Abstract:
Improvements in a broadhead arrow is disclosed where the arrowhead opens in two stages. This provides a broadhead arrow that can be launched with a traditional or compound bow to allow a hunter to bring down large game in an efficient manner. When an arrow is launched the arrow receives a thrust of energy from the string that launches the arrow. The initial thrust partially opens the arrowhead in a first stage of opening to provide a low fight profile that reduces flight air resistance. Regardless of how hard the initial thrust imparted onto the back of the arrow the blades will not open. Because the initial forward launch has no effect on the final opening of the arrow, only minimal impact forces are needed to completely open the broadhead arrow. The broadhead arrow optionally includes at least one side blade that operate with the main blade.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/846,493, filed on Mar. 18, 2012 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,905,874 which issued on Dec. 9, 2014 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the invention 
         [0006]    This invention relates to improvements in an expanding broadhead arrowhead. 
         [0007]    More particularly, the present expanding broadhead arrow has two stages of expansion. The first stage partially expands the arrow head when forward momentum is exhorted onto the arrow, and the second stage fully expands the broadhead arrow when the tip of the arrow makes contact. 
         [0008]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. 
         [0009]    In archery hunting it is desirable to pierce an animal with a broadhead arrow that can quickly kill the animal and can leave a blood trail that can be tracked to locate the animal. Broadhead arrows create additional drag because of the broad tip of the arrowhead. Broadhead blades which are exposed during flight often result in undesirable steering of the front portion of the arrow, causing the arrow to deviate from a perfect flight path that coincides with a longitudinal axis of the arrow shaft, when loaded or drawn within an archery bow. Reducing the surface area of a broadhead blade, the undesirable steering effects can be reduced. However, by reducing the surface area of a blade, the cutting area within a target or game is also reduced, resulting in a less effective entrance and exit wound. 
         [0010]    Conventional blade-opening arrowheads have been designed so that a substantial portion of the blade is hidden within the body of the arrowhead, such as during flight of the arrow. Upon impact, such blades are designed to open and thereby expose a cutting surface or sharp edge of the blade. When the blades of such conventional arrowheads are closed and substantially hidden within the body, the exposed surface area is reduced and thus produces relatively less undesirable steering effects. 
         [0011]    When an arrow is sent the shock of sending the arrow can inadvertently open an arrowhead. To maintain the blades in a closed position during flight. Upon impact, such annular retaining rings are designed to sheer or roll back along the opening blades, in order to allow the blades to move to an open position. Quite often, such conventional annular retaining rings are prone to cracking, particularly when the elastomer material dries out. A number of patents and or publications have been made to address these issues. Exemplary examples of patents and or publication that try to address this/these problem(s) are identified and discussed below. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,021 issued Nov. 19, 1991 to Paul V. DeLicia discloses an arrow system where impact with the tip of the arrow initializes blade opening. The blades continue to open as the arrow enters into the animal. A glancing blow will not open the blades because they are not sufficiently exposed to make contact with the hide of the animal. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,798 issued Jan. 28, 1992 to Douglas J. Massey discloses an expanding broadhead for an arrow. This patent uses an internal slug that moves forward upon impact to open the broadhead. Forward inertial as the arrow is launched has no effect on the inertial slug. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,197,367 issued Jun. 12, 2012 to Larry R. Pulkrabek et al discloses an expandable broadhead with rear deploying blades. The blades are retained in a slot and forces on the ends of the blades slide the blades into an open orientation. With this design a glancing blow will not open the blades because they are not sufficiently exposed to make contact with the hide of the animal to slide one or both of the blades open. 
         [0015]    Published U.S. Patent Application number 2003/0153417 that published on Aug. 14, 2003 to Bruce Barrie et al., discloses an expanding broadhead. Upon impact or deceleration of the arrow the blades will translate backward to an exposed condition. While this patent discloses expanding blades, because the initial force required opening the blades can be high to prevent pre-mature opening as the arrow is initially launched. 
         [0016]    What is needed is an expanding broadhead arrow where the arrow is set when launched so that it opens easily upon impact of the tip of the arrow. The proposed broadhead arrow with two-stage expansion provides a solution to this problem. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    It is an object of the broadhead arrow with two-stage expansion to open in two stages. This provides a broadhead arrow that can be launched with a traditional bow or a compound bow or cross bow to allow a hunter to bring down large game in an efficient manner. The arrow head provides a clean kill that can be easily trailed. 
         [0018]    It is an object of the broadhead arrow with two-stage expansion to be set when the arrow is launched. When an arrow is launched the arrow receives a thrust of energy from the string that launches the arrow. This thrust of energy that launches the arrow from a stopped condition can open other broadhead arrows, but in this embodiment the thrust simply sets the broadhead. The initial thrust partially opens the arrowhead in a first stage of opening. Regardless of how hard the initial thrust that is imparted onto the back of the arrow the blades will not open. 
         [0019]    It is an object of the broadhead arrow with two-stage expansion to require less force to open the arrow on impact with an object. Because the initial forward launch has no effect on the final opening of the arrow only minimal impact forces are needed to completely open the broadhead arrow. Even a glancing blow can extend the arrowhead from the retracted position to the expanded position without relying upon contact of the blades of the arrowhead to push the arrowhead open. 
         [0020]    It is another object of the broadhead arrow with two-stage expansion to have sharpened cutting edges that efficiently open to cut into a game animal. The sharpened edges provide the benefit of reducing the time an animal might suffer and providing a blood trail that can be more easily tracked to locate the game. The sharpened surfaces can be on multiple sides of the broadhead or can be on only one side to encourage the broadhead arrow to turn as it passes through an animal. 
         [0021]    It is another object of the broadhead arrow with two-stage expansion to have a low flight profile. The low profile reduces wind drag that can slow the arrow in flight and reduces influences on trajectory that would be effected by an open arrows trajectory. A minimally expanded head further allows the arrowhead to be packed in a smaller area for transportation. 
         [0022]    It is still another object of the broadhead arrow with two-stage expansion to optionally include side blades that are controlled to open with the main blades when the main blades are opening. A tab on the main blades lift from a gate in the side blades to allow the side blades to rotate and open to the rear upon impact with a target. 
         [0023]    Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the arrowhead in a retracted orientation. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the arrowhead in a set or primed orientation. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the arrowhead in an open orientation. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows a plan cross-sectional view of the arrowhead in a retracted orientation. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  shows a plan cross-sectional view of the arrowhead in a set or primed orientation. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a plan cross-sectional view of the arrowhead in an open orientation. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a single blade. 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  shows a plan view of a second embodiment with counter blades in an open configuration. 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  shows a plan view of the second embodiment blade. 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  shows a plan view of the third embodiment blade. 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  shows a plan of a side blade used with the third embodiment. 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of the third embodiment. 
           [0036]      FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of the third embodiment with the main blades removed. 
           [0037]      FIG. 14  shows a perspective view of the third embodiment in a partially opened configuration. 
           [0038]      FIG. 15  shows a perspective view of the third embodiment in an opened configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0039]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the arrowhead in a retracted orientation. The arrowhead is shown with a threaded  20  shaft  21  for screwing into the shaft of an arrow  19 . Normally the arrowhead is finger tightened to allow the shaft  19  to be unscrewed from the arrowhead thereby allowing the shaft of the arrow to be pulled through a hole without the need to pull the arrowhead through the hole. The blades  50  and  51  are initially retracted or placed into the housing body  30  to create a smaller profile to reduce air resistance and allow the arrow to travel with greater speed and accuracy. The blades  50  and  51  are initially retracted or placed into a  48  recess that is sized to accommodate the width of the blades when the pair of rear deploying blades is oriented toward opposite sides of the housing body  30 . 
         [0040]    The body of the arrowhead has a front body section  40  with a tip blade  41 . In the embodiment shown the tip is shown as a rounded tip with a point. It is also contemplated that the tip area  41  can be fitted with additional cutting surfaces. In the embodiment shown there are two expandable blades  50  and  51 . Each blade  50  and  51  is connected to the head with a pivot axle  42  and a guide pin  44 . The guide pin  44  is further located within a track  43  that provides linear motion of the guide pin  44  within the arrowhead. The blades  50  and  51  remain in the retracted orientation until the arrow is launched from a bow, compound bow, cross bow or other bolt launching apparatus. 
         [0041]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the arrowhead in a set or primed orientation. The arrowhead enters this condition when sufficient force  100  is exerted onto the end of the arrow shaft that is transferred  100  to the arrowhead. Because the arrowhead originally has a mass as rest, the initial acceleration or thrust  100  primes the arrowhead. In general, regardless of how much force or acceleration is forced  100  into launching the arrow, the arms  52  and  53  will only extend a limited amount to set the arrowhead. The arms  52  and  53  will pivot on axle  42  and a track within each arm will be guided by the guide pin  44  that moves within track  43 . The operation of the track and guide pin  44  is shown and described in more detail with  FIGS. 4 to 7 . The tip of the arrowhead  40  and  41  will also slightly displace  101 . The arrowhead will remain in this primed or set condition as the arrow travels in flight until the tip blade  41  or tip body  40  of the arrowhead makes contact with a surface and then further expands as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the arrowhead in an open orientation. This figure shows phantom lines from the initial and set position for the arms  54  and  55 . Contact with the tip blade  41  of the arrowhead moves  102  the head of the arrowhead tip blade  41  to a displaced distance  103  whereby the arms  54  and  55  are fully extended to allow the arrowhead to create maximum harm to the game. In this figure the tip body  40  makes contact with the housing body  30 . The arms  54  and  55  pivot from the axle  42  whereby slots within the arms  54  and  55  track on guide pin  44 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 4  shows a plan cross-sectional view of the arrowhead in a retracted orientation,  FIG. 5  shows a plan cross-sectional view of the arrowhead in a set or primed orientation and  FIG. 6  shows a plan cross-sectional view of the arrowhead in an open orientation. The internal structure shows the arm in the closed condition  50 ,  51 , in  FIG. 4 , in the primed or set condition  52 ,  53  in  FIG. 5 , and in an extended condition  54 ,  55  in  FIG. 6 . A compression spring  45  and the guide pin or plunger  44  places force between the inside of the notch  47  and the ball  48  guide ends  46  of the arms. The travel guide end  46  has a tip  39 , a flat  38  and a stop  37  positions to force the blade angles and the blade travels through the closed, primed and opened configurations. With the assistance of the ball  48  that is being pushed by the compression spring  45  guide is held in the multiple positions. The compression spring  45  and plunger  44  helps to maintain the arms in distinct set positions. The arms are pivotally secured on axle  42 . The pivotal axle  42  moves with the tip  40  and the tip blade  41  of the body. 
         [0044]    The arms are further engaged on a guide path  57  that follows on a guide pin  44  that opens the arms in a pre-defined path as identified by the guide path  57  in each arm. Both arms are essentially identical in shape and configuration. They are placed within the arrowhead in a mirror image orientation. The guide pin  44  is connected to a sleeve  31  that provides a linear travel of the piston  32 . 
         [0045]    In  FIG. 4  the guide pin  44  is at the end of the guide path  56 . Going to  FIG. 5  the guide pin  44  has moved forward within guide path  56  where the arms have slightly opened  110  ,  111 . This travel is created by launching  100  the arrow. The piston  32  has slightly moved within the cylinder  31  from  FIGS. 4 to 5 . The front impact  102 , from  FIG. 6 , moves the guide pin  44  along the guide path  57  and into an end of travel stop where the piston  32  is also at the end of travel within the cylinder  31  whereby the arms  54  and  55  become fully extended  112 ,  113 . At this fully extended position, tabs  59  are engaged in the sides of the body  30  to prevent closing as the broadhead arrow travels through an animal, this is provided with added locking reinforcement along with pin  44 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a single blade. The blade and or the arrowhead components are fabricated from a rigid and light weight metal, but other metals and materials are contemplated including but not limited to tool steels; M-2, S-7 &amp; D-2, stainless steels; such as 301, 304, 410, 416, 420, 440A, 440B, 440C, 17-4 PH, 17-7 PH, 13C26, 19C27, G1N4, &amp; other razor blade stainless steels, high speed steel, carbon steels, carbides, titanium alloys, tungsten alloys, tungsten carbides, powdered metal, as well as other metals, ceramics, zirconia ceramics, organic polymers, organic polymer containing materials, plastics, glass, silicone containing compounds, composites, or any other suitable material that a cutting blade or equivalent could be fabricated from, or could be at least in part fabricated. 
         [0047]    A hole  71  provides the rotational pivoting of the blade that fits over axle  42 . Hole  76  is provided as a lightening feature to reduce the weight of the blade  70 . The entire guide path is shown in this view. In the closed position the guide pin  44  initially sits at one end  56  of the guide path in a rest notch  47 . Upon launching the arrow the guide pin will travel to stop location  58 . Impact of the tip of the arrowhead moves the guide pin  44  along path  57  until the stop at  75  is reached. When the guide pin  44  reaches the end of travel at stop  75  ear  59  also engages on the body of the arrowhead to prevent the blade  70  from closing. Ball guide  48  has a tip  39 , a flat  38  and a stop  37 . The wing  70  has two cutting surfaces  72  but can have rounded or serrated cutting surfaces. 
         [0048]      FIG. 8  shows a plan view of a second embodiment  72  with counter blades  49  in an open configuration, and  FIG. 9  shows a plan view of the second embodiment blade. This embodiment is similar to the previous embodiment with the exception that this blade has a reverse cutting edge  49 . The stop  37  of the ball guide has been enlarged to prevent over-travel of the blades because the stop(s)  37  is/are in contact with the ball  48  when the blades  73  are fully extended. 
         [0049]      FIG. 10  shows a plan view of the third embodiment blade  78  and  FIG. 11  shows a plan of a side blade  80  used with the third embodiment. The third embodiment blade  78  is essentially similar to the second embodiment with the addition of a gate tab  36 . The gate tab  36  fits into the slot  83  on the side blade  80 . The side blade  80  has two cutting surfaces  81  and  82 . When the gate tab  36  is lifted from the side blade  80 , the side blade  80  is free to rotate on the central pivot hole  86 . The pivot hole  86  has a tab  87  that prevents over-rotation of the side blade  80 . In this figure, the side secondary blades show a round pivot hole  86  having a “flat” or tab  87  inside or inward facing detail that will limit against a “flat” on the end of a pivot pin that secures the side blade  80  to the body of the arrowhead. Upon penetration into an object ear  84  makes contact with the target. The ear  84  slides along the surface of the target and opens the side blade  80 . The back  85  of the blade  81  is not sharpened, and wraps around the pivot hole  86 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of the third embodiment, and  FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of the third embodiment with the main blades removed. The arrowhead is shown with a threaded  20  shaft  21  for screwing into the shaft of an arrow  19 . The blades  50  and  51  are initially retracted or placed into the housing body  30  to create a smaller profile to reduce air resistance and allow the arrow to travel with greater speed and accuracy. The blades  50  and  51  are initially retracted or placed into a  48  recess that is sized to accommodate the width of the blades when the pair of rear deploying blades is oriented toward opposite sides of the housing body  30 . The tab or ear  36  is engaged into slot  83  that locks the side blade from rotating. 
         [0051]    The body of the arrowhead has a front body section  40  with a tip blade  41 . In the embodiment shown the tip is shown as a rounded tip with a point. It is also contemplated that the tip area  41  can be fitted with additional cutting surfaces. In the embodiment shown there are two expandable blades  50  and  51 . Each blade  50  and  51  is connected to the head with a pivot axle  42  and a guide pin  44 . The guide pin  44  is further located within a track  43  that provides linear motion of the guide pin  44  within the arrowhead. The blades  50  and  51  remain in the retracted orientation until the arrow is launched from a bow, compound bow, cross bow or other bolt launching apparatus. 
         [0052]      FIG. 14  shows a perspective view of the third embodiment in a partially opened configuration and  FIG. 15  shows a perspective view of the third embodiment in an opened configuration. Once the gate tabs  36  are lifted from the slot(s)  83  in the side blades  80 , contact with the ears  84  allow the side blades  80  to rotate  114  (shown in  FIG. 14 ) and swing back to the rear position shown in  FIG. 15  thereby providing 90 degrees of cutting surfaces. 
         [0053]    Thus, specific embodiments of a broadhead arrowhead with two-stage expansion have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.