Patent ID: 7189170

Claim:
A nock for an arrow for use with a bow having a bowstring, comprising: a nock body having a forward portion for affixing to said arrow, an intermediate portion having a back end, and two wings extending rearwardly from said back end, said wings being spaced a selected distance for receiving said bowstring, a pair of spaced, opposed, inwardly projecting bowstring retaining tabs between said wings and spaced rearwardly from said back end, said retaining tabs being movable between a closed position wherein said retaining tabs are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of said bowstring and an open position wherein said retaining tabs are spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of said bowstring, an actuator mounted between said wings and having a rearward facing actuator notch for receiving said bowstring, said actuator being movable between a rearward position and a forward position, said actuator being linked to said retaining tabs and moving said retaining tabs to said open position when said actuator is moved to said forward position and moving said retaining tabs to said closed position when said actuator is moved to said rearward position, and means for biasing said actuator towards said rearward position, whereby said retaining tabs remain in said closed position and retain said arrow on said bowstring until said bowstring is released, and when said bowstring is released, said bowstring pushes said actuator to said forward position and said actuator moves said retaining tabs to said open position.