Patent Application
20140305418
Embodiments usable within the scope of the present disclosure relate, generally, to archery gloves, and more specifically, to gloves having features for gripping and/or otherwise engaging a bowstring attached thereto.
In the detailed description of various embodiments usable within the scope of the present disclosure, presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
One or more embodiments are described below with reference to the listed Figures.
Before describing selected embodiments of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein. The disclosure and description herein is illustrative and explanatory of one or more presently preferred embodiments of the invention and variations thereof, and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in the design, organization, order of operation, means of operation, equipment structures and location, methodology, and use of mechanical equivalents may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
As well, it should be understood the drawings are intended illustrate and plainly disclose presently preferred embodiments of the invention to one of skill in the art, but are not intended to be manufacturing level drawings or renditions of final products and may include simplified conceptual views as desired for easier and quicker understanding or explanation of the invention. As well, the relative size and arrangement of the components may differ from that shown and still operate within the spirit of the invention as described throughout the present application.
Moreover, it will be understood that various directions such as “upper”, “lower”, “bottom”, “top”, “left”, “right”, and so forth are made only with respect to explanation in conjunction with the drawings, and that the components may be oriented differently, for instance, during transportation and manufacturing as well as operation. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments described herein, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and non-limiting.
A conventional archery release typically includes a claw or similar member at the distal end thereof, usable to engage a bowstring, and a shaft extending from the claw to engage a strap or collar, normally worn around a user's wrist. In use, the claw can be engaged with the bowstring, then used to pull the bowstring backward. A mechanical release mechanism associated with the claw can then be actuated to cause the bowstring to be released, loosing a nocked arrow. Because it is desirable to wear a glove while using a bow, to protect a user's hand from both the bowstring and the elements, an archery release is often worn over a glove, which can create discomfort, cause the glove material to wrinkle and/or bunch, create difficulty when adjusting and fitting the release over the glove, can cause forces applied to the claw and shaft to be undesirably transferred to the glove material, and can interfere with the hunter's manipulation of the bowstring, generally hindering the effectiveness of the release, and of the hunter. Alternative products include gloves having an opening in the palm region, such that an archery release can be worn under the glove while the shaft and claw extend through the opening in the palm. Such alternatives are similarly uncomfortable and result in the undesirable application of forces from the bowstring to the glove, and are also difficult to adjust and fit properly.
To enable a hunter or recreational archer to free his or her hands for other activities, while continuing to wear an archery release, some releases are able to retract and/or pivot away from the palm, to engage Velcro™ or a similar element on the collar. Due to the noise produced by Velcro™ when disengaged, use of this feature is often undesirable for hunters when such a noise may alert or frighten game.
A need therefore exists for a glove usable to engage a bow that overcomes these and other difficulties. Embodiments usable within the scope of the present disclosure include a glove body, formed from a generally flexible material (e.g., leather, textiles, etc.) having an interior and exterior layer. A collar, strap, and/or band can be integrally attached to the glove body (e.g., sewn or otherwise secured thereto), and in an embodiment, can be attached between the interior and exterior layers of material. An opening in the front side of the glove body (e.g., through the exterior layer, proximate to the palm) can accommodate extension of a bow engagement member engaged to the collar (e.g., via a bracket), while in a further embodiment, an opening in the back side of the glove can accommodate a buckle or similar attachment and/or adjustable feature of the collar.
In an embodiment, the bow engagement member and/or bracket can be movable (e.g., pivotable) between a first position in which the bow engagement member extends toward the front side of the glove body (e.g., over the palm and toward the fingers), and a second position in which the bow engagement member extends in a generally opposite direction (e.g., toward the back side of the glove body—toward the wrist, such that the palm is generally unobstructed). A hook, catch, clasp, or similar generally noiseless fastener can be used to retain the bow engagement member in the second position.
Use of a collar, strap, and/or band integrally attached to the glove body can prevent forces applied to the collar from undesirably affecting the position and fit of the glove. Positioning of a collar between interior and exterior layers of the glove body can prevent discomfort caused by contact between the collar and a user's skin, can muffle sounds associated with movement and/or adjustment of the collar, and can further facilitate the favorable distribution of forces when the bow engagement member is used to pull a bowstring.
Referring now to
The depicted embodiment is shown having two openings, namely a first slit (22A) and a second slit (22B), through which a collar (24) extends. Specifically, the depicted collar can be disposed between external and internal layers of material of the glove (10), which can prevent uncomfortable contact between the collar (24) and a user's skin, can minimize bunching and/or other undesirable affects on the glove material caused by manipulating the collar (24), and can result in favorable distribution of forces applied to the collar (24), e.g., by an attached bow engagement member. The collar (24) is shown having an adjustment feature associated therewith, namely, a buckle (26) having a protruding member adapted for engagement with orifices in a strap (28), such that the collar (24) can be tightened and/or loosened, as needed, to accommodate a wrist of a user. The wrist portion of the glove (10) can concurrently be tightened and/or loosened through manipulation of the collar (24) in this manner.
Referring now to
In an embodiment, the fastener (48) can include a substantially noiseless fastener, such as a hook, catch, clasp, loop, or similar member into which the shaft (42), claw portion (44), and/or bracket (40) can be engaged without generating significant noise. Alternative mechanisms, such as Velcro™, snaps, or clamps and/or catches that require manipulation of parts may undesirably generate sounds that deter game.
Referring now to
In use, when the bow engagement member (e.g., the claw (44), shown in
Embodiments described herein can thereby provide gloves and methods usable to provide the simultaneous protection of a glove and use of an archery release without interfering with the comfort, fit, or operation of the glove or archery release.
While various embodiments usable within the scope of the present disclosure have been described with emphasis, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention can be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
