Apparatus, system and method for electronic archery device

• US 9,500,452 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2013
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Full Flight Technology, Llc
• Original Assignee: Full Flight Technology, Llc
• Inventors: Avis, Jason Evan, Donahoe, Robert V., Sabin, Paul Chandler
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci, John
• Application Number:
  US13/757,749
• Time in Patent Office: 1,389 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570, 473/578, 473/583, 473/585, 473/586
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/365 Projectiles transmitting information to a remote location using optical or electronic means F42B12/385 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/385 Arrow or dart carrying a radio transmitter for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/006 Mounting of sensors, antennas or target trackers on projectiles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/04 Archery arrows F42B6/08, F41B5/06, F42B12/362 take precedence

Abstract

An electronic apparatus is configured for inclusion in an arrow when shot from a bow. In some embodiments, the electronic apparatus includes a drawn tubular body and a circuit board located at least partly within the drawn tubular body.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus configured for inclusion in an arrow when shot from a bow, the electronic apparatus comprising:

a tubular body providing a cylindrical wall having a smooth interior surface and including a first end and a second end located opposite the first end;

a first fitting configured to secure at least partly within the first end;

a second fitting configured to secure at least partly within the second end; and

a circuit board located at least partly within the tubular body,

wherein each of the first fitting and the second fitting are secured by attachment to respective regions of the smooth interior surface.

2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular body includes a drawn tubular body selected from a group consisting of a seamless tubular body and a welded tubular body.

3. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular body includes a drawn tubular body selected from a group consisting of a rod drawn tubular body, a floating plug drawn tubular body, a tethered plug drawn tubular body and a fixed plug drawn tubular body.

4. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus is included in an arrowpoint.

5. The electronic apparatus of claim 4, wherein the tubular body is configured as a body of the arrowpoint.

6. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular body is configured for attachment to a nock.

7. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arrow includes an arrow shaft, and

wherein the tubular body is sized and configured to fit within the arrow shaft.

8. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular body includes a conductive tubular body.

9. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first fitting and the second fitting are secured by attachment to the cylindrical wall with an interference fit.

10. The electronic apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the first fitting and the second fitting are secured by attachment to the cylindrical wall with a respective interference fit.

11. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a tubular body;

a fitting having a rim and a plurality of moveable regions fixedly attached at and extending from the rim, the moveable regions configured for insertion within the tubular body and providing an adjustable outside diameter, the moveable regions employed to increase the outside diameter to secure at least a portion of the fitting within the tubular body; and

electronic circuitry located within the tubular body.

12. The electronic apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a screw configured to thread into the fitting to adjust the outside diameter.

13. The electronic apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tubular body is electrically conductive.

14. The electronic apparatus of claim 13, wherein the fitting is electrically conductive and is configured to complete an electrical contact with the tubular body when secured within the tubular body.

15. The electronic apparatus of claim 14, wherein the electrical contact is connected to the electronic circuitry when the electronic apparatus is assembled.

16. The electronic apparatus of claim 14, wherein the electrical connection is a first electrical connection,

wherein the electronic apparatus further comprises at least one battery configured for inclusion in the tubular body, and

wherein the fitting is configured to complete a second electrical connection with the at least one battery.

17. The electronic apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic apparatus is configured for inclusion in an arrowpoint.

18. The electronic apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a rear fitting configured to couple the tubular body to the arrow.

19. The electronic apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the moveable regions includes a distal end separated from one or more adjacent moveable regions included in the plurality of moveable regions by a gap.

20. An electrically conductive fitting configured for use in a circuit employed by an electronic apparatus at least partly located in a housing, the electrically conductive fitting comprising:

a body including a set of threads configured to receive a screw;

a movable portion coupled to the body and configured to move outward to expand an outside diameter of a region of the electrically conductive fitting by adjustment of the screw when received by the body; and

a conductive surface configured to provide an electrical contact used in the circuit,

wherein the movable portion is configured to engage a conductive surface of the housing.

21. The electrically conductive fitting of claim 20, further comprising at least one tab extending from the body, the tab configured to engage a corresponding feature of the housing to fix a rotational position of the electrically conductive fitting when installed in the housing.

22. The electrically conductive fitting of claim 21, wherein the body is configured to be located in a fixed axial position in the housing by operation of the screw to expand the movable region.

23. The electrically conductive fitting of claim 20, wherein the conductive surface of the fitting is included in the movable portion.

24. An electronic arrowpoint for use with an arrow including an arrowshaft, the arrowpoint comprising:

a body configured to house an electronic apparatus;

a shaft coupled to the body and configured to attach the electronic arrowpoint to the arrow, the shaft including;

a tube having a first open end and a second open end, the first open end configured to be coupled to a rear of the body; and

a solid weight configured to at least partially insert within the second open end; and

an insert coupled to the shaft, wherein the first open end is configured to couple to the rear of the body via the insert,

wherein the tube and the solid weight are configured to locate within the arrowshaft with the solid weight at least partially inserted within the second open end.

25. The electronic arrowpoint of claim 24, wherein the tube includes a length,

wherein the solid-weight includes an axial location when at least partially inserted within the second open end of the tube having the length, and a mass, and

wherein the length, the mass and the axial location are selected to provide a center of mass for the fully assembled electronic arrowpoint at a location that substantially matches a location of a center of mass of a conventional arrowpoint.

26. The electronic arrowpoint of claim 24, wherein the solid weight includes a break-off weight.