Crossbow with a crank cocking and release mechanism
First Claim
1. A bowstring drawing mechanism for use on a weapon comprising:
- a. a generally cylindrical housing;
b. a shaft having;
i. a first end,ii. a second end,iii. an axis extending between the first and second ends, andiv. axial splines formed on an outer circumference of the shaft intermediate the first and second ends, wherein each axial spline is substantially parallel to the shaft axis,wherein a portion of the shaft is rotatably mounted in the housing;
c. a ratchet wheel having a toothed outer circumferential surface and a splined inner circumferential surface, the ratchet wheel being positioned on the shaft proximate the shaft first end;
d. at least one rope spool received on, axially moveable with respect to, and rotationally fixed to, the shaft, wherein the at least one rope spool is configured to attach to a first and a second end of a rope that is configured to be releasably attached to a bowstring;
e. a clutch mechanism received on the shaft intermediate the shaft second end and the shaft axial splines, wherein the clutch mechanism has splines formed on an inner circumferential surface; and
f. a handle operatively coupled to the shaft;
whereinwhen the shaft is in a first axial position, with respect to the clutch mechanism and the ratchet wheel, the shaft splines are engaged with the ratchet wheel splines and are disengaged from the clutch mechanism splines so that the ratchet wheel allows the shaft to rotate in a first direction and prevents the shaft from rotating in a second opposite direction, andwhen the shaft is in a second axial position, with respect to the clutch mechanism and the ratchet wheel, the shaft splines are disengaged from the ratchet wheel splines and engaged with the clutch mechanism splines so that the clutch mechanism prevents the shaft from rotating in the first direction and the second direction until force is applied to the handle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A crossbow bowstring drawing mechanism comprises (1) a generally cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end; (2) a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing has a first end that at least partially extends through the housing first end; (3) at least one rope spool received on, and rotationally fixed to, the shaft intermediate the shaft first and second ends; (4) a handle operatively coupled to the shaft; and (5) a clutch mechanism received on the shaft. At least one of the rope spools is configured to attach to a first and a second end of a rope that is configured to be releasably attached to a bowstring. The clutch mechanism is configured to at least temporarily rotationally fix the shaft to the housing to prevent the shaft from rotating in a first direction and an opposite second direction until a force is exerted on the handle to overcome the frictional forces exerted by the clutch mechanism.
62 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A bowstring drawing mechanism for use on a weapon comprising:
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a. a generally cylindrical housing; b. a shaft having; i. a first end, ii. a second end, iii. an axis extending between the first and second ends, and iv. axial splines formed on an outer circumference of the shaft intermediate the first and second ends, wherein each axial spline is substantially parallel to the shaft axis, wherein a portion of the shaft is rotatably mounted in the housing; c. a ratchet wheel having a toothed outer circumferential surface and a splined inner circumferential surface, the ratchet wheel being positioned on the shaft proximate the shaft first end; d. at least one rope spool received on, axially moveable with respect to, and rotationally fixed to, the shaft, wherein the at least one rope spool is configured to attach to a first and a second end of a rope that is configured to be releasably attached to a bowstring; e. a clutch mechanism received on the shaft intermediate the shaft second end and the shaft axial splines, wherein the clutch mechanism has splines formed on an inner circumferential surface; and f. a handle operatively coupled to the shaft; wherein when the shaft is in a first axial position, with respect to the clutch mechanism and the ratchet wheel, the shaft splines are engaged with the ratchet wheel splines and are disengaged from the clutch mechanism splines so that the ratchet wheel allows the shaft to rotate in a first direction and prevents the shaft from rotating in a second opposite direction, and when the shaft is in a second axial position, with respect to the clutch mechanism and the ratchet wheel, the shaft splines are disengaged from the ratchet wheel splines and engaged with the clutch mechanism splines so that the clutch mechanism prevents the shaft from rotating in the first direction and the second direction until force is applied to the handle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A bowstring drawing mechanism comprising:
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a. a generally cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end; b. a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing and having; i. a first end that at least partially extends through the housing first end, and ii. a second end, c. at least one rope spool received on, and rotationally fixed to, the shaft intermediate the shaft first and second ends, wherein the at least one rope spool is configured to attach to a first and a second end of a rope that is configured to be releasably attached to a bowstring; d. a handle operatively coupled to the shaft; and e. a clutch mechanism received on the shaft, wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to at least temporarily rotationally fix the shaft to the housing to prevent the shaft from rotating in a first direction and an opposite second direction until a force is exerted on the handle to overcome the frictional forces introduced by the clutch mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A bowstring drawing mechanism comprising:
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a. a generally cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end; b. a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing and having; i. a first end that at least partially extends through the housing first end, and ii. a second end, c. a first rope spool received on, and rotationally fixed to, the shaft intermediate the shaft first and second ends, d. a second rope spool received on, and rotationally fixed to, the shaft intermediate the first rope spool and the shaft second end; e. a handle operatively coupled to the shaft; and f. a clutch mechanism received on the shaft intermediate the first and second rope spools, wherein; i. the first and second rope spools are configured to respectively attach to a first and a second end of a rope that is configured to be releasably attached to a bowstring; and ii. the clutch mechanism is configured to at least temporarily rotationally fix the shaft to the housing to prevent the shaft from rotating in a first direction and an opposite second direction until a force is exerted on the handle to overcome the frictional forces introduced by the clutch mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification