Patent Grant
11768063
The, present invention relates generally to a device, system, and method used for hunting animals. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device, system, and method for rapid dispatching of game animals in a hunting environment using an arrow.
Arrows have been used to hunt and dispatch animals, both land- and water-based, throughout human history. Early arrows used a sharpened point of a stick to penetrate an animal, with the goal of hitting a vital organ or break a bone. When using sharpened sticks to hunt game, a hunter would need to hit an animal multiple times over an extended period before the animal was subdued. In many instances, the animals being hunted were dangerous and unpredictable, especially when the animals were wounded from one or more previous arrow hits.
As technology developed, arrow technology also grew. More advanced bows were developed to fire an arrow further, straighter, and with more force. The arrows themselves became more accurate and more lethal with the introduction of balanced arrow bodies, razor-tipped arrowheads, fletching to stabilize the arrow in flight, and advanced construction materials to enable the arrow to fly faster and with more accuracy over longer distances.
Current hunting procedures involve shooting an arrow into an animal with the goal of killing (dispatching) the animal as quickly as possible to minimize the animal's pain and suffering. Furthermore, an animal that is dispatched quickly does not run as far, making tracking easier. In many cases, the animal is not aware that it has been hit. In a significant number of instances, the arrow passes completely through the body of the animal. Immediately after an animal is hit, the hunter must wait for the animal to expire, often through blood loss. This procedure requires anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or longer for the animal to collapse. The hunter is then tasked with tracking a potentially dangerous and wounded animal, often in difficult territory and unfavorable weather conditions. If the animal wanders away without being found, the hunter often attempts to shoot another animal in order to gain a trophy, reach his game limit, or use up his license tag.
What is needed is a device and a method that can rapidly dispatch an animal, both to reduce the time between arrow impact and animal collapse, and also to humanely kill the animal in the quickest possible time as to minimize the animal's pain and suffering.
The illustrative embodiments provide a device, system, and method. An embodiment includes an arrow with a first body having a cylindrical member with a first outside diameter, a first outer surface, a first inner diameter, a first proximate end, and a first distal end, where the first proximate end is configured to accept an arrow head, a second body having a hollow cylindrical member with a second outside diameter, a second inner diameter, a second outer surface, a second inner surface, a second proximate end, and a second distal end, where the second distal end is configured to accept fletching, and a nock, and a connecting means to couple the first body to the second body, where the connecting means establishes a linear alignment of the first body to the second body along the device's longitudinal axis, and where the connecting means permits the first body to be removable in relation to the second body.
An embodiment also includes a system that includes a target animal, a bow for shooting arrows, an arrow device made of a first body having a cylindrical member with a first outside diameter, a first outer surface, a first inner diameter, a first proximate end, and a first distal end, where the first proximate end is configured to accept an arrow head, a second body having a hollow cylindrical member with a second outside diameter, a second inner diameter, a second outer surface, a second inner surface, a second proximate end, and a second distal end, where the second distal end is configured to accept fletching, and a nock, and a connecting means to couple the first body to the second body, where the connecting means establishes a linear alignment of the first body to the second body along the device's longitudinal axis, and where the connecting means permits the first body to be removable in relation to the second body, and a blood trail, responsive to an impact of the arrow upon the animal, where the blood trail is used to track the animal.
An embodiment includes a method for rapid dispatching of an animal that includes hitting the animal with an arrow, where the arrow is made of a first body having a cylindrical member with a first outside diameter, a first outer surface, a first inner diameter, a first proximate end, and a first distal end, where the first proximate end is configured to accept an arrow head, a second body having a hollow cylindrical member with a second outside diameter, a second inner diameter, a second outer surface, a second inner surface, a second proximate end, and a second distal end, where the second distal end is configured to accept fletching, and a nock, and a connecting means to couple the first body to the second body, where the connecting means establishes a linear alignment of the first body to the second body along the device's longitudinal axis, and where the connecting means permits the first body to be removable in relation to the second body. The method also includes penetrating, by the arrow head, the animal, where the arrow head causes tissue damage and creates a wound cavity with associated blood loss, responsive to the arrow hitting the animal, decelerating, by the second body, where the second body maintains the wound cavity to prevent closure of the wound cavity and provide a path for unrestricted blood flow, separating the first body from the second body, where the first body separates due to a lower drag value than a drag value of the second body, and dispatching of the animal due to the wound cavity and associated blood loss.
Certain novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific, examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and, second features are in direct contact and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be positioned between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments or configurations discussed.
Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for case of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.
The present disclosure may be better understood, and its numerous features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.
Continuing with
Lagging, arrow 120 includes a nock 128 mechanically fastened to the second distal end 124. The nock 128 permits a bow string to be securely positioned at the second distal end 124 during the act of shooting the arrow. According to some embodiments, the nock 128 is made of plastic, metal, carbon fiber, and the like and is mechanically attached to the lagging arrow 120 through the use of glues, threads, tape, an interference fit, a friction fit, and the like. Other embodiments are possible and are not limited by these examples. Lagging arrow 120 also includes fletching 126 that are used to provide aerodynamic stability and guidance during flight. Fletching 126 are attached to the lagging arrow 120 through the use of adhesives, screws, and the like. In some embodiments, fletching 126 can be located on the leading arrow 110, or on both the leading arrow 110 and the lagging arrow 120.
The connecting member 150 mechanically connects the leading arrow 110 to the lagging arrow 120 and maintains mechanical strength and alignment of the two arrows while allowing the separation of the leading arrow 110 from either the connecting member 150 or the lagging arrow 120 upon impact of the arrow 100 with the target animal. As disclosed herein, arrow 100 can be constructed without a connecting member 150 by mechanically attaching leading arrow 110 with lagging arrow 120 through the use of screw threads, tape, adhesive, a friction fit, and the like. In some embodiments, the connecting member 150 is designed to break upon impact, with none, some, or all pieces of the broken connecting member 150 staying with the leading arrow 110 after separation. In yet other embodiments, the connecting member 150 is configured to be hollow, perforated, or a combination of both hollow and perforated to allow blood flow from the animal through the interior of the hollow lagging arrow 120.
In some embodiments, lagging arrow 120 also includes packing material (not shown) within the inner surface, where the packing material is used to enhance blood flow using a “wicking” effect to draw blood from the wound cavity, through the lagging arrow 120, and out of the lagging arrow 120. The packing material is constructed of cloth, synthetic fiber, and the like to absorb and transport blood away from body tissues and through the lagging arrow 120, thus improving arrow 100 performance in quickly dispatching the animal. According to some embodiments, the package material can be treated with chemicals to affect blood flow such as flux or other chemicals or drugs for a variety of effects.
In some embodiments, the length of the leading arrow 110 in relation to the length of the lagging arrow 120 is a ratio from approximately 0.0 to approximately 1.0. In some embodiments, the ratio of leading arrow 110 length to lagging arrow 120 length is approximately 0.20. Spoken another way, the leading arrow 110 can be 10% of the length of lagging arrow 120, or the lagging arrow 120 can be half the length of leading arrow 110. Other ratios are possible, and are not limited by these examples. The varying ratio of leading arrow 110/lagging arrow 120 lengths can affect flight and impact performance, terminal ballistics after impact, and post-impact wound cavity creation.
According to some embodiments, the lagging arrow 120 creates a fluid/gas chamber (not shown) due to the hollow nature of the hollow cylinder used in the construction of the lagging arrow 120. The fluid/gas chamber can be used to store gas pressure, as when the arrow 100 impacts the animal, thus providing additional force to the leading arrow 110 in an effort to enhance the separation of the leading arrow 110 from the lagging arrow 120.
The connecting member 150 can be of a different color and material than other parts of the arrow 100. In some embodiments, the connecting member 150 can also contain a trademark or other identifying color, symbol, or mark, or contain a location to add a label as needed. According to some embodiments, the connecting member 150 is reusable, while in yet other embodiments, the connecting member 150 is destroyed during the act of separation and thus is not reusable. These are just a few examples of use; other embodiments are possible and are not limited by this disclosure.
In operation, each connecting member 150, and connecting members 132, 134, and 136, can be mechanically fastened to the leading arrow 100 and the lagging arrow 120 in a manner described herein to allow the leading arrow 110 to separate from either the connecting member 150 or the lagging arrow 120 upon impact with an animal. This process of separating the two arrows can be accomplished by disassembly, breakage of connecting member 150, or by using a pre-designed breaking point in the connecting member 150 that allows breakage upon a predetermined amount of force on the connecting member 150, as experienced when an arrow 100 impacts an animal.
Finally,
Finally,
Continuing with
According to some embodiments, the tether 610 is connectively fastened to the aft distal end of leading arrow 110. In, other embodiments, the tether 610 is contained in a chamber in the leading arrow 110 and is released once impact with an animal has occurred. In some embodiments, the tether is connected to the inside surface of the lagging arrow 120, but other embodiments are possible and are not limited by these examples.
In use, the tether 610 performs at least four functions. First, the tether 610 is used to retain the leading arrow 110 after the arrow 100 is broken into two parts. In some embodiments, it is desirable to recover said leading arrow 110 after a shot is taken. Second, during a hunt and after an animal is hit, the tether 610 will be a visible trace for a hunter to follow. Third, the tether 610 can be used to entangle the animal, with surrounding terrain (bushes, trees, and the like) to aid in restraining the animal after impact and separation of the arrow 100. Finally, as the tether 610 is still attached to both the leading arrow 110 and the lagging arrow 120, animal movement after the leading arrow 110 has hit the terrain will cause additional damage to the animal since the lagging arrow 120 is still within the animal and being pulled by the attached tether 610. This results in yet additional damage to the animal and hastening its demise.
In an alternative embodiment, the arrow 100 also includes one or more rods located within the interior of the arrow 100, such as within the lagging arrow 120. The rods can take the form of a bunch or rods or pins. The rods can be made of carbon fiber material, metal, phenolic, plastic, or any likewise material. In use, as the arrow 100 hits and then moves through the animal, the leading arrow 110 separates from the lagging arrow 120. As it does so, a string, such as tether 610 pulls out one or more rods from the second proximate end 112 of the lagging arrow 120. The resultant introduction of a number of rods within the wound cavity, while the lagging arrow 120 is still moving, causes the rods to spread out, or “porcupine” into surrounding tissue and creates a massive wound cavity in multiple directions at once. As a result, the wound cavity is massive, with multiple small channels and each small channel a separate blood source for rapid bloodletting of the animal.
According to some embodiments, the arrow 100 also includes an insertable payload cartridge. The insertable payload cartridge resides in any part of the arrow 100 to include the leading arrow 110, the lagging arrow 120, or the connecting member 150. The insertable payload cartridge can contain any of a number of items, including, but not limited to a tracking circuit, a homing beacon, an audible beeper, a strobe or other light, a chemical signal, a OPS transceiver, a cell phone-capable system, pyrotechnics, a flare, signaling gear, medicine, compressed gas cartridge, and the like. Furthermore, the insertable payload cartridge can also include a trigger that is set off immediately upon impact or after a predetermined delay.
According to some embodiments, the arrow 100 also includes a coring arrow head 116 alone, or in combination with a hollow leading arrow 110. The coring head/body operated by cutting and removing a cross-sectional region of the animal in an effort to create additional damage as well as enhancing blood flow and blood loss by creating a cylindrical cavity exit wound. In at least some embodiments, the core diameter is determined by the sizing and dimensions of the core diameter itself. Thus configured, the resultant coring damage can vary depending on the specific need of the user and the animal being impacted. According to some embodiments, the coring arrow can include a coring an-ow head or a coring arrow body, such as lagging body 120 of arrow 100.
In some exemplary embodiments, the coring arrow has an opening on the first proximate end 114 of the leading arrow 110. In some instances, the flying arrow builds up air pressure within the arrow body. In one embodiment, the air pressure can be used to decelerate the arrow body upon impact, while in other embodiments, small air holes are placed on the arrow body to prevent the build-up of air pressure within the arrow body. In yet other embodiments, the accumulating air pressure within the arrow body is used to aid in decelerating the body after impact.
It is highly desirable to dispatch the target animal quickly and efficiently for several reasons. First, the suffering of the target animal should be minimized to ensure a humane hunt. Second, present hunting techniques have the hunter waiting, after hitting an animal with an arrow, for a period of 20 minutes or more to wait for the animal to bleed out, lay down, and expire. These techniques necessarily extend the length of the hunt, increasing the probability of losing track of the animal, and the potential extended suffering of the animal. Furthermore, the animal can run away, often out of sight, and may “bed down” in a hidden location, making tracking and detection difficult and sometimes impossible. Finally, merely wounding an animal sometimes causes the animal to become enraged and dangerous. Thus, a hunter tracking a wounded animal often confronts an animal that attacks the hunter with horns, tusks, teeth, or antlers and can injure or kill the hunter. Thus, it is beneficial to quickly dispatch the animal as quickly and humanely as possible. In many instances, the animal can be dispatched without the animal even aware that they have been hit by an arrow.
Therefore, it is desirable to faun a massive wound cavity in a target animal while using an arrow to ensure the animal drops quickly and without an extended chase. Continuing with
Next, the present disclosure describes a roughly cylindrical wound cavity 850 as created by a coring arrowhead as described in
The open wound cavity area 854 greatly enhances the potential blood loss and damaging effects of an arrow impact with a target animal. In the present embodiment, the open wound cavity 854 allows for greater blood loss and a higher probability of hitting and destroying a vital organ or blood vessel in the animal, thus allowing for a greater likelihood of rapid uncontrolled blood loss. Associated with rapid blood loss is the effect of rapidly dispatching the animal and reducing or even stopping any further flight of the animal. Thus, forming an open wound cavity 854 in an animal permits a more humane hunt and a rapidly dispatched animal. Therefore, it is highly desirable to shoot the target animal with an arrowhead that creates a wound that bleeds rapidly and cannot close by itself such as open wound cavity 854.
In some embodiments, the coring arrowhead 902 includes a safety covering over the leading edge 904 to protect the hunter during routine transport and use. The protective covering could be a rubber or plastic sheath, a cloth or leather bag, or the like. The sheath would be removed immediately before a hunt begins to ensure the safety of the hunter.
In operation, the coring arrowhead 902 creates a roughly cylindrical wound cavity, such as wound cavity 850 of
In another embodiment, the vented coring arrowhead 1050 includes one or more exit holes 1052 to allow matter and fluids to flow though the vented coring arrowhead 1050. The exit holes 1052 can be sized to make it, more or less restrictive to the passage of material though the arrowhead. According to some embodiments, the vented coring arrowhead 1050 is also hollow, thus allowing the passage of, material both through the exit holes 1052 and into the proximate end of the leading arrow body 110. Thus described, both the coring, arrowhead 1000 and the vented coring arrowhead 1050 cuts a roughly cylindrical hole through the target animal. The arrowheads 1000, 1050 also allows for the passage of material through the arrowhead 1000, 1050 and to either/both the leading arrow body 110 and the exit holes 1052.
For both arrow 1100 and arrow 1150, the functioning of the rods 418 is similar. Each rod is positioned within the leading arrow 110 and the lagging arrow 120 and is, hidden from view while the arrow 1100, 1050 is at rest. Once shot from a bow and upon impact, the leading arrow 110 continues along its trajectory and separates from the lagging Arrow 120 as described herein. Once separated, the rods 418 are exposed to the target animal while still travelling forward. Each rod 418 can be either flexible or inflexible. Also, each rod 418 can be flat faced, sharpened, or hollow. In every case, each rod 418 will create its own wound cavity within the animal and also contribute significantly to the deceleration of the lagging arrow 120. In the case of arrow 1150 with rods 418 that are released upon impact, each rod 418 can take a unique path through the target animal and cause significant additional damage. According to some embodiments, arrow 1100 can include both a coring arrowhead 902 and one or more rods 418 to create significant additional damage to the animal though a larger wound cavity.
According to some embodiments, the multiple wound paths 1202 would combine to form an exceptionally large open wound cavity as described in
According to some embodiments, the coring arrow also includes a sabot in place of an arrow head, where the sabot provides an aerodynamic shape for the coring arrow in flight. In yet other embodiments, the sabot breaks away prior to impact with the animal, while in yet other embodiments, the sabot breaks away after impact with an animal. In some embodiments, the sabot also protects the leading edge of the coring arrow for safe handling and transport of the arrow. According to some embodiments, the sabot breaks away due to aerodynamic forces and/or centrifugal forces while the arrow 100 is in flight.
The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those of ordinary skill in the art may better understand various aspects of the present disclosure. Those of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes or achieving the same advantages of various embodiments introduced herein. Those of ordinary skill in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter of the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing at least some of the claims.
Various operations of embodiments are provided herein. The order in which some or all of the operations are described should not be construed to imply that these operations arc necessarily order dependent. Alternative ordering will be appreciated having the benefit of this description. Further, it will be understood that not all operations are necessarily present in each embodiment provided herein. Also, it will be understood that not all operations are necessary in some embodiments.
As used in this application, “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. In addition, “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims are generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. Also, at least one of A and B and/or the like generally means A or B or both A and B. Furthermore, to the extent that “includes”, “having”, “has”, “with”, or variants thereof are used, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising”. Also, unless specified otherwise, “first,” “second,” or the like are not intended to imply a temporal aspect, a spatial aspect, an ordering, etc. Rather, such terms are merely used as identifiers, names, etc. for features, elements, items, etc. For example, a first element and a second element generally correspond to element A and element B or two different or two identical elements or the same element.
Also, although the disclosure has been shown and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others of ordinary skill in the art based upon a reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. The disclosure includes all such modifications and alterations and is limited only by the scope of the following claims. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above-described components the terms used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (for example, a term that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure. In addition, while a particular feature of the disclosure may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.
Note that not all of the activities or elements described above in the general description are required, that a portion of a specific activity or device may not be required, and that one or more further activities may be performed, or elements included, in addition to those described. Still further, the order in which activities are listed are not necessarily the order in which they are performed. Also, the concepts have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.
Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above, with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature of any or all the, claims. Moreover, the particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the disclosed subject matter may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. No limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope of the disclosed subject matter. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below.
The present application is related to and claims priority to the following co-pending application, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. 63/190,698 (Attorney Docket No. 2021-1702), entitled “Arrow With Coaxial Body Elements” filed May 19, 2021.
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