Crossbow de-cocker and related method of use

Abstract

A crossbow can include a de-cocking system to allow a bowstring to be transitioned from a drawn mode to an undrawn mode. The de-cocking system can include a sled that engages the bowstring to draw it to a drawn mode and/or lets down the bowstring to the undrawn mode during a de-cocking operation. A frame and/or the sled can include a stop that prevents the sled or bowstring from engaging a safety and/or interfering with transition of the safety from a safety on mode to a safety off mode. The safety can be manually actuated from the safety on mode to the safety off mode. With the safety in the off mode, the sled assists transition of the bowstring to the undrawn mode. The stop can be reconfigured to a neutral mode so the sled can be used to draw the bowstring. A related method is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A crossbow comprising:
 a first limb and an opposing second limb;   a bowstring extending between the first limb and the second limb;   a frame joined with the first limb and the second limb, the bowstring extending transverse to the frame and moveable between a drawn mode and an undrawn mode;   a trigger assembly joined with the frame and including a catch that is operable in a holding mode in which the catch retains the bow string in the drawn mode and a drop mode that releases the bowstring to the undrawn mode, the trigger assembly including a sear operable in a cocked mode that retains the catch in the holding mode and a fire mode that allows the catch to move to the drop mode to release the bowstring;   a safety including a forward end facing toward the catch and a rearward end facing away from the catch, the bowstring being disposed between the catch and the forward end in the drawn mode, the safety operable in a safety on mode in which the safety interferes with movement of the sear from the cocked mode to the fire mode, thereby preventing the catch from releasing the bowstring, the safety operable in a safety off mode in which the safety allows the sear to move from the cocked mode to the fire mode;   an anti-dry fire element configured to move to an open position;   a sled comprising a guide that moves along the frame when the sled engages the bowstring, a bowstring engager configured to receive the bowstring during movement of the bowstring to the drawn mode, and a protrusion that moves the anti-dry fire element to the open position when the sled is adjacent the trigger assembly; and   a first stop that is selectively operable in a neutral mode in which the first stop does not interfere with rearward movement of the sled along the frame so that the bowstring can move to the drawn mode, and in a de-cocking mode in which the first stop impairs movement of the sled toward the safety,   wherein the safety is convertible to the safety off mode when the first stop is in the de-cocking mode, so the user can transition the catch from the holding mode to the drop mode such that the user can move the bowstring from the drawn mode to the undrawn mode, thereby de-cocking the crossbow.   
     
     
         2 . The crossbow of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first stop includes a first flange and a first pivot axis about which the first flange is selectively pivotable, the first stop being joined with the frame,   wherein the first flange includes a first engagement surface,   wherein a sled engagement surface is included on the sled,   wherein the first engagement surface and the sled engagement surface contact in the de-cocking mode in which the first stop impairs movement of the sled in a rearward direction toward a stock of the crossbow.   
     
     
         3 . The crossbow of  claim 2  comprising:
 a second stop including a second flange and a second pivot axis about which the second flange is selectively pivotable, the second stop being joined with the frame distal from the first stop, 
 wherein the second flange includes a second engagement surface, 
 wherein the second engagement surface and the sled engagement surface contact distal from the first stop in the de-cocking mode. 
 
     
     
         4 . The crossbow of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the frame includes a rail,   wherein the first flange is mounted on a first side of the rail,   wherein the second flange is mounted on a second side of the rail, opposite the first flange,   wherein the first flange and the second flange are configured to simultaneously engage the stop engagement surface in the de-cocking mode.   
     
     
         5 . The crossbow of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the protrusion moves the anti-dry fire element to the open position in the de-cocking mode.   
     
     
         6 . The crossbow of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the trigger assembly includes a trigger coupled to the sear,   wherein the sled remains distal from and out of contact with the safety in the de-cocking mode,   wherein the safety is manually moveable in the de-cocking mode to transition the safety from the safety on mode to the safety off mode so that the sear is moveable to allow the catch to transition to the drop mode so that the bowstring can move forwardly without interference by the catch.   
     
     
         7 . The crossbow of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first stop is distal from and out of contact with the safety in the de-cocking mode.   
     
     
         8 . The crossbow of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the safety includes a safety bar that is moveable in a slot defined by the trigger assembly,   wherein the safety bar moves linearly, without rotating, while transitioning from the safety on mode to the safety off mode.   
     
     
         9 . The crossbow of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the safety is forwardly moveable when the first stop is in the de-cocking mode, and the sled is stationary, fixed so that the sled cannot move farther rearward toward a stock of the crossbow, such that the safety moves closer to the bowstring, thereby reducing a distance between the bowstring and the forward end of the safety in the de-cocking mode.   
     
     
         10 . The crossbow of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the frame includes a receiver and a rail forming a string notch therebetween, wherein the first stop is rotatable about a first pivot axis that is aligned with a first fastener that rotatably secures the first stop to the receiver,   wherein the sled engagement surface is disposed between a first arm and a second arm extending rearward from a sled body,   wherein the sled body forms a U-shape with the first arm and the second arm,   wherein the first arm and the second arm extend rearward of the first stop in the de-cocking mode.   
     
     
         11 . A crossbow comprising:
 at least one limb joined with a frame;   a bowstring joined with the limb and transverse to the frame, the bowstring moveable between a drawn mode and an undrawn mode;   a trigger assembly joined with the frame and including a catch that is operable in a holding mode in which the catch retains the bowstring in the drawn mode and a drop mode that releases the bowstring so the bowstring can transition to the undrawn mode;   a safety being moveable relative to the catch, the safety operable in a safety on mode and a safety off mode;   a sled including a body moveable along the frame when the sled engages the bowstring, a bowstring engager configured to receive the bowstring during movement of the bowstring to the drawn mode with the sled, and a protrusion that moves the anti-dry fire element to an open position when the sled is adjacent the trigger assembly; and   a first stop that is selectively operable in a neutral mode in which the first stop does not interfere with rearward movement of the sled along the frame so that the bowstring can move to the drawn mode, and in a de-cocking mode in which the first stop and sled engage one another thereby interfering with movement of the sled along the frame so that the sled is stopped from further rearward movement of the sled toward a stock of the crossbow, while the safety remains in the safety on mode,   whereby the safety is moveable to the safety off mode while the first stop is in the de-cocking mode so that the bowstring can be let down from the drawn mode to the undrawn mode with the sled engaging the bowstring as the letdown occurs.   
     
     
         12 . The crossbow of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the first stop is moveable from a first position, in which the first stop is outside a first path of the sled so that the first stop does not obstruct the sled moving along the first path, to a second position in which the first stop is within the first path of the sled in the de-cocking mode so that the first stop obstructs the sled moving along the first path and impairs further movement of the sled along the first path.   
     
     
         13 . The crossbow of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the first stop includes a first base and a first flange,   wherein the first base is rotatable about a pivot axis that extends toward a receiver of the frame,   wherein the flange extends away from the pivot axis,   wherein the flange is moveable along a first arcuate path about the pivot axis,   wherein the first arcuate path intersects the path along which the sled moves.   
     
     
         14 . The crossbow of  claim 11 , comprising:
 wherein the sled includes a first limiter that is fixed and immovable relative to the sled,   wherein the first limiter travels along a first path with the sled as the sled moves toward the safety as the bowstring is drawn with the sled to the drawn mode,   wherein the first stop is selectively disposed along the first path,   wherein the first stop engages the first limiter along the first path in the de-cocking mode, with the first limiter and the first stop remaining stationary upon engagement of the first stop with the first limiter,   whereby movement of the sled and first limiter along the first path toward a stock of the crossbow is impaired.   
     
     
         15 . The crossbow of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the first stop and the sled remain distal and disengaged from the safety in the de-cocking mode.   
     
     
         16 . The crossbow of  claim 11 , comprising:
 a second stop that is selectively operable in a neutral mode in which the second stop does not interfere with rearward movement of the sled along the frame so that the bowstring can move to the drawn mode, and in a de-cocking mode in which the second stop and sled engage one another thereby interfering with movement of the sled along the frame, while the first stop and the sled engage one another, so that the sled is stopped from further rearward movement of the sled toward the stock of the crossbow, while the safety remains in the safety on mode,   wherein the first stop and the second stop are disposed on opposing sides of a longitudinal axis of the frame,   wherein the first stop and the second stop are each rotatable about at least one axis to position a flange in an obstructing position along a first path of the sled so that the sled engages the flange to impair movement of the sled along the frame.   
     
     
         17 . A method of using a crossbow, the method comprising:
 pulling on a bowstring that is in a drawn mode with a sled;   engaging a stop with a limiter on the crossbow to cease movement of the sled relative to a frame of the crossbow in a de-cocking mode, leaving a first distance between the bowstring and a safety;   moving the safety toward the bowstring to reduce the first distance to a second distance between the bowstring and the safety, the second distance being less than the first distance;   disengaging a catch from the bowstring; and   transitioning the bowstring to an undrawn mode while the sled engages the bowstring to de-cock the crossbow.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the safety includes a safety bar that is slidably disposed in a slot,   wherein the safety is manually engaged to slide the safety bar in the slot so that a forward face of the safety moves toward the bowstring without engaging the bowstring during the moving step.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  comprising:
 transitioning the stop from the de-cocking mode to a neutral mode by rotating the stop after the crossbow is de-cocked and the bowstring is in the undrawn mode; and 
 drawing the bowstring from the undrawn mode to the drawn mode while the stop is in the neutral mode. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  comprising:
 sliding the safety along a linear path, without rotating the safety, toward the bowstring while the stop is in the de-cocking mode, without any part of the sled engaging the safety.