U.S. patent number 3,665,911 [Application Number 04/864,143] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-30 for archery bow string release tab and draw limiting device.
Invention is credited to Anthony L. Altier.
United States Patent |
3,665,911 |
Altier |
May 30, 1972 |
ARCHERY BOW STRING RELEASE TAB AND DRAW LIMITING DEVICE
Abstract
A bow string draw limiting device for archers to maintain a
constant draw length during shooting. The device includes a
non-stretchable line secured at one end to the bow near the handle
and having a free end a reel or bobbin is provided for convolutions
of the line to vary the length of the line to adjust to the
archer's draw length a slip tab or disc is provided at the free end
of the line which is engageable with the shooting fingers and
serves as a drawn bow string limit stop.
Inventors: |
Altier; Anthony L. (Honesdale,
PA) |
Family
ID: |
25342626 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/864,143 |
Filed: |
October 6, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/23.1; 2/21;
124/88; 124/35.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B
5/1473 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F41B
5/00 (20060101); F41B 5/16 (20060101); F41b
005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;124/3A,22,21,23,24,3R,35 ;272/75 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Browne; William R.
Claims
What I claim as may invention and desire to protect by Letters
Patent of the United States is:
1. In combination with an archery bow having a handle portion and a
bow string for propelling arrows, the improvement comprising a bow
string draw limiting device, said bow string limiting device
comprising a relatively nonstretchable line means having a length
equal to the draw length of an archer, means for securing one end
of said line means to the bow adjacent to said handle portion
thereof, the other end of said line means being free and
unattached, and finger engaging means secured to the other end of
said line means for limiting the draw distance of the bow string,
and said finger engaging means engaging the face of at least two
shooting fingers of the user while the bow string is being
drawn.
2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 and further including
means to change the effective length of said line means.
3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said line means
comprises a stranded steel cable having a plastic covering.
4. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said finger
engaging means comprises a bifurcated flexible string release slip
tab.
5. The combination as set forth in claim 4, and further including a
pocket in said slip tab, bobbin means removably received in said
pocket, said other end of said line means being wound on said
bobbin to effect adjustability of effective line length of said
line means.
6. The combination as set forth in claim 5, and including aperture
means on the side of said slip tab for communicating with said
pocket and through which said line means passes.
7. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said finger
engaging means comprises a circular disc having a line receiving
central opening, for receiving said line means passing through said
opening and said line means having a retaining knot therein to
prevent withdrawal form said disc.
8. The combination as set forth in claim 1, said means for securing
one end of said line means to the bow comprising, a screw eye
threadedly received in the bow, a swivel connected to said screw
eye, and said line means having a bight portion attached to said
swivel.
9. The combination as set forth in claim 1, said means for securing
one end of said line means to the bow comprising a D-ring taped to
the bow handle, a swivel connected to said D-ring, and said line
means having a bight portion attached to said swivel.
Description
The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in
archery equipment and specifically to an attachment to existing
archery bows for limiting the draw of the bow string and to aid in
the release thereof.
In both field, hunting, and target archery, it is essential in
order to achieve any degree of accuracy for the archer to maintain
a consistent draw length. That is, the distance from the bow handle
to the nocking point on the bow string must be the same each time
an arrow is pulled into the full draw position. Failure to maintain
a consistent draw length by overdrawing will result in excess
forces applied to the arrow by the released string which will cause
a high shot, or if an underdraw is made, the arrow will fall short
of the desired target. In the prior art, several systems have been
suggested to maintain proper draw length. The clicker system has
been used for many years and this arrangement employs a spring arm
attached to the bow handle through which the arrow passes during
the draw. When the proper draw length is reached, the arrow passes
by the clicker and the same emits a slight sound against the bow
handle. Such arrangements have proven unsatisfactory for most users
since the clicking sound frequently causes the archer to flinch or
trigger his release prematurely. Additionally, such clickers in the
field tend to spook the game being stalked, and hence have proven
of relatively little value in hunting archery. In actuality,
clickers cannot be used with the conventional broadheads used in
most hunting since the same have a width of approximately 1 inch or
more and hence cannot be pulled through a conventional clicker
device. The draw check device of the instant invention is the only
such arrangement known which can be used with broadheads.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a draw limiting
means for attachment to conventional archery bows which provides
consistent draw length for the archer.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a combination
draw checking attachment and a release tab affixed to the end
thereof which permits the draw hand to slip free thereby allowing
the bow string to fly forward exactly on center.
Another object of the invention herein is to provide an archery bow
draw limiting device which is adjustable for different draw
lengths.
Another object of this invention is to provide an archer's draw
limit device which will enable the exact preset draw length to be
taken in a minimum amount of time and which enhances a smooth and
exact release of the bow string.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an
archery bow string release tab and draw limiting device, bearing
the above objects in mind, which is of durable construction, is at
all times efficient, safe and accurate in use, which is light in
weight, which has a minimum number of parts and is easy to
manufacture and relatively inexpensive.
For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,
reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the archery bow string release tab and
draw limiting device with a bow attaching eyelet screw secured
thereto;
FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the release tab of the invention
with the line length adjusting bobbin pulled out from the release
tab;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention in use on a
conventional recurve bow and showing the full draw position in
dotted lines;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the hand of the archer
shown in FIG. 2, and disclosing the manner of use of the release
tab;
FIG. 5 is a side elevation taken on the side opposite that shown in
FIG. 3 and showing the manner of attachment of the draw limiting
device to the bow handle;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing a modified form of
draw limiting device attachment; and
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of release for use
with a conventional archery glove.
Reference is now made more specifically to the drawings wherein
like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views
and wherein the archery bow string release tab and draw limiting
device is shown generally at 10.
The draw limiting device comprises an elongated braided steel wire
11 which is kink resistant and is encased by a non-stretch nylon or
other plastic cover. Such plastic coated wire is commercially
available on the market and provides both stability against stretch
and kinking as well as protection against the elements and rust
formation. One end of the wire 11 passes through a loop 12 of a
swivel assembly 13 and is clinched to itself to form a bight as by
means of a thin metal ferrule 14 which may be radially deformed or
crimped by a conventional clinching tool. The opposite loop 15 of
the swivel 13 is connected to a screw eyelet 16 which is adapted to
be secured to the handle 18 of the bow B as shown in FIG. 3.
It is preferable that the screw hook 16 be secured to the bow
handle below the arrow rest in order to prevent tipping the bow and
changing the shooting characteristics and further to comply with
the requirements of international competition which requires that
all such attachments must be secured below the arrow. It is of
course possible, if desired, to secure the line 11 above the arrow
rest portion.
The opposite end of line 11 is doubled upon itself as shown at 20
and this doubled over portion is secured to the standing part of
the line by means of a deformed ferrule 21. The doubled over
portion of the line passes through a longitudinal opening 23 in a
slip tab construction 24 and then is passed through an eyelet 25 in
bobbin 26. The bobbin 26 is preferably formed of thin metal stock
which has semicircular line receiving end openings 27 and 28
adapted to retain the line wound about the bobbin securely and
prevent the same from slipping. It will be noted that the effective
length of the line may be shortened or lengthened by merely
unwinding one or more convolutions of the doubled over portion of
the line 20 from about the bobbin and pulling through or
withdrawing the end portion of the line 29 as shown in FIG. 2.
The slip tab 24 differs considerably from the conventional release
tabs presently used in archery. This new tab construction is
preferably formed from double faced cordovan shell leather with the
two facings 30 and 31 formed of the identical shape and stitched
together along the longitudinal lines 32 and 33 to define the
longitudinal opening 23 therebetween which is adapted to receive in
frictionally tight relationship the line bobbin 26 as shown best in
FIG. 1. A pair of line exit openings 34 and 35 are formed in each
of the faces of the slip tab and the doubled over portion of the
line is adapted to pass through one of these selected openings in
the manner shown in FIG. 1. These openings provide adjustment as to
the position of the draw limit line 11 with regard to the slip tab
and is purely a matter of choice and preference to the archer and
dependent upon individual shooting style.
The slip tab 24 is bifurcated as shown at 36 in the conventional
fashion in order to provide a passageway for the arrow A. See FIG.
4. In use, the three shooting fingers of the archer are placed on
the tab in the manner shown in FIG. 4 with the index finger on the
upper portion of the bifurcated tab and the two adjacent fingers
resting on the lower major portion of the slip tab. The nock 38 of
the arrow rests in the bifurcated portion 36 and engages the bow
string 40.
With the construction noted, the archer will pull the bow string 40
to the proper anchor point as determined by custom and usage and
will then adjust the length of line 11 by winding or unwinding the
doubled over portion 20 about the bobbin 26 after withdrawing the
same as in FIG. 2. It will be seen from FIG. 1 that a very small
portion 41 of the bobbin 26 extends visibly above the opening 23
wherein the same may be pulled out to the position of FIG. 2 by a
small tool such as pliers or the like. If desired, the entire
bobbin may be recessed into the opening 23 and yet access may be
had thereto by means of a small screwdriver or other sharp
instrument. When the desired draw length is set, and the bobbin
replaced into position in the slip tab, it will be seen that the
line 11 will remain tight and will be secure against elongation
when tension is supplied thereto by the archer. It will also be
seen that the length of line 11 from its connection to the ring 12
of the eyelet 13 to the aperture 34 on the tab is constant at all
times. This length of course is readily adjustable in the manner
described above by merely changing the number of turns of the line
doubled over portion 20 on the bobbin 26.
In using the release tab and draw limiting device, the archer nocks
and arrow A in the conventional manner and places the slip tab 24
into position on the bow string 40 with the fingers applied thereto
in the manner shown best in FIG. 4. He then draws rearwardly with
the fingers slightly bent until the limit of the draw is reached
when the line 11 is taut as shown in the dotted line position of
FIG. 3. At this point the proper sight picture is achieved either
by the instinctive method or by means of a bow sight. Backward
tension is maintained and release is accomplished by continual
application of pressure by the fingers on the slip tab. Slight
relaxation of this pressure causes the draw fingers to roll off of
the bow string and slide free from the tab. The hand will then
continue straight backward in a follow-through motion. This method
of release will cause the bow string to fly almost perfectly
straight forward eliminating a considerable amount of side whipping
or S-action, which is common with ordinary bow string release
methods. It should be noted that there is no triggering or positive
release of the bow string. The fingers in effect roll off of the
string and a constant backward tension is kept thereupon at all
times, and at the same time the fingers are relaxed after release,
accomplishing proper release and follow through. In use, it will be
noted that the bow string during its flight forward will tend to
deflect the slip tab 24 and due to the roll off of the fingers, the
tab will deflect to either the right or the left side, depending
upon whether or not the shooter is right or left handed. At any
rate, neither the slip tab 24 nor the line 11 will be any hindrance
to proper release of the bow string or passage of the arrow.
Due to the construction of the slip tab, the same can be used by
either right or left handed archers by merely reversing the
relationship of the tab with the line.
The previous methods of bow string release including a finger tab
which is worn on the hand require the finger tab to slide off of
the bow string, which, due to friction between the tab and the
string, actually twists the bow string slightly. With the present
method, the hand actually slips off of the slip tab and the tab
will fall down a fraction of a second after the arrow is on its way
to the target. The present system has the advantage of not
requiring the archer to take his eyes off of the target or his
target sight in order to check the consistency of his draw length,
the same in the instant invention is automatically achieved when
the limit of the length of line 11 is reached and further rearward
motion merely results in release of the arrow without triggering
the same. Proper draw length is actually felt without moving the
eye to check on position. This system provides stability which is
obtained by pulling with the draw fingers at the same time the bow
hand is pushing against the handle of the bow and this combined
motion actually steadies the bow and the release hand by pulling to
the preset length through every shot. An added advantage of the
present invention is that the release tab always remains with the
bow and cannot be lost.
At the fully draw position before relaxation of the finger
pressure, the archer is pulling against a rigid unyielding fixed
body which also indirectly serves as a form of isometric exercise,
developing the arm muscles of the archer with continued use of the
device.
If it is desired to attach the line 11 to a bow in a temporary
manner rather than by use of the screw eyelet 16 so as not to
damage the bow, a D-ring 50 may be attached to the loop 15 of the
swivel 13 and the straight portion of the D-ring may be secured to
the bow handle by means of adhesive backed tape 51 shown in FIG.
6.
Another modification of the invention is shown in FIG. 7. Some
archers prefer to use a three-fingered shooting glove rather than a
slip tab construction. Such a glove is shown at 52 and includes a
wrist strap 53. In this modification, the slip tab 24 is replaced
by a small leather disc 54. The line 11 passes through a small
aperture formed in the center of the disc and is secured against
withdrawal therefrom by a knot or button 55 on the line.
In use, the line 11 passes between the index and third finger so
that the flat back of the disc 54 rests against the inside of the
fingers with the finger tip portions of the glove engaging the bow
string. Continued rearward movement of the shooting hand causes
release of the bow string as well as the line 11 and its leather
disc.
* * * * *