Patent Publication Number: US-8991376-B2

Title: Archery bow axle connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to archery bows and more specifically to an axle connector for use with archery bows. 
     Archery bows having “split limbs” are generally known in the art. Such bows typically include an axle extending between two split-limb portions. The axle can support a cam, pulley, etc. Clips attached to the ends of the axle secure the axle in place with respect to the limb. 
     Prior art axle clips often require tools for installation or removal. For example, a spring tension clip having an E-configuration can engage the axle. So called E-clips generally require a tool for installation and removal, such as pliers. Some alternative axle clips are capable of being installed without tools, but require a tool such as a flathead screwdriver for removal. 
     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0307471 teaches an axle connector configured for a snap-fit to an axle, which can be installed and removed without tools. 
     There remains a need for novel archery bow axle connector designs that provide for smoother and quieter operation of a bow than the designs in the prior art. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,443,139, 6,035,840, D664,231 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0307471 are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties. All U.S. patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below. 
     A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In some embodiments, an archery bow comprises an axle installed on a limb of the archery bow and a connector attached to the axle. The connector comprises a first body portion made from a first material and a second body portion made from a second material different from the first material. The first body portion defines an aperture therethrough arranged to engage the axle. The second body portion has a groove extending around at least a portion of its periphery. The groove comprises a first straight portion, an arcuate portion and a second straight portion as it is traversed. The first straight portion is non-parallel to the second straight portion, for example forming a taper. A cable is positioned in the groove, such as a power cable of a compound archery bow. Desirably, the first material comprises a lower coefficient of friction than the second material. 
     In some embodiments, the connector is formed by providing or forming the first body portion, and then forming the second body portion about the first body portion. 
     In some embodiments, a cable connector that is suitable for use on an axle of an archery bow comprises a first body portion and a second body portion. The first body portion is made from a first material and the second body portion is made from a second material different from the first material. The first body portion defines an aperture configured to engage an axle. The second body portion has a groove extending around at least a portion of its periphery, the groove forming a teardrop shape. 
     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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A detailed description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  shows a front quarter view of an embodiment of an archery bow axle connector. 
         FIG. 2  shows a front view of an embodiment of an archery bow axle connector. 
         FIG. 3  shows a back view of an embodiment of an archery bow axle connector. 
         FIG. 4  shows a side view of an embodiment of an archery bow axle connector. 
         FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a first body portion of an embodiment of an archery bow axle connector. 
         FIG. 6  shows a side view of an embodiment of an archery bow axle connector comprising a second body portion formed over a first body portion. 
         FIG. 7  shows a front view of an embodiment of an archery bow axle connector. 
         FIG. 8  shows examples of archery bow axle connectors and an archery bow axle. 
         FIG. 9  shows an archery bow axle connector and an axle on a bow limb. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     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. 
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of an axle connector  20 . An axle connector  20  can be used in an archery bow in conjunction with an axle  40 , for example as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The axle connector  20  can also be considered a cable connector and/or a cable terminal. 
       FIG. 2  shows a front view of an embodiment of an axle connector  20 ,  FIG. 3  shows a back view and  FIG. 4  shows a side view. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , in some embodiments, an axle connector  20  comprises a shaped body  22 . The body  22  comprises an aperture  26  that is suitably shaped to engage an axle  40  (see e.g.  FIG. 8 ). An aperture  26  can pass through the body  22  completely. In some other embodiments, a cavity can be provided in the body  22  which does not extend through the body  22  completely. 
     In some embodiments, the body  22  comprises a first body portion  16  and a second body portion  18 . In some embodiments, the first body portion  16  comprises a different material from the second body portion  18 . In some embodiments, the first body portion  16  comprises a softer material than the second body portion  18 . 
     In some embodiments, the first body portion  16  is arranged to contact an axle  40  and/or a limb  66  (see e.g.  FIGS. 8 and 9 ) of a bow and the second body portion  18  is arranged to contact a cable  60  (see e.g.  FIGS. 8 and 9 ) of a bow. In such an arrangement, when the cable  60  shifts with respect to the axle  40  or limb  66 , for example as the bow is drawn, the axle connector  20  will tend to move with the cable  60 . Thus, the axle connector  20  can move with respect to the axle  40  and/or a limb  66 . Such movement can be stepped or choppy because the engagement between the axle connector  20  and the axle  40  and/or limb  66  tends to resist movement up to a certain level, then allow slip—for example, frictional engagement between the axle connector  20  and axle  40  can resist some level of force, but as the force increases, it overcomes the frictional engagement and results in movement. As a bow is drawn, the choppy slipping movements can occur periodically over the course of the draw cycle. The slipping movements can be audible and can result in vibrations felt by an archer, detracting from the archery experience. 
     The material of the axle connector  20  that contacts the axle  40  is desirably selected to minimize friction and wear. Thus, in some embodiments, the first body portion  16  comprises a low friction material, such as polyoxymethylene (POM), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and the like. In some embodiments, the first body portion  16  comprises a polymer having embedded lubrication, such as a polymer comprising silicone oil or another lubricant. In some embodiments, the first body portion  16  comprises Delrin® acetal resin available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, which may include lubricants such as silicone oil, other chemical lubricants and/or proprietary lubricants. 
     In In some embodiments, the second body portion  18  comprises a material selected for strength, such as reinforced plastic such as glass-filled nylon. 
       FIG. 5  shows a side view of an embodiment of a first body portion  16 . In some embodiments, the first body portion  16  comprises a front hub  72 , a central portion  74  and a back plate  76 . Forming the back plate  76  from the material of the first body portion  16  will desirably reduce any frictional engagement between the axle connector  20  and the limb  66 . 
     In some embodiments, the back of the axle connector  20  comprises a raised portion or flange  78 . The flange  78  is desirably arranged to contact the limb  66 . The flange  78  desirably reduces an area of contact between the axle connector  20  and the limb  66 , and reduces their frictional engagement. 
     The first body portion  16  can be formed using any suitable method, such as machining a base material or a molding process such as injection molding. 
       FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of a second body portion  18  oriented about the first body portion  16 . 
     In some embodiments, the second body portion  18  is formed around the first body portion  16  using any suitable method. In some embodiments, multiple separate portions of the second body portion  18  are positioned around first body portion  16  and fixed to one another, for example with an adhesive. In some embodiments, a first body portion  16  can be placed into a mold, and the second body portion  18  can be overmolded about the first body portion  16 . 
     In some embodiments, an outer surface of the first body portion  16  defines a cavity  75 . For example,  FIG. 5  shows a cavity  75  formed between the front hub  72  and back plate  76 . Desirably, the cavity  75  extends around at least a portion of the periphery of the central portion  74 . In some embodiments, the cavity  75  fully surrounds the periphery of the central portion  74 . Desirably, the at least a portion of the second body portion  18  becomes oriented in the cavity  75  upon formation of the second body portion  18 . 
     In some embodiments, the aperture  26  is defined by the first body portion  16  (see e.g.  FIGS. 2 and 7 ). In some embodiments, the aperture  26  comprises a first cavity portion  28  and a second cavity portion  30 . The first cavity portion  28  is typically larger than the second cavity portion  30 , and the second cavity portion  30  is configured to engage an axle  40 . For example, the second cavity portion  30  can be sized to engage a suitable axle with a snap fit. In some embodiments, the second cavity portion  30  and axle are sized to achieve an interference fit. In some embodiments, an axle  40  can fit easily into the first cavity portion  28 , for example having a smaller size than the first cavity portion  28 , and the axle  40  can be snapped into the second cavity portion  30 . Thus, the axle  40  and connector  20  are moveable with respect to one another between attached configuration and detached configurations. The axle  40  is positioned in the second cavity portion  30  of the aperture  26  in the attached configuration. 
     In some embodiments, a sidewall  38  of the aperture  26  comprises a raised flange  32 . At least a portion of the second cavity portion  30  is defined by the raised flange  32 . The raised flange  32  comprises an engaging surface  34  for engaging an axle. In some embodiments, the engaging surface  34  is semicircular. In some embodiments, the engaging surface  34  contacts an axle  40  and forms an arc of contact. The arc of contact defines a central angle θ (see  FIG. 7 ), and the central angle θ is desirably greater than 180 degrees. In some embodiments, the central angle θ can range from over 180 degrees to 300 or more degrees. In some embodiments, the central angle θ is approximately 220 degrees. 
     In some embodiments, the raised flange  32  comprises one or more peaks  36 , which help to achieve a reliable snap fit between the axle connector  20  and the axle  40 . In some embodiments, the two peaks  36  are separated by a distance, and the distance is smaller than a diameter/size of the axle  40  that passes through the peaks  36  and is engaged by the flange  32 . 
     In some embodiments, the first cavity portion  28  and second cavity portion  30  collectively form a figure-eight shape. In some embodiments, a distance across the first cavity portion  28  is greater than a distance across the second cavity portion  30 . 
     In some embodiments, an axle connector  20  comprises a groove  24  that extends around at least a portion of its periphery. A groove  24  can be used, for example, to anchor an archery bow cable to the axle connector  20 . In some embodiments, the second body portion  18  defines the groove  24 . 
       FIG. 7  shows another front view of an embodiment of an axle connector  20 , and the contour of an embodiment of a groove  24 . 
     In some embodiments, a groove  24  defines a teardrop shape. For example, the groove  24  defines a longitudinal axis  54  that extends around the axle  40 . The longitudinal axis  54  of the groove  24  defines a substantially teardrop shape. In some embodiments, a groove  24  comprises a first straight portion  46 , an arcuate portion  44  and a second straight portion  48  as the groove  24  is traversed along its length. The first straight portion  46  is nonparallel to the second straight portion  48 , for example forming a taper that extends away from the arcuate portion  44 . An end of each straight portion  46 ,  48  abut the respective ends of the arcuate portion  44 . 
     In some embodiments, a depth of the groove  24  decreases along the length of a straight portion  46 ,  48  as the straight portion is traversed in a direction away from the arcuate portion  44 . 
     In some embodiments, an arcuate portion  44  of the groove  24  is concentric with the second cavity portion  30  of the aperture  26  in the body  22 , and/or concentric with at least a portion of the engaging surface  34 . 
     In some embodiments, the second cavity portion  30  of the aperture  26  is located closer to the arcuate portion  44  of the groove  24  that to the first cavity portion  28  of the aperture  26 . Thus, when the axle connector  20  is being mounted on an axle, the axle is first oriented in the first cavity portion  28 . Forces are applied to the axle connector  20  and the axle in opposite direction, snapping the axle into the second cavity portion  30  of the aperture  26 . When the second cavity portion  30  of the aperture  26  is located closer to the arcuate portion  44  of the groove  24 , forces applied to the axle connector  20  by a cable oriented within the groove  24  will work to retain the axle in the second cavity portion  30  of the aperture  26 . Thus, in some embodiments, a cable applies forces to the axle connector  20  in the same direction necessary to install the axle connector  20  on the axle, and in the opposite direction as would be necessary to remove the axle connector  20  from the axle. The teardrop shape insures that once a cable is attached, any pressure applied by the cable maintains alignment of the axle connector  20  with the cable yoke, and retains the axle connector  20  in the installed configuration until the cable forces are removed. The teardrop shape also conforms to the natural shape of a loop formed in the cable to anchor the cable to the axle connector  20  (see  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). 
     In some embodiments, the depth of the raised flange portion  32  and a depth of the engaging surface  34  is less than the total depth of the axle connector  20  (see e.g.  FIG. 1 ). 
       FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of an archery bow axle  40  configured for attachment to the axle connector  20  and two examples of an axle connector  20 . A cable  60  is shown oriented in the groove  24  of one axle connector  20 . The teardrop shape of the groove  24  matches the teardrop shape formed by the cable  60 . 
     In some embodiments, an axle  40  comprises an engagement region  50 . In some embodiments, the engagement region  50  is configured for an interference fit with a portion of the axle connector  20 . For example, an outer surface of the engagement region  50  and the inner/engaging surface  34  of the aperture  26  are sized to achieve an interference fit. 
     In some embodiments, the engagement region  50  comprises a groove or recess in the axle  40 . The size of the axle  40  at such a recess defines a recessed size or a recessed diameter compared to larger portions of the axle  40 . In some embodiments, at least a portion of the raised flange  32  of the connector  20  becomes positioned in the recess  50  of the axle  40 . 
     In some embodiments, a length of the engagement region  50  is similar to a depth of the raised flange portion  32  and/or engagement region  34  of the axle connector  20 . Desirably, the length of the engagement region  50  and the depth of the raised flange  32  are measured in the same direction (e.g. parallel). In some embodiments, the groove creates raised flanges  52  in the axle  40 , and a flange  52  can abut the raised flange  32  of the axle connector  20 . 
     The engagement between the axle  40  and the axle connector  20  desirably prevents movement of the axle connector  20  along the length of the axle  40 . The engagement between the axle  40  and the axle connector  20  desirably allows rotation of the axle connector  20  about the axle  40 . 
       FIG. 9  shows an embodiment of an axle  40  and axle connectors  20  installed on an archery bow limb  66 . The axle  40  supports a rotatable member  68 , such as a cam or pulley. The axle connectors  20  engage the axle  40  and prevent the axle  40  from displacing along its longitudinal axis. The cables  60  comprise a split yoke forming a first portion and a second portion, the first portion terminates on the first connector and the second portion terminates on the second connector. 
     The axle connectors  20  allow assembly of the components illustrated in  FIG. 9  without the use of tools. Further, the axle connectors  20  can be snapped off of the axle  40  upon the application of force in the correct direction without the use of tools, so the components can be disassembled without tools. 
     In some embodiments (not illustrated), an axle connector  20  comprises primarily a second body portion  18  comprising a second material as disclosed herein, and the first material (e.g. low friction material) comprises a coating on a surface that contacts a non-cable portion of the bow. Thus, in some embodiments, the raised flange  32  within the aperture  28  comprises the second material and has a contacting surface  34  comprising or coated with the first material, such as POM, PTFE, Delrin® acetal resin, etc. In some embodiments, the back surface of the axle connector  20  is coated with the first material. 
     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.