Anti-dry fire system for a crossbow
First Claim
1. An anti-dry fire system for a crossbow having a draw string for launching arrows, the anti-dry fire system comprising:
- a catch moveable between a closed position that retains the draw string in a drawn configuration and an open position that releases the draw string to a released configuration;
a sear moveable between a de-cocked position and a cocked position coupled with the catch at an interface to retain the catch in the closed position such that after firing the crossbow the sear is retained in the de-cocked position by the catch; and
a dry fire lockout moveable between a disengaged position and a lockout position that blocks the sear from moving to the de-cocked position, the dry fire lockout comprising a portion located behind the draw string, and a surface on the catch that engages the draw string, in the drawn configuration before an arrow is engaged with the draw string, such that when an arrow is engaged with the draw string the initial engagement with the portion occurs at a location behind the bow string to cause the dry fire lockout to move to the disengaged position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An anti-dry fire system for a crossbow including a catch moveable between a closed position that retains the draw string in a drawn configuration and an open position that releases the draw string to a released configuration position. A sear is moveable between a de-cocked position and a cocked position coupled with the catch at an interface to retain the catch in the closed position such that after firing the crossbow the sear is retained in the de-cocked position by the catch. A dry fire lockout is moveable between a disengaged position and a lockout position that blocks the sear from moving to the de-cocked position. The dry fire lockout includes a portion located behind the draw string that engages with the arrow to move the dry fire lockout to the disengaged position. This configuration precludes the use of the most common arrow nocks (flat, half-moon, etc.), reducing the risk that a non-approved arrow will be used in the crossbow.
192 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An anti-dry fire system for a crossbow having a draw string for launching arrows, the anti-dry fire system comprising:
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a catch moveable between a closed position that retains the draw string in a drawn configuration and an open position that releases the draw string to a released configuration; a sear moveable between a de-cocked position and a cocked position coupled with the catch at an interface to retain the catch in the closed position such that after firing the crossbow the sear is retained in the de-cocked position by the catch; and a dry fire lockout moveable between a disengaged position and a lockout position that blocks the sear from moving to the de-cocked position, the dry fire lockout comprising a portion located behind the draw string, and a surface on the catch that engages the draw string, in the drawn configuration before an arrow is engaged with the draw string, such that when an arrow is engaged with the draw string the initial engagement with the portion occurs at a location behind the bow string to cause the dry fire lockout to move to the disengaged position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An anti-dry fire system for a crossbow having a draw string for launching arrows, the anti-dry fire system comprising:
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a catch moveable between a closed position that retains the draw string in a drawn configuration and an open position that releases the draw string to a released configuration position such that after firing the crossbow the catch is biased to the open position; a sear moveable between a de-cocked position and a cocked position coupled with the catch at an interface to retain the catch in the closed position such that after firing the crossbow the sear is retained in the de-cocked position by the catch, the sear being biased to the cocked position by a sear biasing force; a dry fire lockout moveable between a disengaged position and a lockout position that blocks the sear from moving, to the de-cocked position, such that after firing the crossbow the dry fire lockout is retained in the disengaged position by the sear while being biased to the lockout position, the dry fire lockout comprising a portion located behind the draw string in the drawn configuration before an arrow is engaged with the draw string, that engages with the arrow to move the dry fire lockout to the disengaged position; and a trigger assembly located at a proximal end of the crossbow having a trigger positioned to move the sear from the cocked position to the de-cocked position to fire the crossbow, wherein a force sufficient to overcome frictional forces at the interface to release the catch to the open position is less than the sear biasing force. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An anti-dry fire system for a trigger assembly on a crossbow having a draw string, the anti-dry fire system comprising:
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a catch moveable between a closed position that retains the draw string in a drawn configuration and an open position that releases the draw string to a released configuration; a sear moveable between a de-cocked position and a cocked position coupled with the catch at an interface to retain the catch in the closed position; a trigger assembly located at a proximal end of the crossbow comprising a linkage having a trigger positioned to move the sear from the cocked position to the de-cocked position to fire the crossbow; and a dry fire lockout moveable between a disengaged position that does not prevent release of the draw string and a lockout position that prevents release of the draw string, the dry fire lockout comprising a portion located behind, the draw string, and a surface on the catch that engages the draw string, in the drawn configuration before an arrow is engaged with the draw string, such that when an arrow is engaged with the draw string the initial engagement with the portion occurs at a location behind the bow string to cause the dry fire lockout to move to the disengaged position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification