Sliding arrow stabilizer

• US 20030045381A1
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Archery Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Desert Dynamic Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Peterson, Larry, Morris, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,331,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/578
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/12 using fins longitudinally-slidable with respect to the projectile or missile
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/18 using a longitudinally slidable support member
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/06 Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching

Abstract

An improved arrow and sliding stabilizer therefor are provided. The sliding stabilizer is used instead of fixed or glued tail feathers, vanes or other fletching as a means for stabilizing arrow flight. The invention improves current projectile technology with reduced assembly labor cost, the elimination of bow clearance issues, improved accuracy with the consistent production of the sliding stabilizer, easy replacement of the stabilizer in the field, and improved arrow storage. A sliding stabilizer is designed to slide along the shaft of an arrow and comprises an annular wing and a plurality of fins. In use, the stabilizer is positioned at the front of the arrow prior to launch, and the arrow slides quickly through the stabilizer until secured at a stop position at or near the trailing end of the arrow.

Claims

1. A stabilizer for a non-self-powered projectile, said stabilizer comprising an annular wing.

2. A stabilizer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mating feature adapted to engage said stabilizer with a non-self-powered projectile having a corresponding mating feature.

3. A stabilizer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mating feature of said stabilizer has an annular cross-section.

4. A stabilizer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mating feature of said stabilizer comprises at least one projection adapted to cause a friction or interference fit with said projectile, said projection protruding in an inward direction with respect to said annular wing.

5. A stabilizer as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one projection comprises an O-ring.

6. A stabilizer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mating feature of said stabilizer has an annular cross-section having an inner diameter;

wherein said at least one projection comprises a plurality of projections protruding in an inward direction with respect to said annular wing; and

wherein the innermost points of each of said projections all lie along a circle having a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the annular cross-section of the mating feature.

7. A stabilizer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one fin.

8. A stabilizer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said fin is disposed substantially orthogonally with respect to said annular wing and/or within said annular wing.

9. A stabilizer as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least a portion of said fin comprises a substantially airfoil-shaped and/or tapered cross section.

10. A stabilizer as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a mating feature adapted to engage said stabilizer with a non-self-powered projectile having a corresponding mating feature;

wherein said fin bridges said annular wing and the mating feature of said stabilizer.

11. A stabilizer as claimed in claim 3, wherein said stabilizer has a plurality of said annular cross-sections having inner diameters that narrow along the length of said mating feature.

12. A stabilizer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said annular wing has a longitudinal axis, wherein said fin either is disposed at an angle with respect to said annular wing, said angle being selected to provide a predetermined amount of rotation about the central axis of said stabilizer when said stabilizer is engaged with a non-self-powered projectile;

or is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said annular wing to prevent rotation about said longitudinal axis when said stabilizer is engaged with a non-self-powered projectile.

13. A stabilizer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said fin comprises at least one aperture formed therein and/or wherein said plurality of fins comprises three fins.

14. A stabilizer as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said annular wing has a substantially circular, ovular, airfoil-shaped, and/or tapered cross-section.

15. A stabilizer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stabilizer is adapted to engage slideably with an arrow.

16. A stabilizer as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said stabilizer comprises a luminescent, bio-luminescent, photo-luminescent, or electro-luminescent material.

17. A stabilizer for a non-self-powered projectile comprising:

a pair of nested annular structures, each said structure having a substantially circular or ovular cross-section; and

at least one support member bridging said nested annular structures.

18. An arrow comprising:

a shaft having a leading end and a trailing end; and

a stabilizer comprising an annular wing, said stabilizer slidably disposed on or fixed to said shaft.

19. An arrow as claimed in claim 18, wherein said stabilizer is removably disposed at the leading end of said shaft.

20. An arrow as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a second stabilizer comprising an annular wing.

21. An arrow as claimed in claim 20, wherein one said stabilizer is attached fixedly to said arrow, and the other said stabilizer is slidably disposed on the shaft of said arrow.

22. An arrow as claimed in claim 18, wherein said stabilizer is disposed at a location along said shaft, said location being selected to affect the balance of said arrow.

23. An arrow as claimed in claim 18, wherein said stabilizer is held onto the shaft by friction or interference fit.

24. An arrow as claimed in claim 18, wherein said shaft has at least one groove or ridge formed therein, and wherein said stabilizer comprises a feature slideably mountable within said groove or on said ridge.

25. An arrow as claimed in claim 18, wherein said stabilizer is adapted to travel along the length of said arrow in a direction from the leading end to the trailing end of said arrow while said arrow is in flight.

26. An arrow as claimed in claim 25, wherein said arrow is further adapted to stop said stabilizer at approximately the trailing end of said arrow while said arrow is in flight.

27. A shaft for an arrow, said shaft comprising:

an elongated member; and

a stop adapted to engage a stabilizer disposed on said shaft.

28. A shaft as claimed in claim 27, wherein said stop is integral to and comprises a tapered region of said shaft.

29. A shaft as claimed in claim 27, wherein said stop comprises at least one protrusion adapted to prevent travel of said stabilizer beyond said protrusion.

30. A shaft as claimed in claim 27, wherein said stop comprises a separate component fixedly or removably attached to said shaft.

31. A shaft as claimed in claim 27, wherein said shaft has a trailing end, and wherein said separate component is adapted for threadable engagement with the trailing end of said shaft.

32. A shaft as claimed in claim 27, wherein said stop is adapted to engage said stabilizer by friction or interference fit.

33. A shaft as claimed in claim 27, wherein said stop has a trailing end and further comprises a recess at said trailing end, said recess being adapted to serve as a nock and/or being adapted to receive a separate nock component therein.

34. An arrow comprising:

a shaft having a leading and a trailing end; and

means for engagement with a stabilizer disposed on said shaft.

35. An arrow as claimed in claim 34, wherein said engagement means is integral to and comprises a tapered region of said shaft.

36. An arrow as claimed in claim 34, wherein said engagement means comprises at least one protrusion adapted to prevent travel of said stabilizer beyond said protrusion.

37. An arrow as claimed in claim 34, wherein said engagement means comprises a separate component fixedly or removably attached to said shaft.

38. An arrow as claimed in claim 34, wherein said engagement means is adapted for threadable engagement with the trailing end of said shaft.

39. An arrow as claimed in claim 34, wherein said stop comprises a separate component adapted to engage said stabilizer by friction or interference fit.

40. An arrow as claimed in claim 34, wherein said stop has a trailing end and further comprises a recess at said trailing end, said recess being adapted to serve as a nock and/or being adapted to receive a separate nock component therein.

41. An arrow as claimed in claim 34, further comprising a nock.

42. A stop device for engagement with a stabilizer for an arrow, said stop device comprising a mating feature sized and shaped to engage with a stabilizer on the shaft of an arrow, wherein said stop device is fixedly or removably attached to the shaft of an arrow.

43. A stop device as claimed in claim 42, wherein said mating feature is adapted to engage said stabilizer by friction or interference fit and/or comprises at least one protrusion adapted to prevent travel of said stabilizer beyond said protrusion.

44. A stop device as claimed in claim 42, further comprising a plurality of threads, wherein said stop device is adapted for threadable engagement with the shaft of an arrow or with a nock via said plurality of threads.

45. A stop device as claimed in claim 42, wherein said stop comprises a tapered portion.

46. A stop device as claimed in claim 42, wherein said stop has a trailing end and further comprises a recess at said trailing end, said recess being adapted to serve as a nock and/or being adapted to receive a separate nock component therein.

47. A nock for an arrow, said nock comprising a stop device for engagement with a stabilizer for a non-self-powered projectile, wherein said nock is fixedly or removably attached to the shaft of an arrow.

48. A nock as claimed in claim 47, wherein said stop device is integral to and comprises a tapered region of said nock and/or comprises at least one protrusion adapted to prevent travel of said stabilizer beyond said protrusion and/or is adapted to engage said stabilizer by friction or interference fit.

49. A nock as claimed in claim 47, wherein said nock comprises a plurality of threads, wherein said nock is adapted for threadable engagement with the trailing end of the shaft of said arrow via said plurality of threads.

50. A nock as claimed in claim 47, wherein said nock has a trailing end and further comprises a recess at said trailing end.

51. An arrow comprising:

a shaft having a longitudinal axis; and

a component slidably mounted on said shaft and adapted for travel along the longitudinal axis of said shaft.

52. An arrow as claimed in claim 51, further comprising a stop for preventing travel of said component beyond a predetermined location along said shaft.

53. A set of archery tools comprising:

a shaft for an arrow; and

a sliding component slidably mountable on said shaft and adapted for travel along the longitudinal axis of said shaft.

54. A set of archery tools as claimed in claim 53, wherein said sliding component is adapted to serve as a stabilizer and/or comprises at least one wing or fin.

55. A set of archery tools as claimed in claim 53, further comprising a stop for preventing travel of said sliding component beyond a predetermined location along said shaft.

56. A set of archery tools as clamed in claim 53, further comprising a nock component adapted for engagement with said shaft.

57. A set of archery tools comprising:

a stabilizer comprising an annular wing; and

a stop adapted for engagement with said stabilizer at a predetermined location along the shaft of an arrow.

58. A set of stabilizers for a non-self-powered projectile comprising:

a plurality of stabilizers, each said stabilizer comprising an annular wing;

wherein at least two said stabilizers have at least one differing dimension from one another.

59. A set of stabilizers as claimed in claim 58, wherein said differing dimension is the diameter of said annular wing;

and/or

wherein each said stabilizer comprises at least one fin disposed at an angle with respect to said annular wing, and said differing dimension is said angle; and

/or

wherein each said stabilizer has a mating feature having an annular cross-section having an inner diameter, said mating feature adapted to engage said stabilizer with a non-self-powered projectile having a corresponding mating feature, and said differing dimension is the inner diameter of the annular cross-section of said mating feature; and

/or

wherein each said stabilizer comprises a mating feature comprising at least one projection adapted to cause a friction or interference fit with a non-self-powered projectile, said projection protruding in an inward direction with respect to said annular wing and having a protrusion length, and said differing dimension is the protrusion length of said projection.

60. A set of stabilizers for a non-self-powered projectile comprising:

a plurality of stabilizers, each said stabilizer having an annular wing;

wherein at least two said stabilizers are different in color from one another.

61. A set of archery tools comprising:

a shaft for an arrow; and

a stop for preventing travel of a stabilizer beyond a predetermined location along said shaft.