Bow Cam Having Unique Cable Journals

Abstract

A cam for an archery bow having flat segmented power cable tracks or journals. The cam preferably includes five stacked journals sharing a common axis. The middle journal receivable for a bowstring with opposing mirrored and segmented cable journals above and below the bowstring journal plane. Alternately, the cam having three stacked journals; a bowstring journal and two segmented cable journals. A bowstring and cable(s) interact with the cam(s) and other components to fire a projectile, such as an arrow.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A crossbow comprising:
 first and second flexible bow limbs coupled to a riser;   a first cam coupled to the first bow limb and rotatable around a first axis, the first cam C 1  comprising a center draw string journal C 1 -J 3 , a first upper C 1 -J 2  and a second upper C 1 -J 1  segmented cable journals and a first lower C 1 -J 4  and a second lower C 1 -J 5  segmented cable journals, each journal have a plane of rotation and all journals parallel to each other;   a second cam coupled to the second bow limb and rotatable around a second axis, the second cam C 2  comprising a center draw string journal C 2 -J 3 , a first upper C 2 -J 2  and a second upper C 2 -J 1  segmented cable journals and a first lower C 2 -J 4  and a second lower C 2 -J 5  segmented cable journals, each journal have a plane of rotation and all journals parallel to each other, wherein C 1  and C 2  J 2  and C 1  and C 2  J 4  segmented journals terminate at the start of the transition zones and C 1  and C 2  J 1  and C 1  and C 2  J 5  segmented cable journals begin at the end of the transition zones   a bow harness including a bow string and two power cables, the bow string received in the center draw string journals and the bow string ends secured to the first and second cams; and   the power cables receivable in the first and second cam cable journals, wherein as the bow is being drawn from the released configuration to the drawn configuration, the draw string unwinds from C 1 -J 3  and C 2 -J 3  journals as simultaneously the power cables wrap onto C 1 -J 2 /J 4  and C 2 -J 2 /J 4  segmented journals then exit said journals, wrap the transition zones, the power cables are received by and wrap onto C 1 -J 1 /J 5  and C 2 -J 1 /J 5 .   
     
     
         2 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first and second ends of the first power cable is fixed on a first side of the longitudinal centerline of the crossbow and the first and second ends of the second power cable is fixed on a second side of the longitudinal centerline of the crossbow.   
     
     
         3 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cams have one of an integrated ramp adjacent the transition zone or a coupled-component ramp adjacent the transition zone.   
     
     
         4 . A crossbow comprising:
 first and second flexible bow limbs coupled to a riser;   a first cam coupled to the first bow limb and rotatable around a first axis, the first cam C 1  comprising a center draw string journal C 1 -J 3 , a first upper C 1 -J 2  and a second upper C 1 -J 1  segmented cable journals and a first lower C 1 -J 4  and a second lower C 1 -J 5  segmented cable journals, each journal have a plane of rotation and all journals parallel to each other;   a second cam coupled to the second bow limb and rotatable around a second axis, the second cam C 2  comprising a center draw string journal C 2 -J 3 , a first upper C 2 -J 2  and a second upper C 2 -J 1  segmented cable journals and a first lower C 2 -J 4  and a second lower C 2 -J 5  segmented cable journals, each journal have a plane of rotation and all journals parallel to each other, wherein C 1  and C 2  J 2  and C 1  and C 2  J 4  segmented journals terminate at the start of the transition zones and C 1  and C 2  J 1  and C 1  and C 2  J 5  segmented cable journals begin at the end of the transition zones; and   a bow harness including a bow string and two power cables, the bow string received in the center draw string journals and the bow string ends secured to the first and second cams, the power cables receivable in the first and second cam cable journals, wherein when bow is in the drawn configuration, the draw string is unwound from C 1 -J 3  and C 2 -J 3  journals, the power cables wrap C 1 -J 2 /J 4  and C 2 -J 2 /J 4  segmented journals, transition zones, and at least partially wrap C 1 -J 1 /J 5  and C 2 -J 1 /J 5 .   
     
     
         5 . The crossbow of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first and second ends of the first power cable is fixed on a first side of the longitudinal centerline of the crossbow and the first and second ends of the second power cable is fixed on a second side of the longitudinal centerline of the crossbow.   
     
     
         6 . The crossbow of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the cams have one of an integrated ramp adjacent the transition zone or a coupled-component ramp adjacent the transition zone.   
     
     
         7 . A crossbow comprising:
 first and second flexible bow limbs coupled to a riser;   a first cam coupled to the first bow limb and rotatable around a first axis, the first cam C 1  comprising a center draw string journal C 1 -J 3 , a first upper C 1 -J 2  and a second upper C 1 -J 1  segmented cable journals and a first lower C 1 -J 4  and a second lower C 1 -J 5  segmented cable journals, each journal have a plane of rotation and all journals parallel to each other;   a second cam coupled to the second bow limb and rotatable around a second axis, the second cam C 2  comprising a center draw string journal C 2 -J 3 , a first upper C 2 -J 2  and a second upper C 2 -J 1  segmented cable journals and a first lower C 2 -J 4  and a second lower C 2 -J 5  segmented cable journals, each journal have a plane of rotation and all journals parallel to each other, wherein C 1  and C 2  J 2  and C 1  and C 2  J 4  segmented journals terminate at the start of the transition zones and C 1  and C 2  J 1  and C 1  and C 2  J 5  segmented cable journals begin at the end of the transition zones; and   a bow harness including a bow string and two power cables; the bow string received in the center draw string journals and the bow string ends secured to the first and second cams;   the power cables receivable in the first and second cam cable journals, wherein when bow is in the released configuration, the draw string is wound in the C 1 -J 3  and C 2 -J 3  journals, and the power cables are adjacent C 1 -J 2 /J 4  and C 2 -J 2 /J 4  segmented journals.   
     
     
         8 . The crossbow of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first and second ends of the first power cable is fixed on a first side of the longitudinal centerline of the crossbow and the first and second ends of the second power cable is fixed on a second side of the longitudinal centerline of the crossbow.   
     
     
         9 . The crossbow of  claim 7  wherein the cams have one of an integrated ramp adjacent the transition zone or a coupled-component ramp adjacent the transition zone.