1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to archery and more specifically to an archery bow with a cam timing belt, which ensures that opposing cams are paying-out equal lengths of a bowstring.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
It appears that the prior art does not teach or suggest an archery bow with a cam timing belt, which utilizes a timing belt to sync opposing cams to each other. U.S. Pat. No. 9,255,753 to Pulkrabek et al. discloses an energy storage device for a bow. The timing belt is used to sync opposing translation arms to each other. However, it is very easy to induce an unequal payout of a bowstring from cams of a vertical archery bow. A binary cam set-up will help sync payout of bowstring from the first and second cams. However, a bowstring can still have unequal payout in a binary cam system, when the vertical archery bow is not rigidly held by an archer.
Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for an archery bow with a cam timing belt, which ensures that opposing cams are paying-out equal lengths of a bowstring, and which ensures that crossing cam cables are not interfering with a hand and arm holding the archery bow.
The present invention provides an archery bow with a cam timing belt, which ensures that crossing cables are not interfering with a hand holding the archery bow. The archery bow with a cam timing belt (cam timing system) preferably includes a first cam pulley, a first cam cable, a first timing pulley, a second cam pulley, a second cam cable, a second timing pulley and a timing belt. An archery bow includes a riser, a first limb, a second limb, a first cam and a second cam. One end of the first limb is attached to a first end of the riser and the first cam is rotatably retained on an opposing end of the first limb. One end of a second limb is attached to a second end of the riser and the second cam is rotatably retained on an opposing end of the second limb. A first end of a bowstring is retained on the first cam and a second end of the bowstring is retained on the second cam. The riser preferably includes a first timing projection and a second timing projection. The first timing projection extends outward from the riser near the first limb. The second timing projection extends outward from the riser near the second limb.
A first axle is rotatably retained in an end of the first timing projection and a second axle is rotatably retained in an end of the second timing projection. The first cam pulley is secured to one end of the first axle substantially in-line with the first cam of the archery bow. One end of the first cable is preferably secured to a first cam axle and an opposing end of the first cable is secured to the first cam. The first timing pulley is secured to an opposing end of the first axle. The second cam pulley is secured to one end of the second axle substantially in-line with the second cam of the archery bow. One end of the second cable is preferably secured to a second cam axle and an opposing end of the second cable is secured to the second cam. The second timing pulley is secured to an opposing end of the second axle. The timing belt is secured to the first and second timing pulleys in a twisted orientation. When the bowstring is pulled back, the timing belt forces equal payouts of bowstring occur from the first and second cams. The timing belt is also horizontally offset from the riser to provide clearance for the arm and hand of an archer.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cam timing system, which ensures that opposing cams are paying-out equal lengths of a bowstring
Finally, it is another object of the present invention to provide a cam timing system, which ensures that crossing cables are not interfering with an arm and hand of archer holding the archery bow.
These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.
With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to
A first axle 24 is rotatably retained in an end of the first timing projection 114 and a second axle 26 is rotatably retained in an end of the second timing projection 116. The first cam pulley 10 is secured to one end of the first axle 24 substantially in-line with the first cam 108. One end of the first cable 12 is preferably secured to a first cam axle 116 with any suitable device and an opposing end of the first cable 12 is secured to the first cam 108. However, with reference to
The timing belt 22 is secured to the first and second timing pulleys 14, 20. The timing belt 22 is twisted to ensure that the first and second timing pulleys 14, 20 rotate in opposite directions. For example, the first timing pulley 14 could rotate clockwise and the second timing pulley 20 would rotate counterclockwise. When the bowstring 112 is pulled back, the timing belt forces the first and second cams 108, 110 to rotate in sync with each other with the result of equal payouts of the bowstring 112 from the first and second pulleys 108, 110. The timing belt 22 is also offset from the riser 102 to provide clearance for the arm and hand of an archer.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4064862 | Groner | Dec 1977 | A |
5535727 | Helmuth | Jul 1996 | A |
5967132 | Loomis | Oct 1999 | A |
7047958 | Colley | May 2006 | B1 |
8387603 | Darlington | Mar 2013 | B2 |
9255753 | Pulkrabek et al. | Feb 2016 | B2 |