Abstract:
A bow string release device comprises a rod shaped into a ring with a curved tail. The ring portion is placed upon the archer&#39;s middle finger and positioned near the finger&#39;s first joint. The tail is placed to the front of the bowstring and hooked or grasped by the index finger. The bowstring is then pulled back and released by the index finger letting go of the tail.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for holding and releasing the bow string of an archery bow with the archer&#39;s bow string hand. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Bow string releases have been designed so that an archer can release the string of his or her bow with reduced fatigue on the muscles of the hand and fingers while holding the bowstring in a drawn position. The bow string release devices can also improve accuracy. U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,456 discloses a bow string release having an opening for the index finger, an arm with grooves for two fingers and a notch with an adjustable flange for holding the bow string. The notch and flange hold the bowstring and a rotation of the arm about the index finger releases the bow string. U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,467 discloses a one piece bow string release device with a central extension having a notch for engaging the bow string and two curved sections for engaging the index and middle finger of the archer&#39;s bow string hand. Squeezing the two fingers together causes a slight rotation of the central extension releasing the bow string. U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,090 discloses a protective tab to protect the archer&#39;s fingers when drawing the bow string. U.S. Pat. No. 2,488,697 discloses a mechanical bow trigger mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 2,113,650 discloses a rectangular grip for the hand with a forward extending projection with notch for the bow string. 
     What is needed beyond the prior art is a device that does not rely on a forward projection or arm with notch for release of the bowstring. What is further needed beyond the prior art is a device that will provide the protection of the archer&#39;s tab while providing positive control of the bow string and positive control of the release of the bow string. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the needs and solves the problems identified above by providing a rod shaped into a ring with a curved tail. The ring portion is placed upon the archer&#39;s middle finger and positioned near the finger&#39;s first joint. The tail is placed in front of the bowstring and hooked or grasped by the index finger. The bowstring is then pulled back and released by the index finger letting go of the tail. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers represent like parts of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of the device. 
     FIG. 2 is a left side view of the device. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the device employed on an archer&#39;s hand with bowstring and arrow. 
     FIG. 4 is a left side view of the device employed on an archer&#39;s hand with bowstring and arrow. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 depicts release  10  having rod  16  of unitary construction with rod first end  12  and rod second end  14 . For reference in FIG. 1 the direction toward the top of release  10  shall be forward and the direction toward the bottom of release  10  shall be rearward. Release  10  has tail  18  and ring  20 . Ring  20  is formed by bending rod  16  so that first end  12  is near or touching ring upper bend  27 . Tail  18  has tail first section  22  and tail second section  24 . Ring lower bend  26  is approximately opposite ring upper bend  27 . Ring upper bend  27  is approximately 120 degrees. Ring lower bend  26  is approximately 120 degrees. Tail second section  24  extends in a rearward direction and straight to tail upper bend  28  and tail lower bend  29 . Tail upper bend  28  is approximately 130 degrees. Tail lower bend is approximately 130 degrees. Tail first Section  22  extends in a forward direction and ends at rod second end  14 . In the preferred embodiment, rod  16  is made of {fraction (3/16)} inch stainless steel. In the preferred embodiment rod  16  is 4⅝ inches long of which tail  18  is 1⅛ inches and ring  20  is 4⅝ inches. In the preferred embodiment, ring  20  has a diameter of {fraction (3/16)} inches. Release  10  can be made in a range of sizes to the range of archer&#39;s hands. 
     Release  10  may be manufactured by bending rod  16  so that approximately 78 percent of the length of rod  16  is formed into an approximate circle. Next, the remaining approximate 22 percent of rod  16  which is tail  18  is bent at an angle of 120 degrees in the same plane as the circle so that tail second section  24  and tail first section  22  extend outward from the center of ring  18 . Next, first tail section  22  is bent forward at an angle of approximately 150 degrees to the plane of the circle of ring  18  at the approximate midpoint of tail  18  at an angle of approximately 130 degrees. 
     FIG. 2 depicts a left side view of release  10 . Tail  18  is bent downward from the plane of ring  20  and from ring  20  at an approximate angle of 150 degrees. 
     FIG. 3 depicts archer&#39;s hand  40  with thumb  42 , index finger  44 , middle finger  46 , fourth finger  48  and fifth finger  50 . Middle finger  46  is inserted into ring  20  and index finger  44  is positioned over tail  18 . Index finger  44  engages tail upper bend  28 . Bowstring  32  (see FIG. 4) engages ring lower bend  26 . Arrow  30  is held by archer&#39;s hand  40  by squeezing between index finger  44  and middle finger  46 . 
     FIG. 4 depicts a left side view of release  10  employed with bow string  32  drawn back. Bow string  32  is engaged with ring lower bend  26 . The ring portion is placed over middle finger  46  and positioned near middle finger joint  47 . To release bow string  32 , the archer releases tails second section  24  (see FIG. 1) by raising index finger  44 . Alternatively, the archer may release bow string  32  by sliding index finger  44  over tail first section  22  and past ring second end  14 . Bow string  32  then pushes tail  18  forward rotating about ring  20  on middle finger  46 . Therefore, release  10  does not rely on a forward projection or arm with notch for release of the bowstring as does the prior art. Moreover, release  10  that will provide the protection of the archer&#39;s tab while providing positive control of bow string  32  and positive control of the release of bow string  32 . 
     Release  10  may be manufactured by the following method. First, a {fraction (3/16)} inch stainless steel rod having a first end and a second is bent so that approximately 78 percent of the length of said rod is formed into an approximate circle so that the archer&#39;s index finger may be received in the circle. Second, the remaining approximate 22 percent of the rod is bent downward at an angle of approximately 150 degrees to the plane of the circle. Third, the remaining approximate 22 percent of the rod is bent at an angle of 120 degrees in the same plane as the circle. Fourth, at the approximate midpoint of the remaining 22 percent of the rod, the rod is bent at an angle of approximately 130 degrees so that a notch for the index finger is formed. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.