Bow limb retaining system

1. A bow limb retaining assembly comprising:

a retainer having a first limb pocket, the first limb pocket comprising a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface opposed to the first lateral surface, the first lateral surface comprising an interlocking portion comprising a protrusion or recess; and

a first bow limb having a tension surface, a compression surface and first and second outer sides, the first outer side comprising a first limb interlocking portion;

the first lateral surface interlocking portion configured to matingly engage the first limb interlocking portion.

2. The bow limb retaining assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first limb pocket further comprises a first abutting surface and a second abutting surface, the first abutting surface contacting the compression surface and the second abutting surface contacting the tension surface.

3. The bow limb retaining assembly of claim 2 , wherein a first length portion of the retainer includes the first abutting surface and excludes the second abutting surface, and a second length portion of the retainer includes the second abutting surface and excludes the first abutting surface.

4. The bow limb retaining assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first limb pocket defines an open space between the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface.

5. The bow limb retaining assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said first lateral surface is non-parallel to at least a portion of said second lateral surface.

6. The bow limb retaining assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first lateral surface interlocking portion comprises a protrusion and a recess.

7. The bow limb retaining assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retainer further comprises a second limb pocket, the second limb pocket having a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface opposed to the first lateral surface, the first lateral surface comprising an interlocking portion and the second lateral surface comprising an interlocking portion; and

a second bow limb comprising a first limb interlocking portion and a second limb interlocking portion;

the first lateral surface interlocking portion of the second limb pocket configured to matingly engage the first limb interlocking portion of the second bow limb, the second lateral surface interlocking portion of the second limb pocket configured to matingly engaged the second limb interlocking portion of the second bow limb.

8. The bow limb retaining assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface form a tapered portion.

9. The bow limb retaining assembly of claim 8 , wherein the interlocking portions of the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface form a reverse-tapered portion, said reverse-tapered portion tapering in a direction opposite the tapered portion.

10. A bow limb retaining assembly comprising:

a limb having lateral sides, a tension surface and a compression surface; and

a retainer comprising a first lateral surface, a second lateral surface opposite said first lateral surface, a first abutting surface arranged to contact the compression surface of the limb and a second abutting surface arranged to contact the tension surface of the limb;

a portion of said retainer comprising a cavity arranged to receive said limb, said cavity defined by said first lateral surface, said second lateral surface, said second abutting surface and an aperture located opposite said second abutting surface;

wherein said aperture is sized to allow a portion of said limb to pass through said aperture as said limb is inserted into said cavity, said first lateral surface comprises an interlocking portion comprising a protrusion or recess, and at least one of said lateral sides of said limb comprises a complimentary interlocking portion.

11. The bow limb retaining assembly of claim 10 , wherein said first lateral surface interlocking portion comprises a protrusion and a recess.

12. An archery bow comprising:

a riser;

a retainer attached to the riser, the retainer comprising a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface, the first lateral surface comprising a protrusion; and

a limb comprising a first side surface and a second side surface, the first side surface comprising a recess, a portion of the limb oriented between the first lateral surface and a second lateral surface of the retainer, the protrusion of the retainer engaging the recess of the limb.

13. The archery bow of claim 12 , the second lateral surface of the retainer comprising a second protrusion, the second side surface of the limb comprising a second recess, the second protrusion of the retainer engaging the second recess of the limb.

14. The archery bow of claim 13 , wherein the protrusion and the second protrusion are aligned with one another along a length of the limb.

15. The archery bow of claim 13 , the retainer comprising a third lateral surface and a fourth lateral surface, the third lateral surface comprising a third protrusion, the bow comprising a second limb, the second limb comprising a third side surface and a fourth side surface, the third side surface comprising a third recess, a portion of the second limb oriented between the third lateral surface and the fourth lateral surface of the retainer, the third protrusion engaging the third recess.

16. The archery bow of claim 15 , wherein the protrusion, second protrusion and the third protrusion are aligned with one another.

17. The archery bow of claim 15 , the fourth lateral surface of the retainer comprising a fourth protrusion, the fourth side surface of the second limb comprising a fourth recess, the fourth protrusion engaging the fourth recess.

18. The archery bow of claim 12 , the limb comprising a tension surface, the retainer abutting the tension surface.

19. The archery bow of claim 12 , the archery bow further comprising:

a second retainer attached to the riser, the second retainer comprising a third lateral surface and a fourth lateral surface, the third lateral surface comprising a protrusion; and

a second limb comprising a third side surface and a fourth side surface, the third side surface comprising a third recess, a portion of the second limb oriented between the third lateral surface and the fourth lateral surface of the second retainer, the third protrusion engaging the third recess.

20. The archery bow of claim 19 , the fourth lateral surface of the second retainer comprising a fourth protrusion, the fourth side surface of the second limb comprising a fourth recess, the fourth protrusion engaging the fourth recess.