Draw mechanism for a crossbow
First Claim
1. A draw mechanism for a crossbow, the draw mechanism comprising:
- a drive gear arranged to be rotated by a user of the crossbow;
a coupling gear coupled to the drive gear;
a retaining member mounted coaxially with the coupling gear;
a one-way rotary clutch arranged to couple the retaining member and the coupling gear to allow their relative rotation in a first rotation direction and to substantially prevent their relative rotation in a second rotation direction opposite the first rotation direction;
a retainer arranged to releasably engage the retaining member to retard or prevent rotation of the retaining member when engaged and to permit substantially unrestricted rotation of the retaining member when released;
a rotary drive member coupled to the coupling gear;
a tension member engaged with the rotary drive member; and
a releasable catch connected to the tension member and arranged to retain a bowstring of the crossbow as it is drawn,wherein the draw mechanism is further arranged so that;
rotation of the coupling gear in the first rotation direction causes the rotary drive member to tension the tension member to move the catch in a first direction to draw the crossbow;
engagement of the retainer with the retaining member substantially retards or prevents rotation of the coupling gear in the second rotation direction thereby retarding or preventing movement of the catch in a second direction opposite the first direction; and
release of the retaining member by the retainer allows rotation of the retaining member and the coupling gear in the second rotation direction thereby allowing movement of the catch in the second direction.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A draw mechanism for a crossbow comprises a drive gear, coupling gear, retaining member, one-way rotary clutch, retainer, rotary drive member, tension member, and catch. The drive gear is coupled to the coupling gear. The retaining member and coupling gear are coaxially coupled by the one-way rotary clutch. The retainer releasably engages the retaining member. The coupling gear is coupled to the rotary drive member which is engaged with the tension member. The catch is connected to the tension member and retains a bowstring as the crossbow is drawn. Rotation of the coupling gear in one direction causes the rotary drive member to tension the tension member to move the catch to draw the crossbow. Engagement of the retainer with the retaining member retards rotation of the coupling gear in the other direction thereby retarding movement of the catch to “undraw” the crossbow. Release by the retainer allows movement of the catch to undraw the crossbow.
102 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A draw mechanism for a crossbow, the draw mechanism comprising:
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a drive gear arranged to be rotated by a user of the crossbow; a coupling gear coupled to the drive gear; a retaining member mounted coaxially with the coupling gear; a one-way rotary clutch arranged to couple the retaining member and the coupling gear to allow their relative rotation in a first rotation direction and to substantially prevent their relative rotation in a second rotation direction opposite the first rotation direction; a retainer arranged to releasably engage the retaining member to retard or prevent rotation of the retaining member when engaged and to permit substantially unrestricted rotation of the retaining member when released; a rotary drive member coupled to the coupling gear; a tension member engaged with the rotary drive member; and a releasable catch connected to the tension member and arranged to retain a bowstring of the crossbow as it is drawn, wherein the draw mechanism is further arranged so that; rotation of the coupling gear in the first rotation direction causes the rotary drive member to tension the tension member to move the catch in a first direction to draw the crossbow; engagement of the retainer with the retaining member substantially retards or prevents rotation of the coupling gear in the second rotation direction thereby retarding or preventing movement of the catch in a second direction opposite the first direction; and release of the retaining member by the retainer allows rotation of the retaining member and the coupling gear in the second rotation direction thereby allowing movement of the catch in the second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for making a draw mechanism for a crossbow, the method comprising:
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arranging a drive gear to be rotated by a user of the crossbow; coupling a coupling gear to the drive gear; mounting a retaining member coaxially with the coupling gear; arranging a one-way rotary clutch to couple the retaining member and the coupling gear to allow their relative rotation in a first rotation direction and to substantially prevent their relative rotation in a second rotation direction opposite the first rotation direction; arranging a retainer to releasably engage the retaining member to retard or prevent rotation of the retaining member when engaged and to permit substantially unrestricted rotation of the retaining member when released; coupling a rotary drive member to the coupling gear; engaging a tension member with the rotary drive member; connecting a releasable catch to the tension member and arranging the releasable catch to retain a bowstring of the crossbow as it is drawn; arranging the draw mechanism so that rotation of the coupling gear in the first rotation direction causes the rotary drive member to tension the tension member to move the catch in a first direction to draw the crossbow; arranging the draw mechanism so that engagement of the retainer with the retaining member retards or prevents rotation of the coupling gear in the second rotation direction thereby retarding or preventing movement of the catch in a second direction opposite the first direction; and arranging the draw mechanism so that release of the retaining member by the retainer allows rotation of the retaining member and the coupling gear in the second rotation direction thereby allowing movement of the catch in the second direction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification