US12566044 - Crossbow de-cocker and related method of use

The patent describes a crossbow equipped with a de-cocking system that allows the bowstring to transition safely from a drawn to an undrawn state, utilizing a sled mechanism that engages the bowstring. This system includes a safety feature that prevents accidental release of the bowstring during the de-cocking process, enhancing user safety and control.

Claim 1

1 . A crossbow comprising: a first limb and an opposing second limb; a bowstring extending between the first limb and the second limb; a frame joined with the first limb and the second limb, the bowstring extending transverse to the frame and moveable between a drawn mode and an undrawn mode; a trigger assembly joined with the frame and including a catch that is operable in a holding mode in which the catch retains the bowstring in the drawn mode and a drop mode that releases the bowstring to the undrawn mode, the trigger assembly including a sear operable in a cocked mode that retains the catch in the holding mode and a fire mode that allows the catch to move to the drop mode to release the bowstring; a safety including a forward end facing toward the catch and a rearward end facing away from the catch, the bowstring being disposed between the catch and the forward end in the drawn mode, the safety operable in a safety on mode in which the safety interferes with movement of the sear from the cocked mode to the fire mode, thereby preventing the catch from releasing the bowstring, the safety operable in a safety off mode in which the safety allows the sear to move from the cocked mode to the fire mode; an anti-dry fire element moveable between a lockout position that prevents the safety from moving from the safety on mode to the safety off mode, and an open position that permits the safety to move to the safety off mode; and a sled comprising: a guide that moves along the frame when the sled engages the bowstring; a bowstring engager configured to receive the bowstring during movement of the bowstring to the drawn mode; a protrusion that moves the anti-dry fire element to the open position when the sled is adjacent the trigger assembly; and a first stop that is selectively operable in a neutral mode in which the first stop does not interfere with rearward movement of the sled along the frame so that the bowstring can move to the drawn mode, and in a de-cocking mode in which the first stop arrests movement of the sled without the sled pushing the bowstring against the forward end of the safety facing the catch, wherein the safety is transitionable to the safety off mode when the first stop is in the de-cocking mode, so a user can transition the catch from the holding mode to the drop mode such that the user can move the bowstring from the drawn mode to the undrawn mode, thereby de-cocking the crossbow, wherein the first stop includes a first flange and a first pivot axis about which the first flange is selectively pivotable, wherein the first flange includes a first engagement surface, wherein a sled engagement surface is disposed adjacent the trigger assembly, the sled engagement surface being joined with the frame, wherein the first engagement surface contacts the sled engagement surface in the de-cocking mode in which the first stop arrests movement of the sled. a first limb and an opposing second limb; a bowstring extending between the first limb and the second limb; a frame joined with the first limb and the second limb, the bowstring extending transverse to the frame and moveable between a drawn mode and an undrawn mode; a trigger assembly joined with the frame and including a catch that is operable in a holding mode in which the catch retains the bowstring in the drawn mode and a drop mode that releases the bowstring to the undrawn mode, the trigger assembly including a sear operable in a cocked mode that retains the catch in the holding mode and a fire mode that allows the catch to move to the drop mode to release the bowstring; a safety including a forward end facing toward the catch and a rearward end facing away from the catch, the bowstring being disposed between the catch and the forward end in the drawn mode, the safety operable in a safety on mode in which the safety interferes with movement of the sear from the cocked mode to the fire mode, thereby preventing the catch from releasing the bowstring, the safety operable in a safety off mode in which the safety allows the sear to move from the cocked mode to the fire mode; an anti-dry fire element moveable between a lockout position that prevents the safety from moving from the safety on mode to the safety off mode, and an open position that permits the safety to move to the safety off mode; and a sled comprising: a guide that moves along the frame when the sled engages the bowstring; a bowstring engager configured to receive the bowstring during movement of the bowstring to the drawn mode; a protrusion that moves the anti-dry fire element to the open position when the sled is adjacent the trigger assembly; and a first stop that is selectively operable in a neutral mode in which the first stop does not interfere with rearward movement of the sled along the frame so that the bowstring can move to the drawn mode, and in a de-cocking mode in which the first stop arrests movement of the sled without the sled pushing the bowstring against the forward end of the safety facing the catch, wherein the safety is transitionable to the safety off mode when the first stop is in the de-cocking mode, so a user can transition the catch from the holding mode to the drop mode such that the user can move the bowstring from the drawn mode to the undrawn mode, thereby de-cocking the crossbow, a guide that moves along the frame when the sled engages the bowstring; a bowstring engager configured to receive the bowstring during movement of the bowstring to the drawn mode; a protrusion that moves the anti-dry fire element to the open position when the sled is adjacent the trigger assembly; and a first stop that is selectively operable in a neutral mode in which the first stop does not interfere with rearward movement of the sled along the frame so that the bowstring can move to the drawn mode, and in a de-cocking mode in which the first stop arrests movement of the sled without the sled pushing the bowstring against the forward end of the safety facing the catch, wherein the safety is transitionable to the safety off mode when the first stop is in the de-cocking mode, so a user can transition the catch from the holding mode to the drop mode such that the user can move the bowstring from the drawn mode to the undrawn mode, thereby de-cocking the crossbow, wherein the first stop includes a first flange and a first pivot axis about which the first flange is selectively pivotable, wherein the first flange includes a first engagement surface, wherein a sled engagement surface is disposed adjacent the trigger assembly, the sled engagement surface being joined with the frame, wherein the first engagement surface contacts the sled engagement surface in the de-cocking mode in which the first stop arrests movement of the sled.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12566044

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12566044