Arrow loading guide

Abstract

An arrow loading guide configured for enabling an archer to correctly load and nock an arrow or bolt using tactical feedback only, i.e., without “watching” the process. The arrow loading guide includes a central bore for receiving at least a portion of a shaft of an arrow or bolt, a plurality of radial slots extending from the central bore, and a pair of opposing slots extending from the central bore and through an exterior surface of the arrow loading guide. Each radial slot is configured for receiving at least a portion of a vane coupled to the shaft of the arrow or bolt. The pair of opposing slots are configured for receiving at least a portion of a bowstring.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An arrow loading guide for a crossbow, the arrow loading guide comprising:
 a central bore for receiving at least a portion of a shaft of an arrow;   a plurality of radial slots extending from the central bore, each radial slot configured for receiving at least a portion of a vane coupled to the shaft of the arrow; and   a pair of opposing slots extending from the central bore and through an exterior surface of the arrow loading guide, the opposing slots configured for receiving at least a portion of a bowstring.   
     
     
         2 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 1 , comprising a bowstring hook defined at least in part by a front section and a rear section, wherein the front section extends into the central bore and engages the bowstring when a force is applied on the rear section. 
     
     
         3 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 2 , wherein the force is applied by the bowstring extending through the opposing slots. 
     
     
         4 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 2 , comprising a bowstring arrester biased to extend into the central bore. 
     
     
         5 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 4 , wherein the bowstring entering the opposing channels momentarily retracts the bowstring arrester from the central bore. 
     
     
         6 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 4 , wherein the bowstring arrester retracts from the central bore when the shaft of the arrow is inserted in the central bore. 
     
     
         7 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 4 , wherein the bowstring arrester arrests the bowstring while the bowstring arrester extends into the central bore. 
     
     
         8 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 4 , comprising a firing system operatively coupled to the bowstring hook, wherein the front section and the bowstring dis-engage when a trigger is pulled. 
     
     
         9 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 8 , comprising a retractor operable to retract the bowstring. 
     
     
         10 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 8 , comprising a retractor operable to retract the arrow loading guide. 
     
     
         11 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 10 , comprising a pair of channels on opposite sides of the arrow loading guide, the channels configured for slidable engagement with a pair of substantially parallel rails disposed on the crossbow. 
     
     
         12 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 10 , comprising an arrow rest disposed distal of the arrow loading guide, the arrow rest configured for supporting at least a portion of the shaft of the arrow. 
     
     
         13 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 8 , comprising an arrow rest disposed distal of the arrow loading guide, the arrow rest configured for supporting at least a portion of the shaft of the arrow. 
     
     
         14 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 4 , comprising a retractor operable to retract the arrow loading guide. 
     
     
         15 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 14 , comprising a pair of channels on opposite sides of the arrow loading guide, the channels configured for slidable engagement with a pair of substantially parallel rails disposed on the crossbow. 
     
     
         16 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 14 , comprising an arrow rest disposed distal of the arrow loading guide, the arrow rest configured for supporting at least a portion of the shaft of the arrow. 
     
     
         17 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 4 , comprising a retractor operable to retract the bowstring. 
     
     
         18 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 4 , comprising an arrow rest disposed distal of the arrow loading guide, the arrow rest configured for supporting at least a portion of the shaft of the arrow. 
     
     
         19 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 2 , comprising an arrow rest disposed distal of the arrow loading guide, the arrow rest configured for supporting at least a portion of the shaft of the arrow. 
     
     
         20 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 2 , comprising a firing system operatively coupled to the bowstring hook, wherein the front section and the bowstring dis-engage when a trigger is pulled. 
     
     
         21 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 20 , comprising an arrow rest disposed distal of the arrow loading guide, the arrow rest configured for supporting at least a portion of the shaft of the arrow. 
     
     
         22 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 20 , comprising a retractor operable to retract the arrow loading guide. 
     
     
         23 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 22 , comprising a pair of channels on opposite sides of the arrow loading guide, the channels configured for slidable engagement with a pair of substantially parallel rails disposed on the crossbow. 
     
     
         24 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 20 , comprising a retractor operable to retract the bowstring. 
     
     
         25 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 1 , comprising a bowstring arrester biased to extend into the central bore. 
     
     
         26 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 25 , wherein the bowstring entering the opposing channels momentarily retracts the bowstring arrester from the central bore. 
     
     
         27 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 25 , wherein the bowstring arrester retracts from the central bore when the shaft of the arrow is inserted in the central bore. 
     
     
         28 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 25 , wherein the bowstring arrester arrests the bowstring while the bowstring arrester extends into the central bore. 
     
     
         29 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 25 , comprising an arrow rest disposed distal of the arrow loading guide, the arrow rest configured for supporting at least a portion of the shaft of the arrow. 
     
     
         30 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 1 , comprising a retractor operable to retract the arrow loading guide. 
     
     
         31 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 30 , comprising a pair of channels on opposite sides of the arrow loading guide, the channels configured for slidable engagement with a pair of substantially parallel rails disposed on the crossbow. 
     
     
         32 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 1 , comprising a pair of channels on opposite sides of the arrow loading guide, the channels configured for slidable engagement with a pair of substantially parallel rails disposed on the crossbow. 
     
     
         33 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 1 , comprising a retractor operable to retract the bowstring. 
     
     
         34 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 1 , comprising an arrow rest disposed distal of the arrow loading guide, the arrow rest configured for supporting at least a portion of the shaft of the arrow. 
     
     
         35 . The arrow loading guide of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of radial slots are equally spaced.