U.S. patent application number 12/270240 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-13 for titlting limb system for bows and crossbows and equipment formed therewith.
Invention is credited to Ermanno Malucelli.
Application Number | 20100116260 12/270240 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42164050 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100116260 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Malucelli; Ermanno |
May 13, 2010 |
TITLTING LIMB SYSTEM FOR BOWS AND CROSSBOWS AND EQUIPMENT FORMED
THEREWITH
Abstract
A coupling system for limbs (3) of archery devices (1) such as
bows and crossbows, includes a pair of limbs (3) joined at their
ends by a bowstring (4) which is used for loading the energy to be
released onto the arrow and to the center onto a support (2) of the
device. In this system, the limbs (3) are hinged to the support (2)
in such a manner as to be movable about an axis (A1) of a pin (5)
for fastening together the support (2) and the limbs (3); the axis
(A1) being perpendicular to the plane that passes through the limbs
(3) and the bowstring (4).
Inventors: |
Malucelli; Ermanno; (Terenzo
(Parma), IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
209 Madison Street, Suite 500
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
42164050 |
Appl. No.: |
12/270240 |
Filed: |
November 13, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/25.6 ;
124/88 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B 5/12 20130101; F41B
5/0026 20130101; F41B 5/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/25.6 ;
124/88 |
International
Class: |
F41B 5/14 20060101
F41B005/14; F41B 5/10 20060101 F41B005/10; F41B 5/12 20060101
F41B005/12 |
Claims
1. A coupling system for limbs (3) of archery devices (1) such as
bows and crossbows comprising a pair of limbs (3) joined at their
ends by a bowstring (4) which is used for loading the energy to be
released onto the arrow and to the center onto a support (2) of the
device, characterized in that said limbs (3) are hinged to the
support (2) in such a manner as to be movable about an axis (A1) of
a pin (5) for fastening together said support (2) and said limbs
(3); said axis (A1) being perpendicular to the plane that passes
through the limbs (3) and the bowstring (4).
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it
provides one or more pad means (6) interposed between the support
(2) and the limb (3) for absorbing part of the energy during the
return stroke of the limb.
3. An archery device (1), such as a bow or a crossbow, comprising a
pair of limbs (3) joined at their ends by a bowstring (4) which is
used for loading the energy to be released onto the arrow and to
the center onto a support (2) of the device, characterized in that
the limbs (3) are hinged to their support (2) by corresponding pins
(5) to pivot about the axis (A1) a few degrees forward (F1) upon
release of the string (4) and then reposition itself, during the
return stroke (F2), to abutment against the support (2), which acts
as an abutment member for the limbs (3), thereby preventing them
from excessively bending back to the center of the device (1) when
the bowstring (4) is drawn.
4. A device (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that it
comprises one or more pad means (6) between the support (2) and the
limb (3) for absorbing part of the energy during the return stroke
of the limb.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a tilting limb system for
bows and crossbows and equipment formed therewith.
[0002] At firing, the energy stored by a bow or crossbow is known
to be released through the arrow via the bowstring and onto the
central support for bidirectional connection with the limbs.
[0003] While energy is required to be released onto the arrow, it
should not be released onto the central support, because it
generates strong vibration, disturbing the shooter and damaging
with time the attitude and mechanical balance of the archery
device.
[0004] Manufacturers recommend to avoid firing without an arrow,
which could cause the limbs to break, because energy would be
entirely released onto the point of attachment of the limbs to the
support thereby creating a mechanical stress peak which causes them
to break.
[0005] At present, certain limbs installed on bows and crossbows,
of either recurve or compound type, are allowed some adjustment but
all are rigidly secured to the central support and remain integral
therewith at firing.
[0006] This problem may be obviated by using heavier arrows but, in
spite of the high energy they release, these arrows have a slow
flight with excessive parabolas, which is exactly the opposite of
what is currently desired: fast flight and straight trajectory.
[0007] The object of the present invention is to obviate the above
drawbacks by providing a novel limb fixation system for an archery
device, such as a bow or a crossbow, in which the limbs can tilt,
with a unidirectional connection to the central support, to ensure
self-absorption of the released energy, and protect the central
support from such effect.
[0008] The present limb fixation system achieves the following
advantages: [0009] no vibration for the shooter, [0010]
long-lasting reliable mechanical attitude of the archery device,
[0011] no limb failure in case of dry fire, [0012] possibility of
using arrows of any weight, [0013] improved performance with limbs
having the same geometry and power.
[0014] These objects and advantages are achieved by the coupling
system for limbs of archery devices such as bows and crossbows
according to this invention, which is characterized by the annexed
claims.
[0015] This and other features will be more apparent from the
following description of a few embodiments, which are shown by way
of example and without limitation in the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a general view of a crossbow having the limb
coupling system of the invention,
[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the limb elements
and their support,
[0018] FIG. 3 is a sectional view proximate the support/limb
coupling point,
[0019] FIG. 4 is a second sectional view proximate the support/limb
coupling point,
[0020] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of three limb arrangements at
firing,
[0021] FIG. 6 is a top view of the central area of the weapon as
shown in FIG. 1.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, numeral 1 generally designates an
archery device, namely a crossbow, having a limb disengagement
system of the present invention.
[0023] Hence, the crossbow 1 has a pair of limbs 3 mounted, as
described below, to a support 2, which is in turn integral with the
crossbow body; a bowstring 4 connects the ends of the limbs 3 and
allows energy to be released onto the arrow.
[0024] Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, these show in detail the
limb/support coupling system adapted to improve the performance of
the device 1 by self-absorption of the released energy and
protection of the central support 2 from such effect.
[0025] As shown in the figures, the limbs 3, and particularly the
hinges 7 for attachment of their ends, are coupled to the front of
the support 2 by appropriate means, such as screws 8.
[0026] Therefore, each hinge 7 is integral with the end of its
respective limb and is coupled to the support 2 by means of a pin
5, which allows it to pivot about the axis A1 of the pin for the
limb to tilt relative to the pin 5; each pin 5 (and hence the axis
A1) is obviously perpendicular to the plane that passes through the
limbs 3 and the bowstring 4.
[0027] Accordingly, by such coupling arrangement, the limbs are
allowed to pivot open through a few degrees forward, in the
direction of arrow F1, as the bowstring 4 is released and then move
back (in their return stroke) towards the support 2, in the
direction of arrow F2.
[0028] The above clearly shows that the support 2 acts as an
abutment for the limbs 3, to prevent them from excessively bending
towards the center of the device 1 when the bowstring 4 is drawn:
thus, the limbs 3 may flex at firing and be also retained by the
support 2 as if they were interlocked therewith whereas, upon
release (F1) they may pivot forwards through a certain angle and
accompany the arrow for a certain length of its trajectory.
[0029] One or more pad means 6 with the ability of absorbing part
of the stored energy, are provided to prevent impacts against the
support 2 during the return stroke.
[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, these show three different
arrangements C0, C1, C2 of the limbs 3 during the device loading
step (C1), the pushing and releasing step (C2) and the rest or
repositioning step (C0)
[0031] As shown from FIG. 5, the limb system as described above, as
compared with a bow of identical power and geometry, allows the
stroke to be increased by an amount C, which provides increased
thrust: the longer the stroke the faster the arrow.
[0032] The center-to-center A of the limbs 3 can decrease but not
increase, because it is limited by the maximum length of the
bowstring 4.
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