Passive bowstring release mechanism

• US 4,424,791 A
• Filed: 06/07/1982
• Issued: 01/10/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul Muehleisen
• Original Assignee: Paul Muehleisen
• Inventors: Muehleisen, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Browne, William R.
• Application Number:
  US06/385,989
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 124/35 R, 124/35 A, 124/24 R, 124/23 R, 124/41 R
• US Class Current: 124/35.2
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1469 Bow-string drawing or releasing devices F41B5/1473 takes precedence

Abstract

A passive bowstring release mechanism is disclosed which includes a securement arm pivotally mounted with respect to a housing. The housing has a slot extending down the foremost edge thereof into which the securement arm is pivotally secured. The housing also defines a slot extending vertically downward therethrough in the edge of the housing adjacent to the longitudinal slot. A bowstring may be positioned extending vertically through the vertical slot of the housing and will be retained therein by the holding section of the securement arm. This holding section includes a concave surface adapted to abut the string and maintain it in position while the securement arm is maintained in the retaining position. A handle portion of the securement arm is adapted to be contacted by the thumb of the user to thereby hold the bowstring in place extending through the slot and locked therein by the concave surface of the holding section of the securement arm. For release of the bowstring, the thumb of the user will move away from the handle section of the securement arm allowing the slight flexing of the bowstring to cause the securement arm to pivot toward the releasing position and allowing the bowstring to contact the convex area of the holding section allowing complete and passive release of the bowstring from the release mechanism.

Claims

1. A passive bowstring release mechanism comprising:

(a) a housing means defining gripping aperture means extending therethrough to facilitate holding of the bowstring release mechanism by a user, said housing means defining a longitudinal side cavity along a lateral edge thereof, said housing means further defining a vertical slot means extending vertically through said housing means and through said longitudinal side cavity;

(b) a securement arm means pivotally secured with respect to said housing means within said longitudinal side cavity to be movable between a retaining position, for holding a bowstring extending through said vertical slot means, and a releasing position, allowing release of a bowstring from said vertical slot means, said securement arm means including a handle section movable between the position within said longitudinal side cavity, when said securement arm means is in the retaining position, and a position outside of said longitudinal side cavity, when said securement arm means is in the releasing position, said securement arm means further including a holding section including a concave surface being pivotally movable into and out of said vertical slot means to selectively engage and selectively hold a bowstring extending vertically therethrough responsive to pivotal movement of said securement arm means; and

(c) a pivot means pivotally attaching said securement arm means with respect to said housing means and said longitudinal side cavity, the axis of said pivot means being parallel to and laterally aligned with respect to the axis of said vertical slot means to minimize that force exerted upon said securement arm means urging same to move toward the releasing position.

2. The passive bowstring release mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing means defines a housing hole means extending vertically therethrough and said securement arm means defines an arm hole means extending therethrough and positioned in vertical registration with respect to said housing hole means, and wherein said pivot means includes a pivot pin extending vertically through said arm hole means and said housing hole means to provide a fulcrum for pivotal movement between said housing means and said securement arm means.

3. The passive bowstring release mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said holding section of said securement arm means includes a convex surface immediately adjacent to said concave surface to facilitate release of a bowstring as said securement arm means pivots from the retaining position to the releasing position.

4. The passive bowstring release mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said concave surface of said securement arm means is in abutment with respect to a bowstring extending through said vertical slot means and urging the bowstring slightly laterally into said longitudinal cavity responsive to said securement arm means being in the retaining position to provide an initial resilient impetus of movement to said securement arm means toward the releasing position responsive to release of said handle section thereof.

5. The passive bowstring release mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said gripping aperture means comprises two adjacently positioned gripping apertures adapted to receive the index finger and middle finger of a user to conveniently allow for the thumb of the user to selectively retain and release said handle section of said securement arm means.

6. The passive bowstring release mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said holding section and said handle section of said securement arm means are integral with respect to one another.

7. The passive bowstring release mechanism as defined in claim 1 further including a string aperture extending through said housing and a string means extending therethrough.

8. A passive bowstring release mechanism comprising:

(a) a housing means defining two gripping apertures extending therethrough to facilitate holding of the bowstring release mechanism by a user, said housing means defining a longitudinal side cavity along a lateral edge thereof, said housing means further defining a vertical slot means extending vertically through said housing means and through said longitudinal side cavity, said housing means further defining a housing hole means extending vertically therethrough;

(b) a securement arm means pivotally secured with respect to said housing means within said longitudinal side cavity to be movable between a retaining position, for holding a bowstring extending through said vertical slot means, and a releasing position, allowing release of a bowstring from said vertical slot means, said securement arm means including a handle section movable between a position within said longitudinal side cavity, when said securement arm means is in the retaining position, and the position outside of said longitudinal side cavity, when said securement arm means is in the releasing position, said securement arm means further including a holding section integral with respect to said handle section and including a concave surface being pivotally movable into and out of said vertical slot means to selectively engage and selectively hold a bowstring extending vertically therethrough responsive to pivotal movement of said securement arm means, said securement arm means further defining an arm hole means extending therethrough and positioned in vertical registration with respect to said housing hole means, said holding section of said securement arm means including a convex surface immediately adjacent to said concave surface to facilitate release of a bowstring as said securement arm means pivots from the retaining position to the releasing position, said concave surface of said securement arm means being in abutment with respect to a bowstring extending through said vertical slot means and urging the bowstring slightly laterally into said longitudinal cavity responsive to said securement arm means being in the retaining position to provide an initial resilient impetus of movement to said securement arm means toward the releasing position responsive to release of said handle section thereof;

(c) a pivot means pivotally attaching said securement arm means with respect to said housing means and said longitudinal side cavity, said pivot means including a pivot pin extending vertically through said arm hole means and said housing hole means to provide a fulcrum for pivotal movement between said housing means and said securement arm means, said pivot pin being positioned such as to be laterally aligned with respect to the axis of a bowstring extending through said vertical slot means.