Expandable arrow broadhead for attachment to one end of an arrow shaft

An expandable arrow broadhead used for releasable attachment to one end of a hollow arrow shaft. The broadhead includes a sliding shaft with a pointed tip and tip base having two or more of cutting blades mounted thereon. Each of the blades includes an outer cutting edge and an inner edge. A portion of the sliding shaft is slidably received inside a hollow collar. The collar is attached to a sliding shaft housing. The sliding shaft housing is attached to an arrow shaft insert. The arrow shaft insert is adapted for receipt inside one end of the arrow shaft. In a retracted position, the blades are disposed next to and parallel to the length of the sliding shaft. When the pointed tip engages a target, the sliding shaft moves inwardly and rearwardly sliding inside the collar and inside a sliding shaft bore hole in the sliding shaft housing. As the sliding shaft moves rearwardly, a beveled cam surface of the blades engages a portion of the collar, which moves the blades outwardly into an extended position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

This invention relates broadly to an expandable arrow broadhead and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an arrow broadhead having a sliding shaft for extending outwardly at least two blades upon impact on a target.

(b) Discussion of Prior Art

Heretofore, there have been a number of arrow broadheads having blades that extend outwardly when contacting a surface of a target. U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,976 to Grace, Jr. et al., discloses a mechanical broadhead having blades, mounted in longitudinal channels in a ferrule, that slide outwardly on a camming surface formed in an inward edge of each blade. U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,435 to Sodaro illustrates an arrowhead having spring loaded blades that expand outwardly upon contact with a target. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,910,979, 6,626,776 and 6,517,454 to Barrie et al. disclose blades having longitudinal grooves in the blades and a camming member for extending the blades outwardly upon target impact. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,669,586 and 6,200,237 to Barrie disclose blades mounted on a sliding body mounted on a length of the broadhead. As the sliding body moves rearwardly upon target impact, the blades engage a camming surface and are moved outwardly in an extended position.

None of the above mentioned prior art broadhead patents particularly disclose or teach the structure and function of an arrow broadhead having a sliding shaft with pointed tip and cutting blades attached. The sliding shaft is designed to move rearwardly upon target impact with the blades expanding outwardly upon engaging a threaded collar attached to a sliding shaft housing or attached directly to an arrow shaft insert mounted in one end of a hollow arrow shaft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is a primary objective of the subject invention to provide an arrow broadhead that maintains cutting blades in a retracted folded position and next to a sliding shaft for little or no deflection during arrow flight or at target contact. The blades expand outwardly from the folded position into an extend position upon target contact.

Another object of the arrow broadhead is the expanded blades provide for a large cutting diameter to cause increased hemoraging and a quick and more humane kill when hunting deer, elk and other animals.

Still another object of the invention is the arrow broadhead can be inserted in a press fit or threaded into an end of different size arrow shaft inserts or mounted on a ferrule attached to the end of the arrow shaft.

Yet another object of the arrow broadhead is a pointed tip is formed at one end of the sliding shaft. Therefore, the moment the pointed tip contacts the target, the sliding shaft moves rearwardly moving the cutting blades into the extended position.

The subject arrow broadhead includes a sliding shaft with a pointed tip formed in a front portion of the shaft. The pointed tip is tapered rearwardly and outwardly forming a tip base. The tip base includes grooves formed therein and parallel to a length of the sliding shaft. The grooves are used for receiving a pivot end of two or more of cutting blades. The pivot end of the cutting blades is pinned to sides of the grooves. Each of the blades includes an outer cutting edge and an inner edge. The inner edge of the blades includes a beveled cam surface disposed next to a portion of the length of the sliding shaft. A portion of the sliding shaft is slidably received inside a threaded collar. The collar is attached to a sliding shaft housing or the threaded collar is attached directly to an arrow shaft insert. The arrow shaft insert is adapted for receipt inside one end of a hollow arrow shaft. In a retracted position, the blades are disposed next to and parallel to the length of the sliding shaft. When the pointed tip engages a target upon impact, the sliding shaft moves rearwardly sliding inside the threaded collar. As the sliding shaft moves rearwardly, the beveled cam surface engages a portion of the threaded collar and moves the blades outwardly into an extended position.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those familiar with the use of arrow broadheads for hunting when reviewing the following detailed description, showing novel construction, combination, and elements as described, and more particularly defined by the claims, it being understood that changes in the embodiments to the disclosed invention are meant to be included as coming within the scope of the claims, except insofar as they may be precluded by the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

InFIG. 1, a side view of a primary embodiment of the subject arrow broadhead is shown and having general reference numeral10. The arrow broadhead10is adapted from mounting to an open end12of a hollow arrow shaft14. A portion of the arrow shaft14is shown in cross section.

The arrow broadhead10includes a sliding shaft16with a pointed tip18formed in a front portion15of the shaft16. The pointed tip18is tapered rearwardly and outwardly forming a tip base20. The tip base20includes grooves22formed therein and parallel to a length of the sliding shaft16. The grooves22are used for receiving a pivot end24of two or more of cutting blades26equally spaced around the circumference of the tip base20. In this drawing, two of the cutting blades26can be seen. InFIG. 5, three of the cutting blades26are shown and equally spaced around the tip base20. The pivot end24of the cutting blades26is attached to the sides of the grooves22using pivot pins28.

Each of the cutting blades26include an outer cutting edge30and an inner edge32. The inner edge32of the blades26is disposed next to a portion of a length of the sliding shaft16. Also, the inner edge32of the blades26is characterized by having a forward portion34with a beveled cam surface36and a rearward portion38. The rearward portion38is also parallel to the length of the sliding shaft16. A middle portion39of the sliding shaft16is slidably received inside and through a hollow collar40. The exterior of the collar40is threaded into a top portion42of a sliding shaft housing44.

The sliding shaft housing44includes a collar bore hole46with an threaded upper end48. The threaded upper end48of the collar bore hole46is used for threading the hollow collar40thereon. In the lower end of the middle portion39of the shaft16is an annular groove50for receiving a ring keeper52. The ring keeper52prevents the sliding shaft16from being removed from inside the threaded hollow collar40

The sliding shaft housing44also includes a smaller, sliding shaft lower bore hole54for receiving a lower end portion56of the sliding shaft16. A threaded lower end58of the sliding shaft housing44is used for attachment to a first arrow shaft insert60in the hollow arrow shaft14. Typical, hunting arrows include the arrow shaft insert60, therefore, the arrow broadhead10can be easily attached to different types of arrows by merely threading the sliding shaft housing44into the arrow shaft insert60as shown.

The outer cutting edge30of the blades26includes an outer notch62for receiving a portion of a rubber band64or like retaining device for holding the blades26in a folded, retracted position, as shown inFIGS. 1,3and4. Also, the band64helps prevent the sliding shaft16from sliding rearwardly and inwardly in the collar40during the flight of the arrow and prematurely extending the blades26outwardly in an extended position as shown inFIGS. 2 and 5. The band64is shown in cross section.

InFIG. 2, another side view of the arrow broadhead10is shown with the lower end portion56of the sliding shaft16moved inwardly into the sliding shaft lower bore hole54. Also shown in this drawing is the beveled cam surface36of the cutting blades26engaging the side of the hollow collar40and moving the cutting blades outwardly into an extended position.

InFIG. 3, another embodiment of the invention is shown and without using the sliding shaft housing44, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. In this example, the lower end portion56of the sliding shaft16is slidably received inside and through the hollow collar40. The exterior of the hollow collar40is either threaded or engaged in a press fit inside a second arrow shaft insert66, which is similar to the first arrow shaft insert60as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The hollow collar40and the second arrow shaft insert66are shown in cross section in this drawing. The arrow shaft insert66is adapted for receipt inside the open end12of the hollow arrow shaft14. The collar40and insert66can be of various lengths and sizes for attachment to different types and sizes of hollow arrow shafts.

A bottom end68of the lower end portion56of the shaft16includes an annular groove70for receiving a portion of a ring keeper72therein. The ring keeper72is used for holding the shaft16inside collar40.

In a retracted folded position, the blades26of the arrow broadhead10are disposed next to and parallel to the length of the sliding shaft16. It should be noted the rearward portion38of the inner edge32of the cutting blades26includes an inner notch74therein. The inner notch74allows the rearward portion38of the blades to rest next to a side of the hollow collar40and a side of the arrow shaft14.

InFIG. 4, a side view of the arrow broadhead10is shown during arrow flight. In this drawing, the blades26are held in a retracted position by the rubber band64for reducing air resistance during flight. Upon impact, the force against the shaft16releases the rubber band64from the outer notch62of the blades26as the sliding shaft16moves readwardly through the collar40.

When the pointed tip18engages a target upon impact, the sliding shaft16moves rearwardly sliding inside and through the collar40and into a portion of the hollow arrow shaft14. As the sliding shaft16moves rearwardly, the beveled cam surface36engages a portion of an exterior side of the hollow collar40and moves the blades26outwardly into an extended position.

InFIG. 5, a perspective view of the arrow broadhead10is shown with the sliding shaft16moved rearwardly upon target contact. The cutting blades26are shown pivoted outwardly at an angle, shown as arrow76, in a range of 30 to 60 degrees from the length of the sliding shaft16and into an extended position. In this drawing, the lower end portion56and the ring keeper72of the sliding shaft16are shown extending inside a portion of the hollow arrow shaft14.

While the invention has been particularly shown, described and illustrated in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments and modifications thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as claimed except as precluded by the prior art.