Abstract:
An arrow comprising: an arrow shaft including a toggle movable between a first state and a second state; an arrowhead including an arrowhead body and an arrowhead tip, wherein the arrowhead body includes a first end and a second end, the second end being attached to the arrow shaft; and at least one barb vane including a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally mounted to the arrowhead body at a pivot, wherein the barb vane is pivotably movable between a first configuration and second configuration; wherein, when the toggle is in the first state, the barb vane is locked in the first configuration and, when the toggle is in the second state, the barb vane is permitted to move freely into the second configuration.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application incorporates by reference and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/083,154 filed Nov. 21, 2014. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a bowfishing arrow with a quick-release arrowhead. More specifically, the present invention provides a quick-release bowfishing arrow including a toggle mechanism in the rear portion of the arrow&#39;s shaft for releasing the arrowhead. 
         [0003]    Bowfishing is a sport in which a bowfisher uses specialized archery equipment to shoot and retrieve fish. The standard bowfishing rig includes a barbed arrow that is attached to a reel on a bow using an appropriate length and strength of bowfishing line. 
         [0004]    The line is typically made from a braided polymer for strength, flexibility, and durability; the reel can be a hand-wrap, spincast, retriever, or any other appropriate reel; the bow is typically a simplified traditional or compound bowl; and the arrows are typically relatively heavy, made from fiberglass, aluminum, carbon fiber, or carbon fiber reinforced fiberglass, lack fletching, and have a hole in the shaft through which the line is attached. The arrows may further include a set of pivoting barb vanes (typically two) at the arrowhead. 
         [0005]    The barb vanes are often a pair broad, angled, metal elements that, in an initial position, angle away from the arrowhead towards the arrow&#39;s shaft to catch in the target fish after impact, making it difficult for the arrowhead to become unintentionally dislodged. Once the bowfisher retrieves a fish that has been shot with such an arrow, the bowfisher must then reorient the barb vanes to point towards the arrowhead in order to more easily remove the arrowhead from the fish. This is a manual task that requires the bowfisher to reach into the target fish, manipulate the barb vanes and/or partially unscrew the arrowhead, and then remove the arrow. This task is performed under conditions that can be messy, slippery, where the barb vanes and arrowhead may be difficult to see, all while trying to maintain control of an uncooperative fish. The task is dangerous because the bowfisher is reaching towards sharp arrowhead under these adverse conditions. Accidents are inevitable and can be traumatic. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for a bowfishing arrow that allows a user to more easily remove the arrowhead from the target, as described and illustrated herein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by providing a quick-release bowfishing arrow including a barb vane toggle mechanism that is located in the rear portion of the arrow&#39;s shaft. 
         [0008]    Specifically, the present system provides a bowfishing arrow having spring-biased barb vanes manipulable between a first position and a second position using a toggle located towards the rear of the arrow shaft. A two-position, hook-shaped, toggle enables the user to conveniently select the position of the barb vanes without being in close proximity to the arrowhead. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the bowfishing arrow includes an arrowhead including a pair of angled barb vanes manipulable between a first (deployed) position and a second (refracted) position. The barb vanes are located within an L-shaped slot in the arrowhead, with the vertical portion of the L extending along the axial length of the arrowhead and the horizontal portion of the L wrapping around the diameter of the arrowhead. 
         [0010]    The barb vanes may be connected to a toggle located near the rear of the arrow shaft. The toggle may be located within a hook-shaped slot (e.g., generally U-shaped with one side of the U longer than the other and the U facing towards the rear of the arrow) such that the toggle can be secured at either end of the hook and the barb vanes will move between positions as well. For example, when the toggle is located in the shorter of the two sides of the hook, the barb vanes may be in their deployed position and, when the toggle is located in the longer of the two sides of the hook, the barb vanes may be in their retracted position. 
         [0011]    A spring mechanism may be located within the arrowhead to act on the barb vanes to bias the barb vanes away from the tip of the arrowhead. Because the toggle travels within a hook shaped slot, the spring mechanism is able to “lock” the position of the barb vanes in either the deployed or retracted position. 
         [0012]    When in the retracted position, the barb vanes retract into the body of the arrowhead, reducing the distance they extend from the arrowhead. The barb vanes also angle more towards the tip of the arrow than the shaft, which makes the barb vanes easier to remove the from the target fish. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment, an arrow tip shaft may protrude out of the arrow tip such that it can slide into the arrowhead and arrow shaft. The arrow tip shaft may be connected to the toggle mechanism, such that the toggle mechanism can slide and move the arrow tip shaft within the arrow shaft along the arrow axis. When the toggle mechanism is secured in the deployed position, the arrow tip is flush with the arrowhead such that no gap exists between the arrow tip and arrowhead. When the toggle mechanism is secured in the extraction position a spaced in introduced between the arrow tip and arrowhead, which may expose the arrow tip shaft. This space allows the barb veins to angle more towards the tip of the arrow than the arrow shaft, which makes the barb vanes easier to remove the from the target fish. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the toggle mechanism is an electronic or pneumatic automated mechanism that toggles the barb vanes between the deployed and retracted positions. For example, the toggle mechanism may be a simple electronic switch that replaces the physical toggle and U-shaped slot. 
         [0015]    In an embodiment, an arrow includes: an arrow shaft including a toggle movable between a first state and a second state; an arrowhead including an arrowhead body and an arrowhead tip, wherein the arrowhead body includes a first end and a second end, the second end being attached to the arrow shaft; and at least one barb vane including a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally mounted to the arrowhead body at a pivot, wherein the barb vane is pivotably movable between a first configuration and second configuration; wherein, when the toggle is in the first state, the barb vane is locked in the first configuration and, when the toggle is in the second state, the barb vane is permitted to move freely into the second configuration. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment, the pivot is the vertex of an angle defined by a ray of the pivot to the second end of the barb vane and the pivot to the arrow shaft, wherein the angle of the first configuration is less than the angle of the second configuration. And, in an embodiment, the angle of the first configuration is ninety degrees or less and the angle of the second configuration is greater than ninety degrees. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, when the toggle is in the first state, the barb vane is locked in the first configuration because the base portion of the arrow tip prevents the full rotation of the barb vane into the removable position. And in some embodiments, the arrowhead body includes at least one axial slot in the arrowhead body, wherein at least one barb is located within at least one slot. Additionally, in some embodiments, the toggle mechanism includes an L-shaped slot. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the toggle is a mechanical mechanism. And, in some embodiments, the toggle is an electric mechanism. Additionally, in some embodiments, the arrow further includes a mechanical linkage joining the toggle and arrowhead tip located within the arrow shaft. Further, in some embodiments, the arrow further includes a mechanical linkage joining the toggle and barbs located within to the arrow shaft. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the arrow further including a linkage between the toggle and barbs located external to the arrow shaft. And in some embodiments, the toggle mechanism is located at approximately the midpoint of the shaft. 
         [0020]    Further, in some embodiments, the toggle mechanism is located on the shaft between two to four inches distal from arrowhead. 
         [0021]    In an embodiment, an arrow includes: an arrow shaft including a toggle movable between a first state and a second state; an arrowhead including an arrowhead body and an arrowhead tip, wherein the arrowhead body extends along an arrow axis between a first end and a second end, the second end being attached to the arrow shaft; at least one barb vane including a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally mounted to a movable toggle piston, wherein the toggle piston is connected to the toggle, wherein the barb vane is pivotably movable between a first configuration and second configuration; wherein, when the toggle is in the first state, the barb vane is locked in the first configuration and, when the toggle is in the second state, the barb vane is permitted to move freely into the second configuration. 
         [0022]    An advantage of the present design is it provides a quick-release bowfishing arrowhead. 
         [0023]    Another advantage of the present design is it reduces the risk of injury to the bowfisher when removing the arrow from the fish. 
         [0024]    A further advantage of the present design is it provides a more convenient toggle mechanism for manipulating the position of the barb vanes. 
         [0025]    Yet another advantage of the present design is it provides a more stable arrowhead in that the arrowhead does not need to be partially unscrewed to manipulate the position of the barb vanes. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements. 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an example arrowhead with barbs in a deployed position. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the barbs in a deployed position. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view illustrating the barbs in a loosened position along with a spring mechanism located within the arrowhead. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  illustrating the barbs in a retracted position. 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  illustrating the detail of the barbs in a retracted position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a toggle mechanism in a first position. 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is similar to that of  FIG. 6  showing the toggle mechanism in a second position. 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of another embodiment of an arrowhead with barbs in a firing position. 
           [0035]      FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of the arrowhead of  FIG. 8  illustrating the barbs in a deployed position. 
           [0036]      FIG. 10  is a side perspective view of the arrowhead of  FIG. 8  illustrating the barbs in a removal position. 
           [0037]      FIG. 11  is a side perspective view of yet another embodiment of an arrowhead with barbs in a firing position. 
           [0038]      FIG. 12  is a side perspective view of the arrowhead of  FIG. 11  illustrating the barbs in a deployed position. 
           [0039]      FIG. 13  is a side perspective view of the arrowhead of  FIG. 11  illustrating the barbs in a removal position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]      FIG. 1  illustrates an arrow  14  with a quick-release arrowhead  15  in accordance with one possible embodiment of the present invention. The arrow  14  includes an arrow shaft  16  attached to the arrowhead  15 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the arrowhead  15  includes an arrowhead body  20  and an arrow tip  30 . 
         [0041]    In an embodiment, the arrowhead body  20  includes a front end  21  and back end  22 . The arrowhead body  20  may be made from fiberglass, aluminum, carbon fiber, or carbon fiber reinforced fiberglass. The arrowhead body back end  22  may attach to the arrow shaft  16 . 
         [0042]    The arrowhead body  20  may include one or more angled barbs  40 . The barbs  40  operate to prevent the disengagement of the arrowhead  15  by a prey fish. The outside edge of the arrowhead body  20  may provide for one or more axial slots  50 , which are cut into the arrowhead body  20 . The arrowhead body  20  may include an identical number of barbs  40  and slots  50 . The barbs  40  may be movable between an extended configuration for firing and a retracted configuration for removal from the fish. 
         [0043]    The arrow tip  30  includes a base portion  32  that tapers to a penetrating point  31 . The arrow tip  30  may be attached to the arrowhead body front end  21 , for example, by threading onto a threaded stud extending from the arrowhead body  20 . The arrow tip base portion  32  may be generally cylindrical in shape. The arrow tip penetrating point  31  is generally aligned with the arrow axis  17 . 
         [0044]      FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5  illustrate one possible embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment, the arrowhead body  20  may provide two angled barbs, first barb  40   a  and second barb  40   b . The outside edge of the arrowhead body  20  may provide for two axial L-shaped slots, a first slot  50   a  and a second slot  50   b , with the vertical portion of the L extending along the axial length of the arrowhead  20  and the horizontal portion of the L wrapping around the diameter of the arrowhead  20 . Barb  40   a  may be located within L-shaped slot  50   a  and barb  40   b  may be located within L-shaped slot  50   b.    
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , when the barbs  40   a  and  40   b  are in a deployed position  100 , barbs  40   a  and  40   b  angle away from the arrowhead body  20  towards the arrow shaft  16 . In the deployed position  100 , the barbs  40   a  and  40   b  are located within the horizontal portion of the L-shape slots  50   a  and  50   b.    
         [0046]      FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrates one possible embodiment of the arrowhead body  20  and the barbs  40   a  and  40   b  as they transition to a retracted position  200 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The barbs  40   a  and  40   b  rotate around the arrow axis  17  within the L-shaped slots  50   a  and  50   b  such that they are located within the vertical portion of the L-shaped slots  50   a  and  50   b . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the spring mechanism  55  may be located within the arrowhead body  20  to act on the barbs  40   a  and  40   b  to bias barbs  40   a  and  40   b  away from the arrow tip  30 . The spring mechanism  55  is able to lock the position of barbs  40   a  and  40   b  in either the deployed position  100  as in  FIG. 1  or the retracted position  200  as in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when barbs  40   a  and  40   b  are in the retracted position  200 , they retract into the arrowhead body  20 , thus reducing the distance they extend from the arrowhead body  20 . The barbs  40   a  and  40   b  may also angle more towards the penetrating tip  31  of the arrow tip  30  than the arrow shaft  16 , making them easier to remove from the target fish. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a toggle  70  in accordance with one possible embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the toggle  70  includes a toggle  72  and toggle slot  74 . In an embodiment, the toggle  70  may be located near the rear of the shaft  16 .  FIG. 6  illustrates the toggle  72  positioned for firing.  FIG. 7  illustrates the toggle  72  positioned for removal. 
         [0048]    The toggle  72  is located within the toggle slot  74 . The toggle slot  74  may be L-shaped or U-shaped. The toggle  72  can be secured at either end of the toggle slot  74 . Each secured position of the toggle  72  corresponds to a position of the barbs  40 . In one example, when the toggle  72  is located in the shorter of the two sides of the hook-shaped toggle slot  74  as shown in  FIG. 6 , the barbs  40  may be in their deployed position  100  for firing. Similarly, when the toggle  72  is located in the longer of the two sides of the hook-shaped toggle slot  74  as shown in  FIG. 7 , the barbs  40  may be in their retracted position  200  for removal from the fish. The toggle slot  74  may include a transition lock  76  formed by protrusions on both sides of the toggle slot  74  between the deployed toggle position and the retracted toggle position to lock the toggle  72  into the deployed toggle position for firing. 
         [0049]    In one possible embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the toggle  72  is located within a U-shaped toggle slot  74 , with one side of the “U” being longer than the other and the “U” facing towards the rear of the arrow. The toggle  72  can be secured at either end of the U-shaped toggle slot  74 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , when the toggle  72  is in the deployed toggle position  101 , it is located in the shorter of the two-sides of the U-shaped toggle slot  74 . When the toggle  72  is in the deployed position  101 , the barbs  40  are in the deployed position  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , when the toggle  72  is in a removable toggle position  201 , it may be located in the longer of the two sides of the U-shaped toggle slot  74 . When the toggle  72  is in the retracted position  201 , the barbs  40  are in the retracted position  200 . 
         [0050]    The toggle  72  may be located at different locations in different embodiments. The location of the toggle  72  may be chosen to best locate the toggle at a natural grip point for the arrow  14 . For example, in an embodiment, the toggle  72  is located on the shaft between two to four inches distal from arrowhead  15 . This may be useful for arrows  14  that are flexible or lightweight where the user would naturally grab the arrow  14  near the fish. In another embodiment, the toggle  72  may be located at approximately the midpoint of the arrow shaft  16 . This may be useful for arrows  14  that have sufficient strength and rigidity for the user to grab the arrow  14  near the center. In further embodiments, the toggle  72  may be located near the rear of the arrow  14  to permit release of the fish from the furthest possible advantage. 
         [0051]    The toggle  72  may be connected to the barbs  40  via a toggle piston  76 . The toggle piston  76  may span from the toggle  72  to the barbs  40  through an interior axial tube within the shaft  16 . The toggle piston  76  may be rigidly attached to the toggle  72  and may move rotationally when the toggle  72  is moved from the deployed toggle position  101  to a loosened position in  FIG. 3 , and then may move translationally along the axis  17  to move into the retracted toggle position  201 . When the toggle  72  is pulled away from the arrowhead to move into the retracted toggle position, the toggle  72  pulls the toggle piston  76  along the inner axial tube pulling the barbs  40  partially into the axial slots  50 . Although the toggle piston  76  is described as being provided within an interior axial tube within the shaft  16 , it is understood that in other embodiments, the toggle piston  76  may be positioned outside the shaft  16  as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art from the examples provided. Additionally, it will be recognized by those of skill in the art from the examples provided that the toggle piston  76  is just one example of a mechanical linkage that may connect the toggle  72  to the barbs  40 . 
         [0052]    Although the toggle  72  is rigidly connected to the barbs  40  via a toggle piston in an embodiment, in other embodiments, the toggle  72  may control the positioning of the barbs  40  by a variety of other mechanisms. For example, in other embodiments, the toggle  72  may control the positioning of the barbs  40  electrically, for example, the toggle  72  may control a motor that move the barbs  40  from a deployed position  100  to a retracted position  200 . In further embodiments, the arrowhead  15  may include a pneumatic toggle, a hydraulic toggle, etc. Accordingly, in other embodiments, the toggle piston  76  may be replace with cable, string, electrical wiring, etc. to convey electrical or mechanical motion to the barbs  40 . 
         [0053]      FIGS. 8, 9 and 10  illustrate another possible embodiment of the present invention. And,  FIGS. 11, 12 and 13  illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 .  FIGS. 8 and 11  illustrate the arrowhead  15  and the barbs  40  of the embodiments in a firing position.  FIGS. 9 and 12  illustrates the arrowhead  15  and the barbs  40  of the embodiments in a deployed position.  FIGS. 10 and 13  illustrates the arrowhead  15  and the barbs  40  of the embodiments in a removal position  400 . 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIG. 8-13 , the arrowhead  15  includes an arrowhead body  20  and an arrow tip  30 . In contrast with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 , in the embodiments of  FIGS. 8   13 , the barbs  40  held in a deployed position by the arrow tip  30  and are permitted to move to a removable position  400  by using the toggle  72  to extend the arrow tip  30  away from the arrowhead body  20  to permit the barbs  40  to move freely. 
         [0055]    The arrowhead body  20  provides a front end  21  and back end  22 . The arrowhead body  20  may be made from fiberglass, aluminum, carbon fiber, or carbon fiber reinforced fiberglass. The arrowhead back end  22  may attach to an arrow shaft  16 . 
         [0056]    The arrowhead body  20  may provide for one or more angled barbs  40 . The outside edge of the arrowhead body  20  may provide for one or more axial slots  50 , which are formed in the arrowhead body  20 . The arrowhead body  20  may include an identical number of barbs  40  and slots  50 . 
         [0057]    The arrow tip  30  includes a penetrating point  31  and a base portion  32 . The arrow tip base portion  32  may be generally cylindrical in shape. The arrow tip penetrating point  31  is generally aligned with the arrow axis  17 . The arrow tip  30  provides an arrow shaft  33  that protrudes from the arrow tip base portion  32  and travels along the arrow axis into the arrowhead body  20  through the arrow shaft  16 . The arrow tip  30  may be moved along the arrow axis  17  by the toggle piston  76  as controlled by the user using the toggle  70 . 
         [0058]      FIGS. 8 and 11  illustrates the arrowhead  15  in the firing position  300 . In the firing position  300 , the arrow tip base portion  32  is flush with the arrowhead body front end  21  such that generally no space exists between the arrow tip  30  and arrowhead body  20 . The tip base portion  32  acts to limits the rotational movement of the barbs  40 . When the arrowhead  15  is fired and penetrates a fish, the barbs  40  may generally stay in the firing position  300 . When a struggling fish tries to back off the arrow, the tissue of the fish will engage the beveled surfaces  42  of the barbs  40  causing them to pivot away from the arrow axis  17  to a fully deployed position  350  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 12 . Upon rotating into the fully deployed position  350 , the upper surfaces  44  of the barbs  40  may confront the base portion  32  thus preventing the barbs  40  from rotating any further than the deployed position  350 . 
         [0059]    The barbs  40  may pivotally move between various configurations as controlled by the toggle  72 . For example, the barbs  40  may be locked in a first configuration when the toggle  72  is in deployed toggle position  101 . In the first configuration, the barbs  40  may freely move between a firing position  300  and a deployed position  350  but may not move into a removable position  400 . After the arrow is fired into a fish, the action of the struggling fish may force the barbs  40  into the deployed position  350 , whereupon the deployed barbs  40  prevent the arrowhead  15  from being withdrawn from the fish. 
         [0060]    To remove the arrowhead  15 , a user may move the toggle  72  to a removable toggle position  201  to permit the barbs to move into a second configuration. The toggle  72  may be mechanically linked to the arrow tip  30  by the toggle piston  76 . When the user moves the toggle  72  to the toggle position  201 , the toggle piston  76  causes the arrow tip  30  to move away from the arrowhead body  20  opening a space to permit the barbs  40  to move into in a second configuration. Specifically, as the user draws the arrow  14  out of the fish, the resistance of the flesh forces the barbs  40  to pivot further forward into a removal position  400 . 
         [0061]    In an embodiment, the barbs  40  may be rotatably attached to the arrowhead body  20  at pivots  46  using a pin, such as a spring pin. Each barb vane  40  may include a first end and a second end, with the first end attached to the pivot  46 . The various positions of the barbs  40  may be distinguished by the angles of the barbs  40  with respect to the arrow axis  17 . More specifically, for a barb vane  40 , an angle may be defined by a ray of the pivot to the second end and the ray of the pivot to the arrow shaft. The pivots  46  may be the vertexes of the angles. When the barbs  40  are in the firing position  300 , the angle may be acute as shown in  FIG. 11 . When the barbs  40  are in the deployed position  350 , the angle may be a right angle as shown in  FIG. 12 . And when the barbs  40  are in the removable position  400 , the angle may be obtuse. More generally, in an embodiment, the barb vanes may be moved from a first configuration to a second configuration, where the angle of the first configuration is less than the angle of the second configuration. 
         [0062]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8-13 , the toggle  72  of  FIGS. 6 and 7  may be inverted along the arrow axis  17  to permit for correct functioning. Specifically, for the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 , the retraction of the toggle piston  76  is necessary to place the barbs  40  in the refracted position  200  for removal. Conversely, in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 8-13 , the extension of the toggle piston  76  is necessary to place the barb vanes in the removal position  400  for removal. 
         [0063]      FIGS. 10 and 13  illustrate the arrowhead in the removal position  400 . In the removal position  300 , the arrow tip  30  is pushed forward, via a manipulation of the toggle  72 , along the arrow axis  17  such that the toggle piston  76  is exposed and the back portion of the arrow tip  32  is no longer in contact with the arrow body front end  21 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 13 , the space created between the arrow tip  30  and the arrow body  20  gives the barbs  40  space to angle more towards the penetrating tip  31  than the arrow shaft  17 , thus making it easier to remove the arrow head  15  from the target fish. 
         [0064]    It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.