Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02235790 1998-04-24
1
QUICK RELEASE BOW RACK
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
lc
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a quick release bow
rack for holding an archery bow and allowing for the
quick removal of the bow from the rack.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Hunting bows have evolved into very sophisticated
1 and expensive pieces of equipment. Hunters most often
travel to the hunting fields in a vehicle such as an
all terrain vehicle, a four-wheel drive truck, or a
four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle. Obviously,
hunters have to carry their bows in these vehicles
which are often driven long distances over rough
terrain. When driving over rough terrain, the
hunter's bow can get knocked around causing the bow to
become damaged or the sights to be thrown out of
proper alignment. The aforementioned damage and sight
misalignment can occur even when the bow is enclosed
in a protective case. Damage to the bow represents a
significant economic loss to the bow hunter. In
addition, damage to the bow or misalignment of the
sight can ruin a hunting trip by foreclosing the
possibility of bagging any game.
Therefore it i:~ highly desirable to securely
immobilize the bow within the vehicle while driving.
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The present invention is a bow rack which securely
immobilizes a bow within a vehicle, while allowing for
quick release of the bow. The present invention also
includes a variety of mounting adapters for mounting
the bow rack of the present invention to a variety of
vehicles. Racks which immobilize a bow within or on
a vehicle have been proposed in the past. However,
none of these bow racks show the unique quick release
mechanism or the unique variety of mounting adapters
of the present invention.
U.S. Patent Number 2,316,995, issued to Arvid Smith
on April 20, 1943, shows a gun rack mounted between
the dash and floor board of a vehicle. The Smith gun
rack uses a single spring loaded clamp to hold the gun
in place. The clamp of Smith is biased toward the
closed position, and the clamp must be held open to
remove the gun. :>mith does not show two clamps,
biased toward the open position, that are
simultaneously releasable using a single lever.
~ Further, Smith doer not show the various mounting
adapters of the pre:~ent invention.
U.S. Patent Number 2,632,619, issued to Arthur Reed
Wilson on March 24, 1953, shows a gun rack mounted to
the roof of a vehicle. The Wilson gun rack uses a
single clamp to hold the gun in place. The clamp of
Wilson is moved between the open and closed positions
by a lever operated cam. Wilson does not show two
clamps that are simultaneously releasable using a
single lever. Further, Wilson does not show the
various mounting adapters of the present invention.
U.S. Patent Number 4, 057, 183, issued to Philip J.
Ness on November 8, 1977, shows a gun rack that mounts
to the wheel well of a pickup truck. Ness does not
show two clamps that are simultaneously releasable
using a single lever. Further, Ness does not show the
various mounting adapters of the present invention.
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U.S. Patent Number 4,364,499, issued to Maurice H.
McCue on December 21, 1982, shows a gun rack that
mounts to the floor of a vehicle. The gun rack of
McCue uses a single :locking clamp to secure the gun in
place. McCue does. not show two clamps that are
simultaneously releasable using a single lever.
Further, McCue doe~~ not show the various mounting
adapters of the present invention.
U.S. Patent Number 4,469,257, issued to Barry R.
Parker on September 4, 1984, shows a ski rack that
mounts to the bed of: a pickup truck. Parker does not
show two clamps that are simultaneously releasable
using a single lever. Further, Parker does not show
the various mounting adapters of the present
invention.
U.S. Patent Number_ 4,957,229, issued to Lowell J. D.
Freeman on September 18, 1990, shows a bow rack that
mounts to the side wall of the bed of a pickup truck.
The bow rack of Freeman uses tension in the bowstring
to secure the bow to the rack. Freeman does not show
two clamps that are simultaneously releasable using a
single lever. Further, Freeman does not show the
various mounting adapters of the present invention.
U.S. Patent Number 5,249,722, issued to Dennis L.
Horn on October 5, 1993, shows a bow rack that mounts
to the side wall of: the bed of a pickup truck. The
bow rack of Horn uses a pair of hook-like members to
cradle the bow and a spring loaded clip to hold the
bow stabilizer. Horn does not show two clamps that
are simultaneously releasable using a single lever.
Further, Horn does not show the various mounting
adapters of the present invention.
U.S. Patent Number 5,360,190, issued to James C.
Walker et al. on November 1, 1994, shows an archery
bow holder that includes two pairs of resilient jaws
which grip the bow. Each pair of jaws has a base
which mounts to the hood of a vehicle. Walker et al.
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does not show two clamps r..hat are simultaneously
releasable using' a single lever. Further, walker et
al, does not show ;.he various mounting adapters of the
present invention.
S U.S. Patent Number 5,385,280, issued to Mike
Littlepage et al. on January 31, 1995, shows a bicycle
rack mounted to a vehicle. Tiie bicycls rack of
LittlepagP et al.. uses spring loaded clamps to grip
the frame of a bicycle. Littlepage et al. does not
show two clamps, biased toward the open position, that
are simultaneously releasable using a single lever.
Further, Littlepac~e et al. does not show the various
mounting adapters of the present invention.
U.S. Patent Number 5,4"02,241, issued to Harvey D.
Oglesby on January 9, 1996, shows a bow support that
attaches to a tree. Oglesby does not show two clamps
that are simultaneously releasable using a single
lever. Further,, Oglesby does not show the various
mounting adapters of the present invention,
German Patent Document Number~2,i39,460, by Helmet
Quint dated March 1, 1y79, shows a stand for the safe
storage of a bow. Quint does not show two clamps that
are simultaneously releasable using a single lever.
Further, Quint does not show the various mounting
adapters of the present invention.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken
either singly or i.r_ combination, is seen to c(escribe
the instant invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a quick rP).ease bow rack. The rack
includes a supporting member having a first end
portion, and a second end portion. The rack has first
and second clamps for clamping the bow. The first
clamp is connected to the first end portion of the
supporting member. The second clamp is connected to
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the second end portion of the supporting member. The
first and second clamp each include a first end
connected to the supporting member. A second jaw is
pivotally connected to the first end of the first jaw.
A latch is pivotally connected to the second end of
the first jaw. The latch iF for holding the second
jaw in a closed,pasition. The rack also has actuating
means for simultaneously releasing each latch of the
first clamp and the second clamp from the closed
l0 position to an open position. The actuating means is
connected to the supporting member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TF~F DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the quick
15 release bow rack c>f the present invention.
Figure 2 is an environmental, rear perspective view
of the quick release bow xack of the present
invention.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view showing one of
2C the clamps used it the quick release bow rack of the
present invention r_o hold the limbs of an archery bow,
with the clamp being shown in the closed position.
Figure 4 is a f.'ragmentary detail view showing one of
the clamps used .in the quick release bow rack of the
25 present invention to hold the limbs of an archery bow,
with the clamp being shown in the open position.
Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view showing the
structure for the dU.tacucnerW of the clamps to the
supporting member in the first embodiment of the quick
3C release bow rack of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a fz;agmentary detail view showing the
structure for the attachment of the clamps to the
supporting member in thz second enbod~mer~;. of t.'.a
quick release bow rack of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a fragments=y detail view showing the
structure for the attachment of the clamps to the
CA 02235790 2001-07-26
supporting member in the third embodiment of the quick
release bow rack; of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a .Fragmentary detail view showing the
structure for t:h:~ attachment of the clamps to the
supporting member in the fourth embodiment of the
quick release bow rack oL the present invention.
Figure 9 is an environmental perspective view
showing the quid: release bow rack of the present
invention installed in the bed of a pickup truck.
Figure 10 is an environmental perspective view
showing the quick release bow rack of the present
invention installed on an all terrain vehicle.
Figure Z1 is an environmental perspective view
showing the quick release bow rack of the present
invention installed in the passenger compartment of a
sport utility vehicle.
Fi gi~rP 12 i~ a front perspective view of an
alternate embodiment of the quick release bow rack of
the present invention.
Similar reLerence characters denote corresponding
features consistently throughout the attached
drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is directed to a bow rack
which securely immobilizes a bow within a vehicle,
while allowing for quick release of the bow. The bow
rack of the present invention, includes an elongated
supporting member which supports two clamps in a
properly spaced relationship, such that the clamps can
support the limbs of an archery bow. The clamps are
spring biased toward the open position, and each clamp
is held ir. the closed position by a latch which is
pivotally attached ;.o one of the jaws of the clamp and
is capable of engaging the other jaw of thp clamp.
Each latch is connected to a cable which disengages
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the respective latch from one of the jaws of the
respective clamp, when the cable is pulled. The
cables connectsd to the latches are connected to a
single pivoting lever such that pulling on the lever
causes both cables to be pulled, thus allowing both
clamps to spring open and allowing a bow held in the
rack to be quickly removed. The present invention
also includes a variety of mounting adapters for
mounting the bow .rack of the present invention to a
variety of vehicles.
Referring to piguree 1-4, the bow rack 10 securely
immobilizes an archery bow 12 on or within a vehicle.
The bow rack 10 includes an elongated supporting
member 14 which supports two clamp assemblies 16 in a
spaced relationship. Each clamp assembly 16 includes
a clamp 18 which is attached by a stem 20 to a collar
22.
The elongated supporting member 14 is made from
square-cross section metal or plastic tubing, the ends
of which can be plugged by plastic safety plugs if
desired. The collars 22 are shaped and dimensioned tc
slidably fit around the supporting member 14. This
feature allows the collars 22, and thus the clamps 18,
to be positioned at any desired location along the
supporting member 14. Alternatively, the elongated
support member 14 and the collars 22 may have matins
cross-sectional shapes including, but not limited co,
round, oval, and ttriangular, just to name a few.
The clamps 18 are intended to hold the limbs of the
archery bow 12. I3y providing for the clamps to be
slidably movable along the length of the supporting
member 14, the distance between the clamps 18 can be
adjusted to accommodate say size bow. Once t'~e cla;rps
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18 are moved to the desired locations, the collars 22
and thus the clamps 18 are securely held at the
desired locations along the supporting member 14 by
bolts or thumb screws 150 (shown in Figure 12) which
engage threaded holE:s 152 in the collars 22 and which
frictionally engage the supporting member 14 when
tightened.
The stems 20 are elongated pieces of metal that are
welded or otherwise fixedly attached to the collars
22. The clamps 18 c:an be attached to the stems 20 in
many ways, some examples of which are discussed below.
For now, it suffices to state that the clamps 18 are
angled oppositely to one another, such that each clamp
18 can cradle a respective limb of an archery bow. In
other words, if for example one of the clamps 18 is
tilted thirty degrees from the horizontal in the
clockwise direction, then the other clamp 18 will be
tilted thirty degrees from the horizontal in the
counter clockwise direction. For each clamp 18, the
axis of rotation for' measuring the tilt angle referred
to above is the longitudinal axis of the respective
stem 20.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4 a representative clamp
18 can be seen in detail. Each clamp 18 has two jaws
24 and 26. The jaw 24 is formed by two rectangular,
flat plates 28 and 30. The plate 30 projects
perpendicularly from a first edge of the plate 28 to
form a first end 31 of jaw 24. At a distal second end
33 of jaw 24 is a second edge of the plate 28, distal
from the plate 30 that hingedly supports a latch 32.
The edge of the plate 30, distal from the plate 28,
has two projections 34. The jaw 26 is in the form of
a flat, rectangular plate having two projections 36 at
a first edge thereof. The projections 36 fit between
the projections 34, and a hinge pin 38 passes through
all the projections 34 and 36 to hingedly secure jaw
26 to jaw 24. A torsion spring 40 surrounds the hinge
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pin 38 and is located between the projections 36. The
torsion spring 40 biases the jaws 24 and 26 toward the
open position.
The latch 32 can pivot between an open position,
illustrated in Figure 4, and a closed position,
illustrated in Figure 3. Along the edge of the latch
32 distal from the pivot axis of the latch, is a ridge
42 extending perpendicularly from the inner surface of
the latch 32. The outer surface 44 of the ridge 42 is
beveled. The latch 32 also has an extension 46 which
extends from the edge of the latch 32 proximate the
pivot axis of the latch. Attached to the extension 46
is a cable 48. Projecting from the bottom of the jaw
24 is a rectangular fin-like projection 50. The fin-
like projection 50 has a centrally located through
hole therein. The cable 48 extends between the
extension 46 and the' fin-like projection 50 along the
bottom of the jaw 24, and passes through the hole in
the fin-like projection 50.
It should be readily apparent from the structure
described above, that pulling on the cable 48 would
tend to move the extension 46 toward the fin-like
projection 50, thus tending to move the latch 32 from
the closed to the open position. A coil spring 52 is
positioned between the extension 46 and the fin-like
projection 50, and surrounds the cable 48. The coil
spring 52 biases the latch 32 toward the closed
position such that, in the absence of a pulling force
on the cable 48, the latch 32 will tend to pivot
toward the closed position.
It should be apparent that there are two cables 48,
one for each of the clamps 18. The cables 48 may be
separate or they may be formed from a single
continuous piece of cable. Referring again to Figure
2, the cables 48 a:re routed, after passing through,
behind the supporting member 14 and toward the cable
guides 54. The guides 54 are formed by projections
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which have a hole parsing therethrough. After passing
through the guides 54 the cables 48 extend to and are
attached to a collar 56. If the cables 48 were made
of a single continuous piece of cable, then that
5 single continuous piece of cable would simply be
routed through a through hole in the collar 56.
The length of cable extending between the fin-like
projections 50 and the guides 54, is covered by
flexible but incompressible sheaths 58. The cables 48
10 and the sheaths 58 are similar in structure and
function to the cables and sheaths used to operate
bicycle brakes. The sheaths 58 are larger in
diameter, at least at the ends, than the holes in the
fin-like projections 50 and the guides 54 such that
the sheaths 58 will not pass through those holes.
This property of the sheaths 58, that they not pass
through the holes in the fin-like projections 50 and
the guides 54, can be obtained either by having the
sheath 58 itself be of larger diameter than the
aforementioned holes, or by providing collars that
have diameters larger than the diameters of the
aforementioned holes and that are crimped or otherwise
fixed to the ends of the sheaths 58.
The ends of the sheaths 58 may directly abut the
fin-like projections 50 and the guides 54.
Alternatively, externally threaded collars (not shown)
that allow the cables 48 but not the sheaths 58 to
pass therethrough, may be provided at either the holes
in the fin-like projections 50 or the holes in the
guides 54. These externally threaded collars either
threadably engage the holes in the fin-like
projections 50 and the guides 54, or they threadably
engage collars (not shown) which abut the fin-like
projections 50 and the guides 54. Turning the
externally threaded collars varies the length of the
portion of the externally threaded collars extending
between the ends of the sheaths 58 and either the fin-
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like projections 50 or the guides 54 as the case may
be. Thus these externally threaded collars can be
used to adjust the length of the portion of the cables
48 which extend between the fin-like projections 50
and the guides 54. This alternative arrangement allows
the tension in the cables 48 to be adjusted to take up
all slack in the cables 48 such that they remain
taught at all times. These externally threaded
collars are identical to the well known tension
adjustments used in bicycle brake systems and are
therefore not shown in the illustrations.
The sheaths 58 fix the length of the portion of the
cables 48 which extend between the fin-like
projections 50 and the guides 54 at any given time.
Thus when the ends of the cables 48 attached to the
collar 56 are pulled, the ends of the cables 48
attached to the extensions 46 will also be pulled
causing the latches 32 to move toward the open
position. Movement: of the latches 32 to the open
position will allow the clamps 18 to spring open if
they were initially in the closed configuration.
The collar 56 is fixedly supported along the length
of a pivoting lever 60. One end 62 of the lever 60 is
pivotally supported by a pair of flat, rectangular
projections 64. The projections 64 are spaced apart
from one another and are provided at about the middle
of the supporting member 14. The other end of the
lever 60 is provided with a spherical knob 66 for ease
of grasping. The lever 60 is movable between a closed
position, illustrated in Figure 2, and an open
position illustrated in Figure 1. In the closed
position the collar 56 is located closest to the
guides 54 such that a sufficient length of the cable
48 extends between the fin-like projections 50 and the
extensions 46 for the latches 32 to be in the closed
position. Pivoting the lever 60 toward the open
position will cause the collar 56 to move away from
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the guides 54 causing the cables 48 to be pulled.
This pulling of the cables 48 causes the latches 32 to
pivot toward the open position. Thus, moving the
lever 60 from the closed to the open position will
cause the latches 32 to move from the closed to the
open position, thereby allowing the clamps 18 to
spring open if they were initially in the closed
configuration.
Extending from the bottom of the supporting member
14, i.e. the side of the supporting member 14 opposite
the side from which the projections 64 extend, is an
attachment member 68. This attachment member 68
extends roughly perpendicularly from the supporting
member 14, and may be made of the same square cross
section tubing as the supporting member 14. The
attachment member 68 is inserted into an adapter 70
which is securely attached to a vehicle. The
attachment member 68 is secured to the adapter 70 by
a bolt (not shown? which threadably engages a hole in
the adapter 70 and fractionally engages the attachment
member 68 when tightened, after the attachment member
68 has been inserted into the adapter 70.
With the clamps 1.8 initially in the open position,
the bow 12 can be positioned on the jaws 24 such that
each of the jaws 24. cradles one of the limbs of the
bow. The jaws 26 are then moved toward the closed
position until the jaws 26 encounter the outer
bevelled surfaces 44 of the latches 32. Because of
the bevelled surfaces 44, continued pressure on the
jaws 26 will move the latches 32 out of the way
allowing the jaws 2E~ to move into the closed position.
At this time the ridges 42 will automatically snap
over the jaws 26 to secure the jaws 26 in the closed
position. If the amount of pressure on jaws 26
required to move the latches 32 out of the way during
the closing of the clamps 18 is excessive, then the
latches 32 may have to be moved manually in order to
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allow the jaws 26 to be locked in place. The limbs of
the bow 12 are now securely gripped in the clamps 18,
thus immobilizing the bow within or on the vehicle
carrying the bow. Padding 72 allows the limbs of the
bow to be gripped firmly without the limbs of the bow
being nicked or scratched.
To release the bow, the lever 60 is pulled up moving
the lever from the closed position to the open
position. The moving of the lever 60 will cause the
cables 48 to be pulled, which in turn causes the
latches 32 to be moved to the open position. Under
these conditions, the jaws 26 will spring open under
the impetus of the torsion springs 40. Regardless of
whether or not the lever 60 is released subsequent to
the jaws 26 springing open, the bow 12 is now free to
be readily removed from the clamps 18.
Note that although torsion springs 40 are used in
the illustrated example, the clamps 18 will still be
operable in the absence of the torsion springs 40.
~ For example, the padding 72 may be under sufficient
compression to cause the j aws 26 to spring open, or
the jaws 26 may be opened manually.
The tilt angle of each clamp 18, i.e. the angle of
rotation of the clamps 18 about the longitudinal axis
of their respective stems 20, may be fixed such that
the plates 28 of the jaws 24 will be tangent to the
curving limbs of the bow 12. Alternatively, the
clamps 18 may be free to rotate about the longitudinal
axis of their respective stems 20, and naturally
assume the correct tilt angle as they are closed
around the limbs of the archery bow 12. The following
discussion provides some examples of the ways in which
the clamps 18 can be attached to the stems 20.
Referring to Figure 5, the plate 30 has a shaft 74
projecting from the back thereof. The stem 20a is
fixed to collar 22, and is hollow so as to receive the
shaft 74. The shaft 74 has a circumferential groove
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76 that registers with a threaded hole in the stem
20a. A screw 78 engages the threaded hole in the stem
20a and can be turned until it protrudes into the
groove 76, thus securing the shaft 74 within the stem
20a. Depending on how much the screw 78 is tightened,
the tilt angle of the clamp 18 may be fixed or the
clamp 18 may be free to rotate about the longitudinal
axis of the stem 20a.
Referring to Figure 6, a second embodiment of the
invention is seen. As before, the plate 30 has a
shaft 74 projecting from the back thereof. The stem
20b is fixed to co:Llar 22, and is hollow so as to
receive the shaft 74. The shaft 74 has a
circumferential groove 76 that registers with slots 80
formed on either side in the wall of the stem 20b. A
spring clip 82 snaps around the stem 20b, portions of
its two arms passing through the slots 80 and
protruding into the groove 76, thus securing the shaft
74 within the stem 2Ob. In this embodiment the clamp
18 will be free to rotate about the longitudinal axis
of the stem 20b.
Referring to Figure 7, a third embodiment of the
invention is seen. The plate 30 has a shaft 84
projecting from the back thereof. The shaft 84 has a
flange 86. The stem 20c is externally threaded and is
fixed to collar 22. Further, The stem 20c is hollow
such that the shaft 84 can be inserted therein until
the flange 86 abuts the stem 20c. A collar 88 secures
the clamp 18 to the stem 20c. The collar 88 is
generally cylindrical with an internal bore. One end
of the collar 88 ha;~ an opening of the same diameter
as the internal bore, while the other end of the
collar 88 has an opening with a smaller diameter. The
diameter of the larger opening of the collar 88 is
large enough for th.e flange 86 to pass therethrough
unimpeded, while the diameter of the smaller opening
of the collar 88 is smaller than the outer diameter of
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the flange 86 thereby preventing the flange 86 from
passing through the smaller opening. The internal
bore of the collar 88 is threaded, and the sizes of
the bore and the larger opening of the collar 88 are
5 such that the collar 88 can engage the external
threads on the stem 20c. The end of the collar 88
with the smaller opening is positioned between the
plate 30 and the flange 86. When the collar 88 is
threadably engaged to the stem 20c the flange 86 is
10 confined between the end of the collar 88 with the
smaller opening and the open end of the stem 20c, thus
securing the clamp 18 to the stem 20c. Depending on
how tightly the collar 88 is screwed on to the stem
20c, the tilt angle of the clamp 18 may be fixed or
15 the clamp 18 may be free to rotate about the
longitudinal axis of. the stem 20c.
Referring to Figure 8, the plate 30 has a counter
sunk hole 90 passing roughly centrally therethrough.
The stem 20d is fixed to collar 22 at one end, and has
a threaded hole 92 in the other end thereof. A screw
94, in this examp:Le an allen head screw, passes
through the hole 90 and engages the threaded hole 92
to secure the clamp 18 to the stem 20d. The hole 90,
with the exception of the counter sunk portion, is
smaller in diameter than the head of the screw 94.
Thus when the screw 94 is engaged to the threaded hole
92, the plate 30 is confined between the head of the
screw 94 and the stem 20d securing the clamp 18 to the
stem 20d. The counter sunk portion of the hole 90 is
intended to accommodate the head of the screw 94, so
that the head of the screw 94 will not interfere with
the limbs of the bow 12 when the limbs of the bow are
placed on the jaws 24. Depending on how much the
screw 94 is tightened, the tilt angle of the clamp 18
may :be fixed or the clamp 18 may be free to rotate
about the longitudinal axis of the stem 20d.
CA 02235790 1998-04-24
16
Referring to Figures 9-11, various adapters for
fixing the bow rack 10 to various vehicles can be
seen. Referring to 1~igure 9, the bow rack 10 is shown
mounted on the bed 96 of a pickup truck 98. The
mounting of the bow :rack 10 to the pickup truck bed 96
is accomplished u~~ing an adapter 70a which is
basically a length of hollow square cross section
tubing of sufficient size for the attachment member 68
to fit in. As stated previously, the attachment
member 68 is secured to the adapter 70a by a bolt (not
shown) which threadably engages a hole in the adapter
70a and fractionally engages the attachment member 68
when tightened, of course with the attachment member
68 being inserted into the adapter 70a. There are two
base plates 100 provided at the bottom of the adapter
70a. The base plates 100 have holes therein to allow
the passage of t:he shafts of the bolts 102
therethrough. The bolts 102 are used to secure the
adapter 70a to the truck bed 96. A brace 104 bolted
between the wheel well 106 and the adapter 70a, gives
added rigidity to the whole mounting arrangement for
the bow rack 10.
Referring to Figure 10, the adapter 70b for mounting
the bow rack 10 to .and all terrain vehicle (ATV) can
be seen. The adapter 70b includes a tubular receiver
108 which receives the attachment member 68. As
before the attachment member 68 is secured to the
receiver 108 by a bolt (not shown) which threadably
engages a hole in t:he receiver 108 and fractionally
engages the attachment member 68 positioned in the
receiver 108. A length of tubing 110, extending
perpendicularly from the receiver 108, rigidly
connects the receiver 108 to a base bar 112. The
tubing 110 attaches to the base bar 112 at about the
middle of the base bar, and the tubing 110 is also
perpendicular to the base bar 112. The base bar 112
has two slots 114 symmetrically distributed relative
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17
to the middle of the base bar 112. Attachment
brackets 116 are secured to the ATV handle bars 120
using U-bolts 118 and nuts 119. The attachment
brackets 116 have portions 122 which fit through the
slots 114. Nuts 124, in cooperation with the
attachment brackets 116, fractionally secure the
attachment brackets 116 to the base bar 112. The
slots 114 allow the adapter 70b to fit handle bars of
various sizes. Protective cover 125, made of leather
or vinyl, protects the bow 12 from the elements.
Referring to Figure 11, an adapter 70c for mounting
the bow rack 10 in the passenger compartment of a
vehicle between the front seats 126, can be seen. The
adapter 70c includes two pieces. The first piece
includes a length of tubing 128 which is sized to
receive one end of the supporting member 14. The
tubing 128 has a base plate 130 at the bottom thereof,
which is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of
the tubing 128 such that the tubing 128 projects at an
acute angle from the floor board of the vehicle when
the base plate 130 i.s bolted to the floor board using
bolt 132.
The second piece of the adapter 70c includes a
receiver 134 for receiving the attachment member 68.
A length of tubing 136 supports the receiver 134 above
the floor board of the vehicle. The tubing 136 is
angled relative to the receiver 134, such that the
tubing 136 can extend perpendicularly to the floor
board while the receiver 134 is coaxial with the
attachment member 68. A base plate 138, provided at
the bottom of the tubing 136, allows the tubing 136 to
be bolted to the floor board of the vehicle using the
bolt 140. A brace 142 extends at an angle between the
tubing 136 and the floor board of the vehicle for
added support. A bolt 144 secures the bottom end of
the brace 142 to the: floor board of the vehicle. Note
that no bolts are needed to secure the attachment
CA 02235790 1998-04-24
18
member 68 or the end of the supporting member 14 to
the respective pieces of the adapter 70c, because the
two pieces of the adapter 70c geometrically confine
the bow rack 10.
It should also be noted that, rather than
fractionally engaging the attachment member 68, the
bolt securing the attachment member 68 to the various
adapters, may engage a hole provided in the attachment
member 68.
Referring to Figure 12, a safety strap 154 may be
affixed to jaw 24 such that it may extend over jaw 26
and connect to latch 32. The strap 154 is constructed
of nylon, although any other similar material may be
used, and has a hook and loop fastener attached to its
distal end. A hook and loop fastener is affixed to
the latch 32 such that the strap 154 may be quickly
attached to and detached from the latch 32, thereby
ensuring that the latch will remain in the closed
position.
Figure 12 also shows plastic thumb screws 150 which
engage threaded holes 152 in the collars 22 and which
fractionally engage the supporting member 14 when
tightened. Once the' clamp assemblies 16 are moved to
the desired locations along the supporting member 14,
the collars 22 and thus the clamp assemblies 16 are
securely held at the desired locations by the thumb
screws 150.
A pair of bottom support brackets 158 are each
attached to the supporting member 14 by a bolt 162 and
nut 164. The bottom.support brackets 158 extend at an
angle between the supporting member 14 and the adapter
70. The bottom support brackets 158 give the
supporting member 14 more rigidity upon the adapter
70. Bolts may be used through holes 166 in the bottom
support brackets 158 and through a hole (not shown) in
the adapter 70. Additionally, a top support brace 168
is attached on eithc=r end to the supporting member 14
CA 02235790 2001-07-26
19
at 170. The t:op support brace 169 ie affi::ed to thz
top edge of the flat, rectangular projections 69, by
welding at 172 or other conventional method, in order
to ensure the projections 64 remain stabile.
In Figure 1<? the cables 48 extend through holes 1~a
ir. the base of the rectangular projections 64 and are
attached to a collar 56 in the same manner as
described above. By directing the cable 48 in this
manner, the collar does not need to travel as far as
before in order to move the latch 32 the same amount
of distance. In addition, not as much strain is
placed on the cable guides Sa, thereby reducing
frictional forces between the cable 48 and the cable
guides 54 and reducing the likelihood of long-term
wear and eventual failure of the various parts.
The preferred embodiments of the invention provide
a rack for immobilizing an archery bow carried in a
vehicle. The archery bow rack has a quick release
feature. The rack can be mounted to a variety of
2o vehicles. The r:jck can hold archery bows of a variety
of types and sizes, without interfering with any
attachments to the bow such as sights, auivers holding
arrows, arrow rests, Pr.~.
It is to be understood that the present invention is
ur~t limited to the embodiments described above, but
encompasses any and all embodiments within. the scope
of the following claims.
