Abstract:
A float apparatus for preventing the loss of a bow accidentally dropped in a body of water, the apparatus including a hydrostatic valve, a camshaft, a plunger, a gas cartridge and a bladder, all of which are operatively coupled to one another by a valve frame contained within a housing. When a bow having the float apparatus attached thereto is submerged, the hydrostatic valve automatically rotates the camshaft when the float apparatus reaches a desired depth. As the camshaft rotates, it presses against the plunger causing it to pierce the gas cartridge thereby releasing a gas. The gas is then directed through the valve frame into the bladder thereby inflating the bladder and causing the bow to float.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for preventing loss of a bow when bow fishing, and more particularly to a float apparatus configured for attaching to a bow and automatically deploying if the bow is dropped and submerged in water, for example, off the side of a boat or pier. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the biggest fears in bow fishing is dropping a bow overboard. Modern fishing and hunting bows can cost more than one-thousand dollars. Because of the high cost of modern bows, many fishermen choose to use cheap and poor quality bows when bow fishing due to the fear of dropping a more expensive bow overboard. As such, there is a need in the industry for a means of retrieving a bow when dropped overboard into a body of water. Furthermore, since a bow can be dropped into a body water more than once during single session of fishing, such means must be easily re-armed and re-packed so that fishermen may return to fishing in minutes while continuing to be protected from losing the bow overboard. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a reusable float apparatus for use with a bow for preventing loss of the bow if dropped into a body of water. When a bow fitted with the float apparatus is submerged in at least four inches of water, the float apparatus automatically inflates a bladder which causes the bow to float towards the surface of the water thereby allowing a bow fisher to safely recover an overboard bow. 
     The float apparatus uses a hydrostatic valve to trigger deployment of the bladder. A hydrostatic valve is preferred over other water-activated valves, such as bobbin and “pill” valves which dissolve when contacted by water, since bow fishing is a very wet activity. The amount of water encountered by a bow during normal bow fishing would likely cause a bobbin or pin valve to trigger a premature deployment of the bladder. A suitable hydrostatic valve for use with the present invention is the Hammar® A1 automatic inflator available from CM Hammar AB, August Barks gata 15, SE-421 32 Västra Frölunda (Göteborg) Sweden. The Hammar® A1 automatic inflator includes a hydrostatic valve that when submerged in four inches (10 cm) of water, opens and allows the water to enter the inflator and contact a water sensitive element that in turn releases a stainless steel coil spring, which rotates a gear as the spring uncoils. When used with the present invention, rotation of the gear actuates a camshaft of the float apparatus that, in turn, actuates a plunger having a pointed tip. The plunger then punctures a 12 g carbon dioxide gas cartridge that is detachably threaded into the float apparatus. 
     The hydrostatic valve, camshaft, plunger, gas cartridge and bladder are operatively coupled to one another by a valve frame. The valve frame is a machined aluminum or injection molded plastic valve that houses the plunger and cam mechanism. The valve frame is otherwise void in the center thereof allowing for the gas from the gas cartridge to flow freely through the valve frame and into the inflatable bladder. 
     In use, the float apparatus is placed directly over bow&#39;s riser, and mounting holes in the valve frame are aligned with factory threaded holes in the riser. Using two 8/32 screws, the user threads the screws through the float apparatus and into the bow&#39;s riser. Once the float apparatus is securely fastened to the bow, the user inserts a threaded 12 g carbon dioxide gas cartridge into the valve frame and tightens it. This action secures the cartridge in place. The user then places the hydrostatic valve over the valve frame ensuring that the camshaft is aligned with the factory gears on the back of the hydrostatic valve. Once the gears are aligned, the hydrostatic valve is twisted while applying slight downward pressure. The factory locking lugs on the back of the hydrostatic valve are then received by the valve frame, locking them together. The deflated bladder is then rolled or folded and fitted it into an empty area inside of an enclosure housing the valve frame, hydrostatic valve and gas cartridge. In this configuration, the float apparatus is armed. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, the float apparatus includes a housing configured for attachment to a bow, the housing containing a hydrostatic valve, a camshaft operatively coupled to and actuated by the hydrostatic valve, a pointed plunger operatively coupled to and actuated by the camshaft, a gas cartridge operatively coupled to the plunger and a bladder operatively coupled to the gas cartridge. A valve frame is provided for supporting the components within the housing, the valve frame including a gas cartridge receiving portion having a gas inlet, a bladder receiving portion having a gas outlet and a gas passageway extending to and between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. 
     In use, the float apparatus is attached to a bow using bolts that attach to holes in the bow riser that are intended for coupling a bow sight to the bow. When the bow and float apparatus are dropped into a body of water, the hydrostatic valve automatically rotates the camshaft once the float apparatus reaches a desired depth. As it rotates, a cam portion on the camshaft presses a point portion of the plunger into the gas cartridge thereby releasing a compressed gas. The released gas is then directed through gas the passageway of the valve frame and into the bladder, thereby inflating the bladder and causing the bow to float. Once the bow floats to the surface of the body of water, it can be retrieved. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a float apparatus including a valve frame configured for attachment to a bow, the valve frame including a hydrostatic valve receiving portion, a gas cartridge receiving portion having a gas inlet, a camshaft receiving portion, a plunger receiving portion, a bladder receiving portion having a gas outlet and a gas passageway extending to and between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. The hydrostatic valve receiving portion and camshaft receiving portion are arranged so that a hydrostatic valve and a camshaft supported by the valve frame operate to rotate the camshaft when the hydrostatic valve is submerged to a desired depth within a body of water. The plunger receiving portion is arranged so that upon rotation of the camshaft, a plunger slides within the plunger receiving portion towards and into a detachable gas cartridge supported within the gas cartridge receiving portion. When the gas cartridge is punctured, a gas such as carbon dioxide is released which travels through the inlet, gas passageway and outlet into a bladder supported by the bladder receiving portion. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a bow including a source of gas, an inflatable bladder and a mechanism configured for both selectively releasing a gas from the source of gas when the bow is submerged in a liquid and directing the gas into the inflatable bladder. The mechanism includes a valve frame having a gas passageway extending between the source of gas and the inflatable bladder, a gas cartridge receiving portion having an inlet and a nozzle having an outlet, the inlet and the outlet defining respective ends of the gas passageway. The mechanism also includes a hydrostatic valve and a plunger, the plunger being selectively actuated by the hydrostatic valve to pierce the source of gas for release of the gas into the inflatable bladder. 
     In use, when the bow is submerged in a body of water, the gas is released from the source of gas once the bow is at or below a desired depth in the body of water. The released gas is directed through the gas passageway and into the inflatable bladder thereby inflating the inflatable bladder and causing the bow to float upward. 
     Other features and objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description as well as a study of the appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A buoyancy device for a hunting bow incorporating the features of the invention is depicted in the attached drawings which form a portion of the disclosure and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a valve frame, inner housing and outer housing of a bow float in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the bow float of  FIG. 1  illustrating the arrangement of a hydrostatic valve, a gas cartridge and an inflatable bladder relative to the valve frame; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bow fitted with the bow float of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the bow float of  FIG. 3  floating in a body of water and illustrating the inflatable bladder in an inflated or deployed state; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the bow float of  FIG. 2  in an un-deployed state; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the bow float of  FIG. 2  in a deployed state; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the bow float of  FIG. 5  along line  7 - 7 ; and, 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the bow float of  FIG. 7  along line  8 - 8  with the bladder in an inflated state. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings for a better understanding of the function and structure of the invention  FIGS. 1 through 8  depict a bow float  10  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , bow float  10  generally includes a fabric outer enclosure  12 , a rigid inner housing  14  and a valve frame  16  for operatively coupling together a hydrostatic valve member  18 , a gas cartridge  20  and an inflatable bladder  22  in a manner allowing for selective inflation of bladder  22 . In use, bow float  10  is attached to a bow  11 , such as a compound bow, for the purpose of preventing sinking and allowing retrieval of bow  11  should it be dropped in a body of water. 
     More particularly, referring to  FIG. 1 , outer enclosure  12  is manufactured from Cordura® nylon, which is available from Invista, a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Industries. Outer enclosure  12  is rectangular having a floor  24 , an open top  26 , continuous sidewalls  28  extending between the open top and the floor and a pair of flaps  30  pivotally coupled to opposing edges of open top  26 . Hook and pile fasteners  32  are adhered to pair of flaps  30  for releasably securing the flaps to one another. Outer enclosure  12  is selectively closed by pressing fasteners  32  together. 
     Located within outer enclosure  16  is inner housing  14 . Inner housing  14  may be manufactured from any suitable rigid material such as metal or plastic. Inner housing  14  includes a rectangular lower wall  34 , a continuous sidewall  36  extending upwardly from the periphery of lower wall  34  and an open top  38  defined by continuous sidewall  36 . Extending through continuous sidewall  36  is a hole  40  arranged for receiving gas cartridge  20  so that the cartridge may be loaded into valve frame  16 . When placed within outer enclosure  12 , sidewalls  36  of inner housing  14  are located directly against sidewalls  28  of outer enclosure  12  with the exception of that portion of sidewall  36  of inner housing  14  through which hole  40  extends. That portion of sidewall  36  is spaced apart from sidewall  28  of outer enclosure  28  so that a small gap is provided which provides space for gas cartridge  20  to protrude out through hole  40  into the interior of outer enclosure  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , located within inner housing  14  is valve frame  16 . Valve frame  16  includes a rectangular base  42 , a hydrostatic valve receiving portion  44 , a gas cartridge receiving portion  46  and a nozzle  48 . Gas cartridge receiving portion  46  and nozzle  48  are fluidly coupled to one another and are an integral part of a hollow, valve frame body  49 , which defines passageways connecting the Gas cartridge receiving portion  46  and nozzle  48 . 
     The configuration of hydrostatic valve receiving portion  44  is dependent on the arrangement of hydrostatic valve member  18 . In the current embodiment, hydrostatic valve member  18  is a Hammar® A1 automatic inflator, which incorporates a water sensitive element that, when contacted by water, releases a stainless steel coil spring, which rotates a gear (not shown) of hydrostatic valve member  18  as the spring uncoils. Rotation of the gear actuates a camshaft  50  having teeth  52  that are complimentary with the gears of hydrostatic valve member  18  which, in turn, actuates a plunger  54  having a pointed tip  56 . In view of the use of the Hammar® A1 automatic inflator, hydrostatic valve receiving portion  44  includes a depression  58  shaped to receive hydrostatic valve member  18 . Once the gears are aligned, hydrostatic valve member  18  is twisted while applying slight downward pressure. The factory locking lugs on the back of hydrostatic valve  18  are then received within depression  58  of hydrostatic valve receiving portion  44 , locking them together. 
     Hydrostatic valve receiving portion  44  includes a central opening  60  for receiving camshaft  50 . When hydrostatic valve receiving portion  44  is coupled to valve frame body  49 , opening  60  is aligned with a camshaft receiving portion  62  in the valve frame body and a pair of fasteners (not shown) is inserted into fastening holes  61 , which extend through depression  58 , and into complimentary fastening holes  63  in valve frame body  49  thereby fixing hydrostatic receiving portion  44  to valve frame body  49 . Prior to securing hydrostatic valve member  18  to hydrostatic vale member receiving portion  44 , cam shaft  50  is inserted through opening  60  of depression  58  and  62  of valve frame body  49 , respectively. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , gas cartridge receiving portion  46  includes a female threaded passageway  64  that is arranged for receiving a male threaded end  66  of gas cartridge  20  and directing a gas released from the gas cartridge to nozzle  48 . Female threaded passageway  64  opens into a plunger receiving passageway  68 , which contains plunger  54 . Plunger  54  is biased against a spring seat  78  within plunger receiving passageway  68  by a spring  80  which forces plunger  54  away from gas cartridge  20  and gas cartridge receiving portion. Movement of plunger  54  away from gas cartridge  20 , by virtue of spring  80  pressing against plunger  54 , is limited by a lower end of camshaft  50  which extends into plunger receiving passageway  68  from opening  62  of valve frame body  49 . A detachable door  82  provides access into plunger receiving passageway  68  for allowing placement of spring  80  and plunger  54  into plunger receiving passageway  68 , prior to insertion of camshaft  50  through opening  60  and into opening  62 . 
     Extending at a right angle from and being fluidly coupled to plunger receiving passageway  68  is nozzle passageway  84 . Nozzle passageway  84  extends through nozzle  48  and provides a pathway by which gas released from gas cartridge  20  can exit into bladder  22  thereby inflating the bladder. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in use inner housing  14  is placed within outer enclosure  12  with valve frame  16  disposed within inner housing  14 . The assembly is then placed directly over the riser  15  of bow  11  with mounting holes  90  within lower wall  34  of inner housing  14  being aligned with the factory threaded holes  91  in the riser  15 . Using two 8/32 screws  93 , the screws are inserted through mounting holes  92  (see  FIG. 2 ) in rectangular base  42  of valve frame  16 , holes  90  through lower wall  34  of inner housing  14  and into the factory threaded holes  91  in the bow&#39;s riser  15  as shown. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 5-7 , once bow float  10  is securely fastened to bow  11  gas cartridge  20  is inserted through hole  40  in inner housing  14  and into gas cartridge receiving portion  46  where male threaded end  66  of gas cartridge  20  is threaded into female threaded passageway  64  and tightened thereby securing gas cartridge  20  in place. Since outer enclosure  12  is made of fabric, it can easily be manipulated to expose and provide access into hole  40 . 
     With gas cartridge  20  secured to valve frame  16 , hydrostatic valve member  18  is positioned over hydrostatic valve receiving portion  44  with the hydrostatic valve member gears (not shown) being operatively aligned with teeth  52  of camshaft  50 . Once the gears are aligned, hydrostatic valve member  18  is twisted while applying slight downward pressure. Factory locking lugs on the back of hydrostatic valve member  18  are then received within depression  58  of hydrostatic valve member receiving portion, locking them together. Bladder  22 , in a deflated state, is then rolled or folded and fitted into an empty area  95  inside of inner housing  14 . Flaps  30  of outer enclosure  12  are then pressed together with hook and pile fasters  32  holding flaps  30  together in a closed manner. In this configuration, bow float  10  is armed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  in conjunction with  FIGS. 5-7 , when bow  11  with bow float  10  attached thereto are dropped into a body of water, bladder  22  inflates causing bow  11  to float to the surface of the body of water. Inflation of bladder  22  is triggered by hydrostatic valve member  18  when sufficient pressure is imparted onto a hydrostatic valve (not shown) within hydrostatic valve member  18  by water entering into an entryway  95  of member  18 . Upon reaching a predetermined pressure, which occurs when hydrostatic valve member  18  is submerged to a depth of at least four inches, the hydrostatic valve opens allowing water to pass to the water sensitive element that, when contacted by the water, releases the stainless steel coil spring, which rotates the gear of hydrostatic valve member  18  as the spring uncoils. Rotation of the gear causes camshaft  50  to rotate within plunger receiving passageway  68 . As camshaft  54  rotates, a flat surface  99  of camshaft  50  slidingly rotates across the head of plunger  54  and is replaced by a cam portion  97  of the cam shaft, which forces plunger  54  towards gas cartridge  20 . When the pointed tip plunger  54  punctures gas cartridge  20 , the released gas exits into plunger receiving passageway  68  and is forced into nozzle passageway  84  and ultimately bladder  22  thereby inflating the bladder. As bladder  22  inflates, it presses against flaps  30  until sufficient pressure is exerted onto the flap to overcome hook and pile fasteners  32 , at which time the flaps are forced open to allow bladder  22  to continue inflating thereby causing the bow to float to the surface where it can be retrieved. As further shown in  FIG. 8 , apparatus  10  is affixed to a bow  11  with bladder  22  in an inflated state that will force the combination of the bow  11  and the apparatus  10  to the water surface thereby allowing the bow owner to easily retrieve the bow  11 . 
     While I have shown my invention in one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.