US Patent 10900738 Crank cocking device for a crossbow

A worm gear crank cocking device (“CCD”) for a crossbow to draw a bowstring from a released position to a cocked position. A user rotates a receptacle of the worm gear CCD to draw hooks rearward along the crossbow track to engage the bowstring and to draw the hooks with the bow string to a catch to place the crossbow in the cocked position. The worm gear CCD provides an automatic stop. If a user stops rotating the receptacle of the worm gear CCD, the hooks remain stationary on the track. A release mechanism is provided that disengages spools winding the cords attached to the hooks so that the hooks may return to their starting position forward of the released bowstring.