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US 9,851,171 B2Granted
Narrow crossbow with large power stroke
AssigneeHunter's Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorsRichard L. Bednar, Michael J. Shaffer
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AssigneeHunter's Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorsRichard L. Bednar, Michael J. Shaffer
Estimating the term…
A crossbow may be a horizontal crossbow having a main beam and a bow assembly mounted to the main beam. The bow assembly may include: a bowstring; a riser attached to the main beam; a first bow limb; a second bow limb; a first wheel that is supported to the first bow limb; and a second wheel that is supported to the second bow limb. In some embodiments, the bow limbs may be separated at least as wide as a user's foot. In other embodiments, the bow assembly may include a trigger oriented parallel to pivot axes about which the wheels rotate. In yet other embodiments, a ratio of the distance between the wheels and the power stroke is less than 1.8.
A crossbow comprising:
A crossbow comprising:
A crossbow comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Crossbows have been used for many years as a weapon for hunting and fishing, and for target shooting. In general, a crossbow includes a main beam including a stock member and a barrel connected to the stock member. The barrel typically has an arrow receiving area for receiving the arrow that is to be shot. The crossbow also includes a bow assembly supported on the main beam that includes a bow and a bowstring connected to the bow for use in shooting arrows. A trigger mechanism, also supported on the main beam, holds the bowstring in a drawn or cocked condition and can thereafter be operated to release the bowstring out of the uncocked condition to shoot the arrow. One characteristic of a crossbow is termed a power stroke. The power stroke is the distance along the main beam that the bowstring moves between the uncocked condition and the cocked condition.
One of the trends in the industry today is to advertise very large power strokes, such as 16 inches, 17 inches or 18 inches. Such very large power strokes provide the potential for more speed and energy. But there are corresponding problems. One such problem is the added difficulty in manually cocking the crossbow. More specifically, the operator must have relatively long arms in order to properly reach the bowstring for cocking purposes. Another problem with relatively large power strokes is the increased angle of the bowstring when placing it into the cocked position. This also makes it more difficult to cock the crossbow.
Another problem with known crossbows is related to their width. More specifically, to obtain an adequate power stroke it is known to provide crossbows that are relatively wide. Such wide crossbows may be difficult for a hunter to operate while following prey, side to side, because the crossbow is less maneuverable and the hunter is more likely to bump into surrounding objects.
The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a crossbow according to certain embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a crossbow similar to that shown in FIG. 1.
The following definitions are controlling for the disclosed invention:
“Arrow” means a projectile that is shot with (or launched by) a bow assembly.
“Bow” means a bent, curved, or arched object.
Crossbows: compound crossbows
Compound bows: cams or pulleys for compound bows
Bows; Crossbows: crossbows
Accessories for arc or bow shooting: bow-string drawing or releasing devices
About 1 year 1 month of term left · ends 30 Nov 2027 (estimated)