Abstract:
An adjustable trigger pressure archery release including a bayonet mounted trigger utilizing an actuator ramp to reduce trigger travel. The caliper jaws and cam profile combine to create an automatic closing action to close the release, whereby rearward pulling or squeezing movement of the trigger engages the caliper jaws to an open bow string or string loop apparatus receiving condition, and relaxing or releasing movement of the trigger closes the caliper jaws into a string retaining position. The release includes an independent mechanism for permitting adjustment of the trigger pressure force, without affecting trigger travel including frictional means of maintaining selected setting. The release head is universally adjustable or lockable relative to a wrist strap or similar mounting.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a caliper-type bow string release for archery. Such bow string releases are used by the user applying his trigger finger to apply pressure to pull the trigger, opening the jaws for loading and relaxing tension on trigger, closing the jaws around the bowstring. Such systems allow the archer to maintain one grasping finger-hand position to load and fire release. Even though many previous styles of releases can be manipulated to load on to a bowstring, it can be awkward at best. For example, earlier releases do not rotate nor allow the user to adjust the actual trigger pressure force required to fire the release.  
         [0002]     Archery enthusiasts have never had a release available that features caliper jaws with 360-degree selectable rotation, provided by sealed ball bearings. This rotation should be in front of the trigger, which eliminates the possibility of torque being applied to the bowstring and allows for unlimited hand anchoring options that are impossible with non-rotating releases. There is also a need for the ability to easily adjust without tools the trigger pressure force required in firing the release, which is completely independent from affecting trigger travel and does not aid in the closing of the locking mechanism. These features should be combined with affordability, accuracy, ease of use, and reliability. The release must be adaptable to any style of shooting, and must be easily loaded on to a string loop or similar device. The jaws of the release should be very small in profile. This enables it to be used on all rigid center-nocking devices without having to trim arrow nocks to use them. The caliper jaws should open widely to easily load directly on to a bowstring.  
         [0003]     Earlier U.S. patents show devices with some similarities but also several deficiencies. Examples are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,417,197; 5,564,407; 5,582,158. The Classic Caliper has automatic latching features. The present invention has no such feature or means to accomplish that but is loaded manually by actuating the trigger. These patents disclose a push-pull, rocking mode of trigger operation to fire the release. In contrast, the present invention employs a trigger utilizing a novel ramped trigger actuator to increase the throw of the sear components with minimum input from the trigger. This decreases trigger travel necessary to fire and gives the release the quick on the edge feel the shooters crave with very low trigger pressure required to fire the release.  
         [0004]     Earlier designs disclose a cam actuator moveable between the jaws mounted on a stem, designed to maintain the jaws in a latched open condition. The cam actuator of the present invention is designed to do the opposite, that is, to close the jaws automatically. These designs include a cam and jaw that were designed having surfaces that define trigger force adjustment. These surfaces are sear elements relying on complex cam surfaces, contact angles and positional relationships to increase or decrease sliding frictional forces seen at the trigger. This repositioning of sear elements requires precise minuscule adjustments, being careful not to make large unwanted changes in trigger pressure force. This changing of sear element positions also allows the user to set the device into an unsafe condition mistakenly while trying to adjust trigger pressure forces. These changes are made by locating a small socket set screw installed in cylindrical member, insertion of a small hex wrench loosening socket set screw while maintaining the wrench in the socket of the set screw and rotating the head and jaws to new setting, tightening the set screw to complete adjustment, and hoping you have not turned anything in a wrong direction. Additionally these earlier designs do not allow the user to preview the trigger pressures force settings selected: one must simulate loading and firing the mechanism.  
         [0005]     The present invention has separated the trigger pressure force adjustment means from the sear components. The user may now preview their setting by simple trigger pulling action. This design does not require one to simulate loading and firing the mechanism. Since sear components are not adjusted to achieve varied trigger pressure forces, the present invention cannot be adjusted into an unsafe condition by manipulating this mechanism. The design of the present invention provides the means to adjust trigger pressure by rotation of a dial with a minimum of two fingers, and this may be done with the same hand the release is installed on (shooting hand).  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     An adjustable trigger pressure archery release apparatus for use on a bow having a bowstring, the apparatus comprising:  
         [0007]     (a) a body;  
         [0008]     (b) a head having a pair of pivoting jaws adapted to grip the bowstring, the head rotating three hundred sixty degrees in relation to the body on ball bearings;  
         [0009]     (c) a jaw operating mechanism causing the jaws to pivot between a closed position wherein the jaws are adapted to grip the bowstring and an open position wherein the jaws are adapted to release the bowstring; and  
         [0010]     (d) a trigger associated to the jaw operating mechanism.  
         [0011]     A principal object and advantage of the present invention is that it employs a novel ramped trigger actuator to increase the throw of the sear components with minimum input from the trigger.  
         [0012]     Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that it has a trigger pressure adjustment separate from the sear components, allowing the archer to preview trigger pressure by a simple pulling trigger action.  
         [0013]     Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that the trigger pressure adjustment cannot be used to inadvertently adjust the release to an unsafe condition.  
         [0014]     Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that the head with the caliper jaws may rotate 360 degrees relative to the body on ball bearings, thus greatly decreasing torque on the bowstring.  
         [0015]     Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that the head may be prevented from rotating by a simple set screw.  
         [0016]     Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that the pressure adjustment mechanism has a means to maintain a selected setting to prevent accidental inadvertent movement of the dial when rubbed against a pocket during insertion or removal.  
         [0017]     Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that the archer may use the same hand to manipulate the pressure adjustment mechanism that the release is installed on, freeing the other hand to hold the bow. Two hands to operate the mechanism are not required.  
         [0018]     Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is use of a bayonet mounting style trigger installation, wherein the trigger is easily installed onto the pull pin in assembly and in conjunction with body, encases the trigger, preventing trigger removal.  
         [0019]     Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is a trigger spring seat that aligns and guides the compression spring to prevent the spring from interfering with the trigger and body when the trigger is pulled. This also allows spreading the load evenly and offers increased contact area to communicate with the trigger. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of the device with structure cut away to show internal structure with the jaws in the closed position.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , particularly in the right end of the drawing, showing the length adjustment mechanism.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 1 , showing the jaws in the open position.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a detail of the trigger force adjustment mechanism.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a detail of the trigger travel or sensitivity adjustment mechanism.  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a detail of the trigger bayonet style mount. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]     The adjustable trigger pressure archery release of the present invention is generally shown in the Figures as reference numeral  10 .  
         [0027]     In one aspect the present invention is an adjustable trigger pressure archery release  10  for use on a bow (not shown) having a bowstring S, the apparatus  10  comprising a body  12 , a head  14  having a pair of pivoting caliper jaws  16  adapted to grip the bowstring S, the jaws pivoting on pivot pins or jaw drive pins  17 , the head rotating 360 degrees in relation to the body on ball bearings  18 ; a jaw operating mechanism  20  causing the jaws to pivot between a closed position ( FIG. 1 ) wherein the jaws  16  are adapted to grip the bowstring S and an open position ( FIG. 3 ) in which the jaws  16  are adapted to release the bowstring S; a trigger  22  associated to the jaw operating mechanism  20 ; and a detent mechanism or head lock fastener  24  adjustable by the archer to prevent the head  14  from rotating in relation to the body  12 .  
         [0028]     In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus  10  further comprises a trigger pressure adjustment mechanism  26  separate from the jaw operating mechanism  20 . It should be understood that because the trigger pressure adjustment mechanism  26  is completely separate from the jaw operating mechanism  20 , the trigger pressure adjustment mechanism  26  is optional.  
         [0029]     In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus  10  further comprises a trigger travel adjustment mechanism  28  separate from the trigger pressure adjustment mechanism  26 . Most preferably, the trigger  22  is associated to the jaw operating mechanism  20  by a trigger cam follower  30  ( FIG. 5 ) engaging a cam or trigger actuator  32  on the jaw operating mechanism  20 . The trigger travel adjustment mechanism  28  then further comprises a mechanism  34  to change the position of the cam follower  30  on the cam  32 . Preferably, the mechanism  34  is a trigger travel adjustment set screw  36 . In this embodiment, the jaws  16  are biased to an open position by a jaw spring  16   a  and the jaw operating mechanism  20  further comprises a pull pin  20   a  connected to the trigger  22  by a trigger pivot pin  22   a,  a pull pin head  20   b,  and a pull pin spring  20   c  causing the pull pin head  20   b  to operate against the pull pin spring  20   c . The pull pin head  20   b  further comprises opposed pull pin head cams  21  a on each side of the pull pin  20   a  and each jaw  16  further comprises a jaw cam follower  21   b  engaging the pull pin head cams  21   a.    
         [0030]     In the preferred embodiment, the trigger pressure adjustment mechanism  26  further comprises a threaded adjuster  26   a  and a trigger pressure spring  26   b  opposing the motion of the trigger  22 . The threaded adjuster  26   a  changes the compression of the spring  26   b  against the trigger  22 . See  FIG. 4 . The mechanism  26  may also preferably further comprise a trigger pressure adjustment dial  26   c  settable by the archer, the trigger pressure adjustment dial  26   c  engaging the threaded adjuster  26   a . The mechanism  26  may also preferably include a mechanism  27  to maintain the selected pressure setting to prevent accidental or inadvertent movement of the dial  26   c . The mechanism  27  is preferably a frictional element  27   a  such as a compressed elastomeric member captured within the dial  26   c.    
         [0031]     Preferably, the trigger pressure spring  26   b  seats against a trigger spring seat  25  that aligns and guides the spring  26   b  to prevent the spring  26   b  from interfering with the trigger  22  and the body  12  when the trigger  22  is pulled. The trigger spring seat  25  also allows spreading the load of the spring evenly and offers an increased contact area to communicate with the trigger.  
         [0032]     Preferably, the trigger  22  is mounted to the body  12  by a bayonet-style mount  23 . ( FIG. 6 ) The bayonet style mount  23  includes a slot  23   a  in the pull pin  20   a  through which the trigger  22  is inserted onto the trigger pivot pin  22   a.  The mount  23  and body  12  capture the trigger, preventing trigger removal. In addition, the trigger is easily installed on the mount  23  during assembly.  
         [0033]     In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus  10  may also comprise a length adjuster  38  adjusting the length of the body  12  between the archer&#39;s hand (not shown) and the bowstring S. The length adjuster  38  preferably comprises an adjusting rod  38   a  threaded externally, an adjusting sleeve  38   b  threadably engaging the adjusting rod  38   a , and a friction tube  38   c  fixedly attached to the adjusting sleeve  38   b.    
         [0034]     The following is a description of how the archer might typically use the invention. However, it should be understood that the order of taking the various actions may vary depending upon the archer&#39;s needs and the conditions under which the invention is used.  
         [0035]     Typically, the archer would set the length adjuster  38  so that the finger he intends to use on the trigger is comfortably on the trigger. The archer turns the adjusting sleeve  38   b , or apparatus  10 , either clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the length of the body  12 . The friction tube  38   c  and adjusting rod, being fixed to the swing adapter  39 , causes the adjusting sleeve  38   b  to turn, and apparatus  10  to turn, either increasing or decreasing the length of the body  12 .  
         [0036]     Next, the archer would set the trigger pressure desired by turning the trigger pressure adjustment dial  26   c , causing the threaded adjuster  26   a  to change the compression of the spring  26   b  against the trigger  22 . The trigger pressure can be tested without loading the jaws onto the string S because the trigger pressure adjustment mechanism  26  is separate from the jaw operating mechanism  20 .  
         [0037]     Next, the archer would set the desired trigger travel or sensitivity to either require a long pull at one extreme or a “hair trigger” at the other extreme. Using an appropriate tool such as an Allen wrench, the archer turns the trigger travel adjustment set screw  36 . Backing the screw  36  out causes the screw  36  to bear against the trigger as shown in  FIG. 5 . This in turn causes the trigger to move toward the archer and away from the jaws, at the same time the trigger pivot pin  22   a  acting on the pull pin  20   a  causes the pull pin head cams  21   a  to move along the jaw cam followers  21   b , making the jaws more responsive to the trigger  22 . The changes in the various components are shown as they move from the phantom lines to the solid lines in  FIG. 5 . The motion of the trigger  22  also causes the trigger cam follower  30  to move to a higher point along the trigger actuator or cam  32 . At the position shown in the solid lines in  FIG. 5 , very little trigger travel is required to cause the jaws to open, as the pull pin head cams  21   a  move off the jaw cam followers  21   b  and the jaw spring  16   a  opens the jaws, releasing the bowstring S, and the trigger is then a “hair trigger.” 
         [0038]     Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control.  
         [0039]     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.