Crossbow with arrow rest

Abstract

A crossbow includes a center rail defining a projectile axis, a draw string coupled with a first cam and a second cam, the draw string configured to move between a released configuration and a drawn configuration, a string carrier slidably coupled with the center rail and configured to selectively engage with the draw string to move the draw string between the released configuration and the drawn configuration, and an arrow rest configured to engage with a projectile to suspend the projectile over at least a portion of the center rail and configured to reposition the projectile relative to the center rail. During operation of the crossbow, the projectile engages the crossbow at two points of contact including the arrow rest and the draw string.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A crossbow, comprising:
 a center rail defining a projectile axis;   a first flexible limb coupled with the center rail;   a second flexible limb coupled with the center rail;   a first cam rotatably coupled with the first flexible limb for rotation about a first axis, the first axis fixed relative to the first flexible limb;   a second cam rotatably coupled with the second flexible limb for rotation about a second axis, the second axis fixed relative to the second flexible limb;   a draw string coupled with the first cam and the second cam, the draw string configured to move between a released configuration and a drawn configuration;   a string carrier slidably coupled with the center rail and configured to selectively engage with the draw string to move the draw string between the released configuration and the drawn configuration; and   an arrow rest configured to engage with a projectile to suspend the projectile over at least a portion of the center rail and configured to reposition the projectile relative to the center rail;   wherein, during operation of the crossbow, the projectile engages the crossbow at two points of contact including the arrow rest and the draw string.   
     
     
         2 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , wherein the arrow rest includes:
 a support member configured to engage with the projectile; and   an adjustment mechanism configured to reposition the support member relative to the center rail.   
     
     
         3 . The crossbow of  claim 2 , wherein the support member includes a rotatable member configured to engage with the projectile. 
     
     
         4 . The crossbow of  claim 3 , wherein the rotatable member is operatively coupled with a spring to bias the rotatable member toward the projectile axis. 
     
     
         5 . The crossbow of  claim 4 , wherein the rotatable member is configured to support the projectile, wherein the spring is compressed as the rotatable member supports the projectile. 
     
     
         6 . The crossbow of  claim 5 , wherein the support member includes a bearing disposed between the rotatable member and the spring, and wherein the bearing is configured to permit rotation of the rotatable member. 
     
     
         7 . The crossbow of  claim 6 , wherein the support member includes a housing coupled with the center rail and the rotatable member, wherein the spring and the bearing are at least partially disposed within the housing, and wherein the rotatable member is configured to translate relative to the housing responsive to a compression of the spring. 
     
     
         8 . The crossbow of  claim 3 , wherein the rotatable member is a roller rotatable about a pin. 
     
     
         9 . The crossbow of  claim 8 , wherein the roller is operatively coupled with a spring to bias the roller toward the projectile axis. 
     
     
         10 . The crossbow of  claim 9 , wherein the pin is received within a slot and configured to translate within the slot such that the roller is configured to translate away from the projectile axis responsive to a compression of the spring. 
     
     
         11 . The crossbow of  claim 2 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to reposition the support member in at least one of a first direction, a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, or a rotational direction. 
     
     
         12 . The crossbow of  claim 11 , wherein the support member is a first support member configured to engage the projectile on a first side thereof, and wherein the arrow rest further includes a second support member configured to engage the projectile on a second side thereof opposite the first side. 
     
     
         13 . The crossbow of  claim 12 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to reposition the first support member and the second support member in the second direction perpendicular to the projectile axis. 
     
     
         14 . The crossbow of  claim 13 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to reposition the first support member and the second support member between a first position and a second position, wherein a distance in the second direction between the first support member and the second support member is less in the second position than in the first position such that, when the first support member and the second support member are in the first position, a front end of the projectile is vertically lower than when the first support member and the second support member are in the second position. 
     
     
         15 . The crossbow of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to reposition the support member in the rotational direction about an axis parallel with the projectile axis. 
     
     
         16 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , wherein the string carrier includes a recess configured to receive at least a portion of the projectile when the projectile is engaged with the draw string and when the string carrier is engaged with the draw string. 
     
     
         17 . The crossbow of  claim 16 , wherein the string carrier includes a rotatable member and a spring operatively coupled with the rotatable member to bias the rotatable member toward the projectile axis. 
     
     
         18 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , wherein the string carrier includes a first finger and a second finger configured to engaged with the draw string, and wherein the projectile is configured to engage with the draw string between the first finger and the second finger. 
     
     
         19 . A crossbow, comprising:
 a center rail defining a projectile axis;   a first flexible limb coupled with the center rail;   a second flexible limb coupled with the center rail;   a first cam rotatably coupled with the first flexible limb for rotation about a first axis, the first axis fixed relative to the first flexible limb;   a second cam rotatably coupled with the second flexible limb for rotation about a second axis, the second axis fixed relative to the second flexible limb;   a draw string coupled with the first cam and the second cam, the draw string configured to move between a released configuration and a drawn configuration;   a string carrier slidably coupled with the center rail and configured to selectively engage with the draw string to move the draw string between the released configuration and the drawn configuration, the string carrier including a recess configured to receive at least a portion of a projectile when the projectile is engaged with the draw string and when the string carrier is engaged with the draw string; and   an arrow rest configured to engage with the projectile to suspend the projectile over at least a portion of the center rail along the projectile axis;   wherein, during operation of the crossbow, the projectile engages the crossbow at two points of contact including the arrow rest and the draw string.   
     
     
         20 . A crossbow, comprising:
 a center rail defining a projectile axis;   a first flexible limb coupled with the center rail;   a second flexible limb coupled with the center rail;   a first cam rotatably coupled with the first flexible for rotation about a first axis, the first axis fixed relative to the first flexible limb;   a second cam rotatably coupled with the second flexible limb for rotation about a second axis, the second axis fixed relative to the second flexible limb;   a draw string coupled with the first cam and the second cam, the draw string configured to move between a released configuration and a drawn configuration;   a string carrier slidably coupled with the center rail and configured to selectively engage with the draw string to move the draw string between the released configuration and the drawn configuration; and   an arrow rest including:
 a support member configured to engage with a projectile; and 
 an adjustment mechanism configured to reposition the support member relative to the center rail in three degrees of freedom; 
   wherein, during operation of the crossbow, the projectile engages the crossbow at two points of contact including the arrow rest and the draw string.