Cam Extension Draw Stop

Abstract

In some embodiments, an archery bow comprises a riser, a first limb and a second limb. A first rotatable member is supported by the first limb and a second rotatable member supported by the second limb. The first rotatable member comprises a cam track and a draw stop. The draw stop comprises a cavity. A bowstring extends between the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member. A power cable is arranged to be taken up by the cam track as the bow is drawn. The bow comprises a drawn orientation and the draw stop contacts the power cable in the drawn orientation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 62/005,913, filed May 30, 2014, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to archery bows and more specifically to compound archery bows.

Compound bows are known in the art. A compound bow can be drawn from a brace condition to a fully drawn condition. Some bows can be drawn slightly past the full draw orientation, wherein a draw force curve for the bow will typically exhibit a valley. Some shooters prefer a bow having a relatively soft stop at full draw; however, some shooters would prefer a harder draw stop. Some bows provide an interfering member to limit draw, such as a draw stop member attached to a rotating member and arranged to contact a limb at full draw. An interfering member can present a very hard stop at the end of the draw cycle.

There remains a need for novel bow designs that provide a better shooting experience. There remains a need for novel bow designs that provide a draw stop having a harder feel than bows that omit a dedicated draw stop, but provide a softer stop than is typically provided by a draw stop arranged to interfere with draw.

All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below.

A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, an archery bow comprises a riser, a first limb and a second limb. A first rotatable member is supported by the first limb and a second rotatable member supported by the second limb. The first rotatable member comprises a cam track and a draw stop. The draw stop comprises a cavity. A bowstring extends between the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member. A power cable is arranged to be taken up by the cam track as the bow is drawn. The bow comprises a drawn orientation and the draw stop contacts the power cable in the drawn orientation.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of the power cable is oriented in the cavity in said drawn orientation. In some embodiments, cavity comprises an arcuate surface.

In some embodiments, a draw stop comprises an asymmetrical flange oriented to a side of a power cable.

In some embodiments, the portion of the draw stop that contacts the power cable is non-elastomeric.

In some embodiments, a removable module comprises the draw stop.

These and other embodiments which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference can be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof and the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described various embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a bow in a brace orientation.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a rotatable member.

FIG. 3 shows the bow of FIG. 1 in a drawn orientation.

FIG. 4 shows a detail of a rotatable member from FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a rotatable member having a draw stop.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment end view of an archery bow.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a rotatable member having a draw stop.

FIG. 8 shows the rotatable member of FIG. 7 from another angle.

FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of a rotatable member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.

For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an archery bow 10 in a brace condition. In some embodiments, a bow 10 comprises a riser 12 and at least one limb 14 supported by the riser 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the riser 12 supports a first limb 14 at one end and a second limb 16 at the other end. In some embodiments, a limb cup 17 can be used to receive a limb 14. In some embodiments, a limb cup 17 comprises a device as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,453,635, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Desirably, a limb 14 supports at least one rotatable member 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the first limb 14 supports a first rotatable member 20 and the second limb 16 supports a second rotatable member 22. In some embodiments, the first limb 14 supports a first axle 21, and the first axle 21 supports the first rotatable member 20. Similarly, the second limb 16 can support a second axle 23, which in turn supports the second rotatable member 22.

Desirably, a bowstring 30 extends between the first rotatable member 20 and the second rotatable member 22. In some embodiments, a first end 31 of the bowstring 30 is anchored to the first rotatable member 20 and a second end 32 of the bowstring 30 is anchored to the second rotatable member 22. In some embodiments, a segment of the bowstring 30 extends about a periphery of a rotatable member 20 when the bow 10 is in the brace condition.

In some embodiments, the first rotatable member 20 comprises a first cam portion 24 defining a first cam track, and the second rotatable member 22 comprises a second cam portion 26 defining a second cam track. In some embodiments, a first power cable 40 is attached to the first rotatable member 20 and arranged to be taken up by the first cam track when the bow 10 is drawn. In some embodiments, a second power cable 42 is attached to the second rotatable member 22 and arranged to be taken up by the second cam track when the bow 10 is drawn. In some embodiments, the first power cable 40 is anchored to the second axle 23 and the second power cable 42 is anchored to the first axle 21 (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1, the first power cable 40 is anchored to the second rotatable member 22 and the second power cable 42 is anchored to the first rotatable member 20.

In some embodiments, the second rotatable member 22 can comprise a mirror of the first rotatable member 20, and the second rotatable member 22 can comprise a bowstring track 50 similar to the first rotatable member 20.

In some embodiments, a rotatable member 20 comprises a force vectoring anchor 68, and a power cable (e.g. second power cable 42) is anchored to the force vectoring anchor 68. Desirably, a force vectoring anchor 68 defines an anchor axis that is offset from the rotatable member axis (e.g. first axis 60). In some embodiments, a force vectoring anchor 68 comprises an anchor structure as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,946,281 or U.S. Pat. No. 8,020,544, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, a power cable 40, 42 is anchored to an anchoring mechanism (not illustrated) that is arranged to feed out power cable 40, 42 as the bow is drawn, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,970, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a rotatable member 20 in greater detail. Desirably, the rotatable member 20 defines a bowstring track 50. In some embodiments, the bowstring track 50 extends about a periphery of the rotatable member 20. At least a portion of the bowstring 30 is oriented in the bowstring track 50, and bowstring 30 feeds out from the bowstring track 50 as the bow is drawn. In some embodiments, the rotatable member 20 comprises a first post 52 that serves as a terminal post, and a terminal loop of the bowstring 30 is anchored to the first post 52.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a cam portion 24, which desirably defines a cam track 25. When the bow is drawn, power cable (e.g. 40) is desirably taken up in the cam track 25. In some embodiments, the rotatable member 20 comprises a second post 53 that serves as a terminal post, and a terminal loop of the power cable (e.g. 40) is anchored to the second post 53. In some embodiments, the cam portion 24 comprises a module portion 28. Desirably, the module portion 28 can be removed from the rotatable member 20 and alternative modules having different shapes can be substituted. In some embodiments, one or more fasteners 86 secure the module 28 to the rotatable member 20. Desirably, the module portion 28 comprises a cam track 25. Different modules can have differently shaped cam track portions and changing modules can change the draw characteristics of the bow, for example adjusting draw weight, draw length, etc.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a bow 10 in a drawn orientation. FIG. 4 shows a portion of FIG. 3 in greater detail. These Figures illustrate how the draw stop 70 of a rotatable member 20, 22 will stop rotation of the rotatable member 20, 22 at full draw.

As the rotatable member 20 reaches full draw, the draw stop 70 contacts the power cable 40, thereby preventing further rotation of the rotatable member 20. In some embodiments, at full draw, the power cable 40 occupies the entire cam track 25 of the first rotatable member 20. In some embodiments, the draw stop 70 contacts the power cable 40 at a location 46 that is spaced apart from the cam track 25.

A draw stop 70 arranged to contact the power cable 40 as shown in FIG. 4 will stop the draw cycle with an intermediate level of abruptness. A bow that excludes a draw stop will stop the draw cycle with low abruptness, while a bow with a draw stop arranged to contact a limb will stop the draw cycle with high abruptness.

Although FIG. 4 illustrates the draw stop 70 as being a portion of a module 28 that comprises a cam track 25, a draw stop 70 can comprise any suitable structure arranged to contact a power cable 40 to limit draw. In some embodiments, a rotatable member 20 comprises a draw stop 70. In some embodiments, a draw stop 70 comprises a cantilever structure. In some embodiments, a cam portion 24 comprises the draw stop 70. In some embodiments, a module portion 28 comprises the draw stop 70. In some embodiments, a draw stop 70 is removable from a rotatable member 20. In some embodiments, a draw stop 70 is an integral portion of a rotatable member 20.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a rotatable member 20 and another embodiment of a draw stop 70. In some embodiments, a draw stop 70 comprises a cavity 72. Desirably, a portion of a power cable is oriented in the cavity 72 at full draw.

In some embodiments, a draw stop 70 comprises an arcuate surface 73 that defines the cavity 72. Desirably, a portion of the arcuate surface 73 contacts a power cable at full draw. In some embodiments, the arcuate surface 73 defines a portion of a cylindrical surface. In some embodiments, a cavity 72 defines a central longitudinal axis 76, and a power cable aligns with the central longitudinal axis 76 at full draw. In some embodiments, a terminal portion of the cam track 25 defines an axis 36, and the central longitudinal axis 76 of the cavity 72 is collinear with the axis 36.

FIG. 6 shows an end view of an embodiment of a bow 10. In some embodiments, the bow 10 comprises a cable guard 74 arranged to bias the power cables 40, 42 (or a power cable and a control cable in a single cam bow) laterally away from a plane of bowstring 30 travel. In some embodiments, the first power cable 40 extends from a first cam 24 located to a first side 56 of the bow 10 and extends to an anchor 66 located to a second side 57 of the bow 10. In some embodiments, the second power cable 42 extends from a second cam 26 located to a first side 56 of the bow 10 and extends to an anchor 67 located to a second side 57 of the bow 10. Thus, in some embodiments, cams 24, 26 are located on a common side of the bow and anchors 66, 67 are located on the other side. In some other embodiments, a cam and an anchor can be located on each side of the bow.

In some embodiments, a cable guard 74 is arranged to contact one or more power cables 40, 42 at a location that is equally spaced from the axis of rotation (e.g. 60) of each rotatable member 20, 22.

The cables 40, 42 of a bow 10 can both be biased to a first side 56 of the bow 10 by the cable guard 74. In some embodiments, a draw stop 70 comprises an asymmetrical structure.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a rotatable member 20 and another embodiment of a draw stop 70. FIG. 8 shows the rotatable member 20 from a different viewing angle and also omits a power cable for clarity. The first direction 56, which indicates a direction that a cable guard 74 may bias cables 40, 42, is shown in FIG. 8.

In some embodiments, a draw stop 70 comprises a flange 94 arranged to contain a power cable 40. In some embodiments, the flange 94 at least partially defines a cavity 72 defined by the draw stop 70. In some embodiments, a rotatable member 20 comprises structure 98 oriented to a second side (e.g. 57) of a power cable 40, and the structure can prevent the power cable 40 from moving laterally in the second direction (e.g. 57). In some embodiments, a draw stop 70 comprises structure (e.g. flange 94) oriented to a first side (e.g. 56) of a power cable 40, and the structure 94 prevents the power cable 40 from moving laterally in the first direction (e.g. 56). In some embodiments, a draw stop 70 comprises structure (e.g. flange 94) located to a first side of the power cable 40, and a rotatable member 20 comprises structure 98 located to a second side of the power cable.

FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of a rotatable member 20 having a draw stop 70. In some embodiments, a draw stop 70 comprises a fastener 90 attached to the draw stop 70. In some embodiments, the draw stop 70 comprises an aperture 96 arranged to receive a fastener 90. In some embodiments, the fastener 90 attaches to the draw stop 70 but does not engage another portion of the rotatable member 20.

In some embodiments, a fastener 90 comprises a stem 93 and a head 92. In some embodiments, the head 92 forms a flange 94.

In some embodiments, a fastener 90 attaches a spacer 88 to the draw stop 70. FIG. 9 shows several versions of a spacer 88. In some embodiments, a spacer 88 is cylindrical. In some embodiments, a spacer 88 is frustoconical. In some embodiments, a spacer 88 is tapered and increases in diameter along its length. In some embodiments, a spacer 88 defines a cavity 72. In some embodiments, a spacer 88 comprises a recess 89, for example to receive a fastener head 92.

In some embodiments, portions of the draw stop 70 that contact the power cable 40 are not elastomeric. In some embodiments, portions of the draw stop 70 that contact the power cable 40 are rigid or inelastic.

A draw stop 70 can be made from any suitable material. Often a draw stop 70 will comprise a metal such as aluminum. A spacer 88 can be made from any suitable material. Often a spacer 88 comprises a polymeric material.

In some embodiments, a draw stop 70 comprises felt applied to a surface that contacts the power cable 40.

The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this field of art. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to.” Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims.

Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim 1 should be alternatively taken as depending from all previous claims). In jurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted, the following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim below.

This completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.

Claims

1. An archery bow comprising:

a riser;

a first limb and a second limb;

a first rotatable member supported by said first limb and a second rotatable member supported by said second limb, said first rotatable member comprising a cam track and a draw stop, said draw stop comprising a cavity;

a bowstring extending between said first rotatable member and said second rotatable member; and

a power cable arranged to be taken up by said cam track as said bow is drawn;

wherein said bow comprises a drawn orientation, said draw stop contacting said power cable in said drawn orientation.

2. The archery bow of claim 1, wherein said draw stop contacts said power cable at a location that is spaced apart from said cam track.

3. The archery bow of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said power cable is oriented in said cavity in said drawn orientation.

4. The archery bow of claim 1, wherein said cavity comprises an arcuate surface that defines a central longitudinal axis of said cavity.

5. The archery bow of claim 4, wherein said central longitudinal axis is collinear with a central axis of a terminal portion of said cam track.

6. The archery bow of claim 1, wherein said draw stop comprises a concave surface that defines said cavity, said concave surface contacting said power cable in said drawn orientation.

7. The archery bow of claim 1, wherein said rotatable member comprises structure located on a first side of said power cable, said draw stop comprising a flange located on a second side of said power cable.

8. The archery bow of claim 7, said flange comprising a fastener head.

9. The archery bow of claim 1, said draw stop comprising a spacer and a fastener attaching said spacer to said draw stop.

10. The archery bow of claim 9, wherein said spacer is frustoconical.

11. The archery bow of claim 9, wherein said spacer surrounds a stem of said fastener.

12. The archery bow of claim 9, wherein said spacer defines a recess, a head of said fastener oriented in said recess.

13. The archery bow of claim 1, wherein said draw stop comprises a cantilever structure.

14. The archery bow of claim 1, said first rotatable member comprising a module arranged to be detached from said first rotatable member, said module comprising said draw stop.

15. The archery bow of claim 14, said module further comprising a portion of said cam track.

16. The archery bow of claim 1, said draw stop comprising a fastener that does not attach to another portion of said first rotatable member.

17. An archery bow comprising:

a riser;

at least one limb supported by said riser;

at least one rotatable member supported by said limb, said rotatable member comprising a cam portion defining a cam track, said cam portion comprising a draw stop, said draw stop defining a cavity; and

a power cable arranged to be taken up on said cam track;

wherein said archery bow comprises a drawn orientation, said draw stop contacting said power cable in said drawn orientation.

18. The archery bow of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of said power cable is oriented in said cavity.

19. The archery bow of claim 17, wherein said cam portion comprises a removable portion, said removable portion comprising said draw stop.