Dulling prevention for sharp cutting edge of blade-opening arrowhead blades when in a closed in-flight position

• US 6,287,223 B1
• Filed: 05/03/1999
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Victor Jay Liechty II (Victor Jay Liechty)
• Original Assignee: Victor Jay Liechty II (Victor Jay Liechty)
• Inventors: Liechty, Victor Jay II
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci, John A.
• Application Number:
  US09/303,762
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 473/582, 473/583, 473/584, 473/FOR.219, 473/FOR.221, 473/FOR.222
• US Class Current: 473/583
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/08 Arrow heads; Harpoon heads

Abstract

Blade-opening arrowheads with removably attachable pivotal blades, each having an edge with at least a section thereof that is sharpened for cutting. The sharp cutting edges are prevented from being dulled from contact with their corresponding arrowhead bodies, arrowhead tips or other structure when the blades are folded into a retracted in-flight position or into a closed position.

Claims

1. A blade-opening arrowhead comprising:

(a) an arrowhead body;

(b) a blade having a first end, an opposing second end and an edge extending thereabout, said edge having a sharpened cutting edge;

(c) hinge means for pivotally connecting said second end of said blade to said arrowhead body to enable said blade to rotate between a retracted position wherein said blade is positioned adjacent to said arrowhead body and an open position wherein said first end of said blade is rotated away from said arrowhead body; and

(d) dulling prevention means for preventing said sharpened cutting edge from being dulled when said blade is in said retracted position, said dulling prevention means comprising a spacer element abutting against said edge of said blade when said blade is in said retracted position.

2. A blade-opening arrowhead comprising:

(a) an arrowhead body;

(b) a blade having a first end, an opposing second end and an edge extending thereabout, said edge having a sharpened section for cutting;

(c) hinge means for pivotally connecting said second end of said blade to said arrowhead body to enable said blade to rotate between a retracted position wherein said blade is positioned adjacent to said arrowhead body and an open position wherein said first end of said blade is rotated away from said arrowhead body; and

(d) a spacer element mounted on said arrowhead body to abut against said edge when said blade is in said retracted position so that said sharpened section does not contact said arrowhead body.

3. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 2 wherein said spacer element abuts against said first end of blade.

4. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 3 wherein said first end of said blade has a notch formed therein, said notch engaging with said spacer element when said blade is in said retracted position.

5. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 2 wherein said spacer element comprises holding means for engaging against said edge of said blade so as to selectively hold said blade adjacent to said arrowhead body when said blade is in said retracted position.

6. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 5 wherein said spacer element comprises a protrusion extending from said arrowhead body.

7. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 5 wherein said spacer element comprises a discrete annular element engaged against said edge of said blade at said second end thereof.

8. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 2 wherein said spacer element is a resilient annular element removably mounted on said arrowhead body at a location substantially near a forward tip end thereof.

9. A blade-opening arrowhead comprising:

(a) an arrowhead body;

(b) a blade having a first end, an opposing second end and an inner cutting edge;

(c) hinge means for pivotally connecting said second end of said blade to said arrowhead body to enable said blade to rotate between a retracted position wherein said blade is positioned adjacent to said arrowhead body and an open position wherein said first end of said blade is rotated away from said arrowhead body; and

(d) a spacer element mounted on said arrowhead body to abut against said cutting edge when said blade is in said retracted position so that said cutting edge is displaced a distance away from said arrowhead body and does not contact said arrowhead body thereupon.

10. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 9 wherein said spacer element is fabricated of a substantially non-dulling material so that said cutting edge is not dulled when said blade is in said retracted position.

11. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 9 wherein said spacer element comprises an annular element.

12. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 9 further comprising positioning means for limiting displacement of said spacer element so that said spacer element is mounted upon said arrowhead body at a location so as to displace said cutting edge a distance from said arrowhead body.

13. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 9 wherein said spacer element is removably attachable from said arrowhead.

14. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 9 wherein a substantial portion of said inner cutting edge is substantially straight.

15. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 9 wherein said blade further comprises an outwardly projecting wing located at said first end of said blade, at least a section of said wing being exposed a distance outward from said arrowhead body when said blade is in said retracted position.

16. A blade-opening arrowhead comprising:

(a) an arrowhead body;

(b) a blade having a first end, an opposing second end and an inner cutting edge;

(c) hinge means for pivotally connecting said second end of said blade to said arrowhead body to enable said blade to rotate between a retracted position wherein said blade is positioned adjacent to said arrowhead body and an open position wherein said first end of said blade is rotated away from said arrowhead body; and

(d) an annular element mounted on said arrowhead body to abut against said cutting edge when said blade is in said retracted position so that said cutting edge is displaced a distance away from said arrowhead body and does not contact said arrowhead body thereupon.

17. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 16 wherein said annular element is comprised of a resilient material.

18. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 16 wherein said annular element is an elastic band.

19. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 16 wherein said annular element is a rubber O-ring.

20. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 16 wherein said arrowhead body further comprises an exteriorly exposed annular groove, said annular element being seated within said annular groove when said cutting edge is abutting thereagainst.

21. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 16 wherein said inner cutting edge of said blade is folded adjacent to said arrowhead body when in said retracted position so as to be closer to a central longitudinal axis of said arrowhead body than an outer blunt edge of said blade is from said longitudinal axis.

22. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 16 wherein said annular element prevents said cutting edge from being dulled by contact with said arrowhead body when said blade is in said retracted position.

23. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 16 wherein said blade further comprises an outwardly projecting wing located at said first end of said blade, at least a section of said wing being exposed a distance outward from said arrowhead body when said blade is in said retracted position.

24. A blade-opening arrowhead comprising:

(a) an arrowhead body;

(b) a blade having a first end, an opposing second end and an edge extending thereabout, said edge having a sharpened cutting edge;

(c) hinge means for pivotally connecting said second end of said blade to said arrowhead body to enable said blade to rotate between a retracted position wherein said blade is positioned adjacent to said arrowhead body and an open position wherein said first end of said blade is rotated away from said arrowhead body, said sharpened cutting edge facing toward said arrowhead body when said blade is in said retracted position; and

(d) dulling prevention means for preventing said sharpened cutting edge from being dulled when said blade is in said retracted position, said dulling prevention means comprising a spacer element abutting against said edge of said blade when said blade is in said retracted position.

25. A blade-opening arrowhead as recited in claim 24, wherein said first end of said blade rotates in a rearward direction relative to said arrowhead body, when said blade is rotating from said retracted position toward said open position.

26. A blade-opening arrowhead comprising:

(a) an arrowhead body;

(b) a blade having a first end, an opposing second end and an inner cutting edge;

(c) hinge means for pivotally connecting said second end of said blade to said arrowhead body to enable said blade to rotate between a retracted position wherein said blade is positioned adjacent to said arrowhead body and an open position wherein said first end of said blade is rotated away from said arrowhead body; and

(d) an annular elastic band mounted on said arrowhead body to abut against said inner cutting edge when said blade is in said retracted position so that said inner cutting edge is displaced a distance away from said arrowhead body so as to not contact said arrowhead body.

27. A blade-opening arrowhead comprising:

(a) an arrowhead body;

(b) a blade having a first end, an opposing second end and an inner cutting edge;

(c) hinge means for pivotally connecting said second end of said blade to said arrowhead body to enable said blade to rotate between a retracted position wherein said blade is positioned adjacent to said arrowhead body and an open position wherein said first end of said blade is rotated away from said arrowhead body; and

(d) an annular rubber O-ring mounted on said arrowhead body to abut against said inner cutting edge when said blade is in said retracted position so that said inner cutting edge is displaced a distance away from said arrowhead body so as to not contact said arrowhead body.