Apparatus, system and method for electronic archery devices

• US 8,449,414 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Full Flight Technology, Llc
• Original Assignee: Full Flight Technology, Llc
• Inventors: Donahoe, Robert V., Vcelak, Jan, Sabin, Paul Chandler, Avis, Jason Evan
• Primary Examiner(s): RICCI, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US12/982,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20110172039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 473/578, 473/582, 473/583, 473/584
• US Class Current: 473/582
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/385 Arrow or dart carrying a radio transmitter for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/08 Arrow heads; Harpoon heads

Abstract

According to one aspect, an apparatus is configured to couple to an arrow-mounted electronic device where the apparatus includes a housing, a receptacle included in the housing and at least one electrical contact configured to couple to a contact included in the arrow-mounted electronic device. According to one embodiment, the receptacle is configured to receive at least a portion of the arrow-mounted electronic device, the at least one electrical contact includes a spring-bias in a first direction and the spring bias is opposed with the arrow-mounted electronic device inserted within the receptacle.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to couple to an arrow-mounted electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

a housing independent of each of an arrow and the arrow-mounted electronic device with the arrow-mounted electronic device included in the arrow when the arrow is shot from a bow;

a receptacle included in the housing and configured to receive at least a portion of the arrow-mounted electronic device; and

at least one electrical contact configured to couple to a contact included in the arrow-mounted electronic device, the at least one electrical contact having a spring-bias in a first direction,

wherein the spring-bias is opposed with the arrow-mounted electronic device inserted within the receptacle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least the portion of the arrow-mounted electronic device is inserted within the receptacle in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is configured to receive the at least the portion of the arrow-mounted electronic device after the electronic device is removed from the arrow.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first direction is radially inward relative to a central longitudinal axis of the arrow-mounted electronic device when the electronic device is received by the receptacle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical contact includes a first electrical contact,

wherein the contact included in the arrow-mounted electronic device includes a first device-contact, and

wherein the apparatus includes a second electrical contact configured to couple to a second device-contact included in the arrow-mounted electronic device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first device contact is located about a radially exterior surface of the arrow-mounted device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is located to provide a first distance from an exterior wall of the housing to a mouth of the receptacle, and

wherein the first distance is greater than or equal to a second distance determined as a distance at which an end of the arrow-mounted electronic device projects from the mouth of the receptacle when the arrow-mounted electronic device is fully-received by the receptacle.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user interface housed by the housing.

9. A method of making an electrical connection to an arrow-mounted electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving at least a portion of the arrow-mounted electronic device within a housing by inserting the at least the portion of the arrow-mounted electronic device in a first direction within the housing; and

biasing at least one electrical contact included in the housing in a second direction to couple to a contact included in the arrow-mounted electronic device in a sliding engagement when the at least a portion of the arrow-mounted electronic device is received within the housing.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising removing the arrow-mounted electronic device from an arrow prior to the act of receiving.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising locating a receptacle in the housing to receive the at least the portion of the arrow-mounted electronic device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the receptacle includes a mouth, wherein the method further comprises:

determining a first distance from an exterior wall of the housing to the mouth of the receptacle as measured in a direction parallel to the second direction; and

locating the mouth of the receptacle such that the first distance is greater than or equal to a second distance determined as a distance at which an end of the arrow-mounted electronic device projects from the mouth of the receptacle when the arrow-mounted electronic device is fully-received within the receptacle.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising spring-biasing the at least one electrical contact such that the second direction is radially inward relative to a central longitudinal axis of the arrow-mounted electronic device when the electronic device is received by the housing.

15. An arrowtip comprising:

a body including a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a circuit board;

a shaft attached to a proximate end of the body; and

a cap configured as a distal end of the arrowtip and for removable attachment with the body,

wherein at least one wall of the cavity includes a slot configured to receive an edge of the circuit board.

16. The arrowtip of claim 15, wherein the slot includes a plurality of walls,

wherein the circuit board includes a contact, and

wherein the contact is located on the circuit board to make an electrical connection between the circuit board and the body via at least one of the plurality of walls with the circuit board installed in the body.

17. An arrowtip comprising:

a body including a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a circuit board;

a shaft attached to a proximate end of the body; and

a cap configured as a distal end of the arrowtip and for removable attachment with the body

wherein the cap and the body are configured such that the cap is rotated into engagement with the body to attach the cap to the body to fully assemble the arrowtip, and

wherein, with the cap remaining attached to the body, an electrical circuit is disconnected when the cap is rotated in a direction that increases an overall axial length of the arrowtip.

18. The arrowtip of claim 17, wherein each of the body and the cap are electrically conductive.

19. An arrowtip comprising:

a housing including;

a first portion configured to receive at least a portion of a circuit board;

a second portion configured for attachment to the first portion; and

a shaft coupled to one of the first portion and the second portion, the shaft configured to attach the housing to an arrow,

wherein the first portion and the second portion are rotated into engagement with one another to attach the second portion and the first portion together, assemble the arrowtip, and complete an electrical connection employed in a circuit included in the arrowtip, and

wherein to assemble the arrowtip the first portion and second portion are rotated relative to one another to decrease an overall axial length of the arrowtip.

20. The arrowtip of claim 19, wherein the first portion and the second portion each include threads employed to attach the second portion and the first portion together.

21. The arrowtip of claim 19, wherein the second portion is configured to house a battery power source.

22. The arrowtip of claim 21, wherein the circuit includes a power circuit configured to provide power to the circuit board.

23. The arrowtip of claim 21, wherein the second portion is configured to house the battery power source including at least one coin cell battery.

24. The arrowtip of claim 19, wherein the circuit included in the arrowtip is independent of other components included in the arrow with the housing attached to the arrow.

25. The arrowtip of claim 24, wherein the other components include an arrow shaft.

26. The arrowtip of claim 19 wherein, with the second portion remaining attached to the first portion, the electrical connection is disconnected when the first portion and second portion are rotated relative to one another to increase the overall axial length of the arrowtip.

27. The arrowtip of claim 19, wherein a minimum axial length of the arrowtip results with the first portion and the second portion fully engaged.

28. The arrowtip of claim 19, further comprising an electronic apparatus and power management circuitry each located in the housing, wherein the power management circuitry is configured to place the electronic apparatus in an operational state prior to a release of the arrow from a bow.

29. The arrowtip of claim 19, further comprising an electronic apparatus and power management circuitry each located in the housing, wherein the power management circuitry is configured to place the electronic apparatus in an operational state at a release of the arrow from a bow.

30. An apparatus configured to couple to an electronic archery device, the electronic archery device configured for inclusion in an arrow when shot from a bow, the apparatus comprising:

a housing independent of each of the arrow and the electronic archery device with the electronic archery device included in the arrow when shot from the bow;

a receptacle included in the housing and configured to receive at least a portion of the electronic archery device; and

at least one electrical contact included in the housing and configured to couple to a contact included in the electronic archery device,

wherein, with at least a portion of the electronic archery device received by the receptacle, the at least one electrical contact and the contact included in the electronic archery device form an electrical connection.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the apparatus is configured to couple to the electronic archery device including an arrow point.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the at least one electrical contact is configured to couple to a contact surface included in a housing of the electronic archery device.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the at least one electrical contact is configured to couple to a contact surface located on an exterior of the electronic archery device.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the at least one electrical contact is configured to couple to the contact surface located on the exterior of a housing including the electronic archery device.

35. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the housing is configured to be handheld.

36. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the electrical connection is included in a communication circuit.

38. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the receptacle is configured to receive the electronic archery device with the electronic archery device included in the arrow.

39. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive the electronic archery device by plugging the electronic archery device in the receptacle.

40. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the electrical connection includes a resilient electrical connection.

41. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the receptacle is configured to receive within it at least a portion of the housing of the electronic archery device.

37. An apparatus configured to couple to an electronic archery device, the electronic archery device configured for inclusion in an arrow when shot from a bow, the apparatus comprising:

a housing independent of the arrow and the electronic archery device;

a receptacle included in the housing and configured to receive at least a portion of the electronic archery device; and

at least one electrical contact included in the housing and configured to couple to a contact included in the electronic archery device,

wherein, with at least a portion of the electronic archery device received within the receptacle, the at least one electrical contact and the contact included in the electronic archery device complete a resilient electrical connection included in recharging circuit configured to recharge a power source employed by the electronic archery device.