Bowfishing Arrow Locking Pin Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bowfishing arrows require complex and cumbersome procedures to remove the fish point from the fish after landing, often resulting in injury and inefficiency, as they need to be forced through the fish or have barbs reversed, which is difficult and time-consuming, especially when the fish is struggling.
Innovation Solution
A bowfishing arrow design featuring a movable outer sleeve and slidable locking pin mechanism that allows the barbs to lock and unlock, enabling the arrow to be easily removed from the fish using one hand without forcing the fish point through the fish, utilizing a coil spring and alignment peg to facilitate the barb position change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fish points with fixed barbs are used to hold the fish securely, then the fish is held firmly during retrieval, but the arrow cannot be easily removed from the fish without forcing it through or mutilating the fish
Solution Approach 1:
The barbs are made movable rather than fixed, allowing them to transition between an engaged position (holding the fish securely) and a retracted position (allowing easy arrow removal). The spring mechanism enables the barbs to dynamically adjust their state based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The fish point is divided into separable components: the barbs can be independently moved relative to the shaft through the slot mechanism, allowing the barbs to be engaged or disengaged from the fish without moving the entire arrow through the fish body.
2Ease of operation
If the arrow is forced through the fish to remove the fish point, then the arrow can be removed from the fish, but the fish flesh is torn and mutilated in the process
Solution Approach 1:
The barbs are extracted from the fixed structure and made movable through the slot mechanism, allowing them to be separated from the fish without forcing the entire arrow through the fish body. This eliminates the harmful effect of tearing fish flesh during arrow removal.
3Ease of operation
If the barbs are reversed or collapsed to remove the arrow from the fish, then the arrow can be pulled back through the fish, but this requires the bowfisherman to set down the bow and use both hands
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism automatically returns the barbs to their retracted position after the arrow penetrates the fish, eliminating the need for manual intervention to collapse or reverse the barbs. This allows one-handed operation throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The barbs automatically transition between engaged and retracted states through the spring mechanism, eliminating the need for complex manual operations to change barb configuration. The system self-adjusts based on the operational phase.
4Ease of operation
If the fish point must be removed from the end of the arrow to retrieve the arrow, then the arrow can be easily removed from the fish, but this requires the arrow to penetrate all the way through the fish
Solution Approach 1:
The barbs are extracted from the fixed structure and made movable through the slot mechanism, allowing them to be separated from the fish without forcing the entire arrow through the fish body. This eliminates the harmful effect of tearing fish flesh during arrow removal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables quick and safe removal of the arrow from the fish using a one-handed maneuver, reducing the risk of injury and time consumption, while maintaining a secure hold on the fish during retrieval.
Implementation Method 1
coil spring and alignment peg to facilitate the barb position change
Data Source
AI summary
A bowfishing arrow and method of bowfishing. The bowfishing arrow includes a shaft having a main stem. A locking pin is slidably movable within a bore of the main stem. A fish point with a pair of pivoting barbs is secured to the distal end of the main stem. An outer sleeve is longitudinally movable with respect to the main stem and the locking pin is engaged with the outer sleeve to move with the outer sleeve. The barbs pivot between a shooting position, a locked position, and an unlocked position. When in the locked position, an end of the locking pin is clamped between cams preventing the barbs from pivoting to toward the unlocked position and the shooting position until the fish is landed. A one-handed maneuver is all that is required to release the arrow from the fish after it is landed.