Patent Application
20250116479
This invention relates generally to archery bows and more specifically to limb configurations, limb cups and axle supports useful in archery bows.
Archery bows are generally known in the art. Some compound bows include axles that are supported by limbs, for example with an axle extending directly through the limb material. Limbs often have a tapered profile that reduces in thickness along their length, but must increase to a large size near the limb tip in order to accommodate the axle. Some bows also include a bearing accessory to allow a bow press to better engage the bow during servicing.
There remains a need for novel archery bow designs that provide for reduced weight, increased performance and increased serviceability.
All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
In some embodiments, an archery bow comprises a riser and a limb assembly supported by the riser. A limb cap is supported by the limb assembly. The limb cap comprises a cavity and a portion of the limb assembly is oriented in the cavity. An axle is supported by the limb cap.
In some embodiments, the limb cap comprises a bearing accessory arranged to engage a tool. In some embodiments, a bearing accessory comprises a bearing surface, for example having an arcuate shape.
In some embodiments, the limb assembly comprises a width taper and an outer side surface of the limb cap is aligned with an outer side surface of the limb assembly.
In some embodiments, the limb cap comprises a protrusion, the limb assembly comprises a recess and the protrusion is oriented in the recess.
In some embodiments, the limb assembly comprises a first limb, a second limb and a spacer. A portion of the first limb is oriented in the cavity and a portion of the second limb is oriented in the cavity. In some embodiments, a portion of the spacer oriented in the cavity. In some embodiments, the limb cap comprises a groove and a portion of the spacer is oriented in the groove. In some embodiments, the axle does not extend through the spacer.
In some embodiments, the limb assembly supports a second limb cap comprising a second cavity. The limb assembly comprises a second portion that is oriented in the second cavity. In some embodiments, the axle is supported by the second limb cap. In some embodiments, the second limb cap comprises a second bearing accessory.
In some embodiments, the limb cap surrounds a first side and a second side of the limb assembly. In some embodiments, the limb cap surrounds an end of the limb assembly.
In some embodiments, the bow comprises a power cable and the power cable does not contact the limb cap.
In some embodiments, the limb cap comprises a wall portion that comprises a first side and a second side. The first side defines an axle cavity and the second side comprises a bearing surface.
In some embodiments, the limb cap is fixedly attached to the axle and the axle does not rotate with respect to the limb cap. In some embodiments, a connection between the limb cap does not include any low friction bearing or rolling element bearing.
These and other embodiments which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference can be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof and the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described various embodiments of the invention.
A detailed description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawings.
While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.
For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated.
In some embodiments, an archery bow 10 comprises a single-cam compound bow (not shown), for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,006, for example wherein a first rotatable member can comprise a cam and two bowstring feed-outs, and a second rotatable member can comprise a pulley.
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, a rotatable member 20, 22 comprises a force vectoring anchor 25, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,020,544. In some embodiments, an end of a power cable 30, 32 is engaged with the force vectoring anchor 25.
In some embodiments, a limb cup 34 is supported by the riser 12. In some embodiments, the limb cup 34 supports the first limb assembly 14. In some embodiments, the limb cup 34 provides support at a first end of the first limb assembly 14. In some embodiments, a limb cup 34 comprises features as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,453,635, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
In some embodiments, a limb assembly 14 comprises a first section 40 and a second section 50, with each section 40, 50 comprising a limb member. In some embodiments, the first section 40 is oriented to a first side of a rotatable member 20 and the second section 50 is located to a second side of the rotatable member 20. In some embodiments, the first section 40 is received in a first cavity of the limb cup 34 and the second section 50 is received in a second cavity of the limb cup 34.
In some embodiments, the first section 40 comprises a first limb 42 and a second limb 44. In some embodiments, a spacer 46 is located between the first limb 42 and the second limb 44. In some embodiments, the second section 50 comprises a third limb 52 and a fourth limb 54. In some embodiments, a second spacer 56 is located between the third limb 52 and the fourth limb 54.
In some embodiments, a limb assembly 14 comprises features as disclosed in US20230304768, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
In some embodiments, an archery bow 10 comprises a limb cap 60. In some embodiments, a limb cap 60 is located at a second end of the limb assembly 14. In some embodiments, the limb cap 60 is supported by the first limb assembly 14. In some embodiments, the limb cap 60 is supported by the first section 40. In some embodiments, the limb cap 60 is attached to the first limb 42. In some embodiments, the limb cap 60 is attached to the second limb 44. In some embodiments, the limb cap 60 is arranged to support an axle 36. In some embodiments, the axle 36 supports a rotatable member 20.
In some embodiments, the limb cap 60 comprises a first limb cap 60. In some embodiments, the archery bow 10 comprises a second limb cap 70 arranged to support the axle 36. In some embodiments, the second limb cap 70 is supported by the first limb assembly 14. In some embodiments, the second limb cap 70 is supported by the second section 50. In some embodiments, the second limb cap 70 is attached to the third limb 52. In some embodiments, the second limb cap 70 is attached to the fourth limb 54.
In some embodiments, the first limb cap 60 is attached to the first limb 42 by a fastener 47. In some embodiments, the first limb cap 60 is attached to the second limb 44 by a fastener 47. In some embodiments, the second limb cap 70 is attached to the third limb 52 by a fastener 47. In some embodiments, the second limb cap 70 is attached to the fourth limb 54 by a fastener 47. In some embodiments, a limb cap 60, 70 comprises one or more aperture(s) 49 arranged to receive the fastener(s) 47. In some embodiments, an aperture 49 is threaded and arranged to engage screw threads of a fastener 47.
In some embodiments, a limb cap 60, 70 comprises a bearing accessory 80 comprising a bearing surface 82. In some embodiments, the bearing surface 82 is configured to receive and engage another device such as a bow press. In some embodiments, a bearing accessory 80 comprises features as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,505,526, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
In some embodiments, a bearing accessory 80 comprises a raised flange 81 that extend outward beyond an outer surface of a limb assembly 14. In some embodiments, the flange 81 at least partially defines the bearing surface 82. In some embodiments, the bearing surface 82 comprises an arcuate shape. In some embodiments, the bearing surface 82 defines a cavity having a longitudinal axis 84. In some embodiments, the longitudinal axis 84 extends parallel to a rotation axis of a rotatable member 20. In some embodiments, the longitudinal axis 84 extends parallel to a central axis of the axle 36. In some embodiments, the bearing surface 82 is directly adjacent to the axle 36. In some embodiments, a wall of the bearing accessory comprises first and second opposing sides, wherein the first side faces the axle 36 and the second side comprises the bearing surface 82.
In some embodiments, a first limb 42 comprises a taper 62. In some embodiments, the limb 42 comprises a first width portion 61 and a second width portion 63. In some embodiments, the taper 62 is located between the first width portion 61 and the second width portion 63. In some embodiments, the first width portion 61 comprises a greater width than the second width portion 63. In some embodiments, the taper 62 comprises a first taper 62 and the limb 42 comprises a second taper 64. In some embodiments, the limb 42 comprises a third width portion 65. In some embodiments, the second taper 64 is located between the second width portion 63 and the third width portion 65. In some embodiments, the second width portion 63 comprises a greater width than the third width portion 65. In some embodiments, a second limb 44 comprises a first taper 62 and a second taper 64, and width portions 61, 63, 65 as described with respect to the first limb 42.
In some embodiments, a limb cap 60 comprises a cavity 68. In some embodiments, a portion of the first limb 42 is oriented in the cavity 68. In some embodiments, a portion of the second limb 44 is oriented in the cavity 68. In some embodiments, a portion of the spacer 46 is oriented in the cavity 68. In some embodiments, a wall portion of the first limb cap 60 comprises a notch 67, and a portion of the spacer 46 is oriented in the notch 67. In some embodiments, a top wall portion of the first limb cap 60 that defines the cavity 68 comprises a first notch 67, and a first portion of the spacer 46 is oriented in the first notch 67. In some embodiments, an end wall portion of the first limb cap 60 comprises a second notch 69, and a second portion of the spacer 46 is oriented in the second notch 69.
In some embodiments, a limb cap 60 surrounds the end 66 of a limb section 40. In some embodiments, a limb cap 60 surrounds the ends 66 of the limb members 42, 44 of a limb section 40. In some embodiments, the end(s) 66 are oriented in the cavity 68 of the limb cap 60. In some embodiments, the limb cap 60 surrounds the outer sides 53, 55 of a limb section 40.
In some embodiments, a limb cap 60 comprises a first protrusion 72. In some embodiments, a limb cap 60 comprises a second protrusion 74. In some embodiments, the first protrusion 72 is arranged to contact the first taper 62 of a limb 42. In some embodiments, the second protrusion 74 is arranged to contact the second taper 64 of a limb 42. In some embodiments, a first protrusion 72 and a second protrusion 74 located to a first side 78 of a limb cap 60 are arranged to contact the first limb 42, and a first protrusion 72 and a second protrusion 74 located to a second side 79 of the limb cap 60 are arranged to contact the second limb 44.
In some embodiments, a first taper 62 and a second taper 64 located to a first side of the first limb 42 are arranged to contact a limb cap 60, and a first taper 62 and a second taper 64 located to a second side of the first limb 42 are arranged to contact the spacer 46.
In some embodiments, the spacer 46 is arranged to contact the first taper 62 of a first limb 42 and the first taper 62 of a second limb 44. In some embodiments, the spacer 46 is arranged to contact the second taper 64 of the first limb 42 and the second taper 64 of the second limb 44.
In some embodiments, a spacer 46 comprises a first width portion 91 and a second width portion 93. In some embodiments, the second width portion 93 comprises a greater width than the first width portion 91. In some embodiments, the first width portion 91 contacts the first width portion 61 of the first limb 42 and the first width portion 61 of the second limb 44. In some embodiments, the second width portion 93 contacts the second width portion 63 of the first limb 42 and the second width portion 93 of the second limb 44. In some embodiments, the spacer 46 further comprises a third width portion 95. In some embodiments, the third width portion 95 comprises a greater width than the second width portion 93. In some embodiments, the third width portion 95 contacts the third width portion 65 of the first limb 42 and the third width portion 65 of the second limb 44.
In some embodiments, a limb 42 comprises an aperture 88. In some embodiments, a fastener 47 extends through the aperture 88. In some embodiments, the fastener 47 abuts the limb 42 and attaches to a limb cap 60, for example engaging a threaded aperture 49.
In some embodiments, a surface 73 of a limb cap 60 is aligned with a surface of a limb 42, such that the two surfaces are aligned on a common plane. In some embodiments, a first surface 73 of the limb cap 60 is aligned with a first side surface 53 of the first section 40. In some embodiments, a second surface 75 of the limb cap 60 is aligned with a second side surface 55 of the first section 40. In some embodiments, the second surface 75 of the limb cap 60 is aligned with a side surface 55 of the second limb 44.
In some embodiments, a limb cap 60 comprises an aperture 86 and at least a portion of an axle 36 is oriented in the aperture 86. In some embodiments, the aperture 86 comprises a tubular cavity. In some embodiments, the aperture 86 is cylindrical. In some embodiments, the limb cap 60 surrounds the axle 36. In some embodiments, one or more sleeve bearings 58 are oriented between the axle 36 and the limb cap 60. In some embodiments, a sleeve bearing 58 surrounds the axle 36 and the limb cap 60 surrounds the sleeve bearing 58. In some embodiments, a sleeve bearing 58 comprises a flange 59 that abuts a side of the limb cap 60. In some embodiments, a fastener 57 engages the axle 36 and abuts a sleeve bearing 58. In some embodiments, a bow comprises features as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,528,788, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
In some embodiments, the axle 36 does not extend though the first spacer 46 or the second spacer 56.
In some embodiments, the second limb cap 70 comprises any suitable feature described herein with respect to the first limb cap 60. In some embodiments, the second section 50 comprises any suitable feature described herein with respect to the first section 40. In some embodiments, the third limb 52 and/or the fourth limb 54 comprise any suitable feature described herein with respect to the first limb 42 and/or the second limb 44. In some embodiments, the second limb assembly 18 comprises any suitable feature described herein with respect to the first limb assembly 14.
In some embodiments, a limb cap 60 comprises a second cavity 89 arranged to receive an axle. In some embodiments, the second cavity 89 comprises a cylindrical shape.
In some embodiments, a limb cap 60 comprises a bearing accessory 80 arranged to engage a tool such as a bow press. In some embodiments, the bearing accessory 80 comprises bearing surface 82 arranged to contact the tool. In some embodiments, the bearing surface 82 comprises an arcuate shape. In some embodiments, the bearing surface is at least partially cylindrical. In some embodiments, the limb cap 60 comprises a wall portion 77 oriented between the axle cavity 89 and the bearing accessory 80. In some embodiments, the wall portion 77 comprises a first side defining the axle cavity 89 and a second side defining the bearing surface 82.
Referring again to
In some embodiments, an axle 36 is arranged to stay fixed with respect to a limb cap(s) 60, 70, and the rotatable member 20 is arranged to rotate with respect to the axle 36 and the limb cap(s) 60, 70. In some embodiments, a low friction bearing, such as a rolling element bearing, is oriented between the axle 36 and the rotatable member 20. In some embodiments, a connection between the axle 36 and a limb cap 60, 70 comprises a fixed connection that excludes any low friction bearing or any rolling element bearing.
The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this field of art. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to.” Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims.
Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim 1 should be alternatively taken as depending from all previous claims). In jurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted, the following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim below.
This completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 63/543,014, filed Oct. 6, 2023, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63543014 | Oct 2023 | US |
