Abstract:
An arrowhead is provided which includes a body and one or more blades fastened to the body. The end of the blade extends behind the end of the body and consequently behind the end of an arrow shaft. This arrangement moves the FOC back towards the center of gravity of the arrow.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of a prior filed application Ser. No. 61/008,681, filed on Dec. 21, 2007, entitled ARROWHEAD. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to arrowheads for use in bow and arrow target shooting and hunting and, more particularly, to an improved arrowhead with superior flight and performance characteristics achieved by extending the blades posterior of the end of the arrow shaft and moving the center of gravity forward. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior art arrowheads have included multiple fixed or rotating blades. The arrowhead is attached to an arrow shaft. Stability of the arrow and maximizing the delivery of energy to the target is important to achieve a successful result. The length and weight of an arrow, as well as the center of gravity or balance point, affects its flight characteristics. The longer the arrow is the more easily it will bend when shot. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an arrowhead that shifts the mass of the arrowhead toward the center of the arrow to allow for shorter arrows and thereby increasing the speed and kinetic energy of the arrow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, side elevational view of an arrow and the arrowhead of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of an arrow and the arrowhead of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the arrowhead of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the arrowhead of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of the arrowhead of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the arrowhead of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of the arrowhead of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged side view of the body of the arrowhead with the blades removed of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 8A  is an enlarged side view of an alternate embodiment of the body of the arrowhead. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the arrowhead body of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a rear view of the arrowhead body of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of the arrowhead body of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  is a rear perspective view of the arrowhead body of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 13  is a side elevational view of one of the blades of the arrowhead of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 14  is an end view of the blade of  FIG. 12   
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the blade of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an arrow is illustrated and generally identified by reference numeral  10 . Arrow  10  includes a shaft  12 , a nock  14 , fletching  16  and an insert  18 . The shaft  12  is typically a long, hollow tube made of aluminum or carbon/graphite composite materials. The rear of the shaft is fitted with the nock  14  which is typically made of molded plastic. The nock  14  allows the arrow  10  to be attached to the string of a bow (not shown). The fletching  16  typically includes three or more vanes or feathers glued onto the shaft  12  in an equally-spaced, circular pattern and provides steering and stabilization of the arrow  10  during flight. The insert  18  is typically an aluminum or plastic sleeve which is glued or pressed into the end of the shaft  12 . The insert  18  provides a threaded hole in which to screw in the arrow&#39;s tip or arrowhead  20 . 
     In order for the arrow  10  to achieve stable flight and thus accuracy, most of the mass of the arrow must be positioned in front of the center of gravity  15  of the arrow  10 . This point is often referred to as the front or forward of center (“FOC”) point  17 . If all of the mass of the arrowhead is beyond the end of the shaft  12  corresponding to a high FOC  17 , the arrow  10  will generally fly well but with a premature loss of trajectory. To move the FOC  17  back toward the center  15  a longer shaft  12  is used or heavier fletching  16 . However, this results in an arrow  10  having lower speed and thus lower kinetic energy. 
     The arrowhead  20  of the present invention shifts the FOC  17  of the arrow toward the center  15  without added weight by extending the mass of the arrowhead  20  back toward the center  15 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-7 , an arrowhead of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  20 . Arrowhead  20  includes a body  22  and three evenly spaced blades  24 . 
     The body  22  of arrowhead  20 , as depicted in  FIGS. 8-12 , is preferably a unitary integral device formed of a cylindrical metal stock. The body  22  has three major portions, a cone-shaped tip  26 , a shank  28  and a threaded end  30 . In the preferred embodiment, the tip has a 60° taper. Shank  28  includes three concentric cylinders  32 ,  34  and  36  having a common longitudinal axis  38 . The diameter of the cylinders of the shank  28  may vary up to the diameter of the tip  26  at its base  40 . 
     The body  22  may be machined from steel, aluminum, or other suitable material or may be cast. Body  22  may be assembled with replaceable or interchangeable cylinders  32 ,  34  and  36  so that the weight of the arrowhead  20  may be varied as desired by the user. As shown in  FIG. 8A , the body  22  may include a frusto-conical section  33 . The taper in section  33  allows the arrowhead  20  to be pulled to the center of the shaft as the arrowhead  20  is screwed into the insert  18  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-7  and  13 - 15 , the arrowhead  20  includes three blades  24  which may be welded or otherwise fastened to the body  22 . Although the arrowhead  20  is depicted with three symmetrically-spaced blades  24 , other blade configurations and quantities may be used. 
     Each blade  24  is generally trapezoidal in shape with two parallel edges  25  and  27 . It should be understood that other blade shapes may be used. The longer edge  25  is sharpened to provide a cutting edge  42 . The shorter edge  27  is secured to the cone-shaped tip  26  of body  22  by welding, gluing, or other fastening method. A point  29  of blade  24  extends forward of tip  26  and forms the tip  43  of arrowhead  20 . A tail  31  of blade  24  extends rearward of shank  22  and end  30 . When the arrowhead  20  is mounted on the shaft  22  of arrow  10 , the tails  31  of blades  24  extend rearward of the insert  18  and end of the shaft  12 , which shifts the FOC  17  of the arrow  10  toward the center  15 . Blade  24  may be constructed of 18 GA steel or other suitable material. Each end of the blade  24  is cut at a 24° angle. However, other angles may be used depending on the desired cut width and the angle of the body tip  26 . 
     It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto, except in so far as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.