Abstract:
Aspects of the present invention provide apparatus relating to archery, and particularly for apparatus that may be attached to a bow to counteract or eliminate various issues confronted by an archer when aiming and firing a bow. In certain embodiments, the apparatus includes features allowing it to be rigidly attached to a bow and to engage the majority of an archer&#39;s forearm. Further aspects relate to a portion of the apparatus wrapping around the archer&#39;s forearm. Further aspects relate to a detachable connection mechanism for easy removal of a portion of the apparatus. Yet further aspects relate to an adjustable portion of the invention to allow for adjustment of the length of the apparatus to provide desired stability and comfort.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Aspects relate to a stabilizing apparatus. More particularly, certain aspects relate to an apparatus configured to be attached to an archery bow that may aid in the stabilization of the bow and protection of the archer&#39;s forearm. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Archery is a popular hobby and sport, but can often lead to frustration due to the various complications that make the activity challenging and there is a need for proper form and discipline. Many different apparatus have been invented and used throughout the history of archery in an attempt to either eliminate or counteract such complications. Archers may spend a large of amount of time and/or financial resources attempting to improve their form or purchase and use apparatus to improve their accuracy and precision. Some of the issues that face many archers include the bowstring slapping against an archer&#39;s arm upon release of the drawn string to fire the bow, interference of an archer&#39;s clothing with the bowstring upon release of the drawn string to fire the bow, causing noises that may scare potential live targets and may affect the path of the arrow, aiming the bow, gripping the bow, drawing the bowstring to a fully drawn and read-to-fire position, and/or torque on the bow from various forces exerted while holding and operating the bow. 
         [0003]    Previous attempts to address some of these issues have included various apparatus that can be attached to the bow, attached to the archer, or used when operating the bow. While these can offer certain benefits, they are limited in their ability to reduce many of the adverse issues discussed above, among others. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Aspects of this disclosure relate to a device that protects the archer&#39;s forearm from string slap while the bow is fired, prevents clothing from interfering with the path of the string when the bow is fired, and reduces or eliminates bow-hand torque. Further aspects relate to providing many of these features in a simple, effective apparatus that may be attached to a bow without any additional hardware or modifications to the bow. These and other advantages are successfully incorporated in various embodiments of the present invention without sacrificing elements of simplicity, strength, cost of manufacture, and portability of the bow. 
         [0005]    Certain embodiments of the invention relate to an attachment for a bow, and more particularly, to an apparatus relating to providing stabilization and forearm protection for an archer while using a bow. 
         [0006]    According to one aspect, the apparatus includes a portion for securing the apparatus to the bow, a portion that provides stability for the attachment, and a portion to engage an archer&#39;s forearm to protect the forearm and stabilize the bow against bow-hand torque. In one embodiment, an apparatus may be utilized that engages the majority of the archer&#39;s forearm to provide protection and stability. The apparatus may comprise various optional features. In some embodiments, the apparatus may include a release mechanism that allows the archer to separate the apparatus into multiple, such as two, three, or more portions—for example, the apparatus may separate into one portion that may remain attached to the bow when in storage or generally not in use, and one portion that may be removed. In yet other embodiments, the apparatus may include an adjustable portion that allows the archer to change the length of the portion of the apparatus that engages the archer&#39;s forearm, which may allow for optimizing stabilization and comfort. 
         [0007]    Of course, the apparatus of the above-referenced embodiments may also include other additional elements. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon reviewing the following detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1A  illustrates an isometric view of a right-handed archer holding a bow with an example forearm stabilization guard in accordance with a select embodiment of the invention attached to the bow as seen while looking at the archer from the left side and slightly in front of the archer; 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  illustrates an isometric view of a right-handed archer holding a bow with an example forearm stabilization guard in accordance with a select embodiment of the invention attached to the bow as seen while looking at the archer from the right side and slightly in front of the archer; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a forearm stabilization guard attached to a bow as seen from the front of the bow; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of a forearm stabilizer guard as seen from a first side perspective. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a forearm stabilizer guard as seen from a second side perspective, with an archer&#39;s arm engaged with the forearm stabilizer guard 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  depict bow  1000 , an exemplary embodiment of forearm stabilizer guard  100  attached to bow  1000 . The illustrated forearm stabilizer guard is also illustrated as engaged with archer&#39;s arm  2000  as it is placed with respect to bow  1000  and forearm stabilizer guard  100  while bow  1000  is being used by the archer. As can be seen in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , embodiments of forearm stabilizer guard  100  may simultaneously prevent string  1100  from slapping against archer&#39;s arm  2000  and clothing on archer&#39;s arm  2000 . By preventing such interference, embodiments of forearm stabilizer guard  100  reduce or eliminate sounds that would result from string  1100  slapping against archer&#39;s arm  2000  or clothing and also prevent archer&#39;s arm  2000  and clothing from deflecting the path of the arrow by deflecting the path of string  1100 . 
         [0014]    The elements of one embodiment of forearm stabilizer guard  100  can be seen most clearly in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the invention includes mounting surface  110 . As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , in some embodiments, mounting surface  110  is configured to abut and be rigidly secured to front side  1310  of riser  1300  of bow  1000 . In some embodiments, mounting surface  110  may include opening  115  through which a threaded fastener may be inserted. In such embodiments, opening  115  may be configured to align with the threaded hole in front side  1310  of riser  1300  such that mounting surface  110  may be secured by a threaded fastener that is configured to thread into a threaded hole on front side  1310  of riser  1300 . The threaded hole may be a hole that is standard on most bows and is intended to allow for the attachment of bow stabilizer  3000  or other attachments. In some embodiments, the threaded hole may be an 8 mm hole. In other embodiments, the threaded hole may be a ¼″ hole. In certain embodiments of the invention, bow stabilizer  3000  may be used instead of or in conjunction with a separate threaded fastener to secure mounting surface  110  of forearm stabilizer guard  100  to riser  1300 . For example, if an archer intends to use bow stabilizer  3000  or some other attachment, no additional fastener is needed, but if the archer does not intend to use bow stabilizer  3000 , a separate fastener may be needed. By allowing the archer to choose between bow stabilizer  3000  or a separate threaded fastener to secure mounting surface  110  to riser  1300  of bow  1000 , certain embodiments may permit the archer to use equipment that is already going to be used or to use a relatively weightless fastener that will not significantly affect the balance of bow  1000 . In other embodiments, the fastener may not be essentially weightless but may be weighted and positioned such that it does not significantly affect the balance of bow  1000 . In yet other embodiments, the fastener may be selected to intentionally shift the balance and/or add weight to the bow. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, opening  115  may be a hole approximately the size of the threaded hole of riser  1300 , such that forearm stabilizer guard  100  may be attached in one particular position. Due to the standardization of most bows with respect to the length of riser  1300  and position of the threaded hole, such an embodiment may work for the majority of bows. In other embodiments, opening  115  may consist of a set of holes (and/or attachment structures), each of which is approximately the size of the threaded hole of riser  1300 , allowing for a number of discrete placements of the invention. In yet other embodiments, opening  115  may be a slot or intersecting slots, which may allow for continuous adjustment in one or more directions. For example, in some embodiments, opening  115  may be a horizontal slot, a vertical slot, or a slot at any angle in between. In other embodiments, opening  115  may include multiple, intersecting slots, allowing for adjustment of the placement of mounting surface  110  in multiple directions at once. In one embodiment, slots comprising opening  115  may be sized and configured to allow for movement of up to 4 centimeters along each slot. 
         [0016]    In certain embodiments, a stabilizing surface, such as stabilizing surface  120 , may be connected to mounting surface  110  and extend perpendicularly away from the connection mechanism  150  at one side of mounting surface  110  in a direction towards the archer and the bow strings  1100 . In some embodiments, stabilizing surface  120  is configured to abut side  1320  of riser  1300  below bow hand grip  1350 , on the side where the archer&#39;s fingers rest while holding bow  1000  in a ready position. For example, for a right-handed archer, the archer grips bow hand grip  1350  with his left hand and, from the archer&#39;s point of view looking toward bow  1000 , side  1320  is on the right side of bow  1000  (as seen clearly in  FIG. 1B ) and a second side  1330  of riser  1300  is on the left side of bow  1000  (as seen clearly in  FIG. 1A ). Similarly but conversely, for a left-handed archer, the archer grips bow hand grip  1350  with his right hand and, from the archer&#39;s point of view looking toward bow  1000 , side  1320  is on the left side of bow  1000  and a second side  1330  of riser  1300  is on the right side of bow  1000 . Although stabilizing surface  120  is shown as extending approximately three inches, other dimensions are within the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0017]    Some embodiments of forearm stabilizer guard  100  include connection segment  130 , connected to stabilizing surface  120  and extending away from stabilizing surface  120 . In such embodiments, when forearm stabilizer guard  100  is secured to bow  1000  and bow  1000  is held in a ready position, connection segment  130  may be configured to extend in one dimension away from riser  1300  of bow  1000  towards bow strings  1100  and in another dimension away from side  1320  of riser  1300  towards second side  1330  of riser  1300 , resulting in connection segment  130  passing from one side of a plane that includes the middle of riser  1300  and bow strings  1100 . 
         [0018]    In certain embodiments, forearm stabilizer guard  100  includes stabilizing sleeve  140 . In some embodiments, stabilizing sleeve  140  may be part of, or extend from, stabilizing surface  120 . In other embodiments that include connection segment  130 , stabilizing sleeve  140  may be a part of, or extend from, connection segment  130 . In some embodiments, stabilizing sleeve  140  is configured to engage the majority of the length of archer&#39;s forearm  2000 . In certain embodiments, stabilizing sleeve  140  may be configured to engage approximately 55 percent of the length of archer&#39;s forearm  2000 . In other embodiments, stabilizing sleeve  140  may be configured to engage approximately 70 percent of the length of archer&#39;s forearm  2000 . In still other embodiments, stabilizing sleeve  140  may be configured to engage approximately 80 percent or more of the length of archer&#39;s forearm  2000 . In some embodiments, stabilizing sleeve  140  is concave and configured to wrap around and engage more than half of a circumference of archer&#39;s forearm  2000 . 
         [0019]    The construction of the various embodiments as described may provide protection for the majority of the length of archer&#39;s forearm  2000  and also provide stabilization against bow-hand torque. Bow-hand torque may be caused when the archer grips the bow handle with his hand and when, at full-draw, the archer moves his wrist in a motion that causes the bow riser to move slightly from side-to-side. More specifically, when held in a ready-position at full-draw, an axis running vertically through the middle of riser  1300  would be approximately perpendicular to the ground. Bow-hand torque may cause riser  1300  to twist along this axis. This may happen at the moment the archer is releases his bow string, sending the arrow forward towards its target. When this type of torque movement takes place, it may alter the arrow&#39;s flight, potentially causing the arrow to miss its target. Bow-hand torque is a common issue that archers experience. Embodiments of the invention may eliminate or greatly reduce bow-hand torque through a combination of how forearm stabilizer guard  100  is mounted to riser  1300  of bow  1000 , how stabilizing sleeve extends along the majority of the length of archer&#39;s forearm  2000 , and by the construction and alignment of forearm stabilizer guard  100  putting pressure on archer&#39;s forearm  2000 . For example, in some embodiments of forearm stabilizer guard  100 , the natural bow-hand torque that may be generated without use of the invention may be reduced or eliminated due to the pressure of archer&#39;s forearm  2000  against stabilizing sleeve  140 . As a result of the pressure placed on stabilizing sleeve  140 , the force may be transferred to stabilizing surface  120 , reducing or eliminating the bow-hand torque placed on the bow. Actions that may cause bow-hand torque may be reduced or eliminated due to the fact that the attachment and rigid construction of certain embodiments of the invention may require bow  1000  to remain in a relatively fixed alignment with respect to archer&#39;s forearm  2000 . 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, forearm stabilizer guard  100  may be molded or formed as a single piece. Some embodiments may be made from a strong plastic, aluminum, steel, or any composite material, as would be understood by one skilled in the art to provide stability and strength, as well as taking into account costs and ease of manufacture. Other embodiments may include a combination of materials for various parts of forearm stabilizer guard  100  as would be understood by those skilled in the art, once again considering one or more of cost, strength, stability, comfort, and ease of manufacture, among other considerations. For example, one embodiment may include mounting plate  110  and stabilizing surface  120  made from a metal such as steel with the remaining portion of forearm stabilizer guard  100  being made from a lightweight, sturdy composite material, with connection segment  130  being molded around a portion of stabilizing surface  120 , such that connection segment  130  and stabilizing surface  120  are securely connected. In some embodiments, forearm stabilizer guard  100  may also include additional elements such as a rubber coating or some form of padding on portions of stabilizing sleeve  140  that are configured to come into contact with archer&#39;s forearm  2000 . 
         [0021]    While each of the different parts of forearm stabilizer guard  100  have been primarily discussed as distinct portions of the apparatus, one skilled in the art would appreciate that each of the elements may not be necessary in some embodiments. Additionally, one skilled in the art would also appreciate that distinctly identified portions of forearm stabilizer guard  100  may actually be a single portion of the apparatus in certain embodiment but serve the function of multiple portions of forearm stabilizer guard  100 . One skilled in the art would also appreciate that in yet other embodiments, various portions of forearm stabilizer guard  100  may overlap with other portions of forearm stabilizer guard  100 . For example, in some embodiments, stabilizing surface  120  and connection segment  130  may be the same portion of forearm stabilizer guard  100 . In other embodiments, connection segment  130  and stabilizing sleeve  140  may be the same portion of forearm stabilizer guard  100 . In yet other embodiments, stabilizing surface  120 , connection segment  130 , and stabilizing sleeve  140  may be the same portion of forearm stabilizer guard  100 . In certain embodiments, forearm stabilizing guard  100  may not have connection segment  130 . 
         [0022]    Some embodiments include detachable connection mechanism  150 , which allows for removal of part of forearm stabilizer guard  100 , including stabilizing sleeve  140 , while leaving part of forearm stabilizer guard  100 , including mounting plate  110 , attached to bow  1000 . Detachable connection mechanism  150  may be any of various designs as are well known by those skilled in the art. Examples of some connection systems that could be used for detachable connection mechanism  150  are a buckle system, threaded fasteners, and hook-and-loop fasteners, such as Velcro®. In one particular embodiment, detachable connection mechanism  150  may be a plastic, side-release buckle system commonly used in many backpacks and bags. 
         [0023]    Embodiments that incorporate detachable connection mechanism  150 , thus allowing the archer to leave portions of forearm stabilizer guard  100  connected to bow  1000 , may allow the archer to keep mounting surface  110  mounted at the same spot relative to bow  1000  without having to adjust its location each time forearm stabilizer guard  100  is used. Embodiments incorporating detachable connection mechanism  150  may also allow the user to store bow  1000  and the portion of forearm stabilizer guard  100  that remains attached to bow  1000  in a standard bow case and keep the detached portion of forearm stabilizer guard  100  in either the same case or another case. 
         [0024]    Detachable connection mechanism  150  may be incorporated into embodiments of forearm stabilizer guard  100  in various ways. In one embodiment, stabilizing surface  120  may include detachable connection mechanism  150 . In other embodiments, detachable connection mechanism  150  may be between stabilizing surface  120  and connection segment  130  and configured such that one end of connection mechanism  150  is connected to stabilizing surface  120  and the other end of connection mechanism  150  is connected to connection segment  130 . In yet other embodiments, connecting segment  130  may include detachable connection mechanism  150 . In still other embodiments, detachable connection mechanism  150  may be between connection segment  130  and stabilizing sleeve  140  and configured such that one end of connection mechanism  150  is connected to connection segment  130  and the other end of connection mechanism  150  is connected to stabilizing sleeve  140 . 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, stabilizing sleeve  140  may include an adjustable portion  145 . In one embodiment, adjustable portion  145  is in the form of a telescoping portion of stabilizing sleeve  140 . In embodiments with a telescoping portion, stabilizing sleeve  140  may include lip  147 , which may allow the telescoping portions to move up and down the remaining portion of forearm stabilizer guard  100 . In other embodiments, adjustable portion  145  may be comprised of two adjacent portions that can slide forward and backward relative to each other to make stabilizing sleeve  140  shorter or longer as desired. Certain embodiments with adjustable portion  145  may include a system or apparatus for securing the adjustable portion in a fixed position. Such a system or apparatus may be any of various systems or apparatus known to those skilled in the art, including threaded fasteners, hook-and-loop fasteners, such as Velcro®, or other locking systems commonly used in metal or composite applications. 
         [0026]    Some embodiments of the invention may include second stabilizing surface  1 X 0 . Second stabilizing surface  1 X 0  may extend perpendicularly from a side of stabilizing surface  120  such that second stabilizing surface  1 X 0  is configured to be approximately parallel to mounting surface  110  and to abut back  1330  of riser  1300  of bow  1000 . In certain embodiments, second stabilizing surface  1 X 0  may include opening  1 X 5  through which a threaded fastener may be inserted. In such embodiments, opening  1 X 5  may be configured to align with a threaded hole on the back side of riser  1300  such that second stabilizing surface  1 X 0  may be secured by a threaded fastener that is configured to thread into the threaded hole on the back side of riser  1300 . The threaded hole on the back side of riser  1300  may be a hole that is standard on most bows and is intended to allow for the attachment of a stabilizer bar or other attachments. In some embodiments, the threaded hole may be an 8 mm hole. In other embodiments, the threaded hole may be a ¼″ hole. In certain embodiments of the invention, a stabilizer bar may be used instead of or in conjunction with a separate threaded fastener to secure second stabilizing surface  1 X 0  of forearm stabilizer guard  100  to riser  1300 . For example, if an archer intends to use a stabilizer bar or some other attachment, no additional fastener may be needed, but if the archer does not intend to use a stabilizer bar, a separate fastener may be needed. By allowing the archer to choose between a stabilizer bar or a separate threaded attachment to secure second stabilizing surface  1 X 0  to riser  1300  of bow  1000 , certain embodiments may permit the archer to use equipment that is already going to be used or to use a relatively weightless fastener that will not significantly affect the balance of bow  1000 . In other embodiments, the fastener may not be essentially weightless but may be weighted and positioned such that it does not significantly affect the balance of bow  1000 . In yet other embodiments, the fastener may be selected to intentionally shift the balance and/or add weight to the bow. 
         [0027]    Certain embodiments of the invention may include reinforcement portion  160 . Reinforcement portion  160  may provide additional support and rigidity to forearm stabilizer guard  100 . Reinforcement portion  160  may be comprised of any of various devices or methods for providing additional, reinforcing stability, rigidity, or both. In one embodiment, reinforcement portion  160  includes steel or some other strong material that is molded into mounting surface  110  and stabilizing surface  120  and is comprised of two strips that run in parallel along the outside of forearm stabilizer guard  100 . In other embodiments, reinforcement portion  160  may include a single wide strip composed of a strong material that provides additional strength in mounting surface  110  and stabilizing surface  120 . As mentioned above, the embodiments identified in this paragraph are merely examples and not meant to limit the different ways that reinforcement portion  160  may be implemented as understood by one skilled in the art. 
         [0028]    Some embodiments may optionally include additional bracket  200 . Similar to mounting surface  110 , additional bracket  200  may have bracket mounting surface  210  configured to mount to riser  1300 . Bracket mounting surface  210  may comprise bracket opening  215 , which may be a hole approximately the size of the threaded hole on the front side  1310  of riser  1300 . As mentioned previously, due to the standardization of most bows with respect to the length of riser  1300  and position of the threaded hole, such an embodiment may work for the majority of bows. In other embodiments, bracket opening  215  may consist of a set of holes (a single hole  215   a  is identified in  FIG. 5 ), each of which is approximately the size of the threaded hole on front side  1310  of riser  1300 , allowing for a number of discrete placements of additional bracket  200 . One particular embodiment of bracket opening  215  comprising sixteen holes, is depicted in  FIG. 5 . As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, any number of holes from one, to a number that may fit on bracket mounting surface  210  may be used. Similarly, any of various arrangements of a varying number of holes may make up bracket opening  215 . In yet other embodiments, bracket opening  215  may be a slot or intersecting slots, which may allow for continuous adjustment in one or more directions. For example, in some embodiments, bracket opening  215  may be a horizontal slot, a vertical slot, or a slot at any angle in between. In other embodiments, bracket opening  215  may include multiple, intersecting slots, allowing for adjustment of the placement of additional bracket  200  in multiple directions at once. One embodiment of two intersecting slots that may be used for bracket opening  215  may be similar to the embodiment depicted for opening  115  in  FIGS. 1B ,  2  and  4 . In one embodiment, slots comprising bracket opening  215  may be sized and configured to allow for movement of up to 4 centimeters along each slot. As can also be appreciated by one skilled in the art, mounting additional bracket  200  to riser  1300  may be accomplished by aligning opening  215  with opening  115  and the threaded hole of riser  1300  and securing a threaded fastener through all three openings. In some embodiments, forearm stabilizer guard  100  may be between additional bracket  200  and riser  1300  when forearm stabilizer guard  100  and additional bracket  200  are mounted to riser  1300 . In other embodiments, forearm stabilizer guard  100  may be between additional bracket  200  and riser  1300  when forearm stabilizer guard  100  and additional bracket  200  are mounted to riser  1300 . 
         [0029]    In certain embodiments, additional bracket  200  may have one or more connecting portions that wrap around riser  1300  of bow  1000  around the opposite side of riser  1300  that forearm stabilizer guard  100  wraps around and are configured to connect bracket mounting surface  210  with a bracket stabilizing surface  220 . In some embodiments, additional bracket may have first connecting portion  230  that is connected and approximately perpendicular to bracket mounting surface  210 . First connecting portion  230  may be configured to abut a side of riser  1300  that is opposite the side of riser  1300  that forearm stabilizer guard  100  may abut. Put another way, first connecting portion  230  may be configured to abut the side of riser  1300  that is on the same side of bow  1000  as archer&#39;s forearm  2000 , which grasps riser  1300  when the archer is using the bow. 
         [0030]    Second portion  240  of additional bracket  200 , may be connected and approximately perpendicular to first connecting portion  230 . Second connecting portion  240  is configured to be approximately parallel to bracket mounting surface  210 . In some embodiments, second connecting portion  240  may be configured to abut the back of riser  1300  when additional bracket is mounted to bow  1000 . In other embodiments, additional bracket  200  may be configured such that there is a gap between second connecting portion  230  and the back of riser  1300  when additional bracket  200  is mounted to bow  1000 . 
         [0031]    In certain embodiments, one or both of first connecting portion  230  and second connecting portion  240  may be curved as opposed to generally planar as depicted in  FIG. 5 . In some embodiments, first connecting portion  230  and second connecting portion  240  may be a single connecting portion. 
         [0032]    In certain embodiments, bracket stabilizing surface  220  may be configured to abut a portion of forearm stabilizer guard  100  when both forearm stabilizer guard  100  and additional bracket  200  are mounted to bow  1000 . In some embodiments, bracket stabilizing surface may have an apparatus for securing additional bracket  200  to forearm stabilizer guard  100 . In some embodiments, bracket stabilizing surface may include bracket stabilizing opening  225 , which may be a hole, a set of holes, or any other opening or set of openings that may be configured to receive a fastener. In some embodiments, forearm stabilizer guard  100  may also include openings or other devices for securing additional bracket to forearm stabilizer guard  100 . In one embodiment, bracket stabilizing surface  220  may include a set of holes, connection segment  130  (or any other portion of forearm stabilizer guard  100  where additional bracket may be mounted) of forearm stabilizer guard  100  may include a matching set of holes, and additional bracket  200  may be configured to be secured to forearm stabilizer guard  100  using nuts and bolts. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, other well-known fasteners may be used in place of nuts and bolts. 
         [0033]    For example, in one embodiment, bracket stabilizing surface  220  may include one half of a hook-and-loop fastener, such as Velcro®, while connection segment  130  (or any other portion of forearm stabilizer guard  100  where additional bracket may be mounted) of forearm stabilizer guard  100  may include the complimentary portion of a hook-and-loop fastener. In another embodiment, bracket stabilizing surface  220  may include a hook-and-loop fastener, such as Velcro®, and a portion of forearm stabilizer guard  100  may include an opening through which the fastener may be fed and then secured to itself. In yet other embodiments, forearm stabilizer guard  100  may include an opening through which some other type of fastener may be fed, which can then be secured to an appropriate portion of bracket stabilizing surface  220 . In some embodiments, the fastener fed through such an opening may be a strap that has a snap at the end, similar to a securing snap on many helmets. 
         [0034]    Additional bracket  200  may be made of a similar material to forearm stabilizer guard  100  or of a different material. In some embodiments, additional bracket  200  may be made of a strong rigid material. Regardless of the securing method and the material that additional bracket  200  is made of, upon securing additional bracket  200  to forearm stabilizer guard  100 , additional bracket  200  may help reduce or eliminate any potential flex in forearm stabilizer guard  100  that may occur upon use of forearm stabilizer guard  100 . Potential flex in forearm stabilizer guard  100  may occur when forearm stabilizer guard  100  is in use and the archer has bow  1000  at full-draw, resulting from archer&#39;s forearm  2000  pushing on forearm stabilizer guard  100 .