Method and apparatus for optimal nock travel for a compound archery bow

Abstract

The invention is a method and apparatus for correcting the natural nock travel of a compound bow. The bow has a cable guard rod attached to a riser supporting a cable slide at an angle to the nock travel path. The rod has a distal portion attached to the riser, a central portion angled upward relative to the distal portion, and, a proximal portion angled downward so as to form an exterior angle falling within the range of 25-40° between the proximal and distal portions of the cable guard rod. The bow has a cam mounted on an upper limb, a cam mounted on a lower limb, and two cables which are connected to the first cam, pass through the cable slide, and are connected to the second cam. There is also a bow string connected between the cams which can be drawn rearward then released to provide energy.

1 . A compound bow having a handle and a riser, said compound bow further comprising:
 (a) a plurality of limbs;   (b) a cable guard rod attached to said riser and wherein said cable guard rod is fashioned so as to support a cable slide at an angle to the nock travel path of said compound bow; and, wherein further said cable slide is slidably mounted on said cable guard rod so as to reduce the cantilever load on a set of one or more cams or wheels;   (c) a first cam or first wheel comprising said set of one or more cams or wheels, having a first axle, mounted on an upper one of said plurality of limbs;   (d) a second cam or second wheel comprising said set of one or more cams or wheels, having a second axle, mounted on a lower one of said plurality of limbs;   (e) a first cable and a second cable, wherein said first and said second cables are connected to said first cam or said first wheel, pass through said cable slide, and are connected to said second cam or said second wheel; and   (f) a bow string connected at one end to said first cam or said first wheel and at another end to said second cam or said second.   
     
     
         2 . The compound bow of  claim 1 , wherein said cable guard rod is attached to said riser by securably inserting said rod within a supporting block and mounting said supporting block on said riser. 
     
     
         3 . The compound bow of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of said cable guard rod is attached to said riser and is substantially perpendicular to said riser. 
     
     
         4 . The compound bow of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of said cable guard rod is securably attached to said riser by inserting said distal end within an opening of said riser. 
     
     
         5 . The compound bow of  claim 1 , wherein said cable guard rod is made from a material chosen from the group consisting of:
 (a) aluminum;   (b) a composite capable of maintaining rigidity while under pressure from a set of forces exerted by said compound bow during operation; and   (c) steel.   
     
     
         6 . The compound bow of  claim 1 , wherein the angle of said cable guard rod is determined by the displacement of said first and second cables to result in a lateral displacement of said cable slide so as to provide clearance for fletching of an arrow to be shot by said compound bow. 
     
     
         7 . The compound bow of  claim 1 , wherein said cable guard rod is manufactured as a single piece. 
     
     
         8 . The compound bow of  claim 1 , wherein said cable guard rod is manufactured as a plurality of pieces and wherein said pieces are joined by joining means so as to maintain performance of said cable guard rod. 
     
     
         9 . The compound bow of  claim 1 , wherein said cable guard rod is fashioned so as to comprise three portions, said three portions comprising:
 (a) a distal portion attached either directly, or indirectly, to said riser and essentially perpendicular to said riser;   (b) a central portion attached to said distal portion and angled relative to said distal portion; and   (c) a proximal portion attached to said central portion and angled toward the natural travel path of said bowstring so as to form an exterior angle within the range of 25-40° between said proximal and said distal portions of said cable guard rod.   
     
     
         10 . The compound bow of  claim 1 , wherein said cable guard slide is mounted on said cable guard rod so as to accept said first cable and said second cable passing therethrough; and, wherein the forward or rearward motion of said first and said second cables causes said cable guard slide to slidably move along said cable guard rod in an angular path along said cable guard rod relative to the nock travel path. 
     
     
         11 . The compound bow of  claim 1 , characterized in that as said bowstring is drawn rearward by a bow user during operation thereof, said plurality of limbs flex rearward, said cams rotate thus shifting said first and said second cables, and causing said cable guard slide to move toward the natural travel of the bowstring path along said proximal portion of said cable guard rod. 
     
     
         12 . A cable guard rod for a compound bow, said cable guard rod characterized in that:
 (a) said cable guard rod is fashioned so as to support a cable slide at an angle to the travel path of an arrow being discharged by said compound bow; and   (b) said cable slide is slidably mounted on said cable guard rod so as to reduce the cantilever load on a set of one or more cams or wheels.   
     
     
         13 . The cable guard rod of  claim 12 , wherein said cable guard rod is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) aluminum;   (b) a composite; and   (c) steel   
     
     
         14 . The cable guard rod of  claim 12 , wherein said cable guard rod is affixed to a riser of said compound bow wherein the distal end of said cable guard rod is securably attached to said riser by inserting said distal end within an opening of said riser. 
     
     
         15 . The cable guard rod of  claim 12 , wherein said cable guard rod is attached to a riser of said compound bow by securably inserting said rod within a supporting block and mounting said supporting block on said riser. 
     
     
         16 . The cable guard rod of  claim 12 , wherein said cable guard rod is fashioned so as to comprise three portions, said three portions comprising:
 (a) a distal portion attached either directly, or indirectly, to said riser and essentially perpendicular to said riser;   (b) a central portion attached to said distal portion and angled relative to said distal portion; and   (c) a proximal portion attached to said central portion and angled so as to form an exterior angle within the range of 25-40° between said proximal and said distal portions of said cable guard rod.   
     
     
         17 . A method of correcting the angled nock travel of a compound bow so as to be essentially aligned with the natural nock travel of said compound bow, said compound bow having a riser, an upper limb, a lower limb, a first cable, a second cable, and a set of one or more cams or wheels, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) mounting a cable guard rod on said compound bow, said cable guard rod having a distal portion attached to said riser, a central portion, and a proximal portion;   (b) mounting a cable slide on said cable guard rod so as to support said cable slide at an angle to the travel path of an arrow being discharged by said compound bow, and wherein said arrow comprises a shaft and a set of fletching, and wherein said cable slide is slidably mounted on said cable guard rod so as to reduce the cantilever load on said set of one or more cams or wheels;   (c) drawing a bowstring connected at one end to said upper limb of said compound bow and at the opposite end to said lower limb of said compound bow, and causing said upper limb and said lower limb to flex rearward;   (d) rotating said at least one cam, so as to shift said first and said second cables, and causing said cable guard slide to move in a downward path along the proximal portion of said cable guard rod; and   (e) releasing said bowstring to propel said bowstring and said arrow forward and causing said first and said second cables to move forward and, in turn, moving said cable slide upward along said cable guard rod to allow said arrow to move forward without making contact with said cable slide.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said cable guard rod is fashioned so as to comprise three portions, said three portions comprising:
 (a) a distal portion attached either directly, or indirectly, to said riser and essentially perpendicular to said riser;   (b) a central portion attached to said distal portion and angled upward relative to said distal portion; and   (c) a proximal portion attached to said central portion and angled downward so as to form an exterior angle within the range of 25-40° between said proximal and said distal portions of said cable guard rod.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of manufacturing said cable guard rod from a material selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) aluminum;   (b) a composite; and   (c) steel.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of correcting the natural nock travel of said compound bow by said angular movement of said cable slide.