Patent Publication Number: US-6662798-B1

Title: Bow and handle combination

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to bow handles and more particularly pertains to a new bow handle for enabling an archer to adjust his bow so that it fits their hand better. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of bow handles is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,663 describes an archery bow grip with an improved adjustable grip comprising a thumb side plate and a finger side plate moveable with respect to each other. Another type of bow handle is U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,124 describes a grip assembly for an archery bow for being installed on the riser of a bow to provide a frictionless pivot connection between the bow and the grip and which does not impart torque to the bow. U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,834 describes an archery bow with tilting and translating grip that can move from side to side and tilt. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a system that includes a grip that can be rotated and customized to fit a users hand and fingers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the needs presented above by allowing the present invention to be rotated about a vertical axis of bow. The present invention can also be adjusted in width and gripping surface characteristics to accommodate any user. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a new bow handle that would enable an archer to adjust the grip on their bow so that it fits their hand more comfortably. This would align the bow correctly to make it easier for the archer to hold the bow steady and shoot accurately. This would be particularly useful for users that have strength or mobility problems with their wrist. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new bow handle that would offer a wide range of styles so that an archer could select a set that would fit their hand correctly. 
     To this end, the present invention generally comprises a bow and handle combination device including a bow having a handle section with a perimeter length less than a perimeter length of bow sections positioned on either side of the handle section. A handle assembly is removably attachable to the handle section. The handle assembly includes a pair of backing sections each with an inner side and an outer side. The inner sides have a slot positioned therein. The slots are positioned on either side of the handle section such that the backing sections extend around the handle section. Each of the outer sides has a threaded opening extending therein. Each of a pair of first handles each has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surfaces are abutted against one of the outer sides. Each of the first handles has an opening therein which is alignable with the threaded openings. Each of a pair of brackets is positioned around the backing sections for securing the backing sections on the handle section. Each of a pair of threaded securing members is selectively extended through an aligned set of openings and the brackets. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bow and handle combination according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side exploded view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view taken along the line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2 of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bracket of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new bow handle embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the bow and handle combination  10  generally comprises a conventional bow  12  with an improvement in handle construction. The bow  12  has a handle section  14  having a cylindrical shape and has a perimeter length less than a perimeter length of bow sections  16  positioned on either side of the handle section  14 . This provides a base for positioning a handle assembly  18  thereon, which can be altered to the needs of the user of the bow. 
     The handle assembly  18  is removably attachable to the handle section  14  and may include a plurality of components such as a pair of backing sections  20  each having an inner side  22  and an outer side  24 . Each of the inner sides  22  has a cylindrical slot  26  positioned therein such that the backing sections  20  comprise mating portions  21 . Each is positioned on an opposite side of the handle section  14  and abutted there against such that the mating portions  21  extend around and cover the handle assembly  18 . The outer sides  24  are planar. Preferably, a plurality of pegs  28  is attached to and extends away from the outer sides  24  of each of the backing sections  20 . Each of the backing sections  20  has a centrally positioned one of the pegs  28  having an end has a threaded opening  30  extending therein. If the pegs  28  are not used, the threaded openings  30  may be extended into the backing section  20  themselves. 
     Each of a pair of first handles  32  each has an inner surface  34  and an outer surface  36 . The inner surfaces  34  have a size and shaped adapted for abutting against and covering one of the outer sides  24 . Each of the inner surfaces  34  has a plurality of depressions  38  therein positioned for receiving the nubs  40 . Each of first handles  32  has an opening therein which is alignable with the threaded opening  30  in the nubs  40  when the first handles  32  are abutted against the backing sections  20 . The outer surfaces  36  have a concave depression  42  therein extending from an upper end  44  to a lower end  46  of the outer surfaces  36  and extending through side edges  48  of the first handles  32 . The first handles  32  may be used for gripping the bow  12  without additional components. 
     Each of a pair of spacing members  50  is positionable against the outer surfaces  36  of the first handles  32 . The spacing members  50  have a first side  52  having a shape adapted for positioning in the concave depressions  42 . Each of the spacing members  50  has a second side  54  having a generally planar configuration. The spacing members  50  having an opening  56  extending therethrough which is alignable with the openings  56  in the first handles  32 . 
     Each of a pair of brackets  58  includes a U-shaped member  60  having a central section  62  and a pair of arms  64 . The arms  64  are positioned over one of the second sides  54  of the spacing members  50  such that each of the central sections  62  are positioned adjacent to the side edges  48  and opposite of each other as shown in FIG.  3 . Each of the arms  64  has a hole  66  extending therethrough and is alignable with the openings  56  in the spacing members  50 . The central sections  62  comprise a resiliently stretchable material to secure the backing sections  20 , first handles  32  and spacers  50  against each other. 
     Each of a pair of gripping members  68  has a gripping surface  70  and a mating surface  72 . Each of the mating surfaces is generally planar and is positionable against one of the arms  64  of the brackets  58 . The gripping members  68  have an opening  74  extending therethrough that is alignable with the holes  66  in the brackets  58 . The gripping surface  70  of a first of the gripping members  76  is contoured from a bottom edge  78  to a top edge  11  such that the first gripping member  76  generally becomes wider from the bottom edge  78  to the top edge  11 . The gripping surface  70  of a second of the gripping members  13  has a plurality of finger receiving indentations  15  therein. 
     Each of a pair of threaded securing members  17  is selectively extended through an aligned set of openings and holes and is threadably securable to one of the threaded openings  30 . 
     In use, the backing sections  20  are positioned on the handle section  14  and the first handles  32  are then positioned on the backing sections  20 . Additional components, such as spacing members  50  and gripping members  68  may be retrofitted as needed to provide a better hand fit for the user of the bow. The bracket is generally going to be positioned such that it encompasses the second to last component to hold inner positioned components to the handle section  14  while the outer positioned components, such as the gripping members  68 , are secured with the threaded securing member  17 . The spacing members  50  and gripping members  68  may have alternate thickness and designs depending on the user&#39;s needs. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.