Fiber optic sight pin

Abstract

A sight pin for use with a bow sight includes an elongate segment of fiber optic material used to form a sighting indicia at one of its terminal ends. The other end of the fiber optic member is wound upon a spool to increase the exposed surface area of the fiber optic material to increase light absorption and thus the brightness of the sight indicia.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This document claims priority to and incorporates by reference all of the subject matter included in the provisional patent application filed on Dec. 24, 2003, and having Ser. No. 60 / 532,655.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates generally to sights for archery bows employing fiber optic elements and, more specifically, to sight pin constructions which provide increased stability to the fiber optic element and which provide illuminated sight capabilities in environments where ambient light is reduced or absent. [0004] 2. Description of the Art [0005] Archery bow sights utilizing a plurality of sight pins have been known in the art for many years. Typically, these sights use a bracket or other mounting structure for mounting the sight to a bow. The sight is commonly comprised of a pin plate, a pin guard, and a plurality of sight pins which are secured to the pin plate and extend into a ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] In accordance with the present invention, a sight pin for use with a bow sight includes an elongate segment of fiber optic material used to form a sighting indicia at one of its terminal ends. The other end of the fiber optic member is wound upon a spool to increase the exposed surface area of the fiber optic material to increase light absorption and thus the brightness of the sight indicia.

[0012] The sight pin includes an elongate pin arm defining a sight point at a first end and configured for attachment to a bow sight proximate a second end. A fiber optic member has a first terminal end adjacent the sight point of the sight pin for providing a sight indicia. A spool in the form of a cylindrical member is positioned proximate the second end of the sight pin. The fiber optic member is wound upon the spool with a plurality of windings so as to maximize the amount of fiber optic material that is exposed to ambient light.

[0018] Thus, a non-electric light source is provided along a length of the fiber optic member in order to brighten the fiber optic element as a result of the light being emitted from the non-electric light source.

Problems solved by technology

It is also well-known in the art that despite the light-gathering capabilities of fiber optic elements which render sighting devices more useful in low-light conditions (e.g., dusk), there is a point at which the ambient light is so low that the fiber optic element is no longer capable of gathering sufficient light to provide any illumination.

While others in the art have disclosed the use of electronic means for providing a light source to the fiber optic elements of the sighting device, the use of such devices add weight to the device, may fail electrically and may be vulnerable to damage by contact with bushes or the like.

Because of the surface area of the ends of such fiber optic elements, the amount of light provided in such a small surface area is relatively low.

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