Archery accessory

Abstract

The present invention is a device which supports the weight of an archery bow while an archer is shooting the bow and increases the stability of the bow, thereby increasing the accuracy and distance of the shot. The monopod device is mounted to the riser of a bow and is comprised of two or more telescoping tubes with a hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric braking mechanism. When the braking system is at rest, the inner tube is stopped from moving within the outer tube. In the activated position, the inner tube can slide within the outer tube to achieve the length desired by the archer depending on the terrain and the size and position of the archer.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An archery accessory comprising:
 a. a monopod comprising:
 i. an outer tube; 
 ii. at least one inner tube whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the outer tube; and 
 iii. an opening in the outer tube that exposes the at least one inner tube; 
   b. a means for mounting the monopod on an archer's bow;   c. a braking system comprising:
 i. a squeeze bulb containing a non-solid medium; 
 ii. a length of tubing, said tubing having a first end and a second end, said squeeze bulb being connected to the first end of the length of tubing such that when the squeeze bulb is squeezed, the non-solid medium is pushed through the length of tubing; 
 iii. a piston cylinder connected to the second end of the length of tubing said piston cylinder being capable of receiving the non-solid medium when it is pushed through the length of tubing; 
 iv. a movable piston rod extending from the piston cylinder such that when the non-solid medium enters the piston cylinder, the movable piston rod is extended further out of the piston cylinder; 
 v. a lever having a first end and a second end, a top side and a bottom side, said first end of the lever being attached to the piston cylinder, said bottom side of the second end of the lever being attached to a fulcrum; 
 vi. a brake foot, said brake foot being attached to the bottom side of the second end of the lever such that the brake foot is able to go through the opening in the outer tube and make contact with the at least one inner tube preventing said at least one inner tube from moving within the outer tube; and 
 vii. a spring having a first end and a second end, said first end of the spring being connected to the first end of the lever, said second end of the spring being attached to the outer tube. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the squeeze bulb, length of tubing, piston cylinder, movable piston rod, lever, fulcrum, brake foot, and spring are configured such that when the squeeze bulb is squeezed, the non-solid medium is pushed through the length of tubing and into the piston cylinder, causing the movable piston rod to extend further out of the piston cylinder, the movable piston rod making contact with the outer tube causing the lever to move away from the outer tube and the brake foot to break contact with the at least one inner tube allowing said at least one inner tube to move within the outer tube. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the mounting mechanism is comprised of:
 a. a monopod mount, said monopod mount having a base and a top, said top having a curved side capable of receiving a monopod ring; 
 b. the top of the monopod mount is capable of swiveling on the base of the monopod mount; 
 c. the monopod ring is attached to the curved side of the top of the monopod mount, said monopod ring having a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the outer tube of the monopod; 
 d. the monopod is inserted into the monopod ring; and 
 e. the base of the monopod mount is attached to a clamping mechanism that allows the monopod to be clamped to the archer's bow. 
 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the brake foot has a top side and a bottom side, said bottom side being comprised of a brake pad having a high friction coefficient relative to where the brake foot contacts the inner tube. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the non-solid medium is a liquid solution. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the non-solid medium is air. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the difference in diameter of the at least one inner tube and the outer tube is between 1.5 mm and 3.0 mm. 
     
     
         8 . An archery accessory comprising:
 a. a monopod comprising:
 i. an outer tube; 
 ii. at least one inner tube whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the outer tube; and 
 iii. an opening in the outer tube that exposes the at least one inner tube; 
   b. a means for mounting the monopod on an archer's bow;   c. a braking system comprising:
 i. a switch mounted on the monopod, said switch able to be activated by a trigger attached to said switch; 
 ii. a battery connected to the switch by a first wire; 
 iii. a motor connected to the battery by a second wire; 
 iv. a spool extending out of the motor; and 
 v. a length of cordage that encircles both the spool and the at least one inner tube. 
   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein when the switch is activated by the trigger, an electrical current activates the motor causing the spool to rotate, spooling the length of cordage onto the spool, causing the cordage to tighten around the at least one inner tube preventing the at least one inner tube from moving within the outer tube.