US20140158106A1

US20140158106A1 - Optically Enhanced Bow Sight

Info

Publication number: US20140158106A1
Application number: US13/711,733
Authority: US
Inventors: Melvin J. Deien
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Compound Bow Rifle Site Inc
Priority date: 2012-12-12
Filing date: 2012-12-12
Publication date: 2014-06-12

Abstract

A rear sight for a bow comprising a sighting window including a frame and a magnification and clarification lens disposed within the frame. The lens is for magnifying and clarifying an archer's view of a target and of a sighting pin of a front sight. The sighting window further includes a V-shaped sight guide disposed on the lens, wherein the V-shaped sight guide includes two opposing legs that are connected to define a V-notch between the legs. The V-shaped sight guide is configured to insure that the archer is “in form” when aiming the bow at the target. Furthermore, the sighting window includes at least one pair of alignment dots disposed in distal end portions of the legs, wherein the alignment dots are configured to provide the archer with reverence points to which the archer can align a head of the sighting pin when aiming the bow at the target.

Description

FIELD

The present teachings relate to a rear sight for archery bows, and more particularly, to an archery bow rear sight that improves the speed and accuracy of aiming and shooting the respective bow.

BACKGROUND

On a compound bow, sighting pins mount forward of the bow and away from the archer when the archer holds the bow handle. The archer uses a rear sight to align with the front sighting pins. In particular, the rear sight mounts to the bow handle in a spaced relation from the front sighting pins such that the archer aligns the rear sight with a selected one of the front sighting pins to sight the target.
Often, due to target distance, ambient light conditions, and/or optical acuity of the archer, archers have difficultly clearly viewing the front sighting pins and/or the target, and also have difficulty aligning the front sighting pins with the rear sight when utilizing known bow sighting systems.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a rear sight for an archery bow. In various embodiments, the rear sight comprises a sighting window connected to a stem that is slidingly engageable with a mounting bracket mounted to a riser of an archery bow. In various implementations, the sighting window comprises a frame, a magnification and clarification lens disposed within the frame, a V-shaped sight guide disposed on the lens, and at least one pair of alignment dots disposed in distal end portions of the legs. The magnification and clarification lens is structured and operable to magnify and clarify an archer's view of a target and of a sighting pin of a front sight mounted to the riser. The V-shaped sight guide includes two opposing legs that are connected to define a V-notch between the legs. The V-shaped sight guide is structured and operable to insure that the archer is “in form” when aiming the bow at the target. The alignment dots are structured and operable to provide the archer with reverence points to which the archer can align a head of the sighting pin when aiming the bow at the target. The rear sight with the V-notch is designed to obscure the front pin if the archer torques the bow or his/her head to be “out of form”, thereby causing the archer to realign his/her head and/or the bow such that the front pin is viewable through the V-notch, and insuring an accurate shot.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a compound bow having a magnifying, clarifying and optic fiber rear sight mounted thereto, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a portion of the compound bow having the magnifying, clarifying and optic fiber rear sight mounted thereto, as shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the magnifying, clarifying and optic fiber rear sight shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the rear sight shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a sighting window of the rear sight shown in FIG. 1, along line A-A of FIG. 4, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a bow mounted peep sight for use with the bow shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with various other embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the peep sight shown in FIG. 6 in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present teachings, application, or uses. Throughout this specification, like reference numerals will be used to refer to like elements.
The present disclosure provides a rear sight 10 for an archery bow. The rear sight 10 is structured and operable to improve the archer's viewing of the front sighting pins, the target and obstacles between the archer and the target, and also improve the viewing of the portions of the rear sight 10 used for aligning with the front sighting pins to sight the target, as described below. Often the viewing of such objects is obscured, diminished and/or impeded due to the distance of the target from the archer, low ambient light conditions, and/or impaired optical acuity of the archer.
The rear sight 10 can be used for aligning any appropriate arrow on a bow. The rear sight 10 can comprise a variety of materials and the components and have a variety of cross sectional shapes, such as elliptical, oval, circular, triangular, square, rectangular or other appropriate configuration. The rear sight 10 can be of any size to accommodate archers of any size; to accommodate right-handed or left-handed archers and to accommodate compound bows of any size or configuration.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the rear sight 10 can be suitably used in combination with a front sight 12 mounted to a riser 18 of a compound bow 14. The front sight 12 can have one or more sighting pins 16 that define a point in space forward of the bow 14. The bow 14 includes the riser 18 and a handle 20 from which the riser 18 extends. The bow 14 further includes a pair of opposing limbs 22 that extend from opposing ends of the riser 18, wherein a lower limb 22 has the handle 20 formed therewith. In various implementations, the bow 14 can include an arrow rest 24.
The limbs 22 extend outward from the riser 18 in Y⁺ and Y⁻ directions and have pulleys 26 rotationally disposed at ends thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 1. A string 28 of the bow 14 is disposed around the pulleys 26 such that the pulleys 26, and hence the limbs 22, are connected to each other by the string 28 and the limbs are resistively bowed or bent rearward, thereby maintaining a constant tension of the string 28, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The arrow rest 24 is positioned adjacent to the riser 18 and above the handle 20 and supports an arrow 30 having a direction of flight in the X⁻ direction. When the archer draws the string 28 back in the X⁺ direction, the string 28 causes the pulleys 26 to turn and the limbs 22 to bend toward each other in the Y⁺ and Y⁻ directions, thereby storing potential energy in the bow limbs 22. When the archer releases the string 28, this potential energy is converted to kinetic energy to move the arrow 30 forward from the arrow rest 24 in the X⁻ direction.
The front sight 12 is mounted to the riser 18 via a front sight mounting bracket 40 and front sight positioner 42 that is coupled to the mounting bracket 40. The front sight mounting bracket and positioner 40 and 42 are structured and operable to selectively position the front sight 12 any desired distance forward of the riser 18 and to one of either side of the riser 18, based on whether the archer is a right-handed or left-handed shooter. Additionally, the front sight mounting bracket and positioner 40 and 42 are structured and operable to mount to the riser 18 any desired pinned front sight, e.g., front sight 12, commonly used with compound bows, such as compound bow 14.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the rear sight 10 is mounted to either the riser 18 or the front sight mounting bracket via a rear sight mounting bracket 46. In various embodiments, the rear sight mounting bracket 46 includes mounting slots 48 for adjustably mounting the rear sight bracket 46, and hence the rear sight 10, to the riser 18, or the front mounting bracket 40, of the bow 14. Although the front and rear sight brackets 40 and 46 are illustrated as separate independent brackets, it is envisioned that, in various embodiments, the front and rear sight brackets 40 and 46 can be integrally formed as a single bracket 40/46 for mounting both the front and rear sights 12 and 10 to the riser 18, as would be readily and easily understood by one skilled in the art.
The rear sight mounting bracket 46 additionally includes a slotted tail 32 that has a vertical slot 34 formed therethrough. The rear sight mounting bracket 46 further includes a rear sight holding assembly 36 that includes a holding block 36A and a clamp plate 36B that is connected to the holding block 36A via screws (not shown) that extend through the slot 34 for clamping the slotted tail 32 between the holding block 36A and a clamp plate 36B such that the holding block is mounted to the slotted tail 32. As will be readily and easily understood by one skilled in the art, the slot 34 allows the holding block 36A to be clamped to the slotted tail 32 at any desired location along the length of the slot 34, such that the position of the rear sight 10 can be adjusted in the X⁺ and X⁻ directions as desired by the respective archer.
The holding block 36A comprises a receiving bore 38 disposed in and extending through the holding block 36A. The receiving bore 38 can have any desired geometry, e.g., round, square, triangular, etc., that matches a stem 44 of the rear sight 10. The clamp plate 36B comprises a bore (not shown) having the same geometry as the receiving bore 38 that is positioned collinearly with the receiving bore 38 when the rear sight holding assembly 36 is mounted to the slotted tail, as described above. For clarity and brevity, the receiving bore 38 and the bore in the clamp plate 36B will be cumulatively referred to herein simply as the receiving bore 38. The receiving bore 38 is sized and shaped to substantially match the size and shape of the rear sight stem 44 such that the stem 44 can be slidingly received and stably retained within the receiving bore 38. Accordingly, the rear sight stem 44 can be adjustably positioned in a Z⁺ and Z⁻ directions within the receiving bore 38. Additionally, the holding block 36A includes a threaded aperture 50 that is oriented within the holding block such that it is orthogonal to and intersects the receiving bore 38. The rear sight holding assembly 36 includes a set screw 52 that is threadingly engaged with the threaded aperture 50 such that the set screw 52 can be threaded into the holding block 36A to fixedly retain the rear sight stem 44 at a desired position within the holding block 36A. Therefore, the rear sight 10 can be adjustably positioned, relative to the front sight 12, in the Z⁺ and Z⁻ directions via the receiving bore 38, in the Y⁺ and Y⁻ directions via the slot 34 in the slotted tail 32, and in X⁺ and X⁻ directions via the mounting slots 48.
Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 the rear sight 10 generally includes a sighting window 60 that is connected to or integrally formed with the stem 44. The sighting window 60 is viewed through by the archer when sighting the bow 14. The sighting window 60 can have any desired shape, e.g., round, square, triangular, etc., but is exemplarily illustrated throughout the figures as a having a circular shape. In various embodiments, the sighting window 60 comprises a frame 62 that is connected to, or integrally formed with the stem 44, and a clear magnification and clarification lens 64 disposed within an interior space of the frame 62. Importantly, the lens 64 is structured and operable to magnify and clarify the archer's view of the front sight sighting pins 16 (shown in FIG. 2), the target, and any intermediate objects, e.g., tree branches, that are in the projected flight of the arrow 30 (shown in FIG. 2) between the target and the archer, when the archer looks through the sighting window 60 to sight the target, as described below. More specifically, the lens 64 is structured and operable to clarify the archer's view of the sighting pins 16, the target and any intermediate objects as viewed by the archer when sighting the bow 14, thereby providing increased arrow speed, quickness and accuracy of aiming the bow 14.
The lens 64 can be structured to provide any desired amount of magnification. Hence, a desired amount of magnification provided by the lens 64 can be selected by the archer based on the target distance and the ambient light conditions. Additionally, the amount of magnification and clarification provided by the lens 64 can be selected by the archer based on the archer's respective visual acuity. That is, if the archer wears corrective lens, i.e., glasses or contacts to correct archer's eyesight, the archer can select a lens 64 that provides sufficient magnification and clarification to compensate for archer's diminished visual acuity. Thus, the archer can choose not to wear his/her corrective lens by utilizing a suitable selected lens 64.
In various embodiments, the lens 64 is removable from the frame 62 such that the archer can interchange lenses 64 having different magnifications within the rear sight 10 without removing the entire rear sight 10 from the rear sight holding assembly 36. In such embodiments, the frame 62 is structured to have a stepped cross-section (see FIG. 5) that provides lens channel 66 in which the lens 64 is disposed. The lens channel 66 defines a backing lip 68 that supports a periphery of the lens 64 when the lens 64 is disposed within the lens channel 66 such that the lens 64 will be properly oriented within the frame 62. Additionally, in such embodiments, the sighting window 60 further includes a retention ring 70 that is removably engageable with the portion of the frame 62 that is opposite the backing lip 68. The retention ring 70 is engageable with the frame 62 via any engaging means suitable to firmly press the periphery of the lens 64 against the backing lip 68 and stably retain the lens 64 within the frame 62. For example, in various embodiments the retention ring 70 can be threadingly engageable with the frame 62, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 5. Alternatively, the retention ring 70 be retained within the frame 62 by having the retention ring 70 snap-fitted with the frame 62, friction-fitted with frame 62, screwed to the frame 62 via retention screws, or retained by any other means structured and operable to stably retain the lens 64 within the frame 62.
In various embodiments, the sighting window 60 further comprises a V-shaped sight guide 72 disposed generally in the center of the lens 64. The sight guide comprises two opposing opaque legs 72A that are connected to form a “V”, whereby a V-notch 74 is defined between the legs 72A. The legs 72A are opaque and have a selected width, e.g., 3/16, ⅛ or 5/16 of an inch, that are structured and operable to obscure a portion of the field of view of the archer. More specifically, the opaque legs 72A are structured and operable to obscure the archer's view of the heads of the front sighting pins 16 until, when at his/her anchor point, the archer has returned to the same form in which he/she initially sighted-in the bow 14, i.e., the archer is “in form”. Hence, when aiming the bow 14, utilizing the rear sight 10 as described herein, the archer draws the bow 14 to his/her anchor point and looks through the rear sight sighting window 60 to view the heads of the front sighting pins 16. While maintaining the bow drawn to his/her anchor point, the archer then moves the bow 14 until the head of the selected front sighting pin 16 is positioned on target within the V-notch 74 of the sight guide 72. The sight guide 72 can be any opaque plate(s), sheet(s), label(s), decal(s), film(s), etching(s), or other suitable means disposed on either face of the lens 64 or integrally formed with the lens 64. The opaque legs 72A prevent the head of the selected front sighting pin 16 from being viewable by the archer until he/she has returned to the same form in which he/she sighted-in the bow 14, thereby insuring consistency in the form of the archer and further insuring the consistence and accuracy of each shot.
In various embodiments, the rear sight sighting window 60 further includes at least one pair of alignment dots 76 disposed within the legs 72A of the V-shaped sight guide 72. More specifically, each leg 72A has at least one alignment dot 76 disposed in a distal end portion of the respective leg 72A, as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The alignment dots 76 provide the archer with reverence points to which the archer can align a head of the sighting pin when aiming the bow 14 at the target. Particularly, as described above, when the archer has the bow 14 drawn to his/her anchor point, he/she positions the head of the selected front sighting pin 16 within the V-notch 74 of the sight guide 72. Then, utilizing the alignment dots 76, the archer positions the head of the selected front sighting pin 16 between the alignment dots 76 such that there is substantially equal distance between the head of the selected front sighting pin 16 and each opposing alignment dot 76. Additionally, the archer will position the head of the selected front sighting pin 16 between the alignment dots 76 such that the sighting pin head is substantially collinear with the alignment dots 76. Hence, when aiming the bow 14 the archer will draw the bow 14 to his/her anchor position, then position the head of the selected front sighting pin 16 within the V-notch 74 such that the sighting pin head is substantially collinear with, and equidistance from, the opposing alignment dots 76.
In various embodiments, the alignment dots 76 can be fiber optic alignment dots, or any suitable illuminating material. In various embodiments, each alignment dot 76 can be comprised of a fiber optic light pipe 76A (illustrated in FIG. 5) that extends orthogonally through the lens 64, wherein the ends of the fiber optic light pipes 76A provide the alignment dots 76. In such embodiments, the rear sight 10 includes an ultraviolet (UV) light fixture 78 that is removably attached to a top of the sighting window frame 62. The UV light fixture 78 generally includes a UV LED (light emitting diode) 80 that is powered by one or more batteries (not shown) and controlled by a switch, or rheostat, 82. Additionally, in such embodiments the sighting window frame 62 comprises a light channel 84 that extends through the frame 62 between the UV LED 80 and an edge of the lens 64. In operation, when the UV LED 80 is turned on, via the switch/rheostat 82, the UV light emitted by the UV LED 80 will travel through the light channel 82 and impinge on the edge of the lens 64. The emitted UV light then travels through the lens 64 and impinges on the fiber optic light pipes 76A. Subsequently, due the properties of fiber optics, the UV light will be transmitted along the length of each fiber optic light pipe 76A to the opposing ends that provide the alignment dots 76, causing the ends, i.e., the alignment dots 76, to illuminate. The illuminating alignment dots 76 provide a significant advantage to the archer when aiming the bow 14 in low ambient light conditions, e.g., with little natural sun light or from within a hunting blind. As will be readily understood by one skilled in the art, the UV light emitted from the UV LED 80 will not illuminate the lens 64, but rather only the ends of fiber optic light pipes 76A, i.e., only the alignment dots 76.
In various embodiments, the V-shaped sight guide 72 can include two or more fiber optic alignment dots 76 disposed in each of the respective legs 72A, such that, based on the target distance and/or personal preference, the archer can position the head of the selected front sighting pin 16 between the selected set of alignment dots 76 such that the sighting pin head is substantially collinear with, and equidistance from, the selected opposing alignment dots 76.
Referring now to FIG. 6, in various embodiments, the rear sight sighting window 60 comprises a peep hole 86 extending through a head 88 of the sighting window 60 that is connected to or integrally formed with the stem 44. The stem 44, and hence the head 88, is connected to the riser 18 of the bow 14 via the rear mounting bracket 46, as described above. The peep hole 86 is viewed through by the archer when sighting the bow 14, as described further below. The rear sight sighting window 60 further includes at least one pair of alignment dots 96 disposed within the head 88 on opposing sides of the peep hole 86, sometimes referred to herein as the side alignment dots 96. The alignment dots 96 are utilized when aiming the bow 14. Particularly, when the archer has the bow 14 drawn to his/her anchor point, he/she positions the head of the selected front sighting pin 16 within the peep hole 86. Then, utilizing the side alignment dots 96, the archer positions the head of the selected front sighting pin 16 between the side alignment dots 96 such that there is substantially equal distance between the head of the selected front sighting pin 16 and each opposing side alignment dots 96. Additionally, the archer will position the head of the selected front sighting pin 16 between the alignment dots 96 such that the sighting pin head is substantially collinear with the alignment dots 96.
In various embodiments, the rear sight sighting window 60 additionally includes another alignment dot 96 disposed within the head 88 above, and centered with, the peep hole 86, sometimes referred to herein as the center alignment dot 96. In such embodiments, to aim the bow 14, the archer draws the bow 14 to his/her anchor point and positions the head of the selected front sighting pin 16 within the peep hole 86. Then, utilizing the side alignment dots 96 and the center alignment dot 96, the archer positions the head of the selected front sighting pin 16 to align with all three alignment dots 96. Accordingly, when positioned in such a manner, the sighting pin head will be substantially equidistance from and collinear with the opposing side alignment dots 96.
In various embodiments, the alignment dots 96, i.e., the side alignment dots 96 and or the center alignment dot 96, can be fiber optic alignment dots, or any suitable illuminating material. In various embodiments, each alignment dot 96 can be comprised of a fiber optic light pipe 96A (illustrated in FIG. 7) that extends orthogonally through the head 88, wherein the ends of the fiber optic light pipes 96A provide the alignment dots 96. In such embodiments, the rear sight 10 additionally includes an ultraviolet (UV) light fixture 98 that is removably attached, via a boom arm 92, to the holding block 36A or the rear sight mounting bracket 46. The UV light fixture 98 generally includes a UV LED 100 that is powered by a battery (not shown) and controlled by switch, or rheostat, 102. Additionally, in such embodiments the sighting window head 88 has an open light channel 94 formed in a peripheral edge of the head 88. The light channel 94 opens upwardly and surrounds portions of the fiber optic light pipes 94A. In various implementations, the light channel 94 includes a reflective coating or a polished coating that directs reflected light from UV LED 100 toward the light pipes 96A.
In operation, when the UV LED 100 is turned on, via the switch/rheostat 82, the UV light emitted by the UV LED 100 will be emitted onto the light pipes 94A and into the reflective light channel 94, where the reflected UV light is directed back toward the light pipes 96A. Subsequently, due the properties of fiber optics, the UV light will be transmitted along the length of each fiber optic light pipe 96A to the opposing ends that provide the alignment dots 96, causing the ends, i.e., the alignment dots 96, to illuminate. The illuminating alignment dots 96 provide a significant advantage to the archer when aiming the bow 14 in low ambient light conditions, e.g., with little natural sun light or from within a hunting blind.
The description herein is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of that which is described are intended to be within the scope of the teachings. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the teachings.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A rear sight for a bow, said rear sight comprising:

a sighting window connected to a stem that is slidingly engageable with a mounting bracket mounted to a riser of an archery bow, the sighting window comprising:

a frame;

a magnification lens disposed within the frame, the magnification lens is structured and operable to magnify an archer's view of a target and of a sighting pin of a front sight mounted to the riser;

a V-shaped sight guide disposed on the lens, the V-shaped sight guide having two opposing legs that are connected to define a V-notch between the legs, the V-shaped sight guide is structured and operable to insure that the archer is “in form” when aiming the bow at the target; and

at least one pair of alignment dots disposed in distal end portions of the legs, the alignment dots are structured and operable to provide the archer with reverence points to which the archer can align a head of the sighting pin when aiming the bow at the target.

2. The sight of claim 1, wherein the alignment dots comprise fiber optic light pipes that extend orthogonally through the lens and the distal end portions of the legs of the V-shaped sight guide, the ends of the fiber optic light pipes providing the alignment dots.

3. The sight of claim 2 further comprising an ultraviolet (UV) light fixture removably attached to a top of the sighting window frame, the UV light fixture structured and operable to selectively illuminate alignment dots.

4. The sight of claim 1, wherein the sighting window further comprises a frame comprises a retention ring removably engaged with the frame such that the lens can be removed and replaced with another lens.

5. The sight of claim 1, wherein the opposing legs of the V-shaped sight guide are opaque such that when the archer is aiming the bow the opaque legs are structured and operable to obscure the archer's view of a head of the front sighting pin until the archer is substantially “in form”.

6. The sight of claim 1, wherein the V-shaped sight guide is disposed on a face of the lens.

7. The sight of claim 1, wherein the V-shaped sight guide is integrally formed with the lens.

8. A rear sight for a bow, said rear sight comprising:

a frame;

at least one pair of fiber optic light pipes that extend orthogonally through the lens and distal end portions of the legs of the V-shaped sight guide, the ends of the fiber optic light pipes providing alignment dots that are structured and operable to provide the archer with reverence points to which the archer can align a head of the sighting pin when aiming the bow at the target.

9. The sight of claim 8 further comprising an ultraviolet (UV) light fixture removably attached to a top of the sighting window frame, the UV light fixture structured and operable to selectively illuminate the alignment dots.

10. The sight of claim 8, wherein the sighting window further comprises a frame comprises a retention ring removably engaged with the frame such that the lens can be removed and replaced with another lens.

11. The sight of claim 8, wherein the opposing legs of the V-shaped sight guide are opaque such that when the archer is aiming the bow the opaque legs are structured and operable to obscure the archer's view of a head of the front sighting pin until the archer is substantially “in form”.

12. The sight of claim 8, wherein the V-shaped sight guide is disposed on a face of the lens.

13. The sight of claim 8, wherein the V-shaped sight guide is integrally formed with the lens.

14. An archery bow, said bow comprising:

a rear sight, said rear sight comprising:

a frame;

15. The bow of claim 14, wherein the alignment dots comprise fiber optic light pipes that extend orthogonally through the lens and the distal end portions of the legs of the V-shaped sight guide, the ends of the fiber optic light pipes providing the alignment dots.

16. The bow of claim 15 further comprising an ultraviolet (UV) light fixture removably attached to a top of the sighting window frame, the UV light fixture structured and operable to selectively illuminate the alignment dots.

17. The bow of claim 14, wherein the sighting window further comprises a frame comprises a retention ring removably engaged with the frame such that the lens can be removed and replaced with another lens.

18. The bow of claim 14, wherein the opposing legs of the V-shaped sight guide are opaque such that when the archer is aiming the bow the opaque legs are structured and operable to obscure the archer's view of a head of the front sighting pin until the archer is substantially “in form”.

19. The bow of claim 14, wherein the V-shaped sight guide is disposed on a face of the lens.

20. The bow of claim 14, wherein the V-shaped sight guide is integrally formed with the lens.