Stiffener member and bow riser assembly and archery bow comprised thereof

Abstract

A riser and an archery bow including the riser are described herein. The riser includes a stiffener member to reduce deflection or bending of the riser. In an example, the stiffener member is integrated into the frame of the riser. In another example, the stiffener member is coupled to an external surface of the riser.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A riser assembly for a bow, the riser assembly comprising:
 a riser comprising:
 (a) a front configured to face in a forward direction toward a target; 
 (b) a rear located opposite of the front, the rear configured to face in a rearward direction away from the target; 
 (c) a first stiffener mount; and 
 (d) a second stiffener mount; and 
   a riser stiffener comprising:
 (a) a first coupler configured to couple to the first stiffener mount; and 
 (b) a second coupler configured to couple to the second stiffener mount; 
   wherein when the riser stiffener is coupled to the riser before the riser is subject to a bow draw force, the riser stiffener exerts a riser force acting in the forward direction on the riser, and   wherein, when the riser is subject to the bow draw force, the riser force at least partially counteracts the bow draw force to reduce bending in the riser.   
     
     
         2 . The riser of  claim 1 , wherein the riser comprises at least two riser stiffeners coupled to the riser, a first riser stiffener coupled to a first section of the riser and a second riser stiffener coupled to a second section of the riser. 
     
     
         3 . The riser of  claim 1 , wherein the riser stiffener is coupled to the riser such that a gap extends longitudinally between the rear of the riser and the riser stiffener. 
     
     
         4 . The riser of  claim 1 , wherein the riser further comprises a sight window positioned in the riser. 
     
     
         5 . The riser of  claim 4 , wherein the sight window comprises an opening in the riser, the sight window comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least one side surface. 
     
     
         6 . The riser of  claim 5 , wherein the upper surface and the lower surface each comprise a stiffener mount and wherein the riser stiffener comprises a first and second stiffener coupler configured to couple the riser stiffener to the riser along the sight window. 
     
     
         7 . The riser of  claim 1 , wherein the riser comprises a plurality of riser sections and a grip section between the riser sections, wherein the riser stiffener is coupled to the riser such that the riser stiffener extends along at least part of the grip section. 
     
     
         8 . The riser of  claim 1 , wherein the riser stiffener is configured to minimize deflection of the riser. 
     
     
         9 . The riser of  claim 1 , wherein the riser stiffener is configured to be removeably coupled to the riser. 
     
     
         10 . A riser assembly for a bow, the riser assembly comprising:
 a riser comprising a riser frame, the riser frame comprising:
 a front surface configured to face toward a target, a back surface configured to face away from the target in a rearward direction, and at least two side surfaces, the front, back, and side surfaces defining a longitudinal opening; and 
 a stiffener positioned within the longitudinal opening, the stiffener being coupled to the riser frame. 
   
     
     
         11 . The riser of  claim 10 , wherein the stiffener defines a plurality of cross supports defining a plurality of inner stiffener openings, and
 wherein the cross supports and inner stiffener openings are configured to reduce deflection of the riser in the rearward direction while reducing weight increase caused by inclusion of the stiffener in the riser frame.   
     
     
         12 . The riser of  claim 10 , wherein the stiffener is a stiffener insert configured to be removeably disposed in the longitudinal opening. 
     
     
         13 . The riser of  claim 10 , wherein the riser and the stiffener are unitary. 
     
     
         14 . An archery bow comprising:
 a riser comprising a riser section, the riser section comprising:
 (a) a first end; 
 (b) a second end; and 
 (c) a riser body extending between the first and second ends, the riser body comprising a front configured to face toward a target and a rear configured to face in a rearward direction way from the target and 
   a stiffener member configured to be coupled to the riser section,   wherein the stiffener member is configured to reduce bending of the riser in the rearward direction.   
     
     
         15 . The archery bow of  claim 14 , wherein the riser and the stiffener member are unitary. 
     
     
         16 . The archery bow of  claim 14 , the riser further comprising at least one stiffener coupler configured to removeably couple the stiffener member to the riser section. 
     
     
         17 . The archery bow of  claim 14 , wherein the a riser section comprises:
 (a) a front configured to face toward the target;   (b) a rear located opposite of the front, the rear configured to face in the rearward direction;   (c) the first end comprising a rearward extension extending in the rearward direction, the rearward extension comprising a first stiffener mount; and   (d) the second end comprising a second stiffener mount; and   
       the stiffener member comprising:
 (a) a first coupler configured to couple to the first stiffener mount; and 
 (b) a second coupler configured to couple to the second stiffener mount; 
 
       wherein, when the riser is subject to a bow draw force acting in the rearward direction:
 (a) the first end of the riser undergoes a rearward force, and 
 (b) the first coupler of the stiffener member counteracts the rearward force to reduce bending in the riser. 
 
     
     
         18 . The archery bow of  claim 14 , wherein the stiffener member is coupled to the riser such that a gap extends longitudinally between the stiffener member and the riser. 
     
     
         19 . The archery bow of  claim 14 , wherein the riser section comprises a frame comprising:
 a first end and a second end; and   a front surface configured to face toward the target, a back surface configured to face away from the target in the rearward direction, and at least two side surfaces, the front, back, and side surfaces defining a longitudinal opening; and   the stiffener member positioned within the longitudinal opening, the stiffener member being coupled to the riser frame.   
     
     
         20 . The archery bow of  claim 14 , wherein the stiffener member comprises a stiffness that is greater than a stiffness of the riser of the archery bow. 
     
     
         21 . The archery bow of  claim 14 , wherein the stiffener member comprises carbon fiber. 
     
     
         22 . The archery bow of  claim 14 , wherein when the stiffener member is coupled to the riser, the stiffener member exerts a force acting in the forward direction on the riser.