Arrowhead holder

An arrowhead holder includes a rigid plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and recesses formed in the top surface of the rigid plate, each recess shaped and sized to receive a shaft portion of an arrowhead. The recesses are distributed across the rigid plate at a spacing sufficient to accommodate an arrowhead being placed in each of the recesses. Magnets are disposed in the recesses, each magnet configured to securely retain an arrowhead inserted in an associated recess through magnetic attraction between a magnet and a respective shaft portion of an arrowhead.

FIELD

This specification generally relates to a device for safely and securely holding arrowheads.

BACKGROUND

An arrowhead is a tip, usually pointed or sharpened, disposed on a leading end of an arrow. A primary purpose of an arrowhead is to pierce an object (e.g., archery target, game animal) that the arrow has struck in termination of its flight. Types of arrowheads include target points, which are bullet-shaped with a sharp point, and designed to penetrate archery targets easily without causing excessive damage. Broadheads, in contrast, are arrowheads formed typically of two or three razor sharp fins coming to a point, and which are designed to inflict maximum damage (e.g., massive bleeding and/or cutting of tissue) to the object that the arrow has struck. Originally used for both war and bow hunting, broadheads remain in popular use for bow hunting game animals such as deer. While out hunting, bow hunters typically carry multiple different arrowheads with them, which can be attached and detached from arrow shafts as needed.

SUMMARY

In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification may be embodied in an arrowhead holder that includes a rigid plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and recesses formed in the top surface of the rigid plate, each recess shaped and sized to receive a shaft portion of an arrowhead. The recesses are distributed across the rigid plate at a spacing sufficient to accommodate an arrowhead being placed in each of the recesses. Magnets are disposed in the recesses, each magnet configured to securely retain an arrowhead inserted in an associated recess through magnetic attraction between a magnet and a respective shaft portion of an arrowhead.

In an implementation, the rigid plate is composed of one or more of steel, plastic, or composite material.

The recesses may be distributed across the rigid plate at a spacing sufficient to accommodate a broadhead arrowhead being placed in each of the plurality of recesses.

An arrowhead holding system includes a rigid plate having a top surface and a bottom surface; recesses formed in the top surface of the rigid plate, each recess shaped and sized to receive a shaft portion of an arrowhead, the plurality of recesses distributed across the rigid plate at a spacing sufficient to accommodate an arrowhead being placed in each recess; magnets disposed in the recesses, each magnet configured to securely retain an arrowhead inserted in an associated recess through magnetic attraction between a magnet and a respective shaft portion of an arrowhead; and a water-resistant, crush-resistant case that is sized and shaped to accommodate and securely hold the rigid plate.

The case may be sufficiently large to hold a rigid plate fully loaded with an arrowhead (e.g., a broadhead) inserted into each of the recesses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a front perspective view of an arrowhead holder100having multiple holes (equivalently, voids or recesses)105configured to receive a shaft portion of an arrowhead. As shown, the arrowhead holder100is holding only a single, target point arrowhead110, but is configured to hold up to 18 arrowheads corresponding to the quantity of holes105in this example. The holes105, which in this example are formed as cylindrical voids that extend from a top surface of the arrowhead holder100to a bottom surface of the arrowhead holder100, are appropriately sized and shaped to allow a shaft portion of an arrowhead110to be inserted without either undue effort or excessive play or looseness. In addition, the holes105are spaced about the surface of the arrowhead holder100in a manner that tends to optimize the quantity of arrowheads that can be held, while permitting a user (e.g., a bow hunter) easy access to the arrowhead of his or her choice. In addition, the spacing of the holes105is designed to allow different sizes and shapes of arrowheads (e.g., not only target points but also broadheads) to be inserted and held in adjacent holes105without making contact or otherwise interfering with each other. Other sizes, shapes, arrangements, and/or quantities of holes105may be used as desired.

FIG. 2is a bottom plan view of the arrowhead holder100. As shown, each of the holes105has an associated magnet205inserted and affixed (e.g., using glue or other adhesive or affixing means) therein. The magnets205are formed as cylinders that fit snugly inside the cylindrical holes105, such that bottom surfaces of the magnets205are substantially flush with the bottom surface of the arrowhead holder100. The magnets205are formed to be shorter than the holes105such that the magnets205occupy less than the entire cylindrical void formed by each hole105, thereby permitting at least partial insertion of a shaft portion of an arrowhead. Typically, an arrowhead, such as the target point110shown inFIG. 1, is inserted from the top surface of the arrowhead holder100, and travels downward until a bottom surface of the arrowhead shaft comes into physical contact with a top surface of the corresponding magnet205. Because arrowhead shafts typically are made from magnetically susceptible materials (e.g., steel), a magnet205will magnetically attract, and securely hold in place, an arrowhead110even when the arrowhead holder100is turned upside downside or otherwise moved about. Other sizes, shapes and/or configurations of magnets205may be used as desired.

FIG. 3is a side, cross-sectional view of the arrowhead holder100in which a broadhead arrowhead310is inserted into hole105. As shown, the hole105is sufficiently deep such that a shaft portion315(which, e.g., is formed of an upper portion320and a lower, threaded portion325) of arrowhead310can be fully inserted in hole105such that a flange portion330of arrowhead330may rest upon a top surface335of the arrowhead holder100. In addition, as previously described, the magnet205is disposed in hole105such that one end of the magnet205is substantially flush with a bottom surface340of the arrowhead holder310, and a top end of the magnet205is enveloped inside hole105. The height of the magnet105is such that an end of the shaft portion315, when fully inserted into the hole105, comes into contact with the top end of the magnet205, and is urged toward the magnet205by a magnetic force to hold the arrowhead310securely and safely within the arrowhead holder100.

FIG. 4is a front perspective view of the arrowhead holder100, showing an example configuration in which thirteen broadhead arrowheads310are inserted into respective holes105, thus being held in place by respective magnets205(not shown). As can be seen fromFIG. 4, the arrangement of holes105on the top surface335of the arrowhead holder100is such that the arrowheads310—even though they are a relatively large type of arrowhead (i.e., broadheads), and even though they are positioned in various different orientations—can be safely and securely held in the arrowhead holder100without contacting or otherwise interfering with each other. Different configurations are possible, however, in which two or more holes105are spaced sufficiently close to each other such that arrowheads (e.g., broadheads) inserted in those holes105may come into contact with each other, depending on orientation of placement. Other configurations of holes105are possible depending on design and operational preferences.

FIG. 5is a top view of the arrowhead holder100inside a case500. As shown, the case500is formed of a lid505and a base510connected by hinges515, such that the lid505can be opened and closed as desired, and secured when in the closed state by clasps530. In addition, the case500may have a gasket520around a perimeter of the lid505(and/or base510) that is configured to cause the case500to be water-resistant when the lid505of the case500is closed and secured by clasps530. The respective depths of the lid505and the base510are sufficiently deep such that they can accommodate most, if not all, standard arrowheads to be inserted into the holes in a manner that the lid505can be completely closed, and secured by clasps530, without damaging the arrowheads contained therein. The case may also have locking holes525to accommodate one or more locks (not shown) to secure the arrowheads therein against theft. Optimally, the case500is made of a water-proof, resilient, light-weight material such as polypropylene or other plastic or composite. The light-weight and waterproof characteristics of the case enable an archer using the case500to carry his or her arrowheads into the field without excessive weight, and with confidence, knowing that they will be securely held in place, and will not be exposed to the elements. In this example, as shown inFIG. 6(top plan view), the case500is a PELICAN brand case, model no. 1150.