Abstract:
Embodiments included herein include a projectile system. At least one embodiment of the a projectile system includes hollow portion and a weight that is movably secured within the hollow portion of the projectile insert system. Some embodiments include an attracting device rigidly secured at a first end of the hollow portion, the attracting device removably securing the weight, where the hollow portion provides a pathway for the weight to travel when a force is exerted on the projectile insert system that causes the weight to become unsecured from the attracting device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/290,276, filed Dec. 28, 2009, entitled “Arrow Impact System,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    With bow and other types hunting, a hunter oftentimes needs to be very accurate with the impact position of a shot. More specifically, as arrows and other projectiles are less lethal than other weaponry, a bow shot oftentimes must strike the target animal in a certain location to ensure a pass through shot that creates enough trauma to ensure death, minimize suffering, and reduce a distance the animal runs before death. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Embodiments included herein include a projectile system. At least one embodiment of a projectile system includes hollow portion and a weight that is movably secured within the hollow portion of the projectile insert system. Some embodiments include an attracting device rigidly secured at a first end of the hollow portion, the attracting device removably securing the weight, where the hollow portion provides a pathway for the weight to travel when a force is exerted on the projectile insert system that causes the weight to become unsecured from the attracting device. 
         [0004]    Other embodiments and/or advantages of this disclosure will be or may become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description and be within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
         [0005]    Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. While several embodiments are described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of an arrow system, according to embodiments disclosed herein; 
           [0007]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict an embodiment of an arrow system insert for a screw-type attachment, according to embodiments disclosed herein; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  depicts an embodiment of an arrow system insert for an adhesive-type attachment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    Embodiments disclosed herein include systems for an arrow attachment. In some embodiments, the arrow attachment is integral to the arrow, while in some embodiments the arrow attachment is detachable from the arrow. Regardless, embodiments disclosed herein include a weight that is disposed within the arrow attachment that is free to move along the length of the arrow attachment. Also included is a magnet or other attracting device for attracting and/or removably securing the weight. Another attracting device may also be disposed within the projectile insert system, toward a tail area, such that when the arrow strikes a target, the inertia from the weight will force the weight off the attracting device, toward an arrowhead area. When the weight strikes the arrowhead area, additional force is provided for the arrow, thereby improving the effectiveness of the arrow. Other embodiments are also disclosed, as indicated below. 
         [0010]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a projectile system  100 . As illustrated, the projectile system  100  includes an arrow shaft  101  and an arrowhead  104 . The arrow shaft  101  includes an insert system  102  that may define a hollow portion within which an attracting device  106  and a weight  108  may reside. The weight  108  may be configured to traverse a pathway defined by the hollow portion of the projectile insert system  102  to a broad head insert reinforcement  110 . The broad head insert reinforcement  110  provides stability to prevent damage to the projectile system  100  after the weight  108  strikes the target. 
         [0011]    The weight  108  may be made of any material that can be removably connected and/or attracted to the attracting device  106  and may be a one piece component or a multi-piece component (such as a hollow weight with bead weights inside, a slotted weight, a fluted weight, etc.). The materials that may be used for the weight  108  include lead, aluminum, and/or other metals and nonmetals. 
         [0012]    Similarly, the attracting device  106  may include a magnet and/or other device for attracting and/or removably securing the weight  108 . The attracting device  106  may be fixed at a predetermined distance from the broad head insert reinforcement  110 . The attracting device  106  may be composed of any of a plurality of materials (e.g., natural magnets, synthetic magnets, adhesive materials, etc.) that attracts and/or otherwise removably secures the weight  108 . The position of the attracting device  106  may be determined based on the weight of the arrow (or other projectile), characteristics of the bow that will shoot the arrow, type of game, and/or other criteria. Similarly, the strength and weight of the attracting device  106  may be determined based on similar factors. 
         [0013]    Further, the weight  108  may be configured to traverse the length of the arrow shaft between the attracting device  106  and the broad head insert reinforcement  110 . The attracting device  106  may be located such that a user can position the arrow with the arrowhead  104  pointing upward to set the weight  108  to attach to the attracting device  106 . The user may then fire the arrow (using a bow or other similar device). The weight  108  may be configured to stay attached to the attracting device  106  until the arrow impacts a target. At impact, the velocity of the arrow will significantly decrease. 
         [0014]    According to that change in velocity, the momentum of the weight  108  will be great enough to overcome the force that keeps the weight  108  attached to the attracting device  106 . The weight  108  may then continue to move along the length of the projectile insert system  102  until the weight  108  strikes the broad head insert reinforcement  110 . When the weight  108  strikes the broad head insert reinforcement  110 , the force of the weight  108  may further provide force to the projectile system  100  as a whole to force the arrowhead completely through the target. Use of the attracting device  106  and weight  108  in this manner allows a hunter greater freedom from less lethal, penetrating, and/or missed shots, as well as provide a more humane demise to the target animal. 
         [0015]    Additionally, in some embodiments, a tube or sleeve made of aluminum, plastic, and/or other material may be inserted and/or bonded to the inner wall of the projectile system  100  between the attracting device  106  and the broad head insert reinforcement  110  to reinforce the inner wall of the arrow for the length of travel of the moveable weight. Such reinforcement may reduce wear that can occur when the weight  108  repeatedly travels within the projectile insert system  102 . 
         [0016]    One should note that in some embodiments, the projectile system  100  of  FIG. 1  may be configured with insulation to reduce noise created by the motion of the weight  108 . The insulation may be attached to the broad head insert reinforcement  110  and/or at other areas of the projectile system  100 . Similarly, some embodiments may be configured with the stopper also being constructed of magnetic material that is attached at the broad head insert reinforcement  110 . Accordingly, the attraction of the stopper with the weight  108  may further increase the momentum of the weight  108  relative to the projectile insert system  102  at impact, thereby creating a greater force for the arrow to cleanly exit the target animal. 
         [0017]    Additionally, while some embodiments include an attracting device  106  that is fixed, some embodiments may be configured where the weight  108  is fixed and the attracting device  106  traverses the hollow portion of the projectile insert system  102 . Further, while some embodiments may be user-configurable, some embodiments may be configured with the attracting device  106  and weight  108  permanently positioned inside the projectile insert system  102 , such that a user may not have access. Similarly, while the embodiments of the projectile system discussed herein relate to arrows, some embodiments may be applied to spears, harpoons, bullets, and/or other projectiles. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict an embodiment of an arrow system insert  200  for a screw-type attachment, according to embodiments disclosed herein. As illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the arrow system insert  200  may be configured for removable attachment to an arrow and arrowhead. The arrow system insert  200  may include a shaft component  202 , as well as a threaded shaft receiving component  204 , a weight  206 , an attracting device  208 , a plurality of padding inserts  210   a ,  210   b , and a threaded arrowhead receiving component  212 . The weight  206  may reside within the arrow system insert  200  and may be unobstructed to move between the first padding insert  210   a  and the second padding insert  210   b . Included within the first padding insert is the attracting device  208 . The first padding insert  210   a  may be secured within the shaft component  202  and may be secured in place within the shaft component  202 . Such that when the weight  206  contacts the attracting device  208  and the first padding insert  210   a , the padding insert  210  a does not move relative to the rest of the arrow system insert  200 . While the plurality of padding inserts  210   a ,  210   b  may be constructed of nylon, other materials may be utilized to absorb the impact of the weight  206  and stabilize the shaft component  202 . The padding insert  210   a  is configured to absorb rearward impact and provide a sufficient mechanism for holding the attracting device  208 . The padding inserts  210   a ,  210   b , may be construed of any synthetic and/or metallic material. 
         [0019]    Also included are the threaded shaft receiving component  204  and the threaded arrowhead receiving component  212 . The threaded shaft receiving component  204  may be configured to removably receive a standard arrow shaft via a threaded screwing mechanism. Similarly, an arrowhead may be received by the threaded arrowhead receiving component  212 . 
         [0020]    It should be understood that while the threaded shaft receiving component  204  and the threaded arrowhead receiving component  212  may be threaded and configured to receive a corresponding threaded portion of an arrow shaft and arrowhead respectively, these are merely examples, as any mechanism for securing the arrowhead and the arrow shaft may be utilized. 
         [0021]    It should be understood that, while other parameters may be utilized, in some embodiments of an arrow projectile, the weight  206  may have a length from about ¼ inches to about 2 inches, and in some embodiments the length may be about 1½ inches. Similarly, the weight  206  may have a diameter from 1/16 inches to about ½ inches and in some embodiments of the arrow projectile, the diameter may be about 15/32 inches. In some embodiments of the arrow projectile, the distance between the padding inserts  210   a ,  210   b  may have a length equal to the length of the weight  206 , plus from about ⅛ inches to about 15 inches (or half the length of the projectile). In some embodiments of an arrow projectile, this length is the length of the weight  206 , plus 1½ inches. Further, in some embodiments of an arrow projectile, the attracting device  208  may have a length from about 1/32 inches to about ½ inches and a diameter (or width) from about 1/32 inches to about ½ inches. However, regardless of the dimensions of the weight  206  and the attracting device  208 , the mass of the weight  206  may be from about 5 grains to about 1000 grains (in some embodiments from about 150 grains to about 200 grains). The attracting device  208  may have a strength from about 0 pounds to about ½ pounds and in some embodiments about ⅛ pounds. Similarly, the thread size of the arrow system insert  200  may be about ¼- 20  thread and may have a length of about 1 inches for embodiments of an arrow projectile. 
         [0022]    It should be understood that the dimensions discussed above are merely examples, as other dimensions may be utilized for performing the intended function. Similarly, as other types of projectiles may have dimensions that are substantially different than those of an arrow projectile, the ranges provided above may be proportionally different, based on the speed, size, and weight of the projectile. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2B  further depicts the first padding insert  210   a  and padding sleeve from a different perspective. It should be understood that the first padding insert  210   a  may be of any shape, but as illustrated in  FIG. 2B , may be cylindrical in shape. Additionally the first padding insert  210   a  may be removably or non-removably secured within the first padding insert  210   a , such that the attracting device  208  is positioned to attract and/or secure the weight  206 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  depicts an embodiment of an arrow system insert  300  for an adhesive-type attachment. As illustrated, the embodiment of  FIG. 3  the arrow system insert  300  may include a shaft component  302 . The shaft component  302  may be coupled to and/or include an adhesive shaft receiving component  304 , a weight  306 , an attracting device  308 , a plurality of padding inserts  310   a ,  310   b , and an adhesive arrowhead receiving component  312 . Similar to the embodiment from  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the embodiment of  FIG. 3  includes the adhesive shaft receiving component  304  and an adhesive arrowhead receiving component  312 . The adhesive shaft receiving component  304  and an adhesive arrowhead receiving component  312  may be configured to receive an arrow shaft and arrowhead, respectively, and secure those components via an adhesive connection, frictional connection, or the like. 
         [0025]    It should be understood that while  FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict utilizing only threaded components for the threaded shaft receiving component  204  and the threaded arrowhead receiving component  212  and  FIG. 3  depicts utilizing only adhesive components for the adhesive shaft receiving component  304  and the adhesive arrowhead receiving component  312 , these are merely examples. In some embodiments, a threaded component may be utilized for the shaft receiving component and an adhesive component may be utilized for the arrowhead receiving component (or vice versa). Similarly, other components may also be used. 
         [0026]    One should also note that conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more particular embodiments or that one or more particular embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. 
         [0027]    It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of this disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. Further, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover all combinations and sub-combinations of all elements, features, and aspects discussed above. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure.