Abstract:
A fletching system and method that allows for quick and easy attachment of a fletching member to an arrow shaft provides a slotted arrow shaft adapted to receive a fletching member projecting therethrough and an internal plug member disposed within a hollow center of the arrow shaft in pressing friction fit engagement with a flanged base portion of the fletching member wherein the flanged base portion is secured between the plug member and an internal surface of a sidewall of the arrow shaft.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates generally to archery, and more specifically, to a fletching system and method. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Bows and arrows have long been used in many various fields of endeavor, such as combat, hunting, sport, competition, and recreation. In almost all instances, accuracy is critical in achieving a successful shot. Most notably, flight characteristics of the arrow play a large role is in determining the accuracy of the shot. In order to adjust the flight characteristics of an arrow, one or more fletching member is typically provided on the shaft of an arrow. The design and attachment of the fletching members affect drag, spin, and trueness of flight, in addition to other flight characteristics. 
   Typically, fletching members are attached to the outside of an arrow shaft using an adhesive. Correct alignment and positioning of the fletching members during attachment is usually attempted by using a fletching jig that retains the fletching members in the proper position while the adhesive cures. Unfortunately, the process of applying the fletching members using conventional jigs is tedious, difficult, time-consuming, and does not ensure accurate results. For example, one or more fletching members may become misaligned, and/or excess adhesive may flow out from between a fletching member and the arrow shaft, making a mess and potentially interfering with the proper function of the fletching members. 
   In addition, the jig is an expensive piece of specialized equipment and can only be used to apply fletching members to a single arrow shaft at a time. Since the jig must remain attached to the arrow shaft until the adhesive cures, fletching techniques using a conventional jig are limited in their efficiency. Thus, fletching using a conventional jig typically takes a long time and is done well in advance of the time when the arrow is to be fired. This means that arrows are typically transported with the fletching members attached, whereby the fletching members may be damaged or become detached from the arrow shaft, thereby necessitating time-consuming repair. 
   Finally, conventional fletching techniques cannot practically be performed in the field in the event that a fletching member is damaged during use or transportation, due to inconvenience of carrying the jig, as well as the long curing time associated with the use of adhesive. Thus, archers typically carry more “spare” arrows than they would need if fletching member repair could practically be performed in the field. 
   It is desirable, therefore, to provide a fletching system, and a method therefor, that ensures proper alignment of the fletching members, is inexpensive, efficient, and easy, thereby reducing the time and cost needed to apply fletching members to an arrow shaft, and that allows fletching members to be attached to an arrow shaft in the field, such as during a repair, thereby reducing the number of “spare” arrows that an archer needs to purchase, prepare, and carry. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a system and method therefor by providing an arrow shaft having at least one slot, a fletching member having a flanged base, and a plug member, where the fletching member may be retained in a position projecting through the slot by insertion of the plug member into a hollow center of the arrow shaft. 
   According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present invention in its preferred form is a system comprising an arrow shaft having at least one slot formed through a sidewall thereof, a fletching member having a flanged base, and a plug member. 
   According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the slot is formed generally radially through and axially along the sidewall of a hollow portion of an arrow shaft. 
   According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the slot is formed in a spiral configuration. 
   According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the slot is formed in a helical configuration. 
   According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the slot has at least a portion having a greater width than the rest of the slot for slidably receiving the flanged base therethrough. 
   According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the plug member has a nock formed on an end thereof that projects at least partially from an end of the arrow shaft. 
   According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the plug member is retained in removable, frictional fit with an interior surface of the arrow shaft. 
   According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the plug member has a recess formed thereon associated with the flanged base of a respective fletching member. 
   According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the plug member is rotatable to increase a retaining force retaining the flanged base against the interior surface of the arrow shaft. 
   According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, conventional fletching members can be used with the system. 
   The present invention further overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need by providing a method of attaching a fletching member to an arrow shaft comprising the steps of sliding a flanged base portion of a fletching member into a slot formed in the arrow shaft and inserting a plug member into a hollow portion of the arrow shaft such that the plug member is in frictional fit engagement with the flanged base portion, thereby securely attaching the fletching member to the arrow shaft. 
   Accordingly, a feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to quickly, accurately, easily, and removably attach a fletching member to an arrow shaft. 
   Another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to allow for replacement of a damaged fletching member. 
   Yet another feature and advantage of the present invention is ability to enable an unskilled fletcher to properly attach a fletching member to an arrow shaft. 
   Another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to protect a portion of the fletching member attached to the arrow shaft from damage during use or transportation. 
   Another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to allow for spiral or helical arrangement of a fletching member. 
   These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reading the following Detailed Description and Claims in light of the accompanying drawing Figures. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Accordingly, the present invention will be understood best through consideration of, and reference to, the following Figures, viewed in conjunction with the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment referring thereto, in which like reference numbers throughout the various Figures designate like structure and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the components of the fletching system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the fletching member of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the plug member of the preferred embodiment; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the assembled components of the preferred embodiment; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the system as shown in  FIG. 4 ; and 
       FIGS. 6A-6C  are perspective views depicting the insertion of a fletching member into the slot of an arrow shaft according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the invention to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed invention. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In describing preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the Figures, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
   In that form of the preferred embodiment of the present invention chosen for purposes of illustration,  FIG. 1  shows fletching system  100 , preferably including arrow shaft  110 , at least one fletching member  120 , and plug member  130 . Arrow shaft  110  preferably comprises an archery arrow shaft generally formed as a hollow circular cylinder. Arrow shaft  110  is preferably formed from aluminum, carbon, or a combination thereof, although arrow shaft  110  may be formed of wood, plastic, graphite, composite, or other suitable material or combinations thereof. 
   Arrow shaft  110  preferably comprises hollow center  111  disposed along at least a portion of the length of arrow shaft  110  from first end  110   a  to second end  110   b , preferably proximate first end  110   a  for receiving plug member  130 . Hollow center  111  is preferably defined by side wall  115 , is preferably open to an outside environment of arrow shaft  110  at first end  110   a , and preferably extends along the length of arrow shaft  110  toward second end  110   b  at least as far as slot  117 . Thus, hollow center  111  preferably allows plug member  130  to be inserted into first end  110   a  and completely underlie slot  117  from within hollow center  111 . 
   Slot  117  is preferably formed radially completely through side wall  115  and preferably extends in a straight line generally axially along the length of arrow shaft  110 . Slot  117  may, alternatively, be formed in a curved arrangement, such as spiral or helical. Slot  117  preferably defines a closed periphery, i.e. slot  117  preferably does not extend to either end of arrow shaft  110 , thereby allowing fletching member  120  to be completely encircled thereby and retained therein. Slot  117  is preferably formed in arrow shaft  110  by a machining technique, such as CNC routering, but may alternatively be formed by other manufacturing technique, or may be integrally formed with arrow shaft  110  such as during a molding or extrusion process. Slot  117  preferably includes wider portion  119 , preferably disposed at an end of slot  117  proximate first end  110   a , for receiving flanged base  121  of fletching member  120  as described in more detail hereinbelow. 
   Fletching member  120  preferably comprises a generally T-shape cross section (as best seen in  FIG. 2 ) comprising flanged base  121  and flight control element  125  generally centered thereon and extending generally perpendicular thereto. Alternatively, however, fletching member  120  may comprise other cross-sectional shapes, so long as the base portion has a width preferably greater than a width of flight control element  125 , and preferably greater than a width of at least a portion of slot  117 . Flanged base  121  preferably provides a means for attaching flight control element  125  to arrow shaft  110  such that flight control element  125  projects generally perpendicular to exterior surface  116  of arrow shaft  110  in order to give arrow shaft  110  beneficial flight characteristics. Preferably, such means for attachment comprises the base portion having a width greater than a width of at least a portion of slot  117 , such that once the base portion is disposed within hollow center  111 , the base portion may be retained therein by the configuration of slot  117 . 
   Fletching member  120  is preferably formed from plastic such as by a molding or an extrusion process, and flanged base  121  and flight control element  125  are preferably integrally formed. Alternatively, however, fletching member  120  may be formed of any suitable natural or synthetic material which is sufficiently pliable and resilient to allow fletching member  120  to deform upon contact with a foreign object, thereby avoiding or reducing damage thereto, and allowing fletching member  120  to return to its original shape when not in contact with such foreign object. Furthermore, flanged base  121  and flight control element  125  may alternatively be formed of different materials and may be formed separately and joined using an adhesive or other suitable fastener or joining technique. Preferably, flanged base  121  has a width approximately equal to, or slightly less than, the width of wider portion  119 , and flight control element  125  preferably has a thickness approximately equal to, or slightly less than, the width of slot  117 . Thus, when flanged base  121  is inserted through wider portion  119  and into hollow center  111 , preferably starting at first end  120   a  and continuing along the length of fletching member  120  to second end  120   b , flight control element  125  preferably protrudes through slot  117  and is in friction fit with side wall  115  due to the tight fit of flight control element  125  within slot  117 . When inserted through wider portion  119 , flanged base  121  preferably remains proximate to or in contact with interior surface  114  of side wall  115 . 
   Plug member  130  is preferably formed as a generally elongated circular cylinder and preferably includes at least one recess  133 , such as a flat, formed generally axially along outer surface  131  thereof. Plug member  130  is preferably configured in size and shape such that it fits within hollow center  111  and such that outer surface  131  is in frictional fit engagement with inner surface  114  of side wall  115  when inserted into arrow shaft  110 . Furthermore, plug member  130  preferably includes nock  135  disposed on first end  130   a  thereof. Nock  135  is preferably adapted to engage a bow string of an archery bow for use in shooting arrow shaft  110 . 
   Plug member  130  is preferably formed of plastic or other suitable material that is lightweight and sturdy, such as aluminum, carbon, graphite, titanium, magnesium, composite, or other suitable material, and preferably includes nock  135  integrally formed therewith. Nock  135  preferably has a greater diameter than the rest of plug member  130 , and more preferably has a diameter approximately equal to arrow shaft  110  such that nock  135  mates flush with first end  110   a  of arrow shaft  110  when plug member  130  is completely inserted in hollow center  111  through first end  110   a.    
   Preferably, as best shown in  FIG. 3 , plug member  130  has a number of recesses  130  corresponding to a number of slots  117  formed in arrow shaft  110  and a number of fletching members  120  to be attached to arrow shaft  110 . Preferably three fletching members  120  are attached to arrow shaft  110  through three equally-spaced slots  117 . 
   In use, and as illustrated in  FIGS. 6A-6C , a portion of flanged base  121  proximate first end  120   a  is preferably inserted through slot  117 , preferably at wider portion  119 . Fletching member  120  is then preferably slid towards second end  110   b  of arrow shaft  110  such that the rest of flanged base  121  is slid through slot  117 , again preferably through wider portion  119 . Such sliding insertion of fletching member  120  preferably disposes fletching member  120  projecting through slot  117 , with flanged base  121  disposed within hollow center  111 . Plug member  130  may then preferably be inserted into hollow center  111  with recess  133  disposed proximate flanged base member  121 , thereby allowing for easy insertion of plug member  130 . When plug member  130  is fully inserted into hollow center  111 , nock  135  preferably abuts first end  110   a , is flush with exterior surface  116  of sidewall  115 , and outer surface  131  of plug member  130  is preferably in frictional fit engagement with interior surface  114  of arrow shaft  110 . Preferably, recess  133  of plug member  130  is configured such that flanged base  121  may be retained in pressing fit is engagement between recess  133  and internal surface  114  of arrow shaft  110 . Optionally, if additional retention force is desired, plug member  130  may be rotated about its central axis within hollow center  111 , thereby disposing outer surface  131  in contact with flanged base  121 , pinching flanged base  121  between outer surface  131  of plug member  130  and interior surface  114  of arrow shaft  110 . 
   If fletching member  120  becomes damaged or worn, or if a user wishes to remove or replace fletching member  120  for any reason, plug member  130  may preferably be removed from hollow center  111  by pulling it axially out of hollow center  111 , preferably by pulling on nock  135 . Fletching member  120  may then preferably be removed from slot  117  by sliding flanged base  121  towards first end  110   a , preferably through wider portion  119 , thereby extracting fletching member  120 . Alternatively, fletching member  120  may just be pulled radially out of slot  117 , whereby flanged base  121  may deform, allowing fletching member  120  to pass through slot  117 . Preferably, a new fletching member  120  may then be inserted in slot  117 , and retained therein using plug member  130 , as described above. 
   Having, thus, described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as illustrated herein, but is only limited by the following claims.