An optical trigger for bows, crossbows and firearms preferably includes a trigger member, a light source and a light receiver. The trigger member is pivotally retained relative to at least one surface with a pivot rod. The trigger member preferably includes a pull area and an actuation area. An actuation hole is preferably formed above a pivot point. The actuation hole allows light to travel from the light source to the light receiver. The light source and the light receiver are retained relative to one of first and second sides of the trigger member. One end of a spring is engaged with an edge of the actuation area and the other end is retained relative to a support surface. It is preferable to have a light shield located on opposing sides of the trigger member. Each light shield surrounds the actuation hole and the light source or light receiver.

A trigger-traverse crossbow. The crossbow has a trigger latch block slidingly connected to the flight track. The trigger latch block is configured to engage and retain the bowstring. A cocking mechanism is configured to draw the trigger latch block with the bowstring from an initial position near a forward end of the flight track to a cocked position. A one-way retention mechanism is configured to immobilize the trigger latch block against linear movement in a forward direction along the flight track. A trigger-traverse mechanism is configured to slide the trigger latch block in a forward direction to its initial position after the bowstring is released. In one embodiment, the cocking mechanism includes a cocking lever pivotally connected to the crossbow body along with one pair or two pairs of cocking hooks that move in response to the rotation of the cocking lever.

A bow assembly includes a bow body assembly that pulls a string to shoot an arrow by a force generated by a rebound of an elastic body, where the bow body assembly is pivotally connected to a winding assembly for winding the string; and the winding assembly slides from a first position of the bow body assembly to a second position of the bow body assembly through a sliding assembly. The bow assembly involves manual winding, but the manual winding process will not exert any force on a limb, and a winding wheel can be moved by driving the sliding assembly by pedaling. In a shooting phase, the winding assembly is fixed relative to a bow body. In addition, the energy efficiency enhancer enables the winding wheel to continue to rotate after a limited number of revolutions. Further, as the winding wheel will not stop abruptly, noise is reduced.

A crossbow including a center rail including a bottom portion, a proximal end, and a distal end positioned opposite the proximal end, the center rail at least partially defining a crossbow length and a midpoint plane intersecting a horizontal midpoint of the crossbow, a riser extending horizontally from the distal end, one or more limbs coupled to the riser, and a trigger extending from the bottom portion of the center rail and positioned within ten percent of the crossbow length from the midpoint plane.

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.

A break action pistol crossbow having a repeating capability. The crossbow has a loading chamber configured to house a plurality of bolts. A biasing mechanism is disposed within the loading chamber. The crossbow has a forward retainer positioned at the front of a flight rail and a rear retainer positioned at the back of the flight rail. The bowstring is configured to be drawn over a bolt loaded into the chamber. As the bowstring travels over the bolt, the biasing mechanism presses the bolt against the bowstring. When the bowstring clears the bolt, the force applied onto the bolt by the biasing mechanism presses the leading end of the bolt against the retaining bridge and presses the trailing end of the bolt against retaining brush. In this manner, the bolt is aligned with the flight rail.

A grip for an archery release includes a clip formed as a coil spring having a cross arm that is pivotally mounted to a plate to enable a cross-arm of the coil spring to be selectively positioned along different sides of the plate to change the orientation of the clip with respect to the grip.

A crossbow including a frame having a projectile axis; a first flexible limb and a second flexible limb attached to the frame; a first cam attached having a larger diameter portion, a smaller diameter portion, and a rotational axis substantially parallel to the projectile axis; a second cam having a larger diameter portion, a smaller diameter portion, and a rotational axis substantially parallel to the projectile axis; a first pulley attached to the first flexible limb; a second pulley attached to the second flexible limb; a first power cable attached to the smaller diameter portion of the first cam and the first flexible limb; a second power cable attached to the smaller diameter portion of the second cam and the second flexible limb; and a drawstring attached to the larger diameter portion of the first cam and the larger diameter portion of the second cam.

A cranking mechanism preferably includes a planetary gear, a drive shaft, a one way bearing, a clutch assembly, and at least one drive unit. The clutch preferably includes a clutch pressure plate, a flywheel, friction surfaces and at least one friction plate. Each drive unit includes a carrier, a spool and a flywheel. The one way bearing and the clutch assembly are axial on the drive shaft. A pressure locking nut is threaded on to a threaded end of the crank shaft to exert pressure on the clutch assembly. The sun gear is fixed on the drive shaft. The at least one drive unit is axial with the drive shaft, and fixed with the carrier of the planetary gear set. The pressure locking nut is tightened against the clutch assembly to frictionally engage the drive shaft with the at least one drive unit.

Systems and apparatuses of a crossbow including a stock defining a front end and a rear end, and a limb including: a fixed end affixed to the stock between the front end and the rear end, and a free end positioned between the front end and the rear end. The limb is configured to flex in a substantially vertical plane.