Abstract:
This invention relates to a one-piece lightweight, compact, low profile adjustable scope mount for mounting a sighting scope on a lateral side surface of an archery bow. The mount includes a dovetail sight mounting rail which projects perpendicular away from the bow and includes a plurality of spaced apart scope receiving channels therein. The mount is detachably swingably mounted on the bow and allows the user to adjust the adjustable mounting plate either vertically and/or horizontally. The adjustable scope mount is unitary in construction and extends a very short distance away from the inside riser of the bow whereby making it virtually impossible to inadvertently move the plate. The adjustment of fasteners is all that is required to make vertical and/or horizontal adjustments.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention: 
   This invention relates to an archery scope mount and more particularly to a new and novel light weight, one-piece low-profile mount for adjustably mounting a scope on an archery bow. 
   2. Description of Prior Art and Objects: 
   Many have adapted sights and telescopes, hereinafter referred to as scopes, on archery bows. The heed for a sight stems from the gravitational force placed upon the arrow as it makes its way to the chosen target. When the arrow is released from the bowstring, gravity instantly reacts, pulling the arrow toward the ground. The use of sights and scopes is an effort to compensate the gravitational effect. In order for this to happen, the sight must balance the distances over the gravitational forces to reach the goal. Many situations require the archer to determine the distance with nothing more than the archer&#39;s perception. This is the basis for the adjustability of the mounting plate of the present invention. The combination of perception and the capability to adjust the sighting mechanism of a bow allows a greater degree of success for the archer. 
   Archery sight mounts have heretofore typically been mounted on the outer surface of the archery bow riser, opposite the side of the arrow rest, and include structure which extends around the bow to mount the sight on the inner side of the bow, adjacent the arrow rest. U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,233 issued to Donald L. Vaughn et al on Dec. 21, 1999, discloses such a preexisting sight mount. 
   A similar prior art scope mount, sold under the trademark HHA Optimizer Lite, is illustrated as catalog no. SB-41-4979 at page 407 of the 40 th  Anniversary Master Catalog Fall 2001, Edition II, published by Cabella&#39;s Inc., Sidney, Nebr. 
   Frequently, such bow sight mounts also mount an archery quiver which releasably stores a plurality of vertically disposed arrows adjacent the outer side of the bow. Not only are the bow sights large, protruding and easily inadvertently hit but, the quivers are particularly massive and more easily inadvertently hit jarring the bow sight out of alignment. Also, if the archer is hunting in inclement weather, including freezing rain, the quiver and arrows therein will sometimes “ice over”. In attempting to detach the frozen arrows, the archer will sometimes dislodge the prior art scope mount. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel sight mount which mounts on the inside of a bow adjacent the arrow rest. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and novel scope mount which has a low profile, but yet allows the scope to be adjustably mounted. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and novel sight mount which can be horizontally and vertically adjusted on the bow. 
   Other scope mounts include L-shaped brackets which include a cantileverly supported leg lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the bow. One such sight mount is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,615 issued to Paul A. Bracknell on Dec. 9, 1980. The aforementioned HHA Optimizer Lite scope mount is similar. The prior art bracket and scope mount also projects a substantial distance away from the bow to a position underlying the scope mounted thereon. Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide a one-piece scope mount having a base which lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the bow and an integral mounting projection lying in a plane which is perpendicular to the bow and intersects the axis of a scope. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece scope mount of the type described including a base plate lying in a predetermined plane and having a horizontal midpoint and an integral dovetail scope mounting protrusion thereon which lies in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the base and intersecting the midpoint. 
   The mount illustrated in the Bracknell patent also discloses ring mounts which include various parts that are detachably coupled to a scope and can relatively move and, along with the rest of the structure, disclosed therein, provide inevitable circumstances that would cause the Bracknell mount to become easily misaligned. Accordingly, it is a still further object of the present invention to provide a scope mount which is one-piece has a low profile to reduce the chances of being inadvertently knocked out of alignment. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,469 issued to Norman J. Weast on Sep. 29, 1981, also discloses a scope mount for an archery bow including rings for holding the scope to the mount. The use of rings provide many additional parts which can be inadvertently decoupled and/or relatively moved to disrupt the sight. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a one-piece mount with an integral, scope mounting dovetail protrusion. 
   Other examples of prior patents having sight mounts with a large number of moving parts are as follows: 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               U.S. Pat. No. 
               Patentee 
               Issue Date 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               3,266,149 
               L. Y. Powell 
               August 16, 1966 
             
             
               3,368,282 
               D. E. Gibson et al 
               February 13, 1968 
             
             
               5,040,300 
               Sheffield 
               August 20, 1991 
             
             
               5,367,780 
               Savage 
               November 29, 1994 
             
             
               5,465,491 
               Thell 
               November 14, 1995 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and novel one-piece scope mount of the type described having a base plate integrally mounting an elongate, dovetail scope mounting bar including upper and lower edge portions having parallel elongate grooves and a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart channels, disposed perpendicular to the scope mounting bar in a laterally outer terminal side surface of the sight mounting bar. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a scope mount of the type described wherein the base plate lies in a plane and the laterally outer terminal side surface of the dovetail scope mounting bar lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the base plate. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel one-piece scope mount of the type described having a plurality of mounting apertures therethrough, the lowermost one of which has an arcuate configuration. 
   Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art as the description thereof proceeds. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to one-piece adjustable mounting plate for an archery scope having an adjustable mounting base provided with one lateral side surface, for bearing against a bow and an opposite laterally side surface. 
   The base plurality of vertically spaced apart mounting openings therethrough with the lower-most opening forming an arcuate configuration. 
   Also present is a mounting bar disposed laterally integral to, but projecting laterally outwardly from, the opposite lateral side surface of the base. The mounting bar has an elongate dovetail protrusion having upper and lower edge portions and another laterally outer terminal surface, spaced laterally outwardly of the opposite lateral side of the base, disposed between the upper and lower edge portions. The mounting bar also includes a horizontal groove in each of the horizontal edge portions. The laterally outer terminal surface of the dovetailed protrusion has a plurality of channels therein that extend perpendicularly to the upper and lower edge portions. 
   The dovetailed protrusion facilitates the slidable mounting of an archery scope which can slidably move on the dovetailed protrusion of the mount. The scope then secures to the dovetailed protrusion in a manner that allows tightening devices of the scope to set in the elongate grooves while the outer edge of the scope securely grasps the horizontal edges of the dovetailed protrusion. 
   The adjustable mount base lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the bow and the integral dovetail tail protrusion lies in a plane perpendicular to the planes of the base and the bow. The laterally outermost surface on the dovetail protrusion lies in a plane parallel to the planes of the base and the bow. 
   The scope mount includes a first pair of mounting apertures therein which are spaced apart a predetermined distance for receiving fasteners that are received in similarly spaced apart openings in the bow to fix the base plate to the bow. The scope mount further includes a second pair of alternative mounting aperture which are spaced apart the same predetermined distance with the lowermost one of the second pair of openings being arcuately shaped and guiding on a fastener to allow the plate to be swung about a fastener received in the upper one of said second pair of openings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a standard compound archery bow incorporating an adjustable scope mount constructed according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged, exploded perspective view illustrating an adjustable scope mount constructed according to the present invention and a scope that is attachable to the adjustable mount; 
       FIG. 3  is a greatly enlarged front elevational view, taken along the line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 1 , with part of the bow riser being broken away in section to more particularly illustrate the adjustable mount constructed according to the present invention and the scope mounted thereon; 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the adjustable mount only; 
       FIG. 5  is a front end elevational view, taken along the line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 4 , illustrating the dovetail protrusion configuration; 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom sectional view, taken along the line  6 — 6  of  FIG. 4 , more particularly illustrating the dovetail protrusions and the positioning of the perpendicular channels in the laterally outer surface of the scope mounting bar; 
       FIG. 7  is a front sectional view, taken along the section line  7 — 7  of  FIG. 4 , more particularly illustrating the adjustable mount and representing the attachment openings therethrough including the arcuate slot; and 
       FIG. 8  is a greatly enlarged front sectional view, taken along the line  8 — 8  of  FIG. 1 , with the scope mounted thereon being illustrated in phantom lines. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   A scope mount, generally designated  10 , constructed according to the present invention, is particularly adapted for mounting a scope  12  on a typical compound archery bow, generally designated  14 , including a central riser  16  coupled to upper and lower curved bow portions  18  having terminal ends  20  spanned by a bow string  22 , as usual. The riser  16  includes lateral sides  11 . An arrow rest  13  is mounted on the lateral side  11  of the bow which is closest to the archer. Vertically spaced internally threaded, laterally outwardly opening, open ended threaded ferrules  17  and  19  are disposed in the riser  16  flush with the surface the lateral surface  11  adjacent the arrow rest  13 . The axes of the ferrules  17  and  19  are spaced apart a distance D. The bow  14  lies in a predetermined plane  15 . 
   The scope mount  10  includes an elongate base or plate  24  lying in a plane  26  parallel to the plane  15 . The base  24  includes longitudinally spaced apart front and rear ends  28  and  30 , respectively, spanned by upper and lower upwardly converging upper edge portions  32  and  34  which, at their juncture, form a semi-cylindrical projection icluding an upper terminal edge portion  36 . The base  24  also includes downwardly converging lower edge portions  38  and  40  which, at their inner adjacent ends, form a curved protuberance  42  which defines a lower terminal edge portion  44 . The base plate  24  includes a laterally inner surface  46  for bearing against the lateral side surface  11  of the bow riser  16  adjacent arrow rest  13  and a laterally outer surface  48  parallel to the surface  46 . 
   The scope mount  10  includes an elongate dovetail guide, generally designated  50 , integrally formed with the laterally outer surface  48  of the base plate  24 . The base  24  includes a vertical mid-point V ( FIG. 4 ) which lies midway between the upper and lower terminal edge portions  36  and  42 , respectively, and a horizontal mid-point M which lies horizontally midway between the front and rear ends  28  and  30 , respectively. 
   The dovetail guide  50  lies in a plane  51  which is perpendicular to the planes  15  and  26 . The dovetail guide  50  includes an elongate rail  52  ( FIG. 5 ) integrally mounting a dovetail shaped protrusion  54  having upper and lower edge portions  72  and  74 , respectively, provided with upper and lower elongate V-shaped grooves  56  and  58 , respectively. The grooves  56  and  58  are formed therein via laterally outwardly diverging surfaces  60  and  64 , respectively, joined to oppositely inclined laterally outwardly converging surfaces  62  and  66 , respectively. The surfaces  62  and  66  terminate in a laterally outer surface  68  lying in a plane  70  which is parallel to the planes  15  and  26 . The height  76  of the protrusion  54  at the upper and lower edge portions  72  and  74 , respectively, is slightly greater than the height  78  of the base portion of rail  52 . A plurality of longitudinally spaced apart channels  80  are cut into the laterally outer surface  68  to provide a series of longitudinally spaced apart dovetail protrusions  54 A and  54 B on which the scope  12  is mounted in a manner which will be more particularly described hereinafter. The channels  80  are perpendicular to the dovetail guide  50  and the plane  51  of the dovetail guide  50 . 
   The scope mount  10  can be manufactured from material selected from a group consisting of metal, plastic, composite plastic, glass, ceramic, wood or fiberglass. When the adjustable scope mount  10  is manufactured of aluminum, it is extremely light weight. The manufactured weight is approximately between one to two ounces, preferably, the weight is one to 1.5 ounces and most preferably the weight one to 1.25 ounces. 
   For mounting the scope mount  10  on the bow  14 , the base plate  24  includes a plurality of vertically spaced openings, generally designated  84 , therethrough individually identified from top to bottom with the reference characters  84 A,  84 B,  84 C and  84 D, respectively. A vertical plane P intersects all of the openings  84  and the midpoints M and V. 
   The axes of apertures  84 A and  84 C are spaced apart a distance D1 ( FIG. 7 ) which is essentially equal to the distance D between the axes of the mounting ferrules  17  and  19  on the bow. The apertures  84 A and  84 C are used to fixably mount the scope mount  10  to the bow  14  in a first vertical position. 
   The apertures  84 B and  84 D mount the scope mount  10  a second vertical position and comprise a second pair of apertures which have axes that are essentially spaced apart a distance D2 which is equal to each of the distances D and D1. Upper and lower threaded pins  86  and  88  are illustrated as being received in the apertures  84 B and  84 D. Apertures  84 A,  84 B and  84 C are countersunk so that a complementally formed flat head screw  86  is flush with the base surface  48 . To facilitate positioning of the screw  86  in the opening  84 B, a portion of the central protrusion  54 B is cut away as illustrated at  901  (FIG.  7 ). The upper pin  86 , when not tightly coupled in the bow provides a pivot which allows the scope mount  10  to swing in the direction of the arrows  91  and  92  about the axis  82  of opening  84 B and screw  86 . 
   A threaded pin or screw  88 , received in threaded opening  19 , has an enlarged head to selectively clamp the base plate  24  to the bow riser  16  in any selected one of a plurality of different horizontally and vertically adjusted positions about the axis  82 . Once the scope is sighted in and properly positioned, the fasteners  86  and  88  are tightened to secure the scope mount  10  to the bow riser  16 . This adjustable feature is particularly adapted for youthful hunters. More experienced hunters, who might not need this adjustability feature, can mount the scope to the bow with the pins  86  and  88  being received in the fixed openings  84 A and  84 C, rather than  84 B and  84 D is illustrated in FIG.  8 . These additional apertures  84 A and  84 C also facilitate additional vertical adjustment of the scope mount. The plurality of openings  84  can be any selected member as long as the member of said openings does not unduly weaken the base plate  24 . The openings  84  allow the archer to vertically adjust the scope mount  10  vertically along the plane P of openings  84 . The lowermost opening  84 D, which forms an arcuate configuration, allows the adjustable scope mount  10  to pivot about the axis  82 . The limited fastening openings  84  provides a more secure system for fastening the scope mount  10  to the bow  14  which does not occur with a plurality of thumb screws or other fasteners or dials that can easily be moved out of adjustment. 
   The overall lateral width W of the scope mount  10  is only one-half inch and thus, presents a very low profile thereby reducing the opportunities to be inadvertently knocked out of alignment. 
   The scope  12  suitably comprises a RED DOT™ scope such as that sold by BSA and illustrated as Catalog No. SB-71-1194-708 at page 544 of 40 th  Anniversary Master Catalog dated Fall, 2001, Edition II sold by Cabella&#39;s Inc., Sidney, Nebr. The scope  12  includes an elongate sighting tube  92  having the usual manually adjustable site and brightness adjustment knobs  94  thereon. The sighting tube  92  is mounted to the dovetail side  50  via an upper dovetail slide  96 , integral with sighting tube  92 , having an elongate groove  98  therein complementally formed to the guide surfaces  60  and  62  and received in the elongate upper groove  56 . A pair of longitudinally spaced apart, adjustable lower dovetail slides  99  include elongate grooves  101  clamped to the opposing surfaces  64  and.  66  of the dovetail protrusion  54 . 
   The channels  80  project downwardly to a level below the level of the base of the elongate rail  52  as illustrated in FIG.  4 . Threaded pins  97 , depending from the upper dovetail slide  96  are received in apertures  103  through the lower dovetail guides  99 . Knurled nuts  100  are threadedly mounted on pins  97 . By turning the knurled nuts  100  onto the threaded pins  97 , the adjustable dovetail slides  98  are forced upwardly into clamping engagement with the lower guide surfaces  64  and  66  and force the upper dovetail slide  96  downwardly toward the lower dovetail slides  98  into clamping engagement with the upper dovetail mount surfaces  60  and  62 . 
   THE OPERATION 
   The scope mount  10  is initially adjustably mounted on the lateral side  11  of the riser  16  by a screw  86  which is received in opening  84 B and partially turned into the upper threaded ferrule  17 . A second screw  88  is received in the arcuate slot  84 D and threaded into ferrule  19  until the screw head is initially snuggly against the laterally outer surface  48  of the plate  24  while allowing a slight swinging movement of the scope mount about the axis  82  under finger pressure exerted on the plate  24 . The scope  12  is then mounted on the dovetail protrusion  54  of the dovetail guide  50  via the dovetail slides  96  and  98 . The scope is longitudinally moved around the dovetail guide  50  to any selected one of a plurality of different positions and then the scope mounting pins  97  are received in selected ones of the channels  80 . The adjusting nuts  94  are threaded to the pins  94  and turned to move the upper and lower dovetail slides  96  and  98 , respectively, toward each other into clamping engagement with the upper and lower sides of dovetail protrusion  54 . 
   The archer will then position an arrow on the arrow rest  13  and propel the arrow to a target. Depending on the shot accuracy, the scope mount  10  can be swung under finger pressure about the axis  82  either in a direction to the arrow R or I. The adjustment screws  94  may also be adjusted. When the archer is satisfied that the scope is accurately positioned, the archer will continue to turn the upper and lower screws  86  and  88  into the threaded ferrules  17  and  19  to insure that the adjustable mounting plate  24  is securely clamped to the compound bow riser surface  11  adjacent the arrow rest  13  in a very close fitting unobstructive manner. 
   The one-piece mount minimizes the possibility of the scope mount being hit, bumped or jarred in a manner which would result in misalignment of the adjustable mounting plate  24 . The disposition of the scope mount  12  on the inside of the riser, where the arrow rest  13  is located, also additionally protects the scope mount  10  and scope  12  from being inadvertently struck and moved. Movement of the scope mount  10  can only be accomplished by intentional loosening of the mount nuts  100 . 
   If a more mature hunter uses the bow, it may be desirable to again vertically and horizontally adjust the position of the scope mount on the bow. The threaded fasteners  86  and  88  are partially unthreaded from the apertures  84 B and  84 D, and the plate  24  is again rotated in the direction of the arrows R and L to a new position so that a propelled arrow will more accurately propel the arrow for the new archer. Also, the archer can vertically adjust the scope mount  10  by removing the screws  86  and  88  from the openings  84 B and  84 C and inserting same through the openings  84 A and  84 C and threaded into the ferrules  17  and  19 . The screw  88  with the flat head illustrated in  FIG. 8  could be replaced with a screw having a beveled head. 
   It is to be understood that the drawings and descriptive matter are in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it is contemplated that various changes may be made in various elements to achieve like results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.