Patent Publication Number: US-10330427-B2

Title: Mid-limb cam crossbow system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/446,035, filed Jan. 13, 2017, the entirety of each of which are fully incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present subject matter is directed to apparatuses and methods regarding crossbows. More specifically the present subject matter is directed to apparatuses and methods for a crossbow having one or cams supported along a limb offset from either end of the limb. 
     Crossbows have been used for many years as a weapon for hunting and fishing, and for target shooting. Typically, a crossbow may include a beam including a stock member and a barrel connected to the stock member. The barrel typically has an arrow receiving area for receiving an arrow to be shot. The crossbow may also include a bow assembly supported on the main beam that includes a bow and a bowstring connected to the bow for use in shooting arrows. A trigger mechanism, also supported on the main beam, holds the bowstring in a drawn or cocked condition and can thereafter be operated to release the bowstring out of the uncocked condition to shoot the arrow. 
     The configuration of the bow and bowstring strongly influence the energy storage capacity of the bow and the energy and power output of the crossbows. It remains desirable to produce a compact bow having sufficient energy storage capacity, energy and power output, and other defining operational characteristics. 
     SUMMARY 
     Provided is a mid-limb cam crossbow system comprising a beam; a bow assembly having a first bow limb of length L1 and second bow limb of length L2; a first cam engaged with the first bow limb at a point between (0.15)L1 and (0.75)L1 from the limb end; a second cam engaged with the second bow limb at a point between (0.15)L2 and (0.75)L2 from the limb end; a first power string engaged with the first cam and a region on the second bow limb greater than (0.75)L2 from the limb end; a second power string engaged with the second cam and a region on the first bow limb greater than (0.75)L1 from the limb end; and a bowstring engaged between the first cam and the second cam. The bow assembly may be configured in an uncocked configuration or a cocked configuration. L1 and L2 are between 15 centimeters and 65 centimeters. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of one embodiment of a crossbow comprising a mid-limb cam crossbow system. 
         FIG. 2  is another top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  of a crossbow comprising a mid-limb cam crossbow system. 
         FIG. 3  is another top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  of a crossbow comprising a mid-limb cam crossbow system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present subject matter only and not for purposes of limiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood to refer to like components, provided is a mid-limb cam crossbow system and a method for using same. 
     In a first embodiment, a mid-limb cam crossbow system  100  may comprise a beam  110  and a bow assembly  140 . 
     In the first embodiment, the beam  110  may be elongated. The beam  110  may include a stock member  112 , and a barrel  114 . The barrel  114  may be connected to the stock member  112 . The barrel  114  may have an arrow receiver region  116  adapted to receive an associated arrow (not shown). The beam  110  may have a first beam end  117  and a second beam end  118  opposite the first beam end  117 . 
     The bow assembly bow assembly  140  is mounted to the beam  110  at the first beam end  117 . The bow assembly  140  may comprise a riser  142  engaged with the barrel  114 . The riser  142  may operatively engage both a first limb assembly  150 , and a second limb assembly  160 , to the beam  110 . The bow assembly  140  may further comprise a first power cord  146 , a second power cord  148 , and a bow string  144 . 
     The first limb assembly  150  comprises an elongated first limb  151  defining a first end  152  and a second end  155  offset from the first end  152  by the length L1 of the elongated first limb  151 . The first limb assembly  150  is rotatably engaged to the riser  142  at a first axis  154  proximate to the first end  152 . The first end  152 , may also be referred to herein as the proximate end  152  of the first limb  151 . The first limb assembly  150  further comprises a first power cord mount  158 . The first limb assembly  150  further comprises a first cam  156  rotatably engaged with the first limb  151  at a first cam mount point  159  between the first axis  154  and the first power cord mount  158  and substantially offset from each. In some embodiments the first cam  156  is rotatably engaged with the first limb  151  at a first cam mount point  159  midway between the first axis  154  and the first power cord mount  158 . In some embodiments, the first cam  156  is rotatably engaged with the first limb  151  at a first cam mount point  159  offset from the proximate end  152  of the first limb by a length between (0.15)L1 and (0.75)L1. 
     The second limb assembly  160  comprises an elongated second limb  161  defining a first end  162  and a second end  165  offset from the first end  162  by the length L2 of the elongated second limb  161 . The second limb assembly  160  is rotatably engaged to the riser  142  at a second axis  164  proximate to the first end  162 . The first end  162 , may also be referred to herein as the proximate end  162  of the second limb  161 . The second limb assembly  160  further comprises a second power cord mount  168 . The first limb assembly  160  further comprises a second cam  166  rotatably engaged with the second limb  161  at a second cam mount point  169  between the second axis  164  and the second power cord mount  168  and substantially offset from each. In some embodiments, the second cam  166  is rotatably engaged with the second limb  161  at a second cam mount point  169  offset from the proximate end  162  of the second limb by a length between (0.15)L2 and (0.75)L2. 
     The bow string  144  may be operatively engaged between the first cam  156  and the second cam  166 . The first power cord  146  may be operatively engaged between the first power cord mount  158  and the second cam  166 . The second power cord  148  may be operatively engaged between the second power cord mount  168  and the first cam  156 . The bow limbs  151 ,  161  define opposite ends of the bow assembly  140 . In some embodiments, the first power cord mount  158  is offset from the proximate end of the first limb  152  by a length of greater than (0.75)L1. In some embodiments, the second power cord mount  168  is offset from the proximate end of the second limb  162  by a length of greater than (0.75)L2. 
     Location of the first cam  156  between the first axis  154  and the first power cord mount  158 , or location of the second cam  166  between the second axis  164  and the second power cord mount  168  may permit the designer additional latitude in providing desirable performance, size and weight. 
     Numerous embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of the present subject matter. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.