Arrow nock

• US 7,189,170 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timothy Pott
• Original Assignee: Alan S. Korsa, Stephen P. Korsa
• Inventors: Korsa, Alan S., Korsa, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci; John A.
• Application Number:
  US10/907,011
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 473/578, 473/585, 473/586, 124/35.2, 124/91
• US Class Current: 473/578
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/06 Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching

Abstract

An arrow nock has a nock body, an actuator and a pair of retaining tabs. The retaining tabs retain the bowstring in the arrow nock while the bowstring is drawn. When the bowstring is released, the bowstring moves the actuator to a forward position and the actuator moves the retaining tabs to an open position so that the bowstring clears the arrow nock without friction.

Claims

1. A nock for an arrow for use with a bow having a bowstring, comprising:

a nock body having a forward portion for affixing to said arrow, an intermediate portion having a back end, and two wings extending rearwardly from said back end, said wings being spaced a selected distance for receiving said bowstring,

a pair of spaced, opposed, inwardly projecting bowstring retaining tabs between said wings and spaced rearwardly from said back end, said retaining tabs being movable between a closed position wherein said retaining tabs are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of said bowstring and an open position wherein said retaining tabs are spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of said bowstring,

an actuator mounted between said wings and having a rearward facing actuator notch for receiving said bowstring, said actuator being movable between a rearward position and a forward position, said actuator being linked to said retaining tabs and moving said retaining tabs to said open position when said actuator is moved to said forward position and moving said retaining tabs to said closed position when said actuator is moved to said rearward position, and

means for biasing said actuator towards said rearward position,

whereby said retaining tabs remain in said closed position and retain said arrow on said bowstring until said bowstring is released, and when said bowstring is released, said bowstring pushes said actuator to said forward position and said actuator moves said retaining tabs to said open position.

2. The arrow nock as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said actuator has a pair of spaced, outwardly biased, rearwardly extending arms that form said actuator notch with said retaining tabs being mounted on said arms, and

said wings of said nock body each include an inner surface with a groove shaped to receive a said arm and to push said arm inward when said actuator is in said rearward position and to allow said arm to move outward when said actuator is in said forward position.

3. The arrow nock as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said actuator includes a pair of spaced, forwardly extending, resilient fingers that form said means for biasing, and

said intermediate portion of said nock body includes an interior cavity shaped to receive said fingers and to push said fingers inward as said actuator moves to said forward position.

4. The arrow nock as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said wings are made of a resilient material and each include a shaped inner surface,

said actuator has a pair of opposed, spaced, outer surfaces shaped to fit between said inner surfaces of said wings and to push said wings outward as said actuator moves to said forward position, and

each said retaining tab is mounted on a said inner surface of a said wing.

5. The arrow nock as set forth in claim 1 wherein means for biasing has a force selected such that, when said arrow is shot, said retaining tabs move to said closed position after said bowstring clears said retaining tabs.

6. The arrow nock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining tabs each have a rearwardly sloped rearward face that allows said bowstring to easily enter between said wings, and a forward face, connected to said rearward face, substantially perpendicular to said wings that securely retains said bowstring between said wings.

7. A nock for an arrow for use with a bow having a bowstring, comprising:

a nock body including a forward portion for affixing to said arrow, an intermediate portion having a back end, and two wings extending rearwardly from said back end, said intermediate portion having a shaped interior cavity, said wings being spaced a selected distance for receiving said bowstring, said wings of said nock body each having an inner surface with a shaped groove,

an actuator including a pair of spaced, rearwardly extending, resilient arms and a pair of spaced, forwardly extending, resilient fingers, said actuator being movable between a rearward position and a forward position, said arms each having a back end, said arms being shaped and sized to fit into said grooves, to move said back end inwards in said grooves when said actuator moves to said rearward position and to move said back end outwards in said grooves when said actuator moves to said forward position, said fingers being sized and shaped to fit into said interior cavity, flex inwardly when said actuator moves to said forward position and to bias said actuator towards said rearward position, and

an inwardly projecting bowstring retaining tab on each said arm of said actuator, said retaining tabs being movable between a closed position wherein said retaining tabs are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of said bowstring, when said actuator is in said rearward position, and an open position wherein said retaining tabs are spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of said bowstring, when said actuator is in said forward position,

whereby said retaining tabs remain in said closed position and retain said arrow on said bowstring until said bowstring is released, and when said bowstring is released, said bowstring pushes said actuator to said forward position and said actuator moves said retaining tabs to said open position.