Traveling bowstring vibration dampener

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6634348
  • Patent Number
    6,634,348
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, January 3, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 21, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A compound archery bow includes 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
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




This invention relates to archery bows and, in particular to dampening the amount of vibration or oscillation of a bowstring after it is released.




Various disadvantages are associated with the vibrations in archery bows that are produced when the bow is shot including the undesirable sound that is generated by the vibration of the bow when it is shot. Because such sound travels faster than the arrow being shot, the sound may alert the target game and lessen the likelihood of a successful shot. Another disadvantage of bow vibration is that it may make the bow more difficult to grasp and thereby reduce the accuracy of the archer. One of the factors that contribute to bow vibration is the vibration or oscillation of the bowstring after it is shot. The terms bowstring oscillation and bowstring vibration are used interchangeably herein. The present invention is directed to dampening or diminishing such bowstring oscillation.




2. Description of the Prior Art




Prior art which relates to the present invention, includes the following patents:




U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,732 to Troncosa discloses a cable guard assembly comprising a cable guide having spaced cable-receiving side grooves which are slideable on a cable guard arm.




U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,892 to 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 bow string is drawn and returned to the relaxed length when the bowstring is returned to its brace position.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,704 to 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 cushioning material therein to converge upon and embrace the bowstring after the shot. The patent recites that this device causes bowstring vibration and the attendant noise to immediately cease.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,168 to 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 slider have been developed to reduce noise.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,355 to Gallops, Jr. discloses a cable guard assembly comprising a cable guide, having spaced cable-receiving grooves, which is pivotally mounted on a support arm.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,213 to Gallops, Jr. et al. discloses a swing arm cable guard assembly comprising a cable guide, having spaced cable-receiving side grooves, which is pivotally mounted on a swing arm and the swing arm is pivotally mounted on a support arm.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,269 to Saunders discloses a cushion 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.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




A bowstring vibration dampener for use in a compound bow is attached to a traveling cable saver. The cable saver is caused to travel when cables within the cable saver are moved by the draw and release of the bowstring.




The vibration dampener abuts the bowstring and applies pressure to the bowstring when the bowstring is in the brace position. When the bowstring is drawn rearward, the cables move rearward causing the cable saver and the vibration dampener to travel rearward. When the bowstring is released and travels forward, the cables move forward causing the cable saver and vibration dampener to travel forward to their original or brace position. As the vibration dampener and the bowstring return to their original position, the vibration dampener contacts and cushions the bowstring to dampen the bowstring oscillation. Both the bowstring and the vibration dampener, whose movement is controlled by the bowstring travel, are in motion when the vibration dampener is in contact and cushions the bowstring. The dual motion of the bowstring and vibration dampener enhances the effectiveness of the vibration dampener to cushion and dampen the bowstring vibration as the bowstring returns to its brace position.




Two embodiments of the bowstring vibration dampener are disclosed. In a first embodiment, the cable saver having the vibration dampener mounted thereon is pivotally connected to a swing arm cable guard assembly. In the second embodiment, the cable saver having the vibration dampener mounted thereon slides on a support arm. These embodiments are presented for illustration purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.




It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a traveling bowstring vibration dampener for use in a compound bow.




It is a further object to provide a traveling bowstring vibration dampener for use in a compound bow in which the travel of the bowstring vibration dampener is controlled by movement of the cables within the cable savers.




It is a still further object to provide a traveling bowstring vibration dampener for use in a compound bow in which both the bowstring and vibration dampener are in motion when the vibration dampener contacts and cushions the bowstring.




Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes more clearly understood by references to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects and the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals or references indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing, and in which:





FIG. 1

is a right side elevational view of a compound archery bow which includes a first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a cutaway top plan view of the first embodiment of the present invention wherein the bowstring is in the brace position;





FIG. 3

is a partial right side elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention wherein the bowstring is in the draw position;





FIG. 4

is a cutaway top plan view of the first embodiment of the present invention wherein the bowstring is in the draw position;





FIG. 5

is a perspective drawing of the vibration dampener and cable saver of the first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 5A

is an exploded view of the vibration dampener and cable saver of the present invention;





FIG. 5B

is a top plan view of the cable saver in which the cable saver is in position to accommodate an arrow fletching of relatively narrow width;





FIG. 5C

is a top plan view of the cable saver in which the cable saver is in position to accommodate an arrow fletching of relatively wide width;





FIG. 6

is a right side elevational view of a compound archery bow which includes a second embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 7

is a cutaway top plan view of the second embodiment of the present invention wherein the bowstring is in the brace position;





FIG. 8

is a partial right side elevational view of the second embodiment of the present invention wherein the bowstring is in the draw position;





FIG. 9

is a cutaway top plan view of the second embodiment of the present invention wherein the bowstring is in the draw position;





FIG. 10

is a perspective drawing of the vibration dampener and cable saver of the second embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 10A

is a perspective drawing of the vibration dampener and cable saver of the second embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 11

is a perspective drawing of a second embodiment of the bumper stem shown in

FIG. 5A

;





FIG. 11A

is a perspective view from the reverse side of the bumper stem shown in

FIG. 11

; and





FIG. 11B

is a sectional view of the bumper stem taken along the line

FIG. 11B

of FIG.


11


A.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




With respect to the first embodiment of the bowstring vibration dampener of the present invention, there is shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

a compound archery bow


2


in the brace position. The illustrated compound bow


2


is of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,006 but it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to this type of compound bow. Compound archery bow


2


comprises a bow handle


4


attached to bow limbs


6


and


8


in known manner. A bowstring


10


and cables


12


and


14


are shown in their position relative to each other and to the handle


4


when the bowstring


10


is in the brace position. Cable


12


is referred to as an anchor cable and cable


14


is referred to as a secondary cable in U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,006.




The bowstring


10


and cable


14


are connected at one end to an eccentric cam


16


mounted on axle


21


carried by limb


8


. At the other end, bowstring


10


and cable


14


extend over a pulley


18


mounted on axle


20


carried by limb


6


. Cable


12


is connected at one end to eccentric cam


16


and out the other end to axle


20


carried by limb


6


. It is necessary to provide a space between bowstring


10


and cables


12


and


14


to enable passage of an arrow therebetween and for this purpose a cable guard assembly


22


is provided. The cable guard assembly is generally of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,213 to Gallops, Jr.




Cable guard assembly


22


includes support arm


24


secured to handle


4


. A swing arm


26


is pivotally connected to support arm


24


at pivot end


28


. Cable saver


30


is pivotally connected to the other end of swing arm


26


and includes openings


32


and


34


, best seen in

FIGS. 5 through 5C

. Cables


12


and


14


are contained in openings


32


and


34


of cable saver


30


. A bow string vibration dampener


23


is attached to cable saver


30


of cable guard assembly


22


.




Bowstring vibration dampener


23


which is mounted on the free end of cable saver


30


may be formed of flexible thermoplastic elastomeric material such as sold by GLS Corporation under the trademark “Kraton”. It is believed preferable to use an elastomeric material having a durometer in the range of 25 to 35. In the brace position, illustrated in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, vibration dampener


23


, exerts a slight pressure on bowstring


10


. Cable saver


30


and vibration dampener


23


are shown in further detail in

FIGS. 5 and 5A

. Cable saver


30


is a modified version of the cable saver disclosed in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 09/768,704, assigned to the assignee of the present invention and includes an opening


34


which contains cable


12


and an opening


32


which contains cable


14


. Cable saver


30


is pivotally connected to the free end of the swing arm


26


by a threaded bolt


36


moveable through an opening


39


in cable saver


30


and a threaded hole


41


in swing arm


26


. Threaded bolt


36


has a cap


37


thereon which is of greater diameter than opening


39


in cable saver


30


. A thumb wheel


38


on threaded bolt


36


secures the free end of swing arm


26


in position on threaded bolt


36


. A compressible bellows


48


is shown in

FIGS. 2 and 4

(but omitted from

FIGS. 5

to


5


C for clarity purposes) covers the threaded bolt


36


to protect cables


12


and


14


from contact with the threads on threaded bolt


36


.




As illustrated in

FIGS. 5B and 5C

, cable saver


30


is adjustable to accommodate different size fletchings, such as fletching


21


of arrow


19


in

FIG. 5B

which is of smaller width than fletching


25


of arrow


19


in FIG.


5


C. It is desirable that the distance between the fletching and cable saver be as small as possible to reduce torque while permitting the fletching to pass therethrough. To achieve the desired distance between the fletching and cable saver


30


, threaded bolt


36


is lowered through threaded hole


41


in swing arm


26


until the desired distance is obtained. Then the thumb wheel


38


is rotated on threaded bolt


36


until it contacts the bottom surface of swing arm


26


. In this manner, cable saver


30


is maintained at the desired distance from the fletching.

FIG. 5B

shows the position of the cable saver


30


to accommodate a fletching


21


of smaller width and

FIG. 5C

shows the position of the cable saver


32


to accommodate a fletching


25


of larger width.




The cable saver


30


has an angular portion


64


and flat portion


65


having an opening


66


, with screw threads therein. An opening


67


on the angular portion


64


is for the purpose of reducing weight. A metallic bumper stem


68


which may be formed of aluminum includes a circular lip


69


and a lateral opening


70


.




A screw


72


which may have a hexagonal head extends through opening


70


in bumper stem


68


and into threaded opening


66


in the rear surface


74


of the flat portion


65


of cable saver


30


. The bow string vibration dampener


23


has a series of circular ridges


76


and a circular end portion


78


of a diameter which permits end portion


78


to be frictionally engaged and maintained in the circular lip


69


of the bumper stem


68


. In its normal state, the diameter of circular end portion


78


is of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of a circular lip portion


69


. Circular end portion


78


is, however, compressible into circular lip


69


for the frictional engagement therewith. The bumper stem


68


may be positioned laterally, in the direction shown by arrows x or y in

FIG. 5A

, to make certain that vibration dampener


23


carried by bumper stem


68


is in alignment with bowstring


10


when the bow


2


is in the brace position. To position bumper stem


68


laterally, vibration dampener


23


is removed from bumper stem


68


so that screw


72


may be loosened to permit lateral movement of bumper stem


68


. Bumper stem


68


is moved to its desired position with respect to cable saver


30


and screw


72


is tightened to connect bumper stem


68


with cable saver


30


. The vibration dampener


23


is thereafter reinserted into bumper stem


68


.




In this manner, the bumper stem


68


and the vibration dampener


23


inserted therein is adjustable with respect to the cable saver


30


to assure that if the cable saver


30


is adjusted to accommodate different size arrow fletchings such as illustrated in

FIGS. 5B and 5C

, the vibration dampener


23


can be adjusted to remain in contact with bowstring


10


in the brace position. If, for example, the arrow fletching is of larger width, such as shown in

FIG. 5C

, and the cable saver


30


is moved in the x direction to accommodate the larger width fletching, then the bumper stem


68


may be moved in the y direction to maintain the vibration dampener


23


in alignment with bowstring


10


in the position.




The bumper stem


98


shown in

FIG. 11

to

FIG. 11B

is designed to permit a greater adjustment between the vibration dampener


23


in bumper stem


98


and the cable saver


30


than the amount of adjustment between the vibration dampener


23


in bumper stem


68


and the cable saver


30


. In this manner, the distance between the vibration dampener in bumper stem


98


and the cable saver


30


may accommodate arrows having larger fletchings than the arrows which may be accommodated between the vibration dampener


23


and the cable saver


30


.




Bumper stem


98


, may be formed of metallic material such as aluminum and includes a lip


100


having a flange


103


and a lateral opening


102


. The lateral opening


102


of bumper stem


98


is longer than the lateral opening


70


of bumper stem


68


, and it is this additional length which enables the greater amount of adjustment between the bumper stem


98


and the cable saver


30


.




The screw


72


, shown in

FIG. 5A

, extends through lateral opening


102


of bumper stem


98


and into the threaded opening


66


in the rear surface


74


of the flat portion


65


of cable saver


30


. Here, again, threaded opening


66


, rear surface


75


and flat portion


65


of cable saver


30


are all illustrated in FIG.


5


A. The bow string vibration dampener


23


, shown in

FIG. 5A

, is frictionally engaged and maintained in the circular portion


104


of bumper stem


98


. In its normal state, the diameter of the circular end portion


78


of vibration diameter


23


is of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the circular portion of flange


103


. Circular end portion


78


is, however, compressible into the circular portion of flange


103


for frictional engagement in the circular portion


104


of bumper stem


98


.




Like bumper stem


98


shown in

FIG. 5A

, bumper stem


98


, with vibration dampener


23


therein, may be positioned laterally in the direction shown by arrows x or y in

FIG. 11

to make certain that vibration dampener


23


carried by bumper stem


98


is in alignment with bowstring


10


when the bow


2


is in the brace position. To position bumper stem


98


laterally, vibration dampener


23


is removed from bumper stem


98


so that screw


72


may be loosened to permit lateral movement of bumper stem


98


. It will be appreciated that the extent of such lateral movement is determined by the length of lateral opening


102


of bumper stem


98


. Since the length of lateral opening


102


extends beyond circular portion


104


of bumper stem


98


, it is greater than the length of lateral opening


70


of bumper stem


68


which extends only the length of the circular portion of bumper stem


68


. Because the length of lateral opening


102


is greater than the length of lateral opening


70


, the bumper stem


98


and vibration dampener


23


therein may be moved a greater distance laterally with respect to cable saver


30


than the bumper stem


68


and vibration dampener


23


therein. The greater distance between vibration dampener


23


, in bumper stem


98


, and cable saver


30


permits arrows having larger fletchings to be accommodated, than does the lesser distance between vibration dampener


23


, in bumper stem


68


, and cable saver


30


. After bumper stem


98


is moved to its desired position with respect to cable saver


30


, screw


72


is tightened to connect bumper stem


98


with cable saver


30


. After which the vibration dampener


23


is reinserted into bumper stem


98


.




In this manner, the bumper stem


98


and the vibration dampener


23


inserted therein is adjustable with respect to the cable saver


30


to assure that if the cable saver


30


is adjusted to accommodate different size arrow fletchings such as illustrated in

FIGS. 5B and 5C

, the vibration dampener


23


in bumper stem


98


can be adjusted to remain in contact with bowstring


10


in the brace position. If, for example, the arrow fletching is of larger width, such as shown in

FIG. 5C

, and the cable saver


30


is moved in the x direction to accommodate the larger width fletching, then the bumper stem


98


may be moved in the y direction to maintain the vibration dampener


23


in alignment with bowstring


10


in the position.




Again, it is noted that because lateral opening


102


of bumper stem


98


is longer than lateral opening


70


of bumper stem


68


, bumper stem


98


with vibration dampener


23


therein may be moved a greater distance in the y direction than bumper stem


98


may be moved. In this manner, bumper stem


98


may be moved a distance to accommodate arrow fletchings of a greater width than can be accommodated by bumper stem


68


.




The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention is most readily understood with reference to

FIG. 1

in which the bowstring


10


is in the brace position and with reference to

FIG. 3

, in which the bowstring


10


is in the draw position. It will be seen in

FIG. 1

that the vibration dampener


23


abuts the bowstring


10


when bowstring


10


is in the brace position, and in this position vibration dampener


23


exerts a slight pressure on bowstring


10


. In the following discussion, vibration dampener


23


refers to both the embodiment in which vibration dampener


23


is mounted in bumper stem


68


as well as the embodiment in which vibration dampener


23


is mounted in bumper stem


98


. When bowstring is drawn rearward as shown in

FIG. 3

, cables


12


and


14


are moved rearward causing swing arm


26


to pivot counterclockwise, and cable saver


30


and vibration dampener


23


to travel rearward. It is thus seen that the rearward travel of the vibration dampener


23


is directly controlled by the draw of the bowstring


10


.




When bowstring


10


is released and travels forward toward the brace position, the cables


12


and


14


are moved forward causing swing arm


26


to pivot clockwise and cable saver


30


and vibration dampener


23


to travel forward. As the vibration dampener


23


and the bowstring


10


return to their original or brace position, the vibration dampener


23


contacts and cushions the bowstring


10


to dampen the vibration or oscillation of bowstring


10


. Both the bowstring


10


and the vibration dampener


23


are in motion when the vibration dampener


23


is in contact and cushions the bowstring


10


. The dual motion of the bowstring


10


and the vibration dampener


23


enhances the effectiveness of the vibration dampener


23


to cushion and dampen the vibration of bowstring


10


as it returns to the brace position.




With respect to the second embodiment of the bowstring vibration dampener of the present invention, there is shown in

FIG. 6

a compound bow


2


, similar to the compound bow of

FIG. 1

, with the exception of the cable guard assembly


46


. Cable guard assembly


46


includes support arm


24


secured to handle


4


and a cable saver


80


which is slideably mounted on support arm


24


. Previously described vibration dampener


23


is connected to the cable saver


80


which is slideably mounted on the free end of support arm


24


. Vibration dampener


23


is connected to the cable saver


80


in the same manner, described above, that vibration dampener


23


is connected to cable saver


30


. In the brace position, illustrated in

FIG. 6

, vibration dampener


23


, exerts a slight pressure on bowstring


10


.

FIG. 8

shows the position of the cable guard assembly


46


, including cable saver


50


, cables


12


and


14


, and vibration dampener


23


when the bowstring is in the draw position.




Cable saver


80


and vibration dampener


23


are shown in further detail in

FIGS. 10 and 10A

. It will be seen that cable saver


80


has an opening


82


which telescopes over support arm


24


for sliding movement thereon. Opening


82


in cable saver


80


includes a partial circular section


84


. Cable saver


80


is spaced from support arm


24


a sufficient distance to permit cable


14


to be inserted therebetween and into opening


88


in cable saver


80


and also to permit cable


12


to be inserted therebetween and into opening


90


in cable saver


80


. Cable saver


80


includes an angular portion


92


and a flat portion


94


having a rear portion


96


portion. In all other respects, the vibration dampener


23


, and the manner in which it is engaged and maintained in the circular lip


69


of bumper stem


68


, and the screw


72


, and the manner it secures the bumper stem


68


to the cable saver


80


, is the same as in the first embodiment shown in

FIGS. 1

to


5


.




The operation of the second embodiment of the present invention is most readily understood with reference to

FIG. 6

in which the bowstring


10


is in the brace position and with reference to

FIG. 8

in which the bowstring


10


is in the draw position. As shown in

FIG. 6

, the vibration dampener


23


abuts the bowstring


10


to exert slight pressure thereon when the bowstring


10


is in the brace position. When bowstring


10


is drawn rearward as shown in

FIG. 8

, cables


12


and


14


are moved rearward causing cable saver


80


and vibration dampener


3


to travel rearward. Here, again, rearward travel of vibration dampener


23


is directly controlled by the draw of the bowstring


10


.




When bowstring


10


is released and travels forward toward the brace position, the cables


12


and


14


are moved forward causing cable saver


80


and vibration dampener


23


to travel forward. As the vibration dampener


23


and the bowstring


10


return to their original or brace position, the vibration dampener


23


contacts and cushions the bowstring


10


to dampen the vibration or oscillation of bowstring


10


. As with respect to the first embodiment, both the bowstring


10


and the vibration dampener


23


are in motion when the vibration dampener


23


is in contact and cushions bowstring


10


. The dual motion of the vibration dampener


23


and bowstring


10


enhances the effectiveness of the vibration dampener


23


to cushion and dampen the vibration or oscillation of bowstring


10


as bowstring


10


returns to the brace position.




This invention has been described above with reference to presently preferred embodiments of the invention; such description has not been presented as a catalog exhaustive of all forms this invention may take. Accordingly, workers skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will readily appreciate that variations, alterations or modification in the structures, procedures and arrangements described above may be practiced without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the foregoing description should not be read as limiting the scope of this invention to less than the fair scope of the following claims:



Claims
  • 1. A compound archery bow comprising a handle, at least one eccentric cam, a bowstring and cables, a cable saver for separating the bowstring and the cables to permit an arrow to pass therethrough, and a traveling vibration dampener for dampening bowstring oscillation, and wherein said vibration dampener is mounted in an opening in a bumper stem connected to said cable saver for movement therewith.
  • 2. A compound archery bow as recited in claim 1 and wherein said vibration dampener and said bumper stem are circular.
  • 3. A compound archery bow as recited in claim 2 and having means for adjusting the distance between the vibration dampener and the cable saver.
  • 4. A compound archery bow as recited in claim 3 and wherein the means for adjusting the distance between the vibration dampener and the cable saver comprises a lateral slot in the opening of said bumper stem.
  • 5. A compound archery bow as recited in claim 4 and wherein the means for adjusting the distance between the vibration dampener and the cable saver further comprises a screw within said lateral slot which connects the bumper stem to said cable saver and wherein the lateral slot in said bumper stem may be moved with respect to said screw to adjust the distance between said vibration dampener and said cable saver.
  • 6. A compound archery bow as recited in claim 1 and wherein said vibration dampener is circular and wherein said opening in said bumper stem is circular.
  • 7. A compound archery bow as recited in claim 6 and having means for adjusting the distance between the vibration dampener and the cable saver.
  • 8. A compound archery bow as recited in claim 7 and wherein the means for adjusting the distance between the vibration dampener and the cable saver comprises a lateral slot which extends from said circular opening in said bumper stem to beneath said circular opening in said bumper stem.
  • 9. A compound archery bow as recited in claim 8 and wherein the means for adjusting the distance between the vibration dampener and the cable saver further comprises a screw within said lateral slot which connects the bumper stem to said cable saver and wherein the lateral slot in said bumper stem may be moved with respect to said screw to adjust the distance between said vibration dampener and said cable saver.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/963,293 filed Sep. 26, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,467, and titled “Traveling Bowstring Vibration Dampener”.

STATEMENTS AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTION MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The invention disclosed and claimed herein was not made under a federally sponsored research and development program.

US Referenced Citations (11)
Number Name Date Kind
4061125 Trotter Dec 1977 A
4440143 Nishioka Apr 1984 A
4461267 Simonds et al. Jul 1984 A
4542732 Troncoso Sep 1985 A
4628892 Windedahl et al. Dec 1986 A
5452704 Winebarger Sep 1995 A
5651355 Gallops Jul 1997 A
5718213 Gallops Feb 1998 A
5720269 Saunders Feb 1998 A
6152124 Gallops Nov 2000 A
6425385 Gallops Jul 2002 B1
Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/963293 Sep 2001 US
Child 10/037921 US