Abstract: A crossbow assembly may include a riser and a pair of bow limbs that attach to the riser. The limb attachment surfaces on the riser may be separated such that a minimum distance between them is not greater than 5 inches. The minimum distance may be at least as wide as a user's foot. The riser may have a U-shaped opening that extends between the limb attachment surfaces. The limb attachment surfaces may be angled between 60 and 30 degrees. The riser may have a foot stirrup that begins behind the limb attachment surfaces and extends beyond them.

Abstract: An arrow nock may have at least two distinct string guides each designed to receive a bowstring to fire an arrow from a bow. When the nock is connected to and aligned with the arrow, each distinct string guide may be designed, when receiving the bowstring, to rotate the arrow about its longitudinal axis with respect to the bow into one of a limited number of alignment orientations.

Abstract: An arrow nock and nock receiver assembly may include a nock and a nock receiver. The nock and nock receiver may attain relative longitudinal alignment by the engagement of a lip to a groove portion. The nock and nock receiver may attain relative longitudinal alignment by the engagement of a nock contact surface with a nock receiver contact surface.

Abstract: An arrow nock may have three or more string guide impressions that are designed to receive a portion of a bowstring to fire an arrow. Each string guide impression may be defined by two circumferentially spaced walls separated by a floor. The walls and floors may be curvilinear in shape. The walls may have sides and a peak that are curvilinear. The walls may have widths that narrow toward the peak. The walls may have a radial length that is at least one fourth of the nock outside diameter.

Abstract: An alignment tool may be used with an arrow and a nock. The alignment tool may include a tool body, a connection member, and an opening. The alignment tool and nock may be rotatable with respect to the arrow when the nock is connected to the arrow and the connection member is connected to the nock to align the nock with respect to the arrow by aligning the opening in the tool with an arrow vane with the vane visible through the opening in the tool.

Abstract: An arrow nock and nock receiver assembly may include first and second interconnections each including a groove portion and a finger. The fingers may have lips that are received in the groove portions. The connection between the nock and nock receiver may provide relative rotational alignment between the nock receiver and the nock as well as relative longitudinal alignment between the nock receiver and the nock.

Abstract: A crossbow riser may include a pair of limb attachment surfaces that are designed to be used to attach bow limbs and that are separated such that a minimum distance between them is at least as wide as a user's foot but not greater than 5 inches. A U-shaped opening may extend between the pair of limb attachment surfaces and may be designed to receive a user's foot.

Abstract: An alignment tool may be used with an arrow and a nock. The alignment tool may include a tool body, a connection member, and an opening. The alignment tool and nock may be rotatable with respect to the arrow when the nock is connected to the arrow and the connection member is connected to the nock to align the nock with respect to the arrow by aligning the opening in the tool with an arrow vane with the vane visible through the opening in the tool.

Abstract: A crossbow may be a horizontal crossbow having a main beam and a bow assembly mounted to the main beam. The bow assembly may include: a bowstring; a riser attached to the main beam; a first bow limb; a second bow limb; a first wheel that is supported to the first bow limb; and a second wheel that is supported to the second bow limb. In some embodiments, the bow limbs may be separated at least as wide as a user's foot. In other embodiments, the bow assembly may include a trigger oriented parallel to pivot axes about which the wheels rotate. In yet other embodiments, a ratio of the distance between the wheels and the power stroke is less than 1.8.

Abstract: A crossbow may be a horizontal crossbow having a main beam and a bow assembly mounted to the main beam. The bow assembly may include: a bowstring; a riser attached to the main beam; a first bow limb; a second bow limb; a first wheel that is supported to the first bow limb; and a second wheel that is supported to the second bow limb. In some embodiments, the bow limbs may be separated at least as wide as a user's foot. In other embodiments, the bow assembly may include a trigger oriented parallel to pivot axes about which the wheels rotate. In yet other embodiments, a ratio of the distance between the wheels and the power stroke is less than 1.8.

Abstract: A crossbow may be a horizontal crossbow having a main beam and a bow assembly mounted to the main beam. The bow assembly may include: a bowstring; a riser attached to the main beam; a first bow limb; a second bow limb; a first wheel that is supported to the first bow limb; and a second wheel that is supported to the second bow limb. In some embodiments, the bow limbs may be separated at least as wide as a user's foot. In other embodiments, the bow assembly may include a trigger oriented parallel to pivot axes about which the wheels rotate. In yet other embodiments, a ratio of the distance between the wheels and the power stroke is less than 1.8.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a nock device that may be used on an arrow. A top portion a nock device can comprise one or more pairs of string guide impression on its top surface, where the respective one or more pairs of string guide impressions may be symmetrically arranged on the top surface, with respect to each other. A first pair of string guide impression can be disposed along a first bisecting line on the top surface, and, if present, a second pair of string guide impressions can be disposed along a second bisecting line on the top surface. The respective one or more pairs of string guide impression can be configured to receive a bowstring, where the first pair may receive the bowstring in a first orientation, and the second pair, if present, may receive the bowstring in a second orientation.

Abstract: A manually assisted bowstring drawing mechanism may be used with a crossbow. The drawing mechanism may include a pair of handles attached to opposite ends of a rope and an engaging mechanism. The engaging mechanism may have two pieces that may receive the rope and may be selectively separated and connected together. When separated, the pieces may be extended up opposite sides of the crossbow from a trigger mechanism to a bowstring. The pieces may then be connected together and engaged to the bowstring. Next, the handles may be pulled by a user to move the bowstring from an uncocked position to a cocked position.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a crossbow may include a main beam; a compound bow assembly mounted to the main beam; and, a trigger mechanism mounted to the beam for use in holding a bowstring in a cocked position. The crossbow may include wheels at opposite ends of the bow that operatively receive the bowstring. The wheels may be separated by a wheel distance (WD) when the crossbow is in an un-cocked position. The crossbow may also have a power stroke distance (PD) and the ratio WD/PD may be less than 2.0.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a crossbow may include a main beam; a compound bow assembly mounted to the main beam; and, a trigger mechanism mounted to the beam for use in holding a bowstring in a cocked position. The crossbow may include wheels at opposite ends of the bow that operatively receive the bowstring. The wheels may be separated by a wheel distance (WD) when the crossbow is in an un-cocked position. The crossbow may also have a power stroke distance (PD) and the ratio WD/PD may be less than 2.0.

Abstract: An alignment tool may be used to align a nock with respect to an arrow having vanes. The alignment tool may include a body, a connection member extending from the body, and indicating surfaces that are spaced around the outer surface of the alignment tool body at a relative angular orientation that matches the angular orientation of the arrow vanes. The connection member may be attached to the nock and then both the tool and the nock may be rotated with respect to the arrow to align the nock with respect to the arrow by aligning the indicating surfaces with respect to the vanes.

Abstract: A grip guard may be used with a crossbow that has a main beam including a stock and a barrel. The grip guard may have a first wall that is positioned between the stock and the barrel and a second wall that extends outwardly from the main beam. The first wall may have dampening properties to attenuate sounds and vibrations caused by firing the crossbow and the second wall may prevent a user's fingers from inadvertently extending from the handle toward the barrel.

Abstract: A manually assisted bowstring drawing mechanism may be used with a crossbow. The drawing mechanism may include a pair of handles attached to opposite ends of a rope and an engaging mechanism. The engaging mechanism may have two pieces that may receive the rope and may be selectively separated and connected together. When separated, the pieces may be extended up opposite sides of the crossbow from a trigger mechanism to a bowstring. The pieces may then be connected together and engaged to the bowstring. Next, the handles may be pulled by a user to move the bowstring from an uncocked position to a cocked position.

Abstract: An alignment tool may be used to align a nock with respect to an arrow having vanes. The alignment tool may include a body, a connection member extending from the body, and indicating surfaces that are spaced around the outer surface of the alignment tool body at a relative angular orientation that matches the angular orientation of the arrow vanes. The connection member may be attached to the nock and then both the tool and the nock may be rotated with respect to the arrow to align the nock with respect to the arrow by aligning the indicating surfaces with respect to the vanes.

Abstract: A grip guard may be used with a crossbow that has a main beam including a stock and a barrel. The grip guard may have a first wall that is positioned between the stock and the barrel and a second wall that extends outwardly from the main beam. The first wall may have dampening properties to attenuate sounds and vibrations caused by firing the crossbow and the second wall may prevent a user's fingers from inadvertently extending from the handle toward the barrel.