Crossbow lock mechanism

• US 9,255,754 B1
• Filed: 01/02/2014
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James J. Kempf
• Original Assignee: James J. Kempf
• Inventors: Kempf, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLAYMAN, AMIR ARIE
• Application Number:
  US14/146,177
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/12 Crossbows

Abstract

An improved crossbow lock mechanism includes a trigger housing, a seer lever, a seer lock lever, a latch and a trigger. The seer lever includes an anti-dryfiring projection and a latch projection. The seer lever pivots relative to the trigger housing. The latch includes an arrow shaft yoke and a seer notch. The latch pivots relative to trigger housing. The seer notch engages the latch projection. The seer lock lever includes a latch finger and an impact finger. The latch finger is sized to capture the anti-dryfiring projection. A bow string is pulled back, until the seer notch of the latch is locked behind the latch projection. A nock of an arrow shaft is inserted over the bow string. The trigger lever is pulled, which causes the trigger linkage to push the latch projection downward and allow the latch to release the bow string.

Claims

1. An improved crossbow lock mechanism comprising:

a trigger housing;

a safety bar having an on position and an off position;

a seer lever includes a latch projection and an anti-dryfiring projection, said anti-dryfiring projection extends from an end of said seer lever, said seer lever pivots relative to said trigger housing;

a seer lock lever includes a latch finger, said latch finger captures said anti-dryfiring projection, said seer lock lever pivots relative to said trigger housing independently of said seer lever;

a latch includes a latch base, a latch foot, a seer notch and an arrow shaft yoke, said seer notch is formed on one side of said latch base, said latch foot extends from an opposing side of said latch base, said latch pivots relative to said trigger housing, said arrow shaft yoke is sized to receive a nock of an arrow shaft, wherein said latch projection is positioned to engage said seer notch when said improved crossbow lock mechanism is cocked, said arrow shaft yoke retains a bow string in a cocked position, said latch foot forces an end of said seer lever downward when a bottom of said latch foot contacts a top of said latch projection which prevents said safety bar from being placed in said on position; and

a trigger pivots relative to said trigger housing, said trigger is linked to said seer lever, wherein actuating said trigger causes said latch projection to release said latch, and the bow string.

2. The improved crossbow lock mechanism of claim 1, further comprising:

a safety includes a lock bar and a slide pin, said slide pin is retained in said lock bar, said slide pin used to prevent said latch from releasing a bow string.

3. The improved crossbow lock mechanism of claim 1 wherein:

said trigger includes a trigger lever and a trigger linkage, said trigger lever is pivotally retained relative to said trigger housing, one end of said trigger linkage is pivotally retained by said trigger lever, the other end of said trigger linkage is pivotally connected to said seer lever.

4. The improved crossbow lock mechanism of claim 1, further comprising:

a seer lever stop is positioned above said seer lever.

5. The improved crossbow lock mechanism of claim 4, further comprising:

a latch ball stop is fabricated from a resilient material, said latch ball stop provides a cushion for said latch.

6. The improved crossbow lock mechanism of claim 1 wherein:

said trigger housing includes a component half and a cover half, a mechanism cavity is formed in said component half to retain at least said seer lever and said latch.

7. An improved crossbow lock mechanism comprising:

a trigger housing;

a safety bar having an on position and an off position;

a seer lever includes a latch projection and anti-dryfiring projection, said latch projection extends from a top of said seer lever, said anti-dryfiring projection extends from an end of said seer lever, said seer lever pivots relative to said trigger housing;

a seer lock lever includes a latch finger, said latch finger captures said anti-dryfiring projection, said seer lock lever pivots relative to said trigger housing independently of said seer lever;

a latch includes a latch base, a latch foot, a seer notch and an arrow shaft yoke, said seer notch is formed on one side of said latch base, said latch foot extends from an opposing side of said latch base, said latch pivots relative to said trigger housing, said seer lever is biased toward said latch, said arrow shaft yoke is sized to receive a nock of an arrow shaft, said latch is biased to release a bow string, wherein said latch projection is positioned to engage said seer notch when said improved crossbow lock mechanism is cocked, said latch retains a bow string in a cocked position, said latch foot forces an end of said seer lever downward when a bottom of said latch foot contacts a top of said latch projection which prevents said safety bar from being placed in said on position; and

a trigger pivots relative to said trigger housing, said trigger is linked to said seer lever, wherein actuating said trigger causes said latch projection to release said latch, and the bow string.

8. The improved crossbow lock mechanism of claim 7, further comprising:

a safety includes a lock bar and a slide pin, said slide pin is retained in said lock bar, said slide pin used to prevent said latch from releasing a bow string.

9. The improved crossbow lock mechanism of claim 7 wherein:

said trigger includes a trigger lever and a trigger linkage, said trigger lever is pivotally retained relative to said trigger housing, one end of said trigger linkage is pivotally retained by said trigger lever, the other end of said trigger linkage is pivotally connected to said seer lever.

10. The improved crossbow lock mechanism of claim 7, further comprising:

a seer lever stop is positioned above said seer lever.

11. The improved crossbow lock mechanism of claim 10, further comprising:

a latch ball stop is fabricated from a resilient material, said latch ball stop provides a cushion for said latch.

12. The improved crossbow lock mechanism of claim 7 wherein:

said trigger housing includes a component half and a cover half, a mechanism cavity is formed in said component half to retain at least said seer lever and said latch.