Abstract:
A precision adjustable pivot mounting bracket is attached between an archery bow sight assembly and a riser of the bow. A small screw with closely spaced threads threaded through a plate on one side of a pivot contacting a bearing in the plate on the other side of the pivot. It makes small incremental changes in the horizontal angle between the bow sight assembly and the bow riser to align the bow sight with the actual trajectory of the arrow. A larger screw threaded through both plates locks in the changes in angle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/659,333, filed on Mar. 8, 2005. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable.  
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0003]     Not Applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0005]     The present invention generally relates to archery equipment and in particular to a precision angle adjustment mounting bracket for attaching a bow sight to a bow for fine incremental adjustment of the right-left angle of attachment of a bow site to a bow to correct for deviance of an arrow flight caused by forces created from the release of the bow string after normal aiming with the bow sight to enhance the ability of an archer to tune his bow sight to the path of the shot arrow.  
         [0006]     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98  
         [0007]     After an arrow has been aimed precisely using a high precision sight mounted on a bow, forces may be created from the dynamics of the string release, particularly the side-slip of the string off the fingers of the archer, as well as any structural idiosyncrasies of the bow or its use which cause variance in the flight of the arrow from the intended flight guided by the sight. Side slip of the arrow to one side of an intended target may occur and be grouping of a series of arrows in a target to the right or left of the point aimed at by the archer. Up to now, correction of this problem has been done by archaic methods using shims which take a lot of time to correct the problem with any precision or moving the arrow path or bending the bow sight. None of these attempts to correct the problem are very accurate or desirable.  
         [0008]     Current bow sights do not have the capability to adjust alignment to the path of the shot arrow by pivoting horizontally at the sight mount. Virtually all of the bow sights on the market today only have adjustments at the outer end of the sight extension. None of these adjustments will align the bow sight to the path of the shot arrow accurately.  
         [0009]     The problem and subject of many discussions is how do you set the sight 3rd axis (the angle around the vertical at the outer end of the sight)? At full draw or with the sight off the bow or with at the strung but un-drawn position? None of these questions are the correct question! It really doesn&#39;t matter! 
         [0010]     The fact is that there is a tremendous need to set the 4th axis (the horizontal angle around the vertical at the point of attachment of the sight to the bow) by shooting the bow. This cannot be done at full draw, brace height, or off the bow. Because of slight machining differences, handle torque, personal torque, hand position, limb twist and many other factors, the only way to set the 4th axis is to shoot the arrow and see where it impacts with the extension fully extended and also with it fully retracted to the bow. If the arrow does not impact in perfect line the 4th axis is not set correctly. Even if the bow is torqued badly, the bow takes its own position upon the instant of release. It is under large amounts of torque until the string is released. It immediately adjusts to its own normal method of closing because the archer only has hold of the grip at that time and the torque is no longer a factor other that it has flipped the arrow. The string then proceeds to brace height on an unrestricted path. This happening can cause an effect on where the arrow will hit. If the 3rd axis and 2nd axis are set properly, and the 4th axis is ignored, the sight bubble is likely to be out of square and cause left or right arrow impacts when shooting in up or down hill. Think about it in this manner. Take your sight off your bow and get an arrow. Then point the arrow straight away from you and with the sight held against the arrow in front with the back of the extension about a 20 degrees away from the arrow. Try to keep the sight bar plumb. Now point the arrow down hill and you will see that you will have to cant the sight extension keep the bubble in the middle. If you have three arms or maybe a buddy to check the sight bar you will see that it is not plumb any more. This is a bad thing! This out of line condition will cost you a point here and there when shooting in the hills.  
         [0011]     An archer must be able to make the adjustment around the fourth axis in finite amounts. This is the key to absolute vertical accuracy when shooting an arrow up or down hill and even long yardages such as 100 yards.  
         [0012]     What is needed is a precision adjustable sight mounting bracket for attaching the sight to the bow to allow adjustment of the right/left angle of the sight at the point where the sight connects to the bow by changing the setting in small increments until the arrows group in the center of the target matching the aim of the sight so that the Sight extension is parallel to the path of the arrow.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     An object of the present invention is to provide a precision adjustable sight mounting bracket for attaching the sight to the bow to allow adjustment of the horizontal (right/left) angle of the sight at the point where the sight connects to the bow by changing the setting in small increments until the arrows group in the center of the target matching the aim of the sight so that the sight extension is parallel to the path of the arrow.  
         [0014]     A related object of the present invention is to provide a sight mounting bracket capable of making precision adjustments in small increments of the horizontal (left/right) angle of the bow sight relative to the bow at the point of connection to the bow with a screw on one face of a tight vertical hinge contacting a ball bearing in an opposing face of the vertical hinge adjusted to pivot the vertical hinge in small finite amounts and an adjacent screw threaded between the two opposing faces to lock the adjustment in place so that small incremental adjustments can be made by locking an adjustment in place and testing the accuracy of the adjustment by shooting a subsequent group of arrows to note the amount of divergence from the intended target and repeating the procedure until the precise flight path of the arrows is achieve relative to the intended target as sighted. An archer must be able to make this adjustment in finite amounts. This is the key to absolute vertical accuracy when shooting an arrow up or down hill and even long yardages such as 100 yards.  
         [0015]     The prior art fails to enable fine-tuning of the 4th axis. Prior sight mounts only mount flat to the bow riser and have no horizontal adjustability. The present invention enables an archer to adjust a sight extension to be aligned exactly parallel with the path of the arrow when shot. This is absolutely necessary to assure shooting down the center.  
         [0016]     In brief, the present invention enables a tremendous improvement in the ability to accurately change relationship of an attached bow sight to the path of the arrow. To define an arrow, it would be any type that is propelled by a hand drawn archery bow. To define a bow sight, it would be any device attached to an archery bow to enable the user to align a scope or pin on a target to hit it consistently. To define a bow riser it is the handle or the part of an archery bow located in the center and providing the place to grip the bow and attach various accessories, such as sights, quivers etc.  
         [0017]     The inability to make proper adjustments to the shot arrow path can be overcome by the present invention. There are many tuning methods used to enhance the accuracy of an archer&#39;s equipment. (Bow and Arrow) Most of them include shooting the arrow. To date this has not been done when aligning the bow sight level bubble perpendicular to the path of the shot arrow. Typically, most bows, when set up for proper arrow flight and grouping, the arrow path will not be aligned with the centerline of the handle riser. This creates the need for this invention. With the addition of this invention to a bow, an archer will have the ability to fine-tune the level bubble on his bow sight to be perpendicular to the path of the shot arrow. This invention, when mounted on a bow, enables the shooter to set the bow sight on level ground with the level bubble centered. Then, in order to check the perpendicularity of that level bubble to the arrow path the archer must shoot an arrow at a down hill target. If the shot does not impact perfectly vertically aligned with the dead center of the target, it is necessary to adjust for that error. The adjustment screws on this invention will enable the archer to accomplish this in a very precise manner. In many instances a movement of less than 0.005″ is necessary to impact dead center. Once this function is done the final part of tuning a bow sight to the arrow path is complete.  
         [0018]     The present invention will enhance the accuracy of an archery bow by enabling fine-tuning of the 4th axis. The prior art fails to enable this function. Prior sight mounts only mount flat to the bow riser and have no horizontal adjustability. The adjustable bow sight mounting bracket of the present invention will attach to the bow riser and enable the archer to attach their bow sight to it or it will be built into the bow sight and used for attachment of the bow sight to the bow riser. With the present invention in place the archer will be able to fine adjust the entire sight extension and vertical bar parallel to the arrow path based on shooting the bow. This is imperative for the ultimate in accuracy. Because of inherent and induced torque to the bow riser, this is the only method whereby the true arrow path can be determined. This degree of parallelism has not been easily or accurately attainable to date.  
         [0019]     The present invention will be machined from aluminum and have steel adjustment screws. By tightening or loosening these screws a person will be able to infinitely alter the relationship of the bow sight to the arrow. The present invention will enable the user to test the equipment to assure parallelism. This is accomplished by sliding the bow sight back against the bow and shooting an arrow at a vertical line on a target at approximately 30 yards. Then slide the bow sight fully extended and shoot another arrow at the vertical line. If both arrows do not impact on the same vertical line, the 4th axis in incorrect. At this point an archer must adjust the screws in one direction or the other to correct the error. If a right-handed archer hits to the left of the line with the bow sight fully extended an adjustment to the present invention must be adjusted to the left. Then repeat the test. Once the impact is on the same vertical line the present invention is set correctly.  
         [0020]     The present invention attaches to an archery bow at the sight mount holes. Once this is done a bow sight is attached to the present invention. At this point the present invention will allow the entire bow sight to be pivoted horizontally in finite amounts. No other method will properly accurately adjust the 4th axis.  
         [0021]     A primary advantage of the present invention is that it provides a precision adjustable mounting bracket for attaching the sight to the bow that enables an archer to adjust a sight extension to be aligned with the path of the arrow when shot which is absolutely necessary to assure shooting down the center. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]     These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a partial elevational view showing the right side of a bow handle (riser) with the present invention attached on a right handed bow;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a partial elevational view showing the left side of the bow handle (riser) of  FIG. 1  with the present invention attached on a right handed bow;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a partial elevational view showing the right side of a bow handle (riser) with the present invention attached on a right handed bow and the bow sight attached to the present invention by the bow sight mount;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view taken through A-A of  FIG. 3  showing the bow sight (including the bow sight level bubble) mounted on the present invention of  FIGS. 1 and 3  and showing the adjustment screws of the invention including the ball bearing contacting one of the adjustment screws and showing (in dashed lines) the center line of the bow handle (riser) and the path of the shot arrow;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5A  is a partial sectional view taken through A-A of  FIG. 5B  showing an alternative embodiment of the invention with the bow sight precision angle adjustment mounting bracket of the invention built into a rearward end of the bow sight;  
         [0028]      FIG. 5B  is a partial elevational view of the alternative embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 5A  showing the adjusting screws;  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the bow sight mounted on the present invention of  FIG. 1  showing the four axes. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]     In  FIGS. 1-6 , an adjustable bow sight attachment device  30  and  30 A comprises a pivotable mounting bracket for attaching a bow sight to a bow riser to allow incremental pivoting of the bow sight relative to the riser to enable precise alignment of the bow sight to be parallel to the actual flight path of the arrow. The preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4  and  6  comprises a separate two piece adjustable mounting bracket which attaches to the archery bow riser and to the bow sight.  
         [0031]     In  FIGS. 1-4  and  6 , a compound plate pivot base comprises a vertical plate  31  of the preferred embodiment of the invention which attaches to a riser  1  of an archery bow. The vertical plate  31  has a first pair of vertically spaced horizontal openings  2  therethrough arranged to match a set of openings in the riser of the bow where a bow sight is normally attachable. A second pair of mating vertically spaced horizontal openings  3 , shown in  FIG. 1 , allow for mounting the invention further back toward the archer if desired.  
         [0032]     A second plate  36  of the compound plate pivot base, shown in  FIGS. 2, 4  and  6  is offset from the first plate by an interconnecting offset segment  33  extending perpendicularly from a forward vertical edge of the first plate  31  to a rearward vertical edge of the second plate  36 . The second plate  36  has a pair of horizontal threaded openings  10  therethrough, and the offset segment  33  has a vertical cylindrical opening therethrough to receive a pivot pin  35 , as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0033]     A pivot connector plate  32  is pivotally attached to the compound plate pivot base by a pivot pin  35  through the vertical cylindrical pivot pin opening forming a vertical pivot joint as the primary component of the offset segment  33 . The pivot connector plate  32  comprises a top and a bottom spaced tab  34  each having a pivot pin receiving opening therethrough to receive the pivot pin  35  therein. The pivot connector plate  32  is attached to a rearward end of a bow sight assembly to the bow sight mount  11 . In  FIG. 4 , a ball bearing  18  is rotatably positioned on an inside face of the pivot connector plate  32  opposite one of the pair of threaded horizontal openings  10  through the second plate.  
         [0034]     A means for pivoting the pivot connector plate  32  and the attached bow sight assembly in its entirety around the vertical pivot joint in small increments comprises a first threaded shaft extending from one of the two threaded openings  10  in the second plate  36  to the ball bearing  18  rotatably attached within an opening in the pivot connector plate  32 . The first threaded shaft having threads very closely spaced to allow small incremental changes in the horizontal angle with partial turns of the first threaded shaft to adjust the horizontal angle between the center line  19  of the bow handle and the path  20  of the shot arrow. A second threaded shaft extends from a second larger one of the threaded openings  10  in the second plate  36  to a threaded opening in the pivot connector plate  32  to lock the horizontal angle set by the first threaded shaft.  
         [0035]     In an alternate embodiment of  FIGS. 5A and 5B , a vertical plate  31 A of the invention attaches to a riser  1  of an archery bow. The vertical plate  31  has a first pair of vertically spaced horizontal openings therethrough arranged to match a set of openings in the riser of the bow where a bow sight is normally attachable.  
         [0036]     A vertical pivot joint  33 A connects to the vertical plate  31 A and connects directly to the bow sight mount  11  of the bow sight assembly, as shown in  FIG. 5A .  
         [0037]     A similar means is used in this embodiment for pivoting the bow sight assembly around the vertical pivot joint in small increments to change the horizontal angle between the bow sight assembly and the vertical plate and the riser of the bow to adjust the horizontal angle in small increments in conjunction with testing the trajectory of arrows shot from the bow after each incremental adjustment for improving the accuracy of the arrow trajectory to correct for side to side deviation of the actual path of an arrow shot from the bow from the intended path of the arrow by using the bow sight, the side to side deviation caused by the actual release and dynamic movement of a bow string to launch an arrow.  
         [0038]     The means for pivoting the bow sight assembly around the vertical pivot joint in small increments comprises a first threaded shaft extending from a smaller one of the threaded openings  10  in the bow sight mount  11  to a ball bearing  18  rotatably attached within an opening in the vertical plate  31 A. The first threaded shaft has threads very closely spaced to allow small incremental changes in the horizontal angle with partial turns of the first threaded shaft. A second threaded shaft extends from the larger of the two threaded openings  10  in the bow sight mount  11  to a threaded opening in the vertical plate  31 A, the second threaded shaft locking the horizontal angle set by the first threaded shaft.  
         [0039]     The present invention is preferably fabricated of machined aluminum with steel adjustment screws.  
         [0040]     In use, for bow sights that do not have a 3rd axis adjustment which are machined square and so the 3rd axis is probably close to perfect, the bow sight is removed, the present invention attached to the bow in place of the bow sight and the sight attached to the present invention. Then the 3rd and 4th axis to the arrow path are adjusted by shooting the bow. The windage is set at 20 yards on a flat range. Then find on a steep up or down hill target a group of arrows is shot at a target. If that group is not dead center, the 4th axis needs adjustment. When aiming down hill, move the front of the sight a very small amount away from the center of the group and towards center of the target. Re-set The windage re-set and another group shot first on the flat  20  and then the steep downhill.  
         [0041]     It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.