Crossbow de-cocking method

Abstract

A crossbow de-cocking mechanism may include a trigger mechanism, a trigger latch and a winch assembly. A first input to the winch assembly may move the trigger latch to disengage the trigger mechanism. A second input to the trigger latch may move a crossbow bowstring from a cocked position to an un-cocked position.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A crossbow de-cocking mechanism for use with an associated crossbow including: a longitudinally extending main beam; and a bowstring movable between: (a) an un-cocked position; and (b) a cocked position; the crossbow de-cocking mechanism comprising:
 a trigger mechanism including a string catch;   a trigger latch;   a winch assembly including:
 1) a spool selectively rotatable in a spool in direction and a spool out direction; 
 2) a tensile member having a first end operatively engaged with the spool; and 
 3) a drive gear operatively engaged to the spool; 
   wherein when the de-cocking mechanism is properly attached to the associated crossbow:
 1) the trigger mechanism is selectively movable along the main beam; 
 2) the string catch is selectively movable between:
 (a) a first string catch position that does not hold the bowstring; and 
 (b) a second string catch position that holds the bowstring; 
 
 3) the trigger latch is selectively movable between:
 (a) a first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger mechanism; and 
 (b) a second trigger latch position that engages the trigger mechanism to hold the trigger mechanism to the main beam; 
 
 4) the tensile member has a second end operatively engaged with the trigger mechanism; 
 5) when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the second trigger latch position holding the trigger mechanism to the main beam, and the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring; the winch assembly is selectively operable:
 (a) to receive a first rotational input to rotate the drive gear in the spool in direction; to 
 (b) rotate the spool; to 
 (c) apply tension to the tensile member; to 
 (d) move the trigger latch into the first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger mechanism; and 
 
 6) when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger mechanism, and the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring, the winch assembly is selectively operable:
 (a) to receive a second rotational input to rotate the drive gear in the spool out direction; to 
 (b) rotate the spool; to 
 (c) move the trigger mechanism away from the trigger latch mechanism; to 
 (d) move the bowstring from the cocked position to the un-cocked position. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The crossbow de-cocking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein:
 the winch assembly includes a clutch gear assembly that is selectively operatively engageable to the drive gear; and 
 the clutch gear assembly is adapted to enable the drive gear to rotate:
 (a) freely in the spool in direction; and 
 (b) subject to a damping load in the spool out direction. 
 
 
     
     
         3 . The crossbow de-cocking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first rotational input is at least 360 degrees. 
 
     
     
         4 . The crossbow de-cocking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein:
 the winch assembly includes a manually rotatable crank handle that provides the first rotational input and the second rotational input. 
 
     
     
         5 . The crossbow de-cocking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein:
 the winch assembly is pawl-less. 
 
     
     
         6 . The crossbow de-cocking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein:
 the winch assembly includes a spool gear operatively engaged to the spool; 
 the spool gear has spool gear teeth; 
 the drive gear has drive gear teeth; and 
 the spool gear teeth engage the drive gear teeth so that rotation of the drive gear causes the spool gear to rotate causing the spool to rotate. 
 
     
     
         7 . The crossbow de-cocking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein:
 the drive gear rotates with a drive shaft; 
 the winch assembly includes a pressure plate gear; 
 when the clutch gear assembly is operatively engaged to the drive gear, the drive gear and pressure plate gear rotate together with the drive shaft; and 
 when the clutch gear assembly is operatively disengaged from the drive gear, the pressure plate gear does not rotate with the drive shaft. 
 
     
     
         8 . The crossbow de-cocking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the clutch gear assembly includes:
 a plate gear; 
 a one way bearing selectively rotatable in only one direction with respect to the winch housing; and 
 a brake gear:
 1) operatively engaged with the plate gear; 
 2) operatively engaged with the one way bearing; and 
 3) selectively rotatable in the only one direction with respect to the winch housing. 
 
 
     
     
         9 . The crossbow de-cocking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein:
 when the clutch gear assembly is operatively engaged to the drive gear and the bowstring is positioned between the cocked position and the un-cocked position, defined as an intermediate bowstring position: removal of rotational input to the winch assembly results in the bowstring remaining in the intermediate bowstring position. 
 
     
     
         10 . The crossbow de-cocking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein:
 the drive gear rotates with a drive shaft; 
 the drive shaft has threads; and 
 the clutch gear assembly includes a receiver having threads that engage the drive shaft threads; 
 the receiver is adapted when rotated sufficiently:
 1) in a first receiver direction with respect to the drive shaft, to operatively engage the clutch gear assembly to the drive gear; and 
 2) in a second receiver direction with respect to the drive shaft, opposite the first receiver direction, to operatively disengage the clutch gear assembly from the drive gear. 
 
 
     
     
         11 . The crossbow de-cocking mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the trigger latch mechanism includes:
 a manually engageable surface that is selectively manually pressable to provide a trigger latch force to move the trigger latch into the first trigger latch position. 
 
     
     
         12 . A crossbow de-cocking method for use with an associated crossbow including: a longitudinally extending main beam; and a bowstring movable between: (a) an un-cocked position; and (b) a cocked position; the crossbow de-cocking method comprising the steps of:
 A) providing a trigger mechanism including a string catch;   B) providing a trigger latch;   C) providing a winch assembly including:
 1) a spool selectively rotatable in a spool in direction and a spool out direction; 
 2) a tensile member having a first end operatively engaged with the spool; and 
 3) a drive gear operatively engaged to the spool; 
   D) providing the trigger mechanism to be selectively movable along the main beam;   E) providing the string catch is selectively movable between:
 1) a first string catch position that does not hold the bowstring; and 
 2) a second string catch position that holds the bowstring; 
   F) providing the trigger latch to be selectively movable between:
 1) a first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger mechanism; and 
 2) a second trigger latch position that engages the trigger mechanism to hold the trigger mechanism to the main beam; 
   G) providing the tensile member with a second end operatively engaged with the trigger mechanism;   H) providing the winch assembly, when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the second trigger latch position holding the trigger mechanism to the main beam, and the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring; to be selectively operable:
 1) to receive a first rotational input to rotate the drive gear in the spool in direction; to 
 2) rotate the spool; to 
 3) apply tension to the tensile member; to 
 4) move the trigger latch into the first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger mechanism; and 
   I) providing the winch assembly, when the bowstring is in the cocked position, the trigger latch is in the first trigger latch position that does not engage the trigger mechanism, and the string catch is in the second string catch position holding the bowstring, to be selectively operable:
 1) to receive a second rotational input to rotate the drive gear in the spool out direction; to 
 2) rotate the spool; to 
 3) move the trigger mechanism away from the trigger latch mechanism; to 
 4) move the bowstring from the cocked position to the un-cocked position. 
   
     
     
         13 . The crossbow de-cocking method of  claim 12  wherein:
 step C includes the step of: providing the winch assembly with a clutch gear assembly that is selectively operatively engageable to the drive gear; and 
 the method further comprises the step of: providing the clutch gear assembly, when it is operatively engaged to the drive gear, to be adapted to enable the drive gear to rotate:
 1) freely in the spool in direction; and 
 2) subject to a damping load in the spool out direction. 
 
 
     
     
         14 . The crossbow de-cocking method of  claim 12  wherein:
 step C includes the steps of:
 providing the winch assembly with a spool gear operatively engaged to the spool; 
 providing the spool gear with spool gear teeth; 
 providing the drive gear with drive gear teeth; and 
 
 the method further comprises the step of: when the spool gear teeth engage the drive gear teeth, rotation of the drive gear causes the spool gear to rotate causing the spool to rotate. 
 
     
     
         15 . The crossbow de-cocking method of  claim 12  wherein:
 the drive gear rotates with a drive shaft; 
 the winch assembly includes a pressure plate gear; 
 when the clutch gear assembly is operatively engaged to the drive gear, the drive gear and pressure plate gear rotate together with the drive shaft; and 
 when the clutch gear assembly is operatively disengaged from the drive gear, the pressure plate gear does not rotate with the drive shaft. 
 
     
     
         16 . The crossbow de-cocking method of  claim 12  wherein the clutch gear assembly includes:
 a plate gear; 
 a one way bearing selectively rotatable in only one direction with respect to the winch housing; and 
 a brake gear:
 1) operatively engaged with the plate gear; 
 2) operatively engaged with the one way bearing; and 
 3) selectively rotatable in the only one direction with respect to the winch housing. 
 
 
     
     
         17 . The crossbow de-cocking method of  claim 12  wherein:
 when the clutch gear assembly is operatively engaged to the drive gear and the bowstring is positioned between the cocked position and the un-cocked position, defined as an intermediate bowstring position: removal of rotational input to the winch assembly results in the bowstring remaining in the intermediate bowstring position. 
 
     
     
         18 . The crossbow de-cocking method of  claim 12  wherein:
 the drive gear rotates with a drive shaft; 
 the drive shaft has threads; 
 the clutch gear assembly includes a receiver having threads that engage the drive shaft threads; and 
 the receiver is adapted when rotated sufficiently:
 1) in a first receiver direction with respect to the drive shaft, to operatively engage the clutch gear assembly to the drive gear; and 
 2) in a second receiver direction with respect to the drive shaft, opposite the first receiver direction, to operatively disengage the clutch gear assembly from the drive gear. 
 
 
     
     
         19 . The crossbow de-cocking method of  claim 12  wherein the trigger latch is part of a trigger latch mechanism comprising:
 a manually engageable surface that is selectively manually pressable to provide a trigger latch force to move the trigger latch into the first trigger latch position. 
 
     
     
         20 . The crossbow de-cocking method of  claim 12  wherein step C includes the step of:
 providing the winch assembly with a manually rotatable crank handle that selectively provides the first rotational input and the second rotational input.