US 4,458,657 A · Compound archery bow

Abstract

A compound archery bow has a main frame with a pair of rigid arms extending outwardly from a central handle portion. A cam member is rotatably journaled on the end of each arm and a bowstring is connectable between the cam members. A resilient member, preferably a pair of rubber tubes, interconnects the main frame and each cam member at a point offset from its axis. When the cam rotates as the bowstring is drawn, the point of attachment of the resilient member to the cam member is brought into general alignment with the cam axle and the point of attachment of the resilient member to the main frame. Forces generated on the cam member by the resilient member at full draw are thus substantially radial. Both points of attachment of the resilient members are adjustable, and the applied tension of the resilient members is adjustable as well. A pulley is rigidly connected to each cam member, and the pulleys are interconnected by a cable to cause both cam members to rotate correspondingly.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An archery bow adapted for supporting a bowstring for movement between an initial position of reduced tension and a full-drawn position of relatively increased tension, comprising;

a main frame having a centrally located handle and first and second rigid arms extending outwardly therefrom;
a cam member rotatably journaled on the free end of one of said first and second arms and adapted to mount said bowstring on said bow, and said cam member being movable between a first position of rotation about a pivot axis wherein said bowstring is in said initial position and a second position of rotation about said pivot axis wherein said bowstring is in full-drawn position;
and
bias means associated with said cam member for resiliently biasing said cam member into said first position of rotation, said bias means including a resilient member having one end secured to said main frame at a connection point and the other end mounting a flexible cable, said cable secure to said cam member at an attachment point located at a position offset from said pivot axis and out of the rotational plane of said cam member.

1 more element

An archery bow adapted for launching arrows and the like, comprising:

a main frame having first and second outwardly extending arms and a centrally located handle portion;
a first cam member rotatably journaled on a first axle mounted to the free end of said first arm and a second cam member rotatably journaled on a second axle mounted on the free end of said second arm, said first and second cam members each rotatable between a first and second rotational positions;
first and second bias means associated with said first and second cam members, respectively, for resiliently biasing said first and second cam members into said first rotational position, said first and second bias means each including a resilient member secured at one end to said main frame and each having a cable assembly secured to the other end, each said cable assembly secured to its respective cam member at a location generally between the cam member axle and the point of attachment of its associated resilient member to the main frame when the cam member is in its first rotational position;
a bowstring mounted between said first and second cam members for receiving an arrow, said bowstring movable between an initial position wherein said first and second cam members are in said first rotational position and a full-drawn position wherein said first and second cam emmbers are in said second rotational position;
and
force adjustment means for selectively adjusting the magnitude of the biasing force applied by each said bias means to each of said cam members.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Compound archery bow

Life of this patent

Compound archery bow

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23