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US 5,720,269 AGranted
Bowstring sound dampener
OwnerCharles A. Saundersinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sound dampening apparatus includes a support arm having one end mounted to a bow, and a cushion member on a second end of the support arm and positioned in contact with the bowstring when the string is in the "dead" position. The cushion member is formed of a closed cell foam material which absorbs the energy of movement of the bowstring upon release of the bowstring after launching an arrow, to thereby dampen sound emitted by the string.
Claims23
A sound dampening apparatus for a bow, comprising:
- a support arm having first and second ends;
- means on the first end of the support arm for connecting the support arm to a bow;
- a cushion member of vibration dampening material mounted on the second end of said arm, for contacting a bowstring and dampening vibrational movement thereof;
- said cushion member having a longitudinal axis and formed of a material which is resiliently compressible along the longitudinal axis;
- and
- rigid support means within said cushion member for maintaining said cushion member generally straight along its longitudinal axis during compression, while permitting compression of the cushion member along its longitudinal axis.
3 more elements
A sound dampening apparatus for a bow, comprising:
- a support arm having first and second ends;
- means on the first end of the support arm for connecting the support arm to a bow;
- a cushion member of vibration dampening material mounted on the second end of said arm, for contacting a bowstring and dampening vibrational movement thereof;
- said cushion member having a longitudinal axis and being formed of a closed cell foam material which is resiliently compressible along the longitudinal axis;
- said cushion member including an aperture formed therethrough along the longitudinal axis thereof;
- a tubular shaft extending rearwardly from the second end of the support arm, journaled within a forward portion of said aperture;
- and
- a plunger having a forward end and telescoping within a rearward end of the tubular shaft, and a rearward end projecting rearwardly therefrom;
- said plunger having means on the rearward end thereof for engaging the cushion member within the aperture and moving with the cushion member, such that the cushion member will compress between the plunger rearward end engagement means and the support arm as the plunger telescopes within the tubular shaft.
6 more elements
In combination:
- a bow having a bowstring extending between free ends of the bow;
- said bow string having a path of movement comprising:
- a "dead" position wherein the string is straight and unmoving;
- a "drawn" position wherein the string is pulled rearwardly away from the bow;
- and
- an "oscillation" position wherein the string oscillates in generally sinusoidal curves between the bow ends after release from the drawn position, until resuming the "dead" position;
- and
- a said sound dampening apparatus connected to the bow for preventing the oscillation position of the bow string, comprising:
- a support arm having first and second ends, the first end connected to the bow and the second end projecting freely therefrom;
- a cushion member mounted on the second end of the support arm formed of a vibration dampening material, said cushion member having forward and rearward ends, and a contact surface on the rearward end thereof;
- and
- said sound dampening apparatus mounted between said bow and bowstring with said cushion member contact surface in contact with said bowstring when the bowstring is in the "dead" position;
- said cushion member having a longitudinal axis between the forward and rearward ends and being resiliently compressible along the longitudinal axis;
- said cushion member being mounted on said bow with the longitudinal axis oriented generally perpendicularly to the string in the "dead" position.
11 more elements
In combination:
- a bow having a bowstring extending between free ends of the bow;
- said bow string having a path of movement comprising:
- a "dead" position wherein the string is straight and unmoving;
- a "drawn" position wherein the string is pulled rearwardly away from the bow;
- and
- an "oscillation" position wherein the string oscillates in generally sinusoidal curves between the bow ends after release from the drawn position, until resuming the "dead" position;
- and
- a sound dampening apparatus connected to the bow for preventing the oscillation position of the bow string, comprising:
- a support arm having first and second ends, the first end connected to the bow and the second end projecting freely therefrom;
- a cushion member mounted on the second end of the support arm formed of a vibration dampening material, said cushion member having forward and rearward ends, and a contact surface on the rearward end thereof;
- and
- said sound dampening apparatus mounted between said bow and bowstring with said cushion member contact surface in contact with said bowstring when the bowstring is in the "dead" position;
- said cushion member having a longitudinal axis and formed of a material which is resiliently compressible along the longitudinal axis;
- said cushion member including an aperture formed therethrough along the longitudinal axis thereof;
- a tubular shaft extending rearwardly from the second end of the support arm, journaled within a forward portion of said aperture;
- and
- a plunger having a forward end and telescoping within a rearward end of the tubular shaft, and a rearward end projecting rearwardly therefrom;
- said plunger having means on the rearward end thereof for engaging the cushion member within the aperture and moving with the cushion member, such that the cushion member will compress between the plunger rearward end engagement means and the support arm as the plunger telescopes within the tubular shaft.
15 more elements
A sound dampening apparatus for a bow, comprising:
- a support arm having first and second ends;
- means on the first end of the support arm for connecting the support arm to a bow;
- and
- a cushion member mounted on the second end of the support arm and having means for dampening vibrational movement of a bowstring upon contact of the bowstring therewith;
- said cushion member being an elongated member having forward and rearward ends;
- said means for dampening the bowstring including a generally V-shaped notch extending forwardly into the rearward end of the member, for receiving the bowstring in a valley of the notch;
- said cushion member being formed of a resilient compressible material which will partially surround and grip the bowstring within the valley of the notch.
4 more elements
A sound dampening apparatus for a bow, comprising:
- a support arm having first and second ends;
- means on the first end of the support arm for connecting the support arm to a bow;
- and
- a cushion member mounted on the second end of the support arm and having means for dampening vibrational movement of a bowstring upon contact of the bowstring therewith;
- said cushion member being an elongated tubular member of resilient, flexible material having forward and rearward ends, and
- said means for dampening the bowstring including the rearward end of the tubular member being flared radially outwardly in the shape of a cone.
3 more elements
In combination:
- a bow having a bowstring extending between free ends of the bow;
- said bow string having a path of movement comprising:
- a "dead" position wherein the string is straight and unmoving;
- a "drawn" position wherein the string is pulled rearwardly away from the bow;
- and
- an "oscillation" position wherein the string oscillates in generally sinusoidal curves between the bow ends after release from the drawn position, until resuming the "dead" position;
- and
- a sound dampening apparatus connected to the bow for preventing the oscillation position of the bow string, comprising:
- a support arm having first and second ends, the first end connected to the bow and the second end projecting freely therefrom;
- a cushion member mounted on the second end of the support arm formed of a vibration dampening material, said cushion member having forward and rearward ends, and a contact surface on the rearward end thereof;
- and
- said sound dampening apparatus mounted between said bow and bowstring with said cushion member contact surface in contact with said bowstring when the bowstring is in the "dead" position;
- said cushion member including an aperture formed therethrough along the longitudinal axis thereof;
- a tubular shaft extending rearwardly from the second end of the support arm, journaled within a forward portion of said aperture;
- and
- a plunger having a forward end and telescoping within a rearward end of the tubular shaft, and a rearward end projecting rearwardly therefrom;
- said plunger having means on the rearward end thereof for engaging the cushion member within the aperture and moving with the cushion member, such that the cushion member will compress between the plunger rearward end engagement means and the support arm as the plunger telescopes within the tubular shaft.
14 more elements
In combination:
- a bow having a bowstring extending between free ends of the bow;
- said bow string having a path of movement comprising:
- a "dead" position wherein the string is straight and unmoving between the free ends of the, bow;
- a "drawn" position wherein the string is pulled rearwardly away from the bow;
- and
- an "oscillation" position wherein the string oscillates in generally sinusoidal curves between the bow ends after release from the drawn position, until resuming the "dead" position;
- and
- a sound dampening apparatus connected to the bow for preventing the oscillation position of the bow string, comprising:
- a support arm having first and second ends, the first end connected to the bow and the second end projecting freely therefrom;
- a cushion member mounted on the second end of the support arm formed of a vibration dampening material, said cushion member having forward and rearward ends, and a contact surface on the rearward end thereof;
- and
- said sound dampening apparatus mounted between said bow and bowstring with said cushion member contact surface in contact with said bowstring when the bowstring is in the "dead" position;
- said cushion member being an elongated member having forward and rearward ends, and
- said means for dampening the bowstring including a generally V-shaped notch extending forwardly into the rearward end of the member, for receiving the bowstring in a valley of the notch, the valley of the notch forming said contact surface.
11 more elements
In combination:
- a bow having a bowstring extending between free ends of the bow;
- said bow string having a path of movement comprising:
- a "dead" position wherein the string is straight and unmoving;
- a "drawn" position wherein the string is pulled rearwardly away from the bow;
- and
- an "oscillation" position wherein the string oscillates in generally sinusoidal curves between the bow ends after release from the drawn position, until resuming the "dead" position;
- and
- a sound dampening apparatus connected to the bow for preventing the oscillation position of the bow string, comprising:
- a support arm having first and second ends, the first end connected to the bow and the second end projecting freely therefrom;
- a cushion member mounted on the second end of the support arm formed of a vibration dampening material, said cushion member having forward and rearward ends, and a contact surface on the rearward end thereof;
- and
- said sound dampening apparatus mounted between said bow and bowstring with said cushion member, contact surface in contact with said bowstring when the bowstring is in the "dead" position;
- said cushion member being an elongated tubular member of resilient, flexible material having forward and rearward ends, and
- said means for dampening the bowstring including the rearward end of the tubular member being flared radially outwardly in the shape of a cone.
11 more elements
In combination:
- a bow having a bowstring extending between free ends of the bow;
- said bow string having a path of movement comprising:
- a "dead" position wherein the string is straight and unmoving;
- a "drawn" position wherein the string is pulled rearwardly away from the bow;
- and
- an "oscillation" position wherein the string oscillates in generally sinusoidal curves between the bow ends after release from the drawn position, until resuming the "dead" position;
- and
- a sound dampening apparatus connected to the bow for preventing the oscillation position of the bow string, comprising:
- a support arm having first and second ends, the first end connected to the bow and the second end projecting freely therefrom;
- a cushion member mounted on the second end of the support arm formed of a vibration dampening material, said cushion member having forward and rearward ends, and a contact surface on the rearward end thereof;
- and
- said sound dampening apparatus mounted between said bow and bowstring with said cushion member contact surface in contact with said bowstring when the bowstring is in the, "dead" position;
- said cushion member being an elongated tubular member of resilient, flexible material, having forward and rearward ends, and
- further comprising a V-shaped notch formed in diametric sides of the rearward end for receiving the bowstring within diametric valleys of the notches, the notch valleys forming the contact surface.
11 more elements
In combination:
- a bow having a bowstring extending between free ends of the bow;
- said bow string having a path of movement comprising:
- a "dead" position wherein the string is straight and unmoving;
- a "drawn" position wherein the string is pulled rearwardly away from the bow;
- and
- an "oscillation" position wherein the string oscillates in generally sinusoidal curves between the bow ends after release from the drawn position, until resuming tile "dead" position;
- and
- a sound dampening apparatus connected to the bow for preventing the oscillation position of the bow string, comprising:
- a support arm having first and second ends, the first end connected to the bow and the second end protecting freely therefrom;
- a cushion member mounted on the second end of the support arm formed of a vibration dampening material, said cushion member having forward and rearward ends, and a contact surface on the rearward end thereof;
- and
- said sound dampening apparatus mounted between said bow and bowstring with said cushion member contact surface in contact with said bowstring when the bowstring is in the "dead" position;
- said cushion member being an elongated tubular member of resilient flexible material, having forward and rearward ends;
- a V-shaped notch formed in diametric sides of the rearward end having diametric valleys formed at forward ends of the notches;
- and
- an auxiliary pad of compressible material inserted within the tubular member and having a rearward end projecting rearwardly beyond said valleys, said pad rearward end forming said contact surface.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.