BOW IMPROVEMENTS

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/602,943, filed Nov. 27, 2023, entitled “BOW IMPROVEMENTS”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Various aspects of the present invention relate generally to bows and specifically to bows for archery, hunting, and sport.

A reflex bow is a bow that has curved or curled arms which turn away from the archer throughout their length. When unstrung, the entire length of the bow curves forward from a belly of the bow (i.e., away from the archer), resembling a “C”. This differentiates a reflex bow from a recurve bow in which only the outer parts of the limbs turn away from the archer. The curves put the bow under greater stress, allowing a rather short bow to have a high draw weight and a long draw length, which allows a bow that is significantly shorter than a recurve or a longbow to shoot with the same or greater velocity and power.

A deflex bow is a bow that has arms curved or curled at the base, to turn towards the archer when unstrung. This bow form reduces the strain on the limbs and also the energy stored by the weapon. Most modern traditional recurve bows are built with some degree of deflex.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to aspects of the present disclosure, a bow comprises a riser with a fulcrum post, a removable fulcrum coupled to the fulcrum post, a bow limb, and a floating limb bracket. The floating limb bracket includes a removable fastener that detachably couples the floating limb bracket to the riser and allows adjustment of the floating limb bracket to the riser to accommodate different sized removable fulcrums coupled to the fulcrum post. The different sized removable fulcrums result in different poundage required to draw the bow.

According to further aspects of the present disclosure, a bow comprises a riser, a bow limb coupled to the riser, a bow string, and a bow cam coupled to the riser. The bow cam includes a channel for the bow string and does not couple directly to the bow limb. Further, the bow includes a power module comprising a power cam and a power string. The power string couples between the bow cam and the limb, and the power cam couples to the bow cam. The power cam has a channel that accommodates a portion of the power string, and the channel faces away from a center of the riser (creating an inverted power module). The power string and the bow string are not the same string, so they are separate from each other, even though they work in tandem to make the bow function.

According to more aspects of the present disclosure, a bow comprises a riser, a bow limb coupled to the riser, a bow string, and a bow cam. The bow cam is coupled to the riser, includes a channel for the bow string, and does not couple directly to the bow limb. Further, a timing wheel coupled to the riser includes a channel that accommodates a portion of a timing string, where the timing string is separate from the bow string.

According to more aspects of the present disclosure, A bow comprises a riser with a fulcrum post, a removable fulcrum coupled to the fulcrum post; a bow limb, and a floating limb bracket. The floating limb bracket includes a removable fastener that detachably couples the floating limb bracket to the riser and allows adjustment of the floating limb bracket to the riser to accommodate different sized removable fulcrums coupled to the fulcrum post. The different sized removable fulcrums result in different poundage required to draw the bow. The bow further includes a bow string and a bow cam coupled to the riser. The bow cam includes a channel for the bow string and does not couple directly to the bow limb. Moreover, the bow includes a power module with a power string including a first end that couples to the bow cam and a power cam coupled to the bow cam. The power cam has a channel that accommodates a portion of the power string, and the channel faces away from a center of the riser (creating an inverted power module). The power string and the bow string are not the same string, so they are separate from each other, even though they work in tandem to make the bow function. Also, the bow includes a timing wheel coupled to the riser. The timing wheel includes a channel that accommodates a portion of a timing string, and the timing string, the bow string, and the power string are all independent from each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is drawing illustrating an embodiment of a bow with a floating limb bracket, adjustable fulcrums, a separate timing module, inverted power modules, and separate bow and power strings, according to various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating an embodiment of the floating limb bracket and the adjustable fulcrums of the embodiment of the bow of FIG. 1, according to various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating an embodiment of the inverted power module of the embodiment of the bow of FIG. 1, according to various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a photograph of an embodiment of the bow of FIG. 1, according to aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a drawing of a first adjustment portion of an embodiment of a power cam, according to aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a drawing of a second adjustment portion of the embodiment of the power cam associated with the first adjustment portion of FIG. 5, according to aspects of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 7 is a drawing an embodiment of a crossbow including embodiments of the cam modules, power modules, and timing modules discussed herein, according to aspects of the present disclosure;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A bow is disclosed that has improvements over existing bows used for hunting, target shooting, or both. For example, as described herein, the improvements include a floating limb bracket that allows limbs to be removed from a riser of the bow yet does not require a specific fulcrum size. In existing bows, the limb bracket is a pocket on the riser that is non-detachable. However, such a pocket limits the size of fulcrum that may be used with the bow. As such, the floating limb bracket allows for more customizable options of the bow to allow for different draws.

As another example of improvements described herein, a power module of the bow couples to the riser and is separate from a bow string of the bow. In existing bows, the power module couples to the limb of the bow and uses the bow string. By separating the power module from the blow limb and the bow string, the limbs do not need to accelerate the modules and cams. Thus, there is a faster release by separating the power module from the bow limb and the bow string.

A further example of an improvement to existing bows provided herein includes a timing module that is separate from the bow string. Traditional bows use the bow string for synchronizing the bow. However, the improvements discussed herein do not require the bow to be resynchronized when the bow string stretches, because the sync module is independent of the bow string.

Turning now to the figures, and in particular FIG. 1, a bow 100 is illustrated. The bow 100 includes a riser 102, a first bow limb 104, and a second bow limb 106. A removable first fulcrum 108 couples to the riser 102 via a first fulcrum post 110. While not shown in FIG. 1, there is also a complementary removable first fulcrum and fulcrum post. Further, a removable second fulcrum 112 couples to the riser 102 via a second fulcrum post 114. While not shown in FIG. 1, there is also a complementary removable second fulcrum coupled to the riser 102 via a complementary second fulcrum post another side of the riser 102. The bow 100 further includes a bow string 116. As shown in FIG. 1, the riser 102 is solid. However, the riser 102 may be tessellated, include spaces, etc. In some embodiments, the fulcrums are not removable.

A first floating limb bracket 120 couples the first limb 104 to the riser 102, as is discussed herein. Likewise, a second floating limb bracket 122 couples the second limb 106 to the riser 102, as is discussed herein. As discussed above, the floating limb bracket allows for more customizable options of the bow to allow for different draws than a traditional bow.

The bow 100 also includes a first bow cam 124 and a second bow cam 126. The bow cams 124, 126 do not couple directly to their respective bow limbs 104, 106, but are coupled to the riser 102. Further, the bow cams 124, 126 each include a channel 128, 130 for the bow string 116 to reside. Also, the bow string 116 terminates at the bow cams 124, 126 and does not couple directly to the bow limbs 104, 106.

Moreover, the bow 100 includes a first power module 132 coupled to the riser 102 as opposed to coupling to the first limb 104. Moreover, the bow 100 includes a second power module 134 coupled to the riser 102 as opposed to coupling to the second limb 106. The first power module 132 includes a first power cam 136 and a first power string 138. At a first end 140, the first power string 138 couples to the first bow cam 124, and a portion of the first power string 138 resides in a channel (144, see FIG. 3) of the power cam 136 to couple to the first bow limb 104. In many embodiments, the channel 144 faces away from a center of the riser 102, which makes the power module an “inverted power module” when compared to a traditional power module. Moreover, the power string 136 is separate from the bow string 116. The other end of the bow 100 includes the 134 second power module 146 that functions similarly to the first power module.

Further, the first and second power cams 136, 146 each include a set of holes 148a-h (see FIG. 3) spaced in an arc along the power cam 136, 146. Via use of these holes 148a-h and a bolt (or peg) 150, the user can adjust a power of the bow 100. The user aligns one of the holes 148 with a corresponding hole in the bow cam and places the bolt 150 into the hole 148 (in FIG. 3, the bolt 150 is in hole 148a) such that the bolt is in the hole 148 of the power cam and in the hole of the power cam. Thus, the power cam is coupled to the bow cam. However, if the user wants to change a draw length of the bow, the user removes the bolt 150, rotates the power cam so another hole 148 lines up with the hole on the bow cam, and reattaches the bolt 150.

Moreover, the bow 100 includes timing modules that are separate from the power modules discussed above. In such embodiments, the bow 100 includes a first timing wheel 160 and a second timing wheel 162 with a timing string 164 looped between the two timing wheels 160, 162. To stay coupled to the timing wheels 160, 162, the timing string 164 rests in channels on the timing wheels 160, 162. As the timing string 164 is separate from the bow string 116, the bow 100 does not need to be resynchronized when the bow string 116 stretches. Thus, the bow 100 remains synchronized longer than traditional bows. Moreover, if the timing string 164 stretches, then the effect will be the same on both the top and bottom of the bow 100, so the bow 100 remains synchronized. In some embodiments, the timing string 564 is two separate strings that are each coupled to both of the two timing wheels 160, 162.

The three separate systems (i.e., power modules, timing wheels, and bow) have strings isolated from each other. Thus, stretching of any of the strings will not affect the other strings. For example, as a user draws and releases the bow string 116, the bow string 116 can stretch. By having a separate timing string, stretching in the bow string 116 will not require the bow 100 to be resynchronized. Further, by moving the power modules and bow cams to the riser, when the bow string is released, only the bow limbs need to be accelerated to launch an arrow.

However, in traditional bows that include the power module and/or bow cams on the limbs, the power module and/or the bow cams must be accelerated as well, which provides a larger moment of inertia. Thus, with the same force, embodiments of the bow herein, fire an arrow faster than traditional bows. For example, it is contemplated that for the same pull weight, there will be an increase of 15-20% in flight speed of the arrow.

Floating Limb Bracket

Turning now to FIG. 2, a closer look at the floating limb bracket 120 is shown. The floating limb bracket 120 detaches from the riser 102 to be completely separated from the riser 102. A removable fastener (e.g., screw, bolt, etc.) 170 couples the floating limb bracket 120 to the riser 102. As shown in FIG. 2, the floating limb bracket 120 wraps around a portion of the bow limb 104. Friction from the floating limb bracket 120 and from the fulcrum 108 keep the bow limb 104 in place. Further, in FIG. 2 the bow limb 104 includes two arms 172, 174, which allows a portion of the riser 102 to fit between the arms 172, 174 of the limb 104, which stabilizes the limb 104 in a transverse direction via two points of contact in the transverse direction: the place where the fastener 170 couples the limb 104 to the riser, and the portion of the riser between the arms of the limb.

Further, the bow 100 includes a removable fulcrum 108 that rests on the fulcrum post 110 as discussed herein. There is another fulcrum and fulcrum post on the other side of the bow 100 that interacts with the second arm 174 in the same way as the fulcrum 108 and fulcrum post 110 shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, there are four removable fulcrums and four fulcrum posts on the bow (two on each end of the riser).

When the limb 104 is removed from the riser 102 (by removing or loosening the floating limb bracket 120 and fastener 170), the fulcrum 108 can be removed from the fulcrum post 110 and a fulcrum with a different radius can be coupled to the fulcrum post to change the action of the bow 100 during use. For example, a larger radius on the fulcrum will provide a higher preload (i.e., compression on the limb before the bow is used in operation) on the bow 100, while a smaller radius fulcrum will provide a lower preload on the bow 100. As such a user can adjust the preload of the bow. In traditional bows with limb pockets (as opposed to the floating limb brackets as described herein), the fulcrums cannot be removed and replaced with fulcrums of different radii.

Inverted Power Module

FIG. 3 is a closeup of an inverted power module 132 of the bow 100 for greater detail. As discussed above, the power module 132 (including the cams and strings) is inverted and separate from the bow string 116. As opposed to traditional bows that usually rely on the bow cam and the power cams to be the same cam (thus using one string for the power strings and the bow string), the inverted power modules 132 include a power cam 136 separate from the bow cam 124 and a power string 138 that couples the bow cam 124 to the bow limb. Thus, the bow string 116 does not couple directly to the limbs of the bow 100.

As discussed above, the channel 144 faces away from a center of the riser 102, which makes the power module an “inverted power module” when compared to a traditional power module. Moreover, the power string 138 is separate from the bow string 116. As discussed above, the adjustment holes 146a-h allow a user to change a draw weight (poundage) of the bow 100. While eight adjustment holes are shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, any number of adjustment holes may be present.

In many embodiments, the power module may include dual power cams, one on each side of the bow string cam. With a two-portioned bow limb, each portion is coupled to one of the power cams of the dual power cam. Thus, when the bow string is pulled, the portions of the bow limbs can be pulled past the bow string cam, allowing for a farther pull length than what would be allowed with a similar bow of the same size.

In some embodiments, the inverted power module 132 includes a cam portion 136 (see FIGS. 5-6) and an adjustment portion 230. A user can loosen fasteners 232 that keep the adjustment portion 230 fastened to allow the user to rotate a first adjustment portion 234 (FIG. 5) with relative to a second adjustment portion 236 (FIG. 6) to adjust the power (i.e., draw strength) of the bow. Therefore, a user does not need to change string positions on the power module, as the adjustment results from rotating the portions 234 and 236 relative to each other.

In some embodiments, the timing string is actually two separate timing strings, where a first timing string starts at a first timing cam, looping, and ending at a second timing cam at an opposite end of the bow. The second timing string starts at the second timing cam, looping, and ending at the first timing cam. This two-string timing string provides an Advantage over simple, single timing string. With a single timing string, when the timing string stretches, there is much care required to tune the bow, because adjustments to the single timing string affects both timing cams. However, a dual timing string allows adjustment of just one timing cam, which makes the bow easier to tune. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 10,267,589 filed Sep. 8, 2017, granted Apr. 23, 2019, entitled RISER CAM BOW by Nicholas Snook, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

As discussed above, the riser 102 may be solid or include gaps (e.g., regular gaps, irregular gaps, etc.). Further, the riser 102 may be one integral piece or may be several pieces aggregated together. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the aggregated riser 102 includes a central, base portion 102a and two flank portions 102b, 102c that removably couple to the base portion 102a to create the riser 102. With the aggregated riser, the various modules of the bow 100 may be adjusted without special tools. As shown in FIG. 4, there are three sections to the aggregated riser. However, any number of sections may be used (e.g., 5, 7, 8, etc.). Note further that FIG. 4 includes a circular bow cam 124, 126 as opposed to a non-circular shape of the bow cams 124, 126 of FIG. 1.

With the improvements discussed herein (e.g., floating limb bracket, adjustable fulcrums, separate timing module, separate power module, separate bow string, aggregated riser, etc.) embodiments of the bow are not required to be resynchronized when the bow string or timing string stretches. Further, the bow can provide more acceleration than traditional bows, because the cams (power and bow cams) are coupled to the riser instead of the bow limbs themselves. Moreover, the preload on the bow can be further adjusted by adjusting radii of the fulcrums. Embodiments of the bow described herein include a reflex-bow-shaped riser, but the bow functions as a deflex bow.

Crossbow

FIG. 7 illustrates a variant of the bow as a crossbow 700. Similar to the bows of the figures above, the crossbow 700 includes a first bow limb 704 and a second bow limb 706. However, due to the nature of the crossbow 700, the riser is two separate portions 702a, 702b, which allows a crossbow bolt to proceed unhindered when firing as discussed below. The crossbow 700 may include the floating limb brackets described above (the fulcrums 108, 112 and fulcrum posts 110, 114 of the bows 100 discussed above in FIGS. 1-4). The crossbow 700 further includes a bow string 716. Note that the formation of the crossbow 700 includes the bowstring 716 being further away from a user than a traditional crossbow.

The crossbow 700 also includes a first bow cam 724 and a second bow cam 726. The bow cams 724, 726 do not couple directly to their respective bow limbs 704, 706 but are coupled to their respective riser portions 702a-b. Further, the bow cams 724, 726 each include a channel 728, 730 for the bow string 716 to reside. Also, the bow string 716 terminates at the bow cams 724, 726 and does not couple directly to the bow limbs 704, 706.

Moreover, the crossbow 700 includes a first power module 732 coupled to the first portion of the riser 702a as opposed to coupling to the first limb 704 itself. Further, the crossbow 700 includes a second power module 734 coupled to the second portion of the riser 702b as opposed to coupling to the second limb 706 itself. The first power module 732 includes a first power cam 736 and a first power string 738. At a first end 740, the first power string 738 couples to the first bow cam 724, and a portion of the first power string 738 resides in a channel of the power cam 736 to couple to the first bow limb 704. The crossbow further includes a second power cam 746 with a power string 748. At a first end 750, the second power string 748 couples to the second bow cam 734, and a portion of the second power string 748 resides in a channel of the power cam 746 to couple to the second bow limb 706. The power modules 732, 734 of the crossbow 700 function similarly to the power 132, 134 of the bows 100 discussed and the specific references to the power modules 132, 134, and the power cams 136, 146 of FIG. 3.

Moreover, the crossbow 700 includes timing modules that are separate from the power modules discussed above. In such embodiments, the crossbow 700 includes a first timing wheel 760 and a second timing wheel 762 with a timing string 764 looped between the two timing wheels 760, 762 and through a cutout 768 in the crossbow 700. To stay coupled to the timing wheels 760, 762, the timing string 764 rests in channels on the timing wheels 760, 762. As the timing string 764 is separate from the bow string 716, the crossbow 700 does not need to be resynchronized when the bow string 716 stretches. Thus, the crossbow 700 remains synchronized longer than traditional crossbows. Moreover, if the timing string 764 stretches, then the effect will be the same on both the left and right sides of the crossbow 700, so the crossbow 700 remains synchronized. As with the bows discussed above, the timing string 764 may be two separate strings.

The riser portions 702a-b couple directly to a stock 770 that includes a recess 772 and a channel 774 that provides a place for a crossbow bolt (not shown) to guide the crossbow bolt as it is being released. While the bow cams 724, 726 of the crossbow 700 function similarly to the bow cams 124, 126 discussed above, there are a few differences. For example, the bow cams 724, 726 of the crossbow 700 are larger than the bow cams 124, 126 of the bows described above. As another example, to draw the bow string 716 of the crossbow 700, a user steps in a stirrup 776 at an end of the stock 770 and pulls the bow string 716 back such that the bow string 716 runs between the bow cams 724, 726. Thus, the bow string 716 is closer to the stirrup 776 than the bow limbs are, which is different than a conventional crossbow, where the bow limbs are closer to the stirrup 776 than the bow string 716 is to the stirrup 776.

In some embodiments, portions of the bow cams 724, 726 overlap the stock 770. Thus, when the bow string 716 is pulled back the distance between the closest portions of the bow cams is less than a width of the stock 770. Therefore, the bow string 716 is contained within an area of the stock 770 such that a user's fingers will not be between the bowstring 716 and the stock 770 when the crossbow 700 is being fired.

Further, as the bow string 716 is closer to the stirrup than conventional crossbows, when a crossbow bolt is fired from the crossbow 700, the crossbow bolt stays in the channel longer than a conventional crossbow and a longer crossbow bolt may be used.

The improvements discussed herein lead to an improved crossbow that allows a user to use longer crossbow bolts and that does not require that the crossbow to be resynchronized when the bow string or timing string stretches. Further, the crossbow can provide more acceleration than traditional crossbows, because the cams (power and bow cams) are coupled to the riser instead of the bow limbs themselves. Moreover, the bowstring being inside an area of the stock helps protect the user's fingers when using the crossbow.

Miscellaneous

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Aspects of the disclosure were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.