Crossbow cocking aid design

My client sought to develop a crossbow cocking aid that required less manual force, and potentially less range of motion, than conventional cocking aids. I utilized a pulley system to create a mechanical advantage of 3 vs. the conventional 2 that existed on the market.

Commercial product

The design was quickly adopted and has seen commercial success.

Product promotional graphic

Graphic explaining the benefits of the final product.

Increased mechanical advantage and minimal range of motion

I further developed a device with both a MA of 4 as well as a novel incremental cocking action that limits required range of motion. While the initial prototype utilized boat rope cleats and dog leashes, the conceptual final design could incorporate these mechanisms into the handles themselves. The concept was submitted for patent.

Installed 4:1 prototype

The 4:1 prototype in the installed position on a crossbow.

Proof of concept - cleats

The proof of concept utilized cleats to prevent back-slip during cocking to maintain incremental progress. This would translate easily to large-scale manufacturing and could be greatly reduced in size.

4:1 prototype initial test

The prototype operated as intended and greatly reduced the load and range of motion relative to the 2:1 devices on the market.