US3864836A

US3864836A - Vernier bow sight

Info

Publication number: US3864836A
Application number: US391207A
Authority: US
Inventors: James R Haines
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-08-24
Filing date: 1973-08-24
Publication date: 1975-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-11

Abstract

A low cost anti-backlash vernier sight which is mounted on the bow in a conventional manner for precise setting of bow and arrow range without mechanical backlash having a small auxiliary member for carrying a sighting element which is slidable along a sight bar and movable with relation to a main member by engagement with a connecting screw for fine adjustment therebetween. The main member is similarly slidable on the sight bar for coarse range adjustment and locked into position thereon before the fine range adjustment is made. A similar device without vernier capability is slidable in transverse relation to the sight bar and movable in relation thereto by engagement with a second connecting screw for fine adjustment therebetween to compensate for windage. Accuracy of settings for range and windage is obtained by eliminating mechanical backlash from the bowsight with a novel, low cost structure that preserves the vertical orientation of the sighting element thereon from rotation during adjustment for windage.

Description

United States Patent Haines Feb. 11, 1975 VERNIER BOW SIGHT [57] ABSTRACT lnvemorl James Balms 1217 Tomi La A low cost anti-backlash vernier sight which is Sane 6130 mounted on the bow in a conventional manner for [22] Filed: Aug. 24, 1973 precise setting of bow and arrow range without mechanical backlash having a small auxiliary member for PP N01 391,207 carrying a sighting element which is slidable along a sight bar and movable with relation to a main member [52] U.S. Cl. 33/265 engagement with a connecting Screw 9 i 5 l] Int. Cl. F4lg 1/00, F41b 5/00 lq therebqween- The member IS 5s 1 Field of Search 33/265 sl'dable the 8*" bar for coarse range adiustmem and locked into position thereon before the fine range [56] References cued adjustment is made. A similar device without vernier capability is slidable in transverse relation to the sight UNITED T PATENTS bar and movable in relation thereto by engagement 2,893,124 7/1959 Sundquist 33/265 with a second connecting Screw for fine adjustment g r 'f' therebetween to compensate for windage. Accuracy of 1, 2/1967 i g settings for range and windage is obtained by eliminat- 3 574 944 4/1971 Reynolds22:13:: 33/365 mg mechanical backlash from the bowslgh with a Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-Steven L Stephan Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lohn R. Diver novel, low cost structure that preserves the vertical orientation of the sighting element thereon from rotation during adjustment for windage.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB1 1 I975 VERNIER BOW SIGHT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The history of archery demonstrates a trend toward bows with sights to improve shooting accuracy. In the past, many sighting devices have been designed for use with a bow to improve the accuracy of the flight of the arrow. Sighting devices commonly in use at the present time usually comprise a sighting element which is slidably mounted on the sight bar on the bow to meet the expedients of the moment. It has been the common practice to zero in on a particular setting of the sighting element on the sight bar in accordance with current shooting conditions by optimizing a series of trial shots with coarse range adjustments and to mark the final setting on the bow or on a portion of the sighting device by drawing a pencil line thereon using a portion of the sighting element as a guide. This process is followed by making slight changes in separating settings of the sighting element on the bar with mechanical means having backlash, until, as determined by the particular shooting conditions, the optimum setting is achieved for the range or windage desired. When it is desired to return the sighting element to this previous setting, the pencil mark is relied on as a reference for resetting without precisevernier control. It is readily apparent that to optimize shooting accuracy for a given set of conditions or to return to the pencil mark for a repeat performance of what was previously determined for the prior art is subject to considerable human error.

There has thus been a long-established need for a low cost vernier bow sight that will give precise and accurate range settings by the elimination of mechanical backlash therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The gist of this invention lies in a low cost vernier bow sight for range and windage settings having a small auxiliary member for carrying a range sighting element which is slidable along a sight bar in the vertical direction and movable with respect to a main member by engagement with a threaded stud and knurled nut combination for fine adjustment therebetween, the main member of which is similarly slidable on the sight bar for coarse settings and locked into position thereon before the fine adjustment is made. A first compression spring is inserted between the main and auxiliary members and operatively works in the direction of sliding thereof over a round threaded stud which is threaded at one end into the auxiliary member and extends through a round working clearance hole in the main member spaced some distance therefrom, which spring acts in opposition to the tension force applied between said auxiliary member and said main member by the stud threaded at one end in said auxiliary member and a knurled nut engaging said stud on the other end which extends through said main member for eliminating backlash from the range sight. A windage sight is supported on the end of a square cross-section threaded stud which is horizontally slidable through a square working clearance hole mounted in the auxiliary member in a direction transverse to the direction of the arrow shoot on the vertical sight bar, for precluding the rotation of the stud and the sight mounted thereon relative to the auxiliary member when the windage adjustment is made. A knurled nut and a threaded nut each kll mounted thereon in transversely disposed spaced relation on each side of the auxiliary member in combination with a second compression spring which is inserted between the auxiliary member and the threaded nut over the square threaded stud acts in opposition to the tension force applied therebetween by the square threaded stud and combination of knurled and threaded nuts therein and eliminates backlash from the windage sight.

Accordingly it is the purpose of this invention to apply the vernier to bow and arrow shooting to improve the accuracy and precision of range setting thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a fragmented view of the vernier bow sight mounted on an adjustable length sight extension;

FIG. 2 shows the front view of the vernier bow sight as seen by a person looking at the archer;

FIG. 3 shows a fragmented left side view of the vernier bow sight;

FIG. 4 shows a fragmented right side view of the vernier bow sight; I

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the vernier bow sight;

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the vernier bow sight;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the front of the vernier bow sight showing in particular the mechanical backlash eliminating compression springs; and

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the square threaded stud.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference to FIG. 1 shows the vernier bow sight 10 mounted to an adapter plate 12 which carries threaded nut 14 for engaging the threaded end of an adjustable length sight extension 16 which is mounted on a bow 20. Sight extension 16 has an extension bar of square cross section having one side parallel to the length of the adapter plate 12 for maintaining alignment of the bow sight 10 relative to the bow 20 in a conventional manner. A twist nut lock 18 having a square aperture for slidably engaging the sight extension 16 and locking in position thereon mounts on and is screwed against the face of the bow 20 just above the grip of the handle on the side opposite the arrow shelf on the bow 20.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7, showing the front side of sight bar 22, the opposed back side has two spaced threaded holes tapped therein for the engagement of connecting screws extending through the sight bar 22 and mounting to the adapter plate 12. The sight bar 22 is provided with V-grooved edges 24, as seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, which form a dovetail 25 in the bar 22 extending the full length on both sides thereof.

A main member 26 slidably mounts along the front side of the sight bar 22, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7. Flanges 28 which terminate the width of member 26 laterally engage the edges 24 of the bar 22, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 7, and form a dovetail groove 30 therebetween in the member 26 extending the length thereof for slidably engaging dovetail 25 on the front side of the bar 22. Knurled-head lock screw 32 which is mounted on the front side of member 26, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 7, engages a threaded hole in and through the main member 26 for penetration therein in abutment against the front side of sight bar 22 for the locking of the member 26 in position along the length thereof. Clearance hole 27 extends through member 26 spaced from the front side thereof and in a direction having parallel relation thereto midway between the longitudinal edges 24 thereof, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

An auxiliary member 34 also slidably mounts on the front side of the sight bar 22 spaced above the main member 26 by an adjustable distance, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7. Second flanges 36 which terminate the width of member 34 laterally engage edges 24 of the bar 22, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7, and form a dovetail groove 38 therebetween in the member 34 extending the length thereof for slidably engaging dovetail 25 on the front side of the bar 22. Tapped hole 35 extends through member 34 spaced out from the front side of the sight bar 22 by the same distance that clearance hole 27 is spaced therefrom and extends in a direction having parallel relation thereto midway between edges 24 thereof, as shown in FIG. 2. Round threaded stud 37, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 7, engages the tapped hole 35 in member 34 and extends downward therefrom in alignment through clearance hole 27 and outstanding from the other side thereof in member 26 having a spring 39 concentrically mounted therearound and compressed between the main member 26 and the auxiliary member 34, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 7, for positive location of each relative to the other. Knurled nut 40 with plain washers underneath engages the outstanding thread end of stud 37 controlling adjustment of the relative distance between

members

26 and 34 against the force of compression spring 39 for positive range calibration of the bow sight.

Square clearance hole 42 extends through member 34 spaced from the front side of the sight bar 22 by the same distance that tapped hole 35 is spaced therefrom lying in a plane having parallel relation but extending in a perpendicular direction relative thereto, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7. Square threaded stub 44 having threads cut in the four corners thereof, as shown in FIG. 8, extends across and through square hole 42 outstanding from both sides of member 34. Second knurled nut 46 engages the threaded end of stud 44 in abutment with the right side of member 34 for positive location of the stud relative to member 34. Second compression spring 48 concentrically mounts around the outstanding extension of stud 44 out the left side of member 34. A threaded nut 50, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, engages this extension of square stud 44 putting spring 48 in compression thereon between it and the left side of member 34 for controlled adjustment of the relative movement of square stud 44 against the force of compression of spring 39 in the positive compensation of the bow sight for windage.

A sight element 52 mounts to the right side end of the square stud 44 for the sighting of the bow.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A bowsight having a sighting element adjustably mounted on the bow for range and windage adjustment comprising:

a. a range bar,

b. an auxiliary member slidably mounted on the range bar and carrying the sighting element in vertical slidable relation along the range bar,

c. a main member in slidable relation along the range bar spaced from the auxiliary member,

d. a lock screw for locking the main member in fixed relation along the range bar,

e. a first elastic force member connecting the auxiliary member and the main member and exerting a force therebetween in the direction of sliding,

f. a first retention member of adjustable length connecting the auxiliary member and the main member and exerting a force therebetween in the direction of sliding, said force acting in opposition to the force exerted by the elastic force member so that the position of the auxiliary member along the range bar can be adjusted,

g. a windage sight element support bar for carrying the sight element at one end thereof having a noncircular cross-section and moving transversely relative to and engaging the auxiliary member through a working clearance hole having a similar noncircular cross-section therein,

h. a second elastic force member connecting the auxiliary member and the other end of the non-circular support bar opposite the sight element thereon and exerting a force therebetween in the direction of moving, and

i. a second retention member having an adjustable position along said sight element support bar for exerting a reaction force against said auxiliary member in equilibrium against said elastic force.

2. A bow sight as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sight bar comprises a dovetail side extending along the length thereof.

3. A bow sight as set forth in claim 3 wherein the auxiliary member comprises a dovetail groove engaging the dovetail side of the sight bar.

4. A bow sight as set forth in claim 3 wherein the main member comprises a dovetail groove engaging the dovetail side of the sight bar.

5. A bow sight as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and second elastic force members comprise coilcompression springs.

6. A bow sight as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first retention member comprises:

a. a first round threaded stud threadably engaging the auxiliary member,

b. a round working clearance hole in the main member slidably engaging the stud therethrough. and

c. a first threaded knurled nut engaging the first stud and abutting the side of the main member opposite to the auxiliary member.

7. A bowsight as set forth in claim 1 wherein the windage sight element support bar comprises:

a. a second threaded stud having a square crosssection, and

b. a second working clearance hole having a square cross-section in the auxiliary member slidably engaging the stud therethrough.

8. A bowsight as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second retention member comprises a second threaded knurled nut engaging the windage sight element support bar.

9. A vernier bow sight comprising a sight bar provided with V-grooved edges, a dovetail in the bar extending the full length on both sides thereof, a main member slidably mounted along the front side of the bar, flanges terminating the width of the main member and forming a dovetail groove slidably engaging the V- grooved edges of the sight bar, a knurled-head lock screw threaded in the main member and abutting the sight bar, a clearance hole in the main member spaced out from the front side thereof in parallel relation thereto extending midway between the V-grooved edges of the sight bar, an auxiliary member slidably mounted along the front side of the bar, flanges terminating the width of the auxiliary member and forming a dovetail groove slidably engaging the V-groove edges of the sight bar, a tapped hole in the auxiliary member extending therethrough spaced out from the front side of the sight bar in parallel relation thereto extending midway between the V-grooved edges, a round threaded stud engaging the tapped hole in the auxiliary member and extending through and engaging the clearance hole in the main member, a knurled nut engaging the threaded stud abutting the side of the main member opposite that of the auxiliary member, a compression spring mounted concentric on the round threaded stud between the main and auxiliary members, a square clearance hole extending through the auxiliary member spaced out from the front side of the sight bar in parallel relation thereto extending in a direction in perpendicular relation to the \/-groove edges of the sight bar. a square threaded stud engaging the square clearance hole extending out both sides of the auxiliary member, a second knurled nut engaging the right outstanding portion of the square threaded stud and abutting the right side of the auxiliary member, a sight element mounted on the right outstanding end of the square threaded stud, a threaded nut engaging the left outstanding portion of the square threaded stud, and a second compression spring mounted concentric on the square threaded stud between the threaded nut and the auxiliary member.

Claims

1. A bowsight having a sighting element adjustably mounted on the bow for range and windage adjustment comprising: a. a range bar, b. an auxiliary member slidably mounted on the range bar and carrying the sighting element in vertical slidable relation along the range bar, c. a main member in slidable relation along the range bar spaced from the auxiliary member, d. a lock screw for locking the main member in fixed relation along the range bar, e. a first elastic force member connecting the auxiliary member and the main member and exerting a force therebetween in the direction of sliding, f. a first retention member of adjustable length connecting the auxiliary member and the main member and exerting a force therebetween in the direction of sliding, said force acting in opposition to the force exeRted by the elastic force member so that the position of the auxiliary member along the range bar can be adjusted, g. a windage sight element support bar for carrying the sight element at one end thereof having a non-circular cross-section and moving transversely relative to and engaging the auxiliary member through a working clearance hole having a similar noncircular cross-section therein, h. a second elastic force member connecting the auxiliary member and the other end of the non-circular support bar opposite the sight element thereon and exerting a force therebetween in the direction of moving, and i. a second retention member having an adjustable position along said sight element support bar for exerting a reaction force against said auxiliary member in equilibrium against said elastic force.

5. A bow sight as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and second elastic force members comprise coil compression springs.

6. A bow sight as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first retention member comprises: a. a first round threaded stud threadably engaging the auxiliary member, b. a round working clearance hole in the main member slidably engaging the stud therethrough, and c. a first threaded knurled nut engaging the first stud and abutting the side of the main member opposite to the auxiliary member.

7. A bowsight as set forth in claim 1 wherein the windage sight element support bar comprises: a. a second threaded stud having a square cross-section, and b. a second working clearance hole having a square cross-section in the auxiliary member slidably engaging the stud therethrough.

9. A vernier bow sight comprising a sight bar provided with V-grooved edges, a dovetail in the bar extending the full length on both sides thereof, a main member slidably mounted along the front side of the bar, flanges terminating the width of the main member and forming a dovetail groove slidably engaging the V-grooved edges of the sight bar, a knurled-head lock screw threaded in the main member and abutting the sight bar, a clearance hole in the main member spaced out from the front side thereof in parallel relation thereto extending midway between the V-grooved edges of the sight bar, an auxiliary member slidably mounted along the front side of the bar, flanges terminating the width of the auxiliary member and forming a dovetail groove slidably engaging the V-groove edges of the sight bar, a tapped hole in the auxiliary member extending therethrough spaced out from the front side of the sight bar in parallel relation thereto extending midway between the V-grooved edges, a round threaded stud engaging the tapped hole in the auxiliary member and extending through and engaging the clearance hole in the main member, a knurled nut engaging the threaded stud abutting the side of the main member opposite that of the auxiliary member, a compression spring mounted concentric on the round threaded stud between the main and auxiliary members, a square clearance hole extending through the auxiliary member spaced out from the front side of the sight bar in parallel relation thereto extending in a direction in perpendicular relation to the V-groove edges of the sight bar, a square threaded stud engaging the square clearance hole extending out both sides of the auxiliary member, a second knurled nut engaging the right outstanding portion of the square threaded stud and abuttiNg the right side of the auxiliary member, a sight element mounted on the right outstanding end of the square threaded stud, a threaded nut engaging the left outstanding portion of the square threaded stud, and a second compression spring mounted concentric on the square threaded stud between the threaded nut and the auxiliary member.