Crossbow with safety lock

Abstract

A crossbow includes a drawstring extending across a projectile axis and configured to move between an undrawn position and a drawn position during operation of the crossbow, a string carrier slidably coupled with a frame and configured to selectively engage with the drawstring to move the drawstring from the undrawn position to the drawn position, a trigger operatively coupled with the string carrier and configured to cause the string carrier to selectively release the drawstring upon actuation of the trigger, and a safety operatively coupled to at least one of the string carrier and the trigger and configured to move between a safe position and a fire position, the safety configured to prevent the string carrier from releasing the drawstring with the safety in the safe position. The safety is prohibited from moving from the safe position to the fire position in absence of a condition.

1 . A crossbow, comprising:
 a frame defining a projectile axis;   a limb assembly coupled to the frame;   a first rotatable member and a second rotatable member rotatably coupled with the limb assembly;   a drawstring engaged with the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member, the drawstring extending across the projectile axis and configured to move between an undrawn position and a drawn position during operation of the crossbow;   a string carrier slidably coupled with the frame and configured to selectively engage with the drawstring to move the drawstring from the undrawn position to the drawn position;   a trigger operatively coupled with the string carrier and configured to cause the string carrier to selectively release the drawstring upon actuation of the trigger; and   a safety operatively coupled to at least one of the string carrier and the trigger and configured to move between a safe position and a fire position, the safety configured to prevent the string carrier from releasing the drawstring with the safety in the safe position;   wherein the safety is prohibited from moving from the safe position to the fire position in absence of a condition.   
     
     
         2 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , further comprising a safety lock, the safety lock configured to prohibit the safety from moving from the safe position to the fire position in absence of the condition. 
     
     
         3 . The crossbow of  claim 2 , wherein the safety lock is configured to engage with the safety to prohibit the movement of the safety;
 wherein, during operation of the crossbow, satisfaction of the condition causes the safety lock to disengage from the safety to permit movement of the safety from the safe position to the fire position.   
     
     
         4 . The crossbow of  claim 3 , wherein the safety lock engages with a protrusion when the condition is satisfied;
 wherein the protrusion causes the safety lock to disengage from the safety.   
     
     
         5 . The crossbow of  claim 4 , wherein the safety lock is disposed within the string carrier;
 wherein the protrusion extends within an opening of the string carrier to engage with the safety lock to disengage the safety lock from the safety.   
     
     
         6 . The crossbow of  claim 3 , further comprising an electromechanical actuator coupled with the safety lock, the electromechanical actuator to move the safety lock in response to a signal. 
     
     
         7 . The crossbow of  claim 6 , wherein the signal is transmitted in response to satisfaction of the condition. 
     
     
         8 . The crossbow of  claim 3 , wherein the string carrier includes a string catch movable between (i) a closed position in which the string catch engages the drawstring and (ii) an open position in which the string catch releases the drawstring. 
     
     
         9 . The crossbow of  claim 8 , wherein the string carrier includes a sear moveable between (i) an engaged position in which the sear is engaged with the string catch to retain the string catch in the closed position and (ii) a disengaged position in which the sear disengages from the string catch to move the string catch to the open position. 
     
     
         10 . The crossbow of  claim 9 , wherein the string carrier includes an anti-dry fire lockout (ADF) moveable between (i) a disengaged position in which the ADF permits movement of the sear and (ii) an engaged position in which the ADF prevents the sear from moving to the disengaged position;
 wherein satisfaction of the condition causes the safety lock to disengage from the safety such that, responsive to the trigger engaging the sear, the string catch releases the drawstring when (i) the ADF is in the disengaged position, (ii) the safety lock is in an unlocked position, and (iii) the safety is in the fire position.   
     
     
         11 . The crossbow of  claim 10 , wherein a portion of a projectile is configured to engage with the ADF to transition the ADF to the disengaged position. 
     
     
         12 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , wherein the condition is a position of the string carrier along the frame. 
     
     
         13 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , wherein the condition is a presence of a user's hand at least one of (i) away from a string path or (ii) on a foregrip of the crossbow. 
     
     
         14 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , wherein the condition is a degree of flexion of at least one limb of the limb assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , wherein the condition is a degree of rotation of the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member. 
     
     
         16 . The crossbow of  claim 1 , wherein the condition is distance between an axle of the first rotatable member and an axle of the second rotatable member. 
     
     
         17 . A crossbow, comprising:
 a frame defining a projectile axis;   a stock including a protrusion extending therefrom;   a limb assembly coupled to the frame;   a first rotatable member and a second rotatable member rotatably coupled with the limb assembly;   a drawstring engaged with the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member, the drawstring extending across the projectile axis and configured to move from an undrawn position and a drawn position during operation of the crossbow; and   a string carrier slidably coupled with the frame and configured to selectively engage with the drawstring to move the drawstring from the undrawn position to the drawn position, the string carrier including:
 a string catch movable between (i) a closed position in which the string catch engages the drawstring and (ii) an open position in which the string catch releases the drawstring; 
 a trigger operatively coupled with the string carrier and configured to cause the string carrier to selectively release the drawstring upon actuation of the trigger; 
 a sear moveable between (i) an engaged position in which the sear couples with the string catch to retain the string catch in the closed position and (ii) a disengaged position in which the sear releases the string catch to the open position; 
 an anti-dry fire lockout (ADF) moveable between (i) a disengaged position in which the ADF permits movement of the sear and (ii) an engaged position in which the ADF prevents the sear from moving to the disengaged position; 
 a safety moveable between (i) a fire position in which the safety permits movement of the sear and (ii) a safe position in which the safety prevents the sear from moving to the disengaged position; and 
 a safety lock moveable between (i) an unlocked position in which the safety lock permits movement of the safety and (ii) a locked position in which the safety lock prevents the safety from moving to the fire position; 
   wherein the trigger is configured to engage with the sear; and   wherein the protrusion is configured to engage with the safety lock to move the safety lock to the unlocked position such that, responsive to the trigger engaging the sear, the string catch releases the drawstring when (i) the ADF is in the disengaged position, (ii) the safety lock is in the unlocked position, and (iii) the safety is in the fire position.   
     
     
         18 . The crossbow of  claim 17 , wherein the string carrier includes an opening;
 wherein the protrusion is configured to extend within the opening to engage with the safety lock to disengage the safety lock from the safety.   
     
     
         19 . A string carrier slidably coupled with a crossbow and configured to selectively engage with a drawstring to move the drawstring from an undrawn position to a drawn position, the string carrier comprising:
 a string catch movable between (i) a closed position in which the string catch engages the drawstring and (ii) an open position in which the string catch releases the drawstring;   a sear moveable between (i) an engaged position in which the sear couples with the string catch to retain the string catch in the closed position and (ii) a disengaged position in which the sear releases the string catch to the open position;   an anti-dry fire lockout (ADF) moveable between (i) a disengaged position in which the ADF permits movement of the sear and (ii) an engaged position in which the ADF prevents the sear from moving to the disengaged position;   a safety moveable between (i) a fire position in which the safety permits movement of the sear and (ii) a safe position in which the safety prevents the sear from moving to the disengaged position; and   a safety lock moveable between (i) an unlocked position in which the safety lock permits movement of the safety and (ii) a locked position in which the safety lock prevents the safety from moving to the fire position;   wherein the string catch is configured to release the drawstring when (i) the ADF is in the disengaged position, (ii) the safety lock is in the unlocked position, and (iii) the safety is in the fire position.   
     
     
         20 . The string carrier of  claim 19 , further comprising an opening;
 wherein the safety lock is disposed at least partially within the opening; and   wherein a protrusion of the crossbow is configured to extend within the opening to engage with the safety lock to disengage the safety lock from the safety.