Arrow rest

Abstract

A drop-away arrow rest for an archery bow is provided that utilizes a torque transfer system to transfer a rotational motion from an actuation element to a launcher configured to support the shaft of an arrow when the launcher is in an up position. The rotational motion causes the launcher to rotate from an up position to a down position while the archery bow is shot. After the arrow has cleared the launcher, the arrow rest described herein is configured to automatically return to the up position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An arrow rest system for supporting an arrow relative to an archery bow, said arrow rest system comprising:
 a launcher configured to support the shaft of said arrow when said launcher is in an up position;   an actuation arm configured to be rotated by said archery bow when said archery bow is shot; and   a rotary damper configured to provide a torque-dependent motion transmittal from said actuation arm to said launcher so that when said archery bow is shot said launcher is rotated from said up position to a down position.   
     
     
         2 . The arrow rest system of  claim 1 , wherein said launcher is configured to automatically rotate from said down position to said up position after said archery bow is shot. 
     
     
         3 . The arrow rest system of  claim 1 , wherein said launcher is configured to automatically remain in said up position at all times other than when said archery bow is shot and immediately after said archery bow is shot. 
     
     
         4 . The arrow rest of  claim 1 , wherein said actuation arm rotates from an initial position to an actuated position through an angle A when said archery bow is shot, wherein said launcher rotates from said up position to said down position through an angle B, wherein A is at least 5 degrees greater than B. 
     
     
         5 . The arrow rest of  claim 1 , wherein said actuation arm rotates from an initial position to an actuated position when said archery bow is shot, wherein said actuation arm is configured to automatically remain in said actuated position after said archery bow has been shot and before said archery bow is drawn back again. 
     
     
         6 . The arrow rest system of  claim 1 , wherein said actuation arm is configured to connect to a moving portion of said archery bow, wherein said moving portion causes said actuation arm to rotate when said archery bow is shot. 
     
     
         7 . The arrow rest system of  claim 1 , further comprising a launcher spring configured to urge said launcher toward said up position. 
     
     
         8 . The arrow rest system of  claim 7 , wherein said rotary damper is configured to momentarily overcome the torsion of said launcher return spring thereby causing said launcher to rotate from said up position to said down position when said archery bow is shot. 
     
     
         9 . The arrow rest system of  claim 7 , further comprising an actuation arm spring for urging said actuation arm toward an initial position when said archery bow is drawn back. 
     
     
         10 . The arrow rest system of  claim 1 , wherein said launcher comprises a pair of launcher arms configured to contact and cooperatively support said arrow when said launcher is in said up position, further comprising a body configured to attach said arrow rest system to said archery bow, further comprising a containment arm affixed to said body, wherein said containment arm extends over said launcher arms to provide containment for an arrow. 
     
     
         11 . An arrow rest system for supporting an arrow relative to an archery bow, said arrow rest system comprising:
 a launcher configured to support the shaft of said arrow when said launcher is in an up position;   an actuation element configured to be rotated by said archery bow from an initial position to an actuated position when said archery bow is shot; and   a speed-sensitive torque transfer system configured to transfer at least a portion of the rotating motion of said actuating element to said launcher so that when said archery bow is shot said actuation element rotates said launcher from said up position to a down position.   
     
     
         12 . The arrow rest system of  claim 11 , wherein said speed-sensitive torque transfer system comprises a mechanical transfer mechanism, wherein said mechanical transfer mechanism comprises a viscous fluid having a viscosity of at least 5 centistokes at 25° C. 
     
     
         13 . The arrow rest system of  claim 12 , wherein said speed-sensitive torque transfer system comprises a viscous fluid torque transfer system. 
     
     
         14 . The arrow rest system of  claim 13 , wherein said viscous fluid torque transfer system comprises a rotary damper. 
     
     
         15 . The arrow rest system of  claim 11 , wherein said launcher is configured to automatically rotate from said down position to said up position after said archery bow is shot. 
     
     
         16 . The arrow rest system of  claim 11 , wherein said actuation element rotates from said initial position to said actuated position through an angle A when said archery bow is shot, wherein said launcher rotates from said up position to said down position through an angle B, wherein A is at least 5 degrees greater than B. 
     
     
         17 . The arrow rest system of  claim 11 , wherein said launcher is configured to automatically remain in said up position at all times other than when said archery bow is shot and immediately after said archery bow is shot. 
     
     
         18 . The arrow rest system of  claim 11 , wherein said actuation element is configured to connect to a moving portion of said archery bow at an undrawn position at angle X and a drawn position at angle Y, wherein X is at least 5 degrees greater than Y. 
     
     
         19 . An arrow rest system for supporting an arrow relative to an archery bow, said arrow rest system comprising:
 a launcher configured to support the shaft of said arrow when said launcher is in an up position;   an actuation element configured to be rotated by said archery bow from an initial position to an actuated position when said archery bow is shot; and   a torque transfer system configured to transfer at least a portion of the rotating motion of said actuating element to said launcher so that when said archery bow is shot said actuation element rotates said launcher from said up position to a down position,   wherein said actuation element rotates from said initial position to said actuated position through an angle A when said archery bow is shot, wherein said launcher rotates from said up position to said down position through an angle B, wherein A is at least 5 degrees greater than B.   
     
     
         20 . The arrow rest system of  claim 19 , further comprising a stop configured to limit the movement of said launcher, wherein said stop defines said down position of said launcher. 
     
     
         21 . The arrow rest system of  claim 19 , wherein said actuation element is configured to prevent substantial bounce back of said launcher while said launcher is in said down position. 
     
     
         22 . The arrow rest system of  claim 19 , wherein said launcher is operably connected to a launcher biasing element, wherein said torque transfer system is configured to momentarily overcome the torsion of said launcher biasing element thereby causing said launcher to rotate from said up position to said down position. 
     
     
         23 . The arrow rest system of  claim 19 , wherein said torque transfer system comprises a mechanical transfer mechanism, wherein said mechanical transfer mechanism comprises a viscous fluid having a viscosity of at least 5 centistokes at 25° C. 
     
     
         24 . The arrow rest system of  claim 23 , wherein said torque transfer system comprises a rotary damper. 
     
     
         25 . The arrow rest system of  claim 19 , wherein said launcher is configured to automatically rotate from said down position to said up position after said archery bow is shot. 
     
     
         26 . The arrow rest system of  claim 19 , wherein said actuation arm is configured to automatically remain in said actuated position after said archery bow has been shot and before said archery bow is drawn back again. 
     
     
         27 . A method for operating an arrow rest system, said method comprising:
 (a) rotating an actuation arm from an initial position, through an angle A, to an actuated position;   (b) transferring a portion of the rotational motion of said actuation arm to an arrow support launcher to thereby rotate said launcher from an up position, through an angle B, to a down position,   wherein A is at least 5 degrees greater than B.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said transferring of step (b) is at least partly carried out using a speed-sensitive torque transfer system. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said speed sensitive torque transfer system comprises a rotary damper. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising automatically rotating said launcher from said down position to said up position using a launcher biasing element, wherein said automatically rotating occurs while said actuation element is at said actuated position. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising automatically rotating said actuation arm from said actuated position to said initial position using an actuation biasing element. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein A−B=angle C, wherein said angle C defines the rotation angle of said actuation arm past said down position of said launcher to said actuated position, wherein said launcher is maintained at said down position with substantially no bounce back while said actuation arm is rotating through said angle C to said actuated position.