TRIGGER ASSEMBLY FOR AN ARCHERY DEVICE
A trigger assembly is disclosed for releasing a bowstring of an archery device from a drawn position to propel an arrow from the archery device toward a target. The trigger assembly includes a guide along which the bowstring is retracted and held in the drawn position; and a pivotal string latch that can be adjusted between a first orientation in which the string latch contacts the bowstring in the drawn position to interfere with the release of the bowstring from the guide, and a second orientation in which the string latch allows the bowstring to be released from the guide. A trigger lever that can be manually actuated by an archer is provided to cause adjustment of the string latch between the first and second orientations, and a roller assembly rolls over a surface of the string latch when the trigger lever is actuated to adjust the orientation of the string latch.
1 . A trigger assembly for releasing a bowstring of an archery device from a drawn position to propel an arrow from the archery device toward a target, the trigger assembly comprising:
a guide along which the bowstring is retracted and held in the drawn position;
a pivotal string latch that can be adjusted between a first orientation in which the string latch contacts the bowstring in the drawn position to interfere with the release of the bowstring from the guide, and a second orientation in which the string latch allows the bowstring to be released from the guide;
a trigger lever that can be manually actuated by an archer to cause adjustment of the string latch between the first and second orientations; and
a roller assembly that rolls over a surface of the string latch when the trigger lever is actuated to adjust the orientation of the string latch.
2 . The trigger assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the string latch is pivotally supported between lateral walls of the trigger assembly by a transverse axle that extends between said lateral walls.
3 . The trigger assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a spring to bias the string latch generally toward the first orientation in the absence of an external force.
4 . The trigger assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a spring to bias the trigger lever generally toward a ready position.
5 . The trigger assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the roller assembly is coupled to the trigger lever.
6 . The trigger assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the roller assembly comprises:
a pin extending transversely through a portion of the trigger lever; and
a rigid roller provided adjacent to each opposing side of the trigger lever to be generally concentric with the pin.
7 . The trigger assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the roller assembly rolls over a lowermost surface of the string latch.
8 . A trigger assembly for releasing a bowstring of an archery device from a drawn position to propel an arrow from the archery device toward a target, the trigger assembly comprising:
a guide along which the bowstring is retracted and held in the drawn position;
a pivotal string latch that can be adjusted between a first orientation in which the string latch contacts the bowstring in the drawn position to interfere with the release of the bowstring from the guide, and a second orientation in which the string latch allows the bowstring to be released from the guide;
a trigger lever that can be manually actuated by an archer to cause adjustment of the string latch between the first and second orientations; and
a roller assembly that rolls over a surface of the trigger lever when the trigger lever is actuated to adjust the orientation of the string latch.
9 . The trigger assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the string latch is pivotally supported between lateral walls of the trigger assembly by a transverse axle that extends between said lateral walls.
10 . The trigger assembly according to claim 8 further comprising a spring to bias the string latch generally toward the first orientation in the absence of an external force.
11 . The trigger assembly according to claim 8 further comprising a safety latch that interferes with actuation of the trigger lever when positioned in a safety position.
12 . The trigger assembly according to claim 8 further comprising a safety latch that interferes with the transmission of the force imparted on the trigger lever to the string latch when in a safety position.
13 . The trigger assembly according to claim 8 further comprising a spring to bias the trigger lever generally toward a ready position.
14 . The trigger assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the roller assembly is coupled to the string latch.
15 . The trigger assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the roller assembly comprises:
a pin extending transversely through a portion of the string latch; and
a rigid roller provided adjacent to each opposing side of the string latch to be concentric with the pin.
16 . The trigger assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the roller assembly rolls over a knuckle surface of the trigger lever.
17 . A crossbow for propelling an arrow toward a target comprising:
a stock to be placed against a shoulder of an archer when firing the crossbow;
a flight deck extending along an axis that is generally parallel with a desired flight pattern of the arrow to be propelled from the crossbow;
an arm transverse to the flight deck and extending generally away therefrom;
a bowstring coupled adjacent to each distal end of the arm that can be drawn rearward to a drawn position to increase the tension of the bowstring relative to the tension of the bowstring when not in the drawn position; and
a trigger assembly for selectively releasing the bowstring from the drawn position, said trigger assembly comprising:
a guide along which the bowstring is retracted and held in the drawn position;
a pivotal string latch that can be adjusted between a first orientation in which the string latch contacts the bowstring in the drawn position to interfere with the release of the bowstring from the guide, and a second orientation in which the string latch allows the bowstring to be released from the guide;
a trigger lever that can be manually actuated by an archer to cause adjustment of the string latch between the first and second orientations; and
a roller assembly that rolls over a surface of the string latch when the trigger lever is actuated to adjust the orientation of the string latch.
18 . The crossbow according to claim 17 , wherein the arm comprises two arms that extend away from the flight deck on opposite sides thereof.
19 . The crossbow according to claim 17 further comprising a safety latch that interferes with actuation of the trigger lever when positioned in a safety position.
20 . The crossbow according to claim 17 further comprising a safety latch that interferes with the transmission of the force imparted on the trigger lever to the string latch when in a safety position.
21 . The crossbow according to claim 17 further comprising a set of cams about which the bowstring extends to minimize the force required to be imparted on the bowstring to fully retract the bowstring to the drawn position.