Not Applicable.
This disclosure relates generally to archery, and more particularly, to hunting arrows and dual diameter arrow shafts.
The bow hunting of big game animals is a popular sport, particularly in the United States. White-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, antelope and bear are only a few of the species currently being hunted. State-of-the-art hunting arrows are typically made of fiberglass, aluminum, carbon reinforced plastic or composite materials and are provided with a removable and interchangeable tip, or “broadhead.” The type, size, weight, etc., of a broadhead may be changed depending upon the animal being hunted, the weather conditions, the terrain, etc. In addition, weights may be added to the front of the arrow in order to increase the amount of weight that is Front of Center (FOC), which generally increases the penetrating power of a hunting arrow. The arrow itself varies in length depending upon the person shooting and the draw length of the bow. It ranges from 14 inches to 31 inches, or longer. The length of the arrow varies mainly according to the draw length of the bow (which depends on the calibration of the bow and the person shooting it (for a compound bow) or the length of the bow (which varies according to the person shooting it) (for a longbow or recurve bow). It also depends on the type of tip being used (often a broadhead in hunting), the experience of the person shooting, and the bow itself. Arrow shafts are generally manufactured long and are cut to the proper size for a particular bow upon being purchased. The arrow also can vary in diameter: Many archery target shooting organizations allow arrows up to 10.7 mm in diameter, while some allow only arrows up to 9.3 mm in diameter. Most hunting arrows, however, have significantly smaller diameters, to allow for less wind resistance and to decrease the effect a cross wind might have on a shot. It is generally accepted that smaller-diameter arrow have better penetration such that many hunters prefer smaller diameter arrows. Very small diameter shafts are known as micro-diameter shafts. Micro-diameter shafts can achieve better penetration and are less affected by the wind and air resistance.
Sometimes an archer may desire to add weights or other additions (such as a tracking device) to an arrow. Weights can often be added to the front of an arrow to aid in the penetration. However, some weights, as well as other inserts that can be installed on an arrow, are often designed to fit a standard-sized arrow, and many will not fit on a micro-diameter arrow. In addition, installing a broadhead on a micro-diameter arrow may require the addition of an outsert, which can cause the breakage of an arrow if the angle of penetration for the arrow is far from the perpendicular. As such, an archer must choose whether to use a smaller-diameter arrow or use the additions. As such, there is a need for an arrow shaft with a diameter that fits the sleeve in the area where the sleeve is attached to the arrow, but which has a smaller diameter throughout the main shaft of the arrow to allow an archer to keep at least some of the benefits of a micro-diameter arrow. The features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the disclosure without undue experimentation. The features and advantages of the disclosure may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out herein.
One illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise a shaft of a hunting arrow designed to have a larger diameter on the first four inches of the arrow and a second diameter throughout most of the arrow. This allows for a sleeve weight to snugly fit on the front four inches of the arrow while allowing the remainder of the arrow to have a smaller diameter for better flight and penetration.
Another illustrative embodiment shows the shaft used to construct a full hunting arrow with tip, fletching, and nock attached.
The features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with this disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure claimed.
Before the devices, systems, processes and methods will be disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular configurations, process steps, and materials disclosed herein as such configurations, process steps, and materials may vary somewhat. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular illustrative embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting since the scope of the disclosure will be limited only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
In describing and claiming the subject matter of the disclosure, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below.
It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “characterized by,” “having” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.
As used herein, the term “proximal” shall refer broadly to the concept of a nearest portion. For example, the end of the arrow comprising fletching is the proximal-most portion of the arrow, because it is the nearest portion to the shooter as the arrow is traveling toward a target. As such, the “proximal” end of the arrow may also be referred to as the “back” of the arrow.
As used herein, the term “distal” shall generally refer to the opposite of proximal, and thus to the concept of a further portion, or a furthest portion, depending upon the context. For example, the end of an arrow comprising the tip is the distal-most portion of the arrow, because it is the farthest portion to the shooter as the arrow is traveling toward a target. Therefore the “distal” end of an arrow may also be referred to as the “front” of the arrow.
As used herein, the phrase “in an at least partially proximal-to-distal direction” shall refer generally to a two-dimensional concept of direction in which the “proximal-to-distal” direction defines one direction or dimension. An item that extends in a non-parallel direction with respect to the “proximal-to-distal” direction, that is, at a non-straight angle thereto, thereby involves two components of direction, one of which is in the “proximal-to-distal” direction and the other being in a direction orthogonal to the “proximal-to-distal” direction.
Still referring to
Still referring to
In one illustrative embodiment, the sections of the arrow may be of different lengths, such that the middle section 102 may not actually include the mathematical center of the arrow. In one embodiment, the proximal section 103 may make up the majority of the length of the arrow, such that both the distal section 101 and the middle section 102 are forward of the mathematical center of the arrow. In one embodiment, this may cause the arrow to have more weight forward of the center, which may increase the stability of the arrow. In one embodiment, the proximal section may have one diameter, referred to as the “proximal” diameter, while the distal section may have a second, different diameter, referred to as the “distal” diameter. In one embodiment the “middle” section may have a diameter which evenly tapers from the “distal” diameter to the “proximal” diameter, such that there is no sudden change in diameter. In one embodiment the distal diameter may be greater than the proximal diameter.
In one illustrative embodiment of a dual-diameter arrow 101, shown in
Still referring to
In another illustrative embodiment of a dual-diameter arrow shaft, shown in
Still referring to
In another illustrative embodiment of a dual diameter arrow shaft 200, represented in
Still referring to
In another exemplary embodiment, the diameter of the distal section of the shaft may be equal to the diameter of any standard-diameter hunting arrow. This diameter may be from between approximately 7 mm and approximately 10 mm. The diameter of the proximal section of the shaft is equal to the diameter of a micro-diameter hunting arrow shaft. In one embodiment, the middle section of the arrow shaft may have a length which varies depending on the difference between the diameter of the of the shaft in the proximal section and the diameter of the shaft in the distal section. In one embodiment, where the diameter of the distal section is 0.311 inches (7.9 mm) and the diameter of the proximal section is 0.255 inches (6.5 mm), the middle section may have a length of 6.11 inches (155 mm). In this case the rate of the change in diameter of the middle section is 0.009. In one embodiment, this is the proper amount for the arrow shaft to taper. With greater or lesser diameter shafts, the middle section may be longer or shorter, as is needed. However, the middle section may also taper somewhat more sharply or less sharply to give the middle section 102 a different length as needed. Nothing in this disclosure is meant to limit the tapering or length of the middle section of the arrow shaft.
As shown in
In one embodiment of the instant disclosure, the proximal diameter is similar to that of a micro-diameter shaft. This may allow an archer to use standard commercially manufactured micro-diameter nocks in the arrow. In one embodiment, the smaller diameter may give less drag on the arrow as the arrow passes through a target than an arrow which has a standard diameter throughout, allowing for more penetrating power. In one embodiment the diameter of the majority of the arrow is the diameter of the proximal section of the arrow, giving the arrow many of the other advantages of a micro-diameter arrow, such as improved penetration due to less drag. In one embodiment, this feature creates an arrow wherein accessories and tips made for a standard-sized arrow can be used on the distal section of the arrow, and the distal section of the arrow is strengthened where the tip and accessories are attached, while the penetration is improved by the smaller diameter shaft of the proximal section.
In one embodiment of a dual-diameter arrow shaft, the different sections of the arrow may have different lengths than expressed above. While the measurements above represent embodiments of the instant disclosure, the instant disclosure also contemplates arrow shafts which may have different-length sections than expressed above. By way of example and not limitation, the middle section of the arrow shaft may be extended to be longer and provide a more gradual taper, or the distal section of the arrow may be extended to provide additional space at the front of the arrow with a wider arrow shaft for the installation of arrow inserts or additional components.
In cutting the arrow shaft to the proper length for a bow, in general the proximal section of the arrow shaft would be cut, leaving the distal section at the same length as manufactured. However, either the distal section or the proximal section may be cut. In general, the proximal section would be cut, leaving the distal section having a length of approximately 5.18 inches, but the distal section may be cut to a shorter length in fitting the arrow to the bow if desired by the user. In one embodiment, the total length of the arrow shaft may be approximately thirty-two (32) inches, however, this may be adjusted as needed for individual bows.
One embodiment of this disclosure comprises a pre-made arrow shaft ready to be cut to fit the appropriate draw length of a bow it is to be used with. In one embodiment the arrow is cut on the proximal section so as to not affect the distal section of the arrow.
In a further embodiment, the distal end of the arrow may be heavier than the proximal end, providing a greater weight front of center for the arrow. In this embodiment the center of mass of the arrow is nearer to the distal end than it is to the proximal end.
In a another embodiment of the arrow shaft of the instant disclosure, the arrow shaft may be designed to be used with a weight affixed to the front (distal) portion of the arrow. This weight provides additional weight to the front of the arrow. In one embodiment this weight may be designed to be attached to the distal end of an arrow shaft by sliding along it as a sleeve. In another embodiment this weight may be screwed into the distal end of the arrow shaft, which may be provided with a threaded bore to attach additional elements to. In another embodiment, any insert or addition which may be added to a standard-sized hunting arrow may be attached to the distal section of the arrow shaft.
In one embodiment of the instant disclosure, the arrow shaft is used to create a complete arrow, attaching fletching and a nock to the proximal end and attaching a broadhead or fieldpoint to the distal end. The point, fletching, and nock may be attached in any manner known in the art. In addition, other additions may be added to the arrow, such as weights or tracking devices. In one embodiment, points and other additions designed for use with a larger diameter arrow may be attached to the distal section of the arrow. One of the advantages of the instant disclosure is that additions for smaller or micro-diameter arrows are more difficult to make without causing the shaft to break, and so it may be easier to find points and other additions which fit a larger diameter arrow. In one embodiment, additional weight may be added to the arrow in the form of a sleeve designed to fit a standard diameter hunting arrow. In one embodiment, the distal section of the arrow has a diameter which is designed to allow said sleeve to fit snugly on the arrow, while the proximal section of the arrow has a smaller diameter which reduces drag and increases penetrating power by reducing friction as the arrow passes through an animal. In addition, the greater diameter of the front section may reduce the breakage of arrows upon impact.
In cutting the arrow to length, generally the proximal end is cut to length in order to avoid altering the distal end. In another embodiment, an additional weight in the form of a sleeve is attached to the distal end. In an embodiment the inner diameter of this sleeve is equal to the diameter of the distal section of the arrow.
One embodiment of the instant disclosure may embody a method for installing additions designed for larger diameter arrows on an arrow while having greater penetrating power and less resistance characteristic of a smaller diameter arrow shaft. This embodiment may include providing an arrow shaft as shown in
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/698,762, filed Nov. 27, 2019, for System and Method for Modifying the Trajectory of an Arrow, is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety.
In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features of the disclosure are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of any single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description by this reference, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the disclosure.
It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the disclosure. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the disclosure has been shown in the drawings and described above with particularity and detail, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/030,495, filed May 27, 2020, for a Dual-Diameter Arrow Shaft which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety by this reference, including but not limited to those portions that specifically appear hereinafter, this incorporation by reference being made with the following exception: In the event that any portion of the above-referenced application is inconsistent with this application, this application supercedes the above-referenced application.
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63030495 | May 2020 | US |