Broadhead case apparatus

Abstract

Arrow point cases and related methods are disclosed. One arrow point case holds arrow points such as broadheads between retaining members that contact the shaft or body portion of the arrow point without contacting the blades of the arrow point. The retaining members have a generally C-shaped cross section and are removably attached to a shell of the case. The retaining members are elastically flexible and are deformable upon insertion of the arrow point into a retention position in the case. The case stores and transports arrow points without contacting the blades so that blades may remain sharp and securely stowed until needed. Some methods allow an arrow point in the case to be attached to an arrow or bolt shaft without removing the arrow point from the case.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A case for storage and transportation of sharpened arrow points without dulling sharpened edges of the arrow points, the case comprising:
 an outer shell enclosing an inner chamber, the outer shell comprising at least one access opening to the inner chamber, the inner chamber having a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first and second sidewalls opposing each other;   a first retaining member attached to and extending inward from the first sidewall;   a second retaining member attached to and extending inward from the first sidewall;   a third retaining member attached to and extending inward from the second sidewall;   a fourth retaining member attached to and extending inward from the second sidewall;   wherein a central point is positioned between the first, second, third, and fourth retaining members, the central point being configured to be coincident with an axis of a shaft of an arrow point when the arrow point is positioned in contact with the first, second, third, and fourth retaining members.   
     
     
         2 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth retaining members respectively comprise a first, second, third, and fourth distal tip, each of the distal tips converging toward the central point. 
     
     
         3 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth retaining members each respectively comprise a first, second, third, and fourth distal end and each respectively comprise a first, second, third, and fourth proximal end, the distal ends being configured to contact the shaft of the arrow point, the proximal ends of the first and second retaining members being spaced apart farther from each other than the distal ends of the first and second retaining members, the proximal ends of the third and fourth retaining members being spaced apart farther from each other than the distal ends of the third and fourth retaining members. 
     
     
         4 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth retaining members each respectively comprise a first, second, third, and fourth distal end and each respectively comprise a first, second, third, and fourth proximal end, the distal ends being configured to contact the shaft of the arrow point, the proximal ends being broader than the distal ends. 
     
     
         5 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth retaining members comprise a flexible material and the outer shell comprises a relatively rigid material. 
     
     
         6 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell comprises two access openings into the inner chamber, the access openings being on opposite sides of the outer shell. 
     
     
         7 . The case of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap configured to cover the at least one access opening, the cap being locked to the outer shell using at least one push-button tab. 
     
     
         8 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell is configured to contain a plurality of arrow points simultaneously. 
     
     
         9 . The case of  claim 8 , wherein a first portion of the plurality of arrow points are configured to point in a direction opposite a second portion of the plurality of arrow points. 
     
     
         10 . A sharpened arrow point retainer, the retainer comprising:
 an outer shell enclosing an inner chamber, the outer shell comprising at least one access opening to the inner chamber, the outer shell comprising a first side wall and a second side wall;   a first retaining member attached to the first side wall of the outer shell, the first retaining member having a first ridge and a second ridge extending into the inner chamber;   a second retaining member attached to the second side wall of the outer shell, the second retaining member having a third ridge and a fourth ridge extending into the inner chamber;   wherein the first, second, third, and fourth ridges are configured to contact a body portion of an arrow point without contacting a blade portion of the arrow point.   
     
     
         11 . The retainer of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second retaining members each have a general C- or U-shape. 
     
     
         12 . The retainer of  claim 10 , wherein the first retaining member comprises a protrusion extending through the outer shell. 
     
     
         13 . The retainer of  claim 12 , wherein the protrusion has a t-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         14 . The retainer of  claim 10 , further comprising an arrow point and a shaft, the arrow point being positioned in contact with the first, second, third, and fourth ridges, the shaft being connected to the arrow point and extending away from the inner chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The retainer of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second retaining members form a funnel shape sloping away from the first and second side walls. 
     
     
         16 . The retainer of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second retaining members form a cone shape sloping toward the first and second side walls. 
     
     
         17 . The retainer of  claim 10 , wherein the outer shell comprises a rigid material and the first and second retaining members comprise a relatively compliant material. 
     
     
         18 . A method of storing arrow points using an arrow point retainer, the method comprising:
 providing an arrow point retainer, the arrow point retainer comprising an outer shell, the outer shell having a first side, a second side, and an inner chamber, the arrow point container comprising a plurality of finger members extending into the inner chamber, at least a first two of the plurality of finger members extending inward from the first side toward a midpoint of the inner chamber, at least a second two of the plurality of finger members extending inward from the second side toward the midpoint;   providing an arrow point having a body portion, a blade portion, and a tip;   inserting the tip of the arrow point into the inner chamber of the arrow point retainer at a first position, the plurality of finger members contacting the body portion and being spaced away from the blade portion in the first position;   inserting the tip of the arrow point into the inner chamber of the arrow point retainer at a second position, the plurality of finger members being resiliently flexed by contact with the body portion at the second position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising inserting a plurality of arrow points into the arrow point retainer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising inserting an arrow point from a first side of the arrow point retainer and inserting an arrow point from a second side of the arrow point container, the second side being opposite the first side.