Broadhead

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure include a mechanical broadhead for use with an archery bow and arrow. In certain arrangements, a broadhead is provided that maintains the cutting blades in a retracted or closed position during flight of the arrow. Upon target contact, the blades expand outwardly from the closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A broadhead arrowhead, comprising:
 a broadhead body adapted to attach to an arrow shaft, the broadhead body having a forward end and having a shaft portion, the shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis; 
 a blade assembly slidably mounted on the shaft portion, including at least one blade pivotally operable between a closed position and an open position; 
 a deployment slider arranged on the broadhead body forward of the blade assembly, the deployment slider having a slider body and at least one laterally extending impact arm, with the impact arm engagable with the at least one blade to retain the blade in a closed position; 
 wherein after the initial impact, the slider body and the blade assembly move rearward relative to the shaft portion whereupon during the rearward movement the at least one blade is forced to rotate outward to a deployed position. 
 
     
     
       2. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a plurality of pivotally mounted blades in the blade assembly equally spaced around the shaft portion, each blade operable between a closed position and an open position, and the deployment slider having a plurality of laterally extending impact arms with each arm retaining a respective blade in a closed position. 
 
     
     
       3. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 2 , wherein each impact arm extends to engage a pivot control opening defined in one of the blades. 
     
     
       4. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 3 , wherein each impact arm extends laterally and then rearwardly and inwardly to a rearward end adjacent to and engaging a pivot control point defined in a respective one of the blades. 
     
     
       5. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 4 , wherein the forward lateral portion of each impact arm is angled forward from the slider body. 
     
     
       6. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 4 , wherein each rearward end is arranged in an offset and cantilevered position relative to the slider body. 
     
     
       7. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 2 , wherein in the closed arrangement, said slider applies a neutral retaining force or an inward biasing force to retain the blades in the closed position. 
     
     
       8. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 7 , wherein each impact arm defines a sharpened forward facing impact edge. 
     
     
       9. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 2 , wherein each impact arm is designed to break away from the slider body upon impact. 
     
     
       10. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 9 , comprising breakaway notches defined between the slider body and each arm to form defined breakage points. 
     
     
       11. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 10 , wherein rearward breakaway notches are defined along the rearward edge of the arm adjacent the junction between each impact arm and the slider body. 
     
     
       12. A broadhead arrowhead, comprising:
 a broadhead body adapted to attach to an arrow shaft, the broadhead body having a forward end and having a shaft portion, the shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis; 
 a blade assembly slidably mounted on the shaft portion and including a plurality of pivotally mounted blades, each blade operable between a closed position and an open position; 
 wherein each blade defines a pivot control point offset from the pivotal mounting point; 
 a deployment slider arranged on the broadhead body forward of the blade assembly, the deployment slider having a slider body and a plurality of impact arms, with each impact arm engagable with the pivot control point of a respective blade; and, 
 wherein upon an initial impact, each arm operates on a respective pivot control point to cause the respective blade to rotate, wherein after the initial impact, the slider body and the blade assembly move rearward relative to the shaft portion and wherein during the rearward movement the blades rotate outward to a deployed position. 
 
     
     
       13. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 12 , wherein each impact arm extends laterally and rearwardly to a pivot control point. 
     
     
       14. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 13 , wherein the pivot control point of each blade is a pivot tab. 
     
     
       15. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 14 , wherein each impact arm defines a notch which engages a pivot tab. 
     
     
       16. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 13 , wherein the pivot control point of each blade is a pivot control opening. 
     
     
       17. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 12 , wherein each impact arm is designed to break away from the slider body upon impact. 
     
     
       18. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 17 , comprising breakaway notches defined adjacent the junction between the slider body and each impact arm to form defined breakage points. 
     
     
       19. A broadhead arrowhead, comprising: a broadhead body adapted to attach to an arrow shaft, the broadhead body having a forward end and having a shaft portion, the shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis;
 a blade assembly slidably retained on the shaft portion including a plurality of pivotally mounted blades operable between a closed position and an open position, each blade including a sharpened outward cutting edge, and each blade defining a plane parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis; 
 a deployment slider arranged on the broadhead body forward of the blade assembly, the deployment slider having a slider body and a plurality of impact arms, with each impact arm extending laterally in front of the forward facing edge of a respective blade. 
 
     
     
       20. A broadhead arrowhead, comprising:
 a broadhead body adapted to attach to an arrow shaft, the broadhead body having a forward end and having a shaft portion, the shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis;   a blade assembly slidably mounted on the shaft portion, including at least one blade pivotally operable between a closed position and an open position;   a retaining element arranged on the broadhead body forward of the blade assembly, the retaining element having a body and at least one extending impact arm, with the impact arm engagable with the at least one blade to retain the blade in a closed position;   wherein after the initial impact the at least one blade is forced to rotate outward to a deployed position.   
     
     
       21. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 20, comprising: a plurality of pivotally mounted blades in the blade assembly equally spaced around the shaft portion, each blade operable between a closed position and an open position, and the retaining element having a plurality of laterally extending impact arms with each arm retaining a respective blade in a closed position. 
     
     
       22. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 21, wherein in the closed arrangement, said retaining element applies a neutral retaining force or an inward biasing force to retain the blades in the closed position. 
     
     
       23. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 21, wherein each impact arm is designed to break away from the retaining element body upon impact. 
     
     
       24. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 23, comprising breakaway notches defined between the retaining element body and each arm to form defined breakage points. 
     
     
       25. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 21, wherein each impact arm extends to engage a pivot control point defined on a respective one of the blades. 
     
     
       26. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 21, wherein each impact arm extends to an outer end which is curved rearward forming a hooked shape, wherein the hooked shape partially encircles a blade leading tip. 
     
     
       27. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 21, wherein each impact arm is bent slightly forward while engaging a blade tip and applies a biasing force to retain the blades in the closed position. 
     
     
       28. A broadhead arrowhead, comprising:
 a broadhead body adapted to attach to an arrow shaft, the broadhead body having a forward end and having a shaft portion, the shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis;   a blade assembly including a hub slidably mounted around the shaft portion, and including at least one blade pivotally mounted on an axle and operable between a closed position and an open position;   a retaining element engagable with the at least one blade to retain the blade in a closed position;   wherein after the initial impact, the blade axle moves rearward relative to the shaft portion whereupon during the rearward movement the at least one blade is forced to rotate outward to a deployed position.   
     
     
       29. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 28, wherein in the closed arrangement, said retaining element applies an inward biasing force to retain the at least one blade in the closed position. 
     
     
       30. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 28, wherein in the closed arrangement, said retaining element applies a neutral retaining force to retain the at least one blade in the closed position. 
     
     
       31. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 28, wherein a rearward portion of the shaft portion transitions into a shelf extending radially outward from the shaft portion, wherein an edge of the shelf forms a camming surface for an inward edge of the at least one blade. 
     
     
       32. A broadhead arrowhead, comprising:
 a broadhead body adapted to attach to an arrow shaft, the broadhead body having a shaft portion;   a blade assembly including a hub slidably mounted around the shaft portion and including a plurality of blades pivotally mounted to the hub, wherein each blade is rotatable between a closed position and an open position;   wherein a rearward portion of the shaft portion transitions into a shelf extending radially outward from the shaft portion, wherein edges of the shelf form camming surfaces for an inward edge of each blade;   wherein after the initial impact, the hub moves rearward relative to the shaft portion whereupon each blade is forced to rotate outward by a camming surface and wherein the rearward movement of the hub synchronizes the plurality of blades to rotate at the same rate.   
     
     
       33. A broadhead arrowhead, comprising:
 a broadhead body adapted to attach to an arrow shaft, the broadhead body having a shaft portion;   at least one elongated axial groove defined on a side of the shaft portion;   a blade assembly including a hub slidably mounted on the shaft portion and including a plurality of blades pivotally mounted to the hub, wherein each blade is rotatable between a closed position and an open position; and,   at least one retaining pin mounted through an opening defined in sides of the hub with an inward end of the retaining pin received in the axial groove, wherein the retaining pin prevents the hub from sliding off of the shaft yet allows the hub to freely translate along the shaft within a range defined by the axial groove.   
     
     
       34. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 33, a plurality of elongated axial grooves defined on sides of the shaft portion and a plurality of retaining pins mounted through openings defined in sides of the hub with an inward end of each retaining pin received in an axial groove. 
     
     
       35. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 34, wherein the retaining pins are pushed into the openings defined in the hub. 
     
     
       36. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 34, wherein the retaining pins have splined cylindrical sides which engage grooves in the hub openings. 
     
     
       37. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 34, wherein the retaining pins are threaded into the openings defined in the hub. 
     
     
       38. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 34, wherein the inward ends of the retaining pins are rounded. 
     
     
       39. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 34, comprising a material to facilitate sliding motion placed between each pin inward end and the respective groove.