Reset mechanism for a bow
A bow may have a string latch that holds a bowstring and that can be moved into three distinct positions. One activator may be used to prevent the string latch from being moved into its second position. A second activator may be used to prevent the string latch from being moved into its third position. A third activator may be used to move the first and second activators to prevent the string latch from being moved into its second or third positions.
1. A bow comprising:
a pair of bow limbs;
a bowstring operatively engaged to the 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: (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 bow 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 bow can only be operated to fire an associated arrow when the first activator is in its second position.
3. The bow 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 bow can only be operated to de-cock the bow without firing when the second activator is in its second position.
4. The bow 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 bow 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 bow 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 simultaneously 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 bow 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 bow 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 bow method comprising the steps of:
A) providing a bow including: (1) a pair of bow limbs; and (2) a bowstring operatively engaged to the bow limbs and movable from: (a) an un-cocked position; to (b) a cocked position;
B) providing 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;
C) 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;
D) 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
E) 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 bow method of claim 9 wherein:
step B) 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 bow method further comprises the step of: providing the bow to be operable to fire an associated arrow only when the first activator is in its second position.
11. The bow method of claim 9 wherein:
step B) 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 bow method further comprises the step of: providing the bow to be operable to de-cock the bow without firing only when the second activator is in its second position.
12. The bow method of claim 9 wherein:
step B) 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 C) includes the step of: providing the first activator to be selectively linearly movable from its first position into its second position;
step D) includes the step of: providing the second activator to be selectively linearly movable from its first position into its second position; and
step E) includes the step of: providing the third activator to be selectively pivotal from its first position into its second position.
13. The bow 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 simultaneously 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 bow assembly for use with an associated bow including (1) a pair of bow limbs; and (2) a bowstring operatively engaged to the bow limbs and movable from: (a) an un-cocked position; to (b) a cocked position; and an associated 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 bow 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: (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 bow 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 bow can only be operated to fire an associated arrow when the first activator is in its second position.
16. The bow 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 bow can only be operated to de-cock the bow without firing when the second activator is in its second position.
17. The bow 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 bow 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 simultaneously 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 bow 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 bow 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.