US 11,236,964 B2Granted

Crossbow with de-cocking mechanism

AssigneeHunter's Manufacturing Co., Inc.

InventorsRichard Bednar, Michael Shaffer, Gary Smith, Jr., Eric VanKeulen

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A crossbow may have a de-cocking mechanism that includes a trigger mechanism, a trigger latch mechanism and a winch assembly. The winch assembly may be used to move the trigger mechanism to simultaneously move the bowstring from a cocked position to an un-cocked position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A crossbow comprising:

a longitudinally extending main beam;
a bow mechanism including:
1) a pair of outwardly extending bow limbs extending transversely from opposite lateral sides of the main beam;
and
2) a bowstring operatively engaged to the outwardly extending bow limbs and movable between:
(a) an un-cocked position;
and
(b) a cocked position;
a de-cocking mechanism including:
1) a trigger mechanism;
2) a trigger latch mechanism;
and
3) a winch assembly;
the trigger mechanism including:
1) a trigger housing;
2) a trigger surface supported to the trigger housing;
and
3) a string catch supported to the trigger housing and selectively movable between:
(a) a first string catch position that does not hold the bowstring;
and
(b) a second string catch position that holds the bowstring;
the trigger latch mechanism including a trigger latch supported to the main beam and selectively movable between:
(a) a first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger surface;
and
(b) a second trigger latch position that engages the trigger surface to hold the trigger mechanism to the main beam at a longitudinal position;
and
the winch assembly including:
1) a winch housing supported to the main beam;
2) a spool that is selectively rotatable with respect to the winch housing;
3) a tensile member having:
(a) a first end operatively engaged with the spool;
and
(b) a second end operatively engaged with the trigger housing;
4) a spool gear:
(a) operatively engaged with the spool;
and
(b) selectively rotatable with respect to the winch housing;
5) a drive gear:
(a) operatively engaged with the spool gear;
and
(b) selectively rotatable with respect to the winch housing;
and
6) a clutch gear assembly that:
(a) is selectively operatively engageable to the drive gear;
(b) when operatively engaged to the drive gear, is adapted to enable the drive gear to rotate:
(i) freely in a spool in direction;
and
(ii) subject to a damping load in a spool out direction;
and
(c) when operatively disengaged from the drive gear, is adapted to enable the drive gear to rotate freely in both the spool in direction and the spool out direction;
wherein:
1) when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the second trigger latch position holding the trigger mechanism to the main beam at the longitudinal position, the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring, and tension has been relieved from the tensile member, the trigger latch mechanism is selectively operable:
to receive a trigger latch force on the trigger latch to relieve tension from the trigger latch mechanism;
2) when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the second trigger latch position holding the trigger mechanism to the main beam at the longitudinal position, the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring, tension has been relieved from the trigger latch mechanism and the trigger latch force continues to be applied to the trigger latch;
the winch assembly is selectively operable:
(a) to receive a first rotational input to rotate the drive gear in the spool in direction;
to
(b) rotate the spool gear;
to
(c) rotate the spool;
to
(d) apply tension to the tensile member;
to
(e) move the trigger latch into the first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger surface;
and
3) when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger surface and the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring, the winch assembly is selectively operable:
(a) to receive a second rotational input to rotate the drive gear in the spool out direction;
to
(b) rotate the spool gear;
to
(c) rotate the spool;
to
(d) unwrap the tensile member from the spool;
to
(e) move the trigger mechanism away from the trigger latch mechanism;
to
(f) move the bowstring from the cocked position to the un-cocked position.

74 more elements

A crossbow method comprising the steps of:

A) providing a crossbow including:
1) a longitudinally extending main beam;
2) a bow mechanism including:
(a) a pair of outwardly extending bow limbs extending transversely from opposite lateral sides of the main beam;
and
(b) a bowstring operatively engaged to the outwardly extending bow limbs and movable between:
(i) an un-cocked position;
and
(ii) a cocked position;
B) providing a de-cocking mechanism including:
1) a trigger mechanism;
2) a trigger latch mechanism;
and
3) a winch assembly;
C) providing the trigger mechanism with:
1) a trigger housing;
2) a trigger surface supported to the trigger housing;
and
3) a string catch supported to the trigger housing and selectively movable between:
(a) a first string catch position that does not hold the bowstring;
and
(b) a second string catch position that holds the bowstring;
D) providing the trigger latch mechanism with a trigger latch supported to the main beam and selectively movable between:
1) a first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger surface;
and
2) a second trigger latch position that engages the trigger surface to hold the trigger mechanism to the main beam at a longitudinal position;
E) providing the winch assembly with:
1) a winch housing supported to the main beam;
2) a spool that is selectively rotatable with respect to the winch housing;
3) a tensile member having:
(a) a first end operatively engaged with the spool;
and
(b) a second end operatively engaged with the trigger housing;
4) a spool gear:
(a) operatively engaged with the spool;
and
(b) selectively rotatable with respect to the winch housing;
5) a drive gear:
(a) operatively engaged with the spool gear;
and
(b) selectively rotatable with respect to the winch housing;
and
6) a clutch gear assembly that:
(a) is selectively operatively engageable to the drive gear;
(b) when operatively engaged to the drive gear, is adapted to enable the drive gear to rotate:
(i) freely in a spool in direction;
and
(ii) subject to a damping load in a spool out direction;
and
(c) when operatively disengaged from the drive gear, is adapted to enable the drive gear to rotate freely in both the spool in direction and the spool out direction;
F) providing the trigger latch mechanism, when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the second trigger latch position holding the trigger mechanism to the main beam at the longitudinal position, the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring, and tension has been relieved from the tensile member, to be selectively operable:
to receive a trigger latch force on the trigger latch to relieve tension from the trigger latch mechanism;
G) providing the winch assembly, when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the second trigger latch position holding the trigger mechanism to the main beam at the longitudinal position, the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring, tension has been relieved from the trigger latch mechanism and the trigger latch force continues to be applied to the trigger latch, to be selectively operable:
1) to receive a first rotational input to rotate the drive gear in the spool in direction;
to
2) rotate the spool gear;
to
3) rotate the spool;
to
4) apply tension to the tensile member;
to
5) move the trigger latch into the first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger surface;
and
H) providing the winch assembly, when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger surface and the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring, to be is selectively operable:
1) to receive a second rotational input to rotate the drive gear in the spool out direction;
to
2) rotate the spool gear;
to
3) rotate the spool;
to
4) unwrap the tensile member from the spool;
to
5) move the trigger mechanism away from the trigger latch mechanism;
to
6) move the bowstring from the cocked position to the un-cocked position.

72 more elements

A crossbow comprising:

a longitudinally extending main beam;
a bow mechanism including:
1) a pair of outwardly extending bow limbs extending transversely from opposite lateral sides of the main beam;
and
2) a bowstring operatively engaged to the outwardly extending bow limbs and movable between:
(a) an un-cocked position;
and
(b) a cocked position;
a de-cocking mechanism including:
1) a trigger mechanism;
2) a trigger latch mechanism;
and
3) a pawl-less winch assembly;
the trigger mechanism including:
1) a trigger housing;
2) a trigger surface supported to the trigger housing;
and
3) a string catch supported to the trigger housing and selectively movable between:
(a) a first string catch position that does not hold the bowstring;
and
(b) a second string catch position that holds the bowstring;
the trigger latch mechanism including a trigger latch supported to the main beam and selectively movable between:
(a) a first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger surface;
and
(b) a second trigger latch position that engages the trigger surface to hold the trigger mechanism to the main beam at a longitudinal position;
and
the pawl-less winch assembly including:
1) a winch housing supported to the main beam;
2) a spool that is selectively rotatable with respect to the winch housing;
3) a tensile member having:
(a) a first end operatively engaged with the spool;
and
(b) a second end operatively engaged with the trigger housing;
4) a spool gear:
(a) operatively engaged with the spool;
and
(b) selectively rotatable with respect to the winch housing;
5) a drive gear:
(a) operatively engaged with the spool gear;
and
(b) selectively rotatable with a drive shaft having threads with respect to the winch housing;
and
6) a clutch gear assembly that:
(a) includes a pressure plate gear;
(b) includes a receiver having threads that engage the drive shaft threads;
(b) is selectively operatively engageable to the drive gear;
(c) when operatively engaged to the drive gear, is adapted to enable the drive gear to rotate:
(i) freely in a spool in direction;
and
(ii) subject to a damping load in a spool out direction;
and
(d) when operatively disengaged from the drive gear, is adapted to enable the drive gear to rotate freely in both the spool in direction and the spool out direction;
wherein:
1) when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the second trigger latch position holding the trigger mechanism to the main beam at the longitudinal position, the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring, and tension has been relieved from the tensile member, the trigger latch mechanism is selectively operable:
to receive a trigger latch force on the trigger latch to relieve tension from the trigger latch mechanism;
2) when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the second trigger latch position holding the trigger mechanism to the main beam at the longitudinal position, the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring, tension has been relieved from the trigger latch mechanism and the trigger latch force continues to be applied to the trigger latch;
the winch assembly is selectively operable:
(a) to receive a first rotational input of at least 360 degrees to rotate the drive gear in the spool in direction;
to
(b) rotate the spool gear;
to
(c) rotate the spool;
to
(d) apply tension to the tensile member;
to
(e) move the trigger latch into the first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger surface;
3) when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger surface and the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring, the winch assembly is selectively operable:
(a) to receive a second rotational input to rotate the drive gear in the spool out direction;
to
(b) rotate the spool gear;
to
(c) rotate the spool;
to
(d) unwrap the tensile member from the spool;
to
(e) move the trigger mechanism away from the trigger latch mechanism;
to
(f) move the bowstring from the cocked position to the un-cocked position;
4) when the clutch gear assembly is operatively engaged to the drive gear, the drive gear and pressure plate gear rotate together with the drive shaft;
5) when the clutch gear assembly is operatively disengaged from the drive gear:
(a) the drive gear rotates with the drive shaft;
and
(b) the pressure plate gear does not rotate with the drive shaft;
and
6) the receiver is adapted when rotated sufficiently:
(a) in a first receiver direction with respect to the drive shaft, to operatively engage the clutch gear assembly to the drive gear;
and
(b) in a second receiver direction with respect to the drive shaft, opposite the first receiver direction, to operatively disengage the clutch gear assembly from the drive gear.

85 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/314,821Filed 7 May 2021 · us provisional application
Priority: 8 May 2020
Published: US 2021/0348875 A111 Nov 2021
Granted: 1 Feb 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

F41B 5/1469
Accessories for arc or bow shooting: bow-string drawing or releasing devices
F41B 5/12
Bows; Crossbows: crossbows
F41B 5/123
Crossbows: compound crossbows
F41B 5/148
Accessories for arc or bow shooting: accessories and tools for bow shooting not otherwise provided for

Family

Application63/021,930Us provisional application · filed 8 May 2020
US 2021/0348875 A1Pre-grant publication · published 11 Nov 2021
US 11,236,964 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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Abstract

A crossbow comprising:

a longitudinally extending main beam;
a bow mechanism including:
1) a pair of outwardly extending bow limbs extending transversely from opposite lateral sides of the main beam;
and
2) a bowstring operatively engaged to the outwardly extending bow limbs and movable between:
(a) an un-cocked position;
and
(b) a cocked position;
a de-cocking mechanism including:
1) a trigger mechanism;
2) a trigger latch mechanism;
and
3) a winch assembly;
the trigger mechanism including:
1) a trigger housing;
2) a trigger surface supported to the trigger housing;
and
3) a string catch supported to the trigger housing and selectively movable between:
(a) a first string catch position that does not hold the bowstring;
and
(b) a second string catch position that holds the bowstring;
the trigger latch mechanism including a trigger latch supported to the main beam and selectively movable between:
(a) a first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger surface;
and
(b) a second trigger latch position that engages the trigger surface to hold the trigger mechanism to the main beam at a longitudinal position;
and
the winch assembly including:
1) a winch housing supported to the main beam;
2) a spool that is selectively rotatable with respect to the winch housing;
3) a tensile member having:
(a) a first end operatively engaged with the spool;
and
(b) a second end operatively engaged with the trigger housing;
4) a spool gear:
(a) operatively engaged with the spool;
and
(b) selectively rotatable with respect to the winch housing;
5) a drive gear:
(a) operatively engaged with the spool gear;
and
(b) selectively rotatable with respect to the winch housing;
and
6) a clutch gear assembly that:
(a) is selectively operatively engageable to the drive gear;
(b) when operatively engaged to the drive gear, is adapted to enable the drive gear to rotate:
(i) freely in a spool in direction;
and
(ii) subject to a damping load in a spool out direction;
and
(c) when operatively disengaged from the drive gear, is adapted to enable the drive gear to rotate freely in both the spool in direction and the spool out direction;
wherein:
1) when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the second trigger latch position holding the trigger mechanism to the main beam at the longitudinal position, the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring, and tension has been relieved from the tensile member, the trigger latch mechanism is selectively operable:
to receive a trigger latch force on the trigger latch to relieve tension from the trigger latch mechanism;
2) when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the second trigger latch position holding the trigger mechanism to the main beam at the longitudinal position, the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring, tension has been relieved from the trigger latch mechanism and the trigger latch force continues to be applied to the trigger latch;
the winch assembly is selectively operable:
(a) to receive a first rotational input to rotate the drive gear in the spool in direction;
to
(b) rotate the spool gear;
to
(c) rotate the spool;
to
(d) apply tension to the tensile member;
to
(e) move the trigger latch into the first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger surface;
and
3) when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger surface and the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring, the winch assembly is selectively operable:
(a) to receive a second rotational input to rotate the drive gear in the spool out direction;
to
(b) rotate the spool gear;
to
(c) rotate the spool;
to
(d) unwrap the tensile member from the spool;
to
(e) move the trigger mechanism away from the trigger latch mechanism;
to
(f) move the bowstring from the cocked position to the un-cocked position.

74 more elements

Facts

Application

17/314,821Filed 7 May 2021 · us provisional application

Priority

8 May 2020

Published

US 2021/0348875 A111 Nov 2021

Granted

1 Feb 2022

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

F41B 5/1469
Accessories for arc or bow shooting: bow-string drawing or releasing devices
F41B 5/12
Bows; Crossbows: crossbows
F41B 5/123
Crossbows: compound crossbows
F41B 5/148
Accessories for arc or bow shooting: accessories and tools for bow shooting not otherwise provided for