Archery release with unified thumb trigger adjustment

A thumb trigger-type archery release includes a trigger that is configured to be pressed by the thumb of an archer to actuate the archery release. The position of the trigger relative to the body of the archery release can be adjusted by the archer via a thumb trigger adjustment mechanism that is part of the archery release. The thumb trigger adjustment mechanism enables fast and convenient positioning of the trigger by loosening and tightening only one fastening member.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates generally to an archery release used for releasing an arrow from a bowstring, and in particular to an thumb trigger-type archery release with an adjustable trigger position.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Archery releases hold a bowstring while an archer is pulling on the release to draw the bowstring. The archery release enables the archer to smoothly and consistently draw back the bowstring and release the bowstring for consistent and repeatable arrow flight.

A trigger-type archery release includes a trigger mechanism having an exposed trigger that typically actuate a hook or jaws operably connected to the trigger mechanism. The archer engages the trigger with a finger of the hand holding the archery release to disengage the bowstring.

A thumb trigger-type archery release includes a body, an exposed thumb trigger spaced from the body, and a release mechanism operatively connecting the thumb trigger to the hook or jaws.

Thumb trigger-type archery releases typically include a thumb trigger adjustment mechanism that enables an archer to adjust the position of the thumb trigger. A thumb trigger adjustment mechanism incorporates multiple parts and multiple screws and set screws. These multiple parts and screws address one adjustment of the thumb trigger at a time: adjust the distance of the thumb trigger from the body, adjust the angle/sweep of the thumb trigger, adjust the rotation or angular position of the thumb trigger, and the like.

It is desirable to have a thumb trigger adjustment mechanism for a thumb trigger-type archery release that is more convenient, simplifies the adjustment process, and is easier for the archer to use.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Disclosed is a thumb trigger adjustment mechanism for a thumb trigger-type archery release that is a unified thumb trigger adjustment mechanism. The disclosed thumb trigger adjustment mechanism simplifies the process of adjusting the thumb trigger on a handheld archery release and is easier and more convenient for the archer to use.

The disclosed thumb trigger adjustment mechanism allows for simultaneous adjustments of the thumb trigger at the same time. The disclosed thumb trigger adjustment mechanism has only one screw that enables multiple adjustments at once. The archer will position the thumb trigger at the selected length, angle and rotation and then tighten only the one screw. This one screw grips a rod or pin that holds the thumb trigger in a way that fixes the thumb trigger to effectuate the multiple adjustments at once. The disclosed thumb trigger adjustment mechanism is also ambidextrous for use by either right-handed or left-handed archers.

The one screw of the disclosed thumb trigger adjustment mechanism, when tightened, draws the rod against the trigger body gripping the rod that holds the thumb trigger. The rod in variant embodiments may be a knurled rod that is made of a harder material than the surrounding material so when tightened down the knurls will dig-in and lock the position of the rod.

The disclosed thumb trigger adjustment mechanism simplifies the process of positioning the thumb trigger for the archer and also greatly reduces the parts typically needed for providing thumb trigger adjustments, simplifying manufacture and reducing cost.

Other objects and features of the disclosure will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing sheets illustrating one or more illustrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-3illustrates a thumb trigger-type archery release10that employs the thumb trigger adjustment mechanism in accordance with this disclosure. The archery release includes a body12configured as a hand grip for holding the archery release defining a first finger grip14, second finger grip16, and third finger grip18. The first finger grip is formed as a through-hole extending through the body. The other finger grips are concave shaped with crests separating adjacent finger grips. A thumb trigger20is spaced from the body and is attached to a trigger arm22.

The trigger arm22forms part of a release mechanism that operatively connects the trigger20to a movable hook24. The trigger arm22shown separately inFIGS. 4-6is disposed in the body12and extends partially around the first finger grip. The lower end of the trigger arm22extends out of the body12to a free end portion26spaced from the body. The trigger arm22is movable relative to the body12in response to the archer pressing the trigger20to displace the hook or jaw(s) to release a bowstring held in the archery release.

The trigger20is connected to the trigger arm end portion26. by a thumb trigger adjustment mechanism. The thumb trigger adjustment mechanism includes a through-hole28formed in the lower free end portion of the trigger arm22as seen inFIG. 2andFIG. 5, a thumb post adapter30, a set screw32, a knurled rod or pin34, and a blind hole36formed in the trigger20, seeFIGS. 2, 3, and 11.

The thumb post adapter30is shown inFIGS. 7-10. The thumb post adapter includes a central tubular portion38extending upwardly from an enlarged radius collar40as viewed inFIG. 7. The tubular portion38surrounds an internally threaded bore42open at the upper end44of the tubular portion38opposite the collar40. A radial through hole46extends through thumb post adapter30, the centerline of the through hole46located in the plane defined by the meeting of the collar40and the central tubular portion38.

The central tubular portion38of the thumb post adapter30is received into one side of the trigger arm through hole28and extends through the through hole28to locate the open end44of the thumb post flush or just short of flush with the other side of the trigger arm through hole28. The set screw32is received from the other side of the trigger arm through hole28and threadingly engages and is thread into the threaded bore42of the thumb post adapter30and clamps and mounts the thumb post adapter to the trigger arm end portion26.

The knurled rod34extends through and is closely received in the radial through hole46of the thumb post adapter and extends away from the thumb post adapter to the trigger20. The rod34is used to locate and orient the trigger20with respect the trigger arm22as will be discussed later below.

The trigger20is shown separately inFIGS. 11-14. The trigger is formed as a cylindrical pin35that includes a blind bore36that receives the free end of the rod34to mount the trigger20to the end of the rod34. The trigger pin35is normally spaced away from the thumb post adapter30and away from the trigger arm22as can best be seen inFIG. 3.

To fix the position of the trigger20relative to the trigger arm22, the set screw32is screwed into the thumb post adapter30to tightly and releasably clamp the thumb post adapter30against the trigger arm22. The rod34is sandwiched between the collar40and the trigger arm22and is pressed against the trigger arm22. Static friction, generated by the normal force applied to the rod34against the trigger arm22and the thumb post adapter30, resists translation and rotation of the rod34in the radial through hole46of the thumb post adapter30thereby fixing the distance from and the relative angular orientation of the trigger20to the thumb post adapter30. Friction also resists rotation of the thumb post adapter30in the trigger arm through hole28, thereby fixing the angular position of the trigger20about the center line of the trigger arm through hole28. The trigger20is effectively fixed in position relative to the trigger arm. SeeFIG. 17.

To adjust the position of the trigger20relative to the trigger arm22, the set screw32is loosened sufficiently to allow the rod34to rotate and translate in the radial though hole46of the thumb post adapter39. This enables adjusting the distance of the trigger20from the thumb post adapter30and the relative angular position of the trigger30about the longitudinal axis of the rod34. Loosening the set screw32also enables the thumb post adapter30to rotate in the trigger arm through hole28for positioning the angular position of the trigger20about the center line of the trigger arm through hole28.

Once the thumb20is positioned by the archer as desired with respect to spacing from the thumb post adapter30and angular orientations about the rod34and the trigger arm through hole28, the set screw32is re-tightened to fix this position of the trigger20with respect to the trigger arm22.

The illustrated thumb trigger adjustment mechanism utilizes a set screw and internally threaded thumb post adapter to releasably clamp the thumb post adapter30against the free arm22. Alternatively, the tubular portion38of the thumb post adapter30can be replaced with a solid cylindrical portion38as illustrated inFIG. 15having external threads48instead of internal threads. The free end of the cylindrical portion38would extend beyond the trigger arm22when placed in the trigger arm28to receive a nut50or internally-threaded cap nut or bolt52threaded onto the thumb post adapter30to releasably clamp the thumb post adapter30against the trigger arm22.

The disclosed thumb trigger adjustment mechanism enables fast and convenient positioning of the trigger by loosening and tightening only one fastening member such as the set screw32or the nut50.

While this disclosure includes one or more illustrative embodiments described in detail, it is understood that the one or more embodiments are each capable of modification and that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to the precise details set forth herein but include such modifications that would be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art including (but not limited to) changes in material selection, size, operating ranges, environment of use, as well as such changes and alterations that fall within the purview of the following claims.