# US 11,306,994 B2 · Reset mechanism for a crossbow

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- Number: US 11,306,994 B2
- Document ID: US11306994B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/199,714
- Filed: 2021-03-12
- Published: 2021-07-22
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2019-12-17
- Assignees: Hunter's Manufacturing Co., Inc.
- Applicants: Hunter's Manufacturing Company, Inc.
- Inventors: Michael Shaffer; Richard Bednar; Steven Bednar; Phillip Bednar; Eric VanKeulen; Gary Smith, Jr.; Robert Seymour; Keith Bartels
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306994B2

## CPC

- F41B 5/12: Crossbows
- F41B 5/1469: {Bow-string drawing or releasing devices (F41B5/1473 takes precedence)}
- F41B 5/123: {Compound crossbows}
- F41B: WEAPONS FOR PROJECTING MISSILES WITHOUT USE OF EXPLOSIVE OR COMBUSTIBLE PROPELLANT CHARGE; WEAPONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (projectiles for fishing, e.g. fish-spears, A01K81/00; sports implements for throwing A63B65/00, e.g. boomerangs A63B65/08; stationary apparatus for projecting sports balls, e.g. tennis balls, A63B69/40; throwing or slinging toys A63H33/18; knives, axes B26B; projectiles or missiles other than those incorporating springs as projecting means F42B6/00)

## Abstract

A crossbow reset mechanism may be used to reset a safety activator and a de-cock activator. The reset mechanism may reset the safety and de-cock activators simultaneously.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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 from: (a) an un-cocked position; to (b) a cocked position;
a string latch that selectively holds the bowstring in the cocked position and that is movable into: (1) a first string latch position; (2) a second string latch position distinct from the first string latch position; and (3) a third string latch position distinct from the first and second string latch positions;
a first activator selectively movable from: (1) a first position that prevents the string latch from being moved into the second string latch position; into (2) a second position that permits the string latch to be moved into the second string latch position;
a second activator selectively movable from: (1) a first position that prevents the string latch from being moved into the third string latch position; into (2) a second position that permits the string latch to be moved into the third string latch position; and
a third activator selectively movable from: (1) a first position; into (2) a second position to simultaneously: (a) move the first activator from its second position to its first position; and (b) move the second activator from its second position to its first position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The crossbow of claim 1 wherein:
the string latch: (1) is adapted to hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its first string latch position; and (2) does not hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its second string latch position; and
the crossbow can only be operated to fire an associated arrow when the first activator is in its second position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The crossbow of claim 1 wherein:
the string latch: (1) is adapted to hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its first string latch position; and (2) does not hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its third string latch position; and
the crossbow can only be operated to de-cock the crossbow without firing when the second activator is in its second position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The crossbow of claim 1 wherein:
a trigger link is movable between: (1) a first trigger link position that retains the string latch in the first string latch position; and (2) a second trigger link position that does not retain the string latch in the first string latch position; and
when the trigger link is in the second trigger link position: the trigger link prevents the third activator from being moved into its second position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The crossbow of claim 1 wherein:
a first biasing device applies a biasing force that biases the first activator into its first position;
a second biasing device applies a biasing force that biases the second activator into its first position; and
a third biasing device applies a biasing force that biases the third activator into its first position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The crossbow of claim 1 wherein:
a first lock is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that retains the first activator in its second position; into (2) a second position that permits the first activator to move into its first position;
a second lock is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that retains the second activator in its second position; into (2) a second position that permits the second activator to move into its first position; and
moving the third activator from its first position into its second position causes: (1) the first lock to move from its first position into its second position; and (2) the second lock to move from its first position into its second position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The crossbow of claim 1 further comprising:
a housing having first, second and third openings;
wherein:
(1) the first activator includes a surface for use by an associated user to manually move the first activator from its first position into its second position;
(2) the second activator includes a surface for use by the associated user to manually move the second activator from its first position into its second position;
(3) the third activator includes a surface for use by the associated user to manually move the third activator from its first position into its second position;
(4) the surface of the first activator extends through the first housing opening when the first activator is in its first position;
(5) the surface of the second activator extends through the second housing opening when the second activator is in its first position; and
(6) the surface of the third activator extends through the third housing opening.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The crossbow of claim 1 wherein:
the string latch is pivotal into: (1) the first string latch position; (2) the second string latch position; and (3) the third string latch position;
the first activator is selectively linearly movable from its first position into its second position;
the second activator is selectively linearly movable from its first position into its second position; and
the third activator is selectively pivotal from its first position into its second position.

### Claim 9

A crossbow method comprising the steps of:
A) providing a crossbow including:
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 from: (a) an un-cocked position; to (b) a cocked position; and
a string latch that selectively holds the bowstring in the cocked position and that is movable into: (1) a first string latch position; (2) a second string latch position distinct from the first string latch position; and (3) a third string latch position distinct from the first and second string latch positions;
B) providing a first activator that is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that prevents the string latch from being moved into the second string latch position; into (2) a second position that permits the string latch to be moved into the second string latch position;
C) providing a second activator that is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that prevents the string latch from being moved into the third string latch position; into (2) a second position that permits the string latch to be moved into the third string latch position; and
D) providing a third activator that is selectively movable from: (1) a first position; into (2) a second position to simultaneously: (a) move the first activator from its second position to its first position; and (b) move the second activator from its second position to its first position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The crossbow method of claim 9 wherein:
step A) includes the step of: providing the string latch: (1) to hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its first string latch position; and (2) to not hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its second string latch position; and
the crossbow method further comprises the step of: providing the crossbow to be operable to fire an associated arrow only when the first activator is in its second position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The crossbow method of claim 9 wherein:
step A) includes the step of: providing the string latch: (1) to hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its first string latch position; and (2) to not hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its third string latch position; and
the crossbow method further comprises the step of: providing the crossbow to be operable to de-cock the crossbow without firing only when the second activator is in its second position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The crossbow method of claim 9 wherein:
step A) includes the step of: providing the string latch to be pivotal into: (1) the first string latch position; (2) the second string latch position; and (3) the third string latch position;
step B) includes the step of: providing the first activator to be selectively linearly movable from its first position into its second position;
step C) includes the step of: providing the second activator to be selectively linearly movable from its first position into its second position; and
step D) includes the step of: providing the third activator to be selectively pivotal from its first position into its second position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The crossbow method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:
providing a first lock that is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that retains the first activator in its second position; into (2) a second position that permits the first activator to move into its first position;
providing a second lock that is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that retains the second activator in its second position; into (2) a second position that permits the second activator to move into its first position; and
providing that movement of the third activator from its first position into its second position causes: (1) the first lock to move from its first position into its second position; and (2) the second lock to move from its first position into its second position.

### Claim 14

A crossbow assembly for use with an associated crossbow including 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 from: (a) an un-cocked position; to (b) a cocked position; and a string latch that selectively holds the bowstring in the cocked position and that is movable into: (1) a first string latch position; (2) a second string latch position distinct from the first string latch position; and (3) a third string latch position distinct from the first and second string latch positions;
the crossbow assembly comprising:
a first activator selectively movable from: (1) a first position that prevents the string latch from being moved into the second string latch position; into (2) a second position that permits the string latch to be moved into the second string latch position;
a second activator selectively movable from: (1) a first position that prevents the string latch from being moved into the third string latch position; into (2) a second position that permits the string latch to be moved into the third string latch position; and
a third activator selectively movable from: (1) a first position; into (2) a second position to simultaneously: (a) move the first activator from its second position to its first position; and (b) move the second activator from its second position to its first position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The crossbow assembly of claim 14 wherein:
the string latch: (1) is adapted to hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its first string latch position; and (2) does not hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its second string latch position; and
the crossbow can only be operated to fire an associated arrow when the first activator is in its second position.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The crossbow assembly of claim 14 wherein:
the string latch: (1) is adapted to hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its first string latch position; and (2) does not hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its third string latch position; and
the crossbow can only be operated to de-cock the crossbow without firing when the second activator is in its second position.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The crossbow assembly of claim 14 wherein:
a first biasing device applies a biasing force that biases the first activator into its first position;
a second biasing device applies a biasing force that biases the second activator into its first position; and
a third biasing device applies a biasing force that biases the third activator into its first position.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The crossbow assembly of claim 14 wherein:
a first lock is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that retains the first activator in its second position; into (2) a second position that permits the first activator to move into its first position;
a second lock is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that retains the second activator in its second position; into (2) a second position that permits the second activator to move into its first position; and
moving the third activator from its first position into its second position causes: (1) the first lock to move from its first position into its second position; and (2) the second lock to move from its first position into its second position.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The crossbow assembly of claim 14 further comprising:
a housing having first, second and third openings;
wherein:
(1) the first activator includes a surface for use by an associated user to manually move the first activator from its first position into its second position;
(2) the second activator includes a surface for use by the associated user to manually move the second activator from its first position into its second position;
(3) the third activator includes a surface for use by the associated user to manually move the third activator from its first position into its second position;
(4) the surface of the first activator extends through the first housing opening when the first activator is in its first position;
(5) the surface of the second activator extends through the second housing opening when the second activator is in its first position; and
(6) the surface of the third activator extends through the third housing opening.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The crossbow assembly of claim 14 wherein:
the first activator is selectively linearly movable from its first position into its second position;
the second activator is selectively linearly movable from its first position into its second position; and
the third activator is selectively pivotal from its first position into its second position.