Abstract: A crossbow including a frame having a projectile axis; a first flexible limb and a second flexible limb attached to the frame; a first cam attached having a larger diameter portion, a smaller diameter portion, and a rotational axis substantially parallel to the projectile axis; a second cam having a larger diameter portion, a smaller diameter portion, and a rotational axis substantially parallel to the projectile axis; a first pulley attached to the first flexible limb; a second pulley attached to the second flexible limb; a first power cable attached to the smaller diameter portion of the first cam and the first flexible limb; a second power cable attached to the smaller diameter portion of the second cam and the second flexible limb; and a drawstring attached to the larger diameter portion of the first cam and the larger diameter portion of the second cam.

Abstract: A crossbow string guides that include upper and lower helical power cable journals on opposite sides of a draw string journal. A separation between first and second axis of the string guides in a drawn configuration is about 5 inches to about 10 inches and the draw string in the drawn configuration comprises an included angle of less than about 25 degrees. First and second pairs of power cables wrap and unwrap at least 300 degrees around, the respective first and second upper and lower helical power cable journals as the draw string moves between a released configuration to a drawn configuration.

Abstract: A crossbow including a center rail including a rail body and a riser, a first flexible limb coupled to the riser, a second flexible limb coupled to the riser, and a first cam mounted to the first flexible limb and rotatable around a first cam axis. The first cam including a first draw string journal defining a first draw string plane of rotation perpendicular to the first cam axis, and a first power cable take-up journal extending in a direction perpendicular to the first draw string plane of rotation. The crossbow further including a second cam mounted to the second flexible limb and rotatable around a second cam axis. The second cam including a second draw string journal defining a second plane of rotation perpendicular to the second cam axis, and a second power cable take-up journal extending in a direction perpendicular to the second draw string plane of rotation.

Abstract: A crossbow including a center rail including a rail body and a riser, a first flexible limb coupled to the riser, a second flexible limb coupled to the riser, and a first cam mounted to the first flexible limb and rotatable around a first cam axis, and including a first draw string journal defining a first draw string plane of rotation perpendicular to the first cam axis, and a first power cable take-up journal extending in a direction perpendicular to the first draw string plane of rotation. The crossbow including a second cam mounted to the second flexible limb and rotatable around a second cam axis. The second cam including a second draw string journal defining a second draw string plane of rotation perpendicular to the second cam axis, and a second power cable take-up journal extending in a direction perpendicular to the second draw string plane of rotation.

Abstract: A crossbow including a riser, a limb coupled to the riser, and a cam assembly rotatably coupled to the limb about an axis of rotation. The cam assembly including a string guide defining a plane of rotation of the cam assembly about the axis of rotation and structured to support a drawstring, a drawstring attachment point structured to engage the drawstring, a power cable journal extending away from the plane of rotation along the axis of rotation and structured to support a power cable, and a power cable attachment point structured to engage the power cable. The power cable journal is shaped to displace the power cable away from the plane of rotation as the crossbow is drawn from a released configuration to a drawn configuration to provide a gap sized to permit the drawstring attachment point and the power cable attachment point to pass between the power cable and the plane of rotation.

Abstract: A matched arrow set including a first arrow and a second arrow. The first arrow including: a first shaft, a first bushing coupled to the first shaft, and a first nock received in the first bushing. The second arrow including: a second shaft, a second bushing coupled to the second shaft, and a second nock received in the second bushing. The first shaft and the first bushing define a first weight, the second shaft and the second bushing define a second weight greater than the first weight, and a first arrow weight is substantially the same as a second arrow weight.

Abstract: A crossbow including a frame having a projectile axis; a first flexible limb and a second flexible limb attached to the frame; a first cam attached having a larger diameter portion, a smaller diameter portion, and a rotational axis substantially parallel to the projectile axis; a second cam having a larger diameter portion, a smaller diameter portion, and a rotational axis substantially parallel to the projectile axis; a first pulley attached to the first flexible limb; a second pulley attached to the second flexible limb; a first power cable attached to the smaller diameter portion of the first cam and the first flexible limb; a second power cable attached to the smaller diameter portion of the second cam and the second flexible limb; and a drawstring attached to the larger diameter portion of the first cam and the larger diameter portion of the second cam.

Abstract: A high impact strength lighted nock assembly for an arrow that is activated when the arrow is fired with a bowstring. The lighted nock assembly includes a nock molded from a high impact strength, transparent polymeric material containing at least 10% by weight reinforcing fibers. The nock includes a head configured to engage with the bowstring and a shank configured to couple with a rear end of the arrow. The shank includes a recess extending in a distal end of the shank toward the head. A light assembly including a light emitting device is located in the recess in the shank that is electrically coupled to a battery. A switch is electrically coupled to the light emitting device and the battery that is triggered when the arrow is tired to activate the light emitting device.

Abstract: A crossbow including a center rail including a bottom portion, a proximal end, and a distal end positioned opposite the proximal end, the center rail at least partially defining a crossbow length and a midpoint plane intersecting a horizontal midpoint of the crossbow, a riser extending horizontally from the distal end, one or more limbs coupled to the riser, and a trigger extending from the bottom portion of the center rail and positioned within ten percent of the crossbow length from the midpoint plane.

Abstract: A reduced length crossbow with a trigger located near a midpoint of the crossbow and a small included angle of the draw string when in the drawing configuration that creates a space between the draw string and the user's face. The included angle of the draw string when in the drawing configuration may be less than about 25 degrees. The trigger is typically located proximate the midpoint within about 10% of the overall length of the crossbow.

Abstract: A high impact strength lighted nock assembly for an arrow that is activated when the arrow is fired with a bowstring. The lighted nock assembly includes a nock molded from a high impact strength, transparent polymeric material containing at least 10% by weight reinforcing fibers. The nock includes a head configured to engage with the bowstring and a shank configured to couple with a rear end of the arrow. The shank includes a recess extending in a distal end of the shank toward the head. A light assembly including a light emitting device is located in the recess in the shank that is electrically coupled to a battery. A switch is electrically coupled to the light emitting device and the battery that is triggered when the arrow is fired to activate the light emitting device.

Abstract: A high impact strength lighted nock assembly for an arrow that is activated when the arrow is fired with a bowstring. The lighted nock assembly includes a nock molded from a high impact strength, transparent polymeric material containing at least 10% by weight reinforcing fibers. The nock includes a head configured to engage with the bowstring and a shank configured to couple with a rear end of the arrow. The shank includes a recess extending in a distal end of the shank toward the head. A light assembly including a light emitting device is located in the recess in the shank that is electrically coupled to a battery. A switch is electrically coupled to the light emitting device and the battery that is triggered when the arrow is fired to activate the light emitting device.

Abstract: A high impact strength lighted nock assembly for an arrow that is activated when the arrow is fired with a bowstring. The lighted nock assembly includes a nock molded from a high impact strength, transparent polymeric material containing at least 10% by weight reinforcing fibers. The nock includes a head configured to engage with the bowstring and a shank configured to couple with a rear end of the arrow. The shank includes a recess extending in a distal end of the shank toward the head. A light assembly including a light emitting device is located in the recess in the shank that is electrically coupled to a battery. A switch is electrically coupled to the light emitting device and the battery that is triggered when the arrow is fired to activate the light emitting device.

Abstract: A high impact strength nock assembly that couples with, and decouples from, a bushing mounted in an arrow. The forces applied to the nock during launch are translated to the arrow through the bushing, greatly extending arrow life. For lighted nock applications, the nock translates within the bushing during launch to activate the light. A battery stop is coupled to the battery and releasably coupled within the center opening of the bushing that resists longitudinal translation of the battery relative to the bushing. Consequently, the light can be deactivated without removing the lighted nock assembly from the bushing. The entire lighted nock assembly is removable from the bushing for maintenance and replacement.

Abstract: A high impact strength lighted nock assembly for an arrow that is activated when the arrow is fired with a bowstring. The lighted nock assembly includes a nock molded from a high impact strength, transparent polymeric material containing at least 10% by weight reinforcing fibers. The nock includes a head configured to engage with the bowstring and a shank configured to couple with a rear end of the arrow. The shank includes a recess extending in a distal end of the shank toward the head. A light assembly including a light emitting device is located in the recess in the shank that is electrically coupled to a battery. A switch is electrically coupled to the light emitting device and the battery that is triggered when the arrow is fired to activate the light emitting device.

Abstract: A high impact strength nock assembly that couples with, and decouples from, a bushing mounted in an arrow. The forces applied to the nock during launch are translated to the arrow through the bushing, greatly extending arrow life. For lighted nock applications, the nock translates within the bushing during launch to activate the light. A battery stop is coupled to the battery and releasably coupled within the center opening of the bushing that resists longitudinal translation of the battery relative to the bushing. Consequently, the light can be deactivated without removing the lighted nock assembly from the bushing. The entire lighted nock assembly is removable from the bushing for maintenance and replacement.