ARROW BARREL FOR SHOOTING BALL BEARING AMMUNITION
An arrow barrel for shooting a ball bearing comprising: a shaft having a tail end and a head end opposite the tail end, the shaft being substantially cylindrical and hollow from the tail end to the head end and configured to receive the ball bearing; and a nock body coupled to the tail end of the shaft, the nock body having a bowstring end and an ammunition end opposite the bowstring end, the bowstring end comprising a bowstring notch configured to receive a bowstring, wherein a portion of the nock body is magnetized such that the nock body retains the ball bearing throughout the drawing of the bowstring and releases the ball bearing upon the release of the bowstring.
This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/821,661, filed Aug. 7, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth herein.
SUMMARYThe present invention relates to arrows. More particularly, the present invention relates to an arrow barrel for shooting ball bearing ammunition.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following disclosure is illustrative only and not in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure.
Nock 4 comprises an ammunition end 10 and a bowstring end 8 opposite ammunition end 10. Ammunition end 10 is configured to receive and retain ammunition such as standard ball bearing ammunition 6 through the use of magnetization. Bowstring end 8 is configured to receive and retain the bowstring, or drawstring, of any bow known in the art, including, but not limited to, compound bows, recurve bows, crossbows, composite bows, longbows, and flatbows. It is noted that bowstring and drawstring are used interchangeably herein. In a preferred embodiment, the drawstring is a multi-stranded string of either Dacron, Kevlar or Fastflight looped to the bownocks or teardrops (compound bows). However, it is contemplated that any drawstring known in the art may be used.
Bowstring end 8 of nock 4 comprises means for receiving and retaining a drawstring. In a preferred embodiment, nock 4 comprises drawstring retaining hole 12 and drawstring retaining slot 14 disposed proximate bowstring end 8. Retaining slot 14 communicates with retaining hole 12 so that a drawstring may be passed through retaining slot 14 into retaining hole 12. Preferably, retaining hole 12 is disposed at a height proximate the center of nock 4.
Nock 4 may be slipped over a standard bow drawstring, with the drawstring passing through retaining slot 14 and being retained in retaining hole 12. When the drawstring is pulled back and released to shoot, the drawstring secures nock 4. By securing nock 4, the drawstring also secures shaft 20. In this fashion, barrel 2, including nock 4 and shaft 20, moves forward quickly after the drawstring is released. As the drawstring and barrel 2 move forward, the drawstring eventually applies a braking force to barrel 2 at retaining hole 12, resulting in barrel 2 stopping as suddenly as the drawstring. The ammunition such as ball bearing 6, which is retained magnetically at ammunition end 10, is thrust toward the target with enough force to overcome the magnetic attraction. The ammunition is thereby projected towards the target, while barrel 2 stays with the drawstring.
Retaining slot 14 is preferably smaller in diameter than retaining hole 12 in order to prevent the drawstring from accidentally exiting retaining hole 12 and retaining slot 14. However, it is contemplated that the respective sizes of retaining slot 14 and retaining hole 14 may vary. A simple slotted plastic end cap 52 may also be used to cover slot 12 in order to prevent the drawstring from exiting. As seen in
As mentioned above, the ammunition is retained magnetically at ammunition end 10 so that the ammunition may be held against nock 4 until the drawstring is pulled and released. This magnetic attraction may be achieved in a variety of ways. For example, magnetized nock insert 5, such as a magnetized steel rod, may be disposed inside nock 4. This magnet holds the ammunition without barrel 2 having to be oriented at least horizontal to the ground to prevent the ammunition from sliding away from nock 4 and out of shaft 20. As seen in
Shaft 20 comprises a tail end 24 and a head end 26 opposite tail end 24. Preferably shaft 20 is preferably hollow from head end 26 to tail end 24, or from head end 26 to nock 4, thereby forming shaft interior 22. Shaft interior 22 is configured to allow ammunition to pass through it. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of shaft interior 22 is slightly larger than the diameter of the ammunition. Shaft 20 may be formed from an aluminum arrow such as an Easton 2512 that is epoxy glued to nock 4, which may be inserted about ¾ of an inch inside shaft 20 as seen in
Tail end 24 is configured to retain or house nock 4. Although the figures illustrate nock 4 as an independent piece that is coupled to tail end 24, it is contemplated that nock 4 may alternatively be integrally formed with tail end 24.
Head end 26 comprises exit aperture 29. Exit aperture 29 is an opening that communicates with shaft interior 22 and is configured to allow the ammunition to pass through it. In a preferred embodiment, exit aperture is substantially circular in shape and its diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the ammunition. Exit aperture 29 provides an opening on shaft 20 from which the ammunition may be shot. Exit aperture 29 may also be used as a location for the user to load the ammunition.
Shaft 20 may also comprise loading hole 28 disposed in between ammunition end 10 of nock 4 and exit aperture 29 of shaft 20. Loading hole 28 is an aperture that communicates with shaft interior and is configured to allow the user to load the ammunition without having to drop it in at exit aperture 29. The user simply places the ammunition through loading hole 28 and into shaft interior 22. Barrel 2 may then be manipulated in order to direct the ammunition to the ammunition end 10 of nock 4 where it is magnetically retained until it is shot. In a preferred embodiment, loading hole 28 is substantially circular in shape and its diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the ammunition.
It is contemplated that a forward hold down strap may be used to provide stability for barrel 2. This strap may comprise two pieces of Velcro looped around the bow or crossbow and barrel 2 in order to hold barrel 2 down and prevent it from bouncing around.
The barrel of the present invention may also be configured to accommodate a crossbow. A crossbow is usually cocked by pushing the front end against the ground, then loading the arrow. The string is then inside the trigger mechanism, so the user cannot slide the nock over the string. On some models that cock differently, such as pulling the string back by hand, you can pre-load the arrow using the nock alone.
Nock 4 may comprise crossbow drawstring notch 16 disposed at bowstring end 8. Crossbow drawstring notch 16 is simply a notch that accepts a crossbow drawstring. Either nock 4 or shaft 20 may comprise crossbow drawstring tailhook slot 18 for adjustably retaining crossbow drawstring tailhook 30. As seen in
In a preferred embodiment, the crossbow bolt barrel is placed on the crossbow and into the trigger mechanism after it is cocked. Tailhook 30 is then moved rearward at the top of slot 18. The rear of tailhook 30 may then pass over drawstring 32. Once the rear of tailhook 30 has been placed over drawstring 32, the front of tailhook 30 may be moved forward towards head end 26, then downward, and finally rearward into the shorter part of slot 18, thereby being secured in a position where it is hooked onto drawstring 32. Since tailhook 30 is hooked onto drawstring 32, tailhook 30 applies a braking force onto barrel 2 after drawstring 32 is released by the crossbow. In this fashion, tailhook 30 and tailhook slot 18 provide the same function as retaining hole 12.
The diameter of a crossbow bolt is smaller than a standard arrow for a recurve or compound bow. In order to handle all of these bows, the present invention provides crossbow arrow barrel 40.
Nock 42 comprises a bowstring end 44 and an ammunition end 46 opposite bowstring end 44. Since bowstring end 44 is the end that is placed into the trigger mechanism of the crossbow, it is smaller in diameter than the portion of nock 42 that does not go into the trigger mechanism. As seen in
In a preferred embodiment, nock 42 comprises an upper offset 48 and a lower offset 50 where smaller diameter portion 56 meets shaft 20. Upper offset 48 represents the raising of the end of nock 42 to increase the diameter of nock 42 to the standard arrow size of shaft 20. Lower offset 50 represents the change in diameter of nock 42 so that the bottom of shaft 20 is flush with the bottom of nock 42 when arrow barrel 40 is installed on a crossbow.
Although
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention.
Claims
1. An arrow barrel for shooting a ball bearing comprising:
- a shaft having a tail end and a head end opposite said tail end, said shaft configured to receive said ball bearing; and
- a nock body coupled to said tail end of said shaft, said nock body having a bowstring end and an ammunition end opposite said bowstring end, said bowstring end comprising a bowstring notch configured to receive a bowstring, wherein a portion of said nock body is magnetized such that said nock body retains said ball bearing during drawing of said bowstring and releases said ball bearing upon release of the drawn bowstring.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 7, 2007
Publication Date: Apr 17, 2008
Inventor: Christopher M. Edwards (Dayton, NV)
Application Number: 11/835,173