Annular Arrow Fletch

• US 20140243123A1
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timothy Lee Gall
• Original Assignee: Timothy Lee Gall
• Inventors: Gall, Timothy Lee
• Granted Patent: US 9,863,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/586
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/36 Ring-foil projectiles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/06 Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching

Abstract

The invention is an annular arrow fletch arrow stabilizer are therefor provided. The annular arrow fletch is used for; stabilizing arrow flight, providing better clearance and functionality then conventional fixed glued tail feathers, the invention can be used with light emitting diode arrow nocks. The invention improves current arrow shaft stabilization technology with reduced assembly labor cost, the elimination of facial and or face mask interference issues providing more clearance, improved accuracy, repeatable production with the consistent injection mold production of the annular arrow fletch, easy replacement of the annular arrow fletch in the field, and improved arrow storage. The annular arrow fletch incorporates a metallic contact point, which will work with all light emitting nocks. The design of the annular arrow fletch is so that it is affixed to an arrow by an arrow nock and comprises of an annular wing, a central elongated cylindrical cylinder with a cap and a plurality of fins with micro-groves and a metal contact. In use, the annular arrow fletch is affixed at the aft end of the arrow by an arrow nock prior to launch.

Claims

1. ) An annular arrow fletch for an arrow shaft, said annular arrow fletch comprising:

an annular wing, central elongated cylindrical cylinder, a central elongated cylindrical cylinder cap containing or having a metallic contact applied and fin(s) with micro-grooves. The annular arrow fletch central elongated cylindrical cylinder adapted to have an arrow shaft inserted into the hollow of the central elongated cylindrical cylinder to a predetermined depth until making contact with the underside of the central elongated cylindrical cylinder cap. Said annular arrow fletch is attached to an arrow with an arrow nock. The installation of the annular arrow fletch onto an arrow shaft is accomplished when the annular arrow fletch central elongated cylindrical cylinder encircles the aft end of the arrow shaft and the interference fit of the arrow nock is inserted into the recess of the aft end of the arrow shaft completing the installation of said annular arrow fletch. Wherein at least portions of said annular arrow fletch comprises a luminescent, bioluminescent, photo-luminescent, or electro-luminescent material, synthetic, plastic and or acrylic material.

2. ) An annular arrow fletch as claimed in claim 1, further comprising;

central elongated cylindrical cylinder recess with smooth walls and said central elongated cylindrical cylinder structure comprises of a cap wherein said annular arrow fletch when affixed to an arrow shaft said central elongated cylindrical cylinder structure with a cap encircles the aft end of said shaft. The central elongated cylindrical cylinder structure'"'"'s cap prevents the arrow shaft from passing through central elongated cylindrical cylinder structure. When the annular arrow fletch is affixed to an arrow shaft said central elongated cylindrical cylinder cap having a smaller diameter aperture then the diameter of the annular cross-section of the arrow shaft projectile said central elongated cylindrical cylinder cap is designed to prevent the arrow shaft from passing through the central elongated cylindrical cylinder. Wherein the arrow shaft will seat against the underside of said central elongated cylindrical cylinder cap at a predetermined depth. The central elongated cylindrical cylinder'"'"'s diameter is larger then an arrow shaft so that the annular arrow fletch will fit a variety of arrow shaft sizes. Further comprising, the central elongated cylindrical cylinder cap wherein said central elongated cylinder cap makes use of a metallic contact to aid in conductivity. The conductive contact can be made of;

copper, aluminum, stainless steel, brass, steel, conductive paint, and or conductive ink.

3. ) An annular arrow fletch as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the annular arrow fletch central elongated cylindrical cylinder adapted to provide more facial clearance with the facial features of the archers face and or face mask. By providing more clearance the release of the arrow will be cleaner enhancing accuracy and increased velocity.

4. ) An annular arrow fletch as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one fin.

5. ) An annular arrow fletch as claimed in claim 4, wherein said fin is disposed substantially orthogonally with respect to said annular wing and/or within said annular wing.

6. ) An annular arrow fletch as claimed in claim 4, wherein said fin is disposed substantially orthogonally with respect to said central elongated cylindrical cylinder.

7. ) An annular arrow fletch as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least a portion of said fin comprises a substantially airfoil-shape and/or tapered cross section.

8. ) An annular arrow fletch as claimed in claim 4, wherein said fin bridges said annular wing and the central elongated cylindrical cylinder.

9. ) An annular arrow fletch as claimed in claim 4, wherein said annular wing has a longitudinal axis, wherein said fin either is disposed at an angle with respect to said annular wing, said angle being selected to provide a predetermined amount of rotation about the central axis of said annular arrow fletch when said annular arrow fletch is engaged with an arrow shaft.

10. ) An annular arrow fletch as claimed in claim 4, wherein said fin comprises at least one aperture formed therein and/or wherein said plurality of fins comprises of three fins.

11. ) An annular arrow fletch as claimed in claim 4, wherein said annular arrow fletch fin has a plurality of micro-groves that covers the surface of the fin. The micro-grooves are parallel to the central elongated cylindrical cylinder and travel the height of the fin. Wherein said micro-groves are disposed at an angle with respect to said annular wing, said angle being selected to provide a predetermined amount of rotation about the central axis of said annular arrow fletch when said annular arrow fletch is engaged with an arrow shaft. The micro-groves may change in surface coverage, angel, design based upon performance and function of said annular arrow fletch.

12. ) An annular arrow fletch as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said annular wing has a substantially circular, ovular, airfoil-shaped, and/or tapered cross-section.

13. ) An arrow comprising:

an elongated shaft having a leading end with a point and an aft end wherein said means for engagement at the aft end and further comprises a recess at said aft end, said recess being adapted to receive a separate arrow nock component therein. An annular arrow fletch comprising an annular wing equal-spaced from and surrounding a central elongated cylindrical cylinder with a cap, said annular arrow fletch disposed on or affixed to said arrow shaft via said central elongated cylindrical cylinder structure encircling the aft end of said arrow shaft to a predetermined depth coming to rest when engagement of the central elongated cylindrical cap is met when the aft end of the arrow shaft. The arrow nock or light emitting arrow nock disposed at the aft end of said arrow shaft, said arrow nock or light emitting arrow nock not being connected to said annular arrow fletch. The arrow nock or light emitting arrow nock passing through the central elongated cylindrical cap recess having an interference fit into the recessed opening of said arrow shaft aft end interlocking the three separated components.

14. ) An arrow as claimed in claim 13, wherein said annular arrow fletch has repeated removability disposed at the aft end of said arrow shaft.

15. ) An arrow as claimed in claim 13, wherein said annular arrow fletch is disposed at the aft location of said shaft, said location being selected to effect the front of center balance of said arrow.

16. ) A arrow nock for an arrow as claimed in claim 13, said arrow nock comprising a device for engagement with an arrow shaft, wherein said nock comprises an engagement with an interference fit to the aft end interior recess of the arrow shaft of said arrow via said nock is affixed or has removable attachment to the arrow shaft.

17. ) An arrow nock as claimed in claim 13, wherein said arrow nock is further adapted to stop said annular arrow fletch movement of said annular arrow fletch while said arrow is in flight.

18. ) A set of archery tools comprising:

an arrow having a longitudinal axis; and

a annular arrow fletch comprising an annular wing equal-spaced from and surrounding a central elongated cylindrical cylinder structure, said annular arrow fletch is mountable on said arrow via said central elongated cylindrical cylinder structure and affixed to said arrow with a nock.

19. ) A set of archery tools comprising:

a shaft for an arrow;

an annular arrow fletch comprising an annular wing; and

a nock component adapted for engagement with said shaft.