US12566042 - Reduced length crossbow

The patent describes a reduced-length crossbow featuring a center rail, riser, and a unique trigger mechanism positioned near the midpoint of the crossbow for improved functionality. It includes a cocking mechanism and a safety system that enhances user control and safety during operation.

Claim 1

1 . A crossbow, comprising: a drawstring repositionable between a drawn configuration and a released configuration; a center rail including a bottom portion, a proximal end, and a distal end positioned opposite the proximal end, the center rail at least partially defining a crossbow length and a midpoint plane intersecting a horizontal midpoint of the crossbow; a riser extending horizontally from the distal end; one or more limbs coupled to the riser; a trigger extending from the bottom portion of the center rail and positioned within ten percent of the crossbow length from the midpoint plane; a stock coupled to the center rail and including an integral cheek rest, the integral cheek rest positioned at the proximal end; a string carrier including a safety, a rotatable sear, and a drawstring catch, the string carrier slidably engaged within the center rail wherein the safety, the rotatable sear, and at least a portion of the drawstring catch are positioned vertically below the integral cheek rest with the drawstring in the drawn configuration, the safety repositionable between a first position and a second position, the safety including a shoulder and an actuator, the shoulder configured to retain a portion of the rotatable sear in the first position and disengage with the rotatable sear in the second position, the actuator extending from a side of the string carrier, the string carrier defining an arrow capture recess, the arrow capture recess extending towards a proximal end of the string carrier; a trigger pawl operatively coupled to the trigger and positioned vertically below the integral cheek rest; and a cocking mechanism including a rotating member, the rotating member positioned vertically below the integral cheek rest and coupled to a flexible tension member, the flexible tension member coupled to the string carrier and extending above the center rail; wherein, during operation of the crossbow, the string carrier engages the drawstring and the cocking mechanism winds the flexible tension member onto the rotating member to move the drawstring from the released configuration to the drawn configuration; wherein, with the drawstring in the drawn configuration, the trigger pawl is configured to contact the rotatable sear to cause the string carrier to release the drawstring upon actuation of the trigger. a drawstring repositionable between a drawn configuration and a released configuration; a center rail including a bottom portion, a proximal end, and a distal end positioned opposite the proximal end, the center rail at least partially defining a crossbow length and a midpoint plane intersecting a horizontal midpoint of the crossbow; a riser extending horizontally from the distal end; one or more limbs coupled to the riser; a trigger extending from the bottom portion of the center rail and positioned within ten percent of the crossbow length from the midpoint plane; a stock coupled to the center rail and including an integral cheek rest, the integral cheek rest positioned at the proximal end; a string carrier including a safety, a rotatable sear, and a drawstring catch, the string carrier slidably engaged within the center rail wherein the safety, the rotatable sear, and at least a portion of the drawstring catch are positioned vertically below the integral cheek rest with the drawstring in the drawn configuration, the safety repositionable between a first position and a second position, the safety including a shoulder and an actuator, the shoulder configured to retain a portion of the rotatable sear in the first position and disengage with the rotatable sear in the second position, the actuator extending from a side of the string carrier, the string carrier defining an arrow capture recess, the arrow capture recess extending towards a proximal end of the string carrier; a trigger pawl operatively coupled to the trigger and positioned vertically below the integral cheek rest; and a cocking mechanism including a rotating member, the rotating member positioned vertically below the integral cheek rest and coupled to a flexible tension member, the flexible tension member coupled to the string carrier and extending above the center rail; wherein, during operation of the crossbow, the string carrier engages the drawstring and the cocking mechanism winds the flexible tension member onto the rotating member to move the drawstring from the released configuration to the drawn configuration; wherein, with the drawstring in the drawn configuration, the trigger pawl is configured to contact the rotatable sear to cause the string carrier to release the drawstring upon actuation of the trigger.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12566042

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12566042