TRIGGER ASSEMBLY FOR AN ARCHERY DEVICE

• US 20090078243A1
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hunter's Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hunters Manufacturing Co Incorporated (Hunter's Manufacturing Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shaffer, Michael J., Bednar, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US11/861,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20090078243A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 124/31
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/123 Compound crossbows
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1469 Bow-string drawing or releasing devices F41B5/1473 takes precedence

Abstract

A trigger assembly is disclosed for releasing a bowstring of an archery device from a drawn position to propel an arrow from the archery device toward a target. The trigger assembly includes a guide along which the bowstring is retracted and held in the drawn position; and a pivotal string latch that can be adjusted between a first orientation in which the string latch contacts the bowstring in the drawn position to interfere with the release of the bowstring from the guide, and a second orientation in which the string latch allows the bowstring to be released from the guide. A trigger lever that can be manually actuated by an archer is provided to cause adjustment of the string latch between the first and second orientations, and a roller assembly rolls over a surface of the string latch when the trigger lever is actuated to adjust the orientation of the string latch.

Claims

1. A trigger assembly for releasing a bowstring of an archery device from a drawn position to propel an arrow from the archery device toward a target, the trigger assembly comprising:

a guide along which the bowstring is retracted and held in the drawn position;

a pivotal string latch that can be adjusted between a first orientation in which the string latch contacts the bowstring in the drawn position to interfere with the release of the bowstring from the guide, and a second orientation in which the string latch allows the bowstring to be released from the guide;

a trigger lever that can be manually actuated by an archer to cause adjustment of the string latch between the first and second orientations; and

a roller assembly that rolls over a surface of the string latch when the trigger lever is actuated to adjust the orientation of the string latch.

2. The trigger assembly according to claim 1, wherein the string latch is pivotally supported between lateral walls of the trigger assembly by a transverse axle that extends between said lateral walls.

3. The trigger assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a spring to bias the string latch generally toward the first orientation in the absence of an external force.

4. The trigger assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a spring to bias the trigger lever generally toward a ready position.

5. The trigger assembly according to claim 1, wherein the roller assembly is coupled to the trigger lever.

6. The trigger assembly according to claim 5, wherein the roller assembly comprises:

a pin extending transversely through a portion of the trigger lever; and

a rigid roller provided adjacent to each opposing side of the trigger lever to be generally concentric with the pin.

7. The trigger assembly according to claim 1, wherein the roller assembly rolls over a lowermost surface of the string latch.

8. A trigger assembly for releasing a bowstring of an archery device from a drawn position to propel an arrow from the archery device toward a target, the trigger assembly comprising:

a guide along which the bowstring is retracted and held in the drawn position;

a pivotal string latch that can be adjusted between a first orientation in which the string latch contacts the bowstring in the drawn position to interfere with the release of the bowstring from the guide, and a second orientation in which the string latch allows the bowstring to be released from the guide;

a trigger lever that can be manually actuated by an archer to cause adjustment of the string latch between the first and second orientations; and

a roller assembly that rolls over a surface of the trigger lever when the trigger lever is actuated to adjust the orientation of the string latch.

9. The trigger assembly according to claim 8, wherein the string latch is pivotally supported between lateral walls of the trigger assembly by a transverse axle that extends between said lateral walls.

10. The trigger assembly according to claim 8 further comprising a spring to bias the string latch generally toward the first orientation in the absence of an external force.

11. The trigger assembly according to claim 8 further comprising a safety latch that interferes with actuation of the trigger lever when positioned in a safety position.

12. The trigger assembly according to claim 8 further comprising a safety latch that interferes with the transmission of the force imparted on the trigger lever to the string latch when in a safety position.

13. The trigger assembly according to claim 8 further comprising a spring to bias the trigger lever generally toward a ready position.

14. The trigger assembly according to claim 8, wherein the roller assembly is coupled to the string latch.

15. The trigger assembly according to claim 14, wherein the roller assembly comprises:

a pin extending transversely through a portion of the string latch; and

a rigid roller provided adjacent to each opposing side of the string latch to be concentric with the pin.

16. The trigger assembly according to claim 8, wherein the roller assembly rolls over a knuckle surface of the trigger lever.

17. A crossbow for propelling an arrow toward a target comprising:

a stock to be placed against a shoulder of an archer when firing the crossbow;

a flight deck extending along an axis that is generally parallel with a desired flight pattern of the arrow to be propelled from the crossbow;

an arm transverse to the flight deck and extending generally away therefrom;

a bowstring coupled adjacent to each distal end of the arm that can be drawn rearward to a drawn position to increase the tension of the bowstring relative to the tension of the bowstring when not in the drawn position; and

a trigger assembly for selectively releasing the bowstring from the drawn position, said trigger assembly comprising;

a guide along which the bowstring is retracted and held in the drawn position;

a pivotal string latch that can be adjusted between a first orientation in which the string latch contacts the bowstring in the drawn position to interfere with the release of the bowstring from the guide, and a second orientation in which the string latch allows the bowstring to be released from the guide;

a trigger lever that can be manually actuated by an archer to cause adjustment of the string latch between the first and second orientations; and

a roller assembly that rolls over a surface of the string latch when the trigger lever is actuated to adjust the orientation of the string latch.

18. The crossbow according to claim 17, wherein the arm comprises two arms that extend away from the flight deck on opposite sides thereof.

19. The crossbow according to claim 17 further comprising a safety latch that interferes with actuation of the trigger lever when positioned in a safety position.

20. The crossbow according to claim 17 further comprising a safety latch that interferes with the transmission of the force imparted on the trigger lever to the string latch when in a safety position.

21. The crossbow according to claim 17 further comprising a set of cams about which the bowstring extends to minimize the force required to be imparted on the bowstring to fully retract the bowstring to the drawn position.