Abstract
A conveniently portable archery device and a method for calibrating the center shot of a bow using the outer sidewall of a riser as a reference point, and without requiring attachment of the device to the bow. The device may easily and quickly allow the transverse position of the bow string to be marked, and also allow the position of the arrow rest to be adjusted so that an arrow may be correctly centered along its length with respect to the bowstring for more accurate firing. In one embodiment, the device is an improvement of a bow square article that in addition to being used to measure the nock point and brace height, equalize the tiller distances, and measure the peep sight, may also assist in calibrating center shot.
Claims
1. An archery device for marking an arrow nocking point in a vertical direction of a rearward bowstring of a bow and also for centering an arrow in a horizontal direction of the bowstring relative to a forward arrow support member of a bow, the bow being of the type having a bow riser supporting oppositely extending bow arms extending in opposite vertical directions with a bow string strung between the ends thereof and having an arrow nocking point markable at a desired vertical position thereon, the bow riser having an outer sidewall and adjoining step extending in a longitudinal direction from a rearward side to a forward side of the bow for an arrow to be aligned forwardly with an arrow shooting direction from the bowstring on the rearward side to an arrow support member at the forward side of the bow when nocked to the bow string, the position of the arrow support member being adjustable in the horizontal direction for centering an accurate shot of the arrow at a target, said archery device comprising: a first member having a first length and inside and outside linear edges extending between opposite ends of the first length, wherein the outside linear edge of the first member is adapted to be aligned in the longitudinal direction in contact with the adjoining step of the outer sidewall of the bow riser, and the inside linear edge of the first member is adapted to be aligned in the longitudinal direction in contact with the outer sidewall of the bow riser; a second member connected to one end of the first member extending in a transverse direction and having a second length and inside and outside linear edges extending in transverse direction at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the first member, wherein the outside linear edge of the second member has an outer position scale for marking a desired arrow nocking point on the bow string when the first member is aligned in the horizontal direction in contact with the adjoining step of the bow riser and the second member is oriented in the vertical direction of the bow string, and the inside linear edge of the second member comprising an inner position scale for marking a transverse position of the bow string in the horizontal direction when the first member is aligned in the horizontal direction in contact with the outer sidewall of the bow riser and the second member of the device is turned to the horizontal direction for marking the position of the bow string in the horizontal direction on the rearward side of the bow; wherein the outer position scale on the outside linear edge of the second member of the device comprises a linear series of index markings for measuring the desired arrow nocking point on the bow string in the vertical direction, wherein the inner position scale on the inside linear edge of the second member of the device comprises a cross bar connected between the second member and the first member and a bead marker for sliding and marking thereon, accurately and without the need for memorization, the position of the bow string in the horizontal direction on the rearward side of the bow so that the marked position of the bead marker on the cross bar can be used to adjust the position of the arrow support member in the horizontal direction for centering an accurate shot of the arrow at the forward side of the bow; whereby the marked position of the bead marker on the cross bar of the inner position scale on the inside linear edge of the second member can then be used accurately and without memorization to adjust the arrow support member when the device is reversed from the rearward side to the forward side of the bow to align the first member with the outer sidewall of the bow riser and the second member extending in the horizontal direction at the forward side of the bow to locate an optimum position for the arrow support member corresponding to the marked position in the horizontal direction of the bow string for accurate center shot alignment.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first member has a first end, and the distance from the first end of the first member to the second member is greater than the distance from the bow string to the riser, and the length of the second member is greater than the distance from the outer sidewall of the bow riser to the transverse position of the bow string.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the outside linear edge of the second member is provided with clips for releasably securing said device to the bow string.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a compound bow and the parts thereof.
(2) FIG. 2(a) shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of a device for centering an arrow to a bow comprising a bow square having a position marking means comprising a sliding bead.
(3) FIG. 2(b) shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of a device for centering an arrow to a bow, said device comprising a bow square having a position marking means comprising scaled measurement markings.
(4) FIG. 3 shows a side perspective view of a portion of the bow of FIG. 1 and the embodiment of the device of FIG. 2(a) being used to mark the transverse position of the bow string.
(5) FIG. 4 shows a slight perspective overhead view of the bow of FIG. 1 and the embodiment of the device of FIG. 2(a) being used to mark the transverse position of the bow string.
(6) FIG. 5 shows a back perspective view of a portion of the bow of FIG. 1 and the embodiment of the device of FIG. 2(a) being used to mark the transverse position of the bow string.
(7) FIG. 6 shows a side perspective view of the bow of FIG. 1 and the embodiment of the device of FIG. 2(a) being used to center an arrow to the bow.
(8) FIG. 7 shows a back perspective view of the bow of FIG. 1 and the embodiment of the device of FIG. 2(a) being used to center an arrow to the bow.
(9) FIG. 8 shows a side perspective view of the bow of FIG. 1 and the embodiment of the device of FIG. 2(a) being used to center an arrow to the bow.
(10) FIG. 9 shows a side perspective view of a central portion of the bow of FIG. 1, and the embodiment of the device of FIG. 2(a) being used to measure the nock height.
(11) FIG. 10 shows a side perspective view of a portion of the bow of FIG. 1, and the embodiment of the device of FIG. 2(a) being used to measure the brace height.
(12) FIG. 11A shows a side perspective view of an upper limb portion of the bow of FIG. 1, and the embodiment of the device of FIG. 2(a) being used to measure the upper limb tiller distance.
(13) FIG. 11B shows a side perspective view of a lower limb portion of the bow of FIG. 1, and the embodiment of the device of FIG. 2(a) being used to measure the lower limb tiller distance.
(14) FIG. 12 shows a side perspective view of the bow of FIG. 1, and the embodiment of the device of FIG. 2(a) being used to measure distance to the peep sight.
DESCRIPTION
(15) Arrow support member is defined herein to include but be interpreted more broadly than an arrow rest and means anything that may support an arrow when nocked to a bow string. Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a bow 12, consisting of an upper limb 13, a lower limb 14, a bow riser 15 having an inner sidewall 21 and an outer sidewall 23 and a front wall 22, an upper limb pocket 16, a lower limb pocket 17, bow string 18, string nock or nock point 19, and an arrow rest 20. An arrow 24 may rest upon the arrow rest 20.
(16) FIG. 2(a) illustrates one embodiment of a device 25 for calibrating the center shot. The embodiment of the device 25 may comprise an L-shaped planar member having an elongated first member 26 and a second member 27 at one end of the first member 26, the first member 26 perpendicular to and longer than the second member 27. The first member 26 may comprise an inside edge 34, and first member scaled measurement markings 28. The second member 27 may comprise a means for marking a transverse position, which means in the embodiment of the device 25 illustrated in FIG. 2(a) may be an aligning component 29, the aligning component 29 comprising in one embodiment a cross bar 30 along which a piece or bead 31 may move.
(17) The second member may have an outer side portion 32 comprising releasably securing means such as protruding clips or clamps 33. The second member outer side portion 32 may also comprise in the embodiment shown second member outer side portion scaled measurement markings 35. In one embodiment, along the outside edge of the corner of the L where the first member 26 and the second member 27 meet, may be a rounded corner, which may protrude slightlyherein referred to as the teardrop 36, which might be useful in verifying positions of the embodiment of the device 25 in relation to the bow 12.
(18) The means for marking a transverse position may vary in different embodiments. For example, the second member 27(b) of a different embodiment of the device 25(b), as shown in FIG. 2B, may comprise a means for marking a transverse position that bears scaled measurement markings 29(b) on an inner side portion of the second member 27(b), which inner side portion in the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 2(b) may comprise a cross bar 30(b).
(19) FIG. 3 shows a side perspective of a portion of the bow 12, with the embodiment of the device 25 being used to calibrate the center shot of the bow 12. More specifically, the embodiment of the device 25 may be placed so that the cross bar 30 and bead 31 are posterior to the bow riser 15, and so that the first end 37 of the first member 26 points in the direction from the bow string 18 towards the bow riser 15, so that the inside edge 34 of the first member 26 (the edge on the long side of the first member 26 opposite from the teardrop 36) is placed flatly against the outer sidewall 23 of the bow riser 15. In other words, taking a rectangular cross section of the first member 26, the short side 34 of the rectangular cross section on the same side of the embodiment of the device 25 as the bead 31 on the cross bar 30, is against the outer sidewall 23 of the bow riser 15 in a level, contiguous manner, as also shown in the vertical perspective view of FIG. 4. In such a manner, the outer sidewall 23 of the bow riser 15 may be used as a reference point.
(20) With the inside edge 34 of the first member 26 against the outer sidewall 23 of the bow riser 15 in such a manner, (in the embodiment shown) the second member 27 is on the transverse plane of the vertically oriented bow 12 and bow string 18, as shown in FIG. 5. An aligning component 29 comprising, in the embodiment described herein, a cross bar 30 and a bead 31 that may move along the cross bar 30, may mark the transverse position of the bow string 18. More specifically, the embodiment of the device 25 shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 may mark the transverse position of the bow string 18, with the bead 31 moving along the cross bar 30 to a position corresponding to transverse position of the bow string 18, thereby measuring (in embodiment of the device 25 described herein) the transverse distance from the bow string 18 to the outer sidewall 23 of the bow riser 15 (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). The bead 31, furthermore, may remain temporarily fixed in a certain or any position along the cross bar 30 by means apparent to those skilled in the applicable art(s).
(21) Once the transverse position of the bow string 18 has been marked using the transverse position marking means, which means comprises in the embodiment of the device 25 shown in FIGS. 2(a), 3, 4, and 5, an aligning component 29 comprising a cross bar 30 and a bead 31 configured to move along the cross bar 30, then, with the same inner edge 34 of the first member 26 (opposite from the tear drop 36) flatly against the outer sidewall 23 of the bow riser 15 (in a manner similar to that explained above where the surface of the inner edge 34 of the first member 26 and the surface of the outer sidewall 23 of the bow riser 15 are substantially contiguous, as shown in FIG. 6), the embodiment of the device 25 may be rotated about the latitudinal axis of the bow 12 until the first end 37 of the first member 26 points in the direction from the bow riser 15 toward the bow string 18 (as shown in FIG. 8), so that the cross bar 30 and aligning component 31 are still on the same side of the bow riser 15 as the arrow rest 20 (as shown in FIG. 7), but the cross bar 30 and aligning component 31 are now anterior to the bow riser 15 (from the viewpoint of an archer standing behind the bow string 18). As shown in FIG. 8, an arrow 24 may be placed on the arrow rest 20 with the back end of the arrow 38 touching the bow string 19 in a nocked position against the nocking point 19. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, in a manner known to the artisan (and depending on a particular bow brand and design), the arrow rest 20 may be adjusted so that the position/orientation of the arrow 24 (which may be resting on the arrow rest 20 and in a nocked position with the back end 38 of the arrow 24 against the nocking point 19 on the bow string 18) is aligned with (in the embodiment of the device 25 described herein) the position of the bead 31 along the cross bar 30 (i.e., the aligning component 29), which bead 31 may be fixed in a position along the cross bar 30 to mark the transverse position of the bow string 18. In this manner, using the outer sidewall 23 of the bow riser 15 as a reference point, and without requiring attaching to the bow 12 or any part thereof, the arrow 24 may be centered to the bow 12.
(22) Although not required to constitute an embodiment of the device, in addition to assisting in calibrating center shot, the particular embodiments 25, 25(b) described herein may also be used to measure the nocking point 19 and brace height, to equalize the tiller distances, and to measure the peep sight. For example, FIG. 9 shows a close up side perspective view of a portion of the bow 12 and the embodiment of the device 25 being used to measure the nocking point 19. With the tear drop 36 facing up, or towards the upper limb 13, clamps 33 may secure the second member 27 to the bow string 18 (with the inside edge 34 of the first member 26 possibly resting even along the arrow rest 20). The second member scaled measurement markings 35 (and a zero point 39) may then be used to set the nock point 19 in a manner well-known to the skilled artisan.
(23) FIG. 10 shows a close up side perspective view of a portion of the bow 12 and an embodiment of the device 25 being used to measure the distance from a front wall 22 of the bow riser 15 to the bow string 18, said distance being referred to as the brace height. With the second member outer side portion 32 (or at least the portion thereof located between the teardrop 36 and the clamps 33said portion shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B) resting in a level manner against the front wall 22 of the bow riser 15 (also referred to as the front part of the bow handle, or pocket of the bow handle, or the side of the bow handle facing the bow string 18) so that the teardrop 36 faces horizontally away from the bow riser 15 and the first end 37 of the first member 26 points away from the bow riser 15 towards the bow string 18, although the first end 37 may pass beyond the bow string 18, allowing the brace height to be measured using the first member scaled measurement markings 28.
(24) FIGS. 11A and 11B show side perspectives of the upper limb 13 and bottom limb 14 portions (respectively) of the bow 12 and the embodiment of the device 25 being used to equalize the distances from the upper limb pocket 16 and the bow string 18, and from the lower limb pocket 17 and the bow string 18, said distances being referred to as the tiller distances. FIG. 11A shows the second member outer side portion 32 (or at least the portion thereof located between the teardrop 36 and the clamps 33) resting in a level manner against the upper limb pocket 16, in such a way that the teardrop 36 is facing horizontally away from the bow 12 and the first end 37 of the first member 26 pointing towards the bow string 18 and away from the upper limb pocket 16. FIG. 11B shows the second member outer side portion 32 (or at least the portion thereof located between the teardrop 36 and the clamps 33) resting in a level manner against the lower limb pocket 17, in such a way that the teardrop 36 is facing horizontally away from the bow 12 and the first end 37 of the first member 26 pointing towards the bow string 18 and away from the lower limb pocket 17. The first member scaled measurement markings 28 may then be used to measure tiller distances, with adjustments being made in a manner well-known to artisans for equalizing tiller distances.
(25) An embodiment of the device 25 or 25(b) may also be used to measure the distance from the nocking point 19 to a peep sight 40, as shown in FIG. 12. Specifically, the first member scaled measurement markings 28 may be used to measure the distance from the nocking point 19 to the peep sight 40. Thus the embodiment of the device 25, in addition to assisting in calibrating center shot, may also be used to measure the nocking point 19 and brace height, equalize the tiller distances, and determine the location of the peep sight 40. An artisan may therefore use just one device (such as the embodiments of the device described herein 25 or 25(b)) to perform all the aforementioned calibrations.
