Abstract:
The subject matter disclosed in this specification pertains to a device for holding a bow upright. The device has two elongated with a connecting hinge. The hinge may be adjusted such that angle between the elongated posts. A hole is provided in the hinge that permits a faster to extend through the hole and into a threaded hole of a bow riser. The bow is held upright by being supported on a portion of the first elongated post, a portion of the second elongated post and a portion of the lower riser.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/635,920 (filed Apr. 20, 2012) and U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/789,713 (filed Mar. 15, 2013) the entirety of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a device for holding a bow in an upright position. 
         [0003]    When not in use, bows are traditionally stored in a storage case, a storage rack or hung in an upright position from a mount. When hunting in the field, such cases, racks or mounts are typically not available. Hunters must place the bow on the ground or otherwise place the bow at an angle against a nearby object, such as a tree. This risks damaging the bow and exposes the string, cam and limb pockets to dirt and other debris. It also places the bow at risk of being stepped on. It would therefore be desirable to provide an alternate mechanism for holding a bow upright while the hunter is in the field. 
         [0004]    The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    One or more support structures extend from an attachment point of a compound bow to the ground allowing the bow to stand in an upright position. 
         [0006]    The subject matter disclosed in this specification pertains to a device for holding a bow upright. The device has two elongated with a connecting hinge. The hinge may be adjusted such that angle between the elongated posts. A hole is provided in the hinge that permits a faster to extend through the hole and into a threaded hole of a bow riser. The bow is held upright by being supported on a portion of the first elongated post, a portion of the second elongated post and a portion of the lower riser. 
         [0007]    This brief description of the invention is intended only to provide a brief overview of subject matter disclosed herein according to one or more illustrative embodiments, and does not serve as a guide to interpreting the claims or to define or limit the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the appended claims. This brief description is provided to introduce an illustrative selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This brief description is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    So that the manner in which the features of the invention can be understood, a detailed description of the invention may be had by reference to certain embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only certain embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the scope of the invention encompasses other equally effective embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis generally being placed upon illustrating the features of certain embodiments of the invention. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views. Thus, for further understanding of the invention, reference can be made to the following detailed description, read in connection with the drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a profile view of a bow with an exemplary device for holding a bow upright; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B ,  FIG. 2C  and  FIG. 2D  depict the components of exemplary first and second posts of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3B ,  FIG. 3C ,  FIG. 4A ,  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 4C  provide depictions of the other components of a hinge of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  depicts the hinge in an assembled state; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  depict a ledge adjacent a flat side of one of the components of the hinge; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  are cross-sections of an exemplary hinge while  FIG. 7C  provide a cross-section of an exemplary bolt. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a profile view of a bow  100 . Bow  100  comprises a riser  102 , an upper limb  104  and a lower limb  106 , each of which terminates in a respective cam  108 ,  110 . The bow  100  comprises a grip  112  disposed below an arrow rest  114 . Limb bolts connect the limbs  104 ,  106  to the riser  102 . Disposed between the grip  112  and the lower limb  106  is a threaded hole  116  that, in a conventional bow, receives a stabilizer. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the stabilizer has been replaced with a device  200  for holding a bow upright. The device  200  comprises a first post  202  and a second post  204 . The first post  202  and the second post  204  are connected to one another by a hinge  206 . The length of the first post  202  and second post  204  are selected such that, with the proper adjustment of an angle provided by the hinge  206 , the first post  202 , second post  204  an a lower portion of the bow (e.g. cam  110  and/or lower limb  106 ). In one embodiment, the first post  202  and the second post  204  comprise two or more segments joined together by screw/thread fasteners. For example, a threaded screw at the end of a first segment may be attached to a threaded hole at the end of a second segment. The first segment and second segment are then attached to form, for example, the first post  202 . This provides flexibility with regard to the length of the first post  202  and second post  204 . By providing several segments of various lengths, many types and styles of bows may utilize the device  200 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 2A  to  FIG. 2D  depict the components of the exemplary first post  202  and second post  204  in further detail. Each post  202 ,  204  comprises an elongated rod  206  that terminates on one end with a fastener  208  and on the other end with a foot  216 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2A , the fastener  208  is a threaded screw. Each post  202 ,  204  further comprises a rounded head  210 ,  211 , respectively, with a threaded opening  212  on a flat lateral edge  220  of the rounded head. Other suitable openings may also be provided, depending on the nature of the fastener  208 . For example, a snap-fit connector may be used. A hole  214  is provided in the rounded head  210  for receiving a bolt or other similar fastener. The fastener  208  securely engages with the opening  212  to hold the rounded head  210  and the respective post  202 ,  204  together. In another embodiment, a threaded opening is provided in the end of the post  202 ,  204  and a fastener  208  is present on a lateral edge of the rounded head. Other suitable mechanisms for attaching the rounded head  210  with a respective post  202 ,  204  would be apparent to those skilled in the art after benefitting from reading this specification. The foot  216  may be the endpoint of the post or may be a cap placed over the end of the post to provide a blunt surface. In some embodiments, a footpad is provided to function as the foot  216 . 
         [0017]    The rounded heads  210 ,  211  have a curved outer surfaces. For example, rounded head  210  is depicted in  FIGS. 2B to 2D . Rounded head  211  has a substantially circular circumference  218  except for the flat lateral edge  220 . The flat bottom edge  222 , which is perpendicular the flat lateral edge  220 , is also flat. The curved top surface  224 , which is opposite the bottom edge  222 , is curved. The rounded heads  210 ,  211  have a substantially similar construction and are generally interchangeable. The curved top surface of the rounded heads  210 ,  211 , in conjunction with other components of hinge  206 , provide a hinge-like motion.  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3C  and  FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4C  provide depictions of the other components of hinge  206 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  show alternate views of an inner adaptor  300 . The inner adaptor  300  has a flat side  302  and a curved side  304 , opposite the flat side  302 . A hole  306  passes through both sides. In use, flat side  302  is disposed against the riser  102  proximate the threaded hole  116 . Since conventional bows have flat surfaces near threaded hole  116 , the flat side  302  securely mates with such conventional bows. The curved side  304  has a curvature configured to mate with the curved top surface  224  of the rounded head  210  or  211 . See  FIG. 3C . 
         [0019]      FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  show alternate views of an outer adaptor  400 . The outer adaptor  400  has a flat side  402  and a curved side  404 . A hole  406  passes through both sides. In use, the curved side  404  has a curvature configured to mate with the curved top surface  224  of the rounded head  210  or  211 . See  FIG. 4C . The flat side  402  faces the front of the bow to provide a flat surface for the attachment of a conventional stabilizer. 
         [0020]      FIG. 5  depicts the hinge  206  in an assembled state. The flat bottom edges  222  of the rounded heads  210 ,  211  are placed in direct contact with one another. A bolt  502  is passed through a hole  500  that extends the length of the hinge  206  and feeds into the threaded hole  116  of bow  100  (see  FIG. 1 ). By loosening the bolt  502  and sliding the curved top surfaces  224  over the curved sides  304 ,  404  of the inner or outer adaptor  300 ,  400  the angle of posts  202 ,  204  may be adjusted. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  depict a ledge  600  adjacent the flat side  402  of outer adaptor  400 . The ledge  600  catches a head of the bolt  500  while permitting a shaft of the bolt  500  to pass through the hole  406 . In another embodiment, a threaded nut is used instead of the bolt  500 . Such a threaded nut provides threads to receive a stabilizer. In such a configuration the device  200  may be used in conjunction with a stabilizer. Alternatively, when a bolt  500  is used, the device  200  is used instead of a stabilizer. 
         [0022]      FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B  are cross-sections of the hinge  206 . The bolt  502  (shown in phantom on  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B , but also see  FIG. 7C ) is comprised of a first threaded portion  702 , proximate the inner adapter  300 . The first threaded portion  702  fits into the threaded hole  116  (see  FIG. 1 ). The bolt  502  is further comprised of a second threaded portion  704  that may receive the threads of a stabilizer. As shown in  FIG. 7C  the first threaded portion  702  is on an external surface of the bolt  502  and provides a male fitting. The second threaded portion  704  is on an internal surface of the bolt  502  and provides a female fitting. The external diameter of the second threaded portion  702  is wider than the shaft of the bolt  502  to accommodate the girth of a male thread of a stabilizer. The internal diameter of the second threaded portion  702  is, in the embodiment depicted, substantially the same diameter as the first threaded portion  702 . In this fashion the second threaded portion presents a fitting that is substantially identical to the threaded hole  116  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0023]    In use, the bolt  502  may be loosened to permit the user to rotate the hinge  206  in the direction of arrow  706 . Although arrow  706  is shown in two-dimensions, the reader should appreciate that the hinge  206  is adjustable in three dimensions. To facilitate such adjustments, the hole  214  in the first and second headers  210 ,  211  is conical. The cross sections of the conical hole is shown in  FIG. 7A and 7B . This conical hole is also apparent in  FIGS. 2B and 2C . The conical hole  214  is shaped such that the conical hole has a narrow portion proximate the flat bottom edge (e.g. bottom edge  222 ) and a wide portion proximate the curved top surface (e.g. top surface  224 ) of each respective header. Due to the conical shape of the hole the first and second posts  202 ,  204  may be adjusted to bring them closer or further away from the bow. This provides a substantially more adjustable stand than prior art bow stands. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the components are formed of a lightweight but durable material, such an aluminum. This permits a user to keep the device  200  attached without the bow&#39;s balance being negatively impacted. The weight of the outer adaptor  400  may be customized to maintain balance. Additionally or alternatively a conventional stabilizer may be attached to the outer adaptor  400 . 
         [0025]    This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.