Crossbow with cocking mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12460894-B2
Application number	US-202418970557-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2024
Priority date	Dec 6, 2023
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

A crossbow includes a draw string configured to move between a released position and a drawn position, a trigger box configured to selectively retain the draw string, and a cocking mechanism configured to move the trigger box and move the draw string between the released position and the drawn position. The cocking mechanism includes a tether a cord coupled with a front end of the trigger box, and a spool including a first recess configured to receive the tether and a second recess configured to receive the cord, the spool configured to rotate in a first direction to unwind the tether therefrom and wind the cord thereon and a second direction to wind the tether thereon and unwind the cord therefrom. During operation of the crossbow, as the spool rotates in the first direction, the cord pulls the trigger box in a direction towards a front end of the crossbow.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A crossbow, comprising:
a frame; a first flexible limb coupled to the frame; a second flexible limb coupled to the frame; a draw string coupled to the first flexible limb and the second flexible limb and configured to move between a released position and a drawn position; a trigger box configured to selectively retain the draw string as the draw string moves between the released position and the drawn position; and a cocking mechanism configured to move the trigger box, the cocking mechanism including:
a tether;
a cord coupled with a front end of the trigger box; and
a spool including a first recess configured to receive the tether and a second recess configured to receive the cord, the spool configured to rotate in (i) a first direction to unwind the tether therefrom and wind the cord thereon and (ii) a second direction to wind the tether thereon and unwind the cord therefrom;
wherein, during operation of the crossbow, as the spool rotates in the first direction, the cord pulls the trigger box toward a front end of the crossbow.

2 . The crossbow of claim 1 , wherein the tether is coupled to a rear end of the trigger box such that, during operation of the crossbow, as the spool rotates in the second direction, the tether pulls the trigger box toward a rear end of the crossbow.

3 . The crossbow of claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises a plate, and wherein the trigger box is slidably coupled with the plate.

4 . The crossbow of claim 3 , wherein the plate includes a slot configured to receive a protrusion of the trigger box, and wherein the cord extends, at least partially, within the slot.

5 . The crossbow of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a channel, and wherein the cord extends, at least partially, within the channel.

6 . The crossbow of claim 1 , wherein the cocking mechanism further comprises a first pulley, and a tensioner, the crossbow further comprising:
a second pulley rotatably coupled with the frame; wherein the cord is routed from the second recess to the first pulley, from the first pulley to the tensioner, from the tensioner to the second pulley, and from the second pulley to the trigger box.

7 . The crossbow of claim 1 , wherein the spool further includes a third recess, and wherein the first recess is configured to receive a first portion of the tether and the third recess is configured to receive a second portion of the tether.

8 . The crossbow of claim 1 , wherein the tether and the cord are integrally coupled to form a single cable, wherein a first portion of the cable is configured to be received within the first recess and a second portion of the cable is configured to be received within the second recess.

9 . The crossbow of claim 1 , wherein the trigger box includes a string catch configured to selectively engage with the draw string to selectively retain the draw string in the drawn position, and wherein the trigger box includes a magnet configured to magnetically interact with the string catch to inhibit rotation of the string catch.

10 . The crossbow of claim 1 , wherein the cocking mechanism further includes:
a one-way bearing coupled with the spool and configured to selectively inhibit rotation of the spool in the first direction and permit rotation of the spool in the second direction; and a brake configured to selectively engage with the one-way bearing; wherein, when the brake is engaged with the one-way bearing, the brake inhibits rotation of the one-way bearing with the spool such that rotation of the spool in the first direction is inhibited; wherein, when the brake is disengaged from the one-way bearing, the brake permits rotation of the one-way bearing with the spool such that rotation of the spool in the first direction is permitted.

11 . The crossbow of claim 10 , wherein the brake is a drum brake defining a diameter that is variable between a first diameter and a second diameter greater than the first diameter, and wherein the brake is configured to engage with the one-way bearing in the first diameter and disengage from the one-way bearing in the second diameter.

12 . The crossbow of claim 11 , wherein the cocking mechanism includes a housing defining an opening and a bore, wherein the opening is configured to expand to increase a diameter of the bore;
wherein the brake is engaged with the housing within the bore such that when the opening expands and the diameter of the bore increases, the diameter of the brake increases from the first diameter to the second diameter, thereby permitting rotation of the one-way bearing with the spool such that rotation of the spool in the first direction is permitted.

13 . The crossbow of claim 12 , wherein the cocking mechanism further includes a first gear configured to engage with a spool gear of the spool and rotate the spool, wherein the first gear is configured to rotate the spool in (i) the first direction responsive to a first input from a user and (ii) the second direction responsive to a second input from the user, and wherein responsive to the user providing the first input, the opening expands to permit rotation of the one-way bearing with the spool such that rotation of the spool in the first direction is permitted to de-cock the crossbow.

14 . A crossbow, comprising:
a frame; a first flexible limb coupled to the frame; a second flexible limb coupled to the frame; a draw string coupled to the first flexible limb and the second flexible limb and configured to move between a released position and a drawn position; a trigger box configured to selectively retain the draw string and move between a forward position and a rearward position; and a cocking mechanism configured to move the trigger box from (i) the forward position to the rearward position to cock the crossbow and (ii) from the rearward position to the forward position to de-cock the crossbow, the cocking mechanism including:
a spool configured to rotate in (i) a first direction to de-cock the crossbow and (ii) a second direction to cock the crossbow;
a one-way bearing coupled with the spool and configured to selectively inhibit rotation of the spool in the first direction and permit rotation of the spool in the second direction; and
a brake configured to selectively engage with the one-way bearing;
wherein, when the brake is engaged with the one-way bearing, the brake inhibits rotation of the one-way bearing with the spool such that rotation of the spool in the first direction is inhibited; and wherein, when the brake is disengaged from the one-way bearing, the brake permits rotation of the one-way bearing with the spool such that rotation of the spool in the first direction is permitted.

15 . The crossbow of claim 14 , wherein the cocking mechanism includes a housing defining an opening and a bore, wherein the opening is configured to expand to increase a diameter of the bore;
wherein the brake is engaged with the housing within the bore such that when the opening expands and the diameter of the bore increases, the diameter of the brake increases from a first diameter to a second diameter, wherein when the diameter of the brake is the second diameter, the brake is disengaged from the one-way bearing.

16 . The crossbow of claim 15 , wherein the opening of the housing is configured to expand in response to a force applied to the spool to rotate the spool in the first direction.

17 . The crossbow of claim 14 , wherein the cocking mechanism further includes:
a spool gear rotatable with the spool; a housing engaged with the brake and

Assignees

• Ravin Crossbows Llc

Inventors

• Yehle Craig

Classifications

• F41B5/10

  Compound bows {(compound crossbows F41B5/123)} · CPC title

• F41B5/12

  Crossbows · CPC title

• F41B5/1469

  Bow-string drawing or releasing devices (F41B5/1473 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F41B5/143 Primary

  Arrow rests or guides · CPC title

• F41B5/123 Primary

  Compound crossbows · CPC title