BOW PRESS WITH SYNCHRONOUSLY SCREW DRIVEN/PIVOTING OUTER BOW LIMB SUPPORT ARMS AND MOUNTED IN FREE SLIDING FASHION UPON A SUPPORT RAIL

Abstract

A bow press for quickly collapsing a compound bow includes a frame with a horizontally extending rail. First and second bow support arms are pivotally secured to rail supported subassemblies, of first of which is fixed and a second slidable along the rail. The support arms and associated subassemblies each grip first and second spaced apart and opposite surface locations of a selected bow limb. The support arms are simultaneously pivotally actuated by fluid cylinders incorporated into the subassemblies, in either of a bow limb compressing or bow limb relaxing direction.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/104,068 filed on Oct. 9, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to a modified bow press for enabling fast changeover between differently configured bows. More specifically, the press includes synchronously actuated stationary (right) and slide (left) assemblies, each incorporating a pivotally attached and generally boomerang shaped arms with upper end extensions, and for exerting bending forces on the outer limbs of the compound bow. The construction of the frame and slides is such that typical bow accessories (such as sight and stabilizer) need not be detached from the bow upon it being secured to the press. The displaceable slide subassembly is freely displaceable along a polygonal (square) cross sectional support screw, and which is keyed at certain locations so that that rotation of the screw simultaneously pivotally actuates both the fixed bow support arm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art is well documented with examples of bow presses, the purpose for which typically being to collapse the limbs associated with a bow (e.g. typically a compound bow) and to enable repair or replacement of any of the strings, pulleys or other limb-end components which are normally stressed by the bow string. A first examples of a bow press is shown in Henry, U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,099, and which teaches a main frame with cross member. An adjustment mechanism is mounted to the main frame, as is a bow limb flexing assembly for receiving the archery bow. Each flexing assembly includes two supports mounted to the main frame. A limb inside contact assembly is adapted to secure the archer bow against the bow limb flexing assembly and is mounted to the adjustment mechanism so that limb inside contact assembly can be moved in response to actuation of the adjustment mechanism.

Another version of bow press is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,834, to Gibbs, and teaches a base, first and second pivot arms and operatively connecting adjustment apparatus. The pivot arms are spaced along the longitudinal axis of the base and are interconnected via first and second links. The links are pivotally connected to the arms at first lower ends and are further connected at upper overlapping locations by a pin extending from an upper end location of a central screw jack, the jack being vertically actuated in order to actuate the pivot arms to achieve a desired orientation relative to the bow being pressed.

Lint, U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,473, teaches a bow press including pivotable arms on a linear frame. The bow fits on the press between two pegs projecting from the frame and a pair of prongs, one prong projecting from each arm such that simultaneous pivoting of the arms bends the limbs of the bow. Pittman 2007/0119438 teaches a bow press exhibiting first and second limb end fixtures which are telescopically associated with a linear support rail and actuated by an electric motor or hand crank. Each of the limb end fixtures includes a slot which receives a bow limb end pulley.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,103, issued to Desselle, teaches a free standing bow press for compound bows with a longitudinally situated stand tube having upper and lower sections. The upper section incorporates the press which includes a generally laterally situated, fixed base bar configured for communicating with the outer end area of the limbs of the bow. A riser beam with riser roller brackets at its edges communicates with the central bow riser, between its opposite end limbs. The riser beam is configured to adjust in vertical fashion, via a rack and pinion or threaded shaft arrangement so that the roller brackets downwardly displace the bow riser and so that fixed our roller supports guide inward collapse of the bow limbs in response to displacement of the riser beam.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a bow press for quickly collapsing a compound bow includes a frame with a horizontally extending rail. First and second bow support arms are pivotally secured to rail supported subassemblies. A first of the subassemblies is fixedly secured to a first end of the rail, with a second subassembly slidable along the rail in directions toward and away the fixed subassembly in order to quickly pre-locate corresponding and pivotal support arms in position relative to the extending limbs of any sized bow.

The pivotal support arms each include a first roller support for engaging an outer surface location of an associated limb, typically close to its end mounted pulley. A fixed location associated with each subassembly includes a second generally pin shaped support contacting an inner surface location of the limb, such as close to its central extending riser.

The support arms are simultaneously pivotally actuated by associated cylinders incorporated into the subassemblies which are actuated by a hydraulic fluid actuator, in either of a bow limb compressing or bow limb relaxing direction. A force vector pattern created between the pivot arm and slidable subassembly maintains the subassembly in a continually supporting and engaged position relative to the bow and dispenses with the need of fixing the slidable subassembly in a static position with the rail.

Additional variants include the fluid actuation being substituted by a pair of electric actuators, each of which is incorporated directly into a rail supported subassembly for pivoting the support arms. An additional variant teaches the frame also including a pair of drive screws positioned below and in parallel arrangement relative to the rail. The drive screws coactively operates both the fixed (right) actuating arm sub-assembly and a combination slidable/linearly displaceable (left) actuating arm sub-assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawing, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an environmental illustration of a fluid actuated bow press according to a first embodiment and including both fixed and linearly displaceable and rail supported subassemblies with cylinder actuated and pivotally supported arms for supporting and collapsing the limbs of a bow;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional illustration of the rail and both fixed and slidable subassemblies, and in particular showing the combined linear and pivotal displacing motion associated with each arm supported subassembly for evenly compressing and collapsing the bow limbs;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the slidable rail supported subassembly and further showing the adjustable aspects of the pivot arm and also of the outer limb engaging roller supports likewise pivotally secured to an end location of the arm;

FIG. 4 is a partial assembled view similar to that shown in FIG. 3 and illustrating a fixed bow engaging pin extending crosswise from the linearly adjustable portion associated with the cylinder supported and pivotal arm;

FIG. 5 is a partial illustration of the fixed subassembly and illustrating the fixed pin positioned to contact an inner limb surface proximate the bow riser;

FIG. 6 is a succeeding illustration to FIG. 5 and in which the outer limb engaging roller support is in the process of being pivotally pre-adjusted relative to the support arm and so as to acquire an initial contact position against an outer surface of the bow limb approximate its end mounted pulley;

FIG. 7 succeeds FIG. 6 and shows the outer roller in contact with the bow limb and, with an identical and mirrored arrangement established between the slidable subassembly and the second bow limb, the bow ready for pressing;

FIG. 8 further succeeds FIG. 7 and shows the fluid cylinder upwardly actuated to pivot the support arm and the pre-positioned outer roller an incremental distance to cause inward compressive collapse of the bow limb;

FIG. 9 is a generally schematic perspective illustrating the fluid pressurization components associated with the bow press and including such as the T valve for establishing equal loading/unloading pressure on both cylinders, as well as the provision of separate power controls, including a first main control for providing each of on/off, quick down and emergency stop and a second up/down fine adjustment control;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of an alternate variant and in which the fluid actuating mechanism of FIG. 9 is replaced by a pair of electric actuators, these substituting the cylinders and directly incorporated into each subassembly;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of the bow press according to a still further embodiment of the present invention and in which the frame includes a drive screw positioned below and in parallel with the rail support and further depicting the telescoping aspect of the upper extensions associated with generally boomerang shaped and pivotally actuated bow support/bending arms which are secured at their lower ends to screw translating portions associated with each subassembly;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial view in cutaway taken from FIG. 11 and further illustrating the manner in which a rotatable rod portion extends in non-contacting fashion within a hollowed interior of the externally threaded drive screw associated with the slidable sub-assembly;

FIG. 13 is an end view taken along line 13-13 in FIG. 12 and further showing the bearing supported arrangement established between the stationary positioned drive screw and the interiorly extending and rotatable rod;

FIG. 14 is a cutaway view taken along line 14-14 in FIG. 11 and showing the features of the interiorly threaded travel block incorporated into the lower section of the slide subassembly and which is pin attached to the lower end of the boomerang shaped bow support/bending arm;

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the lower interconnecting portion of the slidable and rail supported subassembly and including the fixed, hollow and exteriorly threaded drives screw, interior extending rotating rod, interiorly threaded travel block and first and second end supported and anchoring bearings; and

FIG. 16 is an exploded view of an associated lower interconnecting portion associated with the right side and fixedly positioned subassembly and, in combination with FIG. 11, illustrating a first end of the interior rod established in an end connecting and keyed fashion with a solid and rotating drive screw which threadably engages an interiorly threaded travel block associated with the right side bow support/bending arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention discloses a modified bow press for enabling fast changeover between differently configured bows. As will be described in detail, the bow press enables fast and properly balanced loading of any type of bow, including such as a compound bow or even cross bow, such as at first and second linearly spaced and opposite side contacting points associated with an actuating assembly for supporting each extending bow limb.

The bow press facilitates minimal changeover between bows of varying configuration and further provides easy access to the bow strings, pulleys and other features normally under tension and without typically interfering with existing mounted bow accessories (including such as stabilizer, sight and the like) which are mounted at locations along the center frame of the bow and for which a degree of inconvenience would be associated with dismounting and subsequently remounting and sighting such components. The construction of the pivotable loading arms is further such that the bending forces exerted are limited to the outer bow limbs and avoids damaging to the central riser portion of the bow.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an environmental illustration is generally shown at 10 of a fluid actuated press for supporting and collapsing (i.e. controlled compressive unloading) of a bow. The bow is generally referenced by compound bow exhibiting such features as a central riser 1, end extending limbs 2 and 3 to which are mounted end pulleys/cams 4 and 5, interconnected and tensioned strings 6, 7, and various sighting equipment including stabilizer 8 and bow sight 9 and the like which are secured to the central riser 1 of the bow. As will be subsequently described in further detail, an advantage of the bow press is the ability to quickly pre-locate and load a bow (whether compound, recurve or cross bow) between the fixed and slidable limb supporting subassemblies (due in part to the sliding subassembly quickly being repositioned to accommodate the dimensions of the bow) and to provide for fast and easy compressive/collapse and return/relaxing motion of the limb support arms.

The bow press 10 includes a frame including a horizontal extending and polygonal (typically square cross sectional shaped) rail 12. First and second ends of the rail 12 include initial and underside extending pedestal supports 14 and 16, these capable of being dismounted from interconnecting and downwardly extending members 18 and 20 associated with a base of the frame and so that the upper rail 12 can be bolted such as directly upon an existing table top or workbench. The base of the frame as depicted in the two dimensional plan view of FIG. 1 also includes lower telescoping legs 22 and 24, interconnected by a cross brace 26, and which are height repositionable, such as in telescoping fashion, relative to hollow lower portions of the downward extending members 18 and 20 and in order to adjust and overall height of the press. An additional pair of rear extending members and associated telescoping legs is now shown but is understood as included along with one or more additional cross braces and in order to properly support the bow press. Additional features associated with the frame include upwardly angled peg supports, see at 28, 30, 32 and 34, these extending from locations of the frame in order to support substitute upper arm portions, see further at 36, 38, 40 and 42, associated with each limb engaging subassembly.

The bow press includes both fixed and linearly displaceable rail supported subassemblies, each of which includes a generally “L” shaped configuration including an interiorly hollow and rail receiving member, at 44 and 46, respectively, as well as upper interconnected and pedestal supports 48 and 50. Additional angled and cross braces, see at 52 and 54, are provided for each of the fixed and slidable limb supporting subassemblies and pivotally support, at lower ends, associated cylinders 56 and 58, via lower engaging pivot pins 57 and 59 (see also FIG. 3) which engage through aligning apertures in the cross braces (see at 55 in FIG. 3) associated holes 57′ and 59′ (FIG. 9) associated with the cylinders.

Extending piston arms associated with the cylinders 56 and 58, see further at 60 and 62, likewise pivotally engage at first locations respective first arm seating portions 64 and 66 associated with each subassembly (see as selectively shown in FIG. 3 by spaced apart tabs 61 in the underside of seating portion 66 and which align with mating and pin aperture 63 defined in the pivotal connecting end of cylinder piston 62). The seating portions 64 and 66 are pivotally secured, at 68 and 70, at further end locations spaced apart from the pivotal connections with the cylinder pistons 60 and 62, with angled upper portions 72 and 74 associated with the pedestal supports 48 and 50.

The seating portions 64 and 66, as best shown by selected portion 66 in FIG. 3 associated with slidable subassembly, each exhibit an interiorly hollow tubular configuration within which is seated, in typically linearly adjustable fashion, an inner telescoping support arm, see further at 76 and 78. As shown in FIG. 3, the selected support arm 78 includes a generally tubular cross sectional configuration (such as square or rectangular shaped) and which is dimensioned to seat within the hollow defined interior (at 80) associated with the dual pivotally supported seating portion 66. A series of apertures 82, 84, 86, et seq. extend in lineal spaced apart fashion along upper surfaces of the support arms (again by example at 78). A spring loaded pin, at 88, extends in communication with an associated top surface of the pivotally actuated and supported seating portion, again at 66 and, upon inserting the telescoping support arm 78, seats within a selected aperture in order to establish a projecting distance of the support arm 78 relative to the seating portion 66.

The pivotal connection established between the seating portion 66 and the subassembly is further more clearly illustrated in FIG. 3 by apertures 88 formed in the angled upper portion 74, and which is illustrated as a pair of spaced apart portions between which is seated a lower aligning tubular portion 90 welded or otherwise secured to the seating portion 66 and through which is inserted a stationary pin including in combination a first seating portion 92 and a second stationary extending bow limb engaging portion 94 (this corresponding to each of the pivot locations 68 and 70). An end nut 96 engages a threaded end of the seating portion 92 of the pin which projects from an opposite end of the welded tubular underside 90.

Additional features include a generally “U” shaped notch, see inner wall 98, defined in communication with the open interior 80 of the seating portion 66 and which receives a cross wise extending support 100 (in a most inwardly recessed position) and to which in turn is secured a pair of rollers and associated supports, and 102 and 104 (these also corresponding in a most broad definition to bow limb engaging portions as previously defined in reference to pin 94). The crosswise support 100 is seated within a further aperture (see inner perimeter surface 106) defined in an opposing side face of the end extending and telescopically adjustable arm 78. Pre-locating of the roller supports 102 and 104 relative to the outer terminating surfaces of the bow limbs (and as will be further discussed in reference to FIGS. 5-7) is further made possible by a generally triangular shaped generally flange 106 exhibiting an arcuate outer edge which extends from the support 100.

A further plurality of location holes, generally shown at 108, 110, 112, et seq., are defined in the triangular shaped flange and permit the rotatably supported crosswise support 100 to be rotated to a position relative to the arm 78, at which a further elongated spring loaded pin, at 114, extending in crosswise fashion through a generally terminating end location of the arm 78 is caused to seatingly engage through a selected flange perimeter aperture, and thereby to pivotally pre-position the roller supports 102 and 104 relative to the arm 78 and, in combination with the telescopically adjustable aspects of the arm 78 and the slidable nature of the selected/left subassembly, enable fast pre-positioning and un-loaded support of the bow limbs.

Without providing an identical explanation of the fixed subassembly, it is understood that the construction of its seating portion, adjustable arm as well as fixed and roller supported bow limb engaging portions is identical to that illustrated in reference to the slidable sub-assembly of FIG. 3, the only difference being that the associated lower tubular portion 46 of the slidable subassembly is easily and movable along the rail 12 (see arrows 116 and 118 in FIG. 2) and, in combination with the fixed subassembly, quickly pre-locates and supports the limbs of the selected bow. As further shown in FIG. 2, fluid actuation of the cylinders 56 and 58 (see arrow 120 in relation to cylinder 56) causes the cylinders to equally and simultaneously pivot the seating portions 64 and 66 in opposing and inward directions generally corresponding to further directional arrows 122 and 124, and so that the multi-pivotal support of the seating portions causes them to inwardly and opposingly displace to positions 64′/76′ and 66′/78′ illustrated in phantom and corresponding to a generally compressed and bow collapsing position. FIG. 4 is a partial assembled view similar to that shown in FIG. 3 and illustrates a fixed bow engaging pin associated with substitute arm 36 extending crosswise from the linearly adjustable portion associated with the cylinder supported and pivotal arm 36.

Referring to FIG. 9 in combination with each of FIGS. 1-8, a generally schematic perspective illustrates the fluid pressurization components associated with the bow press. The pressurization subsystem can include either a pneumatic or, as illustrated, a hydraulic fluid tank or other suitable pressurized reservoir 126, such as which is mounted to a location of the frame. A powered pressurizing unit 128 is incorporated into an input side of the tank 126 and can further include an AC power cord 130 for connecting to an external power supply.

An outlet feed line 132 extends from the pressurizing unit 128 to the main reservoir 126 and communicates with a T valve (generally identified at 134) for establishing equal loading/unloading pressure on both cylinders 56 and 58. The T valve 134 incorporates a reroute conduit 136 extending from a further location of the valve 134 to an outlet feed location 138. A “Y” shaped bypass 140 is incorporated into the reroute conduit 136 and communicates with a further conduit 142 which communicates with a further location 144 of the T valve in turn re-feeding, via succeeding conduit 146, to the pressurizing unit 128 for reintroduction through initial outlet feed line 132. Outlet feed lines 148 and 150 extend from the common outlet feed location 138 and, in combination with the by-pass/reroute aspects of the T valve, ensure that equal fluid pressurization is delivered to inlet locations 152 and 154 associated with each of the cylinders 56 and 58.

Additionally provided are separate power controls, these including a first main control housing 156 (shown mounted to a further frame location in FIG. 1) and which communicates to the powered pressurizing unit 128 via line 158. Included with the main control 156 are each of an on/off button 160, a quick down button 162 (i.e. this quickly de-compressing the bow limbs) and an emergency stop button 164. A second up/down fine adjustment control is provided, see at 166, and communicates, via further line 168, with the pressurizing unit 128 and in order to provide the operator with the ability to finely adjust the degree of compressing/collapsing force applied to the bow limbs 2 and 3.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a partial illustration is shown of the fixed bow limb engaging subassembly and illustrating the fixed pin (also identified at 94 consistent with the pin shown in relation to the sliding subassembly in FIG. 3) positioned to contact an inner surface of the associated bow limb 3 at a location proximate the central bow riser 1. FIG. 6 is a succeeding illustration to FIG. 5 and in which the outer limb engaging roller support(s), likewise at 102/104 is in the process of being pivotally pre-adjusted, via the spring loaded pin and multi-apertures located along the extending flange 106 relative to the support arm 76, and so as to acquire an initial contact position against an outer surface of the bow limb 3 which is approximate its end mounted pulley 5.

FIG. 7 succeeds FIG. 6 and shows the outer rollers 102/014 in contact with the bow limb 3 and, with an identical and mirrored arrangement established between the slidable subassembly and the other bow limb 2, readies the bow for pressing. FIG. 8 further succeeds FIG. 7 and shows the driven piston 60 associated with the fluid cylinder 56 upwardly actuated (such as a distance d) to pivot the seating portion 64 and reposition-ally adjusted support arm 76, to which in turn is pre-positioned the outer rollers 102/104, an incremental distance to cause inward compressive collapse. This arrangement is identically executed in relation to the slidable subassembly and so that the bow limbs 2 and 3 are simultaneously and equally compressed and collapsed to slacken the strings 6 and 7 to permit their removal and/or to allow for maintenance or repair to be conducted on the associated pulleys 4 and 5, cams or other components associated with the bow which are normally under compression by the strings.

An additional feature associated with the slidable limb supporting subassembly is that the force vectors associated with pivoting actuation of the support arm allow the rail supported slide 46 to smoothly translate in cooperation with the collapsing motion executed on the associated bow limb 2, and further such that the reverse forces exerted by the bow limb 2 do not influence the slide subassembly out of an equal force engaging relationship relative to that simultaneously being exerted by the right/fixed subassembly on other bow limb 3. As previously stated, the ability to quickly locate the slidable subassembly relative to the fixed subassembly and so that the fixed pins contact the inner limb surfaces, combined with the additional pre-locating and adjustment aspects associated with the telescoping support arms with outer limb surface engaging supports, allow for faster and more secure loading and collapsing of a bow than has been heretofore possible.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an illustration is provided generally at 170 of an alternate variant of bow press, such as which is shown with the rail 12 and initial pedestal supports 14 and 16 mounted to a workbench surface 172 as previously suggested. The construction and arrangement of the fixed and slidable limb supporting sub-assemblies is generally identical to that disclosed in reference to the initial embodiment of FIGS. 1-9, with the exception that the fluid actuating mechanism, including cylinders 56 and 58, is replaced by a pair of electric actuators 174 and 176, these substituting the cylinders and directly incorporated into each subassembly as shown. Not shown are associated power sources for supplying the electric actuators 174 and 176 and which are again understood to include such as associated power cords for supplying necessary input power to the servo motors incorporated into the actuators.

Referring now to FIGS. 11-16 in succession, an illustration is generally shown (at 178 in FIG. 11) of a bow press according to a still further embodiment of the present invention and in which the frame includes, in addition to the main supporting rail 12, a pair of drive screws incorporated into each of fixed and slidable bow limb engaging/collapsing subassemblies. As shown, frame engaging portions of each subassembly according to the further embodiment includes a tubular and interiorly hollow rail engaging portion, such as shown at 180 for fixed subassembly and 182 for slidable subassembly. The rail engaging portions 180 and 182 each form a part of a selected subassembly and are incorporated into a generally rectangular and four sided configuration which also includes a lower positioned and screw drive incorporating tubular portion, at 184 and 186, these extending below and in parallel with the upper rail support 180 and 182, and which are respectively separated by pairs of interconnecting supports 188 & 190 and 192 & 194.

As further most broadly depicted in FIG. 11, bow limb supports are illustrated in this embodiment as first and second generally boomerang shaped and pivotally actuated bow support/bending arms 196 and 198, and which are pivotally secured by pins 200 and 202 extending through slots 204 and 206 formed in linear extending fashion at lower ends of the supports 196 and 198. The upper angled portions of each bow support 196 and 198 is largely similar to that illustrated in the prior embodiments and again includes seating portions 208 and 210, within which are telescopically received and adjustable support arms 212 and 214 in spring pin adjustable fashion (further at 216 and 218). Other features repeated from earlier embodiments include inner bow limb engaging pins 220 and 222 (these at generally intermediate locations along the boomerang shaped arms) associated with stationary and pivotally permissive locations of the bow supports and for fixing inner surface locations of each limb 2 and 3 proximate to its central riser, as well as outer bow limb engaging pins (or rollers) 224 and 226 for contacting opposite and outer end situated surfaces of the limbs 2 and 3 and for compressively bending/collapsing the limbs about the inner stationary pins 220 and 222.

The screw drives incorporated into tubular portions 184 and 186 provide for simultaneous pivotal actuation of the boomerang shaped supports 196 and 198. Referring to FIG. 16, a first solid and exteriorly threaded screw drive 224 is rotatably supported by end bearings 226 and 228 within associated end cap supports 230 and 232 secured to the open ends of the right side/fixed tubular portion 184.

An interiorly threaded travel block 234 is threadably inter-engaged with the exterior threads associated with the solid and rotating drive screw 224 and further so that its pair of opposite securing pins, namely pin 200 previously identified, extend from the block and seat through linear extending slots, see at 236 in FIG. 11 defined on each opposite face of the tubular portion 184. As previously described, the lower end of the boomerang shaped support 196 (such as which includes first and second spaced apart portions as will be illustrated in FIG. 13 in reference to associated support 198) secures to the pins 200 on both sides and so that the rotation of the solid screw drive 224 results in rotation and linear threaded travel of the pin supported travel block 234. A hand crank 237 includes an inner facing coupling portion which seats within a reverse hidden face of the end cap support 230 (again FIG. 16) and so that rotation of the crank wheel rotates the drive screw 224.

An extending end 238 of the screw drive 224 is resistively seated (or otherwise key or pin secured) to a mating recessed end 239 associated with a coupling element 240. An opposite outer facing end of the coupling element 240 includes a further square shaped or keyed recess profile 242, this seating a first engaging end of a solid and linear extending drive rod 244.

Referring to the exploded view of FIG. 15 (in combination with sectional and cutaway FIGS. 12-14), the lower interconnecting tubular portion 186 of the left side slidable and rail supported subassembly includes a second drive screw 246 which is interiorly hollowed with a square profile 248 of a dimension to permit the drive rod 244 to be freely and slidably translate through the interior of the second drive screw 246 while also causing the drive screw 246 to rotate along with the rod 244 and, by extension, in concert with the first drive screw 224 associated with the fixed subassembly by virtue of its keyed/slaved relationship with the first connecting end of the rod 244. Bearings 250 and 252 and associated seating end caps 254 and 256 are also illustrated and which, in combination with another interiorly threaded travel block 258 securing a corresponding opposite facing pair of pins 202 associated with the lower flanges 198 of the boomerang arm, provides the dual features of ease of slidable adjustment of the left subassembly, combined with threaded engagement with rotary to linear displacement of the threaded travel block 258 (in concert with the first travel block 234 associated with the right side and fixed subassembly). A further end support 260 is illustrated in FIG. 11 secured to an opposite frame end of the pedestal support and receives a pin secured and rotating drive end of the rod 244

Having described our invention, other additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains. In particular, the hand wheel crank utilized for driving the rotating screw can be substituted by any of an air cylinder, hydraulic cylinder or electric drive motor. The hand wheel crank can also be replaced by a pulley arrangement, an electric motor further exhibiting forward/reverse drive for operating the pulley. It is further envisioned in a further arrangement that a suitable bevel gear arrangement can be utilized with an electric drive motor.

While not described herein, additional potential variants also envision that both the left and right limb support subassemblies can be slidably mounted to the support rail and rotating screw. Certain limited applications could also envision the support arms both being fixed at specified elongate locations, or even linearly re-adjustable in another fashion in order to achieve a desired spacing relative to the extending limbs of a compound bow to be gripped and compressed.

Claims

1. A press for bending a pair of limbs associated with a bow, comprising:

a frame incorporating an elongate rail;

a first bow limb engaging subassembly supported at a first location of said rail;

a second bow limb engaging subassembly slidably supported upon said rail in repositionable fashion relative to said first subassembly, said subassemblies each further comprising a pivoting arm from which extend first and second limb engaging portions; and

an input force delivered to said first and second subassemblies, causing said arms to pivot and to compressively bend the limbs.

2. The invention as described in claim 1, each of said subassemblies further comprising a generally “L” shaped configuration including an interiorly hollow and rail receiving member from which upwardly extending pedestal supports for said arms.

3. The invention as described in claim 2, further comprising angled cross braces extending between said rail receiving members and said pedestal arm supporting members and each pivotally supporting a fluid actuated cylinder.

4. The invention as described in claim 3, said arms each further comprising a seating portion pivotally supported at an upper end of each pedestal support and actuated by extending piston arms associated with said cylinders, said first limb engaging portion further comprising a first stationary pin extending from said pivotal connection between said seating portion and said pedestal support and engaging an inside surface of the bow limb proximate a central bow riser.

5. The invention as described in claim 4, said arm further comprising a tubular portion which is telescopically seated within an open end of said seating portion, said second limb engaging portion further comprising at least one of a second pin or a roller support extending from a location associated with said tubular portion for engaging an outside surface of the bowl limb proximate an end mounted pulley.

6. The invention as described in claim 5, further comprising a series of apertures extending in lineal spaced apart fashion along said tubular portion, a spring loaded pin extending in communication with an associated top surface of said seating portion and, upon inserting said tubular portion, seating within a selected aperture in order to establish an overall distance of said arm.

7. The invention as described in claim 5, said tubular portion further comprising a cross wise extending support to which is secured a pair of rollers with associated supports comprising said second bow limb engaging portion.

8. The invention as described in claim 7, further comprising said support being rotatably supported within said tubular portion, a flange extending from a location of said crosswise support proximate said tubular portion and exhibiting an arcuate outer edge, a plurality of location holes defined in said flange and permitting the rotatably supported crosswise support to be rotated to a position relative to said tubular portion, at which a further elongated spring loaded pin extending crosswise from said tubular portion is caused to seatingly engage through a selected flange perimeter aperture to pivotally pre-position said roller supports.

9. The invention as described in claim 3, said input force further comprising a fluid pressurization system for actuating said fluid pressure cylinders and which includes a tank mounted to a location of said frame, a powered pressurizing unit in communication with said tank and a pair of outlet feed lines connecting to said fluid cylinders.

10. The invention as described in claim 9, further comprising an outlet feed line extending from said pressurizing unit to said tank and communicating with a T valve for ensuring equal pressure delivery to said feed lines extending to said fluid cylinders.

11. The invention as described in claim 9, further comprising a main control in communication with said powered pressurizing unit and including an on/off button, a quick limb pressure release button and an emergency stop button.

12. The invention as described in claim 11, further comprising a second up/down fine adjustment control in communication with said pressurizing unit and providing fine adjustment of compressing forces applied to the bow limbs.

13. The invention as described in claim 2, further comprising angled cross braces extending between said rail receiving members and said pedestal arm supporting members and each pivotally supporting an electric actuator for delivering said input force.

14. The invention as described in claim 1, said frame further comprising a pair of drive screws incorporated into lower positioned tubular supports associated with each of said first and second bow limb engaging subassemblies and which are supported by a drive rod rotatably supported by said frame in parallel fashion to said rail.

15. The invention as described in claim 14, said arms each further comprising a generally boomerang shape which is pivotally secured by linkage pins extending through slots formed in linear extending fashion at lower ends of said lower positioned tubular supports, said pins securing to interiorly threaded travel blocks for converting rotation of said drive screws to linear translation of said blocks and pivoting of said arms.

16. The invention as described in claim 15, further comprising a first solid and exteriorly threaded screw drive associated with said first subassembly and which is rotatably supported within a first lower tubular support.

17. The invention as described in claim 16, further comprising a hand crank connected to said first rotatable drive screw.

18. The invention as described in claim 16, an extending end of said first drive screw being key secured to a first end of said drive rod via a coupling element, a second interiorly hollowed drive screw associated with a second lower tubular support incorporated into said second slidable subassembly and through which said drive rod extends in a combined slidably permissive and rotatably slaved fashion.

19. The invention as described in claim 15, upper ends of each of said boomerang shaped arms further comprising a fixedly supported seating portion, said first limb engaging portions each further comprising a first stationary pin extending from a midpoint of said arms.

20. The invention as described in claim 19, further comprising a tubular portion which is telescopically seated within an open end of said seating portion, said second limb engaging portion further comprising a pin extending from a generally end location associated with said tubular portion for engaging an outside surface of the bowl limb proximate an end mounted pulley.