Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 10/603,755 filed on Jun. 25, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,600, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of archery, and more particularly, relates to an arrowhead having a wide angle. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Archers have long sought out an arrow which would outperform other arrows. Performance of an arrow is influenced by weight, component surface area, surfaces having parasitic drag, stabilization techniques, structure and other such considerations. One area of constant consideration and change is the arrowhead which is located at the front portion of an arrow. Often, the structure of an arrowhead is such that complex surfaces and devices composing the arrowhead are included, thereby not only adding weight to the arrow but also diminishing aerodynamic qualities of the arrowhead due to a multiplicity of drag causing surfaces. Such drag causing surfaces can be cutouts which beneficially lighten the weight of the arrow but which unwittingly create drag far more detrimental to flight than the benefit to flight derived by weight reduction. Of course, increased drag and increased weight are detrimental to suitable flight characteristics of an arrow, especially with respect to distance. Increased drag may also be found in a high penetration minimum profile narrow angle arrowhead which is elongated and has a narrow angle of leading edge cutting surface with respect to the centerline of the arrow shaft due to the abundance of surface area. Such an elongated arrowhead may also be of such weight as to be detrimental to the length of flight and trajectory of the arrow. 
     The present invention provides an arrowhead of minimum surface area and drag and of minimum weight to benefit the flight characteristics of an arrow. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention is to provide an arrowhead, and more particularly, an arrowhead which is light weight and which has minimal structure and surface area. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a wide angle arrowhead including suitable structure for mounting of a plurality of blades to a mounting fixture and suitable structure for mounting of the wide angle arrowhead to the forward portion of an arrow. The mounting fixture is a one-piece construction and includes a chisel point and a rearward facing circular recess for capture of the forward portion of one or more cutting blades, a first shaft portion extending from the circular recess against which the base edge at the lower portion of each blade aligns, an annular and slotted beveled ring juxtaposing the first shaft portion, the slots of which accommodate the base edges at the lower portions of the arrow blades, a second and larger slotted shaft portion, the slots of which are extensions of the slots in the annular and slotted beveled ring and which also accommodate the base edges at the lower portions of the arrow blades and a threaded shaft portion extending from the larger slotted shaft portion which is utilized to mount the mounting fixture and arrow blades, i.e., the entire wide angle arrowhead, to the arrow shaft. Each blade includes a blade capture protrusion at the rearwardly located trailing edge which is captured by a mounting ferrule. The blades are formed to have minimum structure and reduced drag surfaces and to have a low ratio of blade cutting edge length to blade trailing edge length where the interior angle between the blade cutting edge of the blades is at a relatively wide angle with respect to the center line or longitudinal axis of the arrow shaft. Where many common arrowhead blades have a relationship where the interior angle of the blade cutting edge to the arrow shaft centerline angle is in the range of 10° to slightly less than 45°, the present invention has a blade cutting edge to arrow shaft centerline interior wide angle which can range from an interior wide angle of 45° to an interior wide angle of 75°. Also, drag is minimized by the utilization of a thin ground leading blade cutting edge, an additional benefit of which is the decreasing of the cutting edge bluntness, thereby enhancing easy target penetration. 
     One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a wide angle arrowhead having a wide blade cutting edge to arrow shaft centerline interior angle. 
     Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an arrowhead which contributes to and improves flight characteristics of an arrow. 
     Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a wide angle arrowhead having minimal weight. 
     Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a wide angle arrowhead having minimal drag. 
     A further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a wide angle arrowhead utilizing a wide and thin ground leading blade cutting edge for drag reduction. 
     A still further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a wide angle arrowhead having a low blade cutting edge to blade trailing edge ratio. 
     Having mentioned various aspects and features of the present invention, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a wide angle arrowhead. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a wide angle arrowhead, the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view of the wide angle arrowhead; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the wide angle arrowhead; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the wide angle arrowhead in use with and secured to an arrow shaft (shown in phantom) where the threaded shaft of the wide angle arrowhead engages the interior of the arrow shaft; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the wide angle arrowhead and the angular relationship of the blade cutting edge to the centerline of the arrow shaft; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a wide angle arrowhead showing one angular limit end of the range of blade configurations; and, 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a wide angle arrowhead showing another angular limit end of the range of blade configurations. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a wide angle arrowhead  10 , the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view of the wide angle arrowhead  10 . For purposes of example and illustration, the wide angle arrowhead  10  includes three blades, although different numbers of blades could be incorporated. With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the invention is now described starting generally at the forward portion of a mounting fixture  12 . The mounting fixture  12 , preferably a one-piece structure, forms the wide angle arrowhead  10  in part and accommodates other components comprising the instant invention. A chisel point  14  is located at the forward region of the mounting fixture  12 . An angled rearwardly facing circular recess  16  is located at the junction of the rearward facing portion of the chisel point  14  and a first shaft portion  18  which is smooth and uninterrupted. A beveled ring  20 , which is annular and which is slotted, is located adjacent to the first shaft portion  18  between the first shaft portion  18  and a second shaft portion  22 . A plurality of slots  24   a - 24   n  extend continuously along and are recessed into the second shaft portion  22  and also extend continuously along and through the beveled ring  20  parallel to the centerline of the mounting fixture  12 . The mounting fixture  12  also includes a threaded shaft portion  26  extending in a rearward direction from the beveled ring  20  for accommodation by the forward region of an arrow shaft (not shown). 
     A plurality of blades  28   a - 28   n  align and secure in the slots  24   a - 24   n , respectively, which extend as previously described along the second shaft portion  22  and the beveled ring  20 . Each blade  28   a - 28   n  has a blade base edge  30 , a blade cutting edge  32 , a blade trailing edge  34 , a rearwardly located blade capture protrusion  36  which preferably is angled extending rearwardly from the junction of the blade trailing edge  34  and the blade base edge  30 , and a forwardly placed blade capture point  38  being the apex of the blade base edge  30  and the blade cutting edge  32 . The blade base edge  30  also aligns to the first shaft portion  18  and the blade capture point  38  aligns to and is captured by the inwardly beveled circular recess  16  at the rearwardly facing portion of the chisel point  14 . The rearwardly located blade capture protrusion  36  of each blade  28   a - 28   n  extends into the slots  24   a - 24   n  and bridges the junction between the slots  24   a - 24   n  at the second shaft portion  22  and the rearward portion of the beveled ring  20  and is in intimate contact with a configured ferrule  40 , preferably having an interior bevel  44  ( FIG. 4 ) complementary to the blade capture protrusion  36 . The ferrule  40  is forced against the blade capture protrusions  36  during attachment of an arrow shaft  42 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the wide angle arrowhead  10  illustrating the alignment of the blades about the centerline of the wide angle arrowhead  10 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the wide angle arrowhead  10  in use with and secured to an arrow shaft  42  (shown in phantom) where the threaded shaft portion  26  of the wide angle arrowhead  10  engages the interior of the arrow shaft  42 . Shown in particular is the capture of the blade  28   a  by forced engagement of the blade  28   a  into intimate contact with the circular recess  16  of the chisel point  14  and with the interior bevel  44  of the ferrule  40 , such as described in relation to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The capture of the blades  28   b  through  28   n  is accomplished in the same manner. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the wide angle arrowhead  10  and the angular relationship of the blade cutting edge  32  to the centerline  48  of the arrow shaft  42 . A wide angle  46 , which is an interior angle, is shown between the blade cutting edge  32  and the centerline  48  and is illustrated as a 50° angle for purposes of example and illustration, but can be an angle included in a range as shown and described later in detail. Also, a dashed line representing the forward region of the blade cutting edge  32  is extended therefrom for added visual reference with respect to visualization of the wide angle  46  formed between the blade cutting edge  32  and the centerline  48  of the arrow shaft  42 . 
     Additionally shown for comparison is a dashed outline of a narrow angle blade  50  and a dashed outline chisel point  52  in combination therewith and which could be attached to the arrow shaft  42  in a similar fashion superimposed over a wide angle blade  28   a  and chisel point  14  illustrating the blade area difference of the configuration of a wide angle arrowhead  10  using blade  28   a  with respect to a narrow angle blade  50 . The narrow angle blade, such as blade  50 , is a blade having an interior angle less than 45°, such as shown by interior angle  54 . As can be seen in the illustration, the total surface area of the narrow angle blade  50  is significantly more than the total surface area of the wide angle blade  28   a , whereby the extra surface creates extra drag where such drag is detrimental to efficient arrow flight. The use of wide angle blades, such as blade  28   a , having less surface area and less drag enhances and improves flight characteristics of an arrow. The extra physical weight of the narrow angle blade  50  is also detrimental to efficient arrow flight. The use of wide angle blades, such as blade  28   a , being of less weight than a narrow angle blade  50 , enhances and improves flight characteristics of an arrow. The use of the narrow angle blade  50  also requires that the length of the first shaft portion  18  be longer than that required when using wide angle blades, such as blade  28   a , and, accordingly, this is also detrimental to efficient arrow flight due to additional weight. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of a wide angle arrowhead  10   a  showing one angular limit end of the range of configurations or blades, where blades  28   a - 28   n  have been replaced by blades  56   a - 56   n  having the same enumerated feature nomenclature but where the blade cutting edge  32  of the wide angle blade  56   a  forms an interior wide angle  58  of 45°, a limit, between the blade cutting edge  32  and the centerline  48  of the arrow shaft  42 . 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of a wide angle arrowhead  10   b  showing another angular limit end of the range of configurations of blades, where blades  28   a - 28   n  have been replaced by blades  60   a - 60   n  having the same enumerated feature nomenclature but where the blade cutting edge  32  of the wide angle blade  60   a  forms an interior wide angle  62  of 75°, a limit, between the blade cutting edge  32  and the centerline  48  of the arrow shaft  42 . As the interior wide angle increases, the length of the first shaft portion  18  may be decreased, thereby reducing weight further to increase arrow flight performance.  FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a range of limits between the interior wide angle  58  of 45° and the interior wide angle  62  of 75°, respectively. 
     Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope thereof.

Technology Category: 2