Aiming Device and Method for Archery Bow

Abstract

An apparatus for improving an archer's aiming consistency by utilizing a directed light beam device mounted to an archery bow or integrated into the grip of an archery bow. Various embodiments provide an apparatus comprising a directed beam light source such as a laser, a power source for providing power to said light source, an actuation switch for allowing power to flow from said power source to said light source, a circuit for interconnecting said light source, said power source, and said actuation switch, and a jacket adapted to be attached to an archery bow within which said light source, said power source, said actuation switch, and said circuit are disposed, so that, when said jacket is attached to the archery bow said light source directs light forwardly from said bow toward a target and so that, during use, said actuation switch can be actuated by the same hand that is holding the bow in response to the natural motion of drawing the bow string. The jacket may fit over and around the stock grip of a bow and be shaped to comfortably fit the hand of an archer. Alternatively, the jacket may replace the stock grip normally provided with the bow.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to aiming devices for weapons, particularly directed light beam aiming devices for archery bows that illuminate a target at the spot where an arrow is to strike the target, and which may be used to indicate to the archer whether the bow is being held in the proper alignment for accurate aiming.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]All publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.[0003]In aiming an archery bow there are three adjustments of the positio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The present invention includes an apparatus for improving an archer's aiming consistency by utilizing a directed light beam device mounted to an archery bow or integrated to the grip of an archery bow.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, if the bow is not held in a vertical orientation, or if the bow rotates even slightly in the archer's hand, then the elevation and windage adjustments will not be correct if they are made on the assumption that the bow is vertically oriented.

Even slight variations in elevation, windage, and rotation can dramatically affect aiming consistency.

However, it is often the case that when the bow string is drawn back, the hand of the user gripping the bow exerts torque on the bow, causing it to rotate.

Such rotation makes it difficult for the archer to maintain consistent shooting accuracy.

However, they do not address the particular challenges that arise in the use of a bow, which is a much different weapon from a handgun.

Unfortunately, known laser aiming devices leave significant problems unsolved, such as minimizing the effects of the aiming device on bow balance, minimizing the effects that bow rotation has on the laser point location at the target, and actuating the laser when needed without interfering with the normal bow and string movements of the archer.

Since these prior devices place the laser source at some distance from the arrow shelf, the dot-to-impact-point offset due to changes in range is relatively large, and the laser systems disclosed cannot be made coincident with the arrow's path at short ranges.

Additionally, the previously-known laser aiming devices for bows are bulky and poorly integrated with the structure of the bow, making the devices prone to being knocked out of alignment or damaged during both storage and field use.

If the device must be removed for storage or transport, then each remount creates another opportunity for the device to become out of alignment.

Also, when hunting, equipment that tends to snag or catch on vegetation creates noise and makes moving stealthily more difficult; and furthermore, equipment for hunting use must be silent in operation.

It is a particular drawback of these previously known devices that they are awkward to actuate on a shot-to-shot basis so that either they must be left on or they tend to affect the aim of the archer.

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