Method of manufacturing an archery broadhead with sintered components

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a method of manufacturing broadhead components utilizing a powder injection molding (PIM) process that reduces the number of operations, thus simplifying the manufacturing process required to produce a finished product while maintaining the precision essential to the function of this commodity. The method of manufacturing includes powder injection molding one or more than one components for a broadhead, sintering the component(s) at an elevated temperature to form component(s) and assembling the component(s) to form a broadhead.

1. A method of manufacturing an archery broadhead comprising:
 powder injection molding at least one broadhead component selected from the group consisting of a ferrule and a blade , with a powdered metal composition, a ferrule including a body and defining a slot;  
 sintering said at least one broadhead component  ferrule at an elevated temperature to form a sintered broadhead component  ferrule, the slot being formed and bounded substantially by metal; and  
 connecting said  a blade to said ferrule.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of manufacturing an archery broadhead of  claim 1  wherein said blade is releasably secured to said ferrule with a retainer. 
     
     
       3. The  A method of manufacturing an archery broadhead of  claim 1   comprising:
   powder injection molding at least one broadhead component selected from the group consisting of a ferrule and a blade;    
   sintering said at least one broadhead component at an elevated temperature to form a sintered broadhead component; and    
   connecting said blade to said ferrule,   
 wherein said blade is pivotally coupled to said ferrule with a retainer  so that the blade is expandable from a retracted position to a deployed position.  
 
     
     
       4. The method of manufacturing an archery broadhead of  claim 1  further  comprising:
 forming a greenware ferrule from a powdered composition;  
 sintering said greenware ferrule at an elevated temperature to form a sintered ferrule; and  
 connecting said blade to said sintered ferrule with said  a retainer.  
 
     
     
       5. The method of manufacturing an archery broadhead of  claim 4  wherein forming a greenware ferrule comprises forming said ferrule having a shank portion extending from an end thereof. 
     
     
       6. The method of manufacturing an archery broadhead of  claim 4  wherein forming a greenware ferrule comprises forming said ferrule having a tip portion extending from an end thereof. 
     
     
       7. The  A method of manufacturing an archery broadhead of  claim 4   comprising:
   powder injection molding at least one broadhead component selected from the group consisting of a ferrule and a blade;    
   forming a greenware ferrule from a powdered composition;    
   sintering said greenware ferrule at an elevated temperature to form a sintered ferrule; and    
   connecting said blade to said sintered ferrule,   
 wherein forming a greenware ferrule comprises forming a ferrule having a boss formed thereon, said boss being received in an aperture formed in said blade to pivotally couple said blade to said ferrule.  
 
     
     
       8. The method of manufacturing an archery broadhead of  claim 4  wherein forming a greenware ferrule comprises forming a ferrule having a slot formed therein and said blade is received within said slot to releasably secure said blade to said ferrule. 
     
     
       9. The method of manufacturing an archery broadhead of  claim 1  further comprising:
 forming a greenware blade from a powdered composition;  
 sintering said greenware blade at an elevated temperature to form a sintered blade; and  
 connecting said sintered blade to said ferrule with said  a retainer.  
 
     
     
       10. The method of manufacturing an archery broadhead of  claim 9  wherein said ferrule is provided with a longitudinal slot and said blade is received within said slot to releasably secure said blade to said ferrule. 
     
     
       11. The  A method of manufacturing an archery broadhead of  claim 10   comprising:
   powder injection molding at least one broadhead component selected from the group consisting of a ferrule and a blade;    
   forming a greenware blade from a powdered composition;    
   sintering said greenware blade at an elevated temperature to form a sintered blade; and    
   connecting said sintered blade to said ferrule,    
   wherein said ferrule is provided with a longitudinal slot and said blade is received within said slot to releasably secure said blade to said ferrule,   
 wherein forming a greenware blade comprises forming said greenware blade having a bead along an edge thereof, said bead received within said slot when said sintered blade is releasably secured to said ferrule.  
 
     
     
       12. The method of manufacturing an archery broadhead of  claim 8  further comprising:
 forming a plurality of greenware blade from said powdered composition;  
 sintering said plurality of greenware blades at an elevated temperature to form a plurality of sintered blades; and  
 connecting said plurality of sintered blades to said ferrule with said  a retainer.