Patent Publication Number: US-7708674-B1

Title: Archery exerciser

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/645,565 filed Jan. 19, 2005. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to the field of archery and, more particularly, to an archery exerciser training device designed to minimize or eliminate target panic, develop muscle memory, and warm up muscles before using a bow and arrow. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is well known in the art that virtually all archers suffer from a condition known as “target panic.” Target panic is an involuntary, psychological condition which commonly results in the premature release of an arrow, or at least a strong desire to do so. Target panic also often prevents an archer from holding the bow site on target or bow steady while aiming at a target because the archer may fear missing the target, is anticipating the release of the arrow or is too focused on establishing proper shooting posture and positioning and, therefore, is unable to accurately aim. Developing appropriate “muscle memory” can reduce or eliminate the undesirable effects of target panic, and can take the archer&#39;s mind away from pulling the trigger. Therefore, it is important for archers to regularly practice to train the muscles involved in the shooting process. Such training preferably should be accomplished without the fear of throwing an actual arrow. 
   Various prior art devices exist to help archers develop proper shooting muscle control and memory. Previously such devices simply comprised a pair of grips connected by an elastic cord, such as the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,191, issued Sep. 2, 1986 to Remme. Later devices built on this basic idea and included various contraptions that attached to a bow or bowstring, such as the devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,365, issued Oct. 1, 1991 to Carella, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,413 issued Nov. 17, 1992 to Carella. Other devices, such as the archery training aid disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,320 issued May 3, 1988 to Wiard, incorporate electronic components intended to visually alert an archer when a full bowstring draw has been accomplished. However, most prior art devices currently on the market are long, bulky mechanism which either attach to the bow or have their own handles. Such devices are not easily transported or stowed, and many do not offer the ability to adjust the bowstring draw length. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is an archery exerciser training device which permits an archer to develop and train the muscles involved in using a bow and arrow. The device consists of a cylindrical tube with an attached handle. Within the cylindrical tube is a gas spring with integrated plungers mounted on either end. Each plunger further includes an axle on which two wheels are opposingly mounted. The plunger at the proximal end of the device is fixedly mounted to the tube, while the plunger at the distal end of the device is permitted to slidably move within the tube. A cable is mounted to one plunger at the distal end of the device, and the cable travels in a zigzag fashion around the four wheels and out of the plunger at the proximal end of the device, thereby creating a pulley-type system. The exposed end of the cable is formed into a loop. 
   An archer wishing to use the device to practice, grips the handle with the same hand used to grip a bow. The archer then fully extends his or her arm so the device is positioned generally perpendicularly to the archer&#39;s body. With the archer&#39;s other hand (the hand used to draw the bowstring), the archer grabs the exposed loop of the cable (alternatively, any of a number of prior art, or future-developed, arrow release aids may be used in place of directly grabbing the loop) and pulls in a rearward direction, mimicking and approximating the motions made when drawing a bowstring. When the exposed cable is pulled, the distal plunger is forced rearward, thereby compressing the gas spring and creating an opposing force approximately equal to the draw weight of a bowstring. When the string is released, the gas spring extends, pushing the distal plunger forward and pulling the exposed cable back within the cylindrical tube in a safe and controlled manner, without whipping the cable. The process may be repeated over and over as necessary to sufficiently develop and train the archer&#39;s shooting muscles, and to warm up said muscles prior to shooting. 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an archery exerciser that allows one to overcome or minimize target panic and muscle flinch associated with the release of an arrow. In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided an archery exerciser that trains an archer&#39;s shooting muscles by repetitive motion to create and enhance muscle memory. In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided an archery exerciser that is extremely transportable and easily stowed. In yet another embodiment of present invention, there is provided an archery exerciser that may be used to warm up an archer&#39;s shooting muscles prior to shooting. In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided an archery exerciser that may be used independently from an archery bow. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an archery exerciser that works both with release aids and with an archer&#39;s fingers. In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an archery exerciser that saves wear on dealer&#39;s bows or an archer&#39;s bow by avoiding dry firing or accidentally releasing the bow string when no arrow is knocked. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an archery exerciser that provides a constant draw weight with the draw weight able to be varied by using different or adjustable gas springs, pulley designs, and/or pressure, tension, or compression devices. 
   Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the cable and zig-zag configuration of the cable within the tube; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of an alternative loop region for the cable; and 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of  FIG. 4 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments illustrated. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the archery exerciser  10  of the present invention comprises six primary components: a cylindrical tube  12 , a molded handle  14  attached to the tube, a gas spring  16 , a pair of plungers  18   a  and  18   b  attached to the gas spring  16 , a pair of wheels attached to each plunger, and a length of cable  22  fed across the wheels  20  to create a pulley-type system. It should be known that the term cable is used to cover all types of ropes, stings, wires, or archery bows, or other items such that may be substituted and used herein. 
   The cylindrical tube  12  is preferably manufactured from nylon, or another lightweight, sturdy material. The handle  14  is designed to mount over the outside of the tube  12  using a frictional clamp  30  that tightens and/or releases with tightening screws  32 . The handle  14  is mounted on the tube  12  towards the distal end  34 , the end furthest away from a user, to approximate the location of a bow handle. 
   Within the tube  12  is a gas spring  16 . The gas spring  16  is of the type commonly found in the prior art and generally operates in a piston-like manner. On each end of the gas spring  16  is a plunger  18   a  and  18   b  that is mounted thereto. A first plunger  18   a  is mounted to the distal end  34  and a second plunger  18   b  is mounted to the proximal end  36 . The first and second plungers  18   a  and  18   b  are generally cylindrical in shape and have a diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the tube  12  to permit the plungers  18   a  and  18   b  to fit within the tube  12 . And the size further permits the first plunger  18   a  to slide freely within the tube  12  along the central longitudinal axis of the tube  12 . The second plunger  18   b  is fixedly mounted at the proximal end  36  of the tube using screws  40  that pass through the tube  12  and into mating threaded bores  38  on the second plunger  18   b . Integrally mounted within each of the plungers  18   a  and  18   b  are a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on an axle running through a bore through the plungers. The wheels  20   a  and  21   a  mounted on axle  42   a  within the first plunger  18   a  and the wheels  20   b  and  21   b  mount on axle  42   b  within the second plunger  18   b . Recessed apertures  44  on each plunger are provided to accommodate the wheels. 
   The cable should be of sufficient strength to be able to support the resistive forces created by the gas spring  16  during compression thereof. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, this force is approximately 30 pounds. However, in alternate embodiments, different gas springs may be used which result in different resistive forces. Additional, in other embodiments of the present invention, the gas spring  16  may be replaced by other types of pressure, compression, and/or tension devices which provide similar levels of resistive force. 
   At one end of the cable  22  a knot, crimp or other fastening  50  is provided, while at the other end of the cable a loop  52  is formed. The cable  22  is positioned within the tube  12  to create a pulley-type system using the wheels  20   a ,  21   a ,  20   b ,  21   b  of the plungers  18   a  and  18   b . To accomplish this, the cable  22  is fed through bores in the plungers  18   a  and  18   b  in the following manner. The fastening  50  is positioned at the distal end of the first plunger  18   a . The cable  22  feeds through a bore  54  in the first plunger  18   a  and passes along the gas spring  16 . The cable  22  passes around wheel  21   b  in the second plunger  18   b  through a bore  56  in the second plunger  18   b . The cable  22  then exits the first plunger  18   a  through another bore (not shown) and travels along the gas spring  16  back towards the first plunger  18   a . The cable  22  enters the first plunger  18   a  through bore  58  and passes around wheel  21   a  and exits the first plunger  18   a  through bore  60 . Next, the cable  22  travels back towards the second plunger  18   b  and enters through a bore (not shown) and travels around wheel  20   b . The cable  22  will exit the second plunger  18   b  through a bore (not shown) and travel back towards the first plunger  18   a . The cable  22  enters the first plunger  18   a  through a bore  62 , travels around wheel  20   a , exits the first plunger  18   a  through a bore  64  and travels back towards the second plunger  18   b . Lastly, the cable  22  enters the second plunger  18   b  via a bore (not shown) and exists the second plunger  18   b  through a hole  66 , were the loop  52  is left exposed on the outside of the tube  12 . 
   It should be noted that the cable  22  should be in excess of five times the length of the tube  12  in the preferred embodiment to permit the cable  22  to travel back and forth between the two plungers while the gas spring  16  is extended, to provide sufficient draw length. Further, the length of the cable  22  can be altered to provide different draw lengths as required by the user. Alternatively, the handle  14  can be moved along the length of the tube in order to adjust the draw length. 
   Lastly, as  FIG. 2  illustrates the cable around the wheels but not entering specific bores in the plungers this was done for exemplary purposes only. And the description provided herein is the preferred manner of weaving the cable through the plungers. 
   In operation, a user of the device grips the handle  14  with the same hand used to grip a bow. The user fully extends his or her arm so that the tube  12  is positioned generally perpendicularly to the user&#39;s body. With the user&#39;s other hand (the hand used to draw the bowstring), the user grabs the loop  52  of the cable  22  (alternatively any of a number of prior art, or future-developed, arrow release aids may be used in place of directly grabbing the loop  52 ) and pulls the cable  22  in a rearward direction, relative to the user, thereby mimicking and approximating the motion of the drawing a bowstring. When the loop  52  is pulled, the first plunger  18   a  is forced rearward, relative to the user, thereby compressing the gas spring  16  and creating an opposing force approximately equal to the draw weight of a bowstring, approximately 30 pounds in the preferred embodiment. When the loop  52  is released, the gas spring  16  extends, pushing the first plunger  18   a  forward and pulling the cable  22  back within the tube  12  in a safe and controlled manner. The process may be repeated over and over as necessary to sufficiently develop and train the user&#39;s shooting muscles, and to warm up the muscles prior to shooting. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , there is shown an alternate loop region  80 . The loop region  80  is created by having an end  82  of the cable  22  circulate back around itself to a crimping or fastening region  84  region. The cable  22  has a substantially straight section  86  suspended over the opening  88  defined by the loop  80 . The suspension is caused by laying the cable  22  within a channel  92  defined in a bridge section  90 . The ends of the bridge section  90  may include closed fastened members  94  to ensure the cable  22  does not separate from the bridge section  90 . The substantially straight section  86  provides an area on the loop  80  for the user to attach arrow release aids. 
   From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims. 
   For example, it is envisioned that other embodiments of the present invention may use the same general internal mechanics, but forego the external cylindrical tube, with the pulley components directly mounted on the primary force-generating device. Additionally, it is contemplated that many other types of force generating devices and pulley designs may be used to achieve the same effect and to provide for desired variability in draw weight.