1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to archery and more specifically to an expanding broadhead, which has less weight and complexity than that of the prior art.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,709 to Johnson discloses an arrowhead with extendable blades. U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,498 to Maleski discloses a broadhead for an arrow having expanding cutting blades and method of assembling same. U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,464 to Sestak discloses a hunting arrowhead with broadhead and extendable blades.
Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for an expanding broadhead, which has less weight and complexity than that of the prior art.
The present invention provides an expanding broadhead, which has less weight and complexity than that of the prior art. The expanding broadhead preferably includes a shank base, a razor tip, at least one expanding barb unit, a rear retention ring and a front retention ring. The shank base includes a pointed end formed on one end and an arrow shaft shank extending from a distal end thereof. A tip slot is formed in the pointed end to receive the razor tip. At least two barb element slots are formed from substantially the distal end to the one end of the shank base. A width of each barb element slot is sized to receive a width of a barb element. A preferable embodiment of the arrow shaft shank is disclosed in full detail in U.S. Pat. No. 8,337,341 to Huang, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. However, an arrow shaft shank, which is received by a typical arrow outsert or arrow insert may also be used. The arrow shaft shank preferably includes a neck portion and a threaded portion. The threaded portion extends from a distal end of the neck portion. A first o-ring groove is formed on a first end of the neck portion and a second o-ring groove is formed on a second end of the neck portion. The first and second o-ring grooves are sized to receive first and second o-rings. The razor tip includes a substantially triangular shape. Two opposing edges of the razor tip are sharpened into blades.
Each expanding barb unit preferably includes two barb elements and a base ring. The two barb elements extend from the base ring. Each barb element preferably includes a lengthwise barb base, a first set of opposing barbs, a second set of opposing barbs and opposing bulges. The opposing bulges are formed about ⅓rd of a distance from the base ring from opposing sides of the lengthwise barb base. The first set of opposing barbs are formed on a distal end of the lengthwise barb base. A retainer space is created between the first set of opposing barbs and the second set of opposing barbs to allow placement of the front retention ring.
The two lengthwise barb bases are bent backwards and flat at substantially a middle of the two opposing bulges. The two lengthwise barb bases are then bent forward and flat, adjacent the second set of opposing barbs. The base ring of the expanding barb unit is then bent into a substantially semi-circular shape. The two lengthwise barb bases are then slid into the two barb element slots. The rear retention ring includes a flange portion and a cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion extends from the flange portion. A boss hole is formed through the flange portion to receive a ring boss. The ring boss terminates a distal end of the shank base. An inner perimeter of the cylindrical portion is preferably tapered. An entrance to the inner perimeter is preferably curved, chamfered, tapered or broken. The rear retention ring is forced over the base ring of the at least one expanding barb unit, until the flange portion contacts the distal end of the shank base.
The front retention ring is preferably an o-ring, but other suitable devices may also be used. The front retention ring is stretched and placed over the at least two barb elements in the area of the retainer space. The razor tip is inserted into the tip slot and retained in place with a fastener. The arrow shaft shank is secured in an arrow outsert or arrow insert. In use, an arrow with the expanding broadhead is fired at a game animal. The razor tip passes through the meat of the game animal and a distal end of the barb element contacts the meat. Upon contact with the meat, the barb element unfolds to a substantially perpendicular orientation with an axis of the shank base. The plurality of opposing barbs and bulges act as a plurality of small knives to cut through the meat and kill the game animal.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an expanding broadhead, which has less weight and complexity than that of the prior art.
These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.
With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to
The razor tip 12 includes a substantially triangular shape. Two sharpened edges 40, 42 are formed on opposing sides of the razor tip 12 with a small beveled edge 44 and a large beveled edge 46. The beveled edge 44 is formed on one surface and the beveled edge 46 is formed on an opposing surface of the razor tip 12. Each expanding barb unit 14 preferably includes two barb elements 48 and a base ring 50. The two barb elements 48 extend from the base ring 50. Each barb element 48 preferably includes a lengthwise barb base 52, a first set of opposing barbs 54, a second set of opposing barbs 56, opposing bulges 58 and a point 60. The opposing bulges 58 are formed about ⅓rd of a distance from the base ring 50 and extend from opposing sides of the lengthwise barb base 52. The point 60 is formed on a distal end of the lengthwise barb base 52. The first set of opposing barbs 54 extend from opposing sides of the point 60. A retainer space 62 is created between the first set of opposing barbs 54 and the second set of opposing barbs 56 to allow placement of the front retention ring 18. The second set of opposing barbs 56 extend from opposing sides of the lengthwise barb base 52.
The two lengthwise barb bases 48 are bent backwards and flat on a first bend line 64 at substantially a middle of the two opposing bulges 58. The two lengthwise barb bases 48 are then bent forward and flat at a second bend line 66, adjacent the second set of opposing barbs 56. A distal end of the two opposing bulges 58 are preferably bent upward to an angle A. A distal end of the first set of opposing barbs are preferably bent upward to an angle B. It is preferable that angles A & B have a value of 150 degrees. The first and second set of opposing barbs are preferably bent downward relative to the two lengthwise barb bases 48. The base ring 50 of the expanding barb unit 14 is then bent into a substantially semi-circular shape to match of an outer diameter of a distal end of the shank base 10. The two lengthwise barb bases 52 are then slid into the two barb element slots 26. The rear retention ring 16 includes a flange portion 68 and a cylindrical portion 70. The cylindrical portion 70 extends from the flange portion 68. A boss hole is formed through the flange portion to receive a ring boss 72. The ring boss 72 terminates the distal end of the shank base 10. An inner perimeter of the cylindrical portion 70 is preferably tapered. An entrance to the inner perimeter is preferably curved, chamfered, tapered or broken. The rear retention ring 16 is forced over the base ring 50 of the at least one expanding barb unit 14, until the flange portion 68 contacts the distal end of the shank base 10.
The front retention ring 18 is preferably an o-ring, but other suitable devices may also be used. The front retention ring 18 is stretched and placed over the at least two barb elements 48 in the area of the retainer space 62. The razor tip 12 is inserted into the tip slot 24 and retained in place with the fastener 25. The arrow shaft shank 22 is secured in an arrow outsert or arrow insert. In use, an arrow shaft (not shown) with the expanding broadhead 1 is fired at a game animal. The razor tip 12 passes through the meat of the game animal and the point 60 of the barb element 48 contacts the meat. Upon contact with the meat, the barb element 48 cuts the front retention ring 18 and unfolds to a substantially perpendicular orientation with an axis of the shank base 10. The plurality of opposing barbs 54, 56 and the bulges 58 act as a plurality of small knives to cut through the meat and kill the game animal.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5090709 | Johnson | Feb 1992 | A |
5820498 | Maleski | Oct 1998 | A |
6322464 | Sestak | Nov 2001 | B1 |
7311622 | Futtere | Dec 2007 | B1 |
8337341 | Huang | Dec 2012 | B1 |
8668606 | Gryspeerd | Mar 2014 | B1 |
8678960 | Bierfreund | Mar 2014 | B2 |