Patent Application
20080060629
With reference to
The housing (10) is mounted on the stock (42) and has a mouth (102) and a slot (104). The mouth (102) is defined transversely in one end of the housing (10). The slot (104) is defined transversely through the housing and is parallel to the mouth (102). In an optional embodiment, the housing (10) is composed of two half shells (101) attached to each other.
The trigger (13) is mounted pivotally in the housing (10) and has a trigger element (132) and an actuating lever (14). The trigger element (132) protrudes out from the bottom of the housing (10) and has a dovetailed recess (134) defined in the top of the trigger element (132). The actuating lever (14) is mounted pivotally in the housing (10) and is attached to the top of the trigger element (132). The actuating lever (14) has a front end, a bottom and a dovetailed protrusion (144). The front end has a hook (132). The dovetailed protrusion (144) is formed on the bottom and engages with the dovetailed recess (134) in the trigger element (132) to connect the actuating lever (14) with the trigger element (132).
The bowstring catch (12) is mounted pivotally in the housing (10) and has a string hook (122) and a leg (124). The string hook (122) is formed on one end of the catch (12) and corresponds to the mouth (102) in the housing (10). The leg (124) extends downward from the catch (12) and selectively engages the hook (132) on the actuating lever (14).
The bowstring catch biasing member (126) is mounted in the housing (10) between the top of the housing (10) and the bowstring catch (12). When the leg (124) disengages from the hook (132) on the actuating lever (14), the bowstring catch biasing member (126) pivots the string hook (122) of the bowstring catch (12) out of the mouth (102).
The safety pin (15) is mounted moveably in the housing (10) and is supported on the actuating lever (14). When the safety pin (15) is held securely in place, the trigger (13) cannot be pulled.
The safety lock (16) is mounted moveably in the housing (10) and has a push rod (162). One end of the safety lock (16) corresponds to and selectively abuts the safety pin (15). The push rod (162) extends transversely from the safety lock (16) and out of the slot (104) in the housing (10), such that the safety lock (16) can be moved relative to the housing (10) along the slot (104) by means of pulling the push rod (162).
The pushing arm (17) is mounted moveably in the housing (10) and has a bottom, a protrusion (172) and a notch (174). The protrusion (172) is formed on the pushing arm (17) and abuts the push rod (162) on the safety lock (16). The notch (174) is defined in the bottom of the pushing arm (17).
The block (18) is mounted pivotally in the housing (10) at the bottom of the mouth (102) and has a transverse rod (182). The transverse rod (182) extends transversely from the block (18) and is selectively engaged with the pushing arm (17). In an optional embodiment, the transverse rod (182) engages with the notch (174) in the pushing arm (17).
The block biasing member (184) is mounted in the housing (10) between the block (18) and the housing (10) to push the block (18) into the mouth (102) when the transverse rod (182) on the block (18) disengages from the pushing arm (17).
The string stop (19) is mounted pivotally in the housing (10) at the top of the mouth (102), extends into the mouth (102) and corresponds to the block (18). The string stop (19) will extend into the mouth (102) due to the weight of the string stop (19).
With reference to
When the pushing arm (17) is moved relative to the housing (10), the transverse rod (182) on the block (18) will disengage from the notch (174) in the pushing arm (17). The block biasing member (184) will pivot the block (18) relative to the housing (10), and the top of the block (18) extends into the mouth (102). At this time, the transverse rod (182) on the block (18) abuts the pushing arm (17), such that the pushing arm (17) will not move relative to the housing (10). Accordingly, the user cannot push the safety lock (16) backward, such that the trigger assembly cannot be unlocked.
If the user releases the bowstring (46) before the bowstring (46) is engaged by the string hook (122) of the bowstring catch (12), the string stop (19) will stop the released bowstring (46) and keep the bowstring (46) from moving out of the mouth (102). This can keep the drawn bowstring (46) from be unintentionally released before an arrow is inserted into the crossbow (40). The limbs of the crossbow (40) can be kept from being damaged, and the useful life of the crossbow (40) is prolonged.
An arrow (50) inserted into the crossbow will simultaneously push the block (18) and the string stop (19) out of the mouth (10). The transverse rod (182) on the block (18) will leave the position where the transverse rod (182) abuts the pushing arm (17), such that the limitation to the movement of the pushing arm (17) is released. The user can push the safety lock (16) backward to make the safety lock (16) disengage from the safety pin (15). Consequently, the user can pull the trigger (13) to pivot relative to the housing (10). The hook (132) on the actuating lever (14) unhooks the leg (124) on the bowstring catch (12), and the bowstring catch (12) pivots up relative to the housing (10) to release the bowstring (46) from the string hook (122). Consequently, the drawn bowstring (46) is released, and the arrow (50) is fired from the crossbow (40). With the engagement between the recess (134) and the protrusion (144), the combination of the trigger element (132) and the actuating lever (14) is firm. Accordingly, the force for pulling the trigger (13) is efficiently transmitted to pivot the actuating lever (14).
With reference to
The adjusting device is mounted in the housing (10) to adjust the sight mount (20) vertically relative to the housing (10). The adjusting device comprises an adjustment knob (30), a pushing block (36) and a sight mount biasing member (22). The adjustment knob (30) is rotatably mounted in the housing (10) and has a stub (32) and a cam (34). The stub (32) has an outer periphery and rotatably extends into the housing (10). The cam (34) is formed on the outer periphery of the stub (32).
The pushing block (36) is mounted moveably in the housing (10) and has a top and a bottom. The top of the pushing block (36) extends out from the top of the housing (10) and abuts the bottom of the sight mount (20). The bottom of the pushing block (36) is concave and abuts the cam (34) on the adjustment knob (30). The sight mount biasing member (22) is mounted between the top of the housing (10) and the bottom of the sight mount (20).
With rotating the adjustment knob (30), the vertical alignment of an aiming device attached to the sight mount (20) can be adjusted conveniently and easily.
The resilient arrow retainer (11) is mounted on the top of the housing (10) and extends downward to correspond to the mouth (102) in the housing (10). When an arrow (50) is put on the stock (42) of the crossbow (40), the resilient arrow retainer (11) will press against the arrow (50) to make the travel of the arrow (50) on the stock (42) smooth.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
