Method and apparatus for increasing the visibility of an arrow utilizing lighted fletchings

• US 9,423,220 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2015
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FeraDyne Outdoors, LLC
• Original Assignee: Out RAGE LLC
• Inventors: Pedersen, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICCI, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US14/833,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20150362300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/02 Arrows; Crossbow bolts; Harpoons for hand-held spring or air guns
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/06 Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching

Abstract

The visibility of an arrow after it has been fired is increased by illuminating arrow fletchings in which light injected into the nock is further injected into the fletchings.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an arrow;

translucent fletchings mounted on the arrow;

a light source configured to emit light into the translucent fletchings; and

a lighted nock, wherein the light source is housed within the lighted nock, wherein the lighted nock comprises an opaque material, and wherein the lighted nock comprises orifices configured to emit light from the lighted nock.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source is molded into the translucent fletchings.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lighted nock comprises a a metal support.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the translucent fletchings comprise a front portion, a rear portion, and an interface between the front portion and the rear portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer configured to activate the light source.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plunger configured to activate the light source.

7. An apparatus comprising:

an arrow;

translucent fletchings mounted on the arrow; and

a light source configured to emit light into the translucent fletchings, wherein the translucent fletchings comprise a front portion, a rear portion, and an interface between the front portion and the rear portion, and wherein the shape of the interface between the front portion and the rear portion comprises a parabola, a hyperbola, a portion of a sphere, or a surface trapezoid.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a lighted nock, wherein the light source is housed within the lighted nock.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the lighted nock comprises an opaque material.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lighted nock comprises orifices configured to emit light from the lighted nock.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the lighted nock comprises orifices configured to emit light from the lighted nock.

12. An apparatus comprising:

an arrow;

translucent fletchings mounted on the arrow; and

a light source configured to emit light into the translucent fletchings, wherein the translucent fletchings comprise a front portion, a rear portion, and an interface between the front portion and the rear portion, and wherein the front portion comprises vinyl, polyethylene, or polyurethane, and the rear portion comprises a silicone blend, a urethane blend, a polycarbonate blend, or an acrylic blend.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a lighted nock, wherein the light source is housed within the lighted nock.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the lighted nock comprises an opaque material.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the lighted nock comprises orifices configured to emit light from the lighted nock.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the lighted nock comprises orifices configured to emit light from the lighted nock.