Archery bow with sling mount

In some embodiments, an archery bow comprises a riser, a first limb, a second limb, a bowstring and a sling mount. In some embodiments, the sling mount comprises a proximal portion, an intermediate portion and a distal portion. In some embodiments, the proximal portion is attached to the bow. In some embodiments, a width of the intermediate portion is less than a width of the distal portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to archery bows, which are known in the art and used to launch arrows.

Bows can be difficult to carry due to their shape and design. Although bows generally include a grip that is used during shooting, it is not convenient to carry the bow using the grip. Different types of backpacks, straps and slings exist to aid an archer in carrying the bow. The carrying devices that are the most comfortable and convenient to use tend to have corresponding drawbacks such as larger size, greater weight and/or reduced stowability when compared to other carrying devices.

Archers also use bow hoists or lifts to raise a bow to a tree stand. A small rope can be attached to the bow manually, for example by using a mechanical clip or carabiner that locks to the bow, or by tying the rope itself around a portion of the bow. Mechanical clips can produce noise and tying is inconvenient.

There remains a need for novel archery bow designs that are more convenient to use, carry and lift in the field.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, an archery bow comprises a riser, a first limb cup supporting a first limb assembly and a second limb cup supporting a second limb assembly. In some embodiments, the first limb assembly comprises a first limb member and a second limb member. In some embodiments, the bow comprises a bowstring and a sling mount. In some embodiments, the sling mount comprises a proximal portion, an intermediate portion and a distal portion. In some embodiments, the proximal portion is attached to the first limb cup and a width of the intermediate portion is less than a width of the distal portion.

In some embodiments, a cord is engaged with the sling mount. In some embodiments, the cord extends between the first limb member and the second limb member. In some embodiments, the cord comprises a loop and a cord lock. In some embodiments, the loop is arranged to engage the sling mount. In some embodiments, the cord lock is moveable to adjust a size of the loop.

In some embodiments, the archery bow comprises a second sling mount. In some embodiments, the second sling mount is attached to the second limb cup.

In some embodiments, the bow comprises a sling engaged with the first sling mount and the second sling mount.

In some embodiments, the second limb assembly comprises a third limb member and a fourth limb member. In some embodiments, a sling extends between the first limb member and the second limb member and extends between the third limb member and the fourth limb member.

In some embodiments, a width of the intermediate portion is less than a width of the proximal portion. In some embodiments, the distal portion comprises a knob. In some embodiments, a width of the distal portion of the arm is less than a width of the knob. In some embodiments, the knob comprises a stem and a flange, the stem attached to the arm.

In some embodiments, an archery bow comprises a riser, a first limb, a second limb, a bowstring and a sling mount. In some embodiments, the sling mount comprises a proximal portion, an intermediate portion and a distal portion. In some embodiments, the proximal portion is attached to the bow. In some embodiments, a width of the intermediate portion is less than a width of the distal portion.

In some embodiments, the sling mount comprises an arm comprising the proximal portion, the intermediate portion and the distal portion. In some embodiments, the width of the intermediate portion is less than a width of the proximal portion. In some embodiments, the distal portion further comprises a knob. In some embodiments, a width of the distal portion of the arm being less than a width of the knob. In some embodiments, the knob comprises a stem and a flange, and the stem is attached to the arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows an embodiment of an archery bow10comprising a riser12, a first limb20, a second limb22and a bowstring16. In some embodiments, the bow10comprises a first limb cup30and a second limb cup32. In some embodiments, a limb cup30,32is attached to the riser12. In some embodiments, a limb cup30,32supports a corresponding limb20,22. In some embodiments, a limb cup30,32comprises features as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,453,635.

In some embodiments, the bow10comprises a compound bow comprising a first rotatable member18and a second rotatable member19. In some embodiments, the bow10comprises a first power cable14. In some embodiments, the bow10comprises a second power cable15.

In some embodiments, the bow10comprises a sling mount40. In some embodiments, the bow10comprises a second sling mount41. In some embodiments, the second sling mount41is shaped similarly to the first sling mount40. In some embodiments, the second sling mount41is shaped according to a mirror image of the first sling mount41.

In some embodiments, the riser12and the first limb20define an area or space28that is substantially surrounded or bounded by the riser12and first limb20. In some embodiments, the space28defines a substantially triangular shape, wherein the riser12defines a first side of the substantially triangular shape and the first limb20defines a second side of the substantially triangular shape. In some embodiments, the space28is adjacent to a concave surface of the first limb20. In some embodiments, a sling mount40is oriented in the space28. In some embodiments, the riser12and the second limb22define a second area or space29that is substantially surrounded or bounded by the riser12and second limb20. In some embodiments, the second sling mount41is oriented in the second space29.

A sling mount40can be attached to any suitable portion of the bow10. In some embodiments, a sling mount40is attached to the riser12. As shown inFIGS. 2-4, in some embodiments, a sling mount40is attached to a limb cup30.

In some embodiments, a sling mount40comprises an arm46. In some embodiments, a sling mount40comprises a knob50. In some embodiments, the arm46is supported by the limb cup30. In some embodiments, the knob50is supported by the arm46.

In some embodiments, the arm46comprises a first portion47and a second portion49. In some embodiments, the first portion47is arranged for attachment to a bow10, for example comprising apertures for fasteners. In some embodiments, the second portion49comprises an end of the arm46. In some embodiments, the second portion49is arranged to support a knob50, hook, terminal or any other suitable distal portion of the sling mount40.

In some embodiments, the arm46comprises a neck portion48. In some embodiments, the neck portion48comprises a narrowed portion of the arm46. In some embodiments, a distance across the second portion49is greater than a distance across the neck portion48. In some embodiments, the neck portion48provides a recessed area that can be used to orient a rope or sling.

In some embodiments, a knob50comprises a stem51and a flange52. In some embodiments, the flange52is larger than the stem51. In some embodiments, the flange52comprises an enlarged portion of the sling mount40that helps to prevent a rope or sling from detaching from a sling mount40.

In some embodiments, the neck48of the arm46comprises a first width and the second portion49of the arm46comprises a second width, wherein the first width is less than the second width. In some embodiments, the stem51of the knob50comprises a third width, wherein the third width is less than or equal to the second width. In some embodiments, the flange52of the knob50comprises a fourth width, wherein the fourth width is greater than the third width. In some embodiments, the fourth width is greater than the second width. In some embodiments, the neck48comprises a smallest width defined by the sling mount40. In some embodiments, the flange52comprises the largest width defined by the sling mount40.

In some embodiments, the sling mount40comprises a hook42. In some embodiments, the knob50comprises a portion of a hook42. In some embodiments, a hook42is oriented to face the riser12and to face away from an adjacent limb20. In some embodiments, a portion of a knob50comprises an end of the hook42. In some embodiments, a portion of a flange52comprises an end of the hook42. In some embodiments, the size of a hook42increases as the hook42is traversed toward its unsupported end. In some embodiments, a width of a hook42increases as the hook42is traversed toward its unsupported end. This can help prevent a rope or sling from detaching from a sling mount40.

In some embodiments, a sling mount40comprises a cantilever body structure comprising a supported end and an unsupported end. In some embodiments, the cantilever body structure comprises a first, smaller dimension at a location closer to the supported end and a second, larger dimension at a location closer to the unsupported end.

In some embodiments, the sling mount(s)40,42are aligned upon a central vertical axis of the bow10. In some embodiments, a central vertical plane of the bow10intersects the sling mount(s)40,42. In some embodiments, a shooting axis of the bow10is contained within the central vertical plane of the bow10. In some embodiments, a first sling mount40is aligned with a second sling mount42.

In some embodiments, a limb cup30supports a limb assembly21, and the limb assembly21supports a rotatable member18. In some embodiments, a limb assembly21comprises a first limb portion24and a second limb portion26. In some embodiments, the first limb portion24and second limb portion26are separated by a gap25. In some embodiments, a sling mount40is aligned with the gap25.

In some embodiments, a limb cup30defines a first cavity34and a second cavity36. In some embodiments, the first cavity34receives the first limb portion24and the second cavity36receives the second limb portion26. In some embodiments, a sling mount40is positioned between the first cavity34and the second cavity36. In some embodiments, a sling mount40is supported by a structural portion of the limb cup30that is located between the first cavity34and the second cavity36.

FIG. 7shows an embodiment of a bow10comprising a sling mount40, with a cord58attached to the sling mount40. In some embodiments, the cord58comprises a lift line that can be used to lift the bow10, for example up into a tree stand, and to lower the bow10.

In some embodiments, a cord58is attached to a sling mount40and extends between the first limb portion24and the second limb portion26. In some embodiments, the cord58passes through a gap25defined between the first limb portion24and the second limb portion26. In some embodiments, the cord58attaches to the sling mount40in an area28that is substantially bounded by the riser12and first limb/assembly20/21, and the cord58extends outside of the area28.

In some embodiments, the cord58is engaged with the neck48of a sling mount40. In some embodiments, the neck48of a sling mount40is aligned with a centroid of the bow10, which allows the bow10to be raised and lowered in a substantially vertical orientation as shown inFIG. 7.

FIG. 8shows an embodiment of a bow10comprising a first sling mount40and a second sling mount42, with a cord58attached at one end to the first sling mount40and attached at a second end to the second sling mount42. In some embodiments, the cord58comprises a sling60and the bow10can be carried in the orientation shown inFIG. 8.

In some embodiments, the first end of a sling60is attached to a first sling mount40and extends between the first limb portion24and the second limb portion26. In some embodiments, the sling60extends to the second limb22and a second end of the sling60extends between limb portions of the second limb/assembly22and attaches to the second sling mount41. In some embodiments, the first end of the sling60attaches to the sling mount40in an area28that is substantially bounded by the riser12and first limb/assembly20/21, and the sling60extends outside of the area28. In some embodiments, a second end of the sling60extends into a second area29that is substantially bounded by the riser12and second limb/assembly22and attaches to a second sling mount41located within the second area29.

FIG. 9shows an embodiment of a cord58engaged with a sling mount40. In some embodiments, a sling60comprises a cord58. In some embodiments, a cord58comprises a rope or cable such as paracord. In some embodiments, a cord58comprises a braided portion62. In some embodiments, a cord58comprises a loop56. In some embodiments, the loop56can be engaged with the sling mount40. In some embodiments, the loop56engages a neck portion48or narrowed portion of the sling mount40. In some embodiments, a size of the loop56is adjustable. In some embodiments, the cord58comprises a cord lock64. In some embodiments, a cord lock64is moveable along a length of the cord58. In some embodiments, the cord lock64defines an end of the loop56. In some embodiments, moving the cord lock64adjusts a size of the loop56.