‘US 200900649 cu») United States cz) Patent Application Publication co) Pub. No.: US 2009/0064978 A1 Matasic et al. (34) CROSSBOW Charles 8. Matasic, West Chester, PA(US): Baron B. Abe, Wrightsville, PA (US): Sujan V. Patel, Elizabethtown, PA (US); ‘Curvin L. Wolfgang, JR. East Prospect, PA (US) (76) Investors: Correspondence Adare MCCARTER & ENG BASIL S. KRIKELIS Renaissance Centre, 405 N. King WILMINGTON, DE 19801 (US) eet, 8th Floor Appl.Ne: 12/206,386 File Sep. 8, 2008 Related U.S. Application Data (60) Provisional application No. 601970,694, fled on S 7.2087, (43) Pub, Date Mar. 12, 2009 ication Classification (1) Ince FAB SB (2) US.CL 6 A crossbow includes a trigger mechanism having a tigger housing for receiving a bowstring of a erossbow and a bow sing catch mouated with rexpeet vo the housing and adaped torcleasably engage acrossbow bowstring brought within the twigger housing. The crossbow further includes a wager adapted to releasably engage the bowsring catchy the trigger being further adapted tobe selectively actuatedby a user soas to case the trigger to release the howstring catch, thereby ‘causing the bosistring catch wo release a crossbow bowsting Optionally, the crossbow may include ball. disposcd between the howsizing catch and the trigger, the ball being adapted to bear and reat to forces arising between the bow string catch and the tigger during at least one of the trigger 0 engaging the bowstr bovstring catch, 2005.01), 124/38.1; 124/31 ) ABSTRACTPatent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 1 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI (Prior Art) FIG. 1Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 2 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI 1200 - \ Va 1202 | 1204 (Prior Art) FIG. 2Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 3 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI 1304 1312 — 1310 (Prior Art) FIG, 3US 2009/0064978 AI Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 4 of 45 Patent Application Publication (°) G ‘Dla 00s! OLbLPatent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet Sof 45 US 2009/0064978 AI © + FIG. 6Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 6 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AIUS 2009/0064978 AI Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 7 of 45 Patent Application Publication 8 ‘DlA6 OlPatent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 9 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AIUS 2009/0064978 AI Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 10 of 45 Patent Application Publication HT ‘OM / zoiz / 8012- 0etz gLlz BLz — viz 2 wits, \ ae zie it 7 = Sit cia eee Cociz até foie ezle aziz J \ wiz - \ 012 NN wie giz ~ 012FIG. 12Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 12 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI ~ 2100 4 FIG. 13Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 13 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI FIG. 14Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 14 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI \ 2100 FIG. 15Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 15 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI FIG. 16Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 16 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI FIG. 17Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 17 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI FIG. 18 2124FIG. 19g 8 8 3 \\_A mG ies [Ss es CLPatent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 20 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI FIG. 21Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 21 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI wa 3000 3004 3200 FIG, 22Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 22 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI 3004‘ation Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 23 of 45 US 2009/0064978 A1 7 3000Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 24 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI / 3000 3004 3200 FIG, 25J 3000 i CE 2 ~—3008 FIG. 26Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 26 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI \ I sorg “3008 FIG, 27Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 27 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI 3008 FIG. 28 J 3000 3006Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 28 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI 3800 > 3200 3008 FIG. 29 p——3012 / 3000 HT} 3006Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 29 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI 3012 a a 3100 \, By FIG. 30 3004 LZ.Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 30 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI 3010. 4104 ——~ FIG. 31Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 31 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI 3800. \ 3004 3200 FIG. 32 P3012 J 3000 3010 OUS 2009/0064978 AI Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 32 of 45 Patent Application Publication e 008s onze voor +}Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 33 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI Xu 3002 FIG. 34Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 34 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI — 4522 x iB 2 \ 4530 4506 FIG. 35Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 35 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI 4514 O 4504 + FIG. 36Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 36 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI 3 2 = 3 a = $ | Ay 4716 FIG. 37Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 37 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI FIG. 38 4706 JPatent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 38 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI 4714 FIG. 39Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 39 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI FIG. 40Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 40 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI FIG. 41Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 41 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI 4714 FIG, 42 \ a 5200 =~ 4710Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 42 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI FIG. 43 4710Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 43 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AIPatent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 44 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI FIG. 45Patent Application Publication Mar. 12, 2009 Sheet 45 of 45 US 2009/0064978 AI 474 5000 ceUS 2009/0064978 AI ‘CROSSBOW FIELD OF THE INVENTION 10001] The present disclosure is directed to an archery ‘device. More particularly, the present disclosures directed to ‘8 crossbow having at least one of a cocking mechanism, « trigger mechanism, a dryfie prevention mechanism, and @ hinged-limls mechanism, BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0002] _As target and sport archery increases in popularity, several shortcomings of the standard archery equipment iit many users and lead fo safety concerns forall. In order to improve the experience and safety, improvements to the stan ‘dard equipment inthe areas of transporting and assembling, the rossbow, drawing back the Bowstring, releasing the bow string, and preventing dry-fres are nesded. 10003] The basic crossbow form, with stock and trans- vers limbs, can be bulky and dificult to store aad tausport. A ease for storing and transporting the crossbow may be ‘determined by the shape ofthe crossbow, and as such may require a considerable amount of storage space, and may be awkward to carry and move from place to place 10003) A crossbow having fed limbs and a stock may be stored or transported in a pre-loaded state with its wstring frag between the Timbs, avoidiag the time and effor rexuired for reassembly, but potentially creating safety con- ‘ces andr elevated component wear overtime due to the presence of a continuous preload in the Bowstring and the Timbs, A croshow having fixed limbs and stock may alter natively be stored or transported in an unloaded state (eg. without a bowstring), allowing relaxation ofthe limbs during Periods of non-use and trinspon. but potentially requiring & reat deal of effort to string the crossbow each time the ‘crossbow ie retrieved prior to use. 0005} A crossbow may have limbs that are moveable rel tiveto the stock, thereby permitting the limbs tobe collapsed or purposes of stonage and transport of the crossbow. [n such instances, Bowstring ofthe erossbow may be retained, ina slackened state, between the limbs during storage and transport, or removed therefrom and replaced upon retrieval ‘ofthe crossbow prior to use. user may begin the process of placing the limbs in a shooting postion by rotating the limbs ‘outward from the stock from the collapsed configuration of the crossbow to arrive at the partially reassembled contigu- ration of the crossbow. Fach of the fimbs ean be rotated ‘outward fom the stock to a substantial fraction a its total rotational throw relative thereto before the howstring loses all ‘ofits slack and begins to build tension [0006] A user may continue the process of placing the Jimbs ina shooting positon by rotating the Timbs further ‘outward from the stock from the partially reassembled con- figuration ofthe erosshow to the fully assembled coatigur- tion. Its only with respect to ths relatively small remaining portion ofthe total rotational throw ofthe limbs relative tothe sock that that the total magnitude of foree required to be ‘applied tothe Tims and the stock tly begin to grew, and ‘grow rapidly. Further complicating this stro task isthe ener requirement that each ofthe limbs remain both acu- rately positioned relative to the stock, as well as securely retained therein, atall mes during and afer final assembly in ‘onder to prevent accidents from occurring (e2. expecially hile the crossbow isin use during the hun) Mar. 12, 2009 10007] Once the erossbow is properly configured in the ‘regular position, the user may eock the crossbow in prepari- ‘ion for loading and fring a erossbow arfow or bolt via the bovsiring. In general, the erossbow must impueta substantial amount of foree in onder to accurately propel a bolt with respect to any intended tanet. In order to store in the eros ‘bow the energy needed to imparting such foreeo the bolt, the ‘user must draw the howstring back along the stock toa tance extent suficent o preload of “cock the crossbow. This task ean also be quite strenuous, generally requiring the user fo generate large amount of force. 0008} A user may cock the crossbow via direct manual cocking, For example, a user of sulicient strength may elect simply’ to hold the stock with one hand, and draw the bow String backward along the stock ta sullicient distance extent with the other. Alternatively, a user may cock the crossbow via indirect manual cocking. For example, 2 user may choose toemploy’an asist deviee, such asa cord assembly. The cord assentbly may inclnde @ cord ad a pair of maawal gripping hhandles disposed at opposite ends of the cord. Such a user may vse their fet to hold a crossbow pointed! dawaward ‘against the ground, coupe the cord of the cord assembly to a bowsiring ofthe crossbow, an pull upward as necessary With both hands using the gripping handles. Fither way, mana cocking ofa erossbow requires a user fo zenerate consider- fhle force, which can quickly become tring. especialy when ‘attempted repeatedly during the course of hua ‘Various mechanisms have been developed over tin the user in generating the force necessary to cock 3 crossbow. An example of such a mechunism is a crossbow having stock and a howstring may further include # crank asseubly having a housing, a length of cord, anda rotatable ‘rank arm. A cate is further disposed at an end ofthe cord. in ‘operation, a user typically manvally draws the bowstring far enough toward the housing to permit the bowstring to be tenga by the catch. The rotatable exank arm is typically of slficent length, andor is typically associated witha sli cient amount of mechanical advantage, to permit the user 10 relatively easily el the cord back into the housing, thereby continuing the process of drawing the bowstring back gradt- ally along the stock, even as the amount of tension in the Dowsing begins to grow rapidly. Eventually, the Bowstring ‘ill have been drawn back along the stock sufficiently 10 ‘ease the crossbow to become cocked, at which time the cord ‘may be safely detache from the bowstring and fully rece back into the housing (¢., for storage in advance of next te), While plsily vsctul for completing the strenwous final state of drawing Back the bowstring, such a erank assembly ‘an ad considerable weight andor bulk tothe crossbow. [0010] A cocked crossbow embodies a great del of stoned ‘energy. Such stored energy may be released in different ways. For example, a user ean load a. arrow or “lt onto a cocked crossbow and therealer actuate an associated trigger mecha- nism, thas firing the bolt from the crossbow (ie. enemy release via transfericonversion). For another example, user nay decide not o fire bolt, but ett to “decock the eros bow by reversing (et, in'a safe, controlled fashion) the process by which the crossbow was cocked (ie, enemy ‘lease via dissipation. In most fnot all instances, however, it will generally be important to prevent the crossbow from releasing suc stored energy prematurely, and/or asa resultof ‘anaccident. For example, while the crossbow is being moved during hunting, bat prior to fring, it may be advantagects to keep the erosshow fully cocked (e.g, for purposes of redUS 2009/0064978 AI ness), but unloaded (ex, for purposes of safety andor venigoce), suc that all user would need to do to Fie the ‘rossbors, once the decision to do sos finally made, it load ‘abolt onto the crossbow stock, and then aetuate an associated trigger mechanism (eg. by pulling a trigger, allowing the bowstring wo move forward and outwardof the rigger mech- nism, thereby rapidly propelling he boty from the eross- bow along the same forward direction {0011} Keeping the trigger mechanism in suchan advanced sate of readiness can tend to minimize both the otal mont ‘of time needod, as well as the total amount of physical effort, rexjired tobe expeaded in actualy firing the erossbow, once the dacision is finaly made to do so. Unfortunately, however, the same advanced state of firing readiness in the tigger mechanism ean tend to leave the crossbow vulnerable 10 so-called “dey fe", n whieh a cocked bowsting of the exoss- bow i unintentionally released prio to bal being loaded in the crossbow, sch tha the time and effor needed to coek the ‘crossbow inthe fis place must now he repeated, Dry fire can ‘occur in any number of stations, inching, for example, Situations in which the crossbow ix dropped, or in which the trigger mechanism is mistakenly actuated (e-2, while the crossbow is being moved, stowed, or retrieved daring hunt ing). 10012] Inorderto protect aginst dy ie, moder crossbow designs will typically include corresponding safety mechs. nisms. For example. acrossbow may include stock, a trigger mechanism, anda stop mechanism The stop mechanism may ‘include an arm that may be biased (eg. via spring-loading) towan! movement inthe counter clockwise direction, but is deflectable as necessary inthe opponite rotational direction, The sop mechanism may further ipehudea manually operable handle: During a process of cocking the erosbos the bovs= strings drawn along the stock toward the trigger mechanism. Reaching the postion of the slop mechanism, the Bowstring svilltend sit passes the arm, to displace them upward and away om the rearward directed path of the bowstring along, the stock, Upon further drssing of the bowstring into the trigger mechanism and past the position of the stop mecha- nism to complete cocking of the crossbow, the arm, now no Jonger in contact with the bowsteing, is urwed (ex, via the aforementioned spring load) or otherwise allowed to rotate ‘downward again, sueh that dhe am is caused 10 rest against the stock 10013] In fring operation of the crossbow (i.e. after the same has been cocked as described above), the dry fre pre- vention funetion (described more fully below) of the stop mechanism is overridden, More particularly, a bolt may be Toaded onto the crossbow by being moved backward along the stock along the direction, toward and into the trigger mecha nism. Inthe process of being loaded onto the crossbow, tall ‘end of the bolt displaces the am upwards and out of the rearward path ofthe bolt. At this time, and up until a moment Of fring the bolt the arm may be allowed to rest slop 3 Jongitudinal shaft of the bolt. Upon the wigger mechanism being actuated, the owstring is elewsed. Since the arm ofthe stop mechanism remains displaced away from a forward path ‘ofthe bowsiring and of the bolt along the direetion, the stop ‘mechanism presents no obstruction wth respect to continued Torward motion of the same, {0014} The erossbow is Further operable in a dry fire pre- vention mode, with respect w which the arm oF the sop rcchanim, a least initially tends o rest agains the stock a? the crossbow. More particulary, afer the crossbow has bee Mar. 12, 2009 ‘cocked, bt before the erosshow has been loaded with a bolt asdescribed above, the rigger mechanism may be vulnerable {o inadvertent actuation, normally leading (0 an unintended release of the bowstring from the rigger mechanism. Upon ‘thenaw released bowstring moving forwardto the postion of thestop mechanism, the arm serves (o"eateh The bowsting at 8 position along the stock just forward ofthe trigger mecha- ism. Thereafter, the arm futher cooperates withthe stock to block any further forward motion of the Bowstring, The user is now permitted to rocock the bowstring by drawing the bowstring back into engagement with the tigger mect oraltematively, to allow all but now gradual release ofthe bowstring by a) partially crewing the bowstring back toward the trigger mechanism, b) manually displacing. the arm ‘upward and away’ from the bowstring by pulling downward ‘onthe handle, anc) permitting the bowsring fo movesloly {forward again along the direction. [0015] By limiting unintended discharge of the bowsting ‘oarelatively small throw during de fire the stop mechan provides an important safety feature. However, even when ‘Workings intended, the stop mechanism not ony tl ils 10 prevent cy fire, but also requires the bowstring to beredrawa toatleast some extent backward along the sock and back in ‘engagement ith the trigger mechanism to restore the ros bow tothe fully cocked state. Accordingly, apparatus and rthods for preventing unintended discharge of a trigger [0016] As discussed above, once a crossbow has been ‘cocked, i may be loaded witha bolt and fired, Referring now {tOFIGS. 1,2 and 3, merous trigger mechanisms have been devised for use in releasing the Bowstring of a cocked and Jaded erossbow. Referring specifically to FIG. I, aso-caled ‘power-touchtrigger mechanism 1100 is shown, inciding 2 string stop 1102 for engaging and retaining a cocked bow string 1104, nda trigger 1106. The tring stop 1102 includes aforwanl— (eg rightwand) facing reaction surface 1108 and the trigaer 1106 includes a corresponding rearward (eg. leftward) lacing reaction surface 1110. Forwardirected pulling force from the Bowstring 1104 tends vo urge the string Slop 1102 in a counter-clockwise direction 112. However, the tigger 1106 is itself biased toward movement in the counterclockwise diretion, such that prior to actuation of ‘the teguer 1106, the reaction surface 1110 ofthe tigger 1106 engages (cg. via surlace-to-rurface of edge-o-suriace com- ‘act the reaction surface HO08of the tring stop 1102, and the orward-direting pulling force from the Bowstring 1104 is squarely opposed. A. user actuates the tigger 1106 via a earward-directed pull on a tigger Blade 1114, pivoting the {rigger 1106inaclockwise dinection 1116, thereby withdraw ing the reaetion surface 1110 from the rection surface 1108 and allowing the bowstring 1104 to bepin pulling the string stop 1102 inthe counter-clockwise direction 1112 such that the latter releases the former. 0017] Referring now to FIG. 2, a so-called “drop latch? ‘eigger mechanism 1200 i show, including a string stop 1102 for engaging and retaining a cocked bowstring 1204, and tigger 1206, The scing stop 1202 includes «rearward acing reaction surface 1208 and the trigger 1206 includes a corresponding forward-facing reaction surfice 1210, For ‘ward-irectd polling force from the Bowstring 1204 tends to ‘urge the string stop 1202 ina clockwise direction 1212. Flo fever, the trigger 1206 is biased toward movement in the ‘sounterclockwise direction, such that prior to actuation ofUS 2009/0064978 AI the trigger 1206, the reaction seface 1210 ofthe tigger 1206 ‘engages (eg, Via surface-o-sutface or edge-to-srlace Con= tact the reaction surface 1208 ofthe tring stop 1202, and the orward-directing poling force from the bowstring 1204 is squarely opposed. A. user aetoates the trigger 1206 via 9 rearwanl-dircted pll on a trigger blade 1214, pivoting the trigger 1206 in clockwise direction 1216, deeb withdrans- Ing the eaetion surface 1240 from the reaction surface 1208 ‘and allowing te bowstring 1204 to begin rotating the sting stop 120 in clocks destin 1212 such ht he ter releases the former. 10018] Turning now to FIG. 3, a so-alled ‘roller touch’ trigger mechanism 1300 is shown, including a string stop 1302 for engaging and retaining a cocked bowstring 1304, anda trigger 1306. The string top 1302 includes a rearwant- facing reaction surface 1308 and the tigger 1306 includes 9 roller 1309 exhibiting rotating reaction surface 1310, For ‘vard-dreoted pulling forge fom the bow string 1304 tends to Urge thestring stop 1302 in clockwise direction 1312. low ‘ver, the trigger 1306 is biased foward movement in the ‘counterclockwise diection, such that prior to actuation of the trigger 1306, the reaction slice 130 ofthe wiguer 1306 ‘engages (a line-o-surfacecoatset) the reaetion surface 1308 ofthe sting stop 1302, andthe forward-directing pull- Jing fore from the bowstring 1304 is squarely apposed. aser sctuates the trigger 1306 via a rearward-directed pull on @ trigger blade 1314, pivoting the trigger 1306 in a clockwise direction 1316, thereby rolling the roller 1309 seross the reaction surface 1308 to 4 point where the reaction surface 1310 releases tho reaction Surface 1308, allowing the baw= string 1304 to begin rotating the string stop 1302 in the ‘clockwise direction 1312, rapidly causing the latter to release the former, 10019] As discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1.2.and3, ‘eachof te trigger mechanisms 1100,1200and 1300 includes ‘opposing pairs of reetion surfaces 1108 an 1110, 1208 and 1210, and 1308 and 1310 that are at leat temporarily aligned and brought into load-bearing contact with eachother as part ‘of the envsshow cocking process. At fTerent times and dr ‘ing different phases of the crossbow cocking and Firing pro- cess, the howstring 1104, 1204, 1304 will end to pull witha ‘considerable amount of faree on the string stop 1102, 1202, 41302, Typical rigger mechanism designs, however, including the tigger mechanisms 1100, 1200, 1300 discussed herein, tend 0 confine actual forve-bearing interaction as between such reaction surfaces to a relatively short line (eg. as in Tine-to-surface or elge-o-surface contact) or t a relatively small area (eg, asin surface-o surface contact). While this may beneficially reduce the required rotational throw of the trigger blade 1114, 1214, 1314 to a einimum extent, and pethaps enhance dhe overall precision of the instrument, such fn arrangement unfortunately also tends to result in an ‘elevated contact pressure between the reaction surfaces involved. Unfortunately at least with respect tothe present ‘context, along with such elevated contact pressure between, the reaction surfaces typically comes an elevated degree of fijetion between the string stop 1102, 1202, 1302 and the trigger 1106, 1206, 1306 which a user must manually over ‘comm in order to svecessfully semua te trigger mechanism 41100, 1200, 1300. Accordingly apparatus and methods for Timiting or reducing the amount of user-generated force required to actuate 1 crossbow trigger mechanism are both desirable and necessary. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 0020] In accordance with embodiments ofthe present ise ‘closure, a crossbow is provided including a stock having a Mar. 12, 2009 ‘ore end, a Him for engaging a Bowstring ofthe crossbow and ‘maintaining bowstring of the crossbow ina tensioned: the limb being moveably coupled tothe stock ina vieinity of the fore end such that de limb is adapted to e rotated 0 ‘ward roma relatively elapsed postion relative to the tock, ‘toward and into a shooting position relative tothe stock, and ‘finger moveably coupled the stock ina vieinity of the fore tend such thatthe finger is capable of heing rotated relative to the stock, the finger further being adapted, via the finger so ‘lating relative to the stock, to engage and impart an urging oree to the limb, an thereby rotate the Limb outward rom sarelatvely collapsed positon relative to the tock toward the shooting position relative to the stock. [021] Inaccordaace with embodiments ofthe present di losure, crossbow is provided that includes a stock having & Tore end and a rear end and including a longitudinal extent extonding toward the rear end from a vicinity ofthe fore end: ‘cocking mechanism for cocking the erssbow, the cocking ‘mechanism including # car moveably coupled to the sock seh thatthe car is capable of translating along the longitu inal extent ofthe stock from avieinity of the fore end toward the rear end, the earbeing further adapted to engagea portion ‘of a Bowstring of the erossbow such that as the car 0 trans Jates, the car further urges tbe Bowstring portion rearwardly ‘long the longitudinal extent of the stock toward andl into ‘engagement witha tigger mechanism of the erossbow; and a linkage moveably coupledto the stock ina vicinity of the ear end sch that the Finkage is eapable ofbeingrotated relative to the stock, the linkage further being adapted to engage the car And, via te linkage so rotating relative tothe stock, to impart fan urging force to the car, and to thereby translate the car rearwardly froma vicinity ofthe fore end owand the ear end ‘along the longitudinal exten ofthe stock. 0022} Inaccordance with embodiments ofthe present dis- closure, a erossbow rigger mechanism is provided that includes a trigger housing for receiving a bowstring of a crosibow, a Bowstring catch mounted with respect to the housing and adapted to relensably engage a crossbow bow: string brought within the tigger housing, a tigger adapted 10 releasably engage the bewstring catch, the trigger heing fur ther adapted tobe selectively actuated by a user so. to ease the tigger o release the Bowstring each, thereby causing the ‘owsiring each fo release a erosshow bovsstring, and ball disposed between the bowstring cach andthe trigger, the ball being adapted to bear and react to forees arising between the bowstring catch and the trigger during atleast one of the ‘rigger so engaging the bowstring catch and the tigger $0 ‘leasing the bowstring catch, [0023] Inaceordance with embodiments ofthe present di closure, a erosshow rigger mechanism is provided that includes a trigger housing for receiving a bowsting of a crossbow, howsting catch moveably mounted with espoct to the housing and sdlaptd to releasably engage a crossbows bowstring brought within the wigger housing. nda tigger, the trigger incuding a first trigger element adapted to releas- ably engage the bowsring catch, nda second rigger element ‘adapted to rotate relative to the ist trigger element and to be selectively actuated by a user so as fo engage and impart an ing fofce tothe first trigger element fo rotating the frst ‘rigger element relative o the bowstring cate, and thereby causing the first trigger element to release the bowstring. catch [0024] Inaccondance with embodiments of the present di closure, a crossbow trigger mechanism is provided that