BULLET MAGAZINE FOR CROSSBOWS AND CROSSBOW HAVING SUCH A BULLET MAGAZINE

Abstract

A bullet magazine for crossbows has a bullet container with a plurality of bullets and a device for fastening to the cross-bow. A channel, which is connected to the bullet container via an opening, for accelerating and firing the bullets via a bullet driver is arranged below the bullet container of the bullet magazine. The opening between the bullet container and the channel can be closed via a magazine lock, and the bullet driver has a receptacle for a bullet and a groove for the arranging of a bowstring of the crossbow in a firing position, and a crossbow for firing projectiles. The bullets are formed by bullets with a filling surrounded by a burstable shell, and the magazine lock is displaceably mounted. The receptacle of the bullet driver is designed in the form of a spherical cap, and a bullet retainer is provided, which holds the bullet to be fired in the firing position in the receptacle of the bullet driver.

Description

The invention relates to a bullet magazine for crossbows, having a bullet container with a plurality of bullets and having a device for fastening to the crossbow, wherein a channel, which is connected to the bullet container via an opening, for accelerating and firing the bullets via a bullet driver is arranged below the bullet container of the bullet magazine, wherein the opening between the bullet container and the channel can be closed via a magazine lock, and wherein the bullet driver has a receptacle for a bullet and a groove for the arranging of a bowstring of the crossbow in a firing position.

The invention further relates to a crossbow for firing projectiles, having a shaft and limbs, between which a tensionable bowstring is arranged, a retaining device for retaining the bowstring in the tensioned state in a firing position, having a trigger for moving the tensioned bowstring out of the retaining device, and having a bullet magazine with the projectiles.

Crossbows are well known from the prior art and are used both in sports and for hunting. In contrast to bows, in which an arrow is first brought into engagement with a bowstring and then the limbs of the bow are tensioned by the force of the shooter, in the case of a crossbow, the limbs are first tensioned by retracting the associated bowstring and then the projectile, for example an arrow, is brought into engagement with the bowstring. The limbs are tensioned either exclusively by the strength of the shooter, with the assistance of tensioning devices, such as tensioning levers or cable winches, or exclusively by tensioning devices, which, for example, displace the limbs in the longitudinal direction of the crossbow with respect to a triggering device or with respect to a shoulder support. Arrows, bolts or bullets are used as projectiles. Usually, bullets as projectiles are made of metal, ceramic, wood or glass and may be hollow or made of solid material. For a better hit rate when shooting with such bullets, a modification kit for crossbows has become known from DE 198 54 721 A1.

For example, CN 113970274 A describes a crossbow of the present type with a bullet magazine with the bullets to be fired. The construction is designed for the firing of, in particular, metallic bullets.

EP 0 428 344 describes a slingshot for firing bullets of metal or arrows.

The firing of bullets with a filling surrounded by a burstable shell, for example paint bullets that contain a liquid paint coated by a gelatin layer or paintballs or pepper spray projectiles in which pepper dust or other powdery irritants are surrounded by a fragile shell, for example made of plastic, with the help of crossbows is not yet widespread. One reason for this is that the relatively fragile bullets with the burstable shell can easily be destroyed by the bowstring of the crossbow during acceleration before they leave the crossbow or hit the desired target. If the bullet still bursts in the crossbow, the crossbow may become dirty and even damaged by the filling.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an above-mentioned bullet magazine for crossbows as well as a crossbow with such a bullet magazine, whereby a gentle firing of such bullets with a filling surrounded by a burstable shell is possible and the probability of the bullet bursting before leaving the crossbow can be minimized. The bullet magazine or the crossbow equipped with such a bullet magazine should be as simple and cost-effective as possible. Nevertheless, if a bullet in the bullet magazine or the crossbow accidentally bursts open, easy and rapid cleaning of the bullet magazine and the crossbow should be guaranteed. Disadvantages of known designs should be avoided or at least reduced.

The object according to the invention is achieved by an above-mentioned bullet magazine for crossbows, wherein the bullets are formed by bullets with a filling surrounded by a burstable shell, and the magazine lock is displaceably mounted, the receptacle of the bullet driver is designed in the form of a spherical cap, and a bullet retainer is provided, which holds the bullet to be fired in the firing position in the receptacle of the bullet driver. The special design of the bullet magazine ensures that the bullets to be fired are gently stored in the bullet container and that they are gently transferred to the bullet driver, which is accelerated by the bowstring of the crossbow when fired. The bowstring of the crossbow does not come into direct contact with the bullet to be fired. Due to the fact that the receptacle of the bullet driver is designed in the form of a spherical cap, the bullet can be mounted on the bullet driver in a particularly gentle manner. During the acceleration of the bullet during firing, the forces acting on the bullet are well distributed. The spherical cap is smaller than half a hollow sphere to allow the bullet to be fired to be received. By providing a bullet retainer that holds the bullet to be fired in the firing position in the receptacle of the bullet driver, it is possible to prevent the bullet to be fired from rolling off the receptacle of the bullet driver in the firing position. As a result, bursting of the bullet in the bullet container and firing in the crossbow and contamination of the crossbow can be avoided as far as possible. The construction can be realized relatively simply and relatively inexpensively depending on the materials used (preferably plastic or metal). The bullet magazine constructed in this way may be offered as a retrofit kit to existing crossbows or may also be integrated into crossbows. Of course, the bullet magazine may also be filled with full bullets and such bullets can be shot with the crossbow.

Preferably, a closable filling opening is arranged in the bullet container in order to be able to load the bullets with the filling surrounded by a burstable shell into the magazine or to be able to remove them from the magazine. The filling opening may be closed with a lid or a bolt or the like in order to prevent the bullets from falling out of the closed bullet magazine unintentionally. Any lid can preferably be opened and closed easily and without tools. By means of a preferably spring-mounted barb-shaped blocking element, a simple filling of the bullets into the bullet container can also be made possible and an unintentional falling out can be prevented. By actuating the barb-shaped blocking element, it is also possible to remove the bullets from the bullet container again.

The magazine lock has a driver that can be actuated by the bullet driver when the bullet driver is displaced into the firing position, so that the magazine lock can preferably be moved against the force of a compression spring when the bullet driver is displaced into the firing position and opens the opening between the bullet container and the channel. As a result, in the firing position of the bullet driver, a new bullet can pass from the bullet container through the opening into the bullet driver. Due to the fact that the channel is arranged below the bullet container, the transition of a bullet from the bullet container to the bullet driver in the channel below takes place via gravity or (even against gravity) via the force of a spring element arranged in the bullet container and connected to a slide.

The bullet retainer can be formed in a simple manner by a bracket with a retaining element made of elastic material. In the firing position, the retaining element protrudes slightly so that the bullet cannot roll into the channel. When the bullet driver is accelerated with the bullet, the retaining element of the bullet retainer is moved away by the bullet, so that the bullet can be moved past the retaining element and accelerated in the channel. The force to move the elastic retaining element away must not be too high, so that the shell of the bullet is not damaged.

The bullet driver may have guide elements on both sides for guiding the bullet driver along a guide groove of the crossbow when firing the bullet. This allows the bullet driver to slide optimally along the channel on the shaft of the crossbow and prevents lateral tilting of the bullet driver.

According to a further feature of the invention, the device for fastening to the crossbow is formed by at least two tabs, each having a bore, and a fastening bolt which can be arranged in the bores. This enables a particularly simple and quick assembly and disassembly of the bullet magazine on the crossbow. In the event of contamination of the bullet magazine, it can be quickly disassembled and cleaned.

A mounting rail is preferably arranged on the upper side of the bullet container. Various accessories, such as a targeting device or the like, may be mounted on the mounting rail, preferably a so-called Picatinny rail. In commercially available crossbows, mounting rails are often arranged on the upper side or underside of the shaft. A front handle, for example, may be attached to a mounting rail arranged on the underside of the shaft.

If the bullet container is designed to be detachable, disassembly and assembly, for example for the purpose of cleaning, can be facilitated. Bullet containers already filled with bullets may also be prepared and the bullet magazine can be reloaded more quickly.

The bullet container may be formed by a substantially cylindrical storage channel for preferably 5 to 20 bullets.

If a slide connected to a spring element is arranged in the storage channel of the bullet container, the bullets stored therein can be moved in the direction of the opening. This supports the automatic loading of the crossbow. The slide also prevents the bullets from moving in a partially filled bullet container and thereby being destroyed. The spring element connected to the slide may exert only a slight force on the slide, so that destruction of the bullets in the bullet container can be prevented.

The substantially cylindrical storage channel has a diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the bullets. Of course, the diameter of the storage channel must be slightly larger than the maximum diameter of the bullets to be expected, taking tolerances into account, so that the bullets cannot get stuck in the storage channel. This slightly larger diameter is expressed by the term “substantially”.

The object according to the invention is also achieved by an above-mentioned crossbow with a bullet magazine, wherein the projectiles are formed by bullets with a filling surrounded by a burstable shell, and the bullet magazine is designed according to the above description. Under the condition of a corresponding design of the bullet magazine and the crossbow, it is also possible to retrofit existing crossbows with the bullet magazine.

With regard to the advantages that can be achieved as a result, reference is made to the above description of the bullet magazine.

Advantageously, the bullet magazine is releasably attached to the shaft of the crossbow. This makes it easier to clean the bullet magazine and the crossbow can also be used without a bullet magazine, for example if it is to be used for firing arrows or bolts.

The bullet magazine may also be arranged so as to be pivotable relative to the shaft. This makes it easier to clean the bullet magazine even without disassembling the bullet magazine from the crossbow by pivoting the bullet magazine away from the shaft of the crossbow and holding it under a jet of water. This can also make it easier to load the pivoted bullet magazine with new bullets.

The bullets may have a colored liquid as a filling. Such paint bullets are usually used in paintball sports. A liquid mixture with food coloring is contained in a burstable shell, usually a gelatin shell.

Likewise, the bullets may have a pepper powder as a filling. Such so-called pepperballs form ammunition that may be used by emergency services similar to pepper spray. The bullets filled with capsaicin dust, for example, break on impact, releasing the irritant.

A targeting device may be provided on the crossbow. Such a targeting device can be formed, for example, by an optical telescopic sight or a luminous point sight (so-called red dots), which can be mounted on the existing mounting rails or Picatinny rails.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawings, which show embodiments of the present invention. In this, show:

FIG. 1A a crossbow with the bullet magazine according to the invention in plan view before firing a bullet;

FIG. 1B the crossbow with the bullet magazine according to the invention according to FIG. 1A in a sectional side view along the section line I-I;

FIG. 1C a sectional representation of a bullet having a filling surrounded by a burstable shell;

FIG. 2A the crossbow according to FIG. 1A in plan view during or after the firing of a bullet;

FIG. 2B the crossbow according to FIG. 2A in a sectional side view along the section line II-II;

FIG. 3A a perspective view of an embodiment of the bullet magazine according to the invention;

FIG. 3B a plan view of the bullet magazine according to FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C the bullet magazine according to FIG. 3B in a sectional side view along the section line III-III;

FIG. 4A a perspective view of an embodiment of the bullet driver;

FIG. 4B a plan view of the bullet driver according to FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C the bullet driver according to FIG. 4B in a sectional representation along the section line IV-IV;

FIG. 5A a detail of a crossbow with the bullet magazine in a perspective view with a horizontal section in the region of the bullet magazine;

FIG. 5B the detail view according to FIG. 5A in plan view;

FIG. 5C a individual representation of the retaining element of FIGS. 5A and 5B;

FIG. 6A another embodiment of a two-part bullet magazine; and

FIG. 6B the bullet magazine according to FIG. 6A with the bullet container separated.

FIG. 1A shows a crossbow 1 with the bullet magazine 20 according to the invention in plan view before firing a bullet 50. FIG. 1B shows a sectional view through the crossbow 1 according to FIG. 1A along the section line I-I. The crossbow 1 has a shaft 2 or a central column and associated limbs 3. A bowstring 4, which can be tensioned, is arranged at the ends of the limbs 3. The tensioned bowstring 4 is held in a holding position in a retaining device 6, for example a retaining groove. A shoulder support 10 may optionally be attached behind the handle 8. Located in front of the handle 8 is the trigger 7, via which the tensioned bowstring 4 can be moved out of the retaining device 6 and a projectile 5 located along a guide groove 9 on the shaft 2 can be accelerated and fired. The projectile 5 is usually an arrow, bolt or bullet (not shown). A mounting rail 13, a so-called Picatinny rail, for attaching accessories, such as a targeting device or a front handle 12, may be arranged on the underside of the shaft 2 and the upper side of the bullet magazine 20.

Arranged on the crossbow is an embodiment variant of a bullet magazine 20 according to the invention for receiving a plurality of bullets 50 with a filling 52 surrounded by a burstable shell 51 (see sectional view of a bullet 50 in FIG. 1C), which bullet magazine 20 will be explained in more detail further below. The bullet 50 has a diameter D_K, which is, for example, 10 to 20 mm. As a result, the crossbow 1 can be used to fire such bullets 50. The bullet magazine 20 has a bullet container 22 for the bullets 50 and a device 21 for fastening to the crossbow 1. A slide 45, which is connected to a spring element 44 and moves the bullets 50 in the direction of the opening 24, may be arranged in the bullet container 22. A channel 23, which is connected to the bullet container 22 via an opening 24, for accelerating and firing the bullets 50 via a bullet driver 26 is arranged below the bullet container 22. The opening 24 between the bullet container 22 and the channel 23 is closed via a displaceably mounted magazine lock 25 and is only released when the bullet driver 26 is moved rearward into the firing position. The bullet driver 26 has a receptacle 27 for a bullet 50 and a groove 28 for the arrangement of the bowstring 4 of the crossbow 1. As already mentioned above, the bullet magazine 20 can of course also be filled with full bullets or hollow bullets without filling (not shown) and such bullets can be fired with the crossbow.

In FIG. 1B, the bullet driver 26 is in the firing position, i.e. in a rearmost position along the shaft 2. In this position, the magazine lock 25 is preferably moved against the force of a compression spring 33, whereby the opening 24 between the bullet container 22 and the channel 23 of the bullet magazine 20 is opened. As a result, a bullet 50 located in the bullet container 22 can pass through the opening 24 via gravity or (even against gravity) via the force of the spring element 44 arranged in the bullet container 22 and connected to the slide 45 into the channel 23 or onto the bullet driver 26 located therein. Upon actuation of the trigger 7, the tensioned bowstring 4 is released from the retaining device 6, thereby accelerating the bullet driver 26 with the bullet 50 thereon along the channel 23 and thereby firing the bullet 50 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B).

FIG. 2A shows the crossbow 1 according to FIG. 1A in a plan view during or after the firing of a bullet 50, and FIG. 2B shows the crossbow 1 according to FIG. 2A in a sectional side view along the section line II-II. In contrast to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the tensioned bowstring 4 of the crossbow 1 was moved by actuating the trigger 7 from the retaining device 6, whereby the bullet driver 26 with the bullet 50 was accelerated along the channel 23. At the end of the channel 23, the bullet driver 26 is stopped and the bullet 50 is fired. As the bullet driver 26 is moved forward along the channel 23, the magazine lock 25 operates and is moved forward by the compression spring 33, closing the opening 24 between the bullet container 22 and the channel 23. This can prevent a bullet 50 from falling out of the bullet container 22 through the opening 24 into the channel 23 when the bullet driver 26 is not located at the rear position, the firing position. Only when the bullet driver 26 with the associated bowstring 4 is moved back for tensioning the crossbow 1 is a follower on the magazine lock 25 actuated by the bullet driver 26, and as a result the magazine lock 25 is moved backward against the force of the compression spring 33, whereby the opening 24 between the bullet container 22 and the channel 23 is opened. In this firing position, a new bullet 50 can again fall out of the bullet container 22 via the opening 24 into the bullet driver 26 in the channel 23 and a new shot can be prepared.

FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of the bullet magazine 20 according to the invention in a perspective view, FIG. 3B shows the bullet magazine 20 according to FIG. 3A in a plan view, and FIG. 3C shows the bullet magazine 20 according to FIG. 3B in a sectional side view along the section line III-III. The bullet magazine 20 serves to receive a plurality of bullets 50 with a filling 52 surrounded by a burstable shell 51 (see FIG. 1C). The bullet magazine 20 has a bullet container 22 for the bullets 50 (not shown) and a device 21 for fastening to the crossbow 1. A channel 23, which is connected to the bullet container 22 via an opening 24, for accelerating and firing the bullets 50 via the bullet driver 26 (see FIGS. 4A to 4C) is arranged below the bullet container 22. The opening 24 between the bullet container 22 and the channel 23 can be closed via a displaceably mounted magazine lock 25 (see FIGS. 1B and 2B).

A closable filling opening 32 is arranged in the bullet container 22, via which the bullets 50 can be filled into the bullet container 22 of the bullet magazine 20. The filling opening 32 may be closed, for example, by a lid (not shown) or bolt (not shown).

The fastening device 21 can be formed, for example, by two tabs 39, each having a bore 40, and a fastening bolt 41 that can be arranged in the bores 40. As a result, the bullet magazine 20 fastened to the crossbow 1 can also be pivoted about the axis of rotation of the bolt 41, as a result of which, for example, the cleaning of the bullet magazine 20 or also the filling or emptying of the bullet magazine with the bullets can be facilitated. A mounting rail 13, in particular a Picatinny rail, may be arranged on the upper side of the bullet container 22.

The bullet container 22 is ideally formed by a substantially cylindrical storage channel 43 for preferably 5 to 20 bullets 50. The substantially cylindrical storage channel 43 has a diameter D_A substantially corresponding to (or slightly larger than) the diameter D_K of the bullets 50.

FIG. 4A shows an embodiment of the bullet driver 26 in a perspective view, FIG. 4B shows the bullet driver 26 according to FIG. 4A in a plan view, and FIG. 4C shows the bullet driver 26 according to FIG. 4B in a sectional representation along the section line IV-IV. The bullet driver 26 has a receptacle 27 for the bullets 50 (not shown), which is preferably designed in the form of a spherical cap 31. As a result, the pressure on the bullet 50 is evenly distributed and destruction of the bullet 50 during firing in the crossbow 1 is prevented. The bullet driver 26 also has a groove 28 for arranging the bowstring 4 of the crossbow 1 in a firing position (not shown). The bullet driver 26 has guide elements 29 on both sides for guiding the bullet driver 26 along the guide groove 9 on the shaft 2 of the crossbow 1 when the bullet 50 is fired. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the bullet driver 26, the guide elements 29 are specially configured such that they support the retention of the bowstring 4 of the crossbow in the groove 28. The bullet driver may be made of plastic or metal. To reduce the weight of the bullet driver 26, a bore 30 in the receptacle 27 in the form of the spherical cap 31 may be arranged.

FIG. 5A shows a detail of a crossbow 1 with the bullet magazine 20 in a perspective view with a horizontal section in the region of the bullet magazine 20, FIG. 5B shows the detail view according to FIG. 5A in a plan view. A bullet retainer 35 holds the bullet 50 to be fired in the firing position in the receptacle 27 of the bullet driver 26. The bullet retainer 35 may be formed by a bracket 36 having a retaining element 37 made of elastic material. FIG. 5C shows an individual representation of the bullet retainer 35 in the form of a bracket 36 with the retaining element 37 made of elastic material.

Finally, FIG. 6A shows another embodiment of a two-part bullet magazine 20. In this case, the bullet container 22 of the bullet magazine 20 is designed to be detachable, as a result of which disassembly and assembly, for example for the purpose of cleaning, can be facilitated. Bullet containers 22 already filled with bullets 50 can also be prepared and the bullet magazine 20 can thus be reloaded more quickly.

FIG. 6B shows the two-part bullet magazine 20 according to FIG. 6A with the bullet container 22 separated.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A bullet magazine for crossbows, having a bullet container with a plurality of bullets and having a device for fastening to the crossbow, and having a bullet driver has a receptacle for a bullet and a groove for the arranging of a bowstring of the crossbow in a firing position, wherein a channel, which is connected to the bullet container via an opening, for accelerating and firing the bullets via a bullet driver is arranged below the bullet container, wherein the opening between the bullet container and the channel can be closed via a magazine lock, wherein the bullets are formed by bullets with a filling surrounded by a burstable shell, and the magazine lock is displaceably mounted, and has a driver that can be actuated by the bullet driver when the bullet driver is displaced into the firing position against the force of a compression spring), whereby the opening between the bullet container and the channel is opened, and the receptacle of the bullet driver is designed in the form of a spherical cap, whereby the bullet driver with the bullet thereon can be accelerated, and a bullet retainer is provided, which holds the bullet to be fired in the firing position in the receptacle of the bullet driver.

19. The bullet magazine according to claim 18, wherein a closable filling opening is arranged in the bullet container.

20. The bullet magazine according to claim 18, wherein the bullet retainer is formed by a bracket having a retaining element made of elastic material.

21. The bullet magazine according to claim 19, wherein the bullet driver has guide elements on both sides for guiding the bullet driver along a guide groove of the crossbow when the bullet is fired.

22. The bullet magazine according to claim 18, wherein the device for fastening to the crossbow is formed by at least two tabs each having a bore and a fastening bolt which can be arranged in the bores.

23. The bullet magazine according to claim 18, wherein a mounting rail is arranged on the upper side of the bullet container.

24. The bullet magazine according to claim 18, wherein the bullet container is designed to be detachable.

25. The bullet magazine according to claim 18 wherein the bullet container is formed by a substantially cylindrical storage channel for 5 to 20 bullets.

26. The bullet magazine according to claim 25, wherein a slide connected to a spring element is arranged in the storage channel.

27. The bullet magazine according to claim 25, wherein the substantially cylindrical storage channel has a diameter (DA) substantially corresponding to the diameter (DK) of the bullets.

28. A crossbow for firing projectiles, having a shaft and limbs, between which a tensionable bowstring is arranged, a retaining device for retaining the bowstring in the tensioned state in a firing position, having a trigger for moving the tensioned bowstring out of the retaining device, and having a bullet magazine with the projectiles, wherein the projectiles are formed by bullets having a filling surrounded by a burstable shell, and the bullet magazine is designed according to claim 18.

29. The crossbow according to claim 28, wherein the bullet magazine is releasably attached to the shaft.

30. The crossbow according to claim 28, wherein the bullet magazine is arranged such that it can pivot relative to the shaft.

31. The crossbow according to claim 28, wherein the bullets have a coloured liquid as filling.

32. The crossbow according to claim 28, wherein the bullets have a pepper powder as filling.

33. The crossbow according to any claim 28, wherein a targeting device is provided.