US3703728A

US3703728A - Arm guard for archer

Info

Publication number: US3703728A
Application number: US175554A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas Allen Saunders; Eugene F Saunders
Original assignee: Saunders Archery Co
Current assignee: Saunders Archery Co
Priority date: 1971-08-27
Filing date: 1971-08-27
Publication date: 1972-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1989-11-28

Abstract

A light-weight lattice-like shield including integrally formed loops for receiving adjustable, flexible and elastically extensible bands for securement of the shield to the forearm of an archer, thereby to serve as a protective arm guard

Description

United States Patent Saunders et a]. 451 Nov, 28, 1972 [54] ARM GUARD FOR ARCHER 992,831 5/191 1 Whelan ..24/168 Inventors: llen Eugem F. Engan. ..2/16 X Saunders both ofcolumbus Nebr 3,002,192 10/1961 Brower ..2/ 16 r 3,117,786 1/1964 Anderson ..2/16 X [73] Assignee: Saunders Archery 00., Columbus, 3,304,555 2/1967 Anderson et a1. ..2/16

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 22 '1 1 ed Aug 27 1971 1,173,725 10/1958 France ..2/321 [21] App]. No: 175,554

' Primary Examiner-Jmcs R. Boler 52 us. (:1 ..2/16, 2/161 A Ammekxegan' Berkma" [51] llrt. Cl. ..L [58] Field of Search ..2/16, 20,159, 161 R, 321,

2/322; 24/163, 164 194, 273/189 A light-weight lattice-like shield including integrally formed loops for receiving adjustable, flexible and [56] References Citedelastically extensible bands for securement of the shield to the forearm of an archer, thereby to serve as a protective arm guard 5 Clains, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDNM I912 v 3.703.72

l/V VE/V TORS. THOMAS ALLEN SAUNDERS EUGENE E SAUNDERS cally extensible hands by means of which the arm guard i is secured in place.

. Many types of archers arm guards are known in the prior art. Such guards are conventionally used to prevent injury to the arm, such injury being caused by the strikingof the bowstring against the forearm upon release during discharge of arrows. The guards are effective not only to protect the arm of the user but also to absorb the shocks caused by. the recoil of the bowstring.

Prior art arm guard structures include sheet-like metal shields, leather or fabric pads, and solid fiber or plastic shields. Not only have these devices taken numerous and varied physical forms and structural arrangements, but, in addition, many different securement methods for attachment of the shield to the forearm have been'used. Nevertheless, no completely satisfactory arm guard has heretofore been produced. In each, one or more undesirable or objectionable features may be recognized, and no arm guard has proven fully suited for the purpose intended. The metallic guards have been difficult to adjust and to adapt to the contour of the arm, and have caused discomfort to the wearer. Guards of the leather sheathed pad type tend to absorb perspiration and become contaminated, unsanitary, and stiff. Other prior art arm guards have been cumbersome or awkward as worn and have irritated the forearm.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide an improved light-weight, cool and readily washable arm guard which obviates the objectionable features of prior art devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arm guard which is easily and simply secured to the arm of the user, and which is readily removable.

Yet another object is to provide an arm guard that is extremely simple in construction, economical to manufacture and convenient to use.

Still anotherobject of the invention is to provide an arm guard in which the attachment means for securement of the guard to the arm is readily and simply adjustable to ensure a firm and secure adaptation and attachment to the archers forearm.

Yet another feature of the arm guard of the invention is that the shield portion is fabricated of a flexible yet rigid plastic which readily conforms to the contour of the forearm and which is effectively ventilated to preclude excessive perspiration of the forearm, thus greatly contributing to the comfort of the archer.

A related feature of the improved arm guard of the invention is that it is readily washable and dries immediately without deleterious effects.

Other and further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the use of the arm guard of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the arm guard;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the means for adjusting and locking one of the bands which secures the arm guard to the archers arm; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the lines 5-5 of FIG. 3.

The aims and objects of the invention are accomplished by providing in an archers arm guard a shield of plastic material comprising a generally elongated, foraminous, lattice-like web consisting of an array of crossing and intersecting rod-like strips having opposed ends thereof terminating at a marginal border of the shield. The shield itself is integrally formed with opposed pairs of loops adapted to receive adjustable, flexible and elastically extensible bands, the bands including terminal hooks for adjusting the length of the bands and for effecting securement of the arm guard to the forearm of the archer.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 2 through 5, for purposes of disclosure, the arm guard of 10 of the invention is shown as constituting a shieldl2 in combination with a pair of

bands

16 and 20. In the form of the invention illustrated, the shield is an integral, unitary structure comprising a generally foraminous, lattice-like web consisting of an array of crossing and intersecting rod-like strips 24 having opposed ends thereof terminating at a marginal border 30 constituting a frame of the shield 12. 1

The shield 12 is preferably fabricated of a self-supporting rigid yet flexible plastic. such as polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane.

Integrally formed with the shield 12 at opposite sides thereof, are two longitudinally spaced pairs of

loops

34 and 36 and 40 and 42 adapted to receive the

arm fastening bands

16 and 20 therethrough. Each of the

bands

16 and 20 is attached and secured in essentially the same manner, the technique and arrangement being best seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 and in the perspective of FIG. 4. Referring now specifically to FIG. 5, the band '16, which is preferably an elastic tape, is looped at one end 46 passing through the loop 36 and being fastened by stitching 50 to provide permanent securement. The band 16 passes slidably through the opposite loop 34, andis provided at its other end 52 with a band engaging and intercoupling hook 5d (see FIG. d). The hook 54 itself is a generally a-shaped link constituting a leg 56 overlying an integrally formed closed eye 60 to define a laterally open slot M between the leg 56 and the eye 60. The end 52 of the tape 16 passes through the eye 60 and is looped upon itself and secured by stitching 70.

It will be appreciated upon consideration of the structure illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, that it is possible and most convenient to adjust the effective lengths of the band 16 (or 20) by pulling the band through the guide or loops 34 (or 40) and then setting the band at any desired length by slidably engaging the hook 54 on to the band itself, as shown in FIG. 5. In order to loosen and disengage the arm guard 10 from the archers arm, it is necessary merely slidably to disengage the hook 54 from the band and to pull the band through the guide loop so as to loosen it enough to permit withdrawal of the forearm. The mode of attachment of the arm guard for use is indicated generally in FIG. 1.

While neither the shape nor the physical dimensions of the shield 12 is critical, in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, the shield tapers or flares outwardly from the wrist portion upwardly of the arm in order to afford the necessary protection. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art, upon considering the instant disclosure, that the physical arrangement of the lattice of the shield 12 may take any preferred form. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2, the rod-like strips 24 extend across the shield 12 obliquely and the spacing of the strips 24 is such that the openings formed increase in cross-sectional area as viewed from the narrow toward the wider portion of the shield.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the band-engaging hook 54 has a substantial thickness, which structural configuration contributes importantly to ensuring a proper and secure locking engagement of the hook 54 with the tape 16. In initiating engagement of the hook with the band, the hook is presented to the band at right angles. Thereafter, upon application of tension, the band 16 causes the hook to rotate and the band itself is distorted to assume a Z cross section, thus locking the hook against sliding displacement along the tape and establishing a firm hold.

, While the disclosure presented is that of a preferred embodiment of the arm guard, and while the specific details of such features as the shield itself and the elastic fastening means and hook assembly for intercoupling and locking the arm guard in place have been described with respect to a preferred arrangement, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations in structural details, in materials used, and in the final overall appearance may be made without departing from the underlying principles of the invention.

With the teachings of the present invention before them, those skilled in the art will be able to deduce many substantially equivalent variations none of which constitutes a material departure from the teachings of the invention. It is, therefore, desired by the following claims to include within the scope of the invention, all such variations and modifications by which substantially the results of this invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

What is claimed is:

1. In an archers protective arm guard of the type adapted for securement to that forearm of an archer supporting a bow, and to extend along a zone from the wrist upwardly along the forearm to overlie a surface of the forearm presented to a bow string thereby to shield the forearm from being struck by a bow string upon release of an arrow from an archery bow, said arm guard including, in combination, a shield and fastening means for securement of the shield to an archers forearm;

the improvement wherein said shield comprises a generally elongated, foraminous, lattice-like web consisting of an array of crossing and intersecting rod-like strips having opposed ends thereof terminating at a marginal border of said shield constituting a frame thereof;

said shield being formed with integral longitudinally spaced opposed pairs of loops at peripheral lateral portions of said frame, said loops adapted to receive band means therethrough;

and wherein said fastening means comprises a pair of fl bl del t'all tn'bl bans t tr ri svgr e y of a lon giifidin l a xis of s id e ilii e l and spaced from one another along said axis, said bands being connected to said shield at said pairs of opposed said loops;

each said bands passing through a corresponding one of said loops and each said bands having one end thereof fixedly secured to said shield at another corresponding one of said loops;

a band-engaging and gripping means constituting a terminal hook attached to the other end of each said bands;

each said hook comprising a generally a-shaped link constituting a leg spaced from and overlying an integrally formed closed eye to define a laterally open slot between said leg and said closed eye;

said other end of each said bands passing through a corresponding respective said eye and being reversely looped upon said band and secured thereto to lock said hook on said band;

each said slot being adapted to receive a corresponding said band inserted laterally therewithin and to permit shifting of said band linearly within said slot along a principal extent of said band;

spaced bar means defining opposed principal walls of said slot being effective grippingly frictionally to engage said band at selectible positions therealong releasably to lock said band in said slots;

whereby an effective length of said band may be readily and simply adjusted to accommodate each archers arm size.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said web, strips, frame, and loops of said shield are integrally formed of a self-supporting flexible plastic composition.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shield is of an inconstant width and wherein said rodlike strips extend obliquely across the width of said shield.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein said rod-like strips extending obliquely across said shield are spaced to form strip-bounded openings of varying areas.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein areas defined by said strip-bounded openings increase in correlation with increase in lateral width of said shield.

Claims

1. In an archer''s protective arm guard of the type adapted for securement to that forearm of an archer supporting a bow, and to extend along a zone from the wrist upwardly along the forearm to overlie a surface of the forearm presented to a bow string thereby to shield the forearm from being struck by a bow string upon release of an arrow from an archery bow, said arm guard including, in combination, a shield and fastening means for securement of the shield to an archer''s forearm; the improvement wherein said shield comprises a generally elongated, foraminous, lattice-like web consisting of an array of crossing and intersecting rod-like strips having opposed ends thereof terminating at a marginal border of said shield constituting a frame thereof; said shield being formed with integral longitudinally spaced opposed pairs of loops at peripheral lateral portions of said frame, said loops adapted to receive band means therethrough; and wherein said fastening means comprises a pair of flexible and elastically extensible bands extending transversely of a longitudinal axis of said shield and spaced from one another along said axis, said bands being connected to said shield at said pairs of opposed said loops; each said bands passing through a corresponding one of said loops and each said bands having one end thereof fixedly secured to said shield at another corresponding one of said loops; a band-engaging and gripping means constituting a terminal hook attached to the other end of each said bands; each said hook comprising a generally a-shaped link constituting a leg spaced from and overlying an integrally formed closed eye to define a laterally open slot between said leg and said closed eye; said other end of each said bands passing through a corresponding respective said eye and being reversely looped upon said band and secured thereto to lock said hook on said band; each said slot being adapted to receive a corresponding said band inserted laterally therewithin and to permit shifting of said band linearly within said slot along a principal extent of said band; spaced bar meaNs defining opposed principal walls of said slot being effective grippingly frictionally to engage said band at selectible positions therealong releasably to lock said band in said slots; whereby an effective length of said band may be readily and simply adjusted to accommodate each archer''s arm size.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shield is of an inconstant width and wherein said rod-like strips extend obliquely across the width of said shield.