HANGER ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORTING AND STORING A COMPOUND BOW

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 63/484,827, filed 14 Feb. 2023, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to mounting devices for a compound bow and, more particularly, a bow caddy hanger for supporting and storing a compound bow in a hanging position.

A compound bow is a costly investment that is recommended to be stored in a hanging position. Present compound bow mounting devices involve the purchase of hooks to be screwed into studs in the wall or some other rigid supporting surface to support the bow. This is unsightly and often not convenient. This also requires time to facilitate the requisite rigid connection, including correct placement of the hooks to ensure they will not come off the wall as that would frustrate the purpose of keeping the compound bow from being damaged.

Current bow hanging options require owners to put holes in walls, thereby demanding time and attention to precisely mount hooks in studs to support the weight of a compound bow, because if they are not mounted correctly, the bow could fall and be damaged. Also, current bow hanging options are not convenient nor attractive in implementation. As a result of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, many people simply leave their bow in a case rather than wall mount a support for the component bow, which is the preferred way of keeping the compound bow undamaged when it is stored between use.

As can be seen, there is a need for a hanger assembly for supporting and storing a compound bow in a hanging position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The bow hanger assembly embodied in the present invention (colloquially known as “Bow Caddy”) is small, portable, and simply hooks over any closet clothes rod or elongated rack element, thereby providing a simple, efficient way to store a compound bow in a hanging position. The compound bow can then easily be hung on the bow hanger assembly storing it conveniently in the hanging position anywhere the owner desires where there is a hanging rod.

In one aspect of the present invention, hanger assembly for hanging a bow from an elongate member, the hanger assembly providing the following: a head portion for engaging the elongated member; a body portion depending from the head portion; and a connector protruding from a distal end of the body portion so that a connector hook of the connector projects in a first direction both toward the head portion and parallel with a longitudinal axis of the body portion, wherein the connector hook is a spaced apart from the body portion by at least a quarter of an inch.

In another aspect of the present invention, the hanger assembly further provides wherein the connector hook is along a distal end of the connector, and wherein a proximal end of the connector provides a stop for preventing the connector from sliding out of a hole in the distal end of the body portion, wherein the head portion defines a hook having an inner edge defining a diameter of approximately one and a half inch, wherein a distal end of the hook extends in a second direction that is orthogonal to both the first direction and the longitudinal axis of the body portion, wherein the head portion defines a closed loop having an inner edge defining a diameter of approximately one and a half inch.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of hanging a composite bow from an elongated member in a hanging position includes the following: engaging either of the above-mentioned hook of the hanger assemblies with the elongated member so that the hook portion depends from the elongated member and hanging a cam of the composite bow from the distal end of the connector.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a rod hanger assembly for supporting and storing a compound bow in a hanging position. The bow hanger assembly providing a head portion for engaging the elongated member, a body portion depending from the head portion; and a connector protruding from a distal end of the body portion so that a connector hook of the connector projects in a first direction both toward the head portion and parallel with a longitudinal axis of the body portion, wherein the connector hook is a spaced apart from the body portion by at least a quarter of an inch. Upon engaging the head portion with the elongated member, the composite bow, by way of its cam, can be hung from the distal end of the connector in the hanging position so that the composite bow does not touch anything but the bow hanger assembly.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6, the present invention may include a bow hanger assembly 10 for supporting and storing a compound bow 24 from an elongated element 22, including but not limited to a hanging rod typically found in a residential closet. The bow rod hanger 10 may be made from a piece of approximately ⅛-inch-thick metallic, plasticized, or other suitable tension-strong material formed, rendered, or cut in the shape of a question mark.

The bow rod hanger 10 may have a head portion 12 coupled to a body portion 14 at a neck region. The head portion 12 may have a hook shape, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. The body portion 14 of the bow rod hanger 10 may be substantially linear or have a slight curvature as the body portion approaches the neck regions, thereby affording a ‘question mark’ shape for the entire bow rod hanger 10. The curvature may be ⅙pi to ¼pi radians.

The body portion 14 may be approximately ⅛-inch thick, approximately half an inch wide and approximately two inches in length from neck region to distal end. The inner curvature of the open hook shape of the head portion 12 may have an approximately 1½ inches diameter, though other diameters are valid so long as the open hook shaped head portion 12 engages the elongated element 22 and avoid unwieldy slippage.

A connector 18 approximately ¼ inch in diameter made of suitable material may protrude from adjacent the distal end of the body portion 14. The connector 18 may have an approximately 90-degree bend at its distal end. The connector 18 very distal end may be directly along a y-axis of the bow hanger assembly 10. The y-axis generally is parallel with the body portion 14. A proximal end of the connector 18 may extend in the x-axis 17, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Thus, the distal end of the connector 18 is spaced apart from the body portion 14 by at least ⅖ of an inch. While the distal end of the (hook portion) head portion 12 is directed in z-axis, which is perpendicular to both the x-axis and y-axis.

The connector 18 may be slid through a hole 16 adjacent to the distal end of the body portion 14. A stopper 20 along a proximal end of the connector 18 has a wider diameter than the distal end thereof to prevent the entire connector from sliding through the hole 16. Connector 18 may be welded or soldered in the hole 16 to the body portion 14 in such a manner that the bend is pointing upward (along y-axis) toward the top of the head portion 12 (though in a spaced apart arrangement relative to both the head and body portions 12 and 14, which are generally coplanar). The completed bow rod hanger assembly 10 may then be anodized, painted or powder coated depending on the material used.

In operation, the open hook portion of the bow hanger assembly 10 is placed over the elongated member 22 so that the distal end of hanger assembly's body portion 14 is disposed below the elongated member 22. The top cam 26 of the compound bow 24, which has an circular frame with voids between spoke-like elements is placed on the protruding distal portion of the connector 18. The upright bend in the connector 18 will prevent the compound bow from falling off the hanger. It should be understood that the hook shape of the head portion 12 provides significant overhang for retaining the mounted rod hanger assembly 10 to the elongated 22.

An alternative hanger assembly 30, illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, is dimensioned and shaped, particularly by a closed loop head portion 32, to be slid on the elongated element 22 and left there, for a user to selectively engage the hanger assembly 30 with a compound bow 24. The inner curvature of the closed loop of the head portion 12 may have an approximately 1½ inches diameter, though other diameters are valid so long as it receives the elongated element 22 and avoids unwieldy slippage.

The body portion 34 may be a linear element that depends from the head portion 32, centrally disposed thereto so that a linear line through the body portion 34 would pass through a center of the closed loop head portion 32. The dimensions of the head and body portions 32 and 34 may be similar to the range of dimensions afforded the first embodiment of the bow hanger assembly 10. Likewise, the second bow hanger assembly 30 provides a connector 36 like the above-mentioned connector 18.

The bow hanger assembly 10 or 30 could be produced by many methods. Steel could be cut with a plasma cutter or punched to create the question mark shaped body of the bow hanger assembly 10 or the circle with tail body of the bow rod hanger assembly 30. An aluminum body could be created in the fashion acceptable for use with aluminum. A plastic body could be injection molded or fabricated additively. The connectors 18 and 36 could be purchased in bulk or fabricated by bending small diameter steel or aluminum. These items would be welded or soldered together. A plastic body bow hanger assembly 10 and 30 could be injection molded or 3D printed as a unitary piece.

The design would be similar with a hanger slipping over a closet rod with a spaced apart connector 18 or 36 having a separate hook portion oriented orthogonally relative to the normal directions in which the head portion and the body portions extend, so as to provide support for the cam 26 of the compound bow 24, preventing it from becoming dislodged. A spring retention system could be incorporated preventing the bow hanger assembly from coming dislodged from the elongated member 22. An additional spring could be used to prevent the bow from dislodging from the connector 18/36.

Different materials could be utilized to construct a hanger as long as the components (whether one molded piece or separate assembled components) are structurally capable of supporting the weight of a compound bow upon which the cam sits. A hook with a chain and clasp could function as a Bow Caddy. A plastic molded bow hanger assembly 10 and 30 could support the weight of a compound bow. The retention springs could be added to prevent the bow hanger assembly 10 and 30 from coming off the elongated ember 22 to prevent the bow cam 26 from slipping off the connector 18/36. It should be understood that the cam 26 of the compound bow 24 has two wheels and hangs on the lower “float” of the bow hanger assemblies 10 and 30.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The user would simply place the bow hanger assembly 10 or 30 on the elongated member 22 (e.g., closet rod 22) in their home or anywhere they travel. The compound bow 24 would be hung by one of its cams 26 on the connector 18/36 of the bow hanger assemblies 10 or 30. This will support the compound bow 24 in a hanging position until a user is ready to take it down. The bow hanger assembly 10 or 30 can be taken with them to be utilized elsewhere they travel.

Additionally, any item of value that needs to be stored in a hanging fashion or position could be hung on a closet rod with the bow hanger. The bow hanger assemblies 10 and 30 are constructed of material that is shaped to hold substantial weight. The present invention makes hanging a piece of equipment from an elongated element 22 easy and convenient. The body of the hanger could be offset to allow for a wider item to hang more vertically by shifting the center of gravity. A longer pin could be installed to accommodate a larger item (holiday wreaths, extension cords, etc.).

As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. And the term “substantially” refers to up to 80% or more of an entirety. Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “aligned” means parallel, substantially parallel, or forming an angle of less than 35.0 degrees. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “transverse” means perpendicular, substantially perpendicular, or forming an angle between 55.0 and 125.0 degrees. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “length” means the longest dimension of an object. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “width” means the dimension of an object from side to side. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “above” generally means superjacent, substantially superjacent, or higher than another object although not directly overlying the object. Further, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “mechanical communication” generally refers to components being in direct physical contact with each other or being in indirect physical contact with each other where movement of one component affect the position of the other.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed embodiments.

In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms unless specifically stated to the contrary.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.