Cable guard and guide for archery bows

Abstract

An archery bow includes a cable guard and an optional cable guide that holds a cable of the bow away from a plane in which a bowstring of the bow moves. The cable guard can define a bore, through which the cable is positioned, extending generally parallel to the bowstring when the bowstring is in an undrawn state. The cable guard bore can include a rounded opening to minimize abrasion to the cable. The cable guide can include a ceramic element having a rounded surface to minimize abrasion to the cable. The ceramic element can be included in an immovable or stationary cable guide, as well as an alternative cable guide including moving components, to engage and hold the cable away from the bowstring, while minimizing abrasion and / or friction on the cable.

Description

[0001]This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 564,508, filed Sep. 22, 2009, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 102,472, filed Oct. 3, 2008, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to archery bows, and more particularly to a cable guard and cable guide for archery bows.[0003]Conventional compound archery bows include a bowstring and a set of cables, usually an up cable and a down cable, to transfer energy from the limbs and cams or pulleys (which are both referred to generally as “cams” herein) of the bow to the bowstring, and thus an arrow shot from the bow. The cables and bowstring are strung from a cam on one limb to a cam on another limb. Typically, the bowstring is positioned very close to the cables due to the configuration of the cams. To avoid interference between the vanes of an arrow shot from the bowstring and the cables, most compound bows include cabl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]In another embodiment, the cable guard bore can include a rounded or radiused opening or inner surface to minimize abrasion to the cable as the cable moves when the bow is drawn or shot.

[0011]In yet another embodiment, the cable guide can include a low friction element constructed from materials, such as a ceramics, composites or polymers. The low friction element can be include a rounded or radiused surface, such as an edge that engages the cable. Optionally, the low friction element can be included in a stationary cable guide, having no moving components, to engage and hold the cable away from the bowstring, while minimizing abrasion and / or friction on the cable and while remaining in substantially the same position relative to a riser of the bow.

[0013]In a further embodiment, the cable guide can include a moveable component, such as a cable guide that slides or rotates relative to the cable guard, or a cable guide including a rotatable pulley mounted to the cable guard. The low friction element can be positioned between the cable and the moveable component to reduce abrasion to the cable.

[0014]The archery bow provided herein provides cable guards and optional cable guides that efficiently guide one or more cables of the bow. Where included, the low friction element can reduce wear on the cables and therefore increase cable life, as well as improve cable movement and performance.

Problems solved by technology

Although this construction provides effective cable clearance, over time, the cable guide can wear, leading to abrasion or other damage to the cables.

Moreover, the sliding movement of the cable guide on the cable guard can also cause wear to both structures, and can undesirably complicate the assembly.

Although this design provides effective cable guidance, it too includes moving parts that must be monitored for wear and surfaces that can cause premature wear or abrasion on the cables.

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