US 12,111,132 B2
Narrow crossbow with large power stroke
Richard L. Bednar, Akron, 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 Oct. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/483,679.
Application 15/261,812 is a division of application No. 15/005,966, filed on Jan. 25, 2016, granted, now 9,528,790, issued on Dec. 27, 2016.
Application 13/312,161 is a division of application No. 12/868,012, filed on Aug. 25, 2010, granted, now 8,191,541, issued on Jun. 5, 2012.
Application 18/483,679 is a continuation of application No. 17/658,286, filed on Apr. 7, 2022, granted, now 11,781,829.
Application 17/658,286 is a continuation of application No. 17/348,018, filed on Jun. 15, 2021, granted, now 11,300,380, issued on Apr. 12, 2022.
Application 17/348,018 is a continuation of application No. 16/779,809, filed on Feb. 3, 2020, granted, now 11,054,210, issued on Jul. 6, 2021.
Application 16/779,809 is a continuation of application No. 16/213,299, filed on Dec. 7, 2018, granted, now 10,551,141, issued on Feb. 4, 2020.
Application 16/213,299 is a continuation of application No. 15/838,561, filed on Dec. 12, 2017, granted, now 10,156,416, issued on Dec. 18, 2018.
Application 15/838,561 is a continuation of application No. 15/409,257, filed on Jan. 18, 2017, granted, now 9,851,172, issued on Dec. 26, 2017.
Application 15/409,257 is a continuation of application No. 15/261,812, filed on Sep. 9, 2016, granted, now 9,851,171, issued on Dec. 26, 2017.
Application 15/005,966 is a continuation of application No. 14/937,403, filed on Nov. 10, 2015, granted, now 9,255,758, issued on Feb. 9, 2016.
Application 14/937,403 is a continuation of application No. 14/302,764, filed on Jun. 12, 2014, granted, now 9,506,716, issued on Nov. 29, 2016.
Application 14/302,764 is a continuation of application No. 14/192,494, filed on Feb. 27, 2014, granted, now 8,763,595, issued on Jul. 1, 2014.
Application 14/192,494 is a continuation of application No. 13/848,880, filed on Mar. 22, 2013, granted, now 8,794,225, issued on Aug. 5, 2014.
Application 13/848,880 is a continuation of application No. 13/312,161, filed on Dec. 6, 2011, granted, now 8,439,025, issued on May 14, 2013.
Application 12/868,012 is a continuation of application No. 11/948,319, filed on Nov. 30, 2007, granted, now 7,832,386, issued on Nov. 16, 2010.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/868,157, filed on Dec. 1, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2024/0093962 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. F41B 5/12 (2006.01); F41B 5/10 (2006.01); F41B 5/14 (2006.01)
CPC F41B 5/123 (2013.01) [F41B 5/105 (2013.01); F41B 5/12 (2013.01); F41B 5/1469 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49826 (2015.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A crossbow comprising:
a main beam having:
1) a proximal end;
2) a distal end;
3) a first side; and
4) a second side opposite the first side;
a first bow limb that:
1) is operatively supported to the first side of the main beam;
2) has a first end that extends distally beyond the distal end of the main beam on the first side of the main beam;
3) has a second end opposite the first end; and
4) has a length L1 between the first and second ends;
a second bow limb that:
1) is operatively supported to the second side of the main beam;
2) has a first end that extends distally beyond the distal end of the main beam on the second side of the main beam;
3) has a second end opposite the first end; and
4) has a length L2 between the first and second ends;
a first wheel supported to the second end of the first bow limb;
a second wheel supported to the second end of the second bow limb;
a bowstring:
1) having a first end operatively engaged to the first wheel; and
2) having a second end operatively engaged to the second wheel; and
a trigger mechanism:
1) supported to the main beam; and
2) selectively operable to:
(a) hold the bowstring in a cocked position; and
(b) release the bowstring to propel an arrow distally along the main beam between the first end of the first bow limb and the first end of the second bow limb;
wherein:
1) the first end of the first bow limb is separated from the first end of the second bow limb such that a minimum distance between them is:
(a) at least as wide as a user's foot; but
(b) not greater than about 5 inches;
2) L1 is less than 15 inches; and
3) L2 is less than 15 inches.
 
8. A crossbow comprising:
a main beam having:
1) a proximal end;
2) a distal end;
3) a first side; and
4) a second side opposite the first side;
a first bow limb that:
1) is operatively supported to the first side of the main beam;
2) has a first end that extends distally beyond the distal end of the main beam on the first side of the main beam;
3) has a second end opposite the first end;
4) has a hinge point; and
5) has a thickness that varies along the length of the first bow limb from the first end to the hinge point;
a second bow limb that:
1) is operatively supported to the second side of the main beam;
2) has a first end that extends distally beyond the distal end of the main beam on the second side of the main beam;
3) has a second end opposite the first end;
4) has a hinge point; and
5) has a thickness that varies along the length of the second bow limb from the first end to the hinge point;
a first wheel supported to the second end of the first bow limb;
a second wheel supported to the second end of the second bow limb;
a bowstring:
1) having a first end operatively engaged to the first wheel; and
2) having a second end operatively engaged to the second wheel; and
a trigger mechanism:
1) supported to the main beam; and
2) selectively operable to:
(a) hold the bowstring in a cocked position; and
(b) release the bowstring to propel an arrow distally along the main beam between the first end of the first bow limb and the first end of the second bow limb;
wherein the first end of the first bow limb is separated from the first end of the second bow limb such that a minimum distance between them is:
1) at least as wide as a user's foot; but
2) not greater than about 5 inches.
 
14. A crossbow comprising:
a main beam having:
1) a proximal end;
2) a distal end;
3) an axis of elongation extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
4) a first side; and
5) a second side opposite the first side;
a first bow limb that:
1) is operatively supported to the first side of the main beam;
2) has a first end that extends distally beyond the distal end of the main beam on the first side of the main beam; and
3) has a second end opposite the first end;
a second bow limb that:
1) is operatively supported to the second side of the main beam;
2) has a first end that extends distally beyond the distal end of the main beam on the second side of the main beam; and
3) has a second end opposite the first end;
a first wheel:
1) supported to the second end of the first bow limb; and
2) pivotal with respect to the first bow limb about a first pivot axis;
a second wheel:
1) supported to the second end of the second bow limb; and
2) pivotal with respect to the second bow limb about a second pivot axis;
a bowstring:
1) having a first end operatively engaged to the first wheel; and
2) having a second end operatively engaged to the second wheel;
a trigger mechanism:
1) supported to the main beam; and
2) selectively operable to:
(a) hold the bowstring in a cocked position; and
(b) release the bowstring to an un-cocked position where it propels an arrow distally along the main beam between the first end of the first bow limb and the first end of the second bow limb;
wherein:
1) the first end of the first bow limb is separated from the first end of the second bow limb such that a minimum distance between them is:
(a) at least as wide as a user's foot; but
(b) not greater than about 5 inches;
2) when the bowstring moves between the cocked position and the un-cocked position it moves along the axis of elongation a power stroke distance (PD);
3) the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are separated by a wheel distance (WD) when the bowstring is in the un-cocked position; and
4) the ratio of WD to PD (WD/PD) is less than 2.0.