Shock-absorbing bolt for a crossbow

1. An article comprising a shock-absorbing bolt for a crossbow, wherein the shock-absorbing bolt comprises:

(a) a shaft;

(b) a forward flange coupled to a forward end of the shaft, which forward flange has a forward surface with a transverse area that is greater than about three times larger than a transverse area of the shaft; and

(c) a shock-absorbing mechanism comprising a hollow cylinder, a piston reciprocally movable within the cylinder and dividing the cylinder into first and second chambers, a fluid in the first and second chambers, and one or more channels or orifices arranged to permit restricted fluid flow between the first and second chambers;

wherein:

(d) the shock-absorbing mechanism is coupled to the shaft or the forward flange, and

(e) the shock-absorbing mechanism is arranged so that acceleration or deceleration of the bolt results in movement of the piston within the cylinder and concomitant viscous flow of the fluid between the first and second chambers through the one or more channels or orifices, thereby dissipating at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the bolt.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the forward flange comprises a structurally durable material.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein the forward flange comprises metal.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein mass of the bolt is greater than about 1000 grains.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein one or more of the channels or orifices are formed through the piston or through a body of the cylinder.

6. A method comprising:

(a) loading a shock-absorbing bolt onto a drawn crossbow; and

(b) shooting the crossbow to launch the shock-absorbing bolt toward a ground surface, a tree, or a target to release safely energy stored by the drawn crossbow,

(c) wherein the shock-absorbing bolt comprises (i) a shaft, (ii) a forward flange coupled to a forward end of the shaft, which forward flange comprises a structurally durable material and has a forward surface with a transverse area that is greater than about three times larger than a transverse area of the shaft, (iii) a tapered tip attached to and protruding from the forward surface of the forward flange, and (iv) a shock-absorbing mechanism coupled to the shaft or the forward flange, which mechanism is arranged so that, upon acceleration or deceleration of the bolt, kinetic energy of the bolt is dissipated by viscoelastic, viscous, or frictional forces within the bolt.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the forward flange comprises metal.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein mass of the bolt is greater than about 1000 grains.

9. A method comprising:

(a) loading a shock-absorbing bolt onto a drawn crossbow; and

(b) shooting the crossbow to launch the shock-absorbing bolt toward a ground surface, a tree, or a target to release safely energy stored by the drawn crossbow,

wherein:

(c) the shock-absorbing bolt comprises (i) a shaft, (ii) a forward flange coupled to a forward end of the shaft, which forward flange comprises a structurally durable material and has a forward surface with a transverse area that is greater than about three times larger than a transverse area of the shaft, and (iii) a shock-absorbing mechanism coupled to the shaft or the forward flange, which mechanism is arranged so that, upon acceleration or deceleration of the bolt, kinetic energy of the bolt is dissipated by viscoelastic, viscous, or frictional forces within the bolt;

(d) the shock-absorbing mechanism includes a hollow cylinder, a piston reciprocally movable within the cylinder and dividing the cylinder into first and second chambers, a fluid in the first and second chambers, and one or more channels or orifices arranged to permit restricted fluid flow between the first and second chambers; and

(e) the shock-absorbing mechanism is arranged so that acceleration or deceleration of the bolt results in movement of the piston within the cylinder and concomitant viscous flow of the fluid between the first and second chambers through the one or more channels or orifices, thereby dissipating at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the bolt.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the forward flange comprises metal.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein mass of the bolt is greater than about 1000 grains.

12. A method comprising:

(a) loading a shock-absorbing bolt onto a drawn crossbow; and

(b) shooting the crossbow to launch the shock-absorbing bolt toward a ground surface, a tree, or a target to release safely energy stored by the drawn crossbow,

wherein:

(c) the shock-absorbing bolt comprises (i) a shaft, (ii) a forward flange coupled to a forward end of the shaft, which forward flange comprises a structurally durable material and has a forward surface with a transverse area that is greater than about three times larger than a transverse area of the shaft, and (iii) a shock-absorbing mechanism coupled to the shaft or the forward flange, which mechanism is arranged so that, upon acceleration or deceleration of the bolt, kinetic energy of the bolt is dissipated by viscoelastic, viscous, or frictional forces within the bolt;

(d) the shock-absorbing mechanism includes a viscoelastic member and at least one movable member; and

(e) the shock-absorbing mechanism is arranged so that acceleration or deceleration of the bolt results in movement of the movable member that deforms the viscoelastic member, thereby dissipating at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the bolt.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the forward flange comprises metal.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein mass of the bolt is greater than about 1000 grains.