U.S. patent number 3,581,729 [Application Number 04/829,226] was granted by the patent office on 1971-06-01 for crossbow structure.
Invention is credited to Leland L. Jones.
United States Patent |
3,581,729 |
Jones |
June 1, 1971 |
CROSSBOW STRUCTURE
Abstract
A crossbow structure for projecting an elongate feathered arrow
having a butt portion and an elongate barrel with a bow secured to
a forward or muzzle end of the elongate barrel. The barrel has a
bore having longitudinally spaced resiliently supported arrow
positioning members therein and longitudinal slots at each side of
the bore for travel of a bow string therealong. The crossbow
structure has a trigger member and linkage operatively connected to
a sear for selectively holding and releasing the bow string. A cam
safety is positioned to be selectively moved into and out of
engagement with the trigger member and an elongate safety pin is
positioned to be selectively moved into and out of engagement with
the sear for holding or releasing the bow string. The stock has an
aperture therein for access to a gripping portion adjacent the
trigger member. An upwardly biased arrow positioning member is
positioned at both the breech and the muzzle ends of the
barrel.
Inventors: |
Jones; Leland L. (Independence,
MO) |
Family
ID: |
25253904 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/829,226 |
Filed: |
June 2, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/25; 124/40;
125/35; 124/41.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B
5/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F41B
5/12 (20060101); F41B 5/00 (20060101); F41b
005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;124/25,24,22,21,35,41,40 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Browne; William R.
Claims
What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:
1. A crossbow structure for projecting a feathered arrow
comprising:
a. a crossbow stock having an elongate barrel, said barrel having a
longitudinal bore extending between a muzzle end and a breech
portion of said barrel, said barrel having a loading opening
therein communicating with said bore for receiving a feathered
arrow therein;
b. a resiliently mounted arrow positioning means within said barrel
adjacent the muzzle end of said bore for biasing an arrow upwardly
in the bore and for supporting only the nocked portion of an arrow
in a position to be discharged;
c. a resiliently mounted arrow positioning means within said barrel
adjacent the breech portion of said bore for biasing an arrow
upwardly in the bore and for supporting only the nocked portion of
an arrow in a position to be discharged;
d. longitudinal slots formed at each side of said barrel and
communicating with said bore, said slots extending between the
muzzle end and the breech portion of said barrel;
e. a bow secured to said barrel adjacent the muzzle end
thereof;
f. a bow string connected to opposite ends of said bow and
extending through said slots for traveling therealong;
g. sear means within said barrel for selectively retaining and
releasing said bow string; and
h. trigger means operatively engaging said sear means for effecting
release of said bow string.
2. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sear
means includes:
a. a sear guideway extending in a line transversely of the breech
portion of the longitudinal slots and adjacent a rear end of the
bore;
b. an elongate rod having a bevelled upper end movable within said
sear guideway;
c. a flange adjacent a lower end of said sear rod, said flange
being engaged by said trigger means for moving said rod; and
d. resilient means within said stock engaging said flange for
urging said sear rod into a nonfiring position.
3. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 2 including:
a. an elongate safety pin engageable with said sear flange for
holding said sear rod in the nonfiring position;
b. a notch in said safety pin sized to permit said sear flange to
move therethrough; and
c. keeper means engageable with said safety pin for selectively
holding same in engagement with said sear flange and for holding
said safety pin in position having said notch therein positioned to
permit said sear flange to move therethrough.
4. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein:
a. said safety pin has a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses
therein to receive said keeper means; and
b. said keeper means is a resilient member sized to be selectively
received within said recesses in said safety pin.
5. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said
trigger means includes:
a. a trigger guideway within said stock communicating with said
sear guideway;
b. a trigger member pivotally mounted within said trigger guideway,
said trigger member having a lug portion extending therefrom;
and
c. an elongate lever within said trigger guideway, said lever being
pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and having one end engaging
said lug portion of said trigger member and the other end engaging
said sear flange for moving said sear out of engagement with said
bow string.
6. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 5 including:
a. a notch in an edge of said trigger member; and
b. a rotatably mounted cam safety positioned to be selectively
moved into said notch whereby said cam safety engages and positions
said trigger member in a nonfiring position.
7. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 6 including:
a. resilient means engaging said trigger member and said trigger
guideway for positioning said notch in said trigger member to
receive said cam safety;
b. friction means associated with said cam safety for retaining
same in an adjusted position; and
c. a recess in one side of said stock for said cam safety, said
recess being sized to permit said cam safety to move between a safe
position in said notch and a firing position out of said notch.
8. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 7 wherein:
a. said trigger member is a planar member having a forward edge and
a rear edge;
b. said notch is in said forward edge of said trigger member;
c. said lug portion of said trigger member extends rearwardly from
said rear edge of said trigger member; and
d. said sear rod is positioned rearwardly of said trigger
member.
9. A crossbow structure for projecting a feathered arrow
comprising:
a. a crossbow stock having an elongate barrel, said barrel having a
longitudinal bore extending between a muzzle end and a breech
portion of said barrel, said barrel having a loading opening
therein communicating with said bore for receiving a feathered
arrow therein;
b. arrow positioning members within said barrel, a plurality of
resilient means associated with said arrow positioning members
whereby said arrow positioning members are biased upwardly to force
different diameter arrows into engagement with the bore of the
barrel;
c. guide means associated with said arrow positioning members for
confining movement thereof to a path extending transversely of said
bore;
d. longitudinal slots formed at each side of said barrel and
communicating with said bore, said slots extending between the
muzzle end and the breech portion of said barrel;
e. a bow secured to said barrel adjacent the muzzle end
thereof;
f. a bow string connected to opposite ends of said bow and
extending through said slots for traveling therealong;
g. a sear guideway extending in a line transversely of the breech
portion of the longitudinal slots and adjacent a rear end of the
bore;
h. a sear slidably mounted in said sear guideway and extendible
across the breech portion of said slots to engage and retain said
bow string when said bow is in bow-cocking position; and
i. trigger and linkage means operatively engaging said sear for
linear retracting movement of said sear to release said bow
string.
10. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 9 including:
a. an aperture through said stock adjacent said breech portion,
said aperture being sized to permit entry of at least a portion of
one hand of a person using the crossbow structure; and
b. a gripping portion in said stock adjacent said trigger means,
said gripping portion forming a portion of the surfaces defining
said aperture.
11. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 10 wherein said
trigger and linkage means include:
a. a trigger linkage guideway within said gripping portion of said
stock, said trigger linkage guideway communicating with said gear
guideway;
b. a trigger member pivotally mounted within said trigger guideway,
said trigger member having a lug portion extending therefrom;
and
c. an elongate lever within said trigger linkage guideway, said
lever being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and having one
end engaging said lug portion of said trigger member and the other
end engaging said sear whereby movement of said trigger member is
operative to move said sear out of engagement with said bow string.
Description
The present invention relates to crossbows and the like for
propelling arrows or similar projectiles through a bore toward a
target and more particularly to such crossbows having novel arrow
positioning members, a novel trigger member and firing linkage, and
novel safety members associated therewith.
The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a
crossbow structure having an elongate stock with a butt portion and
an elongate barrel portion and an aperture in the stock adjacent a
trigger member thereby forming a gripping portion; to provide such
a crossbow structure which will accommodate different diameter and
weight arrows; to provide such a crossbow structure having a
removable bow portion whereby the crossbow structure is adapted to
interchange bows of different strength for accurately firing arrows
of different diameters and weights; to provide such a crossbow
structure having novel positioning members for supporting and
positioning arrow shafts of different diameters and weights; to
provide such a crossbow structure having a novel trigger member and
firing linkage and novel safety members associated with the trigger
member and firing linkage for selectively holding same in a
nonfiring position and releasing same for firing a feathered arrow;
to provide such a crossbow structure which is economical to
manufacture, has simple parts which are easily removable and
stored, and is particularly well adapted to the proposed use.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent
from the following description taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration
and example certain embodiments of this invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crossbow structure embodying
features of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the crossbow structure with
portions broken away to show operating components and an arrow
being loaded therein.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 except having
the arrow in position for firing.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing mounting
means for the bow.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the crossbow structure.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view
showing a trigger member and firing linkage.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view
showing a forward arrow positioning member.
FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view through the crossbow
structure taken on line 8-8, FIG. 3, showing bow string release
mechanism.
FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view through the crossbow
structure taken on line 9-9, FIG. 3, showing a rear arrow
positioning member.
FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view through a barrel portion of
the crossbow structure taken on line 10-10, FIG. 3.
FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view through a muzzle end of the
barrel portion taken on line 11-11, FIG. 3, showing the forward
arrow positioning member.
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line
12-13, FIG. 6, showing safety means for a sear.
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line
13-13, FIG. 6, showing safety means for the trigger member and
firing linkage.
Referring more in detail to the drawings:
The reference numeral 1 generally designates a crossbow structure
for projecting a feathered arrow 2 toward a suitable target (not
shown). The crossbow structure 1 has an elongate stock 3 having a
butt portion 4 and an elongate barrel portion 5 having a
longitudinal bore 6 extending from a breach portion 7 to a muzzle
end 8 of the barrel portion 5. A bow 9 is removably secured to the
barrel portion 5 adjacent the muzzle end 8 thereof and the bow 9
has a bow string 10 connected to opposite ends of the bow 9 and
extending through longitudinal slots 11 and 12 formed at opposite
sides of the barrel portion 5 and communicating with the bore 6.
The bow string 10 is adapted to be engaged with the feathered arrow
2 or a like projectile for propelling same to the target (not
shown).
In the illustrated structure, the stock 3 is generally in the form
of a modified rifle with the butt portion 4 being adapted to be
placed against and engaged with a person's shoulder and the barrel
portion 5 supported whereby the person can sight along front and
rear sights 13 and 14 respectively mounted on the barrel portion 5
in aiming the crossbow structure 1 for flight of the arrow 2 toward
the desired target when the bow string 10 is released, as
hereinafter described.
The bore 6 extends longitudinally from the breech portion 7 to the
muzzle end 8 of the barrel portion 5 and is adapted to receive
support and guide the feathered arrow 2. The bore 6 preferably has
an arcuate or concave trough-shaped bottom portion 15 for
substantially the full length thereof with longitudinally spaced
arrow positioning members 16 and 17 in the breech portion 7 and the
muzzle end 8, respectively. The bottom portion 15 is below the
arrow positioning members 16 and 17 thereby permitting the arrow to
be placed in the bore 6, as shown in FIG. 2.
Each of the arrow positioning members 16 and 17 has a longitudinal
channel or trough 18 extending the length thereof and presenting a
concave upper face for receiving a shaft portion 19 of the
feathered arrow 2 positioned in the bore 6 of the crossbow
structure. The trough-shaped, arcuate bottom portion 15 of the bore
6 terminates at the sides thereof in longitudinally extending lands
20 that are slightly below the channel or trough portion 18 of the
arrow positioning members 16 and 17 whereby the lands 20 are
engaged by outer extremities 21 of lower guide vanes or feathers 22
that extend laterally outwardly from a rear portion of the arrow 2.
The bore 6 is particularly adapted for arrows having two lower
guides or feathers 22 and a third upper or upright guide or feather
23 with the guides or feathers 22 and 23 being circumferentially
spaced around the periphery of a rear portion of the arrow.
The bore 6 has a longitudinal slot 24 in an upper portion thereof
with the slot 24 extending between the breech portion 7 and the
muzzle end 8 and is of a suitable size for freely passing the upper
feather or guide 23 as the arrow is projected from the bore 6. On
lower opposite sides of the longitudinal slot 24 there are
arcuately curved surfaces 25 and 26 which extend the length of the
slot 24 for cooperating with the channel or trough 18 in the arrow
positioning member 17 in the forward or muzzle end 8 to engage
forward portions of the arrow shaft portion 19 of the arrow 2
positioned in the bore 6 thereby providing a three land engagement
or bore portion for the arrow 2 which forms the guiding engagement
for the arrow as it is projected from the bore 6.
The longitudinal slots 11 and 12 are each defined by upper and
lower surfaces 27 and 28, respectively, with the upper surfaces 27
being generally horizontal and intersecting the curved surfaces 25
and 26. The lower surface 28 of the slots 11 and 12 is preferably
arranged in a longitudinal plane that forms a uniform supporting
engagement to the bow string 10 when the bow string is engaged in a
rear recess 30 of an arrow nock 31.
A portion of the longitudinal slot 24 extending from the rear of
the forward arrow positioning member 17 to a loading opening 32 is
enlarged, as indicated at 33 in FIG. 6, to a width slightly greater
than the diameter of the arrow shaft 19 to serve as a guide
therefor during loading. The length of the enlarged portion 33 of
the longitudinal slot 24 between a forward end of the loading
opening 32 and adjacent a rear end of the arrow positioning member
17 provides for receiving the arrow shaft into the bore 6 from
above and through the loading opening 32, as illustrated in FIG.
2.
The muzzle end 8 of the barrel portion 5 is reinforced with
stiffeners 34 to strengthen said muzzle end 8 against stresses
therein caused by flexure of the bow 9. The bow 9 is preferably
removably mounted and secured to the muzzle end 8 of the barrel
portion 5. In the illustrated structure, the bow 9 has a notch 35
in a top side thereof positioned at the center. The notch 35 is
shaped to receive a flange 36 extending forwardly from an upper
surface of the muzzle end 8 of the barrel portion 5 whereby the bow
9 may be secured thereto as by a plurality of screws or bolts 37
extending through the flange 36 and notched portion of the bow
9.
The notch 35 in the bow 9 has a generally horizontal surface 38
having a recess 39 therein aligned with the bore 6 for supporting a
forward or head end of the arrow shaft 19 permitting the lower
guide vanes or feathers 22 to pass through the center portion of
the bow 9. The flange 36 has the longitudinal slot 24 extending
along a lower surface thereof for passage of the third or upper
feather or guide vane 23. The arcuate or curved surfaces 25 and 26
extend along the slot 24 of the flange 36 to engage upper portions
of the arrow shaft 19 when the arrow is projected from the crossbow
structure 1, thereby continuing the upper land engagement with the
arrow shaft 19 for guiding same as it is projected from the
crossbow structure 1.
The bow string 10 extends through the longitudinal slots 11 and 12
and is connected to opposite ends 43 and 44 of the bow 9 as in
conventional practice. The length of the bow string 10 and initial
tensioning on the bow 9 may be adjusted whereby a desired pull on
the bow is necessary to draw the bow string 10 rearwardly in the
slots 11 and 12 to a cocked position, as later described. In order
to fire a feathered arrow 2 from the crossbow structure 1, the bow
string 10 must be drawn back and engaged with and retained by a
sear 45 before the arrow 2 is inserted into the bow. A trigger
mechanism 46 operatively engages the sear 45 for actuating same in
releasing the bow string 10 from the sear 45.
In the illustrated structure, the trigger mechanism 46 is mounted
in a lower portion of the stock 3 adjacent the breech end of the
barrel portion 5 which has a longitudinally slotted recess 47 to
receive a trigger member 48. The trigger member 48 is a planar
member having a forward edge 49 and a rear edge 50. The forward
edge 49 of the trigger member 48 has a notch 51 for receiving a cam
safety 52, as later described, and the rear edge 50 of the trigger
member 48 has an enlarged lug portion 53. The trigger member 48 is
pivotally mounted in the slotted recess 47, as by a pin 54 which is
received in the stock 3. As in conventional practice, the trigger
member 48 is enclosed within a suitable trigger guard 46' and only
a lower end portion of the trigger member 48 extends below the
lower portion of the stock 3 and into the space protected by the
trigger guard 46'.
A trigger linkage guideway 55 communicates with the slotted recess
47 and extends longitudinally rearwardly and communicates with a
sear guideway 56, as later described. A forward end 57 of an
elongate, pivotally mounted lever 58 engages the lug portion 53 of
the trigger member 48 and a rear end 59 of the lever 58 extends
into the sear guideway 56 for effecting retractive movement of the
sear 45 for releasing the bow string 10.
The sear guideway 56 extends in a line transversely of the breech
portion 7 of the longitudinal slots 11 and 12 and is adjacent a
rear end of the bore 6 and the sear guideway 56 has upper and lower
bore portions 61 and 62 above and below, respectively, the slots 11
and 12. The sear 45 is illustrated as an elongate planar rod or
shaft slidably mounted in the sear guideway 56 and extendible
across the breech portion of the slots 11 and 12 and into the upper
bore portion 61 to engage and retain the bow string 10 when the bow
9 is in bow-cocking position. The planar sear rod is positioned
rearwardly of the trigger member 48 and forwardly of the rear of
the slots 11 and 12 whereby the bow string 10 may be moved behind
the sear 45 when in cocked position. The elongate sear rod has a
beveled upper end 63 urged into the upper bore portion 61 by a
suitable resilient member 64.
In the illustrated structure, the sear flange 60 is positioned
adjacent a lower end of the sear rod and the resilient member 64 is
an elongate spiral spring sleeved on a lower end of the sear 45 and
having one end engaging a lower surface of the sear flange 60 and
the other end engaging a lower end of the sear guideway 56 which is
illustrated as a plug 56'.
The beveled upper end 63 of the sear 45 is slanted upwardly from a
forward edge thereof to facilitate camming the sear 45 downwardly
below the slots 11 and 12 so the bow string 10 will move thereover
and the upper end 63 is also rounded at the rear thereof to
facilitate the bow string 10 being released from the sear 45 when
same is moved downwardly below the longitudinal slots 11 and 12 by
a rearward pull on the lower portion of the trigger member 48. One
end of a spring 48' is connected to an upper portion 50' of the
trigger member 48 for positioning the notch 51 to receive the cam
safety 52. The other end of the spring 48' is received in an upper
surface of the recess 47 whereby rearward pull on the lower portion
of the trigger member 48 must overcome resistance of the spring 48'
thereby providing for a smooth trigger pull as compared to a
trigger jerk which destroys aiming accuracy.
The cam safety 52 is engageable with the trigger member 48 to
prevent accidental firing. The cam safety 52 is illustrated as a
planar member movable into and out of the notch 51 and has an end
portion extending outwardly through a recess 65 in one side of the
stock 3. The cam safety 52 is mounted on a pin 66 which is
rotatably mounted in the lower breech portion of the stock. The pin
66 is frictionally retained in a suitable sleeve 66' mounted in the
stock 3 for holding the safety 52 in a safe or firing position. A
keeper in the form of a washer or enlarged portion is positioned to
maintain the safety 52 on the pin 66.
An elongate safety pin 67 is slidably mounted in the stock 3
adjacent the sear 45 and is adapted to be engageable with a lower
surface of the sear flange 60 for holding the sear 45 in a
nonfiring or safe position. The safety pin 67 has a notch or recess
68 in the side adjacent the sear 45 with the notch or recess 68
being sized to permit the sear flange 60 to move therethrough
thereby permitting firing of the feathered arrow 2 when the safety
pin 67 has been moved out of engagement with the sear flange 60.
The pin 67 is a planar member having a pair of spaced recesses
positioned to receive a resilient keeper member 67' within the
stock 3 adjacent the sear guideway 56. When the keeper 67' is
engaged in one of the recesses, the notch 68 is positioned to
permit the sear flange 60 to move therethrough and when the keeper
67' is engaged in the other recess in the safety pin 67, the pin 67
is positioned below and engaging the sear flange 60 thereby
preventing accidental firing.
When the cam safety 52 is engaged in the notch 51 of the trigger
member 48 and the safety pin 67 is positioned to engage a lower
surface of the sear flange 60, rearward movement of the trigger
member 48 is prevented and the beveled upper end 63 of the sear 45
is maintained in the nonfiring position extending above the slots
11 and 12 so that the bow string 10 cannot move thereover until the
safeties 52 and 67 are adjusted and a lower portion of the trigger
member 48 is moved rearwardly.
The barrel portion 5 is illustrated as formed of a plurality of
pieces or sections to facilitate manufacture and particularly the
shaping of the interior of the bore 6 and the slotted recess 47,
trigger linkage guideway 55, and sear guideway 56.
In the illustrated structure, an aperture 69 extends through the
stock 3 and is positioned between the slotted recess 47 and the
breech portion 7 of the barrel and forwardly of the sear guideway
56 thereby forming a gripping portion 70 which surrounds the
trigger linkage guideway 57. The aperture 69 is sized to provide
entry for the hand of a person using the crossbow structure 1.
In using a crossbow structure constructed as described herein, a
bow 9 having the desired strength for firing the selected weight
and diameter arrow is mounted at the muzzle end 8 by engaging the
flange 36 in the notch 35 and installing the bolts or screws 37.
The bow string 10 is then inserted through the longitudinal slots
11 and 12 whereby it extends transversely of the bore 6 and the bow
string 10 is secured to the opposite ends 43 and 44 of the bow with
a suitable string length therebetween to provide the desired
initial tension therein and pull for the bow. Prior to moving the
bow string 10 rearwardly the cam safety 52 is disengaged from the
notch 51 of the trigger member 48 and the safety pin 67 is
positioned to allow the sear flange 60 to move through the notch or
recess 68 in the safety pin 67. The butt portion 4 may then be
placed against any suitable obstruction for application of
substantial force to the bow string 10 for moving same rearwardly
through the slots 11 and 12 to move over the beveled upper end 63
of the sear 45. The bow string 10 is then pulled rearwardly toward
the breech portion 7 of the bore 6 and slots 11 and 12 and the sear
45 partially moved downwardly against the force of the resilient
member 64 so that the string 10 will cam up and over the beveled
upper end 63 of the sear 45 and be positioned and retained
therebehind. The bow string 10 must be retained by the sear 45
during the loading of the selected arrow 2 and accidental release
of the bow string prior to complete loading of the arrow would be
ineffective in propelling the arrow. The resilient member or sear
spring 64 then urges the sear 45 longitudinally upwardly into the
upper bore portion 61 so that the bow string 10 is retained in a
cocked position. The cam safety 52 and the safety pin 67 are then
each moved into their nonfiring or safe positions engaging the
trigger member 48 and the sear flange 60, respectively.
A head or forward end of the selected weight and diameter feathered
arrow 2 is then inserted through the loading opening 32 of the
breech and moved forwardly along the bore 6 as illustrated in FIG.
2 whereby the head passes through the forward end of the bow and is
engaged by the forward arrow positioning member 17.
The arrow shaft 19 engages the beveled enlarged portion 33 of the
slot 24 adjacent the forward end of the loading opening 32. The
enlarged portion 33 and the rear end of the forward arrow
positioning member 17 are grooved to cooperate in guiding the arrow
into the bore 6 and into the channel or trough 18 in the forward
arrow positioning member 17. The loading opening 32 is of
substantially less length than the selected arrow 2 to be projected
from the crossbow structure 1 and the length thereof permits the
loading movement of the arrow and when the arrow is moved into the
bore 6 the guide feathers will freely move through the opening to
permit the rear portion of the shaft to drop into the trough or
channel 18 in the rear arrow positioning member 16.
The arrow positioning members 16 and 17 are urged upwardly or
toward the top of the bore 6 by suitable resilient members 72 and
73, respectively. The movement of the arrow positioning members 16
and 17 is confined to a vertical path by pins 74 and 75,
respectively, extending into vertically extending slots 76 and 77
at the breech portion 7 and the muzzle end 8, respectively. The
resilient members 72 associated with the rear arrow positioning
members 16 raise same vertically to a position having the nock 31
just forwardly of the sear 45 and the rear recess 30 in a position
extending transversely of the bore 6 and positioned in a plane
defined by the bow string 10 so that when the bow string is
released it will immediately move into the nick or recess 30. In
this position, the outer portions or extremities 21 of the guide
feathers or vanes 22 lightly rest on the lands or surfaces 20 to
give stability to the arrow 2. The resilient members 72 associated
with the rear arrow positioning member 16 and the resilient members
73 associated with the forward arrow positioning member 17 urge the
arrow upwardly into engagement with the curved or arcuate surfaces
25 and 26 of the longitudinal slot 24 thereby providing guidance
for the arrow when fired from the crossbow structure 1. The arrow
supported in the channel or trough 18 of the arrow positioning
members 16 and 17 and engaging the curved surfaces 25 and 26 of the
bore 6 and the flange 36 is then ready for firing upon release of
the safeties 52 and 67 and placing the butt end 4 against the
shoulder of a person firing the crossbow structure so that the
person can sight through the front and rear sights 13 and 14 to the
target (not shown). The gripping portion 70 is grasped in such a
manner that one finger engages a lower end of the trigger member 48
and when the structure 1 is properly aimed, said trigger lower
portion is pulled rearwardly, driving the sear 45 downwardly,
thereby releasing the bow string 10 which moves into engagement
with the rear recess 30 in the nock of the arrow. The bow string
then in its forwardly propelling movement supports the rear of the
arrow 2 so that in the movement of the arrow forwardly through the
bore 6, the guide feathers provide stability while the bow string
is the main support that cooperates with the lands at the muzzle
end for guiding the arrow as it is propelled from the bore. As the
guide feathers move outwardly through the muzzle portion of the
bore, the lateral and vertical portions are as illustrated in FIG.
11 so there is no interference in the launching of the selected
arrow.
The structure illustrated and described permits the use of long
conventional arrows that are more easily found after firing than
are short darts. Also, it permits the interchange of a plurality of
bows of different strengths for use with respective different
weights and diameter arrows.
It is to be understood that, while I have illustrated and described
one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific
form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.
* * * * *