Abstract:
A game finder which facilitates finding of an arrow after it is shot is disclosed. The game finder includes an arrow and at least one transmitting module provided on the arrow for emitting a recovery signal when the arrow strikes game or a target.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to arrow hunting accessories. More particularly, the present invention relates to a game finder which includes an arrow fitted with at least one transmitting module that transmits light and/or activates a receiver to indicate the location of the arrow to a shooter after it is shot. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Bow hunting is a popular sport in the United States and around the world. In bow hunting, a hunter uses a stringed bow to propel an arrow at game such as deer, antelope or bear in an attempt to strike and kill the game with the arrow. While it can be an, effective technique used to kill game, bow hunting requires skill to strike the game in a vital organ to hasten the death and capture of the fallen game. 
   One of the limitations of bow hunting is that an arrow is frequently shot into the game in such a manner that the game is not immediately killed or immobilized. The game may then run off with the arrow stuck into its flesh. In such cases, an attempt is frequently made to locate the game by following a blood trail on the ground or by other means. In many game-hunting environments, such as those which are heavily wooded or semi-dark, this can render it difficult or impossible to locate the game. Therefore, a game finder is needed to facilitate locating game after the game is struck with an arrow. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is generally directed to a game finder which facilitates finding of an arrow after it is shot into game or a target. The game finder includes an arrow and at least one transmitting module provided on the arrow for emitting a recovery signal when the arrow strikes game or a target. The game finder may further include a receiver unit which is activated by the transmitting module or modules to indicate the location of the arrow to the shooter. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an arrow and a receiver unit of an illustrative embodiment of the game finder according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view, partially in section, of an arrow of the game finder, illustrating embedding of the arrow into game flesh and simultaneous breaking away of the transmitting modules from the arrow; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an arrow of the game finder, illustrating an exemplary break away band technique for mounting the transmitting modules on the arrow; 
       FIG. 4  is a longitudinal cross-section of a portion of the arrow, illustrating threaded attachment of an arrow tip onto the main shaft of the arrow; 
       FIG. 5  is a longitudinal sectional view of a transmitting module of the game finder; and 
       FIG. 6  are schematic diagrams of a transmitter and a receiver unit, respectively, of the game finder. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   An illustrative embodiment of the game finder according to the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  1  in  FIG. 1 . The game finder  1  includes an arrow  2  which can be shot using a standard stringed bow (not illustrated). The game finder  1  may further include a receiver unit  25  which can be used to track, locate or find the arrow  2  in the event that the arrow  2  is misplaced or lost after being shot from the bow, as will be hereinafter described. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the arrow  2  includes an elongated shaft  3 , the rear end portion of which is fitted with multiple flights  5  that are spaced-apart about the circumference of the shaft  3 , typically in conventional fashion. A neck  19 , having a string notch  20 , is provided on the rear end of the shaft  3 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , an arrow tip  2   a  may be attached to the front end of the shaft  3 . The arrow tip  2   a  is provided with multiple blades  4  and typically engages the shaft  3  through threads  3   a . A nylon ring  22  may be interposed between the arrow tip  2   a  and the shaft  3 . Alternatively, the arrow tip  2   a  may be one piece with the shaft  3 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , multiple transmitting modules  6  are removably attached to the shaft  3  of the arrow  2 , typically just behind the arrow tip  2   a . Each of the transmitting modules  6  may be removably attached to the shaft  3  using any of a variety of techniques. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the transmitting modules  6  may be removably attached to the ring  22  which is interposed between the arrow tip  2   a  and the shaft  3 , using a loose-binding glue, for example, or other techniques which are known by those skilled in the art. Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a module support  6   a  may be mounted on the shaft  3  and the modules  6  friction-fitted or snapped into respective notches (not shown) provided in the module support  6   a . Still further in the alternative, as shown in  FIG. 3 , multiple module depressions  42  may be provided in the outer surface of the shaft  3 , in which case the transmitting modules  6  are seated in the respective module depressions  42 . A module cover  43  removably engages the shaft  3  and covers the transmitting modules  6  to enclose the transmitting modules  6  in the respective module depressions  42 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , each transmitting module  6  includes an elongated, typically cylindrical housing  7  having a housing interior  8 . A module tip  9  slidably extends through a tip opening  9   a  provided in the front end of the module housing  7  and includes a tip base  10  that extends inside the housing interior  8 . A battery  11  is contained in the housing interior  8  and has a positive pole  11   a  which faces the tip base  10 . A spring  12  contained in the housing interior  8  contacts the negative pole  11   b  of the battery  11  and normally biases the module tip  9  in an extended position from the module housing  7  and maintains the tip base  10  in spaced-apart relationship to the positive pole  11   a  of the battery  11 , thus breaking electrical contact between the positive pole  11   a  and negative pole  11   b  of the battery  11 . On the other hand, when the module tip  9  is pushed into the tip opening  9   a , the tip base  10  contacts the positive pole  11   a , thereby establishing electrical contact between the positive pole  11   a  and negative pole  11   b  of the battery  11  and energizing the battery  11  through the tip base  10  and spring  12 . 
   A microprocessor  13  contained in the housing interior  8  is electrically connected to the battery  11 . A transmitter  14  in the housing interior  8  is electrically connected to the microprocessor  13 . A light socket  15  is fitted in the rear end of the module housing  7  and is electrically connected to the transmitter  14 , and a light bulb or LED  16  is threaded in the light socket  15 . A transparent or translucent cap  17  is typically threaded on the rear end of the module housing  7  via cap threads  18  and encloses the light bulb or LED  16 . The microprocessor  13  can be selected to activate the transmitter  14 , energize and illuminate the light bulb or LED  16  or both activate the transmitter  14  and energize or illuminate the light bulb or LED  16  upon receiving electric current from the battery  11 , as will be hereinafter described. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the transmitter unit  14  typically includes a transmitter unit housing  14   a  which contains the transmitter unit components. These may include, for example, a microprocessor  34  which is connected to the microprocessor  13  ( FIG. 5 ), as well as a power source  35  connected to the microprocessor  34 ; a contact switch  36  connected to the microprocessor  34  and power source  35  for energizing the microprocessor  34 ; and a transmitter  37  and a light  38  individually connected to the microprocessor  34 . The microprocessor  34  includes the capability of activating the transmitter  37  and causing the transmitter  37  to emit electromagnetic signals which activate the receiver unit  25  upon activation by the microprocessor  13 , as will be hereinafter described. 
   As further shown in  FIG. 6 , the receiver unit  25  typically includes a receiver unit housing  25   a  which contains the receiver unit components. These may include, for example, a microprocessor  26 ; a power source  27  and a power source  29  individually connected to the microprocessor  26 ; a receiver  28  connected to the microprocessor  26 ; and a display  30  connected to the microprocessor  26 . The receiver  28  is capable of sensing electromagnetic signals emitted by the transmitter  37  of the transmitter unit  14 . The display  30  may include an electronic map, for example, or a numerical digital display which is capable of indicating the relative location or distance of the receiver unit  25  with respect to the transmitting module  6  responsive to the strength of electromagnetic signals received by the receiver  28  from the transmitter  37  of the transmitter unit  14 . The microprocessor  26  includes the capability of converting the relative strength of the electromagnetic signals, as indicated by electrical signals transmitted from the receiver  28 , into location or distance and indicating this information as the relative location or distance of the receiver unit  25  with respect to the transmitting module  6  on the display  30 . 
   Referring next to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  5  and  6 , in typical application of the game finder  1 , the arrow  2  is shot from a stringed bow (not shown), which may be conventional, typically in an attempt to shoot game such as deer or antelope, for example. Next, the shooter (not illustrated) holds the receiver unit  25  in his or hand or wears the receiver unit  25  on his or her clothing, for example. As shown in  FIG. 2 , as the arrow tip  2   a  pierces and becomes embedded in the flesh  46  of the game, the transmitting modules  6  contact and become embedded in the flesh  46 . Simultaneously, the transmitting modules  6  break away from the module support  6   a  ( FIG. 2 ) or the ring  22  ( FIG. 1 ), or the module covers  43  break away from the arrow  2  and release the transmitting modules  6 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . As the module tip  9  of each transmitting module  6  strikes and pierces the game flesh  46 , the module tip  9  is pushed through the tip opening  9   a  ( FIG. 5 ) and the tip base  10  contacts the positive pole  11   a  of the battery  11 , thus energizing the battery  11 . Therefore, the battery  11  transmits an electric current to the microprocessor  13 , which generates a recovery signal by activating the transmitter unit  14 , the light bulb or LED  16 , or both depending on the selection previously chosen on the transmitter unit  14 . 
   The transmitter  37  of the transmitter unit  14  activates the receiver  28  of the receiver unit  25  by emitting recovery signals in the form of electromagnetic signals such as radio waves, for example, as heretofore noted. The strength or magnitude of the electromagnetic signals is indirectly proportional to the distance between the receiver unit  25  and the transmitting modules  6 . Therefore, the microprocessor  26  of the receiver unit  25  determines the location or distance of the receiver unit  25  with respect to the transmitting modules  6  depending on the strength or magnitude of the electromagnetic signals picked up by the receiver  28  from the transmitter  37  of the transmitter unit  14 . The microprocessor  26  indicates this information in the form of location (in the case of an electronic map) or distance (in the form of digital numerals) on the display  30 . Therefore, the shooter can view this information on the display  30  and ascertain in which direction he or she must proceed in order to reach the arrow  2 . The closer the shooter gets to the arrow  2 , the stronger the electromagnetic signals transmitted by the transmitting modules  6  to the receiver unit  25 , and therefore, the closer the location or distance indicated on the display  30  of the receiver unit  25 . Finally, the shooter arrives within sighting distance of the arrow  2  and is capable of retrieving the arrow  2  and/or the game in which the arrow is stuck. As the shooter searches for the arrow  2 , the light bulb or LED  16  is illuminated, thus enhancing visual sighting of the arrow  2  by the shooter, particularly in a dark environment. 
   While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.