Crossbow with draw string stop

Abstract

The crossbow includes a center rail, and a first flexible limb and a second flexible limb coupled with the center rail. The crossbow includes a first cam and a second cam rotatably coupled with the first flexible limb and the second flexible limb, respectively. The crossbow includes a draw string coupled with the first cam and the second cam, the draw string configured to move between a released configuration and a drawn configuration. The crossbow includes an upper cable anchor and a lower cable anchor coupled to the center rail and positioned to a first side of the center rail. The lower cable anchor is positioned vertically beneath the upper cable anchor. The crossbow includes a stop coupled to the center rail and positioned adjacent the upper cable anchor and the lower cable anchor. The stop contacts the draw string with the draw string in the released configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A crossbow comprising:
 a center rail defining a projectile axis, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side;   a first flexible limb coupled with the center rail;   a second flexible limb coupled with the center rail;   a first cam rotatably coupled with the first flexible limb for rotation about a first axis, the first axis fixed relative to the first flexible limb;   a second cam rotatably coupled with the second flexible limb for rotation about a second axis, the second axis fixed relative to the second flexible limb;   a draw string coupled with the first cam and the second cam, the draw string configured to move between a released configuration and a drawn configuration;   an upper cable anchor coupled to the center rail and positioned to the first side of the center rail,   a lower cable anchor coupled the center rail and positioned to the first side of the center rail, the lower cable anchor positioned vertically beneath the upper cable anchor; and   a stop coupled to the center rail, the stop positioned adjacent the upper cable anchor and the lower cable anchor, the stop configured to contact the draw string with the draw string in the released configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an upper power cable engaged with the upper cable anchor; and   a lower power cable engaged with the lower cable anchor.   
     
     
         3 . The crossbow of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the upper power cable is coupled to a first side of the first cam and extends from the first cam to the center rail, the upper power cable including an end portion engaged with the upper cable anchor; and   the lower power cable is coupled to a second side of the first cam and extends from the first cam to the center rail, the second side opposite the first side, the lower power cable including an end portion engaged with the lower cable anchor.   
     
     
         4 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket coupled to the center rail, the upper cable anchor and the lower cable anchor coupled to the bracket, wherein the stop is coupled to the bracket vertically between the lower cable anchor and the upper cable anchor. 
     
     
         5 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket coupled to the center rail, the upper cable anchor and the lower cable anchor coupled to the bracket, wherein the bracket straddles the center rail and the projectile axis. 
     
     
         6 . The crossbow of  claim 5 , wherein the stop is coupled to the bracket vertically between the lower cable anchor and the upper cable anchor. 
     
     
         7 . The crossbow of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an upper power cable engaged with the upper cable anchor and coupled to the first cam; and   a lower power cable engaged with the lower cable anchor and coupled to the second cam.   
     
     
         8 . The crossbow of  claim 7 , wherein the upper power cable is coupled to an upper pivot post on a first side of the first cam and the lower power cable is coupled to lower pivot post on a second side of the first cam, the first side opposite the second side. 
     
     
         9 . The crossbow of  claim 7 , wherein the first cam comprises:
 an upper power cable attachment extending from a first side of the first cam;   an upper pivot extending from the first side of the first cam;   a lower power cable attachment extending from a second side of the second cam, the second side opposite the first side; and   a lower pivot extending from the second side of the second cam;   wherein the upper power cable extends from the upper cable anchor to the upper pivot, and from the upper pivot to the upper power cable attachment; and   wherein the lower power cable extends from the lower cable anchor to the lower pivot, and from the lower pivot to the lower power cable attachment.   
     
     
         10 . The crossbow of  claim 9 , wherein the first cam further comprises:
 a draw string journal configured to receive the draw string;   wherein the draw string is received within the draw string journal and extends between the upper power cable and the lower power cable.   
     
     
         11 . The crossbow of  claim 5 , wherein the stop is a first stop, the upper cable anchor is a first upper cable anchor, and the lower cable anchor is a first lower cable anchor, the crossbow further comprising:
 a second stop coupled to the bracket and positioned to the second side of the center rail;   a second upper cable anchor coupled to the bracket and positioned to the second side of the center rail; and   a second lower cable anchor coupled to the bracket and positioned to the second side of the center rail;   wherein the second stop is positioned adjacent the second upper cable anchor and the lower cable anchor;   wherein the second stop is configured to contact the draw string with the draw string in the released configuration.   
     
     
         12 . The crossbow of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first upper power cable coupled to the first cam and engaged with the first upper cable anchor;   a first lower power cable coupled to the first cam and engaged with the first lower cable anchor;   a second upper power cable coupled to the second cam and engaged with the second upper cable anchor; and   a second lower power cable coupled to the second cam and engaged with the second lower cable anchor.   
     
     
         13 . The crossbow of  claim 12 , wherein the first stop is positioned between the first upper power cable and the first lower power cable and the second stop is between the second upper power cable and the second lower power cable. 
     
     
         14 . The crossbow of  claim 13 , wherein the draw string is coupled to the first cam, extends from the first cam to the second cam (i) between the first upper power cable and the first lower power cable, (ii) across the projectile axis, and (iii) between the second upper power cable and the second lower power cable, and is coupled to the second cam. 
     
     
         15 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , wherein the draw string extends parallel to the stop in the released configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , wherein the stop comprises a plurality of ridges. 
     
     
         17 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket coupled to the center rail, the upper cable anchor and the lower cable anchor coupled to the bracket, the bracket further comprising:
 a first side coupled to the center rail and extending away from the projectile axis;   a second side coupled to the center rail and extending away from the projectile axis; and   a third side extending between the first side and the second side;   wherein the stop is coupled to the first side and extends towards the second side.   
     
     
         18 . A crossbow comprising:
 a center rail defining a projectile axis;   a first flexible limb coupled with the center rail;   a second flexible limb coupled with the center rail;   a first cam rotatably coupled with the first flexible limb for rotation about a first axis, the first axis fixed relative to the first flexible limb;   a second cam rotatably coupled with the second flexible limb for rotation about a second axis, the second axis fixed relative to the second flexible limb;   a draw string coupled with the first cam and the second cam, the draw string configured to move between a released configuration and a drawn configuration;   a bracket coupled with the center rail;   an upper cable anchor coupled to a first end of the bracket,   a lower cable anchor coupled to the first end of the bracket, the lower cable anchor positioned vertically below the upper cable anchor;   an upper power cable coupled to a first side of the first cam and engaged with the upper cable anchor;   a lower power cable coupled to a second side of the first cam, the second side opposite the first side, the lower power cable engaged with the lower cable anchor; and   a stop coupled with the bracket between the upper cable anchor and the lower cable anchor;   wherein the draw string extends between the upper power cable and the lower power cable;   wherein the draw string is configured to contact the stop with the draw string in the released configuration.   
     
     
         19 . A crossbow comprising:
 a center rail defining a projectile axis;   a first flexible limb coupled with the center rail;   a second flexible limb coupled with the center rail;   a first cam rotatably coupled with the first flexible limb for rotation about a first axis, the first axis fixed relative to the first flexible limb;   a second cam rotatably coupled with the second flexible limb for rotation about a second axis, the second axis fixed relative to the second flexible limb;   a draw string coupled with the first cam and the second cam, the draw string configured to move between a released configuration and a drawn configuration;   a bracket coupled to the center rail and positioned to straddle the projectile axis, the bracket including an extension portion extending from the center rail and away from the projectile axis, the extension portion including an upper side and a lower side;   an upper cable anchor coupled to the upper side of the extension portion of the bracket;   an upper power cable engaged with the first cam and engaged with the upper cable anchor; and   a stop coupled to the bracket and positioned between the upper side and the lower side of the extension portion.   
     
     
         20 . The crossbow of  claim 19 , wherein the stop is configured to contact the draw string with the draw string in the released configuration.