Bow holder

{
  "publication_number": "US5775658A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Bow holder",
  "abstract": "A bow holder for holding an archery bow when the bow is not being used. The bow holder includes a base mountable to a support structure such as a hunting blind. A clamping member pivotally mounted to the base is movable between a retracted position and a clamping position, and a biaser, such as a torque spring, tends to return the clamping member to its clamping position. When the clamping member is retracted by manual operation of a lever arm, a bow engaging finger of the clamping member and a pair of bow support fingers projecting from the base define a space into which a bow can be inserted and withdrawn. When the force being applied on the lever arm is lessened, the clamping member is biased back toward the clamping position, and the bow engaging finger presses the inserted bow against the bow support fingers to thereby hold the bow within the bow holder.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A bow holder comprising: a base; at least one support module connected to said base and comprising a first bow contacting surface and a second bow contacting surface; a clamping member movable between a first position and a second position, said clamping member comprising a third bow contacting surface; wherein said at least one support module is structured and arranged relative to said clamping member to provide a bow insertion space between said third bow contacting surface and said first and second bow contacting surfaces when said clamping member is disposed in said first position, and wherein movement of said clamping member from said first position toward said second position compresses said bow insertion space to thereby secure a bow inserted within said insertion space between said third bow contacting surface and said first and second bow contacting surfaces; a control member manually operable to move said clamping member from said second position to said first position; wherein said clamping member is pivotally mounted to said base, and wherein said clamping member is one of integrally formed with and rigidly fixed to said control member; a torque spring connected to said clamping member and said base for biasing said clamping member from said first position toward said second position; and a protective sleeve covering said torque spring.",
    "2. A bow holder comprising: a base; at least one support module connected to said base and comprising a first bow contacting surface and a second bow contacting surface; a clamping member movable between a first position and a second position, said clamping member comprising a third bow contacting surface; wherein said at least one support module is structured and arranged relative to said clamping member to provide a bow insertion space between said third bow contacting surface and said first and second bow contacting surfaces when said clamping member is disposed in said first position, and wherein movement of said clamping member from said first position toward said second position compresses said bow insertion space to thereby secure a bow inserted within said insertion space between said third bow contacting surface and said first and second bow contacting surfaces; a control member manually operable to move said clamping member from said second position to said first position; wherein said clamping member is pivotally mounted to said base, and wherein said clamping member is one of integrally formed with and rigidly fixed to said control member; a torque spring connected to said clamping member and said base for biasing said clamping member from said first position toward said second position; and wherein said base comprises a collar, wherein said clamping member comprises a body and a laterally projecting shaft, said shaft extending through said collar and including a shoulder, and wherein a first end of said torque spring is attached to said shaft shoulder.",
    "3. An archery apparatus for holding a bow comprising: means for supporting a bow: a clamping means for pressing a bow against said bow supporting means, said clamping means movable between a clamping position and a retracted position, said clamping means and said bow supporting means configured to secure an inserted bow therebetween when said clamping means is oriented in said clamping position and to define an opening therebetween into which a bow may be inserted and withdrawn when said clamping means is oriented in said retracted position: means for moving said clamping means from said clamping position to said retracted position: means for biasing said clamping means from said retracted position toward said clamping position: and wherein said biasing means comprises a leaf spring and said clamping means comprises a cam arranged to cooperate with said leaf spring.",
    "4. A bow holder comprising: a base mountable to a support structure; a first bow support finger and a second bow support finger, said first and second bow support fingers fixed relative to said base and extending from said base in a first direction; a clamping member movable between a first position and a second position, said clamping member including a body and a bow engaging finger extending from said body in said first direction, said body pivotally mounted to said base; wherein said bow engaging finger is located generally between said first and second bow support fingers, said bow engaging finger arranged to define a first space with said first and second bow support fingers when said clamping member is disposed in said first position, said first space sized and configured to allow insertion and withdrawal of a bow between said bow engaging finger and said first and second bow support fingers, wherein said bow engaging finger is arranged to press a bow inserted into said first space against said first and second bow support fingers when said clamping member moves from said first position toward said second position to thereby hold the bow between said clamping member and said first and second bow support fingers; a control member manually operable to pivot said clamping member from said second position to said first position; and wherein said control member comprises a lever arm extending from said clamping member and a grip, wherein said grip projects from said lever arm in a direction generally opposite to said first direction."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "F41B 5/14"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1996-08-28",
  "publication_date": "1998-07-07",
  "grant_date": "1998-07-07",
  "priority_date": "1995-08-30",
  "application_number": "US-70224696-A",
  "family_id": "26671045",
  "citations": [
    "US2460701A",
    "US2530265A",
    "US3601295A",
    "US4360179A",
    "US4702448A",
    "US5370103A",
    "US5425351A"
  ]
}