Narrow Crossbow Large Power Stroke Cocking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crossbows with large power strokes are difficult to manually cock due to the need for long arms and increased bowstring angle, and they are also less maneuverable due to their wide design.
Innovation Solution
A method of constructing a crossbow with a narrow design and a large power stroke, involving a main beam, bow limbs with varying thickness, wheels, a bowstring, and a trigger mechanism, where the bow limbs are supported on the main beam with their ends extending distally, and the bowstring is engaged with the wheels to achieve a power stroke of at least 10 inches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the crossbow is designed with a large power stroke (16-18 inches), then speed and energy are improved, but the crossbow becomes difficult to manually cock and requires long arms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a wide crossbow design to a narrow crossbow design, changing the spatial dimension of the power stroke application. By narrowing the crossbow body and positioning the bowstring at the rear end, the patent achieves a large power stroke without requiring the user to reach across a wide span, thus reducing manual cocking difficulty while maintaining speed and energy output.
2Power
If the crossbow is designed with a large power stroke, then speed and energy are improved, but the bowstring angle increases making cocking more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the bowstring from a conventional front-mounted location to a rear-end location on the narrow crossbow body. This dimensional change in string positioning allows for a large power stroke while maintaining a manageable bowstring angle during cocking, as the string moves along the length of the narrow body rather than across a wide span at a steep angle.
3Power
If the crossbow is designed wide to obtain adequate power stroke, then power stroke is improved, but maneuverability decreases and the hunter is more likely to bump into objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the dimensional orientation of the crossbow by adopting a narrow body design. This dimensional change allows the crossbow to maintain adequate power stroke through rear-end string positioning while significantly improving maneuverability in tight spaces, as the narrow profile reduces the likelihood of bumping into surrounding objects during hunting operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The resulting crossbow is easier to manually cock and more maneuverable due to its narrow design, while maintaining a large power stroke for increased speed and energy.
Implementation Method 1
The power stroke is the distance along the main beam that the bowstring moves between the uncocked condition and the cocked condition
Data Source
AI summary
A crossbow may have a main beam, two bow limbs, a bow string and a trigger mechanism. First ends of the bow limbs may extend distally beyond the distal end of the main beam on respective sides of the main beam. The bow limb first ends may be separated from each other such that a minimum distance between them is at least as wide as a user's foot but not greater than about 5 inches.