FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed generally to broadheads attachable to archery arrows used for hunting, and more particularly to mechanical broadheads having blades that move between open and closed positions.

BACKGROUND

Modern broadheads are tips attachable to a distal end of an arrow shaft and include one or more blades having cutting arrises. Modern broadheads are typically either a fixed blade broadhead or a mechanical blade broadhead. Mechanical blade broadheads include blades that move between open and closed positions. The closed position is used for blades during flight and before impact with an animal. Upon impact, the blades move from the closed position into the open position, whereby the cutting diameter is of the broadhead is substantially increased. In the open position, the blades extend outwardly from a generally cylindrical broadhead body. The blades typically extend from the broadhead such that the cutting arris of each blade are at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the broadhead body and extend from a distal point at an intersection at an outer surface of the broadhead body to near the tip at an outer surface of the broadhead body to a proximal point radially outward of the outer surface of the broadhead body. In this position, the blades are capable of cutting flesh as the broadhead passes through an animal.

SUMMARY

A broadhead having one or more movable blades capable of moving between closed and open positions and having a blade shock absorption system configured to absorb forces generated within a movable blade moving from the closed position to the open position is disclosed. The blade shock absorption system cushions the blade as the blade moves to the open position from the closed position, thereby substantially reducing the likelihood of the blade being damaged when the broadhead strikes an animal and the blades are deployed form the closed position into the open position.

In at least one embodiment, the broadhead for an arrow may include a body configured to be attached to a distal end of the arrow. The broadhead may include a tip forming a distal end of the body and one or more movable blades movably attached to the body. The movable blade may be configured to move between closed and open positions. The blade shock absorption system may be configured to absorb forces generated within the movable blade moving from the closed position to the open position. The blade shock absorption system may include one or more receivers and one or more dampening bodies positioned in at least a portion of the receiver. The receiver may be positioned such that at least a portion of the movable blade contacts the dampening body when the blade moves from the closed position to the open position.

In at least one embodiment, a longitudinal axis of the receiver may be aligned with a longitudinal axis of the body. A longitudinal axis of the receiver may also be orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the body. A longitudinal axis of the receiver may also be nonorthogonal and nonparallel to a longitudinal axis of the body. The receiver may have different configurations. The receiver may be a slot with at least one open side. The receiver may be a hole with an opening in at least one end of the hole or any shape sufficient to receive the dampening body and position the dampening body in the path of the blade moving between the closed and open positions.

The dampening body may be removably positioned in the receiver. The dampening body may be a crushable material. The dampening body may be a monofilament. The receiver may be positioned between a point at which the movable blade is movably attached to the body and a proximal end of the body. The movable blade may also include a protrusion extending therefrom and positioned to contact one or more dampening bodies of the blade shock absorption system when the blade is moved from the closed position to the open position, such as when the broadhead strikes a target, such as an animal.

In at least one embodiment, the broadhead may include a plurality of movable blades. The broadhead may include a blade retention system configured to retain the movable blade in a closed position. The blade retention system may include a connector extending from the body through a plane of the movable blade to prevent deployment of the movable blade.

An advantage of this broadhead is that the blade shock absorption system cushions the blade as the blade moves to the open position from the closed position, thereby substantially reducing the likelihood of the blade being damaged when the broadhead strikes an animal and the blades are deployed form the closed position into the open position.

Another advantage of this broadhead is that the dampening body may be replaced after being used, thereby enabling the broadhead to be shot more than once and the blade shock absorption system still function properly.

These and other embodiments are described in more detail below.

