Hinge Release with Locking Hook and Reset Click

Abstract

Aspects described herein may relate to an archery bowstring release system that may include a handle, a release neck engaged with the handle, a release hook engaged with the release neck and configured to releasably engage an archery bowstring, and a release sear assembly positioned within the handle and engaged with the release hook, wherein the release sear assembly is configured to permit the release hook to pivot from a first reset position to a second tactile position, and wherein the release sear assembly is further configured to permit the release hook to pivot from the second tactile position to a third firing position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to archery bowstring shooting/release systems. In particular, hinged archery bowstring release systems and methods of making hinged archery bowstring release systems

BACKGROUND

Releases have become increasingly popular among archers as an aid to drawing the bowstring, holding the bowstring in the fully drawn position, and then releasing the bowstring when desired to shoot an arrow. Moreover, a release helps an archer establish a uniform release of the bowstring to improve accuracy and consistency. Upon researching how archers shoot releases, it was found that an unintentional, yet common, form in which archers tend to rotate a hinge release in their hand to get it to “click.” Turning a standard hinge in an archer's hand pulls the head of the release away from the original anchor point, thus changing the anchor point which subsequently moves the impact point of the arrow. Using a proper pull through technique does not cause the head of the release to move creating more consistent shooting. Unfortunately, only approximately 10% of archers use a proper pull through method.

Accordingly, the systems described herein may address one or more problems of improving and adapting an archery bowstring hinge release that pivots in the handle rather than the head thus allowing the handle to swivel in an archer's hand while allowing the neck and head to stay in the original anchor position for more consistent shooting.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of various aspects described herein. This summary is not an extensive overview and is not intended to identify key or critical elements or to delineate the scope of any claim. The following summary merely presents some concepts in a simplified form as an introductory prelude to the more detailed description provided below.

Aspects relate to archery release systems that may include a handle, a release neck engaged with the handle and configured to releasably engage an archery bowstring, a release hook engaged with the handle and configured to releasably engage an archery bowstring, and a release scar assembly positioned within the handle and engaged with the release hook, wherein the release sear assembly may be configured to permit the release hook to pivot from a first reset position to a second tactile position, and wherein the release sear assembly is further configured to permit the release hook to pivot from the second tactile position to a third firing position. In one example, the release hook may emit a tactile feel or vibration rather than an audible click when pivoting to the second position. In some examples, the release hook via the release sear assembly may be resettable from the second tactile position to the first reset position. In another example, the release sear assembly may include an adjustable speed sear and an adjustable click sear. In still other examples, the handle may include a first, a second, and a third finger position. In yet another example, the third finger position may be adjustable via a removable set screw. In one example, the handle may further include a lanyard attachment slot. In another example, the release sear assembly may pivot within handle. In some examples, the release hook is lockable and/or resettable. In other examples, the handle may include a detachable thumb peg assembly. In a related example, the handle may further include a thumb peg attachment slot configured to engage the detachable thumb peg assembly.

Some aspects described herein may include a method of forming an archery release system including the steps of forming a handle, forming a release neck engaged with the handle; forming a release hook engaged with the release neck, and configured to releasably engage an archery bowstring, and forming a release sear assembly positioned within the handle and engaged with the release hook, wherein the release sear assembly is configured to permit the release hook to pivot from a first reset position to a second tactile position, and wherein the release sear assembly is further configured to permit the release hook to pivot from the second tactile position to a third firing position. In some examples, the handle may be formed of aluminum, brass, steel, or combinations thereof. In other examples, the release neck may be formed of steel and/or other materials. In yet other examples, the release neck and the release hook form a caliper style full capture archery bowstring release system.

Other aspects disclosed herein may relate to archery release systems that may include a handle, a detachable thumb peg assembly configured to engage the handle, a release neck engaged with the handle; a release hook engaged with the release neck and configured to releasably engage an archery bowstring, and a release sear assembly positioned within the handle and engaged with the release hook, wherein the release sear assembly may be configured to permit the release hook to pivot from a first reset position to a second tactile position, and wherein the release sear assembly may be further configured to permit the release hook to pivot from the second tactile position to a third firing position.

These features, along with many others, are discussed by way of example in greater detail below. Corresponding systems and methods are also within the scope of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an archery bow release having a release hook and sear assembly according to one example as described herein.

FIG. 2 depicts an alternative archery bow release having a release hook and sear assembly and a thumb assembly according to one example as described herein.

FIG. 3 depicts an internal/transparent view of a release hook and sear assembly of an archery bowstring release according to one example as described herein.

FIG. 4 depicts an alternative internal/transparent view of archery bow release having a release hook and sear assembly according to one example as described herein.

FIG. 5 depicts an expanded internal view of the archery bow release having a release hook and sear assembly according to FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A depicts a rear view of an archery bow release having a release hook and sear assembly according to one example as described herein.

FIG. 6B depicts a perspective view of an archery bow release having a release hook and sear assembly according to one example as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various examples in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and implemented whereby structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Further, headings within this disclosure should not be considered as limiting aspects of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art with the benefit of this disclosure will appreciate that the examples are not limited to the headings.

In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various embodiments in which aspects of the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Aspects of the disclosure are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Rather, the phrases and terms used herein are to be given their broadest interpretation and meaning.

By way of introduction, aspects discussed herein may relate to archery bow hinge style releases with a lockable capture system and methods of making such systems. The release may operate off of an internal sear with a swiveling handle. The systems may be used with or without a bearing for smooth rotation. The systems disclosed herein may include a position in which the release is rotated to a position having a tactile and/or audible click to give an archer advance warning that further rotation will reach the next or firing position. After hitting the warning or pre-shot position having the tactile feel and/or audible click, the system can be reset to the original position, for example, if an archer decides that a shot will not be taken in a particular circumstance without first having to release the archer's full draw on the bowstring. Upon reaching the reset position, a tactile and/or audible click may indicate to the archer that the reset is achieved.

Upon researching how archers shoot releases it was found that an unintentional, yet common, form in which archers tend to rotate a hinge release in their hand to get it to “click” or to produce the audible pre-release/shot position. Turning a standard hinge release in an archer's hand pulls the head or top of the release away from the original anchor point, thus changing the anchor point which subsequently moves the impact point of the arrow. This particular problem causes inconsistent shots and loss of accuracy.

Using a proper pull through technique, however, does not cause the head of the release to move creating more consistent shooting. Unfortunately, only approximately 10% of archers use such a proper pull through method. Accordingly, the present release system disclosed herein may include an internal sear assembly that engages a release hook that pivots within the handle rather than the head (as found in prior art systems) thus allowing the handle to swivel in the archer's hand while allowing the neck and head to stay in the original anchor position for more consistent shooting. Accordingly, the release system disclosed herein results in the same impact point whether shot with the proper pull through method or the more widely used swivel method because the neck and head stay consistent throughout the shot.

Additionally, the release system disclosed herein may include a tactile feel, rather than an audible click when the release hook drops off the shelf of the release sear. This unique design allows archers to reset their shot process or let down by going back over the shelf. The vibration or tactile feel feature helps avoid unnecessary noise and panic when hunters are hunting animals.

As shown in FIG. 1, release 100 may include handle 102, and multiple finger positions to include first finger position 104, second finger position 106, and third finger position 108. Release neck 112 may be engaged with handle 102 as well as release hook 114. Release neck 112 and release hook 114 may be configured to form a caliper-style full capture release system. Release hook 114 may engage release neck 112 in a caliper fashion to securely engage an archery bow bowstring. Release hook 114 may be disengaged by and archer by simply rotating release hook 114 to an open position with a finger while holding release 100 in the archer's hand. Similarly, an archer may close release hook 114 by rotating to a closed position via a finger while holding release 100. In certain examples, and archer may insert an index finger in first finger position 104, a middle finger may be positioned in second finger position 106, and a ring finger may be positioned in third finger position 108.

As shown in FIG. 2, an alternative embodiment of release 100 may include removable and/or adjustable thumb peg assembly 110 engaged with handle 102. Handle 102 may include multiple finger positions to include first finger position 104, second finger position 106, and third finger position 108. Thumb peg assembly 110 may be removably positioned on handle 102 opposite first finger position 104. Thumb tab assembly 110 may be removably attached to the backside or rear side of handle 102 via thumb peg attachment slot 146 (see FIG. 6A). Thumb tab assembly 110 may be secured to thumb peg attachment slot 146 via at least one set screw or a plurality of set screws (not shown) or other mechanical fastener known in the art. Thumb tab assembly 110 may further include at last one thumb peg attachment hole 111 configured to engage a thumb peg (not shown). To aid an archer in improving shot consistency, thumb peg assembly 110 may include at least, or approximately, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 thumb peg attachment holes 111. Thumb peg attachment holes 111 may be threaded to engage a thumb tab. Release neck 112 may be engaged with handle 102 as well as release hook 114. As noted above, release neck 112 and release hook 114 may be configured to form a caliper-style full capture release system. Release hook 114 may engage release neck 112 in a caliper fashion to securely engage an archery bow bowstring.

FIG. 3, depicts an alternative internal/transparent view of archery bowstring release 100. Handle 102 may include multiple finger positions to include first finger position 104, second finger position 106, and third finger position 108. Third finger position 108 may be adjustable based upon an archer's desired shooting position. Finger adjustment assembly may include at least, or approximately, 1, 2, 3, or 4 adjustable positions to aid an archer in improving shot consistency via desired finger positions. Finger adjustment assembly 124 may include set screw holes 126 that allow finger position 108 to be moved into the desired position and then secured via a fastener such as a set screw. In some examples, set screw holes 126 may be threaded to engage a fastener. As shown in FIG. 3, release neck 112 may be engaged with handle 102 as well as release hook 114. As noted above, release neck 112 and release hook 114 may be configured to form a caliper-style full capture release system to securely engage an archery bow bowstring. The sear assembly may be formed by release sear 122, release and release sear pivot 128. Release sear 122 may engage release hook arm 120. Release hook arm 120 may include release hook 114 at a distal end. Release hook arm 120 and/or release neck 112 may rotate about release hook arm pivot 130. Release hook arm pivot 130 may be anchored internally to handle 102

FIG. 4 is an alternative internal/transparent partial view of archery bowstring release 100 handle 102 and FIG. 5 depicts an expanded view release hook and sear assembly 200 of an archery bowstring release 100 described and shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, scar assembly 200 may include release hook arm 120 engaged with release sear 122. In particular, bottom 121 of release hook arm 122 may engage release sear shelf 123. Release 100 may be rotated from a first reset position to a second pre-firing position in which bottom 121 of release hook arm 122 drops-off sear shelf 123 and the archer can perceive or feel a tactile indication and/or hear an audible click to give an archer advance warning that further rotation will reach a third firing position if release 100 is further rotated. In certain examples, upon rotation of release 100, bottom 121 of release hook arm 122 drops-off sear shelf 123 the archer may only receive a tactile indication when release 100 is rotated from the first reset position to the second pre-firing position. Such a configuration is advantageous to limit emitted noise when an archer is hunting and wants to maintain stealth. In another example, upon rotating release 100 back in the opposite direction to the first reset position from the second warning or pre-shot position, the archer may receive tactile feel and/or audible click via bottom 121 of release hook arm 120 rotating over shelf 123 of release sear 122, thereby resetting release 100 back to the first or reset position without having to release the pull on the bowstring. For example, if an archer decides that a shot will not be taken in a particular circumstance without first having to release the archer's full draw on the bowstring when in the second pre-firing position, the archer may rotate release 100 in the opposite direction until the archer feels the tactile indication and/or hears an audible click indicating release 100 is reset to the first position. In some examples, the archer may receive only the audible click upon reaching the reset position to indicate to the archer that the reset is achieved. If release 100 is rotated further after rotation from the reset position to the pre-firing position, the third firing position will be reached and the bowstring will be released when release hook arm 120 opens upon reaching the third position. Closing or locking release hook arm 120 will reset release 100.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the rear side of handle 102 may be configured with lanyard attachment slot 144 configured to engage a lanyard or rope designed to secure release 100 to an archer's hand, bow, or other piece of equipment. The rear side of handle 102 may further include thumb peg attachment slot 146 configured to engage thumb tab assembly 110 (not shown). Handle 102 may also include click sear adjustment lever 140 and speed sear adjustment lever 142. Click sear adjustment lever 140 may used to control the engagement of the sear assembly with the release hook arm thus slowing or increasing the speed at which the release hook bottom of release hook arm rotating over the shelf of the release sear when pivoting from the first reset position to the second pre-firing position. Speed sear adjustment lever 142 may be used to control the engagement of the sear assembly with the release hook arm and/or release neck thus slowing or increasing the speed at which the release fires or releases the bowstring when going from the second pre-firing position to the third firing position.

As shown in FIG. 6B, handle 102 may include third finger position 108 and set screw adjustment 148. As discussed above, the set screw may engage set screw adjustment 148 and one of the 4 adjustable positions of finger adjustment assembly 124 and the related set screw hole 126 that allow finger position 108 to be moved into the desired position.

Commonly used material such as Aluminum, Brass & Steel, alloys, composites, and/or combinations thereof.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in any statement of examples is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Furthermore, while aspects of the present disclosure have been described in terms of preferred examples, and it will be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto since modifications may be made to those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. For example, although various examples are described herein, features and/or steps of those examples may be combined, divided, omitted, rearranged, revised, and/or augmented in any desired manner. Various alterations, modifications, and improvements will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and are intended to be part of this description, even if not expressly stated herein, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the disclosures herein. The disclosures herein, therefore, are by way of example only, and are not limiting.

Claims

1. An archery bowstring release comprising: a handle;a release neck engaged with the handle;a release hook engaged with the release neck and configured to releasably engage an archery bowstring anda release sear assembly positioned within the handle and engaged with the release hook, wherein the release sear assembly is configured to permit the release hook to pivot from a first reset position to a second tactile position, wherein the release hook emits a tactile feel or vibration rather than an audible click when pivoting to the second position, and wherein the release sear assembly is further configured to permit the release hook to pivot from the second tactile position to a third firing position.

2. The archery bowstring release of claim 1, wherein the release hook is resettable from the second tactile position to the first reset position.

3. The archery bowstring release of claim 2, wherein the release sear assembly comprises an adjustable speed sear and an adjustable click sear.

4. The archery bowstring release of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a first, a second, and a third finger position.

5. The archery bowstring release of claim 4, wherein the third finger position is adjustable via a removable set screw.

6. The archery bowstring release of claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises a lanyard attachment slot.

7. The archery bowstring release of claim 1, wherein the release sear assembly and the release hook pivot within handle.

8. The archery bowstring release of claim 1, wherein the release hook is lockable.

9. The archery bowstring release of claim 1, further comprising a detachable thumb peg assembly.

10. The archery bowstring release of claim 9, wherein the handle further comprises a thumb peg attachment slot configured to engage the detachable thumb peg assembly.

11. A method of forming an archery bowstring release system comprising the steps of: forming a handle;forming a release neck engaged with the handle;forming a release hook engaged with the release neck and configured to releasably engage an archery bowstring; andforming a release sear assembly positioned within the handle and engaged with the release hook, wherein the release sear assembly is configured to permit the release hook to pivot from a first reset position to a second tactile position, wherein the release hook emits a tactile feel or vibration rather than an audible click when pivoting to the second position, and wherein the release sear assembly is further configured to permit the release hook to pivot from the second tactile position to a third firing position.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the release hook is resettable from the second tactile position to the first reset position, and wherein the release hook emits an audible click when reset to the first rest position.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the release sear assembly comprises an adjustable speed sear and an adjustable click sear.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the handle comprises a first, a second, and a third finger position.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the third finger position is adjustable via a removable set screw.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the release sear assembly and the release hook pivot within handle.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the handle is formed of aluminum, brass, steel, or combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the release neck is formed of steel.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the release neck and the release hook form a caliper style full capture system.

20. An archery bowstring release system comprising: a handle;a detachable thumb peg assembly configured to engage the handle;a release neck engaged with the handle;a release hook engaged with the release neck and configured to releasably engage an archery bowstring; anda release sear assembly positioned within the handle and engaged with the release hook, wherein the release sear assembly is configured to permit the release hook to pivot from a first reset position to a second tactile position, wherein the release hook emits a tactile feel or vibration rather than an audible click when pivoting to the second position, and wherein the release sear assembly is further configured to permit the release hook to pivot from the second tactile position to a third firing position, and wherein the release hook is resettable to the first reset position, and wherein the release hook and the release sear assembly emit an audible click when the release hook is reset to the first reset position.