Abstract:
A bow having a firing assembly that allows multiple projectiles in a clip to be selectively fired by a bow string, the bow having a bow string to produce the launching force to launch the projectiles along a projectile track, a firing assembly partially contained in the clip, the clip having an outer shell with a clip opening and a biased projectile follower to urge the projectiles toward the clip opening, the bow further including a receiver having a receiver opening to selectively operably receive the clip, the clip having a firing portion with at least one projection configured to support the bow string to fire the bow, the firing assembly further including a trigger assembly joined relative to the receiver and having a firing finger configured to urge the bow string off of the at least one projection and launch a projectile.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/940,033 filed on Feb. 14, 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
       [0002]    The invention of this application relates in general to a bows and, more particularly, to a crossbow that can shoot multiple projectiles. While it has been found that the invention of this application works well in connection with toy crossbows, it can be used in connection with a wide range of crossbows including adult crossbows. Further, it could also be used with other bow configurations. However, in the interest of brevity, it is being discussed in this application primarily in connection with toy crossbows. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Archery bows have been around for a long time and come in many forms. Archery bows essentially started as simple structures that included a string attached to a long shaft and the bending of the shaft produced the energy needed for the string to propel an arrow. Over the years, this simple design has been improved to increase shooting speeds, improve accuracy and to reduce holding forces when the bow and arrow are in the shooting position. The advances in the design have resulted in significant improvements of the once simple archery bow. This even included the introduction of the crossbow that combined the function and features of an archery bow with the shooting style of a long gun. However, even with all of the advancements in this industry, archery bows and crossbows are only configured to hold a single arrow or projectile wherein the user must manually load each arrow or projectile between shots. As a result, even though the bow and arrow have been improved, the archer must reload the bow between each shot, which greatly reduces the ability to quickly shoot multiple arrows. While the skilled archer can quickly pull arrows from his or her quiver between shots, this still takes time and can take a significant amount of time for the less skilled archer. Therefore, there is a need for a crossbow that can hold multiple arrows or projectiles wherein the archer can shoot multiple projectiles quickly without reloading the bow. 
         [0004]    The same is true with toy bows. While these toy products have been around for many years and have enjoyed many of the same advancements, toy bows also have the same inherent shortcoming wherein they are only capable of holding a single arrow or projectile. 
         [0005]    Yet even further, the layout of a crossbow is such that the flow of multiple projectiles must be controlled to allow for the cocking of the bow string. Yet further, the layout of the crossbow is also such that projectiles not intended to be shot from the crossbow can be loaded into the arrow track and shot from the crossbow. As can be appreciated, this can damage the crossbow and can allow for unintended uses of the device. Thus, crossbows present yet additional challenges to allow for the capabilities of supporting multiple projectiles for quick sequential firing. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for a crossbow that can support more than one projectile and can quickly move the multiple projectiles into a firing position without reloading the crossbow. Further, there is a need to control the flow of the projectiles and to reduce or eliminate the ability to shoot unintended projectiles from the crossbow. 
         [0007]    For this application, a crossbow is any crossbow like structure that can shoot a projectile in a way similar to an archery crossbow. This can include, but is not limited to, crossbows using traditional limbs with the bow string merely attached to the ends of the limbs, compound action crossbows that include performance enhancers, and/or any other variation or style known in the archery field or will be known in the field. These bows include toy crossbows that can shoot a projectile similar to that of a real bow referenced above, but that can be used as toys and with different projectiles. The invention of this application could even be used in connection with youth bows intended for older children and which can shoot more traditional arrows. The projectiles can by any projectile configured to be launched by a crossbow and which can vary in view of the use of the bow. Further, the projectiles can be newly designed projectiles that are designed to take advantage of the invention of this application. These projectiles can include, but are not limited to, a traditional archery arrow, hunting arrows, non-lethal arrows, target arrows, arrows with modified ends (such as with suction cups or Velcro), foam projectiles (such as those used in NERF products sold by HASBRO). Arrows are a subset of projectiles and can be any arrow like projectile including, but not limited to, traditional archery arrow, hunting arrows, non-lethal arrows, target arrows, arrows with modified ends (such as with suction cups or Velcro), foam arrows, but which directly engage a bow string. And, variations of these examples provided above. These toy bows have been successful over the years and come in a wide variety of configurations. Essentially, these toy crossbows launch projectiles based on stored energy in a string, air power and/or spring power. 
       INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
       [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,837 to Nin et al discloses a launch structure for a projectile and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. Published application Pub. No. 2011/0041821 to Brown et al discloses a launch structure for a projectile and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. U.S. Pat. No. 7,882,829 to Witzigreuter discloses a projectile launcher and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. U.S. Pat. No. 7,537,001 to Ma discloses a toy gun for launching a dart and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. Published application Pub. No. 2012/0125307 to Brooks et al discloses a launch structure for a projectile and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. U.S. Pat. No. 8,057,309 to Mead et al discloses a launch structure for a projectile and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,878 to Moore et al discloses a launch structure for a projectile and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,140 to Griffin discloses a launch structure for a projectile and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. Published application Pub. No. 2006/0046877 to Gajda, Jr. discloses foam projectiles and is incorporated by reference for showing the same. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention of this application relates to archery like bows and more particularly to crossbows that can support more than one projectile and quickly move one of the multiple projectiles into a firing position. 
         [0010]    More particularly, the invention of this application relates to a crossbow that includes a clip mechanism that can hold projectiles and which selectively presents one of the projectiles in a projectile, arrow and/or firing track of the crossbow after the crossbow string is cocked. 
         [0011]    Accordingly to another aspect of the invention, provided is a crossbow wherein the projectile track works with the clip mechanism to prevent unwanted projectiles from being loaded onto the projectile track. 
         [0012]    According to one set of embodiments, wherein the clip mechanism includes a selectively removable clip mechanism that includes a portion of the trigger assembly that prevents the crossbow from being cocked and/or fired when the clip is removed from the crossbow. 
         [0013]    According to another set of embodiments, the selectively removable clip mechanism includes a removable clip mechanism that will not feed a projectile until after the crossbow string is in the firing position. 
         [0014]    According to yet another set of embodiments, the crossbow includes a removable clip that includes a firing prevention block that prevents the bow string from being cocked and/or fired when the clip is empty. 
         [0015]    According to another set of embodiments, the clip assembly includes a string retainer for the bow string such that the bow string cannot be held in the firing position by the trigger assembly unless the clip mechanism is in place. 
         [0016]    According to a further set of embodiments, the string retainer for the bow string is also operably connected to a projectile retainer that prevents a projectile from moving onto the projectile track until after the bow string is in the firing position. 
         [0017]    These and other objects, aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the Detailed Description of the invention set forth below taken together with the drawings which will be described in the next section. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a crossbow in accordance with certain aspects of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a right side view of the bow shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a projectile; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a left side view of the bow shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged right side of a clip for the bow shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged top right side perspective of the clip shown in  FIG. 5  with a firing portion in a rearward position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged top right side perspective of the clip shown in  FIG. 5  with a projectile in place; and, 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged top right side perspective of the clip shown in  FIG. 6  wherein the firing portion is in a forward position. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting the same,  FIGS. 1-8  show a bow  10  that is configured to launch or shoot a projectile  12 . Again, while the disclosure of this application shows a particular type of bow and projectile, the invention of this application is not to be limited to the particular bow configuration and/or projectile wherein a wide range of bows and projectiles could be used in the invention of this application without detracting from the invention of this application. 
         [0028]    Bow  10  can have a wide range of structural configuration without detracting from the invention of this application. In a preferred set of embodiments, bow  10  is a crossbow and the figures illustrate an example of the same wherein bow  10  is a crossbow and is formed with traditional crossbow features and configuration. This includes a bow that has compound bow limb features, but these features are not required. 
         [0029]    In greater detail, crossbow  10  includes a stock  20  with a foregrip  30 . Crossbow  10  further includes a trigger assembly  40  having a trigger  42  and a firing finger  44 . Above foregrip  30  is a projectile track  50  having a first end  52  near the trigger assembly and a distal end  54  at or near a front end  60  of the crossbow. Crossbow  10  generally extends between front end  60  and a rear end  62  in stock  20  for the crossbow design shown. However, while a particular crossbow design is shown, the physical characteristics and features of the crossbow of this application can include a wide range of configuration and features in the crossbow art without detracting from the invention of this application wherein the general shape of the crossbow is not needed to practice the invention and is being provided only for illustrative purposes. 
         [0030]    Crossbow  10  further includes limbs  70  and  72  connected at or near front end  60 . The limbs or limb assemblies join a bow string  80  to crossbow  10 . In the example shown, limbs  70  and  72  can provide the stored energy to propel projectile  12  in any way known in the art wherein the particular design shown is not required. Yet further, limbs  70  and  72  can include string supports  90  and  92 , respectively, which can utilize any technology known in the art. In this respect, supports  70  and/or  72  can be an opening in the limb assembly, a mounted arrangement on the limb assembly to support the string, a cam or pulley (such as those used on compound bows), an idler wheel or pulley, string supports that are intended to look like cams or idler pulleys, and/or the like. 
         [0031]    Crossbow  10  further includes a receiver  100  that can be separate from stock  20  and which houses trigger assembly  40 . Further, crossbow  10  can include any number of sights including a rear sight  110  and a front sight  112 . Yet even further, crossbow  10  can include any grips known in the art. This can include a more traditional foregrip  30  disclosed above and other grips. As is shown, crossbow  10  also includes a second foregrip  120  and a pistol grip  122 . Yet another feature is that stock  20  can be a folding stock wherein crossbow  10  can include a stock hinge  130  with a pivot lock  132 . In one set of embodiments, lock  132  includes a push button lock arrangement that can allow for selective folding of stock  20  relative to receiver  100 . 
         [0032]    The invention of this application relates to a firing assembly  150  that includes features that allow multiple projectiles to be secured and held relative to crossbow  10  and which controls both the chambering of the projectiles and the use of the crossbow. In greater detail, cross bow  10  includes a clip or magazine assembly  160  that is shaped to be received in a receiver opening  170  of crossbow  10 . Receiver  100  and/or clip  160  can include a clip release mechanism  172  that can be any release mechanism known in the art. 
         [0033]    Clip  160  can be sized based on the projectile that is to be fed into the crossbow and/or a desired look of the crossbow. Further, the basic configuration of the clip and the receiver opening can follow a wide range of existing configuration without detracting from the invention of this application. As is shown, clip assembly  160  is a traditional rectangular clip that includes an outer shell  180  having a front  182 , a rear  184  and sides  186  and  188 . Clip  160  further includes a base or bottom  190  and a top opening  192 . Again, these general configurations can be any configurations known in the art and others. 
         [0034]    In addition, clip  160  includes a firing portion  200  that is moveable relative to shell  180  and works in connection with trigger  40  to fire a projectile. Firing portion  200  includes a string retainer or latch  210  having a ledge portion  212  and upward projections  214 . String retainer or latch further includes a finger slot  215  between upward projections  214  to allow the firing finger  44  to pass therebetween. As will be discussed more below, cocking the crossbow for firing includes drawing back bow string  80  and positioning bow string  80  behind upward projections  214 . Further, bow string  80  is oriented onto or near ledge portion  212 . Upward projections  214  then maintain bow string  80  in a firing or cocked condition. When trigger  42  or trigger assembly  40  is pulled by the user, trigger  42  moves trigger finger  44  upwardly and/or forwardly between projections  214  such that finger  44  engages bow string  80  and urges bow string  80  up from ledge  212  and over upward projections  214  wherein the bow string is allowed to launch forwardly across projectile track  50 . Thus, it is preferred that firing portion  200  is oriented at least near rear  184  of clip so that at least ledge  212  and projections  214  are behind a back edge or side  216  of projectile  12  when clip is in an operable position within the receiver. 
         [0035]    Firing portion  200  can further include an actuation mechanism  218  that can control the retention and release of projectiles  12  from the clip into a firing position on track  50 . In this respect, the embodiment shown has a firing portion  200  that includes at least one actuation arm  220  to control the release of the projectiles from the clip onto track  50  wherein the projectile is prevented from moving onto or in alignment with the projectile track until after the string is cocked. In this respect, at least one arm  220  is configured to engage a release lever  230  of a projectile retainer  232  and actuate the projectile retainer for the selective flow or release of one of projectiles  12  onto and/or in alignment with track  50 . Arm(s)  220  can include a distal end  222  that includes a ramp or cam surface  223 . Release lever  230  can be pivotal about a release lever axil  224  such that arm(s)  220  pivot about a lever axis  225 . In operation, retainer  232  maintains or retains projectiles  12  within clip  160  until the crossbow is cocked. In this respect, firing portion  200  is configured to actuate to allow for this control of the projectiles in the clip. In the embodiment shown, firing portion  200  actuates by sliding relative to clip shell  180  generally parallel to top opening  192  between a rearward position  234  ( FIG. 6 ) and a forward position  236  ( FIG. 8 ). Firing portion  200  can further include a biasing member  238  that can bias the assembly rearwardly toward position  234 , which will be discussed more below. Projectile retainer  232  can include a pair of opposed projectile clips  240  and  242  that include inwardly facing barbs  250  and  252 , respectively. Opposed projectile clips  240  and  242  and/or barbs  250  and  252  can be inwardly biased such that they control upward movement of projectiles  12  out of clip opening  192 . As can be appreciated, this can retain the projectiles within the clip for when the clip is being loaded with projectiles  12  to prevent the projectiles from inadvertently falling out of the clip. But, as will be discussed more below, the projectile clips  240  and  242  and/or barbs  250  and  252  also prevent one of projectiles  12  from being presented onto or in alignment with projectile track  50  until after bow string  80  is positioned onto the trigger assembly thereby allowing crossbow  10  to be cocked even with multiple projectiles secured thereto. In this respect, when firing portion  200  is in rearward position  234 , clips  240  and  242  and/or barbs  250  and  252  are in a locked condition  254  and projectiles are prevented from moving upwardly out of clip opening  192 . But, when firing portion  200  is moved toward forward position  236 , ramps  223  engage lever  230  thereby rotating lever  230  about lever axis  225  wherein clips  240  and  242  and/or barbs  250  and  252  are pivoted toward an unlocked condition  256 . Thus, projectile  12  is allowed to move upwardly out of the clip. As will be discussed more below, the force of the bow string is used to move the firing portion to the forward position. 
         [0036]    Clip  160  can further include a projectile follower  260  that includes a projectile ramp  270  and a biasing member  280  that forces ramp  270  upwardly toward opening  192 . Follower  260  further includes a block extension  290  sized to fit outwardly of opening  192  after all projectiles are withdrawn from the clip, which will be discussed more below. Follower  260  and/or clip  160  can further include a stroke limiting feature to retain the projectile follower in an operation position within the clip. Yet further, projectile ramp  270  can include a projectile track portion  272  that can be configured at least similar to track  50  to allow resistance free launching of the final projectile in the clip. 
         [0037]    In operation, projectiles  12  are first loaded into clip  160  through clip opening  192 . As they are urged into the clip, they are forced passed projectile clips  240  and  242  and/or barbs  250  and  252  wherein levers  230  pivot about lever axis  225  to allow each projectile to enter the clip and be retained within the clip after they pass clips  240  and  242  and/or barbs  250  and  252 . This action forces follower  260  down into the clip toward bottom  190  wherein the projectiles are positioned between follower  260  and opening  192 . As more projectiles are positioned in the clip, follower  260  approaches clip bottom  190 . Biasing member  280 , which can be any biasing member known in the art including, but not limited to a coil or compression spring, maintains an upward force on the projectiles thereby continuously urging projectiles  12  upwardly toward opening  192  and against clips  240  and  242  and/or barbs  250  and  252 , but the projectiles are retained by projectile clips  240  and  242  and/or barbs  250  and  252 . 
         [0038]    Then, the clip is oriented and loaded into receiver opening  170  wherein clip  160  orients projectiles  12  relative to track  50  and at least partially below track  50 . In that firing portion  200  is in rearward position  234 , clips  240  and  242  and/or barbs  250  and  252  are in locked condition  254  ( FIG. 6 ) wherein projectiles  12  are retained at least partially below track  50  and are prevented from moving upwardly into track  50 . As a result, bow string  80  can be unimpededly moved along track  50  toward string retainer or latch  210  that is now in proper orientation since the clip is in the receiver. The string is move along track  50  above projectiles  12  in clip  160  and positioned onto string retainer or latch  210 . Once the bow string is in place on string retainer  210  and released, the string force of bow string  80  imparts a forward force on string retainer  210 , which urges it forwardly into forward position  236 . This movement urges ramp  223  into levers  230  that rotates the lever about axis  225 , which moves clips  240  and  242  and/or barbs  250  and  252  into unlocked position  256  ( FIG. 8 ) and allows a single projectile  12  to move upwardly onto or in alignment with track  50 . The motion is automatic wherein the projectile is automatically positioned in alignment with track  50  and forwardly of string retainer  210 . 
         [0039]    When trigger  42  is pulled, trigger or firing finger  44  urges bow string  80  up and over retainer  210  toward track  50  wherein the string launches the projectile along track  50 . 
         [0040]    However, as soon as this occurs, biasing member  238  quickly returns firing portion  200  to rearward position  234  wherein clips  240  and  242  and/or barbs  250  and  252  are moved into locked position  254 . As a result, the subsequent projectile  12   a  is maintained below track  50 . Subsequent projectile  12   a  can then be moved into a firing position once bow string  80  is again drawn back and placed on string retainer  210 . This can be continued until all projectiles are emptied from the clip. 
         [0041]    Once clip  160  is empty, projectile follower  260  continues its upward movement whereby block extension  290  can extend upwardly and outwardly of opening  192 . This can be utilized to block access from the track toward the trigger assembly. As a result, string  80  is prevented from being cocked and/or is prevented from engaging a projectile to propel the projectile until they are properly loaded into clip  160 . Thus, projectiles not design to be shot by the crossbow cannot be fired. 
         [0042]    In another set of embodiments, crossbow  10  can further include a track cover  300  that at least partially covers projectile track  50 . Track cover  300  can have multiple functions and can compliment the features and functions of firing system  150 . In this respect, track cover  300  can partially cover track  50 , cover over half of the track and/or fully cover track  50 , but its function near firing system  150  can create the greatest benefit. In this respect, a portion of cover  300  can general cover the region near clip opening  192 , receiver opening  170  and/or latch  210  in a special track region  302 . In this region, cover can work in combination with follower  260  to both control the flow of projectiles into the firing position and work in combination with block extension  290  to prevent unwanted projectiles from being loaded and/or launched by the crossbow. When working with follower  260 , cover  300  can limit the upward movement of projectile  12  in region  302  when it is moved into the firing position wherein it can control the top extent of this movement. Further, the portion of the cover  300  in region  302  can prevent the projectile from inadvertently falling from the firing position. Therefore, the projectile is generally or partially encapsulated into the firing position wherein movement of the bow does not result in the projectile falling out of the bow. Yet further, cover  300  can work in combination with extension  290  in region  302  to block the bow string from even being cocked. In this respect, block extension  290  can substantially fill at least a portion of this region to prevent the bow string from reaching latch  210 . Therefore, even though the firing system is in place when the clip is in the receiver (regardless of whether there are projectiles in the clip), the extension  290  and cover  300  can prevent unwanted objects from being placed on the track. Further, cover  300  can prevent the bow string from being moved into the cocked position on retainer  210  when there are no projectiles in the clip. 
         [0043]    While considerable emphasis has been placed on the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that other embodiments, and equivalences thereof, can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments described above can be combined to form yet other embodiments of the invention of this application. Accordingly, it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation. Again, the invention of this application is disclosed and described in relation to a preferred set of embodiments, but should not be limited to the same. While, some structural aspects of the invention lend itself particularly useful to a crossbow configuration, this is not required. Further, direction notations in this application are in relation to the figures and should not be interpreted as limiting the disclosed invention. For example only, some aspects of the disclosed structures could be rotated to work in connection with a long bow.