Abstract:
An arrow holder and arrow rest capable of holding and launching a plurality of arrows wherein the arrow holder has a first and second set of equidistantly spaced apart nock locations at a first and second radius distance from the centre of the arrow holder and wherein the arrow rest has a set of complimentary equidistantly spaced apart rest locations at the first radius distance.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/352,589 filed Jun. 8, 2010, which is incorporated by reference as if fully recited herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to archery equipment. Specifically, it relates to a combination consisting of an arrow holder and complementary arrow rest each capable of holding and launching a plurality of arrows at the same time. According to the invention, a pattern or array of arrows may be directed at a target with a corresponding increase target area coverage and likelihood of contact. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In the field of archery, it is typical to shoot one arrow at a time. 
         [0004]    To prepare for a shot, an archer points the bow toward the ground. The archer then nocks an arrow and places the shaft of the arrow on the arrow rest on the bow. The archer will then typically use three fingers to lightly hold the arrow on the string and then raise and draw the bow. After aiming, the archer will slowly release the arrow by relaxing the fingers of the string hand. 
         [0005]    In the hunting context, if a hunter misses the target with the first arrow, the hunter will rarely get a second chance to shoot a second arrow as the prey would have escaped. 
         [0006]    According to the present invention, an archer is able to shoot a plurality of arrows at one target at the same time in the form of an array. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide a holder and an arrow rest. The arrow holder has a holder body and thickness, and the holder body has a center location. The arrow holder has a first set of equidistantly spaced apart nock locations circumferentially located on the holder body at a first radius distance from the center of the arrow holder. The arrow rest has a body and thickness, and the rest body has a center location. The arrow rest has a set of equidistantly spaced apart rest locations circumferentially located on the rest body at the first radius distance from the center of the arrow rest. The nock locations and rest locations are numerically identical. 
         [0008]    According to another aspect of the invention, the arrow holder has a second set of equidistantly spaced apart nock locations at a second radius distance from the center, wherein the second radius distance is dimensionally less than said first radius distance. 
         [0009]    According to another aspect of the invention, the second nock location is radially inward of the first nock location. 
         [0010]    According to another aspect of the invention, the arrow holder and the arrow rest can hold three (3), five (5), and seven (7) arrows at one time. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect of the invention, the arrow rest has open or closed whisker biscuits. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the invention, the arrow rest has attachment means for attachment to a bow and the arrow holder has attachment means for attachment to a bow string. 
         [0013]    According to yet another aspect of the invention, a bow has an arrow holder attached to the bow string and an arrow rest attached to the bow. The arrow holder has a holder body and thickness, and a center location, and the arrow holder has a first set of equidistantly spaced apart nock locations, circumferentially located on the holder body at a first radius distance from the center of the arrow holder. The arrow rest has a rest body and thickness, and a center location, and the arrow rest has a set of equidistantly spaced apart rest locations, circumferentially located on the rest body at the first radius distance from the center of the arrow rest. The nock locations and rest locations are numerically identical. The arrow holder may have a second set of equidistantly spaced apart nock locations at a second radius distance from the center, wherein the second radius distance is dimensionally less than the first radius distance. The second nock location may be radially inward of the first nock location. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a bow and multiple arrows according to the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of  FIG. 1  taken at BB illustrating the location of the arrow rest. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of an arrow holder according to the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of an arrow holder according to the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of an arrow rest according to the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of an arrow rest according to the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of an arrow rest according to the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of an arrow holder according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    An arrow holder and arrow rest according to the present invention and several different embodiments thereof are illustrated in the figures. 
         [0024]    The arrow holder and arrow rest according to the present invention are made from a strong, rigid, yet light weight material such as, by way of example, reinforced plastic or aluminum. The holder and rest are adapted with any conventional attachment means for attachment to existing bow types and bow strings and may be used with existing arrows. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a bow  1  is schematically illustrated. Attached to the bow is an arrow rest  3  shown in  FIG. 2 . An arrow holder  4  is attached to the bow string  5 . The present invention can be used with existing bows and existing arrows. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  8  illustrate different embodiments of the arrow holder according to the present invention. The arrow holder  4  is attached to the bow string  5  by first cutting or separating the bow string  5  at about midpoint. Each end of the bow string  5  is suitably reattached to the arrow by means of securement holes  7  located along the periphery of the arrow holder  4  as shown in  FIG. 4 , or by means of circular rings  8  in the periphery of the arrow holder  4  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The objective is to precisely attach the holder at the midpoint location of the string in full linear alignment with the arrow rest which is attached on the bow. 
         [0027]    A back support  20  is provided for the arrow holder  4 . It is made of the same material as the holder and serves to prevent the arrow holder  4  from deforming out of its 2-dimensional profile. 
         [0028]    The arrow holder  4  can accommodate a set of up to a maximum of seven (7) arrows or any lesser number according to preference. There are provided seven (7) equidistantly spaced apart nock locations circumferentially on the holder. Two sets of nock locations are provided. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the first set is arranged at a first radius R 1  which is identical to the radius at which the rest locations are circumferentially arranged on the arrow rest. The first radius location R 1  is used for parallel flight since any nock location is fully aligned with a complementary rest location. A second radius location R 2  located inwardly of the first location R 1  provides a holder having an inner and outer nock setting  10  and  11 . An inner nock setting is shown at  10  and an outer nock setting is shown at  11 . 
         [0029]    A flared bow shooting array is achieved by nocking the arrows in the inner setting  10  in combination with the corresponding arrow rest. This arrangement allows for a flared flight pattern and greater coverage at the target area. A flared shot pattern would be preferable for smaller game, fowl and fishing. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7  show different embodiments of the arrow rest according to of the present invention. The arrow rest  4  in  FIG. 5  is illustrated and shown with seven (7) full whisker biscuits  12 . The arrows ordinarily rest in the center of the whisker biscuit supported by the whiskers. The use of the inner nock settings  10  in  FIG. 3  or  4  in combination with the arrow rest  3  will provide a flared flight pattern to the arrows. The use of the outer nock settings  11  will result in substantially parallel flight of the arrow grouping. 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  shows an alternative embodiment for an arrow rest to be used with a suitably and complementary configured arrow holder. An arrow rest accommodating five (5) arrows is shown. Also, an open whisker biscuit  13  is shown where an arrow can be placed through the opening of the whisker and set therein. This invention is adapted to be used with any holder in combination with a closed whisker or open whisker holders. 
         [0032]    The arrow rest in the present application is described as a whisker type rest, but it is not restricted to a whisker type. The present invention applies equally to other variations and configurations of rests. The arrow rest  3  may be mounted or attached to the bow using prior art mounting methods for rests as are known to persons skilled in the art, as for example, by means of bolting the mounting bracket of the arrow rest  3  to the bow. For an arrow rest  3  shown in  FIG. 5  or  6 , a modification to the bow is necessary as shown in  FIG. 2  wherein the bow structure is curved to accommodate and attach the arrow rest. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate yet another embodiment of an arrow holder and corresponding arrow rest wherein the arrows are vertically aligned for shooting three (3) arrows. A flared bow shooting array is achieved by nocking the arrows in the inner setting  10  of the holder for the top and bottom arrows. It will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that an outwardly or inwardly flared arrow pattern is also achievable by incorporating a concave or convex shape to the arrow holder  4 . 
         [0034]    Further advantages which are inherent to the invention are obvious to one skilled in the art. The embodiments are described herein illustratively and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as claimed. Variations of the foregoing embodiments will be evident to a person of ordinary skill and are intended by the inventor to be encompassed by the following claims.