TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The field of this invention relates to release aid and draw lock device for an archery compound bow.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] Archery compound bows have been commercially available for several decades and have seen commercial success for their accuracy, quick reloads, ease and convenience over cross bows. Cross bows, on the other hand, have one advantage, namely a draw lock (also called a draw keep or pre-cocking assembly) that is inherently designed into the cross bow. This draw lock allows the arrow to be drawn and ready to be fired upon a pull of a trigger. However, even with such an advantage for cross bows, many archers prefer compound bows for its lightweight, maneuverability and quickness of action. Furthermore, cross bows are unlawful for hunting in many legal jurisdictions.

[0003] Many accessories (e.g. scopes, sightings, string silencers, sight lights, stabilizers, grips, quivers, and vibration reduction dampers) have been devised to make the compound bow more powerful, faster, more accurate and easier to use. One popular accessory is a release aid. The release aid may have a caliper type or other retaining device that preferably grips onto a D-loop that is connected to the bow string at its nock point. The release aid often includes a wrist strap for wearing on an archer's wrist to prevent inadvertent dropping and assist in a more comfortable drawing of the string. An archer pulls on the release aid rather than using his fingers to draw the bow string. The archer pulls on a finger trigger of the release aid to open the caliper and release the D-loop, bow string, and arrow. This D-loop and release aid combination provides for a straighter release and more accurate archery shot. The release aid both provides for a natural draw while improving the accuracy during release of the bow.

[0004] Another accessory, namely a draw lock for compound bows have had certain disadvantages that have prevented them from becoming commonplace. While these known draw locks assist in maintaining the draw position of the bow and arrow and to reduce and archer's muscle fatigue by locking the bowstring at a partial or full draw position, they have not incorporated the advantage of the release aids. Some previous draw locks often require power assists which eliminates the natural draw of the archery bow. Others require drawing of the bow string by two hands while a foot is needed to anchor the bow. Other draw locks provide a sliding or telescoping bar member that interferes with the natural draw of the bow string. Still others require the bow string to be drawn before the arrow is nocked in place to the bow string. As such, known draw locks for compound bows have not seen wide acceptance.

[0005] What is needed is a draw lock device that allows the bow to be drawn with the use of a release aid that provides the release aid to be seated and uses the release aid for releasing the bow string. What is also needed is a draw lock device that allows release of the bow string with the option of two triggers. What is also needed is a draw lock that can be triggered with either hand and can be retrofitted onto many existing bows. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0006] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a draw lock device for an archery bow includes a draw bar having a front end constructed for being affixedly mounted to the bow. The draw bar has a rear section with a first release trigger mounted thereon with a cam section. The rear section has a release holder for removably seating a release aid thereon. The release aid has a release mechanism for releasably engaging a bow string of the archery and bow and has a finger trigger positioned against the cam section of the first release trigger when seated at the rear section such that the release trigger when actuated has its cam section move the finger trigger to release the bow string.

[0007] Preferably, the draw lock device has a second release trigger mounted to one of the bow or front section of the draw bar for being manually engageable and operable by a hand of an operator that is grasping a grip section of the bow. The second release trigger is operably connected to operate the finger trigger. In one embodiment, the draw lock device has the second release trigger operably connected to the first release trigger by an operable cable to operate the finger trigger.

[0008] It is preferable that the draw lock device has a lock-out device pivotably mounted to the rear section for movement between a lock-out position where it abuts against the finger trigger of the release aid and prevents release movement thereon and a disengaged position where it allows release movement of the finger trigger. In one embodiment, a retention device is affixed to the lockout device for releasably retaining the lock-out device in the disengaged position.

[0009] It is also preferred that the front end of the draw bar is constructed to be received in a cable guard rod mounting hole of the bow. The front end has a flattened side for engaging set screws of the bow extending into the cable guard rod mounting hole and the draw bar also mounts a cable guard slide thereon.

[0010] In one embodiment, the draw lock device has the release holder with a flange extending traverse to the draw bar with two distal fingers forming a slot therebetween. The distal fingers have ends bent rearwardly and the release aid has a shaft section extending rearwardly from the finger trigger to slide into the slot and a shoulder or seat section thereon constructed to be seated on a rear side of the flange and retained by the ends of the distal fingers.

[0011] In one embodiment, the first release trigger is adjustably affixable axially along the length of the draw bar to accommodate different draws for different archers. This can be accomplished by releasable ties or by use of a Weaver or Picatinny rail mounted on or incorporated in the draw bar.

[0012] According to another aspect of the invention, a draw lock device for an archery bow has a draw bar with a first end affixedly mounted to the archery bow. A trigger mechanism has a first release trigger mounted rearwardly of a bow string of the archery bow when in a rest position for releasable retaining the bow string in a drawn position and when actuated for releasing the bow string. A second release trigger is operably mounted at the bow in front of the bow string and operably connected to the trigger mechanism for releasable retaining the bow string in a drawn position and when actuated for releasing the bow string. Preferably, the second release trigger is operably connected to the first release trigger by an operable cable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0014] Figure 1 is a side view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention attached to an archery compound bow shown in the drawn position;

[0015] Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side and exploded view showing the front end of the draw bar shown in Figure 1 attachable to the bow through set screws at the cable guard attaching mount hole of the bow;

[0016] Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the release aid and trigger mechanism;

[0017] Figure 4 is view similar to Figure 3 showing the release aid seated onto the lock plate of the trigger mechanism in the drawn position;

[0018] Figure 5 is bottom view of the release aid and trigger mechanism shown in Figure 4;

[0019] Figure 6 is an end view of the release aid seat;

[0020] Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the trigger mechanism actuated to pull on the finger trigger of the release aid;

[0021] Figure 8 is a bottom view similar to Figure 5 showing the trigger mechanism actuated to pull on the finger trigger of the release aid; and

[0022] Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the second trigger in an actuated position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Referring now to Figure 1, an archery trigger and draw lock assembly 10 for a bow 11 has a draw bar 12, a first trigger mechanism 14, a release aid 16, a seat 18 for the release aid 16 and a second trigger mechanism 20.

[0024] More particularly shown in Figure 2, the front section 22 of the draw bar 12 has a flattened side 24. The front section 22 is mounted into a cable guard mounting hole 25 of the bow 11. Two set screws 27 on the bow 11 threadably engage screw holes 29 and engage the flattened side 24 that is inserted in the cable guard mounting hole 25 to affix the draw bar to the bow 11. The draw bar 14 can have its length customized for the appropriate draw length for an individual archer taking into account the archer's size, strength and draw preferences.

[0025] Referring now to Figure 3, the first trigger mechanism 14 has a housing 30 mounted on the draw bar near it rear section 32. To further customize for proper draw and to accommodate the different archers, the housing 30 can also be adjustably affixable along the length of the draw bar through ties as illustrated in Figure 4 or through being threadably connected along a threaded section at rear section 32 as illustrated. To further accommodate this adjustable affixation, the draw bar may optionally have a mounting rail; e.g. a Weaver rail or Picatinny rail (not shown) mounted thereon and the housing 30 changed at a desired position along the mounting rail. The draw bar may also have its entire rear section formed as a mounting rail. A trigger 34 is pivotably mounted to the housing through axle 36 for movement between a non-release position and a release or actuated position. The trigger 34 has a front end 38 for engagement with an archer's finger and a rear cam section 40 for engagement to a finger trigger 42 of the release aid 16. The trigger 34 may be biased to the non-release position in a well known fashion.

[0026] The seat 18 sits behind the trigger mechanism 14. It has a laterally extending plate section 44 with two distal fingers 46 and a slot 48 therebetween as shown in Figure 6. The distal fingers have end sections 50 that are bent rearwardly as shown in Figures 3-5.

[0027] The release aid 16 as shown has a caliper type release 52 conventionally operated by the spring biased finger trigger 40 that is movable against the spring bias from a non-release position to a release or open position. Release aids with other known release types are suitable. The release aid has a shoulder section 56 fixed behind the caliper type release 52 that can be seated behind the plate 44 with shaft section 54 extending through the slot 48. The shoulder section 56 is retained in place by the bent distal end sections 50 that wraps about the edges 54 of shoulder 56. When the release aid is seated as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the shaft is rotated such that the finger trigger 42 engages the rear cam section 40 of the trigger are clearly shown in Figure 5. The release aid may have an attachment fitting 58 at its rear for connecting to a commercially available wrist strap (not shown).

[0028] A cable 60 is mounted to the housing 30 as shown in Figure 5. The cable 60 has an internal wire 62 that is connected to trigger 34. The cable 60 extends forward along the draw bar and passes through a front mount 64 that is mounted to the side of the bow. A spring biased knob 66 also referred to as the second trigger is mounted at a front side of the front mount 64. The front mount 64 is bolted onto the side of bow 11 just above grip 69, but below and to the other side of the bow from the arrow rest 71 illustrated as a whisker biscuit. A spring 68 biases the knob 66 to a normal non-release position as shown in Figure 7 but allows motion to a release position as shown in Figure 8. The spring 68 may also be used to bias the first trigger to its non-release position. The knob is operably connected to the wire 62. The wire 62 slides within cable 64 and is stiff enough to operate trigger 34 when desired.

[0029] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, a lock-out device 70 in the form of plate 72 is pivotably mounted through hinge 76 to a bracket 74 that in turn is mounted to the draw bar 12. The plate 72 has a distal lock-out shoulder 78 that engages the rear of the finger trigger 42, as shown in phantom, and prevents the finger trigger from motion to its release (or open) position, and thus, prevents undesirable and inadvertent release of the string. The lock-out plate 72 is preferably made from a ferrous material (e.g. steel). It should be noted that the lock-out plate 72 when engaged, prevents both the trigger 34 and second trigger 66 from moving finger trigger 42 and releasing the bow string.

[0030] When the archer is set, the lock-out plate 72 is pivoted to the disengaged position away from the finger trigger to allow actuation. A magnet 80 mounted on the bracket 74 can retain the lock-out plate 72 in the disengaged position as shown.

[0031] The draw bar takes the place of the conventional cable guard that is normally mounted in mounting hole 25. Furthermore a cable guard slide 83 is mounted on the draw bar to engage the cables 85 as shown in Figure 1.

[0032] In operation, an archer attaches the release aid 16 to the bow string

87 itself or to the optional D-loop 89 attached, in turn, to the bow string 87, places the arrow nock 91 in place and draws the bow string 87 and arrow 93 back such that the release aid can then be laterally engaged into the slot and the shoulder section 54 be seated onto the plate 42. The bow string can thus remain in the drawn position with the arrow 93 ready for shooting without further pulling effort by the archer. The lock-out plate is positioned to prevent inadvertent actuation of the finger trigger.

[0033] At the moment of shooting, the archer disengages the lock-out plate by merely pivoting it. The magnet 80 retains the lock-out plate in the disengaged position. The archer has an option of using the first trigger 34 or the second trigger 66. Operation of the first trigger pushes against (i.e. moves) the finger trigger from its non-release position to its release or open position to open caliper 52 as shown in Figures 8 and 9 and releases the bow string. If release by the second trigger is desired, fingers on the bow holding hand merely push against the spring knob 66 to move it rearwardly against the spring bias, which in turns, pushes the cable wire 62 to slide in cable 60 and, in turn, moves the first trigger that in rum moves the finger trigger to open caliper 52 to release the bow string.

[0034] The draw bar by extending past the bow string becomes an effective stabilizer and can replace other conventional stabilizers. The position and length of the draw bar also allows mounting of accessories thereon; e.g. optical scopes and laser sightings or sight rangers 95. It also does not interfere with other bow accessories, e.g. a quiver 97.

[0035] As shown, the draw lock device can be retrofitted onto many brands and models of compound bows by using already existing holes and mounting screws already incorporated in the bow. It can be used for both left handed and right handed archers. [0036] The draw lock enables the archer to have a fully drawn bow and arrow indefinitely without the normal muscle fatigue associated with keeping a bow string drawn. The release aid mounted for a normal drawing of the bow string and the release aid is then easily seated to provide the draw lock. By having the release aid seated in the draw lock, an archer can use a more powerful bow comfortably by eliminating the fatigue factor in maintaining the draw.

[0037] By eliminating muscle fatigue and using a more powerful bow, less shaking is achieved and greater accuracy is achieved with the arrow. The choice of a left or right hand release is a great advantage. The bow, once drawn, can be operated single handedly if desired.

[0038] In this fashion, a draw lock allows for the use of a release aid and provides for a lock-out plate and for the option of using either hand to release the bow string.

[0039] Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.