IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,209,234
Granted Patent B2
US 11,209,234 · App. 16/856,165 · Granted Dec 28, 2021

Interchangeable cam

Inventors: Gary Smith (East Canton, OH); Jacob Hout (Akron, OH); Dean Mook (Akron, OH)
Assignee: Hunter's Manufacturing Company, Inc.
F41B5/123F41B5/105F41G1/38
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,209,234
App. No.
16/856,165
Granted
Dec 28, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bow assembly may include bow limbs on opposite sides and a cam rotatably supported to each bow limb. In some embodiments, the cams on each limb may be identical. In other embodiments, each cam may have a stud on each side of the cam that may engage with the bowstring. In yet other embodiments, each cam may have a channel on each side of the cam that may engage with the bowstring.

Claims (122)

1. A bow assembly comprising:

a first bow limb positioned on a first side of the bow assembly;

a second bow limb positioned on a second side of the bow assembly opposite the first side of the bow assembly;

first and second cams, each having: 1) a cam axis; 2) a plate that: (a) is normal to the cam axis; (b) has a first surface defining a first side of the cam; (c) has a second surface opposite the first surface defining a second side of the cam; and (d) has a perimeter surface extending between the first and second surfaces having a bowstring channel to define a path of varying radius about the cam axis; 3) a first power cord channel positioned on the first side of the cam; and 4) a second power cord channel positioned on the second side of the cam;

a bowstring having first and second ends; and

first and second power cords;

wherein:

1) the first cam is supportable to the first bow limb and is rotatable with respect to the first bow limb about the cam axis of the first cam;

2) the second cam is supportable to the second bow limb and is rotatable with respect to the second bow limb about the cam axis of the second cam;

3) the first end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to the bowstring channel of the first cam;

4) the second end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to the bowstring channel of the second cam;

5) the first power cord is operatively engageable to at least one of: the first power cord channel of the first cam and the second power cord channel of the first cam;

6) the second power cord is operatively engageable to at least one of: the first power cord channel of the second cam and the second power cord channel of the second cam;

7) the first and second cams are identical;

8) the plate of the first cam defines a first plane;

9) the plate of the second cam defines a second plane;

10) the first cam is symmetric about the first plane; and

11) the second cam is symmetric about the second plane.

2. The bow assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the bow assembly is supported to a main beam defining a crossbow.

3. The bow assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the first cam includes a first stud positioned on the first side of the first cam and a second stud positioned on the second side of the first cam;

the second cam includes a first stud positioned on the first side of the second cam and a second stud positioned on the second side of the second cam;

the first end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to either one of the first stud of the first cam or the second stud of the first cam; and

the second end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to either one of the first stud of the second cam or the second stud of the second cam.

4. The bow assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the first cam includes a first channel in the plate that is open to the first surface of the first cam and to the bowstring channel of the first cam;

the first cam includes a second channel in the plate that is open to the second surface of the first cam and to the bowstring channel of the first cam;

the second cam includes a first channel in the plate that is open to the first surface of the second cam and to the bowstring channel of the second cam;

the second cam includes a second channel in the plate that is open to the second surface of the second cam and to the bowstring channel of the second cam;

the first end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to either one of the first or the second channels in the first cam; and

the second end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to either one of the first or the second channels in the second cam.

5. The bow assembly of claim 1 wherein:

a first through hole extends along the cam axis of the first cam; and

a second through hole extends along the cam axis of the second cam.

6. A bow assembly comprising:

a first bow limb positioned on a first side of the bow assembly;

a second bow limb positioned on a second side of the bow assembly opposite the first side of the bow assembly;

first and second cams, each having: 1) a cam axis; 2) a plate that: (a) is normal to the cam axis; (b) has a first surface defining a first side of the cam; (c) has a second surface opposite the first surface defining a second side of the cam; and (d) has a perimeter surface extending between the first and second surfaces having a bowstring channel to define a path of varying radius about the cam axis; 3) a first power cord channel positioned on the first side of the cam; and 4) a second power cord channel positioned on the second side of the cam;

a bowstring having first and second ends; and

first and second power cords;

wherein:

1) the first cam is supportable to the first bow limb and is rotatable with respect to the first bow limb about the cam axis of the first cam;

2) the second cam is supportable to the second bow limb and is rotatable with respect to the second bow limb about the cam axis of the second cam;

3) the first end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to the bowstring channel of the first cam;

4) the second end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to the bowstring channel of the second cam;

5) the first power cord is operatively engageable to at least one of: the first power cord channel of the first cam and the second power cord channel of the first cam;

6) the second power cord is operatively engageable to at least one of: the first power cord channel of the second cam and the second power cord channel of the second cam;

7) the first and second cams are identical;

8) the first power cord channel of the first cam includes a helical path;

9) the second power cord channel of the first cam includes a helical path;

10) the first power cord channel of the second cam includes a helical path; and

11) the second power cord channel of the second cam includes a helical path.

7. The bow assembly of claim 6 wherein:

the bow assembly is supported to a main beam defining a crossbow.

8. The bow assembly of claim 6 wherein:

the first cam includes a first stud positioned on the first side of the first cam and a second stud positioned on the second side of the first cam;

the second cam includes a first stud positioned on the first side of the second cam and a second stud positioned on the second side of the second cam;

the first end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to either one of the first stud of the first cam or the second stud of the first cam; and

the second end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to either one of the first stud of the second cam or the second stud of the second cam.

9. The bow assembly of claim 6 wherein:

the first cam includes a first channel in the plate that is open to the first surface of the first cam and to the bowstring channel of the first cam;

the first cam includes a second channel in the plate that is open to the second surface of the first cam and to the bowstring channel of the first cam;

the second cam includes a first channel in the plate that is open to the first surface of the second cam and to the bowstring channel of the second cam;

the second cam includes a second channel in the plate that is open to the second surface of the second cam and to the bowstring channel of the second cam;

the first end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to either one of the first or the second channels in the first cam; and

the second end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to either one of the first or the second channels in the second cam.

10. A bow assembly comprising:

a first bow limb positioned on a first side of the bow assembly;

a second bow limb positioned on a second side of the bow assembly opposite the first side of the bow assembly;

first and second cams, each having: 1) a cam axis; 2) a plate that: (a) is normal to the cam axis; (b) has a first surface defining a first side of the cam; (c) has a second surface opposite the first surface defining a second side of the cam; and (d) has a perimeter surface extending between the first and second surfaces having a bowstring channel to define a path of varying radius about the cam axis; 3) a first stud positioned on the first side of the cam; and 4) a second stud positioned on the second side of the cam; and

a bowstring having first and second ends;

wherein:

1) the first cam is supportable to the first bow limb and is rotatable with respect to the first bow limb about the cam axis of the first cam;

2) the second cam is supportable to the second bow limb and is rotatable with respect to the second bow limb about the cam axis of the second cam;

3) the first end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to the bowstring channel of the first cam and to either one of the first stud of the first cam or the second stud of the first cam; and

4) the second end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to the bowstring channel of the second cam and to either one of the first stud of the second cam or the second stud of the second cam.

11. The bow assembly of claim 10 wherein:

the bow assembly is supported to a main beam defining a crossbow.

12. The bow assembly of claim 10 wherein:

the plate of the first cam defines a first plane;

the plate of the second cam defines a second plane;

the first cam is symmetric about the first plane; and

the second cam is symmetric about the second plane.

13. The bow assembly of claim 10 wherein:

the first cam has a first power cord channel positioned on the first side of the first cam and a second power cord channel positioned on the second side of the first cam;

the second cam has a first power cord channel positioned on the first side of the second cam and a second power cord channel positioned on the second side of the second cam;

a first power cord is operatively engageable to at least one of: the first power cord channel of the first cam and the second power cord channel of the first cam; and

a second power cord is operatively engageable to at least one of: the first power cord channel of the second cam and the second power cord channel of the second cam.

14. The bow assembly of claim 10 wherein:

a first through hole extends along the cam axis of the first cam; and

a second through hole extends along the cam axis of the second cam.

15. A bow assembly comprising:

a first bow limb positioned on a first side of the bow assembly;

a second bow limb positioned on a second side of the bow assembly opposite the first side of the bow assembly;

first and second cams, each having: 1) a cam axis; 2) a plate that: (a) is normal to the cam axis; (b) has a first surface defining a first side of the cam; (c) has a second surface opposite the first surface defining a second side of the cam; and (d) has a perimeter surface extending between the first and second surfaces having a bowstring channel to define a path of varying radius about the cam axis; 3) a first channel positioned in the plate that is open to the first surface of the cam and to the bowstring channel of the cam; and 4) a second channel positioned in the plate that is open to the second surface of the cam and to the bowstring channel of the cam; and

a bowstring having first and second ends;

wherein:

1) the first cam is supportable to the first bow limb and is rotatable with respect to the first bow limb about the cam axis of the first cam;

2) the second cam is supportable to the second bow limb and is rotatable with respect to the second bow limb about the cam axis of the second cam;

3) the first end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to the bowstring channel of the first cam and to either one of the first or the second channels in the first cam; and

4) the second end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to the bowstring channel of the second cam and to either one of the first or the second channels in the second cam.

16. The bow assembly of claim 15 wherein:

the bow assembly is supported to a main beam defining a crossbow.

17. The bow assembly of claim 15 wherein:

the plate of the first cam defines a first plane;

the plate of the second cam defines a second plane;

the first cam is symmetric about the first plane; and

the second cam is symmetric about the second plane.

18. The bow assembly of claim 15 wherein:

the first cam has a first power cord channel positioned on the first side of the first cam and a second power cord channel positioned on the second side of the first cam;

the second cam has a first power cord channel positioned on the first side of the second cam and a second power cord channel positioned on the second side of the second cam;

a first power cord is operatively engageable to at least one of: the first power cord channel of the first cam and the second power cord channel of the first cam; and

a second power cord is operatively engageable to at least one of: the first power cord channel of the second cam and the second power cord channel of the second cam.

19. The bow assembly of claim 15 wherein:

the first cam includes a first stud positioned within the first channel of the first cam and a second stud positioned within the second channel of the first cam;

the second cam includes a first stud positioned within the first channel of the second cam and a second stud positioned within the second channel of the second cam;

the first end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to either one of the first stud of the first cam or the second stud of the first cam; and

the second end of the bowstring is operatively engageable to either one of the first stud of the second cam or the second stud of the second cam.

20. The bow assembly of claim 15 wherein:

a first through hole extends along the cam axis of the first cam; and

a second through hole extends along the cam axis of the second cam.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2023
From: HUNTER'S MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: PEOPLES BANK
Reel/Frame 064238/0306 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2022
From: HUNTER'S MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059514/0732 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16239821 · Jan 4, 2019
Provisional Application 62613980 · Jan 5, 2018
Related Publication 20200248981A1 · Aug 6, 2020
Cited By (4)
US 12,460,892 US 12,460,893 US 12,546,555 US 12,571,607