drawn and then released the vibration of the bowstring is dampened by compression of the cushion member and by the compressed cells of the cushion member clamping the bowstring. The cushion member does not itself move because it is mounted on a stationary rod attached to the cable guard.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,467 Gallops, Jr. discloses a traveling bowstring vibration dampener for use in a compound bow is movable in response to the draw and release of a bowstring.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,348 Gallops, Jr. discloses a traveling vibration dampener for dampening bowstring oscillation and the vibration dampener is mounted in an opening in a bumper stem connected to a cable saver and the cable saver and the vibration dampener move together.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,314 McPherson discloses a vibration and noise suppressor being carried by a support having an attachment device at an end of the support for attachment to a limb of an archery bow. The support carries the vibration and noise suppressor which is configured and arranged to suppress vibration and noise created by the bowstring when launching an arrow.
STS (Shock Terminator Suppressor) System, Inventor: Joe Goade; Dyersburg, Tenn.; Discloses a short model for rear mounting to a stabilizer hole, and a long version for mounting to the traditional front stabilizer hole. Soft elastomeric polymer component contacts bowstring when archery bow is in its undrawn state to dampen string vibrations and noise.
String Stop by Sterner Duttera, web-site: www.sternerduttera.com
Shows a tube coming straight back from the rear of riser towards the bowstring where there is an elastomeric polymer component attached to the end of tube and in contact with the bowstring when the bow is at rest.
The object of the invention is to eliminate bowstring oscillation and suppress vibration and noise in an archery bow following the release of an arrow. This preferred embodiment mounts to both the traditional front stabilizer hole found on every bow and the rear stabilizer hole that is becoming more common on a number of bows being manufactured today.
The device is mounted to the riser and adjusted so that the gas spring is pre-loading the elastomeric polymer component slightly against bowstring when the bow is at rest. The gas spring provides a controlled deceleration rather than an abrupt stop. This action of the gas spring saves on wear and tear of the bowstring and reduces hand shock more effectively than a solid mounted stop.
The drawings and descriptions represent only some of the embodiments of the invention. It is realized that skilled persons will understand that there are many ways to make a gas spring bowstring suppressor according to the principles disclosed with additional embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.
