Small Diameter Crossbow Bolt

Abstract

A small diameter crossbow bolt includes a small diameter shaft having a leading end with an insert to receive a point. The trailing end of shaft has a nock and adjacent fletching. The insert receives a point, such as a target point, broad head, or other point known in the industry. A circumferential spacer is positioned along the shaft between the insert and nock and moved along the shaft as needed to locate the insert for a particular weight distribution, center of gravity positioning, or to separate the spacer from nock. The insert, nock, and spacer each have a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of a prior art bolt. When the diameters of the nock and spacer are equal to the diameter of a prior art bolt, the small diameter crossbow bolt of the present invention can be used interchangeably with prior art bolts without modification to the crossbow.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A crossbow bolt comprising:
 a shaft having a shaft exterior diameter;   a circumferential spacer positioned along said shaft, said circumferential spacer having a circumferential spacer exterior diameter larger than said shaft exterior diameter;   a nock attached to said shaft, said nock having a nock exterior diameter larger than said shaft exterior diameter; and   wherein said nock exterior diameter is equal to said circumferential spacer exterior diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 1 , further comprising an insert attached to said shaft opposite said nook, said insert having an insert exterior diameter larger than said shaft exterior diameter. 
     
     
         3 . A crossbow bolt comprising:
 a shaft having a shaft exterior diameter;   a circumferential spacer positioned along said shaft, said circumferential spacer having a circumferential spacer exterior diameter larger than said shaft exterior diameter;   a nook attached to said shaft, said nock having a nook exterior diameter larger than said shaft exterior diameter; and   wherein said nock exterior diameter is equal to said circumferential spacer exterior diameter.   
     
     
         4 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 3 , wherein said circumferential spacer further comprises:
 a leading taper;   a contact band having said circumferential spacer exterior diameter; and   a trailing taper.   
     
     
         5 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 4 , wherein said circumferential spacer further comprises an axial bore sized to closely receive said shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 5 , wherein said nook further comprises a nook body having said nock exterior diameter. 
     
     
         7 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 6  further comprising an insert attached to said shaft opposite said nock, said insert having an insert exterior diameter larger than said shaft exterior diameter; and
 wherein said circumferential spacer exterior diameter, said nock exterior diameter, and said insert exterior diameter are equal. 
 
     
     
         8 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 7 , wherein said insert further comprises an insert body having a first end and a second send, said insert body tapering from said insert exterior diameter at said first end to a second insert exterior diameter at said second end. 
     
     
         9 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 8 , wherein said second insert exterior diameter is equal to said shaft exterior diameter. 
     
     
         10 . A crossbow bolt comprising:
 a shaft with a first end and a second end having a shaft exterior diameter;   a circumferential spacer positioned along said shaft between said first end and said second end, said circumferential spacer having a circumferential spacer exterior diameter larger than said shaft exterior diameter;   a nock attached to said second end of said shaft, said nock having a nock exterior diameter larger than said shaft exterior diameter;   an insert attached to said first end of said shaft, said insert having an insert exterior diameter larger than said shaft exterior diameter; and   wherein said circumferential spacer exterior diameter, said nock exterior diameter, and said insert exterior diameter are equal.   
     
     
         11 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 10 , wherein said insert further comprises an insert body having a first end and a second send, said insert body tapering from said insert exterior diameter at said first end to a second insert exterior diameter at said second end. 
     
     
         12 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 11 , wherein said circumferential spacer further comprises:
 a leading taper;   a contact band having said circumferential spacer exterior diameter; and   a trailing taper.   
     
     
         13 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 12 , wherein said circumferential spacer further comprises an axial bore sized to closely receive said shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 13 , wherein said nock further comprises a nock body having said nock exterior diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 14 , wherein said nock further comprises a nock body pin extending from said nock body. 
     
     
         16 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 15 , wherein said insert further comprises an insert pin extending from said insert body. 
     
     
         17 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 16 , wherein said second insert exterior diameter is equal to said shaft exterior diameter. 
     
     
         18 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 17  further comprising a point attached to said insert. 
     
     
         19 . The crossbow bolt of  claim 18  further comprising fletching attached to said shaft adjacent said second end.