US3088212A

US3088212A - Bow checking device

Info

Publication number: US3088212A
Application number: US113482A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gene E Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-05-29
Filing date: 1961-05-29
Publication date: 1963-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1980-05-07

Description

May 7, 1963 Filed May 29, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 2 all J) 4? 9'2 2 42- Ill 24 4o 34 12:9

FIG. 2

INVENTOR. GENE E. SMITH BY ATTORNEY y 7, 1963 G. E. SMITH 3,088,212

BOW CHECKING DEVICE Filed May 29, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 48 Gfi/SC) 49 III I l 72'" I 70 7s seg -64 78 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

INVENTOR. J GENE E. SMITH ATTORNEY May 7, 1963 Filed May 29, 1961 G. E. SMITH BOW CHECKING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. GENE E. SMITH ATTORNEY United States Patent 6 3,088,212 BOW CHECKING DEVICE Gene E. Smith, 211 Alexander St., Plymouth, Ind. Filed May 29, 1961, Ser. No. 113,482 4 Claims. (Cl. 33-180) The present invention relates to a bow checker and more particularly to a device for checking and adjusting the distance between the back of the bow handle and the string when the bow is strung for shooting, and for locating the nocking points on the bow string.

In archery the accuracy obtained in placing the arrow on target depends to a great extent on proper stringing of the bow, with the correct measurement for the particular bow being maintained between the back of the bow handle and the string and with proper locating of the nocking points on the bow string, the foregoing measurement or distance being generally referred to in the sport as bracing height or fistmele and normally being maintained within a range of seven to eight and onequarter inches. The nocking points are fixed members on the bow string between which the arrow is placed so that each arrow is shot from the same position on the string. The proper location of these points is highly important for consistent and accurate shooting of the arrows. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the invention to provide a device for accurately checking the distance between the back of the bow handle and string and for properly locating the nocking points on the bow string.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for checking the bracing height and nocking points, which is relatively simple in construction and easy to use without any special skill or special instructions, and which is so constructed and arranged that it will provide accurate determinations for both conditions without special care or complicated operations being required.

Still another object is to provide a bow checking device of the aforesaid type which can easily be carried and used by the archer in the field to check and adjust his bow whenever the bow is strung with a used or new bow string, and which does not require any additional equipment or instruments to perform the complete operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for checking the bracing height of a bow and the nocking points on the bow string, which clamps onto and is held in place on the bow string throughout the checking and locating operations and which can be readily assembled on and removed from the string by merely pressing the string in place on the device and thereafter pulling the device from the string without operating any adjustable clamps or fixtures.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a bow showing it with my bow checking device mounted thereon in proper position to check the bracing height and locate the nocking points;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged side elevational view of the bow shown in FIGURE 1 and an enlarged side elevational view of the bow checking device, showing the latter in position on the bow for checking the bracing and determining the position of the nocking points;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the bow checking device shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, With the device being shown in full scale;

FIGURE 4 is an edge elevational view of the bow checking device shown in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of my bow checking device, shown in full scale.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIGURE 1 in particular, numeral 10 designates a bow designed primarily for target use and consisting of upper bow limb 12, lower bow limb 14, handle 16, upper neck 18, lower nock 20 and bow string 23 having loops in each end looped over the upper and lower nocks. Various types of handles may be used in the how, the one shown including an arrow rest 24, contour grip 26 and

bow risers

28 and 30 above and below the arrow rest, respectively. The position of the nocking points of the bow string is shown at numeral 32 and consists of lower and upper

nocking points

34 and 36 of thread or other suitable material, wound or placed around the string and spaced from one another sufficiently to permit the string slot or knot of the feather end of the arrow shaft to slip over the bow string between the two nocking points. For the purpose of the present description, the bow shown in FIGURES l and 2 may be considered conventional in construction and in the manner in which it is used; however, the present bow checking device is adapted to be used on various other types of bows covering a wide range of specialized uses.

The present bow checking device 22 consists of a blade 40 approximately 9" long and /s thick of suitable material, either metal, plastic or wood, and a base 42 rigidly attached to one end thereof in T-shaped relation and extending on either side of the blade approximately 1 /2". The base 42 is likewise approximately an inch wide, four inches long, and an eighth of an inch thick, constructed of the same material as the blade and preferably joined integrally thereto. The form of the present bow checking device shown in FIGURES 1 through 4 is adapted for use on either a right handed or a left handed bow,

edges

44 and 46, respectively, being used with the two different bows. These two edges are straight and are adapted to rest on the arrow rest 24 of the bow handle when the device is being used to check the bracing height. The blade contains a scale 47 on one side consisting of six, seven, eight and nine inches marked in eighths on both the right hand how edge 44 and the left hand how edge 46, the scale representing the distance from string contact edge 48 of base 42. The base contains two scales 60 and 62 extending inwardly, respectively, from

lines

64 and 66 projecting across base 42 from the

respective edge

44 or 46 of the blade. Scales 60 and 62 are employed to locate the nocking points on the bow string of the right hand and left hand bows, respectively.

An elongated notch 68 is provided in the contact edge 48 adjacent the scales 60 and 62 to facilitate marking of the nocking points on the string. in order to retain the bow checking device in proper position on the bow string during the checking operation, clamps '70 and 72 are secured to the ends of base 42, each clamp consisting of leaf spring arms 74 and 76 secured rigidly to the respective end of base 42 by a bolt 78 extending through holes in the two arms and through a hole in base 42. The two arms 74 and 76 extend rearwardly from string contact edge 48 of base 42, are bent inwardly to form

string gripping jaws

80 and 82, and are then bent outwardly at numerals 84 and 86 to form a slot to facilitate insertion of the string into space 88 adjacent the bow contact edge 48. Space 88 is of such size that the string is engaged by the contact edge 48 and the two

jaws

80 and 82, after the device has been fully assembled on the bow string. With this clamping action, the device is held firmly in place on the string once it is properly located so that the scales can be read and the bow string properly marked for the nocking points,' without any likelihood of the device being accidentally displaced.

In the use of the present bow checking device just described, the device is mounted on the bow by slipping the

clamps

70 and 72 over string 23 so that the contact edge 48 of the device is seated finnly against the string. Blade 40 is then slipped on the string until thelower edge thereof rests lightly on the arrow rest 24 of the how. The distance between the back 92 of the bow handle and the string is then read on scale 47 to determine whether the bow has theproper or desired bracing height.

the bracing height is incorrect, the string is adjusted by removing one end thereof from the bow and twisting it, this step being repeated until the desired bracing height is obtained. p

The lower necking point on the string is then found by marking the string with a thin line of chalk or the like, or by placing a thread around the at a predetermined point on scale 60 or 62, depending on Whether the bow being checked is a right or left handed how. The checkingdevice is then removed from the bow, and the lower nockingpoint is formed at the mark justmade on the string by winding thread or similar material around the string. After the lower necking point has been formed in the manner described, the arrow is placed on the bow with the string in the notch above the newly formed lower necking point, and a secondnocking point is then placed on the string immediately above the arrow. On completion of this procedure, the bow is in proper adjusted condition and will normally remain so for extended periods of time. However, frequent checking with the present checking device is desirable in order to determine whether the bow requiresfurther adjustment from time to time.

The modification of the present bow checking device shown-in FIGURE, 5 contains the same basic features as that shown in the preceding figures, the modified form consisting of a blade 102 and a base 104 of substantially the same size and shape as that shown in the preceding device. In this modified form, the blade 102 is joined to the base at one end of the base, forminga rigid L-shaped structure. A scale 106 consisting of inches six, seven, eight and nine is provided on the side of blade 102, the scale representing the distance on the blade from the string contact edge 108 on base 104. The two clamps 112 are of the same construction and shape as

clamps

70 and 72 and are joined to the base by

screws

114 and 116. The straight edge 120 extends the full length of blade 102 and along the corresponding end of a base 104, forming a point 122 for determining the'lower nocking point on the bow string. An elongated notch 124 and scale 126 are provided at the edge of the base to permit a thread to be placed around the bow string after the lower nockingpoint has beendetermined without interfering with the setting of the bow checking device, the other necking point thereafter being determined as in the first embodiment.

The manner in which the modified form of the bow checking device shownin'FIGURE 5 is'used is similar in most respects to the one shown in the preceding figures. However, in this form in order to check a left hand how, the device is not inverted as in the preceding embodiment but rather placed in the identical position with the base 104 extending upwardly from blade 102. In order to make the scale on the blade readily readable, the second scale is placed on the side opposite to the one shown in the drawings, the one shown in the drawings being for a right hand how, and the one on the opposite side of the blade being provided for a left hand how.

' having an upper straight edge and a lower straight edge,

a scale in inches on said blade, a base member of gener ally rectangular shape being rigidly joined to one end of said blade at right angles thereto in T-shaped relation and having a string contact edge opposite said blade and at right angles to said straight edges, a notch in said contact edge spanning an area intersected by lines projected from said straight edges, a pair of spring clips spaced from one another on said base and'projecting outwardly from said string contact edge, said clips forming a clamp'for holding the bow string firmly against said contact edge and having a stringreceiving slot facing in the direction opposite said blade, and a scale in inches on said base adjacent said notch. V

2. A device for checking the bracing height and locating the necking points on the bow string, comprising an elongated blade being of generally rectangular shape and having an upper straight edge and a lower straight edge, a-ba'se member of generally rectangular shape being rigidly joined to one end of said blade at right angles thereto in T-shaped. relation and having a string contact edge opposite said blade and at right angles to said straight edges, a notch in said contact edge spanning an; area intersected by lines projected from said straight edges, and a pair of spring clips spaced from one another on said base and projecting outwardly from said string contact edge, said clips forming a clamp for holding the bow string firmly against said contact edge and having a string' receiving slot facing in the direction opposite said blade.

3. A device for checking the bracing height and locating the nocking points on the bow string, comprising an elongated blade being of generally rectangular shape and having a lower straight edge, a, base member being rigidly joined to one end of said blade at right angles thereto in T-shapcd relation and having a string contact edge opposite said blade and atright angles to said straight edge, and a pair of spring clips spaced from one another on said base and projecting outwardly from said string contact edge, said clips forming a clamp for holding the bow stringtfirmly against said contact edge and having a string receiving slot facing in the direction opposite said blade.

4. A device for checking the bracing height and locating the necking points on the bow string, comprising an elongated blade having a lower straight edge, a base member being rigidly joined to one end of said blade at right angles thereto and having a string contact edge" opposite said blade and at right angles to said straight edge, and a pair of spring clips spaced from one another on said base and projecting outwardly from said string contact edge, said clips forming a clamp for holding the bow string firmly against saidcontact edge and having a string receiving slot facing in the direction opposite saidblade.

References Cited in the file of this patent Archery Magazine, page 59 cited, May 1960,

Claims

1. A DEVICE FOR CHECKING THE BRACING HEIGHT AND LOCATING THE NOCKING POINTS ON THE BOW STRING, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BLADE BEING OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SHAPE AND HAVING AN UPPER STRAIGHT EDGE AND A LOWER STRAIGHT EDGE, A SCALE IN INCHES ON SAID BLADE, A BASE MEMBER OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SHAPE BEING RIGIDLY JOINED TO ONE END OF SAID BLADE AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO IN T-SHAPED RELATION AND HAVING A STRING CONTACT THE EDGES OPPOSITE SAID BLADE AND AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID STRAIGHT EDGES, A NOTCH IN SAID CONTACT EDGE SPANNING AN AREA INTERSECTED BY LINES PROJECTED FROM SAID STRAIGHT EDGES, A PAIR OF SPRING CLIPS SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER ON SAID BASE AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID STRING CONTACT EDGE, SAID CLIPS FORMING A CLAMP FOR HOLDING THE BOW STRING FIRMLY AGAINST SAID CONTACT EDGE AND HAVING A STRING RECEIVING SLOT FACING IN THE DIRECTION OPPOSITE SAID BLADE, AND A SCALE IN INCHES ON SAID BASE ADJACENT SAID NOTCH.