Trigger assembly

A trigger assembly for mounting in a housing in a crossbow, the housing having an opening at a forward side thereof in which a bowstring is at least partially positionable in a drawn position thereof, the trigger assembly comprising:

• a trigger pivotally mounted on a trigger pivot pin supported in the housing, the trigger comprising:
• an elongate trigger arm extending between a top end proximal to the trigger pivot pin and a bottom end distal thereto;
• a sear arm positioned transverse to the trigger arm, the sear arm comprising a first sear surface;
• a firing element pivotally mounted on a firing element pivot pin supported in the housing, the firing element comprising:
• a body portion comprising a second sear surface;
• a hook portion;
• a captured roller positioned for engagement with the first and second sear surfaces;
• the trigger being pivotable about the trigger pivot pin between a load position, in which the captured roller is held between the first and second sear surfaces, and a release position, in which the second sear surface is disengaged from the captured roller and the firing element is released;
• and
• the firing element being pivotable about the firing element pivot pin between:
• a hooked position, in which the firing element is held by the engagement of the second sear surface with the captured roller when the trigger is in the load position thereof and the firing mechanism is activatable by the engagement portion, the bowstring being retainable by the hook portion when the firing element is in the hooked position;
• and
• an open position, in which the firing element is disengaged from the captured roller and the bowstring is releasable from the firing element, the firing element being movable to the open position upon the trigger moving to the release position thereof.