Patent Publication Number: US-2021172698-A1

Title: Bolt loader pliers and method of use thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/945,143, filed Dec. 7, 2019, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to crossbow bolts and their use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Crossbows are often used for hunting or other shooting sports. Crossbows include a bow portion, sometimes referred to as a “lath” or a “prod,” mounted with respect to a stock. A bowstring is mounted to the bow portion and is extendable to a “cocked” position. Movement of the bowstring to the cocked position elastically deforms the bow portion. A mechanism locks the bowstring in the “cocked” position such that the bow portion stores a large amount of potential kinetic energy. 
     Crossbows also include a rail defining a groove. A projectile, typically referred to as a “bolt,” is loaded by placing the projectile at least partially within the groove and in engagement with the cocked bowstring. The bowstring is released from its cocked position by pulling a trigger, which causes the bowstring to transfer the stored kinetic energy to the bolt, which is then launched from the crossbow. 
     SUMMARY 
     An apparatus for loading a crossbow is provided herein. The apparatus includes a first member having a first portion defining a first handle and a second portion defining a first hollow semi-cylinder. A second member has a third portion defining a second handle and a fourth portion defining a second hollow semi-cylinder. A pivot pin connects the first member to the second member such that the first and second members are rotatable with respect to each other about an axis. 
     The first member is selectively rotatable with respect to the second member about the axis between a first position and a second position. The first hollow semi-cylinder and the second hollow semi-cylinder cooperate to define a hollow cylinder when the first member is in the first position with respect to the second member. The first hollow semi-cylinder and the second hollow semi-cylinder are separated when the first member is in the second position with respect to the second member. 
     The apparatus may be used in a method in which a crossbow bolt is placed between the first and second semi-cylinders, and the handles are moved to cause the semi-cylinders to form the cylinder, thereby retaining the bolt. The apparatus may then be used to load the bolt onto a cocked crossbow. The apparatus improves upon the prior art by improving the safety of loading of a crossbow bolt. More specifically, the handle portion, which is held or grasped by the hand of the user, remains outside the travel path of the bowstring; accordingly, in the event of a crossbow malfunction in which the bowstring is released during the loading of the bolt, the user&#39;s hands are safely away from the bowstring as it travels from its cocked position to its uncocked position. The energy stored by the crossbow is sufficient to cause severe injury if the bowstring contacts the user&#39;s hands. 
     The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the disclosure when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic, perspective view of a crossbow bolt loader in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic, perspective view of the crossbow bolt loader in an open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic, top view of the crossbow bolt loader in the closed position; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic, top view of the crossbow bolt loader in the open position; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic, front view of the crossbow bolt loader in the closed position; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic, perspective view of a first member of the crossbow bolt loader; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic, perspective view of a second member of the crossbow bolt loader; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic, side view of the crossbow bolt loader; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic, bottom view of the crossbow bolt loader; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic, top view of a crossbow; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic, side view of the crossbow of  FIG. 10  being loaded by the crossbow bolt loader; and 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic, side view of a crossbow bolt loader according to an alternative embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components, a bolt-loading apparatus  10  is schematically depicted. The apparatus  10  includes two members, namely, a first member  14  and a second member  18 . The first member  14  has a first portion  22  defining a first handle  26 . The first member  14  also has a second portion  30  defining a first hollow semi-cylinder  34 . As used herein, a “semi-cylinder” is a half of a cylinder cut by a plane that extends along its longitudinal axis, and a “hollow semi-cylinder” is half of a hollow cylinder cut by a plane that extends along its longitudinal axis. More specifically, the second portion  30  defines a first concave surface  38  that defines a first semi-cylindrical cavity  42 , and a semi-cylindrical outer surface  46 . 
     Similarly, the second member  18  has a third portion  50  defining a second handle  54 . The second member  18  also has a fourth portion  58  defining a second hollow semi-cylinder  62 . More specifically, the fourth portion  58  defines a second concave surface  66  that defines a second semi-cylindrical cavity  70 , and a semi-cylindrical outer surface  74 . 
     The apparatus  10  also includes a pivot pin  78  that connects the first member  14  to the second member  18  such that the first and second members  14 ,  18  are rotatable with respect to each other about an axis  82 . More specifically, the first member  14  is selectively rotatable with respect to the second member  18  about the axis  82  between a first position, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 9 , and a second position, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . 
     The apparatus  10  is configured such that, when the first member  14  is in the first position with respect to the second member  18 , as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 9 , the first hollow semi-cylinder  34  and the second hollow semi-cylinder  62  cooperate to define a complete hollow cylinder  86 , with surfaces  38  and  66  cooperating to define a cylindrical passageway  90  through the cylinder  86 . 
     The apparatus  10  is configured such that, when the first member  14  is in the second position with respect to the second member  18 , the first hollow semi-cylinder  34  and the second hollow semi-cylinder  62  are separated, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  schematically depict a method of using the apparatus  10 . Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIGS. 1-9 , the method includes possessing a crossbow  100 . The crossbow  100  includes a stock  104 , a rail  108  defining a groove  112 , a bow portion  116 , a bowstring  120 , and a bowstring locking mechanism  124  all operatively interconnected as understood by those skilled in the art. 
     The method also includes possessing a crossbow bolt  130  having a shaft  134  and a plurality of vanes  138  mounted to the shaft  134 , as understood by those skilled in the art. The bolt  130  may include a head  142  at one end, and a nock  146  at the other, as understood by those skilled in the art. The method further includes possessing an apparatus  10  having at least one handle  26 ,  54  and a bolt retention portion (portions  30 ,  58 ) configured to releasably retain the shaft  134  of the crossbow bolt  130 . 
     The method includes causing the bolt retention portion ( 30 ,  58 ) to retain the shaft  134  of the crossbow bolt  130 . In the embodiment depicted, this includes manipulating the handles  26 ,  54  so that the first member  14  is in its second position with respect to the second member  18 , and therefore the first hollow semi-cylinder  34  and the second hollow semi-cylinder  62  are separated, positioning the shaft  134  with respect to the apparatus  10  such that, when the first member  14  moves to its first position and the first and second hollow semi-cylinders  34 ,  62  move together to form the complete cylinder  86 , the shaft  134  is disposed within, and extends through, the cylindrical passageway  90  as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The bolt  130  is thus captured within the cylindrical passageway  90  between the first and second portions  30 ,  58 . 
     The method then includes holding handles  26 ,  54  and moving the apparatus  10  with the shaft  134  of the crossbow bolt  130  retained by the bolt retention portion such that at least a portion of the bolt  130  is disposed within the groove  112  of the rail  108 . In one embodiment, one of the vanes  138  extends into the groove  112 . Holding the handles  26 ,  54  and moving the apparatus  10  may include moving the apparatus  10  such that the bolt is in the position shown in phantom at  130 A in  FIG. 11 , and more specifically the nock  146  is engaged with the bowstring  120  when the bowstring  120  is cocked, i.e., the bowstring  120  is engaged with the locking mechanism  124 . The method then includes releasing the shaft  134  from the apparatus  10 , which, in the embodiment depicted, includes moving the handles  26 ,  54  such that the first handle is in the second position and the semi-cylinders  34 ,  62  separate from each other. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 8 and 11 , the handles  26 ,  54  form an angle  200  with the centerline or axis  204  of the cylindrical passageway  90 . The axis of the cylindrical shaft  134  is coextensive with the axis  204  of the passageway  90  when the shaft  134  extends through the passageway  90  (as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 ). Accordingly, the angle  200  is also formed between the shaft  134  and the handles  26 ,  54 . The angle  200  is preferably between 20 and 80 degrees, and more preferably between 25 and 45 degrees. In the embodiment depicted, the angle  200  is 30 degrees. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 9 , the first member  14  defines a first rectangular concavity  300  adjacent the first handle  26 . Similarly, the second member  18  defines a second rectangular concavity  304  adjacent the second handle  54 . The concavities  300 ,  304  are positioned such that, when the first member  14  is in the first position with respect to the second member  18 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , the first and second concavities  300 ,  304  cooperate to define a rectangular aperture  308 . The aperture  308  is sized such that the nock  146  of the bolt  130  is fittable inside the aperture  308 . The apparatus  10  may be used to rotate the nock  146  with respect to the shaft  134 . 
     Accordingly, the method may also include inserting the nock  146  into the aperture  308 , and rotating either or both the apparatus  10  or the shaft  134 , thereby causing rotation of the nock  146  until the nock  146  is at a desired angular position relative to the shaft  134 . 
       FIG. 12 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIGS. 1-11 , an alternative embodiment of the crossbow bolt loader  400  is schematically depicted. The crossbow bolt loader  400  is substantially identical to the crossbow bolt loader shown at  10  in  FIGS. 1-11  except that one of the handles  26  defines a nock port  404 , and the bolt loader  400  includes rubber inserts  406 . 
     As understood by those skilled in the art, the end of a nock, such as the one shown at  146  in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , is generally circular with a groove that bisects the circle. The groove at the end of the nock  146  is configured to receive and retain the bowstring. The nock port  404  is formed in the surface of one of the handles  26 . More specifically, the surface of the handle  26  defines a protuberant portion  408  that is fittable within the groove of the nock  146 . The nock portion  404  may also define two concavities  412 ,  416 , each of the concavities  412 ,  416  being on respective opposite sides of the protuberant portion  408 . The nock port  404  is facilitates alignment of the nock  146  relative to the shaft  134 . A method of using the nock port  404  includes inserting the protuberant portion  408  into the groove of the nock  146 . The concavities  412 ,  416  accommodate the portions of the nock on either side of the groove; thus, portions of the nock enter the concavities. The interaction between the nock  146  and the nock port  404  prevents rotation of the nock  146  relative to the bolt loader  400 . This enables the shaft  134  of the bolt  130  to be easily rotated relative to the nock  146 . 
     Each rubber insert  406  is mounted to a respective one of the handles  26 ,  54  and define a respective concave surface  420 . Surfaces  420  generally face one another such that movement of the first handle  26  from its second position to its first position brings surfaces  420  closer to one another. The rubber inserts  406  are usable to extinguish certain nocks and to pull crossbow bolts from targets. More specifically, the handles  26 ,  54  can be used to compress a bolt between the inserts  406  to provide the friction and force necessary to grasp the bolt for removal from a target. 
     While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.