Patent Application
20170089663
The present invention relates to release aids for bow strings for archery bows. There are several styles of release aids, including those with triggers, wrist straps, and handheld releases. Although, the invention can be adapted to several types of release aids, the preferred embodiment is designed to be a back tension release aid.
Perhaps the most common release aids used by hunters today is the wrist or caliper style release aid. These type of releases offer great benefits as they are often the quickest and easiest to use. The user attaches the release aid to his or her wrist with either a Velcro or buckle style strap. The release aids typically come with one of two types of wrist straps, either a continuous round strap or a “V” shaped one. From the wrist strap, a rod or rope extends from the release mechanism attaching to the bowstring. These release aids are generally triggered by the user's index finger, and only a soft movement is often all that is needed. Length adjustment options between the wrist strap and trigger help accommodate differences in hand sizes and lengths between different users.
One of the most important features of the wrist style release aid is the three-hundred sixty degree swiveling head, a huge benefit in reducing string torque by allowing the user's hand to twist without effecting string release. The jaws or calipers used when pulling the bowstring back can be single or double jaw mechanisms. These type of heads snap-on extremely quickly to the string of the bow making them ideal for hunting applications. Additionally, these type of release aids can feature ball-bearing style mechanisms.
The handheld releases are often the favorite among target, 3-D, and tournament shooters, due to their characteristics. These handheld releases can be held while utilizing two to four fingers depending on the manufacturer and style of the release and are often “T” shaped. The advantages of this type of release aid include its relatively small size and its light weight. The trigger of these releases can be manipulated by the thumb, pinky finger, or even with only the use of back tension. Back tension designs are often most preferred by tournament shooters and not hunters because of their more responsive release which although “touchy” can usually be adjusted as desired.
Various models of the back tension releases can feature a cocking bar and sear mechanism that work like a trigger and makes a soft “click” when preparing for a shot. This feature is very effective for target shooters, but due to the noise made by the “click” are not highly utilized for hunting applications.
Back tension releases are often regarded as one of archers' greatest solutions to “trigger panic” and/or for those who tend to “punch” the trigger too quickly once a target is acquired. Because they are essentially triggerless, these releases often require a lot of training time in an effort to learn how to use them correctly. It is for this reason that these releases are often better suited for more experienced shooters.
Back tension releases often differ greatly in the triggering mechanism of their string release. Instead of the archer consciously pushing or pulling a trigger, a simple rotation of the device followed by the final pull-through of your back muscles results in an increased pressure on the bow string. The climax of which, causes the release to trigger. Although back tension release aides can significantly increase your shooting potential, they are usually not recommended for beginners.
The present invention provides an improved bow string release aid which allows the user to adjust the draw length. The prior art does not allow the user to adjust the draw length except by use of a bow press, and even then the amount of adjustment can be limited to a quarter of an inch.
The present invention utilizes a plurality of adjustment members that can be moved from a first side of the bow string release aid to a second side of the bow string release aid. The more adjustment members that are on the first side cause a handle of the release aid to be further from a hook assembly, therefore, increasing the draw length. The user can then find an ideal draw length or modify the draw length by moving one or more of the adjustment members from the first side to the second side, or vice versa.
A second aspect of the invention allows the hook assembly to rotate three-hundred and sixty degrees around an axis that is perpendicular to the handle. The user can then set the hook assembly in a preferred position. The position can be changed by unlocking a retention member and setting a new position.
The bow release aid 20 is shown which comprises a main body 23 having a handle 30 which has a thumb rest member 32 and finger grooves 34 for three fingers. While various number of finger grooves 34 can be utilized, the preferred embodiment has three finger grooves 34. A rod 40, best seen in exploded view
On a first end of the rod 40, a bow string connector assembly 48 comprises a linkage member 52 which is pivotally connected to a hook assembly 54 via hinge 55. The hook assembly 54 comprises a double sided hook 50 also known as a sear. A first hook 51 is selectively attachable to a bow string, while a second hook 53 is selectively retained by a semicircular cam 70. The mechanism of the release aid is well known in the art and is described in this application previously.
A plurality of adjustment members 60 are on the rod 40 and flank the handle 30 as shown in
In order to adjust the draw length, a user of the invention can either remove or add an adjustment member 60 to the first section 44. The adjustment members 60 on a second section 46 as additional adjustment members 60 that can be selectively moved to the first section 44. In the preferred embodiment, the adjustment members 60 on the second section 46 do not affect the draw length. A retention member 62 is selectively attachable to the rod 40. Preferably the retention member 62 is a threaded screw which can be screwed or unscrewed from the rod 40.
The cam 70 is preferably a double cam that is rotatable relative to the handle 30. The whole linkage member 52 is three hundred and sixty degrees rotatable on the rod 40. The linkage member can be locked into a plurality of positions such that the linkage member 30 and thus the cams 70 can have a position relative to the handle 30 which the user selects. A particular position can be set when the retention member 62 is tightened.
The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations of the embodiments are possible in light of the above disclosure or such may be acquired through practice of the invention. The embodiments illustrated were chosen in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents.
The present application claims priority to provisional patent application 62/234,785 which was filed on Sep. 30, 2015, and is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62234785 | Sep 2015 | US |
