Broadhead

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure include a mechanical broadhead for use with an archery bow and arrow. In certain arrangements, a broadhead is provided that maintains the cutting blades in a retracted or closed position during flight of the arrow. Upon target contact, the blades expand outwardly from the closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A broadhead arrowhead, comprising:
 a broadhead body adapted to attach to an arrow shaft, the broadhead body having a forward end and having a shaft portion, the shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis;   a blade assembly slidably mounted on the shaft portion, including at least one blade pivotally operable between a closed position and an open position;   a deployment slider arranged on the broadhead body forward of the blade assembly, the deployment slider having a slider body and at least one laterally extending impact arm, with the impact arm engagable with the at least one blade to retain the blade in a closed position;   wherein after the initial impact, the slider body and the blade assembly move rearward relative to the shaft portion whereupon during the rearward movement the at least one blade is forced to rotate outward to a deployed position.   
     
     
       2. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a plurality of pivotally mounted blades in the blade assembly equally spaced around the shaft portion, each blade operable between a closed position and an open position, and the deployment slider having a plurality of laterally extending impact arms with each arm retaining a respective blade in a closed position.   
     
     
       3. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 2 , wherein each impact arm extends to engage a pivot control opening defined in one of the blades. 
     
     
       4. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 3 , wherein each impact arm extends laterally and then rearwardly and inwardly to a rearward end adjacent to and engaging a pivot control point defined in a respective one of the blades. 
     
     
       5. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 4 , wherein the forward lateral portion of each impact arm is angled forward from the slider body. 
     
     
       6. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 4 , wherein each rearward end is arranged in an offset and cantilevered position relative to the slider body. 
     
     
       7. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 2 , wherein in the closed arrangement, said slider applies a neutral retaining force or an inward biasing force to retain the blades in the closed position. 
     
     
       8. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 7 , wherein each impact arm defines a sharpened forward facing impact edge. 
     
     
       9. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 2 , wherein each impact arm is designed to break away from the slider body upon impact. 
     
     
       10. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 9 , comprising breakaway notches defined between the slider body and each arm to form defined breakage points. 
     
     
       11. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 10 , wherein rearward breakaway notches are defined along the rearward edge of the arm adjacent the junction between each impact arm and the slider body. 
     
     
       12. A broadhead arrowhead, comprising:
 a broadhead body adapted to attach to an arrow shaft, the broadhead body having a forward end and having a shaft portion, the shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis;   a blade assembly slidably mounted on the shaft portion and including a plurality of pivotally mounted blades, each blade operable between a closed position and an open position;   wherein each blade defines a pivot control point offset from the pivotal mounting point;   a deployment slider arranged on the broadhead body forward of the blade assembly, the deployment slider having a slider body and a plurality of impact arms, with each impact arm engagable with the pivot control point of a respective blade; and,   wherein upon an initial impact, each arm operates on a respective pivot control point to cause the respective blade to rotate, wherein after the initial impact, the slider body and the blade assembly move rearward relative to the shaft portion and wherein during the rearward movement the blades rotate outward to a deployed position.   
     
     
       13. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 12 , wherein each impact arm extends laterally and rearwardly to a pivot control point. 
     
     
       14. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 13 , wherein the pivot control point of each blade is a pivot tab. 
     
     
       15. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 14 , wherein each impact arm defines a notch which engages a pivot tab. 
     
     
       16. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 13 , wherein the pivot control point of each blade is a pivot control opening. 
     
     
       17. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 12 , wherein each impact arm is designed to break away from the slider body upon impact. 
     
     
       18. The broadhead arrowhead of  claim 17 , comprising breakaway notches defined adjacent the junction between the slider body and each impact arm to form defined breakage points. 
     
     
       19. A broadhead arrowhead, comprising: a broadhead body adapted to attach to an arrow shaft, the broadhead body having a forward end and having a shaft portion, the shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis;
 a blade assembly slidably retained on the shaft portion including a plurality of pivotally mounted blades operable between a closed position and an open position, each blade including a sharpened outward cutting edge, and each blade defining a plane parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis;   a deployment slider arranged on the broadhead body forward of the blade assembly, the deployment slider having a slider body and a plurality of impact arms, with each impact arm extending laterally in front of the forward facing edge of a respective blade.   
     
     
       20. A broadhead arrowhead, comprising:
 a broadhead body adapted to attach to an arrow shaft, the broadhead body having a forward end and having a shaft portion, the shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis;   a blade assembly slidably mounted on the shaft portion, including at least one blade pivotally operable between a closed position and an open position, wherein each of said at least one blades includes an outward cutting edge and a leading forward edge that extends to a leading tip;   a retaining element, wherein said retaining element includes a laterally extending impact arm, wherein said retaining element is in contact with the leading tip of each of said at least one blades, and wherein said retaining element is configured to retain each of said at least one blades in said closed position;   wherein after an initial impact, the blade assembly moves rearward relative to the shaft portion whereupon during the rearward movement the at least one blade is forced to rotate outward to a deployed position.   
     
     
       21. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 20, wherein said impact arm includes an outer end and wherein said outer end receives and encircles a blade leading tip of said at least one blade. 
     
     
       22. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 20, comprising:
 a plurality of pivotally mounted blades in the blade assembly equally spaced around the shaft portion, each blade operable between the closed position and an open position.   
     
     
       23. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 20, wherein said blade assembly includes a hub, wherein said hub is in contact with said shaft portion, and wherein said at least one blade is attached to an exterior surface of said hub. 
     
     
       24. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 23, wherein said hub is slidably mounted around said shaft portion. 
     
     
       25. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 20, wherein said retaining element is also in contact with the leading forward edge of each of said at least one blades. 
     
     
       26. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 20, wherein a rearward portion of the shaft portion transitions into a shelf extending radially outward from the shaft portion, and wherein an edge of the shelf forms a camming surface for the inward edge of each of said at least one blades. 
     
     
       27. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 26, wherein each of said at least one blades includes a retention notch, and wherein said retention notch is configured to abut said shelf when said blade assembly is in said closed position. 
     
     
       28. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 26, wherein said inward edge of each at least one blades includes a locking notch, wherein said locking notch is configured to abut said shelf when said blade assembly is in said open position. 
     
     
       29. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 20, wherein said shaft portion remains stationary as the blade assembly moves to said open position from said closed position. 
     
     
       30. A broadhead arrowhead, comprising:
 a broadhead body adapted to attach to an arrow shaft, the broadhead body having a forward end and having a shaft portion, the shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis;   a blade assembly slidably mounted on the shaft portion, including a plurality of blades pivotally operable between a closed position and an open position, wherein each of said blades is pivotally attached to a hub by a mounting post, and wherein said hub is slidably mounted around said shaft portion;   a retaining element engagable with each of said blades to retain the blades in said closed position, wherein said retaining element is positioned forward of said mounting post when said blades are in said closed position;   wherein after an initial impact the blades are forced to rotate outward to the open position.   
     
     
       31. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 30, where said retaining element is designed to break away from the blades upon the initial impact. 
     
     
       32. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 31, wherein said retaining element is frangible. 
     
     
       33. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 30, wherein said retaining element is in contact with a leading tip of each of the blades. 
     
     
       34. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 30, wherein an inward edge of each blade includes a retention notch, and wherein said retention notch is configured to abut a shelf extending radially outward from said shaft portion when said blade assembly is in said closed position. 
     
     
       35. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 34, wherein said inward edge of each blade includes a locking notch, and wherein said locking notch is configured to abut said shelf when said blade assembly is in said open position. 
     
     
       36. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 30, wherein said hub is in contact with said shaft portion and wherein said plurality of blades are attached to an exterior surface of said hub. 
     
     
       37. The broadhead arrowhead of claim 30, wherein said shaft portion remains stationary as the blade assembly moves to said open position from said closed position.