Disengageable nock for arrows

• US 6,213,114 B1
• Filed: 04/17/2000
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: New Archery Products, LLC (BRS Outdoor Sports Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Christopher L. Burkhart
• Inventors: Burkhart, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci, John A.
• Application Number:
  US09/550,677
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 124/91, 473/578
• US Class Current: 124/91
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/06 Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching

Abstract

A nock for use with an arrow includes a receiver having a bowstring engaging notch with a pin extending thereacross to capture and retain the bowstring within the notch and an insert permanently attached to an arrow shaft for disengageably engaging the receiver. A retention device, such as a magnet attached to the receiver, magnetically cooperating with a magnetically responsive member attached to the insert, retains the arrow shaft in engagement with the bowstring as the bowstring is pulled back. Upon release of the bowstring, the forward momentum of the arrow overcomes the retention force of the retention device and the arrow shaft disengages from the receiver to begin its flight.

Claims

1. Archery equipment comprising in combination:

(a) a bow having a bowstring;

(b) an arrow having a shaft, said shaft including a rear end;

(c) a segregable two part nock for disengageably engaging said rear end of said arrow with said bowstring; and

(d) said two part nock including an insert attached to said rear end of said arrow, a receiver for engaging said bowstring and for remaining engaged with said bowstring after discharge of said arrow and at least a magnet for disengageably engaging said insert with said receiver.

2. The archery equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said magnet includes a pair of magnets.

3. The archery equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said magnet is secured to one of said insert and said receiver and including a magnetically responsive member secured to the other of said insert and said receiver.

4. The archery equipment as set forth in claim 3 wherein said receiver includes a cavity for receiving said insert and wherein said magnet and said magnetically responsive member are disposed within said cavity during engagement of said insert with said receiver.

5. The archery equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receiver includes a notch for receiving said bowstring and retention means for retaining said bowstring within said notch during discharge of said arrow to prevent disengagement of said receiver from said bowstring.

6. The archery equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shaft of said arrow is tubular and wherein said insert includes a stud for penetrable engagement with said rear end of said arrow.

7. The archery equipment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shaft of said arrow is solid and wherein said insert includes a cavity for receiving said rear end of said arrow.

8. Archery equipment comprising in combination:

(a) a bow having a bowstring;

(b) an arrow having a shaft, said shaft including a rear end;

(c) a nock for disengageably engaging said rear end with said bowstring; and

(d) said nock including an insert attached to said rear end, a receiver for engaging said bowstring and disconnect means for disengageably engaging said insert with said receiver, said receiver including a notch for receiving said bowstring and a pin extending across said notch for retaining said bowstring within said notch during discharge of said arrow to prevent disengagement of said receiver from said bowstring.

9. A nock for engaging the rear end of an arrow with a bowstring of a bow, said nock comprising in combination:

(a) an insert fixedly attached to the rear end of said arrow;

(b) a receiver for capturing the bowstring and maintaining the bowstring captured during discharge of the arrow from the bow; and

(c) at least a magnet for disengageably engaging said insert with said receiver to maintain the arrow engaged with the bowstring prior to discharge of the arrow.

10. The nock as set forth in claim 9 wherein said receiver includes a notch for penetrable engagement by the bowstring and means for retaining the bowstring within said notch during discharge of the arrow from the bow.

11. The nock as set forth in claim 9 wherein said magnet is secured to one of said insert and said receiver and including a magnetically responsive member secured to the other of said insert and said receiver.

12. The nock as set forth in claim 9 wherein said receiver includes a cavity for receiving a part of said insert and for locating said magnet therein during engagement of said insert with said receiver.

13. The nock as set forth in claim 9 wherein said magnet is attached to said receiver and including a further magnet attached to an end of said insert.

14. The nock as set forth in claim 9 wherein the arrow includes a tubular shaft and wherein said insert includes a stud for penetrable engagement with the rear end of the tubular shaft.

15. The nock as set forth in claim 9 wherein said magnet is attached to said receiver and including a magnetically responsive element attached to said insert.

16. The nock as set forth in claim 9 wherein the arrow includes a solid shaft and wherein said insert includes a cavity for receiving the rear end of the solid shaft.

17. The nock as set forth in claim 16 wherein said magnet is attached to one of said receiver and said insert and including an element magnetically responsive to said magnet, said element being attached to the other of said receiver and said insert.

18. A method for disengageably engaging an arrow with the bowstring of a bow and for discharging the arrow from the bow upon release of the drawn bowstring, said method comprising in combination:

(a) attaching an insert to the rear end of the shaft of the arrow;

(b) capturing the bowstring with a receiver having a notch for retaining the bowstring to maintain the receiver in engagement with the bowstring during discharge of the arrow;

(c) maintaining a magnetic force to disengageably engage the insert with the receiver to maintain the arrow attached to the bowstring as the bowstring is drawn back and upon release of the bowstring; and

(d) overcoming the magnetic force between the insert and the receiver as a function of the momentum of the arrow when the drawn bowstring comes to its position of rest to release the arrow from the bowstring.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said step of maintaining includes the step of magnetically attracting the insert to the receiver when the insert and receiver become engaged with one another upon mounting of the arrow on the bowstring.

20. The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said step of capturing includes the step of retaining the bowstring within a notch in the receiver.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said step of maintaining includes the step of magnetically attracting the insert to the receiver when the insert and receiver become engaged with one another upon mounting of the arrow on the bowstring.