Patent Application
20240183637
Archery sights are used by hunters and competition archers to increase the accuracy of a shot. The sights may be attached directly to a bow but are more typically mounted on a sight elevation rail which in turn is connected with an extension bar. A bow mount or mounting bracket is used to connect the extension bar with the bow. The extension bar is adjustable relative to the bow mount to properly position the sight aperture closer to or farther away from the archer.
In archery competitions, targets may be arranged at a fixed distance from the archer or at multiple distances. Variable distance competitions require adjusting the position of the sight aperture along the elevation rail depending on the distance to the target. To accommodate the various distances, the elevation rail must have an extended length for proper positioning of the sight aperture. The extended length adds weight to the target end of the sight mounting system.
There are also different archery disciplines, namely recurve and compound. These disciplines typically require different types of bows. Recurve archers are not allowed to use a release aid whereas compound archers may use a release aid.
Archery sight bow mounts for connecting a sight extension bar with a bow are well-known in the art. The prior mounts are typically fixed to the bow and configured to receive the sight extension bar. The prior mounts include a threaded opening which receives a screw having a knob at one end. Tightening of the knob presses a free end of the screw against the extension bar to retain the extension bar in a selected position. The sight bow mount typically allows the bar to be adjusted only in a horizontal direction relative to the bow. An elevation rail is connected with a remote end of the extension bar, and a sight aperture is mounted on the elevation rail. Accordingly, vertical adjustment of the sight aperture relative to the bow is accomplished by adjusting the elevation rail relative to the extension bar according to the archer's preference.
Owing to the different archery disciplines and different types of competition, there is a need for further ability to vertically adjust an archery sight relative to a bow. The present invention was developed to address this need by providing a bow mounting assembly which affords a variable range of vertical positions of the extension bar relative to a bow which in turn allows for a reduction in the length of the elevation rail. The reduced length of the elevation rail results in a lighter sight mounting assembly.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a variable range archery sight bow sight mounting assembly including an elevation bar configured for connection with an archery bow and a mounting bracket configured for adjustable connection with the elevation bar along a first axis. The mounting bracket contains a channel configured to receive an extension bar having a second axis arranged perpendicular to the first axis. The channel affords sliding movement of the extension bar along the second axis relative to the mounting bracket.
The extension bar contains a plurality of threaded openings which are equally spaced and arranged parallel to the first axis. The mounting bracket contains a spaced pair of through openings arranged on opposite sides of the channel and aligned with a selected pair of threaded openings of the elevation bar. A pair of screws pass through the mounting bracket through openings and into the selected pair of threaded openings to connect the mounting bracket with the elevation bar. Accordingly, with the screws removed from the elevation bar, the mounting bracket may be positioned at à selected location along the length of the elevation bar to adjust a position of a sight connected with a remote end of the extension bar. The screws are then passed through the mounting bracket through openings into the corresponding threaded openings of the elevation bar to lock the mounting bracket in the selected location.
A wedge mechanism is connected with a first side of the mounting bracket adjacent to the channel and is operable along a third axis normal to the first and second axes to lock the mounting bracket at a selected location relative to the extension bar. A setting mechanism is connected with a second side of the mounting bracket on the opposite side of the channel to assist in setting the extension bar in a selected location relative to the mounting bracket.
Other objects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which:
The archery sight variable range bow sight mounting assembly 2 according to the invention includes an elevation bar 4 configured for mounting on a bow (not shown) and a mounting bracket 6, The mounting bracket has a first side 8 and a second side 10 arranged on opposite sides of a channel 12 which is configured to receive an extension bar 14 extending along a second axis A2 perpendicular to the first axis A1 as shown in
The elevation bar is arranged along a first axis A1 and contains a pair of spaced first openings 22 for receiving screws 24 to connect the bar with a bow. In addition, the elevation bar contains a plurality of spaced second openings 26 arranged along a line parallel to the first axis. The second openings are preferably threaded and equally spaced.
As shown in
An important feature of the invention is that the mounting bracket can be adjustably connected with the elevation bar at selected locations along the length of the bar by removing the screws 30 from the elevation bar threaded openings and repositioning the mounting bracket along the first axis of the elevation bar to another location along the bar. In this manner, the extension bar is also moved with the mounting bracket to adjust the position of the sight relative to the bow. Accordingly, in use, the first axis of the elevation bar is arranged generally vertically, affording vertical adjustment of the sight.
The variable range bow sight mounting assembly is suitable for use by both right-handed and left-handed archers and for both recurve and compound disciplines. In
By way of example only, recurve model elevation bars shown in
The variable range bow sight mounting assembly thus allows for a reduction in weight due to reducing the elevation rail length at the target end of the sight extension bar. The weight reduction at the target end of the sight system results in a reduction of sight vibrations throughout the bow shot sequence in comparison to heavier longer vertical elevation rail sights that are required in order to achieve sufficient elevation travel.
Referring now to
The wedge mechanism is connected with the first side 8 of the mounting bracket 6 and is operable to press against the extension bar 14. More particularly, a wedge 34 is arranged in a slot 36 in the mounting bracket first side 8 for displacement relative to the first side 8 of the mounting bracket along a third axis A3 which is arranged normal to the first and second axes. The slot 36 communicates with the channel 12 of the mounting bracket. Surfaces 38 at the corners of the wedge are arranged opposite flat surfaces 40 in the mounting bracket first side 8 adjacent to the slot 36 function as a keyway to maintain the wedge in alignment relative to the mounting bracket. The wedge includes a central opening 42 and the first side 8 of the mounting bracket contains a through opening (not shown) which is aligned with the wedge opening and coaxial with the third axis A3. A screw such as a flat head screw 44 passes through the mounting bracket first aide through opening and through the wedge opening 42. A knob 46 is threadably connected with the free end of the screw.
Rotation of the knob in a locking direction displaces the wedge 34 through the slot 36 in the mounting bracket first side 8 and against the extension bar 14 so that the wedge is tightly secured between the bar and the mounting bracket to lock the extension bar in a selected position relative to the mounting bracket. A surface 48 of the wedge engages a side surface of the extension bar and a surface opposite the surface 48 engages a surface of the mounting bracket first aide which defines the slot 36. Rotation of the knob in the opposite or unlocking direction allows the wedge to move within the mounting bracket slot 36 away from the extension bar to release the bar for sliding movement relative to the mounting bracket 6.
Other assemblies may be used to displace the wedge between its locking and released positions. For example, the knob may include a threaded stem which extends along the third axis A3 and passes through the wedge opening 42 and the mounting plate opening and into a nut below the mounting bracket. Alternatively, the mounting plate opening may be threaded to receive the threaded stem of the knob.
By way of example only, the extension bar has a 30° dovetail configuration which is a standard within the archery product industry. The wedge 34 also has a 30° per taper configuration which mates well with the extension bar to secure the extension bar in a selected position relative to the mounting bracket when the knob is in the locking position to establish the distance of a sight connected with the extension bar from the eye of an archer.
In order to assist with selecting the location of the extension bar relative to the mounting bracket, a setting mechanism is connected with the second side 10 of the mounting bracket 6. As shown in
More particularly, the setting mechanism includes a plunger 54 having a forward end portion 54a with a radius of curvature which matches the radius of curvature of the recesses 50 in the extension bar. An annular seat is provided on an inner surface of the mounting bracket second side within the threaded opening 52 and a radial projection is provided on the plunger. The projection engages the seat to limit the extent that the plunger extends into the opening 52. When the plunger is fully within the opening and its projection abuts the seat, the forward portion 54a of the plunger extends beyond the second side 10 of the mounting bracket into the channel 12 of the mounting bracket and into a recess 50 of the extension bar 14. A coil spring 56 is arranged in the threaded opening and biases the plunger further into the opening. A set screw 58 is threadably connected with the opening 52 to provide the biasing force for the spring. Once assembled, the setting mechanism provides sufficient biasing force on the plunger to engage within an extension bar recess, but not enough force to allow the plunger to retract slightly against the biasing force of the spring so that the plunger exits a selected recess and allows the extension bar to be displaced relative to the mounting bracket when the wedge mechanism is released, to a new position where the plunger engages a different selected recess and the wedge mechanism is operated to lock the extension an in a new selected position. Of course, the setting mechanism can be used to lock the extension bar in locations relative to the mounting bracket between the recesses by positioning the bar at any location along its length and operating the wedge mechanism to lock the bar in place. In such situations, the plunger of the setting mechanism would engage the side portion of the bar, though not necessarily in a recess. Thus, the archer essentially has an infinite number of locations to selectively distance the sight and sight aperture relative to the archer's eye.
It will thus be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the improved variable range bow sight mounting assembly affords quick and simple adjustment of the extension bar relative to the elevation bar 4 and relative to the mounting bracket 6 to allow an archer to properly position an archery sight connected with the extension bar relative to the archer's eye. The wedge mechanism increases the locking force applied between the mounting bracket and the extension bar. Thus, any vibrations emitted by the bow during firing of a shot are minimized or eliminated by the wedge mechanism. This prevents the sight and the sight aperture from being displaced during firing of a shot and thus improves the accuracy of the archer.
The elevation bar and the mounting bracket, the screw, wedge and knob of the wedge mechanism, as well as the components of the setting mechanism are preferably formed of a rigid material such as metal, synthetic plastic or a composite of such materials.
While the preferred forms and embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the concepts set forth above.
