Patent Publication Number: US-2003233757-A1

Title: Full draw hands-free bow range finder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to geometrical devices and in particular to a range finder formed by using geometrical alignment to set up a vertical series of spaced parallel horizontal lines on a decal removably applied to a bow sight frame for a particular target, the lines calibrated to enable an archer to determine a distance between the archer and the target (usually an animal) by using the unique geometric relationships between the archer&#39;s draw distance and the normal height or body measurement of an animal or the height of another feature on a target.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] Bow sights are usually provided enabling an archer to line up a marker related to distance from the target with the target itself to cause the archer to elevate the bow to the angle required for launching an arrow on the proper trajectory to be accurate in hitting the target. In such cases, the archer is required to estimate the distance to the target or have a foreknowledge of the distance to the target.  
       [0005] Many range finders have been developed, often being elaborate with expensive technology such as optical devices with lenses, laser devices, and other electronic range finding means. Most prior art range finders require manual use, which does not allow the archer to use the range finder with the bow drawn, ready to shoot an arrow.  
       [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,208, issued Dec. 15, 1981 to Larson, claims a new and improved sighting device and range-finder and sighting device combination wherein the elemental sighting devices incorporate a sighting screw disposed within and through first and second separate mounting members having corresponding aligned apertures, one of the sighting members incorporating interiorly threaded means. The sighting devices themselves are constructed and arranged for gripping or clamping onto an elongate member and are selectively adjustable thereon. In a preferred form of the invention, irregular mating surfaces of such elongate member and the respective sighting devices used, prevent inadvertent slippage of such devices on the elongate member. The split-construction of the respective bodies sighting members enable users to install easily certain range indication markings as necessary, this obviating prior manufacturing expense. Fore and aft sighting-device mounting is provided. Vibrations during archery bow use, when such bows incorporate the range-finder, sighting device mechanism herein, will not disturb the unique, releasable mountings of individual sighting device elements on the elongate member of the unit.  
       [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,372, issued Jan. 15, 1991 to Blizzard, describes an improved sighting and range finding device for use with archery bows and the like, and more particularly, to an integrated bow sight comprising a boxed housing having a plurality of horizontal transparent sighting elements therein having “cross hair” sighting references and means for vertical adjustment. An adjustable range finder is mounted atop the bow sight housing so as to provide the user with a correlating means between the range finder and the correct sighting element in order to provide for a more accurate means of sighting, along with the capability of adjusting for different types of game animals.  
       [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,919, issued May 16, 2000 to Reichert, provides an effective, yet inexpensive range finder and sight guide for an archer&#39;s bow, particularly for hunting of game, such as deer. The device thereof includes a frame, removably mounted to the archer&#39;s bow, having a pair of vertically oriented guide rails for slidably receiving a slide member. A pair of pivotal arms are rotatably mounted to the slide member, where each arm fixedly mounts a horizontally disposed range pin. By manually adjusting the slide member, the respective range pins may be moved closer or farther apart to accurately define the intended game target. Further included is a horizontally disposed sight pin, fixedly secured to the slide member, that remains intermediate to and parallel with the range pins irrespective of the vertical position of the slide member.  
       [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,166, issued Feb. 26, 1991 to Knemeyer, shows a sight pin and top and bottom range finder pins mounted on a slide movable vertically relative to the handle of an archery bow. The slide has mechanism for moving the range finder pins equally toward the sight pin or away from it as the slide is moved. The amount of increase or decrease in the spacing between the range finder pins for a given length of travel of the slide can be adjusted and can be different for different ranges of vertical travel of the slide.  
       [0010] What is needed is an easy to apply range finder calibrated for the archer that does not require use of the hands so that it can be used while the bow is fully drawn.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a unique range finder, custom calibrated for a specific archer and a specific hunted game, applied in the form of a decal to a bow sighting frame for an accurate, inexpensive, easy-to-apply and easy-to-use bow range finder.  
       [0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide an archery range finder which can be applied to the bow adjacent to the bow sight so that the archer may draw back the bow string while aiming at a target or game and instantly use the range finder to determine the distance of the target or game from the archer and then use the bow sight indicator corresponding to the distance between the archer and the target or game enabling the archer to be very accurate in hitting the target or game.  
       [0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide an archery range finder based upon a mathematical equation which enables the range finder&#39;s accuracy. The mathematical equation takes into account the individual&#39;s draw length and the standard allowable hunt sizes of game animals.  
       [0014] An additional object of the present invention is that it is a very fast, simple, yet effective hands-free range finder applied to the backside of an archer&#39;s current bow sight weighing less than {fraction (1/16)} of an ounce so that it does not add any weight to the bow.  
       [0015] One more object of the present invention is quick, inexpensive production of a range finder for many different animal species and for many different draw lengths.  
       [0016] A further object of the present invention is to provide a bow range finder which, through usage, will enable an archer to become more comfortable at estimating yardage to targeted animals while bow hunting.  
       [0017] A contributory object of the present invention is the ability to range animals while at full draw.  
       [0018] An extra object of the present invention is that the decals are meant to be removable and, possibly, reusable, with packs of decals for each draw length calibrated for specific game, enabling each archer to select the appropriate decal for the archer&#39;s draw and also to apply the specific decal for the type of game the archer is hunting.  
       [0019] In brief, the present invention attaches to the backside of an existing bow sight. (the side of the bow sight that faces the archer when shooting.)  
       [0020] The hunter must select a decal of the present invention labeled for the animal that the hunter intends to hunt and a draw length which matches the archer&#39;s draw length.  
       [0021] The backside of the bow sight window is cleaned of all dirt and grease. The back of the decal is then peeled off and the decal is applied to the existing bow sight, at the same level as the bow sight, so that the range finder of the present invention is in the same line of sight as the bow sight. The widest gap on the decal should be positioned on the top when attaching the decal to the bow sight. The excess surface of the decal may be trimmed off or folded around the corners of the frame of the bow sight.  
       [0022] The top line is then the base line or reference line used to align with one feature of the target or game animal, such as the back of a game animal. Then another feature of the target or game animal which is a known distance from the first feature, such as a belly of the animal, is viewed adjacent to the decal to determine which other line on the decal lines up with the second feature on the target. The distance between the archer and the target or game animal is indicated by the distance calibration indicated by the second line.  
       [0023] Having the range finder of the present invention in the same line of sight with the bow sighting device enables the archer to draw back the bow to a full draw, use the range finder to determine the distance to the animal target, and then align the appropriate yardage marker on the sight device with the target for an accurate shot.  
       [0024] An advantage of the present invention is that it allows archers to hunt with confidence knowing they will accurately locate the target animal in terms of distance and, therefore, line up the correct sight line with the target.  
       [0025] Another advantage of the present invention is quick, inexpensive production of a range finder for many different animal species and for many different draw lengths.  
       [0026] A particular advantage of the present invention is to provide an archery range finder based upon a mathematical equation which enables the range finder&#39;s accuracy.  
       [0027] One more advantage of the present invention is that it is custom calibrated for a specific archer&#39;s draw length and a specific hunted game.  
       [0028] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is a very fast, simple, yet effective hands-free range finder decal applied to an archer&#39;s current bow sight  
       [0029] Still another advantage of the present invention is that it weighs less than {fraction (1/16)} of an ounce and does not add any significant weight to the bow.  
       [0030] A contributory advantage of the present invention is the ability to range animals while at full draw.  
       [0031] An extra advantage of the present invention is that the decals are meant to be removable and, possibly, reusable. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0032] These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:  
     [0033]FIG. 1 is a partial elevational view showing the range finder decal being applied to a frame of a sight device on a bow;  
     [0034]FIG. 2 is a partial elevational view of the range finder of FIG. 1 in place on the bow and being used to determine the distance to an animal. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
     [0035] In FIGS.  1 - 2 , a range finder device  20  for archery bows  30  is meant for use with the bow in a full draw position, without requiring the use of the hands of the archer to operate the range finder device  20 .  
     [0036] In FIGS.  1 - 2 , a sheet of material, known as the range finder device  20 , is capable of being removably applied to an archery bow  30  in a location capable of being viewed by an archer, when the bow is at full draw while aiming at a target or game animal  60 .  
     [0037] In FIG. 2, a series of spaced markings  21 A- 21 D, on the sheet of material  20  visible to the archer, are capable of being viewed simultaneously with a target  60 . The markings  21 A- 21 D are separated by marking spaces geometrically calculated by a specific full draw distance and known distance between a pair of spaced features of a specific animal target  60  or other type of inanimate target. The marking spaces are calculated to indicate a value of the distance between the archer and a target  60  by using a first feature of the target, such as the back  61  of a game animal  60  aligned with a first of the series of markings  21 A and then comparing a second feature of the target, such as the belly  62  of the animal  60  to the aligned calibration on the series of markings, such as line  21 D in FIG. 2. The distance between the archer and the target  60  is indicated by the calibrated marked distance between the markings  21 A- 21 D.  
     [0038] In FIGS.  1 - 2 , the sheet of material  20  is made from a strip of imprintable material with markings imprinted thereon, such as a plastic decal  20 .  
     [0039] In FIGS.  1 - 2 , the sheet of material  20  is further comprised of an adhesive surface on the side of the material opposite to the series of markings. The adhesive surface is capable of attachment and removal and the material is attachable and removable to and from the bow  30 , preferably on the frame  40  of the bow sight means.  
     [0040] In FIGS.  1 - 2 , the markings are fabricated of a color and contrast distinctly visible against the sheet of material  20  and distinctly visible against a portion of the bow upon which the material is attached, such as the sight frame  40 .  
     [0041] In FIGS.  1 - 2 , the device is capable of being removably attached to a border or frame  40  of a sighting means on the bow. Both the range finder device  20  and the sighting means  41  are capable of being viewed by the archer with the bow in a full draw position aimed at the target or game animal  60 .  
     [0042] A number of range finder devices  20  are capable of being fabricated, each with a particular full draw calibration, and a particular target calibration, so that the archer can select a specific range finder device  20  calibrated for the full draw of the archer and the intended target or game animal  60  of the archer.  
     [0043] In FIGS.  1 - 2 , the markings  21 A- 21 D comprise a series of vertically stacked, spaced, horizontal lines  21 A- 21 D.  
     [0044] In use, as shown in FIG. 2, at full draw, the archer starts by aligning the top line  21 A (the back line or reference line) of the decal with the animal&#39;s back  61 . The archer then checks to see where the animal&#39;s belly lines up with the distance marker lines  21 B- 21 D. If the belly lines up on the bottom distance marker line  21 D ( 20  yard belly line,) the animal is 20 yards away. If the belly lines up on the second from bottom distance marker line  21 C (30 yard belly line,) the animal is 30 yards away. If the animal&#39;s belly lines up on the top distance marker line  21 B (40 yard belly line,) the animal is 40 yards away. The back of the animal must remain aligned with the decal&#39;s top line or reference line  21 A to determine accurately where the animal&#39;s belly matches a lower line. When the animal&#39;s belly is halfway between the 30 and 40 yard lines, the distance to the animal will measure 35 yards away. This works in the same way for an animal that is 25 yards away. If the belly line is slightly over or under a yardage line, the animal is slightly over or under the yardage that coincides with that line. In FIG. 2, the belly  62  is lined up with the bottom distance marker line  21 D indicating the animal  60  is 20 yards away.  
     [0045] The appropriate sight marker  41 , for 20 yards in this case, is then lined up with the desired target point on the game animal, the bow string released and the arrow launched from its rest  50  to strike the target.  
     [0046] It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.