Patent Publication Number: US-9410765-B2

Title: Crossbow integrated grip guard

Description:
I. BACKGROUND 
     A. Field of the Invention 
     This invention generally relates to methods and apparatuses related to crossbows and more specifically to methods and apparatuses related to dampening the vibrations between a crossbow&#39;s stock and barrel. 
     B. Description of Related Art 
     Crossbows have been used for many years as a weapon for hunting, fishing, and for target shooting. Significant development of the crossbow has occurred to increase the force with which an arrow is shot, increase shooting accuracy, and to make the crossbow safer. In general, a crossbow includes a bow assembly and a trigger mechanism both mounted to a main beam. The main beam generally includes a stock, which the user holds when carrying and shooting the crossbow, and a barrel that is supported to the stock. A trigger mechanism, also supported to the main beam, holds the bowstring of the bow assembly in a drawn or cocked condition and can thereafter be operated to release the bowstring out of the uncocked condition to shoot or fire the arrow. 
     One problem with crossbows is that while firing them some users have inadvertently placed a thumb or finger on or near the barrel in the path of the moving bowstring, causing injury. To reduce this problem, it is known to provide crossbows with grip guards that extend outwardly from the stock and thus prevent users from inadvertently placing a thumb or finger into a dangerous position on or near the barrel. It is known to attach such grip guards as separate pieces to the stock. It is also known to form grip guards as one piece with the stock, such as by molding the grip guard with the stock. An example of a crossbow grip guard is provided in Pub. No.: US 2007/0028907. 
     Another problem with crossbows, especially given the larger forces they generate, is the corresponding large vibrations. These vibrations result in unwanted noise that is both too loud (as measured in decibels) and too long in duration. While some elements of the vibration problem have been addressed, such as vibration dampening arrow retention springs provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,061,339 and 7,455,059 and barrel cable suppressors, provided in Pub. No.: US 20012/0006311, additional improvement is desirable. One aspect of vibrations currently under addressed is the vibration that occurs between the barrel and the stock. Often the barrel is made of metal, typically aluminum or aluminum alloy, while the stock is made of another material. 
     What is needed, is a grip guard that both prevents inadvertent contact of the user&#39;s fingers with the barrel and reduces vibration between the barrel and the stock. 
     II. SUMMARY 
     According to one embodiment of this invention, a crossbow, may comprise: (A) a main beam having first and second sides and comprising: (1) a stock that comprises a handle that is suitable to be gripped by an associated user to hold the crossbow when firing the crossbow; (2) a barrel that: (a) is suitable to support an associated projectile for firing by the crossbow; and, (b) is supported to the stock; (B) first and second limbs that: (1) are supported to the main beam; and, (2) extend outwardly from proximal ends to distal ends on opposite sides of the main beam; (C) a bowstring that: (1) is strung between the distal ends of the first and second limbs; and, (2) is adjustable from an uncocked position to a cocked position; (D) a trigger mechanism that: (1) is supported to the main beam; (2) is operable to hold the bowstring in the cocked position; and, (3) is operable to release the bowstring to fire the associated projectile; (E) a first grip guard comprising: (1) a first wall that: (a) is positioned between the stock and the barrel on the first side of the main beam; (b) has a first side that contacts the stock on the first side of the main beam; and, (c) has a second side that contacts the barrel on the first side of the main beam; and, (2) a second wall that: (a) extends outwardly from the first side of the main beam; (b) is positioned at least partially between the handle and the barrel on the first side of the main beam; and, (c) when the associated user&#39;s hand having fingers is properly holding the handle to tire the crossbow, prevents the fingers from extending beyond the second wall of the first grip guard toward the barrel on the first side of the main beam; and, (F) a second grip guard comprising: (1) a first wall that: (a) is positioned between the stock and the barrel on the second side of the main beam; (b) has a first side that contacts the stock on the second side of the main beam; and, (c) has a second side that contacts the barrel on the second side of the main beam; and, (2) a second wall that: (a) extends outwardly from the second side of the main beam; (b) is positioned at least partially between the handle and the barrel on the second side of the main beam; and, (c) when the associated user&#39;s hand is properly holding the handle to fire the crossbow, prevents the fingers from extending beyond the second wall of the second grip guard toward the barrel on the second side of the main beam. 
     According to another embodiment of this invention, a grip guard may be used with an associated crossbow. The associated crossbow may comprise: (A) a main beam comprising: (1) a stock that comprises a handle that is suitable to be gripped by an associated user to hold the crossbow when firing the crossbow; (2) a barrel that: (a) is suitable to support an associated projectile for firing by the crossbow; and, (b) is supported to the stock; (B) first and second limbs that: (1) are supported to the main beam; and, (2) extend outwardly from proximal ends to distal ends on opposite sides of the main beam; (C) a bowstring that: (1) is strung between the distal ends of the first and second limbs; and, (2) is adjustable from an uncocked position to a cocked position; and, (D) a trigger mechanism that: (1) is supported to the main beam; (2) is operable to hold the bowstring in the cocked position; and, (3) is operable to release the bowstring to fire the associated projectile. The grip guard may comprise: (A) a first wall that: (1) is positioned between the stock and the barrel; (2) has a first side that contacts the stock; and, (3) has a second side that contacts the barrel; and, (B) a second wall that: (1) extends outwardly from the main beam; (2) is positioned at least partially between the handle and the barrel; and, (3) when the associated user&#39;s hand having fingers is properly holding the handle to tire the crossbow, prevents the fingers from extending beyond the second wall toward the barrel. 
     According to yet another embodiment of this invention, a method may include the steps of: I. providing a crossbow, comprising: (A) a main beam comprising: (1) a stock that comprises a handle that is suitable to be gripped by an associated user to hold the crossbow when firing the crossbow; (2) a barrel that: (a) is suitable to support an associated projectile for firing by the crossbow; and, (b) is supported to the stock; (B) first and second limbs that: (1) are supported to the main beam; and, (2) extend outwardly from proximal ends to distal ends on opposite sides of the main beam; (C) a bowstring that: (1) is strung between the distal ends of the first and second limbs; and, (2) is adjustable from an uncocked position to a cocked position; (D) a trigger mechanism that: (1) is supported to the main beam; (2) is operable to hold the bowstring in the cocked position: and, (3) is operable to release the bowstring to fire the associated projectile; II. providing a first grip guard comprising: (1) a first wall; and, (2) a second wall; III. positioning the first wall of the first grip guard between the stock and the barrel so that the second wall of the first grip guard: (a) extends outwardly from the main beam; (b) is positioned at least partially between the handle and the barrel; and, (c) when the associated user&#39;s hand having fingers is properly holding the handle to fire the crossbow, prevents the fingers from extending beyond the second wall of the firstgrip guard toward the barrel; and, IV. firing the crossbow, wherein the first wall of the firstgrip guard operates as a dampener that attenuates sounds and vibrations caused by firing the crossbow 
     One advantage of this invention according to some embodiments is that injury caused by inadvertent placement of a user&#39;s thumb or finger on or near the barrel can be reduced. 
     Another advantage of this invention according so some embodiments is that vibrations between the barrel and stock of crossbows can be attenuated. 
     Yet another advantage of this invention according to some embodiments is that the same component used to reduce injury on a crossbow can also be used to attenuate vibrations. 
     III. DEFINITIONS 
     The following definitions are applicable to the present invention: 
     “Barrel” means the portion of the main beam that is used to support a projectile, such as an arrow, to be shot, fired or propelled by the crossbow. The barrel may include a pathway, such as a groove, track or elongated slot, which is suitable to hold and guide the projectile. 
     “Bow” means a bent, curved or arched object having a pair of limbs. A bow may be a single piece or may have separate limbs that together form the bow. 
     “Bow Assembly” means a weapon comprising a bow and a bowstring that shoots, fires or propels projectiles powered by the elasticity of the limbs and/or the drawn bowstring. 
     “Bowstring” means a string or cable attached to the limbs of a bow. 
     “Compound Bow” means a crossbow that has wheels, pulleys or cams at each end of the limbs through which the bowstring passes. 
     “Crossbow” means a weapon comprising a bow assembly and a trigger mechanism both mounted to a main beam. 
     “Main Beam” means the elongated structural member of a crossbow that is used to support the bow assembly, the trigger mechanism and often other components as well. The main beam often includes a stock and a barrel. 
     “Pathway” means the portion of the barrel which guides the projectile while the projectile is being loaded in the crossbow or being shot, fired or propelled from the crossbow. 
     “Stock” means the portion of the main beam which the user holds when carrying and shooting the crossbow. Typically the stock supports the barrel and the trigger mechanism. 
     “Trigger Mechanism” means any device that holds the bowstring of a crossbow in the drawn or cocked condition and which can thereafter be operated to release the bowstring out of the drawn or cocked condition to shoot, fire or propel the projectile. 
     “Weapon” means any device that can be used in fighting or hunting that shoots, tires or propels a projectile including bow assemblies and crossbows. 
    
    
     
       IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a crossbow. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective side view of a barrel. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective bottom view of the barrel shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a stock. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the stock shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the stock shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a close-up view of the distal end of the stock shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a grip guard according to some embodiments of this invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the grip guard shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the grip guard along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 , 
         FIG. 11  is a view of the grip guard shown in  FIG. 10  except rotated. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of a portion of the crossbow shown in  FIG. 1  except showing a user&#39;s hand holding the crossbow. 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom view of the stock and grip guard shown in  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 14  is a close-up view of the distal end of the stock shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective top view of the proximal end portion of the stock shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective top view of the distal end portion of the stock shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 17  is a view similar to that shown in  FIG. 14  but showing a grip guard attached to one side of the stock. 
         FIG. 18  is a side view of the stock and grip guard shown in  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 19  is a close-up view of a portion of the grip guard shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood to refer to like components,  FIG. 1  shows a crossbow  10  using a pair of grip guards  100 ,  100  according to some embodiments of this invention. While the crossbow shown is a compound bow, this invention is not limited to any particular type or size of crossbow as long as it is used with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. The crossbow  10  may include a main beam  12  with a trigger mechanism  14  and a bow assembly  16  supported to the main beam  12 . The trigger mechanism  14  and bow assembly  16  can be of any type chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , the bow assembly  16  may include two outwardly extending limbs  18  that are supported to the main beam  12  and extend outwardly from proximal ends to distal ends on opposite sides,  44 ,  46  of the main beam  12  from a riser  20  that may be mounted to the distal end of the main beam  12 . A bowstring  22  may be strung between the distal ends of the limbs  18 . The crossbow  10  may also have a pair of pulley wheels, cams or other known devices  24  affixed to the limbs  18  to carry the bowstring  22  and one or more tension cable(s)  26  in a compound bow arrangement. A stirrup bracket  28  may extend from the distal end of the riser  20 . A drawing or cocking mechanism  30  may be supported to the main beam  12  and used to draw or cock the bowstring  22  into a drawn or cocked position. Alternatively, a portable cocking mechanism that is not supported to the crossbow  10  or no cocking mechanism at all (in some cases the user may be able to cock the crossbow manually without the aid of any cocking mechanism) may be used. The trigger mechanism  14  may be operable hold the bowstring  22  in the cocked position and operable to release the bowstring  22  to fire the projectile. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , the main beam  12  may include a barrel  32  supported to a stock  34 . The barrel  32 , also shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , may include an upper surface  36  having a pathway  38  on which an arrow or other projectile (not shown, but well known in the art) is positioned. The bowstring  22  may slide on this upper surface  36  in operation of the crossbow  10 . The barrel  32  may have any appropriate number of openings or other surface structures  40  suitable to attach the barrel  32  to the stock  34 . For the embodiment shown, the barrel  32  has openings  40  that are aligned with openings  42 , shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , on the stock  34 . Once aligned, connectors (not shown), such as bolts, may be inserted into the openings  40 ,  42  to attach the barrel  32  to the stock  34 . As various methods and apparatuses for attaching crossbow barrels to stocks are well known, additional details will not be provided here. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 1 and 6-7 , the stock  34  may have a proximal end with a butt portion  48  that is normally positioned against the user&#39;s shoulder when the crossbow  10  is being aimed and/or fired. It should be noted, however, that this invention may be useful with crossbow stocks that don&#39;t have a butt portion, such as so called “pistol” crossbows. The stock  34  may have a distal end with a barrel receiving portion  50  that receives the barrel  32 . For the embodiment shown, the barrel receiving portion  50  comprises a channel  52 . Other components, such as a sight (not shown) may be supported to the stock  34  and/or barrel  32  such as at location  54 . The stock  34  may have one or more handles  56  that are suitable to be gripped by the user to hold the crossbow  10  when transporting the crossbow  10  and/or when firing the crossbow  10 . The proximal handle  56  may be used to support the user&#39;s “shooting” hand while the distal handle  56  may be used to support the user&#39;s “support” hand when firing the crossbow  10 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 1 and 8-11 , at least one grip guard  100  may be positioned between the barrel  32  and the stock  34 . For the embodiment shown, one grip guard  100  is positioned between the barrel  32  and the stock  34  on the first side  44  of the main beam  12  and another grip guard  100  is positioned between the barrel  32  and the stock  34  on the second side  46  of the main beam  12 . In one embodiment, the grip guard used on the first side  44  of the main beam  12  is substantially identical in size and shape to the grip guard used on the second side  46 . This has the advantage of reducing required parts when more than one grip guard is required. The grip guard  100  may have first and second walls  102 ,  104  each having first sides  106 ,  110  and second sides  108 ,  112 . The first wall  102  may be positioned between the stock  34  and the barrel  32  with the first side  106  contacting the stock  34  and the second side  108  contacting the barrel  32 . With this arrangement, the second wall  104  extends outwardly from the main beam  12  and is positioned at least partially between the handle  56  and the barrel  31 . Thus, when the user&#39;s hand  60  is properly holding the handle  56  to fire the crossbow  10 , such as is shown in  FIG. 12 , the second wall  104  forms a barrier preventing the user&#39;s fingers from extending beyond the second wall  104  toward the barrel  32 . When two grip guards  100 ,  100  are used, the same arrangement may be used on each side  44 ,  46  of the main beam  12 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 8-11 , the grip guard  100  may have a longitudinal length LL and the first and second walls  102 ,  104  may have lateral lengths L 1  and L 2 , as shown. The walls  102 ,  104  may be generally planar, as shown, and may have widths W 1 , W 2 . While these dimensions can be any chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art, for the embodiment shown length L 1  is between 0.4 inches and 0.8 inches, length L 2  is between 0.7 inches and 1.1 inches, width W 1  is between 0.1 inches and 0.2 inches, and width W 2  is between 0.1 inches and 0.3 inches. These dimensions combine to create lateral length L 3 , shown in  FIG. 13 , which the grip guard  100  extends outwardly from the main beam  12 . Length W 3  may be between 0.5 inches to 0.8 inches although it could greater than 0.8 inches if desired. Length L 2 , for the embodiment shown, is not consistent throughout length LL as the opposite ends of the grip guard  100  may be curved inwardly as shown at locations  58  in  FIG. 8 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 8-11 , the walls  102 ,  104  may form a V-shape separated by angle A 1  as shown in  FIG. 10 . In one embodiment, angle A 1  is between 45 degrees and 170 degrees. In another embodiment, angle A 1  is between 75 degrees and 160 degrees. In yet another embodiment, angle A 1  is between 90 degrees and 150 degrees. For the specific embodiment shown, A 1  is approximately 135 degrees. In one embodiment, the second wall  104  that forms the barrier may extend substantially horizontally from the main beam  12  (this assumes that the user will hold the crossbow  10  is a substantially level or parallel to the ground orientation) as shown in  FIG. 11 . In this case, the second wall  104  is substantially perpendicular to a vertical line  114  that is perpendicular to a ground surface. For the embodiment shown, the first wall  102  is angled at an acute angle A 2  with respect to the vertical line  114 . In one embodiment, angle A 2  is between 5 degrees and 85 degrees. In another embodiment, angle A 2  is between 5 degrees and 45 degrees. In another embodiment, angle A 2  is between 30 degrees and 10 degrees. For the embodiment shown, angle A 2  is approximately 20 degrees. A lip  116  may extend from the outer end of the first wall  102 . In one embodiment, shown, the lip  116  is arranged to be substantially parallel with the second wall  104 . A distal end of the first wall  102  may define a contact surface  118 . If a lip  116  is used, the size of the contact surface  118  may be increased, as shown. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 1-3, 6 and 8-12 , the first wall  102  of the grip guard  100  may provide dampening properties for the crossbow  10  to attenuate sounds and vibrations caused by firing the crossbow  10 . The dampening properties may be achieved in any manner chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. In one embodiment, the dampening properties are achieved based on the material used to make the first wall  102 . The first wall  102  may, for some non-limiting examples, be formed of a pliable compound such as flexible polyurethane and/or a rubber. In one embodiment, the first wall  102  is formed of a different material than the second wall  104 . In another embodiment, the first and second walls  102 ,  104  are made of the same material. The first and second walls  102 ,  104  may be made separately and then attached together or may be made together, such as via a molding operation. It is common for stocks  34  and barrels  32  to be made of different materials. Barrels, for instance, may be formed of a metal, typically aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Stocks, for instance, may be formed of wood or aplastic. In one embodiment, the first wall  102  of the grip guard  100  is made of a different material than either the stock  34  or the barrel  32 . In this case, the first wall  102  may be made of a material that is different that the material used to make the surface of the stock  34  that contacts the first side  106  of the first wall  108  of the grip guard  100  and different than the material used to make the surface of the barrel  32  that contacts the second side  108  of the first wall  102 . These different materials may enhance the damping characteristics for the grip guard  100 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 1-3, 6-11, and 14-16 , as noted above, the barrel receiving portion  50  may comprises a channel  52 . This channel  52  may be formed, at least in part, by a pair of side walls  64 ,  64  on opposite sides of the main beam  12 , as shown. While the side walls  64 ,  64  may have any orientation chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art, the side walls  64 ,  64  shown angle inwardly from top to bottom. Such inward angling or slanting creates a V-shape for the barrel receiving portion  50  that makes it easy to insert and center or align the barrel  32  with respect to the stock  34 . In one embodiment, the angle of the side walls  64 ,  64  matches the angle A 2  of the grip guard  100 . In this case, when the first side  106  of the first wall  102  is positioned onto a side wall  64 , the second wall  104  will extend outwardly substantially perpendicular to the ground, as shown in  FIG. 11 . At the lower end of the side walls  64 ,  64 , the stock  34  may comprise a shelf  66 ,  66  as seen best in  FIGS. 14-16 . The contact surface  118  of the first wall  102 , shown in  FIGS. 10-11 , may contact the shelf  66 , providing another support surface to support the grip guard  100  to the stock  34 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 1 and 12 , in one embodiment, the grip guard(s)  100  are held in place solely by the force of the barrel  32  against the grip guard(s)  100  and stock  34  and, if used, the contact surface  118  of the grip guard(s)  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 10-11 , on the shelf  66 , shown in  FIGS. 14-16 . In another embodiment, attachment means may be used to attach each grip guard  100  to the barrel  32 . In yet another embodiment, shown, attachment means  62  may be used to attach each grip guard  100  to the stock  34 . With this arrangement, once the grip guard(s)  100  is attached to the stock  34 , it is only necessary to insert the barrel  32  into the barrel receiving portion  34  of the stock  34  and onto the first wall  102  of the grip guard  100 . The barrel  32  may then be attached to the stock  34 , as discussed above, to “sandwich” the first wall  102  of the grip guard(s)  100  between the stock  34  and the barrel  32 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 1, 9, 12 and 14-19 , the attachment means  62  may comprise at least one convex surface formed on one of the stock  34  and the grip guard  100  and at least one concave surface formed on the other of the stock  34  and the grip guard  100 . The convex surface may be received in the concave surface to attach the grip guard  100  to the stock  34 . While the number, size, type and location of such convex and concave surfaces can be any chosen with sound judgement of a person of skill in the art, embodiments that have been found to be effective will now be described. In one embodiment, two concave surfaces in the form of grooves  68 ,  68  are formed in the side wall  64  and convex surfaces in the form of tabs  120 ,  120  are formed on opposite ends of the second wall  104  of the grip guard  100 . The tabs  120 ,  120  may then be received in the grooves  68 ,  68  as shown in  FIG. 18 . Alternatively, the tabs could be formed in the stock  34  and the grooves could be formed in the grip guard  100 . In another embodiment, at least one concave surface (two shown) in the form of a hole  70  is formed in the side wall  64  and at least one convex surface (two shown) in the form of a pin  122  is formed on the second wall  104  of the grip guard  100 . Each pin  12  may then be received in a hole  70 . Alternatively, the pin could be formed in the stock  34  and the hole could be formed in the grip guard  100 . To keep the pin and hole oriented substantially vertically, the side wall  64  may have a platform  72  that extends substantially horizontally (when the crossbow  10  is held in a level orientation) into which the hole  70  is formed and the first wall  102  may have a platform  124  that extends substantially horizontally (when the crossbow  10  is held in a level orientation) from which the pin  122  extends. So that the platform  124  may be seen when attaching the grip guard  100  to the stock  34 , a hollow  126  may be formed above the platform  124 . In one embodiment, shown, the hollow  126  includes an opening formed through the first wall  102  just above the platform  124 . In another embodiment, at least one concave surface (three shown) in the form of an O or doughnut shape  74  is formed in the side wall  64  and at least one convex surface (three shown) in the form of an O or doughnut shape  128  is formed on the second wall  104  of the grip guard  100 . The doughnut shaped concave surfaces  74  may have a center portion that extends relatively outwardly and an outer portion that extends relatively inwardly. The doughnut shaped convex surfaces  128  may have a center portion that extends relatively inwardly and an outer portion that extends relatively outwardly. Each convex surface  128  may then be received in a concave surface  74 . Alternatively, the convex surface(s) could be formed in the stock  34  and the concave surface(s) could be formed in the grip guard  100 . To provide easy attachment of the doughnut shape(s)  128  to the doughnut shape(s)  74 , the convex surface  128  may be slanted downwardly—as shown at location  130  in  FIG. 19 . The doughnut shape(s)  74 , in this embodiment, has a matching concave surface. For the specific embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , the first wall  102  has convex surfaces  128 ,  128  at opposite ends and a third  128  in a mid-section between the pins  122 ,  122 . The side walls  64 ,  64  have matching surfaces as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     Numerous embodiments have been described herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. Further, the “invention” as that term is used in this document is what is claimed in the claims of this document. The right claim elements and/or sub-combinations that are disclosed herein as other inventions in other patent documents is hereby unconditionally reserved.