Abstract:
A wrist strap for connection to a plurality of different bowstring release mechanisms via a plurality of different connecting members, includes a flexible base member adapted to fit around the wrist of a user and a mounting assembly connected to the wrist strap. The flexible base member has first and second arms that converge towards an apex area. The mounting assembly is connected to the apex area and is adapted to receive and retain the plurality of different connecting members. The mounting assembly includes a lower mounting portion having a first feature for retaining at least a first of the plurality of extension members and a second feature for retaining a second of the plurality of extension members. The upper and lower mounting portions cooperate to releasably lock one of the extension members in one of two locking positions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/734,720 filed on Jan. 4, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to archery equipment, and more particularly to a wrist strap adaptable to different connectors that may be associated with different bowstring release mechanisms, as well as a lockup for at least one of the release mechanisms when the mechanisms are not in use. 
     Many accessories for archery bows are available for facilitating bow handling, stabilizing the bow during use, improving aiming accuracy, and so on. One such accessory is in the form of a wrist strap with an attached bowstring release. Archery bowstrings of compound bows typically have pull forces on the order of about 40 to 90 pounds. The use of wrist straps has become common to accommodate these large forces which have the potential to cause possible injury to the archer&#39;s fingers. A wrist strap removes the force of the bowstring that would otherwise be present on the fingers and spreads the force over a relatively large surface area of the wrist and the back of the archer&#39;s hand while leaving at least the thumb or index finger of the hand free to activate the trigger mechanism of the bowstring release. 
     Since the hands and wrists of archers come in many different shapes and sizes, wrist straps and their accompanying string release mechanisms are typically adjustable to accommodate as many archers as possible. Various prior art solutions for connecting the bowstring release mechanism to the wrist strap have different connecting arrangements, and therefore are not interchangeable. It would be desirous to provide a wrist strap that is adaptable to various different connecting arrangements between the bowstring release mechanism and wrist strap. 
     In addition, when the bowstring release mechanisms are not in use, they often get in the way with other activities of the archer, such as handling the bow, loading an arrow, climbing a tree stand, as so on. It would therefore be desirous to provide a lockup device for the bowstring release mechanism to keep it out of the way when not in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a wrist strap for connection to a plurality of different bowstring release mechanisms via a plurality of different extension members, includes a flexible base member adapted to fit around the wrist of a user and a mounting assembly connected to the wrist strap. The mounting assembly is connected to the base member and is adapted to receive and retain the plurality of different extension members. The mounting assembly includes a lower mounting portion having a first feature for retaining at least a first of the plurality of extension members and a second feature for retaining a second of the plurality of extension members. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a mounting assembly for an archery wrist strap includes lower and upper mounting members. The lower mounting member has a lower plate for connection to the wrist strap, a circular opening extending through the lower plate, and at least one groove extending radially from the opening. The upper mounting member connects to the lower mounting member and includes an upper plate with a circular pocket in alignment with the circular opening of the lower plate. A bearing member is rotatably mounted in the opening and the pocket. The bearing member has a transverse bore for receiving a connecting shaft portion of an extension member operatively associated with a bowstring release mechanism. The at least one groove is adapted to receive the shaft portion to thereby releasably lock the shaft portion, and thus the bearing member, against rotational movement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a bowstring release assembly with a bowstring release mechanism connected to a wrist strap in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the bowstring release assembly showing a bowstring release mechanism in a first locked storage position; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the bowstring release assembly showing the bowstring release mechanism in a second locked storage position; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded isometric view of a mounting assembly for connecting a first bowstring release mechanism to the wrist strap in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a partially exploded isometric view similar to  FIG. 4  with the bowstring release mechanism connected to the wrist strap; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view a portion of the bowstring release assembly taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the bowstring release assembly taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric top view of the lower mounting portion in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric bottom view of the upper mounting portion in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a bowstring release assembly including connection of a second bowstring release mechanism in accordance with the invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a partially exploded isometric view thereof. 
     
    
    
     It is noted that the drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope thereof. It is further noted that the drawings may not be necessarily to scale. The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and to  FIG. 1  in particular, a bowstring release assembly  10  in accordance with the invention is illustrated. The assembly  10  includes a bowstring release mechanism  14  removably connected to a wrist strap  12  via a mounting assembly  16  in accordance with the present invention. The bowstring release mechanism  14  extends from the wrist strap  12  for engaging a bowstring and/or a string loop or “D” loop  19  associated with the bowstring. The present invention is primarily adapted for use with compound bows due to the high pull forces that otherwise may injure the fingers of an archer, but may also be used with recurve bows, reflex bows, longbows, and so on. 
     The jaw mechanism  14  as shown includes a pair of jaws  18 ,  20  that extend outwardly from a body portion  22 . A trigger  24  also extends from the body portion  22  and is operatively associated with one or both jaws such that, when the trigger  24  is pulled, movement of one or both jaws toward an open position occurs, to either release the bowstring or string loop when shooting, or allow entry of the bowstring or string loop into the center of the jaws when getting ready to assume a shooting stance. Likewise, pushing the trigger  24  in the opposite direction, either manually or automatically through a built-in biasing force, causes movement of one or both jaws from the open position toward the closed position to encircle or capture the bowstring or string loop  20 . The internal components that permit operation of the jaw mechanism  14  in the above-described manner do not form part of the invention and therefore will not be further described. It will be understood that other jaw mechanisms and/or trigger devices can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     A first extension member  26  is adjustably connected to the jaw mechanism  14  and rotationally connected to the mounting assembly  16 . The extension member  26  is telescopically received in a rear portion  25  of the jaw mechanism  14  for adjusting a fixed distance between the trigger  24  and the mounting assembly  16  to accommodate different hand sizes and preferences of archers so that a proper shooting position can be achieved. It will be understood that other extension members can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     An exemplary wrist strap  12  for use with the mounting assembly  16  of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 7 . The wrist strap  12  includes a flexible base member  28  that is adapted to at least partially surround the wrist of an archer. As shown, the base member  28  is generally V-shaped when laid flat and includes a first arm  31  and a second arm  33  converging toward an apex portion  36 . The base member  28  has a top surface  30  and bottom surface  34 , a first end portion  38  associated with the first arm  31 , and a second end portion  40  associated with the second arm  33 , that diverge from the apex portion  36 . It will be understood that the term “end portion” as used herein can include any portion of the flexible base member up to the apex portion. Preferably, the flexible base member  28  can be constructed of a center padding layer  35 , an upper lining layer  37 , and a lower lining layer  39  that are connected together via a continuous edging  32  that wraps around the periphery of the layers. The edging  32  can be connected to the layers by stitching or other any other means for connecting the layers together. It will be understood that the base member  28  can be constructed of a single layer of material or, alternatively, more than three layers of material, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     An adjustment mechanism can be connected to the flexible base member  28  for cinching the wrist strap  12  around the wrist of a user with virtually infinite adjustment. The adjustment mechanism preferably includes a first anchor member  42  connected to the top surface  30  of the flexible base member  28  at or near the first end portion  38  of the base member, a second anchor member  44  (shown in hidden line) connected to the top surface  30  at or near the opposite second end portion  40  of the base member  28 , and a cable (not shown) that extends between the first and second anchor members. The first anchor member  42  can be in the form of a reel assembly for winding and unwinding the cable while the second anchor member  44  serves to hold a loop of the cable during winding and unwinding. Further details of the wrist strap  12  are described in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 13/314,330 filed on Dec. 8, 2011, and assigned to TruGlo Inc., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular wrist strap shown and described, as the mounting assembly of the present invention is adaptable to a wide variety of wrist strap types, styles, sizes, and adjusting mechanisms. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-3 , the first bowstring release mechanism  14  can be removably secured at least in a first position, such as shown in  FIG. 2 , and preferably in both a first position ( FIG. 2 ) and a second position ( FIG. 3 ) when the release mechanism is not being used. This is especially convenient for archers who prefer to leave the wrist strap  12  wrapped around their wrist but wish to free their hands for tasks other than aiming or firing an archery bow. To that end, the first extension member  26  preferably releasably locks with the mounting assembly  16 , as will be described in further detail below. 
     With additional reference to  FIGS. 4-8 , the mounting assembly  16  preferably includes a first lower mounting portion  46  connected to the wrist strap  12  and a second upper mounting portion  48  for connection to the lower mounting portion  46 . As shown, a pair of fasteners  50 , preferably in the form of threaded screws, extend through openings  52 ,  54  formed in the upper mounting portion  48  and thread into openings  56 ,  58  formed in the lower mounting portion  46 . 
     The lower mounting portion  46  is preferably in the form of a generally triangular-shaped lower plate  60  and is attached to the top surface  30  of the base member  28  at the apex portion  36  thereof via a pair of bands or straps  61  and  63  that extend through strap mounting slots  66  and  68 , respectively, formed in the plate  60 . The slots  66  and  68  are preferably oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal extension of the first and second arms  31  and  33 , respectively. The bands  61  and  63  are preferably looped or folded over and the superimposed ends of each band are secured to the base member  28  of the wrist strap  12 , preferably through stitching, to thereby create loop portions that extend through the slots  66 ,  68 . However, it will be understood that other means for attaching the lower mounting portion  46  to the base member  28  can be used, including but not limited to, adhesive bonding, clamping, mechanical fastening, and so on. 
     The lower plate  60  of the lower mounting portion  46  further includes a transverse slot  70  positioned generally between the threaded openings  56 ,  58  and extending transverse to the strap mounting slots  66 ,  68 . The slot  70  is sized to receive a second extension member  75  ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ) when the first extension member  26  is not used, as will be described in greater detail below. A lower step section  72  is formed in a forward end  73  of the plate  60  next to the transverse slot  70 . A circular opening  74  extends through the lower step section  72  for receiving a cylindrically-shaped bearing connector  76 . Preferably, the opening  74  is of a sufficient size to allow rotational movement of the bearing connector  76  when located therein. The bearing connector  76  in turn includes a transverse bore  78  for receiving a connecting shaft portion  80  of the first extension member  26 . Retaining pins  82  and  84  extend through small, axially extending bores  86  and  88 , respectively, formed in the bearing connector  76 . The pins  82  and  84  engage a circumferential groove  90  formed in the connecting shaft portion  80  for retaining the connecting shaft portion within the transverse bore  78 . In this manner, the first extension member  26 , and thus the first bowstring release mechanism  14 , can rotate about a central axis  92  of the connecting shaft portion for accommodating the preferences of different users. Likewise, the first extension member  26 , and thus the first bowstring release mechanism  14 , can rotate about a central axis  94  of the cylindrically-shaped bearing connector  76  to accommodate the preferences of different users as well as to move the release mechanism  14  between an in-use position, such as shown in  FIG. 1 , to either the first locked position ( FIG. 2 ) or the second locked position ( FIG. 3 ). 
     A first set of collinear locking grooves  96  ( FIG. 8 ) is formed in the lower step section  72  and extends radially across the circular opening  74 . Likewise, a second set of collinear locking groove grooves  98  is formed in the lower step section  72  next to the first set  96  and also extends radially across the circular opening  74 . The set  96  is configured to receive the connecting shaft portion  80  of the first extension member  26  in the first locked position ( FIG. 2 ). Likewise, the set  98  is configured to receive the connecting shaft portion  80  in the second locked position ( FIG. 3 ). A biasing member  100 , shown by way of example as a wavy flat spring, is located between an upper surface  102  of the bearing connector  76  and the lower surface  104  ( FIGS. 7 and 9 ) of a circular pocket  106  formed in the lower surface  108  of an upper step section  110  of the upper mounting portion  48 . The circular pocket  106  is sized to rotationally receive the bearing connector  76  so that the biasing member  100  is captured in the pocket  106  between the upper mounting portion  48  and the bearing connector  76 . The biasing member  100  normally presses downwardly on the bearing connector  76  to thereby bias the connecting shaft portion  80  into one of the first and second sets of locking grooves. The depth of the locking grooves together with the diameter or cross-dimension of the connecting shaft portion  80  and the biasing force exerted by the biasing member  100  determines the force required by the user to remove the bowstring release mechanism  14  from the first and/or second locked positions. Although the sets of locking grooves are shown with similar depth and shape, it will be understood that the locking grooves of one set can have a different depth and/or shape than the locking grooves of the other set to vary the unlocking forces. Moreover, it will be understood that more or less locking grooves or sets of locking grooves can be provided to vary the amount of detent or locking positions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the second extension member  75  is preferably constructed of a single piece of flexible band material and includes a first leg  101  having a first end  103  connected to the lower mounting portion  46 , a second leg  105  doubling back on the first leg  101 , a loop  107  extending between the first and second legs, and a second end  109  of the second leg extending rearwardly of the upper and lower mounting portions. The loop  107  extends through a connection slot  111  of a second bowstring release mechanism  115  ( FIG. 10 ). The first end  103  includes a loop  117  that extends through the opening  74  and secured to the first leg  101  through stitching or other well-known connecting means, such as clamping, adhesive bonding, and so on. In this manner, the first end  103  is secured to the lower mounting portion  46 . The second end  109  can be doubled over and secured to the second leg  105  to reinforce the second end  109  and prevent it from slipping through the first and second mounting portions when connected therebetween. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9-11 , connection of the second extension member  75  to the wrist strap  12  will now be described. The upper mounting portion  48  includes a channel  112  formed in an upper surface  114  of a lower step section  116  for receiving the second extension member  75 . A transverse projection  118  extends into the channel  112  and is received in the transverse slot  70  of the lower mounting portion  46  when the upper and lower mounting portions are connected together. A portion  122  of the second extension member  75 , as partially shown in  FIG. 11 , is wedged in the transverse slot  70  by the transverse projection  118 . The projection  118  can include teeth  120  for ensuring that the second extension member  75  will not slip out of the mounting assembly  16  during use. In order to adjust the length of the second extension member  75 , or the distance between the wrist strap  12  and the second release mechanism  115 , the second mounting portion  48  is loosened from the first mounting portion  46  and the second leg  105  is pulled forward or backward through the mounting assembly  16 . When the proper length of the second extension member has been reached, the first and second mounting portions are secured together so that the second extension member is pinched in the transverse groove  70  by the transverse projection  118 . 
     With the above-described arrangement, the lower mounting portion and upper mounting portion are capable of receiving rigid and flexible extension members to thereby accommodate a variety of extension members and their related bowstring release mechanisms. 
     It will be understood that the term “preferably” as used throughout the specification refers to one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention and therefore is not to be interpreted in any limiting sense. In addition, terms of orientation and/or position as may be used throughout the specification denote relative, rather than absolute orientations and/or positions. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. By way of example, the wrist strap  12  can be of any style or type with a variety of different securing means. Moreover, it will be understood that the particular shape and features of the mounting assembly, the extension members, and the release mechanisms can vary depending on the types of connecting members to be connected thereto. It will be understood, therefore, that the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but also covers modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.