US-20260126270-A1 - ARCHERY BOW SIGHT ILLUMINATION DEVICE

US20260126270A1US 20260126270 A1US20260126270 A1US 20260126270A1US-20260126270-A1

Abstract

An archery bow sight light can include a shaft defining a light bore extending from a housing defining a primary compartment, a battery access opening laterally offset and distal from the light bore, and a coin battery tray slidably disposed in the primary compartment, and a light source that can illuminate sight elements of a bow sight. The shaft can thread into a threaded hole of the sight for securement thereto. The tray can be sized to receive therein a coin battery laying in a plane to which the bore and its axis are orthogonal. A controller in the housing can be in communication with a movement sensor and configured to automatically power the light source when the bow sight is moved. The controller can turn off the light source after a predetermined amount of time passes after the light source is powered to preserve battery life.

Inventors

Eric J. Griggs
Braden R. Gellenthien
Aaron L. Adams
Eldar J. Sarmento

Assignees

ACU ARCHERY USA L.L.C.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241104

Claims (20)

1 . An archery bow sight light comprising: a shaft defining a light bore extending therethrough, the threaded shaft including a first end configured for placement in alignment with a plurality of light fibers extending to a sight pin of a bow sight, the first end being threaded to be received in a corresponding threaded hole of the bow sight, the shaft including a second end distal from the first end, the shaft including a longitudinal axis that extends centrally through the light bore; a housing defining a primary compartment oriented along a plane with the longitudinal axis being orthogonal to the plane, the housing including a distal wall distal from the shaft with the longitudinal axis being orthogonal to the distal wall and a proximal wall joined with the second end of the shaft, the housing defining a battery access opening laterally offset and distal from the light bore and longitudinal axis and located between the distal wall and the proximal wall; a closure moveably joined with the housing and operable in a closed mode to cover the battery access opening and an open mode to provide access to the battery access opening; a coin battery tray disposed in the primary compartment, the coin battery tray sized to receive therein a coin battery having a diameter of 10 mm to 30 mm, inclusive, and a height of 1 mm to 8 mm, inclusive, the coin battery tray being operable in a locked mode in which the coin battery tray is fixed relative to the primary compartment and a removal mode in which the coin battery tray is configured to slidably move through the battery access opening parallel to the plane when the closure is in the open mode to provide access to a coin battery in the coin battery tray; a controller in the housing adjacent the coin battery tray, the controller coupled to a light source which is configured to project light through the light bore, the controller in communication with a movement sensor, the controller configured to automatically power the light source when a signal is provided from the movement sensor indicating that the bow sight has moved, the controller configured to turn off the light source after a predetermined amount of time passes after the light source is powered.
2 . The archery bow sight light of claim 1 , wherein the controller is joined with a circuit board, wherein the circuit board is disposed between the battery tray and the proximal wall, wherein the circuit board is coupled to a user input.
3 . The archery bow sight light of claim 2 , wherein the user input is disposed on an exterior of the distal wall, wherein the user input is a manual input that is adjacent a display that displays at least one alphanumeric character.
4 . The archery bow sight light of claim 3 , comprising: a battery tray receiver disposed in the housing in the primary compartment between the light source and the distal wall, wherein the battery tray receiver slidably receives the battery tray, wherein the battery tray receiver defines a battery tray receiver opening aligned with the battery access opening.
5 . The archery bow sight light of claim 4 , wherein the closure extends over the battery access opening and the battery tray receiver opening in the closed mode, wherein the closure is a panel hingedly joined with the housing and configured to swing over the battery access opening.
6 . The archery bow sight light of claim 1 comprising: a battery tray receiver fixed to the housing inside the primary compartment and defining a tray compartment configured to slidably receive the battery tray.
7 . The archery bow sight light of claim 6 , wherein the battery is installed in the battery tray, wherein the battery tray receiver includes an arm that contacts the battery installed in the tray to provide power to the light source.
8 . The archery bow sight light of claim 1 , wherein the proximal wall is a plate extending laterally outward away from the shaft and the longitudinal axis, wherein the controller is disposed on a circuit board.
9 . The archery bow sight light of claim 8 , wherein the circuit board is fastened with a fastener to the housing inside the primary compartment.
10 . The archery bow sight light of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a display, wherein the display is in communication with the controller, wherein the display includes a user input by which a user can input control parameters for operation of at least one of the controller, the light source and the display, wherein the display is intersected by the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
11 . An archery bow sight light comprising: a threaded shaft defining a light bore extending therethrough and including a longitudinal axis that extends centrally through the light bore; a housing defining a primary compartment and including a proximal wall joined with the threaded shaft, the housing defining a battery access opening laterally offset and distal from the light bore and longitudinal axis; a closure moveably joined with the housing and operable in a closed mode to cover the battery access opening and an open mode to provide access to the battery access opening; a coin battery tray disposed in the primary compartment, the coin battery tray sized to receive therein a coin battery having a diameter of 10 mm to 30 mm, inclusive and a height of 1 mm to 8 mm, inclusive, the coin battery tray laying in a plane to which the longitudinal axis is orthogonal, the coin battery tray being operable in a locked mode in which the coin battery tray is fixed relative to the primary compartment and a removal mode in which the coin battery tray is configured to slidably move through the battery access opening parallel to the plane when the closure is in the open mode to provide access to a coin battery in the coin battery tray; a light source disposed in the primary compartment between the coin battery tray and the light bore, the light source able to be powered by the coin battery when coupled thereto, the light source configured to project light through the light bore.
12 . The archery bow sight light of claim 11 comprising: a controller adjacent the coin battery tray, the controller in communication with a movement sensor, the controller configured to automatically power the light source when a signal is provided from the movement sensor indicating that the bow sight has moved, the controller configured to turn off the light source after a predetermined amount of time passes after the light source is powered.
13 . The archery bow sight light of claim 12 , comprising: an input control joined with the controller, the input joined with a wall of the housing, the housing defining a hole distal from the battery access opening, a flex cord coupling the input control with the controller, the flex cord extending through the hole.
14 . The archery bow sight light of claim 13 , comprising: a battery tray receiver inside the housing and defining a tray compartment configured to slidably receive the battery tray, wherein the battery is installed in the battery tray, wherein the battery tray receiver includes an arm that contacts the battery installed in the tray to provide power to the light source.
15 . The archery bow sight light of claim 11 , wherein the housing includes a proximal wall in the form of a plate that extends outward from the threaded shaft, the plate extending to the battery access opening, wherein the battery access opening is defined between opposing sidewalls of the housing that are perpendicular to the plate.
16 . The archery bow sight light of claim 15 , wherein the housing includes a distal wall joined with the opposing sidewalls, wherein the distal wall is parallel to the opposing sidewalls, wherein the light source is joined with a printed circuit board that is parallel to the plane and to the plate inside the primary compartment.
17 . The archery bow sight light of claim 16 , comprising: a controller adjacent the coin battery tray, wherein the controller is operable in a sleep mode in which the controller turns off the light source after a predetermined amount of time past a time when the light source is powered to project light through the light bore.
18 . An archery bow sight light comprising: a threaded shaft defining a light bore extending therethrough and including a longitudinal axis that extends centrally through the light bore; a housing defining a primary compartment and including a proximal wall joined with the threaded shaft, the housing defining a battery access opening laterally offset and distal from the light bore and longitudinal axis such that the longitudinal axis does not intersect the battery access opening; a coin battery tray disposed in the primary compartment, the coin battery tray sized to receive therein a coin battery having a diameter of 10 mm to 30 mm, inclusive, and a height of 1 mm to 8 mm, inclusive, the coin battery tray laying in a plane to which the longitudinal axis is orthogonal, the coin battery tray being configured to slidably move through the battery access opening parallel to the plane to provide access to a coin battery in the coin battery tray; and a light source disposed in the primary compartment between the coin battery tray and the light bore, the light source able to be powered by the coin battery when coupled thereto, the light source configured to project light through the light bore.
19 . The archery bow sight light of claim 16 , comprising: a controller adjacent the coin battery tray, the controller in communication with a movement sensor, the controller configured to automatically power the light source when a signal is provided from the movement sensor indicating that the bow sight has moved, the controller configured to turn off the light source after a predetermined amount of time passes after the light source is powered.
20 . The archery bow sight light of claim 16 , comprising: a battery tray receiver inside the housing defining a tray compartment configured to slidably receive the battery tray, wherein the battery is installed in the battery tray, wherein the battery tray receiver includes an arm that contacts the battery installed in the tray to provide power to the light source.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to archery, and more particularly to an archery bow sight light. Most conventional archery bows, such as compound bows, are set up with an archery bow sight to assist in aiming the bow and shooting an arrow at a target or game. An archery bow sight typically includes a housing and one or more sight pins including a fiber optic filament that the user will overlap with a target and use to aim the bow. To enhance the contrast between the fiber optic filaments in ambient lighting, or to enhance the visibility of the filaments in low light conditions, some bow sights are outfitted with a bow sight light to illuminate the fiber optic filaments. Conventional bow sight lights include an LED, a switch and a mount to install the light to a bow sight. Due to the size of a bow sight light, only small hearing aid type batteries are typically used to power the light. To conserve the life of these small batteries, archers often manually turn on the bow sight light when shooting, and immediately manually turn off the light when the shooting activity ceases. Problems arise with conventional bow sight lights. For example, if the archer forgets to turn off the light, the battery can drain. The next time the user needs to use the light, it will not power on, potentially leaving the user with an inoperative light for use in the desired shooting activity. The user many times will also need to replace the battery. Further, manually turning a light on and off during a competitive archery event can be distracting and add unnecessary anxiety or pressure. The same is true when manually turning a light on during a hunting activity in low light conditions. The sight light may be difficult to operate well in such conditions, and operating it manually can add extra movement, which may spook the intended game. Accordingly, there remains room for improvement in the field of bow sight lights, their operation and function. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An archery bow sight light can include a shaft defining a light bore extending from a housing defining a primary compartment, a battery access opening laterally offset and distal from the light bore, a coin battery tray moveably disposed in the primary compartment, and a light source that can illuminate sight elements of a bow sight. In one embodiment, the shaft can thread into a threaded hole of the sight for securement thereto. The housing can be supported or suspended from the bow sight via the shaft in the hole with the housing being placed in a low profile adjacent the bow sight. The light bore can extend toward one or more sight elements, for example, fiber optic filaments that form sight indicia within the bow sight. The light source can project light through the bore to the sight elements. In another embodiment, the tray can be sized to receive therein a coin battery laying in a plane to which the bore and its axis are orthogonal. The tray can be aligned with a battery access opening and can be slidable toward and/or through the opening to access a coin battery stored in the tray. The tray can slide laterally and transverse to the axis to remove the battery. In still another embodiment, a battery tray receiver can be inside the housing and can define a tray compartment configured to slidably receive the battery tray. The battery can be installed in the battery tray. The battery tray receiver can include a terminal, for example in the form of a resilient arm or other contact, that contacts the battery installed in the tray to provide power to the light source. In yet another embodiment, a controller can be disposed in the housing. The controller can be on a circuit board. The light source can be a light, as an LED, OLED, SMD or other type of light or light arrays, which can be disposed on the circuit board as well. In even another embodiment, the controller can be in communication with a movement sensor. The movement sensor can detect or sense movement of the bow sight light, the bow sight and/or the bow to which the light is attached. The movement sensor can send a signal to or otherwise communicate with the controller based on the sensed or detected movement. In a further embodiment, the controller can be configured to automatically power the light source when the bow sight is moved, based on input from the movement sensor. Thus, the bow sight light can illuminate with the light source the sight elements associated with the bow sight to which the bow sight light is joined. This can occur when a user picks up or moves the archery bow to which the bow sight light is secured. In still a further embodiment, the controller can turn off the light source in an inactivity sleep mode, after a first predetermined amount of time passes after the light source is powered to preserve battery life. For example, the controller can be coupled to a timer control that measures or monitors passage of time. The timer control can monitor the passage of 1