Abstract:
Archery bow sights, and archery bows including same are described, the bow sight comprising a sight pin guard having a portion defining a sighting plane, a rotatable shaft having ends installed in the sight pin guard, and at least one sight pin having a connector end and a sight end, the connector end removably and adjustably installed on the rotatable shaft. Certain embodiments comprise a plurality of sight pins arranged on the rotatable shaft at different longitudinal and circumferential locations so that upon rotation of the shaft a different one of the sight pins is viewable in the plane defined by the sight pin guard. This abstract allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It may not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention generally relates to archery. More particularly, the present invention relates to archery bow sighting devices, commonly referred to as bow sights, and archery bows including these sights.  
         [0003]     2. Related Art  
         [0004]     Bow sights have been around, in various forms, for many years. An interesting web site devoted to archery is ArcheryHistory.com, which shows a history of bow sights and other archery accessories. Basically, a bow sight may be described as a device that an archer uses to aim a bow and arrow at a target, which may be a live target or a practice target. Typically, a bow sight consists of a platform that is connected to the side of the bow, and its purpose is to support one or more sight-pins. These sight-pins are what the archer actually aligns with the target to aim his bow. A representative example is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , illustrating how an archer might view a target, in this case a deer  2  illustrated in phantom, through a conventional bow sight  4  having six sight pins  6 . Sight pins, as the name implies, are simply pins or studs. At the ends of pins  6  are points  8 , which may be dots or cross hairs. The archer uses the sight pins to “sight-in” his bow. He does this by placing these objects in direct alignment between his eye and the desired target. The sight pins are not easily removed from the line of vision, and are fixed in the positions shown, either by attachment to a bracket  10  that is part of the bow, or to a sight pin guard  12 . It is also common to have one or more level gauges  14 ,  16 .  
         [0005]     Most archers use more than one sight pin on their bow sight. This multiple pin configuration is necessary, due to the arcing trajectory of the flight of an arrow. For example, if the archer were to “sight-in” his bow with one pin set to be on target at a distance of 20 yards, he would need another pin to be set for a 30 yard target, and another one for 40 yards, and so on. As a result, the majority of the bow sights that are used by archers today (such as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) carry multiple sight pins that lie in the same plane between the archer&#39;s eye and the target. However, it is this very arrangement that creates an aiming problem, in that, the very pins that are used to aim at the target, also restrict the archer&#39;s view of the target. The level sight gauges may also partially interfere with the view of the target. While there are other bow sights on the market using one sight pin, they do not allow the archer the flexibility to easily and quickly change between sight pins for different distances.  
         [0006]     Other inventors have attempted to solve this problem, but with limited success. It would be a positive advance in archery if the archer&#39;s view of the desired target might be increased during shooting without losing the ability to sight-in the bow for different target ranges. It would also be an advance in archery if a bow sight could be designed to allow the archer to change between sight pins easily and quickly.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In accordance with the present invention, archery bow sights and archery bows including same are described that are a complete break in design with previously known bow sights and reduce or overcome problems in previously known apparatus. This is accomplished by placing multiple sight pins on a rotatable shaft. In the reference frame of a bow, the rotatable shaft is installed vertical. Individual pins are accessible to the archer by twisting or rotating the shaft, or a knob attached to the shaft, until the desired sight pin comes into view. This design may allow the archer to independently adjust each sight pin for a given distance to the target, and to view only that one sight pin within the same sighting plane as the target itself. The result is that the archer has an unrestricted view of both the target and the sight pin that has been selected for a particular distance.  
         [0008]     Thus, a first aspect of the invention is an apparatus comprising: 
        a) a rotatable shaft adapted to be installed in a bow or in a sight pin guard; and     b) at least one sight pin having a connector end and a sight end, the connector end removably and adjustably installed on the rotatable shaft.        
 
         [0011]     A second aspect of the invention is an apparatus comprising: 
        a) a sight pin guard defining a sighting plane;     b) a rotatable shaft having ends installed in the sight pin guard; and     c) a plurality of sight pins, each sight pin having a connector end and a sight end, the connector ends removably and adjustably installed at different longitudinal and circumferential locations on the rotatable shaft so that upon rotation of the shaft a different one of the sight pins is viewable in the sighting plane.        
 
         [0015]     A third aspect of the invention is an archery bow comprising either the first or the second aspect of the invention.  
         [0016]     As used herein the term “sight pin guard” means a shaped piece of metal, plastic, or composite material that generally defines a circular, rectangular, or other shaped open area in a plane adapted to be between a shooter&#39;s eye and a target when shooting at the target and in which may be positioned a sight pin. In certain embodiments, the rotatable shaft is indexed or “indexable”, meaning that rotation of the shaft from a first position that allows viewing a first sight pin, to a second position that allows viewing of a different sight pin, is accompanied by a temporary locking of the shaft in the two positions. In other words, “indexing the shaft” means rotating the shaft from one temporarily fixed position where one sight pin is viewable in the plane of the sight pin guard, to another fixed position where another sight pin is viewable in the plane of the sight pin guard.  
         [0017]     These and other features of the apparatus and methods of the invention may become more apparent upon review of the brief description of the drawings, the detailed description of the invention, and the claims that follow.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     The manner in which the objectives of the invention and other desirable characteristics may be obtained is explained in the following description and attached drawings in which:  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a schematic, partial cross section view, with a phantom figure illustrating a prior art bow sight with six stationary sight pins;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of one bow sight embodiment according to the teachings of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the bow sight of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0022]      FIGS. 4A, 4B , and  4 C are schematic perspective (with some parts in phantom), a side elevation, and top plan views, respectively, of the rotatable shaft illustrated in the bow sight of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0023]      FIGS. 5A, 5B , and  5 C are schematic perspective, front elevation, and cross sectional views, respectively, of the vertical adjustment block illustrated in the bow sight embodiment of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0024]      FIGS. 6A, 6B ,  6 C, and  6 D are schematic perspective, top plan, front elevation, and side elevation (some parts in phantom) views, respectively, of the horizontal adjustment block illustrated in the bow sight embodiment of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0025]      FIGS. 7A, 7B ,  7 C,  7 D, and  7 E are schematic perspective, front elevation, side elevation, bottom plan, and top plan views, respectively, of the sight pin guard illustrated in the bow sight embodiment of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0026]      FIGS. 8A, 8B ,  8 C,  8 D, and  8 E are schematic front perspective, rear perspective, side elevation, rear side elevation, and top plan views, respectively, of the bow sight platform illustrated in the bow sight embodiment of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0027]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are perspective and bottom plan views, respectively, of an alternative rotatably shaft useful in bow sights of the invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternative rotatable shaft embodiment within the invention; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of a compound archery bow in accordance with the invention.  
     
    
       [0030]     It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings are not to scale and illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention, and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0031]     In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. However, it may be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.  
         [0032]     All phrases, derivations, collocations and multiword expressions used herein, in particular in the claims that follow, are expressly not limited to nouns and verbs. It is apparent that meanings are not just expressed by nouns and verbs or single words. Languages use a variety of ways to express content. The existence of inventive concepts and the ways in which these are expressed varies in language-cultures. For example, many lexicalized compounds in Germanic languages are often expressed as adjective-noun combinations, noun-preposition-noun combinations or derivations in Romanic languages. The possibility to include phrases, derivations and collocations in the claims is essential for high-quality patents, making it possible to reduce expressions to their conceptual content, and all possible conceptual combinations of words that are compatible with such content (either within a language or across languages) are intended to be included in the used phrases.  
         [0033]     As noted previously, most archers use more than one sight pin on their bow sight. This multiple pin configuration is necessary, due to the arcing trajectory of the flight of an arrow. For example, if the archer were to “sight-in” his bow with one pin set to be on target at a distance of 20 yards, he would need another pin to be set for a 30 yard target, and another one for 40 yards, and so on. As a result, the majority of the bow sights that are used by archers today (such as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) carry multiple sight pins that lie in the same plane between the archer&#39;s eye and the target. However, it is this very arrangement that creates an aiming problem, in that, the very pins that are used to aim at the target, also restrict the archer&#39;s view of the target. The level sight gauges may also partially interfere with the view of the target.  
         [0034]     Apparatus of the invention address this obscured vision problem. Apparatus of the invention comprise a rotatable shaft, somewhat akin to a “pin wheel”, installed on a bow already having sight pin guard, or installed as part of a sight pin guard and platform assembly which is then attached to a bow. The shaft may be metal, plastic, or composite material. The rotatable shaft has at least one, and in certain embodiments a plurality of sight pins removably attached thereto, each sight pin having a connector or anchor end and a sight end. The connector or anchor ends are removably and adjustably installed at different longitudinal and circumferential locations on the rotatable shaft. As used herein “shaft” includes single and multiple pieces, such as a sleeve over a central core shaft.  
         [0035]     Attaching the sight pins to the rotatable shaft may proceed through many variations. Sight pin anchors may ride in longitudinal slots that are machined, cut, or molded into the shaft, or in a sleeve that slips over a core shaft. In these embodiments, the slots may or may not extend along the shaft&#39;s entire length. The slots may be machined, cut, or molded directly through the central axis of the shaft or along its outside edge. At least one slot is present, although there may be as many slots as the desired number of sight pins. In embodiments wherein there are two sight pins, the slots may be spaced circumferentially 180 degrees apart; in other embodiments having two sight pins, one slot may be used for two sight pins, with one sight pin near one end of the slot, the other sight pin near the bottom of the slot. When the archer desires three sight pins, the slots may be 120 degrees apart. When the archer desires four sight pins, the slots may be 90 degrees apart. The slots and mating sight pin anchors may be in any form or shape allowing the sight pins to move up and down the shaft.  
         [0036]     Sight pins useful in the invention may be made to actually ride inside the slots on the rotatable shaft or may ride on small parts that have been machined to fit inside mating slots that are machined into the shaft. For example, a dovetail slot may be cut into the rotatable shaft and a mating piece of dovetail material (metal, plastic, or composite) may be machined, molded, or otherwise made to fit in this slot. The sight pin may have the mating piece as an integral part of the sight pin; the mating piece is sometimes referred to herein as a sight pin anchor. Placing setscrews in the dovetail material allows adjustments to be made to each sight pin&#39;s vertical position. When these setscrews are tightened against the rotatable shaft, the sight pin anchor, and therefore the sight pin, remains locked in position and when they are loosened, the pin assembly may be moved to the desired location.  
         [0037]     Alternatively, instead of dovetail slots, one or more rectangular slots may be machined or cut into the rotatable shaft that accommodates a mating piece of flat material. The sight pin would then be attached to a correspondingly sized piece of flat stock, and again the vertical adjustment would be made by tightening or loosening setscrews in the flat material and moving the pin up or down on the rotatable shaft. Those skilled in the art will no doubt be able to envision other shaped slots and sight pin anchors, and these variations are considered within the scope of the invention.  
         [0038]     An alternative to slots for attaching the sight pins is to have a rotatable shaft with one or more sight pins removably attached to the shaft with rubber O-rings. The sight pins may be made (for example molded) to have the O-rings as an anchor. The O-rings are simply slipped onto the shaft and held on the shaft by friction.  
         [0039]     Apparatus of the invention allow the archer to independently adjust each sight pin for a given distance to the target, and to view one sight pin within the same sighting plane as the target itself. In some embodiments the archer may choose to have two sight pins viewable, for example a top and a bottom sight pin. If the sight pins could be made thin enough, multiple sight pins could be viewed in the plane of the sight guard, as in the prior art, except that apparatus in accordance with the invention allow rotating the sight pins into and out of the archer&#39;s view, if desired, just by rotating the shaft. In any case, the result is that the archer may have a substantially unrestricted view of both the target and the sight pin or pins that have been selected for a particular distance.  
         [0040]     Individual sight pins are accessible to the archer by twisting the rotatable shaft or a knob on the shaft until the desired sight pin or pins comes into view. The rotatable shaft may be indexed to stop at each sight pin location by means for indexing, such as spring-plungers, spring and ball bearing devices, and the like, placed in the knob at the top or bottom of the rotatable shaft, or both top and bottom if desired. The plungers or ball bearings come to rest in holes drilled into the sight pin guard (or bow frame) at appropriate locations. The sight pin guard is that part of the bow sight apparatus that protects the sight pins from possible damage. In certain embodiments of the invention the sight pin guard also supports the rotatable shaft. Alternatively, the spring-plungers or other devices could be installed in the sight guard (or bow frame), with the indexing holes in the holes drilled in the knob at the top or bottom of the rotatable shaft.  
         [0041]     Apparatus of the invention having multiple sight pins on a rotatable shaft, which then may be rotated about its longitudinal axis until the desired pin or pins come into view, is a primary feature of the invention. In effect, we have created a bow-sight that greatly simplifies an archer&#39;s sighting picture to a specific target that lies at a specific distance.  
         [0042]     Apparatus of the invention may have other advantages as well. For instance, each sight pin may be marked for its “sighted-in” range, and this may eliminate confusion for the archer as to which sight pin is in use. In certain apparatus embodiments of the invention, means for marking, such as decals, engravings or other means for marking may be placed on the shaft to mark each sight pin&#39;s range setting. Another advantage of the archer seeing only one or two sight pins at a time becomes apparent when a peep sight is used. A peep sight is the archer&#39;s rear sight. It is located on the bowstring. The archer looks through a usually round aperture to view both the sight pins and the target. With a conventional, multiple pin bow sight, the archer views many pins in a loose configuration within the opening of the peep sight, resulting in a certain degree of inaccuracy for the archer. Apparatus of the present invention, however, allow the archer to see only as many sight pins as are necessary, for example one or two sight pins at a time, and this sight pin may be aligned directly in the center of the peep sight. This makes for a much more precise sighting system for the archer.  
         [0043]     In most embodiments of the invention the archer will choose to use only one sight pin in a sight plane. However, in certain embodiments of the invention, as explained earlier, the manufacturer or the archer might wish to place two sight pins in the sight plane. For instance, the sight may have pins set for 20-40, 30-50, 40-60 and 50-70 yards, thus giving the archer a bow that&#39;s “sighted-in” from 20 yards out to 70 yards, in 10 yard increments. The 20-40 yard setting would have two pins in the same sight plane (in the same slot if slots are used to attach the sight pins), and so on. These embodiments conform to the idea of having multiple sight pins arranged on a rotatable shaft in such a manner that not all the sight pins are visible to the archer at each indexed location of the shaft.  
         [0044]     Referring now to the drawing figures, wherein identical reference numerals are used throughout the several views for like or similar elements,  FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of one bow sight embodiment  50  according to the teachings of the present invention. It should be noted that the drawing figures illustrate a bow sight and bow for a right-handed archer, and that bow sights and bows suitable for use by left-handed archers are also considered within the invention, and would merely require reversing or mirror imaging the features of the right-handed bow sight and bow illustrated in the figures. Embodiment  50  includes a rotatable shaft  52  that is rotatable by turning a knob  54  in the direction of the arrow above knob  54 . Shaft  52  and knob  54  may rotate in the other direction as well when desired. Rotatable shaft  52  is illustrated as being substantially vertical, but the invention is not so limited. Bow sight  50  includes a pin sight guard that is in two portions, side portion  12  and forward portion  56 , having an angle of 90 degrees between them. This angle is somewhat arbitrary; a 90 degree angle affords protection to two sight pins that are 90 degrees apart, as maybe the case in embodiment  50 , having four sight pins  6   a,    6   b,    6   c,  and  6   d  removably and slidably attached to rotatable shaft  52 . Bow sight  50  includes a vertical adjustment block  58  and an attachment block  60  for a horizontal adjustment block (not shown in this view), as well as a bow sight platform  62 . Attachment block  60  and platform  62  may be fabricated as one unit. More detailed descriptions of the individual components of embodiment  50  are provided in the ensuing description. It may be seen that rotating of rotatable shaft  52  from the position illustrated will cause sight pin  6   b  to be indexed into the position presently occupied by sight pin  6   a.    
         [0045]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of bow sight  50  of  FIG. 2 , illustrating more details of construction of this embodiment. Horizontal adjustment block  61  is viewable, having three adjustment holes  63  (illustrated in more detail in  FIG. 6 ) that mate with corresponding lateral slots  64  in attachment  60 , along with a nut  65  and cap screw  66 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the two outside holes  63  are threaded, while the middle hole  63  is not in this embodiment. Screw  66  fits inside middle hole  63  in block  61 . Nut  65  may slide within a slot  72  in vertical adjustment block  58 , allowing block  58  to slide up and down in rails  102  and  104  of block  61 , thus allowing vertical adjustment of the bow sight. Screws  68 ,  70  and washers  67 ,  69  allow movement of block  60  in a horizontal direction when loosened, providing horizontal adjustment for the bow sight. In embodiment  50 , four slots  59  are provided for receiving four sight pin anchors  7 . Only two slots are viewable in  FIG. 2 , and only one sight pin  6  is shown for clarity. Rotatable shaft  52  also includes means for indexing  57 , which may be spring-plunger or other type of indexing means. In a spring-plunger arrangement, a plunger slides in a groove  53  until a mating hole or detent is met, upon which the plunger extends and sets the position of rotating shaft  52 , and one of the sight pins  6 . Vertical adjustment block  58  attaches to sight pin guard  12  at the bottom of the apparatus using a screw  78 , a pair of washers  80   a,b,  and a screw  79 , and at the top using another screw  74 , another pair of washers  75   a,b,  and another nut  76 . Knob  54  on rotatable shaft  52  may have a knurled surface  55  as illustrated. Bow sight platform  62  may have one or more holes  82  and  83  for weight reduction. Holes  84   a  and  86   a  allow attachment of the bow sight to a bow in one position, while holes  84   c  and  86   c  allow attachment of the bow sight to a bow in another position. Holes  84   b  and  86   b  may be used for attachment of a bow quiver. Any or all of these holes may accept flat head screws or other type screws, or other attachment means.  
         [0046]      FIGS. 4A, 4B , and  4 C are schematic perspective (with some parts in phantom), a side elevation, and top plan views, respectively, of the rotatable shaft illustrated in the bow sight of  FIG. 2 . Views  4 A and  4 B clearly illustrate four sight pins  6   a,    6   b,    6   c,  and  6   d,  having respective anchors  7   a,    7   b,   7   c,  and  7   d  positioned removably and slidably within slots (only two slots  59   a,    59   b  shown) in rotatable shaft  52 . Anchors  7  may comprise a deformable material, such as an elastomer or other polymeric material, able to deform and fit into slots  59 . Alternatively slot  59  may have wide areas where a relatively rigid anchor  7  could be inserted, and slid into a more narrow position in a slot, wedging into the slot.  FIG. 4   c  illustrates two locations for means for indexing,  57   a,  and  57   b.  Illustrated also is a threaded stud  81  which mates with a locknut (not shown) used to fasten rotatable shaft  52  to sight pin guard  12 .  
         [0047]      FIGS. 5A, 5B , and  5 C are schematic perspective, front elevation, and cross sectional views, respectively, of vertical adjustment block  58  illustrated in the bow sight embodiment of  FIG. 2 . Extensions  87  and  88  and in tips  93  and  91 , respectively, the tips having through holes  92  and  90 , respectively for accepting screws  74  and  78  ( FIG. 3 ). A main body portion  89  connects extensions  87  and  88 .  FIG. 5C  is a cross section along line A-A of  FIG. 5B . Vertical adjustment blocks, if used, may comprise metal, plastic, or composite materials.  
         [0048]      FIGS. 6A, 6B ,  6 C, and  6 D are schematic perspective, top plan, front elevation, and side elevation (some parts in phantom) views, respectively, of the horizontal adjustment block illustrated in the bow sight embodiment  50  of  FIG. 2 . Through hole  63   b  is not threaded and may be slightly larger than threaded holes  63   a  and  63   c.  Hole  63   b  allows screw  66  to pass though and mate with nut  65 , while holes  63   a  and  63   c  are threaded to mate with screws  68  and  70 , respectively. Rails  102  and  104  mate in sliding engagement with main body portion  89  of vertical adjustment block  58 . Horizontal adjustment blocks, if used, also may comprise metal, plastic, or composite materials.  
         [0049]      FIGS. 7A, 7B ,  7 C,  7 D, and  7 E are schematic perspective, front elevation, side elevation, bottom plan, and top plan views, respectively, of the sight pin guard illustrated in the bow sight embodiment  50  of  FIG. 2 . In addition to features already discussed, the sight pin guard may comprise two very small diameter holes  111  and  112  for securing a sighting wire (not shown), as well as a hole  113  for passing though threaded stud  81  for mating with lock nut  83  ( FIG. 4 ), located at the bottom of rotatable shaft  52  therein. Through holes  114  and  115  accept screws  78  and  74 , respectively ( FIG. 3 ) for securing the sight pin guard  12 ,  56  to vertical adjustment block  58 .  
         [0050]      FIGS. 8A, 8B ,  8 C,  8 D, and  8 E are schematic front perspective, rear perspective, side elevation, rear side elevation, and top plan views, respectively, of the bow sight platform illustrated the bow sight embodiment  50  of  FIG. 2 . The rear perspective view of  FIG. 8B  and rear side elevation view of  FIG. 8   d  reveal four through holes  84   a,    84   c,    86   a,  and  86   c  that may have beveled lips suitable for acceptance of flat heads screws (not shown) for attaching the bow sight to a bow, and holes  84   b  and  86   b  for attaching a bow quiver.  FIGS. 8A and 8E  illustrate gang adjustment slots  64  in block  60 . The size of edges  120 ,  122 , and  123  may be adjusted as desired during manufacture.  
         [0051]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are perspective and bottom plan views, respectively, of an alternative rotatable shaft useful in bow sights of the invention. In this embodiment, one or more rectangular slots  159   a,    159   b,    159   c,  and  159   d  are machined, cut, or molded into rotatable shaft  152 . Rectangular slots  159  accommodate mating pieces of flat stock material. The sight pins (not illustrated) are attached to a correspondingly sized piece of flat stock, and again the vertical adjustment would be made by tightening or loosening set screws in the flat material and moving the sight pin or pins up or down on the rotatable shaft. A stud  181  and locknut (not shown) may be used to secure rotatable shaft  152  to a sight pin guard (not illustrated).  
         [0052]      FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative rotatable shaft and sight pin arrangement  200  within the invention. Alternative embodiment  200  requires no machining, cutting, or molding of slots or grooves into rotatable shaft  252 . Rather, sight pins  206   a,    206   b,  and  206   c  are attached to shaft  252  using rubber O-rings  207   a,    207   b,  and  207   c,  respectively. A stud  281  and locknut (not shown) is provided as in other embodiments. Knob  254  and knurling  255  may be substantially the same as in embodiment  50 .  
         [0053]     Another aspect of the invention are archery bows incorporating a bow sight of the invention, such as the bow embodiment  300  illustrated schematically in  FIG. 11 , which comprises conventional components such as eccentrics  302  and  304 , aim cables  306  and  308 , bow string  310 , and bow limbs  312  and  314 . Archery bows of this nature also typically include dual line adjustment bolts  316  and  318 , a stabilizer bushing  324 , a grip  320 , a riser  321 , and a sight window  322 . Sight pins guards  12  and  56  of a bow sight of the invention are illustrated, as well as mounting platform  62 , which is secured to sight window  322  using flat head screws or other attachment means, not illustrated in  FIG. 11 . A cable guard glide  326  and cable guard bar  328 , as well as a peep sight  330  complete this embodiment. Those skilled in the art of archery will recognize many variations of components that may still be within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0054]     Archery bows are made by a variety of manufacturers, and a non-exclusive list of suppliers and their presently known trade designation products might include compound bows known under the trade designations “Fatal Impact” and “Micro Stalker”, available from Alpine Archery, Lewiston, Id.; “Mirage ZX”, “F5 Tornado”, “Adrenaline X”, and Rage One”, available from Browning Archery, Tucson, Ariz.; “Magnum Extreme” and “Maverick Extreme”, from Darton; “Obsession”, “Mossy Oak”, and “Buckmasters”, available from Fred Bear Outdoors, Escalade Sports, Evansville, Ind.; “Vengeance”, available from Precision Shooting Equipment, Inc., Tucson, Ariz.; and “Switchback XT”, available from Mathews of Sparta, Wis.  
         [0055]     Parameters commonly used to describe compound bows include axle-to-axle length, limb or split limb length, brace height, draw length range, and mass weight. Compound bows in accordance with the invention include those having an axle-to-axle length ranging from about 25 to about 40 inches, a limb or split limb length ranging from about 10 to about 20 inches, a brace height ranging from about 5 to abut 10 inches, a draw length range ranging from about 20 to about 35 inches, and a mass weight ranging from about 2.5 to about 5.0 lbs. As a bow&#39;s string is drawn it&#39;s eccentrics turn, wrapping up cable and pulling the limb tips toward each other. Energy is stored in the flexing limbs, cables, and cams. The velocity that an arrow will fly when released by the string, and the kinetic energy, or “punching power” that the arrow will carry when impacting game, depends largely on the amount of energy stored in the bow as it is drawn. Three parameters largely determine the arrow velocity: the bow&#39;s maximum draw weight, the distance the string is drawn, and the shape of the eccentrics on the bow. Lever arms within the eccentrics create what is termed the bow&#39;s let-off. The Archery Manufacturer&#39;s Organization (AMO) is an industry standards committee that has put forth a method for measuring arrow speed. AMO speed is found by shooting a 540-grain arrow from a 60-pound bow with a 30-inch draw length, and the “AMO speed” for any bow on the market may be requested. The International Bowhunter&#39;s Organization also promotes an arrow speed standard that is becoming more accepted than the AMO standard. The IBO speed is found by shooting a 350-grain arrow from a 70-pound bow with a 30-inch draw length. A good bow should have AMO speeds in the range of 215 fps (290 fps IBO) to 235 fps range (315 fps IBO).  
         [0056]     A bow&#39;s brace height may affect both speed and accuracy. Brace height is defined as the distance from string  310  to the back of grip  320  when the bow is in its undrawn state. At brace heights over about 7 inches the bow may become more forgiving and more accurate. As the brace heights becomes shorter than 7 inches the bow may become more critical and harder to shoot well with less than perfect shooting form. Short brace lengths may multiply any shooting form flaws.  
         [0057]     When referring to materials of construction of the various components, metals may be selected from steels, including various stainless steels, titanium, beryllium, metal matrix composites, and in certain cases, depending on the component, aluminum, copper, nickel, chrome, brass, aluminum, and the like. For components expected to undergo a lot of stress, such as the vertical and horizontal adjustment blocks, steel and titanium may be better choices than aluminum and copper, for example. Suitable plastic materials include high-strength polymeric materials such as thermoplastic elastomers and high-density versions of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyurea, polyurethane, and the like. Apparatus of the invention may include adhesives, camouflaged tape, and a variety of color schemes, especially those conducive to hunting game. The polymeric materials, if used, may be strengthened by additives, such as fibers, nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanoplatelets, and the like. The additives may be carbon-based or non-carbon based, such as nanoclays and glass fibers.  
         [0058]     Sight pins useful in apparatus and bows of the invention include non-fiber optic and fiber-optic sight pins. Sight pins typically are comprised of a square pin base (sometimes referred to herein as an “anchor”) with a metallic pin body, such as beryllium. A bead is center drilled and typically holds a strand of optical fiber having a diameter ranging from about 0.020 inch to about 0.040 inch. The pin body length may range from 0.5 inch up to 1.5 inches. Typically the pins have a black matte finish to reduce glare. In some pins the fiber optic is wrapped around the pin body. Up to several feet of optical fiber may be wrapped around a single pin body. Batteries may be used to operate lights if lights are included in the design. Batteries such as 1.5 volt batteries, similar to watch batteries, may be used. While the bow sights of the invention may use lights and batteries, they are not required since the fiber optic pins are designed to gather sunlight during normal use.  
         [0059]     In conclusion, apparatus of the invention solve many of the problems that exist with the current bow-sights of today, and it does this in a unique way that may benefit anyone who aims a bow and arrow at a target. Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art may readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims. In the claims, no clauses are intended to be in the means-plus-function format allowed by 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 unless “means for” is explicitly recited together with an associated function. “Means for” clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.