Patent ID: 8763595

Claim:
A crossbow comprising: a main beam that has a proximal end, a distal end and an axis of elongation; a bow assembly mounted to the distal end of the main beam and comprising: (a) a bowstring that is movable between a cocked position and an uncocked position; the linear distance between the cocked position and the uncocked position along the axis of elongation of the main beam being the powerstroke distance (PD); and, the bowstring is adapted to propel an arrow; (b) a first bow limb that has: a first end supported to the main beam; a second end that extends from a first side of the main beam toward the proximal end of the main beam; a concave surface that faces the main beam when the bowstring is in the uncocked position; and, a length that is less than 14 inches; (c) a second bow limb that has: a first end supported to the main beam; a second end that extends from a second side of the main beam toward the proximal end of the main beam; a concave surface that faces the main beam when the bowstring is in the uncocked position; and, a length that is less than 14 inches; (d) a first wheel that is supported to the first bow limb and that is pivotal with respect to the first bow limb about a first pivot axis that is substantially perpendicular to a ground surface when the arrow is properly propelled, wherein a first line that is substantially parallel to the first pivot axis simultaneously intersects a portion of the first wheel and a portion of the first bow limb; (e) a second wheel that is supported to the second bow limb and that is pivotal with respect to the second bow limb about a second pivot axis that is substantially perpendicular to the ground surface when the arrow is properly propelled, wherein a second line that is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis simultaneously intersects a portion of the second wheel and a portion of the second bow limb; (f) wherein the first and second wheels are adapted to operatively receive the bowstring; (g) wherein the second end of the first bow limb remains positioned longitudinally closer to the proximal end of the main beam than the first end of the first bow limb: (1) when the bowstring is in the cocked position; and, (2) when the bowstring is in the uncocked position; (h) wherein the second end of the second bow limb remains positioned longitudinally closer to the proximal end of the main beam than the first end of the second bow limb: (1) when the bowstring is in the cocked position; and, (2) when the bowstring is in the uncocked position; (i) wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are separated by a wheel distance (WD) when the crossbow is in the uncocked position; (j) wherein a ratio of WD to PD (WD/PD) is less than 2.0; a trigger mechanism mounted to the main beam for use in holding the bowstring in the cocked position; and, wherein the bow assembly has a draw weight in excess of 87 pounds.