Limb Tip Rotatable Element Structure Patents (Class 124/900)
  • Patent number: 11927422
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure deal with cams and/or cam systems mounted or mountable on an archery bow. In one embodiment, the cam system is a hybrid cam system with a master/drive cam and a slave/driven cam. The cam system is designed to enable large draw length adjustments to fit a variety of archers. To facilitate the draw length adjustment, the master/drive cam includes a control module. The slave/driven cam includes an adjustable control cable post. In one example, the control module and the control cable post may have three different mounting locations, each corresponding to a different draw length range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Bear Archery, Inc.
    Inventor: David Eugene Hahn
  • Patent number: 11821708
    Abstract: An axle assembly for a bow. The assembly includes spacers that can be used to adjust the position of a rotatable member axially along an axle that supports the rotatable member. The spacers can each have a snap-on configuration and can be installed and removed from the axle using an installation tool. The rotatable member can be mounted on the axle by a bearing assembly, and the axle assembly can include features for preventing thrust load from being applied to the bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Precision Shooting Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L Hansen, Samuel S. Nevels
  • Patent number: 11713940
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses include a crossbow including a stock defining a projectile axis, a limb coupled to the stock and arranged in a vertical limb plane parallel to the projectile axis, the limb including a power cable engagement end positioned vertically above the projectile axis, and a drawstring hub rotatably mounted to the stock about a central hub axis arranged perpendicular to the vertical limb plane, the drawstring hub including: a first wheel defining a first diameter and configured to engage a power cable, and a second wheel defining a second diameter and configured to engage a drawstring, wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Ravin Crossbows, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Trpkovski
  • Patent number: 11609061
    Abstract: Crossbows are provided having a barrel with one limb and one winding system mounted to each of two opposite sides of the barrel. Each winding system has a limb string connected to one of the limbs and a limb cam about which the limb string can be wound. The limb cams are connected to and positioned apart from arrow string cams by respective interconnects and an arrow string extends across the barrel from an arrow string cam on one side of the barrel to an arrow string cam on the other side of the barrel. The limbs provide first forces urging the limb strings to unwind from the limb cams and the interconnects receive the first forces and convey a second forces to the arrow cams urging the arrow cams to rotate so as to wind the arrow strings onto the arrow cams. The arrow string is drawn against such urging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Crosman Corporation
    Inventor: Hans J. Walthert
  • Patent number: 11598601
    Abstract: An archery bow is provided including a cam rotatable about an axis, a bowstring disposed in a bowstring track of the cam having a plane of rotation perpendicular to the axis, and a power cable that is displaced along the axis toward the plane of rotation to concentrate a force of the power cable near a force of the bowstring along the axis to inhibit twisting of a limb, when the bow is drawn. A related method of use is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Grace Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Scott C. Prater
  • Patent number: 11536782
    Abstract: A transducer assembly includes a ring wall, a first arm, a second arm, a magnet, and a Hall effect sensor. The ring wall defines a bore. The first and second arms are disposed within the bore and include first and second proximal and distal ends, respectively. The first and second proximal ends are coupled to and extend from first and second interior locations of the ring wall, respectively. The second interior location is spaced from the first interior location. The magnet is disposed within the bore and is fixedly coupled to the first arm. The Hall effect sensor is disposed within the bore and is fixedly coupled to the second arm. The Hall effect sensor is spaced from the magnet and is configured to detect movement of the magnet resulting from compression of the ring wall. Methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: STRESS ENGINEERING SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel L. Morrow
  • Patent number: 11536532
    Abstract: An archery bow assembly is provided including an open sided spacer which is mountable to an axle on an archery bow and removable therefrom without removing the axle entirely or partially from a limb of the archery bow. The spacer can mount on the axle adjacent a cam rotatable on the axle, and can include an outer perimeter and an axle aperture. A recess can extend inward from the outer perimeter to the axle aperture so that the axle aperture and recess form a continuous opening. The spacer can be of a C-shape or E-shape so that it can be frictionally pressed onto the axle and removed therefrom without removing the axle from the limb arms adjacent the cam. Related methods also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Grace Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Nathaniel E. Grace, Scott C. Prater
  • Patent number: 11486674
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an archery bow comprises a limb supported by a riser and an axle supported by the limb. A plurality of bearings are supported by the axle, which comprise a first dynamic bearing and a second dynamic bearing. A rotatable member is supported by the plurality of bearings. The first dynamic bearing is shaped differently from the second dynamic bearing. In some embodiments, the axle comprises a non-contacting length portion comprising less than 15% of the axle length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Mathew A. McPherson
  • Patent number: 11378350
    Abstract: A projectile launching device includes self-timing without cam lean. The projectile launching device preferably includes a rail, a riser, two energy storing components, (such as two limbs), two cams, a launch string, and at least two cables. The ends of the launch string are attached to the two cams. Opposing ends of first and second cables are coupled to the first and second cams. A mid-segment of the first and second cables are slidably engaged with the first and second cable pulleys, respectively. The two cams are preferably built as mirror images of each other at a centerline of the rail. The two cams include a launch string track, having identical, but mirrored, upper and lower cable tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: ARCHERY INNOVATORS, LLC
    Inventors: James J. Kempf, Rex E. Isenhower
  • Patent number: 8960173
    Abstract: Bow having a centerpiece, two flexurally elastic limbs, a string, at least one string pulley, mounted in one end of a limb and intended for accommodating the string, and at least two cable pulleys, connected rigidly to the string pulley and intended for accommodating and guiding compensating cables, and in each case at least one cable pulley is arranged on both sides of the string pulley, and the subassembly made up of the string pulley and cable pulleys is mounted in a rotatable manner in each case, and at least one deflecting stop is present for the purpose of limiting the deflection of the string, and this deflecting stop, when the string is deflected, strikes against a limb or against a stop element connected rigidly to the limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: Christoph Okupniak
  • Patent number: 8919332
    Abstract: A compound bow comprises at least one limb that extends continuously between opposed rotatable members. In some embodiments, the bow comprises a second limb that extends continuously between the opposed rotatable members. In some embodiments, the limbs are parallel to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Trpkovski
  • Patent number: 8899217
    Abstract: A compound bow or crossbow employs bowstring cams with bowstring cam grooves and power cord cam grooves. Preferably a pair of generally identical power cord cam grooves are positioned axially above and below the bowstring cam groove. The power cords are anchored to a fixed anchor point, e.g., a pylon, on the near end of the riser or on the near side of the crossbow bar or stock. The power cords do not cross over to the other limb. The reduction in the number of cam wheels and pulleys and in the number of strings or cords results in greater efficiency and higher transfer of energy from the bow to the arrow or bolt. There is no drop-off in pull weight at full draw. The bolt or arrow accelerates throughout the travel of the bowstring, resulting in significantly higher velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Field Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Islas
  • Patent number: 8881714
    Abstract: An archery bow has upper and lower rotatable draw force modules. The draw force modules each define first and second grooves. The bowstring and a first cable are anchored in the first groove; and a second cable is anchored in the second groove. The design of the draw force modules and the anchoring of the bowstring and cables to the draw force modules allows the cable pull to be more centered to the limb during operation yielding less limb twist and draw force module lean, resulting in improved durability and accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Slick Trick, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Cooper
  • Patent number: 8844509
    Abstract: The apparatus disclosed begins exterior of archery bow stave cam slot and traverses a generally elliptically ovidly path convexed and roughly shaped paralleling exterior perimeter edge movement of an elliptically ovid cam module, and a portion of the apparatus is formed to terminate at a point on cam module that is appropriate to provide damage and abrasive protection to cam module and power and buss cable without interference of the aforementioned. Said apparatus is shaped cross sectionally in a manner that is small, light weight and does not interfere with the normal operation of an archery bow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Scott Howard
  • Patent number: 8826894
    Abstract: A compound archery bow includes a bow handle having projection limbs, and first and second pulleys mounted on the limbs for rotation around on axles. A bow cable arrangement includes a bowstring cable extending from a bowstring anchor through a bowstring let-out groove at the first pulley and then toward the second pulley, a first cable extending from a first anchor through a portion of a groove on the first pulley and then toward the second pulley, and a second cable extending from a second anchor through a portion of a groove on the first pulley and then toward the second pulley. The first cable includes a yoke having a first end connected to the first anchor, a split second end connected to the first axle on opposite sides of the first pulley, and a third end extending toward the second pulley. The yoke preferably includes an idler pulley mounted on a bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Rex Darlington
    Inventors: Rex F. Darlington, David P. McNeil, II
  • Patent number: 8739769
    Abstract: A compound archery bow comprises a riser, limbs, pulley members connected to the limbs, a draw cable, and a power cable. A first pulley member includes a draw cable journal, a power cable take-up mechanism, and coaxial axle segments extending from opposite sides of the pulley member. The effective lever arm of the power cable take-up mechanism decreases, during a latter portion of drawing the bow, from a distance that is greater than a radius of the axle segments to a minimum distance that is less than that radius. The first pulley member is further arranged so that, with the bow fully drawn, at least a portion of the power cable passes through at least a portion of a space between the first and second axle segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: BowTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Obteshka, Craig T. Yehle
  • Patent number: 8720425
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a two-track cam assembly wherein the cam assembly has a bowstring component for housing the bowstring and a power cable component that allows for the take up and let out of the power cable on opposing ends of the power cable component, effectively creating a two-track cam assembly. The efficiency rating of the device achieves 95.8%. The cam assembly can come in a unitary or modular form and further each component (i.e. the bowstring or power cable component) can be in a circular or non-circular form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Perfect Form Manufacturing LLC
    Inventor: Kevin D. Strother
  • Patent number: 8714143
    Abstract: A compound archery bow that includes a handle, at least one limb mounted on the handle, a pulley mounted for rotation on the limb, and a bowstring lying in a bowstring groove around at least a portion of the periphery of the pulley. In one embodiment, the bowstring groove has a depth at least 10% greater than the diameter of the portion of the bowstring that lies in the groove. In another embodiment, the bowstring groove on the pulley is of non-uniform depth, having a greatest depth about midway through the portion of the power stroke that builds to peak force and then decreasing in both directions from that point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Rex F. Darlington
  • Patent number: 8689775
    Abstract: A compound bow comprises a bow handle that a user holds with his or her hand. A pair of bow blades are combined with both ends of the bow handle, of which at least one bow blade is rotatably combined with the bow handle. A pair of pulleys are rotatably combined with respective rear ends of the pair of the bow blades so as to rotate around a rotating axis of each pulley. A bow string extends between the pair of pulleys and is pulled for discharge of an arrow. A blade rotating unit rotates the bow blade and is rotatably combined with the bow handle, in order to adjust or release tension of the bow string by adjusting distance between the pair of the pulleys in the case of controlling the tension of the bow string or disjointing or repairing the bow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventor: Chang Ho Eee
  • Patent number: 8683989
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an archery bow includes a rotatable member comprising a cam track, a capstan and a terminal. A drawstring extends from the first rotatable member. A power cable is attached to the terminal and extends away from the rotatable member. The power cable comprises an elongate straight portion located near the rotatable member, a capstan portion in contact with said capstan and a terminal portion in contact with said terminal. In a brace condition, the power cable wraps around the capstan in a first rotational direction as the power cable is traversed from the elongate straight portion to the terminal portion. When the bow is drawn from the brace condition, the rotatable member rotates in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Mathew A. McPherson
  • Patent number: 8671925
    Abstract: A cam system for an archery bow including a module that is readily attached to and detached from a cam while leaving the cam on the bow. The module can include a draw stop selectively moveable relative to the module, even while the module is joined with the cam, to adjust the draw stop to specific locations corresponding to different draw lengths and/or draw stop walls of the bow. The module can include a recess that surrounds only part of an axle joining the cam and bow so the entire module is removable from the cam without removing the axle. The cam system can include indexing features that precisely and consistently align features of the cam and module. These features can include first and second indexing posts, and corresponding indexing holes, that register with one another to precisely align the cam and module when joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Grace Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Nathaniel E. Grace
  • Patent number: 8662062
    Abstract: A compound archery bow includes a bow handle having projecting limbs, and first and second pulleys mounted on the limbs for rotation around respective axes. A bow cable arrangement includes a bowstring cable extending from a bowstring anchor through a bowstring let-out groove on the first pulley and then toward the second pulley. A first power cable extends from a first power cable anchor through a power cable let-out arrangement on the first pulley toward the second pulley, and a second power cable extends from the second pulley through a power cable take-up arrangement on the first pulley to a second power cable anchor on the first pulley. Draw of the bowstring cable away from the handle lets out bowstring cable from the bowstring let-out groove and rotates the first pulley around the first axis, lets out the first power cable from the power cable let-out arrangement on the first pulley and takes up the second power cable into the second power cable take-up arrangement on the first pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventor: Rex F. Darlington
  • Patent number: 8651095
    Abstract: A compound bow or crossbow employs bowstring cams with bowstring cam grooves and power cord cam grooves. Preferably a pair of generally identical power cord cam grooves are positioned axially above and below the bowstring cam groove. The power cords are anchored to a fixed anchor point, e.g., a pylon, on the near end of the riser or on the near side of the crossbow bar or stock. The power cords do not cross over to the other limb. The reduction in the number of cam wheels and pulleys and in the number of strings or cords results in greater efficiency and higher transfer of energy from the bow to the arrow or bolt. There is no drop-off in pull weight at full draw. The bolt or arrow accelerates throughout the travel of the bowstring, resulting in significantly higher velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: John J. Islas
  • Publication number: 20140026875
    Abstract: The apparatus disclosed begins exterior of archery bow stave cam slot and traverses a generally elliptically ovidly path convexed and roughly shaped paralleling exterior perimeter edge movement of an elliptically ovid cam module, and a portion of the apparatus is formed to terminate at a point on cam module that is appropriate to provide damage and abrasive protection to cam module and power and buss cable without interference of the aforementioned. Said apparatus is shaped cross sectionally in a manner that is small, light weight and does not interfere with the normal operation of an archery bow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Scott Howard
  • Patent number: 8544456
    Abstract: A draw length adjustment system including a draw stop, an adjustment element and a fastener that joins the draw stop and/or adjustment element with a cam or pulley of an archery bow. The draw length adjustment system is micro-adjustable so that an archer can make minute and/or incremental adjustments to the draw stop, and thus the draw length of the archery bow. The draw stop can be of an eccentric construction that is eccentrically rotatable relative to the cam or pulley to alter the draw length. Alternatively, the draw stop can be selectively moveable relative to the cam assembly via a rack and pinion gear to alter the draw length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Grace Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Nathaniel E. Grace
  • Patent number: 8534269
    Abstract: A compound archery bow includes a bow handle having projecting limbs, and first and second pulleys mounted on the limbs for rotation around respective axes. A bowstring cable extends from a bowstring anchor through a bowstring let-out groove on the first pulley and then toward the second pulley. A first power cable extends from a first power cable anchor toward the second pulley, and a second power cable extends from the second pulley through a power cable take-up arrangement on the first pulley to a second power cable anchor on the first pulley. A set of at least first and second bowstring cable draw length adjustment modules is provided for alternate mounting on the first pulley to adjust draw length of the bowstring cable away from the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventors: Dennis Anthony Wilson, Rex F. Darlington
  • Patent number: 8522762
    Abstract: A compound bow includes a frame assembly, a force compounding system, and a draw string guide system. The frame assembly includes at least one riser. The force compounding system is supported by the frame assembly and includes a first string guide connected to the frame assembly and a second string guide connected to the frame assembly. The draw string guide system is supported by the frame assembly and includes a third string guide connected to the frame assembly and a fourth string guide connected to the frame assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: MCP IP, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Trpkovski
  • Patent number: 8469013
    Abstract: A compound archery bow comprises a riser, limbs, pulley members connected to the limbs, a draw cable, and a power cable. A first pulley member includes a draw cable journal, a power cable take-up mechanism, and coaxial axle segments extending from opposite sides of the pulley member. The effective lever arm of the power cable take-up mechanism decreases, during a latter portion of drawing the bow, from a distance that is greater than a radius of the axle segments to a minimum distance that is less than that radius. The first pulley member is further arranged so that, with the bow fully drawn, at least a portion of the power cable passes through at least a portion of a space between the first and second axle segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Extreme Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Obteshka, Craig T. Yehle
  • Patent number: 8360041
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a two-track cam assembly wherein the cam assembly has a bowstring component for housing the bowstring and a power cable component that allows for the take up and let out of the power cable on opposing ends of the power cable component, effectively creating a two-track cam assembly. The efficiency rating of the device achieves 95.8%. The cam assembly can come in a unitary or modular form and further each component (i.e. the bowstring or power cable component) can be in a circular or non-circular form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Perfect Form Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin D. Strother
  • Patent number: 8281774
    Abstract: A cam system for an archery bow including a module that is readily attached to and detached from a cam while leaving the cam on the bow. The module can include a draw stop selectively moveable relative to the module, even while the module is joined with the cam, to adjust the draw stop to specific locations corresponding to different draw lengths and/or draw stop walls of the bow. The module can include a recess that surrounds only part of an axle joining the cam and bow so the entire module is removable from the cam without removing the axle. The cam system can include indexing features that precisely and consistently align features of the cam and module. These features can include first and second indexing posts, and corresponding indexing holes, that register with one another to precisely align the cam and module when joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Grace Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Nathaniel E. Grace
  • Patent number: 8281775
    Abstract: A rigging structure for a compound archery bow includes first and second pulley assemblies, pivotally mounted on axles at tips of corresponding first and second limbs of a compound bow and interconnected by cables. Each pulley assembly includes a dynamic synchronizing component, and the rigging preferably also includes structure adapted to avoid the usual leaning moment imposed upon the pulley assemblies by the cables of conventional riggings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Larson Archery Company
    Inventor: Marlow W. Larson
  • Patent number: 8276574
    Abstract: A compound archery bow includes a handle having projecting limbs, and first and second pulleys mounted on the limbs for rotation around respective axes. At least a first of the pulleys includes a flat base with a bowstring let-out groove on the base and a bowstring anchor adjacent to the bowstring let-out groove. A draw module is disposed on the base, a cable groove extends along the draw module, and first and second cable anchors are disposed on the base adjacent to respective ends of the cable groove. The cable groove on the draw module is continuous in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the first pulley. A bow cable arrangement includes a bowstring cable extending from the bowstring anchor on the first pulley around the bowstring let-out groove and then toward the second pulley. A first cable extends from the first anchor on the first pulley through a portion of the cable groove on the module and then toward the second pulley. A second cable extends from the second anchor toward the second pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Rex Darlington
    Inventor: Dennis Anthony Wilson
  • Patent number: 8069848
    Abstract: The axles of the eccentric pulley assemblies of a compound bow are journal mounted in pillow blocks carried by the limbs of the bow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Larson Archery Company
    Inventor: Marlow W. Larson
  • Patent number: 8006679
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a two-track cam assembly wherein the cam assembly has a bowstring component for housing the bowstring and a power cable component that allows for the take up and let out of the power cable on opposing ends of the power cable component, effectively creating a two-track cam assembly. The efficiency rating of the device achieves 95.8%. The cam assembly can come in a unitary or modular form and further each component (i.e. the bowstring or power cable component) can be in a circular or non-circular form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Elite Outdoors LLC
    Inventor: Kevin D. Strother
  • Patent number: 7971582
    Abstract: Rigging for a compound archery bow including first and second pulley assemblies disposed at ends of opposite first and second bow limbs. Each pulley assembly includes an integral pivot axle, mounted to rotate about an axis at the tip of a limb on which it is mounted. Each pulley assembly also includes a string pulley component fixed to the axle, and having a non-circular peripheral string groove; a cable pulley component fixed to the axle, and having a peripheral cable take-up groove; a bowstring with opposite ends connected to the first and second pulley assemblies such that, at rest condition of the bow, the peripheral string grooves are substantially occupied by wrapped bowstring; a first cable segment, extending from the entry of the peripheral cable take-up groove of the first pulley assembly to an attachment carried by the second limb; and a second cable segment, extending from the entry of the peripheral cable take-up groove of the second pulley assembly to an attachment carried by the first limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Larson Archery Company
    Inventor: Marlow W. Larson
  • Patent number: 7673626
    Abstract: A bow having a string trained around a string track of a cam wherein the configuration of the string track is variable with respect to the axis of the cam. In one configuration, the string track yields a mechanical advantage when the bowstring is pulled from an at rest position to a drawn position. When the bowstring is released from the drawn position, the string track assumes another configuration. The different configurations that the string track assumes results in the draw force, that is the force required to pull the string from the at rest position to the drawn position, being less than the shooting force, which is the force imparted to an arrow by the string when the string is released from the drawn position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Inventor: Johnnie Paul Hennings
  • Patent number: 7311098
    Abstract: One preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a cam having an axle location for mounting the cam to an archery bow, where the center of mass of the cam is substantially coaxial with the axle location. Preferable the cam has an eccentric geometric rotation profile with regard to a rotation axis, typically an irregular geometry with a non-centered axle location, or a circular profile with an axle location offset from the center of the circular profile. The mass of the cam is balanced to have an effectively equal mass distribution around the axle location. In an alternate preferred embodiment, the cam has a balanced center of mass aligned with the axle location in an X-Y orientation, and may also have a balanced center of mass through the thickness of the cam in an X-Z or Y-Z orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Bear Archery, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry M. Gallops, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7188615
    Abstract: An adjustable cam for a crossbow has a main disk, a weight-adjusting block and a length-adjusting block. The main disk has two sides, a group of string hooks, a group of weight-selecting holes, and a group of length-selecting holes. The group of string hooks is formed on one side of the main disk. The group of weight-selecting holes and the group of length-selecting holes are defined through the main disk in different areas. The weight-adjusting and the length-adjusting blocks are pivotally and coaxially mounted on the other side of the main disk. Each block has a securing hole to engage the one hole in a corresponding group. By attaching a bowstring to different string hooks and engaging the blocks to the corresponding hole in the groups, tension degrees and draw lengths are adjustable in various modifications to make the crossbow have versatile options to satisfy different users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Poe Lang Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chu-Wei Chang
  • Patent number: 7143757
    Abstract: An archery bow (B) having at least one draw force module (1a or 1b). The module includes a concentric bowstring (3) pathway (12a) and at least one eccentric cable (6a) pathway (7a) with a decreasing radius proportional to the increasing spring rate of the flexing limb so the peak weight remains the same through a portion of the draw force curve and decreases at the end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Inventor: Gary L. Cooper
  • Patent number: 7082937
    Abstract: A cam for an archery bow is constructed comprising a body for guided entrainment of a bow string. The body accommodates an axle for mounting the body to the bow for rotation about an axis of the axle. At least one adjuster is carried by the body for adjustment between at least two positions. The adjuster is arranged in a first position to define a first draw weight and draw length of the bow, and in a second position to define a second draw weight of the bow. At least one of the draw weights and draw lengths are different, so that moving the adjuster from its first position to its second position changes either the draw weight, draw length, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Inventor: Spencer Land
  • Patent number: 6994079
    Abstract: A compound archery bow includes a handle having at least one projecting limb, and a pulley mounted for rotation on the limb. Bow cable segments extend from the bow pulley, including a bowstring cable segment extending from a bowstring let-out groove on the pulley, a second cable segment extending from second cable let-out on the pulley, and a third cable segment extending from a cable take-up groove on the pulley. Draw of the bowstring cable segment away from the handle withdraws the bowstring cable segment from the let-out groove on the pulley and rotates the pulley around its axis, withdraws the first cable segment from the cable let-out on the pulley, and winds the second cable segment into the cable take-up groove on the pulley. The cable take-up groove is contoured such that the draw force on the bowstring cable segment increases as a function of draw to a first level, and then decreases to a second level less than the first level and at which draw force remains substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Inventor: Rex F. Darlington
  • Patent number: 6990970
    Abstract: A compound archery bow includes a handle having projecting limbs. A first pulley is mounted for rotation around a first axis on a first of the limbs, and a second pulley is mounted for rotation around a second axis on a second of the limbs. A bow cable arrangement extends between the pulleys, and includes a bowstring cable extending from bowstring let-out grooves in the first and second pulleys so that, as the bowstring cable is drawn away from the handle, the bowstring cable lets out or unwraps from the bowstring grooves and rotates the pulleys around the respective axes. First and second cables extend from cable take-up grooves on the respective pulleys to first and second cable let-out means on the respective opposite pulleys. Thus, as the bowstring cable is drawn away from the handle, the first and second cables are each taken up or wound at one end onto one of the pulleys and let out or unwound at the other end from the other pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: Rex F. Darlington
  • Patent number: 6976484
    Abstract: One preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a cam having an axle location for mounting the cam to an archery bow, where the center of mass of the cam is substantially coaxial with the axle location. Preferable the cam has an eccentric geometric rotation profile with regard to a rotation axis, typically an irregular geometry with a non-centered axle location, or a circular profile with an axle location offset from the center of the circular profile. The mass of the cam is balanced to have an effectively equal mass distribution around the axle location. In an alternate preferred embodiment, the cam has a balanced center of mass aligned with the axle location in an X-Y orientation, and may also have a balanced center of mass through the thickness of the cam in an X-Z or Y-Z orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: SOP Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry M. Gallops, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6966312
    Abstract: An archery compound bow having first and second opposed limbs. The bowstring rigging typically includes a power cam associated with the first limb, and a pair of idler wheels associated with the second limb. Drawing the bow by retracting the drawstring to rotate the power cam causes the idler wheels to rotate at different rates of angular displacement. The bowstring rigging can be arranged to rotate the idler wheels in either the same direction, or in different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Inventor: Marlow W. Larson
  • Patent number: 6871643
    Abstract: A pulley arrangement for a compound archery bow (100) that combines the forgiveness and symmetry of a “dual cam” system with the positive draw stop (hard wall), enforced synchronization (or built-in timing) between opposite pulley assemblies, and high let-off associated with “single cam” systems. The pulley rigging (112) includes only a single cable reference anchor to a limb (104, 106). Certain pulleys (108, 110) include rotating module portions (183, 214) effective to change the wrapped lengths of power and control cables (270, 272) to change draw length (LD) while the bow (100) is strung, and at a brace condition with the drawstring (116) under full tension, and without changing the timing of the pulley members (108, 110), or changing the lengths of rigging members (112). Certain embodiments include a resilient element (196) in a positive draw stop (194) to reduce noise as the draw stop (194) engages a rigging element (270).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Hoyt USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin B. Cooper, Jason L. Fogg
  • Patent number: 6718963
    Abstract: An eccentric pulley assembly is provided for a compound bow, including an eccentric base cam having a peripheral track for letting out a draw string as the bow is drawn. A power cam secured to the base cam has a cable track for taking up a power cable as the bow is drawn and a shoulder is provided for spacing the track of the base cam from the track of the power cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Mark G. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 6691692
    Abstract: An adjustable cam for an archery bow. The adjustable cam is located at the end of one of the bow limbs. The other bow limb has an idler cam located at its end. The bowstring has a bowstring end attached to the adjustable cam. The bowstring passes over the idler cam and the second or end stretch end of the bowstring is also attached to the adjustable cam. A harness string has one end attached adjacent the idler cam and the other end attached to the adjustable cam. An intermediate portion of the adjustable cam may be adjusted to set the draw length of the bowstring. A draw stop or fine draw length adjustment is also provided on the adjustable cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Daniel K. Adkins
  • Patent number: 6688295
    Abstract: A pulley assembly for use in an archery bow includes an axle journal which defines a pivot axis about which a pulley body can rotate. The pulley body includes a first, a second and a third groove defined therein. Each groove defines a curve which extends at least partway around the pivot axis. The first groove is a bow string groove operative to receive a portion of a bow string. The second groove is operative to receive a portion of a first bow cable section and the third groove is operative to receive a portion of a second bow cable section. The pulley assembly is incorporated into a compound bow, and when the bow string is unwound from the first groove, a portion of the first bow cable section is wound into the second groove and a portion of a second bow cable section is wound into the third groove. Also disclosed are compound bow configurations incorporating the pulley assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: Larry Miller
  • Patent number: 6666202
    Abstract: A single-cam compound archery bow includes a bow handle having projecting limbs. A control wheel is mounted for rotation about an axis at an end of one of the limbs, and has a single peripheral groove that extends around such axis. A power cam is mounted for rotation at an end of the other limb. A bow cable arrangement includes a first cable segment anchored at one end to the one limb and at a second end to the power cam. A second cable segment is anchored to the control wheel and extends to the power cam. A third cable segment is anchored to the control wheel and extends to the power cam. The third cable segment includes a nock point that, when drawn away from the handle, unwraps the third cable segment from the control wheel groove, and wraps the second cable segment into the control wheel groove as the third cable segment is unwrapped from that groove. Drawing of the nock point away from the handle also wraps the first cable segment onto the power cam so as to draw the limbs together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Inventor: Rex F. Darlington
  • Patent number: 6629522
    Abstract: A compound archery bow comprising a body having first and second flexible ends. A bowstring has at least a portion of itself trained about a rotational assembly and is anchored to a cam assembly. In addition, an anchor cable has a first cable end fixed to the first end of the bow and a second cable end secured to the cam assembly. The cam assembly has a bowstring anchor projection and an anchor cable anchor projection for anchoring the bowstring and the anchor cable, respectively and an anchor cable track for taking in the anchor cable as the bow is being drawn. The cam assembly also has a bowstring track for letting out bowstring cable as the bow is being drawn and a mechanical linkage permitting limited relative motion between the bowstring cable track and the anchor cable track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Spenco, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert A. Andrews