Finned vibration damper for archery bow

Abstract

Disclosed is a finned vibration damper to damp vibrations in an object, especially in an archery bow. The invention is comprised of a base and a plurality of fins extending up from the base. The vibration damper is made of an elastic, rubbery material, such as an elastomer or elastic polymer. The base of the damper has a bottom surface which can be attached to an object by glue or an adhesive. In an alternative embodiment, the damper has interlocking extensions that allow the damper to be wrapped around and object so that extensions overlap and interlock. In another disclosed embodiment, the damper is a ring with fins extending radially out from a ring base.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A vibration damping device, formed of an elastomeric material, comprising: 
 a base, and    A plurality of fins extending up from the base.    
     
     
         2 . The vibration damping device of  claim 1  wherein the base further comprises a flat bottom surface.  
     
     
         3 . The vibration damping device of  claim 2  wherein the bottom surface is covered by an adhesive layer, and wherein the adhesive layer has an adhesive surface to attach the vibration damping device to an object.  
     
     
         4 . The vibration damping device of  claim 3  wherein the adhesive surface is covered by a peel-off strip.  
     
     
         5 . The vibration damping device of  claim 2  wherein a bonding agent attaches the bottom surface to an object.  
     
     
         6 . The vibration damping device of  claim 1  wherein base is attached to an archery bow.  
     
     
         7 . The vibration damping device of  claim 6  wherein the base is attached to one or more limbs of an archery bow.  
     
     
         8 . The vibration damping device of  claim 1  wherein the base has a finned portion and a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the proximal and distal ends extend beyond the finned portion.  
     
     
         9 . The vibration damping device of  claim 8  wherein the proximal and distal ends have top and bottom surfaces, and wherein the top surface of the proximal end is flat and the bottom surface of the proximal end forms a plurality of ridges and grooves, and wherein the bottom surface of the distal end is flat and the top surface of the distal end forms a plurality of ridges and grooves.  
     
     
         10 . The vibration damping device of  claim 9  wherein the base may be wrapped around an object and the ridges and grooves of the proximal and distal ends interlock.  
     
     
         11 . The vibration damping device of  claim 10  wherein a bonding agent bonds the bottom surface of the proximal end to the top surface of the distal end.  
     
     
         12 . The vibration damping device of  claim 8  wherein the base has a bottom surface extending at least under the finned portion, and wherein the bottom surface is covered by an adhesive layer, and wherein the adhesive layer has an adhesive surface to attach the vibration damping device to an object.  
     
     
         13 . The vibration damping device of  claim 12  wherein the adhesive surface is covered by a peel-off strip.  
     
     
         14 . A vibration damping device, formed of an elastomeric material, comprising 
 a base having a bottom surface, a finned section, and a first end and a second end,    a plurality of fins extending up from the base at the finned section, and    wherein first and second ends extend beyond the finned section of the base.    
     
     
         15 . The vibration damping device of  claim 14  wherein the first and second ends have top and bottom surfaces, and wherein the bottom surface of the first end forms a plurality of ridges and grooves, and wherein the top surface of the second end forms a plurality of ridges and grooves.  
     
     
         16 . The vibration damping device of  claim 15  wherein the ridges and grooves of the second end are formed to interlock the ridges and grooves of the first end.  
     
     
         17 . A vibration damping device, formed of an elastomeric material, comprising 
 a ring-shaped base with an inner ring surface, and    a plurality of finds extending radially out from the ring-shaped base.    
     
     
         18 . The vibration damping device of  claim 17  wherein the radial fins have a middle portion between the ring-shaped base and a fin tip, and wherein a stabilizing ring is located in the middle portion and joins the radial fins.  
     
     
         19 . The vibration damping device of  claim 17  further comprising a mounting cup disposed within the inner ring surface.  
     
     
         20 . The vibration damping device of  claim 19  further comprising a foam insert disposed within the mounting cup.