Abstract:
A bowstring release glove includes an elongated wrist wrap portion adapted to surround and be detachably secured to a user&#39;s wrist; a palm grip portion carrying a bowstring release, the palm grip portion fixedly secured at one end to the wrist wrap portion and detachably secured at an opposite end to the wrist wrap portion. The palm grip portion and the bowstring release are movable between operative and inoperative positions while the wrist wrap portion remains secured to the user&#39;s wrist.

Description:
The present invention relates to bowstring release devices and, more specifically, to a bowstring release glove for use in hunting or archery competition. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Various release devices are utilized in archery to assist the archer in pulling a bowstring to a fully drawn position and then releasing the bowstring to fire the arrow. Many of these devices include mechanical grippers which engage the bowstring directly, or which engage nock elements mounted on the bowstring. Other devices uses rope looped about the bowstring as the release mechanism. 
     It is also known to use wrist straps or “gloves” connected to the release devices to enhance control and accuracy of the release device. Examples of such wrist straps can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,020,508; 4,981,128; 4,791,908; and 4,509,497. 
     The present invention relates to a bowstring release glove designed to be worn through and around the hand to evenly distribute the pull of the bow draw weight between a palm grip and the back of the hand, allowing for greater weight to be pulled with less physical exertion. A significant feature of this glove design is that the palm grip portion and the release device itself can be moved to an out-of-the-way position, along the back of the hand when not in use. In addition, the release glove of this invention is usable with any of a variety of mechanical release devices. 
     More specifically, in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the glove portion includes an elongated strap that wraps about the wrist, and a palm grip portion that extends across the palm of the hand, secured to one end of the strap The opposite end of the palm grip portion is detachably connectable to an intermediate portion of the elongated wrist strap. The palm grip portion also incorporates a connector to which the bowstring release is attached. By providing a releasable connector at the one end of the palm grip portion, it will be appreciated that the palm grip portion, including the release, can be folded or swung to an out-of-the-way position, essentially across and parallel to the back of the hand, and secured in that position using the same releasable connector, thereby freeing the hand for attending to other matters, for example, eating, drinking, climbing tree stands and the like. The detachable connection between the palm grip portion and the wrist strap may be of the known press and snap type, although any alternative suitable fastener may also be employed. 
     The connector plate by which the release is secured to the palm grip portion of the glove release includes a boss having a smooth bore adapted to rotatably receive a threaded stud or bolt extending rearwardly from the release and secured by a nut, thus providing the release with 360° rotation capability relative to the connector (and to the glove). The connector plate also includes angled slots by which the connector is secured to the palm grip portion. Slightly differently located slots are provided for both right and left hand usage. 
     The ends of the wrist strap portion of the glove may be overlapped and secured by means of a hook and loop type fastening device, or by a belt buckle type connector. 
     Accordingly, in its broader aspects, the invention provides a bowstring release glove comprising an elongated wrist wrap portion having first and second ends, adapted to surround and be detachably secured to a user&#39;s wrist; a palm grip portion carrying a bowstring release, the palm grip portion fixedly secured at one end to the first end of the wrist wrap portion and detachably secured at an opposite end to the wrist wrap portion at a location between the first and second ends, thereby enabling the palm grip portion and the bowstring release to move between operative and inoperative positions while the wrist wrap portion remains secured to the user&#39;s wrist. 
     In another aspect, the invention provides a bowstring release glove comprising a wrist wrap portion adapted to be secured to the user&#39;s wrist; a palm grip portion secured to the wrist wrap portion; a bowstring release carried by the palm grip portion; and means for securing the palm grip portion and the bowstring release to the wrist wrap portion in a first operative position, and for moving the palm grip portion and the bowstring release to a second inoperative position while the palm grip portion is secured on the user&#39;s wrist. 
     In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a bowstring glove release comprising an elongated wrist wrap portion having a first end and a second end; a first fastening strap connected at a location proximate the first end with a first fastener attached to a remote end of the first fastening strap and a second fastener attached near a proximate end of the first fastening strap; a buckle fastened at a location proximate the second end and adapted to permit the first fastener strap to be threaded through the buckle and folded back on itself such that the first and second fasteners can be engaged to secure the wrist wrap portion to a user&#39;s wrist; a palm grip portion secured at one end to the second end of the wrist wrap portion and adapted to extend across the user&#39;s palm; a bowstring release carried by the palm grip portion, an opposite end of the palm grip portion detachably connectable to the wrist wrap portion, to thereby allow the palm grip portion and the release to be swung away from the user&#39;s palm and to overlie the back of the user&#39;s hand in an inoperative position when the bowstring release device is not in use and without removing the wrist wrap portion. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a release glove in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, in an open, laid-out position; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the bowstring release glove of FIG. 1, shown in place on a user&#39;s hand; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the bowstring release glove as shown in FIG. 1, but with the palm grip and release disconnected at one end from the wrist strap, and partially folded back away from the palm of the hand; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a connector utilized in the glove release shown in FIGS. 1 through 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the connector shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the connector shown in FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 7 is a rear end elevation of the connector shown in FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3, and especially FIG. 1, the bowstring release glove  10  generally includes an elongated wrist wrap  12 . The glove also includes a palm grip portion  14  that carries a bowstring release  16  via a connector plate  18 . As further explained below, and as shown in FIG. 1, the wrist wrap portion  12  is adapted to surround and be secured to a user&#39;s wrist, while the palm grip portion  14  extends across the palm of the user&#39;s hand, at the same time locating the bowstring release  16  in a firing position, as best seen in FIG.  2 . 
     More specifically, the wrist wrap portion (or simply, wrist wrap)  12  has a first end  20  and a second end  22  and may include, for example, two layers of fabric with light padding material enclosed therein. The peripheral edges of the layers of material may be bound and stitched with, for example, vinyl or matching fabric edging  24 . A first fastener strap  26  is secured to the wrist strap portion proximate the first end  20  (as shown at  28 ) and includes a first “fastener”  30  at a distal or free end thereof. The fastener  30  may be a pad of Velcro® brand hook and loop fastener material. 
     A second fastener, i.e., a cooperating pad  32  of hook and loop fastener material, is secured on the same side of the fastener strap  26 , but adjacent the proximate end thereof. 
     The fastener strap  26  is adapted to be looped through a slot  34  in a buckle  36  secured near the second end  22  of the wrist wrap portion via a short strap  38  stitched to the wrist strap portion at  40 . It will be appreciated that upon applying the wrist wrap  12  about the user&#39;s wrist, the fastener strap  26  may be passed through the slot  34  and looped or folded back on itself such that the fastener pad  30  can be pressed onto the fastener pad  32  to firmly secure the wrist wrap portion in place. Note that the length of pad  32  can be altered as desired to permit a degree of adjustability with respect to the strap  26 . It will be appreciated that the hook and loop type fastener may be replaced by a conventional adjustable “belt buckle” or other suitable connection device(s). 
     The palm grip portion  14  includes a palm grip  42  that may comprise padded and possibly reinforced fabric folded over and stitched to provide a relatively thick, soft grip. The connector plate  18  is attached to the palm grip  42  via a strap  44  that is looped through a slot  46  in a first wing portion  48  of the connector plate, and stitched to the palm grip. Another strap  50  secured at  52  to the second end  22  of the wrist wrap  12  is looped through a slot  54  in a second wing portion  56  of the connector and stitched to the wrist wrap, also at  52 . 
     A first female component  58  of a snap-in type connector is secured via strap  60  to the opposite end of the palm grip  42  and is adapted to cooperate with a male component  62  of the snap-in type connector that is secured via a strap  64  to the wrist wrap  12  adjacent the attached end of the fastener strap  26 , i.e., at a location intermediate the first and second ends  20 ,  22  of the wrist wrap. The male component  62  incorporates a buckle  66  that allows the male component  62  to be adjustably moved along the strap  64 . Male component  62  includes a pair of flexible prongs  66 ,  68  that, as is well known, may be pressed or squeezed inwardly to permit insertion into the female component  58 . Prongs  66 ,  68  project through the apertures  70 ,  72  in the female component  58 . This arrangement allows the male component to be detached from the female component, again by squeezing the prongs  66 ,  68  inwardly and pulling the male component  62  out of the female component  58 . 
     The bowstring release  16  includes a pair of jaws  74 ,  76  and a trigger  78 . The release may be similar to those described in my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,680,851 or 5,685,286, but the glove may also be used with other bowstring release devices. A threaded shaft  80  extends rearwardly from the release and passes through a raised boss  82  in the connector  18  and is secured by a nut  84 . The boss  82  is formed with a smooth bore  83 , thus permitting the shaft  80  (and release  16 ) to freely rotate relative to the connector  18  and thus to the glove itself, about the axis of the shaft  80  (that corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the release). This arrangement minimizes torque on the bowstring. 
     The connector plate  18  is best seen in FIGS. 4 through 7. The connector plate  18  includes the wing portions  48 ,  56  mentioned above that form a generally V-shape. The raised boss  82  lies at the intersection of the wing portions  48 ,  56  on the “exterior” side thereof. Each wing portion is provided with a pair of slots  46 ,  84  and  54 ,  86 , respectively. The slots of each pair are arranged angularly relative to each other, providing flexibility with respect to the attachment of straps  44 ,  50 . This configuration is especially advantageous in adapting the release glove to left or right-handed users. 
     In use, the user wraps the wrist wrap  12  about the wrist and secures the same by pulling the strap  26  through the slot  34 , and looping or folding the strap back on itself so that the fastener pad  30  can be applied to the fastener pad  32 . The palm grip portion  14  is then pulled across the palm of the hand and the male connector  62  inserted into the mating female connector  58 . The palm grip portion  14  is now in an operative or firing position, with the release  16  accurately located such that the user can rest the thumb on top of the release, with the index finger adjacent the release trigger  78  as illustrated in FIG.  2 . In the event the user desires to free up the hand for other activity, but without having to remove the release glove  10 , the user disconnects the male connector  62  from the female connector  58  and swings or folds the palm grip portion  14  and release  16  rearwardly, away from the thumb and index finger as shown in FIG.  3 . The palm grip portion can be folded or swung completely across the back of the hand, and across the back of the wrist wrap portion such that the female connector  58  can be re-engaged with the male connector  62 , thus releasably holding the palm grip portion  14  and release  16  in an inoperative, out-of-the-way position. In this regard, because the male connector  62  is secured to the flexible strap  64 , the connector can be easily swung toward the other side of the hand for re-engagement with the female connector  58 . 
     When the user is ready to resume firing, the male connector  58  is disconnected from the female connector  62 , and the palm grip portion  14  and release  16  are again pulled across the palm such that connector components  58 ,  62  can be re-engaged in the FIG. 2 position. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.