U.S. patent application number 09/726247 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-30 for archery bow sight mount with horizontal adjustment of the sight.
Invention is credited to Slates, Scott O..
Application Number | 20020062569 09/726247 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24917789 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020062569 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Slates, Scott O. |
May 30, 2002 |
ARCHERY BOW SIGHT MOUNT WITH HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT OF THE SIGHT
Abstract
An archery bow sight is provided in which the sight mount
includes a horizontal adjustment mechanism to adjust the horizontal
position of the sight relative to the bow, in addition to the
vertical position of the sight. Indicia are provided on the
horizontal adjustment mechanism to determine the amount of
adjustment that has been made to the sight.
Inventors: |
Slates, Scott O.; (St.
Charles, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul M. Denk
763 South New Ballas Road
St. Louis
MO
63141
US
|
Family ID: |
24917789 |
Appl. No.: |
09/726247 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
33/265 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 1/467 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
33/265 |
International
Class: |
F41G 001/467 |
Claims
1. An archery bow sight including a first slide operatively mounted
to a bow, a second slide mounted to the first slide, and a sight
operatively mounted to the second slide; the first slide being
operable to adjust the horizontal position of the sight and the
second slide being operable to adjust the vertical position of the
slide; the first slide comprising a first member which is
operatively connected to said bow, a second member to which said
second slide is mounted and which is slidable relative to said
first member, and a lock; said lock being selectively moved between
a locked position in which the relative location of said second
member cannot be changed and an unlocked position in which the
relative position of said second member can be changed; said first
member having a top and side walls defining a downwardly opening,
horizontally extending channel; a slide block received in said
channel for axial movement relative to said channel; a threaded
shaft extending the length of said channel and threadedly passing
through said slide block such that rotation of said shaft will move
said slide block relative to said channel; and a knob fixed to said
shaft to rotate said shaft; said second member including a body and
a mounting plate on said body; said second slide being mounted to
said mounting plate; said second member body being operatively
connected to said first member slide block such that said second
member will move with said first member as said threaded shaft is
rotated.
2. The archery bow sight of claim 1 including a post extending
upwardly from said slide block, said post extending through said
second member, said lock comprising a member on said post which is
movable between a first tightened position in which it forces said
second member against said first member to substantially prevent
relative movement of said first member relative to said second
member and a second loosened position in which said second member
can be moved relative to said first member.
3. The archery bow sight of claim 2 wherein said post is threaded
at an end thereof, said lock member comprising a rotatable locking
knob.
4. The archery bow sight of claim 1 including a guide on said first
slide member; said guide comprising one of a groove and a rib on a
bottom edge of at least one of said track side walls and the other
of a rib and a groove operatively formed on an upper surface of
said second member; said rib and groove engaging each other to
substantially maintain a desired alignment of sight in a horizontal
plane.
5. The archery bow sight of claim 4 including a slide plate
positioned between first and second members; said slide plate
having a rail sized and shaped to be received in the one of the rib
and groove of the first member track.
6. The archery bow sight of claim 5 wherein said slide plate rails
are generally diamond shaped; said first member track and said
second member body both having grooves sized and shaped to receive
the rails of the slide plate.
7. The archery bow sight of claim 1 including adjustment indicia on
said first member top surface and a pointer extending from said
second member; said pointer being alignable with the adjustment
indicia to measure the amount of horizontal adjustment.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This application relates to archery bow sights, and, more
particularly to an archery bow sight including a horizontal
adjustment which allows an archer to adjust the horizontal position
of the sight as well as the vertical position of the sight.
[0004] Bow hunters typically use pin sights when hunting game. The
pin sight includes at least one pin which is positioned on the bow
and is used to aim at the target, such as a deer or a target.
Before an archer hunts, the pin is positioned on the bow for to
indicate a certain distance, i.e., 100 yards. If the archer is to
shoot at game at a different distance, the pin will have to be
repositioned with respect to the bow, i.e., it will have to be
moved vertically. Additionally, there are times when the pin has to
be moved horizontally or laterally relative to the bow, to properly
position the sight for use by an individual archer. In either of
these instances, it is important that the pin remain generally
perpendicular to the plane of the bow. On many bow sight mounts,
when the pin is repositioned, the design of the mount does not
ensure that the pin will remain in the desired perpendicular
position.
[0005] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,414,936, 5,524,601, 5,509,402, 5,657,740,
5,694,698, and 5,722,175, all of which are assigned to the same
assignee of the current invention, and all of which are
incorporated herein by reference, disclose pin mounts which
maintain the pin perpendicular to the plane of the bow during
vertical adjustment of the pin or sight. However, these prior
patents do not disclose any method for conveniently moving the pin
laterally. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,936, I disclose a pin mount which
does move the pin laterally. However, the method of enabling
lateral movement of the pin can be improved upon.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An archery bow sight is provided in which the sight mount
includes a horizontal adjustment mechanism to adjust the horizontal
position of the sight relative to the bow, in addition to the
vertical position of the sight. Indicia are provided on the
horizontal adjustment mechanism to determine the amount of
adjustment that has been made to the sight.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bow sight mount of the
present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a exploded view of the bow sight mount of the
present invention;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-section of the bow sight mount;
and
[0010] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section of the bow sight mount
Corresponding reference numerals will be used throughout the
several figures of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The following detailed description illustrates the invention
by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description
will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the
invention, and describes what I presently believe is the best mode
of carrying out the invention.
[0012] A bow sight assembly 10 is generally shown in FIG. 1. The
assembly 10 includes a sight S which is mounted to a mounting block
12, which in turn is mounted to a generally vertical track to be
movable vertically along the track 14. The sight 10 can be a pin
sight, fiber optic sight, cross-hair sight, or any other desired
type of sight. The mounting block 12, and its mounting to the track
14 can be accomplished an any number of ways, but is preferably
constructed as set forth in one of my prior patents, U.S. Pat. No.
5,414,936, 5,524,601, 5,509,402, 5,657,740, 5,694,698, and
5,722,175, which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0013] The track or slide 14 is mounted to a two-piece horizontal
adjustment mechanism 16, which in turn is mounted to an extension
arm 18. The extension arm 18, as is known, is mounted to an archery
bow.
[0014] The adjustment mechanism 16 includes first or forward
portion 20 to which the track 14 is fixed. The forward portion 20
includes a generally vertically extending mounting plate or arm 22
having spaced apart holes 24. Bolts 26 extend through the holes 24
to screw into threaded holes 25 in the back of the track 14 to fix
the track to the portion 20. The mounting arm 22 extends from the
forward end a body 28. The body 28 has a top surface 30, back
surface 32, side surfaces 34, and a bottom surface 36. A pair of
generally V-shaped grooves 38 are formed ribs 39 which extend up
from the top surface 30 along the edges of the top surface 30, and
extend between the side surfaces 34. Lastly, a through-hole 42
extends through the body 28, between the top and bottom surfaces 30
and 36, respectively. The forward portion 20, including the body 28
and the mounting arm 22, is preferably formed as a one-piece,
unitary element.
[0015] The forward portion 20 of the assembly 16 is mounted to a
second or back portion 40 to be slidable relative to the back
portion in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the bow and of
the track 14. The back portion 40 includes a horizontally extending
track or slide 42 having a forward surface 44, a back surface 46,
and a top surface 48 defining a downwardly opening channel 50. As
seen best in FIG. 2, the channel 50 is preferably T-shaped. The
back portion 40 does not include integral ends, and hence, the
channel 50 is also open at its ends. The bottom edges of the
forward and back walls 44 and 46, respectively, have generally
V-shaped grooves 52 formed therein. Caps 54 close the ends of the
track 40. The caps 54 are generally T-shaped in cross-section, and
include an inner peg 56 which is sized and shaped to be received
within the channel 50, and an outer surface 58 having a perimeter
sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the
perimeter of the outer edges of the track 40. The caps 54 each have
a central opening 60, the central opening 60 of the two caps being
generally aligned with each other and with the channel 50, when the
caps are received in the track 40. Additionally, one of the caps 54
has a second opening 61 near the top of the cap. A bore 63 is
formed in the track 40, and the cap opening 61 is aligned with the
track bore 63.
[0016] An 62 arm extends from the back surface 46 of the horizontal
track 42. The arm 62 mates with the forward end 64 of the extension
arm 18 to mount the back portion 40 to the arm 18. For example, the
arm 62 and the extension arm 18 can be stepped, as shown, and
screws 63 can be used to fix the rear portion 40 of the adjustment
mechanism 20 to the arm 18. The rear portion 40 can be fixed to the
extension arm 18 in any other desired manner. Alternatively, the
rear portion 40 and the extension arm 18 could be formed as a
one-piece, unitary assembly. In either event, at least the rear
portion 40, including the track 42 and the arm 62, is formed as a
one-piece unitary member.
[0017] A slide plate 70 is positioned between the forward portion
20 and the rear portion slide 42. The slide plate 70 is preferably
made of a material which will reduce the friction between the body
28 and the track 40 to facilitate smooth movement of the forward
portion 20 relative to rear portion 40. For example, the slide
plate 70 could be made of a plastic (such as nylon) or Teflon.RTM..
The slide plate 70 has a pair of generally parallel, generally
diamond shaped rails 72 connected to each other by a pair of spaced
apart connectors 74. The rails 72 are received in the grooves 38
and 52 of the first and second portions, respectively, of the
adjustment mechanism 16. The inner edges of the rails 72 and the
connectors 74 define a generally square hole 76. The hole 76 is
generally aligned with the through hole 42 of the forward portion
20 and the channel 50 of the back portion 40 when the adjustment
mechanism 16 is assembled. The distance between the inner edges of
the rails 72 is preferably about equal to the width of the opening
into the channel 50.
[0018] A threaded shaft 80 extends through the channel 50 of the
adjustment mechanism back portion 40. A knob 82 is fixed to one end
of the shaft 80 externally of the end cap 54. Set screws 84 can be
threaded into the circumferential edge of the knob 82 to fix the
knob 82 to the shaft 80. A spring 86 is received in the track hole
63 and a ball 88 is received between the spring 86 and a back face
of the knob 82. The knob 82 has a plurality of spaced apart holes
90 into which the ball 88 partially fits. The spring biased ball 88
and the knob holes 90 allow for indexed rotation of the know 82. As
can be appreciated, because the know 82 is fixed to the shaft 80,
rotation of the know 82 will cause the shaft 80 to rotate.
[0019] A generally T-shaped slide block 92 is received in the track
channel 50. The slide block 92 includes cross member 94 and a stem
96 depending from the cross member 94. A threaded bore 96 extends
horizontally between end surfaces of the block 90. The bore 96 is
sized to threadedly receive the threaded shaft 80. As can be
appreciated, rotation of the shaft 80 will cause the slide block 92
to move in the channel 50. The slide block 92 extends up through
the hole 76 in the slide plate 72. Thus, the slide plate 72 will be
moved by the slide block 92. The side block 92 includes a second,
vertical, hole 98 which intersects the horizontal threaded hole 94.
A post 100 extends through the side block vertical hole 98 and
extends below the bottom surface of the side block 92 to extend
into, and beyond, the adjustment mechanism forward portion 20 to
extend beyond the bottom surface of the adjustment mechanism
forward portion. The post 100 has a hole 102 at its top, through
which the threaded shaft 80 extends. The hole 102 can, but need not
be, threaded. The post 100 is threaded, as at 104, at least along a
top portion of the post 100. A knob 106 is received on the threaded
end of the post 100, and is fixed to the post, for example, by the
use of set screws. The knob 106 is adjacent the bottom 36 of the
forward potion body 28. To reduce friction, a washer 108 is placed
between the knob 106 and the body 28.
[0020] A lever 110 extends radially from the know 106. The lever
110 is used to move the knob 106 between a first position, in which
the knob is tightened down against the adjustment mechanism first
portion, and a second position, in which the knob 106 is loosened.
In the first, tightened, position, the knob 106 pulls the first and
second portions of the adjustment mechanism together to prevent
unwanted movement of the adjustment mechanism. On the other hand,
when the knob 106 is moved to its loosened position, the adjusting
knob 82 can be turned to move the adjustment mechanism forward
portion 20 axially along the track 40. To gauge the amount of
movement, and the position, of the forward portion 20 relative to
the rear portion 40, the top surface of the rear portion is
provided with indicia 112. Preferably, one of the marks 112a is a
zero mark. A needle or pointer 114 is provided which extends from
the forward portion mounting arm 22 rearwardly over the rear
portion top surface 48 to the marks 112. The pointer 114 is
received in a hole in the forward portion mounting arm 22, and is
secured in place using a set screw 116 which bears against the
shaft of the pointer 114 in its hole.
[0021] As can be appreciated, the pin sight mounting assembly 10
provides not only for vertical movement of the sight S, in
accordance with the patents noted above, but also provides for
simple and easy horizontal adjustment of the sight S. Further, the
provision of the indicia 112 allow the archer to measure or gauge
the amount of horizontal adjustment that has been made to the sight
to the left or right of the zero mark 112a. Any horizontal
adjustment to the position of the sight S will be slight. Thus, the
indicia 112 are preferably spaced apart in small increments, for
example 1 mm or {fraction (1/32)}".
[0022] As various changes could be made in the above constructions
without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended
that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the
accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not
in a limiting sense. For example, although the grooves 38 and 52
are generally triangular, and the slide rails 72 are generally
diamond shaped, they could have alternative shapes. Alternatively,
one of the groove of either forward and rear members can be
replaced with a rib, and the rails 72 of the slide 70 can be
generally V-shaped to receive the rib of one member and be received
in the groove of the other member. For example, the grooves could
be semicircular, and the rails 72 could be circular. Any other
shape could also be used. The slide 70 could be eliminated, and
either the first portion body 28 or the slide 40 could be provided
with ribs that are received in the grooves of the opposing member.
The locking knob 106 can be replaced with a cam which is movable
between a position in which it bears down on the forward portion
body 28 to substantially prevent movement of the forward portion
relative to the rear portion, and a second position in which the
cam is loose, and the first portion can be moved by rotation of the
adjusting know 82. These examples are merely illustrative.
* * * * *