IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,306,994
Granted Patent B2
US 11,306,994 · App. 17/199,714 · Granted Apr 19, 2022

Reset mechanism for a crossbow

Inventors: Michael Shaffer (Mogadore, OH); Richard Bednar (Munroe Falls, OH); Steven Bednar (Copley, OH); Phillip Bednar (Copley, OH); Eric VanKeulen (North Canton, OH); Gary Smith, Jr. (East Canton, OH); Robert Seymour (Ravenna, OH); Keith Bartels (Akron, OH)
Assignee: Hunter's Manufacturing Company, Inc.
F41B5/1469F41B5/123
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,306,994
App. No.
17/199,714
Granted
Apr 19, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A crossbow reset mechanism may be used to reset a safety activator and a de-cock activator. The reset mechanism may reset the safety and de-cock activators simultaneously.

Claims (93)

1. A crossbow comprising:

a longitudinally extending main beam;

a bow mechanism including: (1) a pair of outwardly extending bow limbs extending transversely from opposite lateral sides of the main beam; and (2) a bowstring operatively engaged to the outwardly extending bow limbs and movable from: (a) an un-cocked position; to (b) a cocked position;

a string latch that selectively holds the bowstring in the cocked position and that is movable into: (1) a first string latch position; (2) a second string latch position distinct from the first string latch position; and (3) a third string latch position distinct from the first and second string latch positions;

a first activator selectively movable from: (1) a first position that prevents the string latch from being moved into the second string latch position; into (2) a second position that permits the string latch to be moved into the second string latch position;

a second activator selectively movable from: (1) a first position that prevents the string latch from being moved into the third string latch position; into (2) a second position that permits the string latch to be moved into the third string latch position; and

a third activator selectively movable from: (1) a first position; into (2) a second position to simultaneously: (a) move the first activator from its second position to its first position; and (b) move the second activator from its second position to its first position.

2. The crossbow of claim 1 wherein:

the string latch: (1) is adapted to hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its first string latch position; and (2) does not hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its second string latch position; and

the crossbow can only be operated to fire an associated arrow when the first activator is in its second position.

3. The crossbow of claim 1 wherein:

the string latch: (1) is adapted to hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its first string latch position; and (2) does not hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its third string latch position; and

the crossbow can only be operated to de-cock the crossbow without firing when the second activator is in its second position.

4. The crossbow of claim 1 wherein:

a trigger link is movable between: (1) a first trigger link position that retains the string latch in the first string latch position; and (2) a second trigger link position that does not retain the string latch in the first string latch position; and

when the trigger link is in the second trigger link position: the trigger link prevents the third activator from being moved into its second position.

5. The crossbow of claim 1 wherein:

a first biasing device applies a biasing force that biases the first activator into its first position;

a second biasing device applies a biasing force that biases the second activator into its first position; and

a third biasing device applies a biasing force that biases the third activator into its first position.

6. The crossbow of claim 1 wherein:

a first lock is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that retains the first activator in its second position; into (2) a second position that permits the first activator to move into its first position;

a second lock is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that retains the second activator in its second position; into (2) a second position that permits the second activator to move into its first position; and

moving the third activator from its first position into its second position causes: (1) the first lock to move from its first position into its second position; and (2) the second lock to move from its first position into its second position.

7. The crossbow of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing having first, second and third openings;

wherein:

(1) the first activator includes a surface for use by an associated user to manually move the first activator from its first position into its second position;

(2) the second activator includes a surface for use by the associated user to manually move the second activator from its first position into its second position;

(3) the third activator includes a surface for use by the associated user to manually move the third activator from its first position into its second position;

(4) the surface of the first activator extends through the first housing opening when the first activator is in its first position;

(5) the surface of the second activator extends through the second housing opening when the second activator is in its first position; and

(6) the surface of the third activator extends through the third housing opening.

8. The crossbow of claim 1 wherein:

the string latch is pivotal into: (1) the first string latch position; (2) the second string latch position; and (3) the third string latch position;

the first activator is selectively linearly movable from its first position into its second position;

the second activator is selectively linearly movable from its first position into its second position; and

the third activator is selectively pivotal from its first position into its second position.

9. A crossbow method comprising the steps of:

A) providing a crossbow including:

a longitudinally extending main beam;

a bow mechanism including: (1) a pair of outwardly extending bow limbs extending transversely from opposite lateral sides of the main beam; and (2) a bowstring operatively engaged to the outwardly extending bow limbs and movable from: (a) an un-cocked position; to (b) a cocked position; and

a string latch that selectively holds the bowstring in the cocked position and that is movable into: (1) a first string latch position; (2) a second string latch position distinct from the first string latch position; and (3) a third string latch position distinct from the first and second string latch positions;

B) providing a first activator that is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that prevents the string latch from being moved into the second string latch position; into (2) a second position that permits the string latch to be moved into the second string latch position;

C) providing a second activator that is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that prevents the string latch from being moved into the third string latch position; into (2) a second position that permits the string latch to be moved into the third string latch position; and

D) providing a third activator that is selectively movable from: (1) a first position; into (2) a second position to simultaneously: (a) move the first activator from its second position to its first position; and (b) move the second activator from its second position to its first position.

10. The crossbow method of claim 9 wherein:

step A) includes the step of: providing the string latch: (1) to hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its first string latch position; and (2) to not hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its second string latch position; and

the crossbow method further comprises the step of: providing the crossbow to be operable to fire an associated arrow only when the first activator is in its second position.

11. The crossbow method of claim 9 wherein:

step A) includes the step of: providing the string latch: (1) to hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its first string latch position; and (2) to not hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its third string latch position; and

the crossbow method further comprises the step of: providing the crossbow to be operable to de-cock the crossbow without firing only when the second activator is in its second position.

12. The crossbow method of claim 9 wherein:

step A) includes the step of: providing the string latch to be pivotal into: (1) the first string latch position; (2) the second string latch position; and (3) the third string latch position;

step B) includes the step of: providing the first activator to be selectively linearly movable from its first position into its second position;

step C) includes the step of: providing the second activator to be selectively linearly movable from its first position into its second position; and

step D) includes the step of: providing the third activator to be selectively pivotal from its first position into its second position.

13. The crossbow method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

providing a first lock that is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that retains the first activator in its second position; into (2) a second position that permits the first activator to move into its first position;

providing a second lock that is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that retains the second activator in its second position; into (2) a second position that permits the second activator to move into its first position; and

providing that movement of the third activator from its first position into its second position causes: (1) the first lock to move from its first position into its second position; and (2) the second lock to move from its first position into its second position.

14. A crossbow assembly for use with an associated crossbow including a longitudinally extending main beam; a bow mechanism including: (1) a pair of outwardly extending bow limbs extending transversely from opposite lateral sides of the main beam; and (2) a bowstring operatively engaged to the outwardly extending bow limbs and movable from: (a) an un-cocked position; to (b) a cocked position; and a string latch that selectively holds the bowstring in the cocked position and that is movable into: (1) a first string latch position; (2) a second string latch position distinct from the first string latch position; and (3) a third string latch position distinct from the first and second string latch positions;

the crossbow assembly comprising:

a first activator selectively movable from: (1) a first position that prevents the string latch from being moved into the second string latch position; into (2) a second position that permits the string latch to be moved into the second string latch position;

a second activator selectively movable from: (1) a first position that prevents the string latch from being moved into the third string latch position; into (2) a second position that permits the string latch to be moved into the third string latch position; and

a third activator selectively movable from: (1) a first position; into (2) a second position to simultaneously: (a) move the first activator from its second position to its first position; and (b) move the second activator from its second position to its first position.

15. The crossbow assembly of claim 14 wherein:

the string latch: (1) is adapted to hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its first string latch position; and (2) does not hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its second string latch position; and

the crossbow can only be operated to fire an associated arrow when the first activator is in its second position.

16. The crossbow assembly of claim 14 wherein:

the string latch: (1) is adapted to hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its first string latch position; and (2) does not hold the bowstring in the cocked position when it is in its third string latch position; and

the crossbow can only be operated to de-cock the crossbow without firing when the second activator is in its second position.

17. The crossbow assembly of claim 14 wherein:

a first biasing device applies a biasing force that biases the first activator into its first position;

a second biasing device applies a biasing force that biases the second activator into its first position; and

a third biasing device applies a biasing force that biases the third activator into its first position.

18. The crossbow assembly of claim 14 wherein:

a first lock is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that retains the first activator in its second position; into (2) a second position that permits the first activator to move into its first position;

a second lock is selectively movable from: (1) a first position that retains the second activator in its second position; into (2) a second position that permits the second activator to move into its first position; and

moving the third activator from its first position into its second position causes: (1) the first lock to move from its first position into its second position; and (2) the second lock to move from its first position into its second position.

19. The crossbow assembly of claim 14 further comprising:

a housing having first, second and third openings;

wherein:

(1) the first activator includes a surface for use by an associated user to manually move the first activator from its first position into its second position;

(2) the second activator includes a surface for use by the associated user to manually move the second activator from its first position into its second position;

(3) the third activator includes a surface for use by the associated user to manually move the third activator from its first position into its second position;

(4) the surface of the first activator extends through the first housing opening when the first activator is in its first position;

(5) the surface of the second activator extends through the second housing opening when the second activator is in its first position; and

(6) the surface of the third activator extends through the third housing opening.

20. The crossbow assembly of claim 14 wherein:

the first activator is selectively linearly movable from its first position into its second position;

the second activator is selectively linearly movable from its first position into its second position; and

the third activator is selectively pivotal from its first position into its second position.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2023
From: HUNTER'S MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
To: PEOPLES BANK
Reel/Frame 064238/0306 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2021
From: SEYMOUR, ROBERT; SMITH, GARY, JR; SHAFFER, MICHAEL; BARTELS, KEITH; VANKEULEN, ERIC; BEDNAR, RICHARD; BEDNAR, PHIL; BEDNAR, STEVEN
To: HUNTER'S MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC. D/B/A TENPOINT CROSSBOW TECHNOLOGIES
Reel/Frame 056197/0141 →
Cited By (5)
US 12,449,225 US 12,460,892 US 12,460,893 US 12,546,555 US 12,571,607