Abstract:
The invention provides a portable bow press and a limb connector therefor, for use with a bow comprising a pair of resilient limbs that extend outwardly from a handle. The bow press is used to force the outer ends of the limbs together, thereby releasing tension on the bow string and/or cable. The user is then able to remove, replace or repair the bow string or cable while the bow press holds the bow in position. The bow press may comprise two limb connectors which hold the bow press in place. Each limb connector may comprise an outer peg and an inner peg, which are used to couple the limb connector to a bow limb.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to bows used in the sport of archery, and more particularly to bow presses which assist users in drawing the outer ends of bow limbs together to relieve tension on the bow string and cable. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Compound bows and compound crossbows all have limbs extending out from a central handle. The limbs of compound bows are typically stiffer than the limbs of non-compound bows, which translates into greater elastic potential energy per displacement, and greater accuracy and velocity. In order to facilitate the drawing of a compound bow by the user, at least one cam and/or pulley is provided. 
         [0003]    The string in a compound bow is usually maintained under tension, even when the bow is not drawn. This tension, combined with the stiffness in the limbs, makes it very difficult for the user to remove and replace the bow string or cable without the use of a bow press to controllably force the outer ends of the limbs together. 
         [0004]    The inventor has identified a need for portable bow presses which are easy to use and do not require the user to be strong. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. 
         [0006]    One aspect of the invention provides a limb connector comprising a base having an outer peg and an inner peg extending therefrom. The outer peg is configured to abut a front side of the limb at a first location near an end thereof, and the inner peg is configured to abut a back side of the limb at a second location inward of the first location. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the invention provides a bow press for a bow comprising a pair of limbs extending outwardly in opposite directions from a central portion of the bow. The bow press comprises a pair of limb connectors for coupling to the pair of limbs. Each limb connector comprises a base having an outer peg and an inner peg extending transversely therefrom and an attachment portion extending outwardly from the base. The outer peg is configured to abut a front side of the limb at a first location near an end thereof and the inner peg is configured to abut a back side of the limb at a second location inward of the first location. The attachment portion is configured to extend beyond an end of the limb when the limb connector is coupled to the limb. A tensioning mechanism is coupled between the attachment portions of the limb connectors. The tensioning mechanism is moveable between an extended position and a contracted position. 
         [0008]    Further aspects and details of specific embodiments are set out below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    In drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a portable bow press applied to a bow, with the bow press in an extended position and the bow in a neutral position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows the bow press of  FIG. 1  in a contracted position and the bow in a tensioned position in which the limbs of the bow have been drawn together; and, 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the bow press of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Throughout the following description specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a portable bow press  10  coupled to a bow  80  according to an example embodiment of the invention. The central portion of bow  80  comprises a handle  82  and limbs  84  and  86  extending outwardly therefrom. The terms “outward” and “inward” (and variations thereof) are used herein to respectively refer to directions away from and toward handle  82 . Also, the terms “forward” and “backward” (and variations thereof) are used herein to respectively refer to directions along and opposite to the direction of travel of an arrow fired from bow  80 . 
         [0015]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , bow  80  is a single cam compound bow. However, it is to be understood that the invention may be used with a variety of bows, including most types of compound bows, crossbows, or any other bow in situations where a user desires assistance in releasing tension on the bowstring. 
         [0016]    Bow  80  comprises a cam  88  rotatably mounted at the outer end of limb  86  and a pulley  90  rotatably mounted at the outer end of limb  84 . A cable  92  is attached to a mounting point at the axle of pulley  90 , wound around an outer sheave defined in peripheral portions of cam  88 , and attached to another mounting point along the outer sheave of cam  88 . A bowstring  93  is attached to a mounting point along the outer sheave of cam  88 , wound around a sheave defined in pulley  90 , wound back around an inner sheave defined in cam  88 , and attached to another mounting point along the inner sheave of cam  88 . 
         [0017]    Bow press  10  may be coupled between limbs  84  and  86  of bow  80  to facilitate removal, adjustment and/or replacement of cable  92  and bowstring  93 . Bow press  10  is movable between an extended position wherein bow  80  remains in a neutral position (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), and a contracted position wherein limbs  84  and  86  of bow  80  are pulled together into a tensioned position (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), such that the tension on cable  92  and bowstring  93  is relieved. 
         [0018]    Bow press  10  is coupled to limbs  84  and  86  of bow  80  by limb connectors  12  and  12 ′, respectively. As discussed further below, limb connectors  12  and  12 ′ are configured to be easily and quickly coupled and uncoupled to limbs  84  and  86 . Limb connectors  12  and  12 ′ may be of substantially similar construction, or may be mirror images, but this is not necessary in all embodiments. 
         [0019]    In the illustrated embodiment, limb connectors  12  and  12 ′ extend beyond the ends of limbs  84  and  86 . This allows bow press  10  to be clear of cam  88 , pulley  90 , cable  92  and bowstring  93  when coupled to bow  80 . The extension of the outer ends of limb connectors  12  and  12 ′ beyond the ends of limbs  84  and  86  also provides a mechanical advantage to bow press  10  when compared to prior art bow presses which are coupled at or near the ends of a bow&#39;s limbs, resulting from the increased lengths of lever arms provided by limb connectors  12  and  12 ′. 
         [0020]    In the illustrated embodiment, bow press  10  comprises a tensioning mechanism  14  coupled to limb connector  12 , a chain  16  coupled to limb connector  12 ′, and a cable  18  coupled between tensioning mechanism  14  and chain  16 . Bow press  10  may be used with different sizes of bows by connecting different links of chain  16  to limb connector  12 ′. In other embodiments, the arrangement of tensioning mechanism  14 , chain  16  and cable  18  may be different. For example, tensioning mechanism  14  could be coupled between chain  16  and cable  18 , or chain  16  and/or cable  18  could be omitted or replaced with other elongated elements such as wires, straps or the like. All that is necessary is that some mechanism is provided for coupling tensioning mechanism  14  between limb connectors  12  and  12 ′. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of bow press  10 . Limb connector  12  comprises an outer peg  20  and an inner peg  22  extending transversely from a base  24 . Outer peg  20  and inner peg  22  are positioned on opposite edges of base  24 , such that outer peg  20  may be positioned on the front side of limb  84  and inner peg  22  may be positioned on the back side of limb  84 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Likewise, limb connector  12 ′ comprises an outer peg  20 ′ and an inner peg  22 ′ extending transversely from opposite edges of a base  24 ′. 
         [0022]    Either or both of pegs  20  and  22  (as well as  20 ′ and  22 ′) may comprise a flange (not specifically enumerated) at the ends thereof opposite base  24  ( 24 ′). In some embodiments, a distance between the flanges of pegs  20 ,  22  ( 20 ′,  22 ′) and base  24  ( 24 ′) is selected to be at least equal to a width of limb  84  ( 86 ). Pegs  20  and  22  ( 20 ′ and  22 ′) may comprise rounded portions on the sides thereof which abut limb  84  ( 86 ). Pegs  20  and  22  ( 20 ′ and  22 ′) may also have other shapes. 
         [0023]    Attachment portions  26  and  26 ′ extend outwardly from bases  24  and  24 ′ for coupling limb connectors  12  and  12 ′ to tensioning mechanism  14  and chain  16 , respectively. Attachment portions  26  and  26 ′ may define notches  27  and  27 ′ sized to receive corresponding attachment features coupled to tensioning mechanism  14  and chain  16 , respectively, as described below. Pins  28  and  28 ′ may be provided which fit through apertures  29  and  29 ′ to retain the corresponding attachment features within notches  27  and  27 ′. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, attachment portions  26  and  26 ′ are integrally formed with bases  24  and  24 ′. In other embodiments, attachment portions  26  and  26 ′ may comprise separate elements which are securely attached to bases  24  and  24 ′. Likewise, pegs  20 ,  20 ′,  22  and  22 ′ may be integrally formed with their respective bases  24  and  24 ′ or securely attached thereto. 
         [0025]    Tensioning mechanism  14  comprises a threaded shaft  30  having an attachment feature  32  at one end thereof. Attachment feature  32  defines an aperture  31  therein sized to receive pin  28  to retain attachment feature  32  within notch  27  of limb connector  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, attachment feature  32  comprises a pair of generally parallel sides which fit inside notch  27 , such that threaded shaft  30  may not be rotated about its longitudinal axis, but can still pivot about pin  28 . Threaded shaft  30  defines a slot  33  therein. Slot  33  extends from an end of threaded shaft  30  opposite attachment feature  32  longitudinally into threaded shaft  30 . In some embodiments, slot  33  may extend slightly farther than a threaded portion of threaded shaft  30 . 
         [0026]    An anchor member  34  is slidably received in slot  33 . Anchor member  34  comprises a protruding portion  35  which protrudes out the sides of slot  33 , such that anchor member  34  may be retained in slot  33  when a threaded collar  36  is screwed onto threaded shaft  30 . Rotation of threaded collar  36  about threaded shaft  30  in one sense causes anchor member  34  to move toward attachment feature  32 , which in turn moves bow press  10  toward the contracted position. Conversely, rotation of threaded collar  36  about threaded shaft  30  in an opposite sense allows anchor member  34  to move away from attachment feature  32 , which in turn moves bow press  10  toward the extended position. In some embodiments, threaded collar  36  may be partially screwed onto threaded shaft  30  in the extended position. 
         [0027]    One end of cable  18  is attached to anchor member  34  at an end thereof opposite protruding portion  35 . The other end of cable  18  is attached to one end of chain  16 . Chain  16  comprises a plurality of links, one of which may be engaged by a hook  37  attached to or integrally formed with an attachment feature  38 . Attachment feature  38  defines an aperture  39  therein sized to receive pin  28 ′ to retain attachment feature  38  withing notch  27 ′ of limb connector  12 ′. 
         [0028]    In operation, when bow  80  is in the neutral position, limb connector  12  is placed over limb  84  so that outward end of limb  84  is held between outer peg  20  and inner peg  22 . Similarly, limb connector  12 ′ is placed over limb  86  so that outward end of limb  86  is held between outer peg  20 ′ and inner peg  22 ′. In some embodiments, outer peg  20  rests against both limb  84  and pulley  90 , and outer peg  20 ′ rests against both limb  86  and cam  88 . As one skilled in the art will appreciate, limb connectors  12  and  12 ′ may be easily and rapidly fitted over limbs  84  and  86 , due to the open space between outer pegs  20  and  20 ′ and inner pegs  22  and  22 ′. 
         [0029]    Once limb connectors  12  and  12 ′ are in place, the user then engages one of the links of chain  16  with hook  37 . Alternatively, the user may engage one of the links of chain  16  with hook  37  prior to placing the limb connectors  12  and  12 ′ over the ends of limbs  84  and  86 . The user will typically select the link of chain  16  which leaves the least amount of slack in chain  16  and cable  18  when bow press  10  is in the extended position. 
         [0030]    The user then moves bow press  10  into the contracted position by screwing threaded collar  36  onto threaded shaft  30 , thereby forcing anchor member  34  toward attachment feature  32 . This in turn forces limbs  84  and  86  together, moving bow  80  into the tensioned position shown in  FIG. 2  and releasing the tension on cable  92  and bowstring  93 . The user may then adjust, remove and/or replace cable  92  or bowstring  93 , and then reverse the steps set out above to return bow  80  to the neutral position. 
         [0031]    While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. For example:
   Instead of having notches  27  and  27 ′, pins  28  and  28 ′ and apertures  29  and  29 ′, attachment portions  26  and  26 ′ of limb connectors  12  and  12 ′ could be provided with other mechanisms for coupling tensioning mechanism  14  (and possibly chain  16  and/or cable  18 ) therebetween.   Tensioning mechanism  14  may have a different structure than that of the example embodiment discussed above. Some examples of such different structures are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,957,647 to Evans et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.   
 
         [0034]    It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.