1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a stabilizer for a projectile, and more particularly, to a stabilizer for the flight of an arrow in the field of archery.
2. Definitions
“Fletching” is a generic term used to describe the fins of an arrow that guide and stabilize the arrow during flight. These fins, when made from natural feathers, are commonly referred to collectively as “fletching”, comprising individual “fletches.” When made from plastic or other man-made materials, these fins are called “vanes.” In the present application, the terms “fletching,” “feathers,” “vanes,” and “fins” are employed throughout when describing fins of any type and are used interchangeably.
“Nock” is a generic term used to describe the portion of the arrow that secures the arrow in place before launch, typically by surrounding the bowstring with a notched area.
“Stop” is a term that may be used herein for a device for securing a stabilizer consistent with the present invention onto an arrow or a component thereof.
“Arrow rest” is typically the term for a small protrusion or device on the bow at the point where the arrow will rest during the draw, to hold the arrow away from and reduce contact with the riser (the thick, non-bending center portion of the bow).
A “fall-away” rest is an arrow rest that holds the arrow with an element that “falls away,” drops, or otherwise travels away from the arrow when the string is released, thereby reducing or eliminating contact between the arrow rest and portions of the arrow itself, e.g., shaft or fletching.
3. Description of Related Art
Arrows typically are fletched on the rear of an arrow shaft to provide flight stability. Usually, three or four fletches are mounted in a circumferentially spaced relationship. The practice of using multiple pieces or individual fletches has remained virtually unchanged over time, wherein each fletch or vane must be glued in place separately, either by hand, or with the aid of a tool or fletching jig. This process is time consuming and introduces inconsistencies in spacing and angles. Minute inconsistencies in the form of unevenly spaced fletching, varying distances from the end of the arrow shaft, and angular variations have a profound effect on the flight of an arrow.
Moreover, polluting and toxic chemicals are often required to clean the arrow shaft prior to gluing.
Further, conventionally fletched arrows are easily damaged in the field or while in storage. When damaged, conventional fletching is normally not considered field replaceable and can be difficult to repair.
Finally, prior art stabilizing methods require the fletching to pass over and/or through the arrow rest causing possible interference with the rest, thus imposing certain design limitations. Arrow rests may interfere with the flight of an arrow through inadvertent contact therewith, thereby adversely affecting flight performance, as well as damaging the fletching through such contact. While fall-away or offset rests must often be used to reduce the incidence of contact between the arrow rest and the fletching of an arrow, such rests can be expensive and do not resolve other above-mentioned problems associated with fletching.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,419 to Cameneti addresses the above mentioned fletching inconsistency issue by teaching a single-piece fletching mounted on the rear portion of the shaft of the arrow, wherein the fletching comprises a flared cone projecting rearward and outward, giving the fletching a funnel-shaped appearance. Deficiencies of this solution, however, include a significantly increased drag problem, excessive length, and failure to resolve the interference problem.
The present invention provides a stabilizer, an arrow, and related archery tools incorporating a novel aerodynamic design for arrows having a variety of general or specialized uses. This improvement is achieved by elimination of conventional fixed tail feathers and the use of a stabilizer consistent with the present invention.
The improved stabilizer of the present invention may be used for an arrow or other projectile and resolves prior art issues related to clearances, fletching inconsistency, environmental sensitivity, field replaceability, and excessive drag. A stabilizer consistent with the present invention comprises a unit adapted to slide along the shaft of an arrow, which is mounted on the leading end of the arrow until the arrow is propelled from the bow, at which time the stabilizer travels to the trailing end of the arrow and is secured at a predetermined location along the shaft, as the arrow travels beyond the rest and bow. A stop adapted to prevent further rearward travel of the stabilizer during the flight of the arrow may be integral to the shaft or nock, or alternatively may be a separate unit adapted to mate with the shaft or nock of an arrow.
The present invention provides a field replaceable sliding stabilizer that eliminates the inconsistencies and costs associated with traditional multi-piece glue on fletching systems. Further, an arrow comprising a stabilizer consistent with the present invention eliminates interference at the arrow rest caused by conventional fletching and a conventional bow.
A stabilizer consistent with the present invention may easily be mass-produced and is capable of providing high accuracy devices with highly repetitive results in use. Such a stabilizer may comprise a plurality of projections or “fingers” that aid in the operation of the stabilizer by creating a friction or interference fit between the arrow shaft and the stabilizer during slideable engagement therebetween. A stabilizer consistent with the present invention may be particularly shaped or otherwise adapted to provide additional aerodynamic features, e.g., impact force on the target or other such flight characteristics. Further, two or more stabilizers may be disposed along the shaft of an arrow, e.g., at the forward tip to prevent instability caused by the use of exotic or poorly balanced arrows.
Further, the present invention provides an arrow having improved aerodynamic characteristics, resulting in increased flight stability, speed, and accuracy. An arrow consistent with the present invention requires no feathers or traditional fletching, instead utilizing a sliding aerodynamic stabilizer that is slid or mounted over the front or rear of the arrow shaft, and the arrow travels through the stabilizer until it is positioned on the arrow at a provided stop, after which the stabilizer flies the arrow in a conventional manner. Since an arrow consistent with the present invention may comprise a short cross section, flight stability is less impacted by cross wind drift and wobble. Further, since the arrow requires no fixed fletching attached thereto, the arrow may have a higher acceleration rate due to a reduced mass that has to be initially accelerated by the bow.
As illustrated in
Turning now to
With reference to
As shown in
As
When the stabilizer is positioned at the leading end of the arrow prior to flight, the arrow may be launched in a conventional manner, except for the conventional nock position on the bowstring. In contrast, with conventional arrows, the nock must be positioned in a particular orientation or relationship to the fletching and string. An arrow equipped with a stabilizer consistent with the present invention needs no particular orientation or clocking, since there is no risk of the stabilizer interfering with the arrow rest or any other part of the bow.
The elimination of conventional fletching tail feathers from the body of arrows, as achieved by the present invention, allows for easy storage of arrows without causing damage to stabilizing surfaces. Typical fletched arrows are delicate and easily become damaged when stored or when used in the field. A stabilizer consistent with the present invention may simply be removed from the arrow and the bare arrow shaft stored without the possibility of fletching damage. Further, a damaged fletching unit may be replaced in the field in seconds, without any loss of accuracy or repeatability. Additionally, since the stabilizer is mechanically fixed to the arrow during flight and does not require gluing, the use of toxic glues and other chemicals can be reduced by way of the present invention.
Various changes may be made in the foregoing invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, it is noted that the stop may be located so as to captivate the stabilizer at the trailing end of the arrow shaft, or alternatively, at another location along the shaft selected to optimize arrow flight for a given application, e.g., for balance, stability, or shootability of the arrow. When the stabilizer is disposed as closely as possible to the trailing end of the arrow, the center of the stabilizing force can be situated rearward beyond that of convention fletching and closer to the trailing end of the arrow shaft than possible with conventional fletching. Since the stabilizing force or equivalent center of pressure caused by the stabilizer of the present invention may be positioned rearward beyond that of conventional vanes, the force required to produce an equivalent stabilization force decreases, and thus, the total surface area required to produce an equivalent force is reduced. The arrow speed is increased over conventionally fletched arrows due to less frictional drag as a result of the reduced surface area required for stabilization. Further, the decrease in the cross sectional area of the stabilizing surface, as compared to conventional vanes, results in less cross wind drift and improved accuracy when shooting in cross winds.
With conventional bow and/or arrow rest designs, it is desirable for the stabilizer to be positioned over the leading end of the arrow shaft and positioned at a close distance from the leading end of the arrow prior to launch, so as not to obstruct the tip of arrow. It is, however, contemplated that the stabilizer may, alternatively, be fixed along the shaft at a given location, instead of being slidably disposed along the shaft. Such fixation may either be permanent (e.g., gluing) or temporary (e.g., engagement with a stop, as described hereinabove). An exemplary such application would be the use of the stabilizer consistent with the invention with a bow having offset arrow guides, narrow arrow rests, or fall-away rests, wherein the stabilizer can begin flight disposed at the trailing end of an arrow. Thus, the stabilizer of the present invention solves the interference issue for all bows in use, even specialized bows and arrow rests already adapted to minimize interference with fletching, and users of such specialized bows and arrow rests may enjoy the same benefits of the present invention as users of conventional bow rests.
Additionally, as shown in
It should be understood that a stop consistent with the separate component from the nock and/or shaft, or alternatively, may be integrated into either the nock, the shaft, or both. Since the trailing ends of many conventional arrow shafts are already adapted to receive a nock therein (e.g., via a threaded recess), it is contemplated that a threaded stop 300, e.g., as illustrated in
As those skilled in the art will recognize, while the exemplary stabilizer 200 illustrated and described hereinabove comprises a pair of nested annular structures, a stabilizer consistent with the present invention may comprise a variety of other shapes, sizes and configurations. For example, the annular wing might comprise a square, rectangular, ovular, or other cross section instead of a circular cross-section. Alternatively, instead of an annular wing, a plurality of arcuate or straight wing sections not connected to one another might serve as wings, wherein each section is held onto a central annular structure by means of one or more fins or other support members.
The central annular structure of the stabilizer and the cylindrical mating aperture formed therein could alternatively comprise other configurations for mating with the shaft of an arrow, such as a plurality of arcuate sections or inward projections on the stabilizer appropriately sized for mating with the shaft. The mating of stabilizer and shaft could also be accomplished through a number of alternative means, e.g., as
While three fins generally provide maximum stability without adding too much weight to the stabilizer and arrow, it should be recognized that the fins of the stabilizer can vary in number, shape, size, angular disposal, and other aspects, and certain embodiments of the stabilizer might not even include any fins. The angle(s) at which the fins are mounted may also vary, e.g., various embodiments may include fins angularly fixed relative to the longitudinal axis of the arrow to provide rotational spin force to the arrow; fins fixed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arrow to prevent the spin of the arrow, e.g., to improve penetration of the arrow into the target; or alternatively, fins fixed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arrow with an expanding taper design terminating at the trailing edge of the fin to produce rotational spin. Thus, a user can change the flight characteristics from a spinning arrow, which is similar to a bullet shot from a rifled barrel, to a non-spinning arrow, for better target penetration when using certain tips. It is further noted that the number, size and shape of stabilizing fins attached to the stabilizer may vary without interference concerns at the arrow rest or other portions of the bow. Cross-sections of the fins at certain locations thereon may have varying shapes, e.g., airfoil-shaped or tapering cross-sections, to effect various modifications in flight. The fins may be formed with one or more apertures therein, to reduce the weight of the stabilizer and/or for reasons of aerodynamics.
The projections or “fingers” of the stabilizer that create a friction or interference fit between the arrow shaft and the stabilizer during slideable engagement therebetween could alternatively comprise other configurations, e.g., a taper, or a single projection in the form of a flexible O-ring. Such projections, tapers, fingers, O-rings, or similar self-adjustment or self-centering features may further be adapted to permit a single stabilizer to be used with a variety of arrows having shafts of varying dimensions, tolerances, or other characteristics, e.g., by construction using a flexible material, such that the projections expand or contract to create a friction or interference fit with arrow shafts having varying diameters, or even shafts having cross-sections other than circular.
Materials for constructing a stabilizer and/or stop consistent with the present invention may include one or more metals, e.g., aluminum, or plastics such as nylon, polyethylene, or polypropylene. Such a stabilizer and/or stop may be manufactured as a one-piece unit or other multi-piece designs, and may be flexible, rigid, semi-rigid, or comprise components of differing materials or having differing rigidity. The stabilizer and/or stop may be made in a variety of varying lengths, colors, and configurations, and may be manufactured by a number of techniques, e.g., as injection molding. The stabilizer and/or stop may comprise luminescent, bio-luminescent, electro-luminescent, or photo-luminescent materials for ease of visibility and retrieval, particularly in dark or dull-colored environments.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that a stabilizer consistent with the present invention has utility not only in the field of archery, but may also have utility in improving the flight of other types of projectiles, e.g., a javelin or an atlatl (a device that is used to throw with considerable mechanical advantage a lightweight spear called a dart). It is further noted that a projectile used in conjunction with a stabilizer consistent with the present invention does not necessarily have to be one adapted for air travel, but instead could be a projectile for travel in water (e.g., for bowfishing or spearfishing), or another liquid or gaseous media.
It is further contemplated that various toolsets or kits may be provided, wherein the sets of tools comprise one or more of the following: one or more stabilizers, one or more stops, one or more nocks, one or more arrow shafts, and one or more arrows. For example, a toolset might comprise an arrow (or just a shaft) and a corresponding sliding stabilizer adapted for travel along the arrow and/or shaft; or a stabilizer and a corresponding stop; or an arrow (or just a shaft) and a stop adapted for engagement with the shaft. Further, a set of stabilizers having differing dimensions from one another may be provided (differing in, e.g., diameter of the annular wing, angular configuration of the fins, diameter of the central mating aperture, length of the projections formed in the central mating aperture), which may have utility, e.g., when using arrow shafts having differing diameters. Further, a set of stabilizers could comprise a plurality of differently colored stabilizers for ease of individual identification.
Although the present invention has been set forth in terms of the embodiments described herein, it is to be understood that such disclosure is purely illustrative and is not to be interpreted as limiting. Consequently, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, various alterations, modifications, andlor alternative applications of the invention will, no doubt, be suggested to those skilled in the art after having read the preceding disclosure. For example, as shown in
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/315,165, filed on Aug. 28, 2001, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20030045381 A1 | Mar 2003 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60315165 | Aug 2001 | US |