Crossbow

• US 9,207,036 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2014
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FeraDyne Outdoors, LLC
• Original Assignee: Eastman Outdoors Incorporated (FeraDyne Outdoors, LLC)
• Inventors: Biafore, John J. Jr., Pestrue, Jeffrey Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): RICCI, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US14/247,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20140216430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/12 Crossbows
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/123 Compound crossbows
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/14 Details of bows; Accessories for arc shooting sighting devices for bows F41G1/467
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1403 Details of bows; camera's on bows F41B5/1492
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1442 Accessories for arc or bow shooting

Abstract

A crossbow is provided which has a frame and a firing assembly. The frame has a forward end and a rearward end. The firing assembly has a finger-pull mechanism. The finger-pull mechanism is positioned at, or forward of, a midway point of the frame between the forward end and the rearward end.

Claims

1. A crossbow comprising:

a frame having a forward end and a rearward end;

first and second limbs secured to the frame;

a bowstring which extends between the first and second limbs, the bowstring being configured to move between a forward rest position and a rearward cocked position;

a firing assembly associated with the frame;

the firing assembly having a finger-pull mechanism, wherein the finger-pull mechanism is positioned at, or forward of, a midway point of the frame between the forward end and the rearward end; and

a beam which is secured to the frame, the beam being positioned to extend over the forward rest position of the bowstring.

2. The crossbow as defined in claim 1, wherein the firing assembly has a string latch which is configured to retain the bowstring in the rearward cocked position, the string latch being positioned rearward of the finger-pull mechanism, wherein a bull-pup distance of the crossbow is defined as a distance the string latch is positioned rearward of the finger-pull mechanism, wherein a length of pull distance of the crossbow is defined as a distance between the finger-pull mechanism and a position provided on the crossbow which abuts against a user when the crossbow is aimed and fired, wherein a ratio of length of pull distance of the crossbow to bull-pup distance of the crossbow is in a range of two-to-one to approximately one-to-one.

3. The crossbow as defined in claim 2, wherein the position provided on the crossbow which abuts against a user when the crossbow is aimed and fired is defined by a rearward end portion of the frame.

4. The crossbow as defined in claim 2, further comprising a butt member associated with the frame, wherein the butt member has a rear end, wherein the position provided on the crossbow which abuts against a user when the crossbow is aimed and fired is defined by the rear end of the butt member.

5. The crossbow as defined in claim 4, wherein the rear end of the butt member is positioned forward of the rearward end of the frame.

6. The crossbow as defined in claim 1, further comprising a mounting rail associated with a lower surface of the frame rearward of the finger-pull mechanism, the mounting rail being configured to allow one or more accessories to be mounted thereto.

7. The crossbow as defined in claim 6, further comprising an accessory in the form of a butt member, the butt member having a rear end which is configured to abut a front of a user, the butt member being adjustably mounted to the mounting rail to provide that the butt member is movable along the mounting rail between a forward position and a rearward position.

8. The crossbow as defined in claim 7, wherein the rearward end of the frame is positioned rearward of the rear end of the butt member.

9. The crossbow as defined in claim 8, wherein the frame has a rearward end portion provided between the rear end of the frame and the rear end of the butt member, wherein the rearward end portion is configured to abut against a top of a shoulder of the user.

10. The crossbow as defined in claim 1, further comprising a butt member associated with a lower surface of the frame rearward of the finger-pull mechanism, the butt member having a rear end which is configured to abut a front of a user.

11. The crossbow as defined in claim 10, wherein the rearward end of the frame is positioned rearward of the rear end of the butt member.

12. The crossbow as defined in claim 11, wherein the frame has a rearward end portion provided between the rear end of the frame and the rear end of the butt member, wherein the rearward end portion is configured to abut against a top of a shoulder of the user.

13. The crossbow as defined in claim 1, wherein the frame has a rearward end portion provided between the rear end of the frame and the finger-pull mechanism, wherein the rearward end portion is configured to abut against a top of a shoulder of a user.

14. A crossbow comprising:

a frame having a forward end and a rearward end;

first and second limbs secured to the frame;

a bowstring which extends between the first and second limbs, the bowstring being configured to move between a forward rest position and a rearward cocked position;

a firing assembly associated with the frame;

the firing assembly having a finger-pull mechanism, wherein the finger-pull mechanism is positioned at, or forward of, a midway point of the frame between the forward end and the rearward end;

a mounting rail associated with a lower surface of the frame, rearward of the finger-pull mechanism, the mounting rail being configured to allow one or more accessories to be mounted thereto and

a butt member associated with the frame rearward of the finger-pull mechanism.

15. The crossbow as defined in claim 14, wherein the butt member has a rear end, the rear end of the butt member being positioned forward of the rearward end of the frame.

16. The crossbow as defined in claim 14, further comprising a beam secured to the frame, the beam being positioned to extend over the forward rest position of the bowstring.

17. A crossbow comprising:

a frame having a forward end and a rearward end;

first and second limbs secured to the frame;

a bowstring which extends between the first and second limbs, the bowstring being configured to move between a forward rest position and a rearward cocked position; and

a firing assembly associated with the frame;

the firing assembly having a finger-pull mechanism, wherein the finger-pull mechanism is positioned at, or forward of, a midway point of the frame between the forward end and the rearward end, the firing assembly further has a string latch which is configured to retain the bowstring in the rearward cocked position, the string latch being positioned rearward of the finger-pull mechanism; and

a beam secured to the frame, the beam being positioned to extend over the forward rest position of the bowstring.

18. The crossbow as defined in claim 17, wherein a bull-pup distance of the crossbow is defined as a distance the string latch is positioned rearward of the finger-pull mechanism, wherein a length of pull distance of the crossbow is defined as a distance between the finger-pull mechanism and a position provided on the crossbow which abuts against a user when the crossbow is aimed and fired, wherein a ratio of length of pull distance of the crossbow to bull-pup distance of the crossbow is in a range of two-to-one to approximately one-to-one.

19. A crossbow comprising:

a frame having a forward end and a rearward end;

first and second limbs secured to the frame;

a bowstring which extends between the first and second limbs, the bowstring being configured to move between a forward rest position and a rearward cocked position; and

a firing assembly associated with the frame;

the firing assembly having a finger-pull mechanism, the finger pull mechanism being positioned approximately midway between the forward and rearward ends of the frame;

wherein the frame has a rearward end portion provided between the rearward end of the frame and the finger-pull mechanism, wherein the rearward end portion is configured to abut against a top of a shoulder of a user.