Barrel Cable Suppressor

• US 20120006311A1
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunter's Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hunter's Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Bednar, Richard L., Hout, Jacob A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,656,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 124/25
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/12 Crossbows
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/123 Compound crossbows
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1407 Bow-string silencing devices
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1426 Bow stabilisers or vibration dampers

Abstract

A crossbow may comprise a main beam, a trigger mechanism, a bow assembly, and a barrel cable suppressor. The trigger mechanism may be mounted to the main beam for selectively retaining and releasing a bowstring. The bow assembly may extend transversely from a distal end of the main beam and may comprise a first limb, a second limb, a cam assembly, the bowstring, a first cable, and a second cable. The cam assembly may comprise a first cam, wherein the first cam is operatively connected to an end of the first limb to rotate about a first axle; and, a second cam, wherein the second cam is operatively connected to an end of the second limb to rotate about a second axle. The bowstring may extend between the first and second limbs and may be received by the first and second cams such that the drawing of the bowstring causes the first and second cams to rotate in a first direction. The first cable may be operatively connected to the end of the first limb and may be received by the second cam. The second cable may be operatively connected to the end of the second limb and may be received by the first cam. The first and second cables may pass through a cable slot formed in the barrel member. The first and second cables may be received by the first and second cams respectively such that the rotation of the first and second cams in the first direction causes the first and second limbs to be pulled generally inward towards the main beam. The barrel cable suppressor may be positioned at least partially within the cable slot and may at least partially suppresses vibrations and noise caused by the first and second cables when the bowstring is released from the trigger mechanism.

Claims

1. A crossbow comprising:

a main beam having a stock member and a barrel member;

a trigger mechanism mounted to the main beam for selectively retaining and releasing a bowstring;

a bow assembly comprising;

a first limb and a second limb, wherein the first limb and the second limb extend transversely from a distal end of the main beam and the bowstring extends between the first and second limbs;

a barrel cable suppressor positioned at least partially within a cable slot formed in the barrel member, wherein the barrel cable suppressor at least partially attenuates vibrations and noise caused by the release of the bowstring.

2. The crossbow of claim 1, wherein the bow assembly further comprises:

a cam assembly comprising;

a first cam, wherein the first cam is operatively connected to the first limb to rotate about a first axle;

a second cam, wherein the second cam is operatively connected to the second limb to rotate about a second axle, wherein the bowstring is received by the first and second cams such that the drawing of the bowstring causes the first and second cams to rotate in a first direction;

a first cable, wherein the first cable is operatively connected to the first limb, extends through the cable slot, and is received by the second cam, and;

a second cable, wherein the second cable is operatively connected to the second limb, extends through the cable slot, and is received by the first cam,

wherein the rotation of the first and second cams in the first direction causes the first and second limbs to be pulled generally inward towards the main beam; and

,

wherein the first and second cables contact at least a portion of the barrel cable suppressor when the bowstring is released from the trigger mechanism.

3. The crossbow of claim 1, wherein the crossbow comprises a recurve crossbow.

4. The crossbow of claim 1, wherein the barrel cable suppressor further comprises:

a cable dampener.

5. The crossbow of claim 2, wherein the barrel cable suppressor further comprises:

a cable damper;

wherein the first or the second cable contacts at least a portion of the cable dampener when the bowstring is released from the trigger mechanism.

6. The crossbow of claim 5, wherein the cable dampener comprises:

a hollow construction that allows the cable dampener to at least partially compress or deform when contacted by the first or second cable.

7. A method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a crossbow comprising;

a main beam having a stock member and a barrel member;

a trigger mechanism mounted to the main beam for selectively retaining and releasing a bowstring;

a bow assembly comprising;

a first limb and a second limb, wherein the first limb and the second limb extend transversely from a distal end of the main beam and the bowstring extends between the first and second limbs;

a barrel cable suppressor positioned at least partially within a cable slot formed in the barrel member;

(b) drawing the bowstring;

(c) releasing the bowstring; and

,

(d) attenuating vibrations caused by the releasing of the bowstring, wherein the barrel cable suppressor at least partially causes the attenuation of the vibrations.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein step (d) further comprises the step of:

contacting at least a portion of the barrel cable suppressor with a first cable or a second cable when the bowstring is released, wherein the first cable is operatively connected to the first limb, extends through the cable slot, and is received by a first cam that is operatively connected to the second limb; and

, the second cable is operatively connected to the second limb, extends through the cable slot, and is received by a second cam operatively connected to the first limb.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the barrel cable suppressor comprises a cable dampener and the step of, contacting at least a portion of the barrel cable suppressor with a first cable or a second cable when the bowstring is released, wherein the first cable is operatively connected to the first limb, extends through the cable slot, and is received by a first cam that is operatively connected to the second limb;

and, the second cable is operatively connected to the second limb, extends through the cable slot, and is received by a second cam operatively connected to the first limb, further comprises the step of;

deforming at least a portion of the cable dampener,

wherein the cable dampener comprises a hollow construction and is at least partially positioned within the cable slot and,

the deformation of at least a portion of the cable dampener is at least partially caused by the cable dampener being contacted by the first or the second cable.

10. A crossbow comprising:

a main beam having a stock member and a barrel member;

a trigger mechanism mounted to the main beam for selectively retaining and releasing a bowstring;

a bow assembly comprising;

a first limb and a second limb, wherein the first limb and the second limb extend transversely from a distal end of the main beam and the bowstring extends between the first and second limbs;

a barrel cable suppressor positioned on the first limb or the second limb, wherein the barrel cable suppressor at least partially attenuates vibrations and noise caused by the release of the bowstring.

11. The crossbow of claim 10, wherein the barrel cable suppressor comprises:

a cable dampener, wherein at least a portion of the cable dampener is contacted by a first cable, a second cable, or the bowstring when the bowstring is released from a drawn position.

12. The crossbow of claim 10, wherein the barrel cable suppressor comprises:

a cable dampener comprising a plurality of appendages, wherein at least a portion of one of the plurality of appendages is contacted by a first cable, a second cable, or the bowstring when the bowstring is released from a drawn position.

13. The crossbow of claim 12, wherein the cable dampener further comprises:

a dampener mass positioned adjacent to each distal end of each of the plurality of appendages.