Fletching system and method therefor

• US 20080176683A1
• Filed: 05/24/2007
• 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 7,892,119 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 frictional 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 pod member having a slot formed therethrough and a seat formed in a surface thereof proximate said slot.

2. The fletching system of claim 1, wherein said seat is adapted to receive a base of a fletching member.

3. The fletching system of claim 1, wherein said surface comprises a curvature substantially similar to a curvature of an exterior surface of an arrow shaft.

4. The fletching system of claim 1, wherein said slot comprises a wider portion disposed at a first end thereof.

5. The fletching system of claim 1, wherein said slot is defined by a continuous closed-loop internal peripheral wall of said pod member.

6. The fletching system of claim 5, wherein said continuous closed-loop internal peripheral wall of said pod member is adapted to retain a fletching member therein in abutting physical engagement on all sides of a portion of said fletching member extending through said slot.

7. The fletching system of claim 1, wherein said seat defines a partially enclosed space disposed below, and in communication with, said slot when said pod member is disposed on an exterior surface of an arrow shaft.

8. The fletching system of claim 1, wherein said slot comprises a wider portion disposed at a first end thereof, and wherein a width of said wider portion is approximately equal to a width of a base of a fletching member.

9. The fletching system of claim 8, wherein a width of said slot is approximately equal to a width of a flight control element of said fletching member.

10. The fletching system of claim 1, wherein a length of said slot is approximately equal to a length of a flight control portion of a fletching member.

11. The fletching system of claim 1, wherein a length of said seat is approximately equal to a length of a base of a fletching member.

12. The fletching system of claim 1, further comprising a transition portion proximate an external peripheral edge of said pod member, said transition portion comprising a decreasing thickness toward said external peripheral edge.

13. The fletching system of claim 12, wherein external peripheral edge and said transition portion comprise a streamlined structure.

14. A method of attaching a fletching member to a shaft, comprising the steps of:

inserting a first end of a base of said fletching member through a first portion of a slot; and

feeding said base of said fletching member through said first portion of said slot,

whereby said base of said fletching member is retained in a seat proximate said shaft and below said slot.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of a flight control element of said fletching member protrudes through said slot.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said slot is formed though a pod member attached to an exterior surface of said shaft.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said fletching member is retained in said seat by a said base having a width that is greater than a width of said slot at a proximate portion thereof.

18. An arrow shaft comprising:

a slot formed in an exterior surface of a cylindrical body of said arrow shaft, said slot enclosed by a continuous closed-loop peripheral wall, and said slot having a wider portion at a first end thereof; and

a cavity disposed proximate said slot and generally beneath said slot, said cavity being formed within said body.