DEEP PENETRATION ARROW INSERT

Abstract

The deep penetration arrow insert comprising a point receiver and an insertion rod extending longitudinally therefrom is invented. The point receiver is formed with a taper varying from zero to fifteen degrees (0-15°), along its length and the taper provides for a smooth transition between point and arrow thereby minimizing aerodynamic drag. As a result, a turbulence free transition and improved penetration of a target can be provided. The insertion rod with a number of circumferential rings and these rings provide for the addition of an adhesive to secure the rod within the arrow shaft. Thus, the deep penetration arrow insert of the present invention provides for an accurate shooting arrow for target and hunting which penetrates deeper and better than conventional arrows, by providing for decreased friction along the length of the shaft.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates general to archery products, and more specifically to arrow components. The present invention is more particularly, though not exclusively, useful as an insert for mounting to an arrow shaft and receiving an arrow point for target and hunting.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many different types of arrows and arrow shafts are known for use in hunting and sport archery. The most common form of arrow consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end and with fletching and a nock attached to the other end.

The shaft is the primary structural element of the arrow, to which the other components are attached. Shafts of arrows are typically composed of solid wood, fiberglass, aluminum alloy, carbon fiber, or composite materials. The arrowhead or projectile “point” is another primary functional part of the arrow, and plays the largest role in determining its purpose. Some arrows may simply use a sharpened tip of the solid shaft, but it is far more common for separate arrowheads to be made, usually from metal, stone, or other hard materials.

Fletching is found at the back of the arrow and provide a small amount of drag used to stabilize the flight of the arrow. They are designed to keep the arrow pointed in the direction of travel by strongly damping down any tendency to pitch or yaw. Fletching are attached near the nock end of the arrow with thin double sided tape, glue, or traditionally, sinew.

Importantly, the accurate flight of an arrow is generally dependent on its fletching. The arrow's manufacturer can arrange fletching to cause the arrow to rotate along its axis. This improves accuracy by evening pressure that may build up along one side of the arrow that would otherwise cause the arrow to “plane” on the air in a random direction after shooting. However, even though the arrows are made with extreme care, the slightest imperfection, or air movement, will cause some unbalanced turbulence in air flow. The range of the arrow depends on the weight of the arrow, the amount of wind or friction applied to the arrow, and the air pressure against the arrow. When air resistance is present, a drag force acts on the arrow to slow it down by transferring momentum from the arrow to the air. Two types of drag forces act on an arrow during its flight: form drag and shear drag. As the arrow flies through the air, it drags the adjacent air along, creating boundary layers of air with different velocities along the arrow resulting in friction. Thus, it has been understood that mere dependency on the fletching for the accurate flight of an arrow is not enough anymore for the improved flight characteristics and penetration of arrows.

In order to address the problem of shear drag and poor flight characteristics, an arrow having a penetrating insert comprises a shaft and a point in an identical diameter has occasionally been used. However, when the point receiver has the identical diameter as that of a shaft, unpredictable turbulence in air flow along the length of the shaft has still been inevitable.

In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide an arrow with reduced aerodynamic drag where friction and unpredictable air turbulence along the length of the shaft are decreased and the force of the arrow is absorbed entirely by the arrow point. It would also be advantageous to provide an arrow with a shaft having a narrow diameter in order to improve the flight characteristics of the arrow. It would be further advantageous to provide an arrow having improved penetration with the aid of a virtually nonexistent transition and/or the laminar air flow rendering the arrow maintain the axis during its launch through the air.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The deep penetration arrow insert of the present invention includes a point receiver and an insertion rod extending longitudinally therefrom. The point receiver is formed with a taper along its length from a front diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of a typical arrow point, and decreasing in diameter to the approximate outer diameter of the arrow shaft being used. The taper is linear, and provides for a smooth transition between the diameter of the point, and the smaller diameter of the shaft to provide improved flight characteristics and penetration of a target.

The insertion rod extends from the base of the point receiver and is formed with a number of circumferential rings which provide for a snug contact fit into the center bore of an arrow shaft. The spacing between the rings provides for the addition of an adhesive to secure the insertion rod within the arrow shaft.

The deep penetration arrow insert of the present invention provides for an accurate shooting arrow for target and hunting which penetrates deeper than conventional arrows. As the point penetrates the target, the diameter of the hole created in the target by the penetrating point is slightly greater than the diameter of the arrow shaft. As a result, there is decreased friction along the length of the shaft and the force of the arrow is absorbed entirely by the arrow point striking the target, and not distributed partially through the friction of the shaft as it passes through the target. This focused contact on the point results in an arrow equipped with the deep penetration arrow insert of the present invention penetrating much deeper than a similar arrow having an identical shaft and point.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the deep penetration arrow insert of the present invention showing the point receiver for receiving an arrow point, and the insert rod for insertion into the bore of an arrow shaft;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the deep penetration arrow insert of the present invention as shown in use with an arrow and depicting the matching outer diameters of the base of the point receiver and the arrow shaft;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the deep penetration arrow insert of the present invention showing the point receiver, the threads to receive and secure a point, and the varying diameter of the insert rod;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the deep penetration arrow insert of the present invention showing the mounting of a point to the insert, and showing the similar relative diameters between the point diameter and the front end of the receiver, and the diameter of the base, and the tapering angle formed into the point receiver to make that smooth aerodynamic transition;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional representation of the deep penetration arrow insert of the present invention as shot into a target medium and showing the deep penetration of the arrow point and shaft into the medium; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the target medium depicting the deep penetration of the arrow into the medium to the point where the leading edge of the fletching strikes the medium.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of the deep penetration arrow insert of the present invention is shown and generally designated 100. Insert 100 includes a point receiver 102 and an insert rod 104. Point receiver 102 has a front 106 which tapers longitudinally down to a base 108, and is formed with a point-receiving bore 110.

Rod 104 extends from point receiver 102 and includes several sections having differing diameters. From this view, rod 104 begins with section 112, and narrows to section 114 and 118, and has two larger-diameter sections 116 and 120. As will be discussed in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 4, these varying diameters are useful in mounting and securing the insert 100 to an arrow shaft.

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the penetrating insert 100 for arrow 50 of the present invention as shown in use with an arrow 50. Arrow 50 includes a shaft head 52 and a shaft end 54. As shown, arrow 50 has an outer shaft diameter 56, and is formed with a longitudinal bore 58 running the length of the arrow. A nock 60 is inserted into longitudinal bore 58 at shaft end 54. From this figure, it can be appreciated that diameter 122 of insert 100 is approximately equal to outer shaft diameter 56.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of the penetrating insert 100 for arrow 50 of the present invention is shown. Point 64 includes threads 66 which when positioned through receiving bore 110 of point receiver 102, are threadably secured into threads 128. A seat 124 is formed at the transition of the insert 100 between the point receiver 102 and rod 104. This seat is intended to rest snugly against the end 59 of shaft 50 (shown in FIG. 2).

Referring to FIG. 4, a side view of the deep penetration arrow insert 100 of the present invention is shown with a mounted point 64 fully seated with in the point receiver bore 110. As shown, the width 142 of the base of the point 64 is substantially the same as width 140 of the end 106 of point receiver 102. The similarity in widths 140 and 142 minimizes the aerodynamic drag and turbulence that is created as the arrow travels through the air. Given that arrows can travel at velocities exceeding 850 feet per second, the smooth transition between point 64 and point receiver 102 minimizes aerodynamic drag and flight disruption.

The diameter 56 of a typical arrow shaft 50 is smaller in diameter than the width 142 of point 64. As a result, point receiver 102 is formed with a longitudinal taper angle 144 which provides for a smaller diameter 122 at the base 108 than diameter 140 at end 106. Diameter 122 of point receiver 102 is substantially the same as width 56 of shaft head 52. This allows the insert 100, when seat 124 is positioned snugly against shaft head 52, to transition into arrow 50 with no aerodynamic disruption.

As the rod 104 extends away from point receiver 102, the rod 104 is formed with portions having decreased widths. Specifically, rod 104 extends away from point receiver 102 with first section 112 having a diameter 146. This diameter 146 is closely received within longitudinal bore 58 to provide a mechanical alignment of insert 100 to arrow 50. This longitudinal alignment facilitates a straight and true flight of arrow 50 in use.

Rod 104 is formed with various segments 114, 116, 118 and 120. Some of these segments have different diameters that are less than diameter 146. For instance, diameter 148 of segment 114 and diameter 152 of segment 118 are less than diameters 146, 150 and 154 of segments 112, 116 and 120, respectively. This provides for the addition of an adhesive (not shown) that can be positioned along rod 104 in segments 114 and 118 so that once the insert 100 is inserted into the bore 58 of arrow 50, the insert will be secured and not separate from the arrow body before or during use.

Segment 154 is of the larger diameter 154 corresponding to the internal longitudinal diameter of bore 158 of shaft 150. This provides a stabilizing function as the location of segment 154 is at the end 130 of insert 100 a distance 158 from seat 124. The moment created by length 158 increases the positional stability of insert 100 within shaft 50 thereby providing improved oscillation and flight characteristics of an arrow equipped with the insert of the present invention.

The length 156 of point receiver 102 can vary from embodiment to embodiment. For instance, point receiver 102 of insert 100 may be 1.00 inches which allow an easy installation. Specifically, since many archers have a personal preference for shooting an arrow of a particular overall length (e.g. 28 inches), it will be easy to adjust the length of the shaft 50 for using the insert of the present invention by cutting a one inch segment of the shaft prior to insertion of the insert 100.

The diameter 122 is established based on the external diameter 56 of the arrow shaft 50 being used. Also, the diameter 140 of point receiver 102 may also vary and is established based on the external diameter 142 of point 64. Because the length 156 and diameters 140 and 122 may vary from embodiment to embodiment, it is to be appreciated that the taper angle 144 can vary. In preferred embodiments, taper angle 144 can range from zero to fifteen degrees) (0-15°), to accommodate virtually any arrow 50 and point 64 combination. The similar relative diameters between the point diameter 142 and the front end 106 of the point receiver 102, and the diameter 122 of the base 108, and the tapering angle 144 formed into the point receiver provide a smooth aerodynamic transition between point 56 and arrow 50 thereby minimizing aerodynamic drag.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a cross-sectional representation of the deep penetration arrow insert 100 of the present invention as shot into a target medium 200 is shown. Target medium 200 can be virtually any target material, ranging from traditional archery target backstops (foam, wood, hay bales, etc.) to game animals (deer, elk, rabbit, etc.). As shown in this Figure, arrow 50 is equipped with the deep penetration arrow insert 100 of the present invention, and finished with a target point 64. Arrow 50 strikes the target medium 200 from direction 202, and enters the medium a distance 204. This distance 204 is dependent on the medium, however, in most circumstances, the arrow 50 equipped with the deep penetration arrow insert 100 of the present invention enters the target completely, or at least until the fletching 62 strikes the target 200.

Referring to FIG. 6, an enlarged view of the target medium 200 shows the creation of a gap 206 that develops in target 200 as insert 100 passes through it. Specifically, since the diameter 142 of point 64 is greater than the diameter 56 of shaft 50, there is virtually no friction along the length of the shaft 50 as it passes through the target 200. This allows all kinetic energy from the in-flight arrow to be absorbed by the point 64 itself, providing for much deeper penetration than a typical arrow. In most cases, the leading edge 68 of fletching 62 becomes the stopping point of the arrow 50 as it passes through the target 200; however, in cases where the target width is less than the length of the arrow 50, the arrow passes entirely through the target. In some cases, the arrow passes through the target with such velocity that the fletching 62 is physically stripped from the arrow shaft 50. When utilizing the insert of the present invention for game hunting, the penetration of the arrow 50 through the target animal increases the likelihood that wound inflicted will be immediately fatal, and avoids the risk that the animal will be only marginally wounded and suffer in prolonged agony.

Claims

1. A deep penetration arrow insert having a point receiver and an insertion rod extending longitudinally therefrom.

2. The said point receiver of claim 1 comprising: a front which tapers along its length from a front diameter; anda point-receiving bore.

3. The said point receiver of claim 1, further comprising: a width of the base of the point which is substantially the same as a width of the end of point receiver; anda longitudinal taper angle providing for a smaller diameter at the base than a diameter at the end.

4. The said point receiver of claim 1 is secured through receiving bore therein, where threads within the point are positioned.

5. The said longitudinal taper of claim 3 comprising: a front diameter which is substantially the same as the outer diameter of a typical arrow point; anda section decreasing in diameter to the approximate outer diameter of the arrow shaft being used.

6. The said taper angle of claim 3 can range from zero to fifteen degrees (0-15°).

7. The said insertion rod of claim 1, wherein the said rod extends from a said point receiver and further comprising a plurality of sections having differing diameters.

8. The said insertion rod of claim 1, further comprising a larger segment at the end of the said rod consisting of a larger diameter corresponding to the internal longitudinal diameter of bore of shaft.

9. The said larger segment of claim 8, further providing a stabilizing function through the moment created at the larger segment at the end of the said insertion rod of claim 1.