Crossbow

Abstract

The invention relates to a crossbow (1) for firing projectiles (5), said crossbow comprising: a stock (2) and a guide rail (9) arranged thereon for accelerating a projectile (5); limbs (3) between which a tensionable string (4) is arranged; a retaining groove (6) for retaining the string (4) in a tensioned state in a holding position; and a trigger (7) for moving the tensioned string (4) out of the retaining groove (6) in order to fire the crossbow and to accelerate the projectile (5) along the guide rail (9). In order to prevent the crossbow (1) from firing accidentally, a safety lever (11) is provided for holding the tensioned string (4) in the retaining groove (6), which safety lever (11) is coupled with the trigger (7) so that, when the trigger (7) is moved from the holding position to fire the crossbrow, the safety lever (11) and thus the string (4) can be moved out of the retaining groove (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a crossbow for firing projectiles, comprising a stock and a guide rail arranged thereon for accelerating a projectile, and with throwing arms between which a tensionable string is arranged, a retaining groove for holding the string in a cocked state in a holding position, and with a trigger for moving the cocked string out of the retaining groove for firing and for accelerating the projectile along the guide rail.

[0002] Crossbows are a well-known piece of technology and are used both in sport and for hunting. With a crossbow, the limbs are first cocked by pulling back the attached string, and then the projectile, such as an arrow, bolt, or ball, is engaged with the string. By pulling the trigger, the cocked string is released from the groove, accelerating the projectile along the guide rail and firing it.

[0003] More complex crossbow designs feature a trigger mechanism and components that hold the draw weight. These components are blocked by the trigger mechanism and folded away or swung upwards to release the bow (so-called "lock crossbows"). In simpler crossbow designs, the string is held in a retaining groove or recess and lifted by the trigger mechanism, thus releasing it. The present invention relates to this simpler crossbow design, known as "edge lifters." Such designs are known from CA 1 188 583 A or WO 2013 / 138918 A1.

[0004] For example, WO 01 / 94870 A1 describes a crossbow with adjustable throwing arms.

[0005] Many simpler crossbows, especially the aforementioned "edge lifters," lack a trigger safety, which can lead to unintentional discharges. Such crossbows have the inherent systemic disadvantage that any lifting of the string, not just pulling the trigger, can cause a shot. Other designs are very complex and elaborate. Often, only the trigger of the crossbow is secured against unintentional discharge, but mechanical impacts or shocks to the cocked crossbow can cause the string to jump out of its resting groove, resulting in an unintended discharge. If the projectile is already positioned in front of the cocked string, this can create dangerous situations. One such crossbow is described in US Patent 9,766,032 B1.

[0006] Other crossbows on the market use a safety mechanism that activates automatically immediately after cocking and must be deactivated by the shooter using a switch before each shot. Such safety mechanisms are regularly removed or bypassed by shooters, which in turn compromises safety.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to create a crossbow of the aforementioned type that is better secured against unintentional discharge. In particular, an automatic and always-on safety mechanism is to be implemented, without requiring the shooter to perform additional steps to manually deactivate the safety immediately before firing, thus avoiding any additional burden. In contrast to known designs, the mechanism for securing the cocked crossbow should be as simple and cost-effective as possible, enabling widespread application even with less expensive crossbows, especially the aforementioned "edge-lifting" crossbows.

[0008] The problem according to the invention is solved by the aforementioned crossbow, in which a safety lever is provided for holding the drawn string in the retaining groove. This safety lever is coupled to the trigger, so that when the trigger is moved from the hold position to the firing position, the safety lever, and thus the string, can be moved out of the retaining groove. According to the invention, the drawn string is held in the retaining groove by a suitably shaped safety lever, so that, without actuating the trigger, the string cannot spring out of the retaining groove in the hold position. Only when the trigger is actuated is the safety lever moved in a suitable manner, so that the opening of the retaining groove is released and the string can move out of the retaining groove to accelerate the projectile. The shooter does not need to perform an additional step to manually deactivate the safety immediately before firing.The safety lever and the components necessary for linking it to the trigger are relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Metals or plastics are suitable materials for the necessary components. Retrofitting existing crossbows with the safety lever is also possible.

[0009] Advantageously, the locking lever has a hook-shaped end that closes the opening of the retaining groove when the string is in the holding position. This represents a simple and effective design option. Depending on the material, the locking lever can be manufactured by stamping, casting, or injection molding.

[0010] If the safety lever is pivotable against the direction of the projectile's discharge, it can be moved away when cocking the crossbow, allowing the drawn string to spring into the groove. To assist the movement of the drawn string into the groove, the limbs, to which the string is attached, are bent slightly downwards relative to the stock or central column of the crossbow.

[0011] According to a further feature of the invention, the safety lever is connected to a compression spring. This compression spring ensures that the safety lever closes the retaining groove in the holding position, thus preventing the tensioned bowstring from springing out of the retaining groove. In the simplest case, the compression spring is formed by a coil spring with several turns made of metal or plastic.

[0012] The trigger is preferably formed by a trigger lever with a trigger pinion attached to it and a rack which is positively engaged with the trigger pinion of the trigger lever, so that when the trigger lever is actuated, the rack is movable and the string can be released from the resting groove for firing. This represents a simple implementation of the coupling of the trigger with the safety lever, which consists of a two-part trigger assembly, namely a trigger lever with a trigger pinion and rack, and a corresponding bearing for the safety lever in the rack.

[0013] The safety lever is advantageously mounted so that it can slide along the rack. This represents a particularly simple method of implementing the design.

[0014] Typically, the trigger lever is pivotable around a central axis, meaning that it must be moved through a small angular range around this axis to fire the weapon. However, other designs, such as linearly movable trigger levers, are theoretically possible.

[0015] If a compression spring is used to hold the trigger in the hold position, it can be ensured that the unloaded trigger is in the hold position. In its simplest form, this compression spring can also be a coil spring with a few turns, made of metal or even plastic.

[0016] A spring-loaded trigger safety lever allows the trigger to be blocked in the hold position. This blockage is achieved by a corresponding abutment edge on the trigger safety lever, which is only released when the lever is moved relative to the trigger, thus allowing the trigger to be pulled and the crossbow to be fired.

[0017] A compression spring may be located between the trigger lever and the trigger safety lever. In its simplest form, this compression spring can also be a coil spring with just a few turns, made of metal or plastic.

[0018] The present invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a crossbow in side view; Fig. 2 the crossbow according to Fig. 1 Top view; Fig. 3 a cross-sectional view through the crossbow according to Fig. 2along section line III-III; Fig. 4 an exploded view of the crossbow according to the Figs. 1 to 3 ; and Fig. 5 a detailed view of the crossbow trigger in enlarged representation.

[0019] In Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a crossbow 1 in side view. The crossbow 1 has a stock 2 and attached throwing arms 3 (see Figure 2). Fig. 2) at the ends of the limbs 3 is a string 4, which can be tensioned. The tensioned string 4 is held in a holding position in a retaining groove 6. A trigger 7 releases the tensioned string 4 from the retaining groove 6, thereby accelerating and launching a projectile 5 located along a guide rail 9 on the stock 2. The projectile 5 can be an arrow, as shown. Bolts or balls are also possible as projectiles 5 (not shown). A mounting rail 10, a so-called Picatinny rail, is located on the underside of the stock 2 for attaching accessories such as a sight or a foregrip (not shown). A shoulder stock (not shown) can also be attached behind the grip 8.

[0020] According to the invention, a safety lever 11 is provided for holding the tensioned bowstring 4 in the retaining groove 6. This safety lever 11 is coupled to the trigger 7, so that when the trigger 7 is moved from the holding position to the firing position, the safety lever 11, and thus the bowstring 4, can be moved out of the retaining groove 6. The exact function is better described in the Figures 3 , 4 and 5 evident.

[0021] Fig. 2 The crossbow 1 shows according to Fig. 1 Top view. In this view, the guide rail 9 for the projectiles 5 on the shaft 2 and the throwing arms 3 attached to the shaft 2 with the string 4 arranged on them are visible.

[0022] Fig. 3 gives a cross-sectional view through the crossbow 1 according to Fig. 2along section line III-III again. The safety lever 11 for holding the tensioned string 4 in the retaining groove 6 has a hook-shaped end 12 which closes the opening of the retaining groove 6 in the holding position of the string 4. This prevents the tensioned string 4 from unintentionally or without actuation of the trigger 7 from coming out of the retaining groove 6. When the trigger 7 is actuated, the safety lever 11 is actuated or moved upwards, allowing the string 4 to be moved out of the retaining groove 6 for firing.

[0023] To allow the crossbow 1 to be cocked, the safety lever 11 is pivotably arranged in the opposite direction to the projectile 5. This means that the safety lever 11 is pushed backward by the string 4, allowing the cocked string 4 to enter the retaining groove 6 of the crossbow 1. Once the string 4 is in the retaining groove 6, the safety lever 11 snaps forward again, and the hook-shaped end 12 of the safety lever 11 closes the retaining groove 6, preventing the cocked string from being released. 4. The compression spring 13 is provided for this movement of the locking lever 11.

[0024] The embodiment of the crossbow 1 is in Fig. 4 , which shows an exploded view of the crossbow 1 according to the Figs. 1 to 3 shows as well as in Fig. 5 , which shows a partially cropped detail view of the trigger 7 of the crossbow 1 in an enlarged representation, more clearly recognizable.

[0025] The trigger mechanism 7 is formed by a trigger lever 14 with a trigger pinion 15 attached to it and a rack 16, which is positively engaged with the trigger pinion 15 of the trigger lever 14. The trigger lever 14 is pivotably mounted about the axis of rotation X. When the trigger lever 14 is actuated, the rack 16 is moved upwards and the string 4 is moved out of the retaining groove 6 for firing. For this purpose, the safety lever 11 is slidably mounted on the rack 16.

[0026] The trigger lever 14 is held in the holding position by the compression spring 17.

[0027] Additionally, a spring-loaded trigger safety lever 18 can be provided to block the trigger 7 in the hold position. A compression spring 20 is arranged between the trigger lever 14 and the trigger safety lever 18. The trigger 7 is blocked by the trigger safety lever 18 by a corresponding abutment edge 19 on the trigger safety lever 18. Only after the trigger safety lever 18 moves relative to the trigger lever 14 is the trigger lever 14 of the trigger 7 released, thereby allowing the trigger lever 14 to move further and consequently enabling a shot to be fired with the crossbow 1.

[0028] The described design of the crossbow 1 enables the implementation of a simple and cost-effective safety mechanism and the prevention of unintentional firing.

Claims

1. Crossbow (1) for firing projectiles (5), with a stock (2) and a guide rail (9) arranged thereon for accelerating a projectile (5), and with limbs (3), between which a tensionable string (4) is arranged, a retention groove (6) for retaining the string (4) in the tensioned state in a holding position, and with a trigger (7) for moving the tensioned string (4) out of the retention groove (6) for triggering and for accelerating a projectile (5) along the guide rail (9), characterised in that a safety lever (11) is provided for holding the tensioned string (4) in the retention groove (6), which safety lever (11) is coupled to the trigger (7), so that when the trigger (7) is moved from the holding position to the triggering position, the safety lever (11) and thus the string (4) can be moved out of the retention groove (6).

2. Crossbow (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the safety lever (11) comprises a hook-shaped end (12) which closes the opening of the retention groove (6) in the holding position of the string (4).

3. Crossbow (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the safety lever (11) is arranged to swivel against the firing direction of the projectile (5).

4. Crossbow (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the safety lever (11) is connected to a compression spring (13).

5. Crossbow (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the trigger (7) is formed by a trigger lever (14) with a trigger gear (15) arranged thereon and a toothed rack (16) which is form-fittingly connected to the trigger gear (15) of the trigger lever (14), so that the toothed rack (16) can be moved when the trigger lever (14) is actuated and the string (4) can be moved out of the retention groove (6) for triggering.

6. Crossbow (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the safety lever (11) is slidable mounted on the toothed rack (16).

7. Crossbow (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the trigger lever (14) is arranged to swivel around a rotational axis (X).

8. Crossbow (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that a compression spring (17) is arranged to hold the trigger lever (14) in the holding position.

9. Crossbow (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that a spring-mounted trigger safety lever (18) is provided for blocking the trigger (7) in the holding position.

10. Crossbow (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that a compression spring (20) is arranged between the trigger lever (14) and the trigger safety lever (18).

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