Buss cable positioner for compound bows

A torqueless buss cable positioner for a compound bow, whereby the buss cables are displaced from the bow plane, yet, optimally, the buss cables do not subject the limbs to any force component perpendicular to the bow plane. The present invention provides two mutually spaced apart outboard guidance locations of the buss cables such that the limbs are not subjected to a force component perpendicular to the bow plane. In the preferred embodiment, this feature is provided by the location of the first and second pulley sets. Further, the present invention provides an inboard guidance location of the buss cables between the outboard guidance locations, whereby the buss cables are laterally displaced a sufficient length from the bow plane to get the buss cables out of the way of the arrow at its nocking location. In the preferred embodiment, this feature is provided by the location of the third pulley set. In order for the present invention to function with varying amounts of draw of the bowstring, the outboard and inboard guidances are biasably pivoted to accommodate cam induced travel of the buss cables. In the preferred embodiment, this feature is provided by spring biased first and second pivots of the frame with respect to the bow member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to compound bows used in archery, including 
dual and single cam compound bows. More particularly the present invention 
relates to a buss cable positioner for laterally locating the buss cables 
out of the way of the area of space used for the arrow and for sighting. 
Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a buss cable 
positioner which eliminates limb torquing. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Simple archery bows are composed of a bow member (or back) characterized by 
a handle having connected thereto on each side thereof a flexibly 
resilient limb, and a bowstring connected with opposite ends of the bow 
member. The archer places the hock of an arrow against the nocking point 
of the bowstring and then draws the bowstring, thereby causing the bow 
member to resiliently flex at the limbs. This flexing of the bow member 
supplies tension to the bowstring and stores potential energy (draw 
energy). When the bowstring is released, the tension of the bowstring 
applies a force to the arrow, whereupon the potential energy of the bow 
member is captured by the arrow in the form of kinetic energy. While such 
an archery bow has the advantage of being simply constructed, it suffers 
from the need of the archer to continuously supply draw pull to keep the 
bow member resiliently flexed. Another serious disadvantage is the 
essentially instantaneous application of bowstring force upon the arrow at 
the moment the bowstring is released, with consequent degredation of 
accuracy due to the imparted shock. An improved example of a simple 
archery bow using springs to reduce bowstring shock is described in U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,570,606 to Peck. 
These problems have been addressed in the past with varying degrees of 
success, wherein it is an object to provide an archery bow having a draw 
pull let-off feature, while yet providing a high level of draw energy for 
imparting ample speed to the arrow when released. 
In this regard, compound archery bows have been devised toward addressing 
these objects, generally utilizing a rigging of the bowstring with respect 
to one or more cams or pulleys which are rotatively mounted with respect 
to the bow member via buss cables. As the bowstring is pulled back, the 
limbs of the bow member are caused to resiliently flex, while rotation of 
the cams or pulleys as the bowstring is pulled back causes the force on 
the bowstring to be high during pull back of the bowstring and then 
let-off as the maximum draw point is achieved. Examples of such compound 
bows are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,397 to Remick, U.S. Pat. No. 
4,461,267 to Simonds et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,824 to Jennings, and U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,519,374 to Miller. Imaginative and interesting variations on 
this principle are found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,463 to Colley et al, U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,817,580 to Butterfield, U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,638 to Alexander, 
and U.S. Pat. No. 2,714,377 to Mulkey. 
As the bowstring is drawn, the limbs of the bow resiliently bend in a bow 
plane which bisects the bow member. The arrow, bow sights, and bowstring 
are all located in, or closely centered in, this plane; and, 
problematically, so, too, are the buss cables. While the nock of the arrow 
engages the nocking point of the bowstring so that there is no conflict in 
position therebetween, this is not the case for the buss cables. Since the 
buss cables fall in the bow plane between the bowstring and the bow 
member, they conflict positionally with the arrow and the bow sights. 
Accordingly, it is necessary to move the buss cables laterally with 
respect to the bow plane so that they are out of the way of the arrow and 
the bow sights. 
FIGS. 1 and 1B depict a conventional compound bow 10. The bowstring 12 is 
strung between the limbs 16a, 16b of the bow member 14. The bowstring 12 
lies substantially on the bow plane P (see FIG. 1B), wherein the bow plane 
is aligned with the bowstring and bisection of the bow member 14. Buss 
cables 18a, 18b are positioned between the bow member 14 and the bowstring 
12 in a narrow zone centered on the bow plane P. The buss cables 18a, 18b 
are laterally repositioned a distance D (see FIG. 1B) with respect to the 
bow plane P via a slide-type positioner 20 in order to get the buss cables 
out of the way of the arrow and the sights of the compound bow at the 
arrow nocking point a lateral distance D'. The rod 22 of the slide-type 
buss cable positioner 20 is connected with the bow member 14 and is 
located at a position laterally displaced with respect to the bow plane P 
(wherein in FIG. 1B the bow plane is at the bowstring). The slide 24 of 
the slide-type positioner 20 has a concave rod seat which slidingly 
interfaces with the rod 22. Opposite the rod seat, the slide 24 has two 
concave cable guides for receiving, respectively, each of the buss cables 
18a, 18b at the desired distance D from the bow plane. 
In operation, as the bowstring is drawn back, the buss cables interact with 
the cam 26 (or cams in two cam compound bows) to cause the limbs to be 
resiliently bent toward each other in the bow plane. The buss cables are 
prevented from encroaching too near the bow plane by action of the 
slide-type positioner 20, so that an arrow and the sights of the compound 
bow are not interfered therewith. 
Problematically, however, the buss cables have been forced laterally with 
respect to the bow plane by the slide-type positioner 20. This lateral 
displacement results in a force F perpendicular to the bow plane P (see 
FIG. 1B). This perpendicular force F is transmitted in one direction to 
the handle of the bow member 14 and in the opposite direction to the limbs 
16a, 16b, resulting in a limb torque off the bow plane P. This limb torque 
results in inaccuracy in arrow aiming, since the bowstring is not 
precisely being tensioned in the bow plane by the limbs. Further, the 
slide-type positioner 20 suffers from associated vibration, noise and 
frictionally introduced hesitation effects as the slide moves along the 
rod (see arrow S) in concert with buss cable travel associated with the 
peripheral contact of the buss cables with the cam(s). 
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a positioner for buss cables 
which effects lateral repositioning of the buss cables, but, optimally, 
does not introduce any limb torque. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is a torqueless buss cable positioner for a compound 
bow, whereby the buss cables are displaced from the bow plane, yet, 
optimally, the buss cables do not subject the limbs to any force component 
perpendicular to the bow plane. 
The torqueless buss cable positioner according to the present invention 
provides a guided path for the buss cables which includes an outboard 
guidance component for guiding the buss cables generally in the bow plane 
and an inboard guidance component for guiding the buss cables laterally 
off from the bow plane. The outboard guidance component optimally ensures 
that the limbs are not subjected by the buss cables to any component of 
force perpendicular to the bow plane, and the inboard guidance component 
ensures that the buss cables are laterally displaced in relation to the 
bow plane sufficiently to be out of the way of the arrow and the sights of 
the compound bow. 
The preferred embodiment of the torqueless buss cable positioner is 
characterized by a guide member mounted to the bow member, wherein the 
guide member includes a frame, a first pulley set connected to one end of 
the frame, a second pulley set connected to the other end of the frame, 
and a third pulley set connected preferably medially to the frame. The 
frame is shaped, such as for example by a curve, whereby the first and 
second pulley sets mutually define an alignment axis, but the third pulley 
set is laterally displaced relative to the alignment axis. The frame is 
optimally structured and mountably positioned relative to the bow member 
so that the grooved periphery of each of the first and second pulley sets 
is located generally at the bow plane and the grooved periphery of the 
third pulley set is laterally displaced off from the bow plane a distance 
determined by the required buss cable displacement for the particular 
compound bow to which the torqueless tension cable positioner is utilized. 
As the bowstring is drawn back, the entry location of the buss cables at 
the groove periphery of the cam(s) of the compound bow change in distance 
from the axis of rotation of the cam(s) at the limb(s). Accordingly, the 
frame is pivotally mounted to the bow member so that the pulley sets can 
follow the resulting travel of the buss cables. The pivotability of the 
frame relative to the bow member is provided by pivotal connection of the 
frame to a mounting bracket which is, in turn, mounted to the bow member. 
Preferably, the mounting bracket is, itself, pivotally mounted to the bow 
member. It is further preferred for each frame/bracket pivot to be 
resiliently biased in a direction of increasing cam bias on the bowstring 
as the bowstring is drawn. In this regard, the resilient biasing of the 
frame/bracket pivots serves to not only aid pulley alignment with the buss 
cables, but serves to increase bowstring energy transferred to an arrow. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
torqueless buss cable positioner for compound bows, whereby the buss 
cables are laterally displaced with respect to the bow plane, yet, 
optimally, the limbs of the bow are not subjected to a perpendicular 
component of force by the buss cables. 
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a torqueless 
buss cable positioner for compound bows, wherein a guide member is 
pivotally mounted with respect to the bow member for following the travel 
of the buss cables as the bowstring is drawn. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a torqueless buss 
cable positioner for compound bows, wherein a guide member is pivotally 
mounted with respect to the bow member for following the travel of the 
buss cables as the bowstring is drawn, and wherein the pivotal mounting 
includes resilient pivot biasing in the direction of increasing cam bias 
on the bowstring as the bowstring is drawn. 
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a torqueless 
buss cable positioner for compound bows, whereby the buss cables are 
laterally displaced with respect to the bow plane, yet, optimally, the 
limbs of the bow are not subjected to a perpendicular component of force 
by the buss cables, wherein the compound bow is light and the bowstring 
delivers high energy to the arrow with great accuracy, while involving 
very little bow noise and vibration. 
These, and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the 
present invention will become apparent from the following specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 7 the torqueless buss cable positioner 100 
according to the present invention will be described with reference to a 
double cam compound bow. It is to be understood that a double cam compound 
bow is shown merely by way of exemplification, and that the torqueless 
buss cable positioner is equally applicable to a single cam compound bow 
(of the type shown in FIG. 1, without, of course, the slide-type 
positioner 20). 
FIGS. 2 and 7 depict a compound bow 102 equipped with the torqueless buss 
cable positioner 100, wherein FIG. 2 depicts the configuration where the 
bowstring 104 is at its rest position, and FIG. 7 depicts the 
configuration where the bowstring is at its drawn position. It will be 
discerned that the compound bow 102 includes, conventionally, a bow member 
106 having a handle section 108 and limbs 110a, 110b at either end of the 
handle section. Cams 112a, 112b are rotatably connected, respectively, to 
each end of the limbs 110a, 110b, wherein each cam rotates on a respective 
cam axis A (see FIG. 7). A bow plane BP of the bow member 106 is defined 
by a bisection of the bow member such that the curvature of the limbs 
110a, 110b is in the bow plane (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The bowstring 104 is 
located substantially at the bow plane (see FIG. 3, where the bowstring is 
shown by way of example at the bow plane). Each end of the bowstring 104 
is wound, respectively, on a first peripheral cam groove 114a and is then 
terminated on the respective cam 112a, 112b. The compound bow 102 further 
includes a pair of buss cables 116a, 116b, wherein, in respectively 
inverse arrangement, one end is fixedly connected with the end of a limb, 
as for example at a cam axis, while the other end is incipiently wound on 
a second peripheral cam groove 114b. The buss cables 116a, 116b, as shown 
at FIG. 4, are located in a narrow zone Z centered on the bow plane BP. 
The exact arrangement of the rigging of the bowstring and the buss cables 
may vary with particular compound bows (be that single or double cam), and 
the present description is merely for instructive exemplification. 
In operation of the compound bow 102, when the bowstring 104 is drawn from 
its rest position as shown in FIG. 2 to its drawn position as shown in 
FIG. 7, the cams 112a, 112b rotate on their respective cam axis A as the 
bowstring unwinds off the first cam grooves 114a. Rotation of the cams 
112a, 112b results in the buss cables 116a, 116b being wound onto their 
respective second cam grooves 114b. As a result, the limbs 110a, 110b are 
caused to be resiliently pulled toward each other in the bow plane BP 
thereby creating potential energy for propelling an arrow. 
It will be noted that the first cam grooves 114a place the bowstring 104 
more-or-less at the bow plane, while the fixed connection and the second 
cam grooves 114b place the buss cables 116a, 116b somewhere within the 
zone Z in the vicinity of the arrow nocking location K (see FIG. 3). The 
small displacements of the buss cables and the bowstring is optimally 
symmetrically distributed in relation to the bow plane BP, so that no (or 
very little) perpendicular component of force is delivered to the limbs 
when the bowstring is drawn when the effects introduced by a buss cable 
positioner are ignored. 
In order that the buss cables 116a, 116b not interfere with the arrow at 
the arrow nocking location K, it is necessary to reposition the buss 
cables laterally (perpendicularly) off the bow plane BP sufficiently so 
that they do not interfere with the arrow or sights of the bow member 102. 
As depicted in FIG. 4, the length of the displacement L is considerably 
larger than the maximum displacement Z' of the buss cables in the zone Z 
in the vicinity of the arrow nocking location K. For example, Z' could be 
about one-quarter inch and L could be about one and one-half inches which 
provides a displacement length L' of the buss cables of about 
three-quarters of an inch from the bow plane BP at the arrow nocking point 
K. Accordingly, the torqueless buss cable positioner 100 is employed to 
provide the necessary length of displacement L', while optimally ensuring 
that no perpendicular forces are applied to the limbs on account of the 
repositioning of the buss cables, as would occur with a conventional 
slide-type buss cable positioner. 
The structure and function of the torqueless buss cable positioner 100 
according to the present invention will now be more particularly detailed. 
In this regard, the torqueless buss cable positioner 100 provides a guided 
path for the buss cables 116a, 116b whereby an outboard guidance component 
118 provides guiding of the buss cables in the zone Z and an inboard 
guidance component 120 provides guiding of the buss cables laterally off 
the bow plane by a length of displacement of at least L' (see FIG. 4). 
Optimally, the outboard guidance component 118 is aligned with the limbs 
110a, 110b and the bow plane BP so that the limbs are not subjected by the 
buss cables 116a, 116b to any component of force perpendicular to the bow 
plane. 
As depicted in FIGS. 2 through 7, the preferred embodiment of the 
torqueless buss cable positioner 100 is characterized by a guide member 
122 pivotally mounted to the bow member 106 via a bracket 124. The guide 
member 122 includes an elongated frame 126 and first, second and third 
pulley sets 128, 130, 132 rotatably connected with the frame for rollingly 
guiding the buss cables 116a, 116b. Preferably, the rotatable connection 
of the pulleys to the frame 126 is provided by ball bearings. The first 
pulley set 128 is connected to one end of the frame 126; the second pulley 
set 130 is connected to the other end of the frame; and the third pulley 
set 132 is connected to the frame between the first and second pulley 
sets, preferably medially therebetween. 
The frame 126 is shaped, preferably in the form of an arcing curvilinear 
shape, whereby the first and second pulley sets 128, 130 mutually define 
an imaginary alignment axis therebetween, but the third pulley set 132 is 
laterally displaced relative to the alignment axis. The frame 126 is 
mountably positioned relative to the bow member 106 so that the grooved 
periphery of each of the first and second pulley sets 128, 130 is located 
in the zone Z narrowly centered on the bow plane BP, while the grooved 
periphery of the third pulley set 132 is laterally displaced off the bow 
plane the displacement distance determined by the required buss cable 
displacement for the particular compound bow to which the torqueless 
tension cable positioner is utilized. In the preferred embodiment shown in 
the Drawing, the third pulley set 132 is not located adjacent the arrow 
nocking point K; consequently, the buss cables are displaced the needed 
distance L' by providing a displacement distance of the third pulley set a 
distance L, which is greater than L', as measured from the bow plane BP. 
With regard to each of the first, second and third pulley sets 128, 130, 
132, two pulleys are provided, one, respectively, for each buss cable 
116a, 116b. Where only one or more than two buss cables are present, then 
the number of pulleys is similarly present for respectively receiving each 
buss cable. While the diameter of the pulleys of the third pulley set 132 
may be the same, this is not necessarily the case with the first and 
second pulley sets 128, 130. As depicted best by FIG. 6, a pulley P at one 
side of the frame 126 of the first pulley 128 set has a diameter larger 
than its companion, while a pulley P' at the other side of the frame of 
the second pulley set 130 is larger than its companion. This inverse 
arrangement of larger and smaller pulleys of the first and second pulley 
sets 128, 130 aids in reducing limb torque and ensures efficient buss 
cable guidance. 
The bracket 124 is pivotally connected to the frame 126 at a first pivot 
134 via a pivot pin 134a and clevis 134b connected with the frame. The 
first pivot 134 is generally perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the 
pulleys of the first, second and third pulley sets 128, 130, 132. A first 
tension spring 136 extends between the frame 126 and the handle 106 via a 
stand-off 138. The first tension spring 136 is pivotable at each of its 
connections 136a, 136b to the frame 126 and the handle section 106, 
respectively, so that the first tension spring is not bendably distorted 
as the frame pivots on the first pivot 134. The direction of the biasing 
of the first tension spring 136 is compressibly between the handle section 
106 and the frame 126, whereby the biasing of the first tension spring on 
the frame 126 is in the same direction as that of increasing biasing of 
the cams 112a, 112b on the buss cables 116a, 116b as the bowstring 104 is 
drawn. Accordingly, the first tension spring 136 adds potential energy to 
the compound bow 102 when the bowstring 104 is drawn, and, consequently, 
contributes to the propelling energy imparted to an arrow when the 
bowstring is released. 
Preferably, a second pivot 138 is provided, whereby the bracket 124 is 
pivotally connected with the handle section 106. The second pivot 138 is 
parallel with respect to the first pivot 134 so that as the frame pivots 
on the first pivot 134, the location of engagement of the first and second 
pulley sets 128, 130 with the buss cables 116a, 116b is kept within the 
zone Z. A preferred structure for the second pivot 142 is a clevis 142a 
connected with the handle section 106 into which one end of the bracket 
124 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 142b. It is further preferred for 
a second tension spring 144 to bias the bracket 124 in a direction 
substantially laterally away from the bow plane BP. In this regard, the 
second tension spring 144 is compressed between a first contact location 
146 on the handle section 106 and a second contact location 148 on the 
bracket 124 (see FIGS. 5 and 6.) 
In operation, as the bowstring is drawn back, the entry location of the 
buss cables at the respective groove periphery of the cams change in 
distance from their respective axis of rotation A. Accordingly, the frame 
pivots via the first and second pivots as the first and second pulley sets 
follow the resulting travel of the buss cables. The resilient biasing 
provided by the first and second tensioning springs serve to not only aid 
pulley alignment with the buss cables, but serve to increase bowstring 
energy transferred to an arrow. 
It will be understood that the concept of the present invention is to 
provide mutually spaced apart outboard guidance locations of the buss 
cables such that the limbs are not subjected to a force component 
perpendicular to the bow plane. In the preferred embodiment, this feature 
is provided by the location of the first and second pulley sets. It is 
further the concept of the present invention to provide an inboard 
guidance location of the buss cables between the outboard guidance 
locations, whereby the buss cables are laterally displaced a length L' 
from the bow plane BP which is needed to get the buss cables out of the 
way of the arrow at its knocking location K. In the preferred embodiment, 
this feature is provided by the location of the third pulley set. In order 
for the concept of the present invention to function with varying amounts 
of draw of the bowstring, the outboard and inboard guidances are pivoted 
to accommodate cam induced travel of the buss cables. In the preferred 
embodiment, this feature is provided by the first and second pivots of the 
frame with respect to the bow member. 
It is to be further understood that an important concept of the present 
invention is to resiliently bias the buss cables via a buss cable 
positioner, such that the biasing of the buss cable positioner is additive 
with the biasing provided by the cam or cams as the bowstring is drawn. In 
the preferred embodiment, this feature is provided by the first and second 
tension springs 136, 144, whereby the first and second tension springs add 
potential energy to the limb bend potential energy of the compound bow as 
the bow string is drawn. This amplified potential energy imparts a higher 
arrow velocity upon release of the bowstring than would be the case if the 
buss cable positioner was not resiliently biased. Interestingly, this 
concept is adaptable to any buss cable positioner by simply resiliently 
biasing the component thereof in contact with the buss cables. For 
example, this feature can be present whether or not the frame is shaped to 
provide zero limb torque. Further for example, the slide of a slide-type 
buss cable positioner may be resiliently biased relative to the rod in the 
direction of increasing cam biasing. An example of a structure to 
implement this feature could be a spring stopped at one end thereof on a 
washer which is affixed to the rod, wherein the spring biases the slide at 
the other end thereof. 
As indicated hereinabove, while the torqueless buss cable positioner 100 
has been described in relation to a two cam compound bow, the over-all 
discussion thereof remains substantially the same with regard to a single 
cam compound bow, the rigging being now particular thereto, wherein FIGS. 
3 through 6 are analogously descriptive of the torqueless buss cable 
positioner 100 used therewith. Accordingly, further discussion of the 
torqueless buss cable positioner 100 is unwarranted for those of ordinary 
in the archery art to understand its implementation on a single cam 
compound bow. 
Further, while a right-hand compound bow has been shown in the Drawing, it 
is to be understood the torqueless buss cable positioner 100 is equally 
usable with a left-hand compound bow, wherein its arrangement relative to 
the bow member is inverse to the bow plane. 
To those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, the above 
described preferred embodiment may be subject to change or mortification. 
Such change or mortification can be carried out without departing from the 
scope of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope 
of the appended claims.