Arrow holding and loading device for archery bows

• US 4,823,762 A
• Filed: 07/23/1987
• Issued: 04/25/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pugh-Zweng Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gregory E. Pugh
• Inventors: Pugh, Gregory E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Dennis L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ricci, John A.
• Application Number:
  US07/076,798
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 124/23 R, 124/23 A, 124/24 R, 124/24 A, 124/25, 124/41 R, 124/41 A, 124/41 B, 124/45, 124/51 R, 124/52, 124/53, 124/82, 124/86, 124/88, 224/916, 273/416
• US Class Current: 124/52
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/143 Arrow rests or guides
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/06 Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching

Abstract

An arrow holding and loading device for an archery bow has a frame to be bolted to the bow so that it can support a carriage that moves horizontally from left to right at the front of the bow to automatically shift a follow-up arrow into shooting position upon release by the archer of an initial arrow. A novel arrow nock having one side longer than the other is disclosed and it enables the bow string to be engaged from the side to facilitate rapid shooting.

Claims

1. An arrow loader for an archery bow, said bow having a shooting position, said arrow loader comprising means for supporting a first arrow on said bow in said shooting position, means including an arrow rest for supporting a follow-up arrow on said bow in a pre-shooting position parallel to a first arrow in the shooting position, and means for moving the arrow rest and follow-up arrow transversely to its length into the shooting position wherein the arrow is aligned and ready for nocking, drawing, aiming and release by the archer.

2. An arrow loader for an archery bow, said bow having a shooting position for an arrow, said arrow loader comprising a carriage, means for supporting the carriage on the bow for movement relative to said shooting position, means for supporting a first arrow on the carriage, means for supporting a follow-up arrow on the carriage, means for moving the carriage so that the first arrow is in said shooting position, and means actuated by contact with the first arrow during shooting of the first arrow for moving the carriage so that the follow-up arrow is in the shooting position.

3. An arrow holding and loading device for an archery bow having a shooting position for an arrow wherein the arrow is in appropriate alignment for nocking on the bowstring and drawing, aiming, and release by the archer, said device comprising a carriage having first means for holding a follow-up arrow in a pre-shooting position wherein said arrow is substantially parallel to but transversely separated from an arrow in said shooting position, second means for supporting the carriage on the bow to provide for transverse movement of the carriage to move said follow-up arrow from said transversely separated pre-shooting position into said shooting position, and third means for the application of force to transversely move said carriage so that said arrow moves from said pre-shooting position to said shooting position.

4. An arrow holder and loader for an archery bow having a shooting position for an arrow, said arrow holder and loader comprising a frame, a carriage movable mounted on the frame for linear movement transverse to said shooting position for an arrow, said carriage including means for supporting an arrow in a pre-shooting position substantially parallel to but transversely spaced from said shooting position for an arrow, and means for indexing the carriage to bring said arrow substantially into said shooting position.

5. An arrow loader as set forth in claim 4 wherein said frame includes means for rigidly securing it to the bow.

6. An arrow loader as set forth in claim 4 wherein said frame includes a track means defining a horizontal linear track transverse to said shooting position for an arrow, said carriage being mounted on said track for horizontal linear movement transverse to said shooting position of an arrow.

7. An arrow holding and loading device for an archery bow, said bow having a shooting position for an arrow, said device comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from said shooting position, said carriage having a first station including an arrow rest for supporting a first arrow so that it is ready to be shot, mechanical means for positioning said carriage in a first position wherein said first arrow is supported by said first station in said shooting position and in a second position wherein said second arrow is supported by said second station in said shooting position, and carriage moving means for moving said carriage from said first position to said second position.

8. An arrow holding and loading device for an archery bow, said bow having a shooting position for an arrow, said device comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from said shooting position, said carriage having a first means for supporting a first arrow to be shot so that said first arrow is in said shooting position, said carriage having a second means for supporting a follow-up arrow in a pre-shooting position wherein it is substantially parallel to the first arrow supported by the first means, mechanical means for positioning said carriage in a first position wherein said first arrow is supported by said first means in said shooting position and in a second position wherein said second arrow is supported by said second means in said shooting position, and carriage moving means for moving said carriage from said first position to said second position.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said carriage moving means comprises a spring means.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first means includes a movable member capable of being moved by the first arrow when the first arrow is shot, connecting means operatively connecting said movable member to said mechanical means whereby said carriage is released from said first position by movement of the movable member and is moved by said spring means to said second position.

11. A device as set forth in claim 10 including a movable stop face member mounted on said frame and adapted to be moved to an operative position wherein it blocks movement of the carriage and holds the carriage in the first and second positions, said member being manually operated by the archer.

12. A device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second means includes releasable means for holding said follow-up arrow in said pre-shooting position and arrow rest means for supporting said follow-up arrow in said shooting position wherein said arrow is aligned and ready for nocking, drawing, aiming, and release by the archer.

13. A device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said releasable means is operated to release by predetermined movement of said follow-up arrows.

14. A device as set forth in claim 13 wherein said predetermined movement is axial and comprises drawing of the follow-up arrow for nocking by the archer.

15. A device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said releasable means is adapted to engage said follow-up arrow at a plurality of axially separated points along its length whereby to firmly hold it in its pre-shooting position.

16. A device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said mechanical means includes a stop face member mounted on said frame and a stop member mounted on the carriage and engageable with the stop face member, said stop member being yieldably urged into engagement with the stop face member and movable out of engagement with the stop face member to allow movement of said carriage.

17. A device as set forth in claim 16 including means mounting the stop member on the carriage so that contact with an arrow upon shooting of the arrow moves the stop member out of engagement with the stop face member.

18. An arrow holding and loading device for an archery bow, said bow having a shooting position for an arrow, said device comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from said shooting position, said carriage having a first means for supporting a first arrow to be shot to that said first arrow is in said shooting position, said carriage having a second means for supporting a follow-up arrow in a pre-shooting position wherein it is substantially parallel to the first arrow supported by the first means, mechanical means for positioning said carriage in a first position wherein said arrow is supported by said first means in said shooting position and in a second position wherein said second arrow is supported by said second means in said shooting position, and carriage moving means for moving said carriage from said first position to said second position, said spring means comprising an elongated elastic cord having a length greater than the length of the carriage.

19. A device as set forth in claim 18 wherein said carriage includes a one piece member having a base portion adapted to movably engage said frame, said member having a first flange at one end extending at a right angle to said base portion and comprising a portion of said first means, said one piece member having a second flange at its other end extending at a right angle to said base portion, said elastic cord being anchored at one of its ends to said second flange.

20. A device as set forth in claim 19 wherein said second flange includes a top portion extending at a right angle so that it is substantially parallel to said base portion and extending away from the first flange, said second means including a clamp member pivotally mounted on said top portion.

21. An arrow holding and loading device for an archery bow, said bow having a shooting position for an arrow, said device comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from said shooting position, said carriage having a first means for supporting a first arrow to be shot so that said first arrow is in said shooting position, said carriage having a second means for supporting a follow-up arrow in a pre-shooting position wherein it is substantially parallel to the first arrow supported by the first means, mechanical means for positioning said carriage in a first position wherein said first arrow is supported by said first means in said shooting position and in a second position wherein said second arrow is supported by said second means in said shooting position, and carriage moving means for moving said carriage from said first position to said second position, said carriage moving means comprising handle means on the carriage to receive transverse force applied by a hand of the archer.

22. A device as set forth in claim 21 wherein said mechanical means includes dimple means for yieldably positioning and holding the carriage in the first position and magnetic stop face means for yieldably positioning and holding the carriage in the second position.

23. An arrow holding and loading device for an archery bow, said bow having a shoorint position for an arrow, said device comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from said shooting position, said carriage having a first means for supporting a first arrow to be shot so that said first arrow is in said shooting position, said carriage having a second means for supporting a follow-up arrow in a pre-shooting position wherein it is substantially parallel to the first arrow supported by the first means, mechanical means for positioning said carriage in a first position wherein said first arrow is supported by said first means in said shooting position and in a second position wherein said second arrow is supported by said second means in said shooting position, and carriage moving means for moving said carriage from said first position to said second position, said carriage moving means comprising spring means, said first means including a movable member capable of being moved by the first arrow when the first arrow is shot, connecting means operatively connecting said movable member to said mechanical means whereby said carriage is released from said first position by movement of the movable member and is moved by said spring means to said second position, said movable member comprising an arrow rest for supporting said first arrow in said shooting position.

24. An arrow holding and loading device for an archery bow, said bow having a shooting position for an arrow, said device comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from said shooting position, said carriage having a first means for supporting a first arrow to be shot so that said first arrow is in said shooting position, said carriage having a second means for supporting a follow-up arrow in a pre-shooting position wherein it is substantially parallel to the first arrow supported by the first means, mechanical means for positioning said carriage in a first position wherein said first arrow is supported by said first means in said shooting position and in a second position wherein said second arrow is supported by said second means in said shooting position, and carriage moving means for moving said carriage from said first position to said second position, said second means including releasable means for holding said follow-up arrow in said pre-shooting position and arrow rest means for supporting said follow-up arrow in said shooting position, said releasable means being operated by predetermined movement of said follow-up arrow, said predetermined movement being non-axial and comprising sidewise movement of the arrow by the archer.

25. An arrow holding and loading device for an archery bow, said bow having a shooting position for an arrow, said device comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from said shooting position, said carriage having a first means for supporting a first arrow to be shot so that said first arrow is in said shooting position, said carriage having a second means for supporting a follow-up arrow in a pre-shooting position wherein it is substantially parallel to the first arrow supported by the first means, mechanical means for positioning said carriage in a first position wherein said first arrow is supported by said first means in said shooting position and in a second position wherein said second arrow is supported by said second means in said shooting position, and carriage moving means for moving said carriage from said first position to said second position, said second means including releasable means for holding said follow-up arrow in said pre-shooting position and arrow rest means for supporting aid follow-up arrow in said shooting position, said releasable means including an elastic member and a lever means for biasing the elastic member to a position around a portion of the follow-up arrow, said lever means including a portion operated by the archer to move the lever means so that it allows the elastic member to move from said position around a portion of the follow-up arrow, said elastic member also serving as said arrow rest means.

26. An arrow holding and loading device for an archery bow, said bow having a shooting position for an arrow, said device comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from said shooting position, said carriage having a first means for supporting a first arrow to be shot so that said first arrow is in said shooting position, said carriage having a second means for supporting a follow-up arrow in a pre-shooting position wherein it is substantially parallel to the first arrow supported by the first means, mechanical means for positioning said carriage in a first position wherein said first arrow is supported by said first means in said shooting position and in a second position wherein said second arrow is supported by said second means in said shooting position, and carriage moving means for moving said carriage from said first position to said second position, said second means including releasable means for holding said follow-up arrow in said pre-shooting position and arrow rest means for supporting said follow-up arrow in said shooting position, said second means including a vertical wall on said carriage, said releasable means being mounted on said vertical wall.

27. A device as set forth in claim 26 wherein said arrow rest means is mounted on said vertical wall.

28. A device as set forth in claim 27 wherein said releasable means comprises a pair of C-shaped arrow gripping members mounted on said wall above said arrow rest means and adapted to yieldably embrace and hold said follow-up arrow, said gripping members being hinged to said vertical wall and spring biased to an inoperative position flat against the wall.

29. A device as set forth in claim 26 wherein said releasable means comprises a pair of resilient members at the top of said vertical wall defining a cylindrical trough having resilient walls and an opening on top to receive said follow-up arrow, said opening being of less width than the diameter of the follow-up arrow, said trough having a diameter substantially the same as said arrow, said resilient members having top portions extending outwardly from opposite sides of said opening to form a substantially V-shaped support for said follow-up arrow, said support providing said arrow rest means.

30. A device as set forth in claim 26 wherein said releasable means includes a movable clamp member for applying transverse force to said follow-up arrow and clamping it against said vertical wall.

31. A device as set forth in claim 30 wherein said clamp member is constructed and arranged to be moved away from said follow-up arrow upon axial movement of said arrow toward the archer and thereby remove said transverse clamping force on said arrow.

32. A device as set forth in claim 31 including spring means urging said clamp member to move away from said follow-up arrow.

33. A device as set forth in claim 32 wherein said spring means comprises an elongated elastic cord connected at one end to the clamping member and at the other end to said carriage.

34. A device as set forth in claim 33 including an arrow holder and stabilizer member movably mounted on said vertical wall and adapted in a closed and operative position to embrace said follow-up arrow and hold it against said wall, said arrow holder and stabilizer member being yieldably biased to an open and inoperative position out of the way of axial movement of the follow-up arrow, and movable latch means engageable with said arrow holder and stabilizer member for latching it in said closed and operative position.

35. A device as set forth in claim 34 including retention means on the frame and engageable with the latch means to prevent unlatching movement thereof until the carriage has moved substantially to said second position.

36. A device as set forth in claim 35 wherein said latch means and said clamp member are connected to move together.

37. A device as set forth in claim 35 wherein said frame comprises a one piece member having a horizontal shelf portion and a flange extending at a right angle to the shelf portion and adapted to be secured to the bow, said one piece member having a wall extending at a right angle to the shelf portion and providing said retention means, said one piece member having an end flange extending at an angle to said shelf portion and containing a slot, said carriage being movably mounted on said shelf portion, said carriage means comprising an elastic cord connected at one end to said carriage and at its other end fitting in said slot and being connected to said end flange.

38. A device as set forth in claim 35 wherein said latch means includes said clamp member.

39. A device as set forth in claim 38 wherein said latch means includes a latch ear on said arrow holder and stabilizer member and a latch plate movable over the ear to hold the member in closed position.

40. A device as set forth in claim 39 wherein said clamp member comprises a vertical post on said latch plate.

41. A device as set forth in claim 40 wherein said arrow holder and stabilizer member is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis to the top of said vertical wall and said latch plate is pivotally mounted on a vertical axis spaced horizontally from said wall.

42. A device as set forth in claim 26 including an arrow holder and stabilizer member movably mounted on said vertical wall and adapted in a closed and operative position to embrace said follow-up arrow and hold it against said wall, said arrow holder and stabilizer member being yieldably biased to an open and inoperative position out of the way of axial movement of the follow-up arrow, and movable latch means engageable with said arrow holder and stabilizer member for latching it in said closed and operative position.

43. A device as set forth in claim 42 wherein said first means includes a vertical wall on said carriage and an arrow rest for the first arrow mounted on said wall.

44. A device as set forth in claim 43 including movable means mounting said first means arrow rest on said first means wall so that engagement of the arrow rest by a radially projecting portion of the first arrow during shooting of the first arrow moves the arrow rest, said movable means being operatively connected to said mechanical means whereby said carriage is released from said first position by movement of the arrow rest during shooting of the first arrow.

45. A device as set forth in claim 44 wherein said second means includes movable means mounting said second means arrow rest means on said second means vertical wall so that engagement of the arrow rest means by a radial projection on the follow-up arrow during shooting of the follow-up arrow moves the arrow rest means, said second means movable being operatively connected to said mechanical means whereby said carriage is released from said second position by movement of the arrow rest means during shooting of the follow-up arrow, said carriage having a third means for supporting a second follow-up arrow in a pre-shooting position wherein it is substantially parallel to the first arrow and the follow-up arrow supported by the first and second means respectively, said mechanical means positioning said carriage in a third position wherein said second follow-up arrow is supported by said third means in said shooting position.

46. A device as set forth in claim 26 wherein said first means includes a vertical wall on said carriage and an arrow rest for the first arrow mounted on said wall.

47. A device as set forth in claim 46 including movable means mounting said first means arrow rest on said first means wall so that engagement of the arrow rest by a radial projection on the first arrow during shooting of the first arrow moves the arrow rest, said movable means being operatively connected to said mechanical means whereby said carriage is released from said first position by movement of the arrow rest during shooting of the first arrow.

48. An arrow holding and loading device for an archery bow, said bow having a shooting position for an arrow, said device comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from said shooting position, said carriage having a first means for supporting a first arrow to be shot so that said first arrow is in said shooting position, said carriage having a second means for supporting a follow-up arrow in a pre-shooting position wherein it is substantially parallel to the first arrow supported by the first means, mechanical means for positioning said carriage in a first position wherein said arrow is supported by said first means in said shooting position and in a second position wherein said second arrow is supported by said second means in said shooting position, carriage moving means for moving said carriage from said first position to said second position, said second means including releasable means for holding said follow-up arrow in said pre-shooting position and arrow rest means for supporting said follow-up arrow in said shooting position, and follow-up arrow stabilizer shelf means mounted on said frame and located in front of the carriage and providing a shelf to support the front end of a follow-up arrow held on the carriage in the pre-shooting position.

49. An arrow holding and loading device for an archery bow, said bow having a shooting position for an arrow, said device comprising a frame, a carriage mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from said shooting position, said carriage having a first means for supporting a first arrow to be shot so that said first arrow is in said shooting position, said carriage having a second means for supporting a follow-up arrow in a pre-shooting position wherein it is substantially parallel to the first arrow supported by the first means, mechanical means for positioning said carriage in a first position wherein said first arrow is supported by said first means in said shooting position and in a second position wherein said second arrow is supported by said second means in said shooting position, and carriage moving means for moving said carriage from said first position to said second position, said mechanical means including stop face member mounted on said frame and a top member mounted on the carriage and engageable with the stop face member, said stop member being yieldably urged into engagement with the stop face member and movable out of engagement with the stop face member to allow movement of said carriage, means mounting the stop member on the carriage so that shooting of an arrow moves the stop member out of engagement with the stop face member, and cam means for moving the stop member out of engagement with the stop face member when the carriage is moved in a direction opposite to the operative direction wherein it brings a follow-up arrow up to the shooting position.

50. A device as set forth in claim 49 wherein said stop member comprises an arrow rest for supporting an arrow.

51. In an arrow loader for an archery bow having a bow string and a shooting position for an arrow, first means for holding a follow-up arrow in a pre-shooting position parallel to said shooting position and in the same horizontal plane as the shooting position and with the nock of the arrow substantially aligned transversely with the bow string, second means for moving the first means transversely in said horizontal plane so that the follow-up arrow is brought to said shooting position with the nock of the arrow substantially in contact with the bow string, and third means for releasably holding the second means in position when the follow-up arrow is in said shooting position.

52. The loader of claim 51 wherein said pre-shooting position is spaced from said shooting position by a distance of substantially 1 to 11/2 inches.

53. An arrow nock for use on arrows that are to be loaded on to a bow by sideways movement of the arrow, said nock comprising a body having a groove for the bow string, said groove dividing the body into a leading side and a trailing side with respect to said sideways movement, said leading side being substantially shorter than the trailing side whereby the arrow may be moved sideways until the inside face of the trailing side comes into contact with the bow string.

54. A nock as set forth in claim 53 including a pull knob on the top of the nock.