Patent Grant
8025596
This application is related to U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/296,906 filed concurrently herewith having a title of ARROW VANE.
The instant invention is generally directed to the field of archery, and archery arrows, and, more specifically to the field of vane structures for archery arrows to affect flight characteristics.
The laws uncovered through the study of aerodynamics have been applied in numerous fields to gain performance improvements. Such application have included the designs of airplanes, jets, missiles, rockets, automobiles, bicycles, boats, submarines, bullets, speed ice skaters, horse racing, as well as many more. One particular area of interest has been in the development and improvement of arrow designs.
There are hunters of all varieties, but there is a special sect of hunters that is quite unique. These are the bow and arrow hunters. They have their own reserved portion of the typical hunting season, and when you talk to them about it, they have a little gleam in their eye—like they know a secret that few others are aware of. Some have said that if you try it once, you will be hooked. What is it about hunting with a bow and arrow that draws certain people into that special nook of the sport of hunting? Is it the simplicity, is it the quietness, is it that it is closer to the way our ancestors had to survive? The answer may be different for every such hunter. However, one thing that is common to most bow and arrow hunters—they want their shots to count. And as such, they want arrows that are designed to get the job done. They want arrows that fly in a stable manner, and that are fast.
One of the key elements that affect flight speed and stabilization in an arrow is the structure of the vanes. Long before any degrees in aerodynamics were offered, hunters were putting vanes onto their arrows. Findings have verified that at least as early as 7000 BC hunters were attaching feathers to the end of an arrow as vanes. Vanes for arrows, which can be described as a guiding fin, are thus widely known in the art and have most likely been used since the inception of archery.
Vanes can be constructed out of natural materials, such as feathers or synthetic materials. Vanes are typically mounted parallel to the shaft of an arrow, in a plurality arrangement. Vanes provide in-flight arrow stabilization particularly in the hunting archery field, for hunting points or “broadheads.” Hunting points, with more weight, have long provided stabilization challenges. The traditional solution for increasing stabilization for broadhead laden arrows, has been to increase the size of the vanes. Although larger vanes have been successfully used to solve erratic flight/stabilization problems, their use has created additional limitations and problems. For instance, increased vane sizes tend to increase the overall weight of the arrow, which reduces arrow speed and, thus, its effectiveness. Furthermore, larger vane sizes may also create “clearance” problems with the arrow, and other parts of the bow or projectile device.
While it has long been a goal, in the archery field, as stated, to provide improved in-flight arrow stabilization, particularly when using arrow points with added weight, the prior art does not disclose any solutions to this problem utilizing vanes, or feathers, which are normally not of at least a four inch length or greater. The prior art clearly demonstrates a long-standing need for a durable, smaller arrow vane solution.
When practicing at a range, archers typically use a different arrow configuration than what would be used during a hunt. Generally, the broadheads used for hunting are heavier and more expensive. Using these broadheads at the range would dull the points thus decreasing their effectiveness. Thus, at the range archers typically use different points. The heavier broadheads typically required larger vanes whereas the smaller practice heads could get by with smaller vanes. As a result, arrow flight at the range can be significantly different from out in the field. What is needed in the art is an arrow structure that provides consistency in arrow flight, as well as look and feel, between the range and the field.
These, as well as other needs in the art are addressed in the various embodiments of the invention as presented herein.
The various embodiments, features and aspects of the present invention overcome and/or alleviate some of the short comings in the above-noted prior art. In general, embodiments of the invention are directed towards the provision of an arrow vane that can be used under a large array of archery conditions. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention can advantageously provide greater stability in arrow flight when needed, because of greater arrowhead weight, and where alternatives have been to increase the size of the vane.
Additional short-comings, which are addressed by various embodiments of the present invention, include (a) providing a vane structure that does not unnecessarily increase the weight of the arrow, which in turn would, limit arrow speed and reduce effectiveness and (b) providing a vane structure that does not create clearance issues with parts of the archery bow assembly or other arrow projective device upon release of the arrow.
The various embodiments of the present invention provide consistent in-flight steerage and stabilization with broadhead arrows, and others, using the shortest and smallest vane available. The shorter vane provides less chance of interference with the arrow rest or bow cradle and weighs less than a normal vane. Less vane weight results in increased arrow speed and improved arrow trajectory.
Advantageously, the various embodiments of the present invention, as described, allows hunters to sight in with field tips and then switch to broadhead without changing the arrow impact point. Further, testing by the inventors has shown that, while some spin is necessary for accurate flight, a longer vane is not the optimum answer. What is required is a guidance system, such as that provided, which provides stable guidance to the arrow, irrespective of what the arrow tip is doing. The various embodiments of the present invention, with its unique design, creates turbulence behind the arrow, and not around the longer vanes and feathers, as may occur when those are used as fletchings. The various embodiments of the present invention operate to begin steering and correcting, almost immediately upon release, using the stated combination of a steep leading edge and the height and length ratio, and material stiffness. These features prevent larger broadheads from planing or steering the arrow shaft. The air flows over the vane in a manner which can actually create lift, and is particularly noticeable in longer distances at flat trajectory. Advantageously, the various embodiments of the present invention provide substantial benefit in trajectory, precision and velocity at target.
The above-described and additional features of the invention may be considered, and will become apparent in conjunction with the drawings, in particular, and the detailed description which follow.
The present invention, as well as features and aspects thereof, is directed towards providing a vane that can be attached to an arrow shaft that provides substantial stabilization in arrow flight, while not increasing the weight of the arrow and/or creating clearance problems with a bow.
The present invention includes an arrow vane structure which, through its design characteristics, generally promotes arrow flight stability and consistent flight with differing arrowhead weights, without requiring additional vane side or surface area. In general, embodiments of the invention include a primary vane member. The vane member is substantially rigid to maintain its shape and position during arrow flight, but may be constructed of resiliently bendable material, synthetic or otherwise, which allow bending when contacted by force, but which will subsequently return to its original shape.
Turning now to the figures in which like labels refer to like elements throughout the several views, various embodiments, aspects and features of the present invention are presented.
FIG. lA is a side-profile diagram of an embodiment of a vane incorporating aspects of the present invention. The vane member 100 includes two main components, the vane fin 105 and the vane base 150. The vane fin 105 is a flat piece of material having a right-side planar surface 110 and a left-side planar surface 120 (not shown in this
The base 150 is substantially perpendicular to the vane fin 105 and has a top surface 152 and a bottom surface. The top surface 152 of the base 150 is attached, adhered, adjoined, integral with or other wise meets or corresponds with the bottom-edge 145 of the vane fin 105. The bottom surface of the base 150 is attachable to the surface of an arrow shaft. In some embodiments, the base 150 may be substantially box-shape with the top surface and the bottom surface being two substantially parallel and flat surfaces, joined together by four edges that are substantially perpendicular to the top surface and the bottom surface 14 to form the box. In other embodiments, the bottom surface may be slightly arched similar to the surface of the shaft to which it will be attached. In yet other embodiments, the entire base may be slightly curved in accordance with the shaft. In yet even another embodiment, the bottom surface of the base 150 may be angled similar to an inverted V or may be slanted either left or right. Although the present invention is not limited to any particular structure for the base 150, it will be appreciated that the embodiments presented herein, may in and of themselves be considered novel aspects or features of various novel embodiments of the present invention. Although the base 150 is described as mounting to the surface of an object, it will be appreciated that the base could also be embedded in a slot of the surface or a recess.
The base 150, in an exemplary embodiment of the invention is larger than the width of the vane fine. Typically, the width of the base 150 D3 is 0.1±0.010 inches. Although any means utilized for standard size vanes may be utilized for affixation purposes, and vane 100 need only be susceptible of affixation to meet the requirements of the invention. The illustrated base is mirrored around an axis extending through the vane from the base-edge 145 up through the top of the vane 160 as illustrated by the dotted line A. The height of the base H2 from the point 163 to the bottom is approximately 0.240 inches. Centered under the vane fin in the base 150 is a cup or recess 154 having a radius R1 of approximately 0.016 radians and a depth of H1. The feet of the base then extend downward at an angle with the underside of the feet 155 having a radius R2 of approximately 0.150 radians.
In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom-edge 145, and hence, the length of the vane fin 105 is slightly shorter than the length of the base 150, or in this case the length of the vane 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the value of L1 is approximately one (1) inch, which is substantially smaller than the length of typical vanes. Length L2 is slightly less than L1. More specifically, in one embodiment, the value of L1 ranges from 0.988 inches to 1.018 inches where the value of L2 is 0.982 inches ±5%. In a more preferred embodiment, the value of L1 is 1 inch ±2% and the value of L2 is 0.982 inches ±2%.
The height of the vane 100 from the bottom surface of the base 150 to the top of the vane 160 is H3 and the height of the vane fin 105 from the bottom-edge 145 to the top of the vane 160 is H4. In an exemplary embodiment, H3 is 0.4 inches ±2% and more preferable ±1.25% and H2 is 0.372 inches ±2% and more preferable ±1.5% and more preferably 1.34%.
The front-edge 140 and the bottom-edge 145 form an angle Ø1 with the apex of the angle being proximate to point 162 and opening towards the rear-edge of the vane fin 105. In an exemplary embodiment, the value of Ø1 is approximately 26°. In other embodiments, the value of Ø1 is 26°±1° or ±0.4%.
The back-edge 130 is an arc extending from point 163 to point 160, concave with relation to the point 162. In an exemplary embodiment, the radius of the arc A1 of the back-edge 130 is measured as approximately 0.818 inches and, more preferably as 0.818 inches±0.005 inches. The angle is 0.454±0.17 radians wherein 1 degree=0.0175 radians and 360 degrees is 6.2832 radians.
As best seen in
In another embodiment of the invention, the front-edge 310 extends in a substantially linear fashion from point 160 to point somewhere between point 160 and 161. From this point, the front-edge 310 then slightly tapers down at a greater angle, or slightly arcs downwardly towards point 161 in a concave fashion relative to point 163. Then the front-edge 310 then arcs downwardly from point 161 to point 162 concave relative to point 163 as described above.
In yet another embodiment, not illustrated, the front-edge of the vane fin is not linear at all but rather has one arc segment from point 160 to point 161 and then another arc segment from point 161 to point 162.
In yet another embodiment, not illustrated, the front-edge of the vane fin is a continuous compound arc of decreasing radius from point 160 to point 162.
The vane 100 may be constructed of any material which provides a substantially rigid contour during arrow flight. Plastics or other synthetic materials are among included possible materials. The material may be resiliently bendable, such that, if outside force causes it to alter shape, it will return to its original contour. In other embodiments, the material may be rigid. In some embodiments, the material may be hollow or include hollowed out sections to reduce the weight.
The present invention can be fabricated in a variety of manners including casting individual vanes or fabricating a sheet from which the vanes can be cut. In another embodiment, strips of material with a pre-attached base can be fabricated and the vanes can be cut from the strips.
In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs, “comprise”, “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements, or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.
The present invention has been described using detailed descriptions of embodiments thereof that are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The described embodiments comprise different features, not all of which are required in all embodiments of the invention. Some embodiments of the present invention utilize only some of the features or possible combinations of the features. Variations of embodiments of the present invention that are described and embodiments of the present invention comprising different combinations of features noted in the described embodiments will occur to persons of the art.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the invention is defined by the claims that follow.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1648376 | Blodgett | Nov 1927 | A |
| 2830818 | Otto | Apr 1958 | A |
| 5427385 | Conrad et al. | Jun 1995 | A |
| 5443273 | Lovorn | Aug 1995 | A |
| D465541 | Surrusco | Nov 2002 | S |
| 20070173359 | Mowery et al. | Jul 2007 | A1 |
| 20090186723 | Andrews | Jul 2009 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20090111622 A1 | Apr 2009 | US |
