Universal archery bow press

An archery bow press is disclosed including a frame having at least two arm members and being actuatable to move the at least two arm members relative to one another. The frame also includes at least one elongate member having a first end portion adapted for insertion into an opening of one of the at least two arm members and at least one gripper defining an opening therein for the reception of a second end portion of the at least one elongate member. The gripper is adapted to at least partially surround an archery bow limb and removably attach to the archery bow limb.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to archery bow presses for the maintenance of archery bows, and more particularly, to an archery bow press for the maintenance of various types of bows of varying size.

2. Description of Related Art

Archery bow presses are used in the maintenance of archery bows, and in particular, are necessary for the maintenance of compound bows, where force is required to compress the bow in order to remove the bow string(s) and perform other repair and maintenance operations.

Typical bow presses contract a bow by applying a force to the ends of the bow limbs or by applying force to the handle of the bow to force the bow limbs against a set of rollers. Some bows, and compound bows in particular, have split limbs or split limb ends and various features located at the limb ends that can interfere with the press at the point of force application. This makes it difficult to uniformly apply a force to the split limbs or split limb ends of the bow in such a way that the bow does not twist in the press or become damaged due to concentration of force at one point. The limb end features however are not uniform among the bows, and may include idler wheels, cams and other structural differences. These differences can vary from model to model and also among bows of different manufacturers. Some bow presses which contract a bow by applying force to the split limb ends can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,597,094 and 7,644,708 to Pittman.

However, applying force to split limbs or split limb ends may be problematic in that as force is applied to the limbs or limb ends, the limb ends tend to ride up on the bow press and may potentially break free of the bow press under load, thereby damaging the bow and potentially injuring the operator. In addition the force being applied to the split limbs or split limb ends is often a frictional force which may fail to properly secure the bow in place. This is especially the case for bows with a larger curvature since as force is applied to the limb ends, the limb ends become substantially vertically oriented, thereby increasing the risk that the bow will break free.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure is to provide a new and improved universal archery bow press which can compress various types and sizes of bows in an easy and efficient manner and which maintains control of the bow during a maintenance operation. The presently disclosed archery bow press utilizes a gripping assembly for securing the archery bow prior to applying force to the bow limbs.

An archery bow press is disclosed including a frame having at least two arm members and being actuatable to move the at least two arm members relative to one another. The frame also includes at least one elongate member having a first end portion adapted for insertion into an opening of one of the at least two arm members and at least one gripper defining an opening therein for the reception of a second end portion of the at least one elongate member. The gripper is adapted to at least partially surround an archery bow limb and removably attach to the archery bow limb.

Each arm member may include a passage extending at least partially therethrough for the reception of a bracket where the bracket includes at least one opening and the opening of the arm member is one of the openings of the bracket. A first of the openings of the bracket may define a first longitudinal axis and a second of the opening may define a second longitudinal axis disposed at an angle relative to the first longitudinal axis where the elongate member may be insertable into either of the first and second openings. The passage of each arm member may alternatively receive two brackets. Each bracket may include a screw hole extending therethrough for the reception of a mounting screw where the screw hole defines a smooth inner bore to allow the bracket to rotate about the screw hole when the mounting screw is inserted therethrough. Each bracket may also include an inwardly depending section adapted to allow the bracket to at least partially rotate about the screw hole when inserted into the passage of one of the arm members.

The arm members may be configured to space an archery bow away from the frame and may be oriented at a forty-five degree angle relative to a longitudinal axis of a leg of the frame. The frame may include an inner shaft and an outer shaft movable relative to the inner shaft upon actuation of an actuating mechanism where each arm member extends from one of the inner and outer shafts. The inner and outer shafts may also define a diamond shaped cross-section.

The elongate member may define a rounded tip at the second end portion and a tapered portion extending from the rounded tip toward the first end portion. The rounded tip is adapted to allow the gripper assembly to rotate about the second end portion of the elongate member when the elongate member is inserted into gripper assembly.

A gripper assembly for use with an archery bow press is also disclosed including a gripper having a first portion and a second portion. The second portion defines an opening therein for the reception of a member of the archery bow press and the first and second portions define a space therebetween for the at least partial reception of an archery bow limb.

The gripper may also include at least one pad where the at least one pad is adapted to press against an archery bow limb to secure the archery bow limb to the gripper. A first of the at least one pads may be moveable between the first and second portions of the gripper by a pad screw inserted through an opening extending through the first portion of the gripper. A second of the at least one pads may fixedly attached to the second portion. The second portion of the gripper may also include at least one safety screw hole therethrough for the reception of a safety screw. The gripper may also form a “C” shape.

A mounting assembly for use with an archery bow press is also disclosed. The mounting assembly includes a bracket having at least one opening extending at least partially therethrough and being adapted for insertion into a passage of the archery bow press, a elongate member insertable into one of the at least one openings of the bracket and a gripper assembly mountable onto the elongate member.

A first of the at least one openings defines a first longitudinal axis and a second of the at least one openings defines a second longitudinal axis disposed an angle relative to the first longitudinal axis where the elongate member is insertable into one of the first and second of the at least one openings. The elongate member includes a first end portion and a second end portion and the first end portion may be adapted for insertion into one of the at least one openings while the second end portion may be adapted for insertion into an opening of the gripper assembly. The second end portion may also include a rounded tip adapted to allow the gripper assembly to rotate about the second end portion of the elongate member.

The gripper assembly may also include at least one safety screw hole for the reception of a safety screw therethrough where the safety screw is adapted to secure the gripper assembly to a second gripper assembly of a second mounting assembly upon insertion through the safety screw hole and a respective safety screw hole of the second gripper assembly.

The passage of the archery bow press may be disposed in a mounting member where the mounting member is removably attachable to the archery bow press adapted for securing the bracket within the passage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed herein is a universal archery bow press which provides for an easy and intuitive way of compressing a bow for maintenance. As used herein, the term “bow” includes any type of bow currently in use, including, for example, longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, etc. The term “gripper” as used herein includes any gripping or support mechanism including but not limited to clamps, clasps, clips, friction fittings, friction pads, or other mechanisms for securing or mounting an archery bow limb. The term “wheel” or “cam” as used herein includes any mechanism for use with a compound bow which can be adjusted to change the draw length and draw weight of the bow such as, for example, pullies, gears, etc and is not to be limited to only wheels and cams.

With reference toFIGS. 12-14, an archery bow400is shown including a handle or riser410having an upper limb420, and a lower limb430extending therefrom. Depending on the type of bow400, handle/riser410may only include a grip412or may include additional features such as a sight window414, an arrow rest416, a cable guard418(in the case of a compound bow), a bowsight (not shown), or other features known in the art. Upper limb420includes an upper end422and lower limb430includes a lower end432. Upper and lower ends422and432include a string or cable retaining mechanism440for attaching a string/cable450to bow400and may include string grooves (not shown) for retaining string/cable450or in the case of a compound bow400, split limbs424,434for retaining wheels/cams442. Split limbs424and434may be disposed near upper and lower ends422and432only or may instead extend along a portion of each of the upper and lower bow limbs420and430. Split limbs424and434may also extend the entire length of bow limbs420and430. In a compound bow400, string/cable450is wound around wheels/cams442of each end422,432where typically string/cable450includes both a string portion452and a cable portion454. Wheels and cams442may be interchangeable depending on the needs of the user.

With reference toFIGS. 1-3an archery bow press10is disclosed. Bow press10includes a frame20, and at least one mounting assembly100. Frame20includes a pair of legs22for mounting to a base or workbench. There may alternatively be a single leg22, or more than two legs22. Frame20also includes a telescoping section30disposed on legs22and defining a diamond shaped cross-section.

Telescoping section30includes an outer shaft32and an inner shaft34inserted into outer shaft32and movable relative to outer shaft32in an axial direction upon actuation of an actuating member36. Outer shaft32is disposed on legs22while inner shaft34is left free to slide relative to outer shaft32. Actuating member36is mechanically coupled to inner shaft34via a worm gear38mounted to outer shaft32and a gear block39mounted to inner shaft34and defining a internal thread (not shown) for the reception of worm gear38. Actuation of actuating member36rotates worm gear38through gear block39(FIG. 3) to extend or retract inner shaft34relative to outer shaft32. Actuating member36may be mechanical, such as a handle or wheel, or may be any other actuating device as known in the art including, for example, an electric motor or a hydraulic mechanism. Worm gear38may be any other type of gear or mechanism which can impart axial motion to an object and apply a load to that object in an axial direction, as known in the art. The diamond shaped cross section of telescoping section30allows for improved sliding of inner shaft34relative to outer shaft32due to respective angled sides40and42(FIG. 2) where angled sides42of inner shaft34seat into angled sides40outer shaft32. Other cross-sectional shapes may also be used such as, for example, a triangle, a circle, square, or any other polygonal shape, as known in the art.

Frame20also includes arm members50and52extending from outer and inner shafts32and34respectively. Arm members50and52extend at a forty-five degree angle to the longitudinal axis each of legs22, respectively and each arm member50and52includes a passage54therethrough for the reception of a mounting assembly100. Arm members50and52may alternatively extend at angles other than forty-five degrees to the longitudinal axis of legs22as desired and necessary for bows of various shapes and sizes. Arm members50and52are configured to space bow400away from frame20during use to allow for ease of access to bow400by an operator.

With reference toFIGS. 4-5, each arm member50and52also includes a plurality of holes56extending through the wall of passage54for the reception of screws58therethrough. Screws58secure mounting assembly100to arm members50and52within passage54while still allowing for rotation of mounting assembly100about screws58. Each screw58includes a screw head60a smooth body62and a threaded end64. When inserted through holes56, screw head60abuts a side of passage54and threaded end64extends out of an opposite side of passage54for fastening by a nut66.

With reference toFIGS. 4-6, mounting assembly100will now be described. Mounting assembly100includes a pair of brackets120, a pair of rods140and a pair of grippers160. Alternatively each mounting assembly100may include only a single bracket120, rod140and gripper160. Each bracket120includes an inward depending section122, a screw hole124extending therethrough and disposed proximate a first end126of bracket120for the reception of screws58therethrough, a rod receiving opening130disposed proximate a second end132and a rod receiving opening128disposed between screw hole124and rod receiving opening130. A larger or smaller number of rod receiving openings may be provided as desired. Rod receiving openings128and130include smooth inner surfaces134and136respectively configured for the removable reception of rods140therein. As seen inFIGS. 5A and 5B, rod receiving opening130may be aligned parallel to screw hole124while rod receiving opening128may define an angle of twenty degrees relative to rod receiving opening130and screw hole124. Alternatively rod receiving opening128may define other angles as necessary or rod receiving opening130may also define an angle relative to screw hole124as desired. Rod receiving openings128and130may be cylindrical, triangular, square shaped, star shaped, or any other shape suitable to receive a rod140or any other member for use with an archery bow press. Mounting assembly100may alternatively include a single bracket (not shown) instead of a pair of brackets120where the single bracket includes two rod receiving openings128and two rod receiving openings130. Brackets120may also alternatively include more or less rod receiving openings128and130having various angles depending on the bow to be maintained.

Each rod receiving opening128and130may also include a knock-out hole129and131respectively where each of knock-out holes129and131extends from a respective rod receiving opening128and130through bracket120and has a diameter which is smaller than that of its respective rod receiving opening128and130. Knock-out holes129and131prevent air from being trapped between rod140and rod receiving openings128or130to prevent a suction effect from preventing removal of rod140. Knock-out holes129and131may also be used to provide access to rod140to assist in removing rod140from rod receiving openings128and130. For example an elongate member (not shown) may be inserted into one of knock-out holes129or131to apply force to rod140inserted into a respective rod receiving opening128and131to push rod140out of the respective rod receiving opening128or131.

Referring toFIG. 5C, knock-out holes129and131may alternatively include an interior threaded portion138for the reception of a positioning screw139. Positioning screw139provides a user with fine adjustment of the position of rod140within rod receiving openings128and130by engaging threaded portion138and entering a respective rod receiving opening128or130to limit the depth to which rod140can be inserted into rod receiving opening128or130.

Screw hole124defines a generally smooth bore such that screw58may slide through screw hole124without impeding the rotational movement of bracket120about screw58. Alternatively, screw58may secure bracket120rigidly in place. Inward depending section122in conjunction with screw hole124and passage54provide bracket120with a limited range of rotational motion relative to opening54about screw hole124. Each pair of brackets120is a mirror of the other such that inwardly depending sections122are on opposite sides of opening54when inserted. Passage54may also include a divider (not shown) extending down its center for separating brackets120apart.

Referring now toFIG. 7, each rod140includes an elongate section142, a bracket end144extending from elongate section142and adapted for removable reception within rod receiving openings128or130of bracket120and a tip146adapted for reception within one of grippers160. Tip146includes a rounded end148and a tapered section150tapering radially inward from rounded end148toward elongate section142such that the diameter of tapered section150becomes less than that of elongate section142. This allows rod140to engage gripper160while still allowing gripper160to move or rotate about rod140as the force is applied from rod140to gripper160to compress bow400as will be described in more detail below. Rod140may be cylindrical, triangular, square shaped, star shaped, or any other shape suitable for insertion into rod receiving openings128and130and different portions of rod140may be different shapes as needed. For example, elongate section142may be square shaped while tip148still maintains a rounded end148and tapered section150.

Referring now toFIGS. 8-9, each gripper160defines a generally “C” shaped cross-section having a first end162and a second end164on the respective sides of the “C” shape with a gripping space166defined therebetween. Gripper160includes a screw hole168having an internal thread170extending through first end162for the reception of a pad screw172. Pad screw172defines an external thread174for engagement with internal thread170and is adapted apply pressure to a pad176disposed between first end162and one of upper and lower limbs420and430of bow400positioned within gripping space166between first end162and second end164to thereby secure gripper160to bow400. Pad176is secured within gripping space166by a sliding screw180extending through a sliding slot182extending through an outer wall184of gripping space166. Sliding slot182allows sliding screw180and thus pad176to move axially between first and second ends162and164. A second pad (not shown) may also be provided between the one of upper and lower limbs420and430and second end164such that as pad screw172is threaded into screw hole168to engage pad176against upper or lower limb420or430, the limb420or430also engages second pad (not shown) against second end164to thereby secure limb420or430of bow400between pad176and the second pad (not shown) while preventing damage bow400. The second pad (not shown) may be removably attached to second end164by a screw or other attachment means or may alternatively be permanently bonded or affixed to second end164as known in the art. Second pad (not shown) may also be movable between first and second ends162and164in a manner similar to that described above for pad176. Pad176and the second pad (not shown) may be made of a soft material which prevents damage to bow400while still being capable of securing gripper160to bow400when pressed against upper or lower limbs420or430by pad screw172. Pad176and second pad (not shown) may be made of materials such as, for example, foams, rubbers, fiberglass, composites, ceramics, plastics or any material which is adapted to press against and secure limb420or430to gripper160. Although gripper160is discussed for use with a pad screw172and a pad176, it is contemplated that gripper160may be any other type of mechanism suited for securing a bow limb such as, for example, a clamp, a clasp, a clip, a friction fit, a friction pad, etc. Gripper160is not limited to a “C” shape but may be any other shape suitable to the purpose of receiving and securing a bow limb. It is further contemplated that gripper160may grip a bow limb without the use of the screws or pads described above and may include the use of an adhesive.

Each gripper160also includes a rod hole186extending partially through second end164and adapted for the reception of tip146of rod140. Rod hole186is dimensioned to allow gripper160to move relative to tip146of rod140during use while still retaining tip146of rod140within rod hole186when under load. This allows gripper160and rod140to be used with bows of varying size since gripper160is able to adjust its position relative to rod140as more load is applied without breaking free of rod140.

Referring now toFIGS. 10 and 11, second end164may also include one or more safety holes188therethrough for the reception of one or more safety screws190. Each safety screw190is of sufficient length to extend through a safety hole188of each of a respective pair of grippers160to further secure the pair of grippers160together after grippers160have been mounted to bow400. Safety screw190is secured in place by engagement with a safety nut192. This additional safeguard further secures bow400to mounting assembly100.

During use, referring now toFIGS. 12-14, frame20is initially bolted down or otherwise secured to a base or workbench. Next the operator attaches or mounts two grippers160to each of upper and lower limbs420and430. Grippers160are positioned on upper and lower limbs420and430generally adjacent to or near upper and lower ends422and432. In the case of a compound bow400, grippers160are positioned adjacent wheels/cams442where grippers160are between wheels/cams442and handle/riser410. Grippers160may alternatively be positioned at upper and lower ends422and432as desired.

When attaching or mounting a first of grippers160, the operator positions the first of grippers160such that upper limb420is disposed at least partially within gripping space166between first end162and second end164. Pad screw172is then advanced through screw hole168to press pad176against upper limb420to thereby secure the first of grippers160to upper limb420. Once the first of grippers160is secured to upper limb420, the operator repeats the process for a second of grippers160which is then attached or mounted opposite the first of grippers160. The operator then likewise secures a third and fourth of grippers160to lower limb430. Each pair of grippers160is positioned on opposite sides of upper or lower limbs420and430respectively where for example, gripping space166of the first of grippers160is oriented toward gripping space166of the second of grippers160. Each of the upper and lower limbs420and430may alternatively receive only a single gripper.

Once all four grippers160are secured to bow400, brackets120are inserted into passages54of arm members50and52. Each arm member50and52receives a pair of brackets120oriented with inward depending sections122on opposite sides of passage54, facing outward, and rod receiving openings128and130facing toward the other of arm members50and52, as seen inFIG. 4. Once brackets120are positioned within passage54, screws58are inserted through respective holes56and screw holes124to secure brackets120in position within passage54. Nuts66are then threaded onto threaded ends64of screws58to secure screws58in place. In this way brackets120are secured within passage54while still being rotatable relative to screws58. Brackets120may alternatively be inserted into passages54prior to or concurrently with the attachment or mounting of grippers160to bow400.

Next the operator determines which of rod receiving openings128and130is best suited for the particular bow400being serviced and inserts bracket end144of one of rods140into each respective rod receiving opening128or130of each of the four brackets120. Bow press10is now ready to receive bow400. The operator actuates actuating member36to extend inner shaft34relative to outer shaft32, thereby increasing the distance between arm members50and52. Once arm members50and52are a sufficient distance apart the operator positions bow400between arm members50and52such that tips146of rods140are adjacent rod holes178of grippers160. The operator then positions bow400such that rod holes178of the pair of grippers160mounted or attached to upper limb420receive tips146of the pair of rods140extending from brackets120of arm member52. In this way one side of bow400is now supported by a pair of rods140. The operator then actuates actuating member36to reduce the distance between arm members50and52until tips146of the other pair of rods140slot into rod holes178of the other pair of grippers160attached or mounted to lower limb430. The operator may alternatively position bow400such that rod holes178of grippers160attached or mounted to lower limb430receive tips146of rods140first. In this way the operator can easily mount bow400on bow press10prior to applying compression force to bow400.

Once bow400is seated on bow press10the operator actuates actuating member36to further reduce the distance between arm members50and52. Reducing the distance between arm members50and52forces respective brackets120and rods140closer together thereby applying force in an inward direction “X” to grippers160and upper and lower limbs420and430of bow400toward the center of the curvature of bow400. In this way bow400is compressed to reduce the tension on string/cable450(FIG. 14) to thereby allow the operator to perform maintenance on bow400.

During the application of force between brackets120, rods140and grippers160, brackets may rotate about screw58to displace in a generally radially outward direction from a longitudinal axis of passage54. In addition, grippers160are adapted to move and adjust about tips146as larger forces are applied where, for example, the force being applied from bracket120to gripper160along rod140is not always aligned with rod receiving openings128and130or rod hole178. In addition rod receiving openings128and130may be aligned differently than rod hole180with respect to a longitudinal axis of rod140. This is possible due to the shape of tip146where even when tip146presses against a side of rod hole178, compressive force is still applied to gripper160and bow400is still prevented from breaking free. In addition any shearing force is balanced out by force applied to the other of the pair of grippers160for the upper or lower limb420and430which is also applied in a direction which is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective rod140.

Although the present disclosure has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it will be readily apparent, to those having ordinary skill in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject apparatus.