METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING A PREFERRED LOCATION FOR A PEEP SIGHT ON A COMPOUND BOW

Abstract

In a method and system for determining a preferred location for a peep sight on a compound bow, an eye height measurement is requested from or otherwise obtained from a user, and measurements of the compound bow are requested or retrieved. From such measurements, a preferred location for a peep sight can be determined.

Claims

1. A method for determining a preferred location for a peep sight on a compound bow, comprising steps of: providing a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in a memory component; providing a user interface in communication with the processor; prompting a user, via the user interface, and according to instructions programmed into and executed by the processor, to input an eye height measurement; receiving, via the user interface, the eye height measurement; prompting the user, via the user interface, and according to instructions programmed into and executed by the processor, to input an identification of the compound bow; receiving, via the user interface, the identification of the compound bow; using the processor, according to instructions programmed into and executed by the processor, to retrieve data about the compound bow based on the identification of the compound bow; and using the processor, according to instructions programmed into and executed by the processor, to calculate the preferred location for the peep sight based on the eye height measurement and the retrieved data about the compound bow.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the retrieved data about the compound bow includes: (a) a cam-to-arrow distance, which is a measurement of a vertical distance between (i) a first point of contact between an upper cam and a bowstring of the compound bow and (ii) a horizontal reference line representative of an arrow in the compound bow; and (b) a right-to-D-loop distance, which is a measurement of a horizontal distance between (i) an intersection of a vertical reference line, which extends between the upper cam and a lower cam, and the bowstring and (ii) a D-loop of the bowstring in a drawn position.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface is accessible via a web page.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein as part of the step of prompting the user to input the eye height measurement, instructions are provided via the user interface to facilitate such measurement by the user.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein as part of the step of prompting the user to input the identification of the compound bow, a list of known compound bows is provided to the user.

6. A system for determining a preferred location for a peep sight on a compound bow, comprising: a computer including a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in a memory component to: prompt a user, via a user interface, to input an eye height measurement, receive, via the user interface, the eye height measurement, prompt the user, via the user interface, to input an identification of the compound bow, receive, via the user interface, the identification of the compound bow, retrieve data about the compound bow from a database based on the identification of the compound bow, and calculate the preferred location for the peep sight based on the eye height measurement and the retrieved data about the compound bow.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the retrieved data about the compound bow includes: (a) a cam-to-arrow distance, which is a measurement of a vertical distance between (i) a first point of contact between an upper cam and a bowstring of the compound bow and (ii) a horizontal reference line representative of an arrow in the compound bow; and (b) a right-to-D-loop distance, which is a measurement of a horizontal distance between (i) an intersection of a vertical reference line, which extends between the upper cam and a lower cam, and the bowstring and (ii) a D-loop of the bowstring in a drawn position.

8. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the user interface is accessible via a web page.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a compound bow;

[0011] FIG. 2A further illustrates the relationships between the measurements d.sub.1, d.sub.2, and a of the compound bow of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 2B further illustrates the relationships between the measurements , EH, and d.sub.4 of the compound bow of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an exemplary system for determining a preferred location for a peep sight on a compound bow made in accordance with the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method for determining a preferred location for a peep sight on a compound bow in accordance with the present invention; and

[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates the eye height measurement, EH.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention is a method and system for determining a preferred location for a peep sight on a compound bow. In the method and system of the present invention, by requesting or otherwise obtaining an eye height measurement from a user, and then requesting or retrieving measurements of the compound bow, a preferred location for a peep sight can be determined.

[0017] Referring again to FIG. 1, in this schematic view, the bowstring 50 is drawn. In FIG. 1, a vertical reference line, V, extends from (i) a first point of contact between the upper cam 35 and the bowstring 50 of the compound bow 10 and (ii) a second point of contact between the lower cam 45 and the bowstring 50 of the compound bow 10. Furthermore, in FIG. 1, a horizontal reference line, H, is representative of an arrow in the compound bow 10.

[0018] Referring still to FIG. 1, a cam-to-arrow distance, d.sub.1, is a measurement of a vertical distance between (i) the first point of contact and (ii) the horizontal reference line, H.

[0019] Referring still to FIG. 1, a right-to-D-loop distance, d.sub.2, is a measurement of a horizontal distance between (i) an intersection of the vertical reference line, V, and the horizontal reference line, H, and (ii) the D-loop 55 on the bowstring 50.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 3, an exemplary system for determining a preferred location for a peep sight on a compound bow made in accordance with the present invention includes a computer 80 with a processor 82, a memory component 84, and a user interface 86. The processor 82 of the computer 80 is programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory component 84 to carry out each of the below-described operational and computational steps.

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 4, as a first step in an exemplary method of the present invention, certain inputs are requested and received from a user. The user may be a customer, (e.g., an individual purchasing a bow via a web site or ecommerce platform), or the user may be a third party, such as a retail store employee assisting a customer in the selection and purchase of a bow, whether in-person or remotely (e.g., via phone).

[0022] Specifically, the user is prompted via a user interface 86 (FIG. 3), such as a web page, according to instructions programmed into and executed by the processor 82 (FIG. 3), to input an eye height measurement, as indicated by block 102 in FIG. 4. In this regard, instructions may be provided via the user interface 86 (FIG. 3) to facilitate such measurement by the user. For example, the user may be provided with an image similar to that shown in FIG. 5, illustrating that the eye height measurement should be the vertical distance from (i) the corner of the eye to the (ii) corner of the mouth, with the user looking directly ahead with his head in an upright position.

[0023] Once received, as indicated by input 104, the eye height measurement, EH, is stored for subsequent use as indicated by block 106. For example, the eye height measurement, EH, may be stored in the memory component 84 (FIG. 3).

[0024] In alternative implementations, rather than or in addition to prompting the user to input an eye height measurement, EH, the user may be prompted to enter certain anatomical measurements or information, which may be correlated to eye height. In such alternative implementations, the eye height measurement, EH, is then derived from or confirmed by the other anatomical measurements or information.

[0025] Referring still to FIG. 4, the user is also prompted via the user interface 86 (FIG. 3), according to instructions programmed into and executed by the processor 82 (FIG. 3), to input an identification of the compound bow, as indicated by block 112 in FIG. 4. This may be achieved, for example, by providing the user with a pull-down menu or similar option for selecting from a list of known compound bows and draw lengths. For an optimal determination of the preferred location for the peep sight, the draw length must be considered, as should become apparent in the calculations that follow.

[0026] Once received, as indicated by input 114, the identification of the compound bow (including draw length) is stored for subsequent use, as indicated by block 116. For example, the identification of the compound bow may also be stored in the memory component 84 (FIG. 3).

[0027] Referring still to FIG. 4, based on the identification of the compound bow (including draw length), data about the compound bow is retrieved from a database 200, according to instructions programmed into and executed by the processor 82 (FIG. 3), as indicated by block 120. Specifically, based on the identification of the bow, the cam-to-arrow distance and the right-to-D-loop distance (as described above) are retrieved from the database 200.

[0028] In alternative implementations, rather than prompting the user to input an identification of the compound bow, the user may be prompted to enter certain measurements of the bow, such as the cam-to-arrow distance and the right-to-D-loop distance. In other words, in such alternative implementations, the cam-to-arrow distance and the right-to-D-loop distance are received as inputs, or are otherwise derived from inputs, rather than retrieved from a database.

[0029] Referring still to FIG. 4, the next step is to calculate an angle, , between the horizontal reference line, H, and a line formed by a bowstring of the compound bow that extends from the upper cam 35 to the D-loop 55, as indicated by block 130 in FIG. 4:

[00001]$\begin{array}{cc}=\arctan \left(d_1/d_2\right)& \left(1\right)\end{array}$

[0030] Such calculation is carried out using the processor 82 of the computer 80, according to instructions programmed into and executed by the processor 82.

[0031] Referring again to FIG. 4, the next step is to calculate a preferred location for the peep sight relative to the D-loop, d.sub.4, based on the calculated angle and the eye height measurement, as indicated by block 132 in FIG. 3:

[00002]$\begin{array}{cc}{d}_4=\mathrm{EH}/\sin \left(\right)& \left(2\right)\end{array}$

[0032] Such calculation is carried out using the processor 82 of the computer 80, according to instructions programmed into and executed by the processor 82.

[0033] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B further illustrate the relationships between d.sub.1, d.sub.2, , EH, and d.sub.4.

[0034] Once the preferred location for the peep sight has been calculated, that information is displayed to and/or otherwise provided to the user, for example, via the user interface 86 (FIG. 3), as indicated by output 140 in FIG. 4.

[0035] As should be clear from the above description, the method and system of the present invention could be readily incorporated into an ordering process. Specifically, once a user selects a compound bow for purchase (for example, via a web site or ecommerce platform, or in another retail setting), and the preferred location for the peep sight has been calculated, that information can be displayed to and/or otherwise provided to the retailer, which can then install the peep sight before delivering the bow to the user.

[0036] One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additional embodiments and implementations are also possible without departing from the teachings of the present invention or the scope of the claims which follow. This description, and particularly the specific details of the exemplary embodiments and implementations disclosed, is given primarily for clarity of understanding, and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention.