U.S. patent application number 10/968226 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-20 for wheel blade sight.
Invention is credited to Charles Robert Lace.
Application Number | 20060080848 10/968226 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36179223 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060080848 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lace; Charles Robert |
April 20, 2006 |
Wheel blade sight
Abstract
The invention is a single unit archery bow sighting device which
contains the front and rear sight reticles and mounts on the riser
of all types of archery equipment. The rear sight is pivotally
mounted reticles of blade wheel type construction with a plurality
of sight blades providing a plurality of range settings. The blades
are locked into the wheel by set screws by which each blade may be
adjusted in elevation individually. The front sight blade has dual
purpose both as a sighting device and a range finder. There is an
eye screw under the front sight blade to which a measure of thread
is attached. The wind's influence on this thread which hangs below
the sight assists in reading the wind velocity and direction for
accuracy in target shooting as well as for stalking prey.
Inventors: |
Lace; Charles Robert;
(Lyons, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES ROBERT LACE
R. R. #1 BOX 279A
LYONS
IN
47443
US
|
Family ID: |
36179223 |
Appl. No.: |
10/968226 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
33/265 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 1/467 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
033/265 |
International
Class: |
F41G 1/467 20060101
F41G001/467 |
Claims
1. The invention provides a single frame archery bow sight
consisting of a front sight mounted to the frame. Any blade type
front sight aperture type can be used in the mount and is
adjustable for windage. The said front sight blade doubles as a
range finder for deer hunting by comparing its height with that of
a deer.
2. The said invention provides a blade wheel type rear sight
consisting of a plurality of wheel sight blades which are rotated
into shooting position by manually turning the said wheel which is
automatically locked into place by a spring ball locking device.
Each said wheel sight blade is adjustable to a different height
from the axis and represents different preset shooting yardages.
The said sight blades may be substituted with blades of different
reticle types or heights. The said invention provides a said bow
sight with an unobstructed sight picture that adapts to archery
bows, such as long bows, semi-recurve bows, recurve bows and
compound bows.
3. The said invention is adaptable to either right handed or left
handed bows since said invention is the same on both sides.
Pre-existing sight mounts on left handed or right handed bows will
readily accommodate said invention.
4. The said invention provides an eye screw under the said front
sight reticle attached to the said frame to which a measure of
thread may be attached to assist in reading wind direction and
estimating wind velocity for assistance in stalking and
shooting.
5. The said invention provides that every surface of the said
sight's reticles are cut, filed or ground so that said surfaces
used in said sighting reflects light glare away from the eye as it
aligns said sight with the target. This prevents reflected light
from distorting said sight picture.
6. The invention provides that when a left handed shooter shoots a
right handed compound bow with said invention as if it were a said
left handed bow, bow string slap to the inside forearm is totally
eliminated due to the protection provided by the crossing cables of
the said compound bow and vice versa.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM
LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The invention relates to bow sights.
[0006] Much of the Prior Art of bow sighting involves many elements
to constitute a sighting device. One of the elements is a front
sight body containing sight pins with different apertures. These
pins mount and are adjustable by manipulating two nuts on threaded
holder which changes and locks their position to the front sight
body. This device generally contains multiple pins or posts
allowing for sight settings of differing ranges. They are delicate
and fragile and require a protective shield. This paraphernalia
clutters the sight window.
[0007] Another element is a rear sight consisting of a peep sight
entwined with the bowstring or a similar device attached to the
bowstring. A rubber tube is attached to the bow riser and to the
peep sight body. The purpose of this arm and rubber tube is to
cause the peep sight hole to align so that it may be sighted
through at full draw.
[0008] Other elements are: a lip button which is mounted to the
bowstring to allow the shooter to come to the same anchor point
when the string is released. Forward counter weights called
stabilizers are sometimes mounted on the bow body for stabilization
which assist is sighting accuracy. The inclusion of all these
devices demonstrate the difficulty of the Prior Art of sighting.
Bow sights, which do not place the rear sight on the bowstring,
mount the entire sight on the riser. One example is a scope sight
which is aligned by looking through the scope and locating one of
the dots or crosshairs and aligning them on the desired target.
Scopes and mounts are heavy and expensive and are not allowed in
Open Sight Competition.
[0009] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0010] Lorocco presents a sighting device for guns which is mounted
on the barrel and a scope type sight for archery equipment in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,638,604 Jun. 17, 1997. Lorocco makes no provision for
adaptation of the barrel mounted sight to archery equipment. He
even states that for archery equipment, a scope sight is used.
[0011] Deien introduces a compound bow rifle sight system with Pat.
Application Ser. No. 2004/0088872A1 May 13, 2004; however, the rear
V-type rifle sight introduced is an add on unit which requires a
separately mounted front sight which is of the multiple pin type in
which multiple pins are used for different yardages. The almost
unlimited view defined would only apply to unlimited when the
shortest range pin was used. All other range sightings would have
one or several pins protruding above the top surface of the rear V
sight as the uppermost front pin represents the shortest distance.
The view would also be restricted by the protective cover that pin
type sights require due to their fragile construction. All range
selections would depend on a multiple pin front sight which can
cause confusion of selecting ranges and obstruction of the sight
field.
[0012] McNeel describes an archery bow sight with U.S. Pat. No.
3,058,221 Aug. 15, 1960 which has either a peep or pin rear sight
and a multi-lined front sight. The pin sight on the rear creates a
problem. The closer that pin is to the eye, the larger the portion
of the target it hides from view and this would hamper pin point
aiming. The peep sight causes somewhat similar problems in that the
closer the peep is to the eye, the smaller the peep hole needs to
be for accurate aiming and the smaller the hole, the more difficult
the front aperture is to locate for aiming. The multi-pin front
aperture introduces the potential for confusion and certainly a
restricted field of view in the sight picture.
[0013] Hanson describes a bow sight in U.S. Pat. No. 03,063,151
Nov. 13, 1962. Hanson's designed sight is capable of almost any
adjustment with time and tools being the limiting factor. Hanson's
design does not provide multiple sight range selections to be
quickly selected which are range features needed in hunting
situations and desirable in any kind of shooting.
[0014] Kenny, Nelson describes an adjustable bow sight in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,718,215 Feb. 17, 1998. It has gears to potentially
malfunction, or become jammed with woodland debris or develop
mechanical problems or freeze in snow or ice or wear out. The
necessity to focus one's attention on the range setting lever and
selector marks to change the range settings and the expense of
construction should cause this sight to fail the advantages of the
invention, without consideration of wind reading and range
estimation provision of the invention. Also, this sight could only
be used on a right handed bow.
[0015] Kalmbach describes a sighting device for archery bows in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,575 Jul. 3, 1979. Kalmbach's sight presents a
disc rear sight with multiple peep apertures, selectable to present
multiple peep holes which represent different ranges to be rotated
into a position for use. The front sight is a vertical pin U.S.
Pat. No. 5,201,124 adjusted by selecting a proper alignment hole
and threading it to the proper height. The peep hole type sight
presents sight and alignment problems due to impaired vision. The
front bead must be aligned perfectly centered in the rear peep
hole. This is difficult and tedious. If the bow moves the least,
the entire sight picture can be lost.
[0016] Sprandel describes an archery sight and range finder in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,666,368 May 30, 1972. This device brackets the target
and sights with a center reference point provided on one of the
bracketing sight bars. It has a pivoting finger slot with which to
accomplish the range and sight adjustment. This sight requires many
functions to work. Assuming nothing jams and everything works, a
steady finger is required while the same hand must hold and steady
a bow while under the pressure of the bow's forty pounds plus of
pull pressure. The target must be completely visible in order to be
bracketed. This device is extremely complicated with many potential
disappointing outcomes. The longevity of this device is certainly
limited.
[0017] Kocur describes a coordinated bow sight and range finder in
U.S. Pat. No. 2,767,472 Oct. 23, 1956. Kocur offers a front
multiple pin type sight with adjustable front pins in which screws
are used as the pins and the heads of the screws are used as the
sight beads. The range finder is described as an adjustable upper
and lower span whereby the lower span is aligned horizontally at
the feet of the intended target while the bow is held at arm's
length in shooting position. The upper span is then slid up or down
in order to align it horizontally on the back of the animal. The
pointer will designate the distance on the range scale which is
either marked in yardages or color codes to match with the pins on
the front sight. This range finder is tedious and requires one's
full attention during manipulation. Kocur's sight does not provide
an unrestricted sight picture. Confusion and error are definitely a
threat in usage.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] After much research and study of the Prior Art devices, the
present invention has been developed by building and testing
prototypes to provide a bow sight which contains all components of
a bow sight in one unit. As a result, this one unit sight
provides:
[0019] A. An unobstructed sight picture, visible and distinct;
[0020] B. Quick multi-range sight adjustments by rotation of the
blade wheel into pre-set detent lock positions;
[0021] C. Simple and inexpensive sight mounting bracket included
with the sight;
[0022] D. A windage estimation device;
[0023] E. A range finding capability.
[0024] In view of the above, it is an object of the invention to be
adapted as a novel sighting apparatus and to allow quick, accurate
sighting of a bow so that an arrow may be caused to impact a
desired point.
[0025] Another object of the invention is to provide a bow sight
which may be adjusted to multiple pre-selected ranges.
[0026] An additional object of the invention is that the front
sight blade doubles as a sight reticle and a range finder.
[0027] Another object of the invention is to provide a bow sight
having a rear sight of blade wheel type construction. Each blade on
the wheel is a different pre-determined height from the axis
providing multiple range selections. Each blade may be provided
with any reticle or aperture type desired. Each blade is adjustable
by its mounting pin and locking screw. Each blade may be supplied
with light collecting devices to enhance low light usage and
different aperture types may be used for different distances as
they are interchangeable on the wheel.
[0028] A further object of the invention is to provide a bow sight
with a completely unobstructed sight window. None of the sight's
parts are in the field of the sight window except the two sight
blades that are selected for use at the desired range.
[0029] An additional object of the invention is that the sight
adjustment may be performed without releasing the bow gripping
hand. The adjustment is made by the hand which pulls the
bowstring.
[0030] Another object of the invention is that it can be assembled
as a left handed or right handed sight with only a four screw
change.
[0031] A further object of the invention is to provide a sight that
due to its rugged construction and strong materials and lack of
gears or other delicate parts is nearly failure proof and does not
need guards or helps such as levels, lip buttons or bowstring
peeps.
[0032] Another object of the invention is that it provides an eye
screw directly under the front sight reticle in the sight base.
From this eye screw, a measure of thread may be hanged. This thread
will provide wind direction determination and wind velocity
estimation which may assist in shooting and stalking.
[0033] A further object of the invention is that it allows a left
handed or right handed bow to be shot from either side due to the
bowstring not being involved in the sighting procedure. This allows
one to shoot from either side without turning around should the
quarry approach from an unexpected direction One may shoot either
left handed or right handed with the same bow.
[0034] An additional object of the invention is that a left handed
archer shooting a right handed compound bow or vice versa
eliminates the possibility of the bow string slapping the forearm
as the cross cables of the compound bow protects the forearm from
string slap and eliminates the need for a forearm guard. It is even
preferable for a right hander to use a left handed bow and vice
versa for that reason.
[0035] A simple object of the invention is to provide a bow sight
that mounts so simply that it does not require expensive, fragile
and complicated mounting brackets and even provides as part of the
sight, its own mount which attaches by two screws to mount holes
provided by nearly all bow manufacturers as standard mounting screw
holes and mounts the sight so that it is more rigid than other
mounting methods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] FIG. 1A is an assembled view from above looking downward
onto the invention including the bow mounting bracket provided with
the sight;
[0037] FIG. 2A is the assembled view from the left side of the
invention including the bow mounting bracket;
[0038] FIG. 3A is the assembled view from underneath looking upward
to the invention including the mounting bracket;
[0039] FIG. 4A is the assembled view from the right side of the
invention including the mounting bracket;
[0040] FIG. 5A is the exploded view from 45 degrees front left of
the invention including the bow mounting bracket;
[0041] FIG. 6A is the exploded view of bare main base and bow mount
bracket;
[0042] FIG. 7A is the exploded view of the wheel blade assembly
shown with blades and mounting systems;
[0043] FIG. 8A is the invention mounted to a bow using supplied
mounts viewed from the right side on a right handed bow;
[0044] FIG. 9A is the view of the sight picture involving the wheel
blade sight and the front sight blade;
[0045] FIG. 10A is the square notched wheel sight blade with low
light filament holes showing that the sight surfaces angle away
from shooter;
[0046] FIG. 10B is the V-notched wheel sight blade showing that
sight surfaces angle away from shooter;
[0047] FIG. 10C is the round peep type wheel sight blade showing
that coned sight surfaces angle away from shooter;
[0048] FIG. 10D is the square peep type wheel sight blade with
cross reticle showing sight surfaces angle away from shooter;
[0049] FIG. 11A is the post type front sight blade with low light
filament hole and showing that sight surfaces angle away from the
shooter and the range estimating features;
[0050] FIG. 11B is the bead type front sight blade;
[0051] FIG. 11C is the bracketed type front sight blade showing
that sight surfaces angle away from shooter;
[0052] FIG. 11D is the reverse side of FIG. 11A showing multiple
range lines 51 used only for denoting ranges greater than twenty
yards.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0053] There has been thus outlined rather broadly the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof that follows may be better understood and in
order that the present contribution to the Art may be better
appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that
will be described hereinafter and which will from the subject
matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before
explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it
is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements
of the components set forth in the following description or
illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.
Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology
employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not
be regarded as limiting. The drawing figures start at 1A and
contain a letter and the invention's embodiment features start at
20 to allow no confusion between drawing numbers, page numbers and
invention's embodiment feature numbers. If there are less than 19
drawing figures, some of the first 19 numbers may not be
represented;
[0054] The invention being a bow sight FIG. 1A, FIG. 2A, FIG. 3A,
FIG. 4A, FIG. 5A is conventionally mounted in the sight window of a
bow 53 FIG. 8A so that it aligns parallel with an arrow 52 FIG. 8A
that is nocked in the bow in shooting position approximately two
inches below the sight;
[0055] The invention's features are as numbered on the drawings: a
set screw 20 FIG. 1A, FIG. 3A, FIG. 5A and threaded hole 21 FIG. 1A
are provided in order to lock the front sight blade 22 FIG. 1A,
FIG. 2A, FIG. 4A, FIG. 5A into the front sight slot 23 FIG. 5A
which is cut into the main sight frame 24 FIG. 1A, FIG. 3A, FIG.
4A, FIG. 5A.
[0056] Attached to main frame 24 by bolt 30 FIG. 5A through
threaded hole 31 FIG. 5A in main frame 24 FIG. 5A and wheel frame
29 FIG. 5A. This connection bolt 30 FIG. 5A, FIG. 8A provides an
adjustable connection for elevation changes for initial sight
orientation. The elevation of the shortest distance selected for a
sight blade will be adjusted by manipulation of the joint formed by
the connection of main frame 24 FIG. 5A and wheel frame 29 FIG. 5A.
The remainder of sight blades 32 will be adjusted in elevation by
the manipulation of raising a sight blade 32 to its desired height
above sight blade wheel 36 FIG. 5A and locking it in place in sight
blade holes 33 FIG. 5A by tightening the sight blade set screws 34
FIG. 7A into sight blade set screw holes 35 FIG. 7A thereby locking
sight blade 32 in its desired height on sight blade wheel 36 FIG.
7A. The elevated position of the rear sight blades 32 FIG. 2A, FIG.
4A allows the front sight blade 22 FIG. 2A, FIG. 4A to double in
use as a range finder because it allows the front sight blade 22
FIG. 2A, FIG. 4A to be as tall as needed to be used as a stationary
reference. The sight mount bracket 25 FIG. 1A, FIG. 2A, FIG. 3A,
FIG. 4A, FIG. 5A, FIG. 6A is connected to the main frame 24 FIG. 5A
by two screws 26 FIG. 5A through four anchor bolt holes 40 FIG.
6A.
[0057] The blade wheel 36 FIG. 5A, FIG. 7A, FIG. 9A is mounted to
the blade wheel frame 29 FIG. 5A by bolt 37 FIG. 5A through the
blade wheel mount hole 38 FIG. 7A and the wheel frame wheel mount
hole 39 FIG. 5A. The wheel is locked in its sight position by a
detent spring ball pin 42 FIG. 5A through threaded detent pin hole
43 FIG. 5A into locking notches 44 FIG. 7A on sight wheel 36 FIG.
5A, FIG. 7A. Any of the wheel sight blades 32 may be locked into
sighting position by this process of rotating the wheel until the
detent pin locks. Every feature on the wheel is identical on both
sides of the wheel so that it can be used either left or right
handed. The invention provides an eye screw 41 FIG. 2A, FIG. 4A,
FIG. 5A under the main frame 24 FIG. 1A, FIG. 3A, FIG. 4A, FIG. 5A
under front sight blade 22 FIG. 2A, FIG. 4A, FIG. 5A to which a
measure of thread may be attached to help determine wind direction
and wind velocity;
[0058] The multiple range selections provided by sight blades 32
FIG. 5A when rotated into different blade pre-selected positions
will be locked into place by detent spring 42 FIG. 5A locking into
notches 44 FIG. 7A, locking the selected sight blade into sighting
position for the specific pre-selected range desired.
[0059] The invention provides a range finding ability. With the bow
held in shooting position by aligning the tip 45 FIG. 11D of the
front sight blade 22 FIG. 11D to the top edge of a deer's back and
aligning 46 FIG. 11D the top edge of sight base 47 FIG. 11D with
the bottom edge of a deer's belly, this will indicate the deer to
be at twenty yards. If a deer's torso height does not fill the
distance from 45 to 46 of front sight blade 22 FIG. 11D, the range
is greater than twenty yards. This is where lines 51 FIG. 11D will
be used. If this distance from 45 to 46 FIG. 11D is less than the
thickness of a deer's torso, the distance is less than twenty
yards. Multiple range lines 51 FIG. 11D can be made on the rear
visible edge of the front sight blade 22 FIG. 11D below the tip 45
FIG. 11D to denote longer than twenty yard ranges. These lines
would represent the top edge to align on a deer's back for as many
yardages as desired. Due to eye differences of shooters, each
shooter will need to provide these lines to fit their individual
eyesight by trial and error method;
[0060] The type of reticles FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 10C, FIG. 10D
wheel sight blades and FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, FIG. 11C, FIG. 11D front
sight blades are sight options not limited to these examples and
other types may be used by easily interchanging blades on the wheel
simply by loosening set screws 34 FIG. 7A and changing to a
different type blade in the wheel and tightening set screw 34 FIG.
7A into set screw hole 35 FIG. 7A.
[0061] The range settings are selected by rotating the blade wheel
36 FIG. 5A until desired shooting blade is in shooting position and
locked into position by detent pin lock ball 42 FIG. 5A locking
into detent pin slot 44 FIG. 7A.
[0062] The drawing numbers and features not yet defined are defined
here for explanation of construction and operation. The top edge 45
of the front sight blade 22 FIG. 11D and the top edge 50 FIG. 10A
of the wheel sight blade 32 FIG. 10A are shown angling downward.
This reflects light away from the shooter's eye as shown. Every
edge of the sight reticles FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 10C, FIG. 10D,
FIG. 11A, FIG. 11C are either angled or coned to reflect light away
from the shooter's eye as shown. FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 10C, FIG.
10D, FIG. 11A, FIG. 11C are all a view shown from front to rear of
the sight in order that the sight edge angles may be seen. These
angled edges are not seen during the sighting process. FIG. 10A,
FIG. 11A show holes 48 wherein fiber optic light collecting
filaments or luminous paint material can be inserted to enhance low
light sighting;
[0063] The sighting procedure is: Bring bow to full draw into
ready-to-shoot position. Level horizontally the top edge of the
front sight 45 FIG. 9A with the top edge 50 FIG. 9A of the square
grooved wheel sight blade 32 FIG. 9A. Align vertically the front
sight blade 22 FIG. 11D in the square groove of the wheel sight
blade 32 FIG. 9A so that there is equal distance 49 FIG. 9A on each
side of the front sight blade between both inward edges of the
square grooved wheel sight blade. The sight picture will look like
the sight picture in FIG. 9A. Then, move this sight picture to the
spot you desire the arrow to impact and release arrow.
* * * * *