Abstract:
The present invention is a miniature crossbow apparatus expressly adapted for use as a toy or amusement device in launching toy projectiles. The crossbow apparatus may be provided in kit form such that the user may develop construction skills and satisfaction by assembling the crossbow apparatus from provided constituent parts. The crossbow apparatus preferably includes at least one feature of a captive axleless rotating trigger feature, an armed bolt (projectile) retention feature, an integrated spare bolt (projectile) retention feature, a grip comprised of O-rings feature, and a crossbow arm anti-rotation feature. The crossbow apparatus further preferably is provided with a crossbow stand (holder) that doubles a target device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to toys, and in particular, to toy crossbows for use in developing construction skills and for amusement in launching projectiles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Toy bow and arrow sets are well known in the industry and enjoy widespread use. However, such bow and arrow sets typically require the user to purchase a completed set and most are not of a miniature size. An example of a prior art crossbow apparatus is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/549,640, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a crossbow apparatus which is preferably a miniature crossbow apparatus expressly adapted for use as a toy or amusement device in launching toy projectiles. The crossbow apparatus may be provided in kit form such that the user may develop construction skills and satisfaction by assembling the crossbow apparatus from provided constituent parts. The body of the crossbow apparatus is preferably constructed of shaped plate members. The crossbow apparatus preferably includes at least one feature of a captive axleless rotating trigger feature, an armed bolt (projectile) retention feature, an integrated spare bolt (projectile) retention feature, a grip comprised of O-rings feature, and a crossbow arm anti-rotation feature. The crossbow apparatus further preferably is provided with a crossbow stand (holder) that doubles a target device. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a trimetric view of the crossbow apparatus in an assembled, uncocked, and unloaded configuration and resting in the combination stand/target apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a trimetric view of the crossbow apparatus in an assembled, cocked, and loaded configuration; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded trimetric view of the crossbow apparatus with “explosion lines” shown in phantom lines; 
         FIG. 4  is an orthographic side sectional view of the crossbow apparatus without crosshatching so as to improve drawing clarity with the bolt shown in phantom lines and with the trigger shown in a pre-actuation position in solid lines and in an actuated position in phantom lines; 
         FIG. 5  is a trimetric view of the stand/target apparatus, and; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded trimetric view of the stand/target apparatus with “explosion lines” shown in phantom lines. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
     Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are included to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
     In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention in reviewing the drawings accompanying the specification, a feature table is provided below. It is noted that like features are like numbered throughout all of the figures. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 FEATURE TABLE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 # 
                 Feature 
                 # 
                 Feature 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 10 
                 Crossbow apparatus 
                 20 
                 Stock base member 
               
               
                 22 
                 Trigger reception hole 
                 24 
                 Hexagonal fastener hole 
               
               
                 26 
                 Small O-ring retention hole 
                 30 
                 Handle member 
               
               
                 32 
                 Grip 
                 34 
                 Bolt retention flange 
               
               
                 36 
                 Hexagonal fastener hole 
                 38 
                 Large O-ring retention notch 
               
               
                 40 
                 Stock side member 
                 42 
                 Bow string reception notch 
               
               
                 44 
                 Hexagonal fastener hole 
                 46 
                 Medium O-ring retention hole 
               
               
                 48 
                 Spare bolt retention hole 
                 50 
                 Trigger 
               
               
                 52 
                 Trigger bulb 
                 54 
                 Trigger blade 
               
               
                 56 
                 Trigger hammer 
                 60 
                 Bow arm device 
               
               
                 62 
                 Attachment flange 
                 64 
                 Arm 
               
               
                 65 
                 String attach knob 
                 66 
                 Arm opening 
               
               
                 68 
                 Attach hole 
                 70 
                 Bow string device 
               
               
                 72 
                 Bow string 
                 74 
                 First string loop 
               
               
                 76 
                 Second string loop 
                 78 
                 Crimp connectors 
               
               
                 80 
                 Crossbow body 
                 82 
                 Channel 
               
               
                 84 
                 Small O-ring 
                 85 
                 Medium O-ring 
               
               
                 86 
                 Large O-ring 
                 87 
                 Hexagonal fastener insert 
               
               
                 88 
                 Threaded screw 
                 90 
                 Bolt 
               
               
                 92 
                 Bolt shaft 
                 94 
                 Bolt tip 
               
               
                 100 
                 Stand/target apparatus 
                 110 
                 Target device 
               
               
                 112 
                 Target member 
                 114 
                 Concentric ring 
               
               
                 115 
                 Flange 
                 116 
                 Retention opening 
               
               
                 118 
                 Retention notch 
                 120 
                 Cross member 
               
               
                 122 
                 Holder opening 
                 124 
                 Upper connection flange 
               
               
                 126 
                 Target retention notch 
                 127 
                 Lower connection flange 
               
               
                 128 
                 Base retention notch 
                 130 
                 Base plate 
               
               
                 132 
                 Outer fastener hole 
                 134 
                 Inner fastener hole 
               
               
                 140 
                 Interface plate 
                 142 
                 Outer fastener hole 
               
               
                 144 
                 “T” opening 
                 148 
                 Stand/target body 
               
               
                 150 
                 Leg device 
                 152 
                 Leg shaft 
               
               
                 154 
                 Foot 
                 156 
                 Fastener hole 
               
               
                 162 
                 Long self-tapping screw 
                 164 
                 Short self-tapping screw 
               
               
                 168 
                 Explosion line 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Referring now to the drawings, in a preferred embodiment the invention is a crossbow apparatus  10  for use as a toy or amusement device in launching toy projectiles and for use in developing construction skills and satisfaction by assembling crossbow apparatus  10  comprising a stock base member  20 , a handle member  30 , a plurality of stock side members  40 , a trigger  50 , a plurality of bow arm devices  60 , a bow string device  70 , a plurality of small O-rings  84 , a plurality of medium O-rings  85 , a plurality of large O-rings  86 , a plurality of hexagonal fastener inserts  87 , and a plurality of threaded screws  88 . 
     Stock base member  20  preferably defines a substantially planar stock member of a predetermined profile being preferably cut, routed, punched, or stamped from a sheet such as a sheet of aluminum or steel and having a trigger reception hole  22 , a plurality of hexagonal fastener holes  24 , and a plurality of small O-ring retention holes  26 . 
     Handle member  30  preferably defines a substantially planar handle member of a predetermined profile being preferably cut, routed, punched, or stamped from a sheet such as a sheet of aluminum or steel and having a grip  32 , a bolt retention flange  34 , a plurality of hexagonal fastener holes  36 , and a plurality of O-ring retention notches  38 . 
     Stock side member  40  preferably defines a substantially planar stock member of a predetermined profile being preferably cut, routed, punched, or stamped from a sheet such as a sheet of aluminum or steel and having a bow string reception notch  42 , a plurality of hexagonal fastener holes  44 , a plurality of medium O-ring retention holes  46 , and a plurality of spare bolt retention holes  48 . 
     Trigger  50  preferably defines a substantially planar trigger of a predetermined profile being preferably cut, routed, punched, or stamped from a sheet such as a sheet of aluminum or steel and having a trigger bulb  52 , a trigger blade  54 , and a trigger hammer  56 . 
     Bow arm device  60  preferably defines a substantially planar device of a predetermined profile being preferably cut, routed, punched, or stamped from a sheet such as a sheet of spring steel and being bent (such as via a brake press) to further form a substantial “L” shaped device and having an attachment flange  62 , an arm  64 , a string attach knob  65 , an arm opening  66 , and a plurality of attach holes  68 . 
     Bow string device  70  defines a bow string device having a bow string  72  and a plurality of crimp connectors  78 . Bow string  72  preferably defines a predetermined length of durable string or cord or alternatively, a predetermined length of metal cable. Crimp connector  78  preferably defines a semi-malleable crimpable metal connector. Bow string device  70  is assembled such that a first loop  74  is formed in a first end of string  72  and a crimp connector  78  is crimped onto a portion of loop  74  so as to substantially retain loop  74 , and such that a second loop  76  is formed in a second end of string  72  and a crimp connector  78  is crimped onto a portion of loop  76  so as to substantially retain loop  76 . 
     Crossbow apparatus  10  is adapted to be used in combination with bolt  90 . Bolt  90  defines an arrow type bolt projectile having a shaft  92  and a preferably blunt tip  94 . The exemplary bolt  90  disclosed herein is preferably formed by cutting or otherwise removing one end of a (plastic, wood, rolled paper etc.) stick type cotton swab such as a cotton swab available under the trade name “Q-tips” as supplied by the Unilever Corporation. Bolt  90  may be painted such as with a black or brown paint. 
     Crossbow apparatus  10  is assembled such that trigger bulb  52  is rotatably positioned in trigger reception hole  22  and one small O-ring  84  is pressed into each of small O-ring retention holes  26 . One stock side member  40  is placed on each side of stock base member  20 , trigger  50 , and handle member  30 , such that stock base member  20 , trigger  50 , and handle member  30  are sandwiched between stock side members  40 . One medium O-ring  85  is pressed into each medium O-ring retention hole  46  of each stock side member  40 . One hexagonal fastener insert  87  is pressed into each hexagonal fastener hole  44  such that a single hexagonal fastener insert  87  is pressed into a hexagonal fastener hole  44  of a first stock side member  40  and into a hexagonal fastener hole  24  and into a hexagonal fastener hole  44  of a second stock side member  40 , and such that a single hexagonal fastener insert  87  is pressed into a hexagonal fastener hole  44  of a first stock side member  40  and into a hexagonal fastener hole  36  and into a hexagonal fastener hole  44  of a second stock side member  40 . The combination or “sub-assembly” of stock base member  20 , handle member  30 , stock side members  40 , and a trigger  50  comprise crossbow body  80 , thus preferably defining a crossbow body that is substantially entirely comprised of shaped plate members. Crossbow body  80  is also assembled such that channel  82  is formed between stock side members  40  so as to receive bolt  90 . Crossbow apparatus  10  is further assembled such that a first bow arm device  60  is mounted to a first stock side member  40  and a second bow arm device  60  is mounted to a second stock side member  40  with threaded screws  88  being inserted through attach holes  68  and threaded into hexagonal fastener inserts  87 . Bow string device  70  is mounted to bow arm devices  60  by flexing bow arm devices  60  and placing first sting loop  74  on a first string attach knob  65  and by placing second sting loop  76  on a second string attach knob  65  as is shown in  FIG. 1 . With bow string device  70  mounted to bow arm devices  60  and in an uncocked configuration, bow arm devices  60  will be flexed somewhat and arms  64  will be somewhat preloaded. Crossbow apparatus  10  is further assembled such that large O-rings  86  are stretched onto large O-ring retention notches  38  to provide a more sure grippable surface of grip  32 . It shall be noted that crossbow apparatus  10  preferably defines a miniature Crossbow apparatus which for the purposes of this application shall be defined as a crossbow apparatus that fits within a 12 inch×12 inch×12 inch cubic three dimensional spatial envelope. In a preferred embodiment, crossbow apparatus  10  disclosed herein fits within a 6 inch×6 inch×6 inch cubic three dimensional spatial envelope. It shall also be noted that phantom lines  168  are “explosion lines” and indicated the assembly relationship between the various components. 
     With crossbow apparatus  10  thus assembled, crossbow apparatus  10  is used by cocking crossbow apparatus  10  by pulling bow string  72  towards handle member  30  and causing bow string  72  to rest in bow string reception notch  42 . Crossbow apparatus  10  is armed by loading a bolt  90  into channel  82  such that bolt  90  is actuatingly but retentatively placed held in place between channel  82  and bolt retention flange  34 . Once cocked and armed, crossbow apparatus  10  is fired or actuated by pulling trigger blade  54  such that trigger  50  rotates about trigger bulb  52  and such that trigger hammer  56  pushes bow string  72  out of bow string reception notch  42 . The released of bow string  72  out of bow string reception notch  42  causes bow string  72  to snap forward and to engage and propel bolt  90  as a projectile towards an intended target. Crossbow apparatus  10  is also adapted such that spare bolts  90  may be stored in crossbow apparatus  10  by inserting spare bolts  90  through spare bolt retention holes  48  and small O-ring retention holes  26  such that spare bolts  90  are removeably held in place by small O-rings  84 . 
     Crossbow apparatus  10  is preferably used in combination with stand/target apparatus  100 . Referring again to the drawings, in a preferred embodiment the stand/target apparatus  100  is used as a combined crossbow display stand (holder) and target comprising a target device  110 , a cross member  120 , a base plate  130 , an interface place  140 , a plurality of leg devices  150 , a plurality of long self-tapping screws  162 , and a plurality of short self-tapping screws  164 . 
     Target device  110  preferably defines a substantially planar target device of a predetermined profile being preferably cut, routed, punched, or stamped from a sheet such as a sheet of aluminum or steel and having a target member  112 , concentric rings  114 , a flange  115 , a retention opening  116 , and a retention notch  118 . 
     Cross member  120  preferably defines a substantially planar cross member of a predetermined profile being preferably cut, routed, punched, or stamped from a sheet such as a sheet of aluminum or steel and having a holder opening  122 , an upper connection flange  124 , a target retention notch  126 , a lower connection flange  127 , and a base retention notch  128 . 
     Base plate  130  preferably defines a substantially planar base plate of a predetermined profile being preferably cut, routed, punched, or stamped from a sheet such as a sheet of aluminum or steel and having a plurality of outer fastener holes  132  and a plurality of inner fastener holes  134 . 
     Interface plate  140  preferably defines a substantially planar interface plate of a predetermined profile being preferably cut, routed, punched, or stamped from a sheet such as a sheet of aluminum or steel and having a plurality of outer fastener holes  14  and a “T” (shaped) opening  144 . 
     Leg device  150  comprises leg shaft  152  having a foot  154  connected on a first end and a fastener hole  156  positioned in a second end. Leg shaft  152  and foot  154  are may be comprised of metal, wood, plastic, or other suitable material. 
     Stand/target apparatus  100  is assembled such that upper connection flange  124  is inserted into retention opening  116  with flange  115  position into target retention notch  126 . Interface plate  140  is positioned onto target device  110  and cross member  120  such that flange  115  and lower connection flange  127  are positioned within “T” opening  144 . Base plate  130  is positioned in faying contact with a lower surface of interface plated  140 , and short self-tapping screws  164  are threaded through inner fastener holes  134  such that one short self-tapping screw  164  each is threaded into base retention notch  128  and retention notch  118  such that target device  110 , cross member  120 , base plate  130 , and interface place  140  are securely connected together. The combination or “sub-assembly” of target device  110 , cross member  120 , base plate  130 , and interface place  140  comprise stand/target body  148 , thus preferably defining a stand/target body that is substantially entirely comprised of shaped plate members. Stand/target apparatus  100  is further assembled such that leg devices  150  are positioned on a lower side of base plate  130  and such that long self-tapping screws  162  are threaded through outer fastener holes  142 , outer fastener holes  132 , and into fastener holes  156  such that leg devices  150  are secured to stand/target body  148 . 
     With stand/target apparatus  100  thus assembled, stand/target apparatus  100  is used by shooting bolts  90  preferably at concentric target rings  114 . When crossbow apparatus  10  is not in use, stand/target apparatus  100  is also used by placing crossbow apparatus  10  in holder opening  122  preferably such that at least one set of medium O-rings  85  are press-fit within holder opening  122  and such that crossbow apparatus  10  is displayed. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.