Lighted nock

• US 8,777,786 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2014
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nockout Outdoors LLC
• Original Assignee: Clean-Shot Archery Incorporated
• Inventors: Bay, Larry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICCI, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US14/176,829
• Time in Patent Office: 155 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/578, 473/585, 473/586
• US Class Current: 473/578
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/362 Arrows or darts F42B12/38 takes precedence, having means for implantation, e.g. hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54; arrows or darts in general F42B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/38 of tracer type
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/42 of illuminating type, e.g. carrying flares
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/06 Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A lighted nock device includes a nock body, the nock activation collar, a nock housing and LED/battery assembly. The nock body includes a first plurality of radially arrayed teeth and a plurality of gaps defined between the teeth. The nock activation collar is disposed adjacent the first plurality of teeth. The collar includes a second plurality of radially arrayed teeth projecting longitudinally outwards towards the first plurality of teeth. The second plurality of teeth are configured to interleave with the first plurality of teeth in a first rotational position when the second plurality of teeth are rotationally aligned with the gaps between the first plurality of teeth. The second plurality of teeth are configured to abut the first plurality of teeth in a second rotational position when the second plurality of teeth are rotationally aligned with the first plurality of teeth.

Claims

1. A lighted nock device, comprising:

a nock body, comprising;

a first end and a second end, the first end being elongated and having a first outside diameter, the second end being configured to engage a bow string;

a stop surface defined between the first end and the second end; and

a first plurality of radially arrayed teeth projecting from the stop surface towards the first end and defining a plurality of gaps between the teeth;

a nock activation collar disposed over the first end of the nock, the nock activation collar having a first end comprising a generally smooth surface and a second end comprising a second plurality of radially arrayed teeth projecting longitudinally outwards from the second end, the second plurality of teeth configured to interleave with the first plurality of teeth when the second plurality of teeth are rotationally aligned with the gaps between the first plurality of teeth;

a nock housing comprising;

a first end portion, the first end portion being elongated and having a first end outside diameter;

a second end portion, the second end portion having a second end outside diameter that is larger than the first end outside diameter

a stop surface defined at the intersection of the first end portion and the second end portion; and

an internal channel defined in the nock housing and extending from an opening in a terminal end of the second end portion, through the housing and at least partially into the first end portion; and

an LED/battery assembly disposed at least partially in the internal channel of the housing, the LED/Battery assembly being secured to both the nock body and the nock housing,

wherein the nock body is longitudinally translatable with respect to the nock housing sufficient to dis-interleave the second plurality of teeth from the first plurality of teeth and permit the collar to rotate with respect to the nock body to a position where the second plurality of teeth are aligned with and in abutting contact with the first plurality of teeth.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising and adaptor, the adaptor including an internal opening having an internal diameter conforming to first end outside diameter, and the adaptor having an outside diameter larger than first end outside diameter.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the collar includes a radially projecting index tab.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first end of the nock body includes a raised guide protrusion, wherein the second end portion of the nock housing includes a guide recess defined in a portion of the internal channel, and wherein the guide protrusion and guide recess are respectively shaped and sized to permit longitudinal movement of the nock body with respect to the nock housing while preventing the nock body from rotating with respect to the nock housing.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first end portion of the nock housing includes first and second longitudinal halve portions defining a seam therebetween.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the longitudinal halves include respective apertures to receive a threaded screw, wherein tightening of the screw closes the seam.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the second end of the nock body defines a channel configured to accept at least one of a bow string and a crossbow string.

8. A lighted nock kit for arrow shafts, the kit comprising:

a package

a lighted nock assembly disposed in the package, the lighted nock assembly including a shaft insertion portion having a first diameter dimension;

a first adaptor disposed in the package, the first adaptor including an internal opening having an internal diameter conforming to the first diameter dimension of the shaft insertion portion of the lighted nock assembly, and the first adaptor having a first adaptor outside diameter larger than the first end outside diameter dimension of the shaft insertion portion of the lighted nock assembly; and

a second adaptor disposed in the package, the second adaptor including an internal opening having an internal diameter conforming to the first diameter dimension of the shaft insertion portion of the lighted nock assembly, and the second adaptor having a second adaptor outside diameter larger than the first adaptor outside diameter.

9. The kit of claim 8, further comprising a third adaptor disposed in the package, the second adaptor including an internal opening having an internal diameter conforming to the first diameter dimension of the shaft insertion portion of the lighted nock assembly, and the adaptor having a third adaptor outside diameter larger than the second adaptor outside diameter.

10. The kit of claim 8, further comprising an aperture defined in the package adjacent a top edge thereof to allow for hanging by a post in a store display.

11. The kit of claim 8, wherein the lighted nock assembly comprises:

a nock body including a first plurality of radially arrayed teeth and a plurality of gaps defined between the teeth;

a nock activation collar disposed adjacent the first plurality of teeth, the nock activation collar including a second plurality of radially arrayed teeth projecting longitudinally outwards towards the first plurality of teeth, the second plurality of teeth configured to interleave with the first plurality of teeth in a first rotational position when the second plurality of teeth are rotationally aligned with the gaps between the first plurality of teeth, and the second plurality of teeth configured to abut the first plurality of teeth in a second rotational position when the second plurality of teeth are rotationally aligned with the first plurality of teeth;

a nock housing comprising an internal channel configured to accept a portion of the nock body therein; and

an LED/battery assembly disposed at least partially within the internal channel of the housing, and being secured to the nock housing.

12. The kit of claim 11, wherein the nock activation collar includes a radially projecting index tab.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the nock body includes a raised guide protrusion and the nock housing includes a guide recess defined in a portion of the internal channel, and wherein the guide protrusion and guide recess are respectively shaped and sized to permit longitudinal movement of the nock body with respect to the nock housing while preventing the nock body from rotating with respect to the nock housing.

14. The kit of claim 8, wherein the lighted nock assembly is configured for bow hunting.

15. The kit of claim 8, wherein the lighted nock assembly is configured for bowfishing.

16. The kit of claim 8, wherein the lighted nock assembly is configured for a crossbow.

17. A method of operating a lighted nock, the method comprising:

placing the lighted nock in a deactivated mode by rotating a nock activation collar with respect to a nock body until a plurality of teeth defined in the nock body are abutting and aligned with a plurality of teeth defined in the nock activation collar, thereby preventing the nock body from moving longitudinally inward towards a nock housing to close a light activation gap in response to pressure applied to a distal end of the nock body;

placing the lighted nock in a ready to fire mode by rotating the nock activation collar with respect to a nock body until the plurality of teeth defined in the nock body are offset from the plurality of teeth defined in the nock activation collar such that the plurality of teeth defined in the nock activation collar are aligned with gaps defined between the plurality of teeth defined in the nock body; and

placing the lighted nock in a lit mode by pressing on the distal end of nock body when the lighted nock is in the ready to fire mode with a sufficient force to close the light activation gap between the nock body and the nock housing.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the steps of placing the lighted nock in a deactivated mode, placing the lighted nock in a ready to fire mode and placing the lighted nock in a lit mode are performed while the lighted nock is inserted into the end of an arrow shaft.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising returning the lighted nock to the ready to fire mode by moving the nock body distally away from the nock housing to open up the light activation gap.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the steps of placing the lighted nock in a deactivated mode, placing the lighted nock in a ready to fire mode, placing the lighted nock in a lit mode and returning the lighted nock to the ready to fire mode are performed while the lighted nock is inserted into the end of an arrow shaft.