Crossbow with a release mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9354018-B2
Application number	US-201414208291-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2014
Priority date	Mar 13, 2014
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

A trigger mechanism for use in a crossbow comprises a housing having a first slot formed in a first side and a second slot formed in a second side opposite the first side. A trigger lever, a bowstring catch and a disarm mechanism are all moveably mounted in the housing. The catch has a first end configured to engage the trigger lever and a second end configured to retain the bowstring in a cocked position. The disarm mechanism is partially positioned in the second slot and is moveable between a fixed first position proximate the housing second slot toward a second disarm position toward the housing first slot. As the disarm mechanism moves from the first position into the second position, it engages the trigger lever causing it to move out of engagement with the catch first end allowing the user to release the bowstring using the bowstring cocking device from the trigger mechanism without having to engage the trigger.

First claim

I claim:

1. A trigger mechanism for use in a crossbow having a bowstring, the trigger mechanism comprising:
a. a housing having
i. a first slot formed in a first side of the housing where first slot is configured to receive the bowstring of the crossbow when the crossbow is cocked; and
ii. a second opening formed in a second side of the housing opposite from the first side;

b. a trigger lever pivotally mounted in the housing, the trigger lever comprising a trigger, the trigger level moveable between a first trigger lever position and a second trigger lever position;
c. a catch that is pivotally mounted in the housing, the catch having:
i. a catch first end configured to operatively engage with the trigger lever; and
ii. a catch second end configured to retain the bowstring in a cocked position, wherein the catch is moveable between a cocked first position and a release second position;

d. a disarm mechanism in operative engagement with the trigger lever and partially positioned in the second opening, the disarm mechanism moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein
i. the disarm mechanism is configured to be retained in a fixed the first position, and
ii. a s the disarm mechanism moves from the first position to the second position, the disarm mechanism contacts the trigger lever and pivots the trigger lever from the first trigger lever position to the second trigger lever position, thereby allowing the catch to move from the catch first position into the catch second position,

e. further comprising a bowstring cocking device comprising:
i. an elongated rope having a first end and a second end;
ii. one of a first handle coupled to the rope first end and a second handle coupled to the rope second end and a crank coupled to the first and second ends of the elongated rope;
iii. a first hook and a second hook, wherein the first and second hooks are positioned on the elongated rope intermediate the first and second ends; and

f. wherein when the bowstring cocking device is attached to the bowstring and positioned adjacent to the housing second slot and tension is exerted on the first and second handles, the disarm mechanism moves toward the housing first slot causing the trigger lever to move out of engagement with the catch first end so that the catch can move from the catch first position into the catch second position as the bowstring is slowly released using the bowstring cocking device.

2. The trigger mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the disarm mechanism comprises a disarm block that is slidably mounted in the housing, wherein the disarm block has a disarm block first end configured to operatively engage the trigger lever when the disarm block moves from the first position toward the second position.

3. The trigger mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the trigger lever has a trigger lever first portion configured to operatively engage the catch first end and a trigger lever second portion configured to operatively engage with the disarm block first end.

4. The trigger mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a safety switch that is moveable between:
a. a safety switch first position in which the safety switch impedes movement of the trigger lever; and
b. a safety switch second position in which the safety switch allows the trigger lever to move out of engagement with the catch first end when the trigger is engaged by the user.

5. The trigger mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a release switch that is moveable between a release switch first position and a release switch second position, wherein when the release switch is in the second position and the bowstring is pulled further into the housing first slot using a bowstring cocking device, the disarm mechanism is configured to move away from the housing second slot toward the housing first slot thereby causing the trigger lever to move out of engagement with the catch first end allowing the catch to move from the catch first position into the catch second position.

6. The trigger mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a crossbow having:
a. an elongated body;
b. a first limb coupled to a first end of the elongated body;
c. a second limb coupled to the elongated body first end; and
d. a bowstring having a bowstring first end operatively coupled to the first limb and a bowstring second end operatively coupled to the second limb,
wherein the trigger mechanism is configured to couple to the elongated body so that the housing first slot aligns with a path on which the bowstring travels when the bowstring is moved into the cocked position.

7. The trigger mechanism of claim 6 , wherein when the disarm mechanism moves from the fixed first position into the release second position, the disarm mechanism slides linearly towards the housing first slot.

8. The trigger mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the second opening is a slot and the disarm block third portion is positioned at least partially in the second slot such that the disarm block third portion may be engaged by a portion of a bowstring cocking device rope when the bowstring cocking device is used to draw the bowstring into a cocked position.

9. The trigger mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the third portion of the disarm block extends through the second opening outside of the housing and is configured to be engaged by a rope of a bowstring cocking device when the bowstring cocking device is used to draw the bowstring into a cocked position.

10. A trigger mechanism for use in a crossbow having a bowstring, the trigger mechanism comprising:
a. a housing having
i. a first slot formed through one side of the housing, wherein the slot is configured to receive the bowstring of the crossbow when the crossbow is cocked; and
ii. a second opening formed in an opposite side of the housing, wherein the second opening is configured to receive a portion of a disarm mechanism therein;

b. a trigger lever pivotally mounted in the housing, the trigger lever comprising a trigger;
c. a catch that is pivotally mounted in the housing, the catch having:
i. a catch first end configured to operatively engage the trigger lever; and
ii. a catch second end configured to retain the bowstring in a cocked position, wherein the catch is moveable between a cocked first position where the trigger lever engages the catch first end and a release second position where the trigger lever does not impede rotation of the catch;

d. the disarm mechanism moveably mounted in the housing so that at least a portion of the disarm mechanism partially intersects the housing second slot, the disarm mechanism moveable between a first neutral position and a second release position, wherein
i. when the disarm mechanism is retained in a fixed the first neutral position, the disarm mechanism is out of engagement with the trigger lever, and
ii. as the disarm mechanism moves from the first neutral position into a to the second release position, the disarm mechanism contacts the trigger lever and pivots the trigger lever, causing the trigger lever to move out of engagement with the catch first end thereby allowing the catch to move from the catch first position into the catch second position.

e. further comprising a bowstring cocking device comprising:
i. an elongated rope having a first end and a second end;
ii. one of a first handle coupled to the rope first end and a second handle coupled to the rope second end and a crank coupled to the first and second ends of the elongated rope;
iii. a first hook and a second hook, wherein the first and second hooks are positioned on the elongated rope intermediate the first and second ends; and

f. wherein when the bowstring cocking device is attached to the bowstring and

Assignees

• Mcp Ip Llc

Inventors

• Khoshnood Bahram

Classifications

• F41A19/06

  Mechanical firing mechanisms, {e.g. counterrecoil firing, recoil actuated firing mechanisms}(F41A19/01 - F41A19/05, F41A19/59 take precedence) · CPC title

• F41B5/12 Primary

  Crossbows · CPC title

• F41A19/10

  Triggers; Trigger mountings · CPC title

• F41B5/1469 Primary

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