Big game tracking arrow and apparatus for the manufacture thereof

Abstract

An arrow, according to the preset invention, is provided for improved big game tracking. The arrow includes an elongate shaft formed along a longitudinal axis and having a first end configured for attachment to an arrowhead, a second end having an arrow nock or other structure configured for abutment with a bow string, and a tubular wall defining a shaft cavity extending between the first and second ends. The elongate shaft includes at least one aperture formed in the tubular wall generally adjacent in the first end and in fluid communication with the shaft cavity. The elongate shaft further includes an additional at least one aperture formed in the tubular wall generally adjacent the second end also and in fluid communication with the shaft cavity. Typically, the elongate shaft has a cylindrical cross-section, with fletching attached to the elongate shaft generally adjacent the second end.

I claim  
     
         1 . An arrow comprising: 
 an elongate shaft having a first end configured for attachment to an arrowhead, a second end configured for abutment with a bow string, and a tubular wall defining a shaft cavity extending between the first and second ends,    wherein the elongate shaft includes at least one aperture formed in the tubular wall generally adjacent the first end and in fluid communication with the shaft cavity, and further includes at least one aperture formed in the tubular wall generally adjacent the second end and in fluid communication with the shaft cavity.    
     
     
         2 . The arrow of  claim 1 , further comprising fletching affixed to the elongate shaft generally adjacent the second end.  
     
     
         3 . The arrow of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate shaft has a cylindrical cross-section.  
     
     
         4 . The arrow of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft first end includes an aperture formed therein and in fluid communication with the shaft cavity, and wherein the arrowhead comprises: 
 an elongate body having a first end configured for attachment to the first end of the elongate shaft, a second end defining a pointed end, and a cylindrical wall defining a body cavity between the first and second ends,    wherein the elongate body includes at least one aperture formed in the cylindrical wall and in fluid communication with the body cavity, and    wherein the body first end includes an aperture formed therein and in fluid communication with the body cavity, such that with the arrowhead attached to the elongate shaft the shaft cavity fluidly communicates with the body cavity via the apertures formed in the first ends of the elongate shaft and body.    
     
     
         5 . The arrow of  claim 4 , wherein the elongate body is configured for attachment to a plurality of blade elements extending substantially normal to the elongate body.  
     
     
         6 . The arrow of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture formed in the tubular wall generally adjacent the first end comprises a first plurality of apertures, and wherein the at least one aperture formed in the tubular wall generally adjacent the second end comprises a second plurality of apertures.  
     
     
         7 . The arrow of  claim 6 , wherein the elongate shaft includes a longitudinal axis, and wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of apertures comprise two, three or four radially extending apertures equally angularly spaced about the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         8 . The arrow of  claim 6 , wherein the elongate shaft includes a longitudinal axis, and wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of apertures include a first portion of radially extending apertures axially spaced along the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         9 . The arrow of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one of the first and second plurality of apertures include a second portion of radially extending apertures axially spaced along the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         10 . The arrow of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first portion of radially extending apertures is axially and angularly spaced from each of the second portion of radially extending apertures.  
     
     
         11 . An arrow comprising: 
 an elongate shaft having a first end configured for attachment to an arrowhead, a second end configured for abutment with a bow string, and a tubular wall defining a shaft cavity extending between the first and second ends.    wherein the elongate shaft includes at least one aperture formed in the tubular wall generally adjacent the first end and in fluid communication with the shaft cavity, and further includes at least one aperture formed in the tubular wall spaced from the first end and in fluid communication with the shaft cavity.    
     
     
         12 . An arrowhead for attachment to an arrow, said arrowhead comprising: 
 an elongate body having a first end configured for attachment to an arrow, a second end defining a pointed end, and a cylindrical wall defining a body cavity between the first and second ends,    wherein the elongate body includes at least one aperture formed in the cylindrical wall and in fluid communication with the body cavity, and    wherein the body first end includes an aperture formed therein and in fluid communication with the body cavity.    
     
     
         13 . The arrowhead of  claim 12 , wherein the elongate body is configured for attachment to a plurality of blade elements extending substantially normal to the elongate body.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for modifying an arrow for improved big game tracking, said apparatus comprising: 
 a jig member including a body portion having spaced first and second ends and a longitudinal axis, the body portion further having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a first aperture extending through the body portion along the longitudinal axis, the first aperture sized to receive a shaft of an arrow, wherein the body portion includes at least one second aperture extending through the body portion from the inner surface to the outer surface.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one second aperture comprises a radially extending aperture.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one radially extending second aperture has a diameter ranging from {fraction (1/32)}″ to {fraction (5/32)}″.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the outer surface of the body portion comprises a cylindrically shaped outer surface.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the jig member further includes a securing member disposed generally proximate at least one of the first and second ends, the securing member configured to engage an arrow shaft extending through the first aperture to releasably secure the jig member to the arrow shaft.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the securing member includes at least one set screw extendable through at least one radially extending threaded aperture provided through the body portion from the inner to the outer surfaces.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one radially extending second aperture comprises a plurality of radially extending apertures.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of radially extending apertures comprises two, three or four radially extending apertures equally angularly spaced about the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of radially extending apertures includes a first portion of radially extending apertures axially spaced along the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of radially extending apertures includes a second portion of radially extending apertures axially spaced along the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the first and second portions of radially extending apertures are coaxial.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein each of the first portion of radially extending apertures is axially and angularly spaced from each of the second portion of radially extending apertures.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the jig member includes a plurality of longitudinal slots formed in the body portion between the inner and outer surfaces, the plurality of longitudinal slots having an open end at the body portion first end and extending generally longitudinally along the body portion.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of longitudinal slots are equally angularly spaced about the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         28 . An apparatus for modifying an arrowhead for improved big game tracking, said comprising: 
 a jig member including a body portion having spaced first and second ends and a step bore extending into the body portion and having a central axis, the step bore having an innermost bore having a first diameter and an outermost bore opening at the first end and having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, wherein the jig member includes at least one aperture extending through the body portion and opening into the step bore at the outermost bore.    
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one aperture includes a plurality of radially extending apertures equally angularly spaced about the central axis.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the innermost bore comprises a threaded bore.