Spin Point for Archery Arrows

Abstract

A spinning point for an arrow which is rotatable independently from an arrow shaft to which it is connected. The point has an arrowhead and a sleeve, with the arrowhead and the sleeve axially aligned, and the arrowhead has a main body and a stem which are a unitary element. The stem has a diameter less than the diameter of the second end of the main body of the arrowhead, and extends from the second end of the main body of the arrowhead. The sleeve is cylindrical and is disposed about the stem, and is secured to the stem with a clip. The sleeve is dimensioned to allow it to be slipped over the stem of the arrowhead. The stem and the arrowhead are capable of spinning or rotating together relative to the sleeve and the arrow.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/388,458, filed Feb. 1, 2016.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of archery. More particularly, the present invention relates to spinning point securable to the tip end of an arrow for allowing the point to independently rotate relative to the arrow both when the arrow is in flight and when contact is made with the target.

2. Background of the Invention

The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon system that predates written history. The bow is a flexible arc which shoots aerodynamic projectiles called arrows. Generally, the two ends of the bow are joined together with a string such that when the string is drawn back, the ends of the bow are flexed. An arrow is placed upon the string and the string is drawn back. When the string is released, the potential energy of the flexed stick is transformed into the velocity of the arrow. Bows and arrows have historically been important weapons, but are used primarily for hunting and the sport of archery today.

An arrow generally consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other end. Modern arrows may be made of any suitable material, including but not limited to carbon fiber, aluminum, fiberglass, and wood shafts. Carbon shafts have the advantage that they do not bend or warp, but they can often be too light weight to shoot from some bows and are expensive. Aluminum shafts are less expensive than carbon shafts, but they can bend and warp from use. Wood shafts are the least expensive option but often will not be identical in weight and size to each other and break more often than the other types of shafts.

The end of the arrow that impacts the target is the arrowhead. Historically, arrowheads have been made from various materials including flint, bone, horn, or metal. Most modern arrowheads are made of steel, but wood and other traditional materials are still used occasionally. Typically, the arrowhead is provided or manufactured separately from the arrow shaft and is attached to the arrow. For example, the arrowhead can be attached by tangs or sockets. There are several different types of arrowheads. Among the various types are the following:

• • (1) Bodkin points are short, rigid points with a small cross-section.
  • (2) Blunts are unsharpened arrowheads occasionally used for types of target shooting, for shooting at stumps or other targets of opportunity, or hunting small game when the goal is to stun the target without penetration.
  • (3) Judo points have spring wires extending sideways from the tip. These catch on grass and debris to prevent the arrow from being lost in the vegetation. These are usually used for practice and for small game.
  • (4) Broadhead arrowhead is usually triangular or leaf-shaped and has a sharpened edge or edges. Broadheads are commonly used for hunting.
  • (5) Target points are bullet-shaped with a sharp point, designed to penetrate targets easily without causing excessive damage to them.
  • (6) Field points are similar to target points and have a distinct shoulder, so that missed outdoor shots do not become as stuck in obstacles such as tree stumps. They are also used for shooting practice by hunters, by offering similar flight characteristics and weights as broadheads, without getting lodged in target materials and causing excessive damage upon removal.
  • (7) Other types of points known by those skilled in the art as game getters or fishing points.

Archery hunting and target archery are popular sports that require a number of skills and talents that are honed and developed through years of target practice and actual hunting. Certainly one of the most critical skills is developing the ability to bring the bow to full draw for obtaining maximum velocity for the arrow upon release and optimum shot placement on the target, whether the target is an archery target or a game animal. This requires both physical strength and finding a bow that has a comfortable draw weight (poundage of pull to get the bow to full draw) for that individual. However, it often occurs that the individual doesn't develop the requisite strength and thus when hunting exerts too little (pull) draw weight on the bow so that when the target is struck the arrow doesn't achieve sufficient penetration to the vitals of the game animal. In addition, the energy and lethality of the arrow is immediately diminished upon striking bone. Thus, the arrow must cut or break bone to reach the animal's vitals, and this results in the game animal being wounded but not quickly killed. The game animal often evades tracking and location by the hunter and dies in the undergrowth without ever being found. Therefore, it is desirable to design a cutting tip that does not completely lose energy upon striking the target, and is not compelled to follow the predetermined path of the arrow upon the arrow striking the target and then entering the target. As applied to target archery, the lack of strength results in the arrow not achieving sufficient velocity and being adversely effected by wind resistance or other factors, thereby effecting the distance and accuracy of the shot.

There is a need for an improved point. The flight of prior art points is adversely affected by wind resistance acting against them, making it more difficult to effectively hit a target. It is desirable to design a point that does not lose excessive energy due to wind resistance or due to impact with obstructions after hitting a target animal.

The following patents disclose various improvements in the design of the cutting tip and the arrow to improve spin, stability, and accuracy:

U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,696 to Hoverath discloses a magazine and blowpipe for projecting elongate projectiles and which includes a tubular pipe, a magazine, and a plurality of projectiles stored in the magazine and ejected one at a time from a discharge end of the pipe;

U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,579 to Sprandel discloses a swivel action adaptor for securing an arrowhead to the front end of an arrow shaft that includes a bushing that is cemented to the forward end of the arrow shaft and a spindle mounted to the bushing and having a tapered end that is cemented in the socket of the arrowhead;

U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,749 to Simo discloses an arrowhead body for attachment between the nosepiece and the head end of the arrow shaft, and which includes an adaptor having a having a rearward adapter shaft for insertion into the arrow shaft and an opposite forwardly extending adaptor shaft for attachment to the arrowhead body with the adaptor shafts and the adaptor in axial alignment with the arrow shaft and the arrowhead body;

U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,568 to Tone discloses a low frictional rotational element for interconnecting a broad blade arrowhead to the leading end of an arrow shaft, and which includes a housing for permanent installation to the leading end of the arrow shaft and an insert for disposition within the housing, with the insert including annular ridges that serve as low friction bearing surfaces against the inner annular surface of the housing. The insert includes a threaded hole to receive the threaded stud of the arrowhead;

U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,067 to Saunders discloses an arrow insert for a hollow arrow shaft that includes annular alignment rings, an enlarged shoulder, and a glue trap for gluing the insert to the inside annular surface of the arrow so that a fieldpoint can be secured to the insert and in position at the front end opening of the shaft of the arrow;

U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,147 to Withorn discloses an arrow thread tracking apparatus for a bow that includes a bolt assembly secured to the bow and a thread attached to the bolt assembly and the arrow for tracking the arrow;

U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,875 to Hill discloses a vaneless arrow shaft that includes a spinner tube having spiral grooves that is placed within the arrow shaft adjacent the nock end, and the arrow shaft having dimples that engage the grooves so that rotation is imparted to the arrow shaft when the bowstring is released for launching the arrow shaft;

U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,700 B2 to Hartman discloses an arrow spin device that includes a screw shaft having cylindrical leading and tailing ends and which is inserted into the arrow shaft so that engagement by, and release from, the bowstring imparts a spin to the arrow without the need for fletching;

U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,880 B2 to Becker discloses a fluted arrow that can be lighter and stronger than standard arrows, and a fluted arrow that has grooves or spirals along its length to impart rotation to the arrow for increased stability and greater velocity; and

U.S. Pat. No. 7,207,908 discloses an insert for allowing free rotation of a cutting tip on an arrow shaft, but does not teach or suggest the presently claimed spinning point.

Nonetheless, despite the ingenuity of the above devices, there remains a need for an improved point of all types discussed herein. Differences in the aerodynamics of points renders much of the prior art inapplicable. There is a need for a spinning point that allows the tip or arrowhead to freely rotate relative to the arrow shaft, thereby allowing more lift and less wind resistance during the flight of the arrow to the target, and in which a cutting tip freely rotates relative to the arrow shaft whereupon when contact with the target occurs, the cutting tip can rotate off solid objects such as bone within the target to achieve greater penetration and a quicker, more humane kill.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a spinning point that is mounted to the tip end of the shaft of an arrow and, more specifically, within or upon the shaft of the arrow at the tip end so that the spinning point can freely spin or rotate while in flight. The spinning point rotates independent of the spin or rotation of the arrow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprehends a spinning point that is mounted to the end of the shaft of an arrow and, more specifically, in a preferred embodiment, within the shaft of the arrow at the end so that the spinning point with a cutting tip or arrowhead, such as a broadhead or a field point, that is part of the spinning point, can freely spin or rotate while in flight and when contact with the target is made to achieve greater penetration and thus quicker and more humane kills. The spinning point rotates independent of the spin or rotation of the arrow, and as a result, greater penetration, and thus quicker and more humane kills, is obtained because the cutting tip doesn't have to follow the predetermined path of the arrow but can rotate off solid matter and objects such as bone for deeper penetration into the game animal's vitals. Thus, the spinning point allows the cutting tip to take the easiest path through the animal by allowing the cutting tip to freely spin about the tip end of the shaft of the arrow and independently of the rotation of the arrow. Moreover, the spinning point allows for more lift and less wind stress.

The advantages of the present spinning point to the prior art are many. The spinning point is easily installed. The arrow having the installed spinning point has a greater arrow spin rate, with a spin rate approximately twice as fast due to the arrow not having to spin all the FOC. (Front of Center). Moreover, a faster spinning arrow creates more lift when shot, making the arrows fly flatter, and allowing the archer to use a heavier arrow without adversely changing the point of impact. In addition, by spinning the arrow faster, the spinning point results in a quicker stabilization than seen with a static arrow, in turn giving the archer a true spinning arrow, and greater accuracy down range. The spinning point results in faster down range speeds and more penetration, essentially because the spinning point allows the archer to use heavier arrows. This results in more ethical kills as well.

An additional benefit is that use of the spinning point results in no arrowhead planing. Because the broadhead or other arrowhead spins independently from the arrow, the flight path is not disrupted by the arrowhead if it encounters any wind resistance. Finally, the weight and profile of the spinning point allows it to have greater speed and less wind stress. The result is that flight and accuracy of the projectile is improved.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the spinning point is of a generally elongated and cylindrical shape. The point comprises a tip (or arrowhead) and a sleeve. For purposes of this application, the terms “tip” and “arrowhead” are interchangeable, except when the word “tip” is used to describe a portion of the arrow shaft. The tip or arrowhead can be any type of tip or arrowhead known in the arts, such as a field point, a bodkin point, a blunt, a judo point, a broadhead, a target point, a game getter, or a fishing point, or any other known tip or arrowhead. The tip or arrowhead and the sleeve are axially aligned. In an embodiment, the tip or arrowhead has a main body and a stem that are manufactured as a unitary element. The main body has a first end having a substantially pointed edge, and a second end. The stem of a diameter less than the diameter of the second end of the main body of the tip or arrowhead extends from the second end of the main body of the tip or arrowhead. The stem, in turn, has a first and second end, with the first end extending from the second end of the main body of the tip or arrowhead. The second end of the stem may comprise an annular groove for receiving a clip, such as an E-clip or a C-clip.

The point also comprises a sleeve. The sleeve is cylindrical and of a dimension to allow it to be slipped over the stem of the tip or arrowhead, whereupon the length of the sleeve is less than that of the stem so that, after the sleeve has been slipped onto the stem, an e-clip or c-clip can be fitted into the annular groove on the stem, thereby holding the sleeve onto the stem. The stem and the tip or arrowhead are capable of spinning or rotating together relative to the sleeve and the arrow.

Upon assembly of the spinning point by placing the sleeve upon the stem of the tip or arrowhead, and securing with the e-clip or c-clip, the spinning point can be placed onto the arrow by any means known to one skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the arrow comprises a shaft having a hollow of the shaft adjacent the end of the arrow, and the spinning point may be secured by placing into the hollow of the shaft. The spinning point may be secured by gluing or otherwise attaching the spinning point into the hollow of the shaft or another location adjacent the end of the arrow by other means. Upon placement, the stem of the tip or arrowhead and the sleeve may be concealed and enclosed within the shaft of the arrow, with only the main body of the tip or arrowhead protruding from the arrow shaft. When secured, the sleeve of the spinning point is secured within the hollow of the shaft of the arrow. The smaller diameter of the stem of the tip or arrowhead within the secured and stationary sleeve allows the stem and main body of the tip or arrowhead of the spinning point to spin or rotate in unison and relative to the arrow when the arrow is in flight and upon contact with the target.

In the scope of the present invention, the tip or arrowhead on the spinning point can be any type of tip or arrowhead known in the arts, such as a field point, a bodkin point, a blunt, a judo point, a broadhead, a target point, a game getter, or a fishing point, or any other known tip or arrowhead. The present spinning point comprises a tip or arrowhead and a sleeve. The tip or arrowhead and the sleeve are axially aligned. The tip or arrowhead comprises a main body and a stem that are manufactured as a unitary element. This unitary element is manufactured with the stem so dimensioned as to to fit through the sleeve. As would be understood to one skilled in the art, the sleeve, along with the other parts of the present invention, may be manufactured from any suitable material. Further, the choice of material may be based upon the desired weight of the components of the device. The spinning point, comprising a sleeve and the tip or arrowhead and the arrow shaft are attached in a manner allowing the point to turn independent of the arrow shaft, thus allowing for more lift and less stress from spinning the weight front of center. This results in better accuracy and a flatter flight path.

This summary of the invention does not necessarily describe all features of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from reference to the attached drawings, inserted herein below:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the spinning point of the present invention prior to its attachment to an arrow, cut through to show the stem of the spinning point;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the spinning point of the present invention prior to its attachment to an arrow, with the stem hidden beneath the sleeve;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the spinning point of the present invention illustrating the alignment of the shaft of the arrow with the spinning point after the securement of the spinning point to the arrow shaft;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the spinning point, illustrating the alignment and configuration of the structural elements of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the spinning point illustrating the alignment of the spinning point with an arrow.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

1 Spinning point

2 Arrow

3 Arrow shaft

4 Arrow tip

5 Arrow Nock

6 Arrow Vane

7 Arrowhead or Tip

8 Main Body of Arrowhead or Tip

9 First End of Main Body of Arrowhead or Tip

10 Second End of Main Body of Arrowhead or Tip

11 Stem of Arrowhead or Tip

12 First End of Stem

13 Second End of Stem

14 Annular Groove on Stem

15 Sleeve

16 E Clip or C Clip

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the invention are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Some, but not all, embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures. Indeed, the disclosed invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided as examples, and so that this disclosure will satisfy legal requirements.

A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a spinning point 1 that is removably attachable to the shaft of an arrow, and that allows the spinning point to freely spin or rotate relative to the rotation of the shaft of the arrow when the arrow is in flight and upon impact with the target. FIG. 1 shows the unitary Main body of the arrowhead 8 and stem 11, the sleeve 15 disposed upon the stem 11, and the clip 16 disposed in the annular groove 14.

FIG. 2 shows spinning point 1 that is removably attachable to the shaft of an arrow, and that allows the spinning point to freely spin or rotate relative to the rotation of the shaft of the arrow when the arrow is in flight and upon impact with the target. FIG. 2 shows the unitary Main body of the arrowhead 8, with the stem 11 only seen at its second end beyond the point where sleeve 15 is disposed upon the stem 11, and the clip 16 is disposed in the annular groove 14.

Illustrated in FIG. 3 is a representative arrow. The arrow 2 includes a shaft 3, a nock 5, a plurality of vanes 6, and an arrowhead or tip 7 of the spinning point. The shaft of the arrow includes a passageway that encompasses the length of the stem of the spinning point, which is not shown. The spinning point 1 is mounted to the end of the shaft 3, with a major portion of the spinning point 1 being disposed within the passageway. A small portion of the spinning point comprising the arrowhead or tip 7 projects externally from the end of the shaft.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the spinning point, illustrating the alignment and configuration of the structural elements of the present invention. The unitary arrowhead or tip 7 comprises the main body 8 and the stem 11. The stem 11 has an annular groove 14 for the clip 16 which is disposed after the sleeve 15 is placed upon the stem 11.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the spinning point illustrating the alignment of the unitary arrowhead or tip 7 of the spinning point, comprising the main body 8 and the stem 11. The stem 11 has an annular groove 14 for the clip 16 which is disposed after the sleeve 15 is placed upon the stem 11. The completed spinning point is attached to the arrow shaft 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2. 4, and 5, the spinning point includes a unitary element having a main body 8 and a stem 11 of an arrowhead or tip 7. The main body of the arrowhead or tip 8 has a first end 9 with a substantially pointed edge, and a second end 10. The stem 11 that is part of the unitary element, with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the second end of the main body 10, extends from the second end of the main body 10. The stem 11, in turn, has a first end 12 and second end 13, with the first end 12 extending from the second end 10 of the main body. The second end 13 of the stem has an annular groove 14 for receiving a clip 16, such as an E-clip or a C-clip. The spinning point also comprises a cylindrical sleeve 15 dimensioned to allow it to be slipped over the stem 11, with the e-clip or c-clip 16 fitted into the annular groove 14 on the stem. When the spinning point is fully assembled, the arrowhead or tip 7, including the main body 8 and the stem 11, and the sleeve 15 are in axial alignment with each other and with the shaft 3 of the arrow. As shown in FIG. 3, when the spinning point 1 is attached onto the arrow shaft 3, the sleeve is stabilized and is thus prevented from rotating, and the stem is allowed to rotate.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a spinning point of an arrow that allows the cutting tip to spin off of solid objects such as bone so that the cutting tip can take the easiest path through the animal.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a spinning point to an arrow and which allows the cutting tip to freely spin with respect to the arrow so that an archer can use less draw weight to achieve the same or better penetration of the cutting tip in the animal.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a spinning point to an arrow so that the cutting tip can freely spin relative to the arrow and thus allows a hunter of limited draw weight the ability to hunt larger game animals.

It is still yet another objective of the present invention to provide a spinning point to an arrow that allows the cutting tip to freely spin relative to the arrow and that results in quicker and more humane kills with less shock to the game animal.

Still a further objective of the present invention is to provide a spinning point to an arrow that allows the cutting tip to freely spin relative to the arrow so that the cutting tip can spin off of bone and achieve a lethal penetration to the game animal's vitals thereby resulting in a quicker and more humane kill.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a spinning point to the arrow that allows the cutting tip to freely spin relative to the arrow so that when the target is struck the cutting tip is able to deflect off bone instead of losing energy by having to cut through bone.

Still yet a further objective of the present invention is to provide a spinning point to the arrow that allows the cutting tip to freely spin relative to the arrow so that the cutting tip can spin off bone and work more efficiently by taking the easiest route through the game animal.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a spinning point to the arrow that allows the cutting tip to freely spin relative to the arrow thereby producing better arrow flight and reduced planning.

Yet still another objective of the present invention is to provide a spinning point to the arrow wherein the spinning point can be manufactured from an aluminum alloy, titanium, steel or carbon composite.

Yet still a further objective of the present invention is to provide a spinning point to the arrow that allows the individual to shoot a more comfortable draw weight and achieve better shot placement.

These and other objects, features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures and appended claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed herein, and it should be understood that numerous modifications, alterations, and variations are possible and practicable by those skilled in the art while still coming within the spirit of the invention and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. While the foregoing written description and drawings of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. Moreover, the terms “consisting”, “comprising” and other derivatives from the term “comprise” are intended to be open-ended terms that specify the presence of any stated features, elements, steps, or components, and are not intended to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. Moreover, Applicants have endeavored in the present specification and drawings to draw attention to certain features of the invention, it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect to any patentable feature or combination of features referred to in the specification or drawings. The drawings are provided to illustrate features of the invention, but the claimed invention is expressly not limited to the illustrated embodiments.

Claims

1. A spinning point for mounting to an end of a shaft of an arrow, said spinning point comprising an arrowhead that freely rotates relative to the rotation of the arrow.

2. The spinning point of claim 1, wherein said arrowhead comprises a unitary main body and stem manufactured as a single element, said spinning point further comprising a sleeve disposed upon said stem.

3. The spinning point of claim 2, wherein

a. said arrowhead has a main body having a first end which is substantially pointed and a second end, and

b. said arrowhead has a stem having a diameter less than a diameter of said second end of said main body, and

c. said stem has a first end and a second end, and said first end of said stem extending from said main body from the second end of said main body, and

d. an annular groove disposed adjacent the second end of said stem,

4. The spinning point of claim 3, wherein said sleeve is cylindrical and dimensioned to allow it to be disposed upon said stem, and wherein said sleeve is securable to said stem by placement of an e-clip or c-clip into said annular groove on said stem.

5. The spinning point of claim 4, wherein said unitary main body and stem of said arrowhead and said sleeve are disposed in axial alignment to each other such that, when said spinning point is attached to an arrow, said unitary main body and stem of said arrowhead stem freely rotates independent of said arrow.

6. The spinning point of claim 1, wherein said arrowhead is selected from the group consisting of a field point, a bodkin point, a blunt, a judo point, a broadhead, a target point, a game getter, or a fishing point.