Granted Patent B2

US 8,425,820 · App. 11/520,350 · Granted Apr 23, 2013

Abstract

Claims (50)

1. A method for producing a riser for an archery bow, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a composite material comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a plurality of reinforcing fibers located therein, said thermoplastic polymer being distortable by heat;

extruding said composite material into sheets that approximate the peripheral shape of said riser;

assembling at least two of said sheets interfacially to form a billet;

forging said billet into a shape that approximates a shape of said riser; and

machining said billet to a final configuration of said riser;

wherein said polymer forms a matrix of said composite material and wherein said plurality of reinforcing fibers are substantially aligned in said matrix and wherein at least a portion of said fibers are long enough to extend from one end of said riser to the other.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising over-molding a coating over substantially all of the body of said riser in the final configuration to provide a damping function.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising incorporating a reinforcing structure between said at least two of said sheets.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said reinforcing structure is a spine, a cable, or a stamped plate.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising over-molding said reinforcing structure into said riser.

6. A method for producing a riser for an archery bow, said method comprising the steps of:

introducing a thermoplastic polymer into an extruder;

extruding said thermoplastic polymer into sheets that approximate the peripheral shape of said riser;

assembling at least two of said sheets interfacially to form a billet;

forging said billet into a shape that approximates a shape of said riser; and

machining said billet to a final configuration of said riser;

wherein said thermoplastic polymer is fiber-reinforced and distortable by heat; and

wherein at least a portion of said fibers are long enough to extend from one end of said riser to the other.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising over-molding at least one feature onto said riser.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising combining said thermoplastic polymer with wood to provide a desired finish.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising inserting a reinforcing element between said at least two of said sheets.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising incorporating an upper limb into said riser.

11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising incorporating a plate into said riser; and over-molding said plate into said riser.

12. A method for producing a riser for an archery bow, said method comprising the steps of:

introducing a heat distortable fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer into one end of a mold using an injection system that facilitates an alignment of said fibers in said mold;

molding said thermoplastic polymer to form a pre-formed billet;

causing at least a portion of said fibers to extend substantially from one end of said pre-formed billet to an opposing end of said pre-formed billet, at least a portion of said fibers being long enough to extend from one end of said pre-formed billet to the opposing end;

forging said pre-formed billet into a shape that approximates a peripheral shape of said riser;

machining said riser to form a feature of said riser; and

over-molding a feature onto said riser.

13. The method of claim 12 , further including incorporating a reinforcing structure into said riser.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising locating said reinforcing structure internally within said riser.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising locating said reinforcing structure externally on said riser.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising over-molding said reinforcing structure onto said riser.

17. A method for producing a riser for an archery bow, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a composite material comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a plurality of reinforcing fibers located therein, said thermoplastic polymer being distortable by heat;

extruding said composite material into sheets that approximate the peripheral shape of said riser;

assembling at least two of said sheets interfacially to form a billet;

incorporating a reinforcing structure between said at least two of said sheets;

forging said billet into a shape that approximates a shape of said riser; and

machining said billet to a final configuration of said riser;

wherein said polymer forms a matrix of said composite material and wherein said plurality of reinforcing fibers are substantially aligned in said matrix and wherein at least a portion of said fibers are long enough to extend from one end of said riser to the other.

18. A method for producing a riser for an archery bow, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a composite material comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a plurality of reinforcing fibers located therein, said thermoplastic polymer being distortable by heat;

extruding said composite material into sheets that approximate the peripheral shape of said riser;

assembling at least two of said sheets interfacially to form a billet;

stamping said billet into a shape that approximates a shape of said riser; and

machining said billet to a final configuration of said riser;

wherein said polymer forms a matrix of said composite material and wherein said plurality of reinforcing fibers are substantially aligned in said matrix and wherein at least a portion of said fibers are long enough to extend from one end of said riser to the other.

Assignments (8)