The present invention relates generally to crossbows and in particular to an improved release mechanism for cocking and un-cocking a crossbow.
Crossbows have been used since the Middle Ages. Crossbows have evolved to include cams and synthetic split limbs that greatly increase firing velocity. However, increased firing velocity creates a problem when a crossbow is dry-fired in order to release the bowstring from a cocked position into an un-cocked position without firing a bolt or arrow. Unloaded or dry firing impacts can damage the bowstring, limbs, cams and other components. Dry firing also creates a safety concern.
In one embodiment, a crossbow and trigger mechanism comprises: (1) a body having a first end and a second end; (2) a first limb comprising a first end coupled to the body first end and a second end; (3) a second limb comprising a first end coupled to the body first end and a second end; (4) a bowstring having a bowstring first end coupled to the first limb second end and a bowstring second end coupled to the second limb second end; and (5) a trigger mechanism operatively coupled to the body intermediate the body first end and the body second end. The trigger mechanism comprises: (1) a housing comprising a first side defining a slot there through and an opposite side having a first recess formed therein; (2) a trigger lever at least partially received in the housing and pivotally mounted to the housing, the trigger lever comprising: (a) a trigger that partially extends from the housing; (b) a trigger first arm; and (c) a trigger second arm; (3) a sliding block comprising a recess formed in a first surface; (4) a bolt having a first end operatively coupled to a second surface of the sliding block and a second end that is at least partially positioned in the housing first recess; and (5) a bowstring catch pivotally mounted in the housing, the bowstring catch having a first end configured to retain the bowstring in the housing slot when the crossbow is in a cocked position and a second end that is configured to engage with the trigger first arm when the crossbow is in the cocked position. The sliding block is moveable between: (1) a safety on first position in which the sliding block first surface abuts the trigger lever second arm thereby preventing the trigger lever from rotating so that the trigger first arm can disengage from the bowstring catch second end; (2) a safety off second position in which the sliding block first surface is moved out of engagement with the trigger second arm thereby allowing a user to depress the trigger thereby causing the trigger lever to rotate into a fired position where the trigger first arm disengages from the bowstring catch second end causing the bowstring to exit the housing slot; and (3) a disarm position in which the sliding block recess aligns with the trigger second arm so that when the trigger lever rotates: (a) the trigger second arm is partially received in the sliding block recess; and (b) the trigger first arm disengages from the bowstring catch second end thereby allowing the bowstring to be released from the housing slot without the user firing the crossbow.
In general, in various embodiments, a crossbow and trigger mechanism comprising: (1) a body having a first end and a second end; (2) a first limb comprising a first end coupled to the body first end and a second end; (3) a second limb comprising a first end coupled to the body first end and a second end; (4) a bowstring having a bowstring first end coupled to the first limb second end and a bowstring second end coupled to the second limb second end; and (5) a trigger mechanism operatively coupled to the body intermediate the body first end and the body second end. The trigger mechanism comprises: (1) a trigger lever pivotally coupled to the body, the trigger lever comprising: (a) a trigger that partially extends from the body; (b) a trigger first arm; and (c) a trigger second arm; (2) a sliding block that is slidably mounted at least partially within the body; (3) a lever pivotally mounted at least partially in the body, the lever comprising a first end and a second end that is operatively coupled to the body by a spring; and (4) a bowstring catch pivotally mounted at least partially in the body, the bowstring catch having a first end configured to retain the bowstring in the housing slot when the crossbow is in a cocked position and a second end that is configured to engage with the trigger first arm when the crossbow is in the cocked position. When the sliding block is moved into a disarm position: (1) the sliding block engages with the lever first end thereby causing the lever to rotate; (2) the lever second end engages with the trigger second arm causing trigger to rotate; and (3) the trigger first arm moves out of engagement with the bowstring catch second end, thereby allowing the bowstring catch to rotate so that the bowstring is released from the trigger mechanism.
According to various embodiments, a crossbow and trigger mechanism comprising: (1) a body having a first end and a second end; (2) a first limb comprising a first end coupled to the body first end and a second end; (3) a second limb comprising a first end coupled to the body first end and a second end; (4) a bowstring having a bowstring first end coupled to the first limb second end and a bowstring second end coupled to the second limb second end; and (5) a trigger mechanism operatively coupled to the body intermediate the body first end and the body second end. The trigger mechanism comprises: (1) a housing comprising a first side defining a slot therethrough and an opposite side having a first recess formed therein; (2) a trigger lever at least partially received in the housing and pivotally mounted to the housing, the trigger lever comprising: (a) a trigger that partially extends from the housing; (b) a trigger first arm; and (c) a trigger second arm; (3) a sliding block having a first surface; (4) a bolt having a first end operatively coupled to a second surface of the sliding block and a second end that is at least partially positioned in the housing first recess; (5) a level having a first end and a second end; and (6) a bowstring catch pivotally mounted in the housing, the bowstring catch having a first end configured to retain the bowstring in the housing slot when the crossbow is in a cocked position and a second end that is configured to engage with the trigger first arm when the crossbow is in the cocked position. The sliding block is moveable between: (1) a firing position in which the in which a user can depress the trigger thereby causing the trigger lever to rotate into a fired position where the trigger first arm disengages from the bowstring catch second end causing the bowstring to exit the housing slot, and (2) a disarm position in which the sliding block engages with the lever first end so that the lever second end engages with the trigger second arm causing: (a) the trigger lever to rotate, and (b) the trigger first arm to disengage from the bowstring catch second end thereby allowing the bowstring to be released from the housing slot without the user firing the crossbow or engaging the trigger with one of the user's hands.
Having described various embodiments in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
Various embodiments will now be described more fully herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various relevant embodiments are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Overview
Referring to
In various embodiments, a trigger mechanism 38 is located within the pistol grip 12 and the barrel 2. In some embodiments, the trigger mechanism 38 is maintained in a housing that is operatively coupled to the barrel 2 and in other embodiments, the trigger mechanism 38 is built directly into the barrel 2 and pistol grip 12. In various embodiments, the trigger mechanism may be sold as a unit that can be installed in a crossbow by the manufacturer or it may be sold as an after market upgrade to replace an original equipment manufacture's (OEM) trigger mechanism. In various embodiments where the trigger mechanism 38 is sold as a replacement, the replacement trigger mechanism may be sold as a kit with instructions on how to replace a trigger mechanism from a standard crossbow. For example, the instructions may direct the user to remove the trigger mechanism and to replace the OEM trigger mechanism with the trigger mechanism described herein. Once the trigger mechanism is replaced, the instructions may further direct the user on how to cock the crossbow, fire the crossbow, and disarm the crossbow, as described herein. Consequently, the trigger mechanism described herein may be installed in a crossbow at the factory, or it may be sold as a replacement trigger mechanism that can be used to replace a stock crossbow trigger mechanism.
In various embodiments, the trigger mechanism is configured to allow a user to move a sliding block within the trigger mechanism into a safety on position, a safety off position (e.g., a firing position), or a disarm position. That is, the sliding block also functions as a safety mechanism. Thus, the user can move the sliding block into the safety on or safety off position using two pins that are coupled to the sliding block and that extend out of a trigger mechanism housing. In order to move the trigger mechanism into a disarm position, using a cocking rope the user pulls the bowstring into the trigger mechanism so that the bowstring engages the sliding block causing the sliding block to move into the disarm position. As the sliding block moves into the disarm position, it operatively causes the trigger lever to automatically rotate without the user directly engaging the trigger to release the bowstring catch. In this way, a user can slowly release the bowstring into an uncocked (e.g., disarm) position without the help of a second user. In other embodiments, the safety mechanism may be a separate mechanism from the sliding block so that the sliding block only moved between a fire position and a disarm position.
Trigger Mechanism Having Integrated Disarm and Safety Mechanism
Referring to
Housing
The trigger mechanism 38 contains a two piece housing 40 having a first housing portion 40a and a second housing portion 40b that together at least partially enclose the various parts of the trigger mechanism 38. The first housing portion 40a may be connected to the second housing portion 40b using any suitable fastener (e.g., a bolt, a pin, a rivet, weldments, etc.). The housing 40 has a first end 42 (
In various embodiments, each housing portion 40a and 40b contains a first elongated slot 60a (
Trigger
Referring once more to
The trigger lever 70 is operatively coupled to a spring 78 that has a first end 78a that engages an inside wall 41 of the second housing portion 40b, and a second end 78b that is received in a hole 70b formed in a top surface 70c of the trigger lever 70. In this configuration, the spring 78 biases the trigger lever 70 clockwise with reference to
Sliding Block
The trigger mechanism 38 also includes a sliding block 80. The sliding block 80 has a top surface 80a, a bottom surface 80b, a front surface 80c, a back surface 80d, a left side surface 80e, and a right side surface 80f. In various embodiments, the sliding block 80 includes a recess 82 formed in the bottom surface 80b. The sliding block 80 also includes a bolt 84 having a first end 84a operatively coupled to the sliding block back surface 80d and a second end 84b that is at least partially positioned in the housing first recess 48a. The bolt second end 84b is substantially U-shaped and is configured to receive a portion of the cocking rope (shown in
Bowstring Catch
In various embodiments, the trigger mechanism 38 has a bowstring catch 90 pivotally mounted in the housing 40 via a first bowstring catch pin 92 that is received in a hole 94 formed through the bowstring catch 90. The bowstring catch 90 has a first end 96 configured to retain the bowstring 32 in the housing slot 44 when the crossbow 10 is in a cocked position. The bowstring catch first end 96 is “U” shaped. The “U” shaped end allows a bolt (not shown) to be knocked on the bowstring 32 (
Lever
Adjacent the trigger second arm 76 is a lever 110. The lever has a first end 110a and a second end 110b and an axis 110c that extends between the first end 110a and the second end 110b. The lever 110 is pivotally mounted in the housing 40 via a first lever pin 112 that is received in a hole 114 formed through the lever 110 intermediate the lever first end 110a and second end 110b. The lever 110 is operatively coupled to a tension spring 116, having a first end 116a and a second end 116b, such that the tension spring first end 116a is operatively coupled to the housing 40 and the tension spring second end 116b is operatively coupled to the lever 110 proximate the lever first end 110a via a second lever pin 118. The tension spring 116 biases the lever 110 into a counterclockwise rotation with reference to
Exemplary Trigger Mechanism Operation
Cocking the Crossbow
Specifically referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Firing the Crossbow
Referring to
Uncocking the Crossbow
Referring to
Referring to
Once the bowstring 32 is released, the user may move the sliding block 80 back into the safety on position 64 using the sliding block pins 86 and 88. That is, as the sliding block 80 is moved into the safety on position 64, the sliding block bottom surface 80b moves out of contact with the lever second end 110b thereby allowing the lever to rotate counter clockwise under the bias of tension spring 116. As the lever first end disengages from the trigger second arm 76, the trigger begins to rotate clockwise under the bias of spring 78. The lever will continue to rotate clockwise until the lever first arm 74 engages with the catch second end 98, as shown in
Alternative Embodiment of Trigger Mechanism Having Disarm Mechanism
Referring in particular to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Once the bowstring 32 is released, the sliding block 180 is moved back into the firing position since the lever 110 is biased counterclockwise by the second spring 116. Moreover, as the lever first end 110a disengages from the trigger second arm 176, the trigger begins to rotate clockwise under the bias of spring 78. The lever continues to rotate clockwise until the lever first arm 74 engages with the catch second end 98.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, as will be understood by one skilled in the relevant field in light of this disclosure, the invention may take form in a variety of different mechanical and operational configurations as confirmed by the various embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that the modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended exemplary concepts. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purposes of limitation.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5243956 | Luehring | Sep 1993 | A |
5598829 | Bednar | Feb 1997 | A |
5649520 | Bednar | Jul 1997 | A |
6736123 | Summers | May 2004 | B1 |
7588022 | Chang | Sep 2009 | B2 |
7770567 | Yehle | Aug 2010 | B1 |
8091540 | Matasic | Jan 2012 | B2 |
8522761 | Chu | Sep 2013 | B1 |
8651094 | Matasic | Feb 2014 | B2 |
9004053 | Anderson | Apr 2015 | B1 |
9010308 | Hyde | Apr 2015 | B1 |
9404701 | Lipowski | Aug 2016 | B2 |
9404705 | Kennedy | Aug 2016 | B2 |
9435605 | McPherson | Sep 2016 | B2 |
9506715 | Hughes | Nov 2016 | B2 |
20140182574 | Darlington | Jul 2014 | A1 |
20140246003 | Lipowski | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20150144117 | Khoshnood | May 2015 | A1 |
20150260477 | Khoshnood | Sep 2015 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20170160044 A1 | Jun 2017 | US |