Patent Publication Number: US-10330424-B2

Title: Bow riser with integrated central accessory mount

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. PROVISIONAL Application Ser. No. 62/526,064, filed Jun. 28, 2017, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention generally relates to a projectile weapon, and more particularly to an archery bow with a handle riser including an integrated means for attaching an accessory for the bow. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Archery bows include risers  10 , which generally form a central body of the bow. With reference to the prior art of  FIG. 1 , these risers  10  may include an upper end  12  and a lower end  14 , which may have limb attachment points where cams may be located. A handle  16  may be positioned between the upper and lower ends for gripping by a user during use. 
     A sight window  20  may be included above the handle  16 , which may provide a location from which an arrow is shot from the bow. The sight window  20  may include a lower wall  22 , which is sometimes referred to as an arrow shelf, and may further include at least one vertical wall  24 , which in turn may connect to an upper wall  26 . The upper wall  26  may be horizontal, may project at an angle upward from horizontal, or may be curved. The upper wall  26  may connect the sight window  20  to the upper end  12  of the riser  10 . 
     As can be seen in the prior art of  FIG. 2 , the riser  10 ′ may be in the form of a shoot-through riser, which may include two vertical walls  24   a ,  24   b , that may connect the lower wall  22  to the upper wall  26 . In such an embodiment, the sight window  20  may be considered a closed configuration, as opposed to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , which includes only a single vertical wall  24 , and would be considered to have an open configuration. 
     Accessories such as arrow rests, sights, cable guards, range finders, scopes, flashlights, cameras, fishing reels, and stabilizers are often attached to the riser, such as by way of the vertical wall  24 . This is often accomplished through the use of one or more attachment means, such as a hole, on the vertical wall  24 . For example, in some instances, a berger hole is used to mount an arrow rest. The sizes of these holes and thread specifications may be based on Archery Manufacturers&#39; Organization (AMO) standards. 
     The accessories may be fastened from the outside of the vertical wall  24  of the sight window. This attachment arrangement may create certain problems, such as in the context of tuning the bow in order to center the accessory along a center plane of the riser and/or string. For example, because the accessory is attached from the outside of the sight window, at least some lateral positioning or adjustment may be required in order to center the accessory with respect to the riser and/or string. 
     In addition, the added weight of the accessory may compromise the balance of the bow riser, such as by shifting the center of gravity of the bow to the left or right. This may lead to the bow requiring one or more further weight stabilizers, such as a side stabilizer, a back bar, or a stabilizer weight slide bar to compensate for the added weight of the accessory. This addition of a stabilizing element simply adds further weight to the overall bow. 
     Accordingly, a need has been identified for a bow riser with an improved attachment system for accessories which addresses these and other shortcomings of traditional risers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the present invention generally relates to an archery bow riser comprising an upper end, a lower end, a handle above the lower end, and a sight window between handle and the upper end. The sight window may comprise a lower wall adjacent the handle, at least one vertical side wall, and an upper wall, wherein the upper wall includes at least one mount adapted to receive and attach an archery accessory to the riser. For example, the archery accessory could be any of an arrow rest, a sight, a cable guard, a range finder, a scope, a flashlight, a camera, a fishing reel, a stabilizer, etc. 
     In one aspect, the riser may include a centerline plane, and the mount may be positioned within the centerline plane. For purposes of this disclosure, the centerline plane is the plane through which a bowstring is adapted to travel when firing an arrow through the sight window of the bow riser. The centerline plane generally divides the riser in half between a left side and a right side. 
     The mount associated with the upper wall may comprise a recess in the upper wall, with the recess being adapted to receive at least a portion of the archery accessory. In one aspect, the mount may comprise an elongated groove running in a direction from a front to a back of the upper wall of the sight window. The elongated groove may include at least one receiver adapted to engage the archery accessory and restrict movement of the archery accessory along the elongated groove. For example, the at least one receiver may be one or more indentations adapted to engage a detent associated with the archery accessory. 
     In another aspect, the mount may comprise an extension projecting from the upper wall into the sight window. For example, the mount may comprise an extension running in a direction from a front to a back of the upper wall of the sight window. 
     A second mount adapted for attaching a second archery accessory to the riser may be provided in or on at least one of the vertical side wall or the lower wall. The second mount may be of the same configuration as the mount in the upper wall, or may be of a different configuration. 
     The upper wall which includes the mount may be a generally horizontal wall. Alternately, the upper wall may extend from the at least one vertical side wall at an angle from horizontal greater than zero degrees. In one aspect, the upper wall may be a curved wall. 
     In another embodiment, the invention relates to an archery bow for use in association with a bowstring used to fire an arrow. The archery bow may comprise a riser including a centerline plane through which the bowstring is adapted to travel when firing said arrow. The riser may include a handle and a sight window above the handle, the sight window at least partially defined by a lower wall, a vertical side wall, and an upper wall. The upper wall may comprise at least one first mount within the centerline plane, said mount being adapted to attach an archery accessory to the bow. 
     At least one of the vertical side wall and the lower wall may include at least one second mount adapted to attach a second archery accessory to the bow. The first mount and the second mount may be of the same shape. Alternately, the first mount and the second mount may be different shapes. 
     In one aspect, the first mount may comprise a recess. The recess may be a threaded aperture adapted to receive a threaded projection associated with the archery accessory. 
     In another aspect, the recess may comprise an elongated groove extending in a direction along the centerline plane. The elongated groove may include at least one receiver adapted for limiting movement of the archery accessory upon engagement of the archery accessory and the elongated groove. 
     The first mount may comprise an extension projecting from the upper wall into the sight window. The extension may comprise an elongated ridge extending in a direction along the centerline plane. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a riser of a bow with a sight window including a single vertical side wall of the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a riser of a bow with a sight window including two vertical side walls of the prior art; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial rear cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a riser of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial rear cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a riser of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial rear cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a riser of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are rear partial cross-sectional views of archery accessories adapted to engage a riser; 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are partial rear cross-sectional views of other embodiments of a riser; 
         FIG. 9A  is a partial rear cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a mount of a riser; 
         FIG. 9B  is a bottom plan view of the mount of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 10A  is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a mount of a riser; 
         FIG. 10B  is a bottom plan view of the mount of  FIG. 10A ; 
         FIG. 11A  is a partial rear cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a riser; 
         FIG. 11B  is a bottom view of a mount of the riser of  FIG. 11A ; 
         FIG. 12A  is a partial rear cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a riser; 
         FIG. 12B  is a bottom view of a mount of the riser of  FIG. 12A ; and 
         FIG. 13  is a partial rear cross-sectional view of an additional embodiment of a riser. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The description provided below and in regard to the figures applies to all embodiments unless noted otherwise, and features common to each embodiment are similarly shown and numbered. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , a riser  100  for an archery bow is illustrated, which includes an upper end  112 , and a handle  116 , the handle being adapted for a user to grip when firing an arrow. Between the upper end  112  and the handle  116  is a sight window  120 . The sight window may be at least partially defined by a lower wall  122 , a vertical side wall  124 , and an upper wall  126 . The lower wall  122  may be referred to as an arrow shelf. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the upper wall  126  may extend away from the vertical side wall  124  at an angle α with respect to horizontal. The angle α may be an angle between 0 and 90 degrees above horizontal, such as between 30 and 45 degrees. Alternately, the angle α may be an angle between 0 and 90 degrees below horizontal. In  FIG. 3 , the angle α is shown at approximately 40 degrees above horizontal. 
     The riser  100  may be adapted for use with a bowstring (not pictured), which is adapted to fire the arrow through the sight window  120 . A path through which the bowstring travels while firing and arrow may define a centerline plane  128 . This centerline plane  128  may generally divide the riser  100  into a left portion and right portion. In one aspect, the centerline plane  128  may divide the riser  100  in half between the left portion and the right portion. As illustrated, the centerline plane  128  extends from a front to a back of the riser  100 , and is perpendicular to the plane of the cross-section of the riser  100  as illustrated. 
     At least one mount  130  may be provided in the upper wall  126  of the sight window. The mount  130  may be positioned at least partially within the centerline plane  128 . In one aspect, the mount  130  may be centered within the centerline plane  128 . The mount  130  may be adapted to engage an archery accessory and affix the archery accessory to the riser  100 . For example, the archery accessory may comprise any of an arrow rest, a sight, a cable guard, a range finder, a scope, a flashlight, a camera, a fishing reel, or a stabilizer. The mount  130  may take one of many forms, such as those outlined below. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 4 , a partial cross-section of a riser  200  is shown, which includes a sight window. A mount  230  may be provided in an upper wall  226  of the sight window. The mount  230  may be located within a centerline plane  228 , and may be centered on the centerline plane  228 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the upper wall  226  is a horizontal wall, and extends approximately 90 degrees from a sidewall  224  of the sight window. 
     The mount  230  may comprise a recess  232 , which is adapted for receiving at least a portion of the archery accessory. For example, the recess  232  may comprise a female connector, which may be adapted to mate with a male connector or extension on the archery accessory. The recess  232  may be a slot or groove running in a direction from a front to a back of the riser, such as along the centerline plane  228 . A cross-sectional shape of the recess  232  may be rectangular, trapezoidal, polygonal, or may include a rounded or arcuate cross-section. In one aspect, the recess  232  may comprise a dovetail slot, or may be a slot for receiving a picatinny rail or a weaver rail. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , a partial cross-section of a riser  300  is illustrated, including a sight window at least partially defined by a vertical side wall  324  and an upper wall  326 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the upper wall may extend from the vertical side wall  324  at an angle α with respect to horizontal. 
     The upper wall  326  may include a mount  330 . The mount  330  may be provided at least partially within the centerline plane  328  of the riser  300 . In a further aspect, the mount  330  may be centered within the centerline plane  328 . The mount  330  may comprise an extension  332  projecting from the upper wall  326  into the sight window. The extension  332  may run in a direction from a front to a back of the riser, such as along the centerline plane  328 . A cross-sectional shape of the extension  332  may be rectangular, trapezoidal, polygonal, or may include a rounded or arcuate cross-section. In one aspect, the extension  332  may comprise a dovetail slide, or may be an extension such as that of a picatinny rail or a weaver rail. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a partial cross-section of a first archery accessory  350 , which includes a connector  352  adapted to engage the mount of a riser. The connector  352  is illustrated as a first projection  354 , which may be adapted to be received within a recess  232  of a riser  200 . The shape of the projection  354  may correspond to a shape of the recess  232 , thereby affixing the archery accessory  350  to the riser  200 . Similarly,  FIG. 7  illustrates a second archery accessory  360 , which includes a connector  362  in the form of a second projection  364 . The second projection  364  may be a different shape than the projection  354  of the first archery accessory  350 . As illustrated, the first projection  354  of the first archery accessory  350  is a dovetail slide, while the second projection  364  of the second archery accessory  360  is a picatinny rail slide. A given connector  352 ,  362 , may have a corresponding shape to a recess  232  of a given shape, thereby being specifically adapted to engage a specifically shaped recess. 
     Similarly, in the case of a mount  330  of a riser  300  being in the form of an extension  332 , a corresponding archery accessory may be equipped with a receiver of a corresponding shape, thereby allowing the extension  332  to engage the receiver of the archery accessory, attaching and fixing the archery accessory to the riser  300 . 
     In another aspect, as shown in  FIG. 8A , a riser  400  with a sight window at least partially formed by a horizontal upper wall  426 , may include a mount  430 , which may take the shape of a threaded aperture  432 . As with other embodiments, the threaded aperture  432  may be positioned at least partially within a centerline plane  428  of the riser  400 , and more specifically may be centered within the centerline plane  428 . 
       FIG. 8B  illustrates a similar embodiment to that of  FIG. 8A , in which a riser  500  includes a mount  530  in the form of a threaded aperture  532 . The threaded aperture  532  may be located at least partially within the centerline plane  528  of the riser  500 . The mount  530  may be associated with an upper wall  526  of the sight window, which may project from a vertical side wall of the sight window at an angle α with respect to horizontal. 
     In a further aspect,  FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate a mount  630 , which may be provided in an upper wall  626  of a riser. As above, the upper wall  626  of the riser may at least partially define a sight window in combination with at least one vertical side wall  624  of the riser. The mount  630  may comprise a recess  632 , which may comprise a cross-sectional shape as disclosed above. As illustrated, the recess  632  may comprise an elongated groove, which may run in a direction from a front to a back of the upper wall, such as along the centerline plane. 
     In the recess  632 , one or more receivers  634  may be provided. The receivers  634  may be adapted to engage the archery accessory and restrict movement of the archery accessory, such as in a direction along the elongated groove. The receiver  634  may comprise an indentation adapted to engage a detent associated with the archery accessory. As shown in  FIG. 9B , the receiver may include a plurality of receivers  634   a ,  634   b  . . .  634   n . This plurality of receivers may allow for selective engagement of a single projecting element of the archery accessory, such as a detent, with an individual receiver in order to select a particular position of the archery accessory along a length of the groove. Alternately, the plurality of receivers may allow for the simultaneous engagement of a plurality of projecting elements from the archery accessory, such as a plurality of detents, in order to more securely fasten the archery accessory to the riser. The elongated groove may further include an opening  636  that may be wider at one point than another, and may be adapted to receive a portion of the archery accessory. 
     Similarly, with reference to  FIGS. 10A and 10B , a mount  730  is illustrated, which may be provided in an upper wall  726  of a riser. The upper wall  726  may at least partially define a sight window in combination with at least one vertical side wall  724 . The mount  730  may comprise an extension  732 , which may project from the upper wall  726  into the sight window. The extension  732  may also extend in a direction running from front to back of the upper wall  726 , such as along the centerline plane. 
     The extension  732  may include one or more receivers  734 , which may be adapted to engage the archery accessory and restrict movement of the archery accessory, such as in a direction along the centerline plane. The receiver  734  may comprise an indentation adapted to engage a detent associated with the archery accessory. As shown in  FIG. 10B , the receiver may include a plurality of receivers  734   a ,  734   b , . . .  734   n . This plurality of receivers may allow for selective engagement of a single projecting element of the archery accessory, such as a detent, with an individual receiver in order to select a particular position of the archery accessory along a length of the extension  732  from the front to back of the riser. Alternately, the plurality of receivers may allow for the simultaneous engagement of a plurality of projecting elements from the archery accessory, such as a plurality of detents, in order to more securely fasten the archery accessory to the riser. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 11A and 11B , a further aspect of a riser  800  is illustrated, wherein a mount  830  may be provided in the upper wall  826  of a sight window of the riser. The mount  830  may comprise a plurality of apertures  832   a ,  832   b , which may be positioned symmetrically with respect to a centerline plane  828  of the riser  800 . As shown, two apertures  832   a ,  832   b  are present, with each of the apertures being equidistant from the centerline plane  828 . In one aspect, the plurality of apertures  832   a ,  832   b  may be threaded apertures. The apertures  832   a ,  832   b  may be adapted to engage projections, such as posts or threaded screws, from the archery accessory. 
     Similarly,  FIGS. 12A and 12B  illustrate a similar embodiment of a riser  900 , which includes a mount  930  in an upper wall  926 , said mount  930  comprising a plurality of apertures  932   a ,  932   b . The apertures  932   a ,  932   b  may be positioned along the centerline plane  928  of the riser  900 . As can be seen in  FIG. 12B , each of the plurality of apertures  932   a ,  932   b  may be positioned within the centerline plane  928 . In one aspect, the plurality of apertures  932   a ,  932   b  may be threaded apertures. The apertures  932   a ,  932   b  may be adapted to engage projections, such as posts or threaded screws, from the archery accessory. 
     Turning to  FIG. 13 , a riser  1000  is depicted, which includes a sight window  1020 , which is at least partially defined by a lower wall  1022 , at least one vertical side wall  1024 , and an upper wall  1026 . As in other embodiments, a first mount  1030  may be provided in the upper wall  1026 . In addition, at least one second mount  1031  may be provided in the sight window. As shown, the at least one second mount  1031  may be provided in the lower wall  1022 . One or both of the first mount  1030  and the second mount  1031  may be provided at least partially within the centerline plane  1028  of the riser  1000 . Alternately, the second mount  1031  could be provided in the at least one vertical side wall  1024 . Each of the first mount  1030  and the second mount  1031  may be of the configuration of any of the mounts described herein. 
     A riser with a mount for an archery accessory provided within the centerline plane of the riser as described herein may offer advantages over a mount on a side vertical wall of the riser. For example, locating and mounting an archery accessory along the centerline plane would prevent unwanted weight positioned off-center with respect to the bow. Such off-centered weight can interfere with a user&#39;s ability to shoot an arrow along a desired path. In addition, the use of a mount aligned with a centerline plane of the riser prevents the need for adding an additional counterbalance weight stabilizer, thereby lowering the overall weight of the bow. In addition, providing a mount in the upper wall of the sight window allows for placement of one or more archery accessories near or within the sight window without interfering with the flight of an arrow, which normally passes at or near the lower wall or arrow shelf. In the embodiment of a mount in both the upper wall and the lower wall, such a riser allows for coordinated location of an upper mount and a lower mount along the centerline plane of the riser. Accordingly, both an arrow rest and an additional archery accessory (e.g. a sight, a light, a camera, etc.) may be aligned with the centerline plane, thereby coordinating the function of two different accessories, while maintaining a balanced center of gravity of the overall bow. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be understood that numerous variations, modifications and additional embodiments are possible, and all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, any of the embodiments of mounts described herein may be combined with any of the illustrated or described riser configurations (e.g. risers with two vertical side walls, risers with a horizontal upper wall of the sight window, risers with an angled upper wall of the sight window, etc.). Also, the drawings, while illustrating the inventive concepts, are not to scale, and should not be limited to any particular sizes or dimensions. Accordingly, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the described embodiments, but that it has the full scope defined by the language of the following claims, and equivalents thereof.