Archery bowstring release aid

An improved archery bowstring release aid is provided which has a preferably flexible, self-supporting resilient ledge generally perpendicular to the length of the release aid and having an opening for an arrow shaft, the opening being bordered by a pair of bowstring-engaging portions. A rear wrist-engaging support member, which can be in the form of a strap, rope or glove and a self-supporting intermediate portion interconnecting the ledge and rear support complete the release aid. The release aid is adapted to be positioned on the medial side of the archer's draw hand, with the bowstring-engaging portions of the ledge facing the archer's palm and temporarily supported by the curved archer's fingers. It may also include a transverse brace member across the intermediate portion. Upon reaching full draw, the archer relaxes his or her fingers and the release aid, particularly the ledge, and usually the intermediate portion, flexes to release the drawn bowstring to fire the arrow forward from the bowstring. The ledge and intermediate portion can be fabricated of wire, flexible plastic or the like, and can be unitary, if desired. The ledge can be designed to be backed by the index and middle finger or by three fingers. The release aid is simple, inexpensive, durable and provides improved accuracy without archer's paradox.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to archery equipment and more particularly to 
an improved archery release aid. 
2. Prior Art 
Archery bowstring release aids usually comprise simple hooks which must be 
held in the hand and turned or rotated to release the drawn bowstring. 
Loops or rope releases are also popular, but they also require some finger 
movement and the rope drags on the bowstring, slowing it. Caliper-type or 
other trigger releases are also used. They are usually push button or tang 
controlled and are very expensive and complicated. 
Trigger releases and hooks usually permit the released bowstring to move 
straight ahead, rather than in an S-curve to produce so-called archer's 
paradox, as in the case of finger tabs and gloves and some rope releases, 
and thus are theoretically more accurate than tabs, ropes and gloves. 
However, most trigger releases are difficult and slow to install on the 
bowstring, so that they are not suitable for all hunting purposes. 
Moreover, it is easy to inadvertently vary their holding angle so as to 
unintentionally torque the bowstring and produce variable accuracy. Hooks 
are very easy to misfire, and difficult to hold so that the same turning 
motion (angle and extent) is used from shot to shot; therefore shooting 
accuracy is difficult to reproduce from shot to shot. 
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved type of archery bowstring 
release aid which will avoid archer's paradox, be simple, inexpensive and 
durable and can be easily and quickly fixed to the bowstring. The release 
aid should be able to draw the bowstring without inadvertent firing, be 
adaptable to both hunting and target archery and, most important, improve 
the archer's accuracy in a reproducible manner. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The improved archery bowstring release aid of the present invention 
satisfies all the foregoing needs. The release aid is substantially as set 
forth in the Abstract above. Thus, it comprises a flexible self-supporting 
ledge set at an angle about perpendicular to an intermediate portion 
connected thereto and running rearward thereof to a rear support in the 
form of a wrist strap, glove or rope. A removable transverse brace member 
may span the intermediate portion and archer's hand adjacent the rear of 
the fingers. 
The ledge and intermediate portion may be integral and of wire, plastic 
plate, etc. The ledge defines an opening to receive the rear end of an 
arrow shaft. The free ends of the bowstring-engaging portions of the ledge 
bordering the opening are adapted to be backed by the archer's curved or 
bent fingers until release of the bowstring. Thus, the ledge faces the 
archer's palm. Release is effected merely by straightening the fingers. No 
finger burn or pinch occurs. 
The release aid causes the bowstring to fire straight ahead and thus is 
extremely accurate, from shot to shot, allows recoil in a direct line 
rearwardly and with partial absorption by the archer's arm, and nests in 
the archer's hand, extending along the medial side of the fingers and palm 
to the wrist. The release aid is flexible and self-supporting and may 
include a rear support in the form of a glove, wrist strap or rope, which 
may be adjustable. The length of the intermediate portion may also be 
adjustable. Further features are set forth in the following detailed 
description and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
FIGS. 1-3 
Now referring more particularly to FIGS. 1-3 of the accompanying drawings, 
a first preferred embodiment of the improved release aid of the present 
invention is schematically depicted therein. Thus, release aid 10 is shown 
which comprises a front portion in the form of a transverse ledge 12 about 
perpendicular to a rearwardly directed intermediate portion 14 (FIG. 3) 
which is connected thereto and to a rear support 16. Ledge 12 and portion 
14 are preferably formed of a single piece of copper or other metal wire, 
and are flexible, resilient and self-supporting. They could also be of 
plastic or the like. 
Ledge 12 is curved to provide an about central opening 18 bordered by two 
curved bowstring-retaining portions 20 and 22, adapted to face and be 
supported by the archer's forefinger 24 and middle finger 26, 
respectively, of the draw hand 28, as shown in FIG. 1, during drawing of 
bowstring 30 with arrow 32. During that drawing, bowstring 30 is held by 
the rear surfaces 34 of portions 20 and 22 and the archer's fingers are 
bent to contact the front surfaces 36 of portions 20 and 22. The rear end 
of arrow 32 is in opening 18. 
Intermediate portion 14 comprises a pair 38 and 40 of parallel wires which 
are integral with ledge 12, preferably are flexible, are self-supporting 
and run rearward thereof on the medial side of palm 42 to rear support 16, 
to which they are releasably connected. Rear support 16 comprises a wrist 
strap releasably secured to the archer's wrist 46. Strap 44 is of leather, 
plastic, cloth, etc. and is releasably held in place by, e.g. Velcro 48. 
Strap 44 includes a series of parallel openings 50 through which the 
hooked ends 52 and 54 of wires 38 and 40 are releasably engaged to strap 
44. Selection of appropriate holes 50 determines the position of ledge 12 
in relation to hand 28. A removable transverse brace member 51 in the form 
of an elastic band may circle poriton 14 and hand 28 at about the rear of 
the fingers, in order to limit pivoting of portion 14. 
As bowstring 30 is being drawn by release aid 10, hand 28 is in a relaxed 
position in a straight line with the archer's connected wrist and forearm. 
Fingers 24 and 26 are bent to support portions 20 and 22 and prevent 
premature release of bowstring 30. Upon reaching full draw and when arrow 
32 is fully aimed, fingers 24 and 26 are allowed to straighten so that 
release aid 10 flexes, particularly ledge 12, and bowstring 30 slips from 
ledge 12 without the archer flinching. Firing is automatic and is not 
telegraphed to the archer. The firing sequence is very smooth with no 
bowstring torque or archer's paradox. The result is a high degree of 
shooting accuracy. Recoil of the archer's draw arm is straight rearward, 
so that jarring of the archer is avoided to remove flinching and 
anticipation and to further promote accuracy. Thus, release aid 10 has an 
action similar to a caliper release but with improved control and 
accuracy. 
FIGS. 4 and 5 
A second preferred embodiment of the improved release aid of the present 
invention is schematically depicted therein. Release aid 10a is shown. 
Components thereof which are similar to those of release aid 10 bear the 
same numerals but are succeeded by the letter "a". Thus, release aid 10a 
comprises a ledge 12a and intermediate portion 14a formed of a single 
flexible self-supporting plate of plastic, thin metal or the like. Ledge 
12a is at an angle to portion 14a of slightly less than 90.degree. (FIG. 
5). Ledge 12a comprises a pair of bowstring-retaining fingers 20a and 22a 
spaced apart by an arrow-receiving opening 18a. Portion 14a terminates at 
its rear end in a flexible tab 60 secured to an adjustable wrist strap 44a 
by a button 62 in a strap recess (not shown). Elastic brace 51a is 
provided. Release aid 10a has substantially the advantages of release aid 
10. 
FIG. 6 
A third preferred embodiment of the improved release aid of the present 
invention is schematically depicted in FIG. 6. Thus, release aid 10b is 
shown. Components thereof similar to those of release aids 10 and 10a bear 
the same numerals but are succeeded by the letter "b". Release aid 10b 
comprises a ledge 12b, intermediate member 14a and rear support 16b. Ledge 
12b has the configuration of ledge 12 except that portion 22b is wider 
than portion 22 and is backed by fingers 26b and 70 (third finger) of hand 
28b. Portion 14b is the same as portion 14, being formed of wires 38b and 
40b integral with ledge 12b, but running to a rear adapter 72 comprising a 
cylindrical fitting 74 within which a rod 76 is adjustably slidably 
received and releasably locked in place by screw 78 to adjust the length 
of aid 10b. Rod 76 bears at its rear end a strap 44b in the form of a loop 
80. Elastic brace 51b encircles portion 14b and hand 28b. Bowstring 30b 
can be drawn by release aid 10b and released to propel arrow 32b forward, 
substantially as described for release aid 10. 
FIG. 7 
A fourth preferred embodiment of the improved release aid of the present 
invention is schematically depicted in FIG. 7. Release aid 10c is shown. 
Components thereof similar to those of release aids 10, 10a and 1Ob bear 
the same numerals but are succeeded by the letter "c". Release aid 10c 
comprises ledge 12c and wires 38c and 40c substantially identical to ledge 
12 and wires 38 and 40. Wires 38c and 40c are secured at their rear ends 
to a cross bar 90 secured, as by sewing 92, into the palm 94 of 
substantially fingerless glove 96. An elastic brace 51c is secured over 
portion 14c and anchored in glove 96 (FIG. 7). Brace 51c is optional, as 
are braces 51, 51a and 51b. Glove 96 is of leather, cloth, etc. and has a 
rear elastic wrist band 98 to help keep glove 96 is placed on hand 28c 
while drawing bowstring 30c with arrow 32c. Release aid 10c generally 
functions similar to release aid 10. 
The release aid of the present invention can be very rapidly slapped over a 
bowstring in order to trap it between the aid and the fingers so as to be 
able to rapidly draw it, as during hunting situations where rapid shooting 
is essential to success. The release aid functions smoothly and 
reproducibly for optional results without adjustment. Various other 
advantages are as set forth in the foregoing. 
Various changes, modifications, alterations and additions can be made in 
the improved release aid of the present invention, its components and 
their parameters. All such changes, modifications, alterations and 
additions as are within the scope of the appended claims form part of the 
present invention.