Stabilization Assembly

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/627,781, filed Jan. 31, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the current invention regards stabilizing assemblies for apparatus that may benefit from additional stabilization, including stabilization assemblies for archery bows.

BACKGROUND

Stabilizers for archery bows are well known in the art. Such stabilizers may stabilize the bow during aiming and shooting, and may reduce shock and vibration in the bow after the arrow is released.

The stabilizer adds mass at a distance from the bow limbs and release point of the bow. The moment of inertia of the stabilizer may perform the stabilizing function, and a greater moment of inertia will decrease unwanted motion in the archery bow.

Various types of stabilization devices have been used. For example, elastic or shock absorbing materials have been used to dampen vibrations thereby improving the stabilization of the archery bow.

Alternatively, other stabilization devices anchor the bow to the ground to dissipate the energy and vibration of the archery bow, to beyond the bow/arrow device and human archer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed in one or more embodiments to archery bow stabilizers, or stabilizers for use with other types of apparatus, where the stabilizer may include a vessel or hollow chamber attached to the archery bow or other apparatus. The vessel or chamber may contain a free-flowing liquid to reduce archery bow vibration and unwanted motion. To this end, the motion of the fluid may counteract or counterbalance the motion or vibration of the bow or other apparatus.

In some embodiments, an archery bow stabilizer comprises a hollow chamber within a container that is attached to a rod, and the rod is directly attached to the archery bow. A free-flowing liquid is contained within the hollow chamber.

In some embodiments, the stabilizing hollow chamber is contained within the device that directly attaches to the archery bow and does not use the intervening rod to attach to the bow.

In some embodiments, multiple stabilizing devices, each including a hollow member, may be attached to the archery bow in more than one location. Each stabilizing device may include a rod extending from a hollow member to the bow and/or to another stabilizing device. Each hollow chamber may contain a free-flowing liquid and may be positioned at multiple directions from and/or at various orientations with respect to the archery bow.

In some embodiments, the device containing the hollow chamber with the free-flowing liquid may be attached to bridging attachment devices. In these embodiments, multiple may be connected to each other and then attached to the archery bow via a single or multiple attachment points.

In some embodiments, a single device may contain multiple hollow chambers that may be filled with differing amounts of free-flowing liquid.

In some embodiments, the hollow chamber(s) may each include one or more internal baffles.

In some embodiments, the free-flowing liquid may involve different fluids of different density, different composition, and different viscosity.

In some embodiments, the free-flowing liquid may include a suspension and/or a colloid.

Other aspects and embodiments of the invention are discussed herein. It should be noted that while the description herein may focus on the invention as used with an archery bow, the invention may be used with other apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side view block diagram of a stabilization assembly according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIGS. 2-3 show top view block diagrams of a stabilization assembly according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIG. 4 shows a top view block diagram of a stabilization assembly including a baffle according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view block diagram of a stabilization assembly including a baffle according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIGS. 6-7 show a stabilization assembly configured with an archery bow according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIGS. 8-10 show multiple stabilization assemblies configured with an archery bow according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of a stabilization assembly according to exemplary embodiments hereof;

FIGS. 12A and 12B show aspects of an attachment mechanism according to exemplary embodiments hereof; and

FIG. 13 shows a stabilization assembly configured with an archery bow according to exemplary embodiments hereof.

FIGS. 14A-14C show test data involving the current invention.

FIGS. 15A-15C show test data involving the current invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The current invention is now described with reference to the figures. Though the following description may focus on the use of stabilization assemblies, systems or devices with archery bows, the current invention is applicable to other apparatus.

FIG. 1 shows a side view block diagram of the stabilization assembly 10 configured with a separate apparatus S and FIG. 2 shows a top view block diagram of the same. While FIGS. 1 and 2 depict the stabilization assembly 10 and the separate apparatus S as basic blocks, it is understood that the stabilization assembly 10 and the apparatus S may include any shapes and/or forms as required, e.g., depending on the application of the assembly 10. In general, the stabilization assembly 10 may provide stability to the separate apparatus S by providing a volume of fluid that, when caused to move (i.e., accelerate), may offset movement of the apparatus S. In this way, the apparatus may be stabilized.

In some embodiments, the stabilization assembly 10 (also referred to herein as simply the assembly or system or device 10) may include a housing or shell assembly 100 and an attachment assembly 200. In general, the shell assembly 100 includes the volume of fluid, and the attachment assembly 200 attaches or otherwise configures the shell assembly 100 with the separate apparatus S to provide stabilization while apparatus S is in use, e.g., an archery bow being aimed and shot by an archer. The assembly 10 also may include other elements and components as necessary to fulfill its functionalities.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shell assembly 100 may include a shell body 102 defining an inner volume or chamber or hollow chamber 104 designed to receive and contain a fluid 106. When inside the inner volume or chamber 104, the fluid 106 may include a fluid volume 108. In some embodiments, it may be preferable that the fluid volume 108 be less than the shell's inner volume 104 so that the inner volume 104 is not completely filled with the fluid 106. As such, the fluid volume 108 may include a fluid surface 110 (e.g., an upper fluid surface). The shell body 102 may preferably be fluid tight such that the fluid 106 contained within its inner volume or chamber 104 may not leak or otherwise escape the shell body 102.

The shell assembly 100 may be coupled to the separate apparatus S using the attachment assembly 200. In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the attachment assembly 200 may include an attachment support structure 202 including a proximal end 204 coupled to the separate apparatus S and a distal end 206 coupled to the shell assembly 100. The support structure 202 may include one or more rods, bars, blocks, beams, scaffolding, other types of support structures, and any combinations thereof. It may be preferable that the support structure be rigid such that it may not flex during use of the assembly 10 with the separate apparatus S.

In some embodiments, the proximal end 204 of the support structure 202 may be coupled to the separate apparatus S using a first attachment mechanism 208 and to the shell assembly 100 using a second attachment mechanism 210. The attachment mechanisms 208, 210 may include sockets, bolts, screws, mounts, latches, welding, adhesive, other types of attachment mechanisms, and any combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the attachment mechanisms 208, 210 may be releasable so that the attachment assembly 200 and/or the shell assembly 100 may be removed, replaced, and/or interchanged. The ability to interchange shell assembly 100 may provide differing stabilizing characteristics for the apparatus S, depending on its use and/or its user.

In other embodiments, either of the attachment mechanisms 208, 210 may be fixed. In addition, the first attachment mechanism 208 need not match the second attachment mechanism 210. Additional details will be described in other sections.

FIG. 3 depicts a scenario in which the separate apparatus S is caused to move to the right at a first moment in time T1 and at an acceleration rate of a1. Because the shell body 102 and the volume of fluid 108 contained therein may be coupled to the apparatus S, it also may be caused to accelerate at a rate of a1 at the same moment in time T1. A practical example of this may be an archery bow configured with the assembly 10 and caused to accelerate to one side due to the archer briefly flinching at the moment of the arrow release (at time T1). In this example, the acceleration a1 (i.e., the flinch) may last about 0.1-0.2 seconds, or another duration.

In this example, the shell body 102 may include a left side wall 112 and a right side wall 114, with a distance L between the two 112, 114. Choosing a first point (1) of the fluid volume 108 at the left side wall 112 and a second point (2) of the fluid volume 108 at the right side wall 114 (generally opposite the first point (2)) as shown in FIG. 3, the fluid pressure at (1) may be P1 and the fluid pressure at (2) may be P2. As such, P1 represents the pressure applied by the fluid volume 108 to the shell's left side wall 112 and P2 represents the pressure applied by the fluid volume 108 to the shell's right side wall 114. The depths of the first point (1) and of the second point (2) within the shell body 102 are assumed to be equal such that effects on the pressures P1, P2 due to gravity may be omitted.

According to fluid dynamics, fluid pressure decreases in the direction of acceleration and the difference between the first pressure P1 and the second pressure P2 may be represented by the following equation:

P1−P2=ρ×L×a1

• • where:
  • ρ is the density of the fluid;
  • L is the distance between points (1) and (2); and
  • a1 is the acceleration.

Given the above, with the volume of fluid 108 within the shell body 102 accelerating to the right at a rate of a1, the fluid pressure P1 at the left point (1) may be greater than the fluid pressure P2 at the right point (2) (P1>P2) by an amount given by ρ×L×a1.

Furthermore, the force F1 applied by the fluid volume 108 at the left point (1) may be defined by F1=P1×a1, and the force F2 applied by the fluid volume 108 at the right point (2) may be defined by F2=P2×a1. Because P1 is greater than P2, it follows that F1 is greater than F2.

Accordingly, as the fluid volume 108 within the shell body 102 accelerates to the right at time T1, the fluid volume 108 applies a greater force F1 to the shell's left side wall 112 compared to the force F2 applied to the right side 114, and the force F2 may counteract (e.g., dampen) the movement of the separate apparatus S. In this way, the separate apparatus S may be stabilized at the time T1.

After the initial movement of the separate apparatus S and of the stabilization assembly 10 attached thereto (e.g., after the initial acceleration a1 at time T1), the fluid 106 within the shell's inner volume 104 may flow in different directions (depending on the ensuing movement(s) of the separate apparatus S) thereby causing turbulence within the fluid. This may occur at a time T2 directly after the time T1 (e.g., within 0.1 seconds to 3 seconds of T1). Given this, additional forces may be applied by the fluid 106 to the shell body 102 at the time T2. In addition, because the flow at T2 may be turbulent, the corresponding forces may be somewhat chaotic and/or erratic.

In general, as known, there are three fluid flow regimes: laminar, turbulent, and a transition region. Laminar flow is defined as smooth linear flow that generally follows the boundary in the system. Laminar flow is primarily driven by external forces such as gravity and the driving pressure, e.g., the acceleration a1. Turbulent flow is generally irregular, chaotic, erratic, and highly sensitive to initial conditions and boundary conditions. The transition region is an area wherein the flow behavior begins to change from laminar to turbulent.

Applying these definitions to the above embodiment, the flow of the fluid 108 within the shell body 102 may be generally laminar at time T1 as it is driven to the left by the acceleration a1 of the shell body 102. However, once the initial acceleration a1 ends (i.e., the archer's flinch ends), the fluid 108 may move in different directions and may become turbulent. Being turbulent, the additional forces may be chaotic and not easily defined, and as such, may cause undesirable movement to the shell body 102 and to the archery bow at the time T2.

Viscosity is a term that quantifies the internal frictional forces between layers of a fluid that are in relative motion and is used to provide a measurement of a fluid's resistance to deformation and flow. As a fluid's viscosity increases, the fluid experiences larger shear stresses and internal drag, thereby impacting the fluid's flow regime. In general, a fluid with higher viscosity tends to be less vulnerable to becoming turbulent.

In some embodiments, the fluid 106 may include a suspension 116 or a colloid 118.

As is known, a suspension 116 is a heterogeneous mixture generally comprising a fluid (also referred to as the dispersion medium, continuous phase, or external phase) and a plurality of solid particles (also referred to as the dispersed phase or the internal phase) suspended, but not dissolved, therein. The fluid and the particles are not chemically bonded to one another such that each retains its own chemical properties and makeup. In some instances, the particles may be dispersed throughout the fluid through mechanical agitation and/or through the use of certain excipients or suspending agents. In addition, the solid particles may be sufficiently large enough (e.g., larger than one micrometer) for sedimentation to occur and may eventually settle within the fluid. However, the mixture may generally be classified as a suspension when the particles are suspended and not settled out. An example of a suspension may include agitated sand in water wherein the suspended particles may be visible under a microscope and may settle over time if left undisturbed.

A colloid 118 on the other hand is known to be a suspension in which the particles are small enough that they do not settle, even when left undisturbed (no sedimentation). The size of the particles in a colloid 118 may typically range from 1 nanometer to 1 micrometer, though other sizes may apply with the current invention.

In a viscous liquid, one layer of the fluid may exert more drag on its neighboring layers, and may thereby produce a thicker fluid that is more resistant to deformation and flow. Particles in a suspension or colloid may behave in a similar manner, that is, a particle in a suspension or colloid may be more likely to move when its neighboring particles move, which may affect the fluid's effective viscosity.

Other factors, such as particle size and the concentration of particles may also affect the suspension's or colloid's viscosity. For example, an increase in the suspension's density due to particle size and an increased concentration may result in an increase of the suspension's or colloid's viscosity. In addition, the pH level of the suspension or colloid also may affect the viscosity, however, the effect may not be linear and may rely on other attributes.

Given the above, the dispersion medium and the particles of the assembly's suspension 116 and/or colloid 118 may be chosen to provide a viscosity level that (i) provides adequate initial forces F1, F2 to be applied at the time T1 to stabilize the separate apparatus S (e.g., the archery bow) as described above, and (ii) minimizes the additional forces applied by the suspension 116 or colloid 118 to the shell body 102 at the time T2.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the shell assembly 100 may one or more internal baffles 120 configured within the shell body's inner volume 104. FIG. 4 shows a top view block diagram of the assembly 100 with the baffle 120 and FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the same. The fluid 106 is not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 for clarity.

In some embodiments, each baffle 120 may include a bulkhead 122 with an aperture 124. Each baffle 120 may generally extend across the shell body's inner volume 104 between the inner surface of the forward sidewall 126 and the inner surface of the rear sidewall 128. It may be preferable that the baffle 120 be substantially perpendicular to the direction of the acceleration a1.

In some embodiments, the aperture 124 may be round, e.g., circular or oval shaped, but other shapes also may be used. The aperture 124 also may preferably be located in the center of the bulkhead 122, but the aperture 124 also may be located in other areas on the bulkhead 122. In some embodiments, the diameter of the aperture 124 may be about 10% to 50% the width of the bulkhead 122, and preferably about 20% to 40% the width of the bulkhead 122, and more preferably about 25% the width of the bulkhead 122. While FIGS. 4 and 5 show the shell body 102 including a single baffle 120, it is understood that the shell body 102 may include any number of baffles 120 in any suitable locations. Also, if multiple baffles 120 are used, the baffles 120 need not match (e.g., the apertures 124 ay include different diameters).

In use, the baffles 120 may minimize the “sloshing” of the fluid 106 (including the suspension 116 and/or the colloid 118 if used) at and/or after the time T2. For example, after the initial flinch by the archer that causes the acceleration a1 of the fluid 106 and the resulting forces F1, F2 applied to the shell body 102 to stabilize the archery bow, the archer may stop the flinch and/or even counter the flinch by purposely moving the bow in an opposite direction (e.g., back to center). This in turn may cause the fluid 106 to decelerate and/or to accelerate in an opposite direction to a1 thereby causing additional forces to be applied to the shell body 102 that may potentially affect the bow's stability. In this scenario, the baffles 120 may segment the shell body 102 such that the fluid 106 is distributed in each compartment. The fluid 106 is able to flow through the aperture 124 but the bulkhead 122 prevents the total load from moving drastically within the shell's inner volume 104.

In addition, as the fluid 106 decelerates and/or accelerates in an opposite direction, it may apply forces to the left and right inner sidewalls 112, 114 of the shell body 102 as well as to the left and right sides of the bulkhead 122 midway therebetween. This in turn may more evenly dissipate the additional forces and spread the energy more evenly across the shell body 102. As a result, the fluid 106 may dampen more quickly thereby minimizing the effects of the additional forces at and/or after time T2.

In addition, other suitable structures such as fins, rudders, and/or other types of baffles may be configured within the shell's inner volume 104 for the same or similar purposes.

In a first example of implementation, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the stabilization assembly 10 may be implemented with an archery bow B and may help in stabilizing the bow B during its use with shooting arrows. For example, if the archer may inadvertently flinch or otherwise cause the bow B to move (e.g., to move sharply) at the moment just before or at the time of the shot, the stabilization assembly 10 may help to offset the movement and thereby stabilize the bow B.

FIG. 6 shows the stabilization assembly 10 configured with a compound type archery bow B, and FIG. 7 shows the assembly 10 configured with a recurve type archery bow B. As is known, each bow B may include an upper limb UL and a lower limb LL. As is shown in FIG. 5, the bow B also may include a riser R that may include a central structure to which other parts of the bow B may be attached. For example, the upper and lower limbs UL, LL may be attached to opposite ends (e.g., upper and lower ends) of the riser R, and the riser R may include a grip, an arrow shelf, and universal mounting points to attach bow accessories such as stabilizers, rests, sights, and other accessories.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the stabilization assembly 10 may be attached to any location on the lower limb LL of the bow B. It also may be connected to any location on the upper limb UL.

In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 7, the stabilization assembly 10 may be attached to any location on the bow's riser R.

While FIGS. 6 and 7 show the stabilization 10 including a single stabilization assembly 10 configured with the bow B, two or more stabilization assemblies 10 may be attached to the bow B at different locations and in different orientations with respect to the bow B and to one another.

In a first example of this, as shown in FIG. 8, a first stabilization assembly 10-1 may be attached to the bow B (e.g., to the lower limb LL) and may extend forward as described in relation to the embodiment of FIG. 6. Additionally, a second stabilization assembly 10-2 may be configured with the first stabilization assembly 10-1 and may extend to the left and rearward with respect to the first stabilization assembly 10-1, and a third stabilization assembly 10-3 may be configured with the first stabilization assembly 10-1 and may extend to the right and rearward with respect to the first stabilization assembly 10-1. This may form a triangular arrangement of stabilization assemblies 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 as shown. In some embodiments, the second and third stabilization assemblies 10-2, 10-3 may be oriented at about 135° with respect to the first stabilization assembly 10-1, but other angular orientations also may be used. FIG. 9 shows a similar arrangement of assemblies 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 configured with the bow B of FIG. 7.

While the proximal ends 204-2, 204-3 of the second and third stabilization assemblies 10-2, 10-3, respectively, are depicted as being connected to the first stabilization assembly 10-1 (e.g., to its support structure 202), it is understood that either or both of the second and/or third assemblies 10-2, 10-3 may be attached to the bow B as described in other sections. That is, the proximal ends 204-2, 204-3 of the second and/or third assembly support structures 202-2, 202-3, respectively, may be connected to the bow's upper limb UL, lower limb LL, riser R, and/or to any other portions of the bow B.

FIG. 10 shows the bow B and stabilization assemblies 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 of FIG. 8, with the front of the bow B being moved (e.g., accelerated) to the left about the longitudinal axis L1 at a rate of acceleration a2, and the back of the bow B being moved (e.g., accelerated) to the right about a second longitudinal axis L2. During these movements of the bow B, the first stabilization assembly 10-1 may counter the movement of the front of the bow B by applying a force F3 and the second stabilization assembly 10-2 may counter the movement of the back of the bow B by applying a force F4 as shown.

It is understood that this example is meant for demonstration and that other numbers, arrangements and/or orientations of stabilization assemblies 10 may be implemented to offset other movements of the bow B.

FIG. 11 shows a side sectional view of the stabilization assembly 10 including the shell assembly 100 and the attachment assembly 200. In this embodiment, the shell assembly 102 may be spherical and the attachment mechanisms 208, 210 may include threaded male and female counterparts. Other suitable attachment mechanisms 208, 210 also may be used.

FIG. 12A shows a side sectional view of an attachment mechanism 210. The attachment mechanism 210 may include an outer housing 212 with a threaded aperture 214 designed to receive the threaded distal end 206 of the support structure 202. In some embodiments, a fluid-tight set screw 216 may be configured within the aperture 214 (e.g., within a cavity 218 at the far back end of the aperture 214) to provide access to the shell's inner volume 104, e.g., to insert the fluid 106 into the shell's inner volume 104, to remove fluid 106 from the inner volume 104, etc. Other types of attachment mechanisms 210 also may be used. In addition, the shell body 102 may include other ports, access channels or openings that may allow for the fluid 106 to be added and/or removed from the shell 102. FIG. 12B shows a front view of the same.

FIG. 13 shows an alternative example of a shell assembly 100 that may include a generally tubular shaped shell body 102. The tube-shaped shell body 102 may extend away from the bow B as shown. The shell body 102 may be filled with fluid 106 and may perform similarly to the spherical shaped shell body 102 of prior embodiments. In addition, the shell body 102 may be attached directly to the bow B without including the support structure 202, that is, the shell body 102 may be attached directly to the bow B using an attachment mechanism(s) 208, 210 as described in other sections. In some embodiments, the shell body 102 may be fixedly attached to the bow B and may include an external port 220 on an outer sidewall to the addition and/or removal of the fluid 106.

It is understood that the shell body 102 may include any suitable shapes and/or forms, including, but not limited to, ovoid, cuboid, ellipsoid, any other suitable shapes and/or forms, and any combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the shell body 102 may have a diameter of about 3″ to 6″ for target applications, and about 2″ to 3″ for hunting applications. It also may be preferable that the stabilization assembly 10 weigh less than 24 ounces, and preferably about 6 ounces to 14 ounces total. Other sizes and weights of assemblies 10 also may be used.

In some embodiments, the shell assembly 100 and/or the attachment assembly 200 may comprise metal, plastic, composite materials, other suitable materials, and any combinations thereof.

Test Results

The stabilization assembly 10 was tested using the following test methodology.

Six experienced archers first used archery bows that did not include the stabilization assembly 10. A total of 90 arrows were shot at a target at a distance of 20 yards, and the scores were tallied. The same archers then configured the stabilization assembly 10 with their respective bows and an additional 90 arrows were shot at the same target at the same distance of 20 yards. The second scores were then tallied and compared to the first scores.

FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C show the first scores that did not include use of the stabilization assembly 10, and FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 15C show the second scores that did include the use of the assembly 10.

During the scoring, an X a value of 10 points is awarded for a bullseye, a score of 10 is awarded for a shot that landed within the first ring (the 10-ring) outside the bullseye, and a score of 9 was awarded for shots that landed within the second ring (the 9-ring) outside the bullseye. The number of X's is used as a tiebreaker.

As shown in FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C, a total of 53 bullseyes, 30 scores of 10, and 8 scores of 9 were awarded for shots without use of the stabilization assembly 10.

As shown in FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 15C, a total of 66 bullseyes, 23 scores of 10, and 1 score of 9 were awarded for shots with use of the stabilization assembly 10.

Given the above results, bullseyes increased by about 25% when the stabilization assembly 10 was used compared to when it was not.

Additionally, the test archers stated that the assembly 10 seemed to reduce sight wandering off of the bullseye when the bow sight was used.

Given the above, the test results demonstrate that an improvement in shot accuracy was provided when the stabilization assembly 10 was used.

It is understood that any aspects or elements of any of the embodiments of the stabilization assembly 10 may be combined with any other aspects or elements of any other embodiments of the stabilization assembly 10 to form additional embodiments of the stabilization assembly 10 that also are within the scope of the stabilization assembly 10.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.