BOW HAVING IMPROVED LIMBS, TRIGGER RELEASES, SAFETY MECHANISMS AND/OR DRY FIRE MECHANISMS

• US 20110197869A1
• Filed: 01/19/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kodabow, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kodabow, Inc.
• Inventors: Matasic, Charles S., Abel, Baron E., Wolfgang, Curvin L. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,651,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 124/25
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/46 Trigger safeties, i.e. means for preventing trigger movement F41A17/02 - F41A17/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/12 Crossbows
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1469 Bow-string drawing or releasing devices F41B5/1473 takes precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure provides improved bows (e.g., crossbows and/or vertical bows). More particularly, the present disclosure provides advantageous bows having improved limbs, trigger releases, safety mechanisms and/or dry fire mechanisms. In exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure provides for systems and methods for fabricating bows (e.g., crossbows/vertical bows) having improved limbs (e.g., crossbow limbs), trigger releases, safety mechanisms and/or dry fire mechanisms, and wherein the bows provide increased arrow speed and/or more efficient release of stored energy.

Claims

1. A bow system comprising:

at least two limbs, each limb;

(i) defining an opening that substantially extends from a first end of each limb to a second end of each limb and (ii) having a limb tip at each second end;

a string secured to each limb tip at a respective first and second end of the string;

wherein when the string is drawn, each limb tip is configured and dimensioned to flex in a first direction so that when the string is released, the limb tips reverse the flex direction of the limb tips and accelerate the speed of the string thereby providing increased string speed and increased release of stored energy.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the bow system is a cross-bow system or a vertical bow system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second end of the string is secured to its respective limb tip via a loop positioned at each first and second end of the string.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein when the string is not drawn, at least a portion of the first and second ends of the string are positioned within or forward of at least a portion of the opening of each respective limb.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein when the string is released from the drawn position, at least a portion of the first and second ends of the string are allowed to pass through at least a portion of the opening of each respective limb, thereby substantially eliminating impact noise or vibration of the string against the limbs after the string is released.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a dry fire prevention assembly.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a safety assembly.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the dry fire prevention assembly includes a movable member that is configured and adapted to interact with a string release member to block movement of the string release member, thereby blocking release of the drawn string unless the movable member is moved to a position out of the travel path of the string release member.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the movable member includes a surface that is configured and dimensioned to be moved when an arrow is inserted into the bow system and wherein the insertion of the arrow into the bow system moves the movable member to a position out of the travel path of the string release member.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the dry fire prevention assembly includes an external member associated with the movable member that allows a user to move the movable member to a position out of the travel path of the string release member.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the safety assembly includes an external safety member that when moved provides for the movement of a rotating shaft that transfers rotary motion into linear motion at a safety slider member.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the safety slider member is configured and dimensioned to be moved between a safe and a fire position via rotation of the rotating shaft.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein when the string is drawn, the drawn string causes the movement of a string release member and the safety slider member to the safe position.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the safety assembly further includes a safety plunger that is configured and dimensioned to prevent movement of a trigger bar when the safety slider is in the safe position.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the safety plunger can only move when the safety slider is positioned in the fire position.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein when the safety slider is positioned in the fire position, an opening in the safety slider is positioned above the safety plunger, thereby allowing the safety plunger to move directionally upwards within at least a portion of the opening, thereby permitting a first end of the trigger bar to rotate upwards with the safety plunger while the second end of the trigger bar rotates downwardly and allows a string release member to move freely.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein after the string release member is allowed to move freely, the drawn string may then be released via actuation of a trigger member.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein actuation of the trigger member causes a cam surface of the trigger bar to move the string release member in order to release the string from the drawn position.

19. A bow system comprising:

at least two limbs, each limb;

(i) defining an opening that substantially extends from a first end of each limb to a second end of each limb and (ii) having a limb tip at each second end;

a string secured to each limb tip at a respective first and second end of the string;

wherein when the string is not drawn, at least a portion of the first and second ends of the string are positioned within or forward of at least a portion of the opening of each respective limb;

wherein when the string is drawn, the drawn string causes the movement of a string release member and the safety slider member to a safe position; and

wherein when the string is released from the drawn position, at least a portion of the first and second ends of the string are allowed to pass through at least a portion of the opening of each respective limb, thereby substantially eliminating impact noise or vibration of the string against the limbs after the string is released.

20. A bow system comprising:

at least two limbs, each limb;

(i) defining an opening that substantially extends from a first end of each limb to a second end of each limb and (ii) having a limb tip at each second end;

a string secured to each limb tip at a respective first and second end of the string;

a dry fire prevention assembly including a movable member that is configured and adapted to interact with a string release member to block movement of the string release member, thereby blocking release of the string when drawn, unless the movable member is moved to a position out of the travel path of the string release member;

a safety assembly including an external safety member that when moved provides for the movement of a rotating shaft that transfers rotary motion into linear motion at a safety slider member, the safety slider member configured and dimensioned to be moved between a safe and a fire position via rotation of the rotating shaft;

wherein the movable member includes a surface that is configured and dimensioned to be moved when an arrow is inserted into the bow system and wherein the insertion of the arrow into the bow system moves the movable member to a position out of the travel path of the string release member;

wherein when the string is drawn, the drawn string causes the movement of the string release member and the safety slider member to the safe position;

wherein the safety assembly further includes a safety plunger that is configured and dimensioned to prevent movement of a trigger bar when the safety slider is in the safe position;

wherein the safety plunger can only move when the safety slider is positioned in the fire position by the safety lever and the rotating shaft;

wherein when the safety slider is positioned in the fire position, an opening in the safety slider is positioned above the safety plunger, thereby allowing the safety plunger to move directionally upwards within at least a portion of the opening, thereby permitting a first end of the trigger bar to rotate upwards with the safety plunger while the second end of the trigger bar rotates downwardly and allows a string release member to move freely; and

wherein after the string release member is allowed to move freely, actuation of a trigger member causes a cam surface of the trigger bar to move the string release member in order to release the string from the drawn position.