Patent Application
20180245892
Not applicable.
The instant disclosure relates to broadheads. More particularly, the disclosure pertains to a collar for retaining the blades of a broadhead in a retracted position and in a deployed position.
Typical prior art broadheads utilize a collar for retaining the blades in a retracted or “closed” position during flight. The blades typically have a notch or a cut into which the collar is positioned for retaining the blades in the retracted position. Upon impacting a target, a force exerted on the blades shatters or breaks apart the collar releasing the blades. This then allows the blades, and the cutting edge in particular, to “open” into a swept-back or “laid back” position. Accordingly, the cutting edges form an obtuse angle relative to the longitudinal axis extending to the distal end or tip of the ferrule. Stated differently the cutting edges form an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis extending to the proximal end of the ferrule or the shaft of the arrow. As such, the cutting radius of prior art broadheads is defined by the distance between the outermost end or tip of a cutting blade and the longitudinal axis of the ferrule.
Accordingly, there exists a need for increasing or maximizing the cutting radius of a broadhead.
A non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a broadhead includes a ferrule, an elastic collar, and a plurality of blades pivotally coupled to the ferrule. Each blade includes a retention region and a deployment region. A first biasing force exerted by the collar on the retention region retains the blade in a retracted position, and a second biasing force exerted by the collar on the deployment region retains the blade in a first deployed position.
One or more non-limiting embodiments are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate like elements. It should be clearly understood that there is no intent, implied or otherwise, to limit the disclosure in any way, shape or form to the embodiments illustrated and described herein. While multiple exemplary embodiments are provided, variations thereof will become apparent or obvious to a person of ordinary skills. Accordingly, any and all variants for providing functionalities similar to those described herein are considered as being within the metes and bounds of the instant disclosure.
In certain non-limiting exemplary embodiments, when the broadhead 10 with the blades 16 in the retracted position 20 impacts and starts penetrating a target, a force 32 is exerted on at least a portion 34 of each retracted blade 16. When the force 32 is greater than the first biasing force 28, each blade 16 pivots about respective pivot point 18 and is pivotally displaced from the retracted position 20 towards the first deployed position 22 as indicated by the directional arrows 36. In some embodiments, when the force 32 is greater than the first biasing force 28, each blade 16 is displaced from the retracted position 20 to the first deployed position 22. In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the collar 14 remains in contact with, and exerts a first deployment biasing force on a first deployment edge or surface 38 of each pivoting blade 16.
In some non-limiting exemplary embodiments, the first deployment edge or surface 38 is configured such that the first deployment biasing force exerted thereon displaces each blade 16 from the retracted position 20 to the first deployed position 22. In certain non-limiting exemplary embodiments, the first deployment edge or surface 38 is configured such that each blade 16 is displaced to the first deployed position 22 with or without any aid or assistance from the first deployment biasing force. In some non-limiting exemplary embodiments, the first deployment edge or surface 38 is configured as a camming edge or surface.
In some non-limiting exemplary embodiments, if the force 32 decreases after the displacement of the blade 16 from the retracted position 20 is initiated, the first deployment biasing force exerted on the first deployment edge or surface 38 will cause the blade 16 to return to the retracted position 20. In certain non-limiting exemplary embodiments, if the force 32 decreases after the displacement of the blade 16 from the retracted position 20 is initiated, the first deployment biasing force exerted on the first deployment edge or surface 38 will cause the blade 16 to pivot to the first deployed position 22.
In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, each blade 16 includes a second deployed position 40. In some embodiments, when the force 32 is greater than the second biasing force 30, each blade 16 pivots about respective pivot point 18 and is pivotally displaced from the first deployed position 22 towards the second deployed position 40. In some embodiments, when the force 32 is greater than the second biasing force 30, each blade 16 is displaced from the first deployed position 22 to the second deployed position 40. In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the collar 14 remains in contact with, and exerts a second deployment biasing force on a second deployment edge or surface 42 of each pivoting blade 16.
In some non-limiting exemplary embodiments, the second deployment edge or surface 42 is configured such that the second deployment biasing force exerted thereon displaces each blade 16 from the first deployed position 22 to the second deployed position 40. In certain non-limiting exemplary embodiments, the second deployment edge or surface 42 is configured such that each blade 16 is displaced to the second deployed position 40 with or without any aid or assistance from the second deployment biasing force. In some non-limiting exemplary embodiments, the second deployment edge or surface 42 is configured as a camming edge or surface.
In some non-limiting exemplary embodiments, if the force 32 decreases after the displacement of the blade 16 from the first deployed position 22 is initiated, the second deployment biasing force exerted on the second deployment edge or surface 42 will cause the blade 16 to return to the first deployed position 22. In certain non-limiting exemplary embodiments, if the force 32 decreases after the displacement of the blade 16 from the first deployed position 22 is initiated, the second deployment biasing force exerted on the second deployment edge or surface 42 will cause the blade 16 to pivot to the second deployed position 40.
In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, if the collar 14 ruptures after the broadhead 10 impacts the target, each blade 16 will be pivotally displaced to the second deployed position 40. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that each blade 16 will displace to the second deployed position 40 no matter where or how the blade 16 is positioned at the instant when the collar 14 ruptures. The deployment to the second deployed position 40 after the collar 14 ruptures can be from the retracted position 20 or from any location or position between the retracted position 20 and the second deployed position 40.
In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment wherein the collar 14 is intact, i.e., has not ruptured, each blade 16 will be pivotally displaced to the second deployed position 40 when the force 32 is greater than both the first and the second biasing forces 28, 30. Such deployment to the second deployed position 40 can be from the retracted position 20 or from any location or position between the retracted position 20 and the second deployed position 40.
In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the ferrule 12 includes at least one recess 44 configured for housing at least a portion of one or more blades 16. In some embodiments, at least a portion of a leading edge 46 of each blade 16 is housed in at least a portion of the recess 44. In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the leading edge 46 is configured as a cutting edge 48. In some embodiments, such as that illustrated in
In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, each blade 16 includes one or more impact regions 50. In some embodiments, when the broadhead 10 starts penetrating the target with the blades 16 in the retracted position 20, at least a portion of the force 32 is exerted on at least a portion of the one or more impact regions 50. Consequently, each blade 16 will start being pivotally displaced from the retracted position 20, and at least a portion of the cutting edge 48 will be exposed. As such, at least a portion of the force 32 will be exerted on the exposed cutting edge 48 and/or on the cutting edge housed within the recess 44, which may assist in the deployment of the blade 16.
In some non-limiting exemplary embodiments, such as that illustrated in
In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, a “cutting radius” of each blade 16 will be defined by a distance between the longitudinal axis 52 of the ferrule 12 and an outermost tip 58 of the cutting edge 48 of each blade 16.
In view thereof, modified and/or alternate configurations of the embodiments described herein may become apparent or obvious to one of ordinary skill. All such variations are considered as being within the metes and bounds of the instant disclosure. For instance, while reference may have been made to particular feature(s) and/or function(s), the disclosure is considered to also include embodiments configured for functioning and/or providing functionalities similar to those disclosed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Accordingly, the spirit, scope and intent of the instant disclosure is to embrace all such variations. Consequently, the metes and bounds of the disclosure is solely defined by the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/464,558 filed Feb. 28, 2017, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62464558 | Feb 2017 | US |
