Bowfishing arrow slide with shock absorbing system

A bowfishing arrow slide configured to slidably attach a bowfishing line to an arrow and configured to include a shock absorbing system to enhance the life of the slide is disclosed. The bowfishing arrow slide enables a bowfishing line to be slidably attached to the arrow to keep the arrow attached to a line reel even after being shot and to allow the slide to move from a preshot position at the tip of the arrow to the rear of the arrow during the shot for improved arrow flight. The bowfishing arrow slide may include a shock absorbing system on the bowfishing arrow slide whereby the shock absorbing system is configured to absorb impact forces created when the strikes a slide stop on an arrow shaft when the arrow is shot. The shock absorbing system reduces damage to the slide thereby enhancing the useful life of the slide.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed generally to fish harvesting systems, and more particularly to equipment usable for bowfishing arrows and spearfishing shafts.

BACKGROUND

Bowfishing equipment has been used throughout the years to successfully harvest fish of all varieties. Typically, an arrow used for bowfishing includes an arrowhead with a barb for keeping the fish attached to the arrow once shot and includes a retrieval line attached to a slide that slides between the arrowhead and a stop that is typically near the nock at the other end of the arrow. This configuration enables the retrieval line to be positioned between the arrow head and the bow when the bow is drawn, thereby preventing the retrieval line from catching on the bow or arrow rest. The safety slide slides to the nock end of the arrow once shot and during arrow flight to provide better flight characteristics for the arrow. The arrow moves very quickly relative to the slide, which causes the slide to strike the stop with significant force. The impact often weakens and damages the slide.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bowfishing arrow slide configured to slidably attach a bowfishing line to an arrow and configured to include a shock absorbing system to enhance the life of the slide is disclosed. The bowfishing arrow slide enables a bowfishing line to be slidably attached to the arrow to keep the arrow attached to a line reel even after being shot and to allow the slide to move from a preshot position at the tip of the arrow to the rear of the arrow during the shot for improved arrow flight. The bowfishing arrow slide may include a shock absorbing system on the bowfishing arrow slide whereby the shock absorbing system is configured to absorb impact forces created when the bowfishing arrow slide strikes a slide stop on an arrow shaft when the arrow is shot. The shock absorbing system reduces damage to the slide thereby enhancing the useful life of the slide.

An advantage of the bowfishing arrow slide is that the shock absorbing system is configured to absorb impact forces created when the bowfishing arrow slide strikes a slide stop on an arrow shaft when the arrow is shot.

Another advantage of the bowfishing arrow slide is that shock absorbing system reduces damage to the slide thereby enhancing the useful life of the slide shock absorbing system to enhance the life of the slide is disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown inFIGS. 1-9, a bowfishing arrow slide10configured to slidably attach a retrieval line12to an arrow14and configured to include a shock absorbing system16to enhance the life of the slide10is disclosed. The bowfishing arrow slide10enables a bowfishing line12to be slidably attached to the arrow14to keep the arrow14attached to a line reel18even after being shot and to allow the slide10to move from a preshot position20at a tip22of the arrow14to the rear24of the arrow12during the shot for improved arrow flight. The bowfishing arrow slide10may include a shock absorbing system16on the bowfishing arrow slide10whereby the shock absorbing system16is configured to absorb impact forces created when the bowfishing arrow slide10strikes a slide stop26on an arrow shaft14when the arrow14is shot. The shock absorbing system16reduces damage to the slide10thereby enhancing the useful life of the slide10.

In at least one embodiment, the bowfishing arrow slide10may be formed from a body28forming one or more shaft retention sections30configured to slidably retain an arrow shaft14therein such that the bowfishing arrow slide10may slide along the arrow shaft14generally along a longitudinal axis32of the arrow shaft14. In at least one embodiment, the body28forming the shaft retention section30may be formed from, but is not limited to, an elongated wire. The materials used to form the elongate wire may include, but are not limited to being, a metal wire (stainless steel etc.), metal injection molding and molded plastic. The body28forming the shaft retention section30may cover more than one half of a circumference of an arrow shaft14. Such configuration keeps the slide10attached to the arrow14. In at least one embodiment, the body28forming the shaft retention section30may be formed from a partial circle covering more than one half of a circumference of an arrow shaft14. In addition, the body28forming the shaft retention section30may be formed from a partial circle covering more than ¾ of a circumference of an arrow shaft14. In at least one embodiment, the body28forming the shaft retention section30may be formed from a full circle surrounding the arrow shaft14.

The bowfishing arrow slide10may include a shock absorbing system16on the bowfishing arrow slide10. The shock absorbing system10may be configured to absorb impact forces created when the bowfishing arrow slide10strikes a slide stop26on an arrow shaft14when the arrow14is shot. The shock absorbing system10on the bowfishing arrow slide10may be formed from first and second arms34,36separated laterally in a direction along a longitudinal axis32of an arrow14when the body28of the bowfishing arrow slide10is slidably attached to the arrow14. In at least one embodiment, the first and second arms34,36may be positioned generally parallel. In other embodiments, the first and second arms34,36may be positioned differently. The first and second arms34,36may be separated by a spring action component38. The spring action component38may be coupled to the first and second arms34,36. The spring action component38may be at least partially positioned between the first and second arms34,36. The spring action component38may form a channel through which an arrow shaft14can slidably move. In at least one embodiment, the spring action component38may form a channel from material wound in a helical form. The material wound in a helical form forming a channel may be formed form, but is not limited to, metal wire. The materials used to form the wire may include, but are not limited to being, a metal wire (stainless steel etc.), metal injection molding and molded plastic.

The bowfishing arrow slide10may also include one or more bowfishing line attachment sections40configured such that a bowfishing line12is attachable to the bowfishing arrow slide10. The bowfishing line attachment section40may be positioned between the first and second arms34,36of the spring action component38. In at least one embodiment, the bowfishing line attachment section40may be formed from one or more helical loops42, as shown inFIG. 5, between the first and second arms34,36. A longitudinal axis44of the helical loop42forming the bowfishing line attachment section40may be generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis32of an arrow14when the body28of the bowfishing arrow slide10is slidably attached to the arrow14and offset from the longitudinal axis32of the arrow14. In at least one embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the bowfishing line attachment section40may be formed from a lateral member46extending from the first arm34to the second arm36. In at least one embodiment, as shown inFIG. 4, the bowfishing line attachment section40may be formed from a lateral member46extending from the first arm34to the second arm36, wherein the lateral member46includes an offset protrusion section48. The offset protrusion section48on the lateral member46may be formed from first and second offset arms50,52extending from the lateral member46. The offset protrusion section48may also be formed from an offset arm54extending between the first and second offset arms50,52, wherein the offset arm54is offset from the lateral member46.

As shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, the bowfishing arrow slide10may be formed from a body28with shaft retention sections30configured to slidably retain an arrow shaft14. The body28may form a bowfishing line attachment sections40on a side of the body28. In at least one embodiment, a helical shaped, elongated wire may form the body28may form a bowfishing line attachment section40on a side of the body28. Adjacent portions of the helical shaped, elongated wire may be touching each other, thereby eliminating any spring effect in the body28. Each end of the body28may include a shock absorbing system16. In particular, the body28may include a first shock absorbing system60on a first end62and a second shock absorbing system64on a second end66of the body28. In at least one embodiment, the first and second shock absorbing systems60,64may be formed from helical wound elongated wire.

In another embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the bowfishing arrow slide10may be formed from a body28with a shock absorbing system16coupled to one end of the body28in alignment with the arrow receiving opening58in the body28. In at least one embodiment, the body28, shock absorbing system16and the bowfishing line attachment section40may be integrally formed. The bowfishing arrow slide10ofFIGS. 6 and 7may be formed from materials such as, but not limited to, metal injection molding and molded plastic. The bowfishing line attachment section40may include one orifice68for receiving a bowfishing line. The shock absorbing system16of the embodiment shown inFIGS. 6 and 7are formed from alternating partial slots.

The bowfishing arrow slide10may be attached to an arrow14by sliding the slide10onto the arrow14. The slide10may freely slide between the tip22of the arrow14and the rear24of the arrow10. A barb56on the tip22and the stop26prevent the slide10from falling off the arrow14. Bowfishing line12may be tied to the slide10at the bowfishing line attachment section40. In alternative configurations, the bowfishing line12may extend from the line reel18, thru the bowfishing line attachment section40and may be tied to a removable arrow tip. Before an arrow14is shot, the bowfishing arrow slide10is positioned near the tip22of the arrow14so that when the arrow tip22is drawn closer to an arrow rest when a bow, crossbow, or the like is drawn, the slide10and the bowfishing line12do not become entangled in the arrow rest. Once the arrow is shot, the slide10moves rearwardly on the arrow10due to drag forces acting upon the slide10. It is desirable for the slide10to be positioned rearwardly on the arrow10to improve flight of the arrow14. The arrow14moves forward immediately upon the arrow14being shot. The arrow14moves very fast and causes the slide10to strike the slide stop26on the arrow14. The shock absorbing system10on the bowfishing arrow slide10absorbs forces created by the slide hitting the slide stop26on the arrow14when the arrow14is in flight immediately after being released from a bow, crossbow and the like.