Crossbow bowstring drawing mechanism

• US 6,286,496 B1
• Filed: 02/29/2000
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William J. Bednar
• Original Assignee: William J. Bednar
• Inventors: Bednar, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci, John A.
• Application Number:
  US09/506,478
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 124/25
• US Class Current: 124/25
• 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

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. The claw member may include adjustable cams used to center the claw member with respect to the crossbow barrel.

Claims

1. A method of cocking a crossbow, comprising the steps of:

providing a crossbow having a main beam, a bowstring and a trigger mechanism, said bowstring being selectively positionable into cocked and uncocked positions;

providing a drawing mechanism operatively connected to said beam, said drawing mechanism including first and second string portions;

providing a claw member that is operatively connected to said first and second string portions;

engaging said claw member with said bowstring at said uncocked position;

operating said drawing mechanism;

placing said bowstring into said cocked position; and

,

engaging said bowstring with said trigger mechanism.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of operating said drawing mechanism, comprises the step of:

retracting said first and section string portions within said drawing mechanism thereby retracting said claw member toward said drawing mechanism.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

providing said drawing mechanism with first and second hubs that operatively receive said first and second string portions respectively; and

,

wherein the step of retracting said first and section string portions within said drawing mechanism, comprises the steps of,

A) rotating said first and second hubs in a first direction; and

,

B) winding said first and second strings portions around said first and second hubs respectively.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

providing said drawing mechanism with a pinion shaft operatively connected to said first and second hubs, a drive shaft, and a gear mechanism that operatively connects said drive shaft to said pinion shaft; and

,

wherein the step of rotating said first and second hubs in a first direction, comprises the step of rotating said drive shaft in a second direction.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

providing said drawing mechanism with a housing that holds said first and second hubs, said drive shaft, and said gear mechanism within;

providing said drive shaft with a driving head that is accessible through an opening in said housing; and

,

magnetizing said driving head for use in holding an external source into operative engagement with said driving head.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing the main beam with a barrel having a longitudinally extending channel;

providing the claw member with a claw guide member; and

,

wherein the step of engaging said claw member with said bowstring at said uncocked position comprises the step of positioning said claw guide member within said channel thereby centering said claw member with respect to said barrel.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

providing the claw member with first and second leg members that extend down opposite sides of said barrel and with first and second centering members operatively connected to said first and second leg members respectively; and

,

wherein the step of engaging said claw member with said bowstring at said uncocked position, further comprises the step of adjusting said first and second centering members to engage said opposite sides of said barrel thereby centering said claw member with respect to said barrel.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of engaging said bowstring with said trigger mechanism, comprises the step of:

activating a signal to indicate that cocking is completed.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein after the step of engaging said bowstring with said trigger mechanism, the method further comprises the step of:

placing said claw member into a rest position on said main beam.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein after the step of placing said claw member into a rest position on said main beam, the method further comprises the step of:

retracting the first and second string portions.

11. A method of retrofitting a drawing mechanism to a crossbow, comprising the steps of:

providing a crossbow having a main beam and a pair of outwardly extending arms having distal ends, said main beam having a tailstock and a barrel, said pair of outwardly extending arms extending transversely from opposite sides of said main beam;

providing a bowstring attached to distal ends of said pair of outwardly extending arms;

providing a drawing mechanism for use in cocking said bowstring;

providing an aperture within said tailstock;

fastening a first mounting plate to said tailstock within said aperture; and

,

mounting said drawing mechanism to said first mounting plate.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

providing said drawing mechanism with a housing;

wherein after the step of fastening a first mounting plate to said tailstock within said aperture, the method comprises the step of fastening a second mounting plate to said tailstock within said aperture, said first and second mounting plates being mounted on opposite sides of said tailstock within said aperture;

wherein the step of mounting said drawing mechanism to said first mounting plate, comprises the step of mounting said housing to said first mounting plate; and

,

wherein after the step of mounting said housing to said first mounting plate, the method comprises the step of mounting said housing to said second mounting plate.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

providing said drawing mechanism with first and second string portions;

wherein after the step of mounting said drawing mechanism to said first mounting plate, the method comprises the steps of;

A) engaging a claw member with said first and second string portions; and

,

B) engaging said claw member with said bowstring; and

,

C) engaging said claw to said barrel.

14. A claw member for use with a crossbow cocking device, comprising:

a body having a center portion and first and second side portions;

a bowstring engaging portion for use in engaging an associated bowstring; and

,

first and second cams operatively connected to said first and second side portions respectively for use in engaging opposing sides of a crossbow barrel for use in centering said claw member with respect to said barrel.

15. The claw member of claim 14 wherein said first and second cams are selectively adjustable to engage differing sizes of crossbow barrels.

16. The claw member of claim 14 wherein said first and second cams are selectively pivotable about said first and second side portions respectively.

17. The claw member of claim 14 wherein said center portion has a downwardly extending guide member that is operatively received within a channel in said crossbow barrel, said guide member and said first and second cams providing three points of contact between said claw member and said crossbow barrel.

18. A method of cocking a crossbow, comprising the steps of:

providing a crossbow having a main beam with a barrel, a bowstring and a trigger mechanism, said bowstring being selectively positionable into cocked and uncocked positions;

providing a claw member having a body with an extending guide member, first and second side portions having first and second string portions operatively attached thereto, and a bowstring engaging portion, said first and second string portions having distal ends that extend from said claw member;

engaging said bowstring engaging portion of said claw member with said bowstring at said uncocked position;

placing said guide member within a channel in said barrel;

applying a force to said distal ends of said first and second string portions;

placing said bowstring into said cocked position; and

,

engaging said bowstring with said trigger mechanism.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of applying a force to said distal ends of said first and second string portions, comprises the step of:

pulling on handles operatively connected to said distal ends of said first and second string portions generally along the longitudinal length of said main beam.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

providing a single string that forms said first and second string portions;

providing said claw member with a string reception groove for slidably receiving said string;

wherein the step of applying a force to said distal ends of said first and second string portions, comprises the step of providing balanced application of force to said claw member.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

providing the claw member with first and second centering members operatively connected to said first and side portions respectively; and

,

wherein after the step of placing said extending guide member within a channel in said barrel, the method further comprises the step of adjusting said first and second centering members to engage opposite sides of said barrel thereby centering said claw member with respect to said barrel.

22. A claw member for use with a crossbow cocking device, comprising;

a body having first and second side portions with first and second string portions operatively attached thereto, and a bowstring engaging portion for use in engaging a bowstring, said first and second string portions having distal ends that extend from said claw member and being adapted to receive a force for use in cocking said bowstring.

23. The claw member of claim 22 further comprising:

an extending guide member that extends from said body and that is operatively received within a channel in a barrel of said crossbow; and

,

first and second cams operatively connected to said first and second side portions respectively for use in engaging opposing sides of said barrel for use in centering said claw member with respect to said barrel.

24. The claw member of claim 23 wherein said extending guide member and said first and second cams provide three points of contact between said claw member and said barrel.

25. The claw member of claim 22 further comprising:

first and second handles operatively connected to said distal ends of said first and second string portions respectively.