Abstract:
Devices, systems and methods preventing transfer of vibration from a bowstring, crossbow string or buss cable(s) and simultaneously silences the components from making audible noise. At least one finger with a longitudinal friction contact surface and/or integral brush combination can be mounted adjacent to the strings/cable(s) when in neutral at-rest positions. Upon release, the bowstring, crossbow string or buss cable(s) can travel along a path parallel to the rigid finger to rub against a longitudinal friction contact surface and/or through brush bristles. Kinetic energy of the strings/cables are transferred to the bristles or contact surface without inducing any vibration in the bow or crossbow, and the strings/cable(s) quickly returns to at-rest positions without audible vibration.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This invention is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/800,874 filed May 25, 2010. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of archery. Specifically, the invention relates to devices, systems and methods used to diminish undesirable bowstring or crossbow or buss cable(s) vibration and noise following arrow projectile release. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     It is well established in the field of archery that the act of drawing and releasing a bowstring causes the bowstring to oscillate before finally coming to rest at a neutral position. This high frequency oscillation results in an audible “twang” and translates much of the vibrational energy to the bow. 
     Often such an audible twang may be loud enough to spook a target animal. The spooked animal may move suddenly, thereby causing the already released arrow to strike a less desirable portion of the target or not at all. Vibrational energy translated to the bow is ultimately translated to the hand holding the bow, leading to hand fatigue that can decrease the archer&#39;s performance upon the next draw. 
     Prior art addresses this problem in a variety of ways. One mature concept employs hard stops, typically of varying rubber-like elastomeric material. The prior art devices are positioned on the bow at approximately the neutral bowstring position. Once released, the bowstring travels in the forward direction only so far as the neutral position before striking the hard stop. Such a device truncates the power stroke of the bowstring, translates a large spike of kinetic energy into the bow riser, and merely replaces the audible ‘twang’ with a muted, but also audible, ‘thud’. 
     Other prior art includes small devices called string silencers of varying geometries that are attached directly to the bowstring. These silencers attempt to dissipate a vibrating bowstring&#39;s energy by moving flexible appendages or viscoelastic material. However, they are always attached to the bowstring, and they affect the bowstring performance even during the draw and power stroke. 
     What is needed is a device that does not affect a bowstring performance from draw through power stroke yet quickly and silently decelerates the bowstring following the power stroke without translating any vibrational energy to the bow or user&#39;s bow hand. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide devices, systems and methods for bows and crossbows that diminish undesirable bowstring or crossbow or buss cable vibration and noise following arrow projectile release. 
     A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide devices, systems and methods for bows and crossbows that do not affect a bowstring performance from draw through power stroke, yet quickly and silently decelerates the bowstring and/or buss cable following the power stroke without translating any vibrational energy to the bow or user&#39;s bow hand. 
     The present invention can include devices, systems and methods that prevents the transfer of vibration from a bowstring or crossbow string or buss cable(s) to a bow riser and simultaneously silences the strings and/or cable(s) from making audible noise. 
     The invention can mount to the stock or riser of a bow or crossbow, and can mount to another surface, and disposes at least one rigid finger with an integral string facing surface or integral brush combination adjacent to the bowstring or crossbow string and/or buss cable(s) when the bowstring or crossbow string and/or buss cable(s) is in the neutral at-rest position. 
     Upon release, the bowstring or crossbow string travels along a path parallel to the rigid finger to frictionally rub against a longitudinal surface on one side of the finger or through brush bristles attached to one side of the finger. Kinetic energy of the bowstring and/or buss cable(s) is transferred to the friction surface or to the brush bristles without inducing any vibration in the bow riser. And the bowstring or crossbow string and/or buss cable(s) quickly returns to the at-rest position without audible vibration. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique view of a compound bow outfitted with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is an overhead view of the present invention wherein the bowstring is in the neutral, at-rest position. 
         FIG. 2B  is an overhead view of the present invention wherein the bowstring is in the maximum forward position at the end of the power stroke following release. 
         FIG. 2C  is an overhead view of the present invention wherein the bowstring is in the maximum rearward position as it vibrates to rest following release. 
         FIG. 3  is an oblique view of a crossbow outfitted with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is a detailed view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed view of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is a detailed view of the present invention showing a first bristle embodiment. 
         FIG. 5B  is a detailed view of the present invention showing a second bristle embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed view of another embodiment of a finger with angled surface and bristles extending from the surface. 
         FIG. 7  is a detailed view of another embodiment of a finger with a concave rounded surface with bristles. 
         FIG. 8  is a detailed view of another embodiment of a finger with angled tip and flat sided surface with bristles. 
         FIG. 9  is a detailed view of another embodiment of a split finger with curved slot and bristles therein. 
         FIG. 10  is a detailed view of another embodiment of a finger with angled surface. 
         FIG. 11  is a detailed view of another embodiment of a finger with angled surface and rubbing pad thereon. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     The present invention is a device, system and method that prevents the transfer of vibration from a bowstring to a bow riser or crossbow stock and, by eliminating bowstring vibration, also silences the bowstring from making audible noise upon release. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  2 A,  2 B, and  2 C, a first embodiment of the invention includes a support arm  5 . At a first end, support arm  5  terminates at a mounting end  7  that can attach the invention to the riser of compound bow  2 . In the preferred embodiment, mounting end  7  is a threaded post typical in the art for attaching accessories to a bow. Support arm  5  may or may not include a threaded locking nut. Support arm  5  may be straight or include a gentle s-shaped curve as shown in  FIG. 2 . Mounting end  7  is not limited to a threaded post. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that other equivalent means can be used to mount the invention to a bow riser or subsequent portion or appendage of an archery bow or crossbow. 
     At a second end, support arm  5  terminates in at least one rigid finger  1 . Each finger  1  further comprises a brush  4  attached to finger  1 . Brush  4  is oriented on the side of finger  1  that is adjacent to bowstring  3  and includes a plurality of flexible bristles. The bristles of brush  4  must be at least long enough to make contact with bowstring  3  as it moves in a line parallel to finger  1 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the second end of support arm  5  includes two fingers  1  arranged in such a geometry that there is one finger  1  disposed on opposing sides of bowstring  3  when bowstring  3  is at rest. As shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C, the flexible bristles of brushes  4  are long enough to make contact with bowstring  3  at any point along the length of brushes  4 . The bristles of a first brush  4  may be just long enough to make contact with, may overlap, or may make no contact with the bristles of a second, opposing brush  4  so long as contact with bowstring  3  is maintained by all brushes  4 . In a second embodiment of the invention, only a single finger  1  is disposed on the side of bowstring  3  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The brushes  4  are a key feature of the present invention. The bristles of brush  4  are preferentially oriented either perpendicular to the surface of finger  1 , as shown in  FIG. 5A , or angled forwards towards mounting end  7  at an angle in the range of about five degrees and about forty-five degrees relative to the perpendicular direction, as shown in  FIG. 5B . The bristles can be fabricated from stiff or flexible material such as, but not limited to, natural hair, polymers, or elastomers. 
     In operation, the invention quickly brings released bowstring  3  to rest at a neutral position. The invention is attached to the riser of bow  2  and adjusted forward or backward using set screws so that the neutral position of bowstring  3  is approximately half way along the length of brushes  4  as shown in  FIG. 2A . 
     Upon draw and release, bowstring  3  travels forward along a line parallel to fingers  1 . At the end of forward motion, i.e., the maximum power stroke, bowstring  3  has moved through brushes  4  to the position shown in  FIG. 2B  yet makes no hard contact with any portion of the invention except for the flexible brushes  4 . There is no friction nor string impediment while the string is travelling forward through the power stroke. 
     Bowstring  3  then oscillates in the reverse direction, again moving through brushes  4 , to the position shown in  FIG. 2C . Bowstring  3  completes no more than a few oscillation cycles before coming to rest. During these minimal oscillations, kinetic energy of bowstring  3  is transferred to bristles  13  of brushes  4  without inducing any vibration or noise in the bow riser. In a preferred embodiment the angled bristles impede the rearwardly travelling string as the string is moving back to a neutral position, and transfers the kinetic energy of the bow to the bristles eliminating vibration and noise effects. Bowstring  3  has low mass and therefore low inertial moment. 
     A free bowstring may vibrate for several seconds if not damped, while a bowstring used with the present invention is brought to rest almost immediately after release. 
     A traditional elastomeric stop  6  is positioned ahead of brushes  4  in the event that the device has not been properly installed and the neutral position of bowstring  3  is too far forward. If the present invention is set to the appropriate position, bowstring  3  should never make contact with stop  6 . Elastomeric stop  6  prevents unintentional damage to bowstring  3  due to this potential improper installation of the invention. 
     In a third embodiment, the present invention can be mounted to a crossbow as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 3A . At least one articulated support arm  12  terminates at a first end by bracket  10  that can, in turn, attach the invention to the foot stirrup or riser of crossbow  8 . In the preferred embodiment, bracket  10  is connected to crossbow  8  using attachment bolt  11  as is typical in the art for attaching accessories to the forward end of a crossbow. Bracket  10  may include a plurality of attachment points, and one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that other equivalent means can be used to mount the invention to a crossbow riser. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the third embodiment preferentially includes two articulated support arms  12  that each terminate at a second end in at least one rigid finger  1 . The two support arms  12  and their associated fingers  1  are positioned symmetrically to the left and right of the crossbow projectile path on the crossbow string. The form and function of rigid fingers  1  and their associated brushes  4  is identical to the description provided for the first, preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 6  is a detailed view of another embodiment of a finger  10  with angled surface  12  having an angle of about five degrees to about forty five degrees, and bristles  13  extending from the surface  12 . The bristles  13  can be perpendicular to the angled surface  12  or angled forwards towards the mounting end  7  at an angle in the range of about five degrees and about forty-five degrees relative to the perpendicular direction. 
       FIG. 7  is a detailed view of another embodiment of a finger  20  with a concave rounded surface  22  with bristles  23 . The bristles  23  can be perpendicular to the angled surface  22  or angled forwards towards the mounting end  7  at an angle in the range of about five degrees and about forty-five degrees relative to the perpendicular direction. 
     An elastomeric stop  25  can be positioned ahead of bristles  23  in the event that the device has not been properly installed and the neutral position of bowstring  3  is too far forward. 
       FIG. 8  is a detailed view of another embodiment of a finger  30  with rounded end  36 , angled tip  38  and flat sided surface  32  with bristles  33 . The bristles  33  can be perpendicular to the generally flat surface  32  or angled forwards towards the mounting end  7  at an angle in the range of about five degrees and about forty-five degrees relative to the perpendicular direction. 
       FIG. 9  is a detailed view of another embodiment of a split finger  42 ,  48  with curved slot formed between interior facing surfaces  44 ,  46  having bristles  43 ,  45  on each surface facing each other therein. The bristles  43 ,  45  can be perpendicular to the curved interior surfaces  44 ,  46  or angled forwards towards the mounting end  7  at an angle in the range of about five degrees and about forty-five degrees relative to the perpendicular direction. 
       FIG. 10  is a detailed view of another embodiment of a finger  50  with angled surface  52  having an angle of about five degrees to about forty five degrees. The surface  52  can be smooth, bumped, ribbed. The surface can be molded from the finger  50 . The entire finger  50  can be for example, formed from elastomeric materials, rubber, silicone, and the like. 
       FIG. 11  is a detailed view of another embodiment of a finger  60  with angled surface  62  and rubbing pad  62  thereon. Pad  32  can be formed from a stiff or flexible material such as, but not limited to polymers, or elastomers, and the like. Surface  62  can have an angle of about five degrees to about forty five degrees. 
     The invention can allow for the power stroke part of the moving string which shoots the projectile to move unimpeded as it passes along the side of the finger(s), and the returning string would then rub against the longitudinal contact surface on a least one side of a finger to transfer kinetic energy to the bow or cross bow eliminating vibration and noise effects. In these versions the rubbing side of the longitudinal contact surface can be angled (such as in the angled bristles) so as to impede the travelling string. 
     Additionally, the invention can also work if the longitudinal contact surface along one side of the finger(s) rubs against the string in both the power stroke and returning stroke travels of the string. 
     Although the fingers are shown with mounting arms, the fingers can be directly mounted to the riser or stock of the bow or crossbow. 
     The invention can be used with buss cables  100  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) to eliminate the vibration and noise effects. The existing buss cable(s) on bows and crossbows also cause an undesirable noise and vibration as the bow string or the crossbow string after a projectile is launched at shot from the bow or crossbow. Bows and cross bows can each have a single buss cable or plural buss cables. The novel finger(s) can be mounted so as to prevent and eliminate the undesirable noise and vibration caused after the launching of the projectile. 
     The invention can be used where at least one side of a finger rubs against a bowstring and another at least one side of another finger rubs against a buss cable(s). Similarly, the invention can be used where at least one side of a finger rubs against a crossbow string and another at least one side of another finger rubs against a buss cable(s). Additionally, one finger can be used with a contact surface or contact surfaces which rubs against both a bowstring and a bus cable(s). Additionally, one finger can be used with a contact surface or contact surfaces which rubs against both a crossbow string and a bus cable(s). 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.