Adapter for bow press

Abstract

An adapter for removable mounting on the limb roller assemblies of an adjustable bow press to allow the bow press to be used with parallel limb short limb bows includes a base panel for mounting between the base and the limb roller of such assemblies. A generally upright front panel is joined to, desirably unitary with, and extends generally perpendicularly from the base panel, the front panel having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having first and second upwardly extending legs defining therebetween an upwardly opening U-shaped slot having a U-shaped trough. The upper end portions of the first and second legs include padding attached to the surfaces thereof facing the bow limbs for contacting, without damaging, the axels of the bow limbs. The base panel includes L-shaped brackets for stabilizing the adapter on the limb roller assemblies.

1 . In an adjustable bow press for use with parallel limb short limb bows, each bow having an elongate handle, limbs extending from opposite ends of said handle and a bowstring extending in tension between said limbs, said bow press including:
 an elongate base member;   outwardly and upwardly inclined left and right spacer bars adjustably positionable upon said base member and releasably secured thereto; and   first and second limb roller assemblies secured to the upper ends of said left and right spacer bars; and   means for causing the upper end portion of at least one of said spacer bars to move inwardly toward the other spacer bar to release tension in said bowstring;   the improvement comprising removably insertable adapter means mounted on each of said first and second limb roller assemblies for supporting the limbs of said bows at their axels, said adapters comprising mounting means for removably mounting said adapters on said first and second limb roller assemblies and bow limb contact means connected to said mounting means, said contact means facing the opposite limb roller assembly for contacting the axels of said bow limbs without damaging said bow limbs.   
   
   
       2 . An adjustable bow press, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said means for causing the upper end portion of at least one of said spacer bars to move inwardly toward said other spacer bar comprises at least one of said spacer bars having an upper end portion on which one of said limb roller assemblies is mounted, pivot means pivotally connecting said upper end portion to said one of said spacer bars for pivotal movement of said upper end portion toward and away from said other spacer bar and means for causing said upper end portion to pivot about said pivot means toward said other spacer bar, whereby the bow limb supported by the limb roller assembly mounted on said upper end portion is caused to bend toward the other bow limb to release the tension in said bowstring. 
   
   
       3 . An adjustable bow press, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said means for causing said upper end portion to pivot about said pivot means toward said other spacer bar comprises hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical or mechanical means. 
   
   
       4 . An adjustable bow press, as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said bow limb contact means of each said adapter means comprises a generally upright front panel joined to said mounting means, said front panel having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a U-shaped configuration comprising first and second upwardly extending legs defining therebetween an upwardly opening U-shaped slot having a U-shaped trough, the upper end portions of said first and second legs including padding attached to the surfaces thereof facing the other spacer bar for contacting the axels of the bow limbs without damaging the bow limbs. 
   
   
       5 . An adjustable bow press, as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said U-shaped trough includes padding attached thereto. 
   
   
       6 . An adjustable bow press, as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said upper portion of said front panel of each said adapter means inclines forwardly toward the other spacer bar relative to said lower portion of said front panel. 
   
   
       7 . An adjustable bow press, as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said upper portion of said front panel of each said adapter means inclines forwardly about 4° to 6° relative to said lower portion of said front panel. 
   
   
       8 . An adjustable bow press, as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said upper end portions of said first and second legs incline rearwardly away from the other spacer bar relative to the lower portions of said first and second legs about the same angular amount as the upper portion of said front panel inclines forwardly toward the other spacer bar relative to said lower portion of said front panel. 
   
   
       9 . An adjustable bow press, as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said lower portion of said front panel and said upper end portions of said first and second legs are generally parallel. 
   
   
       10 . An adjustable bow press, as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said first and second limb roller assemblies are generally U-shaped, each comprising a base, opposed upstanding arms at the ends of said base, a pivot pin extending between said upstanding arms and a limb roller mounted on said pivot pin above said base for defining a space between said limb roller and said base, and said mounting means of each said adapter means comprises a base panel joined to and extending generally perpendicularly from said front panel away from said other spacer bar and received in said space defined between said limb roller and said base, said base panel including opposite side edges and a rear edge. 
   
   
       11 . An adjustable bow press, as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said base panel of each said adapter means includes means attached thereto and extending under the base of said first and second limb roller assemblies when said base panel is received in said space for stabilizing said adapter means on said limb roller assemblies. 
   
   
       12 . An adjustable bow press, as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said means for stabilizing comprises a generally L-shaped bracket affixed to each side edge of said base panel, one leg of each L-shaped bracket extending generally parallel to the front panel and affixed to each side edge immediately rearward of said front panel such that the lower end of said one leg extends below said base panel, and the other leg of each L-shaped bracket extending generally rearwardly from the lower end of said one leg and generally parallel to said base panel, said other leg extending under the base of said first and second limb roller assemblies when said base panel is received in said space. 
   
   
       13 . An adjustable bow press, as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said front panel and said mounting means are unitary. 
   
   
       14 . An adjustable bow press, as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said front panel and said base panel are unitary. 
   
   
       15 . An adapter for removable mounting on an adjustable bow press to allow said bow press to be used, with parallel limb short limb bows having an elongate handle, limbs extending from opposite ends of said handle and a bowstring extending in tension between said limbs, said adjustable bow press including:
 an elongate base member;   outwardly and upwardly inclined left and right spacer bars adjustably positionable upon said base member and releasably secured thereto; and   first and second limb roller assemblies secured to the upper ends of said left and right spacer bars;   said adapter comprising:   mounting means for removably mounting an adapter on each of said first and second limb roller assemblies and bow limb contact means connected to said mounting means, said contact means facing the bow limbs when said bow is mounted on said bow press for contacting the axels of said bow limbs without damaging said bow limbs.   
   
   
       16 . An adapter, as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said first and second limb roller assemblies of said bow press are generally U-shaped, each comprising a base, opposed upstanding arms at the ends of said base, a pivot pin extending between said upstanding arms and a limb roller mounted on said pivot pin above said base for defining a space between said limb roller and said base,
 said bow limb contact means of said adapter comprises a generally upright front panel joined to said mounting means, said front panel having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a U-shaped configuration comprising first and second upwardly extending legs defining therebetween an upwardly opening U-shaped slot having a U-shaped trough, the upper end portions of said first and second legs including padding attached to the surfaces thereof facing the bow limbs when said bow is mounted on said bow press for contacting the axels of the bow limbs without damaging the bow limbs; and   said mounting means of said adapter comprises a base panel joined to and extending generally perpendicularly from said front panel, said base panel including opposite side edges and a rear edge and adapted to be received in said space defined between said limb roller and said base with said front panel facing the bow limbs when said bow is mounted on said bow press.   
   
   
       17 . An adapter, as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said U-shaped trough includes padding attached thereto. 
   
   
       18 . An adapter, as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said upper portion of said front panel of each said adapter means inclines forwardly relative to said lower portion of said front panel. 
   
   
       19 . An adapter, as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said upper portion of said front panel of each said adapter means inclines forwardly about 4° to 6° relative to said lower portion of said front panel. 
   
   
       20 . An adapter, as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said upper end portions of said first and second legs incline rearwardly relative to the lower portions of said first and second legs about the same angular amount as the upper portion of said front panel inclines forwardly relative to said lower portion of said front panel. 
   
   
       21 . An adapter, as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said lower portion of said front panel and said upper end portions of said first and second legs are generally parallel. 
   
   
       22 . An adapter, as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said base panel of each said adapter means includes means attached thereto for extending under the base of said first and second limb roller assemblies when said base panel is received in said space for stabilizing said adapter on said limb roller assemblies. 
   
   
       23 . An adapter, as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said means for stabilizing comprises a generally L-shaped bracket affixed to each side edge of said base panel, one leg of each L-shaped bracket extending generally parallel to the front panel and affixed to each side edge immediately rearward of said front panel such that the lower end of said one leg extends below said base panel, and the other leg of each L-shaped bracket extending generally rearwardly from the lower end of said one leg and generally parallel to said base panel, said other leg adapted to extend under the base of said first and second limb roller assemblies when said base panel is received in said space. 
   
   
       24 . An adapter, as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said front panel and said base panel are unitary.