Broadhead system

Abstract

The present application includes a shaft body for attachment to an arrow shaft. The shaft body includes a notch for locating a portion of a pivoting blade. The pivoting blade is configured to pivot relative to the shaft body about a pivoting member. The pivoting blade operates between a retracted orientation and an extended orientation. A band is configured to seat within one of a plurality of shaft body grooves around the shaft body and pivoting blade so as to secure the pivoting blade in the retracted orientation for handling prior to flight and during flight. Upon impact the band is unseated and the pivoting blade transitions to an extended orientation to increase the damage area on the target.

1 . A broadhead for an arrow shaft, comprising:
 a shaft body having a notch, the shaft body configured to couple to the arrow shaft;   a pivoting member coupled within the shaft body and configured to pass through a portion of the notch;   a pivoting blade configured to pivot relative to the shaft body about the pivoting member, the pivoting blade located at least partially within the notch;   a shaft body groove around the circumference of the shaft body; and   a band configured to pass around the shaft body and rest within the shaft body groove, the band configured to secure the pivoting blade in a retracted orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The broadhead of  claim 1 , wherein the notch passes through the shaft body. 
     
     
         3 . The broadhead of  claim 1 , wherein the pivoting blade pivots about the pivoting member between a retracted orientation and an extended orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The broadhead of  claim 3 , wherein the pivoting blade is retracted during flight. 
     
     
         5 . The broadhead of  claim 3 , wherein the pivoting blade is secured by the band prior to launch from a firing device. 
     
     
         6 . The broadhead of  claim 3 , wherein the pivoting blade is configured to pivot to an extended orientation upon impact of the pivoting blade with a target. 
     
     
         7 . The broadhead of  claim 3 , wherein the pivoting blade is configured to return to a retracted orientation during removal from a target. 
     
     
         8 . The broadhead of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft body groove is located at a selected distance from the pivoting member to counteract a predetermined poundage force exhibited upon firing the arrow shaft from a firing device. 
     
     
         10 . The broadhead of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second shaft body groove around the exterior circumference of the shaft body, the second shaft body located at a distance from the pivoting member greater than the shaft body groove.   
     
     
         11 . The broadhead of  claim 10 , wherein the band is selectively seated in at least one of the shaft body groove and the second shaft body groove. 
     
     
         12 . The broadhead of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second pivoting blade configured to pivot relative to the shaft body.   
     
     
         13 . The broadhead of  claim 12 , wherein the pivoting blade and the second pivoting blade pivot about the same pivoting member. 
     
     
         14 . The broadhead of  claim 1 , wherein the pivoting blade includes blade grooves in corresponding locations to that of the shaft body grooves. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a broadhead, comprising:
 locating the broadhead in a firing device, the broadhead including a shaft body coupled to an arrow shaft;   retracting one or more pivoting blades; and   securing the pivoting blades in a retracted orientation by selectively locating a band around the circumference of a shaft body according to the poundage of the firing device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 coupling the shaft body to the arrow shaft.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more pivoting blades are configured to pivot to an extended orientation upon impact with a target. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 retracting the one or more pivoting blades by removing the shaft body from the target.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the band is configured to translate along the shaft body as the one or more pivoting blades transition from a retracted orientation to an extended orientation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the shaft body is interchangeable with the arrow shaft.