Crossbow bowstring drawing mechanisms
First Claim
1. A crossbow, comprising:
- a longitudinally extending main beam having a longitudinally extending track thereon;
a pair of outwardly extending arms having distal ends, said pair of outwardly extending arms extending transversely from opposite sides of said longitudinally extending main beam;
a crossbow bowstring attached to said distal ends of said pair of outwardly extending arms;
a crossbow trigger mechanism mounted on said longitudinally extending main beam;
a claw member mounted to move along said longitudinally extending track of said longitudinally extending main beam, said claw member having a first attachment point on a first side of said longitudinally extending track and a second attachment point on a second side of said longitudinally track, said claw member being capable of moving said crossbow bowstring from a first uncocked position to a second cocked position in said crossbow trigger mechanism; and
a crossbow bowstring drawing mechanism including a first string member along said first side of said longitudinally extending track, said first string member having a distal end attached to said first attachment point of said claw member, and a second string member along said second side of said longitudinally extending track, said second string member having a distal end attached to said second attachment point of said claw member, said crossbow drawing mechanism being capable of retracting said first string member and said second string member along said longitudinally extending track at substantially the same rate.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Crossbow bowstring drawing mechanisms which are integrated into or secured in the crossbow handle and which provide a straight and balanced draw to the crossbow bowstring to cock the crossbow bowstring in position in the crossbow trigger mechanism ready for firing. The cocking system can be manually operated or motorized, and can be manufactured as part of a crossbow or retrofit into a crossbow. An internal or external source of rotational power, such as hand crank, power screwdriver or an electrical motor, is preferably utilized in conjunction with a claw member including a bowstring engaging portion to translate rotation of the input source to longitudinal movement of the claw member to draw or release the crossbow bowstring resulting with minimal effort being expended by the user.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A crossbow, comprising:
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a longitudinally extending main beam having a longitudinally extending track thereon;
a pair of outwardly extending arms having distal ends, said pair of outwardly extending arms extending transversely from opposite sides of said longitudinally extending main beam;a crossbow bowstring attached to said distal ends of said pair of outwardly extending arms; a crossbow trigger mechanism mounted on said longitudinally extending main beam;
a claw member mounted to move along said longitudinally extending track of said longitudinally extending main beam, said claw member having a first attachment point on a first side of said longitudinally extending track and a second attachment point on a second side of said longitudinally track, said claw member being capable of moving said crossbow bowstring from a first uncocked position to a second cocked position in said crossbow trigger mechanism; anda crossbow bowstring drawing mechanism including a first string member along said first side of said longitudinally extending track, said first string member having a distal end attached to said first attachment point of said claw member, and a second string member along said second side of said longitudinally extending track, said second string member having a distal end attached to said second attachment point of said claw member, said crossbow drawing mechanism being capable of retracting said first string member and said second string member along said longitudinally extending track at substantially the same rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A crossbow bowstring cocking mechanism for a crossbow having a longitudinally extending main beam, a pair of outwardly extending arms having distal ends, the pair of outwardly extending arms extending transversely from opposite sides of the longitudinally extending main beam, a bowstring attached to the distal ends of the pair of outwardly extending arms and a trigger mechanism mounted on the longitudinally extending main beam, said cocking mechanism comprising:
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a claw member selectively mounted to move along the longitudinally extending main beam, said claw member having a first claw side positioned on a first side of the main beam and a second claw side positioned on a second side of the main beam, said claw member being capable of moving the bowstring between a first uncocked position and a second cocked position in the crossbow trigger mechanism; at least one string member forming a first string section along the first side of the main beam, said first string section engaging said first claw side; and a second string section along the second side of the main beam, said second string section engaging said second claw side, and a drawing mechanism being capable of retracting said first and said second string sections along the main beam at substantially the same rate.
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- 7. A crossbow cocking device comprising a drawing mechanism for converting rotational power from an input source into longitudinal movement of at least one string member coupled to said drawing mechanism, said at least one string member also being operatively connected to a bowstring engaging member to cause corresponding longitudinal movement of said engaging member upon operation of said input source, wherein said drawing mechanism includes a retraction device to cause retraction of said at least one string member in association with said drawing mechanism when said bowstring engaging member is not engaged with a bowstring.
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19. A claw member for use in a crossbow cocking device, comprising:
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a claw body having a bowstring engagement portion; said body being operatively connected to a first string portion and a second string portion wherein said claw body is able to center itself along a longitudinal axis of said crossbow main beam in response to a force supplied by said first string portion and said second string portion while traveling along said crossbow main beam. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A claw member for use in a crossbow cocking device, comprising:
a body being generally U-shaped with a center portion at the bottom area of said U-shaped body and opposing side portions extending generally away from said center portion, said opposing side portions including a bowstring engaging portion positioned in spaced apart relation to said center portion along the length of said side portions and said opposing side portions disposed on each side of said center portion being selectively operatively engaged to a cocking device, wherein said cocking device selectively applies force to each of said side portions to cause corresponding movement of a bowstring engaged in said bowstring engaging portion. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A crossbow cocking device comprising a drawing mechanism for converting rotational power from an input source into longitudinal movement of a string member operatively connected to said drawing mechanism and to a bowstring engaging mechanism,
wherein said string member comprises first and second ends, wherein said first and second ends are operatively connected to said drawing mechanism such that each of said first and second ends is retracted by said drawing mechanism, thereby causing relative movement of said bowstring engaging mechanism; wherein differences in the retraction rate of said first and second ends of said string member by said drawing mechanism are substantially compensated for.
- 25. A crossbow cocking device comprising a bowstring engaging member coupled to at least one string member and at least one hub on which said at least one string member is wound and unwound during operation of said cocking device, and a spring member associated with said at least one hub to rewind said at least one string member on said at least one hub.
- 27. A claw member for use in a crossbow cocking device, comprising a body member configured to have a center portion and opposing side portions, and including a bowstring engaging portion wherein said opposing side portions are disposed on each side of said center portion and are selectively engaged to a cocking device, wherein the cocking device selectively applies force to each of said side portions to cause corresponding movement of a bowstring engaged in said bowstring engaging portion and said body member includes a guide member which facilitates proper alignment of said claw member.
Specification