Crossbow crank and related method of use

Abstract

A crossbow crank can comprise a drive shaft selectively coupled to a one-way bearing that allows rotation of the drive shaft and an associated spool in a first direction, and impairs rotation of the drive shaft and the spool in a second direction. The drive shaft can be locked and unlocked relative to the one-way bearing, allowing the bearing to control operation of the drive shaft, via a brake. The brake can be axially compressible along the drive shaft to lock the drive shaft and a sleeve so they are fixed relative to one another and rotate in unison when the drive shaft is rotated in the first direction. Relative axial movement can occur between the spool and the drive shaft when the brake is axially compressed. A related method of use is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A crossbow crank comprising:
 a housing;   a one-way bearing fixedly secured to the housing and defining an opening;   a sleeve disposed in the opening;   a drive shaft disposed in the opening with the sleeve disposed between the one-way bearing and the drive shaft;   a drive nut threaded to a terminal end of the drive shaft; and   a brake mounted along the drive shaft, the brake being axially compressible along the drive shaft to fixedly join the drive shaft with the sleeve in a fixed disposition when the drive nut is tightened on the drive shaft, so that the drive shaft, brake, and sleeve rotate in unison in a first direction,   wherein the one-way bearing engages the sleeve to impair the drive shaft, brake, and sleeve from rotating in a second direction opposite the first direction,   wherein when the drive nut is loosened on the drive shaft, the brake is axially slidable laterally along the drive shaft to release the drive shaft from the sleeve in a free disposition, so that the drive shaft freely rotates in the second direction.   
     
     
         2 . The crossbow crank of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the sleeve comprises an engagement surface,   wherein the brake comprises a friction surface cooperable with the engagement surface of the sleeve,   wherein in the fixed disposition, the friction surface of the brake frictionally engages the engagement surface of the sleeve,   wherein in the free disposition, the friction surface of the brake is disengaged from the engagement surface of the sleeve.   
     
     
         3 . The crossbow crank of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a spool mounted along the drive shaft, the spool configured to engage a cord,   wherein the drive shaft and spool rotate in unison in the first direction,   wherein the spool is axially slidable along the drive shaft in the free disposition.   
     
     
         4 . The crossbow crank of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first spool mounted along the drive shaft, the first spool configured to engage a cord; and   a second spool mounted along the drive shaft, the second spool configured to engage a cord,   wherein the sleeve is disposed between the first spool and the second spool,   wherein the drive shaft, first spool, and second spool rotate in unison in the first direction,   wherein at least one of the first spool and the second spool is axially slidable along the drive shaft in the free disposition.   
     
     
         5 . The crossbow crank of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the drive nut is a first drive nut,   wherein a second drive nut is distal from the first drive nut,   wherein the first drive nut is threaded to the terminal end of the drive shaft which is a first terminal end of the drive shaft,   wherein the second drive nut is threaded to an opposite, second terminal end of the drive shaft,   wherein the first terminal end of the drive shaft comprises first threads that are threaded in a first direction and the second terminal end of the drive shaft comprises second threads that are threaded in a second direction, opposite from the first direction,   wherein each of the first drive nut and second drive nut are independently tightenable and loosenable on the drive shaft to move between the fixed disposition and the free disposition.   
     
     
         6 . The crossbow crank of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a spool mounted along the drive shaft, the spool configured to engage a cord,   wherein the drive shaft comprises a cylindrical portion and a keyed portion, the keyed portion comprising at least one land,   wherein the spool is mounted along the keyed portion of the drive shaft, so that the drive shaft and spool rotate in unison in the first direction,   wherein the spool is axially slidable along the land.   
     
     
         7 . The crossbow crank of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the brake comprises a first brake disc and a second brake disc, the first brake disc and second brake disc being independently mounted along the drive shaft,   wherein the first brake disc comprises a first friction surface and the second brake disc comprises a second friction surface,   wherein the sleeve comprises a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface opposite the first engagement surface,   wherein the first brake disc is disposed adjacent the first engagement surface of the sleeve and the second brake disc is disposed adjacent the second engagement surface of the sleeve,   wherein in the fixed disposition, the first friction surface of the first brake disc frictionally engages the first engagement surface of the sleeve and the second friction surface of the second brake disc frictionally engages the second engagement surface of the sleeve, so that the drive shaft, sleeve, first brake disc, and second brake disc rotate in unison when the drive shaft is rotated in the first direction,   wherein in the free disposition, the first friction surface of the first brake disc is disengaged from the first engagement surface of the sleeve and the second friction surface of the second brake disc is disengaged from the second engagement surface of the sleeve, so that the first brake disc and second brake disc are axially slidable laterally along the drive shaft.   
     
     
         8 . The crossbow crank of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a drive gear fixedly joined with the drive shaft so the drive gear and drive shaft rotate in unison; and   a spool coupled to the drive gear, the spool configured to engage a cord,   wherein in the fixed disposition, the drive shaft, brake, sleeve, and drive gear rotate in unison in the first direction,   wherein the one-way bearing engages the sleeve to impair the drive shaft, brake, sleeve, and drive shaft from rotating in the second direction.   
     
     
         9 . The crossbow crank of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the brake comprises a brake collar and a brake disc disposed between the brake collar and the drive nut,   wherein the brake collar, brake disc, and sleeve compress axially against one another in the fixed disposition and rotate in unison together with the drive shaft when the drive shaft is rotated in the first direction.   
     
     
         10 . The crossbow crank of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a biasing element mounted along the drive shaft urging the drive shaft to rotate in the second direction.   
     
     
         11 . The crossbow crank of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a crank joined with the drive nut on the drive shaft,   wherein the crank is manually rotatable in the first direction to automatically lock the sleeve and drive shaft together so that the sleeve and drive shaft rotate in unison,   wherein the crank is manually rotatable in the second direction to automatically unlock the sleeve and drive shaft from one another so that the drive shaft rotates freely relative to the sleeve.   
     
     
         12 . A crossbow crank comprising:
 a one-way bearing;   a sleeve disposed in the one-way bearing;   a drive shaft extending through the sleeve;   a drive nut threaded to a terminal end of the drive shaft;   a brake mounted along the drive shaft, the brake being axially compressible along the drive shaft to fixedly join the drive shaft with the sleeve in a fixed disposition when the drive nut is tightened on the drive shaft, so that the drive shaft and sleeve rotate in unison in a first direction; and   a crank joined with the drive nut on the drive shaft,   wherein the one-way bearing engages the sleeve to impair the drive shaft and sleeve from rotating in a second direction opposite the first direction,   wherein when the drive nut is loosened on the drive shaft, the brake is axially slidable laterally along the drive shaft to release the drive shaft from the sleeve in a free disposition, so that the drive shaft freely rotates in the second direction,   wherein the sleeve and drive shaft automatically lock to one another upon manual actuation of the crank to rotate the drive shaft in the first direction, so that the sleeve and drive shaft rotate in unison,   wherein the sleeve and drive shaft automatically unlock from one another upon manual actuation of the crank to rotate the drive shaft in the second direction, so that the drive shaft rotates freely relative to the sleeve.   
     
     
         13 . The crossbow crank of  claim 12 , comprising:
 a spool mounted along the drive shaft, the spool configured to engage a cord,   wherein the drive shaft and spool rotate in unison in the first direction,   wherein the spool is moveable laterally along the drive shaft in the free disposition.   
     
     
         14 . The crossbow crank of  claim 12 , comprising:
 a first spool mounted along the drive shaft, the first spool configured to engage a cord; and   a second spool mounted along the drive shaft, the second spool configured to engage a cord,   wherein the sleeve is disposed between the first spool and the second spool,   wherein the drive shaft, first spool, and second spool rotate in unison in the first direction,   wherein the first spool and the second spool are each moveable laterally along the drive shaft in the free disposition.   
     
     
         15 . The crossbow crank of  claim 12 , comprising:
 a drive gear fixedly joined with the drive shaft so the drive gear and drive shaft rotate in unison; and   a spool coupled to the drive gear, the spool configured to engage a cord,   wherein in the fixed disposition, the drive shaft, brake, sleeve, and drive gear rotate in unison in the first direction,   wherein the one-way bearing engages the sleeve to impair the drive shaft, brake, sleeve, and drive shaft from rotating in the second direction.   
     
     
         16 . The crossbow crank of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the drive nut is a first drive nut,   wherein a second drive nut is distal from the first drive nut,   wherein the first drive nut is threaded to the terminal end of the drive shaft which is a first terminal end of the drive shaft,   wherein the second drive nut is threaded to an opposite, second terminal end of the drive shaft,   wherein the first terminal end of the drive shaft comprises first threads that are threaded in a first direction and the second terminal end of the drive shaft comprises second threads that are threaded in a second direction that is opposite from the first direction,   wherein the crank is interchangeably joined with either the first drive nut or the second drive nut.   
     
     
         17 . A crossbow crank comprising:
 a one-way bearing defining an opening;   a sleeve disposed in the opening;   a drive shaft disposed in the opening with the sleeve disposed between the one-way bearing and the drive shaft;   a spool configured to engage a cord, the spool disposed along the drive shaft; and   a brake disposed along the drive shaft, the brake being axially compressible along the drive shaft to fixedly join the drive shaft with the sleeve in a fixed disposition, so that the drive shaft and sleeve rotate in unison in a first direction,   wherein the one-way bearing is operable to engage the sleeve and impair the drive shaft and sleeve from rotating in a second direction opposite the first direction,   wherein relative axial movement occurs between the spool and the drive shaft when the brake is axially compressed to fixedly join the drive shaft with the sleeve in the fixed disposition.   
     
     
         18 . A method of using a crossbow crank, the method comprising:
 rotating in a first direction a drive nut threaded on a drive shaft extending through a sleeve disposed in a one-way bearing;   axially compressing a brake along the drive shaft as a result of said rotating in the first direction to fixedly join the drive shaft with the sleeve so that the drive shaft, brake, and sleeve rotate in unison in the first direction,   wherein when said rotating in the first direction ceases, the drive shaft, brake, and sleeve are impaired from rotating in a second direction opposite the first direction via the one-way bearing interacting with the sleeve.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising:
 moving the drive shaft axially through a spool upon which a cord wraps.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  comprising:
 providing relative axial movement between the drive shaft and a spool upon which a cord wraps when the brake is axially compressed to subsequently, fixedly join the drive shaft with the sleeve in a fixed disposition.