GB2348824A

GB2348824A - Arrow and arrowhead for a bow or a crossbow

Info

Publication number: GB2348824A
Application number: GB0002410A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Johannes Ossege
Original assignee: Doht GmbH
Current assignee: Doht GmbH
Priority date: 1999-02-03
Filing date: 2000-02-02
Publication date: 2000-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2020-02-02
Also published as: GB2348824B; CA2297574A1; GB2348824A8; DE19904360C1; GB0002410D0

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrow (1) for a bow or a crossbow, of which the arrowhead (2) is provided with a push-on cap (3) before the arrow is shot. When the arrow is drawn out of a solid object, the cap (3) remains embedded therein, with the result that the arrow (1), in the undamaged state, can be reused. Use can be made of very straightforward target boards which are inexpensive to produce and in which merely the caps (3) remain embedded.

Description

Arrow and Arrowhead for a Bow or a Crossbow The invention relates to an arrow for a bow or a crossbow, and in particular to an arrowhead which, upon striking a target, for example a target board, penetrates into the latter. For the avoidance of doubt, the term arrow includes bolts and any other relevant missiles.

An extremely wide range of different types of arrows are known both for use in hunting and in shooting at target boards. They all have in common the disadvantage that they penetrate into the target and often cannot be recovered intact since, when an attempt is made to draw them out, they break. The target boards are thus produced with very high outlay from straw or a similar material, and thus at great expense, in order to allow the arrow to be drawn out of the target board in an undamaged state.

Both in sports shooting and in hunting, the arrows often strike more solid objects, for example tree trunks, and then remain firmly embedded in the tree, board or the like. It is not then possible for them to be drawn out intact, with the result that the entire, costly arrow is wasted and cannot be reused.

The aim of the present invention is to make it possible to draw out the arrow with the arrowhead without the arrow being damaged. At the same time, the measure according to this invention makes it possible to use considerably more straightforward, and thus less expensive, target boards, eg made of wood.

According to the present invention, there is provided an arrowhead having a cap encasing at least part of the arrowhead to interpose itself between the arrowhead and a target and allow removal of the arrowhead from the cap.

Preferably the present invention provides for the arrowhead to be provided with a cap which can be pushed on at the front and encases the arrowhead. The cap creates a path as it penetrates into the target and remains deeply embedded in the target or in the object which it has struck. The arrowhead is easily drawn out of the cap in the undamaged state, the cap remaining embedded in the target. Once a new cap has been pushed on, the arrow can be reused.

In order that the cap, once it has been pushed on, does not automatically slip off the arrowhead again in an undesired manner, the invention provides for a holding means eg a clamping fastening means, for example an elastic ring, to be provided between the cap and arrowhead.

The invention preferably provides a method of reusing an arrow having such a cap, once stuck in a target, comprising the steps of : removing said arrow with said arrowhead from said target, leaving said cap in said target, and placing a new cap on said arrowhead for use again.

Since, according to the abovedescribed measures of the invention, the arrowhead can be drawn out in the undamaged state even from solid materials, with just a small cap being lost, there is nothing preventing the target boards from being produced, according to the invention, quite simply from wood. A target board made of wood can be produced in a very cost-effective, straightforward manner and, in terms of outlay, does not compare with the known target boards made of straw or the like. This means that the costs associated with the sport of shooting are reduced to a considerable extent, with the result that this sport can also be made accessible to a wider section of the public.

The invention is further described by way of non-limitative example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an arrow according to the invention with a cap pushed on; and Figure 2 shows the cap on an enlarged scale.

The arrow 1 has a screwed-on arrowhead 2 which has an adapted cap 3 pushed onto it. In order to avoid the cap 3 sliding off the arrowhead 2 in an undesired manner, a rubber ring 4 is provided as a holding means to prevent the cap readily slipping off.

If the arrowhead 2 penetrates into a solid object, for example into a tree trunk, the arrow 1 can be drawn out of the cap 3, and thus out of the tree trunk, without being damaged. The cap 3 remains embedded in the tree. A new cap 3 is then pushed onto the arrowhead 2 again, with the result that the arrow 1 can be reused.

It is not necessary to have a holding means, but it is preferred, since it is better if the cap 3 is not too tight a fit on the arrowhead 2 and yet does not fall off. As an alternative, the rubber ring 4 may be provided on the outside of the cap 3 and comes off with the cap.

Other holding means, acting as catches or clamps or otherwise can also be used.

Alternatively, the cap can be of a reasonably tight fit, but made to split, but preferably not shatter, upon impact, to allow the arrowhead to be withdrawn.

The cap 3 is shown as solid. It does not have to be and can have holes or grooves, possibly to help the aerodynamics. The main criteria for the cap 3 are that it does not adversely affect the aerodynamics of the arrow, at least not beyond a limited degree (it would of course be preferable if it enhanced them) and that it interposes itself between at least enough of the arrowhead 2 and the target struck that the arrowhead can easily be withdrawn.

Thus it does not need to cover the entire length of the arrowhead 2. Indeed it does not have to cover the very tip of the arrowhead 2, provided enough of the rest of the arrowhead 2 is covered.

The external shape of the cap 3 can be the same as or similar to that of the arrowhead it covers or another type of arrowhead 2.

The material the arrowhead 2 is made from is preferably biodegradable, especially for hunting purposes and could, for example, be a biodegradable plastic, paper, cardboard, wood, woodpulp, woodchip etc. Otherwise it could, for example, be made from a non-biodegradable plastic, fibre glass or a metal. Composites of any of these materials may be advantageous for obtaining the right balance or aerodynamic qualities.

Claims

Claims I An arrowhead having a cap encasing at least part of the arrowhead to interpose itself between the arrowhead and a target and fitted to allow removal of the arrowhead from the cap.
2. An arrowhead according to claim 1, further comprising a holding means for preventing the cap falling off the arrowhead.
3. An arrowhead according to claim 2, wherein the holding means has a clamping action or a catching action.
4. An arrowhead according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the holding means comprises an elastic ring provided between the arrowhead and cap.
5. An arrowhead according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap encases at least the tip of the arrowhead.
6. An arrowhead according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap encases the arrowhead.
7. An arrowhead according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap is placed on the arrowhead from the front.
8. An arrow comprising a shaft, flights and an arrowhead and cap according to any one of the preceding claims.
9. An arrow which is provided with an arrowhead which, upon striking an target, penetrates into the target, and provided with a cap which is pushed on at the front and encases the arrowhead.
10. A target board produced from wood for use in conjunction with an arrow according to claim 8 or 9.
11. A shooting system comprising one or more arrows according to claim 8 or 9 and a target according to claim 10.
12. An arrowhead substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
13. A cap for an arrow substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
14. An arrow substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
15. A method of reusing an arrow according to claim 8,9 or 14 stuck in a target, comprising the steps of : removing said arrow with said arrowhead from said target, leaving said cap in said target, and placing a new cap on said arrowhead to provide an arrow again as defined in claim 8,9 or 14.
16. A method of reusing an arrow substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.