Metallic arrow shaft with fiber reinforced polymer core

• US 20070082766A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Easton Technical Products
• Original Assignee: Jas D Easton Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Jacob, Palomaki, Teddy, Rowsell, Edwin
• Granted Patent: US 7,686,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/578
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/04 Bow shooting
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/04 Archery arrows F42B6/08, F41B5/06, F42B12/362 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a shaft and arrow system. The shaft and arrow system includes a hybrid structure that may include two concentric tubes. A first of the two concentric tubes may comprise an outer shell or jacket of thin-walled metal alloy. A second of the two concentric tubes may include an inner core of thin-walled fiber reinforced polymer. The two concentric tubes may be bonded together by a suitable adhesive such as epoxy or urethane. The shaft may have a reduced diameter as compared to conventional arrow shafts, and the shaft may be receptive of a variety of inserts, points, nocks, and other components. Some inserts may be completely recessed within a first end of the shaft.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an arrow shaft, the arrow shaft comprising;

a first end dimensioned to receive a point;

a fiber reinforced polymer core;

a metallic layer disposed over the fiber reinforced polymer core.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the metallic layer comprises an aluminum alloy jacket covering the fiber reinforced polymer core.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the metallic layer comprises an aluminum alloy jacket covering the fiber reinforced polymer core, and wherein the fiber reinforced polymer core is substantially the same length as the aluminum alloy jacket.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the metallic layer comprises an aluminum jacket covering the fiber reinforced polymer core, and wherein the fiber reinforced polymer core is substantially the same length as and coterminous with the aluminum jacket.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

the fiber reinforced polymer core comprises;

an inner diameter of approximately 0.205 inches;

an outer diameter between approximately 0.239 and 0.255 inches;

the metallic layer comprises;

an inner diameter between approximately 0.241 and 0.257 inches;

an outer diameter between approximately 0.256 and 0.272 inches.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the arrow shaft comprises:

an inner diameter of no more than approximately 0.205 inches;

an outer diameter of no more than approximately 0.272 inches;

a spine of no more than approximately 0.500 inches.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the point is attached to the first end of the arrow shaft;

a nock attached to a second end of the arrow shaft.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an insert receptive of the point disposed within the arrow shaft, wherein the first end of the arrow shaft comprises a first end wall and the insert is completely disposed below the first end wall;

the point, the point being attached to the insert and comprising a shoulder bearing directly against the first end wall of the arrow shaft;

a nock attached to a second end of the arrow shaft.

24. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the metallic layer comprises a non-metal material with at least one property of a metal.

9. An arrow, comprising:

a shaft having first and second ends, the shaft comprising;

a fiber reinforced polymer inner tube;

a metallic outer tube concentric with and adhered to the fiber reinforced polymer inner tube;

a point attached at the first end of the shaft;

a nock attached at the second end of the shaft.

10. An arrow according to claim 9 wherein the fiber reinforced polymer inner tube comprises carbon, the metallic outer tube comprises an aluminum alloy, and the fiber reinforced polymer inner tube and metallic outer tube are adhered to one another by an adhesive.

11. An arrow according to claim 9 wherein the fiber reinforced polymer inner tube comprises carbon, the metallic outer tube comprises an aluminum alloy, and the fiber reinforced polymer inner tube and metallic outer tube are adhered to one another by an epoxy or urethane adhesive.

12. An arrow according to claim 9 wherein:

the fiber reinforced polymer inner tube comprises;

an inner diameter of approximately 0.205 inches;

an outer diameter between approximately 0.239 and 0.255 inches;

the metallic layer comprises;

an inner diameter between approximately 0.241 and 0.257 inches;

an outer diameter between approximately 0.256 and 0.272 inches.

13. An arrow according to claim 9 wherein the first end comprises a first end wall, and further comprising an insert receptive of the point disposed below the first end wall.

14. A hybrid arrow structure, comprising:

an inner core comprising a thin walled tube of carbon fiber composite;

an outer shell comprising a thin walled tube of aluminum alloy;

an adhesive bond between the inner core and the outer shell;

an outer diameter of no more than approximately 0.300 inches.

15. A hybrid arrow structure according to claim 14, wherein the inner core comprises an inner diameter of no more than approximately 0.205 inches, and the outer diameter is no more than approximately 0.272 inches.

16. A hybrid arrow structure according to claim 14 wherein the carbon fiber composite comprises uni-directional carbon fibers.

17. A hybrid arrow structure according to claim 14 wherein the adhesive bond comprises one of:

a one-part epoxy, a two-part epoxy, and a urethane.

18. A hybrid arrow structure according to claim 14, further comprising:

an insert receptive of a point disposed within the inner core, wherein the inner core comprises a first end wall and the insert is completely disposed below the first end wall;

a point attached to the insert, the point comprising a shoulder bearing directly against the first end wall of the of the inner core;

a nock attached to a second end of the inner core.

19. A method of making an arrow shaft, comprising:

providing a fiber reinforced polymer tube dimensioned to receive a point;

positioning a metallic jacket over the fiber reinforced polymer tube;

adhering the metallic jacket to the fiber reinforced polymer tube.

20. A method of making an arrow shaft according to claim 19, further comprising straightening the arrow shaft.

21. A method of making an arrow shaft according to claim 19, further comprising straightening the metallic jacket.

22. A method of making an arrow shaft according to claim 19, further comprising attaching the point and a nock to the fiber reinforced polymer tube.

23. A method of making an arrow shaft according to claim 19, further comprising:

pressing an insert completely into the fiber reinforced polymer tube, below an end wall of the fiber reinforced polymer tube;

attaching the point to the insert;

attaching a nock to the fiber reinforced polymer tube.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

an arrow shaft, the arrow shaft comprising;

a fiber reinforced polymer core;

a metal tube disposed over the fiber reinforced polymer core.

26. An apparatus comprising:

an arrow shaft, the arrow shaft comprising;

a fiber reinforced polymer core;

a metallic layer disposed over the fiber reinforced polymer core, the metallic layer being adapted to allow the arrow shaft to be straightened.