Broadhead arrow tip and associated methods

A blade-opening arrowhead device includes an arrowhead body having a plurality of longitudinal blade slots on an outer surface and a flexible wedge slot extending through a center portion of the body. A blade is pivotally disposable in one of the blade slots and pivotable between a retracted position and a deployed position. A flexible wedge is disposable in the flexible wedge slot. The flexible wedge is configured to apply a wedging force against the blade in the retracted position to maintain the blade in the retracted position until a sufficient external force overcomes the wedging force and pivots the blade to the open position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to archery products and more particularly to mechanical broadhead arrow tips.

2. Related Art

Many mechanical broadhead arrow tips have movable blades that can be stowed during flight and deploy upon impact. The blades are stowed during flight to provide aerodynamic stability to the arrow during flight. Upon impact the blades are deployed to an extended position that enlarges the cutting profile of the arrow tip.

Some mechanical broadhead arrow tips use an expendable retention device to retain the movable blades in the stowed position. Such expendable retention devices usually need to be replaced after each use of the arrow. For example, some broadheads use an elastomeric o-ring that that stretches around the outside of the arrowhead and exerts a resistive force against the blades to hold the blades in the stowed position. When the arrow impacts its target the impact can cause the blades to cut the o-ring so that the blades can pivot into the extended position.

Unfortunately, broadhead arrow tips using such expendable retention devices can cause a number of problems for avid archers. For example, the retention devices can fail prematurely due to operating conditions such as environmental exposure, extreme velocities of the arrows, and the like. It will be appreciated that premature failure of the retention device can cause aerodynamic problems for the arrow in flight, which may result in target loss, non-lethal wounding of prey and laceration hazards to the archer. Moreover, expendable retention devices need to be replaced after every use which increases the costs and decreases the efficiency of the broadhead to the archer.

Another problem of many broadhead arrow tips is they have multiple moving parts that can cause balance and aerodynamic problems for the arrow in flight. Additionally, having many moving components in one arrow tip generally increases the amount of kinetic energy needed in order to deploy the blades. Using kinetic energy to deploy the blades reduces the amount of energy available to the arrow for penetrating a target. Moreover, many moving parts can increase the overall manufacturing costs of the arrow.

Yet another problem with some mechanical broadhead arrow tips is that the blades can vibrate during flight which can cause a whistling noise as the arrow flies. Such noises have been known to startle animals, causing them to bolt and leaving the bow hunter without a kill.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventor of the present invention has recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a mechanical broadhead arrow tip that has re-usable means for retaining movable blades in a stowed position during flight and allows the blades to move to an extended position upon impact. Additionally, the inventor has recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a mechanical broadhead arrow tip that minimizes the moving parts so as to reduce weight and manufacturing complexity of the arrow tip. Furthermore, the inventor has recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a broadhead arrow tip that wedges the deployable blades against the arrow head body so as to reduce and minimize vibration of the blade during flight.

The invention provides a blade-opening arrowhead device including an arrowhead body having a plurality of longitudinal blade slots on an outer surface and a flexible wedge slot extending through a center portion of the body. A blade is pivotally disposable in one of the blade slots and pivotable between a retracted position and an deployed position. A flexible wedge is disposable in the flexible wedge slot. The flexible wedge is configured to apply a wedging force against the blade in the retracted position to maintain the blade in the retracted position until a sufficient external force overcomes the wedging force and pivots the blade to the open position.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the flexible wedge includes a contact tab sized, shaped and positioned to exert a wedging force against the blade in the retracted position.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the flexible wedge includes a pair of opposing contact tabs sized, shaped and positioned to exert a wedging force against opposite sides of the blade in the retracted position.

The present invention also provides for a method for making a blade-opening arrowhead device including obtaining an arrowhead body. A pivotal blade can be attached to the arrowhead body with the blade pivotable between a stowed position with the blade at least partially disposed within the arrowhead body and a deployed position with the blade extending away from the arrowhead body. A flexible wedge can be placed within the arrowhead body such that the flexible wedge contacts the blade in the stowed position and wedges the blade against an opposing surface.

The present invention also provides for a method for using a blade-opening arrowhead device including coupling an arrowhead body to an arrow shaft. A blade disposed on the arrowhead body can be pivoted from an open position to a retracted position. A flexible wedge can be engaged against the blade in the retracted position to provide a wedging force against the blade.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of the present invention described herein generally provide for a broad head arrow tip with extendable blades that move between a retracted, stowed position and an extended, deployed position. During flight the blades are positioned and retained in the retracted position. Upon impact, as the arrow head travels through a target, the blades are deployed to the extended position thereby increasing the cutting size of the broadhead tip. The blades are retained in the retracted position by mechanical force exerted on the blade by a flexible wedge that can clamp or wedge the blade between the flexible wedge and a groove or slot on the arrowhead body. The flexible wedge provides a retentive wedging force to the blade and holds the blade in the retracted position during flight. Upon impact, the blade can be snagged by target material as the arrow head penetrates a target and the forces on the blade from the target material can overcome the wedging forces from the flexible wedge so that the blade can move into the extended, open or deployed position.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1-6, a blade-opening arrowhead device, indicated generally at10, is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention for use in increasing the cutting diameter of the arrowhead device. The arrowhead device can include an arrowhead body, indicated generally at20, and a plurality of blades, indicated generally at50, and a flexible wedge, indicated generally at80.

The arrowhead body20can be generally cylindrically shaped with a rearward portion22extending to a rearward end24and a forward portion26extending to a forward end28. The arrowhead body20can have a plurality of blade slots30that can extend longitudinally between the rearward end24and the forward end28. Each blade slot30can have a corresponding pivot pin hole32near the rearward end.

As best seen inFIG. 4, the blade slots30in the forward portion26can form radial openings34that extend radially into the center of the arrowhead body20until they meet forming a central opening36in the forward portion26of the arrowhead body. The radial openings34and central opening36together can form a plurality of prongs38on the forward end28of the arrowhead body20. As best seen inFIG. 3, the central opening36and radial openings34can extend a longitudinal length L1from the forward end28toward the rearward end24of the arrowhead body20.

Returning toFIGS. 1-6, the blade slots30in the rearward end24can extend radially toward the center of the arrowhead body20, but terminate before reaching the center so that the arrowhead body20has a solid center40in the rearward portion22.

The arrowhead body20can also have a flexible wedge slot42that can be located in the forward portion26. As best seen inFIG. 3, the flexible wedge slot42can be oriented orthogonally to the longitudinally oriented blade slots30. The flexible wedge slot42can include an opening044through which the flexible wedge80can extend and contact the blade50.

A chisel tip, indicated generally at70, with a cutting edge72can be coupled to the arrowhead body20. The chisel tip can include a mount74that can be sized and shaped for mounting on the forward end24of the body. The chisel tip70can also have a containment ring76that can contain and stiffen the plurality of prongs38on the forward end28of the arrowhead body20. The containment ring76can retain the plurality of prongs38within the mount74of the chisel tip70and can keep the prongs from moving radially outward with respect to the arrowhead body20.

Each of the plurality of blades50can be disposed in a different blade slot30. Each blade50can have a rearward end52and a forward end54. A cutting edge56can extend between the forward end and the rearward end. The blades50can have a thickness T that tapers to a fine point on the cutting edge56.

Additionally, each blade50can include a stop notch58positioned adjacent the rearward end52. The stop notch58can be sized and shaped to contact a stop lip46(FIG. 3) on the arrowhead body20to stop rotation of the blade in an open or deployed position, as seen inFIG. 1.

The blades50can also include a pivot pin hole60(FIG. 3) disposed in the rearward end52of the blade50. The pivot pin hole60can match up and align with the pivot pin hole32of the arrowhead body20.

A pivot pin62can be disposed in the pivot pin hole32of the arrowhead body20. The pivot pin62can extend through the pivot pin hole60of the blade50when the pivot pin hole60of the blade50is aligned with the pivot pin hole32of the arrowhead body20. When the pivot pin62is disposed in the pivot pin holes32and60, the pivot pin62rotatably connects the rearward end52of the blade50to the arrowhead body20. When the blades50are pinned to the arrowhead body20, the blades50can rotate between a stowed or retracted position with the blades50positioned in the blade slots30, as shown inFIG. 2, and an open or deployed position with the forward end54of the blades50rotated away from the arrowhead body20, as shown inFIG. 1.

The flexible wedge80can be disposed in the flexible wedge slot42of the arrowhead body20. In one aspect, the flexible wedge80can include a flexible compressible material such as a rubber material, an elastomeric material, a plastic material, a soft metal material, a compressible polymeric material, and the like. In another aspect, the flexible wedge80can include a resilient uncompressible material such as a metal or composite material in the form a thin leaf spring, U spring, or the like.

The flexible wedge80can be sized and shaped to fill the flexible wedge slot42. The flexible wedge80can apply a wedging force against the blade50when the blade is in the retracted position. The wedging force applied to the blade50can press the blade against an opposing surface to maintain the blade in the blade slot30in the retracted position until the forward end54of the blade contacts a target with sufficient force to overcome the wedging force and pivots the blade to the deployed position. In this way, the flexible wedge can contact a side of the blade to wedge the blade between the flexible wedge and the opposing surface. As shown inFIGS. 1-6, the opposing surface can be a sidewall37of the blade slot30in the arrowhead body20.

Additionally, as best seen inFIGS. 4-5, the flexible wedge80can include a contact tab82. In one aspect, the flexible wedge80can include a plurality of contact tabs82and each contact tab can be disposed on one of a plurality of spokes84of the flexible wedge. Each spoke84can be sized, shaped and positioned to position the contact tab82against the blade50when the blades50are in the retracted position. Each of the plurality of spokes84can correspond to the radial openings34formed by the plurality of blade slots30. The spokes84can be joined together at a hub86. The hub86can be disposed in the central opening36in the forward end26of the arrowhead body20

In one embodiment, as best seen inFIG. 3, the flexible wedge80can extend for a predetermined longitudinal length L2along the body20and the blade50. The predetermined length L2can correspond to a desired wedging force against the blade50. For example if a stronger wedging force is desired the flexible wedge80can have a relatively longer longitudinal length L2thereby contacting a greater portion of the blade50and thus exerting a greater wedging force against the blade50. Similarly, if a weaker wedging force is desired, the flexible wedge80can have a relatively shorter longitudinal length L2thereby contacting a relatively smaller portion of the blade50, such that the force exerted against the blade50is relatively smaller.

As illustrated inFIGS. 7-11, a blade-opening arrowhead device, indicated generally at200, is shown in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention for use in increasing the cutting diameter of the arrowhead device. The arrowhead device200is similar in many respects to the arrowhead device10shown inFIGS. 1-6and described above. The arrowhead device200can include an arrowhead body, indicated generally at220, and a plurality of blades, indicated generally at250, and a flexible wedge indicated generally at280. Each of the plurality of blades250is coupled to the arrow head body by a pivot pin, indicated generally at60. The flexible wedge280can be disposed in the arrowhead body and can hold the blades in the retracted position.

The arrowhead body220can be generally cylindrically shaped with a rearward portion222extending to a rearward end224and a forward portion226extending to a forward end228. The arrowhead body220can have a plurality of blade slots230that can extend longitudinally between the rearward end224and the forward end228. Each blade slot230can have a corresponding pivot pin hole232near the rearward end.

As best seen inFIGS. 9 and 11, the blade slots230in the forward end228can form radial openings234that extend radially into the center of the arrowhead body220until they meet forming a central opening236in the forward portion226of the arrowhead body. The radial openings234and central opening236together can form a plurality of prongs238on the forward end228of the arrowhead body20.

Returning toFIGS. 7-11, the blade slots230in the rearward end224can extend radially toward the center of the arrowhead body220, but terminate before reaching the center so that the arrowhead body220has a solid center240in the rearward portion222.

The arrowhead body220can also have a flexible wedge slot242that can be located in the forward portion226. As best seen inFIG. 11, the flexible wedge slot242can be oriented orthogonally to the longitudinally oriented blade slots230. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 7-11, the flexible wedge slot242can extend across the blade slot230such that the flexible wedge slot242can have a pair of openings244that open into the blade slot230with one opening on either side of the blade slot. In this configuration, a flexible wedge280disposed in the flexible wedge slot242can extend into the blade slot230on either side of the blade slot and can contact the blade250on opposite sides of the blade when the blade is in the stowed position.

A chisel tip, indicated generally at70, with a cutting edge72can be coupled to the arrowhead body220. The chisel tip can include a mount74that can be sized and shaped for mounting on the forward end224of the arrowhead body. The chisel tip70can also have a containment ring76that can contain and stiffen the plurality of prongs238on the forward end228of the arrowhead body220. The containment ring76can retain the plurality of prongs238within the mount74of the chisel tip70and can keep the prongs from moving radially outward with respect to the arrowhead body220.

Each of the plurality of blades250can be disposed in a different blade slot230. Each blade250can have a rearward end252and a forward end254. A cutting edge256can extend between the forward end and the rearward end.

Additionally, each blade250can include a stop notch258positioned adjacent the rearward end252. The stop notch258can be sized and shaped to contact a stop lip246on the arrowhead body220to stop rotation of the blade in an open or deployed position, as seen inFIG. 8.

The blades250can also include a pivot pin hole260disposed in the rearward end252of the blade250. The pivot pin hole260can match up and align with the pivot pin hole232of the arrowhead body220.

The blades250can also include an aperture, indicated generally at264, near and adjacent to the forward end254of the blade. The aperture264in the blades250can be a dimple, a through hole266, a partial slot, a through slot, and the like.

A pivot pin62can be disposed in the pivot pin hole232of the arrowhead body220. The pivot pin62can extend through the pivot pin hole260of the blade250when the pivot pin hole260of the blade250is aligned with the pivot pin hole232of the arrowhead body220. When the pivot pin62is disposed in the pivot pin holes232and260, the pivot pin62rotatably connects the rearward end252of the blade250to the arrowhead body220. When the blades250are pinned to the arrowhead body220, the blades50can rotate between a stowed or retracted position, as shown inFIG. 8, with the blades250positioned in the blade slots230, and an open or deployed position with the forward end254of the blades250rotated away from the arrowhead body220, as shown inFIG. 7.

The flexible wedge280can be disposed in the flexible wedge slot242of the arrowhead body220. In use, the spokes of the flexible wedge can be disposed in the radial openings of the arrowhead body and the hub of the flexible wedge can be disposed in the central opening of the arrowhead body at the forward end of the arrowhead body. The flexible wedge can then be pushed or fed longitudinally down the forward portion of the arrowhead body until the flexible wedge lines up with and fits into the flexible wedge slot in the arrowhead body.

It is a particular advantage of the arrowhead devices10and200described herein that the flexible wedges80and280extends radially outward from the center of the arrowhead body20and220instead of circumscribing the arrowhead body. If the wedge were to circumscribe the arrowhead body and the blades, as an o-ring type rention device, then when the blades are deployed, the blades would cut through the retention device and a new retention device would be required for every use of the arrowhead. Instead, the flexible wedges80and280shown and described herein allow the blade to slip in and out of the retracted, stowed position multiple times without significant wear and tear on the flexible wedge. Advantageously, re-use of the flexible wedge in this manner reduces the costs of using the arrowhead device and increases the efficiency of the archer since the archer does not need to fumble with attaching a new retention device after every use. However, in the event the flexible wedge should become worn and need replacement, the flexible wedge can easily be removed by sliding it toward the forward end of the arrowhead body and replacing it as described above.

The flexible wedge can be made from a suitable flexible material, as known in the art. In one aspect, the flexible wedge280can include a flexible compressible material such as a rubber material, an elastomeric material, a plastic material, a soft metal material, a compressible polymeric material, and the like.

The flexible wedge280can be sized and shaped to fill the flexible wedge slot242and extend into the blade slot on either side of the blade slot. The flexible wedge280can contact opposite sides of the blade and apply a wedging force against the blade250when the blade is in the retracted position. The wedging force applied to the blade250can maintain the blade in the blade slot230in the retracted position until the forward end254of the blade contacts a target with sufficient force to overcome the wedging force and pivots the blade to the deployed position.

Additionally, as best seen inFIGS. 9-10, the flexible wedge280can include a pair of contact tabs282. In one aspect, the flexible wedge280can include a plurality of pairs of contact tabs282and each pair of contact tabs282can be disposed on one of a plurality of spokes284of the flexible wedge280. Each spoke284can be sized, shaped and positioned to position the pair of contact tabs282against opposite sides of the blade250when the blades are in the retracted position. Each of the plurality of spokes284can correspond to the radial openings234formed by the plurality of blade slots230. The spokes284can be joined together at a hub286. The hub286can be disposed in the central opening236in the forward end226of the arrowhead body220

As best seen inFIG. 9, the pairs of contact tabs282can fit within the through hole266disposed within the forward end254of the blades250. One of the contact tabs can fit within either side of the through hole such that each of the pair of contact tabs can contact and apply a retentive wedging force on either side of the blade250. In this way, the flexible wedge280can wedge the blade250between the locking tabs282of the flexible wedge, and the opposing surface against which the blade is wedged and retained is the opposing contact tab from the pair of contact tabs.

Additionally, the contact tabs282disposed in the through hole266can provide an additional retentive force on the blade250. For example, in order for the blade to move to the deployed position the force against the blade will have to overcome both the sideways wedging force of the flexible wedge pushing against the side of the blade, and also a sheer force of the contact tab against the through hole.

Although the embodiments shown inFIGS. 7-11and described above, show the pair of contact tabs282engaging the through hole266of the blades250, it will be appreciated that the blade50without the aperture, as seen in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1-6and described above, can also be used with the flexible wedge280with the opposing contact tabs282pushing against the sides of the blade50. Similarly, the flexible wedge80shown inFIGS. 1-6can be used with the blade250of the embodiments shown inFIGS. 7-11with the single contact tab82engaging the through hole66of the blade250.

The present invention also provides for a method for making a blade-opening arrowhead device including obtaining an arrowhead body. A pivotal blade can be attached to the arrowhead body with the blade pivotable between a stowed position with the blade at least partially disposed within the arrowhead body and a deployed position with the blade extending away from the arrowhead body. A flexible wedge can be placed within the arrowhead body such that the flexible wedge contacts the blade in the stowed position and wedges the blade against an opposing surface. In one aspect, the opposing surface can be a blade slot in the arrowhead body, as shown inFIGS. 1-6. In another aspect, the opposing surface can be an opposing section of the flexible wedge, as shown inFIGS. 7-11.

The present invention also provides for a method for using a blade-opening arrowhead device including coupling an arrowhead body to an arrow shaft. A blade disposed on the arrowhead body can be pivoted from an open position to a retracted position. A flexible wedge can be engaged against the blade in the retracted position to provide a wedging force against the blade.