Threaded cam axle assembly for a compound archery bow

Abstract

A tensioned cam assembly for a compound archery bow is disclosed. In one embodiment, the tensioned cam assembly includes a cam axle, pair of externally threaded set screws, and a pair of nuts. The cam axles has a first threaded end and a second threaded end opposite the first threaded end. Each nut includes a threaded bore extending therethrough in which the first or second threaded end of the cam axle is removably receivable. Each nut also includes a threaded aperture in which one set screw of the pair of set screws is removably receivable to selectively retain said nut in a desired position on said cam axle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cam axle assembly for an archery bow, said cam axle assembly comprising:
 a cam axle having a threaded end, said cam axle configured to insert through a pair of limb ends and a cam of the archery bow; and   a nut configured to threadingly engage the threaded end of the cam axle to secure the cam axle to the pair of limb ends.   
     
     
         2 . The cam axle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the threaded end is a first threaded end of the cam axle;   the nut is a first nut;   the cam axle has a second end opposite the first end of the cam axle;   the second end of the cam axle is threaded; and   the cam axle assembly further comprises a second nut configured to threadingly engage the threaded second end of the cam axle to secure the cam axle to the pair of limb ends.   
     
     
         3 . The cam axle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cam axle assembly further comprises the cam, and the cam has a bearing assembly therein configured to receive the cam axle such that the cam axle supports the bearing and the cam.   
     
     
         4 . The cam axle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the nut comprises a threaded aperture configured to receive a set screw, said set screw configured to prevent rotation of the nut relative to the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow; and   the cam axle assembly further comprises the set screw.   
     
     
         5 . The cam axle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the nut comprises a threaded aperture configured to receive a set screw, said set screw configured to prevent rotation of the nut relative to the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow;   the threaded aperture is perpendicular to an axis along which the axle extends when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow; and   the cam axle assembly further comprises the set screw.   
     
     
         6 . The cam axle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the nut comprises a threaded aperture configured to receive a set screw, said set screw configured to prevent rotation of the nut relative to the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow;   the threaded aperture is perpendicular to an axis along which the axle extends when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow;   the nut has an outer surface and an inner surface;   the inner surface of the nut is configured to contact the limb end when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow;   the nut has an outer diameter at the inner surface that is greater than an outer diameter of the nut at the outer end, said outer diameters being measured perpendicular to an axis of the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is installed on the limb end of the archery bow; and   the cam axle assembly further comprises the set screw.   
     
     
         7 . The cam axle assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a set screw configured to threadingly engage the nut and prevent rotation of the nut about the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow.   
     
     
         8 . The cam axle assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a set screw configured to threadingly engage the nut and prevent rotation of the nut about the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow, wherein a longitudinal axis of the set screw aligns with the axis of the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow and the set screw contacts an end of the cam axle to jam the nut and prevent rotation of the nut about the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow.   
     
     
         9 . The cam axle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pair of limb ends are ends of two separate limbs.   
     
     
         10 . An archery bow comprising:
 a riser;   a plurality of limbs extending generally rearward from the riser when the archery bow is assembled and in an upright position;   a pair of cam axle assemblies, each cam axle assembly comprising:
 a cam axle having a threaded end, said cam axle configured to insert through a pair of limb ends of the plurality of limbs of the archery bow; and 
 a nut configured to threadingly engage the threaded end of the cam axle to secure the cam axle to the pair of limb ends; 
   a cam system mounted on the cam axle assembly, said cam system comprising at least one cam; and   a bowstring supported by the cam of the cam system when installed on the archery bow.   
     
     
         11 . The archery bow of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the threaded end is a first threaded end of the cam axle;   the nut is a first nut;   the cam axle has a second end opposite the first end of the cam axle;   the second end of the cam axle is threaded; and   each cam axle assembly further comprises a second nut configured to threadingly engage the threaded second end of the cam axle to secure the cam axle to the pair of limb ends.   
     
     
         12 . The archery bow of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the at least one cam has a bearing assembly therein configured to receive the cam axle such that the cam axle supports the bearing and the cam.   
     
     
         13 . The archery bow of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the nut comprises a threaded aperture configured to receive a set screw, said set screw configured to prevent rotation of the nut relative to the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow; and   each cam axle assembly further comprises the set screw.   
     
     
         14 . The archery bow of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the nut comprises a threaded aperture configured to receive a set screw, said set screw configured to prevent rotation of the nut relative to the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow;   the threaded aperture is perpendicular to an axis along which the axle extends when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow; and   each cam axle assembly further comprises the set screw.   
     
     
         15 . The archery bow of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the nut comprises a threaded aperture configured to receive a set screw, said set screw configured to prevent rotation of the nut relative to the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow;   the threaded aperture is perpendicular to an axis along which the axle extends when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow;   the nut has an outer surface and an inner surface;   the inner surface of the nut is configured to contact the limb end when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow;   the nut has an outer diameter at the inner surface that is greater than an outer diameter of the nut at the outer end, said outer diameters being measured perpendicular to an axis of the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is installed on the limb end of the archery bow; and   each cam axle assembly further comprises the set screw.   
     
     
         16 . The archery bow of  claim 10 , wherein:
 each cam axle assembly further comprises a set screw configured to threadingly engage the nut and prevent rotation of the nut about the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow.   
     
     
         17 . The archery bow of  claim 10 , wherein each cam axle assembly further comprises:
 a set screw configured to threadingly engage the nut and prevent rotation of the nut about the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow, wherein a longitudinal axis of the set screw aligns with the axis of the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is installed on the archery bow and the set screw contacts an end of the cam axle to jam the nut and prevent rotation of the nut about the cam axle when the cam axle assembly is assembled on the archery bow.   
     
     
         18 . The archery bow of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the pair of limb ends are ends of two separate limbs.   
     
     
         19 . The archery bow of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a bow sight configured to mount to the riser when the archery bow is assembled. 
 
     
     
         20 . The archery bow of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the cam system comprises a pair of matched cams and the cam is one cam of the pair of matched cams.