Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Directive
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-19
2001-07-24
Blum, Theodore M. (Department: 3662)
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
Directive
C324S326000, C473S578000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266006
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to detection of lost arrows, and particularly to a metal detector for mounting on an arrow shaft to enable a user to detect lost arrows.
Bow hunters and archers occasionally lose arrows in the field upon missing a target. While the general location of the arrow is known to the hunter or archer, the exact location often is not. More particularly, arrows might be lost in brush or other thick underbrush, making them difficult to see by the hunter or archer.
Dryden in U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,463 and Wycoff et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,405 proposed techniques to locate lost arrows by placing transmitters iii the point or shaft of the arrow such that the transmitter transmits signals to a receiver carried by the hunter or archer, thus enabling the hunter or archer to locate the lost arrow. However, because hunters and archers typically shoot several arrows before retrieving any, several arrows must be fitted with the transmitter, thereby adding to the cost of the detection system. Moreover, these devices alter the weight and balance of the arrow shaft, thereby affecting the trajectory of the arrow. Some devices, such as that proposed by Wycoff et al., employ antennas fastened to the external surface of the shaft. These external antennas alter the aerodynamics of the arrow and affect the trajectory of the arrow. Usually, the effects of altered weight, balance and aerodynamics cannot be compensated by the hunter or archer, so arrow trajectory becomes more uncertain. There is, therefore, a need for a simple, effective detection device for detecting the lost arrow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a metal detector for mounting to an arrow shaft to enable the user to detect missing arrows by locating the metallic arrow point or shaft of the missing arrow. The metal detector includes a housing having a fastener for fastening to an arrow shaft fastener. A metal detector is supported by the housing. The detector includes an antenna, a circuit connected to the antenna for detecting the proximity of metal arrow points, shafts and the like to the antenna, and an indicator connected to the circuit for indicating that the circuit detects the proximity of the antenna to a metal arrow point, shaft or the like.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing includes a generally planar paddle portion supporting the antenna and a generally planar handle portion. The paddle and handle portions are at different parallel planes to enable a user to orient the antenna closer to ground locations than the handle.
A typical arrow shaft has a generally cylindrical external surface and a generally planar end surface normal to a cylindrical external surface. A threaded recess in the end of the arrow shaft receives a threaded fastener of an arrow point. The end of the arrow shaft is received in a recess in the handle portion of the metal detector, and a threaded fastener extends into the recess so that the arrow shaft may be fastened to the housing.
Advantageously, the recess receiving the arrow shaft has a generally planar bottom surface arranged to engage the end surface of the arrow shaft to secure the arrow shaft to the housing.
In another form of the invention, a method is provided for locating a missing arrow. A metal detector has a fastener arranged to fasten to an end of an arrow shaft so that the metal detector extends from the end of the arrow shaft. The metal detector is operated while the user grasps the arrow shaft and extends the arrow shaft to position the metal detector to locations likely to contain the missing arrow.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3828242 (1974-08-01), Vann
patent: 5094463 (1992-03-01), Dryden
patent: 5157405 (1992-10-01), Wycoff et al.
Blum Theodore M.
Westman Champlin & Kelly P.A.
LandOfFree
Arrow detector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Arrow detector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Arrow detector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2514640