ARCHERY RELEASE HAVING FORCE DIVERSION

• US 20160146566A1
• Filed: 01/28/2016
• Published: 05/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tog-IP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Scott Archery LLC
• Inventors: Kelly, Daniel N., Griggs, Eric J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,625,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1469 Bow-string drawing or releasing devices F41B5/1473 takes precedence

Abstract

An archery release includes, in an embodiment, a body, a finger extension configured to be connected to the body and a hook pivotally coupled to the body. Part of the body has an arc shape centered about a point. The point is located in a horizontal plane or horizontal axis when the archery release is oriented in a vertical position. The hook has a bowstring contact surface which is positioned below the horizontal plane or horizontal axis when the archery release is in the vertical position.

Claims

1. An archery release comprising:

a release body comprising an index finger engagement surface configured to be pulled in a horizontal direction by an index finger, part of the index finger engagement surface comprising an arc shape centered about a point, wherein a horizontal axis extends through the point;

a finger extension configured to be connected to the release body, the finger extension extending in a vertical direction when the archery release is oriented in a vertical position, the finger extension comprising at least a middle finger engagement surface configured to be pulled in the horizontal direction by a middle finger;

a hook carriage pivotally coupled to the release body; and

a hook coupled to the hook carriage, the hook being pivotal between a plurality of hook positions relative to the release body, the hook comprising a bowstring engagement portion configured to engage a bowstring, the bowstring engagement portion being located below the horizontal axis in the hook positions, the hook configured to pivot relative to the release body in response to pulling forces of the index and middle fingers, the pivoting of the hook causing the bowstring to slide off of the hook;

wherein, when the archery release is in the vertical position and used to retract the bowstring;

a bowstring force urges the bowstring engagement portion forward,

the index finger engagement surface is configured to be pulled backward by the index finger,

the middle finger engagement surface is configured to be pulled backward by the middle finger, and

because the bowstring engagement portion is located below the horizontal axis, the archery release is configured to divert at least part of the bowstring force from the index finger to the middle finger.

2. The archery release of claim 1, wherein the archery release is triggerless, and the hook is configured to release the bowstring without being activated by a trigger mechanism.

3. The archery release of claim 1, wherein the finger extension is removably connected to the release body with at least one fastener.

4. The archery release of claim 1, wherein the finger extension is integral with the release body.

5. The archery release of claim 1, wherein the finger extension comprises a ring finger engagement surface configured to be pulled backward by a ring finger.

6. The archery release of claim 5, wherein the middle finger engagement surface defines a first valley, the ring finger engagement surface defines a second valley, and the finger extension comprises a peak located between the first and second valleys.

7. The archery release of claim 1, wherein the archery release comprises a total weight, and more than fifty percent of the total weight is in the finger extension.

8. The archery release of claim 1, wherein the release body comprises a ring structure defining a circular opening configured to receive the index finger, the index finger engagement surface being a portion of the ring structure.

9. The archery release of claim 1, comprising a thumb support coupled to the release body, wherein the thumb support is located above the horizontal axis when then archery release is oriented in the vertical position.

10. An archery release comprising:

a body comprising a top portion and an index finger engagement surface, part of the index finger engagement surface comprising an arc shape centered about a point;

a finger extension configured to be connected to the body, the finger extension comprising a bottom portion and a finger engagement surface extending at least partially to the bottom portion, wherein the point is located in a horizontal plane when the archery release is oriented in a vertical position, wherein, in the vertical position, the top portion is oriented above the bottom portion; and

a hook pivotally coupled to the body, the hook comprising a bowstring contact surface, the hook configured to pivot between a plurality of hook positions relative to the body, wherein, in each of the hook positions, the bowstring contact surface is located below the horizontal plane when the archery release is in the vertical position,

wherein, when the archery release is in the vertical position and used to pull the bowstring backward;

a bowstring force urges the bowstring contact surface forward,

the index finger engagement surface is configured to be pulled backward by an index finger,

the finger engagement surface is configured to be pulled backward by at least a middle finger, and

the archery release is configured to divert at least part of the bowstring force from the index finger to the middle finger, wherein the diversion is caused, at least partially, by the bowstring contact surface being located below the horizontal plane.

11. The archery release of claim 10, wherein the archery release is triggerless, and the hook is configured to release the bowstring without being activated by a trigger device.

12. The archery release as recited in claim 10, wherein the finger extension is removably connected to the body with at least one fastener.

13. The archery release of claim 10, wherein the finger engagement surface defines:

(a) a first valley associated with the middle finger;

(b) a second valley associated with a ring finger; and

(c) a peak located between the first and second valleys.

14. The archery release of claim 10, wherein the archery release comprises a total weight, and more than fifty percent of the total weight is in the finger extension.

15. The archery release of claim 10, wherein the body comprises a ring structure defining a circular opening configured to receive the index finger, the index finger engagement surface being a portion of the ring structure.

16. The archery release of claim 10, comprising a thumb support coupled to the body, wherein the thumb support is located above the horizontal plane when then archery release is in the vertical position.

17. An archery release comprising:

a body comprising a top portion and an arc-shaped structure extending downward from the top portion, the arc-shaped structure comprising an index finger engagement surface centered about a point, the body defining a slot;

a finger extension configured to be connected to the body, the finger extension comprising;

an insertion portion configured to be inserted into the slot;

a bottom portion; and

a finger engagement surface extending downward at least partially to the bottom portion, the finger engagement surface defining first and second valleys and a peak between the first and second valleys, wherein;

(a) the first valley is associated with a middle finger, and the second valley is associated with a ring finger,

(b) the point is located in a horizontal plane when the archery release is oriented in a vertical position, and

(c) in the vertical position, the top portion is oriented above the bottom portion;

a removable fastener configured to secure the finger extension to the body when the insertion portion is inserted into the slot;

a hook carriage pivotally coupled to the body; and

a hook carried by the hook carriage, the hook comprising a bowstring contact surface, the hook configured to pivot between a plurality of hook positions relative to the body, wherein, in each of the hook positions, the bowstring contact surface is located below the horizontal plane when the archery release is in the vertical position,

wherein, when the archery release is in the vertical position and used to pull the bowstring backward;

(a) the bowstring applies a bowstring force urging the bowstring contact surface forward,

(b) the first valley is configured to be pulled backward by an index finger,

(c) the second valley is configured to be pulled backward by at least a middle finger,

(d) because the bowstring contact surface is located below the horizontal plane, the archery release is configured to divert at least part of the bowstring force from the index finger to the middle finger, and

(e) the archery release is operable so that the bowstring is configured to slide off of the hook due to a pivot movement of the hook not caused by a trigger device.

18. The archery release of claim 17, wherein the archery release comprises a total weight, and more than fifty percent of the total weight is in the finger extension.

19. The archery release of claim 18, wherein the body comprises a ring structure defining a circular opening configured to receive the index finger, the index finger engagement surface being a portion of the ring structure.

20. The archery release of claim 19, comprising a thumb support coupled to the body, wherein the thumb support is located above the horizontal plane when then archery release is in the vertical position.