UNIVERSAL NOCK SYSTEM

• US 20180058828A1
• Filed: 08/29/2017
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunter's Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hunter's Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Ans, Greg, Mook, Dean, Shaffer, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,234,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/06 Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching

Abstract

Provided is a universal nock system comprising a first axis defining an axial direction and radial directions perpendicular to the axial direction; a nock having, a first side having a bowstring reception surface having concave channels, a second side opposite the first side, an axial contact surface, and an exterior surface; an insert portion extending from the second side of the nock, elongated along the first axis, and adapted for insertion into an associated arrow body, the insert portion having, a first end, a second end opposite the first end having a centering feature of the second end, the centering feature of the second end having contact surfaces, and a middle portion located along the first axis of elongation between the first end and the second end, the middle portion having a centering feature of the middle portion, the centering feature of the middle portion having contact surfaces.

Claims

1. A universal nock system comprising,

a first axis of elongation defining

an axial direction and

radial directions, each radial direction being perpendicular to the axial direction;

a nock portion having,

a first side having a bowstring reception surface having multiple concave channels,

a second side opposite the first side, and having an axial contact surface, and

an exterior surface extending between the first side and the second side; and

a substantially cylindrical insert portion extending from the second side of the nock portion, elongated along the first axis of elongation, and adapted for insertion into an associated arrow body, the insert portion having,

a first end adjacent to the second side,

a second end opposite the first end, the second end having a centering feature of the second end, the centering feature of the second end having a plurality of contact surfaces facing in a radial direction, and

a middle portion located along the first axis of elongation between the first end and the second end, the middle portion having a centering feature of the middle portion, the centering feature of the middle portion having a plurality of contact surfaces facing in a radial direction.

2. The universal nock system of claim 1, wherein the bowstring reception surface has a number, N, of concave channels wherein N is at an integer greater than 2 and wherein each channel

is adapted to operationally receive an associated bowstring;

is adapted to transmit forces from the associated bowstring during a firing operation; and

defines a channel axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis of elongation and is oriented at an angle .Theta. about the first axis of elongation with respect to at least one other channel axis, where .Theta. is 360/N degrees.

3. The universal nock system of claim 2, wherein the axial contact surface is adapted

to engage the body of the associated arrow;

and

to transmit forces from the associated bowstring during a firing operation.

4. The universal nock system of claim 3, wherein the nock portion further comprises a interior surface defining a hole extending into the nock portion from the bowstring reception surface.

5. The universal nock system of claim 4, wherein the interior surface defines a torque receptacle adapted to transmit a torque about the first axis of elongation.

6. The universal nock system of claim 5, wherein the first end has an annular groove,

adapted to serve as an overrun glue well;

adapted to serve as a geometric relief; and

defined by a fillet radius tangent to the contact surface.

7. The universal nock system of claim 6, wherein each contact surface of the centering feature of the second end

is defined by an axially-extending, integrally-molded, elongated spring tab having a free end biased outwardly in a radial direction and adapted to be radially deflected upon insertion of the insert portion into an associated arrow body;

and

is adapted to provide a radial reaction force on, and a corresponding frictional retaining force with, an associated arrow body when operationally engaged therewith.

8. The universal nock system of claim 7, wherein each contact surface of the centering feature of the middle portion

is defined by an axially extending, integrally-molded elongated spring tab having a free end biased outwardly in a radial direction and adapted to be radially deflected upon insertion of the insert portion into an associated arrow body;

and

is adapted to interlock with a corresponding aperture in an associated arrow body when operationally engaged therewith.

9. The universal nock system of claim 8, wherein the centering feature of the second end has three contact surfaces, each offset from the other two contact surfaces of the centering feature of the second end by 120 degrees.

10. The universal nock system of claim 9, wherein the centering feature of the middle portion has three contact surfaces, each offset from the other two contact surfaces of the centering feature of the middle portion by 120 degrees.

11. The universal nock system of claim 10, wherein N is 3.

12. A method of using a universal nock system comprising,

providing a universal nock system having

a first axis of elongation defining

an axial direction and

radial directions, each radial direction being perpendicular to the axial direction,

a nock portion having,

a first side having a bowstring reception surface having multiple concave channels,

a second side opposite the first side, and having an axial contact surface, and

an exterior surface extending between the first side and the second side, and

a substantially cylindrical insert portion extending from the second side of the nock portion, elongated along the first axis of elongation, and adapted for insertion into an associated arrow body, the insert portion having,

a first end adjacent to the second side,

a second end opposite the first end, the second end having a centering feature of the second end, the centering feature of the second end having a plurality of contact surfaces facing in a radial direction, and

a middle portion located along the first axis of elongation between the first end and the second end, the middle portion having a centering feature of the middle portion, the centering feature of the middle portion having a plurality of contact surfaces facing in a radial direction;

inserting the substantially cylindrical insert portion into an associated arrow body until the axial contact surface engages with an axial facing arrow body surface of the associated arrow body; and

rotating the nock portion with respect to the associated arrow body.

13. The method of using a universal nock system of claim 12, further comprising locking the orientation of the nock portion with respect to fletching on the associated arrow body.

14. A universal nock system comprising,

a first axis of elongation defining

an axial direction and

radial directions, each radial direction being perpendicular to the axial direction;

a nock portion having,

a first side having

a bowstring reception surface having three concave channels, wherein

each concave channel

defines a channel axis,

is substantially perpendicular to the first axis of elongation, and

is oriented at a 120 degree about the first axis of elongation with respect to each other channel axis, and

an interior surface defined by a hole extending into the nock portion from the bowstring reception surface, the interior surface defining a torque receptacle adapted to transmit a torque about the first axis of elongation;

a second side opposite the first side having an axial contact surface adapted to engage the body of an associated arrow, and to transmit forces from an associated bowstring during a firing operation, and

an exterior surface extending between the first side and the second side; and

a substantially cylindrical insert portion extending from the second side of the nock portion, elongated along the first axis of elongation, and adapted for insertion into an associated arrow body, the insert portion having,

a first end adjacent to the second side, the first end having an annular groove,

adapted to serve as an overrun glue well,

adapted to serve as a geometric relief, and

which defines a fillet radius tangent to the contact surface,

a second end opposite the first end, the second end having a centering feature of the second end, the centering feature of the second end having three contact surfaces each facing in a radial direction, wherein each contact surface of the centering feature of the second end

is defined by an axially extending, integrally-molded elongated spring tab having a free end biased outwardly in a radial direction and adapted to be radially deflected upon insertion of the insert portion into an associated arrow body, and

is adapted to provide a radial reaction force on, and a corresponding frictional retaining force with, an associated arrow body when operationally engaged therewith; and

a middle portion located along the first axis of elongation between the first end and the second end, the middle portion having a centering feature of the middle portion, the centering feature of the middle portion having three contact surfaces each facing in a radial direction, wherein each contact surface of the centering feature of the middle portion

is defined by an axially extending, integrally-molded elongated spring tab having a free end biased outwardly in a radial direction and adapted to be radially deflected upon insertion of the insert portion into an associated arrow body, and

is adapted to interlock with a corresponding aperture in the associated arrow body when operationally engaged therewith.