Bowstring serving tool

Abstract

A simple, yet effective, hand-held and portable implement for applying a serving line to a bowstring includes a flattened disc coupled to a power source for rotation about a central axis perpendicular to the disc, and a serving-line supply assembly mounted on the disc including a reel of serving line. An unimpeded slot extends through the disc from the central axis to the outer periphery of the disk, enabling a bowstring to be inserted into the slot, wrapped with the serving line as the disc is rotated, and removed from the slot when finished. In the preferred embodiment, the serving-line supply assembly further includes a plate with an open groove facing the slot and aligned with the axis of the disc to receive the bowstring being served. The plate further preferably includes an aperture in the groove through which the serving line is drawn as the bowstring is wrapped. A spring-biased loop-forming element is also incorporated in the preferred embodiment to hold the serving line on one side of the disc before being passed through the slot to the opposite side to assist in forming a knot in the serving when finished. An optional indexing mechanism to keep the disc from rotating when the bowstring is inserted into and released from the disc. In one preferred configuration, the assembly is provided as an add-on to a hand-operated implement such as reversible drive motor. However, according to an alternative embodiment, the serving assembly may be more integrally formed to a dedicated source of motive power and sold as a unit. In any case, the rotational power is preferably delivered to the disk through a set of bevel gears coupled to the source of rotational energy.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A bowstring serving tool adapted for use with a source of rotational power, the tool comprising: 
 a flattened disc coupled to the power source for rotation about a central axis perpendicular to the disc;    a serving-line supply assembly mounted on the disc, the assembly including a reel of serving line; and    an unimpeded slot extending from the central axis to the outer periphery of the disk enabling a bowstring to be inserted into the slot, wrapped with the serving line as the disc is rotated, and removed from the slot when finished.    
     
     
         2 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the serving-line supply assembly further includes a plate with an open groove facing the slot and aligned with the axis of the disc to receive the bowstring being served.  
     
     
         3 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 2 , wherein the plate further includes an aperture in the groove through which the serving line is drawn as the bowstring is wrapped.  
     
     
         4 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 1 , further including a spring-biased loop-forming element to hold the serving line on one side of the disc before being passed through the slot to the opposite side to assist in forming a knot in the serving when finished.  
     
     
         5 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 1 , further an indexing mechanism to keep the disc from rotating when the bowstring is inserted into and released from the disc.  
     
     
         6 . A bowstring serving tool adapted for use with a source of rotational power, comprising: 
 a flattened disc having top and bottom surfaces, a central axis, an outer periphery, and a slot extending from the central axis to the outer periphery, the disc being coupled to the source of rotational power for rotation about the axis;    a serving-line supply assembly mounted on the top surface of the disc, the assembly including a reel of serving line and a plate perpendicular to the disc including a groove aligned with the axis of the disc and open toward the slot; and    the plate further including an aperture in the groove through which serving line from the reel extends to helically wrap a bowstring placed in the slot and against the groove as the disc is rotated.    
     
     
         7 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 6 , further including a spring-biased loop-forming element to hold the serving line on one side of the disc before being passed through the slot to the opposite side to assist in forming a knot in the serving when finished.  
     
     
         8 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 6 , further an indexing mechanism to keep the disc from rotating when the bowstring is inserted into and released from the disc.  
     
     
         9 . A bowstring serving tool adapted for use with a source of rotational power, comprising: 
 a flattened disc having top and bottom surfaces, a central axis, an outer periphery, and a slot extending from the central axis to the outer periphery, the disc being coupled to the source of rotational power for rotation about the axis;    a serving-line supply assembly mounted on the top surface of the disc, the assembly including a reel of serving line and a plate perpendicular to the disc including a groove aligned with the axis of the disc and open toward the slot;    the plate further including an aperture in the groove through which serving line from the reel extends to helically wrap a bowstring placed in the slot and against the groove as the disc is rotated; and    a spring-biased loop-forming element to hold the serving line on one side of the disc before being passed through the slot to the opposite side to assist in forming a knot in the serving when finished.    
     
     
         10 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 9 , further an indexing mechanism to keep the disc from rotating when the bowstring is inserted into and released from the disc.  
     
     
         11 . A bowstring serving tool, comprising: 
 a source of rotational power;    a flattened disc coupled to the power source for rotation about a central axis perpendicular to the disc;    a serving-line supply assembly mounted on the disc, the assembly including a reel of serving line; and    an unimpeded slot extending from the central axis to the outer periphery of the disk enabling a bowstring to be inserted into the slot, wrapped with the serving line as the disc is rotated, and removed from the slot when finished.    
     
     
         12 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 11 , wherein the serving-line supply assembly further includes a plate with an open groove facing the slot and aligned with the axis of the disc to receive the bowstring being served.  
     
     
         13 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 12 , wherein the plate further includes an aperture in the groove through which the serving line is drawn as the bowstring is wrapped.  
     
     
         14 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 11 , further including a spring-biased loop-forming element to hold the serving line on one side of the disc before being passed through the slot to the opposite side to assist in forming a knot in the serving when finished.  
     
     
         15 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 11 , further an indexing mechanism to keep the disc from rotating when the bowstring is inserted into and released from the disc.  
     
     
         16 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 11 , wherein the source or rotational power is removably attachable.  
     
     
         17 . A bowstring serving tool adapted for use with, comprising: 
 a source of rotational power    a flattened disc having top and bottom surfaces, a central axis, an outer periphery, and a slot extending from the central axis to the outer periphery, the disc being coupled to the source of rotational power for rotation about the axis;    a serving-line supply assembly mounted on the top surface of the disc, the assembly including a reel of serving line and a plate perpendicular to the disc including a groove aligned with the axis of the disc and open toward the slot; and    the plate further including an aperture in the groove through which serving line from the reel extends to helically wrap a bowstring placed in the slot and against the groove as the disc is rotated.    
     
     
         18 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 17 , further including a spring-biased loop-forming element to hold the serving line on one side of the disc before being passed through the slot to the opposite side to assist in forming a knot in the serving when finished.  
     
     
         19 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 17 , further an indexing mechanism to keep the disc from rotating when the bowstring is inserted into and released from the disc.  
     
     
         20 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 17 , wherein the source of rotational power is removably attachable.  
     
     
         21 . A bowstring serving tool, comprising: 
 a source of rotational power;    a flattened disc having top and bottom surfaces, a central axis, an outer periphery, and a slot extending from the central axis to the outer periphery, the disc being coupled to the source of rotational power for rotation about the axis;    a serving-line supply assembly mounted on the top surface of the disc, the assembly including a reel of serving line and a plate perpendicular to the disc including a groove aligned with the axis of the disc and open toward the slot;    the plate further including an aperture in the groove through which serving line from the reel extends to helically wrap a bowstring placed in the slot and against the groove as the disc is rotated; and    a spring-biased loop-forming element to hold the serving line on one side of the disc before being passed through the slot to the opposite side to assist in forming a knot in the serving when finished.    
     
     
         22 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 21 , further an indexing mechanism to keep the disc from rotating when the bowstring is inserted into and released from the disc.  
     
     
         23 . The bowstring serving tool according to  claim 21 , wherein the source of rotational power is removably attachable.