Device and method for protecting an archery cam edge

Abstract

An edge protective device for a cam of an archery bow includes an elongated body dimensioned for conforming to a portion of an outer edge of the archery cam having a mounting portion composed of a resilient material for flexing and defining a mounting surface configured for mounting to an external surface of the outer edge of the archery cam and an external surface opposing the mounting surface and includes an extended portion extending from the mounting portion and defines a lip that extends from the second portion and beyond the outer edge of the cam when mounted to the cam.

1 . An edge protective device for a cam of an archery bow comprising:
 an elongated body dimensioned for conforming to a portion of an outer edge of the archery cam having a mounting portion composed of a resilient material for flexing and defining a mounting surface configured for mounting to an external surface of the outer edge of the archery cam and an external surface opposing the mounting surface, and an extended portion extending from the mounting portion and having a free end extending from the second portion to beyond the outer edge of the cam when mounted to the cam.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the extended portion includes the free end having a lip configured for covering at least a portion of a bowstring cavity at the outer edge of the cam, the lip extending perpendicular from the extended portion and the mounting surface. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the lip includes a partially contoured free end. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the lip defines a serrated edge along the elongated free end. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the lip is configured to flex downward for allowing a bowstring to be received into the bowstring cavity and upward for allowing the bowstring positioned within the bowstring cavity to exit the bowstring cavity. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the elongated body is dimensioned for mounting to a substantial elongated portion of the outer edge of the archery cam. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the elongated body is formed into an arc substantially similar to an arc defining the outer edge of the archery cam. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the elongated body further includes at least one protrusion extending substantially perpendicular from a portion of the mounting surface, the at least one protrusion being configured for insertion into a mounting cavity of the external surface of the outer edge of the archery cam. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the at least one protrusion is selected from the group consisting of a protrusion extending substantially along a full length of the elongated body and a plurality of protrusions spaced apart from one another along the mounting surface of a full length of the elongated body. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the body includes a bowstring cavity surface portion extending from the extended portion and adapted for covering a surface of a bowstring cavity of the archery cam. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the bowstring cavity surface portion is configured to extend completely across the bowstring cavity of the cam for protecting an entire width of the bowstring cavity from the outer edge to an opposing outer edge of the cam. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the extended portion is a first extended portion and wherein a second extended portion extends outwardly from the lip and from the opposing outer edge generally parallel to the first extended portion. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the elongated body is a first elongated body, further comprising a second elongated body dimensioned for conforming to an opposing side portion of the cam and having a second first portion composed of a resilient material for flexing and defining a second mounting surface configured for mounting to a second external surface of the outer edge of the archery cam and an external surface opposing the second mounting surface, and a second extended portion extending from the second mounting portion beyond the outer edge of the cam when mounted to the cam. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein first extended portion includes a first lip, and the second extended portion includes a second lip, the first and second lips forming perpendicular portions that extend over a bowstring cavity of the cam and are dimensioned to form a gap there between and over the bowstring cavity when the first elongated body is mounted to the first external surface of the archery cam and the second elongated body is mounted to the opposing second external surface of the same archery cam. 
   
   
       15 . An archery cam edge protective device comprising:
 a first elongated body dimensioned for conforming to a first side portion of an outer edge of the archery cam, the first body having a first mounting portion defining a first mounting surface configured for mounting to an external surface of the first side portion of the outer edge of the archery cam and a first external surface opposing the first mounting surface, and a first extended portion extending from the first mounting portion configured for extending beyond the outer edge of the archery cam when mounted to the cam; and   a second elongated body dimensioned for conforming to a second side portion of the outer edge, the second body having a second mounting surface configured for mounting to a second external surface of the outer edge of the archery cam and a second external surface opposing the second mounting surface, and a second extended portion extending from the second mounting portion configured for extending beyond the outer edge of the archery cam when mounted to the cam;   the first and second extended portions being dimensioned for forming a gap there between and about a bowstring cavity defined by the outer edge of the archery cam.   
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the first and second extended portions includes a perpendicular lip extending towards the opposing extended portion and providing a narrowed gap there between. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16  where each of the first and second extended portions includes the perpendicular lip and wherein the gap defined there between is less than about one half a total width of the bowstring cavity. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein at least one of the first and the second extended portions includes a lip having a serrated edge. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the extended portions includes a shoulder defined to engage a peripheral edge of the outer edge of the archery cam that defines one edge of the bowstring cavity. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the first and second mounting surfaces includes a protrusion adapted for insertion into a mounting cavity defined by the external surface of the outer edge of the archery cam. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a bowstring cavity portion extending from the first extended portion to the second extended portion for covering a surface of the bowstring cavity there between. 
   
   
       22 . A cam assembly for an archery bow comprising:
 a main body defining an axis for rotation of the cam, the main body having a first external surface defining a first outer edge and a second external surface defining a second outer edge, and a bowstring cavity define about the periphery of the main body and between the first and second outer edges; and   at least one cam edge protective device having an elongated body dimensioned for conforming to one of the external surfaces about the defined outer edge, each elongated body having a mounting portion defining a mounting surface configured for mounting about an outer edge of one of the external surfaces of the archery cam and an external surface opposing the mounting surface, and an extended portion extending from the mounting portion configured for extending beyond the outer edge of the external surface on which the body is mounted.   
   
   
       23 . The assembly of  claim 22  wherein the cam edge protective device includes two elongated bodies, one mounted to the first external surface and a second mounted to the second external surface and wherein a gap is formed between the two extended portions and about the bowstring cavity. 
   
   
       24 . The assembly of  claim 22  wherein the mounting surface of the elongated body is attached to the external surface of the main body of the cam with an adhesive for securing the protective device thereto. 
   
   
       25 . The assembly of  claim 22  wherein the main body includes a mounting cavity about the external surface and wherein the elongated body of the protective device includes a protrusion adapted for insertion into the mounting cavity for at least partially securing the protective device to the main body of the cam. 
   
   
       26 . The assembly of  claim 22  wherein the main body of the cam is composed of a metal and wherein at least a portion of the protective device is composed of a flexible material. 
   
   
       27 . The assembly of  claim 22  wherein the extended portion of the elongated body included a perpendicular lip protruding towards an opposing side of the cam and at least partially covering a portion of the bowstring cavity. 
   
   
       28 . The assembly of  claim 27  wherein the perpendicular lip includes a serrated edge having a plurality of teeth protruding towards the opposing side of the cam. 
   
   
       29 . The assembly of  claim 22  wherein the extended portion includes a shoulder configured for at least partially covering a portion of the outer periphery edge of the cam. 
   
   
       30 . The assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising a bowstring cavity surface portion extending from the extended portion for covering a surface of the bowstring cavity. 
   
   
       31 . A method of assembling a cam assembly for an archery bow comprising:
 positioning an elongated body of a cam edge protective device about an outer edge of one side of the cam wherein at least a portion of an extended portion of the elongated body extends beyond the outer edge of the cam; and   attaching the elongated body about an outer surface of the cam.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein attaching includes applying an adhesive between a mounting surface of the elongated body and the outer surface of the cam. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein attaching includes inserting at least one protrusion of the elongated body into a mounting cavity defined on the outer surface of the cam. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31  wherein positioning an elongated body about an outer edge of one side of the cam includes covering at least a portion of a surface of the bowstring cavity with a bowstring cavity surface portion. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the elongated body is a first elongated body, further comprising:
 positioning a second elongated body about an opposing outer edge of the opposing one side of the cam wherein at least a portion of a second extended portion of the second elongated body extends beyond the outer edge of the cam; and   attaching the second elongated body about an opposing outer surface of the cam.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising positioning a bowstring cavity surface portion about a portion of a surface of the bowstring cavity, the bowstring cavity surface portion being coupled to at least one of the extended portions.