Lighted nock

• US 9,733,051 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2016
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nockout Outdoors LLC
• Original Assignee: Clean-Shot Archery Incorporated
• Inventors: Bay, Larry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICCI, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US15/062,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20160187110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• 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 nock body may include a first end and an opposing second end. A nock housing may include a proximal end that engages the first end of the nock body and a distal end opposite the proximal end. A slot may be defined in the nock housing beginning at the distal end that extends in a direction of the proximal end. An LED/battery assembly may be disposed at least partially inside of the nock housing. A fastener may be secured to the nock housing in a location that causes a width of the slot to narrow and secure the LED/battery assembly. A groove may be defined in the nock body beginning at the first end that extends towards the second end. A nock activation lockout can be provided to block an LED activation gap from closing so that the LED does not unintentionally turn on.

Claims

1. A lighted nock device, comprising:

a nock body, comprising a first end and an opposing second end;

a nock housing, comprising a proximal end that engages the first end of the nock body and a distal end opposite the proximal end, wherein a slot is defined in the nock housing beginning at the distal end and extending in a direction of the proximal end;

an LED/battery assembly disposed at least partially inside of the nock housing; and

a fastener secured to the nock housing in a location that causes a width of the slot to narrow and lock the LED/battery assembly to the nock housing.

2. The lighted nock device of claim 1, wherein an internal channel is defined in the nock housing beginning at the proximal end and extending toward the distal end to the extent that the internal channel overlaps at least a portion of the slot, and wherein the LED/battery assembly is disposed at least partially in the internal channel.

3. The lighted nock device of claim 2, wherein the nock body defines a cavity beginning at the first end and extending towards the second end, wherein the LED/battery assembly is partially disposed within the cavity when the first end of the nock body is disposed inside of the internal channel of the nock housing.

4. The lighted nock device of claim 1, wherein the LED/battery assembly defines an activation gap when the LED/battery assembly is in an OFF position, the lighted nock device further comprising an activation gap lockout disposed proximally of the nock housing.

5. The lighted nock device of claim 1, wherein the nock body defines a groove beginning at the first end and extending in a direction towards the second end.

6. A method of securing a battery in a lighted nock assembly, the lighted nock assembly comprising a nock body including a first end and an opposing second end;

a nock housing including a proximal end that engages the first end of the nock body and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the method comprising;

defining a slot in the nock housing beginning at the distal end that extends in a direction of the proximal end;

disposing the battery at least partially into the nock body; and

narrowing a width dimension of at least a portion of the slot.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the battery comprises a component of an LED/battery assembly and an LED portion of the LED/battery assembly is disposed adjacent to the battery.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising securing a fastener to the nock housing adjacent a distal end thereof to close the width dimension of at least the portion of the slot.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the nock body defines a groove beginning at the first end and extending in a direction towards the second end, and the method further comprises:

disposing a portion of the battery into the nock body beginning at the first end and extending into the nock body in a direction towards the second end thereof.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the nock body defines a cavity beginning at the first end and extending towards the second end, and wherein an internal channel is defined in the nock housing beginning at the proximal end and extending toward the distal end to the extent that the internal channel overlaps at least a portion of the slot, the method further comprising:

disposing the battery at least partially within the cavity when the first end of the nock body is disposed inside of the internal channel of the nock housing.

11. A lighted nock device, comprising:

a nock body, comprising;

a first end;

an opposing second end; and

a groove defined in the nock body beginning at the first end and extending in a direction towards the second end;

a nock housing, comprising a proximal end that engages the first end of the nock body and a distal end opposite the proximal end; and

an LED/battery assembly disposed at least partially inside of the nock housing and partially inside of the nock body.

12. The lighted nock device of claim 11, wherein the LED/battery assembly defines an activation gap when the LED/battery assembly is in an OFF position, the lighted nock device further comprising an activation gap lockout disposed proximally of the nock housing.

13. The lighted nock device of claim 11, wherein the nock body includes a raised index tab extending laterally outwardly from an outer surface of the nock body, wherein the nock housing defines an internal channel in the nock housing beginning at the proximal end and extending toward the distal end, the channel including an index slot defined therein, and wherein the raised index tab engages the index slot when the first end of the nock body is disposed inside of the internal channel of the nock housing.

14. The lighted nock of claim 11, wherein the second end of the nock body is shaped to engage at least one of a bow string and a crossbow string.

15. The lighted nock of claim 11, wherein the distal end of the nock housing is divided into two halves by a gap formed therebetween, wherein the gap is defined beginning at the distal end and extending in a direction of the proximal end.

16. A method of preventing unintended lighting of an LED in a lighted nock device that is joined with an end of an arrow shaft, the lighted nock device comprising a nock body engaged with a nock housing and an LED/battery component disposed at least partially in each of the nock body and nock housing, the LED being in an OFF position when an activation gap is formed between a shoulder portion of the nock body and a protruding end of the nock housing, the LED being in the ON position when the shoulder moves toward the nock housing to close the activation gap, the method comprising:

blocking the activation gap from closing by rotating a nock activation collar to block the activation gap from closing while maintaining a rotational alignment of the nock body with respect to the arrow shaft.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, axially aligning opposing projections to block the activation gap from closing.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising defining an index tab protruding axially from the nock activation collar.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the nock activation collar is cylindrical.