Crossbow lock mechanism

• US 9,551,544 B1
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• 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): Bumgarner, Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLAYMAN, AMIR ARIE
• Application Number:
  US14/974,262
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/46 Trigger safeties, i.e. means for preventing trigger movement F41A17/02 - F41A17/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/12 Crossbows
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/1403 Details of bows; camera's on bows F41B5/1492

Abstract

An improved crossbow lock mechanism includes the trigger housing, the seer lever, the seer lock lever, the latch, the trigger and an auto safety. The auto safety preferably includes a safety block, a safety lever arm and a safety lever arm lock. The safety lever arm lock is pivotally retained on one end of the safety lever arm with a safety arm lock pin. A finger engagement portion extends from one end of the safety lever arm lock and a stop portion extends from an opposing end thereof. A hand grip extends from the housing. The safety lever arm is pivotally retained in the hand grip with a safety lever arm pivot pin. A safety block actuator pocket is formed in a bottom of the safety block to receive the other end of the safety lever arm. A safety block spring biases the safety block away from the trigger lever.

Claims

1. An automatic safety device for a crossbow trigger mechanism, comprising:

a crossbow trigger mechanism retained in a trigger housing of a crossbow;

a hand grip extends downward from the trigger housing;

a safety block is slidably engaged with the crossbow trigger mechanism, wherein said safety block prevents firing of the crossbow in a first position, said safety block slides from said first position to a second position, said safety block allows firing of the crossbow in said second position;

a safety lever arm lock; and

a safety lever arm having said safety lever arm lock pivotally retained on one end thereof, a safety lever arm lock stop is formed on an inside surface of the hand grip adjacent a bottom thereof to retain one end of said safety lever arm lock, an opposing end of said safety lever arm lock is used to pivot said one end of said safety lever arm lock into said safety lever arm lock stop, an opposing end of said safety lever arm is engaged with said safety block, said safety lever arm is pivotally retained in the hand grip, wherein one end of said safety lever arm lock is biased away from said safety lever arm with a safety lever lock spring, said one end of said safety lever arm lock is retained in said safety lever arm lock stop to prevent firing of the crossbow.

2. The automatic safety device for a crossbow trigger mechanism of claim 1 wherein:

a pocket is formed in a bottom of said safety block to receive said opposing end of said safety lever arm.

3. The automatic safety device for a crossbow trigger mechanism of claim 1 wherein:

a finger engagement portion is formed on an opposing end of said safety lever arm lock.

4. The automatic safety device for a crossbow trigger mechanism of claim 1, further comprising:

a torsion spring for biasing said one end of said safety lever arm lock.

5. An improved crossbow lock mechanism to retain in a trigger housing of a crossbow, comprising:

a trigger housing of a crossbow;

a hand grip extends downward from the trigger housing;

a safety block is slidably retained in the trigger housing, wherein said safety block prevents firing of the crossbow in a first position, said safety block slides from said first position to a second position, said safety block allows firing of the crossbow in said second position;

a seer lever includes a latch projection, said seer lever pivots relative to said trigger housing;

a latch includes a seer notch and an arrow shaft yoke, said latch pivots relative to the 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;

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;

a safety lever arm lock; and

a safety lever arm having said safety lever arm lock pivotally retained on one end thereof, a safety lever arm lock stop is formed on an inside surface of the hand grip adjacent a bottom thereof to retain one end of said safety lever arm lock, an opposing end of said safety lever arm lock is used to pivot said one end of said safety lever arm lock into said safety lever arm lock stop, an opposing end of said safety lever arm is engaged with said safety block, said safety lever arm is pivotally retained in the hand grip, wherein one end of said safety lever arm lock is biased away from said safety lever arm with a safety lever lock spring, said one end of said safety lever arm lock is retained in said safety lever arm lock stop to prevent firing of the crossbow.

6. The improved crossbow lock mechanism of claim 5 wherein:

a pocket is formed in a bottom of said safety block to receive said opposing end of said safety lever arm.

7. The improved crossbow lock mechanism of claim 5 wherein:

a lock stop is formed on one end of said safety lever arm lock, wherein said lock stop engages a portion of the hand grip.

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

a finger engagement portion is formed on an opposing end of said safety lever arm lock.

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

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 5, 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 5 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.