Cable guard system for archery bows

Abstract

An adjustable cable guard for archery bows includes a guard holder and a cable guard held by the guard holder to engage a cable of the bow to maintain the cable a predetermined distance from a drawstring of the bow. The guard holder includes a body having a clamping groove having a length axis and a bifurcating slit that extends from the clamping groove into the body of the holder, and the cable includes a tongue located to be matingly and slidingly received by the clamping groove. The position of the tongue within the clamping groove may be locked against movement by compressing the slit to bear surfaces of the clamping groove against surfaces of the tongue.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An adjustable cable guard system for an archery bow, comprising:
 a guard holder and a cable guard held by the guard holder to engage a cable of the archery bow to maintain the cable a predetermined desired distance from a drawstring of the archery bow, wherein the cable is moveable in a plane to launch a projectile along a shooting axis, wherein the plane extends vertically when the archery bow is held vertically; 
 wherein the guard holder comprising comprises a body having defining a clamping groove having a length extending along a length axis and a bifurcating slit that extends from the clamping groove into the body of the holder, wherein the length axis intersects with the plane when guard holder is coupled to the archery bow, 
 wherein the width of the clamping groove may be changed by application and removal of a compressive force to the slit, and 
 wherein the cable guard comprises a guard surface configured to bear against the cable of the archery bow and a tongue locatedconfigured to be matingly and slidingly received by the clamping groove, 
 wherein the tongue may move is configured to slide along the length of the groove to enable adjustment of the a position of the cable guard and the guard surface relative to the clamping groove guard holder to position the cable at a predetermined spacing desired distance from the drawstring of the archery bow, and 
 wherein the adjustment occurs along the length axis independent of any movement of the cable guard relative to the guard holder along the shooting axis, and 
 wherein, during the adjustment, the tongue remains at least partially positioned within the groove, 
 wherein, when the position of the tongue tongue is at least partially positioned within the clamping groove may, the tongue is configured to be locked against movement by compressing the slit together the body and the tongue so as to bear surfaces a surface of the clamping groove body against surfaces a surface of the tongue to clamp the tongue against movement and thereby maintain the cable at the predetermined spacing desired distance from the drawstring of the archery bow. 
 
     
     
       2. The adjustable cable guard system of  claim 1 , wherein the guard holder includes a bore extending into the body that extends substantially perpendicular to and spans the slit, and the adjustable cable guard system comprises a fastener that is extended into the bore and rotated to compress the slit together the body and the tongue. 
     
     
       3. The adjustable cable guard system of  claim 1 , wherein the cable guard comprises a roller guard. 
     
     
       4. The adjustable cable guard system of  claim 1 , further comprising a rod located to extend outwardly from the archery bow, wherein the guard holder is positioned on a distal end of the rod. 
     
     
       5. The adjustable cable guard system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined spacing desired distance of the cable from the drawstring is selected so that the cable clears the Retching fletching on an arrow being shot by the bow using the drawstring by a distance of from about 1/16 of an inch to about 5/16 of an inch. 
     
     
       6. An archery bow, comprising:
 a riser, limbs extending from opposite ends of the riser, a wheel rotatably mounted on each of the limbs, a cable portion extending around each of the wheels, a drawstring connected to each of the wheels and offset from the cable portions, wherein the drawstring is moveable in a plane to launch a projectile along a shooting axis, wherein the plane extends between the wheels; and 
 a cable guard system for configured to adjustably positioning position the cable portions at a desired offset from the drawstring and maintaining maintain the cable portions at the desired offset, the cable guard system comprising a rod extending outward from the riser generally toward the drawstring, a guard holder mounted to the rod coupled to the riser, and a cable guard configured to be adjustably positionable positioned on the guard holder to engage the cable portions, 
 wherein the guard holder comprisingcomprises a body havingdefining a clamping groove having a length extending along a length axis and a bifurcating slit that extends from the clamping groove into the body of the holder, the length axis intersecting with the plane, 
 wherein the width of the clamping groove may be changed by application and removal of a compressive force to the slit, and 
 wherein the cable guard comprises a guard surface configured to bear against the cable portions of the archery bow and a tongue locatedconfigured to be matingly and slidingly received by the clamping groove, 
 wherein the tongue may move is configured to be slid along the length of the groove to enable adjustment of the a position of the cable guard and the guard surface relative to the clamping groove to position the cable portions, and guard holder without requiring any movement of the cable guard relative to the guard holder along the shooting axis, wherein the tongue remains at least partially positioned within the groove during the adjustment, 
 wherein the position of the tongue, when the tongue is at least partially positioned within the clamping groove may, the tongue is configured to be locked against movement by compressing the slit as a result of a compression of the body and the tongue together so as to bear surfaces a surface of the clamping groove body against surfaces a surface of the tongue to clamp the tongue against movement and thereby maintain the positions of cable portions desired offset. 
 
     
     
       7. The archery bow of  claim 6 , wherein the guard holder includes a bore extending into the body that extends substantially perpendicular to and spans the slit, and the archery bow comprises a fastener that is extended into the bore and rotated to compress the slit together the body and the tongue. 
     
     
       8. The archery bow of  claim 6 , wherein the cable guard comprises a roller guard. 
     
     
       9. The archery bow of  claim 6 , wherein the clamping groove is open on both ends thereof. 
     
     
       10. The adjustable cable guard system of claim 1, wherein:
 the groove comprises a linear shape; and   the sliding of the tongue comprises a non-rotational motion.   
     
     
       11. The archery bow of claim 6, wherein:
 the groove comprises a linear shape; and   the sliding of the tongue comprises a non-rotational motion.   
     
     
       12. A cable guard system comprising:
 a mount configured to be coupled to an archery bow, wherein the archery bow comprises a plurality of limbs, at least one cable coupled to the limbs, and a drawstring coupled to the limbs, wherein the drawstring is configured to move within a plane during shooting of the archery bow to launch a projectile along a shooting axis, wherein the plane is vertical when the archery bow is vertically held; and   a guard holder coupled to the mount, the guard holder comprising:
 a first surface defining a groove extending along an axis, wherein the axis intersects with the plane when the cable guard system is coupled to the archery bow; and 
 a second surface defining an opening configured to at least partially receive a fastener, 
   wherein the groove comprises a linear shape;   wherein the fastener is configured to be moved between first and second positions relative to a portion of the second surface; and   a guard comprising a tongue and a cable engager, wherein, when the cable guard system is coupled to the archery bow, the tongue is configured to:
 at least partially fit within the groove; 
 slide along the first surface relative to the plane, wherein the sliding comprises a non-rotational motion; and 
 enable adjustment of a position of the guard and cable engager relative to the guard holder; 
   wherein the adjustment occurs without requiring any movement of the guard relative to the guard holder along the shooting axis,   wherein, when the fastener is in the first position, the tongue is configured to slidably cooperate with the first surface to enable a first location of the cable engager to be adjusted relative to the plane when the cable guard system is coupled to the archery bow,   wherein the tongue remains at least partially positioned within the groove during the adjustment,   wherein, when the fastener is in the second position after the adjustment, the tongue and the first surface are compressed together to cause the cable engager to be secured in a second location relative to the plane when the cable guard system is coupled to the archery bow.   
     
     
       13. The cable guard system of claim 12, comprising at least one projection extending from the mount, wherein the projection is configured to be inserted into a cavity defined by the archery bow. 
     
     
       14. The cable guard system of claim 12, comprising an extension connecting the mount to the guard holder. 
     
     
       15. The cable guard system of claim 12, wherein the first surface comprises:
 a stopping surface; and   a plurality of guide surfaces to the stopping surface, wherein the guide surfaces are spaced apart from each other, and the stopping surface and guide surfaces collectively define the groove.   
     
     
       16. The cable guard system of claim 12, wherein:
 the guard comprises a surface, wherein the tongue extends from the surface, wherein the surface extends in a first plane; and   the tongue comprises a top surface that extends in a second plane located above the first plane.   
     
     
       17. The cable guard system of claim 12, wherein:
 the guard holder comprises a dimension extending along a longitudinal axis;   the dimension comprises a center; and   the guard holder defines a bifurcating slit extending from the groove, along the longitudinal axis, toward the center.   
     
     
       18. A cable guard system comprising:
 a coupler portion configured to be coupled to an archery bow, wherein the archery bow comprises:
 a plurality of limbs; 
 at least one cable coupled to the limbs; and 
 a drawstring coupled to the limbs, wherein the drawstring is configured to move within a plane to launch a projectile along a shooting axis during shooting of the archery bow, wherein the plane is vertical when the archery bow is vertically held; and 
   a plurality of portions configured to mate with each other;   wherein the portions are configured to be coupled to the coupler portion,   wherein a first one of the portions comprises a first surface that defines a groove extending along an axis, wherein the axis intersects with the plane and the shooting axis when the cable guard system is coupled to the archery bow,   wherein a second one of the portions comprises a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is configured to at least partially fit within the groove,   wherein the protrusion is configured to be slidably engaged with the first surface during a first mode to enable adjustable positioning of the first portion relative to the second portion,   wherein one of the first and second portions comprises a cable engager configured to engage the at least one cable,   wherein at least one of the first and second portions is configured to be coupled to a fastener, and   wherein, when the cable guard system is coupled to the archery bow, the coupled fastener is configured to be moved to cause a change from:
 (a) the first mode in which the protrusion has freedom to slidably cooperate with the first surface to enable the cable engager to be repositioned relative to the plane; to: 
 (b) a second mode in which the protrusion and the first surface are secured together to cause the cable engager to have a secured position relative to the plane, 
   wherein the change occurs independent of any movement of the first portion relative to the second portion along the shooting axis,   wherein, during the change, the protrusion remains at least partially positioned within the groove.   
     
     
       19. The cable guard system of claim 18, wherein the archery bow comprises a riser which supports the limbs, and the coupler portion comprises a riser mount. 
     
     
       20. The cable guard system of claim 18, wherein the drawstring is configured to engage an arrow so the arrow at least temporarily extends in the plane. 
     
     
       21. The cable guard system of claim 18, wherein the first portion comprises a guard holder, and the second portion comprises a cable guard. 
     
     
       22. The cable guard system of claim 18, wherein the first portion comprises a cable guard, and the second portion comprises a guard holder. 
     
     
       23. The cable guard system of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first and second portions comprises: (a) a support; and (b) at least one roller which is rotatably coupled to the support, wherein:
 the at least one roller comprises the cable engager;   the at least one roller is rotatable about a second axis; and   the second axis intersects with the plane.   
     
     
       24. The cable guard system of claim 18, wherein:
 at least one of the first and second portions comprises a second surface defining a bore configured to at least partially receive the fastener;   the fastener is configured to be at least partially inserted into the bore;   the fastener is configured to be moved between first and second positions relative to a point on the second surface;   the first position is associated with the first mode; and   the second position is associated with the second mode.   
     
     
       25. The cable guard system of claim 18, wherein:
 during the first mode, the first and second portions are configured to have a sliding movement relative to each other; and   at least one of the first and second portions is configured to limit the sliding movement during the first mode.   
     
     
       26. The cable guard system of claim 25, wherein:
 the first portion comprises a guard holder;   the guard holder comprises the at least one portion configured to limit the sliding movement; and   the groove comprises a plurality of ends, only one of which is open.   
     
     
       27. The cable guard system of claim 18, wherein:
 the slidable cooperation of the protrusion with the first surface comprises a non-rotational motion; and   the groove comprises a linear shape.   
     
     
       28. The cable guard system of claim 18, wherein:
 the first portion comprises a guard holder;   the second portion comprises a cable guard;   the guard holder comprises a dimension extending along a longitudinal axis;   the dimension comprises a center; and   the guard holder defines a bifurcating slit extending from the groove, along the longitudinal axis, toward the center.   
     
     
       29. The adjustable cable guard system of claim 1, wherein the tongue is configured to slide along the groove to enable adjustment of a position of the cable guard, guard surface, and tongue, moving as a single unit, relative to the guard holder.