Archery Bowstring with Multiple Portions

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 63/555,053, filed Feb. 18, 2024, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to archery bows and more specifically to archery bow string and cable configurations. Archery bows and bowstrings are generally known in the art. Bowstrings can include components such as weights, vibration dampers, peep sites and other accessories. In some cases, installation of a component into a bowstring includes separating the individual strands of a bowstring into two groups and inserting the component between the two groups. There remains a need for novel archery bowstring and cable configurations that provide benefits over prior arrangements.

All US 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 bowstring comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion comprises a first plurality of longitudinally oriented strands. The second portion comprises a second plurality of longitudinally oriented strands. The first portion is attached to the second portion at a connection. In some embodiments, the connection comprises a double loop.

In some embodiments, the first portion comprises a first loop and the second portion comprises a second loop. The connection comprises the first loop engaged with the second loop.

In some embodiments, the first plurality of strands comprises a first group of strands and a second group of strands extending from the first loop.

In some embodiments, an accessory is positioned between the first group of strands and the second group of strands.

In some embodiments, the bowstring comprises a third portion comprising a third plurality of longitudinally oriented strands. The second portion is attached to the third portion at a second connection. In some embodiments, the second portion comprises a third loop and the third portion comprises a fourth loop. The second connection comprises the third loop engaged with the fourth loop.

In some embodiments, a cross-section of the first portion excludes the second plurality of strands and a cross-section of the second portion excludes the first plurality of strands.

In some embodiments, the first portion comprises a first terminal loop and the second portion comprises a second terminal loop.

In some embodiments, the first portion comprises a first material and the second portion comprises a second material different from the first material.

In some embodiments, the first portion comprises a first number of strands and the second portion comprises a second number of strands different from the first number.

In some embodiments, an archery bow comprises a riser, a first limb, a second limb, a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member and a bowstring. The bowstring comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion comprises a first plurality of longitudinally oriented strands and a terminal loop attached to the first rotatable member. The second portion comprises a second plurality of longitudinally oriented strands. The first portion is attached to the second portion at a connection.

In some embodiments, the first plurality of strands comprises a first group of strands and a second group of strands extending from the connection.

In some embodiments, an accessory is positioned between the first group of strands and the second group of strands.

In some embodiments, the first portion comprises a first loop and the second portion comprises a second loop. The connection comprises the first loop engaged with the second loop.

In some embodiments, the bowstring comprises a third portion comprising a third plurality of longitudinally oriented strands. The second portion is attached to the third portion at a second connection.

In some embodiments, a power cable comprises a first section and a second section. The first section comprises a first plurality of longitudinally oriented strands and the second section comprises a second plurality of longitudinally oriented strands. The first section is attached to the second section at a cable connection.

In some embodiments, the second section is attached to the second rotatable member.

In some embodiments, the first section comprises a first loop and the second section comprises a second loop. The cable connection comprises the first loop engaged with the second loop.

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 an embodiment of an archery bow.

FIG. 2 shows a portion of the archery bow of FIG. 1 in greater detail.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a connection.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of an archery bow.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an archery bow and an embodiment of an accessory.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a connection and an embodiment of an accessory.

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 archery bow 10. In some embodiments, an archery bow 10 comprises a riser 10, a first limb 14 and a second limb 16. In some embodiments, a bowstring 30 extends between the limbs 14, 16. An arrow can engage the bowstring 30 at a nocking point 32, and the bow 10 can launch the arrow along a shooting axis 11.

In some embodiments, the bowstring 30 can be attached directly to the limbs 14, 16, for example in a non-compound style archery bow (not illustrated).

In some embodiments, an archery bow 10 comprises a first rotatable member 20 supported by the first limb 14 and a second rotatable member 22 supported by the second limb 16. In some embodiments, the bowstring 30 is attached to the first rotatable member 20 and the second rotatable member 22, and arranged to feed out from the rotatable members 20, 22 as the bowstring 30 is drawn. In some embodiments, an archery bow 10 comprises a power cable 24, for example arranged to be taken up by a cam of the first rotatable member 20. In some embodiments, an archery bow 10 comprises a second power cable 24, for example arranged to be taken up by a cam of the second rotatable member 22. In some embodiments, a cable guard 18 is attached to the riser 12 and arranged to bias the power cables 24, 26 laterally away from the shooting axis 11.

In various embodiments, the bowstring 30 and/or the cables 24, 26 can be made from any suitable material known in the art. In some embodiments, bowstring 30 and/or the cables 24, 26 comprise longitudinal strands of polymeric material, such as polyesters, polyethylenes, polyolefins, etc., and various combinations thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,643 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, a first end of the bowstring 30 comprises a first terminal loop 31 and a second end of the bowstring 30 comprises a second terminal loop 33. In some embodiments, the first rotatable member 20 comprises a first post 21 and the first terminal loop 31 is attached to the first post 21. In some embodiments, the second rotatable member 22 comprises a second post 23 and the second terminal loop 33 is attached to the second post 23.

In some embodiments, the bowstring 30 comprises a first portion 34 and a second portion 36 attached to one another at a connection 40. In some embodiments, a first length portion of the bowstring 30 comprises the first portion 34 and a second length portion of the bowstring 30 comprises the second portion 36. In some embodiments, the first portion 34 comprises a first plurality of strands 44 of material extending longitudinally. In some embodiments, the strands of material in the first plurality of strands 44 wrap helically with one another along the length of the first portion 34. In some embodiments, the second portion 36 comprises a second plurality of strands 46 of material extending longitudinally. In some embodiments, the strands of material in the second plurality of strands 46 wrap helically with one another along the length of the second portion 36. In some embodiments, the first portion 34 excludes the second plurality of strands 46 and the second portion 36 excludes the first plurality of strands 44.

In various embodiments, the connection 40 can comprise any suitable type of connection between the first portion 34 and the second portion 36. In some embodiments, the first portion 34 is attached to the second portion 36 with a mechanical connector such as clip, snap, swage fitting, etc. In some embodiments, strands of the first portion 34 are tied to strands of the second portion 36.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, in some embodiments, the first portion 34 is attached to the second portion 36 via a double-loop connection. In some embodiments, the first portion 34 comprises a first loop 38 and the second portion 36 comprises a second loop 48. In some embodiments, the first loop 38 is engaged with the second loop 48, for example wherein the first loop 38 extends through a cavity defined by the second loop 48 and the second loop 48 extends through a cavity defined by the first loop 38.

In some embodiments, the first plurality of strands 44 comprises a first group of strands 54 and a second group of strands 56. In some embodiments, the first group of strands 54 comprises a first half of the strands and the second group of strands 56 comprises a second half of the strands of the first plurality of strands 44. In some embodiments, each strand of material in the first plurality of strands 44 extends from the first rotatable member 20 to the connection 40 in the first group of strands 54, forms the first loop 38 and returns from the connection 40 to the first rotatable member 20 in the second group of strands 56.

In some embodiments, the first loop 38 defines an interior cavity that can be used for positioning an accessory between the first group of strands 54 and the second group of strands 56. Thus, the loop 38 can be used to quickly and accurately separate two groups of strands for installation of a component or accessory, such as a peep site, between the first group of strands 54 and the second group of strands 56.

In some embodiments, the second plurality of strands 46 extends between the connection 40 and the second rotatable member 22. In some embodiments, the second portion 36 comprises strands that extend from the second rotatable member 22 to the connection 40, form the second loop 48 and return from the connection 40 to the second rotatable member 22. In some embodiments, the second portion 36 comprises the second terminal loop 23 and is attached to the second rotatable member 22.

A bowstring 30 can comprise any suitable number of strands. In some embodiments, a cross-section of the first portion 34 comprises 12 to 34 strands of material. In some embodiments, a cross-section of the first portion 34 comprises 18 to 24 strands of material. In some embodiments, the first group of strands 54 comprise a first half of the number of strands in the cross-section and the second group of strands 56 comprise the second half of the number of strands in the cross-section.

In some embodiments, the first portion 34 of the bowstring 30 is similar to the second portion 36, for example comprising the same material and the same number of strands of material.

In some embodiments, the first portion 34 of the bowstring 30 is different from the second portion 36. In some embodiments, the first portion 34 comprises a first material and the second portion 36 comprises a second material different from the first material. In some embodiments, the first portion 34 comprises more strands of material than the second portion 36. In some embodiments, the first portion comprises fewer strands of material than the second portion 36. The specific material(s), combination(s) of materials, number of strands, sizing of strands, etc. in each portion 34, 36 of the bowstring 30 can be selected to create various embodiments of bowstrings 30 having properties desired for specific applications.

In some embodiments, the bowstring 30 comprises a serving material 35 wrapped around a portion of the bowstring 30. In some embodiments, a serving material 35 wraps circumferentially about the bowstring 30. In some embodiments, the bowstring 30 comprises a serving material 35 located adjacent to a connection 40. In some embodiments, the second portion 36 comprises a serving 35. In some embodiments, the serving 35 overlaps with the nocking point 32.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of an archery bow 10 comprising another embodiment of a bowstring 30. In some embodiments, the bowstring 30 comprises a first portion 34, a second portion 36 and a third portion 42. In some embodiments, the first portion 34 is attached to the second portion 36 at a first connection 40 and the second portion 36 is attached to the third portion 42 at a second connection 50. In some embodiments, the third portion 42 comprises a third plurality of strands 52.

In some embodiments, the second portion 36 comprises a first end comprising the second loop 48 and a second end comprising a third loop 58. In some embodiments, the third portion 42 comprises a fourth loop 68. In some embodiments, the second connection 50 comprises a double-loop connection. In some embodiments, the third loop 58 is engaged with the fourth loop 68, for example wherein the third loop 58 extends through a cavity defined by the fourth loop 68 and the fourth loop 68 extends through a cavity defined by the third loop 58.

In some embodiments, the third portion 42 comprises a second end of the bowstring 30. In some embodiments, the third portion 42 comprises the second terminal loop 33 and is attached to the second post 23 of the second rotatable member 22.

In various embodiments, the third portion 42 can comprise any suitable number of strands of material. The third portion 42 can be similar to the first portion 34 or different from the first portion 34. The third portion 42 can be similar to the second portion 36 or different from the second portion 36.

In various embodiments, the bowstring 30 can comprise any suitable number of portions 34, 36, 42, etc., wherein each portion is attached to a subsequent portion by a connection 40, 50, etc. In some embodiments, a bowstring 30 can comprise a fourth portion, a fifth portion, a sixth portion, etc.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, in some embodiments, an archery bow comprises a power cable 24, 26. In some embodiments, a cable 26 comprises a first section 60 and a second section 62 attached to one another at a connection 40. In some embodiments, a first length portion of the cable 26 comprises the first section 60 and a second length portion of the cable 26 comprises the second section 62. In some embodiments, the first section 60 comprises a first plurality of strands 61 of material. In some embodiments, the second section 62 comprises a second plurality of strands 63 of material. In some embodiments, the first section 60 excludes the second plurality of strands 63 and the second section 62 excludes the first plurality of strands 61. A connection 40 between sections 60, 62 of a cable 26 can be configured as described with respect to the connection 40 between portions 34, 36 of bowstring 30, for example comprising loops.

In some embodiments, an accessory such as an arrow rest 72 is attached to the bow 10. In some embodiments, an accessory such as an arrow rest 72 is attached to the riser 12. In some embodiments, an accessory such as an arrow rest 72 comprises an action cable 74 arranged to cause an action in the accessory, such as motion of an arrow support. In some embodiments, the action cable 74 is attached to a power cable 26. In some embodiments, the action cable 74 extends through a loop of a connection 40. In some embodiments, the action cable 74 extends through a loop in the second section 62 of the cable 26. In some embodiments, the action cable 74 contacts a loop of the first section 60 of the cable 26.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a bowstring 30 and an embodiment of an accessory 70, such as a vibration damper. In some embodiments, an accessory 70 is positioned between the first group of strands 54 and the second group of strands 56. In some embodiments, the accessory 70 is supported by the bowstring 30.

In some embodiments, an archery bow 10 comprises a non-compound bow, wherein the bowstring 30 comprises terminal loops attached directly to the limbs.

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.