Transmitter attachment for hunting arrows

• US 4,885,800 A
• Filed: 05/25/1989
• Issued: 12/05/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clyde M. Ragle, Frederick O. Ragle
• Original Assignee: Clyde M. Ragle
• Inventors: Ragle, Clyde M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Ralph E.
• Application Number:
  US07/357,428
• Time in Patent Office: 194 Days
• Field of Search: 455/98, 455/95, 455/66, 455/91, 455/127, 273/416, 273/423, 273/213, 342/386, 342/458
• US Class Current: 455/98
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/385 Arrow or dart carrying a radio transmitter for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/034 Portable transmitters

Abstract

A transmitter attachment for hunting arrows includes a hollow tubular member which is removably mounted between the arrowhead and shaft of a conventional hunting arrow. The tubular member has a transmitter mounted in one end, and a battery slidably mounted between a pair of spring contacts in the other end. The battery is mounted so as to slide forward into electrical contact with a coil spring, which closes an electrical circuit to energize the transmitter, when the arrow hits the target or the ground. Thus, the combination of battery and contacts forms a type of inertia switch. A directional receiver is utilized to locate the arrow. The transmitter is deactivated by tapping the nock-end of the arrow against the ground--which slides the battery out of contact with the coil spring.

Claims

1. A transmitter attachment for a hunting arrow, the arrow of the type having a shaft and removable arrowhead, comprising:

a hollow tubular member having a first and second ends;

said first ends having means for removable connection to an arrowhead;

said second end having means for removable connection to an arrow shaft;

transmitting means mounted within said tubular member for emitting a radio frequency signal;

a battery journaled within said tubular member for powering said transmitting means;

inertia-activation switch means operably mounted within said tubular member electrically connected between said battery and said transmitting means and operable between first and second positions, said first position electrically connecting said battery and transmitting means to operate the same, and said second position electrically disconnecting said battery and transmitting means;

said inertia-activation switch being operably mounted such that a dynamic force of predetermined magnitude directed longitudinally in a first direction along said hollow tubular member will move said switch to said first position, and a dynamic force of predetermined magnitude directed longitudinally in a second direction along said hollow tubular member will move said switch to said second position; and

said inertia-activation switch being adapted to remain in either said first or said second positions in the absence of said dynamic forces.

2. The transmitter attachment of claim 1, wherein said inertia switch means includes:

a pair of spring contacts mounted within said tubular member and diametrically and radially opposed;

said spring contacts having first and second ends and an arched intermediate portion arched radially inwardly within said tubular member;

said battery being slidably mounted within said tubular member and between said contacts so as to slidably move between said first and second ends of said second contacts upon application of a longitudinal dynamic force of predetermined magnitude directed longitudinally along said tubular member, the battery having one of its terminals in constant electrical contact with said spring contacts;

a coil spring contact mounted within said tubular member adjacent the first ends of said spring contacts and located so as to be in electrical contact with one of the terminals on the battery when said battery is between the first ends of said spring contacts, and so as to be out of electrical contact when the battery is between the second ends on said spring contacts;

said spring contacts and said coil spring contact being electrically connected to said transmitting means.

3. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein said means for removable connection to an arrowhead includes a first end piece having a first threaded end formed to receive the threaded end of a conventional removable arrowhead, and a second threaded end selectively removably connected to said first end of said tubular member, such that said first end piece may be removed from said tubular member to permit access to the interior of said tubular member.

4. The transmitter attachment of claim 1 wherein said means for removable connection to an arrow shaft includes a second end piece having a first threaded end formed to receive the threaded end of a conventional removable arrow shaft, and a second threaded end selectively removably connected to said second end of said tubular member, such that said second end piece may be removed from said tubular member to permit access to the interior of said tubular member.

5. In combination:

a conventional arrow of the type having a shaft portion and an arrowhead portion, the shaft portion having a threaded forward end and the arrowhead portion having a threaded rearward end, the threaded ends of said shaft and arrowhead being adapted for selective securement together; and

a transmitter attachment having a threaded forward end and a threaded rearward end adapted for selective attachment interposed between said shaft and arrowhead;

said transmitter attachment including;

a hollow tubular member having first and second ends;

a transmitting means mounted within said tubular member for emitting a radio frequency signal;

a battery journaled within said tubular member for powering said transmitting means; and

inertia-activation switch means operably mounted within said tubular member, electrically connected between said battery and said transmitting means and operable between first and second positions, said first position electrically connecting said battery and transmitting means to operate the same, and said second position electrically disconnecting said battery and transmitting means;

said inertia-activation switch being operably mounted such that a rearwardly-directed dynamic force of predetermined magnitude on said arrow will move said switch to said first position, and a forwardly-directed dynamic force of predetermined magnitude on said arrow will move said switch to said second position; and

said inertia-activation switch being adapted to remain in either said first or second positions in the absence of said dynamic forces.