Archery bows, archery bow cam assemblies, and archery bow anchors

• US 6,474,324 B1
• Filed: 11/17/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martin Outdoors, LLC
• Original Assignee: Martin Archery Incorporated (Martin Sports, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martin, Terry G., Despart, James Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci, John A.
• Application Number:
  US09/716,027
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 124/23.1, 124/25.6, 124/86, 124/900
• US Class Current: 124/25.6
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/10 Compound bows compound crossbows F41B5/123
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/105 Cams or pulleys for compound bows

Abstract

In one aspect, the invention includes an archery bow having a first limb and a second limb, and a handle between the limbs. A rotating member includes at least two cams rotatably joined to the first limb with a first of the at least two cams having an eccentric profile to provide a first camming surface and a second of the at least two cams having an eccentric profile to provide a second camming surface. The eccentric profile of the first cam is substantially symmetrical relative to the eccentric profile of the second cam. A string extends between the rotating member and second limb.

Claims

1. An archery bow comprising:

a first limb and a second limb;

a handle between the limbs;

a rotating member comprising at least two cams rotatably joined to the first limb, a first of the two cams comprising an eccentric profile to provide a first camming surface and a second of the two cams comprising an eccentric profile to provide a second camming surface, the eccentric profile of the first cam is substantially symmetrical relative to the eccentric profile of the second cam; and

a string extending between the rotating member and second limb.

2. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the eccentric profile of the first cam is parallel to the eccentric profile of the second cam.

3. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the eccentric profile of the first cam is substantially symmetrically aligned to the eccentric profile of the second cam.

4. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the eccentric profile of the first cam is substantially symmetrically aligned and angled relative to the eccentric profile of the second cam.

5. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the rotating member further comprises a primary cam in rotational cooperation with the first and second cams.

6. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the rotating member further comprises a primary cam between the first and second cams.

7. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the rotating member further comprises a primary cam between the first and second cams, the primary cam comprising an eccentric profile not substantially symmetrical relative the eccentric profiles of the first and second cams.

8. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the rotating member further comprises a primary cam between the first and second cams, the primary cam comprises an eccentric profile parallel to the eccentric profiles of the first and second cams.

9. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the rotating member further comprises a primary cam between the first and second cams, and wherein the first and second cams are equidistant from the primary cam.

10. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the rotating member further comprises a primary cam between the first and second cams, and wherein the eccentric profile of the first cam is substantially symmetrically aligned relative to the eccentric profile of the second cam.

11. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the rotating member further comprises a primary cam between the first and second cams, the primary cam comprises an eccentric profile, the eccentric profiles of the first and second cams are angled relative the eccentric profile of the primary cam, and the eccentric profile of the first cam forms substantially a mirror image of the eccentric profile of the second cam relative to the eccentric profile of the primary cam.

12. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the rotating member is further comprises a primary cam between the first and second cams, and wherein the first and second cams are integrally formed with the primary cam to form a single integral structure for the rotating member.

13. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the rotating member further comprises a primary cam between the first and second cams, and the first and second cams are discrete structures removably attached to the primary cam.

14. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the rotating member further comprises a primary cam between the first and second cams, and at least one of the first and second cams is a discrete structure removably attached to the primary cam.

15. The archery bow of claim 1 further comprising a member rotatably joined to the second limb.

16. The archery bow of claim 1 further comprising at least one generally cylindrical anchor removably attached to a limb and comprising a plurality of discrete circumferential grooves with each groove laterally spaced from the limb.

17. The archery bow of claim 1 further comprising a rotating component rotatably joined to the second limb, the string extending between the rotating member and rotating component.

18. The archery bow of claim 1 wherein the rotating member further comprises a primary cam between the first and second cams, the first cam comprises a first outwardly facing surface and the second cam comprises a second outwardly facing surface, a fourth cam extends outwardly from the first outwardly facing surface, a fifth cam extends outwardly from the second outwardly facing surface.

19. The archery bow of claim 18 wherein the fourth cam comprises an eccentric profile to provide a fourth camming surface and the fifth cam comprises an eccentric profile to provide a fifth camming surface, the eccentric profile of the fourth cam is substantially symmetrical relative to the eccentric profile of the fifth cam.

20. The archery bow of claim 18 wherein the fourth cam is aligned in substantially a mirror image relationship with the fifth cam.

21. An archery bow comprising:

a pair of flexible resilient bow limbs forming first and second outer bow limb ends and forming first and second inner bow limb ends;

a handle connecting the first and second inner bow limb ends;

a string extending between the first and second outer bow limb ends; and

at least four cables extending between the first and second outer bow limb ends.

22. The archery bow of claim 21 wherein the four cables are discrete cables relative to one another.

23. The archery bow of claim 21 further comprising at least one cable anchor laterally extending from an outer bow limb end, the cable anchor comprising generally a cylindrical surface having a plurality of discrete circumferential grooves, each groove laterally displaced from an adjacent groove.

24. The archery bow of claim 21 wherein each outer bow limb end comprises two laterally outwardly facing sides, and the archery bow further comprises at least one cable anchor laterally extending outwardly from each laterally outwardly facing side, the cable anchors comprising a plurality of discrete grooves, each groove laterally displaced from an adjacent groove.

25. The archery bow of claim 24 wherein the four cables are discrete cables relative to one another, and each cable comprises two terminal ends, one terminal end secured to one cable anchor of one outer bow limb end and the other terminal end secured to the other outer bow limb end, the two terminal ends of each cable secured to the same side of the first and second outer bow limb ends.

26. The archery bow of claim 21 wherein the archery bow comprises opposed sides, two of the four cables extend between first and second outer bow limb ends on one side of the bow, and the other two cables extend between first and second outer bow limb ends on the other side of the bow.

27. An archery bow comprising:

a handle;

a first flexible bow limb and a second flexible bow limb, the first and second bow limbs being mounted on and projecting oppositely from the handle and terminating in first and second bow limb tips, respectively;

a string extending between the first and second bow limb tips; and

at least one cable anchor laterally extending from one flexible bow limb, the cable anchor comprising an outward surface having a plurality of peripheral discrete grooves, each groove laterally displaced from an adjacent groove.

28. The archery bow of claim 27 wherein each bow limb tip defines a slot having inside surfaces, the cable anchor laterally extending inwardly from the inside surfaces.

29. The archery bow of claim 27 wherein each bow limb tip comprises outwardly facing opposed surfaces, the cable anchor laterally extending outwardly from one outwardly facing surface.

30. The archery bow of claim 27 further comprises an axle secured within each bow limb tip and the cable anchor laterally extends from one bow limb tip removably secured on the axle.

31. The archery bow of claim 27 further comprises an axle secured within each bow limb tip and the cable anchor comprises an opening contoured to securely receive the axle.

32. The archery bow of claim 27 further comprises an axle secured within each bow limb tip and the cable anchor comprises an opening contoured to receive the axle and allow adjusting movement of the axle within the cable anchor.

33. The archery bow of claim 27 further comprises an axle secured within each bow limb tip and each bow limb tip comprises two sides with each side facing laterally outwardly opposite the other side, a cable anchor laterally extends outward from each side of each bow limb tip removably secured on the axle.

34. An archery bow comprising:

a first limb and a second limb;

a handle between the limbs; and

at least one cable extending between the first and second limbs, the cable having a diameter dimension greater than 0 inches and ranging from about {fraction (3/32)} inch to less than ⅛

inch.

35. The archery bow of claim 34 wherein the at least one cable comprises a diameter dimension ranging from about {fraction (3/32)} inch to less than ⅛

inch.

36. The archery bow of claim 34 further comprising a string having diameter dimensions ranging from about {fraction (1/16)} inch to less than {fraction (3/16)} inch.

37. The archery bow of claim 34 wherein each limb comprises two laterally outwardly facing sides, and the archery bow further comprises at least one cable anchor laterally extending outwardly from each laterally outwardly facing side, the cable anchors comprising generally a cylindrical shape having a plurality of discrete circumferential grooves, each groove laterally displaced from an adjacent groove and capable of receiving the cable, the cable capable of being positioned laterally outward from the archery bow by positioning the cable in a more outward groove relative the archery bow.

38. The archery bow of claim 34 further comprising a plurality of cables with at least two of the cables having diameter dimensions ranging from about {fraction (3/32)} inch to less than ⅛

inch.

39. The archery bow of claim 34 further comprising four cables and a string, the string having diameter dimensions ranging from about {fraction (1/16)} inch to less than {fraction (3/16)} inch.

40. The archery bow of claim 34 further comprising four cables and a string, the cables having diameter dimensions ranging from about {fraction (3/32)} inch to less than ⅜

inch and the string having diameter dimensions ranging from about {fraction (1/16)} inch to less than {fraction (3/16)} inch.

41. An archery bow comprising:

a handle having opposing ends;

a first flexible limb and a second flexible limb, each limb extending outwardly from the handle opposing ends, and each limb having a distal end;

an axle secured within the distal end of the first flexible limb;

a rotating member secured on the axle;

a string extending between the rotating member and a region proximate the distal end of the second flexible limb;

at least two discrete bearings rotatably mounted on the axle to rotatably support the rotating member; and

wherein the rotating member comprises a primary cam between two secondary cams.

42. The archery bow of claim 41 further comprising one discrete bearing contacting one secondary cam and the other discrete bearing contacting the other secondary cam.

43. The archery bow of claim 41 further comprising a plurality of discrete bearings spaced from each other for evenly distributing and balancing the support weight of the rotating member on each bearing.

44. The archery bow of claim 41 further comprising at least one cable and at least one cable anchor laterally extending from one limb, the cable anchor comprising generally a cylindrical shape having a plurality of discrete circumferential grooves, each groove laterally displaced from an adjacent groove and capable of receiving the cable.

45. The archery bow of claim 41 wherein the primary cam has two outward sides, the primary cam between a plurality of secondary cams, a plurality of secondary cams on each side of the primary cam, one discrete bearing supporting the rotating member on one side of the primary cam and the other discrete bearing supporting the rotating member on the other side of the primary cam, the discrete bearings equidistant from the primary cam.

46. The archery bow of claim 41 wherein the primary cam has two outward sides, the primary cam between a plurality of secondary cams, a plurality of secondary cams on each side of the primary cam, a plurality of discrete bearings spaced from each other for evenly distributing and balancing the support weight of the rotating member on each bearing.

47. An archery bow comprising:

a first limb and a second limb;

a handle between the limbs;

a first rotating member comprising at least two cams rotatably joined to the first limb, a first of the at least two cams comprising an eccentric profile to provide a first camming surface and a second of the at least two cams comprising an eccentric profile to provide a second camming surface, the eccentric profile of the first cam is substantially symmetrical relative to the eccentric profile of the second cam;

a second rotating member comprising at least two cams rotatably joined to the second limb, a third of the at least two cams comprising an eccentric profile to provide a third camming surface and a fourth of the at least two cams comprising an eccentric profile to provide a fourth camming surface, the eccentric profile of the third cam is substantially symmetrical relative to the eccentric profile of the fourth cam; and

a string extending between the first and second rotating members.

48. The archery bow of claim 47 wherein the first rotating member comprises a primary cam between the first and second cams and the second rotating member comprises a primary cam between the third and fourth cams.

49. The archery bow of claim 47 wherein the first rotating member comprises a first primary cam between the first and second cams and the second rotating member comprises a second primary cam between the third and fourth cams, the first and second cams are parallel and equidistant relative the first primary cam and the third and fourth cams are parallel and equidistant relative the second primary cam.

50. The archery bow of claim 49 wherein the string has two ends and extends between the first and second primary cams with one end secured to the first rotating member and the other end secured to the second rotating member, the string and primary cams establish a centrally vertical plane through the archery bow to define a right side of the bow and a left side of the bow opposite the right side relative the plane.

51. The archery bow of claim 50 further comprising four cables, two cables positioned between the limbs on the right side of the plane and two cables positioned between the limbs on the left side of the plane, the two cables on one side are secured to the bow in the same fashion as the two cables on the other side.

52. The archery bow of claim 51 wherein each cable comprises two ends, the two cables on the right side comprise one cable having one end secured to the first limb and the other end secured over the fourth cam to the second rotating member of the second limb and the other cable on the right side having one end secured to the second limb and the other end secured over the second cam to the first rotating member of the first limb, and the two cables on the left side of the plane configured the same as the right side cables.

53. The archery bow of claim 52 wherein the ends of the cables secured to the limbs are secured to the limbs by cable anchors, the cable anchors having a plurality of discrete peripheral grooves to receive the cable ends, the grooves generally parallel to the plane established by the string and primary cams and each groove laterally spaced from the adjacent groove.

54. An archery bow comprising:

a central handle having opposing ends;

a first flexible power limb extending outwardly from one handle end and a second flexible power limb extending outwardly from the other handle end, each of the limbs having an inner end connected with the handle and an outer free end;

a rotating member rotatably joined to the outer free end of the first flexible power limb, the rotating member comprising;

a first cam comprising an eccentric profile to provide a first camming surface, the first cam having a first outwardly facing surface;

a second cam comprising an eccentric profile to provide a second camming surface, the second cam having a second outwardly facing surface;

a primary cam between the first and second cams, and wherein the eccentric profile of the first cam is substantially symmetrically oriented as a mirror image of the eccentric profile of the second cam relative the primary cam;

a fourth cam extending outwardly from the first outwardly facing surface of the first cam, the fourth cam comprising an eccentric profile to provide a fourth camming surface; and

a fifth cam extending outwardly from the second outwardly facing surface of the second cam, the fifth cam comprising an eccentric profile to provide a fifth camming surface, and wherein the eccentric profile of the fourth cam is substantially symmetrically oriented as a mirror image of the eccentric profile of the fifth cam relative the primary cam; and

a string extending between the rotating member and the outer free end of the second flexible power limb.

55. The archery bow of claim 54 wherein the outer free end of the second flexible power limb rotatably supports an idler wheel comprising opposed helical grooves to receive the string.

56. The archery bow of claim 54 wherein the outer free end of the second flexible power limb rotatably supports an idler wheel comprising a central portion with opposed helical grooves substantially symmetrically oriented on either side of the central portion, the grooves receive the string.

57. The archery bow of claim 54 wherein the outer free end of the second flexible power limb rotatably supports an idler wheel comprising a central portion with opposed helical grooves substantially symmetrically oriented on either side of the central portion, the grooves receive the string, and wherein the string splits into two cables before received in the grooves.

58. The archery bow of claim 54 wherein the outer free end of the second flexible power limb rotatably supports an idler wheel comprising a central portion with opposed helical grooves substantially symmetrically oriented on either side of the central portion, the grooves receive the string, and wherein the string splits into two cables before received in the grooves, the two cables are received in the grooves most adjacent the central portion wherein rotation of the idler wheel moves the two cables in the opposed helical grooves to space apart the two cables.

59. An archery bow anchor comprising:

an outward surface having a plurality of peripheral discrete grooves, each groove laterally displaced from an adjacent groove; and

an opening extending axially through the anchor and dimensioned to receive a bow axle.

60. The archery bow anchor of claim 59 wherein the opening is dimensioned to allow adjusting movement of the axle.

61. The archery bow anchor of claim 59 wherein the outward surface defines generally a cylindrical shape.

62. An archery bow cam assembly comprising:

a first cam comprising an eccentric profile to provide a first camming surface;

a second cam comprising an eccentric profile to provide a second camming surface, the eccentric profile of the first cam is substantially symmetrical relative to the eccentric profile of the second cam; and

a primary cam between the first and second cams.

63. The archery bow cam assembly of claim 62 wherein the eccentric profile of the first cam is substantially symmetrically aligned to the eccentric profile of the second cam.

64. The archery bow cam assembly of claim 62 wherein the eccentric profile of the first cam forms substantially a mirror image of the eccentric profile of the second cam relative the primary cam, and the first and second cams are angled relative the primary cam.

65. The archery bow cam assembly of claim 62 wherein the primary cam comprises an eccentric profile not substantially symmetrical relative the eccentric profiles of the first and second cams.

66. The archery bow cam assembly of claim 62 wherein at least one of the first and second cams is a discrete structure removably attached to the primary cam.

67. The archery bow cam assembly of claim 62 wherein the first cam comprises a first outwardly facing surface and the second cam comprises a second outwardly facing surface, a fourth cam extends outwardly from the first outwardly facing surface of the first cam, a fifth cam extends outwardly from the second outwardly facing surface of the second cam.

68. The archery bow cam assembly of claim 67 wherein the fourth cam comprises an eccentric profile to provide a fourth camming surface and the fifth cam comprises an eccentric profile to provide a fifth camming surface, the eccentric profile of the fourth cam is substantially symmetrical relative to the eccentric profile of the fifth cam.

69. The archery bow cam assembly of claim 67 wherein the fourth cam is aligned in substantially a mirror image relationship with the fifth cam.