Bow suspension system

Abstract

A suspension system is provided for dampening vibrational energy and noise in an archery bow. The suspension system includes an axle shaft. A rotating member is rotatably coupled to the axle shaft and defines a string groove. A string partially extends along the string groove. The string has an over molded portion contacting the string groove for decoupling the string from the string groove to dampen vibrational energy and noise generated during each shot of the archery bow.

1 . A suspension system for dampening vibrational energy and noise in an archery bow, said suspension system comprising: 
 an axle shaft;    a rotating member rotatably coupled to said axle shaft and defining a string groove; and    a string partially extending along said string groove, said string having an over molded portion contacting said string groove for decoupling said string from said string groove to dampen vibrational energy and noise generated during each shot of the archery bow.    
     
     
         2 . A suspension system for dampening vibrational energy and noise in an archery bow having a string, said suspension system comprising: 
 an axle shaft;    a rotating member rotatably coupled to said axle shaft and having a string groove; and    an over molding coupled to said rotating member along said string groove for decoupling said rotating member from the string to dampen vibrational energy generated by the string.    
     
     
         3 . A method for over molding a string of an archery bow with a molding material via a mold, the method comprising the steps of: 
 placing the string inside the mold;    applying tension to the string; and    introducing the molding material into the mold to form at least one over molded portion along the string.    
     
     
         4 . A method as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the step of applying tension to the string occurs prior to the step of introducing the molding material into the mold to form at least one over molded portion along the string.  
     
     
         5 . A method for over molding a wheel, having a body including a plurality of interlocking flow ports and a string groove, with a molding material via a mold, the method comprising the steps of: 
 placing the body inside the mold;    introducing the molding material into the mold for entry inside the interlocking flow ports; and    curing the molding material to form an over molding interlocked in place over the body and along the string groove.    
     
     
         6 . A method of over molding a cam, having a body including a plurality of interlocking ports and a string groove, with a molding material via a mold, the method comprising the steps of: 
 placing the body inside the mold;    introducing the molding material into the mold for passage within the interlocking ports; and    curing the molding material to form an over molding interlocked with the string groove.    
     
     
         7 . An archery bow for decoupling a string and harness load from a riser, said archery bow comprising: 
 a limb adapted to be coupled to the riser and having a fork opposite the riser, said fork defining a pair of spaced apart housings each having an interior;    an interlocking hub disposed within said interior of each of said spaced apart housings; and    a suspension device over molded onto said housing and interlockingly engaging said interlocking hub for decoupling at least a portion of the string and harness load from the riser.    
     
     
         8 . An archery bow as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said suspension device is formed from an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         9 . An archery bow for decoupling a string and harness load from a riser, said archery bow comprising: 
 a limb adapted to be coupled to the riser, said limb having a fork including a pair of spaced apart limb tips;    a limb tip housing fixedly secured to each of said spaced apart limb tips, said limb tip housing defining a cavity; and    a suspension device over molded onto each of said limb tip housings and disposed within said cavity for decoupling at least a portion of the string and harness load from the riser.    
     
     
         10 . An archery bow as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said suspension device is formed from an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         11 . An archery bow as set forth in  claim 10  wherein each of said limb tip housings includes an interlocking hub within said cavity in interlocking engagement with said suspension device.  
     
     
         12 . An archery bow as set forth in  claim 11  including an interlocking hub retainer disposed within said cavity for retaining said interlocking hub in place as said suspension device is molded thereto.  
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing an archery bow suspension system, including a limb, a fork defining a pair of spaced apart housings, and a suspension device, from a billet and at least one billet portion, the method comprising the steps of: 
 forming the limb including the fork defining the pair of spaced apart housings from the billet and the at least one billet portion;    placing one of the interlocking hubs inside each of the housings; and    over molding the suspension device onto each of the housings in interlocking engagement with the interlocking hub.    
     
     
         14 . A method as set forth in  claim 13  including the step of securing the at least one billet portions to one end of the billet prior to the step of forming the limb including the fork defining the pair of spaced apart housings from the billet and at least one billet portion.  
     
     
         15 . A suspension system for dampening vibrational energy in an archery bow having a riser and an axle shaft, said suspension system including: 
 a main limb body having one end operably coupled to the riser and an opposing end having at least one limb tip;    at least one limb tip housing disposed along the axle shaft and coupled to said limb tip; and    a suspension device disposed between said limb tip housing and said limb tip for decoupling said main limb body from said limb tip housing to dampen vibrational energy generated at the axle shaft.    
     
     
         16 . A suspension system for decoupling the load generated from either of a string and a cable and harness system of an archery bow, said suspension system comprising: 
 a riser defining a suspension housing;    a cable guard rod extending between said riser and the cable and harness system; and    a suspension device disposed within said suspension housing for decoupling said cable guard rod from said riser for dampening vibration generated by at least one of the string and cable and harness system during each shot of the archery bow.    
     
     
         17 . A suspension system as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said suspension housing includes a plurality of interlocking openings for interlocking engagement with said suspension device.  
     
     
         18 . A suspension system for decoupling the load generated from a cable and harness system of an archery bow, said suspension system comprising: 
 a riser;    a cable guard arm extending out from said riser;    a cable guard slide disposed along said cable guard arm; and    a suspension device disposed between said cable guard slide and said cable guard arm for decoupling said cable guard slide from said cable guard arm to dampen vibration generated at the cable and harness system.    
     
     
         19 . A suspension system for an archery bow having a riser and a cable and harness system, said suspension system comprising: 
 a cable guard arm extending out from the riser and operably connected to the cable and harness system, said cable guard arm having an elongated outer core and an elongated inner core received within an elongated outer core; and    a suspension device disposed between said elongated outer and inner cores for decoupling the riser from the cable and harness system to dampen vibrations generated during each shot of the archery bow.    
     
     
         20 . A suspension system as set forth in  claim 19  wherein said suspension device is formed from an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         21 . A suspension system as set forth in  claim 20  wherein each of said elongated outer and inner cores is formed from a solid, non-elastomeric material.  
     
     
         22 . A suspension system for an archery bow comprising: 
 a riser;    a roller arm extending out from said riser;    a cable and harness system operably connected to said roller arm; and    a suspension device secured to said roller arm and receiving said cable and harness system therealong for decoupling said cable and harness system from said riser to dampen vibration during each shot of the archery bow.    
     
     
         23 . A suspension system for an archery bow comprising: 
 a riser;    an axle shaft;    a limb having one end operably coupled to said riser and an opposing end adjacent said axle shaft; and    a suspension device disposed about said axle shaft for decoupling said limb from said axle shaft to dampen vibrations generated by said axle shaft during each shot of the archery bow.    
     
     
         24 . A suspension system as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said suspension device includes a suspension housing disposed along said axle shaft.  
     
     
         25 . A suspension system as set forth in  claim 24  wherein said suspension device includes a ball bearing encased within said suspension housing and disposed along said axle shaft.  
     
     
         26 . A suspension system for an archery bow comprising: 
 a riser:    an axle shaft;    a limb having one end operably coupled to said riser and an opposite end receiving said axle shaft therethrough, said limb having a clearance hole for allowing said axle shaft to float relative to said limb; and    a suspension device disposed about said axle shaft for decoupling said limb from said axle shaft to dampen vibrations generated by said axle shaft during each shot of the archery bow.    
     
     
         27 . A suspension system for an archery bow having a riser and a rotating member, said suspension system comprising: 
 a lower limb portion operably coupled to the riser;    an upper limb portion operably coupled to the rotating member; and    a suspension device disposed between said upper and lower limb portions for decoupling the rotating member from the riser for dampening vibrational energy during each shot of the archery bow.