Games using tangible projectile – Projectile – per se; part thereof or accessory therefor – Arrow – dart – or shuttlecock; part thereof
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-03
2001-04-17
Ricci, John A. (Department: 3712)
Games using tangible projectile
Projectile, per se; part thereof or accessory therefor
Arrow, dart, or shuttlecock; part thereof
C473S584000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217467
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a broadhead for an arrow having expanding cutting blades and, more particularly, to a broadhead having cutting blades which are held in an undeployed retracted position and moved to a deployed expanded position when the broadhead strikes a target.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Broadheads having cutting blades which are held in an undeployed retracted position and moved to a deployed expanded position when the arrow strikes a target are well known in the art. Broadheads designed with deployable cutting blades overcome the problems associated with wind drag and other adverse wind effects during the flight of the arrow. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,063 to Puckett discloses a broadhead having deployable cutting blades which are kept in a retracted position during the flight of an arrow by a tubular external restraint which fits over the ferrule of the broadhead. When the broadhead impacts against a target, such as an animal, a deployment mechanism causes the blades to be deployed, cutting the tubular restraint from the ferrule.
Various means for securing the expanding cutting blades to the ferrule of the broadhead have been developed in an effort to provide an aerodynamically balanced arrow with the capability of instantaneously deploying the cutting blades upon the arrow striking the target. Pivotable connecting pins are typically utilized for securing expanding cutting blades to the broadhead as disclosed in, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,600,835 to Hendricks, U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,720 to Zeren, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,709 to Johnson, among others. Many other prior art broadheads provide pivotably connecting pins linking the expanding cutting blades to a plunger mechanism which causes the blades to deploy once the arrow strikes the target. These are disclosed in, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,147 to Szeluga, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,063 to Puckett, among others.
The broadhead is typically secured to an arrow shaft via a threaded end portion of the broadhead. The threaded end portion may be threaded directly into the end of the arrow shaft. However, it is more common for the threaded end portion to be threaded into an insert which is secured within the end of the arrow shaft. A round flat washer is typically placed over the threaded end portion of the broadhead prior to joining the broadhead with the arrow shaft. In either case, either the washer or the end of the arrow shaft forms a shoulder which restrains the blades of the broadhead from deploying past a fixed point (i.e., the edge of the shoulder).
The shoulders formed by the structure associated with prior art broadheads and arrow shafts cause several disadvantages which may affect the performance of the arrow during use. For example, the edge of the shoulder puts stress on a single point of the blades which increases the possibility that a blade will crack upon impact with a hard surface, such as a bone of an animal. Also, the shoulder prevents blades from deploying in a further retracted position which may limit the penetration of the broadhead into the intended target.
The novel configuration of the washer used in connection with the broadhead of the present invention obviates the disadvantages encountered in the prior art by providing a means for distributing the stress exerted by the washer over a larger surface area of the blades while allowing the blades to deploy in a further retracted position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a broadhead for an arrow having a reduced amount of interference in the pivotal range of travel of the cutting blades, thereby allowing the cutting blades to pivot to a predetermined deployed position which is further than prior art blades are able to deploy.
In a first embodiment, the broadhead generally includes a body portion having a circular cross-section and defining a proximal end and a distal end, a post member extending from the proximal end having an outer diameter less than an outer diameter of the body portion, and an outer peripheral surface protruding from the proximal end concentrically about the post member thereby defining a circular gap between the outer peripheral surface and the post member; a pointed tip at the distal end of the body portion; at least one cutting blade secured to the body portion and configured to be movable from a retracted position to an expanded position; and a washer configured to be positioned over the post member and adjacent the outer peripheral surface, the washer having at least one chamfer formed thereon.
In a second embodiment, the broadhead generally includes a body portion having a circular cross-section and defining a proximal end and a distal end, a post member extending from the proximal end having an outer diameter less than an outer diameter of the body portion; a pointed tip at the distal end of the body portion; a plurality of cutting blades secured to the body portion and configured to be movable from a retracted position to an expanded position; and a washer configured to be positioned over the post member and adjacent the outer peripheral surface, the washer having a plurality of chamfer formed thereon and aligned with the plurality of cutting blades.
Alternatively, where a washer is not utilized, an insert or an end of an arrow shaft, within which the first end portion of the body member is inserted, may be chamfered to reduce the amount of interference in the pivotal range of travel of the cutting blades, thereby allowing the cutting blades to pivot to a predetermined deployed position.
A retaining means, such as an elastic o-ring, may be secured around the cutting blades and fit into a notch on each cutting blade to maintain the cutting blades in an undeployed retracted position. The retaining means is disengaged from the notches when the broadhead strikes a target due to the force exerted by the target on the portion of the cutting blades partially extending from the slots. As a result, the cutting blades move into a deployed expanded position causing the area of impact on the target to be enlarged.
A second retaining means, such as a wire or string, may be secured around the cutting blades and fit into a second notch on each cutting blade to hold the cutting blades in an undeployed position so that the broadhead may be utilized as a target point if desired.
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Dilworth & Barrese LLP
Ricci John A.
WASP Archery Products, Inc.
LandOfFree
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