Illuminated projectile

• US 5,425,542 A
• Filed: 05/12/1993
• Issued: 06/20/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James D. Blackwood, John R. Janzen
• Original Assignee: James D. Blackwood, John R. Janzen
• Inventors: Janzen, John R., Blackwood, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US08/061,480
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 273/416, 273/423
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/362 Arrows or darts F42B12/38 takes precedence, having means for implantation, e.g. hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54; arrows or darts in general F42B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/003 Darts

Abstract

An illuminated device such as a projectile or dart is provided with a battery, one or more light emitting diodes and a switching device wherein switching is accomplished either by relative motion between body and shaft, or by removal and re-insertion of the flite. Conductive elements may be incorporated into the components of the device which may be formed of a conductive material which may be castable or moldable such as plastic, and which may be formed into separate, electrically isolated conductive paths by a molding process.

Claims

1. An illuminatable projectile device comprising:

a) a body;

b) a shaft movably attached to said body and forming a movable attachment therewith;

c) an electrical source means having two terminals;

d) an illuminating means having two leads;

e) switch means for conductively connecting said source means to said illuminating means, said switch means having at least a first position;

f) means in said at least one position of said switch means to complete an electrical circuit to illuminate said illuminating means;

g) said body being in electrical contact with one of said electrical terminals of said electrical source means;

h) the other terminal of said electrical source means being in electrical contact with one of said leads of said illuminating means; and

i) the other lead of said illuminating means being in electrical contact with said body, thereby completing said electrical circuit.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said movable attachment between said shaft and said body is a threaded connection.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said switch means comprises:

a) said movable attachment between said shaft and said body;

b) said body; and

c) said lead of said illuminating means which is in contact with said body.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said illuminating means is at least one solid state device.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said shaft comprises at least one electrically conductive element.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said at least one conductive element is a conductive plastic.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said at least one conductive element is insulated by a non-conductive plastic portion.

8. The device of claim 6 further comprising:

a) a flite removably attached to said shaft;

b) said flite having at least one conductive path;

c) said conductive path of said flite being electrically connectable to said at least one conductive path of said shaft.

9. The device of claim 8 further comprising:

a) switch means for conductively connecting said at least one conductive path of said shaft to said at least one conductive path in said flite, said switch means having at least one position;

b) means in said at least one position of said switch means to complete an electrical circuit.

10. The device of claim 8 further comprising a flite guard removably attached to said flite, said flite guard having at least one conductive path electrically connectable to said at least one conductive path of said flite.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising said flite guard having an illuminating means electrically connectable to said at least one conductive path of said flite.

12. The device of claim 10 further comprising:

a) switch means for conductively connecting said at least one conductive path of said flite to said at least one conductive path of said flite guard, said switch means having at least one position.

b) means in said at least one position of said switch means to complete an electrical circuit.

13. The device of claim 12 further comprising said flite guard having an illuminating means electrically connectable to said at least one conductive path of said flite.