Patent Publication Number: US-2011067682-A1

Title: Archery bow accessories with a linear slide

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/243,661, filed Sep. 18, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention deal with archery bows, and in particular deal with accessories such as arrow rests and sights usable with archery bows. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Arrow rests can be used with archery bows, including compound or recurve bows, to support and preferably stabilize an arrow shaft in position to allow the shaft to be drawn and released from an archery bow, preferably without substantial deviation from the desired flight path. The arrow rest preferably aligns an elongate axis of the arrow shaft in a desired path which the arrow follows during release from the bow and at least initially towards the target. Various types of arrow rests are known, including fixed arrow rests, drop away arrow rests and rests with radially inwardly extending brushes. An example of a vertical drop away arrow rest is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,099. 
     A bow sight can be used to assist an archer in aiming a bow. A typical bow sight includes a sight housing secured to the frame of a bow by one or more brackets. The sight housing often defines a viewing opening (i.e., a sight window) through which an archer can frame a target. The bow sight also typically includes at least one sighting member, such as a pin, that projects into the viewing opening. The sighting member defines and supports a sight point. The sight point is the point the archer aligns with the target during aiming. In use, the archer draws the drawstring of the bow and adjusts the position of the bow so that the intended target is visible through the viewing opening. While continuing to peer through the viewing opening with the bowstring drawn, the archer adjusts the position of the bow so that the sight point aligns with the intended target from the archer&#39;s eye. Once the sight point is aligned with the intended target, the archer releases the bowstring to shoot the arrow. “Target” herein can mean either a target being hunted or a fixed target. One example of a vertically adjustable sight is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,275,328. 
     The vertical position of one or more sight points is preferably set and calibrated to the user and bow so that each sight point position corresponds to a different target distance. Multiple sighting members are generally arranged in either a vertically aligned orientation, such as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,633 or a horizontal orientation, such as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,568. In certain embodiments, the sight points can be adjusted vertically to calibrate the sight points for differing target distances. In certain one-pin arrangements, the entire sight and sight pin can be vertically adjusted to calibrate multiple vertical positions of the sight point. This allows an archer, through trial and error, to “sight in” a bow so that each sight point position is accurately associated with a particular target distance. A lower sight point position typically corresponds to longer target distances. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain embodiments of the disclosure include archery accessories which incorporate a linear slide which allows one portion of the accessory to linearly translate or reciprocate within the defined limits of the arrangement. In certain embodiments, a linear slide assembly is incorporated into an accessory such as an arrow drop rest or an archery sight arrangement. In certain arrangements, the accessories incorporate a linear slide assembly having a slider piece on an elongated track rail with a slider which moves relative to and along the track rail by virtue of rolling elements such as ball bearings within self-lubricating recirculating tracks. The linear slide preferably allows highly precise adjustment of the linear movement of the accessory with high stability, minimizing wobble and allowing essentially frictionless travel of the slider on the rail without binding. 
     In certain embodiments, an archery bow includes a riser with a handle, upper and lower limb portions extending from the handle to limb tip sections and rotational members supported at the limb tip sections. A bowstring extends between the rotational members. An accessory is secured to the riser, wherein the accessory incorporates a linear slide assembly with internal ball bearings which allows a movable portion of the accessory to selectively translate relative to a portion of the accessory secured to the riser. 
     In further embodiments, an archery accessory is configured to be mounted to an archery bow riser. The accessory includes a base portion configured to be mounted to an archery bow riser, and a movable portion secured to the base portion with a slidable coupling. The slidable coupling includes a plurality of ball bearings forming a plurality of rolling point contacts between the base portion and the movable portion to enable the movable portion to freely translate relative to the base portion. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the described embodiments are apparent from the discussions and drawings herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of embodiments of the present invention including an archery bow with an arrow rest and sight. 
         FIGS. 2A-2C  are perspective views of a linear slide mechanism used in certain embodiments discussed herein. 
         FIG. 2D  is a cross-sectional view of the linear slide mechanism of  FIGS. 2A-2C . 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspective views of an arrow rest according to a preferred embodiment with and without a housing cover plate. 
         FIG. 4  is an alternate perspective view of the arrow rest of  FIG. 3B . 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are perspective views of an archery bow sight assembly according to a preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the archery sight of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the archery sight of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the arrow sight assembly of  FIG. 5A , not including the windage block and sight guard assembly. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the rear portion of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the rear portion of the archery sight of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the rear assembly portion of the sight of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective side view of the front housing assembly of the sight of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of the front housing assembly of the sight of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view of the front housing assembly and windage clamps of the sight assembly of  FIG. 5A . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     Certain embodiments of the disclosure include archery accessories which incorporate a sliding coupling which allows one portion of the accessory to linearly translate or reciprocate within the defined limits of the arrangement. In certain embodiments, a linear slide assembly is incorporated into an accessory such as a drop arm of an arrow rest or the adjustment mechanism in an archery sight arrangement. In certain arrangements, the accessories incorporate a linear slide assembly having a slider piece on an elongated track rail with a slider which moves relative to and along the track rail by virtue of rolling elements such as ball bearings within self-lubricating, recirculating tracks. The linear slide preferably allows highly precise adjustment of the linear movement of the accessory with high stability, minimizing wobble and allowing essentially frictionless travel of the slider on the rail without binding. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one example of a conventional single cam compound archery bow generally designated as  10 . When viewed from the perspective of an archer holding the bow  10 , it includes a riser  11  with a handle, an upper limb portion  12  and a lower limb portion  14 . Rotational members forming one or two variable leverage units such as idler wheel  16  and eccentric cam  18  are supported at the limb tip sections for rotary movement about axles  20  and  22 . Idler wheel  16  is carried between the outer limb tip portions of upper limb  12 . The cam  18  is carried between the outer limb tip portions of lower limb  14 . 
     Bowstring  34  (shown as a tangent line without full cabling for convenient illustration) includes upper end  28  and lower end  30  which are fed-out from idler wheel  16  and cam  18  when the bow is drawn. Bowstring  34  is mounted around idler wheel  16  and cam  18  as is known in the art. From the perspective of the archer, the bowstring is considered rearward relative to the riser which defines forward. 
     When the bowstring  34  is drawn, it causes idler wheel  16  and cam  18  at each end of the bow to rotate, feeding out cable and bending limb portions  12  and  14  inward, causing energy to be stored therein. When the bowstring  34  is released with an arrow engaged to the bowstring, the limb portions  12  and  14  return to their rest position, causing idler wheel  16  and cam  18  to rotate in the opposite direction, to take up the bowstring  34  and launch the arrow with an amount of energy proportional to the energy stored in the bow limbs. Bow  10  is described for illustration and context and is not intended to be limiting. The present invention can be used with dual-cam compound bows, or can be used with single-cam bows as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,006 to McPherson, hereby incorporated herein by reference. It can also be used with hybrid cam bows or recurve bows. The present invention can also be used in other types of bows, which are considered conventional for purposes of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 2A-2D  illustrate views of a linear slide assembly useable in certain embodiments of archery accessories. The outer/visible portions of linear slide assembly  150  include a slider portion  152  and rail portion  154 . Slider  152  is preferably arranged to reciprocally slide along the length of rail  154  and is continuously adjustable within those limits. The illustrated slider  152  extends across one side of rail  154  and includes side portions  162  which engage a pair of opposing and parallel outer sides  164  of rail  154 , for example the sides of slider  152  may be formed with side tabs or flanges with inward grooves  153  which align with corresponding outwardly oriented grooves  155  on opposing sides of rail  154 . In alternate embodiments, the slider component can be arranged between two opposing rail side portions. 
     Internal to slider assembly  150 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2D , are a plurality of rolling elements such as sets of ball bearings  156  arranged on opposing sides of the rail or slider and arranged in aligned grooves  153  and  155  between the slider and rail. The ball bearings are preferably arranged in continuously recirculating raceways and form the bearing and contact arrangement between slider  152  and rail  154 . Ball bearings  156  are optionally in self-lubricating tracks to allow substantially friction free travel of slider  152  on rail  154  yet allowing highly precise positioning of the slider and minimizing the risk of wobble or instability between the slider and rail. 
     The ball bearing engagement provides a rolling engagement with multiple rolling point contacts which substantially eliminates the need to apply a break-away force to overcome sticking or binding effects and the potentially resulting jump or stutter movement which can occur in arrangements where one metal piece has an area which moves directly against and along another metal piece. This also eliminates frictional wear and noise associated with a metal piece moving directly against another metal piece. Additionally, without sacrificing precision or control, the ball bearing arrangement incorporates sufficient tolerance to substantially eliminate jamming or sticking of components which can occur due to metal expansion and contraction due to temperature and humidity variations. 
     Preferably the slider, rail and ball bearings are made of stainless steel. In preferred embodiments, the ball bearings are sealed within the recirculating raceways from exposure to ambient conditions such as weather, water or humidity. An example linear slide assembly is available from Iko Clean Lubrication as a “c-lube linear way ML” model slide and discussed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,729,761 and 5,435,649. 
     Arrow Rest Example 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention provide an arrow rest with a linear slide usable with an archery bow to support an arrow shaft in a ready-to-draw position, during the draw and at least until the release of the arrow by an archer. The arrow rest preferably aligns an elongate axis of the arrow shaft in a desired path which the arrow follows during release from the bow and at least initially towards the target. In certain embodiments, the arrow rest includes a base portion or support frame secured to an archery bow riser. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention are directed to a drop-away arrow rest having a movable portion such as an extending arrow support member or arm that drops in a linear or straight path. When the archer releases the arrow, the support arm falls or is pulled or pushed away from the arrow. In certain preferred embodiments, the arrow support arms extends laterally or horizontally and drops vertically. 
     The arrow support arm is operably connected to and synchronized with the bowstring of the bow. When the arrow is at rest and the bowstring is not drawn, the arrow support arm is in a relaxed state. When the bowstring is drawn, the arrow support arm is placed in an actuated state with the support arm supporting the arrow. Upon release of the bowstring, the arrow support arm drops, preferably with a vertical, non-rotational and non-pivotal movement, in a straight line, to return to its relaxed state. The arrow support arm in its relaxed position preferably does not interfere with the flight of the arrow or its fletching as the arrow is released. 
     The arrow rest preferably includes an adjustment mechanism that allows lateral or horizontal positioning of the arrow support arm in relation to the bow handle. The arrow rest optionally also includes an adjustment mechanism that allows vertical positioning of the arrow support arm in relation to the handle. 
     In one particular embodiment, the invention is directed to an arrow rest comprising a support structure configured for mounting on a bow handle and a movable portion operably coupled to the support structure via a slidable coupling. The movable portion includes an arrow support arm which is movable in relation to the support structure from a relaxed position to an actuated position using the sliding movement of a linear slide. A connection piece such as a cord or cable, preferably a non-stretching cord, operably connects the arrow support arm to the bowstring cabling. Pulling force applied to the cord operates to move the arrow support arm from the relaxed position to the actuated position. A biasing mechanism such as a spring, urges the arrow support arm from the actuated position to the relaxed position. 
     An example of one embodiment of an arrow rest including a linear slide assembly is illustrated in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  4 . The arrow rest assembly  100  includes a support structure  110  formed with a housing  120 . Support structure  110  can be secured to an archery riser, for example using slot  112 . Housing  120  is typically closed with a cover plate  122 . An arrow support arm assembly  130  protrudes from housing  120  through slot  123  in cover plate  122 . Housing  120  and slot  123  preferably allow and define the limits of the reciprocal movement distance within which arrow support arm assembly  130  can travel. For illustration purposes, cover plate  122  is not illustrated in  FIG. 3B  and  FIG. 4 . 
     Arrow support arm assembly  130  supports and retains an arrow thereon prior to the archer releasing the bowstring. In a preferred embodiment, the arrow support arm assembly  130  protrudes generally horizontally from housing  120 , as seen by the archer at full draw. Arrow support arm assembly  130  may include a bend or other support feature to cradle or better center an arrow thereon. This feature can be V-shaped, U-shaped, square, rounded, two or more vertical posts, bristles, or the like. 
     Arrow support arm assembly  130  is movably connected to housing  120 . Specifically, arrow support arm assembly  130  is vertically movable in relation to housing  120  from a first position to a second position. In the preferred embodiment described, arrow support arm assembly  130 , when in the first position, is in a “relaxed” state, and, when in the second position, is in an “actuated” state, supporting an arrow. Typically, when the archer is in full draw, the arrow support arm assembly  130  is in a raised or the actuated state. The relaxed position is usually a lowered position below the typical line of fire of the arrow. An actuation system moves arrow support arm assembly  130  between the relaxed stated and the actuated state. 
     In certain embodiments, arrow support arm assembly  130  includes a housing end  132  having a slider mounting portion  133  which is secured to slider  152  of linear slide assembly  150 , for example with screws. Rail  154  of slider assembly  150  is secured within housing  120 . Housing end  132  of the support arm includes a lateral arm portion  134  which is engaged to an end of cord  140 . Lateral arm portion  124  also defines a passage around guide rod  135 . Housing end  132  of arrow support assembly  130  extends outwardly from housing  120  and transitions to arrow support end  136  which includes arrow cradle  137 . The extension distance of arrow cradle  137  from housing  120  can optionally be adjustable, for example when housing end and arrow support end are separate pieces coupled with a screw arrangement which extends through a horizontal adjustment slot  139  at housing end  132  and into arrow support end  136 . The screw arrangement can be loosened to allow relative horizontal movement of the support components and can be tightened to lock them in relative positions. 
     Slider mounting portion  133  of arrow support arm assembly  130  is secured to slider  152  and configured so that the arrow support arm assembly correspondingly travels with linear translation of slider  152  along rail  154 . The travel direction is typically vertical. In certain embodiments, arrow support arm assembly  130  is mounted adjacent to or extends from a lower portion of slider  152 , correspondingly positioning the support arm assembly adjacent the lower internal portion of housing  120 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated, a biasing mechanism such as spring  138  is arranged within housing  120  around guide rod  135  and against lateral arm portion  134  of the support arm assembly. Spring  138  is arranged with two ends disposed between the housing and the support arm and/or slider to urge the support arm assembly and slider to its lowest, relaxed state. As illustrated, spring  138  is coiled around guide rod  135 . Upward travel of the support arm and slider along guide rod  135  compresses the spring thus storing energy to later urge the support arm and slider back to a relaxed state. Guide rod  135  can include a low friction coating such as Teflon®, to facilitate the sliding of spring  138  and/or the support arm relative to rod  135 . 
     The actuation system, which causes movement of support arm assembly  130 , includes a activating connection, such as cord  140 , and a biasing mechanism such as spring  138 . Cord  140  operationally connects arrow support arm assembly  130  to cabling associated with bowstring  40 , so that when the archer draws bowstring  40  in preparation for shooting, cord  140  is pulled and correspondingly pulls arrow support arm assembly  130  from its relaxed state to its actuated state. When bowstring  40  is released, cord  140  is relaxed and released and arrow support arm assembly  130  moves to its relaxed state, due to urging by the biasing mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, arrow rest  100  includes a pulley  124  mounted to facilitate movement of cord  140  as the cord exits housing  120 . 
     As arrow support arm assembly  130  moves in relation to support structure  110 , support arm assembly  130  remains horizontally fixed, i.e., the end of support arm  130  at guide rod  135  moves the same distance as the opposite, cradle end of support arm assembly  130 . In this embodiment, support arm assembly  130  does not pivot or rotate around an end or other portion of arm assembly  130 , rather, support arm assembly  130  non-pivotally and non-rotationally moves in a linear manner. 
     Alternatives to guide rod  135  and spring  138  could be a leaf spring, rubber bands, hydraulics, magnets, a solid linkage attached to cord  140 , or any combination that operably connects arrow support arm  130  to bowstring  40  and that will change the position of support arm assembly  130  when the position of bowstring  40  is changed. 
     Bow Sight Example 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate perspective views of an archery sight assembly according to certain embodiments of the disclosure.  FIG. 6  is a top view of the sight assembly  200  and  FIG. 7  is a side view of sight assembly  200  from the inside side where “inside side” is defined as the side arranged toward the arrow rest side of the riser. Sight assembly  200  includes a rearward base portion or assembly  210  and a movable forward portion or assembly  240 . 
     Windage clamps  244  are secured to an extension portion  242  of forward assembly  240  and windage clamps adjustably grasp windage block  246 . Windage block  246  cooperates with sight block  252  to which is mounted a sight guard  250  which typically defines the viewing window or opening. One or more sight points are defined by one or more pins, such as pin  255 , within the viewing window of sight guard  250 . In certain embodiments, the one or more pins incorporate fiber optic strands to collect and deliver light to the sight point to enhance visibility. The fiber optic strands can be coiled on or adjacent sight guard  250 . Other sight features such as a battery powered sight light or level can optionally be used with the sight guard and sight points. 
     In operation, forward assembly  240  is arranged to move or translate vertically relative to base assembly  210 . Translation movement of forward assembly  240  correspondingly vertically moves the entirety of the windage clamps, windage block and sight guard assembly. In one embodiment, a rearwardly situated knob  262  is connected to shaft  260 , forming a portion of a rack and pinion gearing arrangement to control movement of forward assembly  240  relative to base assembly  210 . 
       FIGS. 8-14  illustrate details of rear base assembly  210  and forward assembly  240 . The windage clamps, windage block, sight block, sight guard and sight pin are not illustrated for ease of reference.  FIG. 8  illustrates an exploded view of portions of sight  200 . In broad terms, this includes forward assembly  240 , rearward base assembly  210  and indicator assembly  290 . Linear slide  280  is internal to sight assembly  200  and connects forward assembly housing  240  to rearward base assembly  210 . Slider portion  284  and rail  282  are shown separated in  FIGS. 8  and following for explanation purposes, yet in practice are supplied before assembly as an assembled linear slide unit which is not intended to be disassembled. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 9-11 , rail portion  282  of the linear slide is mounted and secured to a forward side  212  of base assembly  210 . A pinion gear  266  on the forward end of shaft  260  is arranged internally within a forward portion of base assembly  210  and protrudes laterally from inside side  214  of the base to engage a rack on the forward assembly when assembled. 
       FIGS. 12-14  illustrate forward assembly  240  in perspective and exploded views. Forward housing  240  has a base portion with forward extension  242 . Windage clamps  244  compress upon and engage forward extension  242  to clamp the windage block. Internal to forward assembly  240  and facing rearward on interior rearward side  270  is slider portion  284  of linear slide assembly  280 . Lateral to and rearward of slider portion  284  is rack gear portion  274  arranged on an interior side  272  of forward assembly  240 . In alternate embodiments, rail portion  282  is connected to forward assembly  240  and correspondingly, slider portion  284  can be secured to base assembly  210 . 
     In the assembled arrangement illustrated, slider  284  is coupled to rail  282  as part of linear slide assembly  280  and rack gear  274  is situated to engage pinion gear  266 . In this embodiment, the rack and pinion gearing is arranged rearwardly of, yet aligned with, the linear slide assembly  280 . In the embodiment illustrated, the axis of shaft  260  is substantially horizontal in the context of the sight and perpendicular to the linear slide movement axis. Rotation of knob  262  correspondingly rotates shaft  260  and pinion gear  266 . Rotation of pinion gear  266  applies force to rack gear  274  supplying force to selectively move forward assembly  240  vertically up or down relative to rearward assembly or base portion  210  where the vertical movement is controlled and guided by linear slide assembly  280 . Linear slide assembly  280  preferably allows higher precision in controlling vertical movement of the sight assembly than can be achieved using the tolerances within the rack and pinion gear arrangement alone. 
     In certain embodiments, the forward assembly and the base assembly include a locking mechanism to maintain a selected position. When a desired vertical position has been reached, locking screw  276  can be tightened. In an example embodiment, a threaded locking screw  276  engaging the forward assembly may be tightened to press against the base assembly and/or the gearing arrangement to inhibit relative movement of the forward and rear assemblies. The illustrated locking screw  276  includes a handle portion and a threaded rod portion which can be advanced through a threaded passage  278  defined on an outer side of forward assembly  240 . Inward rotation of locking screw  276  applies a separating force between forward assembly  240  and rear assembly  210  thus compressing the locking screw against the assemblies, selectively locking the assemblies in place at any desired position within the adjustment range. Locking screw  276  is shown on an outer side, but optionally can be located in alternate locations. Alternately, other locking mechanisms may be used. 
     As an optional feature, sight assembly  200  includes an indicator assembly  290  on the inward side of the sight assembly facing the archer. The indicator assembly is illustrated in  FIG. 7  and in an exploded view in  FIG. 8 . Indicator assembly  290  includes a pivot arm  292  extending from a rearward portion of base assembly  210  to adjacent forward assembly  240 . Pivot arm  292  is mounted at pivot point  294  to base assembly  210 . A mounting screw  296  extends through a slot in the forward end of the pivot arm  292  and engages forward assembly  240 . In the illustrated assembly, the mounting screw  296  extends into forward housing  240 , but does not engage rear assembly  210 . In the illustrated example, the portion of mounting screw  296  interior to the forward housing is able to travel within a clearance gap defined between the forward and base assemblies. Upward or downward movement of forward housing assembly  240  carries mounting screw  296  upward and downward a corresponding amount, whereupon mounting screw  296  bears upon the forward end of pivot arm  292  to impart rotational movement to the pivot arm. The rear portion of pivot arm  292  includes an indicator  298 , such as an arrow, which correspondingly moves upward or downward along an indicator measure piece  218  as pivot arm  292  rotates. Indicator measure piece  218  may be premarked with gradient lines and/or marked by the user to indicate desired positions. Comparison of indicator  298  to a pre-selected marking on indicator measure piece  218  allows the user to adjust the vertical movement of the sight and thus a sight point to a selected position. Selected positions typically correspond to precalibrated distances from the archer to the target. 
     In an alternate embodiment, a linear slide can be substituted for or incorporated with windage clamps  244  to allow linear horizontal movement of the sight block and sight guard assembly relative to forward housing  240 . In such an arrangement, windage clamps or a different locking mechanism may be used to secure the linear slide sight block and sight guard in a desired horizontal orientation. 
     Conventional materials may be used to make archery accessories according to the present invention, examples of such materials include metals such as aluminum, steel or titanium or plastic component pieces as appropriate. Appropriate connectors and fasteners such as screws and pins are used to assemble the archery bow accessories, some of which have been illustrated but not all of which have been discussed in detail. Appropriate use of such connectors as illustrated herein will be understood by those with skill in the art. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.