US Patent 9354015, titled "String guide system for a bow," was issued on May 31, 2016, from an application filed on December 16, 2013. The inventor is Craig Thomas Yehle, and the current assignee is Ravin Crossbows LLC.

Abstract:
The patent describes a string guide system for a bow, specifically one with a reverse draw configuration where the draw string is initially located on the down-range side. As the bow is drawn, first and second string guides rotate, and a first power cable take-up journal on the first string guide rotates to take up a power cable. This take-up journal has a width at least twice that of the power cable. The power cable is biased away from the draw string and translates along the take-up journal as the bow is drawn from a released to a drawn configuration.

Independent Claims Overview:

• Claim 1 (Crossbow System): This claim describes a crossbow featuring a central portion with flexible limbs. Each limb has a rotating string guide. The key innovation is that each string guide includes both a draw string journal and a helical power cable take-up journal. These helical journals are oriented perpendicularly to the plane of rotation of the draw string journals. In a reverse draw configuration, as the bow is drawn, the draw string unwinds, and the power cables wrap onto their respective helical take-up journals. This action displaces the power cables along the axes of rotation, moving them away from the planes of rotation of the draw string journals.

• Claim 11 (Crossbow System with Extended Rotation): Similar to Claim 1, this claim details a crossbow with a central portion, flexible limbs, and rotating string guides. Each string guide has a draw string journal and a power cable take-up journal. The critical distinction here is that both the first and second power cable take-up journals are specifically designed with lengths that can accommodate more than 360 degrees of rotation for their respective string guides. As the bow is drawn in a reverse draw configuration, the power cables wrap onto these extended take-up journals and are displaced along the axes, moving away from the planes of rotation of the draw string journals.

• Claim 17 (Method of Operating a Crossbow): This claim describes a method for operating a crossbow. The method involves unwrapping the draw string from draw string journals on the string guides while simultaneously wrapping first and second power cables onto corresponding helical power cable take-up journals. These helical take-up journals are designed to extend perpendicularly to the rotation of the draw string journals. As the power cables wrap, they are displaced along the string guides' axes of rotation, moving away from the planes of rotation of the draw string journals.

Litigation:
As of April 26, 2026, US Patent 9354015 is involved in litigation, with a case filed in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) under case number 24-2136. Additional litigation includes a PTAB case (IPR2023-00407) and US cases filed in the Ohio Northern District Court (5:23-cv-00598) and Nevada District Court (2:21-cv-02213).

US Patent 9354015 is involved in the following known litigation:

• Ravin Crossbows, LLC v. Squires (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit)

  • Plaintiff(s): Ravin Crossbows, LLC
  • Defendant(s): Squires (representing Hunter's Manufacturing Company, dba TenPoint Crossbow Technologies)
  • Jurisdiction: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC)
  • Case Number: 24-2136 (referenced in the previously generated summary)
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated for the CAFC appeal, but the underlying IPR (IPR2023-00407) was filed by TenPoint.
  • Outcome/Current Status: The CAFC issued a decision affirming a Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) final written decision that found claim 1 of US Patent No. 9,354,015 unpatentable. The dispute centered on the Board's construction of the claim term “mounted to”.

• Hunter's Manufacturing Company, dba TenPoint Crossbow Technologies v. Ravin Crossbows, LLC (Patent Trial and Appeal Board - IPR)

  • Plaintiff(s): Hunter's Manufacturing Company, doing business as TenPoint Crossbow Technologies
  • Defendant(s): Ravin Crossbows, LLC
  • Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
  • Case Number: IPR2023-00407
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but initiated prior to the CAFC appeal.
  • Outcome/Current Status: The PTAB issued a final written decision finding claim 1 of US Patent No. 9,354,015 unpatentable. This decision was affirmed by the CAFC.

• Ravin Crossbows, LLC v. TenPoint (U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada / Northern District of Ohio)

  • Plaintiff(s): Ravin Crossbows, LLC
  • Defendant(s): TenPoint (Hunter's Manufacturing Company)
  • Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, later transferred to the Northern District of Ohio
  • Case Number: 2:21-cv-02213 (Nevada District Court, referenced in the previously generated summary); 5:23-cv-00598 (Ohio Northern District Court, referenced in the previously generated summary)
  • Filing Date: The litigation began when Ravin filed a lawsuit against TenPoint.
  • Outcome/Current Status: Ravin alleged infringement of six crossbow patents, including the '015 patent. Ravin subsequently withdrew the '015 patent from this case. Before withdrawal, the district court determined that "mounted to" required no construction.

Proceedings overview

There is one PTAB proceeding on file for US Patent 9354015, which resulted in the invalidation of claim 1. This means that claim 1 is no longer patentable, significantly narrowing the scope of the patent.

IPR2023-00407 — Hunter's Manufacturing Company, dba TenPoint Crossbow Technologies v. Ravin Crossbows, LLC

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: Not explicitly stated, but initiated prior to the CAFC appeal.
• Status: Claims invalidated. The PTAB issued a final written decision finding claim 1 unpatentable, which was subsequently affirmed by the Federal Circuit.
• Judge panel: Not publicly available in the provided text.
• Petition grounds: The core of the dispute, as indicated by the Federal Circuit appeal, centered on the Board's construction of the claim term “mounted to” in relation to claim 1. Specific prior art and statutory bases are not detailed in the provided information, but IPRs typically involve §§ 102 and/or 103 grounds.
• Institution decision: Instituted (implied by the existence of a Final Written Decision and subsequent appeal). The specific date and panel's reasoning for institution are not provided in the supplied text.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): Claim 1 of US Patent No. 9,354,015 was found unpatentable. The panel's specific reasoning for the unpatentability of claim 1, beyond the dispute over the construction of "mounted to," is not detailed in the provided information.
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable, as a Final Written Decision was issued and appealed.
• Appeal: Yes, the FWD was appealed to the Federal Circuit under case number 24-2136. The issue on appeal was the Board's construction of the claim term “mounted to”. The CAFC affirmed the PTAB's final written decision that found claim 1 unpatentable.
• Defensive value: Claim 1 has been definitively canceled by the PTAB and upheld by the Federal Circuit. Any infringement claim or demand letter relying on claim 1 of US9354015 is without merit.

Strategic summary

Claim 1 of US9354015 has been CANCELED through the IPR process (IPR2023-00407) and its unpatentability affirmed by the Federal Circuit (case 24-2136). The status of the remaining claims (2-10 and 12-20) is UNTESTED, as the IPR focused solely on claim 1.

The estoppel landscape dictates that Hunter's Manufacturing Company (TenPoint) and its privies are barred from raising any invalidity grounds against claim 1 that they raised or reasonably could have raised in IPR2023-00407. However, this estoppel does not extend to the untested claims (2-10 and 12-20). Therefore, for a defendant facing assertion of this patent, prior-art grounds against claims 2-10 and 12-20 remain available.

The patent owner, Ravin Crossbows, LLC, pursued an appeal of the PTAB's decision on claim 1 to the Federal Circuit, indicating an aggressive defense of their patent rights. The petitioner, Hunter's Manufacturing Company (TenPoint), appears to be a direct competitor, given the parallel district court litigation involving the same parties. The involvement of Unified Patents in referencing the PTAB case in their litigation data suggests a potential role in monitoring or influencing patent challenges, though they are not listed as the petitioner in IPR2023-00407.

Recommended next steps

If you are a defendant and the patent is being asserted against you based on claim 1, you can confidently assert that this claim has been invalidated. You should directly refer to the Federal Circuit's decision in case 24-2136, which affirmed the PTAB's finding of unpatentability for claim 1.

For the untested claims (2-10 and 12-20), an analysis of potential prior art should be conducted to determine if new IPR petitions could be viable. Given the patent owner's aggressive stance in appealing the IPR decision, any new petition should be robustly prepared.

Inventors

• Craig Thomas Yehle (Employer at time of filing: Ravin Crossbows LLC)

Original assignee

Ravin Crossbows LLC is the original assignee named on the issued patent US9354015. Ravin Crossbows LLC manufactures and sells crossbows and related archery equipment, embodying the claims of the patent. Ravin Crossbows LLC is currently an operating company.

Assignment timeline

• 2013-12-09 (executed) / recorded 2013-12-16 — Reel 031787/0435

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: YEHLE, CRAIG THOMAS
  • Assignee: FIELD LOGIC, INC.
  • Correspondent: NOT LISTED
  • Context: Transfer from inventor to an initial assignee.

• 2015-02-25 (executed) / recorded 2015-03-04 — Reel 035130/0566

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: FIELD LOGIC, INC.
  • Assignee: RAVIN CROSSBOWS, LLC
  • Correspondent: NOT LISTED
  • Context: Transfer from Field Logic, Inc. to Ravin Crossbows, LLC.

• 2017-01-30 (executed) / recorded 2017-02-21 — Reel 041314/0190

  • Conveyance: Security Interest
  • Assignor: RAVIN CROSSBOWS, LLC
  • Assignee: NATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE
  • Correspondent: NOT LISTED
  • Context: Securitization of assets by Ravin Crossbows, LLC.

• 2018-09-04 (executed) / recorded 2018-09-04 — Reel 046776/0457

  • Conveyance: Security Interest
  • Assignor: RAVIN CROSSBOWS, LLC
  • Assignee: COMPASS GROUP DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS LLC
  • Correspondent: NOT LISTED
  • Context: Securitization of assets by Ravin Crossbows, LLC.

• 2019-04-04 (executed) / recorded 2019-04-04 — Reel 048798/0356

  • Conveyance: Release by Secured Party
  • Assignor: NATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE
  • Assignee: RAVIN CROSSBOWS, LLC
  • Correspondent: NOT LISTED
  • Context: Release of security interest, reverting full rights to Ravin Crossbows, LLC.

• 2018-09-04 (executed) / recorded 2020-02-19 — Reel 051970/0452

  • Conveyance: Intellectual Property Security Agreement
  • Assignor: RAVIN CROSSBOWS, LLC
  • Assignee: COMPASS GROUP DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS LLC
  • Correspondent: NOT LISTED
  • Context: Another securitization of intellectual property by Ravin Crossbows, LLC.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 9354015
    2013 : Filed by Ravin Crossbows LLC
         : Assigned to Field Logic Inc
    2015 : Assigned to Ravin Crossbows LLC
    2016 : Issued
    2017 : Security interest to National Bank
    2018 : Security interest to Compass Group
    2019 : Release by National Bank
    2020 : IP Security Agreement to Compass Group

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. The initial transfer was from the inventor to Field Logic, Inc., and then to Ravin Crossbows, LLC, both of which appear to be operating companies involved in the outdoor/hunting industry. Subsequent entries are security interests or releases.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. None of the assignees (Field Logic, Inc., Ravin Crossbows, LLC, National Bank of Commerce, Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC) are identified as known NPEs on public lists.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — unclear. The USPTO assignment records for this patent do not list correspondent information, making it impossible to track recurrence.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. The transfers involve operating companies and financial institutions, with time gaps between them, and do not appear to be rapid, consecutive assignments between shell entities.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — not present. The patent was issued in 2016. The recorded assignments (excluding security interests) concluded in 2015. Litigation was filed much later, in 2021 (Nevada District Court) and 2023 (Ohio Northern District Court, PTAB).
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no indication of any assignee entering bankruptcy and selling off the patent.
7. Privateering — unclear. While Ravin Crossbows LLC is an operating company involved in litigation, there is no public information in the patent record or associated legal events to suggest they transferred the patent to an NPE for assertion on their behalf. The litigation shows Ravin Crossbows LLC as the plaintiff directly asserting the patent.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain does not terminate at any known defensive aggregators.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion. The assignment history shows transfers between operating companies (Field Logic, Inc. and Ravin Crossbows, LLC) followed by security interests with financial institutions. Ravin Crossbows, LLC, the current assignee, manufactures and sells crossbows and is directly asserting the patent against a competitor (TenPoint Crossbow Technologies) in district court litigation, indicating assertion by an operating company against perceived infringers in their market.

USPTO Assignment Center search page for verification: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

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thought
The user wants to identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 9354015.
I need to:

1. Access the list of patent citations for US9354015.
2. For each cited patent:
   • Retrieve its full citation.
   • Find its publication/filing date.
   • Provide a brief description of the patent.
   • Identify which claim(s) of US9354015 it potentially anticipates under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

From the provided patent text, I can extract the list of "Patent Citations" and "Cited By" (examiner citations are usually most relevant for anticipation). I'll focus on the "Patent Citations" section as these were explicitly considered by the examiner. The patent text itself also mentions some prior art in the "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" section.

Let's list the cited patents from the "Citations (77)" section and then process them. I'll prioritize those specifically mentioned in the "BACKGROUND" as particularly relevant.

The background section explicitly mentions:

• U.S. Pat. No. 7,305,979 (Yehle) - "Power cables can also be used to synchronize rotation of the cams, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,305,979 (Yehle)."
• U.S. Pat. No. 7,836,871 (Kempf) - "the draw string can be positioned on the down-range side of the string guides so that the draw string unrolls between the string guides toward the user as the bow is drawn, such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,836,871 (Kempf)" (Reverse draw configuration)
• U.S. Pat. No. 7,328,693 (Kempf) - "the draw string can be positioned on the down-range side of the string guides so that the draw string unrolls between the string guides toward the user as the bow is drawn, such as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,836,871 (Kempf) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,328,693 (Kempf)." (Reverse draw configuration)

I should start with these three patents as they are explicitly identified by the applicant as relevant prior art in the background section, indicating they are likely highly relevant to the novelty of US9354015. I will then review other cited patents.

For each of these, I will use Google Search to get descriptions and publication/filing dates, and then analyze them against the claims of US9354015 to determine potential anticipation.

Given the instructions, I need to use the google_search.search tool. My first search was to get the list of citations. Now I need to search for each individual patent to get its description and dates. The prompt already provides a full list of patent citations under "Patent Citations (86)". I will parse this list directly from the provided text to avoid re-searching for the full list of citations, and then perform specific searches for the details of each of the most relevant ones (the ones mentioned in the background).

Let's start with the three patents highlighted in the background:

1. US7305979B1 (Yehle)
2. US7836871B2 (Kempf)
3. US7328693B2 (Kempf)

I will collect the information for these three and then consider which claims of US9354015 they might anticipate.

Plan for each relevant prior art:

1. Full citation: Get from the provided text or confirm with search.
2. Publication/Filing date: Get from the provided text or confirm with search.
3. Brief description: Summarize the key features related to string guide systems and power cables from the search results.
4. Potential anticipation: Compare the features of the prior art to the elements of claims 1, 11, and 17 of US9354015 (the independent claims). Specifically look for overlap in:
   • Reverse draw configuration.
   • String guides, draw string journals, power cable take-up journals.
   • Helical journals for power cables.
   • Displacement of power cables along the axis.
   • Rotation exceeding 270 or 360 degrees.
   • Width of the power cable take-up journal being at least twice the cable width.

Let's execute the searches for the three identified patents.## Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 9354015

This analysis identifies and describes the most relevant prior art references for US Patent 9354015, "String guide system for a bow," focusing on those explicitly mentioned in the patent's background and cited by the examiner. The prior art is assessed for its potential to anticipate the independent claims (1, 11, and 17) of US9354015 under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

1. US Patent 7,305,979 (Yehle)

• Full Citation: US7305979B1, "Dual-cam archery bow with simultaneous power cable take-up and let-out."
• Publication/Filing Date: Granted: 2007-12-11; Filed: 2005-03-18.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a dual-cam archery bow system where power cables are used to synchronize the rotation of the cams. The cams include both draw string journals and power cable take-up journals. The system aims to provide simultaneous take-up and let-out of cables for improved bow performance and let-off. This patent is by the same inventor as US9354015.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1 & 11 (Crossbow System): US7305979B1 discloses dual-cam bows with power cable take-up and draw string journals. However, it does not explicitly describe helical power cable take-up journals that displace the power cables along the axis away from the draw string journals, nor does it inherently suggest string guide rotation exceeding 270 degrees, let alone 360 degrees, as a primary feature. While it uses cams and power cables, the specific mechanisms for achieving extended rotation and cable displacement (e.g., helical journals or journals with a width at least twice the cable width to facilitate axial translation) are not clearly present or emphasized.
  • Claim 17 (Method): The method of synchronizing power cable take-up is disclosed, but the specific steps of "displacing the first and second power cables along first and second axes of rotation...away from first and second planes of rotation of the first and second draw string journals" via helical journals are not explicitly taught.

2. US Patent 7,836,871 (Kempf)

• Full Citation: US7836871B2, "Powerstroke crossbow."
• Publication/Filing Date: Granted: 2010-11-23; Filed: 2007-01-17.
• Brief Description: This patent introduces a "powerstroke crossbow" with a reverse draw configuration, where the bowstring is positioned on the down-range side of the string guides (cams/pulleys) and unrolls towards the user as the bow is drawn. The patent aims to increase the power stroke.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1 & 11 (Crossbow System): This patent clearly anticipates the "reverse draw configuration with the draw string adjacent the down-range side" feature of US9354015. However, it does not disclose the specific "helical power cable take-up journal" that extends perpendicularly to the draw string journal's plane of rotation and displaces the cable along the axis. The stated drawback in US9354015's background section—that prior art like Kempf's limits rotation to about 270 degrees due to cable contact—highlights a key distinction that US9354015 aims to overcome.
  • Claim 17 (Method): While Kempf discloses displacing the draw string in a reverse draw, it does not teach the method steps of wrapping power cables onto helical take-up journals that displace the cables along the axes of rotation to prevent contact and allow for greater than 270 or 360 degrees of rotation.

3. US Patent 7,328,693 (Kempf)

• Full Citation: US7328693B2, "Reverse draw technology archery."
• Publication/Filing Date: Granted: 2008-02-12; Filed: 2004-09-16.
• Brief Description: Similar to US7836871B2, this patent describes "reverse draw technology archery" where the bowstring (draw string) is routed to the down-range side of the cam system, allowing it to unroll towards the user during the draw. This configuration is intended to achieve a longer power stroke.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
  • Claim 1 & 11 (Crossbow System): This patent, like US7836871B2, anticipates the "reverse draw configuration" of US9354015. However, it similarly lacks the specific disclosure of "helical power cable take-up journals" designed to axially displace the power cables to facilitate rotation beyond 270 degrees. The problem of limited cam rotation due to power cable interference, which US9354015 addresses, is a known issue with such reverse-draw systems, but the solution provided by US9354015 is not present in this patent.
  • Claim 17 (Method): The method of drawing the bowstring in a reverse draw configuration is known from this patent. However, the unique method steps involving helical power cable take-up journals that displace power cables along the axis to enable greater rotation are not taught or suggested.

In summary, while the cited Kempf patents establish the concept of reverse draw bows (which is a foundational element of US9354015), they do not appear to disclose the specific helical power cable take-up journals and their function of displacing the cables to allow for significantly increased rotation (e.g., beyond 270 degrees, up to 360 degrees or more) as claimed in US9354015. The Yehle patent (US7305979B1) introduces synchronous dual-cam operation but similarly lacks the specific helical displacement mechanism for extended rotation. These patents serve as relevant background art, demonstrating the state of the art that US9354015 seeks to improve upon, but do not appear to fully anticipate the specific helical journal and displacement features of US9354015's independent claims.

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 9354015 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis evaluates the obviousness of the independent claims (1, 11, and 17) of US Patent 9354015, "String guide system for a bow," by combining the identified prior art references: US7305979B1 (Yehle), US7836871B2 (Kempf), and US7328693B2 (Kempf). The analysis considers the perspective of a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) at the time of the invention.

The background of US9354015 explicitly identifies a problem with prior art reverse draw configurations (such as those disclosed by Kempf): "One drawback of this configuration is that the power cables can limit the rotation of the cams to about 270 degrees". This limitation reduces the power stroke. The present disclosure aims to overcome this by permitting "greater rotation of the string guides and a longer power stroke". This statement establishes a clear motivation for a PHOSITA to combine existing knowledge to solve this known problem.

Combination for Claims 1 and 17: Kempf ('871 or '693) in view of Yehle ('979) and general mechanical principles of helical journals.

Claim 1 (Crossbow System) and Claim 17 (Method):
Claim 1 describes a crossbow with a reverse draw configuration, featuring string guides with draw string journals and helical power cable take-up journals. These helical journals extend perpendicularly to the plane of rotation of the draw string journals and displace the power cables along the axes of rotation, away from the draw string journals' planes, as the bow is drawn. Claim 17 describes the corresponding method of operation.

• Kempf ('871 and '693): Both Kempf patents disclose the fundamental "reverse draw configuration" where the draw string is located adjacent the down-range side in a released configuration and unwinds towards the up-range side as the bow is drawn. These references teach the objective of achieving a longer power stroke through this configuration. Critically, US9354015 itself points out that a drawback of this prior art configuration is the limitation of cam rotation to about 270 degrees due to power cable contact.
• Yehle ('979): Yehle discloses a dual-cam archery bow system with power cables for synchronizing cam rotation, where cams include both draw string journals and power cable take-up journals. While it doesn't explicitly teach reverse draw, it provides the context of managing cables and strings on rotating cams.
• Motivation for Combination: A PHOSITA, facing the known problem of limited cam rotation (approximately 270 degrees) in reverse draw bows (Kempf) due to power cable interference (as explicitly stated in US9354015's background), would be motivated to find a mechanism to prevent this interference and allow for greater rotation to achieve a longer power stroke. Helical grooves or journals are a well-known mechanical design principle for guiding a flexible member (like a cable or string) and causing it to translate axially as it wraps onto a rotating member.
• Obviousness Argument: It would have been obvious for a PHOSITA to combine the reverse draw configuration of Kempf (to achieve the initial benefits of increased power stroke) with the general cam and cable management systems of Yehle, and further, to incorporate a known mechanical solution—a helical take-up journal—to address the identified problem of cable interference. By employing a helical power cable take-up journal, the power cable would be naturally displaced along the axis as it wraps, moving it away from points of potential contact with other components (like attachment points or the draw string journal itself), thereby enabling the string guides to rotate more than 270 degrees, and potentially more than 360 degrees, and extending the power stroke. This is a direct application of a known mechanical element to solve a recognized problem in the prior art, leading to a predictable result (increased rotation and power stroke).

Combination for Claim 11: Kempf ('871 or '693) in view of Yehle ('979) and routine engineering for maximizing cable capacity.

Claim 11 (Crossbow System with Extended Rotation Take-up Journals):
Claim 11 is similar to Claim 1 but specifically requires that the "first and second power cable take-up journals comprise lengths that accommodates more than 360 degrees of rotation of the first string guide" (and second string guide), and that the cables are displaced along the axes away from the planes of rotation of the draw string journals. Claim 15 (dependent on 11) specifies these journals are helical.

• Kempf ('871 and '693): Again, these patents establish the reverse draw configuration and the desire for a longer power stroke, while implicitly presenting the limitation of cable interference limiting rotation to about 270 degrees.
• Yehle ('979): Yehle provides the context of cam-based string and cable management.
• Motivation for Combination: Given the acknowledged problem in prior art reverse draw bows (Kempf) that power cables limit cam rotation to around 270 degrees (per US9354015's background), a PHOSITA would be motivated to design power cable take-up journals that accommodate greater rotation. The stated goal of US9354015 is to permit "greater rotation... and a longer power stroke", specifically mentioning "more than 270 degrees, and preferably more than 360 degrees". To achieve this desired increase in rotation, it would be a routine engineering decision to design the power cable take-up journal (as generally known from Yehle) with sufficient "length" (axial extent) to accommodate the increased number of cable wraps required for such extended rotation, while also ensuring the cable is displaced axially to prevent interference. As shown in US9354015's FIG. 9C, even a "smooth power cable take-up" with sufficient "height" (axial length/width) can achieve this displacement, sometimes with a biasing force.
• Obviousness Argument: The explicit recognition of the 270-degree rotation limit in reverse draw systems (Kempf) and the desire for increased power stroke (which directly correlates with greater cam rotation) would make it obvious for a PHOSITA to design a power cable take-up journal (as broadly taught by Yehle) with a length sufficient to accommodate rotations "more than 360 degrees." This is a predictable outcome of applying known design principles (ensuring adequate space/length for cable winding and axial displacement) to overcome a clearly identified limitation in the prior art to achieve a desired performance improvement.

The current date is April 26, 2026.

US Patent 9354015: Term Adjustments, Extensions, and Related Applications

US Patent 9354015, titled "String guide system for a bow," was granted on May 31, 2016, from an application filed on December 16, 2013. The patent is currently assigned to Ravin Crossbows LLC.

Patent Term Adjustments (PTA):
Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) is granted to compensate for certain administrative delays by the USPTO during the patent prosecution process. This adjustment adds time to the standard 20-year patent term from the earliest filing date. The USPTO automatically calculates PTA and issues a notice with the patent. To determine the exact PTA for US9354015, one would typically review the "Issue Notification" letter associated with the patent or consult public patent databases like Patent Center. The provided text for US9354015 does not explicitly state the calculated PTA.

Patent Term Extensions (PTE):
Patent Term Extension (PTE) is available for patents covering certain products (such as human drugs, food additives, or medical devices) that undergo premarket regulatory review by a federal agency, like the FDA. This extension aims to restore patent term lost during this regulatory review period. Since US9354015 pertains to a "string guide system for a bow," which is not a product subject to such regulatory review, it is highly unlikely to have received any Patent Term Extension under 35 U.S.C. § 156. The provided patent information and search results do not indicate any PTE for this patent.

Continuation and Divisional Applications:
The "Priority Applications (36)" section in the provided patent text lists numerous applications that claim priority from US14/107,058 (the application that led to US9354015). These are essentially related family members, many of which appear to be continuation or divisional applications. A few examples from the extensive list include:

• US15/098,537 (US9494379B2) - Filed 2016-04-14, titled "Crossbow."
• US15/294,993 (US9879936B2) - Filed 2016-10-17, titled "String guide for a bow."
• US15/395,835 (US10254073B2) - Filed 2016-12-30, titled "Crossbow."
• US15/395,705 (US10082359B2) - Filed 2016-12-30, titled "Torque control system for cocking a crossbow."
• US15/395,794 (US10077965B2) - Filed 2017-01-19, titled "Cocking system for a crossbow."

The sheer number of these priority-claiming applications, often with similar titles, strongly suggests a strategy of filing continuation and divisional applications to protect various aspects and embodiments of the invention.

Related Family Members:
The patent explicitly lists 36 "Priority Applications" that claim priority to US14/107,058, the application number for US9354015. These applications, as detailed above, constitute the patent family and cover various aspects of crossbows and bow string guide systems. Additionally, the patent lists "Related Child Applications (3)" with US15/098,537 appearing twice, once as a "Continuation-In-Part" and once as a "Continuation." The "Cited By (31)" section also lists numerous patents that cite US9354015, further indicating its role as a foundational patent in a larger portfolio.

Projected Expiration Date:
The original expiration date for a U.S. utility patent is typically 20 years from its earliest non-provisional filing date. For US9354015, the filing date is December 16, 2013. Therefore, the base expiration date would be December 16, 2033.

However, the Google Patents information for US9354015 explicitly states: "Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.) Active, expires 2034-10-10."

This "Adjusted expiration" date of October 10, 2034, indicates that Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) has been applied, extending the patent term beyond the initial 20 years from the filing date. The difference between December 16, 2033, and October 10, 2034, suggests approximately 10 months and 24 days of PTA. The actual PTA calculation would have been provided in the Issue Notification from the USPTO.

Defensive Disclosure: Advanced String Guide Systems for Bows and Crossbows: Enabling Extended Rotation and Enhanced Cable Management

Introduction

This defensive disclosure aims to broaden the public domain of prior art concerning string guide systems for bows, particularly crossbows, emphasizing mechanisms that facilitate extended rotational movement of string guides and improved cable management. The objective is to render obvious or non-novel future incremental improvements by competitors within this technical space. This disclosure builds upon the foundational concepts elucidated in US Patent 9354015, by presenting various derivative works across different technological axes.

Technical Disclosure of Derivative Works

The following derivatives explore alternative materials, operational parameters, cross-domain applications, integration with emerging technologies, and inverse/failure modes for string guide systems that enable greater than 270 degrees, and preferably more than 360 degrees, of rotation for string guides by axially displacing power cables away from potential interference points.

Derivative 1: Material & Component Substitution

Enabling Description:
The conventional aluminum alloy cams (string guides) are replaced with advanced carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, specifically utilizing high-modulus T800 carbon fibers embedded in a toughened epoxy matrix. These components are manufactured via resin transfer molding (RTM) to achieve an optimal strength-to-weight ratio and reduced rotational inertia. The helical power cable take-up journals are integrally formed within the composite structure and feature an abrasion-resistant ceramic coating (e.g., zirconium dioxide) applied through plasma spraying to minimize friction and wear from the power cables. The power cables themselves are substituted with advanced aramid fiber (e.g., Kevlar® 29) or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE, such as Dyneema® SK99) braided cables, selected for their extremely high tensile strength, minimal elongation, and superior fatigue resistance, thereby enhancing power transfer efficiency and overall system durability. The axles supporting the string guides are fabricated from hollow titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) shafts, which significantly reduce the system's overall mass while maintaining critical structural integrity and torsional stiffness.

classDiagram
    class CrossbowSystem {
        -CentralPortion centralPortion
        -FlexibleLimb limb1
        -FlexibleLimb limb2
        -DrawString drawString
        -PowerCable cable1
        -PowerCable cable2
        +operate()
    }
    class FlexibleLimb {
        -StringGuide stringGuide
    }
    class StringGuide {
        -CFRP_Cam cam
        -TitaniumAxle axle
        -DrawStringJournal drawJournal
        -HelicalCableJournal cableJournal
    }
    class CFRP_Cam {
        +Material: T800 Carbon-Epoxy
        +Mfg: RTM
    }
    class TitaniumAxle {
        +Material: Ti-6Al-4V (Hollow)
    }
    class HelicalCableJournal {
        +Coating: ZrO2 Plasma Spray
    }
    class PowerCable {
        +Material: Dyneema SK99 / Kevlar 29
    }
    CrossbowSystem --> FlexibleLimb
    FlexibleLimb --> StringGuide
    StringGuide --> CFRP_Cam
    StringGuide --> TitaniumAxle
    StringGuide --> HelicalCableJournal
    CrossbowSystem --> PowerCable

Derivative 2: Operational Parameter Expansion

Enabling Description:
A miniaturized string guide system designed for highly constrained operational environments, such as those found in endovascular surgical robotics or micro-sampling instruments for hazardous material analysis. The string guides are micro-fabricated using MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) techniques, resulting in outer diameters ranging from 2 to 5 mm. These micro-cams are composed of biocompatible titanium-nitride (TiN) coated silicon or nickel-titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloy, selected for their resilience and ability to withstand repeated deformation cycles. The draw string and power cables are substituted with ultra-fine (20-50 micron diameter) polymer monofilaments (e.g., PEEK or Vectran) or nitinol wires. These are managed by helical journals with pitch tolerances in the single-digit micrometer range, enabling precise axial translation of the micro-cables. The system operates with ultra-low draw forces (e.g., 0.5-5 N) but maintains extremely high precision, capable of sub-millimeter displacement accuracy over extended "power strokes" relative to its miniature size, providing controlled, delicate energy release for precise actuations. The rotational speed of these micro-cams can reach thousands of RPM during release, necessitating specialized micro-bearings (e.g., ruby or ceramic micro-balls) to minimize friction and ensure smooth operation.

stateDiagram-v2
    [*] --> Released
    Released --> Drawing: Apply_Micro_Force
    Drawing --> Drawn: Extend_Power_Stroke
    Drawn --> Firing: Release_Latch
    Firing --> Recovering: Micro_Actuation_Complete
    Recovering --> Released: Reset_System

    state Drawing {
        Drawing : Micro-Cams Rotate > 720 deg
        Drawing : Nitinol/PEEK Cables Translate
        Drawing : Sub-mm Precision
    }
    state Firing {
        Firing : Ultra-High RPM Release
    }

Derivative 3: Cross-Domain Application

3.1 Industrial Cable Tensioning Systems (e.g., bridge cable pre-tensioning)

Enabling Description:
The principles of the string guide system are adapted for industrial cable tensioning applications, such as the pre-stressing of bridge suspension cables or the precise adjustment of guy wires for large antenna structures. In this embodiment, massive string guides (cams) with diameters up to 2-5 meters are robustly mounted to hydraulic or electrically actuated limbs/frames. High-strength steel power cables, ranging from 50-100 mm in diameter, are wrapped onto helical take-up journals. This helical action axially displaces hundreds of kilograms of cable as tension forces reach hundreds of kilonewtons. The extended rotation capability (multiple full turns) of the string guides allows for fine, controlled application and release of tension over significant cable lengths. The "reverse draw" analogy applies to systems designed to store large amounts of elastic energy within the cables for subsequent controlled release or precise adjustment of structural elements.

flowchart TD
    A[Tensioning Control System] --> B{Actuator Command}
    B --> C[Hydraulic / Electric Limbs]
    C --> D[Massive String Guides (Cams)]
    D -- Rotates > 360° --> E[Helical Take-up Journal]
    E -- Axial Displacement --> F[High-Strength Steel Power Cable]
    F -- Tension Applied --> G[Bridge Suspension Cable]

3.2 Solar Array Deployment Mechanisms (Space Application)

Enabling Description:
The string guide system is implemented in mechanisms for deploying large, flexible solar arrays or antenna reflectors on spacecraft. The central portion of the system corresponds to the satellite bus, while the flexible limbs are articulated deployable booms. Ultra-lightweight string guides (cams), manufactured from beryllium alloy or carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), are precisely mounted on these booms. Deployment cables (e.g., Vectran or M5 fiber) are managed by helical journals, which facilitate controlled, multi-stage unwrapping and axial translation as the arrays unfurl. The "reverse draw" configuration ensures that the deployment cables are initially stored compactly and then smoothly released, with the axial displacement preventing entanglement or binding in the vacuum of space, thereby enabling 360+ degree rotation of the deployment mechanisms and ensuring reliable unfurling.

sequenceDiagram
    participant SC as Spacecraft Bus
    participant DB as Deployable Boom
    participant SG as String Guide Cam
    participant DC as Deployment Cable
    participant SA as Solar Array

    SC->>DB: Initiate Deployment
    DB->>SG: Activate Cam Rotation
    loop Unfurling Sequence
        SG->>DC: Unwind from Helical Journal
        DC->>DC: Translate Axially
        DB->>SA: Extend Array Section
    end
    SG->>DC: Complete Unwinding (>360 deg)
    SA->>SC: Array Fully Deployed

3.3 Automated Curtain/Shade Systems (Architectural)

Enabling Description:
This derivative applies the string guide system to large-scale, automated architectural curtain or shading systems, particularly those featuring complex, multi-panel retractable designs for wide apertures. In this context, the "limbs" are robust structural rails, and the "string guides" are motorized pulleys or cams that precisely manage tensile wires or belts. These wires or belts, analogous to power cables, are wound onto helical journals to axially manage their stack-up and prevent jamming as the large curtain panels retract or deploy. This often requires the motorized pulleys/cams to undergo multiple rotations (e.g., 360+ degrees) to completely cover or uncover wide spans. The "reverse draw" concept ensures that the curtain or shade elements are initially stored compactly and then smoothly extended across the architectural opening.

graph TD
    A[Control Unit] --> B(Motorized Pulley/Cam)
    B -- Rotate > 360 deg --> C{Helical Wire Journal}
    C -- Axially Displaces --> D[Tensile Wire/Belt]
    D -- Moves --> E[Curtain/Shade Panel]
    E -- Retract/Deploy --> F[Window/Opening]

Derivative 4: Integration with Emerging Tech

Enabling Description:
An advanced string guide system for a bow or crossbow that integrates real-time AI-driven optimization, comprehensive IoT sensing, and blockchain-secured component tracking. Each string guide incorporates miniature, wireless IoT sensor modules, including high-precision strain gauges on the axles, optical encoders for precise angular position and rotational speed, and acoustic emission sensors to detect incipient material fatigue or structural anomalies in the cables or journals. This sensor data is continuously streamed via a low-power, long-range wide area network (LoRaWAN) or 5G IoT module to an onboard edge computing unit. An embedded artificial intelligence (AI) model, pre-trained on extensive operational and failure mode data, analyzes this stream in real-time. This AI dynamically adjusts cam timing (if variable geometry cams are utilized) or predicts optimal maintenance schedules, thereby ensuring peak kinetic energy transfer and proactively preventing system failure. Furthermore, the power cable take-up journals include unique, laser-etched QR codes or integrated RFID tags. Critical components such as cables, cams, and limbs are tracked from their manufacturing origin through their entire lifecycle on a permissioned blockchain (ee.g., Hyperledger Fabric). This provides verifiable material provenance, manufacturing parameters, quality control data, and service history, ensuring component authenticity, enhancing reliability, and preventing the use of counterfeit parts in critical applications (e.g., military, law enforcement, or professional competition archery).

C4Context
    title System Context for IoT-Enhanced Bow System

    System_Ext(user, "Archer/Operator", "Interacts with the crossbow system")
    System(crossbow, "IoT-Enhanced Crossbow", "A crossbow system with advanced sensing and control")
    System_Ext(cloud_platform, "Cloud Analytics Platform", "Processes and analyzes aggregated IoT data")
    System_Ext(blockchain_network, "Blockchain Network", "Distributed ledger for supply chain and maintenance records")

    Rel(user, crossbow, "Operates")
    Rel(crossbow, edge_compute, "Streams Sensor Data to")
    Rel(edge_compute, ai_model, "Feeds data to")
    Rel(ai_model, crossbow, "Provides Optimization Feedback to")
    Rel(edge_compute, cloud_platform, "Uploads Aggregated Data to")
    Rel(crossbow, blockchain_network, "Records Component Data on")

Derivative 5: The "Inverse" or Failure Mode

Enabling Description:
A string guide system designed with an integrated, failsafe decocking mechanism that explicitly prevents uncontrolled energy release or "dry fire" conditions. Instead of a rapid, potentially damaging release, the system incorporates a hydraulic or pneumatic damping system directly coupled to the string guide axles. Upon activation of a dedicated decocking sequence (e.g., via a secondary, safety-interlocked trigger), controlled pressure is either released from or applied to the damping system. This forces the string guides to slowly and safely counter-rotate in a reverse direction from the draw, smoothly unwinding the power cables from their helical journals. Throughout this controlled unwinding process, the helical journals continue to axially displace the power cables, proactively preventing any cable overlap, entanglement, or interference, even at reduced tension. This ensures the bow limbs return to their relaxed state gradually and safely, without generating dangerous shock loads or causing component damage. Furthermore, the system includes a "low-power" mode for training or target practice. In this mode, a user-selectable mechanical bypass engages either a secondary, significantly softer set of limbs or a re-routed portion of the main power cables through an adjustable tensioner. This effectively reduces the stored energy and draw weight, while still allowing the user to experience the full range of string guide rotation and axial cable displacement, providing realistic handling characteristics without the full power output of the hunting or competition mode.

stateDiagram-v2
    [*] --> Released_Idle
    Released_Idle --> Cocking: Draw_String
    Cocking --> Drawn_Ready: Full_Draw_Achieved
    Drawn_Ready --> Firing: Main_Trigger_Pull
    Drawn_Ready --> Decocking_Initiated: Decock_Trigger_Pull
    Firing --> Released_Idle: Arrow_Fired
    Decocking_Initiated --> Decocking_Controlled: Engage_Damping_System
    Decocking_Controlled --> Released_Idle: Controlled_Unwind_Complete

    state Decocking_Controlled {
        Decocking_Controlled : String Guides Counter-Rotate
        Decocking_Controlled : Helical Journals Maintain Axial Displacement
        Decocking_Controlled : Damping System Controls Rate
    }

Combination Prior Art Scenarios

These scenarios combine the inventive concepts of US Patent 9354015 with existing open-source standards, demonstrating how a Person Having Ordinary Skill in the Art (PHOSITA) would have been motivated to integrate such features:

1. Integration with Open-Source Archery Equipment Standards (e.g., Archery Trade Association (ATA) Standards):
   A crossbow incorporating the string guide system of US9354015, which utilizes helical power cable take-up journals to axially displace cables for extended rotation and increased power stroke, is explicitly designed to conform to widely adopted open-source or publicly available Archery Trade Association (ATA) standards. This includes adherence to ATA specifications for string and cable materials and their attachment points (e.g., standard d-loops or cable slides), or for standardized accessory mounting interfaces (e.g., Picatinny rails for sights, quivers, or tactical lights). A PHOSITA, aiming to develop a highly compatible and customizable reverse-draw crossbow, would naturally combine the enhanced power stroke and superior cable management features of US9354015 with established, open mechanical standards to ensure seamless interoperability with a vast array of existing and future archery accessories and components.

2. Application with Open-Source Robotics Control Software (e.g., ROS - Robot Operating System):
   The string guide system of US9354015, particularly its core principles of precision cable management and enabling extended angular rotation through axial cable displacement, is applied in the design of a general-purpose robotic arm that employs cable-driven actuation. The complex control algorithms necessary for managing the dynamic tensioning and precise release of these cables (analogous to the power cables in a bow) on helical journals are implemented using software modules from the widely adopted Robot Operating System (ROS) framework. A PHOSITA in the field of robotics would be motivated to leverage the efficient energy storage/release capabilities and precise cable routing afforded by US9354015's string guides for compact, yet powerful, robotic actuators. This mechanical system would then be integrated with the flexible, open-source software control environment of ROS to manage motion planning, joint synchronization, and safety protocols for the entire cable-driven system.

3. Crossbow Design incorporating Open-Source CAD/CAM Libraries (e.g., FreeCAD, OpenSCAD):
   A detailed crossbow design, which fully embodies the principles of US9354015, specifically the intricate geometry of the string guides, the precise routing within the draw string journals, and the three-dimensional form of the helical power cable take-up journals, is made publicly available. All associated dimensional specifications, material selections, and step-by-step assembly instructions are provided through open-source CAD (Computer-Aided Design) libraries or parameterized design tools such as OpenSCAD or FreeCAD. This open disclosure allows a PHOSITA to combine the innovative cable management and extended rotation features described in US9354015 with universally accessible open-source design tools and formats. This enables rapid prototyping, community-driven customization, and iterative improvements, effectively providing a detailed, reproducible, and openly accessible "how-to" guide for implementing the core inventive concepts of the patent.