Patent Publication Number: US-7219662-B1

Title: Drop rest assembly for an archery bow

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The present invention generally relates to archery equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates to arrow rests used with archery bows. 
   A drop rest for an archery bow supports an arrow shaft prior to firing of the arrow. The drop rest falls away from the arrow shaft as the arrow is released from the archery bow. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide an advanced drop rest for an archery bow. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a drop rest with an arrow rest locking system. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A drop rest assembly, for an archery bow that allows for resting of arrow which is to be fired by the archery bow. The drop rest assembly includes a mounting section adapted to mount to the archery bow. The drop rest assembly includes a drop rest section mounted to the mounting section. The drop rest section includes a drop rest mount which mounts to the mounting section. The drop rest section includes an arrow rest rotatably mounted to the drop rest mount, where the arrow rest mechanically biased away from an arrow resting position. The drop rest assembly includes a tension string connected to the arrow rest for rotating the arrow rest to the arrow resting position, such that release of the tension string allows the arrow rest to move away from the arrow resting position due to the arrow rest being mechanically biased away from the arrow resting position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a drop rest assembly on an archery bow according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of a drop rest assembly on an archery bow according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a drop rest assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a drop rest assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a drop rest assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a cutaway perspective view of a adjustment slide according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a drop rest assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  an exploded perspective view of a drop rest assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of a lower extension of a drop rest assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of a drop rest assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a cam side of a drop rest assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of a cam side of a drop rest assembly according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of a cam side of a drop rest assembly according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention is a drop rest assembly for an archery bow, as shown in  FIGS. 1–13 .  FIGS. 1–2  show the drop rest assembly  10  mounted to an archery bow  12 .  FIGS. 3–4  show the drop rest assembly  10 . The drop rest assembly  10  includes a mounting section  14 , drop rest section  16  and a tension string  18 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The tension string  18  includes a first end  20  attached to the drop rest section  16  and a second end  22  attached to the drawstring  24  of the archery bow  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 1–2 . The mounting section  14  includes a mounting plate  26 , vertical adjustment shaft  28 , adjustment slide  30 , horizontal adjustment shaft  32  and drop rest section mounting block  34 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The mounting plate  26  mounts to the riser  36  of the archery bow  12  on the opposite side of where an arrow shaft  38  rests before release, as shown in  FIGS. 1–2 . The mounting plate  26  includes a mounting hole  40  and a circular shaped groove  42 . The mounting hole  40  is used to receive a fastener to fasten the mounting plate  26  to the riser  36  of the archery bow  12 . Two fasteners  44  are shown to be used with the mounting plate  26 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The circular shaped groove  42  includes a threaded screw hole  46  in the mounting plate  26 . 
   The vertical adjustment shaft  28  and horizontal adjustment shaft  32  are both D-shaped shafts. The vertical adjustment shaft  28  includes a screw hole  48  near the top of the vertical adjustment shaft  28 . A machine screw  50  is used to mount the vertical adjustment shaft  28  in the circular shaped groove  42  when the threaded screw hole  46  of the circular shaped groove  42  is aligned with the screw hole  48  of the vertical adjustment shaft  28 . The adjustment slide  30  includes a horizontal component  52  and a vertical component  54 , as show in  FIG. 6 . The horizontal component  52  includes a D-shaped opening  56  to receive the vertical adjustment shaft  28 . The D-shaped opening  56  includes a split  58  which runs from the D-shaped opening  56  to a first end  60  of the horizontal component  52 . The first end  60  of the horizontal component  52  includes hole  62  at a first part  64  of the first end  60  of the horizontal component  52  to allow a vertical adjustment screw  66  to pass across the split  58  and onto a second part  68  of the first end  60  of the horizontal component  52 . The second part  68  of the first end  60  of the horizontal component  52  includes a threaded hole  70  to receive the vertical adjustment screw  66 . The vertical adjustment screw  66  pulls the first part  64  and second part  68  of the first end  60  of the horizontal component  52  together, as the vertical adjustment screw  66  threads into the threaded hole  70  of second part  68  of the first end  60  of the horizontal component  52 . The pulling together of the first part  64  and second part  68  of the first end  60  of the horizontal component  52  tightens the D-shaped opening  56  around the vertical adjustment shaft  28  and holds the vertical adjustment shaft  28  in place. 
   The vertical component  54  of the adjustment slide  30  extends upward from the horizontal component  52 . The vertical component  54  includes a second end  72  which is connected to a second end  74  of the horizontal component  52 . The vertical component  54  includes a D-shaped opening  76  to receive the horizontal adjustment shaft  32 . The D-shaped opening  76  includes a split  78  which runs from the D-shaped opening  76  to a first end  80  of the vertical component  54 . The first end  80  of the vertical component  54  includes hole  82  at a first part  84  of the first end  80  of the vertical component  54  to allow a horizontal adjustment screw  86  to pass across the split  78  and onto a second part  88  of the first end  80  of the vertical component  54 . The second part  88  of the first end  80  of the vertical component  54  includes a threaded hole  90  to receive the horizontal adjustment screw  86 . The horizontal adjustment screw  86  pulls the first part  84  and second part  88  of the first end  80  of the vertical component  54  together, as the horizontal adjustment screw  86  threads into the threaded hole  90  of second part  88  of the first end  80  of the vertical component  54 . The pulling together of the first part  84  and second part  88  of the first end  80  of the vertical component  54  tightens the D-shaped opening  76  around the horizontal adjustment shaft  32  and holds the horizontal adjustment shaft  32  in place. The drop rest section mounting block  34  is shown an end of the horizontal adjustment shaft  32 . The drop rest section mounting block  34  includes a threaded screw hole  92  and a roll pin hole  94 . 
   The drop rest section  16  includes a drop rest mount  96 , cam shaft  98 , arrow rest mounting washer  100 , string lug  102 , arrow rest spring  104 , arrow rest  106 , cam lock  108 , cam  110  and cam lock spring  112 . The drop rest mount  96  includes a mounting hole  114  to be aligned with the threaded screw hole  92  of the drop rest section mounting block  34 . Mounting screw  116  is used to fasten the drop rest mount  96  to the drop rest section mounting block  34  using the threaded screw hole  92  of the drop rest section mounting block  34  and the mounting hole  114  of the drop rest mount  96 . The drop rest mount  96  includes a roll pin hole  94  which aligns with the roll pin hole  94  of the drop rest section mounting block  34 . A roll pin  118  is inserted into the roll pin holes  94  of the drop rest section mounting block  34  and the drop rest mount  96  after installing the mounting screw  116  to prevent rotation of the drop rest mount  96 . 
   The drop rest mount  96  includes an arrow rest side  120  and a cam side  122 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The arrow rest side  120  includes a lower extension  124  extending from the arrow rest side  120 , as shown in  FIGS. 8–9 . The lower extension  124  of the arrow rest side  120  forms an open top cavity  126  which has an opening  128  that leads to a shaft through hole  130  in the drop rest mount  96 . The shaft through hole  130  exits at the cam side  122 . Above the shaft through hole  130  and within the lower extension  124  is a spring leg hole  132 . The cam shaft  98  has an arrow rest side  134  and a cam side  136 . The cam side  136  of the cam shaft  98  includes a threaded screw hole  138 , as shown in  FIGS. 10–11 . The arrow rest mounting washer  100  is fixed to the arrow rest side  134  of the cam shaft  98 . It is suggested to mill the arrow rest mounting washer  100  and the cam shaft  98  from one piece of material. The arrow rest mounting washer  100  includes a threaded screw hole  140  which leads into the cam shaft  98 . The arrow rest mounting washer  100  includes a roll pin hole  142 . The string lug  102  includes a open cylinder  144  and a lug  146  extending from the open cylinder  144 . The open cylinder  144  includes a spring leg hole  132 . The lug  146  includes a roll pin hole  142  in one side of the lug  146  and a string attachment hole  148  at the end of the lug  146 . The cam side  136  of the cam shaft  98  is inserted into the open cylinder  144  of the string lug  102 . A roll pin  150  is used to pin the arrow rest mounting washer  100  and the lug  146  together using the roll pin holes  142  of the arrow rest mounting washer  100  and the lug  146 . The roll pin  150  locks the arrow rest mounting washer  100  and the lug  146  together, so that the arrow rest mounting washer  100  and the sting lug  102  rotate together. 
   The arrow rest spring  104  is a torsion type of coiled spring ending in two legs  152  at ninety degrees to the rotation plane of the coil  153  and facing in opposite directions to each other. The arrow rest spring  104  is inserted into the opening  128  of the lower extension  124 . One of the legs  152  of the arrow rest spring  104  is inserted into the spring leg hole  132  of the lower extension  124 . The cam shaft  98  is then inserted into the opening  128  of the lower extension  124  and on into the shaft through hole  130  in the drop rest mount  96 . The other leg  152  of the of the arrow rest spring  104  is inserted into the spring leg hole  132  of the open cylinder  144  of the string lug  102 . The spring leg holes  152  are positioned to load the arrow rest spring  104  such to bias the string lug  102  away from the drawstring  24 . The arrow rest  106  includes arrow rest surfaces  154  forming a V-shaped rest, an arm  156  and a connection end  158 . Anti-friction sleeves  160  are shown on the arrow rest surfaces  154 , as shown in  FIGS. 7–8 . The connection end  158  includes a screw hole  162  and a roll pin hole  164  which are both through holes. The arrow rest mounting washer  100  also includes an additional roll pin hole  164 . The arrow rest  106  is mounted to the arrow rest mounting washer  100  by fastening a screw  166  through the screw hole  162  of the connection end  158  and into the threaded screw hole  140  of the arrow rest mounting washer  100 . The connection end  158  and arrow rest mounting washer  100  are pinned together by using a roll pin  168 , which is inserted through the roll pin holes  164  of the connection end  158  and arrow rest mounting washer  100 . The roll pin  168  locks the connection end  158  and arrow rest mounting washer  100  together, so that they rotate together. Therefore, the connection end  158  and arrow rest mounting washer  100  are biased in a rotational direction away from the drawstring  24 , due to the arrow rest mounting washer  100  being interconnected to the string lug  102 . 
     FIGS. 10–13  show different views of the cam side  122  of the drop rest mount  96 . The components of the cam side  122  form an arrow rest locking system. The cam side  122  of the drop rest mount  96  includes a cam lock stop roll pin hole  170 , threaded screw hole  172 , cam lock spring roll pin hole  174  and the exit  176  from the shaft through hole  130 . The cam  110  is a circular disc with a screw hole  178  that is a through hole. The inside side  180  of the cam  110  includes an enlarged hole  182  about the screw hole  178  to receive the cam shaft  98 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . The cam  110  includes a latch groove  184  along the circumference of the disc. The cam  110  also includes a roll pin hole  186  starting at outside circumference and leading to the screw hole  178 . The cam  110  is mounted to the cam side  136  of the cam shaft  98 , which sticks out from the exit  176  of the shaft through hole  130 . A screw  188  is inserted into the screw hole  178  of the cam  110  and threaded into the threaded screw hole  138  of the cam side  136  of the cam shaft  98 . After assembly of the cam  110  to the cam shaft  98 , a roll pin hole  186  is drilled into the screw  188  via the roll pin hole  186  of the cam  110 . Then, a roll pin  190  is inserted into the roll pin hole  186  of the cam  110  and into the roll pin hole  186  of the screw  188 . 
   A cam lock stop roll pin  192  is inserted into the cam lock stop roll pin hole  170  so that it extends out from the cam side  122  of the drop rest mount  96 . A cam lock spring roll pin  194  is inserted in to the cam lock spring roll pin hole  174  so that it extends out from the cam side  122  of the drop rest mount  96 . The cam lock  108  includes a connecting body  196  and a latch  198  extending from the connecting body  196 . The connecting body  196  includes a screw hole  200 . The cam lock spring  112  is a torsion type of coiled spring with a straight leg  202  and bent leg  204 . The bent leg  204  is ninety degrees to the coil  206  of the cam lock spring  112 . A screw  208  is inserted into the screw hole  200  of the connecting body  196  and through the coil  206  of the cam lock spring  112 . The screw  208  is then threaded into the threaded screw hole  172  of the cam side  122  of the drop rest mount  96 . The cam lock spring  112  is positioned such that the bent leg  204  contacts and is tensioned against an inside surface  210  of the cam lock  108  between the connecting body  196  and the latch  198 . The cam lock spring  112  is also positioned such that the straight leg  202  contacts and is tensioned against the cam lock spring roll pin  194 . The latch  198  of the cam lock  108  is tensioned away from the cam  110  by the cam lock spring  112 , but can be rotated toward the cam  110  under force. The cam lock stop roll pin  192  interacts with the connecting body  196  of the cam lock  108  and prevents rotation of the latch  198  to far away from the cam  110  and aids in retaining the tension relationship between the cam lock spring  112  and the cam lock  108 . 
     FIGS. 1–2  show the arrow rest  106  in an arrow support pre-rest position. An arrow shaft  38  is supported by the arrow rest surfaces  154  of the arrow rest  106 . The arrow rest  106  is retained in the arrow support pre-rest position by the arrow rest locking system. The arrow rest spring  104  biases the arrow rest  106  away from the arrow shaft  38  and therefore the arrow rest locking system is used to retain the arrow rest  106  in the arrow support pre-rest position. Pulling back on the arrow rest  106  by pulling the tension string  18 , which pulls the lug  146  and rotates the arrow rest  106 , allows the user to move the latch  198  to engage the latch groove  184  of the cam  110 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 13 . The arrow rest  106  is locked into the arrow support pre-rest position, when the latch  198  is engaged with the latch groove  184  of the cam  110 . The arrow shaft  38  can be placed onto the arrow rest surfaces  154  of the arrow rest  106 . When the user pulls on the drawstring  24  of the archery bow  12 , the tension string  18  pulls on and rotates the lug  146 . The rotation of the lug  146  caused the arrow rest  106  to rotate back further to an arrow resting position. The arrow resting position is the desired position of the arrow rest  106  prior to firing of the arrow. The rotation of the lug  146  also causes rotation of the cam shaft  98 , which in turn rotates the cam  110 . This rotation of the cam  110  causes the latch  198  to disengage from the latch groove  184  and move away from the cam  110  due to the cam lock spring  112  biasing the latch  198  away from the cam  110 . When the user releases the drawstring  24 , the tension on the tension string  18  is released and the arrow rest surfaces  154  of the arrow rest  106  move forward and downward due to forced rotation of the connection end  158 . The connection end  158  is forced to rotate due to the arrow rest spring  104  causing the string lug  102  to rotate. Whereby, rotation of the string lug  102  causes the arrow rest washer  100  and the connection end  158  to rotate due to the interconnection with the string lug  102 , arrow rest washer  100  and the connection end  158 . The arrow rest  106  can also be pulled to the arrow resting position without the use of the arrow rest locking system, simply by pulling back on the drawstring  24 , which in turn pulls on the tension string  18  and rotates the arrow rest surfaces  154  of the arrow rest up and back. One of the advantages of the present invention is that the arrow rest surfaces  154  move away from the arrow shaft  38  faster. The arrow rest surfaces  154  move away from the arrow shaft  38  faster, because the rotation point of the connection end  158  is at the lower extension, which is the lowest point on the drop rest assembly  10  in relation to arrow resting position. Units currently on the market have a higher rotation point. 
   While different embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to the embodiments could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements are illustrative only and are not limiting as to the scope of the invention that is to be given the full breadth of any and all equivalents thereof.