Crossbow with a release mechanism

A crossbow comprising:

• a. an elongated body having an elongated body first end and an elongated body second end;
• b. a first limb coupled to the elongated body first end;
• c. a second limb coupled to the elongated body first end;
• d. a bowstring having a bowstring first end operatively coupled to the first limb and a bowstring second end operatively coupled to the second limb;
• e. a trigger lever rotatably coupled to the elongated body intermediate the elongated body first and second ends, the trigger lever comprising a body and an arm, the arm supported by the body and moveable with respect to the body, the body comprising a trigger that at least partially extends from the elongated body;
• f. a catch rotatably coupled to the elongated body intermediate the elongated body first and second ends, the catch having a catch first end configured to operatively engage with the trigger lever and a catch second end configured to retain the bowstring in a cocked position;
• and
• g. a disarm mechanism that is configured to move between a neutral first position and a disarm second position, wherein
• i. when the disarm mechanism is in the neutral first position, the bowstring is in the cocked position, and the trigger is engaged by a user, the trigger lever is configured to cause the catch to move from a catch first position in which the catch second end retains the bowstring in the cocked position into a catch second position in which the catch second end releases the bowstring, and
• ii. when the disarm mechanism is in the disarm second position, the trigger lever is configured to allow the catch to move from the catch first position into the catch second position without requiring the user to engage the trigger.

A crossbow comprising having a trigger mechanism that allows the user to move a bowstring from a cocked position into a released position without having to fire the crossbow, comprising:

• a. an elongated body having an elongated body first end and an elongated body second end;
• b. a first limb coupled to the elongated body first end;
• c. a second limb coupled to the elongated body first end;
• d. a bowstring having a bowstring first end operatively coupled to the first limb and a bowstring second end operatively coupled to the second limb;
• e. a catch means for maintaining the bowstring in the cocked position when the crossbow is cocked and ready to fire;
• f. a trigger means for allowing the catch means to move between a first cocked position and a second firing position, the trigger means comprising a body and an arm, the arm supported by the body and pivotable with respect to the body;
• g. a disarm means for allowing the trigger means to move into a release position so that the bowstring can be moved from the cocked position into a un-cocked position without requiring the user to engage the trigger means or dry fire the crossbow.

A trigger mechanism for use in a crossbow having a bowstring, the trigger mechanism comprising:

• a. a housing having a housing slot formed therein;
• b. a trigger lever pivotally mounted in the housing, the trigger lever comprising a body and an arm, the arm supported by the body and moveable with respect to the body, the body comprising a trigger that extends partially outside the housing;
• c. a catch that is pivotally mounted in the housing, the catch having:
• i. a catch first end configured to operatively engage with the trigger lever;
• and
• ii. a catch second end configured to retain the bowstring in a cocked position,
• d. a disarm mechanism configured to move between a neutral first position and a disarm second position, wherein
• i. when the disarm mechanism is in the neutral first position and the trigger is engaged by a user, the trigger lever causes the catch to move from a catch first position in which the catch second end retains the bowstring in the cocked position into a catch second position in which the catch second end releases the bowstring, and
• ii. when the disarm mechanism is in the disarm second position and the bowstring is pulled further into the housing slot, the bowstring causes the trigger lever to rotate out of engagement with the catch first end thereby allowing the catch to move from the catch first position into the catch second position.