||||III USOO5762060A

United States Patent 19 11 Patent Number: 5,762,060

Larson 45) Date of Patent: Jun. 9, 1998
54). HANDLE RESER FOR ARCHERY BOWS 4,879.988 1989 Larson .................................. 124/88 X
4,881.514 11/1989 Denslow et al. .. 124/23. X
75) Inventor: Marlow W. Larson, Ogden, Utah 5,005.554 4/1991 Shepley et al. ........................ 24/24.1
5,19,796 6/1992 Dehlbom ................................ 124/23.1
73) Assignee: Browning, Morgan. Utah 5,161.514 11/1992 Cary..................................... 124/24.1
5,335,644 8/1994 Smith et al. ........................... 124/23.1
21 Appl. No.: 332,920 Primary Examiner-John A. Ricci
22 Filed: Oct. 31, 1994 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Foster & Foster
6. 57 ABSTRACT
51) int. Cl. ................................................... F41B S/00
52 U.S. C. ................ ... 124/88; 124/23.1 A handle riser for an archery bow includes a vertical planar
58) Field of Search .................................. 124,231, 24.1 surface displaced from the vertical central axis of the riser to
124/256,445, 86, 88, 89 provide clearance for the fletching of an arrow launched
from an overdraw support device mounted to the riser. A
56) References Cited shock absorber may be mounted internal the riser. An
accessory mount may be provided beneath the grip portion
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS of the riser. A cable guard rod may be mounted to extend
2,344,799 3/1944 Brown et al. ......................... 12488 x rearwardly parallel to and at the same elevation as the
3,342,172 9/1967 Sanders ........ 124/89 X horizontal central axis of the riser.
3,695.248 10/1972 Izuta .....
3,804,072 4/1974 Izuta .......................................... 24/89 18 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
U.S. Patent Jun. 9, 1998 Sheet 1 of 4 5,762,060
U.S. Patent Jun. 9, 1998 Sheet 2 of 4 5,762,060
U.S. Patent Jun. 9, 1998 Sheet 3 of 4 5,762,060
U.S. Patent Jun. 9, 1998 Sheet 4 of 4 5,762,060

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HANDLER SER FOR ARCHERY BOWS than those who furnish particular risers. As a consequence,
there has evolved a standardized pattern of accessory mount
BACKGROUND ing locations sanctioned by the Archery Manufacturer's
Field: This invention pertains to archery bows. It is Association (AMO). Those locations are conventionally
directed to handle risers for such bows, and provides occupied by accessory holes, and those holes are generally
improvements which are particularly significant to the risers filled with standard threaded inserts. The inserts typically
of compound archery bows, but which are applicable to receive threaded fasteners carried by the accessories
archery bow risers generally. intended for mounting at a particular location. Both the
State of the Art: Archery bow handle risers are provided fasteners and the inserts may be arranged in a standard
in a variety of configurations. Nevertheless, they all serve 10 pattern if more than one connection point is required for
generally the same fundamental functions. Specifically, they secure mounting of the accessory to the riser.
provide support for the butt end of opposing bow limbs, as Certain mounting locations are often designated by ref
well as a grip for the archer. It is conventional practice to erence to the accessory originally or most commonly
structure a bow such that at least the ends of its handle riser mounted at that position on the handle riser. For example.
and its limbs are centered on a line. This line constitutes the 5 handle risers are generally expected to be furnished with
vertical center line of the bow when it is held in normal "cable guard," "stabilizer," "quiver" and "sight" mounting
arrow launching position. The grip is generally located at inserts, although other accessories may be mounted to these
approximately the middle of the handle riser. The end same insert locations.
portions of the riser between the grip and any limb-mounting Cable guards have been mounted at various locations
structures carried by the opposite tips of the riser are strong along the handle riser. Their principal purpose is to hold the
and rigid. They thus provide convenient support for func end stretch cables of a compound bow to one side of the
tional components of the cable riggings associated with vertical center line of the handle riser sufficiently to provide
certain compound bow constructions and for a variety of access by an archer's hand to the grip. In some instances,
accessories, notably quivers, sights, stabilizers, arrow rests 25
cable guards have been provided both above and below the
and overdraw devices. Handle risers are generally structured grip. Most commonly, a single cable guard is installed below
specifically for either right hand or left hand operation. They the grip, and a cable guard bushing insert is conventionally
thus have distinguishable upper and lower ends. provided at a standard location in the lower end of the handle
A portion of the handle riser immediately above the grip riser to receive the butt end of a cable guard rod. This
is commonly shaped as a "sight window” to permit the shaft 3.
positioning causes uneven torque forces to be applied to the
of an arrow to occupy the space intersected by the vertical upper and lower limbs. A stabilizer bushing may be posi
center line of the riser. The sight window is considered to be tioned directly opposite the cable guard bushing. A stabilizer
that portion of the handle riser which is displaced laterally device may thus be mounted to extend forward from the
from the center line to accommodate the shaft of an arrow riser, opposite the rearward extension of the cable guard.
mounted for launching. The "sight window face" is the 35 The handle risers of many compound bows share impor
surface of the sight window nearest the arrow. Inadequate tant characteristics with the handle risers of take down
displacement of the sight window face on early handle riser "stick" (single run bow string) bows. In each case, the butt
designs has made overdraw shooting awkward. end of the individual bow limbs must be connected through
Among the more commonly used accessories are quivers, a joint structure to opposite ends of the riser. Typical such
sights and arrow rests. These accessories are conventionally 40 joint structures are illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4.494,521;
mounted to a region above and spaced from the grip. This 4,574,766 and 4,674,468, for example.
mounting region is often referred to as the "accessory face." SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
and is traditionally located on the outer surface (opposite the
sight window face) of the structure defining the sight win This invention provides a handle riser structure that
dow. In certain designs, a portion of the sight window 45 incorporates at least one of several improvements. any of
immediately above the grip has been even further displaced which offers significant benefits to an archer, and the com
from the centerline to accommodate overdraw structures. bination of which constitutes a comprehensive advance in
This portion of the sight window is referred to as an handle riser design. The riser itself is ideally manufactured
overdraw offset, and is defined by an approximately hori by Computer Numerical Control (CNC) techniques, and is
Zontal offset base, an upstanding offset panel and an approxi 50 configured to avoid the limitations imposed by the sight
mately horizontal offset return. In such constructions, the windows currently in favor. The sight window of the handle
accessory face is directly above the offset return. A recent riser of this invention is defined by a vertical member which
example of such a structure is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. is offset from the centerline of the riser. The sight window
5,005.554, the disclosure of which is incorporated by ref face is approximately planar and vertical. It is displaced
ecce.
55 from the centerline sufficiently to accommodate an overdraw
An overdraw structure permits broadheads and fletchings device, but extends to above the conventional location of the
to pass the handle riser without interference. With an over accessory face. In this fashion, the effective sight window is
draw offset present, however, the sight window becomes significantly enlarged in its vertical dimension. Preferably,
irregular in shape. Some archers find this configuration the accessory face is approximately coplanar with the outer
distracting, limiting the practical useful sight window to its surface of the entire sight window structure.
most extreme offset portion. As a practical matter, the A handle riser of this invention is typically used with
accessory face is restricted to the portion of the sight archery bows of the type which include means for mounting
window located above the overdraw off set, although the an overdraw arrow support device. The handle riser thus
overdraw device itself may serve as a mounting support for typically includes a sight window, including a sight face,
arrow rests and certain other accessories. 65 above a grip portion and displaced from a vertical central
Accessories and other fixtures intended for mounting to axis of the handle riser. The handle riser generally further
handle risers are provided by various manufacturers other includes an accessory mounting face spaced from and above
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the grip portion. The sight face is advantageously provided FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a limb bolt assembly
in the form of an approximately vertical planar surface of this invention:
spaced sufficiently from the central axis to provide clearance FIG. 7 is an elevational front view of a bow with an
for the vanes of an arrow launched from an overdraw overdraw assembly; and
support device mounted to the handle riser. The sight face 5 FIG. 8 is an elevational side view of the bow with an
should extend from approximately the grip portion to overdraw assembly.
approximately adjacent the accessory mounting face. DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED
Ideally, the handle riser further includes a stabilizer device EMBODIMENTS
mounted internal the handle riser.
Preferred embodiments of the handle riser of this inven O Referring to FIG. 1, a handle riser 11 of this invention
tion include a cable guard extending from approximately the includes a removable grip 13 which is mountable to a handle
elevation of the vertical center axis of the riser, and includes portion 15 of the riser between an upper riser end 17 and a
an arm projecting rearward approximately parallel that axis. lower riser end 19, just below the horizontal central axis
So located, the cable guard functions to balance the torque C-C of the bow. The respective end tips. 21, 23, carry
loads distributed to the upper and lower limbs of the bow 15 mounting surfaces 25 (see FIG. 5), which comprise a joint,
during operation. The guard may be integral with the riser, designated generally 27, for attaching the upper 31 and
or it may be a separate device connectable to the riser by lower 33 limbs, respectively.
mounting structure. In any event, the cable guard provides A cable guard, designated generally 37, is shown mounted
space in the grip region of the riser for an archer's hand. at approximately the middle of the riser 11 so that its arm 39
extends approximately parallel and at the same elevation as
Other preferred embodiments of the riser incorporate a the axis C-C. The arm 39 thus occupies a nontraditional
shock stabilizer device, such as a mercury stabilizer, gyro location, but offers the advantage of precisely balancing the
scopic stabilizer or pendulum, directly within the riser. forces applied through the end stretch cables 41. 43 to the
According to this invention, an additional accessory limbs 31, 33. A mounting fixture 45 is provided directly
mounting location may be provided at a lower region of the 25 above the handle portion 15. the fixture 45 illustrated
handle riser. So located, this "lower inset hole" is adapted to includes a mounting shelf 46 and threaded fasteners 47.48
carry accessories in a rear position to balance the weight of which secure the shelf 46 and the butt end 49 of the cable
other accessory structures, notably a forward-projecting guard rod 37 as shown by being turned in to threaded inserts
stabilizer. The lower insert hole is an idea mounting location 50. 51 just beneath the sight window 55. A cable-retaining
for a mercury filled rear stabilizer, for example. The bal 30 fixture 56 may be mounted to slide along the arm 39 in
ancing provided in this fashion is particularly advantageous conventional fashion. A sight assembly, not shown, may be
in tournament situations in which leveling devices are not mounted to an accessory mounting face 58, as may other
permitted. traditional accessories.
The handle risers of this invention preferably include a A comparison of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 reveals a significant
special joint structure mounting the butts of opposing limbs 35 difference between the sight window 55 preferred for handle
to respective opposite ends of the riser. Notable features of risers of this invention and the sight windows characteristic
this joint structure include limb bolt assemblies of special of prior art handle risers (FIGS. 2 and 3). Corresponding
design, rocker bearings structured to resist twisting of the center reference lines R-R are displayed by each of those
limbs and limb bolt bushings structured to positively secure figures. FIG. 2 illustrates a typical early type of prior art
the limb and to assist in adjusting the effective weight of the handle riser 60 having a sight window face 61 displaced
limbs. from the center line R-Ra distance insufficient to pass an
The preferred limb joints of this invention may be adapted arrow fletching 62 without interference. FIG. 3 illustrates a
for use with either compound or take down recurve bows. more recent prior art handle riser 68 having a sight window
They include an adjustment bolt with a locking jam nut for face. generally 70, consisting of an upper portion 71, dis
tightening after the adjustment bolt is operated to adjust the 45 placed to approximately the same extent as is the face 61 of
effective weight of the limbs. The jamb nut resists further the FIG.2 handle riser, and a lower portion 72 displaced to
turning of the adjustment bolt. A set screw may be posi a greater extent. The face 72 is displaced from the center line
tioned to jamb against the end of the adjustment bolt, R-R sufficiently to pass the arrow fletching 62 without
thereby functioning as a jamb screw. The limbs are desirably interference. By contrast, the handle riser 11 of this
mounted on hemispherical rockerbearings to resist twisting. invention, as illustrated by FIG. 4, has a window face 76
displaced from the centerline R-R to at least the extent that
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS the lower portion 72 of the sight window face 70 of the FIG.
In the drawings, which illustrate what is currently 3 handle riser. The displacement of the face 76 from the
regarded as the best mode for carrying out the invention, centerline R-R should ordinarily be no less than about ys
FIG. 1 is an exploded pictorial view of a handle riser of 55 of an inch, more preferably at least about% inch and may be
as much as a full inch.
this invention, together with optional improvements; As best shown by FIG. 5, a mercury-filled stabilizer 80 is
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary pictorial illustration of a prior art mounted within a receptacle 82 internal the lower end
handle riser construction; portion 19 of the riser 11. An additional accessory mounting
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary pictorial illustration of an alter 60 insert 85 is shown at a unique location approximately
native prior art handle riser construction; midway between the handle portion 15 and lower limb
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary pictorial illustration similar to mounting surface 25. This insert 85 is particularly useful for
FIGS. 2 and 3. showing the handle riser of the invention; the mounting of a rearwardly projecting accessory (not
FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of the bow of FIG. 1 in shown), such as a stabilizer, with a mass adequate to balance
assembled condition, internal components being shown in 65 a forwardly extending stabilizer (not shown). Placing addi
phantom lines and the bow limbs being represented sche tional weight on the lower end of the handle riser inherently
matically; tends to level the bow during shooting.
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As illustrated by FIG. 6, a limb bolt assembly for a 5. An improvement according to claim 4 wherein said
recurve take down bow includes a limb bolt insert 90 stabilizer device is a mercury-filled stabilizer.
installed within a bore 91 in the limb pocket 92 of a riser. 6. An improvement according to claim 4, further includ
The threaded shaft 94 of a limb bolt 95 passes in turn ing an accessory mounting structure positioned beneath said
through a washer 97, a limb retaining bushing 99, a flat grip to support a rearward projecting stabilizer.
washer 101 and spring 103, and is turned into internal 7. An improvement according to claim 1, further includ
threads 105 of the limb bolt insert 90. The bushing 99 seats ing a cable guard structure including an arm positioned
in the butt end of a bow limb (not shown). The washer 101 approximately along the horizontal central axis of said
functions as a wear and bearing surface between the limb handle riser.
and the spring 103. The weight of the limb is adjusted by O 8. An archery bow, comprising:
turning the bolt 95 in the insert 90 to compress or release the a handle riser, comprising:
spring 103. When the limb weight is properly adjusted, a set a grip portion;
screw 107 may be turned into the internal threads 105 to jam a sight window directly above said grip portion on a
against the end of threaded shaft 94. first side of said riser, said sight window including a
FIG. 5 illustrates the limb bolt assembly currently favored 15 substantially planar sight face; and
for use with compound bows. A bolt 110 is threaded into a an accessory mounting face spaced from and above
bore provided in the mounting surface 25. A limb 31 is said grip portion on a second side of said riser
clamped between a limb washer 114 and a limb grommet opposite said first side; and
116 by means of the jam nut 118. Adjustment of the nut 118 a cable guard mounted beneath said mounting face and
on the threaded shaft of the bolt 110 constitutes a suitable
means for adjusting the rotational position of the limb 31 above said grip portion, said cable guard including an
with respect to the surface 25. arm disposed approximately parallel and at approxi
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an overdraw assembly 119 mately the same elevation as a horizontal central axis of
attached to the handle riser 11 to enable a full draw to be said handle riser.
made with a short arrow. The overdraw assembly 119 9. An archery bow according to claim 8, wherein said
extends to the rear of the handle riser 11, which permits the 25 sight face is formed as an approximately vertical planar
head of a short arrow to be drawn to a position to the rear surface displaced from a vertical central axis of said handle
of the handle riser. The handle riser 119 is a “U”-shaped riser sufficiently to provide clearance for the vanes of an
member in cross-section wherein one side 120 of the mem arrow launched from an overdraw support device mounted
ber is attached to the handle riser 11. The forward portion to said handle riser, said sight face extending from approxi
121 of the overdraw assembly extends rearward from the mately said grip portion to approximately adjacent said
bow handle shelf 122 to create an extended shelf surface. accessory mounting face.
An arrow rest member 123 is attached to the overdraw 10. An archery bow according to claim 9, wherein said
assembly so that the arrow rest is positioned in a substan sight face is spaced from said vertical central axis by a
tially central location (see FIG. 7) in the “U”-shaped open distance of at least about 5/8 inch.
ing of the overdraw assembly. The arrow rest is generally 35 11. An archery bow according to claim 10, wherein said
aligned with the drawstring. sight face is spaced from said vertical central axis by a
Bolt member 124 attaches the overdraw assembly 119 to distance of at least about 2 inch.
the bow riser 11. 12. An archery bow according to claim 8 wherein said
Reference in this disclosure to specific details of the handle riser further includes a stabilizer device mounted
preferred embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of internal said handle riser.
the appended claims, which themselves define the invention, 13. An archery bow according to claim 12 wherein said
including equivalents. stabilizer device is a mercury-filled stabilizer.
What is claimed: 14. An archery bow according to claim 12, further includ
1. In a handle riser for archery bows of the type which ing an accessory mounting structure positioned beneath said
include means for mounting an overdraw arrow Support 45 grip to support a rearward projecting stabilizer.
device, said handle riser including a sight window including 15. An archery bow, comprising:
a sight face above a grip portion and displaced from a a handle riser, comprising:
vertical central axis of said handle riser and said handle riser a grip portion;
further including an accessory mounting face spaced from a sight window directly above said grip portion on a
and above said grip portion and the space occupied by an 50 first side of said riser, said sight window including a
overdraw arrow support device mounted to said handle riser, substantially planar sight face; and
the improvement which comprises providing said sight face an accessory mounting face spaced from and above
in the form of an approximately vertical planar surface said grip portion on a second side of said riser
spaced sufficiently from said central axis to provide clear opposite said first side; and
ance for the vanes of an arrow launched from an overdraw 55 a stabilizer device mounted internal said handle riser;
support device mounted to said handle riser, said sight face wherein said stabilizer device is a mercury-filled sta
extending from approximately said grip portion to approxi bilizer.
mately adjacent said accessory mounting face. 16. An archery bow, comprising:
2. An improvement according to claim 1, wherein said a handle riser, comprising:
sight face is spaced from said vertical central axis by a a grip portion;
distance of at least about ys inch. a sight window directly above said grip portion on a
3. An improvement according to claim 2, wherein said first side of said riser, said sight window including a
sight face is spaced from said vertical central axis by a substantially planar sight face; and
distance of at least about 4 inch. an accessory mounting face spaced from and above
4. An improvement according to claim 1 wherein said 65 said grip portion on a second side of said riser
handle riser further includes a stabilizer device mounted opposite said first side; and
internal said handle riser. a stabilizer device mounted internal said handle riser;
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wherein sight face is formed as an approximately 17. An archery bow according to claim 16, wherein said
vertical planar surface displaced from a vertical sight face is spaced from said vertical central axis by a
central axis of said handle riser sufficiently to pro- distance of at least about ys inch.
vide clearance for the vanes of an arrow launched 18. An archery bow according to claim 17, wherein said
from an overdraw support device mounted to said 5 sight face is spaced from said vertical central axis by a
handle riser, said sight face extending from approxi-
distance of at least about y inch.
mately said grip portion to approximately adjacent
said accessory mounting face. k . . . .