The present invention relates in general to tabs and gloves of the type used to protect the fingers of an archer against pinching and abrasion when used to draw and then release the string of a bow to shoot an arrow from the bow.
It is well known that one of the most critical factors for accuracy in archery is the release, that is the moment when the string is freed so that it can propel the arrow forward. A faulty release can twist and deform the string so that the arrow is cast off target, even if it was correctly aimed. The criticality of the release is increased for compound bows where a let-off in the amount of force needed to retain the drawn string, can be from 50% to 65%. With less force being exerted on the fingers at the point of release, smaller variations and imperfections in the release technique can produce more serious changes in trajectory for the arrow. The release is actually less critical for recurve bows where the pressure at the point of release is greatest.
One technique for reducing the criticality of the release is the use of a mechanical release in the form of a small hand held triggering device which can be used to engage and retract a string. Triggers or push buttons are provided on such mechanical releases which are activated to mechanically release the string. While mechanical releases are generally far more accurate than the use of the fingers, many archers prefer a finger release technique both because it is more traditional and because it is better adapted to so-called "natural shooting" where an archer has become accurate without the use of sights or other mechanical aids.
Because of the great pressure needed to draw the string of a bow however, some protection is needed for the fingers. Such non-mechanical protection is either in the form of a tab or glove which is made of several layers of the same or different material which are sewn together. One example of an archer's tab is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,090 which includes a loop for engagement around the middle finger of the archer's hand for helping retain and position the tab over the fingers. U.S. Pat. No. 2,974,319 discloses another example which includes a strap for engagement around all three string pulling fingers, namely the index finger, the middle finger and the ring finger.
Such tabs also included partitions which are positioned between the index and middle finger to maintain a space between these fingers where the nock or string engaging end of the arrow is held. This avoids the inadvertent placement of pressure on this critical area of the arrow and also protects the fingers against being pinched between the arrow and the string.
An archer's glove is normally constructed of three finger covering portions which cover approximately one half the length of each of the three string drawing fingers. A resilient or elastic panel is connected to the finger covering portions and extends over the back of the hand to a wrist embracing strap or band for holding the glove to the hand. The use of the glove requires that the archer maintain a correct orientation between the three string drawing fingers since the finger covering portions are free to move with respect to each other.
A variety of materials are generally used for the construction of archers' tabs and gloves. This includes deerskin and other leather, Teflon (a trademark of the Du Pont Company) or other synthetic material, calf hair, or a variety of other tough resilient sheet materials.
One common problem experienced by archers using tabs is that the tabs, and in particular the stitches holding the layers together in the tabs, tend to decompose after even moderate use due to sweat and the large forces being exerted on the tabs. The tabs tend to delaminate which renders them useless. Since some use is required before a tab is broken in, delamination often occurs just as the archer is becoming satisfied with the performance of his or her tab.
Similar problems are experienced with gloves.
Another problem experienced both with tabs and gloves, is the tendency for an archer to "pluck" the string by abruptly opening the hand and extending the fingers. This opening motion reduces accuracy and is actually encouraged by gloves which are held to the fingers by a panel extending over the back of the hand.