A crossbow including a frame with a riser and a center rail. First and second flexible limbs are attached to the riser. A draw string is received in string guide journals in first and second cams rotatably attached to the frame. The draw string unwinds from the string guide journals as it translates between a released configuration and a drawn configuration. The first and second cams include at least first and second power cable take-up journals, respectively. At least first and second power cables are attached to the first and second limbs and received in the first and second power cable take-up journals, respectively. As the crossbow is drawn from the released configuration to the drawn configuration the first and second power cables wrap onto the respective first and second power cable take-up journals.

A projectile launching device includes self-timing without cam lean. The projectile launching device preferably includes a rail, a riser, two energy storing components, (such as two limbs), two cams, a launch string, and at least two cables. The ends of the launch string are attached to the two cams. Opposing ends of first and second cables are coupled to the first and second cams. A mid-segment of the first and second cables are slidably engaged with the first and second cable pulleys, respectively. The two cams are preferably built as mirror images of each other at a centerline of the rail. The two cams include a launch string track, having identical, but mirrored, upper and lower cable tracks.

A crossbow-used trigger assembly includes a casing, a connector, a trigger, a safety element, and a shield. The casing includes a trigger pivot, a latch pivot, and a first groove in communication with a second groove. The safety element is movable in the first groove. The connector is movable in the second groove. The trigger is pivotally supported on the trigger pivot and includes a front end and a rear end pivotally connected to the connector. The latch is pivotally supported on the latch pivot. A spring biases the latch towards the front end of the trigger. Another spring biases the trigger to keep the connector from the first groove. The shield is pivotally supported on the trigger pivot and includes a protuberance extending beyond the front end of the trigger to abut against the latch.

A crossbow includes a frame, a riser coupled to the frame, a first flexible limb, a second flexible limb, a third flexible limb, and a fourth flexible limb. A first cam assembly couples to the first flexible limb and the second limb and includes a first draw string journal, a first power cable journal, and a second power cable journal. A second cam assembly couples to the third flexible limb and the fourth flexible limb and includes a second draw string journal, a third power cable journal, and a fourth power cable journal. A draw string is received in the first draw string journal and the second draw string journal. Power cables cross over the center rail, above and below the draw string, and are received in the first power cable journal, the second power cable journal, the third power cable journal, and the fourth power cable journal, respectively.

An archery limb control system, method and bow are described herein. The archery limb control system, in an embodiment, includes a motion generator configured to be supported by an archery bow, and the system includes one or more flexible lines configured to be coupled to the limbs of the bow. The system also includes a support configured to support the one or more flexible lines, and the system includes a gear coupled to the support.

Crossbow bowstring positioning systems are provided. In one aspect of the invention a crossbow bowstring positioning system has a crank housing supporting an axle and positioning a first connector at a front facing surface of the crank housing, a length of rope connected between two separated points on the axle; a bowstring connector joined to the length of rope and connectable to a bowstring of the crossbow, a mounting having a buffer tube mount mountable to a buffer tube of a crossbow; and a crank operable to rotate the axle to control an extent to which the rope is wound onto the axle and a position of the bowstring connector relative to the axle. The crank housing and mounting can be readily assembled in a small space and an efficient manner while providing paths through which a force experienced by the axle during use can be resisted.

In some embodiments, crossbow comprises a frame, a bow portion comprising a bowstring, a latch and a trigger. An arrow rest is supported by the frame at a first location. The frame is also arranged to support the arrow rest at a second location. A distance between the latch and the first location is different from a distance between the latch and the second location.

A crossbow may include a main beam and a claw used to move a bowstring between an un-cocked position and a cocked position. The claw may be placed into a storage condition by engaging one or more storage locations positioned on the bottom side of the main beam.

A crossbow may include a buttstock assembly including at least two buttstocks that may alternatively be attached to a main beam. In some embodiments, one or more buttstocks may be attached at more than one location on crossbow main beam. In some embodiments, one or more buttstocks may have shoulder engaging surfaces that can be adjusted to more than one location with respect to the buttstock frame.

A method for monitoring operation of an archery bow includes attaching an apparatus to a bow cord. The apparatus includes a processor, a monitoring device electrically coupled with the processor, a wireless communication module electrically coupled with the processor, and a power supply electrically coupled with each of the processor and the wireless communication module. The method further includes detecting, by the monitoring device, a tension of the bow cord. The method also includes generating, by the processor and based upon the detected tension of the bow cord, data concerning tension of the bow cord. The method further includes wirelessly transmitting, by the wireless communication module, the data to a remote computing device. The method also includes receiving, by the remote computing device, the data. The method also includes presenting, by the remote computing device and based upon the data, information to a user reflecting the detected tension.