Arrow Vane

Abstract

An arrow vane having a contour that reduces drag and noise. The arrow vane includes two main components, a vane fin and a vane bas. A straight bottom or base edge of the vane fin is fixedly attached to the vane base, which is configured for attachment to the shaft of an arrow. The edge profile of the vane fin extending above the base 150 is defined by leading edge having a steep forward section and a sloping rearward section, a trailing edge and a rounded transition edge connecting the leading and trailing edges.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An arrow vane, comprising:
 a base having a bottom surface for mounting on a surface of an arrow shaft;
 a vane fin having: 
 a straight bottom edge attached to a top surface of the base; 
 a leading edge having a first edge section and a second edge section, wherein the first edge section extends upward from the base to a transition point between the first and second edge sections and wherein the second edge section extends upward from the transition point to the highest point of the vane fin relative to the straight bottom edge; 
 an angled trailing edge extending upward from the base toward the highest point of the vane fin, wherein the angled trailing edge is substantially straight and has an acute included trailing edge angle relative to the straight bottom edge; and 
 a rounded transition edge connecting the highest point of the vane fin and the trailing edge. 
   
     
     
         2 . The arrow vane of  claim 1 , wherein the first edge section is steeper than the second edge section. 
     
     
         3 . The arrow vane of  claim 2 , wherein the second edge section is at least twice as long as the first edge section. 
     
     
         4 . The arrow vane of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a first chord extending between a front end of the first edge section at the base and the transition point and defines first included angle relative to the straight bottom edge for the first edge section; and   a second chord extending between the transition point and the highest point of the vane fin defines a second included angle relative to the straight bottom edge for the second edge section; and   
       wherein the first included angle is larger than the second included angle. 
     
     
         5 . The arrow vane of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first included angle is between about 22° and about 31°; and   the second included angle is between about 7° and about 17°.   
     
     
         6 . The arrow vane of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first included angle is between about 25° and about 29°; and   the second included angle is between about 10° and about 14°.   
     
     
         7 . The arrow vane of  claim 5 , wherein the included trailing edge angle is between about 50° and about 65°. 
     
     
         8 . The arrow vane of  claim 7 , wherein the included trailing edge angle is between about 55° and about 60° 
     
     
         9 . The arrow vane of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the vane fin between a forward end and a rearward end is between about 1.75 inches and about 3.5 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The arrow vane of  claim 9 , wherein the length of the vane fin is between about 2.2 inches and about 2.75 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The arrow vane of  claim 9 , wherein a height of the highest point of the vane fin is between about 0.4 inches and about 0.7 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The arrow vane of  claim 11 , wherein the height is between 0.45 inches and 0.6 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The arrow vane of  claim 1 , wherein a forward section of the vane fin measured along the bottom edge between a forward end of the vane fin and a point perpendicular to the transition point forms between 15% and 25% of an overall length of the vane fin. 
     
     
         14 . The arrow vane of  claim 13 , wherein a sloping section of the vane fin measured along the bottom edge between the point perpendicular to the transition point a point perpendicular to the highest point forms between 55% and 75% of the overall length of the vane fin. 
     
     
         15 . The arrow vane of  claim 13 , wherein an end section of the vane fin measured along the bottom edge between a rearward end of the vane fin and a point perpendicular to an upper end of the angled trailing section forms between 8% and 17% of the overall length of the vane fin. 
     
     
         16 . The arrow vane of  claim 1 , wherein a forward section of the vane fin measured along the bottom edge between a forward end of the vane fin and a point perpendicular to the transition point forms between 18% and 22% of an overall length of the vane fin. 
     
     
         17 . The arrow vane of  claim 16 , wherein a sloping section of the vane fin measured along the bottom edge between the point perpendicular to the transition point a point perpendicular to the highest point forms between 60% and 65% of the overall length of the vane fin. 
     
     
         18 . The arrow vane of  claim 16 , wherein an end section of the vane fin measured along the bottom edge between a rearward end of the vane fin and a point perpendicular to an upper end of the angled trailing section forms between 10% and 14% of the overall length of the vane fin. 
     
     
         19 . The arrow vane of  claim 1 , wherein the first edge section and the second edge section each have straight edges. 
     
     
         20 . The arrow vane of  claim 1 , wherein the first edge section and the second edge section each have arcuate edges.