RADIO TRANSMITTING HUNTING ARROW WITH FINDING MEANS

• US 3,790,948 A
• Filed: 06/12/1972
• Issued: 02/05/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John M. Ratkovich
• Original Assignee: John M. Ratkovich
• Inventors: Ratkovich, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Farley, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Berger, Richard E.
• Application Number:
  US05/261,705
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 325/66,102,115,116,118 343/113R,113PT,718 273/16.5R
• US Class Current: 342/386
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/385 Arrow or dart carrying a radio transmitter for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/04 Archery arrows F42B6/08, F41B5/06, F42B12/362 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/02 using radio waves G01S19/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A battery-powered radio transmitter is carried in the tip of a hunting arrow to aid in locating wounded game. The antenna for the transmitter is carried in the hollow shank of the arrow so that breakage of the shaft will not be detrimental to transmission of radio signals from the transmitter.

Claims

1. In a hunting arrow of the type comprising a shaft carrying an arrowhead at one end thereof including a housing and a noc at the other end thereof for driving the arrow, the improvement comprising, in combination:

said shaft being hollow and carrying a battery-powered radio transmitter and its weight at the arrowhead end for embedment;

a rigid antenna connected to the transmitter at one end and at the other end extending removably into said shaft in coaxial relationship therewith; and

means rigidly securing said antenna to said radio transmitter so that breakage and loss of the shaft will not be detrimental to the transmission of radio signals.

2. A hunting arrow as described in claim 1, wherein said radio transmitter is located adjacent said arrowhead and is generally symmetrical about the axis of said shaft.

3. A hunting arrow as described in claim 1, wherein said antenna is formed of spring steel freely supported in said shaft for withdrawal therefrom so that breakage of the shaft formed of an electrically nonconductive frangible material exposes the antennae.

4. A hunting arrow as described in claim 1, including a radio receiver remote from said transmitter and tuned to the signal frequency of said transmitter, said receiver having a directional antenna and means for finding the direction of said transmitter.

5. A method for tracking game hunted with bow and arrow, which comprises the steps of:

connecting a battery-powered radio transmitter to the head of an arrow as a weighting part of the arrowhead;

embedding the transmitter within the body of a game animal along with the head of the arrow and exposing a signal radiating antenna outside of the body in supported position; and

tracking said signal by a radio receiver tuned to the signal frequency of said transmitter, with the receiver having a directional antenna to permit the direction of the transmitted signals to be detected and observed.

6. A method for tracking game as described in claim 5, including the step of carrying the receiver and finding the direction of the transmitted signals after the arrow is shot into the game.

7. In a hunting arrow of the type comprising a hollow shaft carrying an arrowhead at one end thereof and a noc at the other end thereof, the improvement comprising, in combination;

a battery and a radio transmitter operable from said battery forming an integral weight component of the arrowhead, and an antenna axially withdrawable from the shaft for radiating the radio-frequency signals generated by said transmitter to aid in locating said arrow by radio direction finding means.

8. A hunting arrow as described in claim 7, wherein said arrowhead includes a housing, said transmitter and battery are contained within said housing, and said antenna is contained within said shaft.