Crossbow Support Rod with Hemispherical Contact and Stowed Handgrip
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weapon supports for firearms and crossbows lack versatility, as they cannot be used to support the weapon against both a user's body and a ground surface, and cannot be easily adjusted or held by the user in a stowed position.
Innovation Solution
A support rod system with a main beam, a bow assembly, and a trigger mechanism, where the support rod is selectively positionable between a use position and a stowed position, featuring a hemispherical contact surface for body and ground contact, and a handgrip for user support, allowing adjustment and secure attachment to the main beam.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a weapon support is designed to support the weapon against a user's body, then it provides stable support, but it cannot be used to support the weapon against a ground surface
Solution Approach 1:
The support rod is designed with a hemispherical contact surface that can function in multiple positions: against the user's body, against a ground surface, or with the rod in a stowed position. This single component serves multiple functions that would traditionally require separate support devices, achieving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support rod is made selectively positionable between an extended position (for body or ground support) and a stowed position (for handheld shooting). This dynamic reconfigurability allows the same structure to adapt to different usage scenarios, transforming from a static single-function support to a dynamic multi-position system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support rod is extended for body or ground support, then it provides stable support, but the user cannot hold the weapon for shooting
Solution Approach 1:
The support rod is designed to be selectively positionable between an extended position (providing stable support) and a stowed position (allowing user control). This dynamic transformation enables the system to switch between automated support modes and manual control modes, resolving the contradiction between stability and user control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the support rod is fixed in position, then it provides stable support, but it cannot be adjusted to support the weapon at different locations
Solution Approach 1:
The support rod transitions from a fixed position to a selectively positionable configuration, allowing it to be adjusted between extended and stowed positions. This dynamic adjustability provides versatility in support locations without requiring complex multi-position adjustment mechanisms, as the primary adjustment is achieved through the extendable/stowed transformation.
Data Source
AI summary
A weapon, such as a crossbow or firearm, may have a main beam, a trigger mechanism mounted to the main beam and, a support rod that can be positioned into a first use position and a second stowed position. The support rod may have a first end used to support the main beam and a second end used to contact a ground surface. In one embodiment, a contact member with a hemispherical contact surface is attached to the second end of the support rod. In another embodiment, the support rod has a handgrip portion that receives a user's hand in supporting the weapon when shooting the weapon when the support rod is in the second stowed position. In still another embodiment, a mounting bracket is used to provide at least two locations for attaching the support rod to the main beam.