Mechanical release archery training device

• US 9,633,573 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2015
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Justin D. Tafoya
• Original Assignee: Justin D. Tafoya
• Inventors: Tafoya, Justin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US14/732,726
• Time in Patent Office: 689 Days
• Field of Search: 434247, 124 231, 124 241, 124 86, 482122, 482126
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/04 Bow shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1469 Bow-string drawing or releasing devices F41B5/1473 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1476 Devices for archery training
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

An archery training system provides an archer the ability to safely condition psychologically and physically without the need of a bow and arrow while maintaining the sensation of using a bow and arrow. The archery training system is easily portable or stowed, and offers a combination of variables replicating the activity of compound bow shooting, such as a counter balanced replication of a grasped bow while drawing a bowstring, the utilization of accessory bow sights for target acquisition and aiming, the adjustability to accommodate the various hand grip styles unique to each archer, and immediate visual feedback to performance or shooting technique.

Claims

1. An archery training system comprising:

a training device having a handle, the training device having a long axis that intersects the handle;

a first tensioner attached to the training device; and

a first resistance band coupled to the first tensioner and coupled to a first interconnector;

whereby the first interconnector is capable of being operatively engaged by a release aid held in a user'"'"'s shooting hand, permitting the user to draw apart the first resistance band and the handle held in the user'"'"'s non-shooting hand and dry fire the archery training device.

2. The training system of claim 1, wherein the first interconnector comprises a loop, ring, rope, string, cable, or wire capable of being operatively engaged by the release aid.

3. The training system of claim 1, wherein the first resistance band and the first tensioner are operable together to adjust a let-off tension for the first resistance band to at least one value between 1 and 70 pounds.

4. The training system of claim 3, wherein the let-off tension is increased by adjusting the first tensioner in a first direction and the let-off tension is decreased by adjusting the first tensioner in a second direction.

5. The training system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second resistance band configured to couple to at least one of a second interconnector, the first resistance band, the first interconnector, or the release aid.

6. The training system of claim 5, further comprising:

a second tensioner attached to the training shaft and coupled to the second resistance band.

7. The training system of claim 1, wherein the first interconnector is adjustably positioned along a portion of the first resistance band.

8. An archery training system comprising:

a handle structure comprising;

top and bottom ends;

a handle structure length from the top end to the bottom end;

a long axis along the handle structure length;

a handle medially located on the handle structure; and

a housing unit positioned above the handle;

a balancer coupled to and articulating within the housing unit, the balancer articulating substantially orthogonal to the long axis;

a first resistance band with a first free end and a first non-looped end inserted through the balancer and coupled to a first tensioner coupled to the handle structure; and

a second resistance band with a second free end and a second non-looped end coupled to the handle structure;

whereby the archery training device is operable to allow a user to grasp the handle structure with one hand and with the other hand pull rearward a mechanical release aid that is attached to at least the first or second looped ends creating resistance band expansion and tension.

9. The training system of claim 8, wherein the second resistance band provides counter balance to the first resistance band thereby minimizing torque of the handle structure during dry firing.

10. The training system of claim 8, further comprising:

a stabilizer bracket attached to the handle structure, the stabilizer bracket being configured to couple to a stabilizer.

11. The training system of claim 8, the housing unit further comprising a first sight post and a second sight post each substantially aligned with the long axis.

12. The training system of claim 8, wherein a sight is configured to removably couple to either sight post, and wherein the sight comprises a sight selected from the list consisting of:

a mechanical sight;

an electrical sight;

a sight having optical magnification;

a video game sight;

an electrical sight specifically configured to operate with the archery training system; and

a mechanical sight specifically configured to operate with the archery training system.

13. The training system of claim 8, further comprising:

a finger release aid having a top string and a bottom string configured to mimic the finger positioning of a traditional bow, wherein the finger release aid is configured to couple to the first and second free ends during resistance band extension and tension.

14. An archery training device configured for dry fire practice, comprising:

a handle structure having a housing unit positioned above a handle;

a first tensioner coupled to the handle structure; and

a first resistance band having a first proximate end coupled to the first tensioner and a first distal end coupled to a first interconnector, the first resistance band and the first tensioner being operable together to adjust a let-off tension for the first resistance band to at least one value between 1 and 70 pounds;

wherein the archery training device is configured to be dry fired by a user, such that when drawn by the user to be dry fired, the archery training device further comprises;

the first distal end of the first resistance band positioned substantially orthogonal to the handle structure; and

whereby the first interconnector is capable of being operatively engaged by a release aid held in the user'"'"'s shooting hand, permitting the user to draw apart the first distal end and the handle structure held in the user'"'"'s non-shooting hand and dry fire the archery training device.

15. The training device of claim 14, further comprising:

a stabilizer bracket attached to the handle structure, the stabilizer bracket being configured to couple to a stabilizer.

16. The training device of claim 14, further comprising:

a second tensioner coupled to the handle structure;

a second resistance band having a proximate end coupled to the second tensioner and a distal end coupled to a second interconnector, the second interconnector being configured to couple to at least one of the first resistance band, the first interconnector, or the release aid.

17. The training device of claim 16, wherein the let-off tension is increased by adjusting one or more of the first and second tensioners in a first direction and the let-off tension is decreased by adjusting one or more of the first and second tensioners in a second direction.

18. The training device of claim 16, wherein the second resistance band provides counter balance to the first resistance band thereby minimizing torque of the handle structure during dry firing.

19. The training device of claim 16, wherein the first interconnector is adjustably positioned along a portion of the first resistance band and the second interconnector is adjustably positioned along a portion of the second resistance band.

20. The training device of claim 14, further comprising:

electronic circuitry configured to transmit information to a video game console when a dry firing is sensed by the electronic circuitry.