Abstract:
An archery bow is comprised of at least a riser and two limbs that can be folded into a position forming its own case to protect the limbs, or taken down and reassembled with limbs of various draw weights. When taken down it may also be reconfigured to enable use by an archer with opposite handedness. In its folded state it is highly compact and transportable.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a non-provisional of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/680,301 filed Aug. 7, 2012. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is in the technical field of archery bows. More particularly, the instant invention is in the technical field of folding and take-down bows. 
     Conventional folding bows when folded into a stored position, due to the shape of the typical riser and often the shape of the limbs, are bulky, making them somewhat cumbersome to transport. Additionally, the limbs are not protected from possible damage, unless one places the entire bow in a protective case, making the unit less compact and bulkier for transport. Conventional take-down bows when in the take-down mode are in two or more pieces, leaving them subject to damaged limbs or lost parts. 
     Take-down bows do have the ability to interchange limbs of various tension, or draw weights; however, in order to transport a take-down bow and lessen the risk of lost or damaged parts, one must place them in a carrying case or like device, making the bow a bulkier, heavier item to transport. 
     Another disadvantage of both the take-down and folding bow is that due to the design of the typical riser, they are manufactured with either a right-handed or left-handed shooter in mind. This makes it difficult for someone to use a bow constructed for a person of opposite handedness. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is a bow that retains the features of a folding bow and a take-down bow, but incorporates the ability to fold the limbs into the riser for transport, thereby creating its own, compact, protective carrying case. In addition, the design also incorporates the ability to remove the limbs, flip them over, then reinstall them, thus transforming the bow into one of opposite handedness. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a folding take-down flat archery bow of the instant invention in a strung position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the instant invention in the process of being folded for transport or storage. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the instant invention in a folded position with the string detached. 
         FIG. 4  is a back or belly view of the instant invention in a folded position with the string detached. 
         FIG. 5  is a detail view of one end of the riser of the instant invention in an open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the invention in more detail, in which like reference numerals refer to like features in each of the several drawings,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a folding take-down flat archery bow of the instant invention in a strung position. The archery bow has upper and lower limbs  2  connected to opposite ends of a handle called a riser  1  by means of a bolt or pin  6 . Pin  6  also acts as a pivot for the limbs  2 . In this view, the bow is in an open position with the string  7  attached and the limb locking mechanism  5  holding the limbs  2  in an open position. In  FIG. 1  a void  4  in the riser  1  is shown which accommodates the limbs  2  when in a folded position as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  FIGS. 1 and 3  show an arrow shelf  3  which when cut into the riser  1  allows a place for an arrow to rest upon. The cut may be small enough only to accommodate an arrow, or it may be extended optionally in a vertical direction to create a window  8  which can be used to sight down the arrow for aiming purposes. The arrow shelf need not be cut into the riser but alternatively take the form of an extension to the left as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The perspective of  FIG. 1  shows the window  8  on the left side of this view and the string  7  behind the riser  1 . As such, this bow of the instant invention is set up for a right-handed user. The bow is held by the left hand below the shelf  3 , with the window facing to the archer&#39;s left. The front face of the riser  1  in this view is called the belly  9 . The opposite face (facing the string) is called the back. The void  4  faces to the right in this view (the archer&#39;s left). 
     In theory it would be possible to change this to a left-handed bow merely by restringing it so that the limbs  2  are bent toward the viewer. However, most limbs have a permanent set so that their principal curvature is toward the rear in this view. An important feature of the instant invention is therefore that it can be converted to a left-handed bow by unstringing it, detaching the limbs  2  from the riser  1  by unlocking the limb locking mechanisms  5 , pulling the pins  6 , rotating the riser  1  about its vertical axis 180 degrees, re-inserting the pins  6 , and re-locking the limb locking mechanisms  5 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the instant invention in the process of its limbs  2  being folded for storage or transport. The limbs  2  depicted here are drawn as flat, but as explained above, they are often constructed with curvature or acquire it under string tension. This view also shows one form of locking mechanism meant to retain the limbs  2  in either extended or folded position. The locking mechanisms  5  are shown here as obround cams that are turned so that their major axes align with the elongate axis of the riser  1  so as to open the void  4  so that the limbs  5  can be moved from one position to the other. It is apparent in this view that the locking mechanisms  5  would span the void  4  if they were turned 90 degrees from the orientation shown, thereby preventing release of the limbs  2 . In this and other drawings, optional cavities  10  are shown in the belly and back faces of the invention, mainly to reduce the amount of material needed to mold the riser  1 . 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the limbs  2  are also shown as flat, in a folded position within void  4 . Even if the limbs  2  are not flat, they will straighten as they are slid into the void  4  because they are resiliently flexible. 
       FIG. 5  is a detail view of one end of the riser  1 , meant to show in detail the narrowing of the void  4  in the riser  1  on each end on opposite sides to accommodate only one limb  2 .  FIG. 5  also gives a closer look at the bolt or pin  6  which retains the limbs  2  and acts as their pivot point. It also shows one limb  2  in an open position with the limb locking mechanism  5  holding the limb  2  in a locked position. This view shows an alternative shape for the locking mechanism  5 , in which its shape requires it to be turned 180 degrees to release the limb  2 . The scope of this invention includes other means of temporarily locking the limbs  2  relative to the riser  1  not depicted here such as a second through bolt parallel to pivot pin  6 . 
     In more detail to illustrate opening the instant invention from the folded state to make it ready for use, and still referring to the invention of  FIGS. 1 through 4 , one would move the limb locking mechanism  5  to the open position and move the limbs  2  from the void  4  in the riser  1  as shown in  FIG. 1 , pivoting the limbs  2  180 degrees on the pin or bolt  6 , then locking the limbs  2  in an open position by turning the limb locking mechanisms  5  back to a closed position. A string  7  is then affixed as shown in  FIG. 1  and the archery bow is ready for use. To return the bow to a closed position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a user essentially repeats the steps in reverse. 
     In further detail, still referring to the invention of  FIGS. 1 to 5 , preferred dimensions are given as follows. The riser  1  is preferably about 23 inches long by about 1⅛ inches wide on the front and back and about 1½ inches thick on the side. The void  4  is in the side of the riser  1  and is about 1 inch deep and ½ inch wide for the length of the riser, except for approximately the last 2 inches on each end of the riser  1  where the void  4  in the riser  1  is about ¼ inch, offset from the opposing ¼ inch void  4  on the opposite end of the riser  1 . The limbs  2  are about 20 inches long and one inch wide at the proximal end for the first two inches, tapering for the last 18 inches to ½ inch at the distal end, and have a uniform thickness of ¼ inch. The bolt or pin  6  should be sufficiently long to insert from the front or back of the riser  1 , through a properly sized hole in the riser  1  and the limbs  2 , and again through the opposite side of the riser  1 , to secure the limbs  2  in place and act as a pivot point. The limb locking mechanisms  5  can vary in size and shape as long as they sufficiently lock the limbs  2  in place. The string  7  as shown in  FIG. 1  should measure about 53 to 55 inches long. 
     The preferred materials of construction of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4  are as follows. The riser  1  may be made of metal or any other material sufficiently rigid and strong material such as hard wood high-strength plastic. The limbs  2  may be made of fiberglass, wood, a lamination of both, or any other material that will provide the desired flexion and resistance. The bolt or pin  6 , the limb locking mechanism  5 , and the string  7  in  FIG. 1  can be made of any materials sufficient to accomplish their tasks. 
     The advantages of the instant invention, without limitation, are that it is highly compact and portable in its folded position, forming its own carrying case, protecting the limbs and making it easy to transport. It can be disassembled as well to change out the limbs for different draw weight limbs. As mentioned above, a shooter can re-arrange the limbs to suit right- or left-handedness. 
     In broad embodiment, the instant invention is an archery bow having at least a riser and two limbs. 
     While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered at the time of its invention to its best mode, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.