Archery training device

An archery training device (10) is disclosed for teaching an archer proper upper body muscular control and positioning while shooting a bow (14). The archery training device (10) includes a string arm connector (18) having an upper loop (20) that is securable to the archer's string arm above the elbow (24). A lower loop (26) is securable to the string arm (22) below the elbow (24). The loops (20, 26) cooperate upon pulling the string arm connector (18) in relation to the bowstring (16) to prevent shifting of the string arm connector (18) with respect to the elbow (24) of the string arm (22). An elastomeric force carrying member (28) extends forwardly from the string arm connector (18) and is secured to the bowstring (16). The elastomeric force carrying member (28) is extendable between a relaxed configuration (30) prior to bowstring release and a stretched configuration (32) after bowstring release. The muscles associated with the archer' s upper body function upon and after release of the bowstring (16) to restrain the bow hand (15), string arm (22), and shoulders (23, 25) from movement that would adversely affect shooting accuracy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to an archery training device for teaching an archer 
proper muscular control and body positioning before, during, and after 
string release for accurate shooting of a bow without an arrow. 
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
An observer of an archer shooting a bow and arrow occasionally witnesses a 
flinching or collapsing of the archer's upper body immediately prior to 
releasing the bowstring. Such body movement results in inconsistent and 
inaccurate shooting. Its cause is attributable to the archer having 
relaxed upper back muscles so that the bow hand, string arm, or shoulders 
begin to move before the string fingers are free of the bowstring. 
The period during which the upper back muscles relax before the fingers are 
free of the bowstring has been termed "reflex muscle relax time." This 
period begins when the string fingers start to open and ends when they are 
free of the forward pull exerted by the bowstring. 
"Target panic" is another term used to describe what happens during the 
reflex muscle relax time. It denotes the involuntary response exhibited by 
the archer's upper body back muscles. "Target panic" becomes developed in 
all seasoned archers and is attributable to sound and sight. Often, the 
archer will begin to shoot the shot before the arrow is correctly aimed by 
sight, or he will anticipate the sound of a draw clicker and relax his 
rear upper body muscles prematurely. 
In general, the shorter the "reflex muscle relax time," the less adverse 
movement will there be for the archer's bow arm, string arm, and 
shoulders. Consequently, he or she will shoot more consistently and 
accurately. 
The importance of an archer practicing every day to improve his skills has 
led to a need for training devices that can be used safely without injury 
to the archer or persons nearby. It would be desirable to provide a device 
which can be used without an arrow, thereby enabling practicing to occur 
without damaging equipment or bystanders. Additionally, it would be useful 
if such a device could be used indoors, between shots at a tournament, or 
while hunting in order to keep muscles correctly stretched and toned. 
Archery training devices have been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 
4,609,191 which issued to Remme on Sept. 2, 1986. This reference, however, 
is not used with a bow or a bowstring. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
After over 30 years of being involved in the sport of archery and the study 
of muscle anatomy in relationship thereto, I have invented an archery 
training device for teaching an archer proper upper body muscular control 
and positioning while shooting a bow without an arrow. The device includes 
a string arm connector which has an upper loop securable to the upper arm 
of the archer's string arm proximate the elbow. Also included in the 
string arm connector is a lower loop which is securable to the forearm of 
the archer's string arm, also close to the elbow. Together, the loops 
cooperate upon pulling the string arm connector to prevent shifting 
thereof about the elbow of the string arm. 
An elastomeric force carrying member extends forwardly from the string arm 
connector and is secured to the bowstring. The elastomeric force carrying 
member is extendable between a relaxed configuration prior to bowstring 
release and a stretched configuration after bowstring release. 
The archery training device provides the archer feedback about his position 
and reflex muscle relax time after the bowstring release. The feedback is 
based on an imbalance of forces exerted by upper back musc.les which 
causes adverse movement of the bow arm, string arm, and shoulders or an 
incorrect positioning of the elastomeric force carrying member where it 
moves away from the side of the neck, thus adversely affecting shooting 
accuracy. 
I have discovered that there are three keys to consistent and accurate 
shooting. One is to position the archer's bow hand, string arm, and 
shoulders so that they are co-planar. In a full draw position, each of 
these body points ideally should be located on a single plane which I have 
termed a "rigid frame plane." An archer properly positioned on the rigid 
frame plane during the reflex muscle relax time will reduce movement of 
the bow hand, string arm, and shoulders in a manner which will improve 
shooting accuracy. 
The second key is to keep the correct upper back muscle forces working upon 
and after release of the bowstring by the string fingers and to shorten 
the reflex muscle relax time. The third key is to reduce movement of the 
bow hand, string arm, and shoulders, thus improving shooting accuracy. 
After the bow is fully drawn and correctly aimed, the archer releases the 
bowstring. During the release, the elastomeric force carrying member 
extends between a full draw position and a released position. The 
extension produces a tensile force that is transmitted to the muscles of 
the bow arm, the string arm, the shoulders, back, and most of the upper 
body framework. The tensile force transmitted by the elastomeric force 
carrying member between the bow hand and string hand requires the upper 
back muscles to continue to push and pull throughout the shot, thus 
training the rear upper body muscles by repeated exercise to shorten 
reflex muscle relax time. 
By repeated use of the archery training device, the archer's rear upper 
body develops a "muscle memory" of the shortened reflex muscle relax time 
which enables him to shoot this shortened reflex without the training 
device. Continuous feedback of the elastomeric force carrying member's 
position to the rigid frame plane trains the archer to duplicate this 
correct position without the training device during actual shooting. 
The tensile force exerted by the elastomeric force member counteracts the 
bow force during the release. This tensile force substitutes for the 
weight of the arrow and prevents the bow from being damaged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
One embodiment of an archery training device constructed in accordance with 
the present invention is identified generally by reference numeral 10 in 
FIG. 1 and is further illustrated in FIGS. 2-3 The archery training device 
10 is used for teaching an archer 12 proper upper body muscular control 
and positioning while shooting a bow 14 including a bowstring 16. 
The archery training device 10 includes a string arm connector 18 including 
an upper loop 20 which is securable to the upper arm of the archer's 
string arm 22 proximate his elbow 24. Also included in the string arm 
connector 18 is a lower loop 26 which is securable to the forearm of the 
archer's string arm 22 proximate his elbow 24. Together, the loops 20, 26 
cooperate upon pulling the string arm connector 18 to prevent shifting 
thereof about the elbow 24 of the string arm 22, thereby avoiding unwanted 
shifting of the archery training device 10 and promoting operational 
safety. 
An elastomeric force carrying member 28 extends forwardly from the string 
arm connector 18 and is secured to the bowstring 16. Together, FIGS. 1 and 
2 illustrate that the elastomeric force carrying member 28 is extendable 
between a full draw configuration prior to bowstring release (FIG. 1) and 
a released configuration after bowstring release (FIG. 2). Upon and after 
bowstring release, the muscles associated with the upper back restrain the 
archer's bow hand 15, string arm 22, and shoulders 23, 25 from movement 
that would adversely affect shooting accuracy. 
An understanding of the concept that resulted in the development of the 
archery training device 10 is facilitated by the collective views of FIGS. 
1-4. ln FIG. 4, for example, there is a rear view illustrating a "rigid 
frame plane." In FIGS. 1-4, the following reference alphabetic terminology 
is used; 
______________________________________ 
Reference Letter Denoting 
______________________________________ 
A String arm elbow 24 
B Anchor or arrow nocking 
point 34 of bow 
string by string fingers 
C Contact point 15 of bow 
by bow hand 
D Front shoulder joint 25 
E Rear shoulder joint 23 
______________________________________ 
Turning now with primary reference to FIG. 4, the "rigid frame plane" 
concept involves aligning points A-E of the archer's upper body in a 
single plane. For best accuracy and consistency in shooting, I have 
discovered that the anchor hand ("B"), the rear elbow joint ("A"), the 
contact ("C") of the bow hand to bow handle, and the front and rear 
shoulder joints ("D" and "E") should be co-planar on the rigid frame plane 
in the full draw position. When points A-E are positioned so that they are 
co-planar, bow forces do not move the bow hand or string hand as much from 
the intended trajectory of the arrow during the reflex muscle relax time. 
If not aligned in a co-planar relationship the bow hand 15 and/or the 
string hand and string hand fingers 34 tend to move further away from the 
intended trajectory during the reflex muscle relax time, thereby adversely 
affecting shooting accuracy. Even a small amount of movement caused by a 
resultant force due to the string elbow being below the rigid frame plane 
will tend to move the bow hand away from the archer's neck during the 
reflex muscle relax time, thus causing inaccuracy in shooting. 
Turning now to FIGS. 7-9, there is depicted a preferred construction of the 
archery training device 10, which includes a guard portion 36. Positioned 
between the elastomeric force carrying member 28 and the bowstring 16, the 
guard portion 36 protects the elastomeric force carrying member 28 from 
the bowstring 16. In practice, the guard portion 36 may be made of 
leather, or fabricated from a plastic-like material. The guard portion 36 
defines a pair of apertures 38, 40 which receive the elastomeric force 
carrying member 28. 
Turning now to FIGS. 5-7, it is apparent that the archery training device 
10 includes a pair of linking members 42, 44 which extend from the loops 
20, 26 for connection to the elastomeric force carrying member 28. Each 
linking member 42, 44 includes a grommet 46, 48 (shown in FIG. 10) through 
which the elastomeric force carrying member 28 extends. 
As best shown in FIGS. 5-9, the elastomeric force carrying member 28 is 
elongate and tubular. A pair of stops 50, 52 are inserted within the 
tubular ends 54 of the elastomeric force carrying member 28. The stops 50, 
52 cooperate with the tubular ends 54 of the elastomeric force carrying 
member 28 to define enlarged portions 56. Each enlarged portion 56 
interferes with the associated grommet 46, 48 so that when the archer 
pulls the elastomeric force carrying member 28, the tubular ends 54 are 
secured for safety. 
Alternate embodiments of the archery training device 10 include a ball 58 
serving as the stop 50, as shown in FIG. 8. Alternatively, either or both 
of the stops 50, 52 may include a plug 60. In the embodiment depicted in 
FIG. 8, the stop 50 comprises a ball 58 proximate the grommet 48 and the 
plug 60. In practice, good results have been obtained when a sealing 
compound is used to secure each form of stop within the enlarged portion 
56 of the tubular end 54. 
Turning back to FIGS. 5-6, there is depicted an embodiment of the 
elastomeric force carrying member 28 wherein each of the stops 50, 52 is a 
knot 62 which is formed proximate an end of the elongate elastomeric force 
carrying member 28. 
As is best seen in FIG. 7, each loop 20 26 includes a closed segment 64, 65 
through which the associated linking member 42, 44 passes. In contrast the 
embodiment depicted in FIG. 5 illustrates the passage of an adjuster 66 
through both closed segments 64, 65. It will readily be appreciated that, 
as depicted in FIG. 7, each loop 20, 26 may be capable of individual 
adjustment by the passage of an adjuster through the associated linking 
member 42, 44 and closed segment 64, 65. In this way, the archery training 
device 10 can be readily customized to accommodate an archer having a 
relatively bulky upper arm, but a relatively small girth of associated 
forearm, or visa versa. 
There has been disclosed with particular reference to FIG. 5 an embodiment 
of the archery training device 10 wherein the loops 20, 26 are adjustable 
together by one adjuster 66 which passes through the closed segments 64, 
65 and the associated linking members 42, 44. 
Continuing with reference to FIG. 7, the preferred embodiment of the 
archery training device 10 includes a first fastener 68, 69 attached to 
the linking members 42, 44 for detachably retaining each loop 20, 26 
together upon application of forces associated with shooting. The first 
fastener 68, 69 allows separation of the loops 20, 26 during assembly and 
disassembly of the archery training device 10. 
As can readily be appreciated by primary reference to FIG. 7, the archery 
training device 10 is used by leading the elastomeric force carrying 
member 28 around the bowstring 16, attaching the upper loop 20 to the 
string arm 22 above the elbow 24, and attaching the lower loop 26 to the 
archer's forearm below the elbow 24. Next, the loops are fastened together 
using the first fastener 68, 69. 
In operation, the archer draws the bow 14 to the full draw position (FIG. 
1) without an arrow. When the archer has correctly aimed, he releases the 
bowstring 16. During the release, the elastomeric force carrying member 28 
is stretched from the full draw position (FIG. 1) to the released position 
(FIGS. 2 and 3). This stretching produces a force that is transferred to 
the string arm 22, the bow arm 17, and the remaining parts of the entire 
upper body framework. Forces exerted on the upper body by the elastomeric 
force carrying member 28 in transitioning between the full draw 30 and 
released 32 positions require (shown in FIG. 11 and 12) the archer to push 
and pull his upper body muscles so that they work throughout the duration 
of the shot. This minimizes the reflex muscle relax time as defined 
earlier, and improves both the accuracy and consistency of shooting with 
repeated practice. 
Referring again to FIG. 7, it can readilly be appreciated that an 
embodiment of the archery training device 10 includes a second fastener 
70, 71 which is attached to the closed segments 64, 65 of the associated 
loops 20, 26. As shown, each second fastener 70, 71 includes, for example, 
male and female portions of a press-stud. The male and female portions are 
respectively mounted on inner-facing portions 72 of the closed segments 
64, 65 so that they are engageable to detachably retain the closed 
segments 64, 65 together. Adjoining the inner-facing portion 72 of each 
closed segment is an outer-facing portion 74. To provide adjustability for 
each loop a conventional fastener, such as a nut and bolt extends through 
the associated linking member 42 and outer-facing portion 74. 
Alternate embodiments of the archery training device 10 respectively 
include a first fastener 68, a second fastener 70, or both fasteners 68, 
70. 
With primary reference to FIG. 10, there is depicted a further embodiment 
of the invention wherein each loop 20, 26 includes a closed segment 64, 65 
through which the associated loop passes. Extending through each closed 
segment 64, 65 and loop is a grommet 48, 46. The grommets 48, 46 secure 
the loops 20, 26 to the elastomeric force carrying member 28. Each of the 
loops 26, 20 also includes a pair of fasteners 76, 76', 78, 78' which are 
mounted proximate the associated grommets 46, 48 for detachably retaining 
each loop 26, 20 together proximate the elbow of the string arm upon 
application of forces associated with shooting. The fasteners 76, 76' and 
78, 78' also allow joinder of the loops 26, 20 during assembly of the 
archery training device 10, while allowing the loops 26, 20 to be 
separated during its disassembly. Good results have been obtained where 
the fasteners 76, 78 constitute a stud and a slit for receiving the stud. 
In practice, pivot bachelor buttons are well suited for this purpose. To 
assemble such buttons, a pivot is inserted through the loop where the stud 
76 is to be placed. Next, the pivot is inserted into a shank defined in 
the button and is struck straight-on to lock the button in place. 
Continuing with reference to FIG. 10, it will readily be appreciated that 
the fasteners 76, 76' and 78, 78' serve not only to join the loops 26, 20 
together after assembly so that the string arm connector fits securely 
adjacent the elbow of the string arm, but may also be adapted to adjust 
the length of the loops 26, 20 to accommodate the needs of archers having 
differently sized string arms. For example, the more distant the fasteners 
76, 78 are from the grommets 46 and 48, the smaller will be the spacing 
available to accommodate the associated loops 26, 20 to the archer's 
string arm. Similar comments are applicable to the positioning of 
fasteners 76', 78' relative to the grommets. 
Good results have been achieved when the elastomeric force carrying member 
28 is made of latex tubing. Alternatively, a spring or an hydraulic 
cylinder may be used as an elastomeric force carrying member 28, as shown 
in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. 
By repeated use of the archery training device 10, the archer is aided in 
developing a perfect shot. This is characterized by co-planar movement of 
the points A-E (FIG. 4) from the beginning of bowstring release to the 
point at which bow forces are dissipated. Thus, repeated practice by the 
archery training device 10 teaches the archer proper upper body rear 
muscular control and body positioning for accurate shooting in a manner 
that was not heretofore possible. 
While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in 
detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will 
recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for carrying out the 
invention as defined by the following claims.