Monitoring system for an archery bow, monitoring devices, and methods for same

• US 10,281,229 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2017
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stress Engineering Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stress Engineering Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Haynes, Clinton A., Read, Shannon R., Bullard, Joseph Krumme, Morrow, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Niconovich, Alexander R
• Application Number:
  US15/848,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20180172388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 124 256, 124 86, 124900
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/105 Cams or pulleys for compound bows
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/123 Compound crossbows
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1434 Clickers or draw indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/148 Accessories and tools for bow shooting not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/044 of leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/047 Specific indicating or recording arrangements, e.g. for remote indication, for indicating overload or underload
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 124/90 Limb tip rotatable element structure

Abstract

A monitoring system for an archery bow is provided. Monitoring devices and methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A cam assembly for an archery bow, the cam assembly comprising:

a cam body defining a pivot axis and a groove circumferentially routed at least partially around the pivot axis; and

an anchoring lug comprising;

a force sensor;

an anchor member coupled with the cam body such that the anchoring lug is coupled with the cam body and is offset from the pivot axis; and

an outer shroud slidably coupled with the anchor member and slidable with respect to the anchor member;

wherein the force sensor is configured to detect tension on a bow cord attached to the anchoring lug based upon a position of the outer shroud relative to the anchor member.

2. The cam assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the anchoring lug further comprises a pair of bellows members;

each bellows member of the pair of bellows members is coupled with each of the anchor member and the outer shroud; and

each bellows member of the pair of bellows members is selectively deformable to facilitate slidable coupling of the outer shroud with the anchor member.

3. The cam assembly of claim 2 wherein the anchor member, the outer shroud, and the pair of bellows members cooperate to define a compartment and the force sensor is disposed in the compartment.

4. The cam assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer shroud defines an outer groove.

5. The cam assembly of claim 1 wherein the cam body further defines a receptacle and the anchoring lug is disposed within the receptacle.

6. The cam assembly of claim 1 further comprising a wireless communication module in communication with the force sensor and configured to wirelessly transmit tension data from the force sensor to a remote source.

7. The cam assembly of claim 1 wherein the cam body comprises a central portion, an outer ring portion, and at least one web member that extends between the central portion and the outer ring portion.

8. An archery bow comprising:

a limb attachment member;

a pair of bow limbs, each bow limb of the pair of bow limbs comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of each bow limb of the pair of bow limbs being coupled with the limb attachment member;

a cam assembly pivotally coupled with the distal end of one bow limb of the pair of bow limbs, the cam assembly comprising;

a cam body defining a pivot axis and a groove circumferentially routed at least partially around the pivot axis; and

an anchoring lug comprising;

a force sensor;

an anchor member coupled with the cam body such that the anchoring lug is coupled with the cam body and is offset from the pivot axis; and

an outer shroud slidably coupled with the anchor member and slidable with respect to the anchor member; and

a bow cord coupled with the anchoring lug, routed along the groove of the cam body, and routed along the outer shroud;

wherein the force sensor is configured to detect a tension on the bow cord.

9. The archery bow of claim 8 wherein the bow cord comprises one of a bow string and a bow cable.

10. The archery bow of claim 8 wherein:

the anchoring lug further comprises a pair of bellows members;

each bellows member of the pair of bellows members is coupled with each of the anchor member and the outer shroud; and

each bellows member of the pair of bellows members is selectively deformable to facilitate slidable coupling of the outer shroud with the anchor member.

11. The archery bow of claim 10 wherein the anchor member, the outer shroud, and the pair of bellows members cooperate to define a compartment and the force sensor is disposed in the compartment.

12. The archery bow of claim 8 wherein the outer shroud defines an outer groove.

13. The archery bow of claim 8 wherein the cam body further defines a receptacle and the anchoring lug is disposed within the receptacle.

14. The archery bow of claim 8 further comprising a wireless communication module in communication with the force sensor and configured to wirelessly transmit tension data from the force sensor to a remote source.

15. The archery bow of claim 8 wherein the cam body comprises a central portion, an outer ring portion, and at least one web member that extends between the central portion and the outer ring portion.

16. The archery bow of claim 8 wherein the archery bow comprises a cross bow.

17. An anchoring lug for a cam assembly of an archery bow, the anchoring lug comprising:

an anchor member;

a pair of bellows members, each bellows member of the pair of bellows members comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a flexible portion that extends between the proximal end and the distal end, the proximal end of each bellows member of the pair of bellows members being coupled with the anchor member;

an outer shroud coupled with the distal end of each bellows member of the pair of bellows members, wherein the flexible portion of each bellows member of the pair of bellows members is selectively deformable such that the outer shroud is slidable with respect to the anchor member; and

a force sensor associated with one of the anchor member, the outer shroud, and at least one bellows member of the pair of bellows members and configured to detect a tension imparted to the anchoring lug based upon a position of the outer shroud relative to the anchor member.

18. The anchoring lug of claim 17 wherein the anchor member, the outer shroud, and the pair of bellows members cooperate to define a compartment and the force sensor is disposed in the compartment.

19. The anchoring lug of claim 17 wherein the outer shroud defines an outer groove configured to receive a bow cord.

20. The anchoring lug of claim 17 wherein the anchor member defines an aperture configured to receive a fastener that facilitates coupling of the anchor member to a cam body.

21. The anchoring lug of claim 17 wherein the force sensor comprises a strain gage.

22. The anchoring lug of claim 17 wherein the force sensor is disposed on the at least one bellows member.

23. The anchoring lug of claim 17 wherein:

the outer shroud comprises a pair of arm members; and

the anchor member and each bellows member of the pair of bellows members are interposed between the pair of arm members.

24. The anchoring lug of claim 23 wherein the anchor member and the pair of bellows members are each spaced from the pair of arm members.

25. The anchoring lug of claim 24 wherein each arm member of the pair of arm members is tapered towards the anchor member.