Bow-attached, arrow launching apparatus

• US 6,679,240 B1
• Filed: 11/05/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David L. Hurd
• Original Assignee: David L. Hurd
• Inventors: Hurd, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US10/288,061
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 124/23.1, 124/24.1, 124/25, 124/25.5, 124/88, 124/35.2, 473/578, 473/582, 473/585, 473/586
• US Class Current: 124/24.1
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/143 Arrow rests or guides
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1438 Buttons

Abstract

An arrow launching apparatus is provided for attachment to a bow handle and includes launcher-to-bow-handle attachment assembly connected to the bow handle. A launcher assembly is connected to the launcher-to-bow-handle attachment assembly. The launcher assembly includes a guide member assembly and a carriage block supported on the guide member assembly, and the carriage block rides along the guide member assembly. The carriage block includes a bow-string-reception channel for receiving a bow string. Carriage block hold and release assembly are supported on the guide member assembly and provide for selectively preventing or permitting travel of the carriage block along the guide member assembly. Use of the apparatus permits a user to use both hands when aiming and shooting an arrow. The apparatus also permits use of shorter-than-conventional-length arrows.

Claims

1. An arrow launching apparatus for attachment to a bow handle, comprising:

launcher-to-bow-handle attachment means connected to the bow handle,

a launcher assembly connected to said launcher-to-bow-handle attachment means, wherein said launcher assembly includes a guide member assembly and a carriage block supported on said guide member assembly, wherein said carriage block rides along said guide member assembly, and wherein said carriage block includes a bow-string-reception channel for receiving a bow string, and

carriage block hold and release assembly means, supported on said guide member assembly, for selectively preventing or permitting travel of said carriage block along said guide member assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guide member assembly includes threaded studs for attachment to said launcher-to-bow-handle attachment means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said launcher-to-bow-handle attachment means include:

a mounting bar which includes a bow-handle-fastener reception channel and a threaded stud reception and adjustment slots,

a bow-handle-received fastener, which is threaded through said bow-handle-fastener reception channel, for mounting said mounting bar onto the bow handle, and

thumb nuts for attachment to said threaded studs of said guide member assembly which are passed through said threaded stud reception and adjustment slots, for securing said threaded studs to said mounting bar.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guide member assembly includes:

a first guide member unit connected to said launcher-to-bow-handle attachment means,

a distal end bridging and carriage stopping member connected to said first guide member unit, and

a second guide member unit connected to said distal end bridging and carriage stopping member, wherein said second guide member unit and said first guide member unit are parallel to each other.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first guide member unit includes threaded studs for connection to said launcher-to-bow-handle attachment means.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said carriage block hold and release assembly means are supported on said respective guide member units, for selectively holding and releasing said carriage block on said respective guide member units.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein:

said first guide member unit includes a first front guide member, a rear guide member, and front-to-rear-guide connecting means for connecting said rear guide member to said first front guide member, and

said second guide member unit includes a second front guide member, a rear guide member, and front-to-rear-guide connecting means for connecting said rear guide member to said second front guide member,

wherein said first front guide member, said second front guide member, and said rear guide members have substantially the same outer diameter.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further including:

a reinforcement member connected between said first guide member unit and said second guide member unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said threaded studs, said first front guide member, said distal end bridging and carriage stopping member, said second front guide member, and said reinforcement member form a unified, integrated guide track front assembly.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said front-to-rear-guide connecting means include:

a guide member longitudinal insert received in said first front guide member and in a rear guide member for connecting said rear guide member to said first front guide member,

a guide member longitudinal insert received in said second front guide member and in another rear guide member for connecting said other rear guide member to said second front guide member, and

front-member-to-insert locking means for locking said guide member longitudinal inserts to said respective front guide members.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said guide member longitudinal inserts, said rear guide members, said carriage block, and said carriage block hold and release assembly can be formed as a unified, integrated guide track rear extension assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said front-member-to-insert locking means include:

front set screw access openings in said respective first front guide member and said second front guide member, and

front guide member set screws, received in said guide member longitudinal inserts and accessed through said front set screw access opening, for engaging said first front guide member and said second front guide member.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further including arrow retention means in said carriage block.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said arrow retention means include a magnet member for engaging a ferro-magnetic rear end of an arrow.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said carriage block hold and release assembly means include:

a carriage block hold and release assembly mounted on said guide member assembly, and

a carriage holding element reception portion on said carriage block.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guide member assembly includes a first guide member unit and a second guide member unit, and wherein each respective guide member unit includes a block holding element entry/exit passageway.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said carriage block hold and release assembly includes:

a pair of block holding element stops received in said respective guide member units, positioned distal to said block holding element entry/exit passageways,

a pair of block holding elements placed adjacent to block holding element entry/exit passageways within said guide member units,

a pair of plunger wedges received in said guide member units, positioned proximal to said block holding element entry/exit passageway,

a thumb plate connected to ends of said plunger wedges, positioned outside said guide member units,

a finger hold connected to said guide member units in proximity of said thumb plate,

plunger puller springs positioned between said thumb plate and said guide member units, providing a spring bias for pulling said plunger wedges in a direction away from said block holding element stops,

a bridging and carriage stop member, connected to said guide member units between said finger hold and said block holding element entry/exit passageways, for limiting backward motion of said carriage block along said guide member units, and

a pair of block holding elements positioned between said block holding element stops and said plunger wedges adjacent to said block holding element entry/exit passageways.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further including:

holding-element-retainer magnets located in said block holding element stops adjacent to said block holding elements for attracting said block holding elements thereto and for holding said block holding elements against said holding-element-retainer magnets.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said carriage block includes:

guide-member-reception channels for receiving said guide member assembly,

a magnet-reception well and a magnet member received in said magnet-reception well,

a bow-string channel gate pin for retaining a bow string in said bow-string-reception channel,

first lock pin reception channels,

a second lock pin reception channel in said bow-string channel gate pin, and

a gate lock pin received in said first lock pin reception channels and said second lock pin reception channel for retaining said bow-string channel gate pin in said carriage block.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an arrow apparatus, comprising:

an arrow shaft which includes a front shaft end and a rear shaft end,

a front arrow shaft insert received in said front shaft end,

a rear arrow shaft insert received in said rear shaft end,

a screw-in arrow point received in said front arrow shaft insert,

a magnetic screw-in rear end received in said rear arrow shaft insert,

a front bushing sandwiched between said screw-in arrow point and said front arrow shaft insert, wherein said front bushing has an outer diameter which is greater than the outer diameter of said screw-in arrow point, said front arrow shaft insert, and said arrow shaft, and

a rear bushing sandwiched between said magnetic screw-in rear end and said rear arrow shaft insert, wherein said rear bushing has an outer diameter which is greater than the outer diameter of said magnetic screw-in rear end, said rear arrow shaft insert, and said arrow shaft.

21. An arrow apparatus, comprising:

an arrow shaft which includes a front shaft end and a rear shaft end,

a front arrow shaft insert received in said front shaft end,

a rear arrow shaft insert received in said rear shaft end,

a screw-in arrow point received in said front arrow shaft insert,

a magnetic screw-in rear end received in said rear arrow shaft insert,

a front bushing sandwiched between said screw-in arrow point and said front arrow shaft insert, wherein said front bushing has an outer diameter which is greater than the outer diameter of said screw-in arrow point, said front arrow shaft insert, and said arrow shaft, and

a rear bushing sandwiched between said magnetic screw-in rear end and said rear arrow shaft insert, wherein said rear bushing has an outer diameter which is greater than the outer diameter of said magnetic screw-in rear end, said rear arrow shaft insert, and said arrow shaft.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said front bushing and said rear bushing are made of relatively low friction material.