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T - lock broadhead and tight point matched balance point archery point systemRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Projectile, Per Se; Part Thereof Or Accessory Therefor, Arrow, Dart, Or Shuttlecock; Part Thereof, Head Structure, BroadheadT - lock broadhead and tight point matched balance point archery point system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060058124, T - lock broadhead and tight point matched balance point archery point system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/513,366, filed Oct. 21, 2003. [0002] STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT [0003] (Not Applicable) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] The present invention relates generally to arrowheads for archery arrows and, more particularly, to a uniquely configured broadhead having a relatively long monolithic solid ferrule and a high strength, rear entry blade mounting system with the blades having a complex cutting edge geometry for effective harvesting of game. The ferrule and the blades are manufactured using metal injection molding ("MIM") and/or liquid metal molding ("LMM"). The present invention further relates to defining and applying a superior MIM process. In addition, the present invention relates to a field point having a mass and center of gravity that is substantially equivalent to the broadhead for accurate tuning of an archery bow from which the broadhead may be shot. [0005] Archery broadheads with fixed or replaceable blades are well known in the art. Such broadheads are deployed on the end of an arrow and may be adapted to be removable from the arrow. The broadhead itself typically comprises a body or ferrule into which blade members may be inserted such that the blade members may be replaced or sharpened. Generally two types of replacement blade broadheads exist; broadheads with front loading blade systems and broadheads with rear loading blade systems. The front entry blade systems are characterized by broadheads that secure the blade with a screw-on or screw-in tip which is threadedly attached to the broadhead ferrule. The blades are inserted from the tip end which is the end farthest from the arrow. [0006] The rear entry broadhead is characterized by the blades entering the ferrule blade grooves from the threaded shank end of the broadhead ferrule which is the end closest to the arrow. The rear entry replacement blade broadhead secures the blades by a washer which is compressed to the arrow using the torque provided by the arrow or by a threaded-on nut which connects to the broadhead ferrule on the threaded shank. Typically rear entry replacement blade broadhead ferrules are more robust compared to front loading broadhead ferrules. In addition, only rear entry replacement blade broadheads can offer a monolithic solid ferrule. [0007] When offered in any of the high strength materials like stainless steel or titanium, the rear entry monolithic ferrule yields the best overall strength and robustness characteristics. Unfortunately, many broadheads of the prior art suffer from several deficiencies that detract from their overall utility. For example, in many prior art broadheads, the connection of the blade members to the ferrule is relatively weak causing the ferrule or blade member to become damaged upon impact with relatively hard bones of large game. In addition, the ferrule may become damaged upon impact with other hard surfaces such as rocks that are hit during missed shots. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,148 issued to Musacchia discloses a broadhead having a front loading ferrule with axial passageways and slots extending through the length of the ferrule. Blades are secured to the ferrule by sliding the blades from the front or tip end into the slots. A tip member is threaded onto a leading edge of the ferrule to capture the blades within the slots. Although the broadhead as disclosed in the Musacchia reference provides a relatively simple means for blade removal, the axial passageways and slots in the ferrule may greatly weaken the ferrule such that impact with relatively hard surfaces such as bone or rocks may cause the ferrule to bend or shatter and may also result in shearing off, shattering, or splitting of the threaded-on tip. [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,881 issued to Grace describe a powder injection molded fixed blade broadhead where the broadhead blades are secured by a threadedly secured tip. No claims are made regarding this fixed blade broadhead but several conclusions can be taken from the drawings of Grace. Broadheads with threadedly attached tips are prone to misalignment which can cause arrows to veer off course. The ferrule has a triangular cross section and the blades are secured into T-shaped blade slots and inserted from the threaded tip end. The T-shaped slots are shown to have constant width and the T-shaped base is also of constant width. Because Grace is understood to disclose that the as-molded T-shaped blade slots lack draft, it is believed that the ferrule cannot be effectively molded. [0010] At best, the ferrule will experience distortion and the mold itself will experience premature wear on the T-shaped mold inserts. Furthermore, the base of the T-shaped blade slot base has sharp right angled inside corners which generate stress risers in the molded part and can lead to molded part distortions and failure. The ferrule taper is shown as linear with the widest outside diameter towards the rear or mating end. A tapered or linear tapered ferrule starting from the mating end to the screw in tip as shown by Grace is heavier than a ferrule which has a non-linear tapered ferrule or which has a surface which has multiple stepped tapers. The ideal ferrule cross-section would be nearly constant over much of the ferrule length which would allow for sufficient length and strength around the blade grooves. In addition, the tapered triangular ferrule of Grace must be shortened in order to meet the specified weight which is an undesirable feature. [0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,148 issued to Musacchia clearly shows a relatively long non-linear tapered ferrule. The Musacchia ferrule is disclosed as having two different tapers or stepped tapers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,208 issued to Simo shows a varying shaped cross-section which extends the length of the ferrule. The Grace ferrule with the same maximum diameter base section, which mates with the arrow, will be heavier when compared to the Musacchia and Simo ferrules of equal length and maximum base diameter. For this reason, the Grace ferrule must be shortened in order to meet a given design weight such as 125 grains. Reducing the overall ferrule length is undesirable as it causes the blade to have a steep angle which increases blade stress and can reduce penetration. [0012] In addition, the cutting diameter of the broadhead may need to be reduced because of the shortened ferrule length which can reduce wound channels which, in turn, reduces the effectiveness of harvesting game humanely. The threadedly secured tip is relatively weak when compared to a tip of equal or less diameter that is machined or molded on a monolithic solid ferrule. The triangular cross section of the Grace ferrule causes undesirable thin wall molding conditions, especially considering that the outside surface is slightly concave as shown between the inner T-slots and the outside surface of the ferrule which can result in a weak ferrule. Since the triangular ferrule tapers with the smallest portion towards the tip, the wall thickness between the T-shaped slot and the outer surface is thinnest at the tip end. The T-shaped slots of Grace are disclosed as being molded but no taper or draft is shown or discussed. [0013] Because the threadedly secured tip is shown to thread into the broadhead ferrule, sufficient wall thickness must occur between the tip's threaded post and the T-shaped slots. The combination of providing sufficient wall thickness between the wide T-shaped slot and the outer concave triangular ferrule surface, and providing adequate thickness between the threaded tip aperture and the T-shaped slot with the widest section of the T-shaped slot at the tip, and combining with a tip post diameter of sufficient strength to withstand high impact, all result in a ferrule tip which is large in diameter when compared to the tip diameter of a rear entry monolithic ferrule. [0014] A large diameter tip is heavier than a smaller diameter tip and as such the broadhead must be shortened to achieve the typical specified weight. This reduced length causes the broadhead blade to be shorter which results in a steep blade angle and possibly a smaller cutting diameter such that the effectiveness of generating wound channels may be compromised. In addition the T-shaped slots with their widest section towards the tip, limits the overall length of a broadhead. Any attempt to seat the blades deeper towards the longitudinal axis, which could allow for a longer ferrule, is negated due to the threaded-in tip and its requirement to be of large enough diameter to be substantially strong. If the tip is broken the blades are no longer secured and are free to be displaced or fall out of the ferrule. The broadhead can no longer take game humanely. [0015] In Grace, the blades are shown to be triangularly shaped which can cause unpredictable flight and wind planing which results in the broadhead veering off target. Grace shows a T-shaped blade base which does not taper in width which is otherwise desirable in a molded part. Furthermore, the T-shaped blade base is shown to have sharp right angles on all corners which provide stress risers in molded parts and increase the possibility of molding, debinding, and sintering distortions. [0016] Grace discloses a preferred embodiment wherein the blades are releasably secured to ferrule near the tip. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that the ferrule could be configured such that a releasing element disposed over shank or arrow shaft functions to releasably secure the blades to the ferrule. A solution to the above-described deficiencies of the Grace tip is not obvious. A completely different arrow securing design or rear entry broadhead is even less obvious. A need exits for a robust replacement blade broadhead of sufficient length and cross section so as to offer a superior blade retention system. [0017] U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,226 issued to Sorensen discloses an arrowhead having a plurality of longitudinal slots formed about a body of the arrowhead with a dovetail angle formed at an intermediate location in the body along each one of the slots. A removable blade may be secured to the body by means of an extension that is inserted into a receiving recess in the body. A conical nose member is installed on a front end of the body. Although the arrowhead of the Sorensen reference allows for blade removal for replacement or sharpening thereof, the dovetail slot weakens the ferrule such that the ferrule may shatter upon impact with a hard surface and the separate removable tip is prone to misalignment with the ferrule. [0018] Another deficiency associated with broadheads of the prior art is ineffective blade design. Ideally, blade members of a broadhead are designed such that the broadhead will easily penetrate the hide of an animal and generate extensive internal wound channels in order to cause the animal to swiftly and humanely expire. In addition, the blade members of a broadhead are ideally configured so as to enhance the accuracy of the flight pattern of the arrow. [0019] Unfortunately, in prior art broadheads, the use of large blade members for generating extensive wound channels has an adverse effect on flight characteristics due to wind planing (veering off course) of the arrow due to the large blade size. Conversely, the use of small blades, while increasing the flight accuracy, results in ineffectiveness of the blade in generating wound channels. The prior art includes several broadhead configurations that attempt to reconcile these opposing characteristics. [0020] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,482 issued to Martin discloses a broadhead having a ferrule with symmetrically mounted blades. An outer edge of each one of the blades slopes toward the other blades at a shallow angle to form a needle-like point. At a rear portion of each one of the blades is a vent opening which purportedly reduces noise generated by the arrow during flight. Such noise is undesirable in bow hunting as the noise may startle the game when the arrow is shot. Unfortunately, such vent openings of the Martin reference are understood to increase noise and impede penetration of the arrow into the animal such that the effectiveness in reducing noise and generating wound channels may be compromised. [0021] U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,640 issued to DelMonte et al. discloses a broadhead having a plurality of blades spaced about a conical tip shaft. Each one of the blades is shown and illustrated with a generally large radius. The broadhead includes a ring blade having a diameter larger than that of the arrow upon which the broadhead is mounted such that when the arrow is shot from a bow, the ring blade will cut a hole that is greater than the shaft diameter. In this manner, the arrow shaft cannot plug the entrance wound made by the broadhead such that the animal may more quickly expire from blood loss. Although the broadhead of the DelMonte reference may facilitate blood loss, the generally small radius of the blades is understood to minimize the ability to generate extensive wound channels and the ring blade reduces penetration. [0022] Another deficiency associated with removable broadheads of the prior art is relative movement between the broadhead and the arrow shaft. As was earlier mentioned, accuracy in the flight of the arrow is critical in bow hunting for obvious reasons. However, prior art broadheads that are removably mounted on an arrow may become loosened while the arrow is resting in the bow quiver resulting in relative movement between the broadhead and the arrow. In addition to causing a rattling noise while stalking game which may scare the game away, such relative looseness may also result in misalignment between the broadhead and the arrow which may cause the arrow to porpoise, fishtail or otherwise veer from its flight pattern. Furthermore, such relative looseness may allow moisture to enter the gap between the broadhead and the arrow resulting in corrosion of metallic mating surfaces of the broadhead and arrow shaft. Over time, the looseness may eventually result in loss of the broadhead while being carried in the bow quiver. Continue reading about T - lock broadhead and tight point matched balance point archery point system... 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