Crossbow Having A Rope-Cocker Rope Retention Device

Abstract

A rope-cocker rope retainment assembly for a crossbow that operably and selectively retains a rope with the crossbow frame, while cocking the crossbow.

Description

2. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to archery, and more specifically to a rope-cocker rope retention assembly to easily retain a rope from a rope cocker within a rope receiver, while the rope cocker is in use.

3. DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

Historically, archery bows and crossbows have been used for war, survival, sport, and recreation. Traditionally, crossbows have been manufactured having two major assemblies combined into one: the bow assembly and the frame assembly. The bow assembly generally has a riser, limbs, and a bowstring. The bow assembly may also include cams, cables, limb pockets, and other required components to make the bow assembly functional. The frame assembly traditionally has a stock, a rail, a grip, a trigger assembly, and provisions for aiming the crossbow. The two assemblies were then joined together to make a functional crossbow. Generally designed as an integrated feature of the modern crossbow is a channel or receptor for the rope of a rope cocker. The channel or receptor was sized to receive the rope-cocker rope, and allowed for free movement of the rope within the channel. Under ideal circumstances, the rope-cocker rope would remain within the channel during use, however it was often the case that the rope would slip out of the channel, causing damage to the crossbow and or potential injury to the user.

There is clearly a need for a crossbow that has the ability to retain the rope-cocker rope within the channel rope-cocker channel during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a rope-cocker rope retention device or assembly that may be integrated with the rope-cocker channel in frame of a crossbow, or may be an assembly that may be selectively coupled with or removed from the crossbow frame. The preferred embodiment discloses a ball, a bore, a spring, and an assembly cap. The bore is centrally disposed adjacent the rope-cocker channel, allowing adequate spacing for the insertion and retention of the rope-cocker rope. The ball is sized to move within the diameter of the bore. The spring is sized to cooperate with the ball, and the bore. The cap is sized to retain the ball and the spring within the bore. The bore may be a true cylinder, a tapered cylinder, or of any shape that may achieve the function of retaining a ball, block, or other retainment type of component.

An alternative embodiment includes a retainment component that is movable from a retainment position to a release position, and back to a retainment position that may be biased by any means such as a spring, a magnet, friction, lever, cam, detent, or the like, and initiated by the rope of a rope-cocker.

A second alternative embodiment includes a retainment component, which is movable from a retainment position to a release position, and back to a retainment position that may be biased by any means such as a spring, a magnet, friction, lever, cam, detent, or the like, and initiated by the user after the rope cocker has been inserted into the rope-cocker channel.

For the descriptions to follow of a crossbow, the crossbow set forth within shall have the typical components of a bow assembly including a riser and bow limbs or energy storage components, and a bowstring operably coupled with the limbs. A crossbow frame shall have a trigger, a string catch selectable from a first position holding a bowstring and a second position releasing the bowstring, the string catch operably coupled to the trigger, and a grip portion for the user to hold the crossbow when in use. The bow assembly may be those known in the art such as recurve or compound bow assemblies.

The rope-cocker rope retainment assembly of the disclosure may be implemented on any crossbow utilizing a rope cocker. The invention of the disclosure will also be described and referred to the use and handling of traditional crossbows having the bowstring in a horizontal orientation when shooting the crossbow. The bow assembly and the crossbow frame combine to make the crossbow. All references to vertical and horizontal shall be when the crossbow is being held as in the shooting position with the launch deck and arrow level front to back and the bow assembly level side to side. Crossbows may have a guide rail for the bowstring and arrow, or be of a rail-less configuration. Though the disclosure may be utilized by any style of crossbow, for the sake of clarity, a crossbow having a rail and a launch deck will be described herein.

The rope-cocker described herein shall be of those known in the art, and shall not constitute a new or novel rope-cocker. These known rope-cockers generally have a rope segment, with a pair of handles at either end. A bowstring engaging component is retained by the rope of the rope-cocker, and is slidable on the rope. The bowstring engaging component may be of these known in the art, such as hooks, or a sled.

The “crossbow” may have limbs that are solid or split, or other energy storage components such as springs or pistons. The “crossbow” includes a bowstring, and may have at least one power cable. The “crossbow” may have a rail that the bowstring engages, or of the rail-less design. The crossbow may be of conventional draw, conventional draw with reverse cams, or reverse draw. The “crossbow” may or may not have a built-in cocking aid. The “crossbow” will have a bowstring retainment and release mechanism. The “crossbow” may be a conventional shoulder fired device or a pistol.

The term “limb” may refer to what are known as solid limbs, split-limbs, tube-limbs, or any other energy storing component.

For clarity, the word coupled is being defined as a way to connect an object, such as a bowstring or cable, with another object, be it directly or indirectly, such as directly to a post or pulley, or indirectly as in from the end of a string or cable, to an intermediate object, and then to a limb or axle.

The term “rail” is used as a general term describing an elongated component that directly or indirectly supports the front of an arrow. “Rail-less” crossbows still have an elongated component that is coupled with a riser or other structure, wherein the elongated component directly or indirectly supports the front of an arrow.

The term “riser” is a component or structure of the “limbs” are coupled too.

Accordingly, there is clearly a need for a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly that may be utilized on crossbows, and that has the ability to retain the rope-cocker rope within the channel rope-cocker channel during use.

These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly wherein the retainment ball is in the rope retainment position of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly wherein the retainment ball is in the rope non-retainment position within the bore of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly with a rope in a pre-insertion position of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective cut away view of a preferred embodiment of a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly with the rope in the pre-insertion position of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly with the rope in a mid-insertion position of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5A is a side view of an alternate embodiment of a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly with the rope in aw mid-insertion position, wherein the assembly has an upper body and a lower body of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective cut away view of a preferred embodiment of a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly with the rope in the mid-insertion position of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly with the rope in the inserted position and the ball in the rope retained position of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly with the rope in the inserted position and the ball in the rope retained position of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a perspective cut away view of a preferred embodiment of a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly with the rope in the inserted position and the ball in the rope retained position of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a side cutaway view of a first alternative embodiment of a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly with a compression spring return, wherein the retainment component is in the rope retainment position of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a side cutaway view of a first alternative embodiment of a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly with a magnet return, wherein the retainment component is in the rope retainment position of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly with a torsion spring return, wherein the retainment component is in the rope retainment position of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a second alternative embodiment of a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly, wherein the retainment component is in the rope non-retainment position of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a second alternative embodiment of a rope-cocker rope retainment assembly wherein the retainment component is in the rope retainment position of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 9, the preferred embodiment discloses a ball 30, a bore 40, a spring 70, and an assembly cap 80. The bore 40 is partially formed in the assembly cap 90 and a spring projection cavity 80 is formed at a bottom of the bore 40. The bore 40 is centrally disposed adjacent the rope-cocker channel 20, allowing adequate spacing for the insertion and retention of the rope-cocker rope 50. The ball 30 is sized to move within the diameter of the bore 40. The spring 70 is sized to cooperate with the ball 30 in the bore 40. The cap 90 is sized to retain the ball 30 and the spring 70 within the bore 40. The bore 40 may be a true cylinder, a tapered cylinder, or of any shape that may achieve the function of retaining a ball 30, block, or other retainment type of component.

In the preferred embodiment, the rope-cocker channel 20 is formed within a component that includes the bore 40 for a retainment assembly 10. The upper and lower portions of the rope-cocker channel 20 are formed together, as opposed to a top half and a bottom half. The ball 30 is spring-biased towards a retainment position, which is adjacent the upper surface 60 of the rope-cocker channel 20, wherein the ball 30 may or may not come into contact with the upper surface 60, however the distance between the ball 30 and the upper surface 60 is sufficient to retain the rope-cocker rope 50. The compression spring 70 is inserted into the bore 40 followed by the ball 30. The ball 30 and compression spring 70 are retained within the bore 40 by the assembly cap 90. The upper surface 60 of the rope cocker channel 20 limits the travel of the ball 30 within the bore 40.

Referring to FIG. 5A, an alternative embodiment, an upper portion of the rope-cocker channel 60 may be formed within a first component 12 to cooperate with a lower portion of the rope channel formed whiten a second component 14, and a pocket 42 is formed with the second component 14 to receive the ball 30 and compression spring 70. The spring 70 is inserted into the pocket 42, followed by the ball 30. The first component 12 is coupled with the second component 14 completing the rope-cocker retainment assembly 10.

The ball 30 is biased upward in the retained position. As the rope-cocker rope 50 is engaged with the rope cocker channel 20, the rope 50 initiates contact with the ball 30, and forces the ball 30 lower into bore 40 or pocket 42. The rope 50 passes into the rope-cocker channel 20, and the spring 70 forces the ball 30 back into the retainment position. After use, the rope 50 is pulled away from the rope-cocker channel 20, again forcing the ball 30 into the bore 40 or pocket 42 until the rope 50 has been removed from engagement with the ball 30, returning the ball 30 to the retained position.

As shown in FIGS. 10-12, a first alternative embodiment includes a retainment component 31 that is movable from a retainment position to a release position, and back to a retainment position that may be biased by any means such as a compression spring 70 as shown in FIG. 10, a magnet 100 as shown in FIG. 11, a torsion spring 110 as shown in FIG. 12, or other mechanical means known in the art such as friction or cams, or the like, and initiated by the rope of a rope-cocker.

With reference to FIGS. 13-14, a second alternative embodiment includes a retainment component 130 which is movable from a non-retainment position as shown in FIG. 13 to a retainment position as shown in FIG. 14, and back to a non-retainment position that may be initiated by the rope-cocker rope 50. A rope slot is formed in a top of the retainment component 130 and two retention slots are formed in a bottom of the retainment component 130. The rope slot is sized to receive the rope 50. A spring pocket is located below the retainment component 130 and is sized to receive the spring 70 and a detent ball 120. The two retention slots are sized to receive the detent ball 120.

Other alternative embodiments may result in the selectable retainment of a rope-cocker rope within a rope channel biased by any means such as a spring, a magnet, friction, lever, cam, detent, or the like, and initiated by the user after the rope cocker has been inserted into the rope-cocker channel.

The rope-cocker rope retainment assembly 10 may be integrated with the crossbow frame, or may be selective removable from the crossbow frame.

Though specific descriptions outline the preferred embodiments, alterations to the invention that alter only the component type or cooperation and not the alter function or desired result thereof fall within the scope of the claims of the embodiment.

Claims

1. A crossbow having a crossbow frame and a rope-cocker channel, comprising: a rope-cocker channel is sized to receive a rope from a rope cocker, the rope-cocker channel having an upper surface and a lower surface; anda bore located adjacent the lower surface is sized to receive a ball and a spring, the ball and spring are retained within the bore, the ball is biased towards the upper surface of the rope-cocker channel creating a rope-retained position, the ball is movable from the rope-retained position to a rope-release position, the rope released position having the ball lower in the bore than the rope-retained position, wherein the rope-retained position retains the rope and the rope-release position does not retain the rope.

2. The crossbow of claim 1, wherein: the rope is retained in the rope-cocker channel by compressing the ball into the bore, moving the rope over the ball and into the rope-cocker channel, the ball returns to the rope-retainment position.

3. The crossbow of claim 1, wherein: the rope is removed from the rope-cocker channel by compressing the ball into the bore, moving the rope over the ball and away from the rope-cocker channel, the ball returns to the rope-retained position.

4. A crossbow having a crossbow frame and a rope-cocker channel, comprising: a rope-cocker channel sized to receive a rope from a rope cocker, the rope-cocker channel having an upper surface and a lower surface; anda rope retainment component is located adjacent the rope-cocker channel, the rope retainment component is movable from a rope-retained position to a rope-release position, the rope retainment component is biased towards the rope-retained position, and movable from the rope-retained position to the rope-release position.

5. The crossbow of claim 4, wherein: the rope is retained in the rope-cocker channel by compressing the rope retainment component, moving the rope over the rope retainment component and into the rope-cocker channel, the rope retainment component returns to the rope-retained position.

6. The crossbow of claim 4, wherein: the rope is removed from the rope-cocker channel by compressing the rope retainment component moving the rope over the rope retainment component and away from the rope-cocker channel, the rope retainment component returns to the rope-retained position.

7. A rope-cocker rope retainment assembly, comprising: a rope-cocker channel is sized to receive a rope from a rope cocker, the rope-cocker channel having an upper surface and a lower surface; anda bore located adjacent the lower surface is sized to receive a ball and a spring, the ball and spring are retained in the bore, the ball is biased towards the upper surface of the rope-cocker channel, which creates a rope-retained position, the ball is movable from the rope-retained position to a rope-release position, the rope-release position has the ball lower in the bore than the rope retained position, wherein the rope-retained position retains the rope and the rope-release position does not retain the rope.

8. The rope-cocker rope retainment assembly of claim 7, wherein: the rope is retained in the rope-cocker channel by compressing the ball and spring into the bore, moving the rope over the ball and into the rope-cocker channel, the ball returns to the rope-retained position.

9. The rope-cocker rope retainment assembly of claim 7, wherein: the rope is removed from the rope-cocker channel by compressing the ball and spring into the bore, moving the rope over the ball and away from the rope-cocker channel, the ball returns to the rope-retained position.

10. A rope-cocker rope retainment assembly, comprising: a rope-cocker channel is sized to receive a rope from a rope cocker, the rope-cocker channel having an upper surface and a lower surface, a bore is located adjacent the rope-cocker channel, the bore is sized to receive a ball and a spring, the ball and spring are retained in the bore, the ball is biased away from the bore which creates a rope-retained position, moving the ball downward creates a rope-released position, the rope-release position includes the ball being lower in the bore than the rope-retained position, wherein the rope-retained position retains the rope in the rope cocker channel and the rope-release position does not retain the rope in the rope cocker channel.

11. The rope-cocker rope retainment assembly of claim 10, wherein: the rope is retained in the rope-cocker channel by compressing the ball and spring into the bore, moving the rope over the ball and into the rope-cocker channel, the ball returns to the rope-retained position.

12. The rope-cocker rope retainment assembly of claim 10, wherein: the rope is removed from the rope-cocker channel by compressing the ball and spring into the bore, moving the rope over the ball and away from the rope-cocker channel, the ball returns to the rope-retained position.

13. A rope-cocker rope retainment assembly, comprising: a rope-cocker channel is sized to receive a rope from a rope cocker, the rope-cocker channel having an upper surface and a lower surface; anda rope retainment component is located adjacent the rope-cocker channel, the rope retainment component moves from a rope-retained position to a rope-release position, the rope retainment component is biased towards the rope-retained position, and is movable to a rope-released position.

14. The rope-cocker rope retainment assembly of claim 13, wherein: the rope is retained in the rope-cocker channel by compressing the rope retainment component, moving the rope over the rope retainment component and into the rope-cocker channel, the rope retainment component returns to the rope-retained position.

15. The rope-cocker rope retainment assembly of claim 13, wherein: the rope is removed from the rope-cocker channel by compressing the rope retainment component, moving the rope over the rope retainment component and away from the rope-cocker channel, the rope retainment component returns to the rope-retained position.