Bullet magazine for crossbows and crossbow having such a bullet magazine

Abstract

The invention relates to a bullet magazine (20) for crossbows (1), having a bullet container (22) with a plurality of bullets (50) and having a device (21) for fastening to the crossbow (1), wherein below the bullet container (22) of the bullet magazine (20), a channel (23) connected to the bullet container (22) via an opening (24) is arranged for accelerating and firing the bullets (50) via a bullet driver (26), wherein the opening (24) between the bullet container (22) and channel (23) can be closed by a magazine lock (25), and wherein the bullet driver (26) has a receptacle (27) for a bullet (50) and a groove (28) for arranging a bowstring (4) of the crossbow (1) in a firing position. The invention also relates to a crossbow (1) for firing projectiles (5). According to the invention, the bullets (50) are formed by bullets (50) with a filling (52) surrounded by a burstable casing (51), and the magazine lock (25) is displacably mounted, the receptacle (27) of the bullet driver (26) is designed in the form of a spherical cap (31), and a bullet retainer (35) is provided which holds the bullet (50) to be fired in the firing position in the receptacle (27) of the bullet driver (26).

Description

[0001] Bullet magazine for crossbows and crossbows with such a bullet magazine

[0002] The invention relates to a bullet magazine for crossbows, with a bullet container with a plurality of bullets and with a device for fastening to the crossbow, wherein below the bullet container there is arranged a channel which is connected to the bullet container via an opening and is used to accelerate and fire the bullets via a bullet driver, wherein the opening between the bullet container and the channel can be closed via a magazine lock, and wherein the bullet driver has a receptacle for a bullet and a groove for arranging a string of the crossbow in a firing position.

[0003] Furthermore, the invention relates to a crossbow for firing projectiles, with a shaft and limbs between which a tensionable string is arranged, a retaining device for retaining the string in the tensioned state in a firing position, with a trigger for moving the tensioned string out of the retaining device, and with a ball magazine with the projectiles.

[0004] Crossbows are well known in the art and are used both in sporting activities and for hunting. Unlike bows, where an arrow is first brought into engagement with a string and then the limbs of the bow are drawn by the strength of the archer, with a crossbow the limbs are first drawn by pulling back the string connected to them and then the projectile, for example an arrow, is brought into engagement with the string. The limbs are drawn either exclusively by the strength of the archer, with the assistance of tensioning devices such as cocking levers or cable winches, or exclusively by tensioning devices which, for example, move the limbs lengthwise of the crossbow relative to a release device or a shoulder rest. Arrows, bolts or balls are used as projectiles.Typically, projectiles are made of metal, ceramic, wood, or glass, and can be hollow or solid. For a better hit rate when shooting with such bullets, an installation kit for crossbows is known from DE 198 54 721 A1.

[0005] For example, CN 113970274 A describes a crossbow of the type in question with a bullet magazine containing the bullets to be fired. The design is particularly suitable for firing metallic bullets.

[0006] EP 0 428 344 describes a slingshot for firing metal balls or arrows.

[0007] Firing bullets with a filling surrounded by a burstable casing, for example paintballs which contain liquid paint coated in a layer of gelatin, or paintballs or pepper spray bullets which contain pepper dust or other powdered irritants surrounded by a fragile casing made of plastic, for example, using crossbows is not yet widespread. One reason for this is that the relatively fragile bullets with the burstable casing can easily be destroyed when accelerated by the crossbow string before they leave the crossbow or hit the intended target. If the bullet bursts while still in the crossbow, the crossbow can be contaminated by the filling and even damaged.

[0008] The object of the present invention is therefore to create an above-mentioned bullet magazine for crossbows and a crossbow with such a bullet magazine, whereby a gentle firing of such bullets with a filling surrounded by a burstable casing is possible and the probability of the bullet bursting before leaving the crossbow can be minimized. The bullet magazine or the crossbow equipped with such a bullet magazine should be as simple and cost-effective as possible. Should a bullet in the bullet magazine or the crossbow accidentally burst, a simple and quick cleaning of the bullet magazine and the crossbow should be guaranteed. Disadvantages of known designs should be avoided or at least reduced.

[0009] The object of the invention is achieved by an above-mentioned bullet magazine for crossbows, wherein the bullets are formed by bullets with a filling surrounded by a burstable casing, and the magazine lock is displaceably mounted, the receptacle for the bullet driver is designed in the form of a spherical cap, and a bullet retainer is provided which holds the bullet to be fired in the firing position in the receptacle of the bullet driver. The special design of the bullet magazine ensures careful storage of the bullets to be fired in the bullet container and careful transfer to the bullet driver, which is accelerated by the crossbow string during firing. The crossbow string does not come into direct contact with the bullet to be fired. Because the receptacle for the bullet driver is designed in the form of a spherical cap, the bullet can be stored on the ball driver particularly gently.As the bullet accelerates during firing, the forces acting on the bullet are evenly distributed. The spherical cap is smaller than half a hollow sphere to accommodate the bullet to be fired. The provision of a bullet retainer, which holds the bullet to be fired in the firing position in the bullet driver's receptacle, prevents the bullet to be fired from rolling off the bullet driver's receptacle in the firing position. This largely prevents the bullet from bursting in the bullet container and in the crossbow during firing, and also prevents the crossbow from becoming dirty. The construction can be relatively simple and, depending on the materials used (preferably plastic or metal), relatively inexpensive. The bullet magazine constructed in this way can be offered as a retrofit kit for existing crossbows or can be integrated into crossbows.Of course, the bullet magazine can also be filled with full bullets and such bullets can be fired with the crossbow.

[0010] A closable filling opening is preferably arranged in the ball container in order to be able to load the balls, which are filled and surrounded by a burstable sleeve, into the magazine or to remove them from the magazine. The filling opening can be closed with a lid or a bolt or the like in order to prevent the balls from accidentally falling out of the closed ball magazine. Any lid can preferably be opened and closed easily and without tools. A barb-shaped locking element, which is preferably spring-mounted, can also make it easy to fill the balls into the ball container and prevent them from accidentally falling out. By actuating the barb-shaped locking element, the balls can also be removed from the ball container.

[0011] The magazine lock has a driver that can be actuated by the ball driver when the ball driver is moved into the firing position, so that the magazine lock can be moved, preferably against the force of a compression spring, when the ball driver is moved into the firing position and releases the opening between the ball container and channel. This allows a new ball to pass from the ball container through the opening into the ball driver when the ball driver is in the firing position. Because the channel is arranged below the ball container, the transfer of a ball from the ball container to the ball driver in the channel below occurs via gravity or (even against gravity) via the force of a spring element arranged in the ball container and connected to a slide.

[0012] The ball retainer can be simply formed by a bracket with a retaining element made of elastic material. In the firing position, the retaining element protrudes slightly so that the ball cannot roll into the channel. As the ball driver accelerates with the ball, the retaining element of the ball retainer is moved away by the ball, allowing the ball to move past the retaining element and accelerate into the channel. The force required to move the elastic retaining element away must not be too high to avoid damaging the shell of the ball.

[0013] The bullet driver can have guide elements on both sides for guiding the bullet driver along a guide groove in the crossbow when the bullet is fired. This enables optimal gliding of the bullet driver along the channel on the shaft of the crossbow and prevents the bullet driver from tilting sideways. According to a further feature of the invention, the device for fastening to the crossbow is formed by at least two tabs, each with a bore, and a fastening bolt that can be arranged in the bores. This enables particularly simple and rapid assembly and disassembly of the bullet magazine on the crossbow. If the bullet magazine becomes dirty, it can be quickly disassembled and cleaned.

[0014] Preferably, a mounting rail is arranged on the top side of the bullet container. Various accessories, such as a sight or the like, can be mounted on the mounting rail, preferably a so-called Picatinny rail. Commercially available crossbows often have mounting rails arranged on the top or bottom side of the stock. A foregrip, for example, can be attached to a mounting rail arranged on the bottom side of the stock.

[0015] If the pellet container is designed to be removable, disassembly and assembly can be made easier, for example, for cleaning purposes. Pellet containers already filled with pellets can also be prepared, allowing the pellet magazine to be reloaded more quickly.

[0016] The ball container can be formed by a substantially cylindrical storage channel for preferably 5 to 20 balls.

[0017] If a slide connected to a spring element is arranged in the storage channel of the bullet container, the bullets stored therein can be moved towards the opening. This assists the automatic loading of the crossbow. The slide also prevents the bullets from moving in a partially filled bullet container and thus being destroyed. The spring element connected to the slide must only exert a small force on the slide, thus preventing the bullets in the bullet container from being destroyed.

[0018] The essentially cylindrical storage channel has a diameter that essentially corresponds to the diameter of the balls. Naturally, the diameter of the storage channel must be slightly larger than the maximum expected diameter of the balls, taking tolerances into account, so that the balls cannot become stuck in the storage channel. This slightly larger diameter is expressed by the term "essentially."

[0019] The object of the invention is also achieved by a crossbow mentioned above with a bullet magazine, wherein the projectiles are formed by bullets filled with a burstable casing, and the bullet magazine is designed as described above. Provided the bullet magazine and the crossbow are designed accordingly, it is also possible to retrofit existing crossbows with the bullet magazine. For the advantages thereby achieved, reference is made to the above description of the bullet magazine.

[0020] Advantageously, the bullet magazine is detachably attached to the crossbow stock. This makes cleaning the bullet magazine easier and allows the crossbow to be used without the bullet magazine, for example, when firing arrows or bolts.

[0021] The bullet magazine can also be pivoted relative to the stock. This makes cleaning the bullet magazine easier, even without disassembling it from the crossbow, by pivoting the bullet magazine away from the stock and holding it under a jet of water. Loading the pivoted bullet magazine with new bullets can also be made easier.

[0022] The balls may be filled with a colored liquid. Such paintballs are commonly used in paintball sports. They contain a liquid mixture with food coloring in a burstable shell, usually a gelatin shell.

[0023] The balls can also be filled with pepper powder. These so-called pepper balls are a type of ammunition that can be used by emergency personnel in a similar way to pepper spray. The balls, filled with capsaicin powder, for example, break upon impact, releasing the irritant.

[0024] A sighting device can be provided on the crossbow. Such a sighting device can be formed, for example, by an optical telescopic sight or a red dot sight, which can be mounted on the existing mounting rails or Picatinny rails.

[0025] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show embodiments of the present invention.

[0026] Fig. 1A shows a crossbow with the bullet magazine according to the invention in plan view before firing a bullet;

[0027] Fig. 1B the crossbow with the ball magazine according to the invention according to Fig. 1A in a sectional side view along the section line II;

[0028] Fig. IC shows a sphere with a filling surrounded by a burstable shell in a sectional view;

[0029] Fig. 2A shows the crossbow according to Fig. 1A in plan view during and after firing a bullet;

[0030] Fig. 2B the crossbow according to Fig. 2A in a sectional side view along the section line II-II;

[0031] Fig. 3A shows an embodiment of the ball magazine according to the invention in a perspective view;

[0032] Fig. 3B the ball magazine according to Fig. 3A in plan view;

[0033] Fig. 3C the ball magazine according to Fig. 3B in a sectional side view along the section line III-III;

[0034] Fig. 4A shows an embodiment of the ball driver in a perspective view;

[0035] Fig. 4B shows the ball driver according to Fig. 4A in plan view;

[0036] Fig. 4C shows the ball driver according to Fig. 4B in a sectional view along the section line IV-IV;

[0037] Fig. 5A a detail of a crossbow with the bullet magazine in perspective view with a horizontal section in the area of ​​the bullet magazine;

[0038] Fig. 5B shows the detailed view according to Fig. 5A in plan view;

[0039] Fig. 5C is a detailed view of the retaining element from Figures 5A and 5B;

[0040] Fig. 6A shows another embodiment of a two-part ball magazine; and

[0041] Fig. 6B shows the ball magazine according to Fig. 6A with a separate ball container.

[0042] Fig. 1A shows a crossbow 1 with the ball magazine 20 according to the invention in a plan view before a ball 50 is fired. Fig. 1B shows a sectional view through the crossbow 1 according to Fig. 1A along the section line I-I. The crossbow 1 has a stock 2 or a center column and limbs 3 connected to it. A string 4, which can be tensioned, is arranged at the ends of the limbs 3. The tensioned string 4 is held in a holding position in a retaining device 6, for example a retaining groove. A shoulder rest 10 can optionally be attached behind the handle 8. In front of the handle 8 is the trigger 7, via which the tensioned string 4 can be moved out of the retaining device 6 and a projectile 5 located along a guide groove 9 on the stock 2 can be accelerated and fired. The projectile 5 is usually an arrow, bolt or ball (not shown).A mounting rail 13, a so-called Picatinny rail, for attaching accessories, such as a sighting device or a foregrip 12, can be arranged on the underside of the stock 2 and the top of the ball magazine 20.

[0043] A variant of a bullet magazine 20 according to the invention for receiving a plurality of bullets 50 with a filling 52 surrounded by a burstable casing 51 is arranged on the crossbow (see sectional view of a bullet 50 in Fig. 1C), which bullet magazine 20 is explained in more detail below. The bullet 50 has a diameter D K, which is, for example, 10 to 20 mm. This allows the crossbow 1 to be used to fire such bullets 50. The bullet magazine 20 has a bullet container 22 for the bullets 50 and a device 21 for fastening them to the crossbow 1. A slide 45 connected to a spring element 44 can be arranged in the bullet container 22, which slide moves the bullets 50 in the direction of the opening 24. Below the bullet container 22 there is a channel 23 connected to the bullet container 22 via an opening 24 for accelerating and firing the bullets 50 via a bullet driver 26. The opening 24 between the bullet container 22 and the channel 23 is closed by a displaceably mounted magazine lock 25 and is only released when the bullet driver 26 is moved rearward into the firing position. The ball driver 26 has a receptacle 27 for a ball 50 and a groove 28 for the arrangement of the string 4 of the crossbow 1.As already mentioned above, the bullet magazine 20 can of course also be filled with solid bullets or hollow bullets without filling (not shown) and such bullets can be fired with the crossbow.

[0044] In Fig. 1B, the bullet driver 26 is in the firing position, i.e. in a rearmost position along the shaft 2. In this position, the magazine lock 25 is preferably moved against the force of a compression spring 33, whereby the opening 24 between the bullet container 22 and the channel 23 of the bullet magazine 20 is released. As a result, a bullet 50 located in the bullet container 22 can pass through the opening 24 into the channel 23 or onto the bullet driver 26 located therein via the force of gravity or (even against the force of gravity) via the force of the spring element 44 arranged in the bullet container 22 and connected to the slide 45. After actuation of the trigger 7, the tensioned string 4 is released from the retaining device 6, whereby the ball driver 26 with the ball 50 located thereon is accelerated along the channel 23 and the ball 50 is thereby fired (see Fig. 2A and 2B).

[0045] Fig. 2A shows the crossbow 1 according to Fig. 1A in a plan view during and after the firing of a bullet 50 and Fig. 2B shows the crossbow 1 according to Fig. 2A in a sectional side view along the section line II-II. In contrast to Figs. 1A and 1B, the tensioned string 4 of the crossbow 1 was moved out of the retaining device 6 by actuation of the trigger 7, whereby the bullet driver 26 with the bullet 50 was accelerated along the channel 23. At the end of the channel 23, the bullet driver 26 is stopped and the bullet 50 is fired. When the bullet driver 26 is moved forward along the channel 23, the magazine lock 25 comes into operation and is moved forward by the compression spring 33, whereby the opening 24 between the bullet container 22 and the channel 23 is closed.This can prevent a bullet 50 from falling out of the bullet container 22 through the opening 24 into the channel 23 if the bullet follower 26 is not arranged in the rear position, the firing position. Only when the bullet follower 26 is moved back with the string 4 connected to it to cock the crossbow 1 is a follower on the magazine lock 25 actuated by the ball follower 26 and the magazine lock 25 is thereby moved back against the force of the compression spring 33, whereby the opening 24 between the bullet container 22 and the channel 23 is released. In this firing position, a new bullet 50 can fall out of the bullet container 22 through the opening 24 into the ball follower 26 in the channel 23 and a new shot can be prepared.

[0046] Fig. 3A shows an embodiment of the ball magazine 20 according to the invention in a perspective view, Fig. 3B shows the ball magazine 20 according to Fig. 3A in a plan view and Fig. 3C shows the ball magazine 20 according to Fig. 3B in a sectional side view along the section line II I- III. The ball magazine 20 serves to accommodate a plurality of balls 50 with a filling 52 surrounded by a burstable casing 51 (see Fig. 1C). The ball magazine 20 has a ball container 22 for the balls 50 (not shown) and a device 21 for fastening to the crossbow 1. Below the ball container 22 there is a channel 23 which is connected to the ball container 22 via an opening 24 and is used to accelerate and fire the balls 50 via the ball driver 26 (see Figs. 4A to 4C). The opening 24 between the ball container 22 and the channel 23 can be closed by a slidably mounted magazine lock 25 (see Fig. 1B and 2B).

[0047] A closable filling opening 32 is arranged in the ball container 22, through which the balls 50 can be filled into the ball container 22 of the ball magazine 20. The filling opening 32 can be closed, for example, by a lid (not shown) or bolt (not shown).

[0048] The fastening device 21 can be formed, for example, by two tabs 39, each with a bore 40, and a fastening bolt 41 that can be arranged in the bores 40. This allows the bullet magazine 20 attached to the crossbow 1 to be pivoted about the axis of rotation of the bolt 41, which can facilitate, for example, cleaning the bullet magazine 20 or filling or emptying the bullet magazine with bullets. A mounting rail 13, in particular a Picatinny rail, can be arranged on the top of the bullet container 22.

[0049] The ball container 22 is ideally formed by a substantially cylindrical storage channel 43 for preferably 5 to 20 balls 50. The substantially cylindrical storage channel 43 has a substantially the diameter D K of the balls 50 corresponding (or slightly larger) diameter D A on .

[0050] Fig. 4A shows an embodiment of the ball driver 26 in perspective view, Fig. 4B the ball driver 26 according to Fig. 4A in plan view and Fig. 4C the ball driver 26 according to Fig. 4B in a sectional view along the section line IV-IV. The ball driver 26 has a receptacle 27 for the balls 50 (not shown), which is preferably designed in the form of a spherical cap 31. This evenly distributes the pressure on the ball 50 and prevents destruction of the ball 50 during firing in the crossbow 1. The ball driver 26 further has a groove 28 for arranging the string 4 of the crossbow 1 in a firing position (not shown). The ball driver 26 has guide elements 29 on both sides for guiding the ball driver 26 along the guide groove 9 on the shaft 2 of the crossbow 1 when the ball 50 is fired.In the illustrated embodiment of the ball driver 26, the guide elements 29 are specially designed to support the retention of the crossbow string 4 in the groove 28. The ball driver can be made of plastic or metal. To reduce the weight of the ball driver 26, a bore 30 in the form of a spherical cap 31 can be arranged in the receptacle 27.

[0051] Fig. 5A shows a detail of a crossbow 1 with the bullet magazine 20 in a perspective view with a horizontal section in the area of ​​the bullet magazine 20, Fig. 5B shows the detailed view according to Fig. 5A in plan view. A bullet retainer 35 holds the bullet 50 to be fired in the firing position in the receptacle 27 of the bullet driver 26. The bullet retainer 35 can be formed by a bracket 36 with a retaining element 37 made of elastic material. Fig. 5C shows an individual view of the bullet retainer 35 in the form of a bracket 36 with the retaining element 37 made of elastic material.

[0052] Finally, Fig. 6A shows another embodiment of a two-part bullet magazine 20. The bullet container 22 of the bullet magazine 20 is designed to be removable, which facilitates disassembly and assembly, for example, for cleaning purposes. Also, bullet containers 22 already filled with bullets 50 can be prepared, allowing the bullet magazine 20 to be reloaded more quickly.

[0053] In Fig. 6B, the two-part ball magazine 20 according to Fig. 6A is shown with a separate ball container 22.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Bullet magazine (20) for crossbows (1), with a bullet container (22) with several bullets (50) and with a device (21) for attachment to the crossbow (1), wherein below the bullet container (22) there is a channel (23) connected to the bullet container (22) via an opening (24) for accelerating and firing the bullets (50) via a bullet driver (26), wherein the opening (24) between the bullet container (22) and the channel (23) can be closed via a magazine lock (25), and wherein the bullet driver (26) has a receptacle (27) for a bullet (50) and a groove (28) for arranging a string (4) of the crossbow (1) in a Firing position, characterized in that the balls (50) are formed by balls (50) with a filling (52) surrounded by a burstable shell (51), and in that the magazine lock (25) is displaceably mounted, the receptacle (27) of the ball driver (26) is designed in the form of a spherical cap (31), and a ball retainer (35) is provided which holds the ball (50) to be fired in the firing position in the receptacle (27) of the ball driver (26).

2. Ball magazine (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that a closable filling opening (32) is arranged in the ball container (22).

3. Ball magazine (20) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the magazine lock (25) has a driver which can be actuated by the ball driver (26) when the ball driver (26) is moved into the firing position.

4. Ball magazine (20) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the ball retainer (35) is formed by a bracket (36) with a retaining element (37) made of elastic material.

5. Ball magazine (20) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ball driver (26) has guide elements (29) on both sides for guiding the ball driver (26) along a guide groove (8) of the crossbow (1) when firing the ball (50).

6. Ball magazine (20) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the device (21) for fastening to the crossbow (1) is formed by at least two tabs (39), each with a bore (40) and a fastening bolt (41) which can be arranged in the bores (40).

7. Ball magazine (20) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a mounting rail (13) is arranged on the upper side of the ball container (22).

8. Ball magazine (20) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the ball container (22) is designed to be removable.

9. Ball magazine (20) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the ball container (22) is formed by a substantially cylindrical storage channel (43) for preferably 5 to 20 balls (50).

10. Ball magazine (20) according to claim 9, characterized in that a slide (45) connected to a spring element (44) is arranged in the storage channel (43).

11. Ball magazine (20) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the substantially cylindrical storage channel (43) has a substantially the diameter (D K ) of the balls (50) corresponding diameter (D A ).

12. Crossbow (1) for firing projectiles (5), with a shaft (2) and limbs (3) between which a tensible string (4) is arranged, a retaining device (6) for retaining the string (4) in the tensed state in a firing position, with a trigger (7) for moving the tensed string (4) out of the retaining device (6), and with a ball magazine (20) with the projectiles (5), characterized in that the projectiles (5) are formed by balls (50) with a filling (52) surrounded by a burstable casing (51), and the ball magazine (20) is designed according to one of claims 1 to 11.

13. Crossbow (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the ball magazine (20) is detachably attached to the shaft (2).

14. Crossbow (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the ball magazine (20) is arranged pivotably relative to the shaft (2).

15. Crossbow (1) according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the balls (5) have a colored liquid as filling (52).

16. Crossbow (1) according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the balls (5) contain a pepper powder as filling (52).

17. Crossbow (1) according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that a sighting device is provided.

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