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US3581729A - Crossbow structure - Google Patents

️Tue Jun 01 1971

United States Patent [72] Inventor Leland L. Jones 1017 S. Willis, Independence, Mo. 64052 [2]] Appl. No. 829,226 {22] Filed June 2, 1969 [45] Patented June 1,1971

[54] CROSSBOW STRUCTURE l 1 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 124/25,

124/40, 124/41, 125/35- [51] lnt.Cl F41b 5/00 [50] Field of Search 124/25, 24, 22,21, 35,41,40

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,693,414 11/1928 Tolliver... 124/21 3,242,917 3/1966 Benedict. 124/25 3,483,857 12/1969 Jones 124/25 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne AttorneyFishbum, Gold and Litman ABSTRACT: A crossbow structure for projecting an elongate feathered arrow having a butt portion and an elongate barrel with a bow secured to a forward or muzzle end of the elongate barrel. The barrel has a bore having longitudinally spaced resiliently supported arrow positioning members therein and longitudinal slots at each side of the bore for travel of a bow string therealong. The crossbow structure has a trigger member and linkage operatively connected to a sear for selectively holding and releasing the bow string. A cam safety is positioned to be selectively moved into and out of engagement with the trigger member and an elongate safety pin is positioned to be selectively moved into and out of engagement with the sear for holding or releasing the bow string. The stock has an aperture therein for access to a gripping portion adjacent the trigger member. An upwardly biased arrow positioning member is positioned at both the breech and the muzzle ends of the barrel.

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4 linkage, and novel safety members associated therewith.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a crossbow structure having an elongate stock with a butt portion and an elongate barrel portion and an aperture in the stock adjacent a trigger member thereby forming a gripping portion; to provide such a crossbow structure which will accommodate different diameter and weight arrows; to provide such a crossbow structure having a removable bow portion whereby the crossbow structure is adapted to interchange bows of different strength for accurately firing arrows of different diameters and weights; to provide such a crossbow structure having novel positioning members for supporting and positioning arrow shafts of different diameters and weights; to provide such a crossbow structure having a novel trigger member and firing linkage and novel safety members associated with the trigger member and firing linkage for selectively holding same in a nonfiring position and releasing same for firing a feathered arrow; to provide such a crossbow structure which is economical to manufacture, has simple parts which are easily removable and stored, and is particularly well adapted to the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crossbow structure embodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the crossbow structure with portions broken away to show operating components and an arrow being loaded therein.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 except having the arrow in position for firing.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing mounting means for the bow.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the crossbow structure.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing a trigger member and firing linkage.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing a forward arrow positioning member.

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view through the crossbow structure taken on line 8-8, FIG. 3, showing bow string release mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view through the crossbow structure taken on line 9-9, FIG. 3, showing a rear arrow positioning member.

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view through a barrel portion of the crossbow structure taken on line l-ll0,FlG. 3.

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view through a muzzle end of the barrel portion taken on line 11-] 1, FIG. 3, showing the forward arrow positioning member.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 1243, FIG. 6, showing safety means for a sear.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 13-13, FIG. 6, showing safety means for the trigger member and firing linkage.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 generally designates a crossbow structure for projecting a feathered arrow 2 toward a suitable target (not shown). The crossbow structure 1 has an

elongate stock

3 having a

butt portion

4 and an elongate barrel portion having a

longitudinal bore

6 extending from a breach portion 7 to a

muzzle end

8 of the

barrel portion

5. A how 9 is removably secured to the

barrel portion

5 adjacent the

muzzle end

8 thereof and the bow 9 has a bow string connected to opposite ends of the bow 9 and extending through longitudinal slots I1 and 12 formed at opposite sides of the

barrel portion

5 and communicating with the

bore

6. The

bow string

10 is adapted to be engaged with the feathered arrow 2 or a like projectile for propelling same to the target (not shown).

In the illustrated structure, the

stock

3 is generally in the form of a modified rifle with the

butt portion

4 being adapted to be placed against and engaged with a person s shoulder and the

barrel portion

5 supported whereby the person can sight along front and

rear sights

13 and 14 respectively mounted on the

barrel portion

5 in aiming the crossbow structure 1 for flight of the arrow 2 toward the desired target when the

bow string

10 is released, as hereinafter described.

The

bore

6 extends longitudinally from the breech portion 7 to the

muzzle end

8 of the

barrel portion

5 and is adapted to receive support and guide the feathered arrow 2. The

bore

6 preferably has an arcuate or concave trough-

shaped bottom portion

15 for substantially the full length thereof with longitudinally spaced arrow positioning

members

16 and 17 in the breech portion 7 and the

muzzle end

8, respectively. The

bottom portion

15 is below the

arrow positioning members

16 and 17 thereby permitting the arrow to be placed in the

bore

6, as shown in FIG. 2.

Each of the

arrow positioning members

16 and 17 has a longitudinal channel or

trough

18 extending the length thereof and presenting a concave upper face for receiving a shaft portion 19 of the feathered arrow 2 positioned in the

bore

6 of the crossbow structure. The trough-shaped,

arcuate bottom portion

15 of the

bore

6 terminates at the sides thereof in longitudinally extending

lands

20 that are slightly below the channel or

trough portion

18 of the

arrow positioning members

16 and 17 whereby the

lands

20 are engaged by

outer extremities

21 of lower guide vanes or

feathers

22 that extend laterally outwardly from a rear portion of the arrow 2. The bore'6 is particularly adapted for arrows having two lower guides or

feathers

22 and a third upper or upright guide or

feather

23 with the guides or

feathers

22 and 23 being circumferentially spaced around the periphery of a rear portion of the arrow.

The

bore

6 has a

longitudinal slot

24 in an upper portion thereof with the

slot

24 extending between the breech portion 7 and the

muzzle end

8 and is of a suitable size for freely passing the upper feather or

guide

23 as the arrow is projected from the

bore

6. On lower opposite sides of the

longitudinal slot

24 there are arcuately

curved surfaces

25 and 26 which extend the length of the

slot

24 for cooperating with the channel or

trough

18 in the

arrow positioning member

17 in the forward or

muzzle end

8 to engage forward portions of the arrow shaft portion 19 of the arrow 2 positioned in the

bore

6 thereby providing a three land engagement or bore portion for the arrow 2 which forms the guiding engagement for the arrow as it is projected from the

bore

The

longitudinal slots

11 and 12 are each defined by upper and

lower surfaces

27 and 28, respectively, with the

upper surfaces

27 being generally horizontal and intersecting the

curved surfaces

25 and 26. The

lower surface

28 of the

slots

11 and I2 is preferably arranged in a longitudinal plane that forms a uniform supporting engagement to the

bow string

10 when the bow string is engaged in a

rear recess

30 of an

arrow nock

31.

A portion of the

longitudinal slot

24 extending from the rear of the forward

arrow positioning member

17 to a

loading opening

32 is enlarged, as indicated at 33 in FIG. 6, to a width slightly greater than the diameter of the arrow shaft 19 to serve as a guide therefor during loading. The length of the enlarged

portion

33 of the

longitudinal slot

24 between a forward end of the

loading opening

32 and adjacent a rear end of the

arrow positioning member

17 provides for receiving the arrow shaft into the

bore

6 from above and through the

loading opening

32, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The

muzzle end

8 of the

barrel portion

5 is reinforced with

stiffeners

34 to strengthen said

muzzle end

8 against stresses therein caused by fle'xure of the bow 9. The bow 9 is preferably removably mounted and secured to the

muzzle end

8 of the

barrel portion

5. In the illustrated structure, the bow 9 has a

notch

35 in a top side thereof positioned at the center. The

notch

35 is shaped-to receive a

flange

36 extending forwardly from an upper surface of the

muzzle end

8 of the

barrel portion

5 whereby the bow 9 may be secured thereto as by a plurality of screws or

bolts

37 extending through the

flange

36 and notched portion of the bow 9.

The

notch

35 in the bow 9 has a generally

horizontal surface

38 having a

recess

39 therein aligned with the

bore

6 for supporting a forward or head end of the arrow shaft 19 permitting the lower guide vanes or

feathers

22 to pass through the center portion of the bow 9. The

flange

36 has the

longitudinal slot

24 extending along a lower surface thereof for passage of the third or upper feather or

guide vane

23. The arcuate or

curved surfaces

25 and 26 extend along the

slot

24 of the

flange

36 to engage upper portions of the arrow shaft 19 when the arrow is projected from the crossbow structure 1, thereby continuing the upper land engagement with the arrow shaft 19 for guiding same as it is projected from the crossbow structure 1.

The

bow string

10 extends through the

longitudinal slots

11 and 12 and is connected to

opposite ends

43 and 44 of the bow 9 as in conventional practice. The length of the

bow string

10 and initial tensioning on the bow 9 may be adjusted whereby a desired pull on the bow is necessary to draw the

bow string

10 rearwardly in the

slots

11 and 12 to a cocked position, as later described. ln order to fire a feathered arrow 2 from the crossbow structure 1, the

bow string

10 must be drawn back and engaged with and retained by a sear 45 before the arrow 2 is inserted into the bow. A

trigger mechanism

46 operatively engages the sear 45 for actuating same in releasing the

bow string

10 from the sear 45.

In the illustrated structure, the

trigger mechanism

46 is mounted in a lower portion of the

stock

3 adjacent the breech end of the barrel portion which has a longitudinally slotted

recess

47 to receive a

trigger member

48. The

trigger member

48 is a planar member having a

forward edge

49 and a

rear edge

50. The

forward edge

49 of the

trigger member

48 has a notch 51 for receiving a

cam safety

52, as later described, and the

rear edge

50 of the

trigger member

48 has an

enlarged lug portion

53. The

trigger member

48 is pivotally mounted in the slotted

recess

47, as by a

54 which is received in the

stock

3. As in conventional practice, the

trigger member

48 is enclosed within a suitable trigger guard 46' and only a lower end portion of the

trigger member

48 extends below the lower portion of the

stock

3 and into the space protected by the trigger guard 46'.

trigger linkage guideway

55 communicates with the slotted

recess

47 and extends longitudinally rearwardly and communicates with a

sear guideway

56, as later described. A

forward end

57 of an elongate, pivotally mounted

lever

58 engages the

lug portion

53 of the

trigger member

48 and a

rear end

59 of the

lever

58 extends into the

sear guideway

56 for effecting retractive movement of the sear 45 for releasing the

bow string

10.

The

sear guideway

56 extends in a line transversely of the breech portion 7 of the

longitudinal slots

11 and 12 and is adjacent a rear end of the

bore

6 and the

sear guideway

56 has upper and

lower bore portions

61 and 62 above and below, respectively, the

slots

11 and 12. The

scar

45 is illustrated as an elongate planar rod or shaft slidably mounted in the

sear guideway

56 and extendible across the breech portion of the

slots

11 and 12 and into the upper bore portion 61 to engage and retain the bow string when the bow 9 is in bow-cocking position. The planar sear rod is positioned rearwardly of the

trigger member

48 and forwardly of the rear of the

slots

11 and 12 whereby the

bow string

10 may be moved behind the sear 45 when in cocked position. The elongate sear rod has a beveled

upper end

63 urged into the upper bore portion 61 by a suitable resilient member 64.

In the illustrated structure, the

sear flange

60 is positioned adjacent a lower end of the sear rod and the resilient member 64 is an elongate spiral spring sleeved on a lower end of the sear 45 and having one end engaging a lower surface of the

sear flange

60 and the other end engaging a lower end of the

sear guideway

56 which is illustrated as a plug 56'.

The beveled

upper end

63 of the sear 45 is slanted upwardly from a forward edge thereof to facilitate camming the sear 45 downwardly below the

slots

11 and 12 so the

bow string

10 will move thereover and the

upper end

63 is also rounded at the rear thereof to facilitate the

bow string

10 being released from the sear 45 when same is moved downwardly below the

longitudinal slots

11 and 12 by a rearward pull on the lower portion of the

trigger member

48. One end of a

spring

48 is connected to an upper portion 50' of the

trigger member

48 for positioning the notch 51 to receive the

cam safety

52. The other end of the

spring

48 is received in an upper surface of the

recess

47 whereby rearward pull on the lower portion of the

trigger member

48 must overcome resistance of the

spring

48 thereby providing for a smooth trigger pull as compared to a trigger jerk which destroys aiming accuracy.

The

cam safety

52 is engageable with the

trigger member

48 to prevent accidental firing. The

cam safety

52 is illustrated as a planar member movable into and out of the notch 51 and has an end portion extending outwardly through a

recess

65 in one side of the

stock

3. The

cam safety

52 is mounted on a

66 which is rotatably mounted in the lower breech portion of the stock. The

66 is frictionally retained in a

suitable sleeve

66 mounted in the

stock

3 for holding the

safety

52 in a safe or firing position. A keeper in the form ofa washer or enlarged portion is positioned to maintain the

safety

52 on the

66.

An elongate safety pin 67 is slidably mounted in the

stock

3 adjacent the sear 45 and is adapted to be engageable with a lower surface of the

sear flange

60 for holding the sear 45 in a nonfiring or safe position. The safety pin 67 has a notch or

recess

68 in the side adjacent the sear 45 with the notch or

recess

68 being sized to permit the

sear flange

60 to move therethrough thereby permitting firing of the feathered arrow 2 when the safety pin 67 has been moved out of engagement with the

sear flange

60. The pin 67 is a planar member having a pair of spaced recesses positioned to receive a resilient keeper member 67 within the

stock

3 adjacent the

sear guideway

56. When the keeper 67' is engaged in one of the recesses, the

notch

68 is positioned to permit the

sear flange

60 to move therethrough and when the keeper 67 is engaged in the other recess in the safety pin 67, the pin 67 is positioned below and engaging the

sear flange

60 thereby preventing accidental firing.

When the

cam safety

52 is engaged in the notch 51 of the

trigger member

48 and the safety pin 67 is positioned to engage a lower surface of the

sear flange

60, rearward movement of the

trigger member

48 is prevented and the beveled

upper end

63 of the sear 45 is maintained in the nonfiring position extending above the

slots

11 and 12 so that the

bow string

10 cannot move thereover until the

safeties

52 and 67 are adjusted and a lower portion of the

trigger member

48 is moved rearwardly.

The

barrel portion

5 is illustrated as formed of a plurality of pieces or sections to facilitate manufacture and particularly the shaping of the interior of the

bore

6 and the slotted

recess

47,

trigger linkage guideway

55, and

sear guideway

56.

In the illustrated structure, an aperture 69 extends through the

stock

3 and is positioned between the slotted

recess

47 and the breech portion 7 of the barrel and forwardly of the

sear guideway

56 thereby forming a gripping

portion

70 which surrounds the

trigger linkage guideway

57. The aperture 69 is sized to provide entry for the hand of a person using the crossbow structure 1.

In using a crossbow structure constructed as described herein, a bow 9 having the desired strength for firing the selected weight and diameter arrow is mounted at the

muzzle end

8 by engaging the

flange

36 in the

notch

35 and installing the bolts or screws 37. The

bow string

10 is then inserted through the

longitudinal slots

11 and 12 whereby it extends transversely of the

bore

6 and the

bow string

10 is secured to the opposite ends 43 and 44 of the bow with a suitable string length therebetween to provide the desired initial tension therein and pull for the bow. Prior to moving the

bow string

10 rearwardly the

cam safety

52 is disengaged from the notch 51 of the

trigger member

48 and the safety pin 67 is positioned to allow the

sear flange

60 to move through the notch or

recess

68 in the safety pin 67. The

butt portion

4 may then be placed against any suitable obstruction for application of substantial force to the

bow string

10 for moving same rearwardly through the

slots

11 and 12 to move over the beveled

upper end

63 of the sear 45. The bow string is then pulled rearwardly toward the breech portion 7 of the

bore

6 and

slots

11 and 12 and the sear 45 partially moved downwardly against the force of the resilient member 64 so that the

string

10 will cam up and over the beveled

upper end

63 of the sear 45 and be positioned and retained therebehind. The

bow string

10 must be retained by the sear 45 during the loading of the selected arrow 2 and accidental release of the bow string prior to complete loading of the arrow would be ineffective in propelling the arrow. The resilient member or sear spring 64 then urges the sear 45 longitudinally upwardly into the upper bore portion 61 so that the

bow string

10 is retained in a cocked position. The

cam safety

52 and the safety pin 67 are then each moved into their nonfiring or safe positions engaging the

trigger member

48 and the

sear flange

60, respectively.

A head or forward end of the selected weight and diameter feathered arrow 2 is then inserted through the loading opening 32 of the breech and moved forwardly along the

bore

6 as illustrated in FIG. 2 whereby the head passes through the forward end of the bow and is engaged by the forward arrow positioning member l7.

The arrow shaft 19 engages the beveled

enlarged portion

33 of the

slot

24 adjacent the forward end of the

loading opening

32. The

enlarged portion

33 and the rear end of the forward

arrow positioning member

17 are grooved to cooperate in guiding the arrow into the

bore

6 and into the channel or

trough

18 in the forward

arrow positioning member

17. The

loading opening

32 is of substantially less length than the selected arrow 2 to be projected from the crossbow structure l and the length thereof permits the loading movement of the arrow and when the arrow is moved into the

bore

6 the guide feathers will freely move through the opening to permit the rear portion of the shaft to drop into the trough or

channel

18 in the rear

arrow positioning member

16.

The

arrow positioning members

16 and 17 are urged upwardly or toward the top of the

bore

6 by suitable

resilient members

72 and 73, respectively. The movement of the

arrow positioning members

16 and 17 is confined to a vertical path by

pins

74 and 75, respectively, extending into vertically extending

slots

76 and 77 at the breech portion 7 and the

muzzle end

8, respectively.'The

resilient members

72 associated with the rear

arrow positioning members

16 raise same vertically to a position having the

nock

31 just forwardly of the sear 45 and the

rear recess

30 in a position extending transversely of the

bore

6 and positioned in a plane defined by the

bow string

10 so that when the bow string is released it will immediately move into the nick or

recess

30. In this position, the outer portions or

extremities

21 of the guide feathers or

vanes

22 lightly rest on the lands or surfaces to give stability to the arrow 2. The

resilient members

72 associated with the rear

arrow positioning member

16 and the

resilient members

73 associated with the forward

arrow positioning member

17 urge the arrow upwardly into engagement with the curved or arcuate surfaces and 26 of the

longitudinal slot

24 thereby providing guidance for the arrow when fired from the crossbow structure l. The arrow supported in the channel or

trough

18 of the

arrow positioning members

16 and 17" and engaging the

curved surfaces

25 and 26 of the

bore

6 and the

flange

36 is then ready for firing upon release of the

safeties

52 and 67 and placing the

butt end

4 against the shoulder of a person firing the crossbow structure so that the person can sight through the front and rear sights l3 and 14 to the target (not shown). The gripping

portion

70 is grasped in such a manner that one finger engages a lower end of the

trigger member

48 and when the structure 1 is properly aimed, said trigger lower portion is pulled rearwardly, driving the sear 45 downwardly, thereby releasing the

bow string

10 which moves into engagementwith the

rear recess

30 in the nock of the arrow. The bow string then in its forwardly propelling movement supports the rear of the arrow 2 so that in the movement of the arrow forwardly through the

bore

6, the guide feathers provide stability while the bow string is the main support that cooperates with the lands at the muzzle end for guiding the arrow as it is propelled from the bore. As the guide feathers move outwardly through the muzzle portion of the bore, the lateral and vertical portions are as illustrated in FIG. 11 so there is no interference in the launching of the selected arrow.

The structure illustrated and described permits the use of long conventional arrows that are more easily found after firing than are short darts. Also, it permits the interchange of a plurality of bows of different strengths for use with respective different weights and diameter arrows.

It is to be understood that, while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A crossbow structure for projecting a feathered arrow comprising:

a. a crossbow stock having an elongate barrel, said barrel having a longitudinal bore extending between a muzzle end and a breech portion of said barrel, said barrel having a loading opening therein communicating with said bore for receiving a feathered arrow therein;

b. a resiliently mounted arrow positioning means within said barrel adjacent the muzzle end of said bore for biasing an arrow upwardly in the bore and for supporting only the nocked portion of an arrow in a position to be discharged;

c. a resiliently mounted arrow positioning means within said barrel adjacent the breech portion of said bore for biasing an arrow upwardly'in the bore and for supporting only the nocked portion of an arrow in a position to be discharged;

d. longitudinal slots formed at each side of said barrel and communicating with said bore, said slots extending between the muzzle end and the breech portion of said barrel;

e. a bow secured to said barrel adjacent the muzzle end thereof; a bow string connected to opposite ends of said bow and extendingthrough said slots for traveling therealong;

g. sear means within said barrel for selectively retaining and releasing said bow string; and

h. trigger means operativcly engaging said sear means for effecting release of said bow string.

2. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim.1 vwherein said sear means includes:

a. a scar guideway extending in a line transversely of the breech portion of the longitudinal slots and adjacent a rear end of the bore;

b. an elongate rod having a bevelled upper end movable within said sear guideway;

c. a flange adjacent a lower end of said sear rod, said flange being engaged by said trigger means for moving said rod; and

d. resilient means within said stock engaging said flange for urging said sear rod into a nonfiring position.

3. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 2 including:

a. an elongate safety pin engageable with said sear flange for holding said sear rod in the nonfiring position;

b. a notch in said safety pin sized to permit said sear flange to move therethrough; and

c. keeper means engageable with said safety pin for selectively holding same in engagement with said sear flange and for holding said safety pin in position having said notch therein positioned to permit said sear flange to move therethrough.

4. The crossbow structure as set forth in

claim

3 wherein:

a. said safety pin has a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses therein to receive said keeper means; and

b. said keeper meansis a resilient member sized to be selectively receivedwithin said recesses in said safety pin.

5. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said trigger means includes:

a. a trigger guideway within said stock communicating with said sear guideway;

. a trigger member pivotally mounted within said trigger guideway, said trigger member having a lug portion extending therefrom; and

. an elongate lever within said trigger guideway, said lever being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and having one end engaging said lug portion of said trigger member and the other end engaging said sear flange for moving said sear out of engagement with said bow string.

The crossbow structure as set forth in claim including:

. a notch in an edge of said trigger member; and

. a rotatably mounted cam safety positioned to be selectively moved into said notch whereby said cam safety engages and positions said trigger member in a nonfiring position.

The crossbow structure as set forth in

claim

6 including:

resilient means engaging said trigger member and said trigger guideway for positioning said notch in said trigger member to receive said cam safety;

. friction means associated with said cam safety for retaining same in an adjusted position; and

r a recess in one side of said stock for said cam safety, said recess being sized to permit said cam safety to move between a safe position in said notch and a firing position out of said notch. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 7 wherein:

said trigger member is a planar member having a forward edge and a rear edge; said notch is in said forward edge of said trigger member; said lug portion of said trigger member extends rearwardly from said rear edge of said trigger member; and

said sear rod is positioned rearwardly of said trigger member.

. A crossbow structure for projecting a feathered arrow comprising:

0. guide means associated with said arrow positioning members for confining movement thereof to a path extending transversely of said bore;

(1. longitudinal slots formed at each side of said barrel and communicating with said bore, said slots extending between the muzzle end and the breech portion of said barrel;

e. a bow secured to said barrel adjacent the muzzle end thereof;

f. a bow string connected to opposite ends of said bow and extending through said slots for traveling therealong;

g. a sear guideway extending in a line transversely of the breech portion of the longitudinal slots and adjacent a rear end of the bore;

h. a scar slidably mounted in said sear guideway and extendible across the breech portion of said slots to engage and retain said bow string when said bow is in bowcocking position; and

. trigger and linkage means operatively engaging said sear for linear retracting movement of said sear to release said bow string.

10. The crossbow structure as set forth in claim 9 including:

a. an aperture through said stock adjacent said breech portion, said aperture being sized to permit entry of at least a portion of one hand of a person using the crossbow structure; and

b. a gripping portion in said stock adjacent said trigger means, said gripping portion forming a portion of the surfaces defining said aperture. ll. The crossbow structure as set forth in

claim

10 wherein said trigger and linkage means include:

a. a trigger linkage guideway within said gripping portion of said stock, said trigger linkage guideway communicating with said gear guideway;

b. a trigger member pivotally mounted within said trigger guideway, said trigger member having a lug portion extending therefrom; and

c. an elongate lever within said trigger linkage guideway, said lever being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and having one end engaging said lug portion of said trigger member and the other end engaging said sear whereby movement of said trigger member is operative to move said sear out of engagement with said bow string.