Patent ID: 12196535

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an arrow tracking device that provides a mechanism to prevent a user from losing their arrows and game. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an arrow tracking device that utilizes a GPS transmitter to track and locate an arrow. Moreover, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an arrow tracking device that utilizes an LED light so a user can easily see their arrow. Lastly, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an arrow tracking device that can be recharged so that the device may be used multiple times.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of at least one arrow further comprised of a shaft with a GPS transmitter and a nock with an LED. Additionally, the shaft features a USB port that can be connected to a USB port located on a charging base. The charging base, in turn, charges a battery within the shaft, which powers the GPS transmitter and LED. The arrow also features fletching to stabilize the arrow. The arrowhead and the shaft feature female and male threads such that the arrowhead can be unscrewed from the shaft. By unscrewing the arrowhead from the shaft, the USB port is exposed, which is used to charge the device.

A motion sensor is located on the shaft of the arrow. Once the arrow is in flight, the motion sensor initiates the GPS transmitter and the blinking or illumination of the LED light. The GPS transmitter then allows the user to track their arrow so that they may recover lost arrows and locate fleeing game. The LED further aids the user in locating their arrows. Additionally, the device may be comprised of a mobile application to control the electronic functions of the device.

Referring initially to the drawings,FIG.1illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of an arrow tracking device100of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The device100is primarily comprised of at least one arrow105further comprised of a shaft110with a GPS transmitter152and a nock134with at least one LED136. In addition, the shaft110has a USB port124that can be connected to the USB port260of a charging base200that charges a battery150within the shaft110which powers the transmitter152and LED136. The device100may also be comprised of a mobile application300.

The shaft110of the device110is generally cylindrical in shape and is preferably manufactured with wood, such as, but not limited to, cedar, pine, spruce, etc., and may be especially suited for use with a traditional recurve bow or longbow. In other embodiments, the shaft110may be comprised of more durable materials, such as, but not limited to, aluminum, carbon fiber, fiberglass, etc., for use in modern compound bows or crossbows. To enhance the appearance of the device100, the shaft110may be comprised of a plurality of decorative indicia160, such as, but not limited to: patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc. The second end130of the shaft110is fastened with fletching132, which stabilizes the shaft110when the arrow105is shot by causing the shaft110to spin while in flight. The fletching132has at least one vane, but preferably three or four vanes, which may be manufactured in either feathers or a plastic material. The fletching132may be manufactured in a multitude of different lengths, thicknesses, and shapes known in the art.

The first end120of the shaft110is comprised of male threads122such that the shaft110may be screwed into the female opening142of the arrowhead140, which has corresponding female threads144. The male threads122on the first end120of the shaft110engage the female threads144on the opening142of the arrowhead140to attach or detach (i.e., unscrew) the arrowhead140from the shaft110. The arrowhead140may be any arrowhead140known in the art, such as, but not limited to: auriculate, lanceolate, leaf, triangle, basal notched, corner notched, side-notched, contracting stem, expanding stem, stemmed, bifurcated, mechanical blade broadheads, bullet point, blunt point, bodkin point, broadhead point, field point, fish point, JUDO point, target point, excurvated, incurvate, inward recurvate, outward recurvate, serrated, straight, safety point, etc. The arrowhead140is preferably manufactured in a hard, durable material that is lightweight such as, but not limited to, aluminum or stainless steel. Any of the aforementioned shaped arrowheads140may be manufactured in any material known in the art.

The shaft110and the arrowhead140may be unscrewed from each other to reveal a USB port124located on the first end120of the shaft110. The USB port124may then connect to a charging base200with a corresponding USB port260to provide power to a battery150located on the shaft110. The battery150, in turn, may power the GPS transmitter152and LED136. In different embodiments, the battery150may be a disposable battery150or a rechargeable battery150in the form of an alkaline, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride battery, etc., such as, any 3V-12 volts DC battery246or other conventional battery150such as A, AA, AAA, etc. that supply power to the device. Throughout this specification the terms “battery.” “battery pack,” and “batteries” may be used interchangeably to refer to one or more wet or dry cells or batteries150of cells in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of DC power. References to recharging or replacing batteries150may refer to recharging or replacing individual cells, individual batteries150of cells, or a package of multiple battery cells as is appropriate for any given battery technology that may be used.

The shaft110has a GPS transmitter152and a nock134, which is further comprised of an LED136. The nock134is fastened to the second end130of the shaft and serves as the attachment point to place the arrow105on a bowstring. The GPS transmitter152is located within the shaft110and may be augmented with a motion sensor170that is in communication with the GPS transmitter152and the LED136. Once the arrow105has been shot and the motion sensor170registers movement above a certain threshold speed (ex. 10 mph), the motion sensor170activates both the GPS transmitter152and lights up the LED136. The GPS transmitter152allows the user to track the arrow105after it has been shot into any game, or simply to locate a wayward arrow. The LED136may also aid the user in finding arrows105, or even tracing them through the air if shot at night. The LED136is preferably fastened to the outside of the nock134. In different embodiments, the nock134may be transparent and the LED136may be inside the nock134. The LED136may be programmed to light up in any color known in the art, or in any pattern of multiple colors and may either blink, flash, or remain on indefinitely once the motion sensor170detects motion above a threshold speed value (ex. 10 mph) and any point thereafter.

FIG.2illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of an arrow tracking device100of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. When the arrowhead140is unscrewed from the shaft110, at least one charging base200may receive at least one arrow105through a connection between the USB port124on the shaft110and the USB port160on the charging base200. The device's100charging base200receives its power through the power cord240. The power cord40is preferably a male power cord250that may be plugged into most standard 110-volt or 240-volt wall outlets.

FIG.3illustrates an enhanced perspective view of one potential embodiment of an arrow tracking device100of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The top surface210of the charging base200has at least one opening212, which receives the shaft110of the arrow105. The USB port124on the shaft110may be plugged into the USB port260on the charging base200to begin transferring power from the charging base200to the battery150. To secure each arrow105shaft110, the openings212of the charging base200feature a plurality of female threads214which receive the corresponding plurality of male threads122located on the first end120of the shaft110. The male threads122on the first end120of the shaft110engage the female threads214on the charging base200to attach or detach the shaft110from the charging base200. The USB ports124,260may be any type of USB port124,260known in the art, such as, but not limited to: USB-A, USB-B, Micro-B, Micro-USB, Mini-USB, USB-C. Further, both ports124,260may be male and/or female ports in differing embodiments of the device100. In different embodiments, the charging base200may retain a battery250charge such that is remains operable when transported away from outlets. The bottom surface130of the charging base200may be manufactured from a rubber material that prevents slippage/movement of the charging base200.

FIG.4illustrates a graphical view of primary features of one potential embodiment of a mobile application300of one potential embodiment of an arrow tracking device100of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The mobile application300is in wireless electrical communication with the GPS transmitter152and the LED136. The wireless electrical communication may be accomplished through any wireless electrical communication types known in the art, such as, but not limited to: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, Infrared, radio frequency, Cellular Data, etc. The mobile application300has a plurality of functions. The mobile application300may contain a function to locate the GPS transmitter304. This may display a satellite map of the surrounding area with the exact location of the arrow105. The mobile application300also may contain a function to customize the LED136intensity302. This may allow the user to brighten or reduce the vibrancy of the LED136. The mobile application300may also allow the user to customize other functions of the device100, such as the LED's 136 colors and blinking pattern. The mobile application300may allow a user to customize each arrow105individually with their own unique settings to differentiate arrows from different users.

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “arrow tracking device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the arrow tracking device100of the present invention.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the arrow tracking device100of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the arrow tracking device100as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the arrow tracking device100are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the arrow tracking device100are important design parameters for user convenience, the arrow tracking device100may be of any size, shape and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.