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.

1 . An archery bow comprising:
 a riser;   an upper limb and a lower limb joined with the riser;   a first cam rotatably joined with at least one of the upper and lower limbs;   a bowstring strung at least partially around the first cam and adapted to travel in a bowstring plane;   a first cable strung at least partially around the first cam;   a cable guard including a riser end and a cable end, the riser end joined with the riser, the cable guard joined with a cable guide that guides the first cable, the riser end including a first cross section, the cable end including a second cross section, the cable guard including a region between the riser and the cable end, the region being of a reduced cross section that is less than the first cross section and less than the second cross section, the reduced cross section enabling the cable guard to flex toward the plane in which the bowstring travels when the bow is drawn, wherein the first cable guided by the cable guide is subsequently enabled to move toward the bowstring plane when the bow is drawn so as to reduce the potential for the first cable to lean out of vertical alignment when the bow is drawn.   
   
   
       2 . The archery bow of  claim 1  wherein the riser end of the cable guard is joined directly with the riser. 
   
   
       3 . The archery bow of  claim 1  wherein the region is a central region located about midway between the riser end and the cable end. 
   
   
       4 . The archery bow of  claim 1  wherein the reduced cross section is about 75% of the first cross section. 
   
   
       5 . The archery bow of  claim 4  wherein the reduced cross section is about 75% of the second cross section. 
   
   
       6 . The archery bow of  claim 1  wherein the reduced cross section is about 50% of the first cross section. 
   
   
       7 . The archery bow of  claim 6  wherein the reduced cross section is about 50% of the second cross section. 
   
   
       8 . The archery bow of  claim 1  wherein the cable guard includes a longitudinal axis, wherein the cable end of the cable guard includes a guide portion that is at an offset angle relative to a longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       9 . The archery bow of  claim 8  wherein the cable guide is located in the guide portion, wherein the cable guide includes a moveable element. 
   
   
       10 . The archery bow of  claim 1  wherein the cable guide includes a rotating pulley that is offset at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the cable guard. 
   
   
       11 . The archery bow of  claim 1  wherein the cable guide includes a sliding element that slides along a path that is offset at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the cable guard. 
   
   
       12 . The archery bow of  claim 1  wherein the cable guard is constructed from metal. 
   
   
       13 . An archery bow comprising:
 a riser having an upper limb and a lower limb joined thereto;   a cam rotatably joined with at least one of the upper and lower limbs;   a bowstring strung at least partially around the first cam and adapted to travel in a bowstring plane;   a cable strung at least partially around the first cam;   a cable guard extending directly from the riser, the cable guard including a riser end and a cable end, the riser end joined with the riser, the cable guard joined with a cable guide that guides the first cable, the cable guard constructed from a combination of a first material and a second material, different from the first material, the combination of first and second materials enabling the cable guard to flex toward the plane in which the bowstring travels when the bow is drawn, wherein the first cable guided by the cable guide is subsequently enabled to move toward the bowstring plane when the bow is drawn so as to reduce the potential for the first cable to lean out of vertical alignment when the bow is drawn.   
   
   
       14 . The archery bow of  claim 13  wherein the first material is at least one of aluminum, magnesium, titanium and a composite. 
   
   
       15 . The archery bow of  claim 14  wherein the second material is at least one of aluminum, magnesium, titanium and a composite, but different from the first material. 
   
   
       16 . The archery bow of  claim 13  wherein the cable guard includes a rod, wherein the rod is constructed from the combination of the first material and the second material. 
   
   
       17 . The archery bow of  claim 14  wherein the rod extends at least partially along a longitudinal axis of the cable guard, wherein the cable end of the cable guard includes a guide portion that is an offset angle relative to a longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       18 . The archery bow of  claim 13  wherein the cable guard includes a longitudinal axis and wherein the cable guide includes a moveable element. 
   
   
       19 . The archery bow of  claim 18  wherein the moveable element is at least one of a rotating pulley that is offset at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cable guard and a sliding element that slides along a path that is offset at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cable guard. 
   
   
       20 . An archery bow comprising:
 a riser having an upper limb and a lower limb joined thereto;   a cam rotatably joined with at least one of the upper and lower limbs;   a bowstring strung at least partially around the first cam and adapted to travel in a bowstring plane;   a cable strung at least partially around the first cam; and   a cable guard extending rearwardly from the riser, the cable guard including a riser end and a cable end, the riser end joined with the riser, the cable end joined with a cable guide that guides the first cable,   wherein the cable guard is constructed from at least one composite material that enables the cable guard to flex toward the plane in which the bowstring travels when the bow is drawn, the cable guide being subsequently enabled to move toward the bowstring plane when the bow is drawn so as to reduce the potential for the first cable to lean out of vertical alignment when the bow is drawn.   
   
   
       21 . The archery bow of  claim 20  wherein the cable guide includes a rotating pulley, wherein the first cable is guided by the rotating pulley of the cable guide, and wherein the rotating pulley moves toward the bowstring plane when the bow is drawn. 
   
   
       22 . The archery bow of  claim 21  wherein the rotating pulley is offset at an angle relative to at least a portion of the cable guard.