Mechanical guns and projectors – Spring – Bow
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-05
2004-01-20
Nguyen, Kien T. (Department: 3712)
Mechanical guns and projectors
Spring
Bow
C124S035200, C124S088000, C473S578000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06679240
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to archery bows and arrows and, more particularly, to an attachment to a bow especially adapted for launching arrows.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The invention described herein is an improvement of the bow-attached, arrow launching apparatus by the same inventor, David L. Hurd, and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,065, incorporated herein by reference and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,163, incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention continues to retain the combination of desirable features set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,065 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,163. More specifically, with the present invention, the following combination of desirable features are retained: (1) can employ arrows that are shorter than conventional length; (2) provides a bow and bow string that can be sufficiently stretched to effectively propel a shorter-than-conventional-length arrow; (3) is able to readily convert a conventional bow into a novel bow that can be employed to launch shorter-than-conventional-length arrows; (4) provides arrows which permit the arrows to propelled by a bow string without employing a slot or nock at the rear ends of the arrows; (5) permits pulling back the rear end of an arrow and the bow string without using a pinching and pulling action on the rear end of the arrow; (6) provides a track for launching a shorter-than-conventional-length arrow wherein the track has a relatively short length for storage purposes; (7) provides a launching device for a shorter-than-conventional-length arrow that can be employed with a vertically oriented bow; (8) provides a bracket member can be used as a support for a plurality of arrows; (9) provides a magnetic attraction between the back of an arrow and a bow string guide assembly so that the arrow is retained in the launcher assembly until it is launched off of the launcher assembly; and (10) providing rapid speed in loading and shooting an arrow by utilizing the proximity of the bracket for supporting a plurality of arrows and the launcher assembly and by utilizing the magnetic attraction between the back of an arrow and a bow string guide assembly.
Still other features would be desirable in a bow-attached, arrow launching apparatus and are provided by the present invention. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,065, the bow string guide assembly 30 is pulled back to tension the bow string. To launch the arrow, the bow string guide assembly 30 is released. As long as the bow string guide assembly 30 is held by the user, the bow and arrow are essentially supported by two hands of the user. Such a two-hand support is very stable. However, when the user releases the bow string guide assembly 30 to launch the arrow, one hand of the user is released from the bow string guide assembly 30, and during launching of the arrow, the bow and arrow apparatus is supported by only one hand of the user. Such a one-handed support of the bow and arrow apparatus during launch of the arrow can result in unstable launch conditions which can impede accuracy. In this respect, it would be desirable if a bow-attached, arrow launching apparatus were provided which permits an arrow to be launched while the bow and arrow are supported by two hands of the user.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,065, when the bow string guide assembly 30 is pulled back to tension the bow string, as long as the user takes aim before launching the arrow, the user must maintain full tension on the bow string. This may be fatiguing, especially if a relatively long period of time is needed to take a careful aim. In this respect, it would be desirable if a bow-attached, arrow launching apparatus were provided which enabled a bow string guide assembly 30 to be held in a string-tensed position without the need for a user to maintain full tension on the bow string.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,065, the launcher assembly has front telescopic segments 33 and rear-end guide track assemblies 68. To avoid any possible translation between the front and rear telescopic members, it would be desirable if front guide members and rear guide members were provided which are connected together in a rigid, non-telescopic manner. In this respect, it would be desirable if assembly of front guide members and rear guide members from a storage condition could be carried out rapidly and securely. In this respect, it would also be desirable if disassembly of front guide members and rear guide members from an in-use condition to a storage condition could be carried out rapidly.
In addition to the desirable features mentioned above provided by U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,065 and by U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,163, the present improvement provides the following additional desirable features: (1) permits an arrow to be launched while the bow and arrow are supported by two hands of the user; (2) enables a bow string guide assembly to be held in a string-tensed position without the need for a user to maintain full tension on the bow string; (3) provides front guide members and rear guide members which are connected together in a rigid, non-telescopic manner; (4) permits assembly of front guide members and rear guide members from a storage condition to be carried out rapidly and securely; and (5) permits disassembly of front guide members and rear guide members from an in-use condition to a storage condition to be carried out rapidly. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique bow-attached, arrow launching apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides an arrow launching apparatus for attachment to a bow handle and includes launcher-to-bow-handle attachment means connected to the bow handle. A launcher assembly is connected to the launcher-to-bow-handle attachment means. The launcher assembly includes a guide member assembly and a carriage block supported on the guide member assembly, and the carriage block rides along the guide member assembly. The carriage block includes a bow-string-reception channel for receiving a bow string. Carriage block hold and release assembly means are supported on the guide member assembly and provide for selectively preventing or permitting travel of the carriage block along the guide member assembly.
Preferably, the guide member assembly includes threaded studs for attachment to the launcher-to-bow-handle attachment means.
Preferably, the launcher-to-bow-handle attachment means include a mounting bar which includes at least one bow-handle-fastener reception channel and two threaded stud reception and adjustment slots. A bow-handle-received fastener is threaded through the bow-handle-fastener reception channel for mounting the mounting bar onto the bow handle. Thumb nuts are used for attachment to the threaded studs of the guide member assembly which are passed through the threaded stud reception and adjustment slots, for securing the threaded studs to the mounting bar.
Preferably, the guide member assembly includes a first guide member unit connected to the launcher-to-bow-handle attachment means, a distal end bridging and carriage stopping member connected to the first guide member unit, and a second guide member unit connected to the distal end bridging and carriage stopping member. The second guide member unit and the first guide member unit are parallel to each other.
Preferably, the first guide member unit includes the threaded studs for connection to the launcher-to-bow-handle attachment means.
Preferably, the carriage block hold and release assembly means are supported on the respective guide member units, for selectively holding and releasing the carriage block on the respective guide member units.
Preferably, the first guide member unit includes a first front guide member, a rear guide member, and front-to-rear-guide conne
LandOfFree
Bow-attached, arrow launching apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Bow-attached, arrow launching apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bow-attached, arrow launching apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3254527