Arrowhead with pivoting blade

Abstract

An arrowhead for use with an arrow in archery includes a body, at least one blade pivotally mounted at the body, and a retaining mechanism disposed at the body. The blade has a cutting edge and a rear edge, with the rear edge having a notch. The blade pivots relative to the body and about a pivot axis between a generally centered position and an angled position. The retaining mechanism engages the notch when the blade is in the centered position, impeding pivotal movement of the blade about the pivotal connection.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. An arrowhead for use with an arrow in archery, said arrowhead comprising:
 a body; 
 at least one blade pivotally mounted at said body, said at least one blade having a cutting edge and a rear edge, said rear edge having a notch, wherein said blade pivots relative to said body and about a pivot axis between a generally centered position and an angled position; and 
 a retaining mechanism disposed at said body and engaging said notch when said blade is in the centered position, wherein said retaining mechanism is adapted to impede pivotal movement of said blade about the pivotal connection. 
 
     
     
       2. The arrowhead of  claim 1 , wherein said body further defines a substantially pointed portion. 
     
     
       3. The arrowhead of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining mechanism comprises:
 an engaging element that engages said notch when said blade is in the centered position; and 
 a biasing element adapted to act on said engaging element, wherein said biasing element urges said engaging element toward said rear edge and at least partially into said notch when said blade is in the centered position. 
 
     
     
       4. The arrowhead of  claim 3 , wherein said engaging element comprises a ball bearing. 
     
     
       5. The arrowhead of  claim 3 , wherein said biasing element comprises one of: (i) a coil spring and (ii) an elastomeric material. 
     
     
       6. The arrowhead of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining mechanism comprises a wheel rotatably attached to said body and adapted to engage said notch when said blade is in the centered position. 
     
     
       7. The arrowhead of  claim 6 , further comprising a bearing attached to said wheel to facilitate rotation of said wheel. 
     
     
       8. The arrowhead of  claim 1 , wherein said body further defines an externally threaded portion, said externally threaded portion being adapted to threadably attach the arrowhead to an arrow shaft. 
     
     
       9. The arrowhead of  claim 1 , wherein said body further defines a slot, said slot receiving said at least one blade therethrough. 
     
     
       10. The arrowhead of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one blade comprises at least two blades, and wherein each of said at least two blades pivot between respective undeployed positions and respective deployed positions, wherein said at least two blades interlock when in the respective deployed positions, and wherein said at least two blades are pivotable together about said pivot axis when interlocked. 
     
     
       11. The arrowhead of  claim 1 , wherein said body has a tip portion comprising a wider flared portion and a narrower flared portion, said wider flared portion being generally normal to said narrower flared portion. 
     
     
       12. An arrowhead for use with an arrow in archery, said arrowhead comprising:
 a body; 
 at least two blades each pivotally connected at said body and pivotable about a pivot axis, said at least two blades defining a folded position wherein said blades are in substantial alignment with said body, and wherein said at least two blades are adapted to pivot about said pivot axis to a deployed position in response to an impact force; 
 wherein said at least two blades are substantially interlocked relative to one another when in the deployed position; and  
 wherein said at least two blades are pivotable together about said pivot axis when interlocked in the deployed position; and 
 a retaining mechanism adapted to impede pivotal movement of said at least two blades about said pivot axis when said at least two blades are in the deployed position. 
 
     
     
       13. The arrowhead of  claim 12 , wherein said retaining mechanism engages a rear edge of said blades to impede pivotal movement of said at least two blades about said pivot axis. 
     
     
       14. The arrowhead of claim  13  12, wherein each of said at least two blades includes an interlocking tab, and said interlocking tabs are configured to lock said at least two blades in the deployed position. 
     
     
       15. The arrowhead of  claim 13 , wherein said retaining mechanism comprises:
 an engaging element that engages a notch of said blades when said at least two blades are in the deployed position and in the centered position; and 
 a biasing element adapted to act on said engaging element, wherein said biasing element urges said engaging element toward said rear edge and at least partially into said notch when said at least two blades are in the deployed position and in the centered position. 
 
     
     
       16. An arrowhead for use with an arrow in archery, said arrowhead comprising:
 a body comprising a substantially pointed tip, a portion adapted to attach said arrowhead to an arrow shaft, and a slot; 
 at least one blade pivotally mounted at said body and received through said slot, said at least one blade having a pair of cutting edges and a rear edge, said rear edge having a notch, wherein said blade pivots relative to said body and about a pivot axis between a generally centered position and an angled position, and wherein said cutting edges extend laterally from said body at each side of said body when said blade is in said centered position; 
 a retaining mechanism disposed at said body, said retaining mechanism having an engaging element that engages said notch when said blade is in said centered position, and a biasing element urging said engaging element at least partially into said notch when said blade is in said centered position; and 
 wherein said retaining mechanism impedes pivotal movement of said blade about said pivot axis while allowing pivotal movement of said blade about said pivot axis responsive to a force at one of said cutting edges being sufficient to overcome said retaining mechanism. 
 
     
     
       17. The arrowhead of  claim 16 , wherein said engaging element comprises one of a ball bearing and a wheel rotatably attached to said body. 
     
     
       18. The arrowhead of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one blade comprises at least two blades, and wherein each of said at least two blades pivot between respective undeployed positions and respective deployed positions, wherein said at least two blades interlock when in the respective deployed positions, and wherein said at least two blades are pivotable together about said pivot axis when interlocked. 
     
     
       19. An arrowhead for use with an arrow in archery, said arrowhead comprising:
 a body; 
 at least two blades each movably connected at said body and pivotable about a pivot axis, said at least two blades defining a folded position wherein said blades are in substantial alignment with said body, and wherein said at least two blades are adapted to move along said body and pivot about said pivot axis to a deployed position in response to an impact force; 
 a retaining mechanism, wherein said at least two blades are substantially retained relative to one another by said retaining mechanism when in the deployed position; and  
 wherein said at least two blades are pivotable together about said pivot axis when retained in the deployed position; and 
 wherein said retaining mechanism limits the range of pivotal movement of said at least two blades about said pivot axis when said at least two blades are in the deployed position. 
 
     
     
       20. The arrowhead of  claim 19 , wherein said retaining mechanism comprises:
 a guide pin at said body; and 
 a pivot limiting element, said pivot limiting element movably connected to said guide pin and retained at said body by said guide pin, said pivot limiting element having opposed ends and defining a channel for receiving said guide pin; 
 wherein said retaining mechanism limits the range of pivotal movement of said at least two blades about said pivot axis when said at least two blades are in the deployed position. 
 
     
     
       21. The arrowhead of  claim 20 , wherein each of said blades comprises a locking tab, and wherein said locking tabs of said blades engage said opposed ends of said pivot limiting element when said at least two blades are in the deployed position, wherein said retaining mechanism is adapted to limit the range of pivotal movement of said at least two blades about said pivot axis when said guide pin reaches one of said opposed ends of said channel of said pivot limiting element. 
     
     
       22. The arrowhead of  claim 19 , further comprising a resilient member at said body and positioned at a forward end of said slot, wherein said resilient member is adapted to engage forward portions of said blades when said blades are in an undeployed position, said resilient member initially resisting the deployment of said blades. 
     
     
       23. The arrowhead of  claim 22 , wherein said resilient member urges said blades toward and into engagement with a forward edge of said pivot limiting element to resist pivotal movement of said blades toward said deployed position.