Patent Publication Number: US-8967131-B2

Title: Gated full capture archery rest

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 13/864,958 entitled Gated Full Capture Archery Rest, filed Apr. 17, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/625,564, entitled Gated Full Capture Archery Rest, filed Apr. 17, 2012, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosure generally relates to archery equipment and more particularly to a gated arrow rest. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Arrow rests are well known in the art. An arrow rest provides support to the arrow while the bow is being carried, drawn, released, and during the initial flight of an arrow until it departs the bow. In order for a rest to be effective it must offer enough support to the arrow to enable the bow to be carried and drawn safely without the arrow falling from the rest. The rest must impart minimal friction to the arrow to prevent parasitic kinetic energy losses. An arrow rest must be durable enough to withstand thousands of shots and rough handling without changing the point of impact. Ideally, the arrow rest should have minimal contact with the fletching (feathers) on the arrow. Fletchings are an integral part of accurate arrow flight, and any contact to the fletchings can disrupt the arrow&#39;s flight, and rest induced damage to the fletchings can degrade the accuracy of the affected arrow. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,855 (Troncoso) discloses an archery rest that consists of two prongs that form a “U” shaped trough that is biased against the arrow by a spring. The arrow rests on the points of the two prongs. The arrow rest is sufficiently rigid and durable, imparts little friction to the arrow, and has minimal fletching contact, but does very little to prevent the arrow from falling off of the rest. With this style rest it is difficult for archers, especially beginners, to draw the bow without the arrow falling off of the rest. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,978,775 (Graf) discloses an arrow rest that consists of a plurality of radially disposed, inwardly projecting brush bristles. This style rest provides very good containment, but has a large amount of frictional losses and fletching contact. Additionally, the brush material is consumed during the shooting process, requiring frequent replacement of the brush material. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,994,080 (Yoder) discloses a similar variant of arrow rest to the Graf patent with the exception of rather than having a semi-continuous ring of inwardly projected, radially disposed bristles, there are three spaced apart arrow supports mounted to a ring at about 120 degree intervals. These supports consist of a support shoe and a plurality of bristles that extend inwardly from the support shoe for supporting the arrow. The support shoe and brush bristles are located at 60, 180 and 300 degrees as the rest mounted on the bow with the arrow located in the center of the ring. The arrow is loaded into the rest by placing the arrow in the slot in the top of the ring and pushing the arrow down between the brushes. This style rest decreases the frictional losses and fletching wear associated with the Graf patent, but still suffers from significant brush wear and difficulty loading of the arrow into the rest. Additionally, it is possible for the arrow to fall down between the lower brushes, or be expelled upward between the two upper brushes, completely out of the arrow rest. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is directed to an arrow rest for retaining an arrow in a shooting position on an archery bow. The arrow rest includes a structure surrounding an opening. The structure includes a gap configured to pass the arrow into the opening. A gate is pivotally attached to the structure and biased to extend across the gap so the structure completely surrounds the opening when the gate is in the closed position. A plurality of arrow supports are attached to the structure and extend radially into the opening toward the shooting position. At least one of the arrow supports is movably attached to the structure and is biased toward the shooting position. The movable arrow supports are biased to capture the arrow against the other arrow supports in the shooting position and to be displaced away from the shooting position when the arrow is launched from the archery bow. 
     In one embodiment, at least two of the arrow supports are pivotally attached to the structure and are biased toward the shooting position of the opening. The arrow supports are biased to capture the arrow in the shooting position. 
     In one embodiment, the gate displaces at least one of the arrow supports away from the shooting position when in an open position to facilitate positioning the arrow in the shooting position. The gate is in the closed position when the arrow is in the shooting position. 
     In one embodiment, at least one of the arrow supports pivots around an axis perpendicular to an axis of an arrow in the shooting position. In another embodiment, at least one of the arrow supports pivots around an axis parallel to an axis of an arrow in the shooting position. The arrow supports preferably pivot in a direction of travel of the arrow. 
     The arrow supports can be located at about 0 degrees, about 120 degrees and about 240 degrees relative to the structure. At least one of the arrow supports can be a rigid structure or a flexible structure that engages with the arrow in the shooting position. In another embodiment, all of the arrow supports are movable. The arrow supports preferably include a low friction surface that engages with the arrow in the shooting position. 
     An adjustable stop permits the minimum separation between the arrow supports to be adjusted. The adjustable stop permits the user to adjust the holding force applied to the arrow in the shooting position. 
     The present disclosure is also directed to a method of retaining an arrow in a shooting position on an archery bow. The method includes displacing a gate on a structure to pass an arrow through a gap and into an opening of an arrow rest. At least one arrow support located in the opening is displaced to position the arrow in the shooting position. The at least one displaced arrow support is biased to capture the arrow against the other arrow supports to secure the arrow in the shooting position. The gate is biased to a closed position extending across the gap so the structure completely surrounds the opening when the arrow is in the shooting position. 
     The method includes displacing at least one of the arrow supports away from the shooting position when the arrow is launched from the bow. In one embodiment, the gate displaces at least one of the arrow supports away from the shooting position when in an open position to facilitate positioning the arrow in the shooting position. 
     In one embodiment, the arrow supports pivot around an axis perpendicular or parallel to an axis of an arrow when launched. The arrow supports preferably pivot in a direction of travel of the arrow. 
     The method includes adjusting a stop to adjust a minimum separation between the arrow supports. The method also includes adjusting a stop configured to adjust a holding force applied to the arrow in the shooting position. 
     In one embodiment, two of the arrow supports are spring loaded on threaded pins that are parallel with the loaded arrow. The supports are biased upwards toward the arrow with torsion springs. During loading or on the shot, the torsion springs are overpowered such that the arrow supports rotate about the threaded pin, downward towards the bottom of the ring approximately 15 degrees. 
     An advantage of the present disclosure is that it allows for diminished frictional losses imparted to the arrow due to the low friction, spring loaded supports. 
     Another advantage of the present disclosure is that it offers improved accuracy due to the lack of fletching contact with the brushes. 
     Yet another advantage of the present disclosure is that it reduces the wear associated with brushes supporting the bottom of an arrow during the shot. This feature reduces the inaccuracies associated with the degradation of the brush material. 
     Yet another advantage of the present disclosure is that the gate prevents the arrow from leaving the rest should the arrow be bumped while an arrow is loaded. 
     Yet another advantage of the current disclosure is that the gate assists in the loading if the arrow by displacing the lower support. This feature reduces the effort required to load the arrow and reduces the noise resulting from loading the arrow. The gate assisted loading also allows for the supports to be disposed in a much tighter arrangement, greatly reducing the chance for the arrow to fall off of the supports while the bow is being drawn and shot. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawing, which constitutes part of the specification, helps to illustrate embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an arrow rest assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the arrow rest of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the arrow rest of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the arrow rest of  FIG. 1  with an arrow loaded in the shooting position in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of the arrow rest of  FIG. 1  with an arrow loaded in the shooting position. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a method of loading an arrow into the arrow rest of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the arrow of  FIG. 6  partially loaded in the arrow rest. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates the arrow of  FIG. 7  fully loaded in the arrow rest. 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of an alternate arrow rest assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric view of the arrow rest of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of the arrow rest of  FIG. 9  with an arrow loaded in the shooting position in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a rear view of the arrow rest of  FIG. 9  with an arrow loaded in the shooting position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIGS. 1 through 5  are various views of an arrow rest  20  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Mounting bracket  22  attaches the arrow rest  20  to a riser  24  of a bow, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting bracket  22  permits adjustment of ring  26  relative to the riser  24  (see  FIG. 4 ) in at least three degrees of freedom, selected from x-axis, y-axis, z-axis, pitch, roll and yaw. A variety of mounting brackets are known for this purpose. 
     Portion  30  of the mounting bracket  22  is attached to the riser  24  using fastener  32 . Elongated slot  34  in the portion  30  permits adjustment along z-axis  36 . Portion  38  of the mounting bracket  22  includes dovetail feature  40  that slides in a complementary channel  42  (see  FIG. 3 ) on the portion  30  to provide adjustment along x-axis  44 . Fastener  46  is used to secure the portion  38  relative to the portion  30 . Portion  48  is attached to the portion  38  using fastener  50 . Elongated slot  52  permits adjustment along the y-axis  54 . 
     Ring  26  includes gate  60  that is biased to closed position by spring  62  to extend across gap  64  (see  FIG. 7 ) to completely surround the opening  70  to secure the arrow  100 . The gap  64  is typically located between about 270-315 degrees on the ring  26  for right handed shooters and about 45-90 degrees for left-handed shooters. The gate  60  pivots around axis  66  in direction  68  into opening  70  to permit an arrow  72  to be loaded (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). When the gate  60  is in the closed position, the opening  70  is completely surrounded by the ring  26 . Flange  74  on the gate  60  can be used to locate an arrow to be loaded in the arrow rest  20 , as discussed herein. 
     Support assembly  80  is mounted to the ring  26  and includes supports  82  that extend radially into the opening  70 . In the illustrated embodiment, the supports  82  are discrete bundles of bristles with beveled tips  84  corresponding generally to the radius of curvature of an arrow (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     Pivoting support assembly  90  is pivotally attached to the ring  26  and rotates around axis  92  in direction  94 . The axis  92  is generally perpendicular to an axis of the arrow  100  when in the shooting position. A pair of movable supports  96 A,  96 B (“ 96 ”) are attached to the pivoting support assembly  90  to extend into the opening  70 . In an alternate embodiment, the movable supports  96 A,  96 B pivot independently around the axis  92 . The movable supports  96  can be constructed from a variety of rigid or semi-rigid materials such as metal or polymeric materials. 
     It will be appreciated that the number and configuration of the arrow supports can vary with the fletching configuration of the arrow, so long as the arrow  100  is secured in the shooting position. In one embodiment, at least one of the arrow supports pivotally attaches to the structure and is biased toward the shooting position. In another embodiment, all of the supports are movable. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic deformation of the bristles  82  provides the displacement. As used herein, “movable” includes displacement and/or deformation of an arrow support. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , tips  98  of the movable supports  96  cooperate with the supports  82  to capture an arrow  100  in a shooting position  102 . The pivoting support assembly  90  is biased toward the shooting position  102 . When the arrow  100  is launched, the pivoting support assembly  90  rotates in direction  94  to minimize the contact between the arrow  100  and the arrow rest  20 . In particular, the movable supports  96  rotate in a direction of travel of the arrow. While the pivoting support assembly  90  can theoretically rotate in direction  94  until it contacts lower inside surface  108  of the ring  26 , in actual use the pivoting support assembly  90  typically rotates about 5 degrees to about 10 degrees. 
     Stop  104  permits adjustment of a minimum separation between the supports  82  and the movable supports  96  to correspond to the diameter  106  of the arrow  100 . 
     The stop  104  also permits adjustment to the holding force  110  applied to the arrow  100  in the shooting position  102 . For example, by reducing the minimum separation between the supports  82 ,  96 , the holding force  110  on the arrow  100  is increased. Similarly, by increasing the minimum separation, the holding force  100  is decreased. The stop  104  permits the user to minimizing the holding force  110  on the arrow  100  to reduce drag during launch, while still securely retaining the arrow  100  in the arrow rest  20 . 
       FIGS. 6 through 8  illustrate the process of loading arrow  100  in the arrow rest  20  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The shaft  101  of the arrow  100  is press against the gate  60 . Flange  74  on the gate  60  positions the arrow  100  in the optimum loading position. 
     Force  112  overcomes the biasing force of the gate spring  62  and pushes the gate  60  to the open position  114  illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Distal end  116  of the gate  60  contacts the movable support  96 B and causes the pivoting support assembly  90  to rotate in the direction  94  toward the lower inside surface  108  of the ring  26 . In an embodiment in which the support  82  is rigid, the pivoting support assembly  90  rotates in the direction  94  until the arrow  100  can be positioned in the shooting position  102 . In an embodiment in which the support  82  is flexible, the support  82  optionally deforms to permit the arrow  100  to be positioned in the shooting position  102 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the arrow  100  in the shooting position  102  of the opening  70 . With the gate  60  rotated to closed position  118 , the opening  70  is completely surrounded by the ring  26 . The arrow  100  is now prevented from falling laterally out of the arrow rest  20 . The pivoting support assembly  90  rotates the movable supports  96  into engagement with the arrow  100 . In the illustrated embodiment, the support  82  contacts the arrow  100  in two locations  120 . 
     The supports  82 ,  96  are preferably located at about 0, 120, and 240 degrees relative to the ring  26 . In light of the three-point capture system provided by the supports  82 ,  96 , however, the particular location for the supports  82 ,  96  is not critical. For example, the supports  82 ,  96  could be located at about 90, 210, 330 degrees. 
     The optimum separation of the supports  82 ,  96 , however, is dependent on the locations of the arrow fletchings  100 A. For a three fletching arrow, the supports  82 ,  96  are preferably located at about 120 degree intervals. In the illustrated embodiment, the arrow fletchings  100 A are located at about 45, 180 and 315 degrees, so there is minimal contact with the supports  82 ,  96 . 
       FIGS. 9 through 10  are perspective views of an alternate arrow rest  200  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Mounting bracket  22  attaches the arrow rest  200  to a riser  24  of a bow, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . Details of the mounting bracket  22  are discussed in connection with  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     Ring  202  includes gate  204  that is biased to closed position  206 . The gate  204  pivots around axis  208  in direction  210  into opening  212  to permit an arrow  100  to be loaded into shooting position  224  (see  FIGS. 11 and 12 ). Flange  216  on the gate  204  can be used to locate the arrow  100  to be loaded in the arrow rest  200 , as discussed herein. 
     Support assembly  220  is mounted to the ring  202  and includes supports  222  that extend radially into the opening  224 . In the illustrated embodiment, the supports  222  are discrete bundles of bristles with beveled tips  226  corresponding generally to the radius of curvature of the arrow  100 . 
     Movable supports  230 A,  230 B (“ 230 ”) are pivotally attached to the ring  202  and rotates around axis  232 A,  232 B (“ 232 ”) in directions  234 A,  234 B (“ 234 ”), respectively. The axes  232  are generally parallel to an axis of the arrow  100  when in the shooting position  224 . The movable supports  230  are biased toward the support assembly  220 , but can independently pivot around the axes  232  toward the lower inside surface  236  of the ring  202 . The movable supports  230  can be constructed from a variety of rigid or semi-rigid materials such as metal or polymeric materials. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , contact surfaces  240  of the movable supports  230  cooperate with the supports  222  to capture an arrow  100  in a shooting position  224 . The movable supports  230  are biased toward the shooting position  224 . 
     When the arrow  100  is launched, the biasing forces, typically from torsion springs, are overpowered and the movable supports  230  rotate in directions  232 A,  232 B toward the lower inside surface  236  of the ring  202 . The rotation of the supports  230  minimizes the contact between the arrow  100  and the contact surfaces  240  during arrow launch. While the movable supports  230  can theoretically rotate in directions  232 A,  232 B until they contacts lower inside surface  236  of the ring  202 , in actual use the movable supports  230  typically rotates about 5 degrees to about 10 degrees. 
     Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed within the embodiments of the disclosure. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges which may independently be included in the smaller ranges is also encompassed within the embodiments of the disclosure, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either both of those included limits are also included in the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments of the present disclosure belong. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All patents and publications mentioned herein, including those cited in the Background of the application, are hereby incorporated by reference to disclose and described the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited. 
     The publications discussed herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present disclosure is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed. 
     Other embodiments of the disclosure are possible. Although the description above contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the present disclosure. It should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed embodiments of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present disclosure herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above. 
     Thus the scope of this disclosure should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present disclosure fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment(s) that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present disclosure, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims.