Hanger Assembly for Supporting and Storing a Compound Bow

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 63/484,827, filed 14 Feb. 2023, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to mounting devices for a compound bow and, more particularly, a bow caddy hanger for supporting and storing a compound bow in a hanging position.

A compound bow is a costly investment that is recommended to be stored in a hanging position. Present compound bow mounting devices involve the purchase of hooks to be screwed into studs in the wall or some other rigid supporting surface to support the bow. This is unsightly and often not convenient. This also requires time to facilitate the requisite rigid connection, including correct placement of the hooks to ensure they will not come off the wall as that would frustrate the purpose of keeping the compound bow from being damaged.

Current bow hanging options require owners to put holes in walls, thereby demanding time and attention to precisely mount hooks in studs to support the weight of a compound bow, because if they are not mounted correctly, the bow could fall and be damaged. Also, current bow hanging options are not convenient nor attractive in implementation. As a result of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, many people simply leave their bow in a case rather than wall mount a support for the component bow, which is the preferred way of keeping the compound bow undamaged when it is stored between use.

As can be seen, there is a need for a hanger assembly for supporting and storing a compound bow in a hanging position.

The bow hanger assembly embodied in the present invention (colloquially known as “Bow Caddy”) is small, portable, and simply hooks over any closet clothes rod or elongated rack element, thereby providing a simple, efficient way to store a compound bow in a hanging position. The compound bow can then easily be hung on the bow hanger assembly storing it conveniently in the hanging position anywhere the owner desires where there is a hanging rod.

In one aspect of the present invention, hanger assembly for hanging a bow from an elongate member, the hanger assembly providing the following: a head portion for engaging the elongated member; a body portion depending from the head portion; and a connector protruding from a distal end of the body portion so that a connector hook of the connector projects in a first direction both toward the head portion and parallel with a longitudinal axis of the body portion, wherein the connector hook is a spaced apart from the body portion by at least a quarter of an inch.

In another aspect of the present invention, the hanger assembly further provides wherein the connector hook is along a distal end of the connector, and wherein a proximal end of the connector provides a stop for preventing the connector from sliding out of a hole in the distal end of the body portion, wherein the head portion defines a hook having an inner edge defining a diameter of approximately one and a half inch, wherein a distal end of the hook extends in a second direction that is orthogonal to both the first direction and the longitudinal axis of the body portion, wherein the head portion defines a closed loop having an inner edge defining a diameter of approximately one and a half inch.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of hanging a composite bow from an elongated member in a hanging position includes the following: engaging either of the above-mentioned hook of the hanger assemblies with the elongated member so that the hook portion depends from the elongated member and hanging a cam of the composite bow from the distal end of the connector.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a rod hanger assembly for supporting and storing a compound bow in a hanging position. The bow hanger assembly providing a head portion for engaging the elongated member, a body portion depending from the head portion; and a connector protruding from a distal end of the body portion so that a connector hook of the connector projects in a first direction both toward the head portion and parallel with a longitudinal axis of the body portion, wherein the connector hook is a spaced apart from the body portion by at least a quarter of an inch. Upon engaging the head portion with the elongated member, the composite bow, by way of its cam, can be hung from the distal end of the connector in the hanging position so that the composite bow does not touch anything but the bow hanger assembly.

Referring now to, the present invention may include a bow hanger assemblyfor supporting and storing a compound bowfrom an elongated element, including but not limited to a hanging rod typically found in a residential closet. The bow rod hangermay be made from a piece of approximately ⅛-inch-thick metallic, plasticized, or other suitable tension-strong material formed, rendered, or cut in the shape of a question mark.

The bow rod hangermay have a head portioncoupled to a body portionat a neck region. The head portionmay have a hook shape, as illustrated in. The body portionof the bow rod hangermay be substantially linear or have a slight curvature as the body portion approaches the neck regions, thereby affording a ‘question mark’ shape for the entire bow rod hanger. The curvature may be ⅙pi to ¼pi radians.

The body portionmay be approximately ⅛-inch thick, approximately half an inch wide and approximately two inches in length from neck region to distal end. The inner curvature of the open hook shape of the head portionmay have an approximately 1½ inches diameter, though other diameters are valid so long as the open hook shaped head portionengages the elongated elementand avoid unwieldy slippage.

A connectorapproximately ¼ inch in diameter made of suitable material may protrude from adjacent the distal end of the body portion. The connectormay have an approximately 90-degree bend at its distal end. The connectorvery distal end may be directly along a y-axis of the bow hanger assembly. The y-axis generally is parallel with the body portion. A proximal end of the connectormay extend in the x-axis, as illustrated in. Thus, the distal end of the connectoris spaced apart from the body portionby at least ⅖ of an inch. While the distal end of the (hook portion) head portionis directed in z-axis, which is perpendicular to both the x-axis and y-axis.

The connectormay be slid through a holeadjacent to the distal end of the body portion. A stopperalong a proximal end of the connectorhas a wider diameter than the distal end thereof to prevent the entire connector from sliding through the hole. Connectormay be welded or soldered in the holeto the body portionin such a manner that the bend is pointing upward (along y-axis) toward the top of the head portion(though in a spaced apart arrangement relative to both the head and body portionsand, which are generally coplanar). The completed bow rod hanger assemblymay then be anodized, painted or powder coated depending on the material used.

In operation, the open hook portion of the bow hanger assemblyis placed over the elongated memberso that the distal end of hanger assembly's body portionis disposed below the elongated member. The top camof the compound bow, which has an circular frame with voids between spoke-like elements is placed on the protruding distal portion of the connector. The upright bend in the connectorwill prevent the compound bow from falling off the hanger. It should be understood that the hook shape of the head portionprovides significant overhang for retaining the mounted rod hanger assemblyto the elongated.

An alternative hanger assembly, illustrated in, is dimensioned and shaped, particularly by a closed loop head portion, to be slid on the elongated elementand left there, for a user to selectively engage the hanger assemblywith a compound bow. The inner curvature of the closed loop of the head portionmay have an approximately 1½ inches diameter, though other diameters are valid so long as it receives the elongated elementand avoids unwieldy slippage.

The body portionmay be a linear element that depends from the head portion, centrally disposed thereto so that a linear line through the body portionwould pass through a center of the closed loop head portion. The dimensions of the head and body portionsandmay be similar to the range of dimensions afforded the first embodiment of the bow hanger assembly. Likewise, the second bow hanger assemblyprovides a connectorlike the above-mentioned connector.

The bow hanger assemblyorcould be produced by many methods. Steel could be cut with a plasma cutter or punched to create the question mark shaped body of the bow hanger assemblyor the circle with tail body of the bow rod hanger assembly. An aluminum body could be created in the fashion acceptable for use with aluminum. A plastic body could be injection molded or fabricated additively. The connectorsandcould be purchased in bulk or fabricated by bending small diameter steel or aluminum. These items would be welded or soldered together. A plastic body bow hanger assemblyandcould be injection molded or 3D printed as a unitary piece.

The design would be similar with a hanger slipping over a closet rod with a spaced apart connectororhaving a separate hook portion oriented orthogonally relative to the normal directions in which the head portion and the body portions extend, so as to provide support for the camof the compound bow, preventing it from becoming dislodged. A spring retention system could be incorporated preventing the bow hanger assembly from coming dislodged from the elongated member. An additional spring could be used to prevent the bow from dislodging from the connector/.

Different materials could be utilized to construct a hanger as long as the components (whether one molded piece or separate assembled components) are structurally capable of supporting the weight of a compound bow upon which the cam sits. A hook with a chain and clasp could function as a Bow Caddy. A plastic molded bow hanger assemblyandcould support the weight of a compound bow. The retention springs could be added to prevent the bow hanger assemblyandfrom coming off the elongated emberto prevent the bow camfrom slipping off the connector/. It should be understood that the camof the compound bowhas two wheels and hangs on the lower “float” of the bow hanger assembliesand.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The user would simply place the bow hanger assemblyoron the elongated member(e.g., closet rod) in their home or anywhere they travel. The compound bowwould be hung by one of its camson the connector/of the bow hanger assembliesor. This will support the compound bowin a hanging position until a user is ready to take it down. The bow hanger assemblyorcan be taken with them to be utilized elsewhere they travel.

Additionally, any item of value that needs to be stored in a hanging fashion or position could be hung on a closet rod with the bow hanger. The bow hanger assembliesandare constructed of material that is shaped to hold substantial weight. The present invention makes hanging a piece of equipment from an elongated elementeasy and convenient. The body of the hanger could be offset to allow for a wider item to hang more vertically by shifting the center of gravity. A longer pin could be installed to accommodate a larger item (holiday wreaths, extension cords, etc.).

As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. And the term “substantially” refers to up to 80% or more of an entirety. Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “aligned” means parallel, substantially parallel, or forming an angle of less than 35.0 degrees. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “transverse” means perpendicular, substantially perpendicular, or forming an angle between 55.0 and 125.0 degrees. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “length” means the longest dimension of an object. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “width” means the dimension of an object from side to side. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “above” generally means superjacent, substantially superjacent, or higher than another object although not directly overlying the object. Further, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “mechanical communication” generally refers to components being in direct physical contact with each other or being in indirect physical contact with each other where movement of one component affect the position of the other.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed embodiments.

In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms unless specifically stated to the contrary.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.