Arrow shaft with transition portion

• US 8,388,473 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2008
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Easton Technical Products
• Original Assignee: Easton Technical Products
• Inventors: Smith, Jacob C.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICCI, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US12/123,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20090291785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,750 Days
• Field of Search: 473/578, 138/177, 138/DIG.11
• US Class Current: 473/578
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/04 Archery arrows F42B6/08, F41B5/06, F42B12/362 take precedence

Abstract

An arrow shaft comprising a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion is disclosed. The second shaft portion of the arrow shaft may have a larger outer diameter than the first shaft portion. The arrow shaft may also comprise a transition portion between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion. An arrow comprising an arrow shaft, a first shaft portion, a second shaft portion, a nock, and a point is also disclosed. The first shaft portion of the arrow may comprise a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft terminating at an end of the arrow shaft adjacent to the arrow nock. The second shaft portion of the arrow may comprise a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft terminating at an end of the arrow shaft adjacent to the arrow point.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an arrow shaft having a nock end and a point end, the arrow shaft comprising;

a first shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft terminating at the nock end of the arrow shaft, the first shaft portion having an outer diameter; and

a second shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft, the second shaft portion having an outer diameter;

a first transition portion located between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion, the transition portion being located at approximately a middle position on the arrow shaft;

wherein the outer diameter of the second shaft portion is larger than the outer diameter of the first shaft portion;

at least one of a nock mounted at the nock end and an arrow point mounted at the point end.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first shaft portion is integrally formed with the second shaft portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second shaft portion comprises a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft terminating at the point end of the arrow shaft.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second shaft portion is located between the point end of the arrow shaft and the first shaft portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arrow shaft further comprises:

a third shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft located between the point end of the arrow shaft and the second shaft portion, the third shaft portion having an outer diameter;

wherein the outer diameter of the third shaft portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the second shaft portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arrow shaft further comprises:

a third shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft located between the point end of the arrow shaft and the second shaft portion, the third shaft portion having an outer diameter;

wherein the outer diameter of the third shaft portion is larger than the outer diameter of the second shaft portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein first transition portion comprises:

a first transition end adjacent to the first shaft portion;

a second transition end adjacent to the second shaft portion;

wherein an outer diameter of the second transition end is larger than an outer diameter of the first transition end.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first transition portion is integrally formed with at least one of the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first transition portion comprises a first coupling portion structured to extend into a cavity defined in the first shaft portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first transition portion further comprises a second coupling portion extending into a cavity defined in the second shaft portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein an outer surface of the first transition portion is tapered between the second transition end and the first transition end.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the first shaft portion is substantially constant along the length of the first shaft portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the second shaft portion is substantially constant along the length of the second shaft portion.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second shaft portion comprises approximately 50% or less of the axial length of the arrow shaft.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion each have a continuous, smooth outer circumference.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nock end is a proximal end of the arrow shaft.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the point end is a distal end of the arrow shaft.

18. An arrow, comprising:

an arrow shaft, the arrow shaft comprising;

a nock end;

a point end;

a first shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft terminating at the nock end of the arrow shaft, the first shaft portion having an outer diameter; and

a second shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft, the second shaft portion having an outer diameter;

a transition portion located between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion, the transition portion being located at a middle position on the arrow shaft;

a nock attached at the nock end of the arrow shaft;

a point attached at the point end of the arrow shaft;

wherein the outer diameter of the second shaft portion is larger than the outer diameter of the first shaft portion.

19. The arrow of claim 18, wherein the first shaft portion is integrally formed with the second shaft portion.

20. The arrow of claim 18, wherein the second shaft portion comprises a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft terminating at the point end of the arrow shaft.

21. The arrow of claim 18, wherein the second shaft portion is located between the point end of the arrow shaft and the first shaft portion.

22. The arrow of claim 18, wherein the arrow shaft further comprises:

a third shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft located between the point end of the arrow shaft and the second shaft portion, the third shaft portion having an outer diameter;

wherein the outer diameter of the third shaft portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the second shaft portion.

23. The arrow of claim 18, wherein the arrow shaft further comprises:

a third shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft located between the point end of the arrow shaft and the second shaft portion, the third shaft portion having an outer diameter;

wherein the outer diameter of the third shaft portion is larger than the outer diameter of the second shaft portion.

24. The arrow of claim 18, wherein the first transition portion comprises:

a first transition end adjacent to the first shaft portion;

a second transition end adjacent to the second shaft portion;

wherein an outer diameter of the second transition end is larger than an outer diameter of the first transition end.

25. The arrow of claim 24, wherein the first transition portion is integrally formed with at least one of the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion.

26. The arrow of claim 24, wherein the first transition portion comprises a first coupling portion structured to extend into a cavity defined in the first shaft portion.

27. The arrow of claim 26, wherein the first transition portion further comprises a second coupling portion extending into a cavity defined in the second shaft portion.

28. The arrow of claim 18, wherein the second shaft portion comprises approximately 50% or less of the axial length of the arrow shaft.

29. An apparatus, comprising:

an arrow shaft having a nock end and a point end, the arrow shaft comprising;

a first shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft terminating at the nock end of the arrow shaft, the first shaft portion having an outer diameter; and

a second shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft, the second shaft portion having an outer diameter;

a third shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft located between the point end of the arrow shaft and the second shaft portion, the third shaft portion having an outer diameter;

wherein the outer diameter of the second shaft portion is larger than the outer diameter of the first shaft portion, and the outer diameter of the third shaft portion is larger than the outer diameter of the second shaft portion.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the first shaft portion is integrally formed with the second shaft portion.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the second shaft portion is located between the point end of the arrow shaft and the first shaft portion.

32. An archery arrow, comprising:

a nock;

an arrow point;

an arrow shaft comprising;

a nock end having the nock mounted thereon;

a point end having the arrow point mounted thereon;

a first shaft portion terminating at the nock end of the arrow shaft and having an first outer diameter;

a second shaft portion having a second outer diameter that is greater than the first outer diameter;

a third shaft portion located between the point end of the arrow shaft and the second shaft portion, the third shaft portion having a third outer diameter that is greater than the second outer diameter.

33. The archery arrow of claim 32, further comprising a first transition portion located between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion, and a second transition portion located between the second shaft portion and the third shaft portion.

34. The archery arrow of claim 32, wherein each of the first, second and third shaft portions has a constant outer diameter along its length.

35. An apparatus, comprising:

an arrow shaft having a nock end and a point end, the arrow shaft comprising;

a first shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft terminating at the nock end of the arrow shaft, the first shaft portion having an outer diameter; and

a second shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft, the second shaft portion having an outer diameter;

a first transition portion located between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion, the transition portion being located at approximately a middle position on the arrow shaft;

a third shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft located between the point end of the arrow shaft and the second shaft portion, the third shaft portion having an outer diameter;

wherein the outer diameter of the second shaft portion is larger than the outer diameter of the first shaft portion, and the outer diameter of the third shaft portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the second shaft portion.

36. An apparatus, comprising:

an arrow shaft having a nock end and a point end, the arrow shaft comprising;

a first shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft terminating at the nock end of the arrow shaft, the first shaft portion having an outer diameter; and

a second shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft, the second shaft portion having an outer diameter;

a first transition portion located between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion, the transition portion being located at approximately a middle position on the arrow shaft;

wherein the outer diameter of the second shaft portion is larger than the outer diameter of the first shaft portion;

wherein the first transition portion comprises a first coupling portion structured to extend into a cavity defined in the first shaft portion.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the first transition portion further comprises a second coupling portion extending into a cavity defined in the second shaft portion.

38. An apparatus, comprising:

an arrow shaft having a nock end and a point end, the arrow shaft comprising;

a first shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft terminating at the nock end of the arrow shaft, the first shaft portion having an outer diameter; and

a second shaft portion comprising a lengthwise segment of the arrow shaft, the second shaft portion having an outer diameter;

a first transition portion located between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion;

wherein the outer diameter of the second shaft portion is larger than the outer diameter of the first shaft portion;

at least one of a nock mounted at the nock end and an arrow point mounted at the point end;

fletching mounted to the arrow shaft, the first transition portion being located between the fletching and the point end.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the first transition portion is located between the fletching and the second shaft portion.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the fletching includes at least one vane or feather.