The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 04, 1997
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
William J Bednar, Akron, OH (US);
Hunter's Manufacturing Company, Suffield, OH (US);
Abstract
The invention is directed to a dry-fire prevention device for use with a crossbow. The crossbow includes a trigger mechanism which may have a guide slot into which a bowstring is drawn and retained for firing. A pivotal string catch member is positioned relative to the trigger mechanism to selectively extend into a string catching position which will catch and retain the bowstring should it be released from the trigger mechanism without an arrow in a firing position in the crossbow. The string catch member may include an arrow contacting surface to engage an arrow positioned to be fired from the crossbow, wherein, movement of the arrow to the firing position causes the string catch member to be moved out of the string catching position. This allows selective release of the bowstring from the guide slot and prevents inadvertent release when no arrow is present in the firing position. The string catch member may be manually removed from the guide slot so as not to interfere with the bowstring, allowing a convenient mechanism to uncock the crossbow without firing. In the preferred embodiment, the dry fire prevention device is automatically reset to prevent inadvertent dry firing of the crossbow after manually releasing the bowstring.