Reduced length crossbow

• US 10,254,075 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2018
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• 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 A
• Application Number:
  US15/909,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20180187996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/066 mounted on the bow or crossbow
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/105 Cams or pulleys for compound bows
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/123 Compound crossbows
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/143 Arrow rests or guides
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1469 Bow-string drawing or releasing devices F41B5/1473 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 7/046 Trigger mechanisms therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/04 Archery arrows F42B6/08, F41B5/06, F42B12/362 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/06 Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/08 Arrow heads; Harpoon heads

Abstract

A reduced length crossbow with a trigger located near a midpoint of the crossbow and a small included angle of the draw string when in the drawing configuration that creates a space between the draw string and the user'"'"'s face. The included angle of the draw string when in the drawing configuration may be less than about 25 degrees. The trigger is typically located proximate the midpoint within about 10% of the overall length of the crossbow.

Claims

1. A reduced length crossbow comprising:

first and second bow limbs attached to a center rail;

a draw string that extends across the center rail that translates between a released configuration and a drawn configuration;

a string carrier captured by the center rail that slides forward to engage with the draw string in the released configuration and slides to a retracted position adjacent a proximal end of the crossbow that locates the draw string in the drawn configuration, the string carrier comprising a catch movable 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 release the catch, to the open position, a dry fire lockout moveable between a disengaged position and a lockout position that blocks the draw string from moving to the released configuration, and a safety moveable between a free position and a safe position that prevents the catch from releasing the drawstring to the released configuration;

a cocking mechanism that retracts the string carrier to the retracted position and the draw string to the drawn configuration, the draw string in the drawn configuration comprises an included angle of less than about 25 degrees; and

a trigger mounted on the center rail near a midpoint of an overall length of the crossbow, the trigger configured to engage with the catch when the string carrier is in the retracted position adjacent the proximal end of the crossbow to move the catch from the closed position to the open position.

2. The reduced length crossbow of claim 1 wherein the trigger is located proximate the midpoint a distance about 10% of the overall length of the crossbow.

3. The reduced length crossbow of claim 1 wherein the trigger is located proximate the midpoint a distance about 5% of the overall length of the crossbow.

4. The reduced length crossbow of claim 1 wherein a center of gravity of the crossbow is located proximate the midpoint a distance about 10% of the overall length of the crossbow.

5. The reduced length crossbow of claim 1 wherein the included angle is less than about 20 degrees.

6. The reduced length crossbow of claim 1 wherein the string carrier includes a safety moveable between a free position and a safe position that retains the catch in the closed position.

7. The reduced length crossbow of claim 1 wherein the string, carrier is constrained to move in, a single degree of freedom while sliding along the center rail between the release configuration and the drawn configuration.

8. The reduced length crossbow of claim 1 wherein the cocking mechanism comprises:

a rotating member mounted to the center rail coupled to a flexible tension member attached to the string carrier, and

a cocking handle configured to engage with and rotate the rotating member to move the string carrier to the retracted position.

9. The reduced length crossbow of claim 8 comprising a torque control mechanism located in one of the cocking handle or a stock of the crossbow.

10. The reduced length crossbow of claim 8 comprising a release for the cocking mechanism located on a butt plate of the stock.

11. The reduced length crossbow of claim 1 wherein the cocking mechanism comprises:

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 on the crossbow that releasably retains the string carrier in the retracted position and the draw string in the drawn configuration independent of the at least one cocking ropes.

12. The reduced length crossbow of claim 1 comprising:

a first string guide rigidly mounted to the first bow limb and rotatable around a first axis, the first string guide comprising a first draw string journal having a first plane of rotation, perpendicular to the first axis, and at least one first power cable take-up journal;

a second string guide rigidly mounted to the second bow limb and rotatable around a second axis, the second string guide comprising a second draw string journal having a second plane of rotation perpendicular to the second axis, and at least one second power cable take-up journal, wherein a draw string unwinds from the first and second string guide journals as, it translates between a released configuration and a drawn configuration; and

first and second power cables received in the first and second power cable take-up journals on each of the first and second string guides, wherein the power cables wrap onto the power cable journals as the draw string is moved from the released configuration to the drawn configuration.

13. The reduced length crossbow of claim 12 wherein an axle-to-axle separation between the first and second string guides in the drawing configuration is about 7 inches or less.

14. The reduced length crossbow of claim 12 wherein the draw string translates from the release configuration to the drawn configuration comprising a power stroke of about 10 inches to about 15 inches.

15. The reduced length crossbow of claim 1 comprising:

a first string guide rigidly mounted to the first bow limb and rotatable around a first axis, the first string guide comprising a first draw string journal having a first plane of rotation perpendicular to the first axis, a first power cable journal on one side of the first draw string journal, and a second power cable journal on an opposite side of the first draw string journal, the first and second power cable journals comprise paths that are not co-planar with the first plane of rotation; and

a second string guide rigidly mounted to the second bow limb and rotatable around a second axis, the second string guide comprising a second draw string journal having a second plane of rotation perpendicular to the second axis, a third power cable journal on one side of the second draw string journal, and a fourth power cable journal on an opposite side of the second draw string journal, the third and fourth power cable journals comprise paths that are not co-planar with the second plane of rotation, and

power cables received in the power cable journals on each of the first and second string guides, wherein the power cables wrap onto the power cable journals as the draw string is, moved from the released, configuration to the drawn configuration.

16. The reduced length crossbow of claim 15 wherein at least the first and third power cable journals comprise helical journals.

17. A reduced length crossbow comprising:

first and second bow limbs attached to a center rail;

a first string guide rigidly mounted to the first bow limb and rotatable around a first axis, the first string guide comprising, a first draw string journal having a first plane of rotation perpendicular to the first axis, and at least one first power cable take-up journal;

a second string guide rigidly mounted to the second bow limb and rotatable around a second axis, the second string guide comprising a second draw string journal having a second plane of rotation perpendicular to the second axis, and at least one second power cable take-up journal;

a draw string received in the first and second draw string, journals and secured to the first and second string guides, wherein the draw string unwinds from the first and second draw string journals as it translates between a released configuration to a drawn configuration, wherein the draw string in the drawn configuration comprises an included angle of less than about 25 degrees;

a string carrier captured by the center rail that slides forward to engage with the draw string in the released configuration and slides to a retracted position adjacent a proximal end of the crossbow that locates the draw string in the drawn configuration, the string carrier comprising a catch movable 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 release the catch to the open position, and a safety moveable between a free position and a safe position that prevents the catch from releasing the drawstring to the released configuration;

first and second power cables received in the first and second power cable take-up journals on each of the first and second string guides; and

a trigger mounted on the center rail near a midpoint of an overall length of the crossbow, wherein the trigger is located proximate the midpoint about 10% of the overall length of the crossbow, the trigger configured to engage with the catch when the string carrier is in the retracted position adjacent the proximal end of the crossbow to move the catch from the closed position to the open position.

18. A method of operating a reduced length 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;

positioning a safety on the string carrier in a safe position that prevents the catch from releasing the drawstring to the released configuration until the safety is moved to a free position;

moving a dry fire lockout from the disengaged position to a lockout position that blocks the draw string from moving to the released configuration;

retracting the string, carrier and the draw string to a retracted position adjacent a proximal end of the crossbow to locate the draw string in the drawn configuration so the draw string comprises an included, angle of less than about 25 degrees; and

engaging the string carrier with a trigger mounted on the center rail proximate the midpoint about 10% of the overall length of the crossbow, the trigger configured to engage with the catch when the string carrier is in the retracted position adjacent the proximal end of the crossbow to move the catch from the closed position to the open position.

19. The method of claim 18 comprising locating a center of gravity of the crossbow proximate the midpoint about 10% of the overall length of the crossbow.

20. The method of claim 18 comprising retracting the string carrier and the draw string to the drawn configuration so the draw string, comprises an included angle of less than about 20 degrees.