Joints and connections – Distinct end coupler – Separate screw or pin-type connections
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-15
2001-01-30
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Distinct end coupler
Separate screw or pin-type connections
C403S256000, C403S254000, C124S086000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179510
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to devices for rapid connection/disconnection of one member to another. The invention particularly relates to a rapid connect/disconnect system to quickly secure and remove archery accessories from a bow.
Archery accessories, such as quivers, stabilizers, and archer sights, are commonly attached to archery bows for convenience and to assist the archer in accuracy. Such accessories have traditionally included a threaded portion which threads into a mating threaded slot in the archery bow. Modern archery bows are most commonly compound bows which provide an enormous amount of force as the arrow is released. The large amount of shock or impulse force on the archery bow when the string is released by the archer is transmitted to the archery accessories attached to the bow. This force commonly causes the accessory to loosen and decreases accuracy when the accessory is an archery sight. For this reason, the threaded portions which fix archery accessories to the archery bow are generally long enough so that when tightly screwed onto the bow, this threaded fit will resist the vibration forces when the string is released. A result of the length of the threaded portion fixing the accessory to the archery bow requires that the accessory be rotated many revolutions in order to detach the accessory from the bow and then requires a similar number of rotations in the opposite direction to again secure the accessory to the bow.
It is desirable for many reasons to attach and detach archery accessories from the bow. For example, archers frequently detach accessories from the bow for transport and storage so that the bow can be maneuvered and stored more easily. Additionally, it is desirable to detach accessories from the bow during transport to reduce the possibility of damage to the accessory or the bow. In addition, cases and covers for archery bows frequently do not provide room for covering the archery bow with the accessory attached, necessitating the removal of the accessory. Furthermore, many states require that archery accessories be removed from the archery bow during transport and storage of the bow. A need for a rapid connect/disconnect to quickly and easily secure an archery accessory to an archery bow which alternately quickly and easily detaches exists in the archery industry.
In addition, a general need exists for a system which allows quick and easy attachment of one member to another so that the members are held in their connected position against unintentional release, which also provides for quick and easy disconnect of the members when desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a system which allows for rapid connection and disconnection of two members, such as, for example, an archery accessory and an archery bow. According to the present invention, a rapid connect/disconnect system includes a base mount, key pin, beveled washer, nut and mounting stud. This rapid connect/disconnect system can be used to secure two members together in a wide variety of applications where rapid connection and/or disconnection of the two members is desired.
In this invention, the base mount is secured to one member, such as an archery bow, while the key pin, beveled washer, nut and mounting stud are secured to the second member, such as an archery stabilizer. The nut and the key pin are threaded onto the mounting stud such that there exist a length of the threaded mounting stud between the nut and the key pin. The beveled washer is inserted onto the mounting stud between the nut and key pin. The nut is threaded onto the mounting stud against the second member (stabilizer) to provide a base against which the system is tightly threaded. The beveled washer is flat on one side and includes a beveled surface opposite the flat side. The beveled washer is installed onto the stud such that its flat side rests against the nut and the beveled surface is extending toward the key pin. The beveled surface of the beveled washer mates a bevel machined in the base mount and assists to properly align the stud and thereby the key pin within the base mount.
A keyed socket is machined into the base mount which includes a channel, socket, and a key receiver. A neck is cut into the base mount into the socket to provide open communication through the base mount into the channel to receive the key pin. As stated, a bevel is machined into the base mount to facilitate the insertion of the key pin into the socket. The key receiver is drilled through the wall of the base mount and is of a size slightly larger than the size of the key pin so as to receive an end of the key pin.
The key pin is threaded onto the mounting stud so that its longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mounting stud. Upon connection of the system, the key pin on the mounting stud is inserted into the channel of the base mount past the neck and into the socket. Once the key pin is inserted into the socket, one end of the key pin is slid through the channel and into the key receiver. The mounting stud which is fixed into the second member (archery stabilizer) is rotated so that the key pin is threaded toward the nut along the length of the mounting stud. The beveled surface of the beveled washer then properly aligns the key pin into the keyed socket and seats into the bevel machined into the base mount. The mounting stud is rotated until the beveled surface of the beveled washer is tightened against the bevel of the base mount and the flat surface of the beveled washer is tightened against the nut. The end of the key pin extending into the key receiver of the base mount insures that the base mount remains tightly secured against the beveled washer so that the first member (archery bow) and the second member (archery stabilizer) remain securely connected together.
In order to disconnect the system, the mounting stud is rotated in the opposite direction such that the key is threaded away from the nut along the length of the mounting stud. The key is then removed from the keyed socket of the base mount. The second member (archery stabilizer) is thereby disconnected from the first member (archery bow).
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connect/disconnect system to allow rapid connection and/or disconnection of one member to another.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system for connection (or disconnection) of an archery accessory to an archery bow capable of withstanding the impuse/vibrational forces resulting from use of the bow.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a system which allows the archer accessory to be rapidly and easily connected or disconnected to the archery bow.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2705574 (1955-04-01), Schoessow et al.
patent: 3524441 (1970-08-01), Jeffery
patent: 4261665 (1981-04-01), Hsiung
patent: 4783189 (1988-11-01), Bugg
patent: 5513622 (1996-05-01), Musacchia
patent: 5520164 (1996-05-01), Huddleston
patent: 5558078 (1996-09-01), Dunlap
patent: 5687527 (1997-11-01), Bikard et al.
Archery Catalogue'96/97, Jan van Drunen, Bogencentrum BV, The Netherlands, p. 43.
1998Hunting&Target Product Catalog,Specialty Archery Products, Clear Lake, IA, p. 16.
McCaslin Darrel G.
Meicke Raymond J.
Browne Lynne H.
Cobra Manufacturing Co., Inc.
Cottingham John R.
Fellers Snider Blankenship Bailey & Tippens, P.C.
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