Patent ID: 7305979
Filing Date: 2007-12-11
Classification: F41B

Abstract:
1. An archery bow, comprising: a central handle portion; a first flexible bow limb and a second flexible bow limb, the first and second bow limbs being mounted at opposite ends of and projecting substantially symmetrically from the handle; a first cam assembly rotatably mounted on the first bow limb and comprising a draw cable journal, a power cable take-up mechanism, and a power cable let-out mechanism; a second cam assembly rotatably mounted on the second bow limb and comprising a draw cable journal, a power cable take-up mechanism, and a power cable let-out mechanism; a draw cable, the draw cable being secured at a first end thereof to the first cam assembly and received in the draw cable journal thereof, the draw cable being secured at a second end thereof to the second cam assembly and received in the draw cable journal thereof; a first power cable, the first power cable being secured at a first end thereof to the first cam assembly and engaged with the power cable take-up mechanism thereof, the first power cable being secured at a second end thereof to the second cam assembly and engaged with the power cable let-out mechanism thereof; and a second power cable, the second power cable being secured at a first end thereof to the second cam assembly and engaged with the power cable take-up mechanism thereof, the second power cable being secured at a second end thereof to the first cam assembly and engaged with the power cable let-out mechanism thereof, wherein: the first and second cam assemblies are arranged so that drawing the bow results in: (i) the draw cable being let out from the respective draw cable journals of the first and second cam assemblies, (ii) rotation of the first and second cam assemblies, (iii) the first end of the first power cable being taken up by the power cable take-up mechanism of the first cam assembly and the second end of the first power cable being let out by the power cable let-out mechanism of the second cam assembly, and (iv) the first end of the second power cable being taken up by the power cable take-up mechanism of the second cam assembly and the second end of the second power cable being let out by the power cable let-out mechanism of the first cam assembly; draw force versus draw distance for the archery bow is at least in part determined by a rate of take-up of the first power cable by the first cam assembly relative to a rate of let-out of the first power cable by the second cam assembly, and by a rate of take-up of the second power cable by the second cam assembly relative to a rate of let-out of the second power cable by the first cam assembly; and the first and second cam assemblies are arranged so as to avoid 100% let-off of the draw force or so as to prevent cocking of the bow.