Firing system for a crossbow

Abstract

A firing system for a crossbow includes a bowstring carrier and a trigger assembly. The bowstring carrier includes a sear and a catch. The trigger assembly includes a trigger and a trigger roller. An embodiment of the firing system includes a bowstring carrier, a trigger assembly, and a dry-fire inhibitor. Another embodiment of the firing system includes a bowstring carrier, a trigger assembly, and a safety. Yet another embodiment of the firing system includes a bowstring carrier, a trigger assembly, a dry-fire inhibitor, a safety, and a safety reset.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firing system for a crossbow, the firing system comprising: a bowstring carrier, comprising
 a sear operable between a cocked position and an un-cocked position; and   a catch operable between a locked position and an un-locked position; wherein,
 the sear and the catch are operatively coupled; 
 the sear is biased towards the un-cocked position; and the catch is biased towards the un-locked position; and 
   a trigger assembly comprising
 a trigger operable between a cocked position and an un-cocked position; and 
 a trigger roller; wherein,
 the trigger and the trigger roller are operatively coupled; and the trigger is biased towards the cocked position. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The firing system of  claim 1 , wherein pressing a bowstring against the un-locked catch concurrently locks the catch around the bowstring and cocks the sear. 
     
     
         3 . The firing system of  claim 2 , wherein the sear and the trigger roller are operatively coupled and the trigger is cocked when the bowstring carrier with the cocked sear is at a proximal end of the crossbow. 
     
     
         4 . The firing system of  claim 3 , comprising a safety operable between an activated position and a de-activated position, wherein pulling the trigger with the safety de-activated un-locks the catch; and the trigger is inhibited from being pulled when the safety is activated. 
     
     
         5 . The firing system of  claim 4 , comprising a dry-fire inhibitor operable between an activated position and a de-activated position, wherein the dry-fire inhibitor is biased towards the activated position configured to arrest the bowstring if the catch is un-locked without a bolt nocked onto the bowstring. 
     
     
         6 . The firing system of  claim 4 , comprising a safety reset configured for operating the safety between the activated and de-activated positions, wherein the safety reset de-activates the safety when the bowstring carrier is displaced from a proximal side of the safety reset to a distal side of the safety reset; and
 the safety reset activates the safety when the bowstring carrier is displaced from the distal side of the safety reset to the proximal side of the safety reset.   
     
     
         7 . The firing system of  claim 2 , comprising a dry-fire inhibitor operable between an activated position and a de-activated position, wherein the dry-fire inhibitor is biased towards the activated position configured to arrest the bowstring if the catch is un-locked without a bolt nocked onto the bowstring. 
     
     
         8 . The firing system of  claim 1 , comprising a safety operable between an activated position ( 88 ) and a de-activated position, wherein
 pressing a bowstring against the un-locked catch with the safety de-activated concurrently locks the catch around the bowstring and cocks the sear; and   the catch is inhibited from locking when the bowstring is pressed against the un-locked catch with the safety activated.   
     
     
         9 . The firing system of  claim 8 , wherein
 the sear and the trigger roller are operatively coupled and the trigger is cocked when the bowstring carrier is at a proximal end of the crossbow with the sear cocked;   pulling the trigger with the safety de-activated un-locks the catch; and the trigger is inhibited from being pulled when the safety is activated.   
     
     
         10 . The firing system of  claim 9 , comprising a dry-fire inhibitor operable between an activated position and a de-activated position, wherein the dry-fire inhibitor is biased towards the activated position configured to arrest the bowstring if the catch is un-locked without a bolt nocked onto the bowstring. 
     
     
         11 . The firing system of  claim 8 , comprising a safety reset configured for operating the safety between the activated and de-activated positions, wherein
 the safety reset de-activates the safety when the bowstring carrier is displaced from a proximal side of the safety reset to a distal side of the safety reset; and   the safety reset activates the safety when the bowstring carrier is displaced from the distal side of the safety reset to the proximal side of the safety reset.   
     
     
         12 . The firing system of  claim 1 , comprising a pair of substantially parallel rails extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the crossbow, wherein the bowstring carrier is configured for sliding along the rails. 
     
     
         13 . The firing system of  claim 1 , comprising a retractor comprising a strap attached to the bowstring carrier, wherein
 the retractor is operable to pull the bowstring carrier to a proximal end of the crossbow and retain the bowstring carrier abutting at least a portion of the trigger assembly; and   the retractor is operable to unwind the strap whereby the bowstring carrier is displaceable towards a distal end of the crossbow.   
     
     
         14 . The firing system of  claim 1 , comprising a dry-fire inhibitor operable between an activated position and a de-activated position, wherein the dry-fire inhibitor is biased towards the activated position configured to arrest a drawn bowstring if the bowstring is released without a bolt nocked thereon. 
     
     
         15 . A firing system for a crossbow, the firing system comprising: a bowstring carrier comprising
 a sear operable between a cocked position and an un-cocked position; and   a catch operable between a locked position and an un-locked position; wherein,
 the sear and the catch are operatively coupled; 
 the sear is biased towards the un-cocked position; and 
 the catch is biased towards the un-locked position; 
   a trigger assembly comprising
 a trigger operable between a cocked position and an un-cocked position; and 
 a trigger roller; wherein,
 the trigger and the trigger roller are operatively coupled; the trigger is biased towards the cocked position; and 
 the trigger roller and the sear are operatively coupled when the bowstring carrier with the cocked sear is at a proximal end of the crossbow; and 
 
   a dry-fire inhibitor operable between an activated position and a de-activated position, wherein the dry-fire inhibitor is biased towards the activated position.   
     
     
         16 . A firing system for a crossbow, the firing system comprising:
 a bowstring carrier comprising:
 a sear operable between a cocked position and an un-cocked position; and 
 a catch operable between a locked position and an un-locked position; wherein,
 the sear and the catch are operatively coupled; 
 the sear is biased towards the un-cocked position; and the catch is biased towards the un-locked position; 
 
   a trigger assembly comprising
 a trigger operable between a cocked position and an un-cocked position; and 
 a trigger roller; wherein,
 the trigger and the trigger roller are operatively coupled; the trigger is biased towards the cocked position; and 
 the trigger roller and the sear are operatively coupled when the bowstring carrier with the cocked sear is at a proximal end of the crossbow; and 
 
   a safety operable between an activated position and a de-activated position.   
     
     
         17 . A firing system for a crossbow, the firing system comprising: a bowstring carrier comprising
 a sear operable between a cocked position and an un-cocked position; and   a catch operable between a locked position and an un-locked position; wherein,
 the sear and the catch are operatively coupled; 
 the sear is biased towards the un-cocked position; and the catch is biased towards the un-locked position; 
   a trigger assembly comprising
 a trigger operable between a cocked position and an un-cocked position; and 
 a trigger roller; wherein,
 the trigger and the trigger roller are operatively coupled; the trigger is biased towards the cocked position; and 
 the trigger roller and the sear are operatively coupled when the bowstring carrier with the cocked sear is at a proximal end of the crossbow; 
 
   a dry-fire inhibitor operable between an activated position and a de-activated position, wherein the dry-fire inhibitor is biased towards the activated position;   a safety operable between an activated position and a de-activated position; and   a safety reset configured for operating the safety between the activated and de-activated positions.   
     
     
         18 . The firing system of  claim 17 , wherein pressing a bowstring against the un-locked catch with the safety de-activated concurrently locks the catch around the bowstring and cocks the sear. 
     
     
         19 . The firing system of  claim 18 , wherein pulling the trigger with the safety activated inhibits the catch from un-locking. 
     
     
         20 . The firing system of  claim 18 , wherein the trigger is cocked when the bowstring carrier with the cocked sear is at the proximal end of the crossbow. 
     
     
         21 . The firing system of  claim 20 , wherein pulling the trigger when the bowstring carrier is at the proximal end of the crossbow with the safety de-activated un-locks the catch. 
     
     
         22 . The firing system of  claim 21 , wherein the dry-fire inhibitor arrests the bowstring. 
     
     
         23 . The firing system of  claim 21 , wherein nocking a bolt onto the bowstring prior to pulling the trigger de-activates the dry-fire inhibitor. 
     
     
         24 . The firing system of  claim 17 , wherein pressing a bowstring against the un-locked catch with the safety activated inhibits the catch from locking. 
     
     
         25 . The firing system of  claim 17 , wherein
 the safety reset de-activates the safety when the bowstring carrier is displaced from a proximal side of the safety reset to a distal side of the safety reset; and   the safety reset activates the safety when the bowstring carrier is displaced from the distal side of the safety reset to the proximal side of the safety reset.   
     
     
         26 . The firing system of  claim 17 , comprising a retractor comprising a strap attached to the bowstring carrier. 
     
     
         27 . The firing system of  claim 26 , wherein the retractor is operable to pull the bowstring carrier to the proximal end of the crossbow and retain the bowstring carrier abutting at least a portion of the trigger assembly. 
     
     
         28 . The firing system of  claim 26 , wherein the retractor is operable to unwind the strap whereby the bowstring carrier is displaceable towards a distal end of the crossbow. 
     
     
         29 . The firing system of  claim 17 , comprising a pair of substantially parallel rails extending between the proximal and distal ends of the crossbow, wherein the bowstring carrier is configured for sliding along the rails.