Abstract:
A bowfishing arrow and method of bowfishing. The bowfishing arrow includes a shaft having a main stem. A locking pin is slidably movable within a bore of the main stem. A fish point with a pair of pivoting barbs is secured to the distal end of the main stem. An outer sleeve is longitudinally movable with respect to the main stem and the locking pin is engaged with the outer sleeve to move with the outer sleeve. The barbs pivot between a shooting position, a locked position, and an unlocked position. When in the locked position, an end of the locking pin is clamped between cams preventing the barbs from pivoting to toward the unlocked position and the shooting position until the fish is landed. A one-handed maneuver is all that is required to release the arrow from the fish after it is landed.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Bowfishing is a method of fishing that uses a specialized arrow having a string tethered to the arrow and to a reel mounted on the bow. The string is used to pull or reel in the fish after it is struck by the arrow so the fish can be retrieved or landed. Bowfishing arrows use a “fish point” with barbs that diverge outwardly and rearwardly to the hold or grip the fish and prevent it from coming off the arrow as it is being pulled or reeled in. 
     Once the fish is landed, the arrow must be removed from the fish. It should be appreciated that pulling the arrow back through the fish with the barbs extended would be difficult and it would tear and mutilate the flesh of the fish in the process. Accordingly, depending on the type of fish point being used, the barbs either need to be reversed or collapsed or the fish point must be removed from the end of the arrow so the arrow can be pulled back through the fish. Thus, if the arrow does not penetrate all the way through the fish when it is shot, conventional fish points require the bowfisherman to force the arrow all the way through the body of the fish so the fish point projects through the side of the fish in order to reverse or collapse the barbs or to remove the fish point from the end of arrow. Attempting to force the arrow through the fish and then attempting to remove the fish point or attempting to reverse or collapse the barbs while a fish is struggling is difficult and typically requires the bowfisherman to set down his bow so he can use both hands. It is also time consuming and can result in injury to the bowfisherman. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an improved bowfishing arrow which solidly holds the fish until it is landed, but which also allows the arrow to be quickly and easily removed from the fish after it is landed, does not require the fish point to be forced through the fish in order to collapse or reverse the barbs, and which can be accomplished using only one hand so the bowfisherman does not need to set down the bow to remove the arrow from the fish. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the bowfishing arrow in the shooting position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bowfishing arrow of  FIG. 1  in the locked position. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bowfishing arrow of  FIG. 1  in the unlocked position. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a bowfishing arrow when in the shooting position. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of the bowfishing arrow of  FIG. 4  when in the locked position. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view of the bowfishing arrow of  FIG. 4  when in the unlocked position. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a bowfishing arrow when in the shooting position. 
         FIG. 8  is a partial cross-sectional view of the bowfishing arrow of  FIG. 7  when in the locked position. 
         FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view of the bowfishing arrow of  FIG. 7  when in the unlocked position. 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of one embodiment of the barbs cooperating with a locking pin and showing the barb in the shooting position. 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the barb and locking pin of  FIG. 10  and showing the barb in the locked position. 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of the barb and locking pin of  FIG. 10  and showing the barb reversed and in the unlocked position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a bowfishing arrow  10 . The arrow  10  is comprised of a shaft  12  having nock  14  at a proximal end a fish point  16  at its distal end. An aperture  18  is located near the nock  14  for tethering the string (not show) to the arrow  10 . It should be appreciate that the aperture  18  may be sized to receive a stop screw (not shown) for the Safety Slide® system available from AMS LLC, 1064 Hemlock Lane, Stratford, Wis. 54484, as well known to those of skill in the art. 
     The shaft  12  is comprised of a main stem  20  with an outer sleeve  30  which is movable with respect to the main stem  20 . In one embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , the main stem  20  may be a conventional solid shaft arrow as is typically used for bowfishing which is typically made of fiberglass or carbon, but other suitable materials, such as wood, aluminum or other materials may also be used. A solid core main stem  20  may be desirable for the added weight and stiffness provided by solid core shafts to minimize planing of the arrow when it enters the water and for more hitting power to punch through the scales or tough flesh of the fish. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 4-6 , the distal end of the main stem  20  has a central bore  22 . The central bore  22  receives a coil spring  24  and a slidable locking pin  26 . An alignment peg  28  projects outwardly from the locking pin  26  and through an oblong opening  32  near the distal end of the main stem  20  and a mating oblong opening  34  in the rearward shank  44  of the fish point  16  such that the slidable locking pin  26  is moveable with respect to the main stem  20  and fish point  16  as described in more detail later. 
     The outer sleeve  30  has a length that extends over the main stem  20  from the end of the fish point  16  toward the nock  14 , but terminates a short distance before the aperture  18  near the nock  14  on the main stem  20 , such that the outer sleeve  30  is capable of moving longitudinally with respect to the main stem  20 . An aperture  36  is provided in the outer sleeve  30  to receive the alignment peg  28  projecting from the locking pin  26  and extending through the oblong apertures  32 ,  34  in the main stem  20  and rearward shank  44 . It should be appreciated that when the outer sleeve  30  is moved longitudinally with respect to the main stem  20 , the alignment peg  28  projecting through the aperture  36  causes the locking pin  26  to move with the outer sleeve  30  such that the alignment peg moves longitudinally within the bore  22  of the main stem  20 , the purpose for which will be described in more detail later. 
     The fish point  16  includes a cylindrical body  40  with a conical tip  42  and a rearward shank  44 . The conical tip  42  may be integral with the cylindrical body  40  or the conical tip  42  and cylindrical body  40  may have mating internal and external threads such that the tip  42  is threadably removable and replaceable as is well known to those of skill in the art. 
     The rearward shank  44  has a central bore  46  sized to receive the distal end of the main stem  20  which is securely fixed therein. It should be appreciated that a length of the distal end of the main stem  20  which is inserted into the central bore  46  may have a stepped-down outer diameter, so that when the distal end of the main stem  20  is fully inserted into the central bore  46 , the outer diameter of the main stem  20  and the outer diameter of the rearward shank  44  are flush, providing a smooth transition between rearward shank  44  and the main stem  20 . However, it is not necessary for the main stem  20  to have a stepped-down outer diameter because a slight step at their transition will not affect sliding of the outer sleeve  30 , since the transition between the end of the rearward shank  44  and the main stem  20  is sufficiently rearward of the end of the outer sleeve that there is no chance for the outer sleeve to catch on the slight stepped transition even when the outer sleeve  30  is moved to its most rearward position. 
     The cylindrical body  40  has an outer diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the outer sleeve  30 . Thus, the transition from the larger diameter cylindrical body  40  to the smaller diameter rearward shank  44  results in a shoulder  48  (see  FIG. 6 ). The shoulder  48  has a height substantially the same as the thickness of the wall of the outer sleeve  30 . Thus, when the distal end of the outer sleeve abuts the shoulder  48 , the outer diameters of the cylindrical body  40  and the outer sleeve are flush creating a smooth transition from the fish point  16  to the outer sleeve  30  as the arrow penetrates the fish. 
     A slot  49  extends through the cylindrical body  40  to pivotally receive opposing barbs  50 ,  52  which pivot about pivot pin  54  extending through the cylindrical body  40  as illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6 .  FIG. 4  shows the barbs  50 ,  52  in the shooting position.  FIG. 5  shows the barbs  50 ,  52  in the locked position.  FIG. 6  shows the barbs  50 ,  52  in the unlocked position. 
       FIGS. 7-9  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the arrow  10 A which utilizes a hollow shaft for the main stem  20 A. Hollow shaft arrows are well known in the art and are typically made of aluminum or carbon but may be made of any other suitable materials. In this embodiment, the construction of the arrow  10 A is substantially the same as previously described, except it should be appreciated that because the main stem  20 A is hollow, the central bore  22  for receiving the spring  24  and locking pin  26  is provided by inserting a plug  25  to serve as the backstop for the coil spring  24  and the locking pin  26 . Thus, as in the previous embodiment, the alignment peg  28  projects outwardly from the locking pin  26  and through an oblong opening  32  near the distal end of the main stem  20 A and a mating oblong opening  34  in the rearward shank  44  of the fish point  16  such that the slidable locking pin  26  is moveable with respect to the main stem  20  and fish point  16  as described in more detail later. 
     The outer sleeve  30  has a length that extends over the main stem  20 A from the end of the fish point  16  toward the nock  14 , but terminates a short distance before the aperture  18  near the nock  14  on the main stem  20 A, such that the outer sleeve  30  is capable of moving longitudinally with respect to the main stem  20 A. An aperture  36  is provided in the outer sleeve  30  to receive the alignment peg  28  projecting from the locking pin  26  and extending through the oblong apertures  32 ,  34  in the main stem  20 A and rearward shank  44 . It should be appreciated that when the outer sleeve  30  is moved longitudinally with respect to the main stem  20 A, the alignment peg  28  projecting through the aperture  36  causes the locking pin  26  to move with the outer sleeve  30  such that the alignment peg moves longitudinally within the bore  22  of the main stem  20 A, the purpose for which will be described in more detail later. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 7-9 , the fish point  16  is the same as described in connection with the previous embodiment. The distal end of the main stem  20 A is received within the rearward shank  44  as previously described. The distal end of the main stem  20 A may have a stepped-down length as previously described for insertion into the central bore  46  or the entire length of the main stem  20 A may have the same diameter resulting in a slight step between the transition of the rearward shank  44  to the main stem  20 A. As previously described, a slight step at the transition of these two components will not affect sliding of the outer sleeve  30 , since the transition between the end of the rearward shank  44  and the main stem  20  is sufficiently rearward of the end of the outer sleeve that there is no chance for the outer sleeve to catch on the slight stepped transition even when the outer sleeve  30  is moved to its most rearward position. 
     Also as in the previous embodiment, the cylindrical body  40  has an outer diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the outer sleeve  30 . Thus, the transition from the larger diameter cylindrical body  40  to the smaller diameter rearward shank  44  results in a shoulder  48  (see  FIG. 6 ). The shoulder  48  has a height substantially the same as the thickness of the wall of the outer sleeve  30 . Thus, when the distal end of the outer sleeve abuts the shoulder  48 , the outer diameters of the cylindrical body  40  and the outer sleeve are flush creating a smooth transition from the fish point  16  to the outer sleeve  30  as the arrow penetrates the fish. 
     Also as in the previous embodiment, a slot  49  extends through the cylindrical body  40  to pivotally receive opposing barbs  50 ,  52  which pivot about pivot pin  54  extending through the cylindrical body  40  as illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 .  FIG. 7  shows the barbs  50 ,  52  in the shooting position.  FIG. 8  shows the barbs  50 ,  52  in the locked position.  FIG. 9  shows the barbs  50 ,  52  in the unlocked position. 
     For clarity,  FIGS. 10-12  show an enlarged view of only one of the barbs  50  as it cooperates with the locking pin  26 , in each of the respective shooting, locked and unlocked positions applicable in both embodiments described above. It should be appreciated that opposing barb  52  has the same configuration as the barb  50  and cooperates with the locking pin  26  in the same way, except it would be a mirror image to the cam  50  shown in  FIGS. 10-12 . The barb  50  includes an eccentric lobe  56  with a central aperture  58  through which the pivot pin  54  extends and about which the barb  50  pivots. The eccentric lobe  56  has a small radius edge surface  60 , an abrupt edge surface  62  which defines a cam  64  and a large radius surface  66 . 
     In use, the barbs  50 ,  52  are moved to the shooting position as shown in  FIGS. 1, 4 and 10  or as shown in  FIGS. 1, 7 and 10 , depending on the embodiment. When in the shooting position, the locking pin  26  engages the small radius edge  60  of the lobe  56 , loosely holding the barbs in the shooting position due to the bias of the coil spring  24 . When shot, the arrow  10  will typically penetrate all the way through the body of the fish such that the fish point  16  will be located on the opposite side of the fish&#39;s body. Once the bowfisherman begins to pull on the string tethered to the arrow, the fish will begin to slide down the shaft  12  toward the barbs  50 ,  52 . Once the fish&#39;s body makes contact with the barbs  50 ,  52 , the barbs are forced outwardly to the locked position as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5, and 11  or  FIGS. 2, 8 and 11  depending on the embodiment, clamping the locking pin  26  between the cams  64 . It should be appreciated that even if the arrow does not penetrate through the fish, the resistance from the flesh of the fish as the arrow is being pulled by the string will cause the barbs to be forced outwardly to the locked position and clamping the locking pin  26  between the cams  64 . 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 11 , it should be appreciated that the cam  64  prevents the barbs  50 ,  52  from further rotating outwardly because the abrupt edge  62  abuts the spring biased locking pin  26 . Likewise, the body of the fish pressing against the barbs  50 ,  52  prevents the barbs from rotating back toward the shooting position. Thus, the barbs  50 ,  52  will remain in the locked position until the fish is landed and it is desired to remove the arrow from the landed fish. 
     To remove the arrow from the fish, a simple one-handed maneuver is all that is required as explained step-by-step below. The bowfisherman simply grabs the outer sleeve  30  of the arrow with one hand to lift the fish above the ground a short distance. By gripping only the outer sleeve  30 , the entire weight of the fish is carried by the barbs  50 ,  52  of the fish point  16  which binds the locking pin  26  between the cams  64 . While continuing to grip only the outer sleeve  30 , the bowfisherman than gives a single quick and forceful downward thrust on the arrow, immediately followed by an upward thrust. This action generates a momentum that multiplies the force or weight of the fish acting on the barbs  50 ,  52 . When the fish&#39;s added weight (due to the momentum) hits the locked barbs, it is sufficient to overcome the clamping force of the cams  64  acting on the locking pin  26  permitting the locking pin to move upwardly within the bore  22  compressing the spring  24 . As the locking pin  26  moves upwardly within the bore, the peg  28  received within the aperture  36  permits the sleeve  30  to move upwardly relative to the main stem  20 ,  20 A and fully retracting the locking pin from between the cams  64 . With the locking pin  26  fully retracted, the barbs  50 ,  52  pivot about the pivot pin  58  from the locked position to the unlocked position as shown in  FIGS. 3, 6 and 9  due to the weight of the fish acting on the barbs. With the barbs in the unlocked position, the fish simply slides off the end of the arrow over the fish point  16 . 
     To move the barbs back to the shooting position, the bowfisherman simply forces the barbs rearwardly with the fingers of his bowhand without needing to set down the bow. With the barbs in the shooting position, the bowfisherman is ready to shoot another fish. 
     Various embodiments of the invention have been described above for purposes of illustrating the details thereof and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The details and features of the disclosed embodiments are not intended to be limiting, as many variations and modifications will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to be interpreted broadly and to include all variations and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.