Method and Apparatus for Maintaining a Bow

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for maintaining a bow, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for maintaining a bow in a predetermined position.

2. Description of Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,302 discloses a portable rifle maintenance center which includes a rectangular tray having a gun support fork attachable to the rectangular tray for temporarily supporting a rifle in a horizontal position.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,613 discloses a rifle support having vertical uprights for positioning the rifle, and further including an integral storage compartment for such items used with the rifle.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,593 shows a similar structure having vertical supports for retaining a long-barreled rifle in a horizontal position and further includes a storage compartment as shown in either of FIGS. 1 or 2 of the disclosure.

The problem with devices of the type shown in these patents is that they were not suitable for use in supporting a bow. Further, the devices shown were not designed to support a bow in one of a plurality of predetermined bow positions so that the bow could be, for example, cleaned, serviced or otherwise maintained.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for maintaining a bow.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for supporting a bow by its stave and/or in one of a plurality of angular bow support positions to facilitate quickly and easily adjusting, maintaining and/or cleaning the bow.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for supporting a bow without the use of hands.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for supporting a bow, while the bow has a bow press secured thereto.

In one aspect of the invention, this invention comprises a bow maintenance center having a maintenance base for receiving at least one bow maintenance item and an adjustable support situated on the maintenance base for adjustably supporting the bow in a plurality of maintenance positions.

In another aspect of this invention, this invention comprises a method for servicing a bow consisting of the steps of adjustably positioning at least one adjustable support on a base; at least one adjustable support comprising a plurality of bow receiving areas for receiving the bow and for supporting the bow in a plurality of different angular positions, and situating the bow on the at least one adjustable support, thereby causing the bow to be positioned in one of the plurality of different angular positions.

In still another aspect this invention comprises a bow maintenance system consisting of a maintenance base, an angular support coupled to the maintenance base for receiving a bow and for supporting the bow in a maintenance position above the maintenance base.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention and others will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a bow maintenance center shown supporting a bow in an cable-up position;

FIG. 2 is another view of the bow maintenance center shown in FIG. 1 showing the bow supporting in a "sight-up" 45.degree. angle position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the base of the bow maintenance center;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a fork member comprising a generally L-shaped latch which may be used as an adjustable support on the base;

FIG. 5 is isometric view of the bow maintenance center showing the bow supported in a general horizontal position;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the bow maintenance center showing the bow positioned in a 45.degree. degree angle "sight-down" position;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of another embodiment of a fork member having a ratcheting connector for permitting a top portion of the fork member to be adjustably secure to a bottom portion of the fork member such that the top fork may be pivoted in order to change an angle of the bow when it is placed in one of a plurality of receiving areas defined by the top fork; and

FIG. 8 is another illustration of bow maintenance center showing a plurality of forks of the type shown in FIG. 4 mounted thereto with one fork being position being higher than another and showing generally L-shaped latches locking the bow in the cable-up position.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a bow maintenance center 10 is shown supporting a bow 12 having a stave 13 and cables 66. The bow maintenance center 10 comprises a maintenance base 14 having a plurality of support apertures 16a (FIG. 3), 16b, 16c and 16d. The function of the support apertures 16a-16d will be described later herein. The base 14 also comprises a plurality of receiving storage compartments or apertures, such as compartments 18 (FIG. 1), 20, 22 and 24. The function of the compartments 18-24 is to receive and support items, such as tools, cleansers, and other maintenance items to facilitate cleaning and maintaining the bow 12.

Notice also that the base 14 (FIG. 3) may comprise a plurality of rubber feet 56 which facilitate preventing the base 14 from moving when the bow 12 is being serviced.

In the embodiment being described, the base 14 may have an upper cover (not shown) for storing the tools and accessories and supports 26 and 28 when the supports 26 and 28 are dismounted and placed in compartment 18. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the apertures 16a-16d are slightly tapered, as well as a bottom of support 26 is inserted in one of the apertures 16a-16d, it becomes securely mounted therein.

It should be appreciated that the bow maintenance center is portable and of lightweight construction. The aperture 16a has dimensions of approximately 21/2".times.41/2".times.7/8" (at the widest point of the aperture 16a). Notice that aperture 16c comprises dimensions of about 33/4".times.43/4".times.1" (at the widest point opening of the aperture 16c). In the embodiment being described, the base is approximately 41/2".times.91/4" by 283/4". As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, base 14 comprises a wall 15 integrally formed as part thereof and extending between walls 17 and 19 to define an elongated aperture 21 which is suitable for supporting various items, such as a tool case 23 (FIG. 1).

The bow maintenance center also comprises a plurality of adjustable supports 26 and 28 for adjustably supporting the bow 12 at a maintenance position 30. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, each of the adjustable supports 26 and 28 may comprise a fork member 32 having a plurality of receiving apertures 34 and 36 for receiving bow stave 13 and for supporting the bow 12 in one of a plurality of predetermined maintenance positions. As described later herein, component 18 also provides a storage area for storing the adjustable supports 26 and 28.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the adjustable supports 26 and 28 may each comprises a fork member 32 comprising a first leg portion 32a, a second leg portion 32b, and a third leg portion 32c which cooperate to define the plurality of receiving apertures 34 and 36. In the embodiment being described, the fork member 32 comprises a height (as viewed in FIG. 4), having dimensions of about 41/2".times.10".times.1".

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the fork member 32 may have a rubber or foam material secured thereto so as not to scratch or damage the bow 12 when it is mounted on one of the receiving areas 34, 36 and 52.

Notice that a wall 38 of second leg portion 32b and wall 40 of first leg portion 32a define the U-shaped receiving aperture 34. Likewise, wall 42 of second leg portion 32b and wall 44 of third leg portion 32c define the U-shaped receiving aperture 36. Notice also that the various walls 38-44 lie in different planes or angles relative to a bottom surface 33 of fork member 32. Notice that the second leg portion 32b also comprises a support surface 46 which is substantially parallel to bottom surface 33. These angles facilitate supporting the bow 12 in various angular positions, such as the position illustrated in FIG. 1; the horizontal position in FIG. 5 and the 45 degree position shown in FIGS. 2 and 6.

Advantageously, the apertures 34, 36 and 52 facilitate hands free support of the bow 12 so that, for example, the bow 12 is supported above the work surface (not shown) on which the base 14 is supported.

Notice that fork member 32 may comprise a generally L-shaped strap or latch 50 (FIG. 4) which defines an elongated aperture 52 for facilitating locking and/or supporting bow 12 in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 8.

It should be appreciated that although the fork member 32 is shown as having the predefined apertures 34 and 36 having surfaces which facilitate supporting the bow in various angles, the fork member 32 could be configured with more or fewer apertures defining the same or different angles as may be desired. Also, more or fewer adjustable supports may be used as desired.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment where adjustable support 26 or 28 comprises a fork top member 60 of a fork 59 which is adjustably mounted on a fork base 62 by suitable securing fastener or means, such as the screw 63 and wing nut 64. With this configuration, the angle of the apertures 39 and 41 in fork top member 60 may be pivotally adjusted (in the direction of double arrow A in FIG. 7) by changing the position of the fork top member 60 relative to the fork base 62. A method for servicing the bow 12 using the maintenance center 10 will now be described.

When it is desired to service or provide maintenance to the bow 12, the adjustable support 26 is inserted into either apertures 16a or 16b (FIG. 3). Likewise, adjustable support 28 is inserted into either 16c or 16d as desired. As illustrated in FIG. 3, notice that the depths of apertures 16a and 16d are substantially the same relative to a top 19 of base 14, while the depths or the apertures of 16b and 16c are substantially the same relative to the top 19 of base 14. Notice also that the depths of apertures 16b and 16c are deeper than the depths of apertures 16a and 16d, as illustrated in FIG. 3. This facilitates selectively positioning the supports 26 and 28 at different heights relative to each other such that, for example, an end 12a of bow 12 (FIG. 8) is supported higher or lower than an end 12b of bow 12. For example, if adjustable support 28 is positioned in aperture 16d, while adjustable support 26 is positioned in aperture 16b, then a bow end 12a may be supported lower than end 12b, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The adjustable supports 26 and 28 are situated on the base 14 such that their respective receiving apertures 34 and 36, for example, become generally aligned. Once the adjustable supports 26 and 28 are selectively positioned in apertures 16a-16d, then the bow 12 may be situated thereby causing the bow 12 to be positioned in one of the plurality of different angular positions shown. Thereafter, the bow 12 may be serviced and maintained.

If one or both of the adjustable supports 26 and 28 include the fork 59 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7, then the base top member 60 is adjusted using the screw 63 and wing nut 64 relative to the fork base 62 either while the adjustable fork 59 is separate from or situated on the base 14aaaa.

After the bow 12 is supported in one of the illustrated plurality of maintenance positions, a cleaning solution which is situated, for example, in aperture 22 or 24 of base 14, may be used to clean the bow 12. Also, one or more of the various tools 65 (FIG. 1) may be used to adjust the bow 12. For example, one or more of pulleys 64 on the bow 12 (FIG. 1) may be adjusted in order to change and/or tighten on or more on cables 66 on the bow 12.

Advantageously, the method and apparatus of this invention facilitate supporting the bow 12 in one of a plurality of maintenance positions, even when a bow press 68 is situated on bow 12. The bow maintenance center may also be used to secure and store the bow 12 when it is not in use. In addition, the base 14 and adjustable supports 26 and 28 are separate pieces molded from plastic, thereby providing a light weight, and simple construction.

Notice that the method and apparatus of this invention facilitates supporting the bow 12 in a maintenance position so that an archer's hands are free to maintain the bow by, for example, tightening nuts and making adjustments, such as to a site mechanism 67 on the bow 12.

While the method herein described, and the form of apparatus for carrying this method into effect, constitute preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise method and form of apparatus, and that changes may be made in either without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.