Expandable blade, composite plastic, broadhead hunting arrow tip

• US 5,078,407 A
• Filed: 09/12/1990
• Issued: 01/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gold Tip LLC (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Marvin L. Carlston, Vaughn R. Anderson
• Inventors: Carlston, Marvin L., Anderson, Vaughn R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US07/581,593
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 273/421, 273/422, 273/419, 273/420, 273/416
• US Class Current: 473/583
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/08 Arrow heads; Harpoon heads

Abstract

A multi-bladed expandable broadhead, composite fiber, plastic hunting arrow tip. The tip is comprised of a high strength, light weight fibrous composite plastic material. It incorporates the use of rotatable blades which are trunion mounted securely in the body of the tip, and which are designed to be partially exposed while in flight. The blades are configured such that they will rotate into an expanded position upon impact. The blades are mounted in a forward position with the tips of the blades protruding outside of the tip body.

Claims

1. An arrowhead tip for attachment to an arrow shaft, said tip comprising:

an intermediate, elongated body having a central, elongate axis and being formed as a fiber reinforced composite of thermosetting resin and imbedded fibers;

a pointed end integrally attached at a distal end of the intermediate body and tapered symmetrically about the elongate axis to form a point oriented in a proposed direction of flight;

a threaded stem attached at a proximal end of the intermediate body and oriented along the elongate axis to enable the arrowhead tip to be securely inserted within a threaded opening in the arrow shaft; and

broadhead blades coupled to the intermediate body to form a broadhead arrow tip, each blade including a mounting end and a penetrating point;

wherein each broadhead blade is pivotally attached at the mounting end to the intermediate body such that the blades may be moved from a forward projecting orientation wherein the penetrating point is directed toward the direction of flight to a rearward position wherein the penetrating point is oriented away from the direction of flight, the penetrating point being biased during flight to an exposed condition outside the intermediate body; and

wherein the intermediate body includes a slot track for each broadhead blade, said slot track extending directionally along the elongate axis and into the intermediate body to a point of attachment for the mounting end of the broadhead blade and including a leading edge configured to block forward movement of the blade beyond a forward limiting position and a trailing edge for blocking rearward movement beyond a rearward limiting, position, the slot track having a narrower slot opening at the forward limiting position slightly larger than broadhead blade width to impose slight frictional resistance against rearward movement of the broadhead blade during flight, said slot track having a progressive increase in opening size toward a rearward direction to allow free movement of the broadhead blade to the rearward projecting orientation once the resistance against rearward movement is overcome by impact with a target object.

2. An arrowhead tip as defined in claim 1 wherein the threaded stem is integrally formed with the intermediate body as a unibody structure of fiber reinforced composite.

3. An arrowhead tip as defined in claim 1 wherein the intermediate body includes:

two opposing slot tracks formed within a single plane passing through the elongate axis, and

two broadhead blades respectively mounted within the respective two slot tracks and at a single axis point within the intermediate body by mounting means positioned transverse to the single plane.

4. An arrowhead tip as defined in claim 3 wherein the two slot tracks form a continuous slot passing from one side of the intermediate body to an opposite side, the two blades being trunion mounted at their respective mounting ends to a common axis pin.

5. An arrowhead tip as defined in claim 1 wherein the arrowhead tip includes three broadhead blades mounted to the intermediate body.

6. An arrowhead tip as defined in claim 1 wherein the arrowhead tip includes two pair of broadhead blades, with the two pair of blades being oriented along two separate planes which are offset by approximately 90 degrees of rotation along the elongate axis.