Lighted Nock Activation Collar for Arrow Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighted nocks for bow hunting are inconvenient to use as they require repeated removal from the arrow shaft for activation and deactivation, leading to potential damage and missed shot opportunities, and pose a risk of spooking prey due to accidental activation.
Innovation Solution
A lighted nock system with a nock activation collar that allows for activation and deactivation without removing the nock from the arrow shaft, using a nock adaptor to fit various arrow shaft sizes and a method to operate the system in different modes while remaining inserted, including a deactivated, ready-to-fire, and activated state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the nock is removed from the arrow shaft for activation and deactivation, then the LED light source can be controlled, but the nock assembly may damage the arrow shaft and require repeated removal which is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the nock assembly into separable components: a nock body that remains permanently attached to the arrow shaft, and a removable activation collar that contains the LED and battery. This segmentation allows the activation mechanism to be controlled independently without removing the entire nock from the shaft, thus preventing damage while enabling convenient operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The activation collar serves as an intermediary component between the user and the LED light source. It provides a mechanical interface (teeth engagement) that allows activation and deactivation through rotation while the nock body remains securely attached to the shaft, mediating between the need for control and the need for stability.
2Illumination intensity
If the nock is pre-lighted before hunting, then the hunter can see the nock clearly, but battery power is wasted and prey may be spooked by visible lights
Solution Approach 1:
The LED light source operates periodically rather than continuously. The activation collar can be rotated to engage or disengage the LED circuit, allowing the light to be activated only when needed for tracking prey, thus conserving battery power while maintaining visibility when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system transitions from a static pre-lighted state to a dynamic on-demand activation system. The activation collar allows the hunter to adjust the lighting state dynamically based on current hunting conditions, enabling the light to be turned on only when prey tracking is needed and turned off to conserve power and avoid spooking prey.
3Ease of operation
If the nock is removed repeatedly for activation control, then the LED can be turned on and off, but shot opportunities may be missed and time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the nock assembly into a permanent nock body and a removable activation collar, the invention allows the collar to be quickly rotated to engage or disengage the LED circuit without requiring complete removal from the shaft. This eliminates the time-consuming process of removing and reinstalling the entire nock assembly while maintaining full control over light activation.
4Ease of manufacture
If a single nock size is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but it cannot fit various arrow shaft sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The nock body is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate different arrow shaft sizes. The activation collar incorporates adjustable or interchangeable components that allow the same nock assembly to fit various shaft diameters, providing multi-functionality while maintaining standardized manufacturing processes for the core components.
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 convenient and safe operation of lighted nocks by allowing activation and deactivation without removing the nock, reducing the risk of damage and missed shots, and preventing accidental activation, thus improving hunting efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Lighted nocks are typically lighted with a light emitting diode (LED) powered by a small battery
Data Source
AI summary
A lighted nock assembly may include an LED/battery assembly, a nock, a housing and a sleeve. The housing can be releasably coupled within the center opening of the nock sleeve and resist longitudinal translation of the battery relative to the nock sleeve. The nock translates longitudinally with respect to the nock sleeve between an activated configuration that activates the LED portion and a deactivated configuration that deactivates the LED portion without removing the LED/battery assembly from the nock sleeve.