Abstract: A crossbow may include a main beam and a bow mechanism having a pair of outwardly extending bow limbs, a pair of bowstring wheels, a bowstring and at least one power cord that extends between the bow limbs. The crossbow may also include a traveling trigger mechanism and a drawing mechanism. The traveling trigger mechanism may hold the bowstring in the un-cocked condition. The drawing mechanism may then be operated to move the traveling trigger mechanism and thus the bow string from the un-cocked condition to a cocked condition.

Abstract: A bow may have a string latch that holds a bowstring and that can be moved into three distinct positions. One activator may be used to prevent the string latch from being moved into its second position. A second activator may be used to prevent the string latch from being moved into its third position. A third activator may be used to move the first and second activators to prevent the string latch from being moved into its second or third positions.

Abstract: A crossbow de-cock mechanism may include a de-cock activator that is selectively movable from a first de-cock activator position that prevents de-cocking of a crossbow into a second de-cock activator position that permits de-cocking of the crossbow.

Abstract: A crossbow may include a bowstring and a string latch that can be moved into a first string latch position that holds the bowstring in a cocked position, a second string latch position that does not hold the bowstring in the cocked position and a third string latch position. To de-cock the crossbow, a de-cock activator may be selectively movable from a first de-cock activator position that prevents the string latch from being moved into the third string latch position into a second de-cock activator position that permits the string latch to be moved into the third string latch position. When the string latch is in the first string latch position and the de-cock activator is in the second de-cock activator position: the string latch may be selectively movable into the third string latch position and then the second string latch position permitting de-cocking of the crossbow.

Abstract: A crossbow may include a main beam, a riser with a U-shaped opening, a pair of bow limbs and a bowstring. The riser may have limb attachment surfaces that are separated such that a minimum distance between them is at least as wide as a user's foot but not greater than about 5 inches. The riser may have a U-shaped opening that is designed to receive a user's foot.

Abstract: A crossbow de-cock mechanism may include a de-cock activator that is selectively movable from a first de-cock activator position that prevents de-cocking of a crossbow into a second de-cock activator position that permits de-cocking of the crossbow.

Abstract: A crossbow de-cocking mechanism may include a trigger mechanism, a trigger latch mechanism and a winch assembly. A first rotational input to the winch may move a trigger latch to disengage the trigger mechanism. A second rotational input to the trigger latch, opposite to the first, may move the trigger mechanism to move a crossbow bowstring from a cocked position to an un-cocked position.

Abstract: A crossbow de-cock mechanism may include a de-cock activator that is selectively movable from a first de-cock activator position that prevents de-cocking of a crossbow into a second de-cock activator position that permits de-cocking of the crossbow.

Abstract: A crossbow reset mechanism may be used to reset a safety activator and a de-cock activator. The reset mechanism may reset the safety and de-cock activators simultaneously.

Abstract: A method of constructing a crossbow may include the steps of: supporting the riser to the main beam; supporting a pair of bow limbs to the ends of the riser; separating the bow limbs such that a minimum distance between them is not greater than about 5 inches; supporting the bowstring to the bow limbs; and providing at least a portion of the opening in the riser to be as wide as a user's foot and to extend between the bow limb.

Abstract: A crossbow may include two bowstring guides engaged on first and second sides of the crossbow barrel. The bowstring guides may push the bowstring toward opposite sides of the barrel when the bowstring is moved from the fully uncocked position to the fully cocked position and when the bowstring is moved from the fully cocked position to the fully uncocked position.

Abstract: A crossbow may have a de-cocking mechanism that includes a trigger mechanism, a trigger latch mechanism and a winch assembly. The winch assembly may be used to move the trigger mechanism to simultaneously move the bowstring from a cocked position to an un-cocked position.

Abstract: A crossbow may have a cocking mechanism that includes a trigger mechanism, a trigger latch mechanism and a winch assembly. The winch assembly may be used to move the trigger mechanism to simultaneously move the bowstring from an un-cocked position to a cocked position.

Abstract: A crossbow may have a winch assembly. The winch assembly may include a spool, a spool gear, a drive gear, a plate gear, a one way bearing and a brake gear. The winch assembly may be used to move the bowstring from an un-cocked position to a cocked position. The winch assembly may also be used to move the bowstring from the cocked position to the un-cocked position.

Abstract: A crossbow may have a cocking mechanism that includes a trigger mechanism, a trigger latch mechanism and a winch assembly. The winch assembly may be used to move the trigger mechanism to simultaneously move the bowstring from an un-cocked position to a cocked position.

Abstract: A crossbow may have a winch assembly. The winch assembly may include a spool, a spool gear, a drive gear, a plate gear, a one way bearing and a brake gear. The winch assembly may be used to move the bowstring from an un-cocked position to a cocked position. The winch assembly may also be used to move the bowstring from the cocked position to the un-cocked position.

Abstract: A crossbow may have a de-cocking mechanism that includes a trigger mechanism, a trigger latch mechanism and a winch assembly. The winch assembly may be used to move the trigger mechanism to simultaneously move the bowstring from a cocked position to an un-cocked position.

Abstract: A crossbow router system may include a frame that may be positioned within a hole in a crossbow main beam and not fixed to the main beam. Two or more cylindrical surfaces may be rotatable with respect to the frame and may engage a power chord to guide the power chord through the hole in the main beam.

Abstract: A method of constructing a crossbow may include the steps of: supporting the riser to the main beam; supporting a pair of bow limbs to the ends of the riser; separating the bow limbs such that a minimum distance between them is not greater than about 5 inches; supporting the bowstring to the bow limbs; and providing at least a portion of the opening in the riser to be as wide as a user's foot and to extend between the bow limb.

Abstract: A crossbow reset mechanism may be used to reset a safety activator and a de-cock activator. The reset mechanism may reset the safety and de-cock activators simultaneously.