Abstract:
A no kill device for use in tracking and hunting wild game that can be projected from a device, such as attached to an arrow shaft and shot from a bow. An encapsulated marking media with an energy absorbing receiver and a base is attached to an arrow shaft for use with a bow.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 60/580,618, filed Jun. 17, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This application relates to a no kill device for use in tracking and hunting wild game that can be projected from a device, such as attached to an arrow shaft and shot from a bow.  
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Prior bow hunting equipment exists with attempts at marking media, but has failed to achieve any commercial viability, as well as prohibitively costing too much and also being difficult to manufacture and package for the consumer market. With the use of paintball equipment to mark cattle that are to be culled from a herd, and the subsequent growth of the paintball industry, there is no known similar product or similar growth in the area of arrow based projectiles.  
         [0004]     A lightweight arrowhead based marking solution is provided here that can be built to weigh no more than 125 grains. The use of energy absorbing materials will reduce the impact energy when the arrow hits its target, with an ability to use a variety of Encapsulated Marking Media shapes and colors.  
         [0005]     The sleek, aerodynamic design that provides for minimal wind resistance and improved accuracy. A standoff distance afforded by the device should result in a more visible mark on target.  
         [0006]     The cost to manufacture is greatly reduced due to simplified tooling for all components, especially the Base, the Energy Absorbing Receiver and the Energy Absorbing Nose Cone. An Encapsulated Marking Media container can be built to contain both a marking medium and an energy absorbing element. The design uses male/female components to insure the trueness of manufacture along a longitudinal axis.  
         [0007]     In one alternative design, in addition to the advantages noted above, greater likelihood that the Base will follow along a longitudinal axis when “collapsing” and subsequently creating the mark on target exist. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     Figure A illustrates a bow and arrow as conventionally used, but with the attachment of the present invention disposed on the end of the arrow shaft in place of a penetrating arrow;  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates the first embodiment of the attachment;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates the second embodiment of the attachment; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates the third embodiment of the attachment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     Three designs are described here, with the first design of  FIG. 1  preferred over the other designs. The  FIG. 1  design has three components: Base (A), Encapsulated Marking Media (EMM) (B) and Energy Absorbing Nose Cone (C). Base (A) may/may not have a protruding member (a 1 ) or a receiving element (a 2 ) that would be used to center the EMM onto the Base during the assembly process. The Base would be attached to the shaft of the arrow via a threaded element on the Base. The Base would be made out of aluminum, plastic or other material with the strength required to rupture the EMM during impact with the target. The EMM would be designed to interface with both the Base and the Energy Absorbing Nose Cone. The EMM will be filled with a colored liquid/gel, powder or other marking media and could contain an energy absorbent element as well. The Energy Absorbing Nose Cone would be made out of a closed or open cell material that was capable of being molded into the shape required and absorbing energy upon impact with the target. Similar to the Base, the Energy Absorbing Nose Cone may/may not have a protruding member or a receiving element that would be used to center the Energy Absorbing Nose Cone onto the EMM. The three components would be attached via glue, etc. to form an integral unit that after being placed on an arrow shaft and shot from a bow would, upon impact, “collapse” in such a manner as to distribute the marking media on the target and allow for the arrowhead&#39;s point of impact to be seen from a distance.  
         [0013]     In this design, it is expected that the facings of the EMM that interface with the Base and the Energy Absorbing Nose Cone will be relatively flat/parallel (except for the “centering” elements noted above) such that all the components can be solidly connected along a longitudinal axis and thereby form a structurally sound and integral product.  
         [0014]     The second design of  FIG. 2  is similar to the design of  FIG. 1  but adds a fourth element, an Energy Absorbing Receiver. The four components are: Base (A), Energy Absorbing Receiver (B), Encapsulated Marking Media (EMM) (C) and Energy Absorbing Nose Cone (D). The Energy Absorbing Receiver was added to provide additional energy absorption capability as well as to provide a custom moldable cushion between the Base and the EMM given the anticipated non-flat properties of the EMM, as noted below.  
         [0015]     In this design, it is anticipated that the facings of the EMM that interface with the Energy Absorbing Receiver (Facing C 1 ) and the Energy Absorbing Nose Cone (Facing C 2 ) may not be flat surfaces. As such, the interfaces between the EMM and the Energy Absorbing Receiver (or if not using the Energy Absorbing Receiver, the Base) on the one side and the EMM and the Energy Absorbing Nose Cone on the other would have to be customized to provide appropriate support and interfacing integrity to allow all the components to be attached via glue, etc. to form an integral unit such that all the components could be suitable connected and result in a product that was integral along a longitudinal axis.  
         [0016]     The third design ( FIG. 3 ) uses the design of  FIG. 2  and adds a fifth component, the Guidance Cage. The five components are: Base (A), Energy Absorbing Receiver (B), Encapsulated Marking Media (C), Guidance Cage (D) and Energy Absorbing Nose Cone (E). The Guidance Cage (D) has been added to provide support and guidance to Base (A) such that upon impact with the target, Base (A) would be guided in its travel such as to assure that it “collapses” the EMM and contacts the Energy Absorbing Nose Cone along the longitudinal axis of the arrowhead.