Fletching system and method therefor

• US 20080176682A1
• Filed: 01/24/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Marshall
• Original Assignee: John Marshall
• Inventors: Marshall, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,758,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/586
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/06 Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching

Abstract

A fletching system and method that allows for quick and easy attachment of a fletching member to an arrow shaft provides a slotted arrow shaft adapted to receive a fletching member projecting therethrough and an internal plug member disposed within a hollow center of the arrow shaft in pressing friction fit engagement with a flanged base portion of the fletching member wherein the flanged base portion is secured between the plug member and an internal surface of a sidewall of the arrow shaft.

Claims

1. A fletching system comprising:

a cylindrical arrow shaft having at least one slot formed radially through a sidewall thereof.

2. The fletching system of claim 1, wherein said slot is formed generally axially in said arrow shaft.

3. The fletching system of claim 1, wherein said slot comprises a closed periphery.

4. The fletching system of claim 1, wherein said slot comprises a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width.

5. The fletching system of claim 4, wherein said second portion is disposed adjacent said first portion and proximate an end of said slot.

6. The fletching system of claim 1, further comprising a fletching member.

7. The fletching system of claim 6, wherein said fletching member comprises a generally planar body and a base portion.

8. The fletching system of claim 7, wherein said base portion has a width that is greater than a width of at least a portion of said slot.

9. The fletching system of claim 6, wherein said fletching member is disposed at least partially within said slot and extends therethrough.

10. The fletching system of claim 9, wherein said fletching member is removably retained within said slot by said base portion.

11. The fletching system of claim 1, further comprising a plug adapted for removable insertion into a hollow portion said arrow shaft through an end thereof.

12. The fletching system of claim 11, wherein said plug comprises a nock portion adapted to engage a bowstring.

13. The fletching system of claim 11, wherein said hollow portion is disposed proximate said slot.

14. The fletching system of claim 12, wherein said hollow portion is in fluid communication with said slot and wherein said hollow portion is in fluid communication with an end of said arrow shaft such that said plug may be inserted through said end of said arrow shaft and extend to at least a portion of said slot.

15. The fletching system of claim 11, wherein said plug is removably retained within a hollow end of said arrow shaft.

16. An arrow comprising:

a cylindrical arrow shaft having at least one axially oriented slot disposed therein and a hollow portion in communication with said slot;

a generally planar fletching member disposed at least partially within said slot, said fletching member comprising a base portion, wherein said base portion is disposed at least partially within said hollow portion and wherein said base portion has a width greater than a width of at least a portion of said slot; and

a cylindrical plug removably disposed at least partially within said hollow portion and in friction fit connection with at least a portion of said base portion, whereby said fletching member is secured within said slot.

17. A method of attaching a fletching member to an arrow shaft comprising the steps of:

sliding a base portion of said fletching member through a slot formed through a sidewall of said arrow shaft; and

inserting a plug member into a hollow portion of said arrow shaft such that said plug member is in frictional fit engagement with said base portion, thereby securely attaching said fletching member to said arrow shaft.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of rotating said plug member to increase a force component of said frictional fit engagement.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of removing the plug member from the hollow portion of said arrow shaft by pulling the plug member axially from an end of said arrow shaft.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the sliding step further includes sliding the base portion from an outside of said arrow shaft through said slot to an interior of said arrow shaft.