# US 2018/0321011 A1 · Silent Cocking System for a Crossbow > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0321011 A1 - Document ID: US20180321011A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/021,475 - Filed: 2018-06-28 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-16 - Assignees: Ravin Crossbows, LLC - Applicants: Ravin Crossbows, LLC - Inventors: Craig Thomas Yehle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180321011A1 ## CPC - F41B 5/123: {Compound crossbows} - F41B 5/1407: {Bow-string silencing devices} - F41B 5/1469: {Bow-string drawing or releasing devices (F41B5/1473 takes precedence)} - F41B 5/105: {Cams or pulleys for compound bows} - 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 cocking system for retracting a string carrier on a crossbow that is substantially silent during operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cocking system for a crossbow that has at least first and second flexible limbs attached to a center rail and a string carrier that translates along the center rail to move a draw string between a released configuration and a drawn configuration, and a the cocking system comprising: a rotating member mounted to the center rail and coupled to a flexible tension member attached to the string carrier, the rotating member having a center opening with an inside surface and a first diameter: a support shaft extending through the center opening of the rotating member and attached to the center rail in a non-rotating configuration, the support shaft having an outer surface with a plurality of recesses and a second diameter less than the first diameter of the center opening so as to create a gap between the center opening and the support shaft; and interference members positioned in the recesses that can shift between a first location compressively engaged with the inside surface of the center opening to inhibit rotation of the rotating member relative to the support shaft, and a second location sufficiently disengaged from the inside surface of the center opening to permit free rotation of the rotating member relative to the support shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cocking system of claim 1 wherein the recesses in the support shaft comprise elongated recesses arranged axially along the outer surface of the support shaft and the interference members comprise elongated rods positioned in the elongated recesses. The cocking system of claim 1 wherein the recesses comprise a sloped surface along which the interference members traverse between the first location and the second location. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cocking system of claim 1 wherein the recesses comprise a stop surface that abuts the interference members at the second location. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cocking system of claim 1 comprising a housing that captures the interference members and biases the interference members toward the first location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cocking, system of claim 5 comprising a release coupled to the housing that when depressed displaces the housing to shift the interference members toward the second location. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cocking system of claim 1 comprising support bearings located in the gap that maintain concentricity of the rotating member relative to the support shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cocking system of claim 7 comprising first and second sets of interference members located in first and second sets of recesses on opposite sides of the support hearings ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cocking system of claim 1 wherein a tension force applied to the, flexible tension member urges the interference members toward the first location to create a self-locking configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cocking system of claim 1 comprising: a cocking handle configured to engage with a drive shaft coupled to the rotating member; and a torque control mechanism that limits torque applied to the rotating member to limit tension on the flexible tension member. ### Claim 11 A cocking system for a crossbow that has at least first and second flexible limbs attached to a center rail and a draw string that translates along the center rail between a released configuration and a drawn configuration, the cocking system comprising: a string carrier comprising a catch moveable between a closed position that engages the draw string and an open position that releases the draw string, the string carrier slides along the center rail between engagement with the draw string in the released configuration to a retracted position that locates the draw string in the drawn configuration, wherein a trigger is positioned to move the catch from the closed position and the open position to fire the crossbow when the string carrier is in the retracted position; a rotating member mounted to the center rail and coupled to a flexible tension member attached to the string carrier, the rotating member having a center opening with an inside surface and a first diameter; a support shaft extending through the center opening of the rotating member and attached to the center rail in a non-rotating configuration, the support shaft having an outer surface with a plurality of recesses and a second diameter less than the first diameter of the center opening so as to create a gap between the center opening and the support shaft; and interference members positioned in the recesses and can shift between a first location compressively engaged with the inside surface of the center opening to inhibit rotation of the rotating member relative to the support shaft, and a second location sufficiently disengaged from the inside surface of the center opening to permit free rotation of the rotating member relative to the support shaft. ### Claim 12 A method of cocking a crossbow that has at least first and second flexible limbs attached to a center rail and a string carrier that translates along the center rail to move a draw string between a released configuration and a drawn configuration, and method comprising: mounting a rotating member to the center rail with a flexible tension member attached to the rotating member and the string carrier, the rotating member having a center opening with an inside surface and a first diameter; positioning a support shaft through the center opening of the rotating member and attaching the support shaft to the center rail in a non-rotating configuration, the support shaft having an outer surface with a plurality of recesses and a second diameter less than the first diameter of the center opening so as to create a gap between the center opening and the support shaft; and positioning interference members in the recesses and shifting the interference members within the recesses between a first location compressively engaged with the inside surface of the center opening to inhibit rotation of the rotating member relative to the support shaft, and a second location sufficiently disengaged from the inside surface of the center opening to permit free rotation of the rotating member relative to the support shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 comprising traversing the interference members along sloped surfaces in the recesses between the first and second locations. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 comprising abutting the interference members against a stop surface in the recesses at the second location. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 comprising capturing the interference members in a housing that biases the interference members toward the first location. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 comprising depressing a release coupled to the housing to displace the housing to shift the interference members toward the second location. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 comprising support bearings located in the gap that maintain concentricity of the rotating member relative to the support shaft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 comprising applying a tension force to the flexible tension member to urge the interference members toward the first location.