Tracer light for archer's arrow

• US 6,390,642 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2000
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Easton Technical Products
• Original Assignee: Robert Wayne Simonton
• Inventors: Simonton, Robert Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US09/505,109
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 362/253, 362/186, 362/203, 473/585, 473/570
• US Class Current: 362/203
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/008 Leisure, hobby or sport articles, e.g. toys, games or first-aid kits; Hand tools; Toolboxes
• 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

Abstract

An illuminated archery arrow that includes conventional components such as a tubular shaft, a pointed head attached to the forward end of the shaft, fletchings on the rearward portion of the shaft and a nock at the rear end of the shaft. The arrow structure also includes a novel and improved tail lighting assembly carried interiorly of the rearward portion of the arrow shaft. The lighting assembly comprises a light source disposed in proximity to a light transmitting nock, a battery for powering the light source, a normally open switch responsive to a magnetic field for closing the switch contacts, and other circuit elements that interconnect the battery and the light source. Depending upon the circuit configuration, the battery voltage may be applied intermittently to the light source and then turned off or applied constantly for a specified time and then turned off. The switch contacts are closed by passing the arrow shaft through the field of a magnet attached to the archer'"'"'s bow in proximity to the path taken by the arrow as it is launched by the bow. When illuminated by the closing of the switch contacts, the light source is visible through the nock, permitting improved visual tracking and locating of the arrow.

Claims

1. An illuminated archery arrow comprising,

a shaft having forward and rearward portions and being at least partially tubular in the rearward portion,

a light transmitting nock attached to the rearward end of the shaft,

a lighting assembly carried interiorly of the rearward portion of the shaft and comprising,

a light source disposed in proximity to the nock so that the light source is visible through the nock,

a battery for providing a voltage to the light source,

a switch, having normally open electrical contacts, and including means responsive to a magnetic field for closing the switch contacts, at least momentarily, and

circuit means interconnecting the battery, the switch and the light source for applying, for at least a limited period of time, battery voltage to the light source after the switch contacts are closed, wherein said circuit means includes means for cyclically interrupting the application of battery voltage to the light source after the switch contacts are:

closed, in accordance with a pre-programmed code, for producing a blinking light visible through the nock.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the circuit means includes means for interrupting the application of battery voltage to the light source as a function of elapsed time, measured from the magnetically provoked closing of the switch contacts.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the nock includes a longitudinal bore therethrough.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein at least the switch and circuit means are potted into an elongated cylindrically shaped module that is disposed within the hollow interior of the rearward portion of the arrow shaft and where the light source is disposed rearwardly of the module, also within the hollow interior of the shaft.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the battery is disposed within the hollow interior of the rearward portion of the shaft, exteriorly of the cylindrically shaped module and coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein the switch and circuit means are mounted on a circuit board and the battery is disposed in a side by side relation with the circuit board within the elongated cylindrically shaped module.

7. A combination archer'"'"'s bow and an illuminated arrow for use therewith comprising,

a shaft having a forward and rearward portion and being at least partially tubular in the rearward portion thereof,

a light transmitting nock having a longitudinal bore therethrough and attached to the rearward end of the shaft,

a lighting assembly carried interiorly of the rearward portion of the shaft and comprising,

a light source disposed in proximity to the nock permitting the light source to be visualized through the nock and the bore in the nock,

a battery, including a source of voltage and power,

a switch, having normally open electrical contacts, and including means responsive to a magnetic field for closing the switch contacts, circuit means, including capacitive, resistive and transistor means, interconnecting the battery, the switch and the light source for applying the battery'"'"'s voltage to the light source after the switch contacts are closed, at least momentarily,

a bow having a site in which an arrow is placed for launching, and

a magnet having a magnetic field and attached to the bow in proximity to the site so that the arrow shaft will pass through the magnetic field as the arrow is being launched from the bow.

8. The combination of claim 7 and further including means for cyclically applying battery voltage to the light source after the switch contacts are closed, in accordance with a preprogrammed sequence.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein the circuit means also includes means for interrupting the application of battery voltage to the light source as a function of elapsed time, measured from the magnetically provoked closing of the switch contacts.

10. The combination of claim 7 and further including a sleeve member having an interior space in which the lighting assembly is disposed, said sleeve member being nested within the rearward portion of the shaft.