Bullet magazine for crossbows and crossbow having such a bullet magazine

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a ball magazine for crossbows, comprising a ball container with several balls and a device for attaching it to the crossbow, and a ball carrier with a receptacle for a ball and a groove for arranging a crossbow string in a firing position, wherein a channel for accelerating and firing the balls via a ball carrier is arranged below the ball container and connected to the ball container via an opening, wherein the opening between the ball container and the channel can be closed via a magazine lock, and wherein the ball carrier has a receptacle for a ball and a groove for arranging a crossbow string in a firing position.

[0002] The invention further relates to a crossbow for firing projectiles, comprising a stock and throwing arms between which a tensionable string is arranged, a retaining device for holding the string in the tensioned state in a firing position, a trigger for moving the tensioned string out of the retaining device, and a ball magazine containing the projectiles.

[0003] Crossbows are a well-known piece of technology and are used both in sport and hunting. Unlike bows, where an arrow is first nocked and then the bow's limbs are cocked by the archer's force, a crossbow's limbs are cocked first by pulling back the attached string, and then the projectile, such as an arrow, is engaged with the string. Cocking the limbs is achieved either solely by the archer's force, with assistance from cocking devices such as levers or winches, or solely by cocking mechanisms that, for example, move the limbs longitudinally relative to a trigger mechanism or a shoulder rest. Arrows, bolts, or balls are used as projectiles.Balls used as projectiles are usually made of metal, ceramic, wood, or glass and can be hollow or solid. A conversion kit for crossbows to improve accuracy when shooting such balls has been disclosed in DE 198 54 721 A1.

[0004] For example, US patent 10,663,249 B1 and CN 113970274 A describe a crossbow of the type in question with a ball magazine containing the projectiles to be fired. The design is intended for firing, in particular, metallic projectiles.

[0005] EP 0 428 344 describes a slingshot for firing metal balls or arrows.

[0006] Firing projectiles with a burstable casing, such as paintballs (containing liquid paint encased in a gelatin layer) or pepper spray projectiles (containing pepper dust or other powdered irritants in a fragile casing, for example made of plastic), using crossbows is not yet widespread. One reason for this is that the relatively fragile projectiles with burstable casings can easily be destroyed by the crossbow string as they are accelerated, before they leave the crossbow or hit their intended target. If the projectile bursts inside the crossbow, the filling can contaminate and even damage the crossbow.

[0007] The object of the present invention is therefore to create the aforementioned ball magazine for crossbows, as well as a crossbow with such a ball magazine, thereby enabling the gentle firing of such balls with a filling surrounded by a burstable casing and minimizing the probability of the balls bursting before leaving the crossbow. The ball magazine, or the crossbow equipped with such a ball magazine, should be of the simplest and most cost-effective design possible. Should a ball nevertheless burst unintentionally in the ball magazine or the crossbow, simple and quick cleaning of the ball magazine and the crossbow should be ensured. Disadvantages of known designs should be avoided or at least reduced.

[0008] The problem according to the invention is solved by a ball magazine for crossbows according to claim 1, wherein the balls are formed by balls with a filling surrounded by a burstable casing, and the magazine lock is slidably mounted, and has a driver which, when the ball carrier is moved into the firing position against the force of a compression spring, can be actuated by the ball carrier, thereby releasing the opening between the ball container and the channel, and the receiving of the ball carrier is designed in the form of a spherical cap, whereby the ball carrier with the ball located thereon can be accelerated along the channel, and a ball retainer is provided which holds the ball to be fired in the receiving of the ball carrier in the firing position.By sliding the ball carrier into the firing position against the force of a compression spring and then actuating the carrier, a new ball can pass from the ball reservoir through the opening into the ball carrier. Because the channel is located below the ball reservoir, the transfer of a ball from the reservoir to the ball carrier in the channel below occurs either by gravity or (even against gravity) by the force of a spring element connected to a slider located inside the ball reservoir. The special design of the ball magazine ensures gentle storage of the balls to be fired in the ball reservoir and a gentle transfer into the ball carrier, which is accelerated by the crossbow string when fired. The crossbow string does not come into direct contact with the ball being fired.Because the ball carrier is designed in the form of a spherical cap, the ball is held particularly gently. During acceleration upon firing, the forces acting on the ball are well distributed. The spherical cap is smaller than half a hollow sphere to accommodate the ball being fired. A ball retainer holds the ball in the ball carrier's receptacle in the firing position, preventing it from rolling off. This largely prevents the ball from bursting in the ball chamber and during firing in the crossbow, as well as from fouling the crossbow. The design can be implemented relatively simply and, depending on the materials used (preferably plastic or metal), also relatively inexpensively.The ball magazine constructed in this way can be offered as a retrofit kit for existing crossbows or integrated into crossbows. Naturally, the ball magazine can also be loaded with live balls, which can then be fired from the crossbow.

[0009] Preferably, a closable filling opening is provided in the ball container to allow the balls, containing a burstable casing, to be loaded into or removed from the magazine. The filling opening can be closed with a lid, a bolt, or the like to prevent the balls from unintentionally falling out of the sealed ball magazine. Any lid should preferably be easy to open and close without tools. A preferably spring-loaded, barbed locking element also facilitates easy loading of the balls into the ball container and prevents them from falling out unintentionally. Removing the balls from the ball container is also possible by actuating the barbed locking element.

[0010] 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, preventing the ball from rolling into the channel. When the ball carrier is accelerated with the ball, the ball moves the retaining element away, allowing the ball to pass the retaining element and accelerate within the channel. The force required to move the elastic retaining element must not be too great to avoid damaging the ball's casing.

[0011] The ball driver can have guide elements on both sides to guide it along a guide groove on the crossbow when the ball is fired. This allows for optimal sliding of the ball driver along the channel on the crossbow stock and prevents lateral tilting of the ball driver.

[0012] According to a further feature of the invention, the device for attaching the magazine to the crossbow is formed by at least two tabs, each with a bore, and a fastening bolt that can be positioned in the bores. This allows for particularly simple and quick mounting and dismounting of the ball magazine on the crossbow. In case of contamination of the ball magazine, it can be quickly removed and cleaned.

[0013] Preferably, a mounting rail is arranged on the top of the pellet reservoir. Various accessories, such as a sight or similar device, can be mounted on this rail, preferably a Picatinny rail. On commercially available crossbows, mounting rails are often located on the top or bottom of the stock. For example, a foregrip can be attached to a mounting rail located on the bottom of the stock.

[0014] If the ball hopper is removable, disassembly and assembly, for example for cleaning purposes, can be facilitated. Ball hoppers can also be pre-filled with balls, allowing for faster reloading of the ball magazine.

[0015] The ball container can be designed by a substantially cylindrical storage channel for preferably 5 to 20 balls.

[0016] If a sliding mechanism connected to a spring is installed in the ball reservoir's storage channel, the balls stored therein can be moved towards the opening. This assists in the automatic loading of the crossbow. The sliding mechanism also prevents the balls from shifting and potentially being damaged in a partially filled ball reservoir. The spring mechanism connected to the sliding mechanism must exert only minimal force on the mechanism to prevent damage to the balls inside the ball reservoir.

[0017] The essentially cylindrical storage channel has a diameter that corresponds essentially 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".

[0018] The problem according to the invention is also solved by a crossbow of the aforementioned type with a ball magazine, wherein the projectiles are formed by balls with a filling surrounded by a burstable casing, and the ball magazine is designed according to the description above. Provided that the ball magazine and the crossbow are appropriately designed, retrofitting existing crossbows with the ball magazine is also possible. For the advantages achievable thereby, reference is made to the above description of the ball magazine.

[0019] Advantageously, the ball magazine is detachably attached to the crossbow's stock. This makes cleaning the magazine easier and allows the crossbow to be used without the magazine, for example, when firing arrows or bolts.

[0020] The ball magazine can also be pivoted relative to the stock. This makes cleaning the magazine easier without removing it from the crossbow, as it can be swung away from the stock and held under a stream of water. Loading the pivoted magazine with new balls is also made easier this way.

[0021] The spheres can contain a colored liquid as a filling. Such paintballs are commonly used in paintball. They consist of a liquid mixture containing food coloring inside a burstable shell, usually a gelatin shell.

[0022] The balls can also be filled with pepper powder. These so-called pepperballs are a type of ammunition that can be used by law enforcement in a similar way to pepper spray. The balls, filled with capsaicin dust for example, break upon impact, releasing the irritant.

[0023] A sighting device may be provided on the crossbow. Such a sighting device can be, for example, an optical telescopic sight or a red dot sight, which can be mounted on the existing mounting rails or Picatinny rails.

[0024] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show embodiments of the present invention. These show: Fig. 1A a crossbow with the ball magazine according to the invention in a top view before firing a ball; Fig. 1B the crossbow with the ball magazine according to the invention Fig. 1A in a cutaway side view along section line II; Fig. 1C a sphere with a filling surrounded by a burstable shell in a cutaway view; Fig. 2A the crossbow according to Fig. 1A Top view during and after firing a bullet; Fig. 2B the crossbow according to Fig. 2A in a cutaway side view along section line II-II; Fig. 3A an embodiment of the ball magazine according to the invention in perspective view; Fig. 3B the ball magazine according to Fig. 3A Top view; Fig. 3C the ball magazine according to Fig. 3B in a cutaway side view along section line III-III; Fig. 4A an embodiment of the ball driver in perspective view; Fig. 4B the ball driver according to Fig. 4A Top view; Fig. 4C the ball drive according to Fig. 4B in a cutaway view along section line IV-IV; Fig. 5A a detail of a crossbow with the ball magazine in perspective view with a horizontal section in the area of ​​the ball magazine; Fig. 5B the detail view according to Fig. 5A Top view; Fig. 5C a detailed view of the retaining element from the Figuren 5A und 5B ; Fig. 6A another embodiment of a two-part ball magazine; and Fig. 6B the ball magazine according to Fig. 6A with separate ball container.

[0025] Fig. 1A Figure 1 shows a crossbow 1 with the ball magazine 20 according to the invention in a top view before firing a ball 50. Fig. 1B is a cross-sectional view through the crossbow 1 according to Fig. 1A The crossbow 1 is shown along section line II. It has a stock 2 or a central column and attached limbs 3. A string 4 is arranged at the ends of the limbs 3 and can be drawn. The drawn string 4 is held in a holding position in a retaining device 6, for example, a retaining groove. A shoulder stock 10 can optionally be attached behind the grip 8. The trigger 7 is located in front of the grip 8. By means of the trigger, the drawn string 4 can be released from 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, can be arranged on the underside of the stock 2 and the top of the ball magazine 20 for attaching accessories, such as a sighting device or a foregrip 12.

[0026] On the crossbow, a variant embodiment of a ball magazine 20 according to the invention is arranged for receiving several balls 50 with a filling 52 surrounded by a burstable casing 51 (see sectional view of a ball 50 in Fig. 1C ), which ball magazine 20 is explained in more detail below. The ball 50 has a diameter DK, which is, for example, 10 to 20 mm. This allows the crossbow 1 to be used to fire such balls 50. The ball magazine 20 has a ball reservoir 22 for the balls 50 and a device 21 for attaching it to the crossbow 1. A slide 45 connected to a spring element 44 can be arranged in the ball reservoir 22, which moves the balls 50 towards the opening 24. Below the ball reservoir 22, a channel 23, connected to the ball reservoir 22 via an opening 24, is arranged for accelerating and firing the balls 50 via a ball driver 26. The opening 24 between the ball reservoir 22 and the channel 23 is closed by a sliding magazine lock 25 and is only released when the ball driver 26 is moved rearward into the firing position.The ball carrier 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 ball magazine 20 can of course also be filled with solid balls or hollow balls without filling (not shown) and such balls can be fired with the crossbow.

[0027] In Fig. 1B The ball carrier 26 is in the firing position, i.e., in its rearmost position along the stock 2. In this position, the magazine lock 25 is preferably moved against the force of a compression spring 33, thereby releasing the opening 24 between the ball reservoir 22 and the channel 23 of the ball magazine 20. This allows a ball 50 located in the ball reservoir 22 to pass through the opening 24 by gravity or (even against gravity) by the force of the spring element 44 located in the ball reservoir 22 and connected to the slide 45 into the channel 23 and onto the ball carrier 26 located therein. After the trigger 7 is pulled, the tensioned string 4 is released by the retaining device 6, thereby accelerating the ball carrier 26 with the ball 50 on it along the channel 23 and firing the ball 50 (see Fig. 2A and 2B ).

[0028] Fig. 2A The crossbow 1 shows according to Fig. 1A in top view during or after firing a bullet 50 and Fig. 2B The crossbow 1 shows according to Fig. 2A in a cut side view along section line II-II. In contrast to Fig. 1A and 1BThe cocked bowstring 4 of the crossbow 1 was moved from the retaining device 6 by actuating the trigger 7, thereby accelerating the ball carrier 26 with the ball 50 along the channel 23. At the end of the channel 23, the ball carrier 26 stops and the ball 50 is fired. As the ball carrier 26 moves forward along the channel 23, the magazine lock 25 engages and is moved forward by the compression spring 33, closing the opening 24 between the ball reservoir 22 and the channel 23. This prevents a ball 50 from falling from the ball reservoir 22 through the opening 24 into the channel 23 when the ball carrier 26 is not in the rear position, the firing position.Only when the ball carrier 26, with the associated string 4, is moved back to cock the crossbow 1, does the ball carrier 26 actuate a driver on the magazine lock 25. This moves the magazine lock 25 backward against the force of the compression spring 33, thereby releasing the opening 24 between the ball reservoir 22 and the channel 23. In this firing position, a new ball 50 can fall from the ball reservoir 22 through the opening 24 into the ball carrier 26 in the channel 23, and a new shot can be prepared.

[0029] Fig. 3A shows an embodiment of the ball magazine 20 according to the invention in a perspective view, Fig. 3B The ball magazine shows 20 according to Fig. 3A in top view and Fig. 3C the ball magazine 20 according to Fig. 3B in a cutaway side view along section line III-III. The ball magazine 20 serves to hold several balls 50 with a filling 52 surrounded by a burstable casing 51 (see Fig. 1C The ball magazine 20 has a ball reservoir 22 for the balls 50 (not shown) and a device 21 for attaching it to the crossbow 1. Below the ball reservoir 22 is a channel 23, connected to the ball reservoir 22 via an opening 24, for accelerating and firing the balls 50 via the ball driver 26 (see Fig. 4A bis 4C ) arranged. The opening 24 between ball container 22 and channel 23 is secured by a slidingly mounted magazine lock 25 (see Fig. 1B and 2B ) lockable.

[0030] The ball container 22 has a closable filling opening 32 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 a bolt (not shown).

[0031] The fastening device 21 can, for example, be formed 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 ball magazine 20 attached to the crossbow 1 to be pivoted about the axis of rotation of the bolt 41, thus facilitating, for example, the cleaning of the ball magazine 20 or the filling or emptying of the ball magazine with balls. A mounting rail 13, in particular a Picatinny rail, can be arranged on the top of the ball reservoir 22.

[0032] 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 diameter DA that corresponds substantially to (or is slightly larger than) the diameter DK of the balls 50.

[0033] Fig. 4A shows an embodiment of the ball driver 26 in perspective view, Fig. 4B the ball driver 26 according to Fig. 4A in top view and Fig. 4C the ball driver 26 according to Fig. 4B In a cutaway view along section line IV-IV, the ball driver 26 has a receptacle 27 for the balls 50 (not shown), which is preferably in the form of a spherical cap 31. This ensures that the pressure on the ball 50 is distributed evenly and prevents the ball 50 from being damaged during firing in the crossbow 1. The ball driver 26 also has a groove 28 for the arrangement of 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 stock 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 string 4 of the crossbow 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 receptacle 27 in the form of the spherical cap 31 can be arranged.

[0034] Fig. 5A shows a detail of a crossbow 1 with the ball magazine 20 in perspective view with a horizontal section in the area of ​​the ball magazine 20, Fig. 5B shows the detailed view according to Fig. 5A Top view. A ball retainer 35 holds the ball 50 to be fired in the firing position in the receptacle 27 of the ball carrier 26. The ball retainer 35 can be formed by a bracket 36 with a retaining element 37 made of elastic material. Fig. 5C Figure 1 shows a single representation of the ball retainer 35 in the form of a bracket 36 with the retaining element 37 made of elastic material.

[0035] Finally, it shows Fig. 6A Another embodiment of a two-part ball magazine 20. In this embodiment, the ball container 22 of the ball magazine 20 is removable, which facilitates disassembly and assembly, for example for cleaning purposes. Ball containers 22 can also be prepared already filled with balls 50, thus enabling faster reloading of the ball magazine 20.

[0036] In Fig. 6B The two-part ball magazine 20 is according to Fig. 6A shown with separate sphere container 22.

Claims

1. 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), and having a bullet driver (26) has a receptacle (27) for a bullet (50) and a groove (28) for the arranging of a bowstring (4) of the crossbow (1) in a firing position, wherein a channel (23), which is connected to the bullet container (22) via an opening (24), for accelerating and firing the bullets (50) via a bullet driver (26) is arranged below the bullet container (22), wherein the opening (24) between the bullet container (22) and the channel (23) can be closed via a magazine lock (25), characterized in that the bullets (50) are formed by bullets (50) with a filling (52) surrounded by a burstable shell (51), and the magazine lock (25) is displaceably mounted, and has a driver that can be actuated by the bullet driver (26) when the bullet driver (26) is displaced into the firing position against the force of a compression spring (33), whereby the opening (24) between the bullet container (22) and the channel 23 (is) opened, and the receptacle (27) of the bullet driver (26) is designed in the form of a spherical cap (31), whereby the bullet driver (26) with the bullet (5) thereon can be accelerated, 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).

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

3. The bullet magazine (20) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bullet retainer (35) is formed by a bracket (36) having a retaining element (37) made of elastic material.

4. The bullet magazine (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the bullet driver (26) has guide elements (29) on both sides for guiding the bullet driver (26) along a guide groove (8) of the crossbow (1) when the bullet (50) is fired.

5. The bullet magazine (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the device (21) for fastening to the crossbow (1) is formed by at least two tabs (39) each having a bore (40) and a fastening bolt (41) which can be arranged in the bores (40).

6. The bullet magazine (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a mounting rail (13) is arranged on the upper side of the bullet container (22).

7. The bullet magazine (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the bullet container (22) is designed to be detachable.

8. The bullet magazine (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the bullet container (22) is formed by a substantially cylindrical storage channel (43) for preferably 5 to 20 bullets (50).

9. The bullet magazine (20) according to claim 8, characterized in that a slide (45) connected to a spring element (44) is arranged in the storage channel (43).

10. The bullet magazine (20) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the substantially cylindrical storage channel (43) has a diameter (DA) substantially corresponding to the diameter (DK) of the bullets (50).

11. A crossbow (1) for firing projectiles (5), having a shaft (2) and limbs (3), between which a tensionable bowstring (4) is arranged, a retaining device (6) for retaining the bowstring (4) in the tensioned state in a firing position, having a trigger (7) for moving the tensioned bowstring (4) out of the retaining device (6), and having a bullet magazine (20) with the projectiles (5), characterized in that the projectiles (5) are formed by bullets (50) having a filling (52) surrounded by a burstable shell (51), and the bullet magazine (20) is designed according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The crossbow (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the bullet magazine (20) is releasably attached to the shaft (2).

13. The crossbow (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the bullet magazine (20) is arranged such that it can pivot relative to the shaft (2).

14. The crossbow (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the bullets (5) have a coloured liquid as filling (52).

15. The crossbow (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the bullets (5) have a pepper powder as filling (52).

16. The crossbow (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that a targeting device is provided.

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