Patent Publication Number: US-4093229-A

Title: Game tracing arrow

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a game tracing arrow. More particularly, the invention relates to a game tracing arrow for providing a trail for game struck by the arrow. 
     Objects of the invention are to provide a game tracing arrow of simple structure, which is inexpensive in manufacture, used with facility and convenience, and functions efficiently, effectively and reliably to provide a trail for game struck by the arrow. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a view of an embodiment of the game tracing arrow of the invention embedded in a target; 
     FIG. 2 is a view, on an enlarged scale, partly cut away and partly in section, of the embodiment of FIG. 1, prior to impact with a target; 
     FIG. 3 is a view, on an enlarged scale, partly cut away and partly in section, of the embodiment of FIG. 1, after impact with a target; and 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of part of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The game tracing arrow of the invention provides a trail for game such as, for example, a deer 1, shown in FIG. 1, struck by the arrow. 
     The game tracing arrow of the invention comprises, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a hollow shaft 2 having spaced opposite first and second ends 3 and 4, respectively. The shaft 2 opens at its first end 3 and is filled in so that it is solid in the area of its second end 4, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, for a predetermined part L1 of the length from said second end (FIG. 2). 
     The shaft 2 has a plurality of equiangularly spaced holes formed therethrough around the circumference thereof where said shaft is hollow, but next-adjacent the solid part thereof. In the views of FIGS. 2 to 4, two of the holes 5 and 6, which are diametrically opposite each other, are shown. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the holes 5 and 6 are formed through the shaft around the circumference thereof where said shaft is hollow, but next-adjacent the solid part 7 of said shaft. 
     A trail-indicating dye material 8 is provided in the hollow shaft 2, as shown in FIG. 4. The dye material is preferably non-toxic and is brightly colored so that it leaves a clear trail. The material 8 is preferably semi-amorphous, so that it seeps through the holes 5, 6, and so on, rather than pouring through rapidly. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, feathers 9, 10, and so on, are affixed to the shaft 2 and extend from the area of the second end 4 of the shaft where said shaft is solid. 
     A piston member 11 (FIGS. 2 to 4) is coaxially movably mounted in the shaft 2 at the first end 3 thereof and extends a predetermined distance L2 out of said first end (FIG. 2) and a predetermined distance L3 into said shaft (FIG. 2). 
     A head part 12, which may comprise an arrowhead or cutting point, or the like, is mounted on the piston member 11, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, at the end of said piston member extending out of the first end 3 of the shaft 2. 
     When the arrow strikes a target, such as, for example, the target 1 of FIG. 1, the impact with the target forces the piston member 11 back into the shaft 2 in the direction of the arrow 13 of FIG. 4, thereby causing the dye material 8 to gradually drip to the ground through the shaft 2 to mark the trail of the target. 
     While the invention has been described by means of a specific example and in a specific embodiment, I do not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Arrows of the type described in the present application are disclosed in the following U.S. Patents: U.S. Pat. No. 2,923,243, issued to Crockford et al on Feb. 2, 1960, U.S. Pat. No. 3,150,875, issued to Searles on Sept. 20, 1964, U.S. Pat. No. 3,207,157, issued to Murdoch on Sept. 21, 1965, U.S. Pat. No. 3,393,912, issued to DeLonais on July 23, 1968; U.S. Pat No. 3,417,994, issued to Rohrbaugh, Jr. on Dec. 24, 1968, U.S. Pat. No. 3,528,662, issued to Merchant et al on Sept. 15, 1970, U.S. Pat. No. 3,565,435, issued to Bear on Feb. 23, 1971, U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,533, issued to Palmer on Oct. 31, 1972, U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,374, issued to Troncoso on Feb. 11, 1975, U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,866, issued to Hollingsworth on July 8, 1975 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,311, issued to Johnson on Nov. 23, 1976.