Crossbow with pulleys that rotate around stationary axes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12566041-B2
Application number	US-202217579254-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2022
Priority date	Dec 16, 2013
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

Abstract

A crossbow including a frame with a riser and a center rail. First and second flexible limbs are attached to the riser. A draw string is received in string guide journals in first and second cams rotatably attached to the frame. The draw string unwinds from the string guide journals as it translates between a released configuration and a drawn configuration. The first and second cams include at least first and second power cable take-up journals, respectively. At least first and second power cables are attached to the first and second limbs and received in the first and second power cable take-up journals, respectively. As the crossbow is drawn from the released configuration to the drawn configuration the first and second power cables wrap onto the respective first and second power cable take-up journals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A crossbow, comprising:
a frame extending along a horizontal projectile axis; a riser coupled to the frame; a first limb coupled to the riser on a first side of the frame; a second limb coupled to the riser on a second side of the frame that is opposite the first side of the frame; a first axle mount and a second axle mount coupled to the frame; a first cam rotationally coupled to the first axle mount on the first side of the frame, the first cam including:
a first draw string journal; and
a first power cable journal extending vertically from the first cam and offset from the first draw string journal;
a second cam rotationally coupled to the second axle mount on the second side of the frame, the second cam including:
a second draw string journal; and
a second power cable journal extending vertically from the second cam and offset from the second draw string journal;
a draw string received at least partially within the first draw string journal and at least partially within the second draw string journal, the draw string defining a drawn position and a released position of the crossbow; a first power cable including:
a first end coupled to the first cam and being at least partially received within the first power cable journal; and
a second end coupled to the first limb; and
a second power cable including:
a third end coupled to the second cam and being at least partially received within the second power cable journal; and
a fourth end coupled to the second limb;
wherein, in the drawn position, a first tip of the first limb is positioned above or below the first draw string journal and within a perimeter of the first draw string journal such that the first limb vertically overlaps the first draw string journal and a second tip of the second limb is positioned above or below the second draw string journal and within a perimeter of the second draw string journal such that the second limb vertically overlaps the second draw string journal, and
wherein, in the released position, the first tip is positioned outside of the perimeter of and does not vertically overlap the first draw string journal and the second tip is positioned outside of the perimeter of and does not vertically overlap the second draw string journal.

2 . The crossbow of claim 1 , wherein:
at least a portion of the first cam is positioned rearward of the first tip of the first limb; and at least a portion of the second cam is positioned rearward of the second tip of the second limb.

3 . The crossbow of claim 1 , wherein:
the frame includes a proximal end and a distal end; the riser couples to the frame more proximate to the distal end than the proximal end; and the first axle mount and the second axle mount are coupled to the frame more proximate to the proximal end than the distal end.

4 . The crossbow of claim 1 , wherein:
the first cam rotationally couples to the first axle mount via a first axle; the second cam rotationally couples to the second axle mount via a second axle; and the first axle and the second axle are separated by a distance between approximately three inches and approximately eight inches.

5 . The crossbow of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third limb coupled to the riser on the first side of the frame below the first limb, and a fourth limb coupled to the riser on the second side of the frame below the second limb; a first vertical space defined between the first limb and the third limb; and a second vertical space defined between the second limb and the fourth limb; and wherein, in the drawn position:
at least a portion of the first cam is positioned in the first vertical space between the first limb and the third limb such that the first limb is positioned vertically above the first cam and the third limb is positioned vertically below the first cam; and
at least a portion of the second cam is positioned in the second vertical space between the second limb and the fourth limb such that the second limb is positioned vertically above the second cam and the fourth limb is positioned vertically below the second cam;
wherein, in the released position:
no portion of the first cam is positioned in the first vertical space between the first limb and the third limb; and
no portion of the second cam is positioned in the second vertical space between the second limb and the fourth limb.

6 . The crossbow of claim 1 , wherein:
the first cam is rotationally coupled to the first axle mount at a first location; the second end of the first power cable is coupled to the first limb at a second location; the second cam is rotationally coupled to the second axle mount at a third location; the fourth end of the second power cable is coupled to the second limb at a fourth location; and in the drawn position, the first location, the second location, the third location, and the fourth location are substantially aligned along a horizontal axis.

7 . The crossbow of claim 6 , wherein:
the first cam further defines:
a first recess extending from a periphery of the first cam to a location offset from the first draw string journal;
the second cam further defines:
a second recess extending from a periphery of the second cam to a location offset from the second draw string journal;
the first cam further comprises:
a first draw string mount extending vertically from within the first recess;
the second cam further comprises:
a second draw string mount extending vertically from within the second recess;
a fifth end of the draw string is coupled to the first draw string mount at a fifth location; a sixth end of the draw string is coupled to the second draw string mount at a sixth location; and in the drawn position, the fifth location and the sixth location are disposed along the horizontal axis.

8 . The crossbow of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the first power cable is non-rotatably coupled to the first tip of the first limb, the fourth end of the second power cable is non-rotatably coupled to the second tip of the second limb, and at least a portion of the first limb and the second limb are substantially parallel to the horizontal projectile axis in the released position.

9 . A crossbow, comprising:
a frame extending along a horizontal projectile axis; a riser coupled to the frame; a first upper limb and a first lower limb coupled to the riser on a first side of the frame, the first upper limb and the first lower limb spaced apart to define a first vertical space between the first upper limb and the first lower limb; a second upper limb and a second lower limb coupled to the riser on a second side of the frame that is opposite the first side of the frame, the second upper limb and the second lower limb spaced apart to define a second vertical space between the second upper limb and the second lower limb; a first axle mount and a second axle mount coupled to the frame; a first cam rotationally coupled to the first axle mount, the first cam including a first draw string journal and a first power cable journal, the first power cable journal extending vertically from the first cam and offset from the first draw string journal; a second cam rotationally coupled to the second axle mount, the second cam including a second draw string journal and a second power cable journal, the second power cable journal extending vertically from the second cam and offset from the second draw string journal; a draw string received at least partially within the first draw string journal and at least partially within the second draw string journal, the draw string defining a drawn position and a released position of the crossbow; a first power cable including

Assignees

• Ravin Crossbows Llc

Inventors

• Yehle Craig

Classifications

• F41B5/1469

  Bow-string drawing or releasing devices (F41B5/1473 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F41B5/143

  Arrow rests or guides · CPC title

• F41B5/1411

  Bow-strings · CPC title

• F41B5/123

  Compound crossbows · CPC title

• F41B5/10

  Compound bows {(compound crossbows F41B5/123)} · CPC title