Narrow crossbow with large power stroke

A method of constructing a crossbow comprising the steps of:

• A) providing:
• 1) a main beam having:
• a proximal end, a distal end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side;
• 2) a first bow limb having:
• a first end, a second end, a hinge point, and a thickness that varies along the length of the first limb from the first end to the hinge point;
• 3) a second bow limb having:
• a first end, a second end, a hinge point, and a thickness that varies along the length of the second limb from the first end to the hinge point;
• 4) first and second wheels;
• 5) a bowstring adapted to propel an arrow and having:
• first and second ends;
• and
• 6) a trigger mechanism;
• B) supporting the first bow limb to the first side of the main beam with its first end extending distally beyond the distal end of the main beam;
• C) supporting the second bow limb to the second side of the main beam with its first end extending distally beyond the distal end of the main beam;
• D) separating the first end of the first bow limb from the first end of the second bow limb such that a minimum distance between them is:
• 1) at least as wide as a user's foot;
• but
• 2) not greater than about 5 inches;
• E) supporting the first wheel to the second end of the first bow limb;
• F) supporting the second wheel to the second end of the second bow limb;
• G) engaging the first end of the bowstring to the first wheel and the second end of the bowstring to the second wheel;
• H) supporting the trigger mechanism to the main beam;
• and
• I) providing the trigger mechanism to be selectively operable to:
• 1) hold the bowstring in a cocked position;
• and
• 2) release the bowstring to propel an arrow distally along the main beam between the first end of the first bow limb and the first end of the second bow limb.

A method of constructing a crossbow comprising the steps of:

• A) providing:
• 1) a main beam having:
• a proximal end, a distal end, an axis of elongation extending from the proximal end to the distal end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side;
• 2) a first bow limb having:
• a first end and a second end;
• 3) a second bow limb having:
• a first end and a second end;
• 4) first and second wheels;
• 5) a bowstring adapted to propel an arrow and having first and second ends;
• and
• 6) a trigger mechanism;
• B) supporting the first bow limb to the first side of the main beam with its first end extending distally beyond the distal end of the main beam;
• C) supporting the second bow limb to the second side of the main beam with its first end extending distally beyond the distal end of the main beam;
• D) separating the first end of the first bow limb from the first end of the second bow limb such that a minimum distance between them is:
• 1) at least as wide as a user's foot;
• but
• 2) not greater than about 5 inches;
• E) pivotally supporting the first wheel to the second end of the first bow limb about a first pivot axis;
• F) pivotally supporting the second wheel to the second end of the second bow limb about a second pivot axis;
• G) engaging the first end of the bowstring to the first wheel and the second end of the bowstring to the second wheel;
• H) supporting the trigger mechanism to the main beam;
• I) providing the trigger mechanism to be selectively operable to:
• 1) hold the bowstring in a cocked position;
• and
• 2) release the bowstring to an un-cocked position to propel an arrow distally along the main beam between the first end of the first bow limb and the first end of the second bow limb;
• and
• J) wherein:
• 1) when the bowstring moves between the cocked position and the un-cocked position it moves along the axis of elongation a power stroke distance (PD);
• 2) the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are separated by a wheel distance (WD) when the bowstring is in the un-cocked position;
• and
• 3) the ratio of WD to PD (WD/PD) is less than 2.0.