Unitary broadhead blade unit

• US 20050181898A1
• Filed: 04/11/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Philip Muller
• Original Assignee: Philip Muller
• Inventors: Muller, Philip
• Application Number:
  US11/102,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20050181898A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/578
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/08 Arrow heads; Harpoon heads

Abstract

A unitary blade unit for an archery broadhead includes a tip structure and blades inseparably connected into a single blade unit. The blade unit is made by molding such as metal injection molding or laser welding.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a unitary blade unit for a modular broadhead, comprising:

providing a mold having one or more cavities that define a multiple-bladed blade unit;

inserting a mixture of metal and binder into the mold;

compacting the mixture in the mold to form an intermediate blade unit;

processing the intermediate blade unit to remove at least a portion of the binder;

sintering the intermediate blade unit to form a sintered blade unit; and

sharpening the blades to form a cutting edge on each blade to yield a final blade unit, wherein the final blade unit requires a separate ferrule in order to attach to an arrow.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mixture is in powdered form.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sintering step comprises sintering at an elevated temperature and pressure.

4. A method of manufacturing a blade unit for a modular broadhead, comprising using metal injection molding to form a blade unit from a mixture that includes metal and a binder, wherein the blade unit has at least two blades and requires a separate ferrule in order to attach to an arrow.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising manufacturing a separate adapter for securing the blade unit to the ferrule.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the method includes forming the blade unit to include a first integral adapter for securing the blade unit to the ferrule.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the method further includes manufacturing a second separate adapter for further securing the blade unit to the ferrule.

8. A method of manufacturing a blade unit for a modular broadhead, the method comprising:

arranging a plurality of components in the form of a blade unit for a modular broadhead; and

directing an energy beam toward a plurality of contact segments to weld the plurality of components into a blade unit, wherein each contact segment comprises a location where at least two of the plurality of components are in contact.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the plurality of components comprises a plurality of blades.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of components further comprises a cap structure for receiving a separable ferrule.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of components further comprises a collar structure for receiving a separable ferrule.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of components further comprises a tip structure.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the energy beam is a laser.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein directing an energy beam comprises performing laser welding.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein directing an energy beam comprises focusing the energy beam toward a contact segment using a device.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein the device comprises one or more of a focus cell, a lens, and a mirror.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein directing an energy beam comprises moving a focal point of the energy beam along a contact segment in a direction from a tip of the blade unit to a base of the blade unit.

18. The method of claim 8 wherein a plurality of energy beams are directed toward a plurality of contact segments simultaneously, wherein each energy beam is directed toward a particular contact segment.