Cocking system for a crossbow

• US 10,077,965 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2017
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ravin Crossbows LLC (The Kattegat Trust Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Ravin Crossbows LLC (The Kattegat Trust Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yehle, Craig Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner, Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Klayman, Amir
• Application Number:
  US15/395,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20170122695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/066 mounted on the bow or crossbow
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/10 Compound bows compound crossbows F41B5/123
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/105 Cams or pulleys for compound bows
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/123 Compound crossbows
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1411 Bow-strings
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/143 Arrow rests or guides
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1469 Bow-string drawing or releasing devices F41B5/1473 takes precedence

Abstract

A cocking system for a crossbow. A string carrier slides along the center rail during movement with the draw string in the released configuration to a retracted position that locates the draw string in the drawn configuration. A trigger is positioned to move the catch from the closed position and the open position to fire the crossbow when the string carrier is in the retracted position. At least one cocking rope is configured to engage with the string carrier to retract the string carrier and the draw string to the drawn configuration. A retaining mechanism retains the string carrier in the retracted position and the draw string in the drawn configuration independent of the cocking ropes.

Claims

1. A cocking system for a crossbow having at least first and second flexible limbs attached to a center rail and a draw string that translates along the center rail between a released configuration and a drawn configuration, the cocking system comprising:

a string carrier comprising a catch moveable between a closed position that engages the draw string and an open position that releases the draw string, a sear moveable between a cocked position coupled with the catch to retain the catch in the closed position and a de-cocked position that releases the catch to the open position, a dry fire lockout moveable between a disengaged position and a lockout position that blocks the sear from moving to the de-cocked position, and a safety moveable between a free position and a safe position that retains the catch in the closed position, wherein the string carrier is captured by and slides along the center rail during movement between engagement with the draw string in the released configuration to a retracted position that locates the draw string in the drawn configuration, wherein the string carrier engages with a trigger mounted on the center rail that is positioned to move the catch from the closed position and the open position to fire the crossbow when the string carrier is in the retracted position;

at least one cocking rope configured to engage with the string carrier to retract the string carrier and the draw string to the drawn configuration; and

a retaining mechanism that retains the string carrier in the retracted position and the draw string in the drawn configuration independent of the cocking ropes.

2. The cocking system for a crossbow of claim 1 comprising a pulley on the string carrier configured to receive the cocking rope.

3. The cocking system for a crossbow of claim 1 wherein the cocking rope comprises a first end attached to a proximal end of the crossbow and a second end to a handle, wherein wrapping a middle segment of the cocking rope around a cocking rope engagement mechanism on the string carrier and pulling the handle toward the proximal end of the crossbow moves the string carrier to the retracted position and into engagement with the retaining mechanism.

4. The cocking system for a crossbow of claim 1 wherein the cocking rope retracts into a handle attached to the cocking rope.

5. The cocking system for a crossbow of claim 1 comprising:

a first cocking rope comprising a first end attached to a first side of the crossbow near a proximal end and a second end with a first handle, wherein the cocking rope wraps around a first cocking rope engagement mechanism on the first side of the crossbow; and

a second cocking rope comprising a first end attached to an opposite side of the crossbow near the proximal end and a second end with a second handle, wherein the cocking rope wraps around a second cocking rope engagement mechanism on the opposite side of the crossbow;

wherein pulling the first and second handles toward the proximal end of the crossbow moves the string carrier to the retracted position and into engagement with the retaining mechanism.

6. The cocking system for a crossbow of claim 1 comprising a release mechanism that disengages the retaining mechanism from the string carrier to permit movement of the string carrier and the draw string from the drawn configuration to the release configuration to de-cock the crossbow.

7. The cocking system for a crossbow of claim 1 wherein the cocking rope can be disengaged from the string carrier while the retaining mechanism retains the string carrier in the retracted.

8. The cocking system for a crossbow of claim 1 wherein the string carrier is constrained to move in a single degree of freedom along the center rail between the release configuration and the drawn configuration.

9. The cocking system for a crossbow of claim 1 wherein movement of the string carrier between the released configuration and the drawn configuration comprises a power stroke of about 10 inches to about 15 inches that generates kinetic energy greater than 125 ft.-lbs. of energy.

10. The cocking system for a crossbow of claim 1 wherein the draw string is received in string guide journals in first and second cams, respectively, wherein the draw string unwinds from the string guide journals as it translates from the released configuration to the drawn configuration.

11. The cocking system for a crossbow of claim 10 wherein an axle-to-axle separation between the first and second cams in the drawing configuration is less than about 6 inches.

12. The cocking system for a crossbow of claim 10 comprising:

at least first and second power cable take-up journals on each of the first and second cams, respectively; and

at least first and second power cables attached to the first and second cams and received in the first and second power cable take-up journals, respectively, distal ends of the first and second power cables attached to static attachment points on the crossbow.

13. The cocking system for a crossbow of claim 12 wherein the first and second power cables do not cross over the center rail.

14. The cocking system for a crossbow of claim 1 wherein the string carrier comprises:

a sear moveable between a cocked position coupled with the catch to retain the catch in the closed position and a de-cocked position, wherein the a trigger assembly is positioned to move the sear from the cocked position to the de-cocked position when the string carrier is in the retracted position; and

a dry fire lockout moveable between a disengaged position when an arrow is engaged with the draw string and a lockout position that blocks the sear from moving to the de-cocked position when an arrow is not engaged with the drawstring.

15. The cocking system for a crossbow of claim 14 comprising a portion of the dry fire lockout is located behind the draw string in the drawn configuration to engage with an arrow to move the dry fire lockout to the disengaged position, wherein only arrow nocks that extend past the draw string can move the dry fire lockout to the disengaged position.

16. The cocking system for a crossbow of claim 1 wherein the string carrier in the drawn configuration maintains an included angle of the draw string of less than about 25 degrees.

17. A cocking system for a crossbow comprising:

first and second flexible limbs attached to a center rail;

a draw string received in string guide journals in first and second cams, wherein the draw string unwinds from the string guide journals as it translates between a released configuration and a drawn configuration;

at least first and second power cable take-up journals on the first and second cams, respectively;

at least first and second power cables attached to the first and second cams and received in the first and second power cable take-up journals, respectively, distal ends of the first and second power cables attached to static attachment points on the crossbow;

a string carrier comprising a catch moveable between a closed position that engages the draw string and an open position that releases the draw string, a sear moveable between a cocked position coupled with the catch to retain the catch in the closed position and a de-cocked position that releases the catch to the open position, a dry fire lockout moveable between a disengaged position and a lockout position that blocks the sear from moving to the de-cocked position, and a safety moveable between a free position and a safe position that retains the catch in the closed position, wherein the string carrier is captured by and slides along the center rail during movement between engagement with the draw string in the released configuration to a retracted position that locates the draw string in the drawn configuration, wherein the string carrier engages with a trigger mounted on the center rail that is positioned to move the catch from the closed position and the open position to fire the crossbow when the string carrier is in the retracted position;

at least one cocking rope configured to releasably engage with the string carrier to retract the string carrier and the draw string to the drawn configuration; and

a retaining mechanism that retains the string carrier in the retracted position and the draw string in the drawn configuration, such that the cocking ropes can be disengaged from the string carrier while the retaining mechanism retains the string carrier in the retracted position.

18. A method of operating a cocking system for a crossbow having at least first and second flexible limbs attached to a center rail and a draw string that translates along the center rail between a released configuration and a drawn configuration, the method comprising the steps of:

moving a string carrier captured to slide in the center rail along the center rail into engagement with the draw string when in the released configuration;

moving a catch on the string carrier from an open position to a closed position that engages the draw string and moving a sear from a de-cocked position to a cocked position coupled with the catch to retain the catch in the closed position;

moving a dry fire lockout from the disengaged position and a lockout position that blocks the sear from moving to a de-cocked position;

moving a safety from a free position and a safe position that retains the catch in the closed position;

engaging at least one cocking rope with a cocking rope engagement mechanism on the string carrier;

retracting the string carrier and the draw string to the drawn configuration using the cocking rope, into engagement with a trigger mounted on the center rail that is positioned to move the catch from the closed position and the open position to fire the crossbow when the string carrier is in the retracted position;

engaging a retaining mechanism with the string carrier to retain the string carrier in the retracted position and the draw string in the drawn configuration; and

disengaging the cocking rope from the string carrier while the retaining mechanism retains the string carrier in the retracted position.

19. The method of claim 18 comprising constraining movement of the string carrier to a single degree of freedom along the center rail between the release configuration and the drawn configuration.