U.S. patent application number 12/136473 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-02 for compound bow with improved riser.
This patent application is currently assigned to PRODUCTION SOLUTIONS, INC.. Invention is credited to David R. Budd.
Application Number | 20080236557 12/136473 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38618287 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080236557 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Budd; David R. |
October 2, 2008 |
COMPOUND BOW WITH IMPROVED RISER
Abstract
A compound bow includes a base member with a longitudinal extent
and has first and second ends. The base member is formed from a
rigid material and has a grip location between its first and second
ends, which provide mounting locations for mounting limbs to the
base member. An elastomeric body is applied over, for example by
molding, and at least substantially encapsulates the base member
over the longitudinal extent. The elastomeric body comprises an
elastomeric material, and optionally forms a grip member at the
grip portion.
Inventors: |
Budd; David R.;
(Middleville, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VAN DYKE, GARDNER, LINN & BURKHART, LLP
SUITE 207, 2851 CHARLEVOIX DRIVE, S.E.
GRAND RAPIDS
MI
49546
US
|
Assignee: |
PRODUCTION SOLUTIONS, INC.
Middleville
MI
|
Family ID: |
38618287 |
Appl. No.: |
12/136473 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11410813 |
Apr 25, 2006 |
7383834 |
|
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12136473 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
124/25.6 ;
124/88 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B 5/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/25.6 ;
124/88 |
International
Class: |
F41B 5/10 20060101
F41B005/10; F41B 5/20 20060101 F41B005/20 |
Claims
1. A compound bow comprising: a base member, said base member
having a longitudinal extent and having first and second ends, said
base member being formed from a rigid material; first and second
limbs, said first end providing a first mounting location for said
first limb to said base member at said first end, and said second
end providing a second location for said second limb to said base
member at said second end; and an elastomeric material extends over
at least a portion of one of said limbs or one of said mounting
locations.
2. The bow according to claim 1, wherein said base member is formed
from an extruded material.
3. The bow according to claim 1, wherein said elastomeric material
extends over at least a portion of said mounting locations.
4. The bow according to claim 3, wherein said elastomeric material
extends over at least a portion of each of said limbs.
5. The bow according to claim 3, wherein said at least one of said
first and second ends includes at least one recess, said
elastomeric material extending into said recess.
6. The bow according to claim 4, wherein an elastomeric material at
least partially encapsulates said base member.
7. The bow according to claim 6, wherein said elastomeric material
extending over said ends and said limbs is at least substantially
the same material as said elastomeric material encapsulating said
base member.
8. A method of making a compound bow riser comprising: providing a
base member formed from a rigid material, the base member having
longitudinal extent and first and second ends, the base member
further having a grip location between the first and second ends
and a mounting opening at the grip location; and molding a
dampening body from an elastomeric material over the base member at
least along the longitudinal extent of the base member; and wherein
said molding includes at least surrounding the grip location with
the elastomeric material.
9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: covering
the grip location with the dampening body.
10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising forming a
grip at the grip location with the dampening body.
11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said covering includes
covering the mounting opening with the dampening body.
12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising providing
an indication of the perimeter of the grip location wherein a user
may cut along the indication to remove the elastomeric material
over the grip location to thereby expose the mounting opening and
the grip location.
13. The method according to claim 8, wherein said molding further
includes forming a grip with an elastomeric material having a
different durometer value than the elastomeric material molded to
the base member.
14. A method of dampening noise in a compound bow, the compound bow
having a base member formed form a rigid material and which forms a
riser, a pair of limbs mounted to opposed ends of the base member,
said method comprising: molding an elastomeric material to at least
a portion of one of the limbs or one of the ends of the base
member.
15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising molding an
elastomeric material to at least a portion of said base member.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said molding an
elastomeric material to the base member includes molding an
elastomeric material to the base member with the same or similar
elastomeric material being molded to the limbs or to the ends.
17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising forming a
grip on the base member with an elastomeric material.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said forming a grip
comprises forming the grip from the elastomeric material molded to
the base member, further comprising forming an indication around
the grip wherein the indication may be used to remove the grip.
19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the base member has a
grip location, said molding an elastomeric material to at least a
portion of the base member includes terminating the elastomeric
material around the grip location to thereby expose the grip
location.
20. The method according to claim 17, wherein forming a grip
comprises molding a grip from an elastomeric material with a
different durometer value than the elastomeric material molded to
the base member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser.
No. 11/410,813, filed Apr. 25, 2006, entitled COMPOUND BOW WITH
IMPROVED RISER, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,383,834, which is incorporated
by reference herein in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a bow and, more
particularly, to a compound bow that exhibits improved vibration
dampening and generates less noise than conventional bows.
[0003] Bows typically have four main components: a riser or handle;
two arms or limbs that mount to the riser; and a bow string or
cable that is tensioned between the two arms. In the past, the
riser was made from wood, but more recently risers are formed from
metals, such as cast aluminum or magnesium. Even more recently, the
risers have been formed from extruded metals, such as extruded
aluminum. While metal risers have provided increased stiffness and,
in some cases, reduced the weight of the bow, they have exhibited
increased vibration and, more significantly, generate louder and
higher frequency noise when the riser makes contact with an object,
such as an arrow, tree, or tree stand, when the riser is bumped
into the object or the object bumps into the riser. These risers
even tend to produce more noise during a release cycle. Noise is
particularly undesirable when a hunter is approaching his or her
prey.
[0004] While vibration dampeners have been proposed to reduced
noise when the bow string is pulled and then released, heretofore
these vibration dampeners have not succeeded in reducing the other
noises inherent when handling a bow.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for a bow that will exhibit
increased vibration dampening and further will minimize noise that
is inherent when using or handling the bow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides a bow that
produces less noise when used and also when handled.
[0007] In one form of the invention, a compound bow includes a base
member, which is formed from a rigid material and has a grip
location between the two ends of the base member, which provide
mounting locations for mounting limbs to the base member. An
elastomeric body is applied over and at least substantially
encapsulates the base member over the longitudinal extent of the
base member, with the elastomeric body comprising a dampening
material and, further, forming a grip member at the grip
portion.
[0008] In one aspect, the base member is formed from an extruded
material, such as extruded aluminum or magnesium.
[0009] In other aspects, the elastomeric body is formed from two
materials with one of the materials forming the grip member and
having a different durometer value than the other material.
[0010] In yet another aspect, the bow includes two limbs mounted to
the opposed ends of the base member with the dampening material
applied over at least a portion of each of the limbs.
[0011] According to another aspect, the dampening material may be
applied to at least a portion of at least one of the ends of the
base member. For example, at least one of the ends may include at
least one recess, with the dampening material extending into the
recess.
[0012] In other aspects, the base member includes at least one
mounting opening at the grip location for mounting a separate grip
member to the base member, with the elastomeric body being applied
over the opening but being removable wherein the separate grip
member may be mounted to the base member at the mounting opening in
place of the grip member formed by the elastomeric body.
Optionally, the elastomeric body has an indication around the grip
location to provide a cutting guide for a user to cut and remove
the dampening material around the grip location.
[0013] In yet further aspects, the elastomeric body terminates at
the ends wherein the ends of the base member are free of the
elastomeric body.
[0014] Further, the base member may include at least one lightening
opening, with the elastomeric body at least partially extended into
the lightening opening.
[0015] In another form of the invention, a compound bow includes a
base member, which is formed from a rigid material and has a grip
location between its ends, which provide mounting locations for
mounting limbs to the base member. The grip location has at least
one mounting opening for mounting a separate grip member to the
base member. In addition, an elastomeric body is applied over and
at least substantially encapsulates the base member over its
longitudinal extent and covers the mounting opening but is
removable at least at the mounting opening. The elastomeric body
comprises a dampening material and may have a durometer in a range
of 15 to 90 Shore A.
[0016] In one aspect, the base member is formed from an extruded
material, such as an extruded metal.
[0017] In other aspects, the elastomeric body is formed from two
materials, with one of the materials having a different durometer
value or different color or texture than the other material. For
example, one material may be applied to one portion of the base
member, while the other material is applied to another portion of
the base member.
[0018] In accordance with another aspect, the elastomeric body is
molded to the base member.
[0019] According to another form of the invention, a compound bow
includes a base member with a longitudinal extent and first and
second ends. The base member is formed from a rigid material and
has a grip location between its first and second ends. The base
member further has at least one lightening opening to thereby
reduce the weight of the base member. The grip location has at
least one mounting opening for mounting a separate grip to the base
member. The ends of the base member provide mounting locations for
mounting limbs to the base member. An elastomeric body is applied
over and at least substantially encapsulates the base member over
the base member's longitudinal extent. The elastomeric body
terminates around the grip location to thereby expose the grip
location and is formed from a dampening material, which extends at
least partially into the lightening opening.
[0020] In one aspect, the dampening material is applied to at least
a portion of at least one of the ends of the base member. In a
further aspect, the dampening material is applied to both ends.
[0021] According to yet another form of the invention, a compound
bow riser is made by forming a base member from a rigid material,
which has a longitudinal extent and first and second ends. The base
member includes a grip location between the first and second ends
and a mounting opening at the grip location. A dampening material
is molded over the base member at least along the longitudinal
extent to form an elastomeric body, which at least surrounds the
grip location and provides dampening of the base member.
[0022] In one aspect, the grip location is covered with the
elastomeric body, which forms a grip member at the grip
location.
[0023] In another aspect, the elastomeric body covers the mounting
opening. Optionally, an indication of the perimeter of the grip
location may be provided wherein a user may cut along the
indication to remove the dampening material from the grip
location.
[0024] Accordingly, the bow of the present invention exhibits
improved vibration dampening and generates less noise when impacted
by an object.
[0025] These and other objects, advantages, purposes, and features
of the invention will become more apparent from the study of the
following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a side view of a compound bow embodying the
invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the riser of FIG. 1;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a back view of the riser of FIG. 1;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line IV-IV of FIG.
2;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the riser of
the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 6 is a back view of the riser of FIG. 5;
[0032] FIG. 7 is a similar view to FIG. 5 illustrating a grip
molded onto the riser; and
[0033] FIG. 8 is a back view of the riser of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] Referring to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 generally designates a
compound bow with a riser 12 of the present invention. As will be
more fully described below, riser 12 is configured to dampen and
reduce the vibration of bow 10 to thereby reduce the noise
generated during a release cycle and, further, to reduce the bow
noise when bow 10 is contacted by an object, just as a tree or tree
stand or arrow or any other object that may be encountered during
hunting.
[0035] As best seen in FIG. 1, bow 10 includes riser 12 and two
limbs 14 and 16 that are mounted to the opposed ends 12a and 12b of
riser 12 by fasteners. Mounted to the ends of limbs 14 and 16 are
pulleys 18 and 20, which support a bow string or cable 22. No
further details of the pulleys and cable will be provided herein as
they are conventional and well known in the art.
[0036] As noted above, bow 10 is adapted to dampen the vibration of
the bow during a release cycle and when impacted by an object. For
example, when a hunter is using a bow, he or she will sometimes
contact the riser with the arrow, which generates noise. Similarly,
hunters often climb in trees and, sometimes, sit in a tree stand
while waiting for prey. When climbing up or down a tree or when
simply moving around a tree, the bow may come in contact with a
tree or tree stand. Again, this generates noise, which can
scare-off prey.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, riser 12 includes a base member
24 and a vibration dampening body 26, which is applied over base
member 24. In the illustrated embodiment, base member 24 comprises
an extruded member that is formed from a metal, such as aluminum or
magnesium; however, it should be understood that the base member
may be formed from other materials and, further, may be machined.
One suitable base member may be configured and formed using the
method described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,365,650 and 5,335,644, which
are incorporated in their entireties herein.
[0038] As best seen in FIG. 2, base member 24 includes a grip area
28 with at least one optional mounting opening 30. Described in
further detail below, mounting opening 30 provides a mounting
opening for mounting a separate optional grip member to riser 12.
In addition to mounting opening 30, base member 24 may include one
or more lightening openings 34. Lightening openings 34 may be
provided to reduce the weight of base member 24 and, hence, bow 10.
Base member 24 also includes a plurality of limb mounting openings
36 at its respective ends 24a and 24b and a cable guide mounting
opening 37. Additional openings that may be provided include tool
holes 38 and "AMO" holes 40, which are archery industry standard
holes. As would be understood, the number of openings or holes may
be varied to suit the particular manufacturer and bow
application.
[0039] Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, body 26 is applied over
the full length of base member 24. Body 26 is preferably formed
from a dampening material such as an elastomeric material. For
example, one suitable material is SANTOPRENE, and may have a
durometer in a range of 15 to 90 Shore A. Further, body 26 may be
applied to base member 24 using standard over molding techniques.
As best seen in FIG. 2, body 26 is applied over grip area 28 and,
further, optionally forms a grip member 42. Further, body 26 may be
formed from two or more materials, with one material forming grip
member 42 and the other material for covering the balance of base
member 24. When formed from two or more materials, body 26 may be
formed from two shot molding, for example. In this manner, the grip
member 42 may be formed from a softer or stiffer material than the
material covering the balance of member 24. Further, the two
materials forming body 26 may be formed from materials with
different colors or different textures or finishes to provide an
aesthetic function as well.
[0040] As would be understood, therefore, when molding elastomeric
body 26 onto base member 24 to form grip member 42, body 26 covers
mounting opening 30. Alternately, when forming riser 12 the
material forming body 26 may optionally be terminated around grip
area 28 so that grip area 28 of base member 24 may be exposed. In
this manner, a separate grip member, such as a wood grip or
customized grip, may be mounted to riser 12.
[0041] Alternately, elastomeric body 26 may be molded over grip
area 28 as noted above but formed with a demarcation line or
recesses or some sort of indication that provides a guide to allow
the elastomeric body to be cut and trimmed to remove that portion
of the elastomeric body that forms grip member 42. In this manner,
a single riser may be made that can be used in both a standard
configuration and a customized configuration.
[0042] In addition, elastomeric body 26 may be molded over, for
example, lightening openings 34 so that the material forming body
26 either completely fills the lightening openings or only
partially fills the openings. Alternately, when over molding base
member 24, plugs or spacers may be inserted into the lightening
openings so that the elastomeric material partially fills the
openings but leaves openings of smaller dimensions than the
original lightening openings when the plugs are removed.
Alternately, the plugs may fill the entire opening so that the
elastomeric material terminates at the edges of the openings.
Similarly, cable guide opening 37 may be filled with a plug during
molding or the elastomeric material may be trimmed at the opening
so that the cable guide may be mounted to riser 12 in a
conventional manner.
[0043] Referring again to FIG. 2, as noted above elastomeric body
26 is applied over the full length of base member 24. In the
illustrated embodiment, elastomeric body 26 terminates at the ends
of base member 24 so that ends 24a and 24b are exposed. Optionally,
as illustrated in reference to end 24a, elastomeric member 26 may
extend over the ends of member 24. For example, elastomeric body 26
may entirely cover the surfaces of ends 24a, 24b or cover portions
of the surfaces of ends 24a, 24b. For example, ends 24a and 24b may
include one or more recesses 44 into which the elastomeric material
may extend and, further, project to form elastomeric ribs or
regions 46 to provide dampening between limbs 14 and 16 and base
member 24.
[0044] In addition to covering base member 24, the elastomeric
material may be applied to portions of or the entire lengths of
limbs 14 and 16.
[0045] In addition to dampening vibration and reducing noise, body
26 also protects the base member from oxidation. Thus, body 26
eliminates the need for painting base member 24. Further, body 26
may provide a medium for decorating base member 24. For example, as
noted, body 26 may be formed from a colored elastomeric material.
In addition, decorative patterns or designs or the like may be
molded into body 26. For example, emblems can be molded into the
outer surface of body 26 or may be embedded onto body 26 either
during molding or inserted into recesses molded into body 26.
[0046] In addition to dampening vibration and reducing noise, body
26 also provides a barrier that makes riser 12 warmer to the touch.
Further, body 26 allows for riser 12 to be formed with a unique
and/or customized shape.
[0047] Referring to FIGS. 5-8, the numeral 112 designates another
embodiment of the riser of the present invention. Similar to riser
12, riser 112 includes a base member 124 and an elastomeric body
126. Body 126 preferably is applied, such as by over molding, to
base member 124 to dampen the vibration of riser 112 and reduce the
noise of riser 112 when impacted by an object similar to riser
12.
[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, grip member 142 is formed
from a different elastomeric material than the balance of body 126,
which covers the remaining portion of base member 124. Similarly,
grip member 142 covers a grip mounting opening 130 formed in base
member 124, which allows for another grip member to be mounted to
base member 124 after removal of grip member 142.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 5, base member 124 includes a different
arrangement and number of lightening openings 132 as well as AMO
holes and tool holes. As noted, the number and location of
lightening openings, as well as AMO homes and tool holes, can
vary.
[0050] Accordingly, the present invention provides a bow that
exhibits dampened vibration and, further, generates reduced noise
levels when impacted by an object, such as a tree, tree stand, or
an arrow. Further, the riser is assembled in a manner that permits
further customization of the riser while also providing greater
resistance to corrosion.
[0051] While several forms of the invention have been shown and
described, other forms will now be apparent to those skilled in the
art. Therefore, it will be understood that the embodiments shown in
the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative
purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention
which is defined by the claims which follow as interpreted under
the principles of patent law including the doctrine of
equivalents.
* * * * *