Abstract:
A bow sight system includes a bow sight assembly adjustably mounted to a base plate. The bow sight can include a conventional forward sight, such as a pin sight and a V shaped rear sight. Sighting through the V shaped rear sight groove will allow the archer to see the forward sight if the bow and archer are in proper alignment. A misalignment will cause the groove to obscure the archer&#39;s view of the forward sight preventing a misaligned shot. Unlike prior art peep sights, the V groove rear sight allows the archer to have an almost unlimited view of the target field such that the archer can quickly acquire a target. Illuminated alignment marks positioned on either side of the V groove ease the archer&#39;s ability to aim in low light conditions. The rear sight can also obscure unused pins of a multiple pin front sight and can also give an indication of target distance based on the number of pins of a multiple pin system visible. The rear sight can be retrofit to an existing bow with a forward sight or can be original equipment on a new bow.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation-in part of application Ser. No. 10/395,348 filed Mar. 24, 2003 now abandoned which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/922,289, filed Aug. 3, 2001 and now abandoned. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to bow sights and more particularly to a new compound bow rifle sight system which eliminates the need for a peep sight on a bow. The sight aids the archer in maintaining a consistent body form for accuracy which is crucial to the archer. The sight of the invention is designed to be used in conjunction with a front mounted sight, such as a pin sight, which is used in aiming of a bow and an arrow to be fired by the bow at a target. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   The use of various bow sighting and aiming systems is generally known in the prior art, as evidenced by the sighting systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,303,479; 4,620,372; 5,048,193; 5,802,726; 6,026,799 and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 423,627. 
   Known sight devices, such as pin sights, are mounted forward of the bow and away from the user of the bow when the bow is being held in use by an archer. The known pin sights require a peep sight that is mounted in the bow string to the rear of the bow so that the peep sight is carried by the string and is generally positioned between the pin sight and the user. The combination of the bow mounted pin sight and the string mounted peep sight is intended to produce an accurate aiming of the arrow toward the distant target. In use of the prior art the archer draws back the string of the bow to a set point that the archer is comfortable with, the peep sight should then be close to the eye of the archer and oriented so that the pin sights are visible through a hole in the peep sight. A string line fixed to the bow is often used to properly orient the peep sight. 
   The use of a peep sight with or without a pin sight has a number of drawbacks. The movable peep sight defines a small hole for the archer to peer through in aligning a shot. One problem with peep sights is that the material surrounding the peep sight hole will obscure the view of the archer. The peep sights commonly in use give the archer about a 10 degree diameter field of view, anything outside this circle of view is obscured. In low light conditions it can be difficult to locate a target through the peep sight. Because the peep sight is so close to the archer&#39;s eye it is not possible to see any peep sight structure that would aid the archer in alignment, the archer&#39;s eye is focused at 10 to 40 yards where the target is. So instead of having something like cross hairs to align with the correct pin, the archer just has 3 or 4 pins floating in a hazily defined 10 degree circle. The archer then attempts to center a pin in the 10 degree circle with the pin over the target. Good archers do this successfully but it takes time to acquire the target and any bow hunter will tell about the buck that got away while the archer was attempting to ‘get a bead’ on the target buck. It is also very easy to get a pin on a target and miss the shot because of misalignment of the archer&#39;s head and eye relative to the peep sight or because the bow, bow string or peep sight are misaligned. Commonly, the archers eye can be left, right, high or below the center of the peep sight, the archer can sight in the bow with a pin on the target but the shot for example will go left because the archer&#39;s eye is slightly right of center of the peep. 
   As can be seen there is a need for a bow sight that will not have all the problems associated with the prior art. Specifically there is a need for an improved bow sight that will eliminate the alignment and field of view problems associated with the peep sight. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of bow sights now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new compound bow rifle sight system for replacing the string mounted peep sight on the bow. 
   The present invention is a bow sight system that includes a bow sight assembly comprising a base plate with a longitudinal axis for mounting on the bow, and a sight assembly having a sight groove which is preferably a V-shaped notch. The sight assembly is mounted on the base plate so that the sighting assembly is adjustably movable along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the base plate to adjust the position of the sight groove of the sighting assembly in a horizontal direction, and is adjustably movable in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base plate to adjust the sight groove in a vertical direction. The system may include a pin sight assembly mounted in a position forward of the bow. 
   There has been thus outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will from the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a new compound bow rifle sight system for aiding in the aiming of a bow. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a compound bow sight that will correct bow torque and misalignment and allow the archer to maintain the same consistent body form time after time, which is crucial in accurate aiming of the bow. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new compound bow rifle sight system which includes a bow sight assembly comprising a base plate with a longitudinal axis for mounting on the bow, and a sighting assembly having a sight groove which can be a V-shaped notch. The sighting assembly is mounted on the base plate so that the sighting assembly is adjustably movable along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the base plate to adjust the position of the sight groove in a horizontal direction and is mounted on the base plate so that the sighting assembly can be adjustably movable in a plane that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base plate to adjust the position of the sighting assembly in a vertical direction. The system may include a bow and the bow sight assembly is mounted in a position rearward of the bow. The system may include a pin sight assembly mounted in a position forward of the bow. 
   Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new compound bow rifle sight system that can be retrofit to an existing bow to replace the peep sight previously used thereon and which may be used in combination with virtually any type of forward mounted sight assembly including pin sights. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new compound bow rifle sight system using an adjustably sighting groove and a pin sight in combination. The system providing a thickness of the sighting V groove such that a misalignment of the archer or bow will cause the sighting groove to obscure the pin from view thus preventing an errant shot. 
   It is still another object of the present invention to provide a sighting groove that will provide a wide field of view while also providing the archer with reference points including a groove and alignment points to allow for accurate repeatable aiming of the bow. While providing a wide field of view the present invention does obscure unused pins to provide a less cluttered field of view for the archer allowing a more rapid acquisition of the target. 
   It is also an object of the present invention to provide a targeting system that will obscure unused pins while at the same time providing an indication of target distance by the number of pins that are visible. 
   These and other objects of the present invention will become more clear in the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of the compound bow rifle sight mounted on a bow; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the first embodiment; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the first embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 6  shows additional details of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  shows a view of the pin sights as seen with the prior art; 
       FIGS. 8   a, b  and  c  shows details of the appearance of the pin sights as seen with the present invention embodiment of  FIG. 5  or  10 ; 
       FIG. 9  shows a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  or  10 ; and 
       FIG. 10  shows a third embodiment of the present invention mounted on a bow; 
       FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of a sighting assembly of the present invention: and 
       FIGS. 12   a  - 12   c  illustrate front views of a sight guide of the sighting assembly. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the bow sight system  10  of the present invention may be suitably used in combination with a pin sight assembly  1  that is mounted on a forward portion of a bow  2 . A string  3  is mounted on the bow  2  at a location rearward of the bow  2  toward the user when the user is holding the bow for use. The pin sight assembly  1  can have one or several pins  4  that define a point in space forward of the bow  2 . A rest  6  can support an arrow  7  having a direction of flight indicated by dashed lines  8 . 
   In a first embodiment of the invention, illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the bow sight system  10  generally comprises a first plate  12  having a first side  14  a second side  16 , a top edge  18  a bottom edge  20  a first side edge  22  and a second side edge  24 . An elongated slot  26  extends through the first plate  12  and generally extends between the top edge  18  and the bottom edge  20  that can be 3-4 inches. 
   A second plate  30  can have a first side  32 , a second side  34 , a top edge  36 , a bottom edge  38 , a first side edge  40  and a second side edge  42 . The second plate  30  has a ninety-degree bend  44  therein extending between the top edge  36  and the bottom edge  38  and positioned nearer the second side edge  42  than the first side edge  40  of the second plate  30 . The second side edge  42  of the second plate  30  is integrally formed with the first edge  22  of the first plate  12  at a generally perpendicular angle such that the first plate  12  lies in a plane oriented generally parallel to a plane of the second plate  30 . The first plate  12  extends in an opposite direction to the second plate  30 . A pair of apertures  46  extend through the second plate  30 . The apertures  46  are spaced from one another. Each of the aperture  46  is elongated in a direction perpendicular to an axis through slot  26 . Fasteners (not shown) can extend through apertures  46  to secure the bow sight system  10  to a bow  2  which commonly have threaded holes corresponding to the spacing of apertures  46 . The elongated nature of the apertures  46  allows the device to be selectively moved on the bow  2  to optimize the distance of a sight  50  from the pins sight assembly  1  while preventing interference with the bow string  3 . The aperture  46  will also allow for differences in hole spacing on different bows  2  to which the system  10  might be retrofit. 
   A sight  50  is positioned in and movable along the elongated slot  26 . The sight  50  can comprise an elongated threaded member  52  having a first end  54  and a second end  56 . The elongated member  52  can extend through the slot  26 . A pair of securing members  58  are threadably coupled to the elongated member  52  for removably securing the elongated member  52  to the first plate  12 . The first plate  12  is secured between the securing members  58  each of which can be a nut. A disc  60  is attached to the first end  54  of the elongated member  52 . The disc lies in a plane oriented perpendicular to the plane of the first plate and perpendicular to a fine defining the direction of arrow flight to a target not shown. The disc  60  has an edge with a V-shaped groove  62  therein. Alternatively, the disc  60  may have a rectangular shape, or other geometrical shapes in place of the round shape. Of importance is the V-shaped groove  62  which is used for sighting purposes. 
   A second embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  and can best be understood with reference to  FIG. 1 . A bow sight  70  includes a base plate  72 , a sighting assembly  74 , and optionally a light assembly  120 . The base plate  72  can be mounted on the bow  3  and has a front  78  and a rear  79 . The base plate  72  may have a mounting portion  80  and a support portion  82  that extends from the mounting portion  80 . The mounting portion  80  and support portion  82  can be substantially coplanar. The base plate  72  may be elongated in a longitudinal direction and have a longitudinal axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the base plate  72 . The mounting portion  80  may include a first mounting slot  84  for receiving a fastener (not shown) for mounting the base plate  72  to the bow  3 , and may include a second mounting slot  86  for receiving a second fastener (not shown) for mounting the base plate  72  to the bow  3 . The first and second mounting slots may be substantially parallel. The mounting portion  80  may also have a mounting aperture  88 , which may be located between the first  84  and second  86  mounting slots. 
   The support portion  82  may comprise a neck portion  90  and an adjustment section  92 . The neck section  92  of the support portion may be mounted on the mounting portion  80 , and the neck section  92  may extend outwardly from the mounting portion  80 . The adjustment section  92  may be oriented substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the neck section  90 . The support portion  82  may include a support slot  94 , which may be located on the adjustment section  92 . The support slot  94  may be oriented substantially perpendicular to the first  84  and second  86  mounting slots. 
   The sighting assembly  74  may guide the aiming of the bow  3  by eye of the user of the invention such as by correcting the body alignment with the bow  3 . The sighting assembly  74  may be mounted on the base plate  72  in a manner that permits adjustable movement of the sighting assembly  74  on the base plate  72 . The sighting assembly  74  may be adjustably movable on and with respect to the base plate  72  in directions that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base plate  72 . The sighting assembly  74  may also be movable in a plane that is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base plate to permit adjustment of the orientation of the sight in a vertical direction when the invention is mounted on a bow  3 . 
   The sighting assembly  74  may include a pedestal  96  that is slidably mounted on the base plate  72 . The pedestal  96  may have a channel  98  formed therein, and the channel  98  may extend substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the base plate  72 . A set screw set hole  100  may be formed in the pedestal  96  and may be in communication with the channel  98 , and a set screw  102  may be positioned in the set screw hole  100  such that rotation of the set screw  102  in a first direction moves the set screw  102  inwardly with respect to the pedestal  96 . 
   The pedestal  96  may include an anchor member  104  that is positioned adjacent to the base plate  72 . The channel  98  may be formed in the anchor member  104  in a location that is opposite of the base plate  72 . The pedestal  96  may also include a backing plate  106  that is positioned on a side of the base plate  72  at a location that is opposite of the anchor member  104 . The pedestal  96  may also include at least one fastener, and preferably includes a pair of fasteners  108 ,  109 . The channel  98  may extend through the anchor member  104  and through the backing plate  106 . 
   The sighting assembly  74  may also include a mast member  110  that is mounted on the pedestal  96 . An end portion of the mast member  110  may be positioned in the channel  98  of the pedestal  96 . A position of the mast member  110  in the channel  98  may be adjustable along an axis that extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base plate  72 . The set screw  102  may be selectively abbuttable against the end portion of the mast member  110  that is positioned in the channel  98  for securing a position of the mast member  110  with respect to the pedestal  96 . 
   The sighting assembly  74  may also include a sight guide  112  that is mounted on the mast member  110 , and the sight guide may have a top  114  for orienting upwardly and a bottom  115  for orienting downwardly when the invention is mounted on a bow  3 . The sight guide  112  may include a sight groove  116  that is formed therein, and the sight groove may have a substantial V-shaped cross section to form a V shaped notch. The sight groove  116  may extend from the top  114  of the sight guide  112  toward the bottom  115  of the sight guide  112 . The thickness of the sight groove, from front to back should be sufficient to assure that the user&#39;s view through the groove is substantially parallel to the plane of the support portion of the base plate  72 . If the bow  3  is turned relative to the user about a vertical axis, the user will not be able to see the pin of the pin sight  1 . (See  FIG. 9  and detailed description of  FIG. 9 ). 
   The sight guide  112  may also include a pair of alignment marks  118 ,  119  that are marked on the sight guide  112 . Each alignment mark  118 ,  119  may comprise a dot and the dots may be located on opposite sides of the sight groove  116 . The alignment dots  118 ,  119  may be located adjacent to the top  114  of the sight guide  112  and can be painted with highly reflective or florescent paint or the alignment dots  118 ,  119  can be lighted fiber optics to aid the user in seeing them even in low light conditions. 
     FIG. 6  also shows that a light assembly  120  can be mounted on the base plate  72  for illuminating the alignment marks  118 ,  119  on the sight guide  112  as well as the V notch groove  116 . The light assembly  120  is mounted on the base plate  72 . The light assembly  120  may have a first bracket portion  122  and a second bracket portion  124 . 
   The first bracket portion  122  may be positioned adjacent to the base plate  72  and the second bracket portion  124  may extend from the first bracket portion  122 . The second bracket portion  124  includes a light  126 . The light  126  can be battery powered and can operate at a frequency that will not distract the archer and yet one that will cause the alignment marks  118 ,  119  to glow visibly. 
     FIG. 7  shows a view of the pin sights  209  through the central hole  207  of a prior art peep sight  200 . The prior art peep sight  200  is typically mounted in the bow string  203  and can include a line (not shown) that anchors to the bow  2  such that when the bow string  203  is drawn back into a firing position the peep sight will be forced into a position as shown where the pin sights are visible. Without the bow string  203  drawn the peep sight  200  is not aligned such that the pin sights  209  are visible through the central hole  207 . Also when looking through the peep sight  200  the central hole is typically surrounded by the body portion  205  of the peep sight  200  which obscures the vision of the archer to all but what is visible through the central hole  207 . The central hole  207  provides a field of view of about 10 degrees, large enough to see all the pin sights  209 ,  210 ,  211  and  212 . Often there are 4 different colored pin sights each for targeting a different distance, the position of each pin is typically set by the archer based on their particular experience and on the power of the bow. Seeing all 4 pins  209 ,  210 ,  211  and  212  at once clutters the field of view through the central hole  207  and can slow the targeting process as the archer must think through the distance and use the appropriate pin. Experience has also shown that the lines, not shown, are usually small diameter rubber hose and easily get bumped off so that the peep sight does not work. Many archers do not use the peep sight because of the problems described, relying instead on an anchor point. The anchor point involves muscle memory and the ability of the archer to bring the bow  2  back to exactly the same point, the anchor point, such that the archers eye, head, arm and body are in exactly the same relationship with the bow  2  such that the archer can sight the bow  2  merely by setting the appropriate range pin on the target and releasing the arrow. This method of archery has the advantage of speed to release and avoids the problems with the peep sight, but also limits the accuracy of the shot that can be obtained to the limit of muscle memory of the archer. 
     FIGS. 8   a ,  8   b  and  8   c  detail another advantage of the present invention.  FIG. 8   a  shows the view of the pin sights  209 ,  210 ,  211  and  212  and archer would have using the sight guide  112  and groove  116  with a ten yard shot. Pin  209  is centered in the V notch groove  116  and aligned horizontally with the alignment marks  118  and  119 . Seeing only one pin tells the archer he is aligned for making a ten-yard shot. As can be seen the archer has a relatively uncluttered field of view and has an unlimited size field above the sight groove  112 . This unlimited field allows the archer to acquire the pin, target and alignment very quickly . . . like a rifle sight . . . just point and shoot. 
     FIG. 8   b  shows the arrangement for a twenty-yard shot, 2 pins visible tells the archer he is aligning a 20 yard shot. Similarily  FIG. 8   c  shows three pins for a thirty-yard shot. Though the archer has an unlimited field of view, the archer also has reference points, the V groove  116  and alignment marks  118  and  119  that help the archer align the bow  2  and find the target. In the prior art the target and pins are floating and only muscle memory will help the archer. With the present invention the archer has more to guide than just muscle memory. An anchor point will still help the archer using the present invention, but its effectiveness is less dependent upon muscle memory and it will correct a poorly aligned shot by preventing the archer from seeing a pin if the bow  2  is misaligned. 
     FIG. 9  shows the view an archer would have using the present invention if the bow  2  or some aspect of the archers body is misaligned. In this case the archer&#39;s eye is to the right of perfect alignment with the groove  116 . Bow  2  position or the archers head position could cause this condition. With the prior art the archer could have made the shot and even thought the pin  209  could have been right on target the shot would have gone to the right of target. But with the present invention the archer is warned that the shot is misaligned because the pin  209  is obscured. Note that the pin  209  is in the back V  116   b  but to the right of the front V  116   a  of the groove, this is how the thickness or distance between the front  116   a  and back  116   b  V assures the accuracy of the shot If the guide  112  were thin it would not have this property. Experience has shown that a thickness of about inch is very effective for the sight guide  112 . 
     FIG. 10  shows details of a third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment uses the same sighting assembly  74  as the second embodiment of  FIG. 5  but is mounted to the bow  302  using bolts  304 . Holes  306  can be used to mount a pin sight assembly  1 . Adjust of the third embodiment comes from a slider  310  mounted in a slot  308 . A set screw  312  can be used to lock the slide  310  in place relative to the slot  308 . The slider  310  can carry a mounting plate  379  with a slot  394  that can provide an adjustable mounting for the sighting assembly  74  shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . The embodiment of  FIG. 10  shows a complete arrangement as might be used on new bows  302  manufactured with the rifle sight as original equipment. Such a bow is likely to include arrangements for mounting a quiver of arrows and for mounting the pin sights. Holes  314  can be used to mount a quiver of arrows (not shown). Slot  394  in plate  379  will support the mast member  110  and sighting assembly  74  as shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . 
   In use, the device is generally used in conjunction with a sight mounted forwardly on the bow  2  such as pin sight  1 . The bow sight assembly of the present invention is attached to a bow  2  in a position rearward of the bow  2  toward the user. The sight is positioned and adjusted to suit the archer and the characteristics of the bow such as size and poundage of draw. The archer then lines up the V groove  116  of the sight assembly  74  with the appropriate pin  209  as shown in  FIG. 8   a  for a ten yard shot. The archer then visually sets the pin on the target and releases an arrow. In general the greater the thickness of the sight guide  112  and the greater the distance between the groove  116  and the pin sight  1  the greater will be the accuracy of the arrangement. The embodiment of  FIG. 10  can give the archer more range to adjust the distance between the groove  116  and the pin sight  1 .