Dual beam laser sighting aid for archery bows

• US 6,366,344 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jerry W. Lach
• Original Assignee: Jerry W. Lach
• Inventors: Lach, Jerry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buczinski, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US09/619,592
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 332/65, 356/3.1
• US Class Current: 356/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/35 for illuminating the target , e.g. flash lights
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/467 for bows
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/10 using a parallactic triangle with variable angles and a base of fixed length in the observation station, e.g. in the instrument

Abstract

The present invention provides a target illuminating and sighting apparatus for a bow. A frame for attachment to the bow supports two vertically spaced pivoting mounts, each of mounts supports a laser oriented to illuminate a target when the bow is aimed. Cams abut the pivotal mounts and allow for setting an angle of vertical convergence between the light beams so that the lasers intersect at ranges of between about 10 and 50 yards. An inclination cam, working synchronously with the convergence cam controls the inclination of the beams relative to the initial path of an arrow to be shot from the bow. The inclination cam may be calibrated to adjust for the particular bow and arrow combination.

Claims

1. Target illuminating apparatus for a projectile launcher, comprising:

first and second light projectors mounted on the projectile launcher and oriented to project first and second light beams on substantially converging paths with one another in a vertical plane and vertically aligned with an anticipated initial trajectory for a projectile to be shot from the projectile launcher;

a convergence controller cooperating with the first and second light projectors for setting a distance to convergence of the first and second light beams; and

an inclination controller for adjusting angles of inclination for the first and second light projectors relative to the anticipated initial trajectory of the projectile to project the first and second light beams onto a target at the level of anticipated impact of the projectile.

2. Target illuminating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the convergence controller comprises first and second cams which rotate to set the distance to convergence of the first and second light beams and the inclination controller includes a cams vertical positioner which adjusts the vertical position of the first and second cams synchronously with the rotation of the cams to change the angles of inclination of the first and second light beams relative to the initial trajectory of the first and second light beams.

3. Target illuminating apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

calibration settings in the inclination controller to adjust for projectiles of differing ballistic characteristics and for different projectile launchers.

4. Target illuminating apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the projectile launcher is a bow.

5. Target illuminating apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

a frame for mounting on the bow; and

the first and second light projectors having first and second pivoting mountings depending from the frame and positioned on the frame to be vertically spaced relative to the bow.

6. Target illuminating apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further compromising:

a radially positionable wheel mounted on the frame;

the first and second cams being positioned on the radially positionable wheel for engaging the first and second pivoting mountings for changing the relative convergence orientation of the first and second pivoting mountings with respect to another;

the inclination controller having a stepped height adjustment cam positioned on the radially positionable wheel providing vertical positioning of the radially positionable wheel to set inclination for the first and second pivoting mountings; and

a plurality of independently adjustable steps in the stepped height adjustment cam allowing independent calibration of the inclination settings for a plurality of ranges to convergence.

7. Target illuminating apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first and second light projectors further comprise at least a first source of laser light.

8. Target illuminating apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first and second light projectors include lasers.

9. A target illuminating and sighting apparatus for a bow having an arrow rest, comprising:

a frame for attachment to the bow;

first and second pivotal mounts depending from the frame to be vertically displaced from one another with respect to the bow;

a first projector positioned on the first pivotal mount;

a second projector positioned on the second pivotal mount;

the first and second projectors being oriented to project light beams forward from the bow toward a target;

cam means engaging at least a first of the pivotal mounts for setting an angle of vertical convergence for the light beams from the first projector and the second projector; and

an inclination adjustment module coupled to the first and second pivotal mounts for adjusting angles of inclination relative to the arrow rest for the light beams projected by the first and second projectors.

10. A target illuminating and sighting apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cam means are repositioned by the inclination adjustment module.

11. A target illuminating and sighting apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

means for calibrating the inclination adjustment module.

12. A target illuminating and sighting apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a lever pivotally mounted to the frame for actuating the cam means and the inclination adjustment module.

13. A target illuminating and sighting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the lever is manipulable by fingers of a hand gripping the bow.

14. A target illuminating and sighting apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

the cam means including a cam wheel with a vertically displaceable axis of rotation on the frame, the cam surfaces being centered on the axis of rotation and contacting the first and second pivotal mounts; and

the inclination adjustment module including a inclination adjustment cam positioned on the cam wheel for positioning the axis of rotation of the cam wheel upon rotation of the cam wheel.

15. A target illuminating and sighting apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the inclination adjustment cam is stepped from a plurality of independently height adjustable screws radially spaced around the cam for use at various ranges.

16. A target illuminating and sighting apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first and second pivotal mounts orient the first and second projectors to cast beams which diverge horizontally.

17. A target illuminating and sighting apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising at least a first source of laser light for the first and second projectors.

18. Target illuminating apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein the first and second projectors are lasers.

19. Apparatus for aiming a low velocity projectile following a ballistic trajectory, comprising:

first and second projectors for first and second light beams on paths which are vertically substantially aligned with a projected path for the projectile and initially vertically displaced from one another;

first and second convergence control cams linked to the first and second projectors for orienting the first and second light beams to converge at a variety of ranges;

a cam displacement mechanism for vertically positioning the first and second convergence control cams for setting declinations of the first and second light beams relative to the initial path of the projectile to indicate vertical decay in the trajectory of the projectile out to the variety of ranges of first and second light beam convergence; and

a plurality of adjustment settings for the cam displacement mechanism to allow a user to set declinations for changes in ballistic situations.