Crossbow with pulleys attached to a frame

Abstract

A crossbow including pulleys rotatably attached to a center rail of the crossbow. Power cables of the crossbow connect the limbs of the crossbow to the pulleys. The draw string is enclosed in a safety cover. The crossbow includes a cocking system that translates a string carrier along the center rail to cock and de-cock the crossbow.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A crossbow, comprising:
 a frame, including:
 a center rail including a proximal end and a distal end; and 
 a riser coupled to the center rail; 
   a first flexible limb coupled to the frame on a first side of the center rail;   a second flexible limb coupled to the frame on a second side of the center rail;   a first pulley rotatably coupled to the first flexible limb;   a second pulley rotatably coupled to the second flexible limb;   a first cam assembly coupled to the frame and rotatable about a first axis, the first cam assembly including a first draw string journal positioned to the first side of the center rail and vertically offset from the first flexible limb;   a second cam assembly coupled to the frame and rotatable about a second axis, the second cam assembly including a second draw string journal positioned to the second side of the center rail and vertically offset from the second flexible limb;   a draw string movable along the center rail between a released configuration and a drawn configuration, the draw string configured to launch a projectile, the draw string engaged with the first draw string journal and the second draw string journal, the draw string vertically offset from the first flexible limb and the second flexible limb;   a first power cable coupled to the first cam assembly and extending from the first cam assembly to the first pulley and from the first pulley to the second flexible limb; and   a second power cable coupled to the second cam assembly and extending from the second cam assembly to the second pulley and from the second pulley to the first flexible limb.   
     
     
         22 . The crossbow of  claim 21 , the first cam assembly further comprising:
 a first cam coupled to the frame via a first cam axle, the first cam defining the first draw string journal;   a first power cable take-up pulley mounted to the first cam axle, the first power cable take-up pulley offset from the first cam by an offset distance, the first power cable take-up pulley comprising:
 a first power cable journal at least partially defining a first path to receive the first power cable; and 
 a first anchor for attaching the first power cable to the first cam assembly. 
   
     
     
         23 . The crossbow of  claim 22 , wherein the first path for the first power cable is below the first draw string journal. 
     
     
         24 . The crossbow of  claim 22 , wherein the first flexible limb includes a first end coupled to the riser and a second end, wherein the first pulley is rotatably coupled to the second end of the first flexible limb, wherein the second end of the first flexible limb is positioned at least partially underneath the first cam. 
     
     
         25 . The crossbow of  claim 21 , the second cam assembly further comprising:
 a second cam coupled to the frame via a second cam axle, the second cam defining the second draw string journal;   a second power cable take-up pulley mounted to the second cam axle, the second power cable take-up pulley offset from the second cam by an offset distance, the second power cable take-up pulley comprising:
 a second power cable journal at least partially defining a second path to receive the second power cable; and 
 a second anchor for attaching the second power cable to the second cam assembly. 
   
     
     
         26 . The crossbow of  claim 25 , wherein the second path for the second power cable is below the second draw string journal. 
     
     
         27 . The crossbow of  claim 21 , wherein the first pulley is attached to the first flexible limb at a distal end of the first flexible limb and the second pulley is attached to the second flexible limb at a distal end of the second flexible limb. 
     
     
         28 . The crossbow of  claim 21 , wherein the first flexible limb includes an upper limb member, a lower limb member, and a gap between the upper limb member and the lower limb member, wherein the first pulley is positioned within the gap. 
     
     
         29 . The crossbow of  claim 28 , wherein the first draw string journal is positioned vertically above the upper limb member. 
     
     
         30 . A crossbow, comprising:
 a frame, including:
 a center rail with a distal end and a proximal end; 
 a riser coupled to the center rail; 
   a first flexible limb coupled to the frame and positioned to a first side of the center rail;   a second flexible limb coupled to the frame and positioned to a second side of the center rail opposite the first side of the center rail;   a first pulley coupled to the first flexible limb;   a second pulley coupled to the second flexible limb;   a first cam assembly rotatably coupled to the riser and positioned to the first side of the center rail, the first cam assembly including a first cam defining a first draw string journal and a first power cable journal, the first cam vertically offset from the first flexible limb and at least partially covering the first flexible limb;   a second cam assembly rotatably coupled to the riser and positioned to the second side of the center rail, the second cam assembly including a second cam defining second draw string journal and a second power cable journal, the second cam vertically offset from the second flexible limb and at least partially covering the second flexible limb;   a draw string engaged with the first draw string journal and the second draw string journal, the draw string configured to move between a released configuration and a drawn configuration;   a first power cable coupled with the second flexible limb and engaged with the first power cable journal, the first power cable to wind about the first power cable journal as the draw string moves from the released configuration to the drawn configuration; and   a second power cable coupled with the first flexible limb and engaged with the second power cable journal, the second power cable to wind about the second power cable journal as the draw string moves from the released configuration to the drawn configuration.   
     
     
         31 . The crossbow of  claim 30 , wherein the first cam assembly is coupled to the frame by a first axle mount and the second cam assembly is coupled to the frame by a second axle mount. 
     
     
         32 . The crossbow of  claim 30 , wherein:
 the first cam assembly includes a first cam axis about which the first cam assembly rotates;   the second cam assembly includes a second cam axis about which the second cam assembly rotates; and   a distance between the first cam axis and the second cam axis is fixed at a separation between about 4 inches to about 6 inches.   
     
     
         33 . The crossbow of  claim 30 , further comprising a cable guard with an opening, wherein the first power cable is routed through the opening. 
     
     
         34 . The crossbow of  claim 30 , wherein the first power cable is routed from the first cam assembly to the first pulley and from the first pulley to the second flexible limb, wherein the second power cable is routed from the second cam assembly to the second pulley and from the second pulley to the first flexible limb. 
     
     
         35 . The crossbow of  claim 30 , wherein the first flexible limb includes a first end coupled to the riser and a second end, wherein the first pulley is rotatably coupled to the second end of the first flexible limb, wherein the second end of the first flexible limb is positioned at least partially underneath the first cam. 
     
     
         36 . A crossbow, comprising:
 a frame including a riser and a center rail;   a first flexible limb coupled to the riser and positioned to a first side of the center rail;   a second flexible limb coupled to the riser and positioned to a second side of the center rail;   a first cam assembly including a first cam and a first power cable journal, the first cam assembly rotatably coupled to the riser and extending vertically above a top of the first flexible limb and the second flexible limb;   a second cam assembly including a second cam and a second power cable journal, the second cam assembly rotatably coupled to the riser and extending vertically above a top of the first flexible limb and the second flexible limb;   a draw string extending between the first cam assembly and the second cam assembly such that the draw string is positioned vertically above at least one of the first flexible limb and the second flexible limb, the draw string configured to move between a released configuration and a drawn configuration;   a first pulley coupled to the first flexible limb;   a second pulley coupled to the second flexible limb;   a first power cable routed from the first cam assembly to the first pulley and from the first pulley to the second flexible limb; and   a second power cable routed from the second cam assembly to the second pulley and from the second pulley to the first flexible limb.   
     
     
         37 . The crossbow of  claim 36 , wherein, during operation of the crossbow as the draw string moves from the released configuration to the drawn configuration, the first cam assembly rotates about a first cam axis at a first rate and the second assembly rotates about a second cam axis at the first rate, such that the draw string, the first power cable, and the second power cable are respectively wound and unwound out at substantially the same rate. 
     
     
         38 . The crossbow of  claim 36 , wherein the first flexible limb includes an upper limb member, a lower limb member, and a gap between the upper limb member and the lower limb member, wherein the first pulley is positioned within the gap. 
     
     
         39 . The crossbow of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the first cam defines a first draw string journal, the first draw string journal positioned above the first power cable journal;   the second cam assembly defines a second draw string journal, the second draw string journal positioned above the second power cable journal;   wherein, during operation of the crossbow as the draw string moves from the released configuration to the drawn configuration, the first draw string journal and the second draw string journal respectively wind the first power cable and the second power cable.   
     
     
         40 . The crossbow of  claim 36 , wherein the first flexible limb includes a first end coupled to the riser and a second end, wherein the first pulley is rotatably coupled to the second end of the first flexible limb, wherein the second end of the first flexible limb is positioned at least partially underneath the first cam.