Patent attributes
An improved moveable cocking sled (5) and arrow release (7) for crossbows is described in the disclosure and illustrated in the embodiments in the drawings, where the cocking sled (5) may be latched to the crossbow string (1) and will couple to and be securely held by the arrow release (7) when the cocking sled (5) is drawn to cock the string (1). The cocking sled (5) includes two string latches (2), two latch release sears (4), two pulleys (3) for engaging corresponding ends of a cocking rope (30), and a rectangular hole (6) with a reverse-angle side tilted toward the crossbow string (1) at approximately a five degree angle. The string latches (2) each have a respective axle on which they rotate “open” and “closed”. The string latches (2) rotate “open” in response to a downward motion of their respective latch release sears (4) and rotate “closed” when moved forward by a shooter and pushed against the crossbow string (1). The illustrated crossbows include cheek guard covers (28) that rotate on the respective hinges (41) from the “open” position up to the “closed” position where they cover the cocked crossbow string (1) to prevent injury to the user's face should the crossbow string (1) malfunction or break. When a shooter's face is resting against one of the cheek guard covers (28) to aim or shoot the crossbow, the cocked string (1) latched by the cocking sled (5) is behind the front side of the shooter's face.
