Compound projectile launcher

A projectile launcher comprising:

• a frame having an upper member and a lower member, the frame having a vertical grip extending between the upper and lower members, the frame further having a curved forearm brace extending from a side of the frame, the forearm brace being configured to stabilize the projectile launcher using a user's arm, the frame defining a horizontal projectile plane at a top side in which a projectile axis is positioned, wherein a projectile moves within the horizontal projectile plane and along the projectile axis during firing and arming of the projectile launcher, wherein the projectile is fired from a front end of the frame;
• a drawstring hub rotatably mounted to the frame, the drawstring hub being rotatable about a central axis in a first direction and a second direction, the central axis being perpendicular to, and held at a fixed distance from, the projectile axis;
• a drawstring being attached to the drawstring hub, the drawstring traveling at least partially perpendicular to the projectile axis between first and the second ends of the drawstring, the drawstring being movable within the projectile plane during firing and arming of the projectile launcher, wherein movement of the drawstring away from the drawstring hub corresponds with rotation of the drawstring hub in the first direction, and wherein movement of the drawstring toward the drawstring hub corresponds with rotation of the drawstring hub in the second direction;
• at least one flexible limb having a first end attached to the frame, wherein the at least one flexible limb is in an unloaded position when the projectile launcher is undrawn and in a loaded position when the projectile launcher is drawn, wherein the at least one flexible limb includes a pulley;
• and
• at least one power cable having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the drawstring hub at a power cable section, wherein upon rotation of the drawstring hub in the first direction, the at least one power cable is configured to draw the at least one flexible limb closer to the drawstring hub, the power cable section of the drawstring hub having a let-off portion, the let-off portion having a first section having a first diameter and a second section having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.

A method of firing a projectile from a projectile launcher, the method comprising:

• providing a projectile launcher including:
• a frame having a vertical grip and a forearm brace configured to stabilize the projectile launcher using a user's arm, the frame defining a horizontal projectile plane at a top side in which a projectile axis is positioned, wherein a projectile moves within the horizontal projectile plane and along the projectile axis during firing and arming of the projectile launcher, wherein the projectile is fired from a front end of the frame;
• a drawstring hub rotatably mounted to the frame, the drawstring hub being rotatable about a central axis in a first direction and a second direction, the central axis being perpendicular to, and held at a fixed distance from, the projectile axis;
• a drawstring being attached to the drawstring hub, the drawstring traveling at least partially perpendicular to the projectile axis between first and the second ends of the drawstring, the drawstring being movable within the projectile plane during firing and arming of the projectile launcher, wherein movement of the drawstring away from the drawstring hub corresponds with rotation of the drawstring hub in the first direction, and wherein movement of the drawstring toward the drawstring hub corresponds with rotation of the drawstring hub in the second direction;
• at least one flexible limb having a first end attached to the frame, wherein the at least one flexible limb is in an unloaded position when the projectile launcher is undrawn and in a loaded position when the projectile launcher is drawn;
• at least one power cable having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the drawstring hub at a power cable section, wherein upon rotation of the drawstring hub in the first direction, the at least one power cable is configured to draw the at least one flexible limb closer to the drawstring hub, the power cable section of the drawstring hub having a let-off portion, the let-off portion having a first section having a first diameter and a second section having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter;
• and
• first and second power wheels mounted to the drawstring hub to rotate with the drawstring hub, wherein the first and second power wheels have diameters greater than a diameter of the drawstring hub, and wherein the first end of the drawstring is configured to be attached to the first power wheel and the second end of the drawstring is configured to be attached to the second power wheel;
• wrapping the drawstring around the first and second power wheels as the drawstring is moved from an undrawn position to a drawn position;
• and
• rotating the drawstring hub in the first direction by way of the drawstring as the drawstring is moved to the drawn position;
• and
• wrapping the first end of the at least one power cable around the power cable section of the drawstring hub as the drawstring is moved to the drawn position, wherein, when the drawstring is in the drawn position, the at least one power cable is positioned at the second section of the let-off portion of the drawstring hub.