Compact Winding Mechanism for Crossbow

Abstract

A crossbow includes an elongated frame coupled to a riser at a first end thereof and attached to an upper housing at its second end generally above the trigger region. The riser supports a pair of flexible limbs, and a bowstring extends between such limbs. A bowstring retractor is provided within the upper housing and includes a rope spool used to wind a retractor rope for retracting the bowstring. First and second spool gears surround the rope spool for rotation therewith. A spur gear mounted on a drive axle engages one of the spool gears, and a crank can be engaged with the drive axle. A pawl engages the other spool gear to prevent unintentional unwinding of the retractor rope from the rope spool. A pawl release member disengages the pawl from its associated spool gear. Drawing the bowstring beyond its full draw position also disengages the pawl.

1 . A crossbow comprising in combination:
 a. a riser having a central portion and opposing end portions;   b. first and second limbs coupled to the opposing end portions of the riser, the first limb extending from the riser toward a first limb tip, and the second limb extending from the riser toward a second limb tip;   c. a bowstring extending between the first limb tip and the second limb tip for propelling an arrow;   d. an elongated frame member having first and second opposing ends, the first end being coupled to the riser;   e. a trigger disposed proximate the second end of the elongated frame member for being pulled by a user;   f. a bowstring hook for selectively engaging the bowstring, the bowstring hook being responsive to the trigger for selectively releasing the bowstring when a user pulls the trigger; and   g. a string retractor coupled to the second end of the elongated frame member, the string retractor including:
 i. a housing coupled to, and extending generally along, the second end of the elongated frame member above the trigger; 
 ii. a rope spool rotatably supported within the housing; 
 iii. a rope having a first end coupled to the rope spool, and having an opposing second end for pulling the bowstring away from the riser toward a drawn position proximate the second end of the elongated frame member; and 
 iv. a crank for rotating the rope spool to wind the rope about the rope spool in order to retract the bowstring. 
   
   
   
       2 . The crossbow recited by  claim 1  wherein the string retractor further includes:
 a. a first spool gear mounted for rotation with the rope spool within the housing;   b. a spur gear disposed within the housing and engaged with the first spool gear;   c. a drive axle extending at least partially within the housing and coupled to the spur gear for rotation therewith;   
     wherein the crank is selectively engaged with the drive axle to rotate the spur gear, first spool gear, and rope spool. 
   
   
       3 . The crossbow recited by  claim 2  including a second spool gear mounted for rotation with the rope spool within the housing. 
   
   
       4 . The crossbow recited by  claim 3  wherein the first spool gear and second spool gear are disposed on opposite sides of the rope spool. 
   
   
       5 . The crossbow recited by  claim 3  including a pawl pivotally mounted in the housing and engaged with the second spool gear for permitting rotation of the rope spool in a first direction, and for selectively preventing rotation of the rope spool in a second, opposing direction. 
   
   
       6 . The crossbow recited by  claim 5  including a spring for biasing the pawl into engagement with the second spool gear. 
   
   
       7 . The crossbow recited by  claim 6  including a pawl release member extending from the housing for allowing a user to selectively disengage the pawl from the second spool gear. 
   
   
       8 . The crossbow recited by  claim 1  wherein the string retractor further includes:
 a. a spool gear mounted for rotation with the rope spool within the housing; and   b. a pawl pivotally mounted in the housing and engaged with the spool gear for permitting rotation of the rope spool in a first direction, and for selectively preventing rotation of the rope spool in a second, opposing direction.   
   
   
       9 . The crossbow recited by  claim 8  wherein the second end of the retractor rope is coupled to a member engaged with the bowstring when retracting the bowstring to its drawn position, and wherein said member moves the pawl out of engagement with the spool gear when the bowstring has been drawn beyond its full draw position. 
   
   
       10 . The crossbow recited by  claim 2  wherein the rope spool has a hole formed transversely therethrough for receiving the first end of the retractor rope. 
   
   
       11 . The crossbow recited by  claim 1  wherein the housing of the string retractor includes an accessory mounting rail upon its upper-most surface for mounting accessory items to the crossbow.