Patent Publication Number: US-8978949-B2

Title: Crossbow case

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 USC Section 120 from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/620,437 filed on Apr. 5, 2012 by Michael M. Arajakis and entitled CROSSBOW CASE, full disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Crossbows are frequently used to hunt. To carry the crossbows across large distances, slings are sometimes attached to the crossbow itself. During such transport, the crossbow is exposed to the elements and is also vulnerable to becoming snagged on brush and other plant or wooded growth. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of an example crossbow case for transporting a crossbow;  FIG. 1  illustrating deployment of shoulder straps. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the crossbow case of  FIG. 1 ; You  2  illustrating retraction and storage of the shoulder straps in the crossbow case. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the crossbow case of  FIG. 1  with the shoulder straps being deployed. 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the crossbow case of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of another example of the crossbow case of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the crossbow case of  FIG. 1  containing a crossbow and being worn by a person 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE IMPLEMENTATIONS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a crossbow case  10  having a T-shaped body  12  with an upper horizontal portion  14  and a lower vertical portion  16 . Body  12  forms a T-shaped internal body to receive a crossbow. Crossbow case  10  comprises a pair of shoulder straps  18  having a first end  20  attached or connected to body  12  and a second opposite end  22  attachable to lower vertical portion  16  of body  12 . In the example illustrated, end  22  include one of hooks  23  and rings  25  while the lower vertical portion  16  include the other of hooks  23  and rings  25  facilitating such releasable attachment. In other implementations, other mechanisms, such as snap clips may be used to facilitate such releasable attachment. 
     As shown by  FIG. 2 , shoulder straps  18  may be disconnected from lower vertical portion  16  and folded or collapsed into pocket  24  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) having a downwardly facing opening  26 . Because pocket  24  faces in a downward direction, pocket  24  is less likely to fill with rain or snow. In the example illustrated, an entirety of shoulder straps  18  is receivable within the stowaway pouch or pocket  24 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the opening of pocket  24  is closable by means of a flap  30  which may be zipped and a closed state by a zipper  32  so as to close opening  26  and overlap pocket  24 . Flap  30  hangs below the opening of pocket  24  of straps  18  are deployed and extends across and above the opening  26  of pocket  24  when straps  18  are stored within pocket  24 . In the example illustrated, flap  30  is zipped close by zipper extending around an exterior base and floor of pocket  24 , rather than along or across mouth or opening  26 . Because an upper edge of panel or flap  30  is zipped or otherwise secured to case  10  above mouth or opening  26  of pocket  24 , flap  30  may be unzipped otherwise uncoupled to open pocket  24  from a top end of case  10 . Moreover, less pressure is imposed upon zipper  32  in circumstances where straps  18  are not compactly inserted into pocket  24 . 
     In other implementations, flap  30  may be releasably connected to case  10  by hook and loop fastening arrangement, a snap clip or other fastening mechanisms instead of the illustrated zipper  32 . In other implementations, flap  30  may be secured to pocket  24  along the mouth of pocket  24  resident above the mouth of pocket  24 . In yet other implementations, flap  30  may be omitted, wherein the mouth of pocket  24  is closable with a zipper, hook and loop fastener arrangement, clip or other mechanism. 
     As shown by  FIG. 2 , the base ends of each of shoulder straps  18  are coupled to or connected to a remainder of case  10  at locations within pocket  24 , wherein straps  18  simply extend downward out-of-pocket  24  when flap  30  is lowered. In one implementation, the base ends of each of shoulder shaft  18  are pivotably coupled to or connected to a remainder of case  10  at locations within pocket  24 . In the example illustrated, flap  30  is padded so as to pad rigid portions of shoulder straps  18  within pocket  24 . As shown by  FIG. 1 , flap  30  may be unzipped and opened, allowing shoulder straps  18  to be deployed, wherein the padded flap  30  extends between shoulder straps  18  and body  12  provided additional padding or cushioning for a person wearing the shoulder straps  18  during transport of a crossbow. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate an opposite side of case  10 . As shown by  FIGS. 3 and 4 , crossbow case  10  additionally includes an auxiliary support box or pocket  40  and a strap serving as a handle  42 . Pocket  40  is openable and closable by means of a zipper  44  and is sized or configured to contain arrows. Pocket  44  extends alongside the lower vertical portion  16  of case  10 . In one implementation, the backside of lower vertical portion  16  is padded with a foam back panel, further providing for comfort when case  10  is being worn by a person. In the example illustrated, The front face of case  10  further includes a zippered mesh accessory pocket  46 . In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , the front face of case  10  further comprising camouflaged region  48 . In other implementations such additional features may be omitted. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates case  10 , containing a crossbow (not shown), being warned by a person for transport of the contained crossbow. As shown by  FIG. 5 , when case  10  is worn, flap  30  is lowered, opening the lower mouth of pocket  24  and allowing straps  18  to be deployed over and about the person shoulders. The lower ends  22  of straps  18  are hooked (or otherwise releasably connected) to vertical portion  16 . Because vertical portion  16  is padded and because flap  30  is also padded, having one or more layers or panels of foam or other compressible material, case  10  is comfortable to wear over long distances. Straps  18  distribute the load of the carried crossbow across the person shoulders. During such transport, the crossbow within case  10  is completely enclosed and is protected from the elements (rain, snow). In addition, crossbow  10  is less likely to snag upon underbrush, plant growth or other obstructions that may be encountered during transport through a wilderness or wooded area. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates case  110 , another example implementation of case  10 . Case  110  is similar to case  10  except that case  110  comprises an upwardly facing pocket  124 , from the interior of which straps  18  extend. Those remaining components of case  110  which correspond to components of case  10  are numbered similarly. In the example illustrated, pocket  124  includes a zippered mouth  132 . In another implementation, the upwardly facing pocket  124  may alternatively be covered and/or closed by an overlapping flap similar to flap  30 . 
     Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to example embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the defined subject matter. For example, although different example embodiments may have been described as including one or more features providing one or more benefits, it is contemplated that the described features may be interchanged with one another or alternatively be combined with one another in the described example embodiments or in other alternative embodiments. Because the technology of the present disclosure is relatively complex, not all changes in the technology are foreseeable. The present disclosure described with reference to the example embodiments and set forth in the following claims is manifestly intended to be as broad as possible. For example, unless specifically otherwise noted, the claims reciting a single particular element also encompass a plurality of such particular elements.