Crossover crossbow

Abstract

A crossbow includes a center rail defining a firing plane. First upper and lower flexible limbs are coupled to the center rail and include first free ends. Second upper and lower flexible limbs are coupled to the center rail and include second free ends. A first cam assembly is rotatably coupled to the first free ends. A second cam assembly is rotatably coupled to the second free ends. A draw string is coupled to the first cam assembly and the second cam assembly and extends across the center rail. First upper and lower power cables have first ends coupled to the first cam assembly and second ends coupled with the second upper and lower flexible limbs, respectively. Second upper and lower power cables have first ends coupled with the second cam assembly and second ends coupled with the first upper and lower flexible limbs, respectively.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A crossbow, comprising:
 a center rail defining a firing plane;   a riser mounted to the center rail;   a first upper flexible limb coupled to the riser and positioned to a first side of the center rail   a first lower flexible limb coupled to the riser and positioned to the first side of the center rail, the first lower flexible limb positioned vertically below the first upper flexible limb;   a second upper flexible limb coupled to the riser and positioned to a second side of the center rail;   a second lower flexible limb coupled to the riser and positioned to the second side of the center rail, the second lower flexible limb positioned vertically below the second upper flexible limb;   a first cam assembly rotatably coupled to the first upper flexible limb and the first lower flexible limb;   a second cam assembly rotatably coupled to the second upper flexible limb and the second lower flexible limb;   a draw string movable between a released configuration and a drawn configuration, the draw string coupled to the first cam assembly and the second cam assembly;   a pair of upper power cables including a first upper power cable coupled to the first cam assembly and a second upper power cable coupled to the second cam assembly, the first upper power cable and the second upper power cable positioned vertically above the firing plane; and   a pair of lower power cables including a first lower power cable coupled to the first cam assembly and a second lower power cable coupled to the second cam assembly, the first lower power cable and the second lower power cable positioned vertically above the firing plane.   
     
     
         22 . The crossbow of  claim 21 , wherein the first upper flexible limb and the first lower flexible limb include a fixed end coupled to the riser and a free end. 
     
     
         23 . The crossbow of  claim 22 , wherein the first cam assembly is coupled to the free end of the first upper flexible limb and the free end of the first lower flexible limb. 
     
     
         24 . The crossbow of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a string carrier slidably engaged with the center rail and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein:
 in the first position, the string carrier is configured to selectively engage the draw string with the draw string in the released configuration, and 
 in the second position, the string carrier is configured to selectively retain the draw string in the drawn configuration. 
   
     
     
         25 . The crossbow of  claim 24 , wherein the string carrier is positioned underneath the first upper power cable and the second upper power cable with the string carrier in the first position. 
     
     
         26 . The crossbow of  claim 21 , wherein the first cam assembly includes a first upper string guide defining an upper path and a first lower string guide defining a lower path;
 wherein, during operation of the crossbow as the draw string moves from the released configuration to the drawn configuration, the first upper power cable winds about the first upper string guide along the upper path; and   wherein, during operation of the crossbow as the draw string moves from the released configuration to the drawn configuration, the first lower power cable winds about the first lower string guide along the lower path.   
     
     
         27 . The crossbow of  claim 21 , wherein the first upper power cable is coupled to the second upper flexible limb, wherein the second upper power cable is coupled to the first upper flexible limb. 
     
     
         28 . The crossbow of  claim 27 , wherein the first lower power cable is coupled to the second lower flexible limb, wherein the second lower power cable is coupled to the first lower flexible limb. 
     
     
         29 . The crossbow of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a string carrier slidably engaged with the center rail and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein:
 in the first position, the string carrier is configured to selectively engage the draw string with the draw string in the released configuration, and 
   
       in the second position, the string carrier is configured to selectively retain the draw string in the drawn configuration. 
     
     
         30 . The crossbow of  claim 29 , wherein the string carrier is positioned underneath the first upper power cable and the second upper power cable with the string carrier in the first position. 
     
     
         31 . The crossbow of  claim 21 , wherein the first cam assembly and the second cam assembly are configured such that when the draw string is in the drawn configuration, an included angle of the draw string to a respective tangent point of the first cam assembly and the second cam assembly is about 3 degrees to about 7 degrees. 
     
     
         32 . A crossbow, comprising:
 a center rail defining a firing plane and a projectile axis;   a riser coupled to the center rail;   a string carrier movably coupled to the center rail between a first position and a second position;   a first flexible limb having a fixed end coupled to the center rail and a free end, the first flexible limb positioned to a first side of the center rail;   a second flexible limb having a fixed end coupled to the center rail and a free end, the second flexible limb positioned to a second side of the center rail opposite the first side of the center rail;   a first cam assembly rotatably coupled to the first flexible limb;   a second cam assembly rotatably coupled to the second flexible limb;   a draw string configured to wrap about the first cam assembly and the second cam assembly and move within the firing plane between a released configuration and a drawn configuration;   a pair of upper power cables positioned above the firing plane and extending over the projectile axis; and   a pair of lower power cables positioned above the firing plane and extending over the projectile axis;   wherein the string carrier is positioned vertically between the pair of upper power cables and the pair of lower power cables with the string carrier in the first position.   
     
     
         33 . The crossbow of  claim 32 , the first cam assembly and the second cam assembly respectively including a draw string journal in the firing plane, wherein the draw string unwinds from the draw string journal of the first cam assembly and the draw string journal of the second cam assembly as the draw string moves from the released configuration to the drawn configuration. 
     
     
         34 . The crossbow of  claim 32 , wherein the first cam assembly includes a first upper string guide defining an upper path and a first lower string guide defining a second path;
 wherein, during operation of the crossbow as the draw string moves from the released configuration to the drawn configuration, a first upper power cable of the pair of upper power cables winds about the first upper string guide along the upper path; and   wherein, during operation of the crossbow as the draw string moves from the released configuration to the drawn configuration, a first lower power cable of the pair of lower power cables winds about the first lower string guide along the second path.   
     
     
         35 . The crossbow of  claim 34 , wherein the upper path includes a helical path. 
     
     
         36 . The crossbow of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 a scope mount defining an opening, wherein the first upper power cable extends through the opening.   
     
     
         37 . The crossbow of  claim 36 , wherein an included angle of the draw string is less than 7 degrees with the draw string in the drawn configuration. 
     
     
         38 . A crossbow, comprising:
 a center rail defining a firing plane and a projectile axis;   a riser coupled to the center rail;   a first flexible limb having a fixed end coupled to the center rail and a free end, the first flexible limb on a first side of the center rail;   a second flexible limb having a fixed end coupled to the center rail and a free end, the second flexible limb on a second side of the center rail opposite the first side of the center rail;   a first cam assembly rotatably coupled to the first flexible limb;   a second cam assembly rotatably coupled to the second flexible limb;   a draw string configured to wrap about the first cam assembly and the second cam assembly and move within the firing plane between a released configuration and a drawn configuration;   a string carrier slidably engaged with the center rail and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein:
 in the first position, the string carrier is configured to selectively engage the draw string with the draw string in the released configuration, and 
   
       in the second position, the string carrier is configured to selectively retain the draw string in the drawn configuration; and
 a pair of power cables at least partially positioned above the firing plane and extending over the projectile axis; 
 wherein the string carrier is positioned vertically below the pair of power cables with the string carrier in the first position. 
 
     
     
         39 . The crossbow of  claim 38 , wherein the first cam assembly includes a first upper string guide defining an upper path;
 wherein, during operation of the crossbow as the draw string moves from the released configuration to the drawn configuration, a first upper power cable of the pair of power cables winds about the first upper string guide along the upper path.   
     
     
         40 . The crossbow of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 a scope mount defining an opening, wherein the first upper power cable extends through the opening.