BACKGROUND

Crossbows have been used for many years as a weapon for hunting and fishing, and for target shooting. In general, a crossbow includes a main beam including a stock member and a barrel connected to the stock member. The barrel typically has an arrow receiving area for receiving the arrow that is to be shot. The crossbow also includes a bow assembly supported on the main beam that includes a bow and a bowstring connected to the bow for use in shooting arrows. A trigger mechanism, also supported on the main beam, holds the bowstring in a drawn or cocked condition and can thereafter be operated to release the bowstring out of the uncocked condition to shoot the arrow. One characteristic of a crossbow is termed a power stroke. The power stroke is the distance along the main beam that the bowstring moves between the uncocked condition and the cocked condition.

One of the trends in the industry today is to advertise very large power strokes, such as 16 inches, 17 inches or 18 inches. Such very large power strokes provide the potential for more speed and energy. But there are corresponding problems. One such problem is the added difficulty in manually cocking the crossbow. More specifically, the operator must have relatively long arms in order to properly reach the bowstring for cocking purposes. Another problem with relatively large power strokes is the increased angle of the bowstring when placing it into the cocked position. This also makes it more difficult to cock the crossbow.

Another problem with known crossbows is related to their width. More specifically, to obtain an adequate power stroke it is known to provide crossbows that are relatively wide. Such wide crossbows may be difficult for a hunter to operate while following prey, side to side, because the crossbow is less maneuverable and the hunter is more likely to bump into surrounding objects.

What is needed is a relatively narrow crossbow having a relatively large power stroke. In this way the disadvantages known in the art can be overcome in a way that is better, more efficient and that provides better overall results.

SUMMARY

According to some aspects of the present teaching, a method of constructing a crossbow may include the steps of: A) providing: 1) a main beam; 2) a riser having: a first end, a second end opposite the first end and an opening; 3) a first bow limb having: a first end and a second end opposite the first end; 4) a second bow limb having: a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and 5) a bowstring adapted to propel an arrow; B) supporting the riser to the main beam; C) supporting the first end of the first bow limb to the first end of the riser; D) supporting the first end of the second bow limb to the second end of the riser; E) separating the first end of the first bow limb and the first end of the second bow limb such that a minimum distance between them is not greater than about 5 inches; F) supporting the bowstring to the second end of the first bow limb and the second end of the second bow limb; and G) providing at least a portion of the opening to be as wide as a user's foot and to extend between the first end of the first bow limb and the first end of the second bow limb.

According to some aspects of the present teaching, a method of constructing a crossbow may include the steps of: A) providing: 1) a main beam having an axis of elongation; 2) a riser having: a first end and a second end opposite the first end; 3) a first bow limb having: a first end and a second end opposite the first end; 4) a second bow limb having: a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and 5) a bowstring adapted to propel an arrow; B) supporting the riser to the main beam; C) supporting the first end of the first bow limb to the first end of the riser; D) supporting the first end of the second bow limb to the second end of the riser; E) separating the first end of the first bow limb and the first end of the second bow limb such that a minimum distance between them is: 1) at least as wide as a user's foot; but 2) not greater than about 5 inches; and F) supporting the bowstring to the second end of the first bow limb and the second end of the second bow limb. The crossbow may be constructed according to the following requirements: 1) a first point is defined as a point located on the first end of the first bow limb; 2) a second point is defined as a point located on the first end of the second bow limb; 3) a first plane is defined as a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of elongation and intersects the first point; 4) a second plane is defined as a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of elongation and intersects the second point; 5) the first end of the first bow limb is positioned at a first acute angle with respect to the first plane; 6) the first end of the second bow limb is positioned at a second acute angle with respect to the second plane; 7) the first acute angle is between 60 and 30 degrees; and 8) the second acute angle is between 60 and 30 degrees.

According to some aspects of the present teaching, a method of constructing a crossbow may include the steps of: A) providing: 1) a main beam having an axis of elongation; 2) a riser having: a first end and a second end opposite the first end; 3) a first bow limb having: a first end and a second end opposite the first end; 4) a second bow limb having: a first end and a second end opposite the first end; 5) a bowstring; and 6) a foot stirrup; B) supporting the riser to the main beam; C) supporting the first end of the first bow limb to the first end of the riser; D) supporting the first end of the second bow limb to the second end of the riser; E) supporting the bowstring to the second end of the first bow limb and the second end of the second bow limb; F) supporting the foot stirrup to the riser such that it: 1) begins behind the first ends of the first and second bow limbs; and 2) extends beyond the first ends of the first and second bow limbs such that a user's foot is insertable into the foot stirrup; and G) providing the bowstring to be adapted to propel an arrow as it moves on a first plane between cocked and uncocked positions. The crossbow may be constructed according to the following requirements: 1) a first point is defined as a point located on the first end of the first bow limb; 2) a second point is defined as a point located on the foot stirrup; 3) a second plane is defined as a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of elongation and intersects the first point; 4) the axis of elongation lies on a third plane that is perpendicular to the first and second planes; and 5) a fourth plane that is parallel to the third plane simultaneously intersects the first and second points.

Another advantage of this invention is that a crossbow may be easy to manually cock.

Another advantage of this invention is that the fiber composition of the riser provides the crossbow with a reduced weight.

Still another advantage of this invention is that the fiber compound composition of the riser may increase the attenuation of vibration and sound resulting from firing the crossbow.

