Abstract:
A bow assembly including a non-metal handle, at least one limb, and a wedge slidably disposable between the non-metal handle and the limb to couple the non-metal handle and the limb, wherein the wedge is a mass concentrator at the coupling between the non-metal handle and the limb.

Description:
[0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/541,813 filed Sep. 30, 2011, entitled “Bow Handle and Limb Attachment Mechanism”. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The present disclosure relates to an archery bow handle or riser and the attachment mechanism between the handle and the upper and lower limbs. 
         [0004]    Limbs of a bow are typically connected to the handle using bolts or other elongated connection members that extend through the limbs and into the handle. Such connections make detachment and re-attachment of the limbs to the handle difficult and cumbersome. Further, stability and performance of the limbs are affected by such connections, thus affecting the flight and accuracy of the arrow. 
         [0005]    The principles of the present disclosure overcome these and other limitations of the prior art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    For a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a coupled bow handle and limb assembly using embodiments of a handle and limb attachment mechanism in accordance with the principles disclosed herein; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the limb connection end with wedge assembly of the assembly in  FIG. 1  and in accordance with principles disclosed herein for embodiments of a handle and limb attachment mechanism; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a an end view of the limb connection end of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the limb connection end of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a detent ball assembly of the wedge assembly of  FIGS. 2-4 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the detent ball assembly of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is top view of the bow handle connection end with a slot of the assembly in  FIG. 1  and in accordance with principles disclosed herein for embodiments of a handle and limb attachment mechanism; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an end view of the handle connection end of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a back view of an initial stage of the connection process for the handle and limb assembly and attachment mechanism of  FIGS. 1-8 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the assembly of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the assembly of  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a front view of an advanced stage of the connection process for the handle and limb assembly and attachment mechanism; 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a side view of the assembly of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is a front view of the completed connection process to achieve the coupled handle and limb assembly using the handle and limb attachment mechanism as also shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  is an exploded view of a bow assembly incorporating the embodiments of the above Figures; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  is an assembled side view of the bow assembly of  FIG. 15 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    In the drawings and description that follow, like parts are typically marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features of the disclosure may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form and some details of conventional elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The present disclosure is susceptible to embodiments of different forms. Specific embodiments are described in detail and are shown in the drawings, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure, and is not intended to limit the disclosure to that illustrated and described herein. It is to be fully recognized that the different teachings of the embodiments discussed below may be employed separately or in any suitable combination to produce desired results. 
         [0024]    In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . ”. Unless otherwise specified, any use of any form of the terms “connect”, “engage”, “couple”, “attach”, or any other term describing an interaction between elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the elements and may also include indirect interaction between the elements described. The various characteristics mentioned above, as well as other features and characteristics described in more detail below, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the embodiments, and by referring to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0025]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a bow handle and limb assembly  100  is shown in a coupled or assembled position. A bow handle, or riser,  110  includes a connection end  112  having an interface surface  114 . A limb  120  includes a connection end  122  and an interface surface  124 . The connection end  122  also includes bolt or connection assemblies  126 ,  128 . The interface surfaces  114 ,  124  are coupled using a handle and limb attachment mechanism as will be described more fully below. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the limb  120  is shown separated from the assembly  100 . The connection end  122  includes a wedge assembly  130  coupled onto the interface surface  124 . In some embodiments, the wedge assembly  130  is coupled to the limb  120  using the bolt assemblies  126 ,  128  and counterbores  136 ,  138  in the wedge body  135 . The wedge assembly  130  includes an outer surface  140  having the counterbores  136 ,  138  and also detent ball assemblies  132 ,  134 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the wedge assembly  130  includes a forward surface  131  and two side surfaces  146 ,  148 . The side surfaces  146 ,  148  define a width W 1 . At the upper end of the wedge assembly  130  adjacent the outer surface  140 , the side surfaces  146 ,  148  angle or flare outward to a width W 2  at the outer surface  140  to form tapered surfaces  142 ,  144  and a dovetail shape. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the wedge assembly  130  includes the forward surface  131 , the side surfaces  146 ,  148  and the tapered surfaces  142 ,  144  forming the dovetail shape with the outer surface  140 . Counterbores  136 ,  138  and detent ball assemblies  132 ,  134  extend from the outer surface  140  into the wedge body  135 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , detent ball assemblies  132 ,  134  include a body  150 , a flange  152 , and an embedded or captured ball  154 . In some embodiments, the body includes a spring (not shown) to provide a spring-loaded ball  154 . 
         [0029]    Referring next to  FIG. 7 , the handle  110  is shown in greater detail. The connection end  112  includes a slot or groove  116  extending through the interface surface  114 . In  FIG. 8 , the slot  116  includes a bottom surface  240 , tapered surfaces  242 ,  244  and a rear surface  231 . The bottom surface  240  mates with or engages the outer surface  140  of the wedge assembly  130 . Likewise, the tapered surfaces  242 ,  244  form a dovetail shape to receive the dovetail shape formed by the wedge tapered surfaces  142 ,  144 . The rear surface  231  receives the forward surface  131  of the wedge assembly, as will be described below. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the beginning of the insertion process is shown. The dovetail shape of the wedge assembly  130  of the limb  120  is inserted into the dovetail slot  116  of the handle  110 . The limb  120  and the handle  110  are moved toward each other while the dovetail wedge assembly  130  is slidingly inserted into the dovetail slot  116 .  FIG. 10  shows a side view of the initiation of the insertion process described above, wherein the slot  116  receives the wedge assembly  130 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the wedge assembly  130  is slidingly engaged with and is being advanced into the slot  116 . The handle  110  and the limb  120  are moving toward each and the coupled or assembled position of  FIG. 1 . The slot  116  and the bottom surface  240  will receive and engage the detent ball assemblies  132 ,  134 . The dovetail shapes of the wedge assembly  130  and the slot  116  are matingly engaged. In  FIG. 12 , the handle  110  and the limb  120  continue to move relative to each other and the wedge assembly  130  continues to slide into the slot  116 . The detent ball assembly  134 , no longer shown, is engaged with the bottom surface  240  of the slot  116 .  FIG. 13  shows a side view of this advanced stage of the connection process, wherein the wedge assembly  130  is substantially inserted into the slot  116  of the handle connection end  112 . The mating dovetails shapes of the wedge assembly  130  and the slot  116  ensure that the handle  110  and the limb  120  move in a linear motion relative to each other, and that the sliding motion is secure and stable. The mating dovetail shapes also ensure that the handle  110  and the limb  120  resist movement in any direction other than the direction of arrow  170 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 14  is a front view of the completed insertion process to form the assembled bow handle and limb assembly  100  as previously shown in  FIG. 1 . The dovetail wedge assembly  130  is interlocked with the mating dovetail slot  116 , and the detent ball assemblies  132 ,  134  are engaged with the bottom surface  240  of the slot  116 . These features combine to couple the handle  110  to the limb  120  in a tool-free manner. The handle  110  and the limb  120  can be detached using the opposite process of that described above, also in a tool-free manner. 
         [0033]    The embodiments of the handle and limb assembly with wedge and slot attachment mechanism as described herein require no tools for attachment and detachment, or makeup and breakdown (or, breakout). Tool-free makeup and breakdown provides fast and easy assembly of the bow, or changing of the limbs. 
         [0034]    In some embodiments, the handle  110  is non-metal. In certain of these embodiments, the handle  110  includes a composite material. As used herein, a composite material includes a plurality of non-metal materials. In certain embodiments, the handle  110  includes a linen-based phenolic resin. In certain embodiments, the handle  110  includes wood and a linen-based phenolic resin. A phenolic resin may comprise a compressed, plastic-infused linen fiber. In some embodiments, the linen-based phenolic is a Micarta brand resin made by Norplex Micarta. In other embodiments, the handle  110  comprises other resins made by Norplex Micarta. In certain embodiments, the composite or phenolic material adds mass to the handle  110  over metal handles. In certain embodiments, the composite or phenolic material adds mass and tensile strength to the handle  110  over other non-metal handles. For example, the handle  110  includes the strength and mass to withstand the channel drilling necessary to create the slots  116 , whereas a wooden handle does not. Consequently, the handle and limb assembly  100  using the wedge and slot attachment mechanism  150  may be used with a wooden component bow, described more fully below, and the wedge and slot attachment mechanism  150  allows for increased or enhanced physical characteristics of the non-metal handle, including increased width, depth, density, and tensile strength. 
         [0035]    In some embodiments, the wedge  135  is metal. In certain embodiments, the wedge  135  is made from aluminum. In certain embodiments, the wedge  135  is made from aircraft-grade aluminum. In still further embodiments, the wedge  135  is made from stainless steel. 
         [0036]    In some embodiments, the wedge assembly and connection mechanism are applied to a recurve bow or a takedown recurve bow. Referring now to  FIG. 15 , a non-metal handle  110  is shown with slots  116  at the ends  112 . The surfaces  240  of the slots  116  include lengths L 1 , L 2 . The non-metal handle  110  includes a weight We 1 . A first or upper limb assembly  250  includes a limb  252  having the wedge assembly  130  at its inner or lower end. The limb assembly  130  includes the metal wedge  135  attached by bolts  126 ,  128 . The metal wedge  135  includes a length L 3  and a weight We 2 . In some embodiments, an aluminum wedge  135  includes a weight We 2  of approximately 1 ounce. In other embodiments, such as for a stainless steel wedge  135 , the weight We 2  will be greater than one ounce. A second or lower limb assembly  270  includes a limb  272  having the wedge assembly  130  at its inner or upper end. The limb assembly  130  includes the metal wedge  135  attached by bolts  126 ,  128 . The metal wedge  135  includes a length L 4  and a weight We 3 . In some embodiments, an aluminum wedge  135  includes a weight We 3  of approximately 1 ounce. In other embodiments, such as for a stainless steel wedge  135 , the weight We 1  will be greater than one ounce. It is noted that the size of limbs  252 ,  272  are not necessarily to scale for proper figure fitment and clarity. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 16 , an assembled bow  300  includes the limbs  252 ,  272  attached to the ends  112  of the handle  110  by attachment mechanisms  150 . The dovetail wedge and slot shapes are fully engaged and aligned along the lengths L 1 , L 3  and L 2 , L 4  as previously described herein. The detent ball assemblies, as previously described, mate and interlock with corresponding shapes in the surfaces  240  of the slots  116 . Now, the metal wedges  135  with their corresponding weights We 2 , We 3  are part of the ends  112  of the non-metal handle  110 . Accordingly, the metal wedges  135  add weight or mass to the ends  112  of the handle  110 , and correspondingly to the fixed ends of limbs  252 ,  272  at the mechanism  150 . Because the weights We 2 , We 3  are significant, or non-negligible, relative to the handle  110 , they function as weight or mass concentrators at the ends  112  of the handle  110 . The new overall weight We 4  of the handle  110  plus the wedges  135  increases over the weight We 1 , and because the wedge weights We 2 , We 3  are specifically located at the handle ends  112 , the wedges  135  function as weight or mass concentrators MC 1 , MC 2  at the ends  112 . 
         [0038]    It is noted that, although the wedges  135  are described as being metal, other non-metal wedges are contemplated provided the non-metal wedges have weights or masses similar to those described above with respect to the wedge  135 , or have weights or masses relative to the handle such that they function as mass concentrators. 
         [0039]    Maximizing speed or velocity of an arrow is desirable in the bow industry. This is achieved by transferring more kinetic energy to the arrow via the bow and string. A standard takedown recurve bow, for example, may launch an arrow  150  feet per second, or alternatively  180  feet per second, or alternatively  200  feet per second. Actual tests of a bow incorporating the handle and limb connection mechanisms described herein provided unexpected results. Using the embodiments described herein, an arrow flight was tested using a Velocitip Ballistic System by Full Flight Technology, LLC. A micro-electronic arrow field point on the tip of the arrow recorded flight data that was delivered via USB to a “docking station.” The speed results of the testing showed that the arrow launched by the embodiments described herein increased by 20 feet per second over the arrow speed of a standard model takedown recurve bow without the benefit of the handle and limb connection mechanism. This represents, for example, a 10 to 13%, or more, speed increase over the standard models. This quantity and percentage of speed increase was unexpected. 
         [0040]    It is understood that the metal wedges  135  act as mass concentrators on the handle ends  112 , due to the substantial, non-negligible weights We 2 , We 3  of the wedges  135  relative to the handle weight We 1 , and therefore positively increase the energy transfer through the limbs, the string and ultimately to the arrow. It is understood that the added mass, located at the handle ends and the fixed limb ends, enhances energy transfer and kinetic energy of the arrow. Further, the composite or phenolic material of the handle  110  provides a flexibility in the handle  110 , such that motions  182 ,  184  are allowed about a central portion  115  of the handle  110  during use and supplement the mass-concentrated ends of the handle  110  and their effects. 
         [0041]    It is understood that the mass concentrators at the limb connections reduce vibration in the flexible composite/phenolic handle, which reduces the energy lost through shocks and noise. Thus, more energy is ultimately converted to the kinetic energy of arrow, providing a silencing effect and reduction of handshock. 
         [0042]    It is understood that the length of the dovetail shapes in the connections  150  also add to the stability of the connection point of the limbs. For example, because the entire mating lengths L 1 , L 3  and L 2 , L 4  of the wedges and slots provide continuous connection surfaces rather than just one or two discrete connection points from bolts, resistance to movement and thus stability is increased. 
         [0043]    In some embodiments, the positions of the wedges and slots are reversed, meaning the wedges are coupled to the handle and the slots are in the limbs, but the mass concentration principles of the wedges in relation to the handle remain the same. 
         [0044]    The embodiments set forth herein are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure or the details therein. It will be appreciated that many other modifications and improvements to the disclosure herein may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure or the inventive concepts herein disclosed. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept herein taught, including equivalent structures or materials hereafter thought of, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.