Method and apparatus for aligning arrow nocks

• US 10,030,948 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2017
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunter's Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hunter's Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Bednar, Richard L., Shaffer, Michael J., Hout, Jacob A., Mook, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Niconovich, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US15/643,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20170299320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 473578
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 5/148 Accessories and tools for bow shooting not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/42 of illuminating type, e.g. carrying flares
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/001 Devices or processes for assembling ammunition, cartridges or cartridge elements from parts
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/06 Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching

Abstract

An arrow nock may have three or more string guide impressions that are designed to receive a portion of a bowstring to fire an arrow. Each string guide impression may be defined by two circumferentially spaced walls separated by a floor. The walls and floors may be curvilinear in shape. The walls may have sides and a peak that are curvilinear. The walls may have widths that narrow toward the peak. The walls may have a radial length that is at least one fourth of the nock outside diameter.

Claims

1. An arrow nock comprising:

an attachment surface that is configured to attach the nock to an associated arrow; and

a top portion comprising;

(1) an axial centerline;

(2) a circumference; and

(3) first, second, third and fourth string guide impressions;

wherein;

(A) each of the first, second, third and fourth string guide impressions;

(1) is designed to receive a portion of an associated bowstring to fire the associated arrow; and

(2) is defined by two circumferentially spaced walls separated by a floor;

(B) the walls comprise;

(1) a first wall; and

(2) a second wall;

(C) the first wall;

(1) is positioned circumferentially between the floor of the first string guide impression and the floor of the second string guide impression;

(2) has a first circumferentially spaced side that extends axially toward the floor of the first string guide impression;

(3) has a second circumferentially spaced side that extends axially toward the floor of the second string guide impression; and

(4) has a first peak that is defined by a first surface that extends from the first wall first side to the first wall second side;

(D) the floor of the first string guide impression is curvilinear shaped and extends axially toward the first side of the first wall;

(E) the floor of the second string guide impression is curvilinear shaped and extends axially toward the second side of the first wall;

(F) the second wall;

(1) is positioned circumferentially between the floor of the third string guide impression and the floor of the fourth string guide impression;

(2) has a first circumferentially spaced side that extends axially toward the floor of the third string guide impression;

(3) has a second circumferentially spaced side that extends axially toward the floor of the fourth string guide impression; and

(4) has a second peak that is defined by a second surface that extends from the second wall first side to the second wall second side;

(G) the floor of the third string guide impression is curvilinear shaped and extends axially toward the first side of the second wall; and

(H) the floor of the fourth string guide impression is curvilinear shaped and extends axially toward the second side of the second wall;

wherein;

the first surface is at least 50% continuously curved; and

the second surface is at least 50% continuously curved.

2. The arrow nock of claim 1 wherein:

the first and third string guide impressions are designed to simultaneously receive the associated bowstring to fire the associated arrow; and

the second and fourth string guide impressions are designed to simultaneously receive the associated bowstring to fire the associated arrow.

3. The arrow nock of claim 1 wherein:

the first wall first side and first wall second side are curvilinear in shape; and

the second wall first side and second wall second side are curvilinear in shape.

4. The arrow nock of claim 1 wherein:

the axial centerline lies on a plane that;

(1) evenly divides the top surface into two parts;

(2) intersects the first wall; and

(3) intersects the second wall.

5. The arrow nock of claim 1 wherein:

the first surface is at least 75% continuously curved; and

the second surface is at least 75% continuously curved.

6. The arrow nock of claim 1 wherein:

the first surface is continuously curved; and

the second surface is continuously curved.

7. The arrow nock of claim 1 wherein:

the first wall has a maximum height from one of the floor of the first string guide impression and the floor of the second string guide impression up to the first peak;

the second wall has a maximum height from one of the floor of the third string guide impression and the floor of the fourth string guide impression up to the second peak;

the first wall maximum height is less that a bowstring cross-sectional outside diameter; and

the second wall maximum height is less that a bowstring cross-sectional outside diameter.

8. An arrow nock comprising:

an attachment surface that is configured to attach the nock to an associated arrow; and

a top portion comprising;

(1) an axial centerline;

(2) a circumference; and

(3) first, second and third string guide impressions;

wherein;

(A) radial is defined as a direction that;

(1) extends away from the axial centerline; and

(2) is perpendicular to the axial centerline;

(B) each of the first, second, and third string guide impressions;

(1) is designed to receive a portion of an associated bowstring to fire the associated arrow; and

(2) is defined by two circumferentially spaced walls separated by a floor;

(C) each of the walls extends axially to a peak;

(D) each of the walls has first and second circumferentially spaced sides that;

(1) extend axially from the floor to a mid-portion to the peak;

(2) are curvilinear in shape; and

(3) define a side to side width that is perpendicular to a radial line; and

(E) each wall'"'"'s width is narrower at the peak than at the mid-portion and narrower at the mid-portion than at the floor.

9. The arrow nock of claim 8 wherein:

each of the floors has a curvilinear shape.

10. The arrow nock of claim 8 wherein:

the top portion comprises a top surface;

the first, second and third string guide impressions are on the top surface;

one of the walls of the first string guide impression is a first wall;

one of the walls of the second string guide impression is a second wall;

one of the walls of the third string guide impression is a third wall; and

the first, second and third walls are symmetrically disposed on the top surface.

11. The arrow nock of claim 8 wherein:

the first and second string guide impressions are designed to simultaneously receive the associated bowstring to fire the associated arrow.

12. The arrow nock of claim 8 wherein:

each wall peak is curvilinear in shape.

13. The arrow nock of claim 8 wherein:

each wall has a maximum height from the respective floors up to the respective peak; and

each maximum height is less that a bowstring cross-sectional outside diameter.

14. An arrow nock comprising:

an attachment surface that is configured to attach the nock to an associated arrow; and

a top portion comprising;

(1) an axial centerline;

(2) a circumference;

(3) an outside diameter OD; and

(4) first, second and third string guide impressions;

wherein;

(A) radial is defined as a direction that;

(1) extends away from the axial centerline; and

(2) is perpendicular to the axial centerline;

(B) each of the first, second, and third string guide impressions;

(1) is designed to receive a portion of an associated bowstring to fire the associated arrow; and

(2) is defined by two circumferentially spaced and radially extending walls separated by a floor;

(C) each of the walls has a radial length of at least RL; and

(D) a ratio RL/OD is at least 0.25.

15. The arrow nock of claim 14 wherein:

the top portion comprises a slot positioned on the axial centerline.

16. The arrow nock of claim 14 wherein:

the first and second string guide impressions are designed to simultaneously receive the associated bowstring to fire the associated arrow.

17. The arrow nock of claim 14 wherein:

each of the walls extends axially to a peak;

each of the walls has first and second circumferentially spaced sides that;

(1) extend axially to the peak;

(2) are curvilinear in shape; and

(3) define a side to side width that is perpendicular to the axial centerline; and

each wall'"'"'s width narrows axially along the wall toward its peak.

18. The arrow nock of claim 14 wherein:

each floor has a curvilinear shape.

19. The arrow nock of claim 14 wherein:

each of the walls extends axially to a peak; and

each wall peak is curvilinear in shape.

20. The arrow nock of claim 14 wherein:

each of the walls has a peak;

each of the walls has a maximum height from the respective floors up to the respective peak; and

each maximum height is less that a bowstring cross-sectional outside diameter.