Abstract:
A deployable and stowable bow caddy has an upper support section with a pair of horizontal members for supporting a bow without damage to any delicate components extending from the bow. The upper support is supported by a lower section which may be sub-divided into further smaller sections for more convenient storage and carriage. The support components may preferably be hollow tubular construction for strength and light weight. The handle sections will preferably be coated with a protective elastomeric coating which will not only prevent any damage to the bow, but will prevent the bow from sliding while the bow is being supported.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a safe, convenient, stowable and readily deployable structure for gently and stably holding a bow in a horizontal position such that it can be easily retrieved and replaced onto the stand without damaging many small delicate components on a bow which can become unwieldy and in danger of damage if placed on a table, the ground or other flat surface. Also disclosed are an optionally utilizable and optionally configurable support which can be used for supporting arrows in a ready position or for supporting other structures. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Bows used in archery have come a long way from simple bendable structures with ends joined with strings. Modern bows include cammed wheel inset within the ends of the bow, with a multi-path string extending through the bow, and cams. Balancing structures can extend at angles from the bow, including downward and outward to help stabilize the bow while shooting. Complex and protruding aiming sight structures can extend from the center of the bow in all directions, although typically more to one side than the other to accommodate left and right handed shooters. Aiming structures may be adjustable to optimally serve each shooter. 
         [0003]    A modern bow which is simply laid, even carefully, on a flat surface will likely damage, even as little as temporarily, the structures extending from it. Further, generally it is understood that bows are expensive, complex instruments which would not be laid on the ground or in any location where dirt, debris, moisture and the like could ruin it. 
         [0004]    Permanent structures which would support bows in a well equipped archery range are still not widely available. Further, most archery shooting and practice does not occur within a dedicated range, not only because the cost is prohibitive, but because the best practice occurs under actual conditions. Many archery enthusiasts are bow hunters and prefer to practice in the areas in which they hunt. Others prefer to practice in an open field so that they can readily see and retrieve arrows, particularly those arrows which have gone astray. Archery practice may also involve longer training sessions, differing locations depending upon the weather and time of day sessions, and for changing daylight. The ability to quickly move and set-up in a different location is advantageous. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a bow support system which is lighter, can be stowed and deployed in minutes and can shift location depending upon changing shade and weather conditions. The bow support system should have the capability for support of additional items, both to keep them off the ground as well as to put them in a convenient position for users. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A deployable and stowable bow caddy has an upper section which has been said to resemble a bicycle handle bar, and which is supported by a lower section which may be sub-divided into further smaller sections for storage and carriage. The support for the upper section inserts into the ground and uses a triangular shaped symmetrical piece of sheet metal with curved upper portions to assist the user&#39;s use of foot pressure  35 . The upper section is detachably removable from and attachable to the lower section and one or more intermediate sections can be used in order to make the complete bow caddy stowable within a smaller volume. The support components may preferably be hollow tubular construction. The lowest of a support section may preferably have a pinched tip for strengthened resistance to any deformation upon being inserted into the soil. A triangular shaped symmetrical piece of sheet metal is attached to the lower section which includes upper angled portions for providing a step assist upon insertion into the soil. The triangular shaped symmetrical piece of sheet metal provides additional resistance to tipping and enables the user to generally avoiding the necessity to apply a striking force to the structure. 
         [0007]    Insertable into the lower section is middle section riser tube having a pair of spring urged locking buttons which are manually depressable to enable riser tube entry and which snap into complementary apertures in other tubular structures to which they are attached. Attachable over the middle section is a support section with a short vertical section attached to a central horizontal support. A pair of handle shaped portions extend from the horizontal support generally parallel to each other with slightly upturned ends to prevent a bow from sliding off or being pushed off by wind. Further, the handle sections will preferably be coated with a protective elastomeric coating which will not only prevent any damage to the bow, but will prevent the bow from sliding while the bow is being supported. 
         [0008]    An optional structure can be easily supported from the central horizontal support and one such support is illustrated which hooks over the center of the central horizontal support. The illustrated structure has two pairs of horizontal rings with each set of two horizontal rings having an underlying tab extension. This optional structure can be used to hold anything, including arrows, cold drinks and more. 
         [0009]    Cleaning the bow caddy is a simple task. All a user would need do is brush off or tap the lower section to remove any soil present. All of the supporting components are preferably smooth finished and can be cleaned of debris with a damp cloth. A stowage and carriage support structure such as a bag or box can be used to carry and store the bow caddy when not in use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention, its configuration, construction, and operation will be best further described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of the standing bow caddy with optional utility support illustrating the matter of assembly and breakdown; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the standing bow caddy as seen in  FIG. 1 , but in assembled condition; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a separate perspective view of the optional utility support configured with a pair of soft holders, one holding a bottle drink and one holding a bottle of water; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a bow being supported by the bow caddy with the upper soft holder removed so that arrows can be supported by the upper and lower pair of horizontal rings with the tips resting in a lower soft holder. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    The inventive deployable and stowable bow caddy is best explained with reference to  FIG. 1  which illustrates a perspective exploded view of a bow caddy  21  so that the connectivity can be explained. The main structural components of the bow caddy  21  include a lower section  23  for insertion into the ground, a middle riser section  25 , and a handle bar shaped upper support section  27 . It is understood that the lower section  23  and middle riser section  25  could be combined into one single piece which could not be further broken down for storage. Further, lower section  23  middle riser section  25 , and handle bar shaped upper support section  27  could be formed as a single piece, with no break down and smaller dimension stowage whatsoever. However, it is believed that the optimum use, carriage and convenience will be had with a structure which can be broken down and stowed, and even carried, in a small bag or other container. 
         [0016]    The main components of the bow caddy  21  can be made of stainless or carbon steel. The bow caddy  21  can also be coated with powder coat, nickel plating, and chrome plating. All of the above make the bow caddy  21  impervious to rust or corrosion. 
         [0017]    Bow caddy  21  lower section  23  which includes a tube  29  which is preferably a hollow metal tube having a lower tip  31 . Just above lower tip  31  is a flattened area  33  for hardening and reducing the cross section area and for transitioning to a circular or oval tubular cross section which exists just above the flattened area  33 . A triangular shaped symmetrical piece of sheet metal  35  is attached to the tube  29 . The triangular shaped symmetrical piece of sheet metal  35  has a centerline which is generally parallel to a centerline of the lower tube  25  and tapers in the direction of tip  31 . The upper edges of the a triangular shaped symmetrical piece of sheet metal  35  on either side of the lower tube  25  have top angled portions  37  which provide slightly more width than the thickness of the a triangular shaped symmetrical piece of sheet metal  35  to enable a user to more easily use foot pressure to help push the tip  31  further into the ground. An aperture  39  is used to make a secure connection with the middle riser section  25 . An upper tubular end  41  is sized to accept connection with the middle riser section  25 . 
         [0018]    The middle riser section  25  includes a tube  45  having a first end  47  and a second end  49 . The first end  47  of tube  45  is shown as fittable into the upper tubular end  41  of lower section  23 , although other relative sizes and interconnectivity is possible. A first spring urged locking button  53  is adjacent first end  47  of the middle riser section  25 , and a second spring urged locking button  55  is adjacent second end  49  of the middle riser section  25 . The tube  45  can be of any length. The lengths chosen for the lower section  23  and middle riser section  25 , as well as the width of the upper support section  27  will depend upon the extent to which compact stowability is desired. 
         [0019]    The upper support section  27  includes a vertical connection tube  61  having a lower opening  63  for accepting entry of the second end  49  of the middle riser section  25 . Vertical connection tube  61  includes an aperture  65  for engaging the second spring urged locking button  55  adjacent second end  49  of the middle riser section  25 . The top of the vertical connection tube is affixed to a curving horizontal tube section  71  which includes a generally linear horizontal middle portion  73 . From the middle portion  73 , and in each direction, the tube section  71  at both ends turns laterally with respect to the middle portion  73  and downwardly through a downward sloping section  75  and then each to a generally horizontal support portion  77  generally extending away from the middle portion  73  and orthogonal to the vertical connection tube  61 . Each of the horizontal portions  77  turn upward into an upwardly slanted portion  79  and each terminates at an end  81 . 
         [0020]    A portion of the downward sloping section  75  and all of the generally horizontal support portion  77  and upwardly slanted portion  79  may preferably be covered with a soft polymeric material  85 , such as a foam rubber or flexible plastic. The soft polymeric material  85  may or may not extend over the ends  81 . The portions  77 ,  79  and  81  may be covered with a slipped on polymeric material  85 , or these structures may be dipped. The main idea is that some non-scratch, non-marring structure is provided to avoid damage to a bow (not yet shown). 
         [0021]    To the left side of  FIG. 1 , an optional utilizable and optionally configurable support  91  is shown which may be made out of steel wire, and which will hang at the middle of the generally horizontal support portion  77 . The preferable diameter for this steel wire may be about one eighth of an inch. The components of the support  91  can be cut, bent and welded in a number of ways. Briefly, one portion of the upper end of the support  91  includes an loop which includes a pair of upper “U” shaped members  93  which can fit over the generally linear horizontal middle portion  73  of the bow caddy  21  such that the support  91  can be stably supported by the bow caddy  21 . The loop has a lower end at a first horizontal support lip  95  at the bottom of a pair of vertical lengths  97 . Welded along the pair of vertical lengths  97  of the loop is a pair of main extended vertical supports  101  which terminate at a lower end with a second horizontal support lip  103 . 
         [0022]    A series of four horizontally extending loops  105 ,  107 ,  109  and  111  extend from the pair of main extended vertical supports  101 . Loops  105  and  107  may also be attached to the pair of vertical lengths  97 . As can be seen loops  105  and  107  are relatively close to each other and overlie a structure extending underneath the loop  107  seen as lip  95 , while loops  109  and  111  are relatively close to each other, and overlie a structure extending underneath the loop  111  seen as lip  103 . The lips  95  and  103  need not be in the form of a curved loop but may be a single projection terminating at an end simply to form a stable cradle for a cylindrical object. A cylindrically shaped container  117  having an upper open end may be placed within the loops  105 ,  107 ,  109  and  111  to form containment for loose objects or for bottles or other containers. Container  117  may be a soft, lightweight structure such as a drink insulator or the like. Two such containers  117  can be used in the support  91  shown. Another advantage in the use of containers  117  is that a lightweight surface on which to write instructions, logos and other writing will be provided on the bow caddy  21  structure which otherwise has a thin dimensional profile. Where bow caddy  21  is used multiply within an common institution, the use of a replaceable container  117  enables a look of uniformity. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view illustrating the bow caddy  21  in assembled form with support  91  attached, is shown. Only one cylindrically shaped container  117  is illustrated and it is shown in phantom, so that the other components of the bow caddy  21  can be more readily seen in assembled form. Once the tube  45  of the middle riser section  25  is attached to the lower section  23  and once upper support section  27  is attached to the middle riser section  25 , a stable bow caddy  21  support will be formed. Support  91  can then be attached to upper support section  27  and it will be stably supported. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a separate perspective view of the optional support  91  is shown supporting additional containers  117 . An upper container  117  supports a water bottle  121 , for example, and a lower container  117  supports a soft drink bottle  123 . In the alternative, the containers  117  can be eliminated with the water bottle  121  and soft drink bottle  123  supported by the horizontally extending loops  105 ,  107 ,  109  and  111 , directly. The containers  117  shown are supported by the first and second horizontal support lips  95  and  103  which are obscured from view by the structures they support in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a bow  131  is shown as being supported by the bow caddy  21 . Bow  131  has a central section  133  and a pair of extending members  135  and  137  extending from either side of the central section  133 . The bow  131  is a compound bow having cam wheels  141  and connecting bow string  143 . In the position shown, the cam wheels  141  and bow string  143  are supported and free from any interference from the other parts of the bow caddy  21 . The manner in which the handle bar shaped upper support section  27  and in particular the generally horizontal support portion  77  allows a user to grasp the bow  131  with the hand to be used to grasp and hold the middle section  133  and lift it gently from the generally horizontal support portion  77  and bring the bow  131  into firing position with less effort than as if it were lifted from a flat surface, or as if it had to be grasped from an angle which would cause the hand to interfere with either the bow string  143  or other structures extending from the bow  131 . The bow  131  can be easily placed back onto the bow caddy  21  with minimum effort and the knowledge that none of the components and accessories extending from the bow (not shown, as they may be many and varied) will be damaged or have any interference. 
         [0026]    A series of arrows  151  are shown laterally supported through the horizontally extending loops  105  and  107  with the horizontally extending loops  109  and  111  shown supporting container  117  which is used to vertically support and horizontally stabilize the bottom of the arrows  151 . Many other supports can be attached to the bow caddy  131  and the optional support  91  can be reconfigured for other uses. 
         [0027]    At the bottom of  FIG. 4 , a lower portion of the lower section  23  is shown as being underground, below a ground level  155 . The angled portions  37  are shown slightly above the level of the ground  155  and therefore shown in dash line format. 
         [0028]    In general, the bow caddy  21  can be dis-assembled and stored in a bag or other structure and can be easily carried from or to the bow practice field. Setup requires two tubular attachments and ground  155  implantation of the lower section  23 . Bow caddy  21  is of simple construction, is user-friendly, and can support many other structures for the help and convenience of the bow shooter. The placement of the triangular shaped symmetrical piece of sheet metal  35  makes it convenient for a user because a user would only have to use one foot on the sheet metal piece to secure the bow caddy firmly into the ground. The lower tip  31  and flattened area  33  provide a strong, sturdy insertion structure for insertion into many different types of ground, such as, muddy, dry, hard, or even sandy. The placement of the triangular shaped symmetrical piece of sheet metal  35  sheet metal is also a good selective stabilization structure for the bow caddy  21 . Because the triangular shaped symmetrical piece of sheet metal  35  extends normal to the direction of the tube  29 , weight support force resistance along the direction of the tube  29  to the side of the bow caddy  21  supporting the bow  131  is enhanced. When being extracted from the ground, a side to side rocking motion can facilitate the removal of the bow caddy  21 . 
         [0029]    As can be seen from the configuration of  FIG. 4 , a shooter can stand behind bow caddy  21 , and easily retrieve the bow  131  to shoot and easily replace it on the bow caddy  21  when not firing. The bow caddy  21  during firing becomes an arrow  151  supply stand to give the shooter easy access to arrows for firing at a target. When the arrows  151  are to be retrieved, the bow caddy  21  can hold the bow  131 , to free the shooter to retrieve arrows  151  and replace them in the support  91  ready for another round of firing, all without having to either carry the bow  131  or place it on the ground  155 . 
         [0030]    While the present system has been described in terms of bow support structure which be easily dis-assembled for storage or carriage, and which can support attachment of other utility structures, one skilled in the art will realize that the structure and techniques of the present system can be applied to many structures which utilize the several aspects of the embodiment and optional supports and containers, including those not shown. 
         [0031]    Although the invention has been derived with reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, included within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of this contribution to the art.