US12638262 - Crossbow bolt retention plunger

The patent describes a crossbow featuring a bolt retention plunger that can switch between retention and neutral modes to securely hold a bolt against the rail. This plunger is designed to contact the bolt along a linear line of tangency, enhancing stability and consistency during use.

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 and including a rail, the bowstring extending transverse to the frame and moveable between an undrawn more and a drawn mode; a receiver joined with the frame, the receiver including a catch configured to maintain the bowstring in the drawn mode; a bolt retention plunger disposed adjacent the bowstring catch, the bolt retention plunger being movable between a retention mode and a neutral mode, the bolt retention plunger operable in the retention mode to engage a bolt disposed adjacent the rail, the bolt retention plunger defining a planar surface facing the rail, the planar surface configured to contact the bolt along a line of tangency in the retention mode, the line of tangency extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bolt; a first tunable fastener disposed in a first aperture defined by the receiver; a second tunable fastener disposed in a second aperture defined by the receiver, the second aperture being distal and rearward from the first aperture; a first biasing element disposed between the first tunable fastener and the bolt retention plunger; and a second biasing element disposed between the second tunable fastener and the bolt retention plunger, wherein the first tunable fastener is adjustable to exert a first force on the first biasing element such that the first force is transferred through the first biasing element to the bolt retention plunger, wherein the second tunable fastener is adjustable to exert a second force on the second biasing element such that the second force is transferred through the second biasing element to the bolt retention plunger distal and rearward from the first force. 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 and including a rail, the bowstring extending transverse to the frame and moveable between an undrawn more and a drawn mode; a receiver joined with the frame, the receiver including a catch configured to maintain the bowstring in the drawn mode; a bolt retention plunger disposed adjacent the bowstring catch, the bolt retention plunger being movable between a retention mode and a neutral mode, the bolt retention plunger operable in the retention mode to engage a bolt disposed adjacent the rail, the bolt retention plunger defining a planar surface facing the rail, the planar surface configured to contact the bolt along a line of tangency in the retention mode, the line of tangency extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bolt; a first tunable fastener disposed in a first aperture defined by the receiver; a second tunable fastener disposed in a second aperture defined by the receiver, the second aperture being distal and rearward from the first aperture; a first biasing element disposed between the first tunable fastener and the bolt retention plunger; and a second biasing element disposed between the second tunable fastener and the bolt retention plunger, wherein the first tunable fastener is adjustable to exert a first force on the first biasing element such that the first force is transferred through the first biasing element to the bolt retention plunger, wherein the second tunable fastener is adjustable to exert a second force on the second biasing element such that the second force is transferred through the second biasing element to the bolt retention plunger distal and rearward from the first force.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12638262

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12638262