Arrow point alignment system

• US 7,811,186 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Easton Technical Products
• Original Assignee: Easton Technical Products
• Inventors: Palomaki, Teddy D., Giles, Kenny R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci; John
• Application Number:
  US11/613,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20080146388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 473/578, 473/582, 473/583
• US Class Current: 473/578
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/08 Arrow heads; Harpoon heads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]

Abstract

An arrow apparatus is disclosed comprising an arrow point alignment structure having a tapered leading end disposed on an outer surface of an arrow shaft. The arrow point may also comprise a tapered aperture defined therein for receiving and mating with at least a portion of the tapered leading end of the arrow point alignment structure in order to bring the arrow point into axial alignment with the arrow shaft. The arrow point alignment structure may be integrally formed with, or affixed to, the outer surface of the arrow shaft or affixed to a portion of the arrow point. The arrow apparatus may also further comprise an insert at least partially disposed within the arrow shaft. The insert may comprise a first insert portion removably attached to a second insert portion that weighs less than the first insert portion. Various arrow points and corresponding methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An arrow apparatus, comprising:

a hollow arrow shaft having an outer surface, an inner surface, a leading end, and a trailing end;

an arrow point alignment structure disposed on the outer surface of the arrow shaft proximate the leading end of the arrow shaft, the arrow point alignment structure comprising a tapered leading end;

an arrow point attached to the leading end of the arrow shaft;

an insert at least partially disposed within the arrow shaft, the arrow point being attached to the insert;

wherein at least a portion of the arrow point attached to the arrow shaft contacts at least a portion of the tapered leading end of the arrow point alignment structure disposed on the outer surface of the arrow shaft.

2. The arrow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arrow point alignment structure is integrally formed with the outside surface of the arrow shaft.

3. The arrow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arrow point alignment structure is affixed to the outside surface of the arrow shaft.

4. The arrow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arrow point alignment structure is affixed to a portion of the arrow point.

5. The arrow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insert is integrally formed with the arrow point alignment structure.

6. The arrow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a first insert portion removably attached to a second insert portion that weighs less than the first insert portion.

7. The arrow apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an insert completely disposed within the arrow shaft; and

an adapter having a first end removably attached to the insert within the arrow shaft and a second end removably attached to the arrow point.

8. The arrow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arrow point alignment structure comprises a lip portion that surrounds at least a portion of the leading end of the arrow shaft.

9. The arrow apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a spacing structure disposed between the arrow point alignment structure and the outer surface of the arrow shaft, the spacing structure comprising a first lip structure that surrounds at least a portion of the leading end of the arrow shaft and a second lip structure that surrounds a trailing end of the alignment structure.

10. The arrow apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tapered aperture defined within the arrow point;

wherein the arrow point is a field point and the tapered aperture is configured to receive and mate with at least a portion of the tapered leading end of the arrow point alignment structure.

11. The arrow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arrow point is a broadhead and comprises a tapered collar configured to receive and mate with at least a portion of the tapered leading end of the arrow point alignment structure.

12. The arrow apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arrow point alignment structure brings the arrow point into axial alignment with the arrow shaft.

13. An arrow point for attachment to an arrow shaft, the arrow point comprising:

a leading end;

a trailing end;

a threaded aperture defined within the arrow point proximate the leading end;

a tapered aperture defined within the arrow point and having a tapered portion proximate the trailing end;

wherein the tapered portion of the tapered aperture is configured to contact at least a tapered portion of an arrow point alignment structure disposed on an outer surface of an arrow shaft.

14. The arrow point of claim 13, wherein the arrow point is a field point.

15. The arrow point of claim 13, wherein the arrow point is a broadhead and comprises a tapered collar that defines the tapered aperture.

16. A method of making an arrow apparatus, comprising:

providing a hollow arrow shaft having an inner surface, an outer surface, a leading end, and a trailing end;

disposing an arrow point alignment structure having a tapered leading end on the outer surface of the arrow shaft;

axially aligning the arrow point alignment structure with the arrow shaft;

mating the tapered leading end of the arrow point alignment structure with a tapered aperture defined within an arrow point.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

disposing at least a portion of an insert within the arrow shaft;

attaching an arrow point to the insert.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising affixing the arrow point alignment structure to a portion of an arrow point.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

completely disposing an insert within the arrow shaft;

attaching an adapter to the insert;

attaching an arrow point to the adapter.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein disposing an arrow point alignment structure on the outer surface of the arrow shaft comprises integrally forming the arrow point alignment structure with the outer surface of the arrow shaft.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein disposing an arrow point alignment structure on the outer surface of the arrow shaft comprises affixing the arrow point alignment structure to the outer surface of the arrow shaft.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein disposing an arrow point alignment structure on the outer surface of the arrow shaft comprises spacing the arrow point alignment structure a predetermined distance from the leading end of the arrow shaft.

23. An arrow apparatus, comprising:

an arrow shaft having an outer surface, an inner surface, a leading end, and a trailing end;

an arrow point alignment structure disposed on the outer surface of the arrow shaft proximate the leading end of the arrow shaft, the arrow point alignment structure comprising a tapered leading end;

an insert affixed to the inner surface of the arrow shaft, the insert comprising a threaded end;

an arrow point comprising a threaded aperture configured to mate with the threaded end of the insert and a tapered aperture configured to contact at least a portion of the tapered leading end of the arrow point alignment structure;

wherein the arrow point alignment structure brings the arrow point into axial alignment with the arrow shaft.

24. An arrow point apparatus, comprising:

an arrow shaft having an outer surface, an inner surface, a leading end, and a trailing end;

an arrow point alignment structure disposed on the outer surface of the arrow shaft proximate the leading end of the arrow shaft, the arrow point alignment structure comprising a tapered leading end;

an arrow point attached to the leading end of the arrow shaft;

wherein at least a portion of the arrow point attached to the arrow shaft extends over both the leading end of the arrow shaft and the tapered leading end of the arrow point alignment structure disposed on the outer surface of the arrow shaft to provide internal structural support for the arrow point.

25. An arrow point assembly for attachment to an arrow shaft, the arrow point assembly comprising:

an arrow point alignment structure capable of being disposed on an outer surface of a hollow arrow shaft, the arrow point alignment structure comprising a tapered first end;

an arrow point in contact with at least a portion of the tapered first end of the arrow point alignment structure;

wherein the arrow point alignment structure is integrally formed with the arrow point;

wherein the arrow point alignment structure is structured to axially align the arrow point with the arrow shaft.

26. An arrow point for attachment to an arrow shaft, the arrow point comprising:

a leading end;

a trailing end;

a threaded aperture defined within the arrow point proximate the leading end;

a tapered aperture defined within the arrow point proximate the trailing end;

wherein the tapered aperture is configured to contact at least a portion of an arrow point alignment structure disposed on an outer surface of an arrow shaft;

wherein the arrow point is a broadhead and comprises a tapered collar that defines the tapered aperture.

27. An arrow apparatus, comprising:

a hollow arrow shaft having an outer surface, an inner surface, a leading end, and a trailing end;

an arrow point alignment structure disposed on the outer surface of the arrow shaft proximate the leading end of the arrow shaft, the arrow point alignment structure comprising a tapered leading end;

a field point attached to the leading end of the arrow shaft, the field point having a tapered aperture, the tapered aperture being configured to receive and mate with at least a portion of the tapered leading end of the arrow point alignment structure disposed on the outer surface of the arrow shaft.

28. The arrow apparatus of claim 27, wherein the arrow point alignment structure is affixed to a portion of the arrow point.

29. The arrow apparatus of claim 27, wherein the arrow point is a broadhead and comprises a tapered collar configured to receive and mate with at least a portion of the tapered leading end of the arrow point alignment structure.

30. The arrow apparatus of claim 27, wherein the arrow point alignment structure brings the arrow point into axial alignment with the arrow shaft.

31. An arrow apparatus, comprising:

a hollow arrow shaft having an outer surface, an inner surface, a leading end, and a trailing end;

an arrow point alignment structure disposed on the outer surface of the arrow shaft proximate the leading end of the arrow shaft, the arrow point alignment structure comprising a tapered leading end;

an arrow point attached to the leading end of the arrow shaft;

wherein the arrow point is a broadhead and comprises a tapered collar configured to receive and mate with at least a portion of the tapered leading end of the arrow point alignment structure disposed on the outer surface of the arrow shaft.

32. The arrow apparatus of claim 31, wherein the arrow point alignment structure is affixed to a portion of the arrow point.

33. The arrow apparatus of claim 31, wherein the arrow point alignment structure brings the arrow point into axial alignment with the arrow shaft.

34. A method of making an arrow apparatus, comprising:

providing a hollow arrow shaft having an inner surface, an outer surface, a leading end, and a trailing end;

disposing an arrow point alignment structure having a tapered leading end on the outer surface of the arrow shaft;

axially aligning the arrow point alignment structure with the arrow shaft;

disposing at least a portion of an insert within the arrow shaft;

attaching an arrow point to the insert.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising affixing the arrow point alignment structure to a portion of an arrow point.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein disposing an arrow point alignment structure on the outer surface of the arrow shaft comprises spacing the arrow point alignment structure a predetermined distance from the leading end of the arrow shaft.