ARCHERY VEST AND BRACE

VESTE D'ARCHER AVEC SUPPORT INCORPORE

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A one or two-piece garment generally contoured to conform to the shape of the human torso
manufactured from a semi-rigid material such as heavy leather or vacuum formed plastic
incorporating a fastening means located at the front, which when worn by physically challenged
individuals, permits such individuals to participate fully in the sport of bow shooting and archery. An
arched support is permanently affixed to one half of the garment by securing to the top front and
top rear of said garment half. Incorporated within the body of the arched support and to the front
of said support is an anchoring device, hinged to accept a commercially available trigger style bow string
release mechanism thus allowing a physically challenged person the capability of drawing and
releasing the bow.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as
follows:
1. A vest like garment of rigid or semi-rigid material generally contoured to approximate the
shape o the human torso and incorporating an arched support which includes a bow string
release trigger and trigger anchor.

Description

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ARCH~RY BRAOE AND VES~ ~-
i~ This invention relates to the sport of archery, more specifically, the provision of a means by which
` physically challenged individuals can participate fully in that sport.
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The use of bow and arrow -for both sport target shooting and hunting, has been steadily gaining
in popularity over the past decade. By its very nature, the operation of a bow and arrow rqu;res
oS considerable upper arm and chest strength. In the case of certain types of physical disability such as the
loss or limited use of one arm, or limited strength in these areas, the sport of archery has been closed
J to the vast majority of physically challenged individuals.
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While much inventive ingenuity~hasbeen applied to thedevelopment of devices designed
j specifically to enable the physically challenged to participate in most other forms of sporting activity,
10 the field of archery has remained largely ignored.
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The invention described herein, when worn by a physically challenged individual, permits that
individual to sa~ely and efficiently operate a bow and arrow mechanism. ~ ~ -
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Accordingly, several objects and advantages-of the present invention are:
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~ (a) to provide an archery vest and brace which is simple and comfortable to wear;
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(b) .o provide an archery vest and brace which acts as an anchor point for the drawing of a bow string;
(c) to provide an archery vest and brace enabling those individuals with limited arm strength to draw
a bow;
(d) to provide an archery vest and brace which is of simple construction thus amenable to relatively
oS inexpensive manufacture; and
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3 (e) to provide an archery vest and brace which is unobtrusive on the wearer's body.
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Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing
drawings and description.
The invention, as exemplified by a preferred embodiment, is described with reference to the
lo following drawings wherein:
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Fig. 1; is a perspective view of the vest illustrating the arched support, vest body and front -fastening
means.
Fig. 2; is a side view of the vest illustrating the vest in its relative operable position also illustrating the
trigger style bowreleasemechanism.
15 Fig. 3; is a side view of the vest in operable position illustrating the bow string drawn.
Fig. 4; is a back view of the vest illustrating the arm support installed on the vest.
Fig. S; is a perspective view of the arm support illustrating the components thereo-f.
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Fig. ~,; is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment oE the invention illustrating the various
components thereof.
Reference numerals used in the drawings are as follows:
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10 vest 12 waist straping
05 14 buckle 16 bow
18 arm rest mount 20 trigger anchor
22 trigger 24 arm rest
26 first arm rest support 26'second arm rest support4
30 cross straps 32 mo~mting slots,
lo 34 back h;nge 36 first shell half
;' 36' second shell half 40 clasps
42 arched support 44 str;ng release
46 release trigger 50 bow string
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Referring to figures 1 to 5 in which an embodiment of the invention is shown, it may be seen ~ - -
lS that the archery vest and brace is comprised of a vest like garment 10 of semi-rigid or rigid material
A~ of un;formwallth;cknessandgenerally contouredto approximate the shapeofonehalfofthe hwman
torso and securely Eastenable onthetorsobymeans of dual adjustablestraps 12andaquickrelease
buckle mechanism 14 which buckles at waist level on the side oE the user's torso.
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A trigger anchor 20 is permanently affixed by conventional means to the arched shouk}er -
20 support and connected by a flexible strap to a conventional and readily available trigger style bow ;~
string release mechanism 22. The trigger release mechanism 22 may be affrxed to either side of the
arched shoulder support thus accommodating either left or right handed operation of the trigger

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release 22.
The vest and brace 10 further includes, one on either side and located rearward on the main
~ body of the vest 10, dual arm rest mounting pins 18 permanently aEfixed by conventional means to
-. the body of the vest 10.
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The arm rest 24 is comprised of a first and second support member, 26 and 26' respectively,
each of robust, rigid material of uniform wall thickness and incorporating a plurality of longitudinal
slats through each of which is attached a flexible cross strap 30 such that the first 26 and second 26'
- support members are cross linked one to the other by means of a plurality of cross s-traps 30.
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Each of the supports, 26 and 26' respoectively further includes at one end a generally "L"
10 shaped aperture the dimension of whi~h are such as to permit the insertion of the vest 10 mounting
pins18.Thllsthearmreast24isremoYably attachabletotherearofthevest1Oandwheninanupright
position on the vest 10 provides underarm support to the wearer.
Referring now to figure ~ in which an alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown
it may be seen that the vest and brace is comprised of two half shells 36 and 36' respectively, hinged
~` 1534 at the rear such that the shells, 36 and 36' respectively fully enclose the human torso when closed
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and secured by means of the clasps 40.
Permanently affixed by conventional means to the upper surface, both front and rear of one
shell 36 is an arched support 42 consisting of robust rigid material of uniform wall thiclcness and tilted
outwardly to provide adequate clearance for the wearer's neck. A trigger 44 and release 46 are
20 permanently secured to the front outer surface of the arched support 42by any conventional means.
While alternate embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated,
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thel,lesent invention is notlimited totheEeaturesoftheseembo(liments,but includes allvariations
ancl modifications within the scope of the claims.
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Representative Drawing