# US 6,718,962 B2 · Archery bow and limbs therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,718,962 B2 - Document ID: US6718962B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/195,746 - Filed: 2002-07-15 - Published: 2004-01-15 - Granted: 2004-04-13 - Earliest claimed: 2002-07-15 - Assignees: A&H Archery, LLC - Inventors: O. L. Adcock - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6718962B2 ## CPC - F41B 5/0005: {Single stave recurve bows} - F41B 5/0052: {Limbs} - F41B 5/0073: {Single stave non-recurve bows} - F41B 5/10: Compound bows {(compound crossbows F41B5/123)} - F41B: WEAPONS FOR PROJECTING MISSILES WITHOUT USE OF EXPLOSIVE OR COMBUSTIBLE PROPELLANT CHARGE; WEAPONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (projectiles for fishing, e.g. fish-spears, A01K81/00; sports implements for throwing A63B65/00, e.g. boomerangs A63B65/08; stationary apparatus for projecting sports balls, e.g. tennis balls, A63B69/40; throwing or slinging toys A63H33/18; knives, axes B26B; projectiles or missiles other than those incorporating springs as projecting means F42B6/00) ## Abstract The invention relates to an archery bow having a handle with a longitudinal axis and first and second handle ends. The bow also has an upper limb and a lower limb extending generally in a direction along the longitudinal axis. Each limb has first and second edges defining a limb width, a limb thickness, a proximal end, a distal end, and a working region between the proximal and distal ends of each limb. The first and second handle ends are attached to each limb at the respective proximal end of each limb. The proximal end of each limb has a proximal width and the distal end of each limb has a distal width. Each limb further has a concave surface extending generally between the first and second edges. Each concave surface has an opening and first and second transition points located at opposing sides of the opening of the concave surface. There is a transverse width defined by a distance between the transition points, which transverse width is substantially unchanged when the bow is drawn to a full draw position as compared to when the bow is in an undrawn position. The concave surface(s) can instead be a convex surface(s) in various forms of the present invention. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bow comprising: a handle having a longitudinal axis and first and second handle ends; and, an upper limb and a lower limb extending generally in a direction along the longitudinal axis, each limb comprising first and second edges defining a limb width, a limb thickness, a proximal end, a distal end, and a working region between the proximal and distal ends of each limb, the first and second handle ends being attached to each limb at the respective proximal end of each limb, wherein the proximal end of each limb has a proximal width and the distal end of each limb has a distal width, wherein each limb further comprises a concave surface extending generally between the first and second edges, each concave surface having an opening and first and second transition points located at opposing sides of the opening of the concave surface, wherein a transverse width is defined by a distance between the transition points, wherein the transverse width is substantially unchanged when the bow is drawn to a full draw position as compared to when the bow is in an undrawn position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1, wherein each limb further comprises a tip located at the distal end of each limb, wherein the working region and the tip of each limb have an optimal weight for improving the efficiency of the limb, the optimal weight being dependent upon at least the limb thickness and the concave surface construction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1 further comprising: a waste force defined generally by a total force stored in the bow when the bow is in a drawn position less a transfer force that is transferred to an arrow at the point of release of the arrow, wherein when the bow is drawn to the full draw position and released, and the waste force is less than 25% of the total force stored in the bow when the bow is in the full draw position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The bow of claim 3, wherein the waste force is less than 15% of the total force stored in the bow when the bow is in the full draw position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The bow of claim 3, wherein the waste force is less than 10% of the total force stored in the bow when the bow is in the full draw position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1 further comprising a draw force that is required to draw the bow to a draw length, wherein the draw force required to draw the bow increases as the draw length increases within the vicinity of the full draw position and beyond the full draw position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The bow of claim 6, wherein as the draw length increases the draw force also increases at substantially all points along a draw path defined by the undrawn position and any useable draw position beyond the full draw position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1, wherein the concave surface has a radius of curvature when the bow is undrawn, the radius of curvature being substantially unchanged when the bow is drawn to a full draw position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bow of claim 8, wherein the radius of curvature decreases from the proximal end to the distal end of the limb when the bow is in the undrawn position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1, wherein the transverse width of the bow in the undrawn position changes by not more than 0.010 inches when the bow is drawn to the full draw position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1, wherein the transverse width of the bow in the undrawn position changes by not more than 0.005 inches when the bow is drawn to the full draw position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1, wherein the transverse width of the bow in the undrawn position changes by not more than 0.001 inches when the bow is drawn to the full draw position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10, 11) The bow of claim 10, 11, or 12, wherein the transverse width is measured at a central position of the working region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1, wherein the distal width is less than the proximal width. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1, wherein the limb width decreases gradually from the proximal end of the limb to the distal end of the limb. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1, wherein the bow is a longbow. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1, wherein the bow is a recurve bow. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1, wherein each limb is formed of multiple layers extending generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The bow of claim 18, wherein the multiple layers comprise at least one core layer positioned between two outer layers, each outer layer having a material therein chosen from a group consisting of at least fiber glass and carbon fiber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The bow of claim 19, wherein at least one core layer is tapered generally in a direction along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1, wherein the bow is a compound bow, and wherein the handle is an assembly comprising a grip and at least one limb mount attached to the grip for attaching at least one limb to the limb mount. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The bow of claim 21, wherein the limb mount comprises a first limb mount and a second limb mount for attaching at least two limbs to the limb mount, wherein the limbs are generally parallel when mounted to the limb mount. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1, wherein the bow is a cross bow. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1, wherein the concave surface can be a shape which is at least a part of at least one of a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, and a polygon with curved corners. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1, wherein the concave surface is on a belly side of each limb. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The bow of claim 1, wherein the concave surface is on a back side of each limb. ### Claim 27 A limb for a bow comprising: first and second edges defining a limb width, a limb thickness, a proximal end, a distal end, and a working region between the proximal and distal ends of the limb, wherein the proximal end of the limb has a proximal width and the distal end of the limb has a distal width, wherein the limb further comprises a concave surface extending generally between the first and second edges, the concave surface having an opening and first and second transition points located at opposing sides of the opening of the concave surface, wherein a transverse width is defined by a distance between the transition points, wherein the transverse width is substantially unchanged when the bow is drawn to a full draw position as compared to when the bow is in an undrawn position. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The limb of claim 27 further comprising: a tip located at the distal end of the limb, wherein the working region and the tip of the limb have an optimal weight for improving the efficiency of the limb, the optimal weight being dependent upon at least the limb thickness and the concave surface construction. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The limb of claim 27 further comprising a draw force that is required to draw the bow to a draw length, wherein the draw force required to draw the bow increases as the draw length increases within the vicinity of the full draw position and beyond the full draw position. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The limb of claim 29, wherein as the draw length increases the draw force also increases at substantially all points along a draw path defined by the undrawn position and any useable draw position beyond the full draw position. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The limb of claim 27, wherein the concave surface has a radius of curvature when the bow is undrawn, the radius of curvature being substantially unchanged when the bow is drawn to a full draw position. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The limb of claim 31, wherein the radius of curvature decreases from the proximal end to the distal end of the limb when the bow is in the undrawn position. ### Claim 33 (depends on 27) The limb of claim 27, wherein the transverse width of the bow in the undrawn position changes by not more than 0.010 inches when the bow is drawn to the full draw position. ### Claim 34 (depends on 27) The limb of claim 27, wherein the transverse width of the bow in the undrawn position changes by not more than 0.005 inches when the bow is drawn to the full draw position. ### Claim 35 (depends on 27) The limb of claim 27, wherein the transverse width of the bow in the undrawn position changes by not more than 0.001 inches when the bow is drawn to the full draw position. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33, 34) The limb of claim 33, 34, or 35, wherein the transverse width is measured at a central position of the working region. ### Claim 37 (depends on 27) The bow of claim 27, wherein the concave surface can be a shape which is at least a part of at least one of a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, and a polygon with curved corners. ### Claim 38 (depends on 27) The bow of claim 27, wherein the concave surface is on a belly side of each limb. ### Claim 39 (depends on 27) The bow of claim 27, wherein the concave surface is on a back side of each limb. ### Claim 40 A bow comprising: a handle having a longitudinal axis and first and second handle ends; an upper limb and a lower limb extending generally in a direction along the longitudinal axis, each limb comprising first and second edges defining a limb width, a limb thickness, a proximal end, a distal end, and a working region between the proximal and distal ends of each limb, the first and second handle ends being attached to each limb at the respective proximal end of each limb, wherein the proximal end of each limb has a proximal width and the distal end of each limb has a distal width, wherein each limb further comprises a concave surface extending generally between the first and second edges, each concave surface having an opening and first and second transition points located at opposing sides of the opening of the concave surface, wherein a transverse width is defined by a distance between the transition points; and, a draw force that is required to draw the bow from an undrawn position to a draw length, wherein the draw force required to draw the bow increases as the draw length increases within the vicinity of a full draw position and beyond the full draw position. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein as the draw length increases the draw force also increases at substantially all points along a draw path defined by the undrawn position and any useable draw position beyond the full draw position. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein the transverse width is substantially unchanged when the bow is drawn to the full draw position as compared to when the bow is in the undrawn position. ### Claim 43 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein the transverse width of the bow in the undrawn position changes by not more than 0.010 inches when the bow is drawn to the full draw position. ### Claim 44 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein the transverse width of the bow in the undrawn position changes by not more than 0.005 inches when the bow is drawn to the full draw position. ### Claim 45 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein the transverse width of the bow in the undrawn position changes by not more than 0.001 inches when the bow is drawn to the full draw position. ### Claim 46 (depends on 43, 44) The bow of claim 43, 44, or 45, wherein the transverse width is measured at a central position of the working region. ### Claim 47 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein each limb further comprises a tip located at the distal end of each limb, wherein the working region and the tip of each limb have an optimal weight for improving the efficiency of the limb, the optimal weight being dependent upon at least the limb thickness and the concave surface construction. ### Claim 48 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40 further comprising: a waste force defined generally by a total force stored in the bow when the bow is in a drawn position less a transfer force that is transferred to an arrow at the point of release of the arrow, wherein when the bow is drawn to the full draw position and released, the waste force is less than 30% of the total force stored in the bow when the bow is in the full draw position. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The bow of claim 48, wherein the waste force is less than 25% of the total force stored in the bow when the bow is in the full draw position. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The bow of claim 48, wherein the waste force is less than 15% of the total force stored in the bow when the bow is in the full draw position. ### Claim 51 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein the concave surface has a radius of curvature when the bow is undrawn, the radius of curvature being substantially unchanged when the bow is drawn to a full draw position. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The bow of claim 51, wherein the radius of curvature decreases from the proximal end to the distal end of the limb when the bow is in the undrawn position. ### Claim 53 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein the distal width is less than the proximal width. ### Claim 54 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein the limb width decreases gradually from the proximal end of the limb to the distal end of the limb. ### Claim 55 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein the bow is a longbow. ### Claim 56 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein the bow is a recurve bow. ### Claim 57 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein each limb is formed of multiple layers extending generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The bow of claim 57, wherein the multiple layers comprise at least one core layer positioned between two outer layers, each outer layer having a material therein chosen from a group consisting of at least fiber glass and carbon fiber. ### Claim 59 (depends on 58) The bow of claim 58, wherein at least one core layer is tapered generally in a direction along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 60 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein the bow is a compound bow, and wherein the handle is an assembly comprising a grip and at least one limb mount attached to the grip for attaching at least one limb to the limb mount. ### Claim 61 (depends on 60) The bow of claim 60, wherein the limb mount comprises a first limb mount and a second limb mount for attaching at least two limbs to the limb mount, wherein the limbs are generally parallel when mounted to the limb mount. ### Claim 62 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein the bow is a cross bow. ### Claim 63 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein the concave surface can be a shape which is at least a part of at least one of a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, and a polygon with curved corners. ### Claim 64 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein the concave surface is on a belly side of each limb. ### Claim 65 (depends on 40) The bow of claim 40, wherein the concave surface is on a back side of each limb. ### Claim 66 A limb for a bow comprising: first and second edges defining a limb width, a limb thickness, a proximal end, a distal end, and a working region between the proximal and distal ends of the limb, wherein the proximal end of the limb has a proximal width and the distal end of the limb has a distal width, wherein the limb further comprises a concave surface extending generally between the first and second edges, the concave surface having an opening and first and second transition points located at opposing sides of the opening of the concave surface, wherein a transverse width is defined by a distance between the transition points; and, a draw force that is required to draw the bow from an undrawn position to a draw length, wherein the draw force required to draw the bow increases as the draw length increases within the vicinity of a full draw position and beyond the full draw position. ### Claim 67 (depends on 66) The limb of claim 66, wherein as the draw length increases the draw force also increases at substantially all points along a draw path defined by the undrawn position and any useable draw position beyond the full draw position. ### Claim 68 (depends on 66) The limb of claim 66, wherein the transverse width is substantially unchanged when the bow is drawn to the full draw position as compared to when the bow is in the undrawn position. ### Claim 69 (depends on 66) The limb of claim 66, wherein the limb further comprises a tip located at the distal end of the limb, wherein the working region and the tip of the limb have an optimal weight for improving the efficiency of the limb, the optimal weight being dependent upon at least the limb thickness and the concave surface construction. ### Claim 70 (depends on 66) The bow of claim 66, wherein the concave surface can be a shape which is at least a part of at least one of a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, and a polygon with curved corners. ### Claim 71 (depends on 66) The bow of claim 66, wherein the concave surface is on a belly side of each limb. ### Claim 72 (depends on 66) The bow of claim 66, wherein the concave surface is on a back side of each limb. ### Claim 73 A limb for a bow comprising: first and second edges defining a limb width, a limb thickness, a proximal end, a distal end, and a working region between the proximal and distal ends of the limb, wherein the proximal end of the limb has a proximal width and the distal end of the limb has a distal width, wherein the limb further comprises a first convex surface extending generally between the first and second edges, the first convex surface having an apex and first and second transition points located at opposing sides of the apex of the first convex surface, wherein a transverse width is defined by a distance between the transition points, wherein the transverse width is substantially unchanged when the bow is drawn to a full draw position as compared to when the bow is in an undrawn position. ### Claim 74 (depends on 73) The limb of claim 73 further comprising: a second convex surface opposite the first convex surface, the second convex surface having a second apex and first and second transition points located at opposing sides of the second apex of the second convex surface, wherein a second transverse width is defined by a distance between the first and second transition points for the second convex surface, wherein the second transverse width is substantially unchanged when the bow is drawn to a full draw position as compared to when the bow is in an undrawn position; a core layer disposed between the first and second convex surfaces, the core layer having air pockets substantially evenly dispersed therein. ### Claim 75 (depends on 74) The limb of claim 74 wherein the core layer is foam. ### Claim 76 (depends on 73) The limb of claim 73 further comprising: a second convex surface opposite the first convex surface, the second convex surface having a second apex and first and second transition points located at opposing sides of the second apex of the second convex surface, wherein a second transverse width is defined by a distance between the first and second transition points for the second convex surface, wherein the second transverse width is substantially unchanged when the bow is drawn to a full draw position as compared to when the bow is in an undrawn position, and wherein the first and second convex surfaces define a hollow core of the limb. ### Claim 77 (depends on 76) The limb of claim 76 wherein the first and second transition points are the same for the first and second convex surfaces, respectively.