BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Humans designed and first started using bows and arrows for hunting and warfare possibly as early as 9,000 BCE (Before the Common Era). Bows have been created in many forms, longbows, composite and recurve bows. Modern bows incorporate many older design features, but also may incorporate more recent innovations, in particular the use of pulleys and/or cams. The use of modern materials and the mechanical advantage provided by incorporating pulleys into the draw mechanism of a bow allows the use of stiffer—and shorter—limbs to provide the same energy delivered to the arrow as would be delivered by an older design that did not incorporate pulleys and modern materials. Compound bows store more energy and shoot arrows faster for equivalent draw-weight older bow designs, thus allowing the compound bows to be smaller than the predecessor non-compound bows.
Slingshots are based upon slings—ancient weapons for hunting and war—and a forked design that appears as a “Y” with the upper portion forming the fork of the weapon. A slingshot relies upon elastic or other material to be stretched back from the fork of the weapon. Generally, a slingshot uses materials such as latex rubber and the like to stretch back from the forks, storing energy that is released as a projectile is accelerated out of a pocket held at the back of the elastic material. Slingshots are used for target practice, small game, and have been used for military purposes. The slingshot has the advantage of being an extremely small, light weapon. However, the slingshot's power is limited by its size and the materials used for the elastic.
It is desirable to have a weapon that approaches the size and portability of a slingshot, while incorporating the power and accuracy of a compound bow. It is also desirable that such a weapon use existing projectiles such as arrows and ball shot so as not to incur additional costs for new types of projectiles, and also to maintain similarities for users so that the new device will be easy to use successfully, especially for an experienced bowman and/or slingshot user.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hybrid combination of a compound bow and a sling shot.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a compound bow and sling shot that may fire standard arrows.
It is further object of the present invention to provide a hybrid combination of a compound bow and slingshot with a foldable, adjustable grip that provides for ambidextrous use of the weapon.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hybrid combination of a compound bow and slingshot that is an ambidextrous weapon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a hybrid combination of a compound bow and a sling-shot. The resulting weapon is a compact horizontally-configured design that provides the force-multiplying design of a compound bow in a stable, small size that is easy to operate and is easier to transport and handle than a full-sized hunting bow. Further, because of the compact size of the weapon, it is easier to use in the field, especially in conditions where a hunter is operating in brush and/or trees that can make it difficult to operate a full size weapon. Despite the reduction in size, however, the weapon fires full size arrows with a similar power range of a full size compound bow.
The device has a horizontal riser and a handle attached to the bottom of the riser, resulting in a “T” shape to the weapon when seen head on. The horizontal riser is positioned on the same horizontal plane as the bow limbs and string. The handle may be hinged at the front, middle, or rear of the top of the handle where it is hingedly connected to the riser, but in any configuration the handle is hinged in the same horizontal plane as the riser, bow limbs, and string and further includes a locking mechanism so that the handle may be adjusted for different users, as well as for stowing flat to take up less space for transport. The combination of the planar relationship between the riser, bow limbs, string, and hinge allows the riser and bow limbs to pivot about the common horizontal axis while in use. The device may further comprise an arm brace, extending out from the grip. The arm brace is connected offset to the bottom of the handle, and may be adjusted left or right to accommodate a left—or right—handed shooter.
The horizontal riser may further comprise a central portion with a shelf, the shelf containing a recess in which an arrow rests while the arrow is being nocked, drawn, and the arrow released.
The horizontal riser may further have accessory mounts, comprising threaded holes and the like to accommodate commercially available archery accessories.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective of the present invention showing the top of the device.
FIG. 2 is a perspective of the present invention showing the back and underneath.
FIG. 3 is a perspective of the present invention showing the front and underneath.
FIG. 4 is a perspective of the present invention showing the front of the device.
FIG. 5 is a perspective of the present invention showing the device with an arrow loaded to be fired.
FIG. 6 is a detail of the present invention showing the ammo receiver.
FIG. 7 is a detail of the present invention showing an arrow positioned within the ammo receiver.
FIG. 8 is a detail of the present invention showing a ball shot positioned within the ammo receiver.
FIG. 9 is a detail of the present invention showing a ball shot positioned within the ammo receiver.
FIG. 10 is a detail of the present invention showing an arrow positioned within the ammo receiver.
FIG. 11 is a detail of the present invention showing the back of the ammo receiver.
FIG. 12 shows the present invention in use by an operator.
FIG. 13 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is an oblique view of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is front view of an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to FIG. 1, the device 101 is shown from a top view (the handle hidden from view under the riser 102), showing the riser 102 with a center portion 103 and two side portions 104. The side portions are the mounting points for the limbs 105. The limbs 105 have cams 107 mounted in the limbs 105. It will be understood that there are various, well-known means of mounting the cams, which include having cams mounted in recesses in the limbs, mounted on the outside of the limbs, and the like. Further, design of the device 101 allows the use of a riser 102 that is shorter than risers in traditional bow designs. The best method of mounting known for this device, however, is having the cams mounted in recesses in the limbs 105 or between an upper portion and lower portion (FIGS. 2-5, 201 and 202). The cams 107 have a bowstring 108, which may further comprise a loop 109 for drawing either by hand or with a release trigger. It will be understood that the limbs may be of various designs, including solid and split-limb configuration, without deviating from the scope of the invention. It will also be understood that it is well known in the art the method of choosing bow strings as well as the methods of stringing bow weapons both with and without cams. It will further be understood that, although the invention is described in detail utilizing limbs with cams, bow limbs without cams may be utilized without deviating from the scope and intent of the invention.
The center portion 103 of the riser 102 may further comprise a mount 110, for accessories such as an optical sight 111. It will be understood that the manner of affixing the limbs 105 to the riser 102 is well known in the art, and various methods may be used for the structure of the mounting of the limbs 105 without deviating from the scope of the invention.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the device is shown as seen from the bottom showing the handle 201 attached to the center portion 103 of the riser 102. Also shown is the embodiment of the invention where the limbs 105 comprise an upper portion 201 and a lower portion 202, with the cams 107 rotatably mounted between the upper portion 201 and the lower portion 202 at the end of the limbs 105 away from the riser 102. The bottom of the handle 201 may further have a threaded hole to which an adjustable monopod can be attached.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the device is shown in perspective view from the front of the riser 102 with the handle 201 shown attached to the center portion 103 of the riser 102. The device is further shown with the accessory mount 110.
FIG. 4 shows a perspective of the device as shown from the front in the upright position, with an optical sight 111 attached to the accessory mount 110. The device further shows an arrow rest 401. The arrow rest 401 shown is a “whisker” type of arrow rest (commonly sold under the name “Whisker Biscuit”), but it will be understood that the type of arrow rest may be changed to any known in the art to accommodate the needs and desires of the operator.
FIG. 5 shows a perspective of the device with an arrow 501 nocked for firing. The fletching end 502 of the arrow and the nock 503 are held in an ammo receiver 504 (see FIG. 6, 504 and FIG. 7, 504). As shown, the device bowstring 108 is not drawn for firing.
FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 show a detail of the ammo receiver 504. FIG. 6 shows the ammo receiver 504 without an arrow. The ammo receiver 504 has an outer portion 601 with a hole 602, and a string 603 affixed to the outer portion 601 on either side of the hole 602, with the portion of the string 603 within the circumference of the hole 602 being longer than the diameter of the hole 602, allowing the excess string 603 to flex into a loop behind the hole 602. In this manner, when an arrow is nocked as shown in FIG. 7, the arrow nock 503 extends partially through the hole 602, with the arrow nock 503 engaging the string 603. Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the ammo receiver 504 is further adapted such that a standard ball bearing shot 801 may be disposed within the hole 602 of the ammo receiver 504, the string 603 (not visible in FIGS. 8 and 9) restraining the shot 801 and allowing the device to be used to fire shot 801 as well as arrows.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the device with an arrow 501 positioned within the ammo receiver 504 in preparation for firing.
FIG. 11 shows a detail of the ammo receiver 504 as seen from behind.
FIG. 12 shows a perspective of the device 101 in operation. The shooter 1201 has an arrow 501 nocked and drawn for firing.
Referring now to FIG. 13, a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The riser 102 is shown with stabilizing rods 1301. The stabilizing rods 1301 are affixed within the riser 102 (means of affixing stabilizing rods within bow risers is well known in the industry) such that the stabilizing rods 1301 are perpendicular to the riser 102 and the string 108. The stabilizing rods 1301 are positioned underneath the bowstring 108 such that when the string 108 is drawn (FIG. 12) the stabilizing rods 1301 remain under the plane of the string 108 and offset the string 108 while shooting so that projectile fletching will clear the bowstring 108 when shooting. While the stabilizing rods 1301 are preferentially comprised of carbon graphite or the like, it will be understood that other materials may be utilized without deviating from the scope and intent of the present invention. The handle 201 is shown in an embodiment wherein the handle 201 comprises a forked portion 1302, the forked portion 1302 having two arms 1303. The arms 1303 are hingedly attached to the riser 102 by means well known in the art, such as bar passing through a corresponding hole in each of the arms 1303, the bar being affixed in the riser 102 by set screw or other means. It will be understood that other means of hingedly attaching the handle 201 to the riser 102 are well known, and the description and figures herein are merely examples and should not be construed as limiting the scope or intent of the invention. It will also be understood that the handle 201 may by hingedly attached by adjustable means, such the handle may be hingedly affixed at various locations on the riser 102 to adjust for different shooter physiology. For example, the handle 201 may be hingedly attached at the front, middle, or rear portion of the riser 102 in order to accommodate different users. The combination of handle 201 and hinge attachment to the riser 102 comprises the pivot point discussed above, which changes the angle between the vertical axis of the handle 201 and the horizontal plane of the riser 102, limbs 105, cams 107 and bow string 108 to accommodate the stance and draw of different shooters. The invention further has an arm brace 1304, which is hingedly attached to the bottom of the handle 201. The arm brace has a cross member 1305, two or more bars 1306 that extend rearwards from and horizontally to the cross member 1305. An arm strap 1307 is attached to the bars 1306. While a user is shooting the present invention, the arm extends through the space made by the arm strap 1307 and the bars 1306 while the user is gripping the handle 201. The arm strap 1307 rests on the upper arm of the user, providing a solid brace for shooting. The cross member 1305 has two or more offset holes 1308 (the hole through which the cross member 1305 is attached to the handle 201 is not visible in this Figure). By attaching the arm brace 1304 to the handle 201 through one of the two or more offset holes 1308, the invention may be adjusted to an individual user's comfort and physical differences, including allowing the arm brace 1304 to be adjusted to accommodate a right handed or left handed shooter. The device as shown has a set bolt 1309 affixing the cross member 1305 to the handle 201, with the corresponding threaded bolt hole (not shown) in the bottom of the handle 201. The set bolt 1309 may be adjusted for individual users, and in a preferred embodiment the set bolt 1309 is chosen such that, when the set bolt 1309 is tightened, the cross member 1305 may still rotate about the vertical axis of the handle 201, further allowing for micro-adjustments of the device to an individual shooter (FIG. 14). The two or more offset holes 1308 in the cross member 1305 allow the grip to be adjusted for a left-handed or right-handed shooter.
FIG. 14 shows and embodiment of the present invention showing the handle 201 partially rotated with respect to the riser 102. FIG. 14 further shows the arm brace 1304 with the cross member 1305 partially rotated with respect to the vertical axis of the handle 201.
FIG. 15 shows a front view of the present invention with the handle 102 hingedly attached to the riser 201, with the handle in the firing position—perpendicular to the plane of the arms 105, the cams 107, and the bowstring 108. The bow arms are shown with adjustment screws 1501, which are known in the art.
The invention has been described above and in the drawings to achieve certain objects, features, and advantages. Although these have been described herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that substitutions, additions, deletions, modifications and/or other changes may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20140238372
