Patent Publication Number: US-9429393-B2

Title: Illuminated archery bow sight apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/090,921, filed 12 Dec. 2014, and entitled ILLUMINATED SIGHT GUARD APPARATUS, the disclosure of which is incorporated, in its entirety, by this reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to archery bow sight illumination devices configured to provide visual aid in low light conditions and particularly relates to illumination devices configured to affix to and illuminate the rim of an archery bow sight or similar sight alignment device in low light conditions. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Archery bows, crossbows, firearms, and similar devices are often equipped with a sight used to aid the shooter&#39;s aim. With respect to archery bows, one or more sight pins are typically provided to align the archery bow to a target at a given distance. The pins provide a reference point from which the shooter may gauge the path of a projectile when it is launched or fired. Archery bows in particular often use archery sights equipped with a pin guard that extends around relatively fragile sight pins in order to protect them from being damaged. A pin guard may also be used in a sight as an adjustment point for manually calibrating the alignment of the pin and/or peep sight of the bow in order to ensure accuracy while shooting. 
     Use of the sight pin and pin guard becomes difficult, however, in low light conditions, such as at dawn, dusk, or night time or while the shooter is positioned in a shaded or dark area such as inside a blind or surrounded by foliage. Thus, highly accurate shots may be difficult to make in low light conditions because of the difficulty of seeing the pin and the pin guard. 
     To help alleviate this problem, some conventional pin guards may feature a reflective tape, ultraviolet (UV) reactant material, or glow-in-the-dark markings to improve visibility of the ring around the sight pin in low light conditions. However, their effectiveness diminishes in common scenarios. The luminosity of a UV charge or glow-in-the-dark material depletes or degrades over time, such as while a hunter waiting in a natural or man-made blind, or due to the age of the glow material used. For its part, reflective tape needs a nearby artificial light source to be effective, which not practical to use in a blind and or when the hunter is trying to conceal his or her location out of a blind. 
     Some manufacturers have produced equipment with one or more conventional light sources positioned in the circumference of the pin guard that cast light on the pin to improve its low light visibility. The conventional light sources are usually incandescent and powered by a battery. In such devices, however, the light source is oriented to provide lighting solely to the sight pin(s), and thus the pin guard ring is not illuminated. Thus, the shooter is not given a reference point for the shooter against which to compare the sight pin within the sight guard. In addition, light output by these devices may also be undesirably visible from the target&#39;s side of the sight, revealing the shooter&#39;s position when the light is active. 
     Other sights have fiber optic strands wrapped around the pin guard ring that gather ambient light and then direct the light to illuminate a point on the sight pin or a portion of the pin guard, but these apparatuses require ambient light that is not readily available in a blind or in other dark areas where illumination is most important. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for improvements to lighted sight guards and sight pins that allow the shooter to accurately line up a shot in low light conditions. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an archery bow having a lighted sight apparatus. The bow may comprise a handle riser, a set of limbs positioned at opposing ends of the handle riser, with the set of limbs being configured to store energy upon drawing the archery bow, a bowstring extending between ends of the set of limbs, and a sight assembly connected to the handle riser. The sight assembly may comprise a sight pin, a guard portion positioned around the sight pin, with the guard portion having an archer side configured to face toward an archer drawing the archery bow and having a target side configured to face away from the archer, an artificial light source, and an optic element at least partially positioned on the guard portion. The optic element may be configured to be illuminated by light from the artificial light source, wherein at least a portion of the optic element is visible from the archer side of the guard portion and the optic element is concealed from the target side of the guard portion. 
     The optic element may comprise at least one optical fiber that may have a terminal end directed to face out of the archer side of the guard portion. The at least one optical fiber may also comprise a plurality of optical fibers, with the plurality of optical fibers each having a terminal end and the terminal ends each being directed to face toward the archer and being spaced around the guard portion. 
     The bow may further comprise a lens, with the lens concentrating the light of the artificial light source into the optic element. The artificial light source may be positioned within the sight assembly or the handle riser. The optic element may have a curved or ring shape around the sight pin that is visible from the archer side of the guard portion. An arc of the curve or ring shape may be visible from the archer side of the guard portion. A plurality of separated points along the curve or ring shape may be visible from the archer side of the guard portion. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure relates to an illuminated pin sight, which comprises at least one sight pin, a pin guard having a circular or oval-shaped circumference around the at least one sight pin, with the pin guard having a first side and a second side and the second side being opposite the first side, at least one light-distributing optic positioned at a perimeter of the pin guard, a power source, and an artificial light source configured to emit light and to illuminate the at least one light-distributing optic upon activating the power source. The light may be visible from the first side of the pin guard but not from the second side of the pin guard. 
     The pin sight may be connected to a bow and the power source may be automatically activated upon drawing the bow. Alternatively, the power source may be activated by inertia or by a switch connected to a handle portion of a bow, wherein the power source is activated by grip pressure against the switch. The pin guard may comprise an outer pin guard connected to an inner pin guard, wherein at least one of the outer pin guard and the inner pin guard comprises at least one surface channel, with the at least one surface channel receiving the at least one light-distributing optic. 
     The at least one surface channel may direct an end of the at least one light-distributing optic in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the outer pin guard or inner pin guard. The at least one surface channel may also comprise a spiral or helical shape. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is related to an illuminated pin sight comprising at least one sight pin, a pin guard having a circular or oval-shaped circumference around the at least one sight pin, a first optic element positioned extending around a perimeter of the pin guard, a second optic element positioned extending through the at least one sight pin, a power source, and an artificial light source configured to emit light and to illuminate the first and second optic elements upon connection to the power source. The pin guard may prevent visibility of light emitted from the first optic element in a first direction extending away from the pin guard toward a target and may allow light from the first optic element to be visible in a second direction extending away from the pin guard and toward a user, and the at least one sight pin may prevent visibility of light emitted from the second optic element in the first direction and may allow light from the second optic element to be visible in the second direction. 
     A cover may be positioned external to the first optic element in the first direction. The cover may comprise a ring shape having a plurality of apertures. The pin sight may also have a sheath or coating around the first and second optic elements, with the sheath or coating preventing lateral dispersion of light from the first and second optic elements. 
     The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. The Figures and the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify one or more preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings and figures illustrate a number of exemplary embodiments and are part of the specification. Together with the present description, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principles of this disclosure. A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the following drawings. In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bow having a sight apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A  is a front perspective view of a sight apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B  is a rear perspective view of the sight apparatus of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2C  is a rear end view of the sight apparatus of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2D  is a partial section view of  FIG. 2C . 
         FIG. 3A  is a rear perspective view of a sight apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  is a rear end view of the sight apparatus of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4A  is a rear perspective view of a sight apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4B  is a rear end view of the sight apparatus of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4C  is an exploded view of the sight apparatus of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4D  is a perspective view of the inner pin guard ring of the sight apparatus of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a sight apparatus according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5B  is a view of certain optic elements of the sight apparatus of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 5C  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a sight apparatus according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5D  is a view of a cover ring of the embodiment of  FIG. 5C . 
     
    
    
     While the embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure generally relates to an illuminated sight guard apparatus that is configured to be affixed to or built into a round or oval sight guard. Embodiments of the illuminated sight guard apparatus may illuminate the circumference of the pin guard ring and at least one point on the sight pin of a conventional sight in low light conditions so that the sight remains visible and effective for use by the shooter. Particular detail is provided herein regarding a sight apparatus used with an archery bow, but those having ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate that the principles and features of the present embodiments may be easily transferred to other types of sights, such as crossbow sights, gun sights, scopes, or other related devices. 
     In an example embodiment, fiber optic strands, tubes, or cables are placed in the sight around the circumference or perimeter of a pin guard of a sight pin of a bow. They may also extend to or terminate at the tip of the sight pin. Other embodiments include fiber optics strands that are positioned on the sight in a manner directing their ends toward the shooter or directed along the firing axis of the bow. The ends of the strands may be evenly spaced around the circumference or perimeter. An artificial light source, such as, for example, a light bulb, may be attached to or embedded in the body of the sight assembly and may be positioned to cast light onto or into the fiber optic strands or tubing so that light is distributed throughout the fiber optics, thereby illuminating the sides and ends of the strands or tubing. In some embodiments, the fiber optics may be positioned so that when they are illuminated, the strands or the ends thereof are illuminated in lines, arcs, or points around the perimeter of the sight guard. A pinpoint at the tip of the sight pin may also be illuminated. 
     These embodiments may advantageously provide illumination of parts of the pin guard and pin of the sight apparatus under low light conditions, such as at dusk or dawn or when the shooter is in a blind or surrounded by thick cover. The fiber optics may be positioned in a manner concealing their light from the target side of the sight while directing ample visible light toward the shooter. Thus, the shooter may have maximum visibility of the sight without indicating the shooter&#39;s position on the target side of the sight. 
     The light source may comprise a light emitting diode (LED) or other compact and efficient artificial light source. The light source may be powered by a battery (e.g., an alkaline or rechargeable DC battery) or other energy source stored in the sight guard or the handle riser of the bow. In some cases, the fiber optics, light source, and power source of the lighted sight may replace or supplement illumination features of existing light units for sight guards that only illuminate a sight pin. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure may include devices configured to be used as a replacement or upgrade device or module to be installed in bows, crossbows, and/or firearms that employ conventional pin sights. However, other embodiments may encompass an entire sight assembly accessory that is connected to a bow or other device in place of an existing sight. 
     The artificial light source may also comprise a convex bulb or may be placed adjacent to a convex lens. Whether convex or not, the shape of the bulb or lens may focus or otherwise direct light emitted from the artificial light source into the end portions of the fiber optic strands (e.g., their terminal tip surfaces). This may improve the brightness of the sight and improve the contrast of the lighted portions of the sight against the surrounding sight portions or the ambient area by efficiently gathering light into the optic elements used in the sight without casting light on other portions of the sight (or bow). 
     Support or structural components in a container on the body of the sight housing or handle riser may hold the fiber optics in a predetermined orientation that maximizes their light gathering ability. For example, a rubber or other flexible material may be positioned to support the fiber optics in a position where their ends face the lens and light source. The light source may be contained within an opaque housing so that light that is not directed into the optic elements does not scatter to the bow&#39;s ambient surroundings. In some embodiments, fiber optic elements may be used that have their lengths contained in a sheath or opaque coating that prevents lateral emission of light, but their ends or tips are not covered at parts intended to be visible to the shooter. 
     In some embodiments, the sight guard may be configured with the lighted optic elements being visible to the archer/shooter without being visible from the target side of the sight. The lighted elements may therefore be obscured from a target&#39;s perspective while being visible from the shooter&#39;s perspective. The sight guard may have a first side facing away from the shooter and a second side facing toward the shooter, and the first side may have an obstruction or body portion of the sight that partially or entirely covers visibility of the optic element while the second side does not partially or entirely cover or block visibility of the optic element. 
     An archery bow (or other device to which the sight is attached) may have a line of sight extending through the pin of the sight and through the pin guard ring, and the lighted optic element may be visible from only one direction along that line of sight. In some embodiments, the visibility of the optic element may be defined by being concealed from a certain range of angles around the front/target side of the sight, such as being concealed within a 90, 120, 180, 270, or 330-degree three-dimensional spherical cone of view comparable shape) centered around the front of the sight, while the optic element may remain visible in the remaining field of view (i.e., the remaining three-dimensional space behind the sight). This way, the light aiding the shooter remains hidden from the target&#39;s perspective over a broad range of angles extending around the line of sight as well. 
     The present description provides examples, and is not limiting of the scope, applicability, or configuration set forth in the claims. Thus, it will be understood that changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements discussed without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, and various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add other procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, the methods described may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Also, features described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in other embodiments. 
     Turning now to the figures in detail,  FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of an archery bow  100  having an illuminated pin sight  102  according to the present disclosure. The bow  100  may comprise a handle riser  104  having an upper end  106 , a lower end  108 , and a handle grip portion  105 . Each of the ends  106 ,  108  may be respectively connected to upper limbs  110  and lower limbs  112 . The ends of the limbs  110 ,  112  may be connected to wheels or cams  114 ,  116  around which a bowstring  118  and cables  119   a ,  119   b  may be routed. The bow  100  may be equipped with various accessories, including, for example, limb dampeners  120 , a stabilizer  122 , a string dampener  124 , a mounted quiver  126   a ,  126   b ,  126   c , a cable guard  128 , and/or other related equipment. The bowstring  118  may be connected to a peep sight  130  that is configured for use with the illuminated pin sight  102 . 
     The bow  100  may shoot an arrow or other projectile by positioning the arrow at an arrow support on the handle riser  104  and against the bowstring  118 , drawing the bowstring  118 , thereby storing energy in the limbs  110 ,  112 , and then releasing the bowstring  118 , thereby releasing the stored energy and launching the arrow forward and away from the bowstring  118  as the bowstring snaps back into its rest position. 
     As the arrow flies, its course may generally lie within an arc in a vertical plane in which the bowstring  118  lies. The back-and-forth movement of the bowstring  118  may also generally lie within this plane. Thus, this plane may be referred to as the “arrow plane,” “arrow path plane,” bowstring plane,” or “bowstring path plane.” The illuminated pin sight  102  and peep sight  130  may be calibrated to help the archer align the arrow plane with the target and to gauge how much aiming vertical tilt is needed to make the path of the arrow strike the intended target. 
       FIG. 1  also shows direction T, which indicates the “target direction” relative to the bow  100 , and direction S, which indicates the “shooter direction” relative to the bow  100 . The target direction T extends away from the shooter, and the shooter direction S extends toward the shooter. Alternatively, direction T may be referred to as extending away from the front of the bow  100  or shooter and direction S may be referred to as extending away from the rear or back of the bow  100  to the shooter. The target direction T and shooter direction S may both be positioned within the arrow plane and are generally perpendicular to the bowstring  118  at rest position. Alternatively, the target and shooter directions T, S may be positioned relative to an axis through the tip of a sight pin of the illuminated pin sight  102  (i.e., whether they are in-plane with the arrow plane or not). 
     As used herein, a component may be “connected” to another component by being attached to the other component by fasteners, interlocking parts, snap-fit elements, or other reversible attachment methods, by being attached to the other component by non-reversible attachment methods such as adhesives, welding, and similar methods, or by being integrated into and unitarily/seamlessly part of the other component such as by being milled, molded, or otherwise built into the other component. The illuminated pin sight  102  may be connected to the handle riser  104 . 
       FIGS. 2A-2B  show detailed perspective views of an embodiment of an illuminated pin sight  202 . The pin sight  202  may be the pin sight  102  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2A  shows a front view (facing substantially in the shooter direction S, i.e., toward the shooter such that the front of the pin sight  202  is visible), and  FIG. 2B  shows a rear view (facing substantially in the target direction T, i.e., toward the target and such that the rear of the pin sight  202  is visible). The illuminated pin sight  202  may comprise a bracket portion  240  and a sight portion  242 . The bracket portion  240  may be connected to a handle riser  104  and may comprise various adjustable and/or articulable components  241  that allow the user to adjust the position of the sight portion  242  relative to the bracket portion  240  and/or the handle riser  104 . The bracket portion  240  may comprise at least one support arm  244  extending from the bracket portion  240  to the sight portion  242 . The support arm  244  connects the bracket portion  240  to a pin guard ring  248  of the sight portion  242 . The pin guard ring  248  may extend around one or more sight pins  250 . The sight pin  250  may be connected to the pin guard ring  248 . 
     The pin guard ring  248  may be generally tubular and may have a central sight opening  252  into which the sight pin  250  extends. The side of the pin guard ring  248  facing the shooter may be referred to as the shooter side or back side  254  of the pin guard ring  248  (see  FIG. 2B ), and the opposite side may be referred to as the target side or front side  256  of the pin guard ring  248  (see  FIG. 2A ). The central sight opening  252  may comprise a circumference or perimeter. An optic element  258  may extend around the circumference or perimeter on the back side  254  of the pin guard ring  248 . In some embodiments, the optic element  258  may be positioned within a recess  260  in the back side  254 . The recess  260  may be configured to hold the optic element  258  as it wraps around the central sight opening  252  while preventing light emitted from the optic element  258  from being visible from a lateral direction relative to the recess  260 . For example, the recess  260  may be positioned adjacent to and within a circumferential wall  262  that is positioned radially outward from the central sight opening  252  and extends in the shooter direction S away from the recess  260 . In some embodiments, a second circumferential wall (not shown) may be positioned radially internal to the recess  260  to block light from being cast in a radially internal direction from the optic element  258 . For example, the second circumferential wall may prevent light from being cast radially and directly from the optic element  258  onto the sight pin  250  and its surroundings. 
     The optic element  258  may be visible to the shooter and may be illuminated to give the shooter a circumferential reference point for the sight pin  250 . The sight pin  250  may also be illuminated, at least at its tip  264 . Thus, the shooter may also be able to see the tip  264  relative to the circumferentially-positioned portions of the optic element  258  in low light conditions. In some embodiments, the optic element  258  may be routed around the circumference of the pin guard ring  248  and terminate with an end of the optic element  258  facing the shooter at the tip  264  of the sight pin  250 . In other arrangements, the light at the tip  264  of the sight pin  250  may come from a source separate from the optic element  258 . 
     In some configurations, the optic element  258  may be at least partially covered by a rear cover that is positioned in the shooter direction S away from the optic element  258  (e.g., so as to be positioned between the shooter and the optic element  258  and to partially block the shooter&#39;s view of the optic element  258 ). The rear cover may be connected to the pin guard ring  248 . The rear cover may comprise a plurality of apertures, notches, or gaps that are configured to selectively let through some of the light from the optic element  258 . For example, an aperture in the rear cover may be positioned at each of the top, bottom, and left and right sides of the rear cover in a manner that exposes a relatively small arc or pinpoint section of the optic element  258  to the view of the shooter. See also  FIGS. 5C-5D  and their associated descriptions below. 
     The optic element  258  may comprise a plurality of fiber optic strands or other refractive optical filaments or light-transmitting wire elements. Thus, the optic element  258  may be a translucent or transparent cylinder that is both flexible and solid. In one embodiment, the fiber optic strands may have a diameter of about 0.029 inches, but other sizes may be used depending on the size and design of the sight and pin guard ring being used. The fiber optic strands may be configured to gather light from an artificial light source at one end of the strands, to partially emit light laterally along their lengths, and to emit additional refracted light at their terminal ends. The optic element  258  may therefore be referred to as being internally illuminated from an end-positioned light source, as opposed to fiber optics used in conventional sights that are illuminated by ambient light that is gathered laterally through large portions of the lengths of the strands and then reflected from there toward the ends of the strands. 
     The light source may be focused into the optic element  258  to enhance the brightness of the sides and exposed end of the optic element  258 . Focusing the light source may also improve efficiency of the light source, meaning that lower brightness (and thus lower power consumption) is needed at the light source to provide sufficient illumination of the optic element  258 . The visible portions of the optic element  258  may be a light source in a dark area due to being illuminated by an artificial light source concealed within the illuminated pin sight  202 . Thus, the optic element  258  may be visible in complete darkness where conventional sights would not be visible due to a lack of ambient light that would be gathered by fiber optics, would be used to charge a glow-in-the-dark material, or would be reflected by a reflective surface on the sight apparatus. 
     The optic element  258  may be mounted at multiple points around the circumference of the pin guard ring  248 . For example, a plurality of brackets or clips  259  may hold the optic element  258  to the pin guard ring  248  at a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart points around the pin guard ring  248 . The clips  259  may be transparent so that they do not disrupt the emission of light from the optic element  258 . The clips  259  may comprise a metal or plastic material and may be configured to be fitted or spring loaded to the pin guard ring  248 . 
     In some embodiments, the optic element  258  may be attached to the pin guard ring  248  continuously and/or uniformly along a length of the optic element  258 , such as by being seated in a groove in the pin guard ring  248  that pinches against or locks to a length of the optic element  258 . A groove or channel may be machined or molded into the pin guard ring  248  for this purpose. Similarly, a length of the optic element  258  may be held to the pin guard ring  248  by an adhesive. Thus, the optic element  258  may be prevented from falling off of or being substantially separated from the pin guard ring  248 . This may help prevent light from escaping the optic element  258  in an undesired direction and may make the optic element  258  less susceptible to damage or dislodging. In some embodiments, the optic element  258  is provided separated from a pin guard ring, and the optic element  258  may be attached to the pin guard ring by the user. This may be beneficial to users that have irregularly-shaped pin guard rings, such as oval or polygonal pin guard rings, since the user may attach the optic element  258  around the perimeter of the irregular pin guard ring where needed. 
     One or more support arm  244  may be a housing for an artificial light source and/or power source used to illuminate the optic element  258 . Thus, the support arm  244  may contain a cavity or internal container in which the ambient light source and power source may be contained. The power source may be connected or disconnected from the outside of the support arm  244  by a switch or movable part of the exterior of the support arm  244 . See also  FIGS. 2C-2D . 
     The pin guard ring  248  may comprise an opaque material that prevents transmission of light through the pin guard ring  248  in the target direction T. Thus, the pin guard ring  248  may prevent light emitted from the optic element  258  and artificial light source from being visible to a viewer at the front side  256  of the illuminated pin sight  202 . For example, the pin guard ring  248  may comprise a metal such as aluminum, titanium, magnesium, an opaque polymer/plastic, a composite based on a material such as carbon fiber or fiberglass in an opaque matrix material, or a comparable material. Similarly, the sight pin  250  may comprise an opaque material that prevents light from an optic element (e.g.,  258 ) extending through its shaft from being visible. The tip  264  of the sight pin  250  may, however, be transparent or may comprise openings that expose the optic elements  258 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 2C and 2D , the sight portion  242  of the illuminated pin sight  202  is shown with the bracket portion  240  and sight level  253  (see  FIG. 2B ) hidden.  FIG. 2C  shows a rear end view of the back side  254  and faces directly through the central sight opening  252 , and  FIG. 2D  is a partial section view of the housing portion  266  of  FIG. 2C . 
     The sight portion  242  is connected to a bow via the bracket portion  240 . The bracket portion  240  comprises a single support arm  244  or bracket, and the lower portion of the sight portion  242  is connected to a free-extending housing portion  266 . In some embodiments, the housing portion  266  may be structurally connected to the bracket portion  240  as well. The housing portion  266  extends substantially tangentially away from the circumference of the pin guard ring  248  at a lower end of the pin guard ring  248 . The housing portion  266  is substantially cylindrical in shape. This positioning and shape configuration of the housing portion  266  may help to keep the housing portion from being exposed to impacts due to being positioned generally between the pin sight guard  248  and the handle riser of the bow. The positioning of the housing portion  266  may also allow the optic element  258  to be routed directly along a tangential path  255  into the housing portion  266 . By following the tangential path  255  into the housing portion  266 , the optic element  258  may retain more light and is under less stress and strain from bending. 
     The optic element  258  of the sight  202  that extends circumferentially around the pin guard ring  248  may have a terminal end  265  that is positioned within the housing portion  266 , as shown in  FIG. 2D . In some embodiments, the second terminal end  267  of the optic element  258  may also be positioned in the housing portion  266  adjacent to the first terminal end  265 . The terminal end  265  may be held within the housing portion  266  by a support ring  268  so that the terminal end  265  is axially directed toward a focal point of a lens  270  focusing light from an artificial light source  272  within the housing portion  266 . The housing portion  266  may also contain a power source, such as, for example, a battery  274  or array of batteries. The housing portion  266  may have an internal chamber  275  in which the terminal end  265 , support ring  268 , lens  270 , and artificial light source  272  are positioned. The terminal end  265  may be positioned within the housing portion  266  and pin guard ring  248  up to the position on the pin guard ring  248  where it is exposed to the shooter, such as near the bottom-most oriented clip  259   a . In this manner, the light coming from the optic element  258  is shielded from being visible from the target side of the sight portion  242 . 
     The lens  270  may be a convex lens connected to or positioned adjacent to the artificial light source  272 . The lens  270  may focus light from the artificial light source  272  into the terminal end  265  of the optic element  258 . The lens  270  may therefore comprise a transparent material configured to refract light inward toward the interface between the optic element  258  and the lens  270 . 
     The artificial light source  272  may comprise a light emitting diode (LED), incandescent bulb, or comparable lighting device that is compact and durable. The artificial light source  272  may beneficially generate a low amount of heat while being bright and energy efficient. In some embodiments, the artificial light source  272  may comprise a single light-emitting device, but other embodiments may comprise a plurality of light emitting devices that collectively emit light into the optic element  258 . 
     The outer end  276  of the housing portion  266  may be movable relative to an inner tube  277  of the housing portion  266  and the pin guard ring  248 . For example, the outer end  276  may be a switch that may be axially depressed (e.g., along direction D of  FIG. 2D ) to turn the artificial light source  272  on and off. Another example may include a switch that is activated by rotating the outer end  276  relative to the inner tube  277  (e.g., along direction R of  FIG. 2D ). In other embodiments, the outer end  276  may comprise a separate electrical switch or button that may be manipulated by the user to toggle power to the artificial light source  272 . 
     The support ring  268  may comprise an elastic material configured to dampen vibration and other forces applied to the housing portion  266  so that the terminal end  265  of the optic element  258  is more resistant to breaking, cracking, or other damage. Thus, the support ring  268  may comprise a rubber or flexible polymer material. The support ring  268  may be configured to support the terminal end  265  around its circumference in all directions due to the terminal end  265  extending centrally through an aperture that extends through the support ring  268 . 
     The tip  264  of the sight pin  250  may be centrally located within the ring generated by the optic element  258 . See  FIG. 2C . Alternatively, the tip  264  may be offset laterally or vertically relative to the center of the ring. In some embodiments, the tip  264  may have an adjustable position. In embodiments where the second terminal end  267  of the optic element  258  extends through the sight pin  250 , the optic element  258  may have a small amount of slack in the pin guard ring  248  or the sight pin  250  so that second terminal end  267  and the sight pin  250  may be moved without damaging the optic element  258  or disrupting its visible position relative to the pin guard ring  248 . 
       FIGS. 3A-3B  show another embodiment of a sight portion  342  of an illuminated pin sight of the present disclosure. The sight portion  342  includes a sight pin  350  within a central sight opening  352  of a pin guard ring  348 . As with other embodiments shown herein, the sight portion  342  may be connected to a bracket portion and/or a handle riser. The sight portion  342  may also be connected to a housing portion (e.g., housing portion  266 ) having a light source, power source, and other associated components described above. In this embodiment, however, the optic element may comprise a plurality of optic elements (not shown) that each receive light from a common light source (which may be in a housing portion) but then each terminate at different circumferential positions ( 378   a  through  378   g ) spaced around the pin guard ring  348 . See  FIG. 3B . At each of the circumferential positions  378   a - 378   g , the individual optic elements may have a terminal end that faces toward the shooter direction S and away from the target direction T. Thus, light in the optic elements may be at least primarily emitted from the optic elements toward the shooter and not toward the target. Holes (e.g.,  380 ) may be formed (e.g., drilled or molded) in a plurality of tabs  382  that extend radially inward from the inside perimeter of the pin guard ring  348 , and the optic elements may be mounted in the tabs  382  by a press fit/friction fit, adhesive, or comparable method. 
     In  FIGS. 3A-3B , seven circumferential positions  378   a - 378   g  are shown, but in other embodiments, other numbers of configurations are possible. For example, the sight may comprise only circumferential positions  378 - b ,  378 - d , and  378 - f  which, in conjunction with the tip  364  of the sight pin  350 , would form an inverted “T”-shape for targeting in low light conditions. Similarly, circumferential positions  378   a ,  378   c ,  378   e , and  378   g  may be used with the tip  364  to form an “X”-shape or cross shape. Additionally, a sight may comprise a larger number of lighted circumferential positions or tabs  382  and the positions of the circumferential positions  378  and tabs  382  may be changed relative to the pin guard ring  348 . The tabs  382  of  FIG. 4B  are shown having even circumferential spacing between positions along a majority of the circumference of the pin guard ring  348  (with the exception of the space between positions  378   a  and  378   g ), but uneven spacing may be implemented, such as an embodiment where only positions  378   b ,  378   c ,  378   e , and  378   f  are provided and/or illuminated. In some arrangements, the user may reposition strands of optic elements between the tabs  382  or remove some optic elements entirely to change the number and positioning of the illumination points around the sight. 
     The optic elements around the pin guard ring  348  may have an opaque outer coating or sheathing material that minimizes light escaping laterally through the optic elements in areas where they are routed to the tabs  382  or would be visible from the target side of the sight portion  342 . Thus, the light in the optic elements may be laterally concealed while still being emitted from open and uncovered end tips. Alternatively, the optic elements may be routed through a passage within the pin guard ring  348  that prevents light from escaping in the target direction T from the sight. 
       FIGS. 4A-4D  show yet another embodiment of a sight portion  442  of an illuminated pin sight of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the sight portion  442  may comprise an outer pin guard ring  448  and an inner pin guard ring  449 . The outer pin guard ring  448  may receive the inner pin guard ring  449  at a position radially internal to and contacting an inner tubular surface  451  (see  FIG. 4C ). The outer pin guard ring  448  may be attached to the inner pin guard ring  449  with optic elements  458  positioned in between. The outer and inner pin guard rings  448 ,  449  may comprise an opaque material that keeps the optic elements  458  concealed from vision except at their terminal ends that face toward the shooter. 
     The inner pin guard ring  449  may comprise a plurality of surface channels  480  in which the optic elements  458  are routed, as shown in  FIGS. 4C-4D . In other embodiments, the outer pin guard ring  448  may have the surface channels  480  formed therein. The surface channels  480  may be sized with a width and depth to receive the optic elements  458  internal to the outer surface  481  of the inner pin guard ring  449  so that they can fit internal to the outer pin guard ring  448 . In some embodiments, openings or apertures may be formed in the inner pin guard ring  449  to allow a sight pin or other components to penetrate through the inner pin guard ring  449  from the outer pin guard ring  448 . In some arrangements, a sight pin may also be connected to the inner pin guard ring  449  and extend inward from the inner surface of the inner pin guard ring  449 . 
     The surface channels  480  may each comprise a curved portion  482  and a straight portion  484 . A straight portion  484  may hold a terminal end of an optic element  458  and may thereby keep the end oriented parallel to the shooting axis of the central sight opening  452  so that light from the optic elements  458  is directed primarily toward the eyes of the shooter. The curved portion  482  may direct the optic element  458  through a gradual spiral, helical, or coil-shaped path in order to avoid sharp bends in the optic element  458  that may break the optic element  458  or diminish its light-transmitting capability. The front end of the curved portion  482  may open in a direction substantially parallel to a front surface  486  of the inner pin guard ring  449 . See  FIG. 411 ). From that point, the optic elements  458  may all be coiled and routed around the perimeter of the central sight opening  452  within a circumferential groove  487  to a light source that is in the sight (e.g., a housing portion  266 ), the handle riser, or another portion of the device to which the sight is connected. A plurality of optic elements  490  are shown bunched together as they extend from the sight portion  442  through a protective tube  491  that may be connected to the outer pin guard ring  448 . Thus, the circumferential groove  487  may receive optic elements  458  from each of the surface channels  480  without exposing the optic elements  458  to the target side/front surface  486  of the inner pin guard ring  449 . The outer pin guard ring  448  may prevent their exposure in a radially outward direction as well. 
     In some configurations, the straight portion  484  of each surface channel  480  extends along a length of the inner pin guard ring  449  between the front and back surfaces of the inner pin guard ring  449 , such as about half the length between the front and back surfaces, and the curved portion  482  has a tighter radius of curvature than that shown in the figures. In other embodiments, the curvature of the curved portion  482  is configured to have the end of an optic element  458  in the curved portion terminate facing parallel to the central sight opening  452  without extending through a straight portion  484 . 
     Each of the surface channels  480  may have the same shape and size, but may be circumferentially spaced around the inner pin guard ring  449 . In  FIGS. 4A-4D , the surface channels  480  are spaced about 60 degrees apart from each other around the circumference of the inner pin guard ring  449 , but other angles of separation may be used in different sights, such as in sights where more or fewer than six optic elements  458  are used. For example, four or eight evenly circumferentially spaced optic elements  458  may be used. The optic elements  458  may be positioned so that an aperture through the inner pin guard ring  449  that is used to facilitate extension of a sight pin from the outer pin guard ring  448  and the central sight opening  452  does not expose one of the optic elements  458 . 
       FIGS. 5A-5B  show yet another embodiment of a pin sight  502  of the present disclosure. The pin sight  502  comprises a bracket portion  540  and a sight portion  542 . The sight portion  542  comprises a plurality of sight pins  550  that each have a lighted tip  564 . The sight portion  542  also has a pin guard ring  548  extending around the sight pins  550 . A circumferential optic element  558  may extend around the circumference of the rear side of the pin guard ring  548 , and a plurality of pin optic elements  559  may light the tips  564  of the sight pins  550 .  FIG. 5B  shows the circumferential optic element  558  and plurality of pin optic elements  559  isolated from the pin sight  502 . 
     In this pin sight  502 , each of the optic elements  558 ,  559  may be configured with a different color, brightness, or on/off setting. The circumferential optic element  558  may comprise a thicker fiber optic wire than each of the plurality of pin optic elements  559  in order to be more laterally visible as it extends around the perimeter of the pin guard ring  548 . The optic elements  558 ,  559  may have individual light sources in the light source housing  566  or they may be illuminated by the same light source. This pin sight embodiment  502  also shows that the optic elements  558 ,  559  may be routed to a light source that is external to the sight portion  542 , such as to the light source housing  566  on the bracket portion  540 . Alternatively, the light source housing  566  may be located elsewhere on a handle riser or other portion of the device to which the pin sight  502  is connected. 
     The circumferential optic element  558  and plurality of pin optic elements  559  may be routed into a tubing or sheath  560  that protects and guides the optic elements  558 ,  559  to a light source housing  566  from which their terminal ends  568  are lighted. The sheath  560  may be transparent, translucent, or opaque. If the sheath  560  is transparent or translucent, the bracket portion  540  may be configured with structural features that block any light emitted through the sheath  560  from the optic elements  558 ,  559  in the target direction T so that the light is not visible from the target side of the pin sight  502 . 
       FIG. 5C  shows another embodiment of the pin sight  502  wherein a cover ring  590  is included. The cover ring  590  is attached to the sight portion  542  adjacent to and rearward relative to the circumferential optic element  558  in a manner that causes it to lie between the circumferential optic element  558  and the shooter. The cover ring  590  may be substantially opaque. 
     The cover ring  590  comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart apertures  592 . In some embodiments, the apertures  592  may contain transparent material that makes the apertures  592  into small windows. The apertures  592  are configured to allow light from the circumferential optic element  558  to be selectively visible to the shooter at specific spaced-apart positions around the circumference of the pin guard ring  548 . Thus, with the cover ring  590  installed, the circumferential optic element  558  may only be visible to the shooter through the apertures  592 . By using a cover ring  590 , the sight portion  542  may emit less light toward the shooter, which may help preserve the shooter&#39;s night vision and make the ring around the sight dim er a d less distracting. The visible points of light around the ring  590  may also be used as reference points against which the sight pin and target may be compared. The cover ring  590  also allows multiple segregated and separated points of light to be presented to the shooter without needing the sight to have a plurality of lighted fiber optic wires. A single circumferential optic element  558  may be used to shine through several or all of the apertures  592 . In some arrangements the cover ring  590  may be rotatable relative to the sight portion  542  so that the positions of the apertures  592  may be rotated to different positions relative to the sight portion  542  and the sight pins  550 . The cover ring  590  may be used in addition to, or in place of, clips (e.g., clips  259 ), grooves, or adhesives in order to hold the circumferential optic element  558  in position relative to the pin guard ring  548 . 
     The apertures  592  in the cover ring  590  are circular in shape in  FIGS. 5C and 5D . In some cases, the apertures  592  may each have a short but continuous arc shape, such as a curved rectangular strip shape, that follows the curvature of the cover ring  590 . Thus, rather than revealing a circular point of light from the circumferential optic element  558 , the apertures  592  may each reveal an arc-shaped segment of the circumferential optic element  558 . While  FIGS. 5C-5I ) show an embodiment where the cover ring  590  has six apertures  592 , a larger or smaller number of apertures  592  may also be used. 
     Some features of embodiments of sights described herein may be constructed as part of an accessory that is attachable to an existing sight pin guard. For example, the present embodiments may be constructed with a pin guard ring that is attachable to the shooter-facing side of a pin guard ring and a light source and power source that are attachable to the sight (or the weapon used with the sight). A pin guard ring of those embodiments may be adhered to the pin guard ring on the inside or outside of the hollow shape of the pin guard ring. 
     Various methods may be used to activate illumination of the optic elements of the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, the light source may be connected to an automatic switch or trigger that turns on the light source and illuminates optic elements in response to a user drawing a bowstring of a bow to which the sight is connected. The automatic switch or trigger may activate based on a variety of activators, such as, for example, receiving threshold strain measurements obtained from strain gauges on the limbs of the bow, detecting movement or rolling movement of the bowstring, cables, and/or cams of the bow, detecting a triggering of a pressure switch in the grip portion of the handle riser, and/or obtaining a threshold measurement from an accelerometer or other inertial sensor that detects the positioning of the bow relative to gravity or relative to a rest position. Thus, some methods of illumination may comprise at least: (1) detecting the position or orientation of the sight (or the position or orientation of the bow to which the sight is connected), (2) determining that the position or orientation of the sight coincides with an aiming position of the bow, and (3) activating the light source (e.g., connecting a power source to the light source). In some cases, the position or orientation of the sight may be detected simply by a switch being triggered, as in the case of a pressure switch in the grip that is triggered when the bow is being gripped (or when the bow is being gripped and the bowstring is drawn, due to increased pressure against the grip). Thus, the first and second steps listed above may be simultaneously performed. In some embodiments, these methods may further comprise detecting the position or orientation of the sight being out of an aiming position of the bow and deactivating the light source in response. An “aiming position” may be an upright or raised position of the bow or sight or may be a position where the shooter is holding the bow in a manner preparing to shoot a projectile. 
     Various inventions have been described herein with reference to certain specific embodiments and examples. However, they will be recognized by those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventions disclosed herein, in that those inventions set forth in the claims below are intended to cover all variations and modifications of the inventions disclosed without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The terms “including” and “having” come as used in the specification and claims shall have the same meaning as the term “comprising.”