Reinforced arrow shaft including integral fabric sleeve, and arrow which is produced therewith

• US 20030104884A1
• Filed: 01/14/2003
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FeraDyne Outdoors, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert Eastman II (Robert Eastman)
• Inventors: Eastman, Robert II
• Granted Patent: US 6,866,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/578
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/04 Archery arrows F42B6/08, F41B5/06, F42B12/362 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1393 Multilayer [continuous layer]

Abstract

A reinforced archery arrow shaft includes a tubular core, with an attached fabric sleeve covering the core. The core may include carbon therein. The sleeve is formed from a fabric material, which is wrapped around and affixed to the core. Preferably, the sleeve fabric carries a decorative design or pattern on the exterior surface thereof. In a method of making an arrow, a piece of fabric is placed covering a hollow tubular core, and is affixed thereto. Then, a resin or protective composition, associated with the fabric material, is cured to adhere the fabric to the core. The resin may be impregnated into the fabric prior to its placement on the core, or alternatively, may be applied to the fabric by conventional methods such as spraying, dipping, brushing, or powder coating. The shaft may be treated to make the exterior surface smooth after curing. Optionally, accessories may be attached to the arrow shaft to form an arrow.

Claims

1. An arrow shaft, comprising:

a hollow tubular core which is adapted to be formed into an arrow shaft;

a fabric sleeve covering and affixed to the core; and

an adhesive resin material associated with the fabric sleeve;

wherein the resin helps to adhere the fabric sleeve to the core.

2. The arrow shaft of claim 1, wherein the hollow core comprises carbon.

3. The arrow shaft of claim 1, wherein the fabric sleeve has a design or pattern thereon.

4. The arrow shaft of claim 1, wherein the exterior of the fabric sleeve is treated to form a smooth surface on an exterior surface thereof.

5. The arrow of claim 3, wherein said resin material is selected from the group consisting of urethanes, varnishes, lacquers, epoxies, paints, and powder coatings.

20. The arrow shaft of claim 2, wherein the core further comprises fiberglass.

6. A method of making a fabric-reinforced arrow shaft, comprising the steps of:

a) surrounding a hollow tubular core with a fabric material to form a sleeve thereon, said sleeve closely conforming to an exterior surface of the core;

b) applying a curable resin material to the fabric material;

c) curing the resin material on the sleeve to affix the sleeve to the core, whereby the coated core forms an arrow shaft.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising a step of

d) attaching at least one auxiliary component selected from the group consisting of arrow heads, fletching and nocks to the shaft.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of machining an exterior surface of the coated shaft, after the resin curing step, to create a smooth surface thereon.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the fabric is a woven material.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the fabric is a non-woven material.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the fabric sleeve has a decoration or pattern on an exterior surface thereof.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the curable resin material is selected from the group consisting of urethanes, varnishes, lacquers, epoxies, paints, and powder coatings.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein said core comprises carbon.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein steps a) and b) may be performed in any order.

15. An arrow shaft which is a product of the method of claim 6.

16. An arrow shaft which is a product of the method of claim 11.

17. The method of claim 6, further comprising a step of machining the shaft in a centerless grinder to perform a smoothing operation on the external surface thereof.

18. The method of claim 6, further comprising a step of adding an auxiliary attachment to the shaft, the auxiliary attachment selected from the group consisting of arrow heads, fletching, and nocks.

19. An arrow, comprising:

a hollow tubular core;

a fabric sleeve covering and affixed to the core, the core and sleeve cooperating to define an arrow shaft;

an adhesive resin material associated with the fabric sleeve; and

at least one auxiliary attachment connected to said arrow shaft, said auxiliary attachment selected from the group consisting of arrow heads, fletching, and nocks.