Programmable lighted archery nock

• US 7,931,550 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grace Engineering Corporation
• Original Assignee: Grace Engineering Corporation
• Inventors: Lynch, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci; John
• Application Number:
  US12/249,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20090098959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/578, 473/585, 473/586
• US Class Current: 473/578
• 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 6/06 Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a lighted archery nock. The lighted archery nock generally includes an accelerometer, a replaceable battery, a light, a housing, and a microprocessor that controls illumination of the light. The microprocessor can control the timing of the light to save battery life and respond to user input transmitted by tapping the nock to re-set the light. The housing is configured with a plurality of fingers that interact with the replaceable battery to hold it in place.

Claims

1. A lighted archery nock assembly for use with an arrow having a longitudinal axis, the lighted archery nock comprising:

an arrow nock having a longitudinal axis generally aligned with said longitudinal axis of said arrow;

a power source for providing power to said lighted archery nock assembly;

circuitry in electrical communication with said power source, said circuitry including;

an accelerometer that generates an accelerometer output indicative of at least one of acceleration and deceleration in response to movement of said lighted archery nock along an axis other than said longitudinal axis of said arrow nock;

a light source visible through at least a portion of said arrow nock; and

a controller in electrical communication with said accelerometer for receiving said accelerometer output, said controller in electrical communication with said light source;

wherein said controller is programmed to operate said light source in response to said accelerometer output exceeding at least one of a predefined threshold acceleration of said lighted archery nock along an axis other than said longitudinal axis of said arrow nock and a predefined threshold deceleration of said lighted archery nock along an axis other than said longitudinal axis of said arrow nock; and

a housing joined with at least one of said arrow nock and said circuitry.

2. The lighted arrow nock assembly of claim 1 wherein in response to said accelerometer output said controller at least one of actuates said light source continuously, pulse width modulate said light source, and deactivates said light source.

3. The lighted arrow nock assembly of claim 1 wherein said accelerometer provides a plurality of accelerometer outputs and wherein said controller is programmed to identify taps of said arrow nock as a function of said plurality of accelerometer outputs.

4. The lighted arrow nock assembly of claim 3 wherein said controller operates said light source as a function of said taps of said arrow nock.

5. The lighted arrow nock assembly of claim 4 wherein operation of said controller is programmable as a function of said taps of said arrow nock.

6. The lighted arrow nock assembly of claim 1 wherein said accelerometer generates said accelerometer output in response to movement of said lighted archery nock along a substantially orthogonal axis to said longitudinal axis.

7. The lighted arrow nock assembly of claim 1 wherein said circuitry includes a sensor, said controller is in electrical communication with said sensor, and said controller is programmed to operate said light source as a function of said sensor.

8. A lighted archery nock assembly comprising:

an arrow nock having a longitudinal axis generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of an arrow;

a power source;

circuitry in electrical communication with said power source, said circuitry including;

an accelerometer that provides an accelerometer output indicative of at least one of acceleration and deceleration of said lighted archery nock along an axis other than said longitudinal axis of said arrow nock;

a light source;

a controller electrically coupled to said accelerometer and said light source, wherein said controller is programmed to operate said circuitry as a function of said accelerometer output.

9. The lighted arrow nock assembly of claim 8 wherein in response to said accelerometer output said controller at least one of actuates said light source continuously, pulse width modulate said light source, and deactivates said light source.

10. The lighted arrow nock assembly of claim 8 wherein said accelerometer generates a plurality of accelerometer outputs and wherein said controller is programmed to identify taps of said arrow nock as a function of said plurality of accelerometer outputs.

11. The lighted arrow nock assembly of claim 10 wherein said controller operates said light source as a function of said taps of said arrow nock.

12. The lighted arrow nock assembly of claim 11 wherein operation of said controller is programmable as a function of said taps of said arrow nock.

13. The lighted arrow nock assembly of claim 8 wherein said accelerometer generates said accelerometer output in response to movement of said lighted archery nock along a substantially orthogonal axis to said longitudinal axis.

14. The lighted arrow nock assembly of claim 8 wherein said circuitry includes a sensor, said controller is in electrical communication with said sensor, and said controller is programmed to operate said light source as a function of said sensor.

15. A method for re-setting a light source in a lighted archery nock assembly joined with an arrow having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

moving the arrow along an axis other than said longitudinal axis of the arrow;

sensing at least one of acceleration and deceleration of said arrow along the axis other than the longitudinal axis of the arrow;

comparing the at least one of acceleration and deceleration of said arrow to a predetermined threshold indicative of the amount of G forces that accompany tapping an arrow by a user;

re-setting the light source in the lighted archery nock assembly in response to an indication that at least one of acceleration and deceleration of said arrow exceeds said predetermined threshold.

16. The method for re-setting a light source of claim 15 wherein said re-setting comprises at least one of actuating said light source continuously, pulse width modulating said light source, and deactivating said light source.

17. The method for re-setting a light source of claim 15 wherein moving the arrow comprises moving the arrow along an axis substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of said arrow.

18. The method for re-setting a light source of claim 15 wherein said sensing comprises sensing a series of readings and said comparing comprises identifying taps of said arrow as a function of said readings.

19. The method for re-setting a light source of claim 18 wherein re-setting comprises de-activating said light source as a function of said taps of said arrow nock.