Lighted Nock

Abstract

A lighted nock may include an arrow nock, LED/battery assembly, and an end cap. The end cap may be engaged with the inner diameter of a portion of an arrow shaft, and a portion of the LED/battery assembly may be engaged with the end cap. An arrow nock may be selectively positioned over a portion of the LED/battery assembly and/or engaged with the inner diameter of a portion of the arrow shaft such that the user may determine when the LED in the lighted nock is illuminated and when the LED is not illuminated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lighted nock comprising:
 a. an LED/battery assembly having a first end and a second end, said LED/battery assembly comprising:
 i. a switch; 
 ii. a battery in electrical communication with said switch; 
 iii. an LED in electrical communication with said switch, wherein said LED is generally positioned adjacent said second end of said LED/battery assembly; 
   b. an end cap including a first portion and a second portion, wherein said second portion is generally cylindrical in shape, wherein said second portion is formed with a bore therein, and wherein said second portion is generally compressible in a radial dimension; and,   c. an arrow nock formed with a central bore therein, wherein a portion of said second end of said LED/battery assembly is positioned within said central bore, and wherein said arrow nock is formed with a recess therein opposite said central bore.   
     
     
         2 . The lighted nock according to  claim 1  wherein said first portion of said end cap further comprises a neck, wherein said neck is tapered such that the diameter thereof decreases along the longitudinal axis of said neck. 
     
     
         3 . The lighted nock according to  claim 1  wherein said arrow nock further comprises a wall formed on an exterior surface thereof, wherein said wall is positioned intermediate said recess and said central bore, and wherein said wall protrudes radially outward from an exterior surface of said arrow nock. 
     
     
         4 . The lighted nock according to  claim 2  wherein said end cap is further defined as being configured to securely engage an inner diameter of an arrow shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The lighted nock according to  claim 3  wherein said arrow nock further comprises a portion from said wall to a distal end of said arrow nock opposite said recess, wherein said portion is configured to selectively engage an inner diameter of an arrow shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The lighted nock according to  claim 1  wherein a relative axial position between said battery and said LED is variable, and wherein said relative axial position is dependent on a position of said switch. 
     
     
         7 . The lighted nock according to  claim 6  wherein said arrow nock is further defined as being configured such that the axial position thereof with respect to said arrow shaft dictates the position of said switch. 
     
     
         8 . The lighted nock according to  claim 7  wherein said arrow nock is further defined as being slideable with respect to said arrow shaft, and wherein said second end of said LED/battery assembly selectively engages said central bore of said arrow nock. 
     
     
         9 . An arrow comprising:
 a. an arrow shaft having an inner diameter and an outer diameter;   b. a lighted nock engaged with a first end of said arrow shaft, said lighted nock comprising:
 i. an LED/battery assembly having a first end and a second end, said LED/battery assembly comprising:
 1. a switch; 
 2. a battery in electrical communication with said switch; 
 3. an LED in electrical communication with said switch, wherein said LED is generally positioned adjacent said second end of said LED/battery assembly; 
 
 ii. an end cap including a first portion and a second portion, wherein said second portion is generally cylindrical in shape, wherein said second portion is formed with a bore therein, and wherein said second portion is generally compressible in a radial dimension; and, 
 iii. an arrow nock formed with a central bore therein, wherein a portion of said second end of said LED/battery assembly is positioned within said central bore, and wherein said arrow nock is formed with a recess therein opposite said central bore. 
   
     
     
         10 . The arrow according to  claim 9  wherein said first portion of said end cap further comprises a neck, wherein said neck is tapered such that the diameter thereof decreases along the longitudinal axis of said neck. 
     
     
         11 . The arrow according to  claim 9  wherein said arrow nock further comprises a wall formed on an exterior surface thereof, wherein said wall is positioned intermediate said recess and said central bore, and wherein said wall protrudes radially outward from an exterior surface of said arrow nock. 
     
     
         12 . The arrow according to  claim 10  wherein said end cap is further defined as being configured to securely engage an inner diameter of an arrow shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The arrow according to  claim 11  wherein said arrow nock further comprises a portion from said wall to a distal end of said arrow nock opposite said recess, wherein said portion is configured to selectively engage an inner diameter of an arrow shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The arrow according to  claim 9  further comprising fletching engaged with a portion of the exterior surface of said arrow shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The arrow according to  claim 9  wherein a relative axial position between said battery and said LED is variable, and wherein said relative axial position is dependent on a position of said switch. 
     
     
         16 . The arrow according to  claim 15  wherein said arrow nock is further defined as being configured such that the axial position thereof with respect to said arrow shaft dictates the position of said switch. 
     
     
         17 . The arrow according to  claim 16  wherein said arrow nock is further defined as being slideable with respect to said arrow shaft, and wherein said second end of said LED/battery assembly selectively engages said central bore of said arrow nock. 
     
     
         18 . A method of energizing an LED, said method comprising the steps of:
 a. nocking an arrow in the string of a bow, wherein said arrow comprises:
 i. an arrow shaft having an inner diameter and an outer diameter; 
 ii. a lighted nock engaged with a first end of said arrow shaft, said lighted nock comprising:
 1.an LED/battery assembly having a first end and a second end, said LED/battery assembly comprising:
 a. a switch; 
 b. a battery in electrical communication with said switch; 
 c. an LED in electrical communication with said switch, wherein said LED is generally positioned adjacent said second end of said LED/battery assembly; 
 
 2. an end cap including a first portion and a second portion, wherein said second portion is generally cylindrical in shape, wherein said second portion is formed with a bore therein, and wherein said second portion is generally compressible in a radial dimension; and, 
 3. an arrow nock formed with a central bore therein, wherein a portion of said second end of said LED/battery assembly is positioned within said central bore, and wherein said arrow nock is formed with a recess therein opposite said central bore. 
 
   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  further comprising the step of de-energizing said LED via removing said arrow nock and actuating said switch to an “off” position.