Crossbow trigger

A crossbow trigger mechanism comprising:

• a trigger housing;
• a jaw component pivotably mounted in said trigger housing and adapted to move between a bowstring retaining position and a bowstring releasing position;
• a trigger assembly pivotably mounted in said trigger housing and operatively engaged with said jaw;
• and
• a dry fire prevention lever pivotably mounted on said jaw component comprising a first surface portion adapted and arranged to engage a stop fixed to said trigger housing when no arrow is loaded in the crossbow and thereby prevent movement of the jaw component to said bowstring releasing position, and a second surface portion adapted to be engaged by an arrow such that, when an arrow is loaded into the crossbow, said first surface portion moves away from said stop to thereby permit movement of said jaw component to said bowstring releasing position.

A crossbow trigger mechanism comprising:

• a trigger housing adapted for mounting on a crossbow;
• a jaw component pivotably mounted in said trigger housing and adapted to move between a bowstring retaining position and a bowstring releasing position;
• a trigger assembly pivotably mounted in said trigger housing and operatively engaged with said jaw component;
• a safety lever pivotably mounted in said trigger housing and movable manually into and out of engagement with said trigger assembly;
• and
• a safety lever actuating link with one end pivotally mounted on said jaw component, and an opposite end engageable with said safety lever.