Abstract:
A bow sight that facilitates the accurate alignment of an arrow with respect to a target is described. The bow sight of the present invention includes an adjustment member that adjusts an aiming point in controlled, finite, repeatable, increments in both the horizontal and vertical plane relative to a fixed point on the bow. The adjustment member is separable from the frame of the bow sight without affecting the position of the aiming point on the bow sight.

Description:
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of the filing date of U.S. provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/408,835, filed on Sep. 6, 2002. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to devices used to facilitate the accurate alignment of an arrow with respect to a target, and more particularly relates to a bow sight that allows for adjustment of an aiming point on the sight. The bow sight of the present invention includes an adjustment member that may be utilized to adjust the aiming point in controlled, finite, repeatable, increments in both the horizontal and vertical plane relative to a fixed point on the bow. The adjustment member is separable from the frame of the bow sight without affecting the position of the aiming point on the bow sight, thereby reducing the weight of the bow sight, and providing for increased rigidity in the bow sight. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Over the years, various bow sights have been constructed to assist an archer while aiming an arrow at a target. The bow sight may typically include a mounting member, frame, and aiming point. The mounting member attaches the frame to the bow and may include an extension positioned between the bow and sight frame. The aiming point is attached to the frame and may comprise a cylindrical housing, rectangular housing, slide plate, or other member that supports one or more sight pins, cross hairs, lens, or other reference point to align with a center point on a target. As an archer becomes more proficient at holding the bow at full draw, aligning the aiming point with the target, and releasing the bow string, the accuracy of the archer increases. As the archer&#39;s proficiency and accuracy increases, there is a desire to adjust in finite controlled increments the aiming point both vertically and horizontally to align the archer&#39;s eye and aiming point with the center of the target. Several sights have been developed in an attempt to allow for adjustment of the aiming point in the horizontal and vertical directions. 
   For example, Meicke in U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,270 describes a means for adjusting the sight pin of a bow. However, the bow sight shown and described by Meicke does not provide for adjustment of the sight pin in a controlled, finite, repeatable, increment in both the horizontal and vertical plane relative to a fixed point on the bow. Other attempts have been made to provide for finite adjustment of the sight pin in the horizontal and vertical direction. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,657,740, 6,430,822B1, 4,543,728, and 4,020,560 each describe a bow sight having one or more threaded pins mounted within one or more brackets that slide back and forth and adjoin sight pins to the bracket in various fashions. The brackets and multiple joints of the bow sights described in the &#39;740, 822′ &#39;728, and 560 patents decrease the rigidity and increase the complexity of the bow sight and do not necessarily allow for finite, controlled, repeatable adjustment of the sight. 
   Thus, there is a need for a bow sight that is simple, rigid, and durable, but also allows for finite adjustment of the aiming point. The present invention meets these and other needs that will become apparent from a review of the description of the present invention. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The purpose of the present invention is to provide a bow sight that allows for adjustment of an aiming sight in controlled, finite, repeatable, increments in both the horizontal and vertical direction relative to a fixed point on a bow. 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, the bow sight includes a horizontal bar, a vertical slide, a vertical slide mount, and a removable adjustment member. The horizontal bar is adapted for receiving an aiming sight. The vertical slide slidably engages with the horizontal bar to allow movement of the horizontal bar in a horizontal direction. The vertical slide mount slidably engages with the vertical slide to allow movement of the vertical slide in a vertical direction. 
   Further, the removable adjustment member may be utilized to adjust the aiming sight in controlled, finite, repeatable, increments in both the horizontal and vertical direction relative to a fixed point on a bow. Pins extending from the first and second alignment members engage with corresponding holes in either horizontal bar and vertical slide or the vertical slide and the vertical mount. A threaded shaft is fixedly attached at one end to a knob, extends through a threaded hole of the second alignment member and is rotatably attached at the opposite end to the first alignment member. When the knob is rotated in either clockwise or counterclockwise the second alignment member moves linearly by a corresponding proportionate amount. Once the horizontal bar or vertical slide is adjusted by the desired finite increment, then the adjustment member is removed and the corresponding set screw is tightened. If the archer again desires to adjust the horizontal bar or vertical slide the pins are engaged with the corresponding holes and may be adjusted in a controlled repeatable amount. 
   Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the horizontal bar, vertical slide and vertical slide mount may be constructed in various sizes, altered shapes and altered configurations while still providing slidable engagement to the adjoining members. For example, without limitation, the vertical slide mount includes a slot in which the vertical slide engages, however the vertical slide and vertical slide mount could be altered so that the vertical slide, slidably engages to the outside of the vertical slide mount instead. Further, the shapes, sizes and configuration should be chosen to allow for the desired amount of rigidity and/or simplicity. 
   In an alternative embodiment the vertical slide mount is mounted to an extension, which in turn engages with a mounting member that is attached to the bow. Also, to dampen vibration affects of the bow when the string is released, a harmonic dampener of known suitable construction could be engaged to or adapted to fit into the mounting member, extension, vertical slide mount, vertical slide, or horizontal bar. 
   These and other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the description of the preferred embodiment and/or when considered in conjunction with the claims and accompanying drawings in which like numerals in the several views refer to corresponding parts. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the bow sight of the present invention engaged to an extension member and mounted to an archers bow; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged partial front perspective view of the bow sight of the type shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded front perspective view of one embodiment of the adjustment member and bow sight of the present invention and a portion of the bow of the type shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the vertical slide of the type shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the adjustment member of the present invention and of the type shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the bow sight of the present invention with the adjustment member engaged to move the bow sight in controlled, finite adjustments in the vertical direction; and 
       FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the bow sight of the present invention with the adjustment member engaged to move the bow sight in controlled, finite adjustments in the horizontal direction. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present invention described herein are exemplary and modifications may be made without departing from the intended scope of the invention. Referring first to  FIG. 1  there is shown generally the bow sight  10  of the present invention mounted to a bow  12 . The bow  12  includes a riser  14  and bow limbs  16  with the proximal ends of the limbs  16  mounted to the riser. Cams  18  and  20  are mounted to the distal end of bow limbs  16  and cables and bowstring  22  wrap around the cams  18  and  20 . The bow sight  10  of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , generally includes a horizontal bar  24 , a vertical slide  26 , a vertical slide mount  28 , an aiming sight or scope  32 , an extension member  34 , and mounting member  36 . Harmonic dampeners  38  are mounted to the proximal ends of the limbs  16  to reduce vibration in the limbs  16  and riser  14  when a fully drawn bowstring is released. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the bow sight  10  will now be described in greater detail. Although other shapes and slide arrangements may be constructed in accordance with the present invention, the preferred embodiment of the vertical slide  26  is constructed of an I-beam that slidably engages within a slot formed in the vertical slide mount  28 . An aperture of approximately the same shape as the end of the horizontal bar  24  extends through a side of the vertical slide  26 . The horizontal bar  24  is supported by and slides within this aperture. The horizontal bar  24  includes a beveled edge  40  that assists with proper alignment of the bar and further includes a groove  42  formed in one side of the horizontal bar  24 . Setscrew  44  may be tightened against the groove  42  to hold the horizontal bar  24  rigid within the aperture of the vertical slide  26 . In a like manner setscrew  54  may be tightened against channel  52  (see  FIG. 4 ) to hold the channels  50  firmly and rigidly within the slot of the vertical slide mount  28 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the removable, micro adjustment member  30  includes a first fixed end  60 , second fixed end  62 , slide  68  extending between the first and second fixed ends  60  and  62 , a sliding member  64  and rotation knob  70 . The sliding member  64  slides over the slide  68 . Screw  66  is fixedly attached to the knob  70  and extends through clearance holes formed in the first and second fixed ends  60  and  62 . A stop is attached to the end of the screw  66  to keep the screw  66  from pulling out of the clearance holes. The screw also extends through a threaded hole formed in the sliding member  64 . When the knob  70  is turned counterclockwise the sliding member  64  slides along the slide  68  in a first direction. When the knob  70  is turned clockwise the sliding member  64  slides along the slide  68  in a second direction opposite the first direction. The adjustment member  30  also includes pins  72  and  74  extending from the bottom of the second fixed end and pin  76  extending from the bottom of the sliding member  64 . 
   Having described the constructional features of the present invention use of the adjustment member  30  to adjust the scope in finite controlled increments in both the vertical and horizontal direction will next be presented. With reference to  FIG. 6 , adjustment of the bow sight in the vertical direction will be described. First, the user aligns pins  72  and  74  of the adjustment member  30  with apertures  94  and  92  (see  FIG. 3 ) formed in the vertical slide mount  28 . The user then turns the knob  70  of the adjustment member  30  in the appropriate direction until the pin  76  aligns with aperture  96  formed in the vertical slide  26  (see FIG.  3 ). Once the three pins are aligned, the user presses against the adjustment member to thereby affectively press the pins into the apertures. Once the adjustment member  30  is engaged to the vertical slide  26  and slide mount  28 , the setscrew  54  is loosened. The knob  70  may then be turned in either direction by finite increments to thereby adjust vertically the aiming sight  32  in corresponding sequential finite increments. When the sight  32  has been moved the desired amount, the set screw  54  is tightened and the pins  72 ,  74 , and  76  pulled from the apertures of the slide  26  and slide mount  28 . If the user desires to again adjust the vertical position of the sight  32 , the adjustment member  30  is again engaged to the slide  26  and slide mount  28  and the sight  32  may be adjusted by the next sequential finite increment. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the scope  32  may include pins that may be further adjusted in the vertical direction. 
   With reference to  FIG. 7 , adjustment of the bow sight in the horizontal direction will be described. First, the user aligns pins  72  and  74  of the adjustment member  30  with apertures  82  and  84  (see  FIG. 3 ) formed in the vertical slide  26 . The user then turns the knob  70  of the adjustment member  30  in the appropriate direction until the pin  76  aligns with aperture  86  formed in the horizontal bar  24  (see FIG.  3 ). Once the three pins are aligned, the user presses against the adjustment member to thereby affectively press the pins into the apertures. Once the adjustment member  30  is engaged to the vertical slide  26  and horizontal bar  24 , the setscrew  44  is loosened. The knob  70  may then be turned in either direction by finite increments to thereby adjust horizontally the aiming sight  32  in corresponding sequential finite increments. When the sight  32  has been moved the desired amount, the set screw  44  is tightened and the pins  72 ,  74 , and  76  pulled from the apertures of the slide  26  and horizontal bar  24 . If the user desires to again adjust the horizontal position of the sight  32 , the adjustment member  30  is again engaged to the slide  26  and horizontal bar  24  and the sight  32  may be adjusted by the next sequential finite increment. 
   This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different equipment and devices, and that various modifications, both as to the equipment and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.