Combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism

A combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism for use with an associated crossbow having a main beam and a bow assembly supported to the main beam;

• the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism comprising:
• a bracket having a connection surface and first and second contact surfaces;
• a bracket engagement device that is supportable to the main beam and that comprises first and second distinct connection surfaces;
• and
• one or more biasing force generators;
• wherein when the bracket engagement device is supported to the associated crossbow:
• A) the bracket is rotatable with respect to the bracket engagement device between:
• 1) a cocking position where the connection surface of the bracket is interconnected with the first connection surface of the bracket engagement device and the bracket is positioned to enable a user to use the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism as a stirrup to cock the associated bow assembly with the first contact surface receiving the user's foot and the second contact surface contacting a ground or other cocking support surface;
• and 2) a shooting rest position where the connection surface of the bracket is interconnected with the second connection surface of the bracket engagement device and the bracket is positioned to enable a user to use the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism as a shooting rest to shoot the associated crossbow with the second contact surface contacting a ground or other shooting support surface;
• and
• B) the one or more biasing force generators exert:
• 1) a biasing force to bias the bracket into the cocking position and;
• 2) a biasing force to bias the bracket into the shooting rest position;
• and
• wherein:
• the bracket comprises an integral axle and a leg that interconnects the first axle to the second contact surface;
• the axle defines an axis of rotation about which the bracket is rotatable with respect to the bracket engagement device;
• and
• the bracket engagement device comprises an opening that rotatably receives the first axle.

A combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism for use with an associated crossbow having a main beam and a bow assembly supported to the main beam;

• the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism comprising:
• a bracket having a connection surface and first and second contact surfaces;
• a bracket engagement device that is supportable to the main beam and that comprises first and second distinct connection surfaces;
• and
• one or more biasing force generators;
• wherein when the bracket engagement device is supported to the associated crossbow:
• A) the bracket is rotatable with respect to the bracket engagement device between:
• 1) a cocking position where the connection surface of the bracket is interconnected with the first connection surface of the bracket engagement device and the bracket is positioned to enable a user to use the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism as a stirrup to cock the associated bow assembly with the first contact surface receiving the user's foot and the second contact surface contacting a ground or other cocking support surface;
• and 2) a shooting rest position where the connection surface of the bracket is interconnected with the second connection surface of the bracket engagement device and the bracket is positioned to enable a user to use the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism as a shooting rest to shoot the associated crossbow with the second contact surface contacting a ground or other shooting support surface;
• and
• B) the one or more biasing force generators exert:
• 1) a biasing force to bias the bracket into the cocking position and;
• 2) a biasing force to bias the bracket into the shooting rest position;
• and
• wherein the one or more biasing force generators comprise one of:
• a single spring;
• and
• a spring force inherent to the bracket.

A combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism for use with an associated crossbow having a main beam and a bow assembly supported to the main beam;

• the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism comprising:
• a bracket having a first connection surface and first and second contact surfaces;
• a bracket engagement device that is supportable to the main beam and that comprises first and second distinct connection surfaces;
• and
• one or more biasing force generators;
• wherein when the bracket engagement device is supported to the associated crossbow:
• A) the bracket is rotatable with respect to the bracket engagement device between:
• 1) a cocking position where the first connection surface of the bracket is interconnected with the first connection surface of the bracket engagement device and the bracket is positioned to enable a user to use the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism as a stirrup to cock the associated bow assembly with the first contact surface receiving the user's foot and the second contact surface contacting a ground or other cocking support surface;
• and 2) a shooting rest position where the first connection surface of the bracket is interconnected with the second connection surface of the bracket engagement device and the bracket is positioned to enable a user to use the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism as a shooting rest to shoot the associated crossbow with the second contact surface contacting a ground or other shooting support surface;
• and
• B) the one or more biasing force generators exert:
• 1) a biasing force to bias the bracket into the cocking position and;
• 2) a biasing force to bias the bracket into the shooting rest position;
• and
• wherein:
• the bracket comprises a first axle and a first leg that interconnects the first axle to a first end of a contact member comprising the second contact surface;
• the first axle defines a first axis of rotation about which the bracket is rotatable with respect to the bracket engagement device;
• the bracket engagement device comprises a first opening that rotatably receives the first axle;
• the bracket comprises a second axle and a second leg that interconnects the second axle to a second end of the contact member opposite the first end;
• the second axle defines a second axis of rotation that is collinear with the first axis of rotation and about which the bracket is rotatable with respect to the bracket engagement device;
• and
• the bracket engagement device comprises a second opening that rotatably receives the second axle.