US 12,188,741 B2
Crossbow with traveling trigger and conventional bow
Phillip Bednar, Copley, OH (US); and Michael Shaffer, Hartville, OH (US)
Assigned to Hunter's Manufacturing Company, Inc.
Filed by Hunter's Manufacturing Company, Inc., Suffield, OH (US)
Filed on Feb. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/173,324.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/268,392, filed on Feb. 23, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0288168 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. F41B 5/12 (2006.01); F41B 5/00 (2006.01); F41B 5/14 (2006.01)
CPC F41B 5/1469 (2013.01) [F41B 5/0052 (2013.01); F41B 5/123 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A crossbow comprising:
a main beam:
1) extending longitudinally;
2) defining a longitudinal axis; and
3) having an arrow receiving surface for receiving an associated arrow;
a bow mechanism including:
1) first and second outwardly extending bow limbs extending transversely from opposite lateral sides of the main beam;
2) first and second bowstring wheels supported to the first and second bow limbs, respectively;
3) a bowstring operatively engaged to the first and second bowstring wheels and movable between:
(a) an un-cocked position; and
(b) a cocked position; and
4) a first power cord having:
(a) a first end operatively engaged with at least one of the first bow limb and the first bowstring wheel;
(b) a second end, opposite the first end, operatively engaged with at least one of the second bow limb and the second bowstring wheel; and
(c) a mid-section between the first and second ends that extends across the longitudinal axis from opposite lateral sides of the main beam;
a traveling trigger mechanism including:
1) a trigger housing; and
2) a string catch supported to the trigger housing and selectively movable between:
(a) a first string catch position that does not hold the bowstring; and
(b) a second string catch position that holds the bowstring; and
a drawing mechanism including:
1) a drawing housing supported to the main beam;
2) a spool that is selectively rotatable with respect to the drawing housing; and
3) a tensile member having:
(a) a first end operatively engaged with the spool; and
(b) a second end operatively engaged with the trigger housing;
wherein:
1) when the bowstring is in the un-cocked position and the string catch is in the second string catch position that holds the bowstring, the drawing mechanism is selectively operable to move the traveling trigger mechanism longitudinally along the main beam to move the bowstring from:
(a) the un-cocked position; to
(b) the cocked position; and
2) when the string catch is in the second string catch position that holds the bowstring and the bowstring is in the cocked position: the string catch is selectively movable into the first string catch position that does not hold the bowstring and fires the crossbow.
 
9. A crossbow method comprising the steps of:
A) providing a crossbow having:
1) a main beam:
(a) extending longitudinally;
(b) defining a longitudinal axis; and
(c) having an arrow receiving surface for receiving an associated arrow;
2) a bow mechanism including:
(a) first and second outwardly extending bow limbs extending transversely from opposite lateral sides of the main beam;
(b) first and second bowstring wheels supported to the first and second bow limbs, respectively;
(c) a bowstring operatively engaged to the first and second bowstring wheels; and
(d) a first power cord having:
(i) a first end operatively engaged with at least one of the first bow limb and the first bowstring wheel;
(ii) a second end, opposite the first end, operatively engaged with at least one of the second bow limb and the second bowstring wheel; and
(iii) a mid-section between the first and second ends that extends across the longitudinal axis from opposite lateral sides of the main beam;
B) providing a traveling trigger mechanism including:
1) a trigger housing; and
2) a string catch supported to the trigger housing;
C) providing a drawing mechanism including:
1) a drawing housing supported to the main beam;
2) a spool that is selectively rotatable with respect to the drawing housing; and
3) a tensile member having:
(a) a first end operatively engaged with the spool; and
(b) a second end operatively engaged with the trigger housing;
D) providing the bowstring to be movable between:
1) an un-cocked position; and
2) a cocked position;
E) providing the string catch to be selectively movable between:
1) a first string catch position that does not hold the bowstring; and
2) a second string catch position that holds the bowstring;
F) when the bowstring is in the un-cocked position and the string catch is in the second string catch position that holds the bowstring, providing the drawing mechanism to be selectively operable to move the traveling trigger mechanism longitudinally along the main beam to move the bowstring from:
1) the un-cocked position; to
2) the cocked position; and
G) when the string catch is in the second string catch position that holds the bowstring and the bowstring is in the cocked position, providing the string catch to be selectively movable into the first string catch position that does not hold the bowstring and fires the crossbow.