Arrow gun method and apparatus

Abstract

A gun ( 100 and 400 ) for using compressed gas from a compressed gas cartridge ( 106 ) to propel an arrow ( 102 ). The gun includes a barrel ( 104 ) for receiving the arrow and a compressed gas storage chamber ( 122 and 422 ). The compressed gas storage chamber is adapted to receive and store compressed gas in an expanded state from the compressed gas cartridge for later release. The gun also includes a valve assembly ( 130 and 430 ) for selectively releasing the compressed gas stored in the compressed gas storage chamber within the barrel for propelling the arrow out the barrel.

1 . A gun for using compressed gas from a compressed gas cartridge to propel an arrow, the gun comprising: 
 (a) a barrel for receiving an arrow;    (b) a compressed gas storage chamber adapted to receive and store compressed gas in an expanded state from a compressed gas cartridge for later release; and    (c) a valve assembly for selectively releasing the compressed gas stored in the compressed gas storage chamber within the barrel for propelling the arrow out the barrel.    
     
     
         2 . The gun of  claim 1 , wherein the compressed gas storage chamber has a volume which exceeds a volume of the compressed gas cartridge by between about two to about twelve times.  
     
     
         3 . The gun of  claim 1 , further including a charge indicator in communication with the compressed gas storage chamber, the charge indicator having a raised position indicating a presence of the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage chamber and a lowered position indicating an absence of the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage chamber.  
     
     
         4 . The gun of  claim 3 , wherein the charge indicator is automatically transitioned from the lowered position to the raised position by a pressure exerted upon the charge indicator by the compressed gas.  
     
     
         5 . The gun of  claim 1 , further including an arrow holding assembly for releasably holding an arrow within the barrel prior to release of the compressed gas within the barrel and for releasing the arrow once the compressed gas is released within the barrel.  
     
     
         6 . A gun for using compressed gas to propel a standard length arrow: 
 (a) a barrel of a length about 22 inches or greater for receiving a standard length arrow within the barrel; and    (b) a valve assembly for selectively releasing a compressed gas from a compressed gas source into the barrel for propelling the standard length arrow out of the barrel.    
     
     
         7 . The gun of  claim 6 , wherein the barrel is about 28 inches or greater in length.  
     
     
         8 . The gun of  claim 6 , wherein the barrel is about 30 inches or greater in length.  
     
     
         9 . The gun of  claim 6 , further including a compressed gas storage chamber for receiving and storing the compressed gas from the compressed gas source for later release by the valve assembly into the barrel.  
     
     
         10 . The gun of  claim 9 , wherein the compressed gas source is a compressed gas cartridge of a selected volume, and wherein the storage chamber has a volume exceeding the selected volume of the compressed gas cartridge such that the compressed gas is permitted to expand and be held in an expanded state prior to being released into the barrel by the valve assembly.  
     
     
         11 . A method of propelling an arrow from a gun having a barrel, a trigger, and a compressed gas storage chamber, the method comprising: 
 (a) placing an arrow in the barrel;    (b) discharging a compressed gas into the compressed gas storage chamber for storage therein; and    (c) activating the trigger to cause the compressed gas to be released from the compressed gas storage chamber into the barrel to cause the arrow to be propelled from the barrel.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the arrow is 22 inches or greater in length.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further including discharging the compressed gas from a compressed gas cartridge into the compressed gas storage chamber.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a volume of the compressed gas storage chamber exceeds a volume of the compressed gas cartridge by about two to about twelve times.  
     
     
         15 . A fletching adapted to be attached to a proximal end of an arrow shaft to aid in the propelling of the arrow shaft by compressed gas out of a barrel having an inner diameter defined by an inner surface of the barrel, the fletching comprising: 
 (a) an attachment member adapted to couple the fletching to a proximal end of an arrow shaft; and    (b) an elongate body coupled to the attachment member, the elongate body having a sealing member having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the barrel such that the sealing member impedes at least a substantial portion of the compressed gas from flowing past the sealing member when the sealing member is in the barrel.    
     
     
         16 . The fletching of  claim 15 , wherein the sealing member is non-removably coupled to the attachment member.  
     
     
         17 . The fletching of  claim 15 , wherein the sealing member is removably attached to the attachment member such that during flight, the sealing member is adapted to separate and fall off from the attachment member by air resistance forces acting on the sealing member.  
     
     
         18 . The fletching of  claim 15 , wherein the sealing member is substantially dome shaped.  
     
     
         19 . The fletching of  claim 15 , wherein the sealing member has a substantially round outer perimeter.  
     
     
         20 . The fletching of  claim 15 , wherein an outer perimeter of the sealing member has a diameter that is a predetermined distance less than the inner diameter of the barrel so that a selected portion of the compressed gas may pass by the outer perimeter of the sealing member during use.  
     
     
         21 . The fletching of  claim 15 , further including a plurality of fins coupled to the elongate body, wherein the plurality of fins are helically disposed upon the elongate body so that the plurality of fins cause the fletching to rotate about a center axis of the fletching during flight.  
     
     
         22 . A fletching adapted to be attached to a proximal end of an arrow shaft to aid in propelling of the arrow shaft by compressed gas out of a barrel of a gun, the fletching comprising: 
 (a) an elongate body adapted to be coupled to an arrow shaft;    (b) a plurality of fins extending outward from the elongate body to a selected distance from a centerline of the elongate body; and    (c) wherein the elongate body has a sealing member for blocking gas flow, the sealing member extending outward from the centerline to at least the selected distance for blocking gas flow.    
     
     
         23 . The fletching of  claim 22 , wherein the sealing member is adapted to separate and fall off from the arrow shaft by air resistance forces acting on the sealing member during flight of the arrow shaft.  
     
     
         24 . The fletching of  claim 22 , wherein the sealing member is substantially dome shaped.  
     
     
         25 . The fletching of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of fins are helically disposed upon the elongate body.  
     
     
         26 . A fletching adapted to be attached to a proximal end of an arrow shaft to aid in propelling of the arrow shaft by compressed gas out of a barrel of a gun, the fletching comprising: 
 (a) an elongate body adapted to be coupled to an arrow shaft; and    (b) a sealing member attached to the elongate body for substantially impeding gas flow past the sealing member when the fletching is disposed in a barrel of a gun, the sealing member extending outward from a centerline of the fletching to a diameter of about ½ an inch or greater.    
     
     
         27 . The fletching of  claim 26 , wherein the sealing member is adapted to separate and fall off from the arrow shaft by air resistance forces acting on the sealing member during flight of the arrow shaft.  
     
     
         28 . The fletching of  claim 26 , wherein the sealing member is substantially dome shaped.  
     
     
         29 . The fletching of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of fins are helically disposed upon the elongate body.  
     
     
         30 . The fletching of  claim 26 , wherein the diameter of the fletching is about 7/10 of an inch or greater.