EXTENSION MEMBER FOR ARROW

Abstract

An arrow has a shaft and an arrowhead assembly. The shaft has two ends, with one end having a nock and the other end having a coupling. The arrowhead assembly has a point and a coupling. The shaft of the arrowhead couplings are designed so that the two components can removably couple to one another. An extension member is provided so as to lengthen the shaft and permit the operator to pull back further on the bow. The extension member has a shaft and two ends. Each end removably couples to the respective shaft and arrowhead couplings.

Description

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application, Ser. No. 61/293,947, filed Jan. 11, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to arrows.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bow hunters use bows and arrows to shoot at game. Contemporary bows are of a compound design to increase the force applied to the arrow. In addition, contemporary bows have targeting equipment to increase the accuracy of the shot.

Hunters use a variety of points or arrowheads, depending on the particular game that is being sought. For example, with an elk or a deer, a broadhead point is typically used. Other points are used for smaller game. Some broadhead points are large and inhibit a full drawing back of the arrow, as the arrowhead or point contacts the bow. In order to avoid damage to the bow by the point, the hunter will use less than a full draw of the arrow.

A hunter could buy a longer arrow shaft, but this would only suit the use of that particular point, thus requiring the hunter to purchase and carry additional shafts. In general, bow owners travel light, carrying only a handful of arrows which are used with a variety of points. It is not practical for the hunter to have special elongated arrow shafts for a special point.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An arrow comprises a shaft and an arrowhead assembly. The shaft has two ends, with one end having a nock. The other end has a shaft coupling. The arrowhead assembly has a point and a point coupling. The point coupling and the shaft coupling are capable of interacting so as to couple the arrowhead assembly to the shaft. An extension member has a shaft and first and second ends. The first end is removably coupled to the shaft coupling of the shaft, and the second end is removably coupled to the point coupling of the arrowhead assembly, wherein the arrow is elongated.

In accordance with one aspect, the shaft coupling, the point coupling, the first end coupling and the second end coupling are threaded couplings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an arrow.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an extension member of the present invention, in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a male insert.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a point, the extension member and an arrow shaft.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows an arrow 11 of the type used by archers and bow hunters. The arrow 11 has a shaft 13 with two ends. One end has a nock 15, or notch, for receiving the bow string. Close to the nock are feathers, vanes or fletching 17. The other end of the shaft 13 has a female threaded fitting or coupling for receiving an arrowhead assembly, or point, 19. The arrowhead assembly has a point or tip at one end and a coupling at the other end for fitting to the shaft coupling.

The arrow shaft 13 can come in several lengths, such as, for example, 28, 30 or 32 inches. The hunter or archer chooses the arrow length depending on how far back the bow is drawn; this correlates to arm length. A hunter with longer arms tends to draw the bow further and prefers a longer arrow.

The arrow 11 is provided with an extension member 21 which effectively elongates the arrow between the point 19 and the nock 15. The extension member 21 allows a hunter or archer to modify an arrow shaft to accommodate a broad arrowhead or point and allow a full draw of the arrow, without the point contacting the bow. Using a full draw enables the hunter to shoot more accurately and quickly, and without the need to worry about bow damage.

Referring to FIG. 2, the extension member 21 has a shaft 23 that is the same diameter as the arrow shaft 13. The shaft 23 has a front end 25 and a rear end 27. The front end 25 has a female threaded fitting 29 (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2) that receives the male threaded fitting of the arrowhead or point 19. The rear end 27 has a male insert 31.

Referring to FIG. 3, the male insert 31 has an interior end portion 33 and an exterior end portion 35. The interior end portion 33 has circumferential grooves 37. The outside diameter of the interior end portion is such that an interference or friction fit is formed with the inside diameter of the shaft 23. Preferably, glue or adhesive is used to secure the interior end portion 33 of the male insert 31 in the shaft 21. The glue enters the grooves 33, which grooves assist in providing a tighter bond.

The male insert 31 has a circumferential flange 39 located between the interior and exterior end portions 33, 35. The flange 39 acts as a stop against the shaft 23, when the insert is pressed into the shaft rear end 27.

The exterior end portion 35 emulates the threaded end 35 of a point 19 (see FIG. 4). The exterior end portion 35 has a smooth section 41 next to the flange and a threaded section 43. The exterior end portion 35 is received by the female fitting 29 in the front end of the arrow shaft 13.

The shaft 23 can be made of the same material as arrow shafts 13, such as aluminum, fiber composites, plastic, etc. The shaft 23 is several inches long, typically 2 to 4 inches. The insert 31 can be made of a variety of materials. In the preferred embodiment, the insert 31 is made of aluminum.

An arrow can be easily modified or retrofitted with the extension member 21, as shown in FIG. 4. If the arrow is equipped with a point 19, the point is unthreaded from the front end of the arrow shaft 13. The extension member 21 is then fitted to the arrow shaft 13 by threading the insert 31 threaded portion 43 into the female fitting 29 on the front end of the arrow shaft 13. Next, the point 19 is coupled to the front end 25 of the extension member 21 by threading the male end 35 of the point into the female fitting 29 of the extension member. The arrow is now ready for use.

Removal of the extension member 21 returns the arrow to its original length.

With the extension member, a hunter can be out hunting and carry arrows suitable for all points. When an enlarged point is to be used, which point might mar or damage the bow, the hunter merely equips the arrow with an extension member before putting on the enlarged point. If the hunter changes his mind, the extension member can be easily removed and returned to its original length and configuration.

The foregoing disclosure and showings made in the drawings are merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. An arrow, comprising:

a) a shaft having two ends, one end having a nock, the other end having a shaft coupling;

b) an arrowhead assembly having a point and a point coupling, the point coupling and the shaft coupling capable of interacting so as to couple the arrowhead assembly to the shaft;

c) an extension member having a shaft and first and second ends, the first end removably coupling to the shaft coupling of the shaft and the second end removably coupling to the point coupling of the arrowhead assembly, wherein the arrow is elongated.

2. The arrow of claim 1 wherein the shaft coupling, the point coupling, the first end coupling and the second end coupling are threaded couplings.