US12560404 - Crossbow
The patent describes a crossbow featuring a frame with a center rail, limb assemblies, pulleys, and a sophisticated trigger assembly that includes a safety mechanism and a dry fire lockout. Additionally, it incorporates a de-cocking actuator that allows for the safe release of the draw string without triggering the firing mechanism, enhancing user safety.
Claim 1
1 . A crossbow comprising: a frame comprising a center rail extending generally along a longitudinal axis of the frame; a first translation arm mount disposed at a first side of the frame and at a distal end of the frame; a second translation arm mount disposed at a second side of the frame and at the distal end of the frame; a first limb assembly disposed at a first distal end of the first translation arm mount, the first limb assembly comprising: a first upper limb and a first lower limb; a second limb assembly disposed a second distal end of the second translation arm mount, the second limb assembly comprising: a second upper limb and a second lower limb; a first pulley disposed between the first upper limb and the first lower limb; a second pulley disposed between the second upper limb and the second lower limb; a draw string coupled to each of the first pulley and the second pulley; one or more cords indirectly coupled to the draw string through one or more pulleys, the one or more cords operable to release the draw string; a trigger assembly comprising: a trigger operable to fire the crossbow; a safety operable to selectively disengage the trigger assembly; a catch moveable between a closed position that holds the draw string in a drawn configuration and an open position that releases the draw string to a released configuration; and a sear moveable between a cocked position that retains the catch in the closed position and a fire position that permits the catch to move to the open position to release the draw string; a dry fire lockout mechanism that, when engaged, prevents release of the draw string if a bolt is not positioned on the center rail; and a de-cocking actuator that is selectively positioned between an inactive position in which the de-cocking actuator does not engage with the trigger assembly, and an active position, the de-cocking actuator comprising at least a portion that, while in the active position, engages an extension of the sear and rotates the sear in a direction to the fire position to thereby release the draw string independently from activation of the trigger, wherein the de-cocking actuator releases the draw string from the trigger assembly responsive to a user activating the de-cocking actuator into the active position and pulling the one or more cords to thereby disengage the dry fire lockout mechanism. a frame comprising a center rail extending generally along a longitudinal axis of the frame; a first translation arm mount disposed at a first side of the frame and at a distal end of the frame; a second translation arm mount disposed at a second side of the frame and at the distal end of the frame; a first limb assembly disposed at a first distal end of the first translation arm mount, the first limb assembly comprising: a first upper limb and a first lower limb; a first upper limb and a first lower limb; a second limb assembly disposed a second distal end of the second translation arm mount, the second limb assembly comprising: a second upper limb and a second lower limb; a second upper limb and a second lower limb; a first pulley disposed between the first upper limb and the first lower limb; a second pulley disposed between the second upper limb and the second lower limb; a draw string coupled to each of the first pulley and the second pulley; one or more cords indirectly coupled to the draw string through one or more pulleys, the one or more cords operable to release the draw string; a trigger assembly comprising: a trigger operable to fire the crossbow; a safety operable to selectively disengage the trigger assembly; a catch moveable between a closed position that holds the draw string in a drawn configuration and an open position that releases the draw string to a released configuration; and a sear moveable between a cocked position that retains the catch in the closed position and a fire position that permits the catch to move to the open position to release the draw string; a trigger operable to fire the crossbow; a safety operable to selectively disengage the trigger assembly; a catch moveable between a closed position that holds the draw string in a drawn configuration and an open position that releases the draw string to a released configuration; and a sear moveable between a cocked position that retains the catch in the closed position and a fire position that permits the catch to move to the open position to release the draw string; a dry fire lockout mechanism that, when engaged, prevents release of the draw string if a bolt is not positioned on the center rail; and a de-cocking actuator that is selectively positioned between an inactive position in which the de-cocking actuator does not engage with the trigger assembly, and an active position, the de-cocking actuator comprising at least a portion that, while in the active position, engages an extension of the sear and rotates the sear in a direction to the fire position to thereby release the draw string independently from activation of the trigger, wherein the de-cocking actuator releases the draw string from the trigger assembly responsive to a user activating the de-cocking actuator into the active position and pulling the one or more cords to thereby disengage the dry fire lockout mechanism.
Google Patents
https://patents.google.com/patent/US12560404
USPTO PDF
https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12560404