Portable Cocking Device

• US 20110232619A1
• Filed: 09/28/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunter's Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hunter's Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Hout, Jacob A., Shaffer, Michael J., Bednar, Richard L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,573,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 124/86
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/12 Crossbows
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1469 Bow-string drawing or releasing devices F41B5/1473 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable device for drawing the bowstring of a crossbow. The cocking device may be designed to prevent the uneven drawing of the crossbow and may eliminate the complex installation process typically required to retro-fit an existing crossbow with known cocking devices.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first handle connected to a first end of a flexible member;

a second handle operatively connected to the flexible member, wherein the first and second handles are adapted to be grasped by a user;

a housing comprising a retraction device operatively connected to a second end of the flexible member, wherein the retraction device is adapted to retract at least a portion of the flexible member into an interior portion defined by the housing;

a first hook member slidably coupled to the flexible member, wherein the first hook member comprises a first attachment assembly and a first coupling assembly; and

,

a second hook member slidably coupled to the flexible member, wherein the second hook member comprises a second attachment assembly and a second coupling assembly, wherein the first and second hook members are positioned between the first and second handles, the first and second attachment assemblies are adapted to receive at least a portion of a bowstring of a crossbow and the first and second coupling assemblies are adapted to at least partially enable the movement of the first and second hook members along at least a portion of the flexible member.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second handle is slidably coupled to the flexible member.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the second handle and the housing are integrally engaged.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first coupling assembly comprises a first pulley assembly comprising a first block and a first sheave and the second coupling assembly comprises a second pulley assembly comprising a second block and a second sheave.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first coupling assembly comprises a first spindle positioned at least partially within the first hook member and the second coupling assembly comprises a second spindle positioned at least partially within the second hook member.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first coupling assembly comprises a first hollow ring that defines an aperture formed through a first end of the first hook member and the second coupling assembly comprises a second hollow ring that defines an aperture formed through a first end of the second hook member.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first attachment assembly comprises a first hook-shaped appendage extending from a second end of the first hook member and the second attachment assembly comprises a second hook-shaped appendage extending from a second end of the second hook member.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first hook-shaped appendage comprises a first latch and the second hook-shaped appendage comprises a second latch and the first and second latches are each biased to normally enclose an opening of one of the hook-shaped appendages to at least partially assist in retaining the bowstring.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first magnet positioned at least partially within or coupled to the first handle; and

,

a second magnet positioned at least partially within or coupled to the second handle, wherein the first and second magnets are positioned to cause the first handle to be urged into contact with the second handle.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the retraction device comprises:

a shaft member rotatably coupled to the housing;

a pair of end plates connected to the ends of the shaft member, wherein the end plates rotate in conjunction with the shaft member and retain at least a portion of the flexible member retracted into the housing; and

,

a biasing member operatively connected to the shaft member to urge the shaft member to rotate in a first direction, wherein the rotation of the shaft member in the first direction causes the flexible member to wound around the circumference of the shaft member between the pair of end plates.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the retraction device further comprises:

a ratchet gear; and

,

a pawl, wherein the ratchet gear and the pawl cooperate to selectively prevent the rotation of the shaft member in the first direction.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a latch mechanism for selectively attaching the device to the clothing or equipment of an associated user.

13. A device comprising:

a first handle connected to a first end of a flexible member;

a second handle operatively connected to the flexible member, wherein the first and second handles are adapted to be grasped by a user;

a housing comprising a retraction device operatively connected to a second end of the flexible member,

wherein the retraction device is adapted to retract at least a portion of the flexible member into an interior portion defined by the housing,

wherein the second handle and the housing are integrally engaged, and

wherein the retraction device comprises,

a shaft member rotatably coupled to the housing,

a pair of end plates connected to the ends of the shaft member, wherein the end plates rotate in conjunction with the shaft member and retain at least a portion of the flexible member retracted into the housing, and,

a biasing member operatively connected to the shaft member to urge the shaft member to rotate in a first direction, wherein the rotation of the shaft member in the first direction causes the flexible member to wound around the circumference of the shaft member between the pair of end plates,

a ratchet gear,

a pawl,

wherein the ratchet gear and the pawl cooperate to selectively prevent the rotation of the shaft member in the first direction;

a first hook member slidably coupled to the flexible member, wherein the first hook member comprises

a first attachment assembly comprising,

a first hook-shaped appendage extending from a second end of the first hook member,

wherein the first hook-shaped appendage comprises a first latch biased to normally enclose an opening of the first hook-shaped appendage to at least partially assist in retaining the bowstring, and

a first coupling assembly comprising,

a first pulley assembly comprising a first block and

a first sheave,

a first spindle positioned at least partially within the first hook member,

a first hollow ring that defines an aperture formed through a first end of the first hook member;

a second hook member slidably coupled to the flexible member, wherein the second hook member comprises

a second attachment assembly comprising,

a second hook-shaped appendage extending from a second end of the second hook member,

wherein the second hook-shaped appendage comprises a second latch biased to normally enclose an opening of one of the second hook-shaped appendage to at least partially assist in retaining the bowstring, and

a second coupling assembly comprising,

a second pulley assembly comprising a second block, and

a second sheave,

a second spindle positioned at least partially within the second hook member,

a second hollow ring that defines an aperture formed through a first end of the second hook member;

wherein the first and second hook members are positioned along the flexible member intermediate to the first and second handles;

the first and second attachment assemblies are adapted to receive at least a portion of a bowstring of a crossbow;

wherein the first and second coupling assemblies are adapted to at least partially enable the movement of the first and second hook members along at least a portion of the flexible member;

wherein the first coupling assembly comprises a first pulley assembly comprising a first block and a first sheave and the second coupling assembly comprises a second pulley assembly comprising a second block and a second sheave; and

further comprising

a latch mechanism for selectively attaching the device to the clothing or equipment of an associated user, and

a device to urge the first handle into contact with the second handle or to hold the first handle into contact with the second handle, comprising either

a first and second magnet, wherein

the first magnet is positioned at least partially within or coupled to the first handle, and,

the second magnet is positioned at least partially within or coupled to the second handle, or

a mechanical fastener.

14. A method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a crossbow comprising;

a main beam including a stock having a butt portion and a barrel having an upper surface suitable for receiving an arrow to be fired from the crossbow;

a pair of outwardly extending bow limbs operatively coupled to the distal end of the barrel;

a bowstring operatively connected between the bow limbs; and

, a trigger mechanism operatively coupled to the main beam, wherein the bowstring may be drawn rearward across the upper surface of the barrel and retained by the trigger mechanism such that the bowstring can be selectively released to propel the arrow from the crossbow;

(b) providing a cocking device comprising;

a first handle and a second handle, wherein the first and second handles are adapted to be grasped by an associated user;

a first hook member, wherein the first hook member comprises a first coupling assembly and a first attachment assembly;

a second hook member, wherein the second hook member comprises a second coupling assembly and a second attachment assembly;

a flexible member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the flexible member is connected to the first handle, the first coupling assembly slidably couples the first hook member to the flexible member, the second coupling assembly slidably couples the second hook member to the flexible member, and the flexible member is operatively connected to the second handle; and

, a housing comprising a retraction device, wherein the second end of the flexible member is operatively coupled to the retraction device and the retraction device enables the retraction of at least a portion of the flexible member into the housing;

(c) attaching the first and second hook members to the bowstring;

(d) adjusting the flexible member to cause a first length of the flexible member to extend between the first and second hook members;

(e) positioning the first length around a portion of the main beam of the crossbow;

(f) exerting a rearward force to draw the bowstring, wherein the rearward force is exerted by utilizing the first and second handles;

(g) slidably moving the first hook member or the second hook member relative to the flexible member, wherein the movement of the first hook member or the second hook member allows the bowstring to be drawn in a balanced manner;

(h) retaining the bowstring in the trigger mechanism;

(i) disengaging the cocking device from the crossbow; and

,

(j) retracting the flexible member, wherein the retraction of the flexible member at least partially causes the cocking device to comprise a stowed position.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second handle is slidably coupled to the flexible member.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the second handle and the housing are integrally engaged.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the cocking device further comprises a latch mechanism for selectively attaching the cocking device to the clothing or equipment of an associated user and the method further comprises the step of:

attaching the cocking device to the clothing or equipment of the associated user.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein step (j) further comprises the step of:

urging a shaft member to rotate in a first direction, wherein the rotation of the shaft member in the first direction at least partially causes the retraction of the flexible member and the shaft member is rotatably coupled to the housing and a biasing member is operatively connected to the shaft member to urge the shaft member to rotate in the first direction and the rotation of the shaft member in the first direction causes the flexible member to wound around the circumference of the shaft member.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

actuating a pawl, wherein the pawl is normally engaged with a ratchet gear operatively connected to the shaft member to selectively prevent the rotation of the shaft member in the first direction and the actuation of the pawl causes the pawl to be disengaged from the ratchet gear to at least partially cause the retraction of the flexible member.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein step (j) further comprises the step of:

urging the first handle into contact with the second handle, wherein a first magnet positioned at least partially within or coupled to the first handle and a second magnet positioned at least partially within or coupled to the second handle at least partially causes the first and second handles to be urged into contact.