Patent Publication Number: US-10330428-B2

Title: Combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 62/462,589, titled FOLDING STIRRUP AND REST FOR A CROSSBOW, filed Feb. 23, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     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 crossbow stirrups and shooting rests. 
     B. Description of Related Art 
     Crossbows have been used for many years as a weapon for hunting and fishing, and for target shooting. In general, a crossbow includes a main beam that may have a stock member and a barrel connected to the stock member. The barrel typically has an arrow receiving area for receiving the arrow that is to be fired or shot. The crossbow also includes a bow assembly supported on the main beam that includes a bow (including a pair of bow limbs) and a bowstring connected to the bow for use in shooting arrows. A trigger mechanism, also supported on the main beam, holds the bowstring in a drawn or cocked condition and can thereafter be operated to release the bowstring to an uncocked condition to fire or shoot the arrow. 
     To adjust a crossbow into the cocked condition, it is known to provide a stirrup. Stirrups generally are supported to the main beam, sometimes through a riser, and extend away from the main beam in the direction that the arrow is shot. Stirrups include a contact surface that is positioned on the ground (or other cocking support surface) and a contact surface upon which the user places his/her foot while pulling the bowstring away from the bow until the bowstring engages the trigger mechanism, thereby cocking the crossbow. While known stirrups generally work well for their intended purpose, a known problem with stirrups is that they are fixed to the main beam—adding length to the crossbow and making the crossbow more cumbersome to use and carry. While folding stirrups are known, they do not provide a positive lock for specific positions and are limited to use as a stirrup. Another problem with stirrups is that they add weight to the crossbow. 
     In order to provide more accurate shooting of a crossbow, it is known to provide a crossbow with a shooting rest. A shooting rest includes a contact surface that is positioned on the ground (or other shooting support surface) to support the crossbow while it is shot. Numerous types of shooting rests are known, including monopod, bipod and tripod designs. While known rests generally work well for their intended purpose, they are known to have problems. One problem is that shooting rests often require that the main beam have a special design, such as a picatinny rail or a weaver rail, to which the shooting rest is attached for use. Another problem is that known shooting rests are limited to use as a shooting rest. Yet another problem with shooting rests, as with stirrups, is that they add weight to the crossbow. 
     What is needed is a single device that operates as both a stirrup and a shooting rest. This device may be easily adjusted into a number of predetermined positions relative to the main beam. This combined stirrup and shooting rest mitigates the problems noted above, and others, as will be readily understood by a person of skill in the art. 
     II. SUMMARY 
     According to some embodiments of this invention, a combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism may be used with an associated crossbow having a main beam and a bow assembly supported to the main beam. The combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism may comprise: a bracket having a connection surface and first and second contact surfaces; a bracket engagement device that is supportable to the main beam and that comprises first and second distinct connection surfaces; and one or more biasing force generators. When the bracket engagement device is supported to the associated crossbow, the bracket may be rotatable with respect to the bracket engagement device between: 1) a cocking position where the connection surface of the bracket is interconnected with the first connection surface of the bracket engagement device and the bracket is positioned to enable a user to use the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism as a stirrup to cock the associated bow assembly with the first contact surface receiving the user&#39;s foot and the second contact surface contacting a ground or other cocking support surface; and 2) a shooting rest position where the connection surface of the bracket is interconnected with the second connection surface of the bracket engagement device and the bracket is positioned to enable a user to use the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism as a shooting rest to shoot the associated crossbow with the second contact surface contacting a ground or other shooting support surface. The one or more biasing force generators may exert: 1) a biasing force to bias the bracket into the cocking position and; 2) a biasing force to bias the bracket into the shooting rest position. 
     According to other embodiments of this invention, a method for using a combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism with an associated crossbow having a main beam and a bow assembly supported to the main beam may include the steps of: A) providing a combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism comprising: a bracket having a connection surface and first and second distinct contact surfaces; a bracket engagement device that is supportable to the main beam and that comprises first and second distinct connection surfaces; and one or more biasing force generators; B) providing the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism to be operable to perform the following steps when the bracket engagement device is supported to the associated crossbow: 1) manually rotating the bracket with respect to the bracket engagement device into a cocking position where the connection surface of the bracket is interconnected with the first connection surface of the bracket engagement device and the bracket is positioned to enable a user to use the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism as a stirrup to cock the associated bow assembly with the first contact surface receiving the user&#39;s foot and the second contact surface contacting a ground or other cocking support surface; 2) automatically applying a biasing force from the one or more biasing force generators to bias the bracket into the cocking position; 3) manually overcoming the biasing force that biases the bracket into the cocking position; 4) manually rotating the bracket with respect to the bracket engagement device into a shooting rest position where the connection surface of the bracket is interconnected with the second connection surface of the bracket engagement device and the bracket is positioned to enable a user to use the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism as a shooting rest to shoot the associated crossbow with the second contact surface contacting a ground or other shooting support surface; and 5) automatically applying a biasing force from the one or more biasing force generators to bias the bracket into the shooting rest position. 
     According to yet other embodiments of this invention, an apparatus may be used with an associated crossbow having a main beam and a bow assembly. The apparatus may comprise: a riser that: is supportable to the main beam; is designed to support bow limbs; and comprises first, second and third distinct connection surfaces; and a bracket having a connection surface and first and second distinct contact surfaces. When the riser is supported to the associated crossbow: A) the bracket may be rotatable with respect to the riser between: 1) a cocking position where the connection surface of the bracket is interconnected with the first connection surface of the riser and the bracket is positioned to enable a user to use the bracket as a stirrup to cock the associated bow assembly with the first contact surface receiving the user&#39;s foot and the second contact surface contacting a ground or other cocking support surface; 2) a shooting rest position where the connection surface of the bracket is interconnected with the second connection surface of the riser and the bracket is positioned to enable a user to use the bracket as a shooting rest to shoot the associated crossbow with the second contact surface contacting a ground or other shooting support surface; and 3) a carry position where the connection surface of the bracket is interconnected with the third connection surface of the riser and the bracket is positioned to enable a user to carry the associated crossbow with reduced bracket interference. The bracket may rotate at least 70 degrees with respect to the riser about an axis of rotation between the cocking position and the shooting rest position. The bracket may rotate at least 70 degrees with respect to the riser about the axis of rotation between the shooting rest position and the carry position. The bracket may rotate at least 140 degrees with respect to the riser about the axis of rotation between the cocking position and the carry position. 
    
    
     
       III. 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 perspective view a crossbow. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial top sectional view showing a combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism according to some embodiments of this invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a bracket according to some embodiments of this invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view showing a portion of a combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism and how a bracket may be positioned relative to a bracket engagement device according to some embodiments of this invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a bracket according to some embodiments of this invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a bracket engagement device that may form, along with the bracket shown in  FIG. 5 , a combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism. 
     
    
    
     IV. DEFINITIONS 
     The following definitions are controlling for the disclosed inventions: 
     “Arrow” means a projectile that is shot with (or fired by or launched by) a bow assembly. 
     “Bow” means a bent, curved, or arched object. A bow includes a pair of bow limbs. 
     “Bow Assembly” means a weapon comprising a bow and a bowstring that shoots (or fires or propels) arrows powered by the elasticity of the bow and the drawn bowstring. 
     “Bowstring” means a string or cable attached to a bow and used to shoot (or fire or propel) arrows. 
     “Compound Bow” means a bow that has wheels, pulleys or cams at each end of the bow through which the bowstring passes. A compound bow may include strings or cables in addition to the bowstring that interconnect the wheels, pulleys or cams to each other and/or to other portions of the bow. 
     “Crossbow” means a weapon comprising a bow assembly and a trigger mechanism both mounted to a main beam. 
     “Draw Weight” means the amount of force required to draw or pull the bowstring on a crossbow into a cocked condition. 
     “Main Beam” means the longitudinal structural member of a weapon used to support the trigger mechanism and often other components as well. For crossbows, the main beam also supports the bow assembly. A main beam may include a stock member and a barrel. Sometimes a barrel is a distinct component from the stock member that is attached to the stock member. Other times the barrel and stock member comprise a single component. 
     “Trigger Mechanism” means the portion of a weapon that shoots, fires or releases the projectile of a weapon. As applied to crossbows, 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 condition to shoot an arrow. 
     “Weapon” means any device that can be used in fighting or hunting that shoots or fires a projectile including bow assemblies and crossbows. 
     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  100  that may use a combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism  130  according to some embodiments of this invention. The crossbow  100  may have a main beam  102  including a stock member  104  and a barrel  106 . An optional handgrip  108  may be mounted to the main beam  102  in any conventional manner. A trigger mechanism  110  suitable for shooting an arrow is mounted to the main beam  102  in any suitable manner. It should be noted that the crossbow  100  may comprise any trigger mechanism  110  chosen with sound judgment by a person of ordinary skill in the art. The crossbow  100  also includes a bow assembly  112  adapted to propel an arrow and having a bow  114  and a bowstring  116 . The bow  114  includes a pair of bow limbs  118 ,  118  that receive the bowstring  116  in any conventional manner chosen with the sound judgment of a person of ordinary skill in the art. For the embodiment shown, a pair of cams (which may be also pulleys and/or wheels)  120 ,  120  mounted to the bow limbs  118 ,  118  receive the bowstring  116  in a known manner; making the bow a compound bow. While the crossbow shown uses a compound bow, it should be understood that this invention will work well with any type of bow chosen with sound judgment by a person of ordinary skill in the art. One or more strings or cables  122 , in addition to the bowstring  116 , may be interconnected between the wheels  120  and the crossbow  100  in any manner chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. The one or more cables  122  may pass through a barrel slot  124  formed in the barrel  106 , as shown. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , numerous other crossbow components may be used, or not used, with a crossbow using a combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism  130  according to some embodiments of this invention. The crossbow  100  may include, for example, a riser or block  126  that is supported to the main beam  102  and that has a pair of limb pockets  128 ,  128  that support the bow limbs  118 ,  118 , as shown. The combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism  130  of this invention may be attached to the riser  126  and may be used as will be discussed below. In alternate embodiments, the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism  130  may be attached directly to the main beam  102  without the use of a riser. In still other embodiments, a riser may work with a bracket as will be discussed below. An optional cocking unit  132  may be provided for use in cocking the crossbow  100  when the stirrup is not used. Still other optional components may include a scope  50  attached to a scope mount  52  that is supported to the main beam  102 . Another optional component shown is an arrow retention spring  138 . As the operation of these components is well known to those of skill in the art, no further details will be provided. 
       FIGS. 2-4  show a combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism  200  according to some embodiments of this invention. The combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism  200  may include a bracket  202  and a bracket engagement device  208 . The bracket  202  may be rotatable with respect to the bracket engagement device  208  and may have a connection surface  224  and a pair of distinct contact surfaces  226 ,  228  that will be discussed further below. The bracket  202  may have any shape and size chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. The bracket shown in  FIGS. 2-3  has a contact member  238  with the contact surfaces  226 ,  228  on opposite sides thereof, an axle or pin  204 , and a leg  230  that interconnects the axle  204  to the contact member  238  and thus to contact surface  228 . In an alternate embodiment, not shown, the axle or pin  204  may be part of the bracket engagement device  208  instead of part of the bracket  202 . The axle  204  may define an axis of rotation  232  about which the bracket  202  is rotatable with respect to the bracket engagement device  208 . The contact surface  228  may extend generally parallel to the axis of rotation  232 , as shown. The leg  230  may have any shape chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. For the embodiment shown, the leg extends generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation  232  but has an outwardly extending portion  234  that increases the areas of the contact surfaces  226 ,  228 . Contact surface  226  may be used to receive the foot of a user when the bracket  202  is used as a stirrup while contact surface  228  may be used to contact a ground or other cocking support surface to cock the bow assembly. A guide lip  236  may be provided to guide the user&#39;s foot onto the contact surface  226  when the bracket  202  is used as a stirrup. Contact surface  228  may be used to contact a ground or other shooting support surface when the bracket  202  is used as a shooting rest. The contact surface  228  may be spaced from the axis of rotation  232  a distance  240 . Distance  240  can be any distance sufficient to permit the bracket  202  to serve as a stirrup and a shooting rest. In one embodiment, distance  240  is at least 4 inches. In another embodiment, distance  240  is at most 12 inches. In yet another embodiment, distance  240  is between 4 inches and 12 inches, inclusive. In still another embodiment, distance  240  is between 5 inches and 8 inches, inclusive. The connection surface  224  may have a centerline spaced from the axis of rotation  232  a distance  242  that may be in the range of 0.5 inches to 4 inches, inclusive. In another embodiment, distance  242  may be in the range of 1 inch to 2 inches, inclusive. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 1-2 and 4 , the bracket engagement device  208  may be supportable to the crossbow main beam. In one embodiment, the bracket engagement device  208  is directly supported to the main beam. In another embodiment, the bracket engagement device  208  is supported to the main beam via a riser. In yet another embodiment, the riser serves as the bracket engagement device  208 . In this case, reference  208  represents a crossbow riser. For embodiments where axle  204  is part of the bracket  202 , the bracket engagement device  208  may have an opening  206  that rotatably receives the axle  204 . In one embodiment, the opening  206  is parallel to the flight rail plane of the crossbow. The axle  204  may have a threaded end  214  that receives a washer  216  and a nut  212  or other securing device to mount the axle, and in some embodiments the bracket  202  also, to the bracket engagement device  208 . The bracket engagement device  208  may have a counter bore  210  for purposes to be explained below. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the bracket engagement device  208  may have at least two distinct connection surfaces  222  that selectively interconnect with the connection surface  224  of the bracket  202 . When bracket connection surface  224  is interconnected to any of the bracket engagement device connection surfaces  222 , the bracket  202  is held in position relative to the bracket engagement device  208  as long as the interconnection is maintained. Thus, each connection surface  222  defines a predetermined relative position between the bracket  202  and the bracket engagement device  208 . The connection surfaces  222 ,  224  may be of any type and size chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. In one embodiment, the connection surfaces  222  are convex in shape and the connection surface  224  is concave in shape and receives any one of the convex connection surfaces  222 . In another embodiment, shown, the connection surfaces  222  are concave in shape and the connection surface  224  is convex in shape. In this case, the convex connection surface  224  is received in any of the concave connection surfaces  222 . The specific number and arrangement of connection surfaces  222  can be any chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art. The connection surfaces  222  may, for the embodiment shown, be arranged on a side surface  220  of the bracket engagement device  208 . For the embodiments shown, nine connection surfaces  222  are provided in an evenly divided radial pattern providing a total range of motion of 180 degrees from position A-A to position B-B, as shown in  FIG. 4 . This provides a range of motion of 22.5 degrees between neighboring connection surfaces, 45 degrees between two connection surfaces having just one connection surface between them (such as  222 A and  222 E shown in  FIG. 4 ), 90 degrees between position A-A and C-C, 90 degrees between position B-B and C-C, and other ranges of motion as readily understood by a person of skill in the art. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 2-4 , the combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism  200  may include one or more biasing force generators  212  that exert a biasing force to bias the bracket  202  into the position defined by one or more of the bracket engagement device connection surfaces  222 . The biasing force generator(s)  212  may therefore provide a positive lock for specific relative bracket/bracket engagement device positions. The biasing force generator(s) used can be of any type and size chosen with the sound judgement of a person of skill in the art. In one embodiment, the biasing force generator  212  is a spring, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The spring  212  may be positioned within the counter bore  210  and around the axle  204 , as shown. In another embodiment, discussed further below, the one or more biasing force generators  212  may comprise a spring force inherent to the bracket. The one or more biasing force generators  212  may apply a biasing force automatically. By “automatically” it is meant that the biasing force is applied naturally as a characteristic of the biasing force generator without human or other intervention. Spring  212 , for example, may be a compression spring that, as is well known to those of skill in the art, automatically applies a force resisting compression of the spring. As a result, the spring  212  placed within the counter bore  210  and beside washer  216  will provide a biasing force that biases the bracket connection surface  224  (and thus the bracket  202 ) into relative position with respect to a bracket engagement device connection surface  222  (and thus with respect to the bracket engagement device  208 ). 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 1-4 , in operation the user can manually position the bracket  202  into any one of the predetermined positions relative to the bracket engagement device  208  by first pulling the bracket  202  away from the bracket engagement device  208  in direction X-X, shown in  FIG. 2 . This motion will compress the spring  212 , overcoming the spring&#39;s biasing force that biases the bracket into the initial relative position, allowing the bracket connection surface  224  to be moved away from (and thus out of interconnection with) the initial engagement device connection surface  222 . The bracket  202  can then be manually rotated about the axis of rotation  232  to the desired relative position. Finally, by then manually releasing the bracket  202 , the spring biasing force will automatically draw the bracket  202  toward the bracket engagement device  208  and interconnect the bracket connection surface  224  to the juxtaposed engagement device connection surface  222 . This biasing force positively locks the bracket  202  in position with respect to the bracket engagement device  208 . This process can be repeated as often as desired and the bracket  202  can be positioned relative to the bracket engagement device  208  into any of the positions provided by the engagement device connection surfaces  222 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , assuming, for example, that the orientation shown in  FIG. 4  is the same as that shown in  FIG. 1  (that is, the front and back directions are the same), to adjust the bracket  202  into a suitable position for use as a stirrup, the user may rotate the bracket  202  into relative position B-B shown in  FIG. 4 . In this cocking position, bracket connection surface  224  interconnects with engagement device connection surface  222 A enabling the user to use the bracket  202  as a stirrup to cock the crossbow bow assembly with contact surface  226  receiving the user&#39;s foot and contact surface  228  contacting a ground or other cocking support surface. To adjust the bracket  202  into a suitable position for use as a shooting rest, the user may rotate the bracket  202  into relative position C-C shown in  FIG. 4 . In this shooting rest position, bracket connection surface  224  interconnects with engagement device connection surface  222 B enabling the user to use the bracket  202  as a shooting rest with contact surface  228  contacting a ground or other shooting support surface while the user carefully aims and fires the crossbow. To make the crossbow easier to carry, reducing bracket interference with obstacles, the user may adjust the bracket  202  into a suitable position for carrying the crossbow such as by rotating the bracket  202  into relative position A-A shown in  FIG. 4 . In this carry position, bracket connection surface  224  interconnects with engagement device connection surface  222 C and the bracket  202  is “out of the way” of interference as it does not extend significantly frontward or downward. 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , it should be understood that the specific cocking, shooting rest and carry positions just described are exemplary only. In other embodiments, bracket connection surface  224  may interconnect with engagement device connection surface  222 D to enable the user to use the bracket  202  as a stirrup. In other embodiments, bracket connection surface  224  may interconnect with engagement device connection surface  222 E,  222 F,  222 G and/or  222 H to enable the user to use the bracket  202  as a shooting rest. In still other embodiments, bracket connection surface  224  may interconnect with engagement device connection surface  2221  to enable the user to position the bracket  202  for carrying the crossbow. In some embodiments, the bracket  202  rotates at least 70 degrees with respect to the bracket engagement device  208  about the axis of rotation  232  between the cocking position and the shooting rest position. In other embodiments, the bracket  202  rotates at least 70 degrees with respect to the bracket engagement device  208  about the axis of rotation  232  between the shooting rest position and the carry position. In yet other embodiments, the bracket  202  rotates at least 140 degrees with respect to the bracket engagement device  208  about the axis of rotation  232  between the cocking position and the carry position. 
       FIGS. 5-6  show a combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism  500  incorporating many of the same embodiments disclosed above but also incorporating alternate embodiments from those disclosed above. The alternate embodiments will be especially noted. The combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism  500  may include a bracket  502  that may be rotatable with respect to a bracket engagement device  600 . The bracket  502  may have a pair of distinct contact surfaces  508 ,  510  that are positioned on opposite sides of a contact member  512  and used in the same way as previously described contact surfaces  226  and  228 . In some embodiments, the bracket  502  has a single connection surface  506  to selectively interconnect with at least two distinct connections surfaces  602  on the bracket engagement device  600 . In another embodiment, shown, the bracket  502  has a pair of connection surfaces  506 ,  514  on opposite legs  516 ,  518  that selectively interconnect with at least two distinct connections surfaces  602 ,  604  on each of the opposite sides  606 ,  608  of the bracket engagement device  600 . The bracket  502  may have any shape and size chosen with the sound judgment of a person of skill in the art and may include one or more (two shown) outwardly extending portions  520  that provide the advantages described above regarding outwardly extending portion  234 . Previously described bracket  202  can be thought of as an “open” design because there is an open space between the bracket and the axle as indicated with brace Z-Z in  FIG. 2 . Bracket  502 , however, has no such open space and thus can be thought of as a “closed” design. 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 5-6 , the bracket  502  may have a pair of axles or pins  504 ,  504  rotatably received in openings  610 ,  610  formed on the opposite sides  606 ,  608  of the bracket engagement device  600 . In another embodiment, not shown, the axles  504 ,  504  may be part of the bracket engagement device  600  instead of the bracket  502 . The axles  504 ,  504  may each define an axis of rotation  522 ,  524  about which the bracket  502  is rotatable with respect to the bracket engagement device  600 . For the embodiment shown, the axes of rotation are collinear. The connection surfaces  602 ,  604  may be arranged as the connection surfaces  222  described above and shown in  FIG. 4 . The connection surfaces  506 ,  514 ,  602 ,  604  may be convex and concave in alternative embodiments as with the connection surfaces  222 ,  224  described above. The contact surface  510  may be spaced from the axes of rotation  522  and/or  524  a distance  526 . Distance  526  can be any distance sufficient to permit the bracket  502  to serve as a stirrup and a shooting rest and may have the same range as previously described distance  240 . The connection surfaces  506 ,  514  may, have centerlines that are collinear in some embodiments and non-collinear in other embodiments. These centerlines may be spaced from the axes of rotation  522  and/or  524  a distance  528  that may have the same range as previously described distance  224 . If the bracket  502  is made of an appropriate material, such as metal, it will have an inherent spring force. This inherent spring force will maintain the axles  504 ,  504  within the openings  610 ,  610 . To overcome this spring force to adjust the bracket  502  into a different relative position with respect to the bracket engagement device  600 , such as by relative rotation, the user can apply a manual force on both sides as indicated with the arrows  530  in  FIG. 5 . Once the desired relative position has been achieved, the user may simply release the bracket  502  and the inherent spring force will interconnect the connection surfaces  506 ,  514  to the desired corresponding connection surfaces  602 ,  604 . As a result, the bracket  502  does not require one or more separate springs as described with other embodiments above. Use and adjustment of the bracket  502  may be similar to bracket  202  described above except for the inherent spring force instead of a separate spring. 
     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 to claim elements and/or sub-combinations that are disclosed herein as other inventions in other patent documents is hereby unconditionally reserved. 
     In the patent claims that follow, it should be understood that any component referred to as being “associated” is not being claimed positively but rather indicates the environment in which the claimed invention is used. Thus, for a non-limiting example, if a patent claim includes a “combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism for use with an associated crossbow” then Applicant&#39;s intent is that infringement does not require a crossbow. Rather, infringement only requires a combination crossbow stirrup and shooting rest mechanism that is capable of being used with a crossbow.