Patent Publication Number: US-8118694-B1

Title: Arrow tip with driven deployable retractable blade members

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to archery and, more specifically, to a broadhead or other style arrow tip having retractable blades that deploy upon impact with a target and having a main body with retractable/deployable razor sharp blades pivotally attached and set to deploy to a desired angular position. 
     When the arrow tip impacts its target, the forward end of the arrow shaft is forced forward by the arrow&#39;s kinetic energy, compressing a variable tension spring and deploying the blades to a predetermined angle, such as 35 to 40 degrees. When the arrow tip is removed from its target, the spring biases the blades back into the main body. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other arrow tips designed for archery. While these arrow tips may be suitable for the purposes for which they where designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     It is thus desirable to provide an arrow tip having means for deploying and retracting blade members. 
     It is further desirable to provide an arrow tip that deploys blade members to desired angular positions upon impact with a target and to retract the blade members when the arrow tip is pulled and removed from the target. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a broadhead or other style arrow tip having means for deploying blade members to a desired angular relationship upon contact with a target and means for retracting said blade members when disengaged and pulled from said target. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a broadhead or other style arrow tip having a main body with the deployable retractable blade members pivotally attached by set screws. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a broadhead or other style arrow tip having blade members with a plurality of teeth matable with circumferential ridges on a cylindrical extension extending from a forward end of the arrow shaft for driving the blade members into either a deployed or seated position. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a broadhead or other style arrow tip having a spring for normally biasing the deployed blade members to their retracted position. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a broadhead or other style arrow tip having retractable blades that deploy upon impact with a target and having a main body with the retractable/deployable razor sharp blades pivotally attached and angularly set by set screws. When the arrow head impacts its target, the cylindrical extension at the forward end of the arrow shaft is forced forward by the arrows kinetic energy, compressing the spring and deploying the blades to a preset angle such as 35 to 40 degrees. When the arrow tip is removed from its target, the spring biases the blades to retract back into the main body. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the arrow tip of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the prior art and the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view the arrow tip of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded sectional view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view the present invention with blades retracted. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view the present invention with blades deployed. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawing figures, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Arrow Tip With Driven Deployable Retractable Blade Member of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
       10  Arrow Tip of the present invention     12  hunter     14  blades     16  closed position     18  deployed position     20  bow     22  arrow     24  arrow shaft     26  forward end of  24       28  main body of  10       30  edged portion of  14       32  biasing means     34  engagement means     36  retaining means     38  prior art arrow tip     40  spring     42  cylindrical extension     44  rear end of  28       46  arrow shaft recess     48  cylinder recess     50  threaded cap     52  threads on  44       54  flange on  26       56  longitudinal blade slots     58  distal free end of  14       60  pivotally connected end of  14       62  circumferential ridges on  42       64  mating teeth on  60       66  threaded aperture in  60       68  set screw     70  stainless steel tip   

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the arrow tip of the present invention, a generally broadhead arrow tip  10  of the type commonly used by a bow hunter  12  during hunting season. The invention provides a broadhead arrow tip  10  having blades  14  normally biased into a retracted, or closed position  16 . Upon impact with a target, the blades  14  are pivoted into a deployed position  18 . Shown is a hunter  12  employing a bow  20  with a nocked and drawn arrow  22  ready for release toward a target. The arrow  22  includes an arrow shaft  24  having a forward end  26  and a number of blades  14  pivotally affixed and jointly pivotable between a closed position  16  with the blades  14  retained substantially within the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10  and a deployed position  18  with the blades  14  extended. In the closed position  16 , the arrow tip  10  is much easier and safer to handle and transport, as no sharp edged portions  30  of the blades  14  are exposed prior to target impact. A biasing means  32  within the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10  biases the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  normally rearward, while engagement means  34  couples the forward end  26  of the shaft  24  to the blades  14  such that forward motion of the shaft  24  acts to pivot the blades  14  from the closed position  16 , wherein the edged portions  30  of each blade  14  are fully retained within the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 , into the deployed position  18 , with the blades  14  extending outwardly from the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 . Subsequent rearward motion of the arrow shaft  24  pivots the blades  14  back into the closed position  16 . Retaining means  36  maintains and secures the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  to the arrow tip  10 . 
       FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the prior art arrow tip  38  and the arrow tip  10  of the present invention. An extremely important tool of bow hunting is the arrow head, or tip. It is the arrow head that absorbs the energy from the bow string and carries the razor sharp broadhead toward the intended target. There are a number of different types of broadhead arrows available on the market, each type has a certain shape that allows it to perform a particular function, and all having dangerous razor sharp blades. The present invention overcomes the hazards and inconveniencies of handling, storing and transporting the prior art arrow tips  38  by providing a broadhead arrow tip  10  adaptable to be produced in any shape and having retractable blades  14  that are normally biased into a closed position  16 , wherein the edged portions  30  of each blade  14  are fully retained within the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 , only deploy upon impact with a target. The design provides safety to the user by having no sharp exposed cutting blades prior to impact while still providing bone shattering capabilities. 
     The engagement means  34  is preferably a mechanical linkage operatively connecting the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  to a plurality of blades  14  pivotally affixed to the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 , each the blades  14  jointly pivotable and normally biased into a closed position  16  with the blades  14  retained substantially within the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 . The biasing means is preferably a spring  40 . Retaining means  36  maintains and secures the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  to the arrow tip  10 . 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view the arrow tip  10  of the present invention. The present invention provides a retractable blade arrow tip  10  having an arrow shaft  24  with a forward end  26  and a cylindrical extension  42  extending from the forward end  26 . The arrow tip  10  is formed of a main body  28  portion with an open rear end  44 , the rear end  44  having an arrow shaft recess  46  sized to receive the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  and a cylinder recess  48  sized and positioned to receive the cylindrical extension  42  when the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  is received within the arrow shaft recess  46 , with the cylindrical extension  42  having a defined range of longitudinally movement within the cylinder recess  48 . A plurality of blades  14  are pivotally affixed to the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 , with each blade jointly pivotable between a closed position with the blades  14  retained substantially within the main body  28  and a deployed position with the blades  14  extending outwardly from the main body  28 . A biasing means, for example, a spring  40  within the arrow shaft recess  46  biases the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  normally rearward, and engagement means  34  between the cylindrical extension  42  and the blades  14  transfers forward motion of the cylindrical extension  42  within the cylinder recess  48  into pivoting motion of the blades  14  into the deployed position and rearward motion of the cylindrical extension  42  within the cylinder recess  48  into pivoting motion of the blades  14  into the closed position  16 . Preferably, a threaded cap  50  secures over the open rear end  44  of the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 , with the open rear end  44  having threads  52  mateable with the threaded cap  50  as retaining means for maintaining the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  within the arrow shaft recess  46 . Also shown is a flange  54  on the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24 , the flange  54  sized to fit within the arrow shaft recess  46  and larger than the cylinder recess  48 . 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded sectional view of the present invention. Shown are the components of the broadhead arrow tip  10  of the present invention. When the arrow tip  10  impacts its target, the cylindrical extension  42  is forced forward by the arrow shaft&#39;s  24  kinetic energy, compressing the spring  40  and deploying the blades  14  to an adjustable angle, such as 35 to 40 degrees. When the arrow tip  10  is removed from its target, the blades  14  retract back to the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 . 
     The arrow shaft  24  has a forward end  26  with a cylindrical extension  42  extending from the forward end  26 , while the arrow tip  10  has a main body  28  with an open rear end  44 , the rear end  44  having an arrow shaft recess  46  sized to receive the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  and a cylinder recess  48  sized and positioned to receive the cylindrical extension  42  when the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  is received within the arrow shaft recess  46 , with the cylindrical extension  42  having a defined range of longitudinally movement within the cylinder recess  48 . The main body  28  includes a plurality of longitudinal blade slots  56  with a blade  14  pivotally affixed within each of the plurality of blade slots  56 , each blade  14  jointly pivotable between a closed position with the blades  14  retained substantially within the main body  28  and a deployed position with the blades extending outwardly from the main body  28 . Preferably, a spring  40  acts as biasing means within the arrow shaft recess  46  for biasing the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  normally rearward. Generally, each blade  14  will include a distal free end  58  and an oppositely disposed pivotally connected end  60 , with the pivotally connected end  60  engaged with the cylindrical extension  42 , for example, through a plurality of spaced circumferential ridges  62  on the cylindrical extension  42  which engage a plurality of mating teeth  64  on the pivotally connected end  60  of each blade  14 . Optionally, each blade  14  is individually removable. The engagement between the cylindrical extension  42  and the pivotally connected end  60  of the blades  14  is such that forward motion of the cylindrical extension  42  within the cylinder recess  48  pivots the blades  14  into the deployed position and rearward motion of the cylindrical extension  42  within the cylinder recess  48  pivots the blades into the closed position. A threaded cap  50  acts as retaining means for maintaining the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  within the arrow shaft recess  46 . 
     Also shown is a flange  54  on the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24 , the flange  54  sized to fit within the arrow shaft recess  46  and larger than the cylinder recess  48 . The blades  14  are secured to the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 , for example, by a set screw  66  threaded through an aperture  68  in the pivotally connected end  60  of each blade  14 . Each blade preferably includes an edged portion  30  which is fully retained within the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10  when the blades  14  are in the closed position. The main body  28  is formed of stainless steel, as are the blades  14 . The cylindrical extension  42 , which extends from the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  can be removably affixed to the forward end  26 , or can optionally be integral with or permanently affixed to, the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24 . The spring  40  is optionally a variable tension spring. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the present invention. Shown is the arrow tip  10  of the present invention partially deployed, i.e., just after the arrow tip  10  impacts the target, and the kinetic energy of the arrow shaft  24  forces the cylindrical extension  42  forward, compressing the spring  40  and deploying the blades  14  outward from the main body  28 . When the arrow tip  10  is subsequently removed from its target, the blades  14  retract back to the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 . 
     Shown is the retractable blade arrow tip  10  having an arrow shaft  24  with a forward end  26  and a cylindrical extension  42  extending from the forward end  26 . The arrow tip  10  is formed of a main body  28  portion with an open rear end  44 , the rear end  44  having an arrow shaft recess  46  sized to receive the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  and a cylinder recess  48  sized and positioned to receive the cylindrical extension  42  when the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  is received within the arrow shaft recess  46 , with the cylindrical extension  42  having a defined range of longitudinally movement within the cylinder recess  48 . A plurality of blades  14  are pivotally affixed to the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 , with each blade jointly pivotable between a closed position with the blades  14  retained substantially within the main body  28  and a deployed position with the blades  14  extending outwardly from the main body  28 . A biasing means, for example, a spring  40  within the arrow shaft recess  46  biases the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  normally rearward, and engagement means  34  between the cylindrical extension  42  and the blades  14  transfers forward motion of the cylindrical extension  42  within the cylinder recess  48  into pivoting motion of the blades  14  into the deployed position and rearward motion of the cylindrical extension  42  within the cylinder recess  48  into pivoting motion of the blades  14  into the closed position  16 . Preferably, a cap  50  secures over the open rear end  44  of the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 , as retaining means for maintaining the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  within the arrow shaft recess  46 . Also shown is a flange  54  on the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24 , the flange  54  sized to fit within the arrow shaft recess  46  and larger than the cylinder recess  48 . 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the present invention. Shown is the present invention in a fully deployed position having the blades  14  extended to a preselected angle. When the arrow tip  10  impacts its target, the cylindrical extension  42  is forced forward by the arrow shaft&#39;s  24  kinetic energy, compressing the spring  40  and deploying the blades  14  to an adjustable angle, such as 35 to 40 degrees. When the arrow tip  10  is removed from its target, the blades  14  retract back to the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 . 
     Shown is the retractable blade arrow tip  10  having an arrow shaft  24  with a forward end  26  and a cylindrical extension  42  extending from the forward end  26 . The arrow tip  10  is formed of a main body  28  portion with an open rear end  44 , the rear end  44  having an arrow shaft recess  46  sized to receive the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  and a cylinder recess  48  sized and positioned to receive the cylindrical extension  42  when the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  is received within the arrow shaft recess  46 , with the cylindrical extension  42  having a defined range of longitudinally movement within the cylinder recess  48 . A plurality of blades  14  are pivotally affixed to the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 , with each blade jointly pivotable between a closed position with the blades  14  retained substantially within the main body  28  and a deployed position with the blades  14  extending outwardly from the main body  28 . A biasing means, for example, a spring  40  within the arrow shaft recess  46  biases the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  normally rearward, and engagement means  34  between the cylindrical extension  42  and the blades  14  transfers forward motion of the cylindrical extension  42  within the cylinder recess  48  into pivoting motion of the blades  14  into the deployed position and rearward motion of the cylindrical extension  42  within the cylinder recess  48  into pivoting motion of the blades  14  into the closed position. Preferably, a cap  50  secures over the open rear end  44  of the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 , as retaining means for maintaining the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24  within the arrow shaft recess  46 . Also shown is a flange  54  on the forward end  26  of the arrow shaft  24 , the flange  54  sized to fit within the arrow shaft recess  46  and larger than the cylinder recess  48 . 
       FIG. 7  is a top view the present invention with blades retracted. Shown is a top view of the present invention, a retractable blade arrow tip  10  having a main body  28  portion with a plurality of longitudinal blade slots  56  for retaining retractable blades  14  surrounding a stainless steel tip  70 . Also shown is a plurality of set screws  68  for securing the blades to the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 . 
       FIG. 8  is a top view the present invention with blades deployed. Shown is a top view of the present invention, a retractable blade arrow tip  10  having a main body  28  portion with a plurality of longitudinal blade slots  56  for retaining retractable blades  14  surrounding a stainless steel tip  70 . Also shown is a plurality of set screws  68  for securing the blades to the main body  28  of the arrow tip  10 . 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.