Blade opening arrowhead

Abstract

A blade opening arrowhead having an actuator moveably mounted with respect to a blade carrying body. The actuator can move each blade between a closed position and an opened position. During flight, the blade is in the closed position. Upon target penetration, for example, the actuator moves the blade into the opened position.

1 . A blade opening arrowhead, comprising:
 a blade carrying body, an actuator movably mounted with respect to the blade carrying body, a blade movably mounted with respect to the actuator and movably mounted with respect to the blade carrying body, and a movement of the actuator with respect to the blade carrying body pivoting the blade about a pivot axis that is fixed with respect to the actuator and moving the blade with respect to the blade carrying body.   
   
   
       2 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is slidably mounted with respect to the blade carrying body. 
   
   
       3 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 1 , wherein the blade carrying body has a channel and at least a portion of the actuator is slidably mounted within the channel. 
   
   
       4 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the actuator extends outward and beyond an external surface of the blade carrying body. 
   
   
       5 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 1 , wherein during the movement of the actuator the pivot axis of the blade moves with respect to the blade carrying body. 
   
   
       6 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator has a plurality of actuation surfaces each extending outward and beyond an outer surface of the blade carrying body, and the actuation surfaces are equally spaced about a periphery of the blade carrying body. 
   
   
       7 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 1 , wherein as the blade opening arrowhead passes through a target material, at least a portion of the actuator contacts the target material. 
   
   
       8 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 1 , wherein movement of the actuator with respect to the blade carrying body moves the blade between a closed position and an opened position. 
   
   
       9 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 8 , wherein a bias element releasably contacts and holds the blade in the closed position. 
   
   
       10 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 9 , wherein a force generated by movement of the actuator overcomes a retaining force of the bias element and allows the blade to move from the closed position to the opened position. 
   
   
       11 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 1 , wherein the body forms a slot, and a portion of the blade is mounted within the slot. 
   
   
       12 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 1 , wherein the blade has a back surface that slidingly contacts a contact portion of the blade carrying body when the blade moves between the closed position and the opened position. 
   
   
       13 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 12 , wherein the back surface is straight or curved. 
   
   
       14 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 12 , wherein the back surface and the contact portion form a line contact with respect to each other. 
   
   
       15 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 1 , wherein a shaft connects two body portions of the actuator. 
   
   
       16 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 1 , wherein a cutting diameter of the arrowhead in the opened position is greater than in the closed position. 
   
   
       17 . A blade opening arrowhead according to  claim 1 , wherein a shaft fixedly positioned with respect to the actuator or the blade pivotally mounts the blade with respect to the actuator.