Collapsible arrow

• US 9,982,974 B1
• Filed: 08/04/2017
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael L. Mcgaha
• Original Assignee: Michael L. Mcgaha
• Inventors: McGaha, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Niconovich, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US15/669,868
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• Field of Search: 473578
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/04 Archery arrows F42B6/08, F41B5/06, F42B12/362 take precedence

Abstract

A collapsible arrow having an outer shaft. An inner shaft is preferably in slidable contact with the outer shaft in order to aid longitudinal stability. In order to be shot with a bow, the inner shaft can be extended from the outer shaft; to be stored, the inner shaft can be retracted into the outer shaft. A locking mechanism having minimal aerodynamic impact holds the inner shaft in its maximum extend position for shooting and flight. Preferably, traditional aerodynamic stabilizers are located on the outer surface of the aft section of the inner shaft.

Claims

1. A collapsible arrow, which comprises:

an outer shaft having a forward end, an inside, an inner diameter, and an aft end;

an arrow head attached to the forward end of said outer shaft;

an inner shaft, comprising a forward section having an outer diameter, an intermediate section having an outer diameter, and an aft section with an outer surface, with a rear end, and with a longitudinal axis, said inner shaft retracting into said outer shaft for storage and said inner shaft extending from said outer shaft for shooting;

a means for locking the position of said inner shaft with respect to the outer shaft without, when unlocked, obstructing any desired longitudinal movement of the intermediate section and the aft section with respect to said outer shaft, said means for locking having minimal aerodynamic impact; and

a nock attached to the rear end of the aft section of said inner shaft.

2. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the diameter of at least a portion of the forward section of said inner shaft is of such a size that such forward section of said inner shaft moves slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft.

3. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 2, wherein:

at least a portion of the aft section of said inner shaft has an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft.

4. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 2, wherein:

the entire aft section of said inner shaft has an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft.

5. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 2, wherein:

the aft section of said inner shaft has no portion having an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft.

6. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 2, wherein:

said means for locking the position of said inner shaft with respect to the outer shaft without, when unlocked, obstructing any desired longitudinal movement of the intermediate section and the aft section with respect to said outer shaft, said means for locking having minimal aerodynamic impact, comprises;

at least one lug connected to the intermediate section of said inner shaft; and

at least one lug receptacle attached to the inside of said outer shaft near an aft end of said outer shaft for each lug, the lug receptacle for each such lug being located so that rotating said inner shaft in a first direction causes each such lug to enter and be releasably frictionally retained within the lug receptacle for such lug and rotating said inner shaft in the direction opposite to the first direction causes such lug receptacle for such lug to release such lug, the outer diameter of the intermediate section of said inner shaft being sufficiently smaller than the inner diameter of said outer shaft that each such lug and each such corresponding lug receptacle can be present and can be rotated together and apart.

7. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 6, wherein:

at least a portion of the aft section of said inner shaft has an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft, such portion of the aft section containing, for each lug receptacle, a longitudinal channel to accommodate such lug receptacle.

8. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 6, wherein:

the entire aft section of said inner shaft has an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft, the aft section containing, for each lug receptacle, a longitudinal channel to accommodate such lug receptacle.

9. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 6, wherein:

the aft section of said inner shaft has no portion having an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft.

10. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

two or more traditional aerodynamic stabilizers located on the outer surface of the aft section of the inner shaft oriented to rotate said inner shaft when the collapsible arrow is in flight through a fluid medium such as air.

11. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 10, wherein:

at least a portion of the aft section of said inner shaft has an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft.

12. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 10, wherein:

the entire aft section of said inner shaft has an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft.

13. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 10, wherein:

the aft section of said inner shaft has no portion having an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft.

14. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 10, wherein:

said means for locking the position of said inner shaft with respect to the outer shaft without, when unlocked, obstructing any desired longitudinal movement of the intermediate section and the aft section with respect to said outer shaft, said means for locking having minimal aerodynamic impact, comprises;

at least one lug connected to the intermediate section of said inner shaft; and

at least one lug receptacle attached to the inside of said outer shaft near an aft end of said outer shaft for each lug, the lug receptacle for each such lug being located so that rotating said inner shaft in a first direction causes each such lug to enter and be releasably frictionally retained within the lug receptacle for such lug and rotating said inner shaft in the direction opposite to the first direction causes such lug receptacle for such lug to release such lug, the outer diameter of the intermediate section of said inner shaft being sufficiently smaller than the inner diameter of said outer shaft that each such lug and each such corresponding lug receptacle can be present and can be rotated together and apart; and

wherein;

the location of said traditional aerodynamic stabilizers produces rotation of each said lug farther into the mating lug receptacle for each said lug.

15. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 14, wherein:

at least a portion of the aft section of said inner shaft has an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft, such portion of the aft section containing, for each lug receptacle, a longitudinal channel to accommodate such lug receptacle, such longitudinal channel not extending so far as to the traditional aerodynamic stabilizers.

16. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the entire aft section of said inner shaft has an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft, the aft section containing, for each lug receptacle, a longitudinal channel to accommodate such lug receptacle, such longitudinal channel not extending so far as to the traditional aerodynamic stabilizers.

17. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the aft section of said inner shaft has no portion having an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft.

18. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

two or more traditional aerodynamic stabilizers located on the outer surface of the aft section of the inner shaft oriented to rotate said inner shaft when the collapsible arrow is in flight through a fluid medium such as air.

19. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 18, wherein:

at least a portion of the aft section of said inner shaft has an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft.

20. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 18, wherein:

the entire aft section of said inner shaft has an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft.

21. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 18, wherein:

the aft section of said inner shaft has no portion having an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft.

22. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 18, wherein:

said means for locking the position of said inner shaft with respect to the outer shaft without, when unlocked, obstructing any desired longitudinal movement of the intermediate section and the aft section with respect to said outer shaft, said means for locking having minimal aerodynamic impact, comprises;

at least one lug connected to the intermediate section of said inner shaft; and

at least one lug receptacle attached to the inside of said outer shaft near an aft end of said outer shaft for each lug, the lug receptacle for each such lug being located so that rotating said inner shaft in a first direction causes each such lug to enter and be releasably frictionally retained within the lug receptacle for such lug and rotating said inner shaft in the direction opposite to the first direction causes such lug receptacle for such lug to release such lug, the outer diameter of the intermediate section of said inner shaft being sufficiently smaller than the inner diameter of said outer shaft that each such lug and each such corresponding lug receptacle can be present and can be rotated together and apart; and

wherein;

the location of said traditional aerodynamic stabilizers produces rotation of each said lug farther into the mating lug receptacle for each said lug.

23. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 22, wherein:

at least a portion of the aft section of said inner shaft has an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft, such portion of the aft section containing, for each lug receptacle, a longitudinal channel to accommodate such lug receptacle, such longitudinal channel not extending so far as to the traditional aerodynamic stabilizers.

24. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 22, wherein:

the entire aft section of said inner shaft has an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft, the aft section containing, for each lug receptacle, a longitudinal channel to accommodate such lug receptacle, such longitudinal channel not extending so far as to the traditional aerodynamic stabilizers.

25. The collapsible arrow as recited in claim 22, wherein:

the aft section of said inner shaft has no portion having an outer diameter sufficiently large to move slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft.

26. A collapsible arrow, which comprises:

an outer shaft having a forward end, an inside, an inner diameter, and an aft end;

an arrow head attached to the forward end of said outer shaft;

an inner shaft, comprising a forward section having an outer diameter, an intermediate section having an outer diameter, and an aft section with an outer surface, with a rear end, and with a longitudinal axis, said inner shaft retracting into said outer shaft for storage and said inner shaft extending from said outer shaft for shooting, wherein the diameter of at least a portion of the forward section of said inner shaft is of such a size that such forward section of said inner shaft moves slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft;

at least one lug connected to the intermediate section of said inner shaft;

at least one lug receptacle attached to the inside of said outer shaft near an aft end of said outer shaft for each lug, the lug receptacle for each such lug being located so that rotating said inner shaft in a first direction causes each such lug to enter and be releasably frictionally retained within the lug receptacle for such lug and rotating said inner shaft in the direction opposite to the first direction causes such lug receptacle for such lug to release such lug, the outer diameter of the intermediate section of said inner shaft being sufficiently smaller than the inner diameter of said outer shaft that each such lug and each such corresponding lug receptacle can be present and can be rotated together and apart; and

a nock attached to the rear end of the aft section of said inner shaft.

27. A collapsible arrow, which comprises:

an outer shaft having a forward end, an inside, an inner diameter, and an aft end;

an arrow head attached to the forward end of said outer shaft;

an inner shaft, comprising a forward section having an outer diameter, an intermediate section having an outer diameter, and an aft section with an outer surface, with a rear end, and with a longitudinal axis, said inner shaft retracting into said outer shaft for storage and said inner shaft extending from said outer shaft for shooting, wherein the diameter of at least a portion of the forward section of said inner shaft is of such a size that such forward section of said inner shaft moves slidingly along the inside of said outer shaft;

two or more traditional aerodynamic stabilizers located on the outer surface of the aft section of the inner shaft oriented to rotate said inner shaft when the collapsible arrow is in flight through a fluid medium such as air;

at least one lug connected to the intermediate section of said inner shaft;

at least one lug receptacle attached to the inside of said outer shaft near an aft end of said outer shaft for each lug, the lug receptacle for each such lug being located so that rotating said inner shaft in a first direction causes each such lug to enter and be release frictionally retained within the lug receptacle for such lug and rotating said inner shaft in the direction opposite to the first direction causes such lug receptacle for such lug to release such lug, the outer diameter of the intermediate section of said inner shaft being sufficiently smaller than the inner diameter of said outer shaft that each such lug and each such corresponding lug receptacle can be present and can be rotated together and apart; and

a nock attached to the rear end of the aft section of said inner shaft.

28. A collapsible arrow, which comprises:

an outer shaft having a forward end, an inside, an inner diameter, and an aft end;

an arrow head attached to the forward end of said outer shaft;

an inner shaft, comprising a forward section having an outer diameter, an intermediate section having an outer diameter, and an aft section with an outer surface, with a rear end, and with a longitudinal axis, said inner shaft retracting into said outer shaft for storage and said inner shaft extending from said outer shaft for shooting;

two or more traditional aerodynamic stabilizers located on the outer surface of the aft section of the inner shaft oriented to rotate said inner shaft when the collapsible arrow is in flight through a fluid medium such as air;

at least one lug connected to the intermediate section of said inner shaft;

at least one lug receptacle attached to the inside of said outer shaft near an aft end of said outer shaft for each lug, the lug receptacle for each such lug being located so that rotating said inner shaft in a first direction causes each such lug to enter and be releasably frictionally retained within the lug receptacle for such lug and rotating said inner shaft in the direction opposite to the first direction causes such lug receptacle for such lug to release such lug, the outer diameter of the intermediate section of said inner shaft being sufficiently smaller than the inner diameter of said outer shaft that each such lug and each such corresponding lug receptacle can be present and can be rotated together and apart; and

a nock attached to the rear end of the aft section of said inner shaft.