Patent ID: 9194672
Filing Date: 2015-11-24
Classification: F42B

Abstract:
1. An article comprising a shock-absorbing bolt for a crossbow, wherein the shock-absorbing bolt comprises: (a) a shaft; (b) a forward flange coupled to a forward end of the shaft, which forward flange has a forward surface with a transverse area that is greater than about three times larger than a transverse area of the shaft; and (c) a shock-absorbing mechanism comprising a hollow cylinder, a piston reciprocally movable within the cylinder and dividing the cylinder into first and second chambers, a fluid in the first and second chambers, and one or more channels or orifices arranged to permit restricted fluid flow between the first and second chambers; wherein: (d) the shock-absorbing mechanism is coupled to the shaft or the forward flange, and (e) the shock-absorbing mechanism is arranged so that acceleration or deceleration of the bolt results in movement of the piston within the cylinder and concomitant viscous flow of the fluid between the first and second chambers through the one or more channels or orifices, thereby dissipating at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the bolt.