Bow Holder and Bow Cradle

Abstract

An improved bow holder is comprised of a bow cradle, at least one extension member and a base. The preferred bow cradle is comprised of a body, a clamp bed and a pair of L-shaped studs. The clamp bed is pivotally attached to the body. The clamp bed releasably locks to the body such that a fixed angle between the clamp bed and the body may be set. The studs are attached to the clamp bed such that the limb of a bow may be releasably clamped between the studs and the clamp bed. The base is comprised of a stem for insertion into a ground surface and a pair of pedals for applying ground insertion force to the stem. The bow cradle is attached to the base, or if a higher bow holding position is desired, an extension member.

1  A bow cradle for supporting a bow, said bow cradle comprising:
 (a) a body having at its lower end a first mating end shaped and sized to mate with a member having a second mating end;   (b) a clamp bed for clamping the bottom of a bow limb;   (c) wherein the clamp bed is pivotally attached to the body;   (d) wherein the clamp bed is adapted to be releasably locked to the body such that a fixed angle between the clamp bed and the body may be set; and   (e) a channel attached to the clamp bed, said channel being sized and shaped to releasably clamp a limb of a bow onto the clamp bed.   
   
   
       2 . A bow cradle for supporting a bow, said bow cradle comprising:
 (a) a body having at its lower end a first mating end shaped and sized to mate with a member having a second mating end;   (b) a clamp bed for clamping the bottom of a bow limb;   (c) wherein the clamp bed is pivotally attached to the body;   (d) wherein the clamp bed is adapted to be releasably locked to the body such that a fixed angle between the clamp bed and the body may be set; and   (e) at least one L-shaped stud attached to the clamp bed such that the limb of a bow may be releasably clamped between the at least one stud and the clamp bed.   
   
   
       3  . The bow cradle for supporting a bow of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 (a) a stem, having a lower end which is pointed for insertion into a ground surface and an upper end having a second mating end shaped and sized to mate with a member having a first mating end;   (b) wherein the lower end of the body is attached to the upper end of the stem such that the first mating end of the body on the lower end of the body mates with the second mating end on the upper end of the stem.   
   
   
       4 . The bow cradle for supporting a bow of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 (a) a tree mount comprising:
 (i) a flange adapted to be seated upon a tree stand structure, said flange having a plurality of fastener openings for securing the flange to the tree stand structure with fasteners; and 
 (ii) a mating member perpendicularly attached to the flange, the distal end of said mating member having a second mating end shaped and sized to mate with a member having a first mating end; 
   (b) wherein the lower end of the body is attached to the distal end of the mating member such that the first mating end of the body on the lower end of the body mates with the second mating end on the distal end of the mating member.   
   
   
       5 . A bow cradle for supporting a bow, said bow cradle comprising:
 (a) a body having at its lower end a first mating end shaped and sized to mate with a member having a second mating end, said body having a pair of aligned rotational openings proximal to its upper end for facilitating rotation of a clamp bed about the axis of the rotational pair of aligned openings, and said body having a pair of aligned stabilizing openings proximal to its upper end for facilitating the fixation of the orientation of a clamp bed attached to the body;   (b) a clamp bed for clamping the bottom of a bow limb;   (c) at least one threaded opening positioned along one side of the clamp bed;   (d) a pair of flanges perpendicularly extending from a bottom side of the clamp bed, said flanges being spaced apart such that the body may fit between the flanges, each said flange having a rotational opening which aligns with the rotational pair of aligned openings of the body for providing an axis of rotation of the flanges about the body, each said flange having a plurality of additional stabilizing openings wherein one stabilizing opening on each flange is capable of aligning with the pair of aligned stabilizing openings of the body for facilitating the setting of the orientation of the clamp bed with respect to the body;   (e) wherein the flanges are rotationally attached to the body such that the flanges rotate about the rotational openings of the flanges and the body;   (f) wherein the flanges are adapted to be locked into a fixed position when a bolt is inserted through a pair of aligned stabilizing openings of the flanges and the pair of stabilizing openings of the body; and   (g) at least one threaded L-shaped stud, the threads of said at least one stud matching the threads of the at least one threaded opening of the clamp bed, said at least one stud being threaded into a threaded opening of the clamp bed, said at least one stud being sized and shaped to releasably clamp a limb of a bow between the at least one stud and the clamp bed.   
   
   
       6 . The bow cradle for supporting a bow of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 (a) a layer of resilient material affixed to the upper surface of the clamp bed; and   (b) a layer of resilient material affixed to the bow limb contacting section of the at least one L-shaped stud.   
   
   
       7 . The bow cradle for supporting a bow of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 (a) a base comprising:
 (i) a stem, having a lower end which is pointed for insertion into a ground surface and an upper end having a second mating end shaped and sized to mate with a member having a first mating end; and 
 (ii) a pair of pedals hingedly attached to the upper end of the stem for allowing ground insertion force to be applied to the stem; 
   (b) wherein the lower end of the body is attached to the upper end of the stem such that the first mating end of the body on the lower end of the body mates with the second mating end on the upper end of the stem.   
   
   
       8 . The bow cradle for supporting a bow of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 (a) a tree mount comprising:
 (i) a flange adapted to be seated upon a tree stand structure, said flange having a plurality of fastener openings for securing the flange to the tree stand structure with fasteners; and 
 (ii) a mating member perpendicularly attached to the flange, the distal end of said mating member having a second mating end shaped and sized to mate with a member having a first mating end; 
   (b) wherein the lower end of the body is attached to the distal end of the mating member such that the first mating end of the body on the lower end of the body mates with the second mating end on the distal end of the mating member.   
   
   
       9 . An improved bow holder for supporting a bow, said bow holder comprising:
 (a) a bow cradle comprising:
 (i) a body having at its lower end a first mating end shaped and sized to mate with a member having a second mating end, said body having a pair of aligned rotational openings proximal to its upper end for facilitating rotation of a clamp bed about the axis of the rotational pair of aligned openings, and said body having a pair of aligned stabilizing openings proximal to its upper end for facilitating the fixation of the orientation of a clamp bed attached to the body; 
 (ii) a clamp bed for clamping the bottom of a bow limb; 
 (iii) a pair of the threaded openings positioned along one side of the clamp bed; 
 (iv) a pair of flanges perpendicularly extending from a bottom side of the clamp bed, said flanges being spaced apart such that the body may fit between the flanges, each said flange having a rotational opening which aligns with the rotational pair of aligned openings of the body for providing an axis of rotation of the flanges about the body, each said flange having a plurality of additional stabilizing openings wherein one stabilizing opening on each flange is capable of aligning with the pair of aligned stabilizing openings of the body for facilitating the setting of the orientation of the clamp bed with respect to the body; 
 (v) wherein the flanges are rotationally attached to the body such that the flanges rotate about the rotational openings of the flanges and the body; 
 (vi) wherein the flanges are capable of being locked into a fixed position when a bolt is inserted through a pair of aligned stabilizing openings of the flanges and the pair of stabilizing openings of the body; and 
 (vii) a pair of threaded L-shaped studs, the threads of said studs matching the threads of the threaded openings of the clamp bed, each of said studs being threaded into a threaded opening of the clamp bed, at least one of said studs being sized and shaped to releasably clamp a limb of a bow between the studs and the clamp bed; 
   (b) a base comprising:
 (i) a stem, having a lower end which is pointed for insertion into a ground surface and an upper end having a second mating end shaped and sized to mate with a member having a first mating end; and 
 (ii) a pair of pedals hingedly attached to the upper end of the stem for allowing ground insertion force to be applied to the stem; 
 (iii) wherein the lower end of one extension member is attached to the upper end of the stem; wherein the lower end of the body of the bow cradle is attached to a second mating end of an extension member; and 
 (iv) wherein the bow cradle, the body, and the base are oriented such that the longitudinal axis of the of the arrow propelling section of the drawstring of a bow secured by the bow holder is perpendicular to the plane of the ground when the stem is vertically inserted into the ground. 
   
   
   
       10 . The improved bow holder for supporting a bow of  claim 9 , further comprising a quiver attached to the at least one extension member. 
   
   
       11 . The improved bow holder for supporting a bow of  claim 10 , wherein the quiver is releasably attached to the at least one extension member.