Reversible Arrowhead Blades with Groove Edge Keepers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bow hunters face challenges in carrying a variety of arrow points due to the need for multiple types and the risk of points becoming damaged, leading to increased cost and equipment burden, as they often need to adapt to unexpected game sightings.
Innovation Solution
An arrowhead assembly featuring a ferrule with longitudinal grooves and reversible blades, where each blade has a base portion and a blade portion with a cutting edge that can be swept forward, allowing for easy replacement and adaptation of blade types, with a retainer that securely couples the blades to the ferrule, preventing contact with the ferrule and minimizing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hunters carry a wide variety of points to adapt to different game, then adaptability is improved, but equipment complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The arrow shaft is designed with a universal threaded insert that accepts multiple types of points (broadhead, field point, hunting point), allowing a single arrow to serve multiple functions for different game types. This eliminates the need to carry separate arrows for each point type, reducing equipment complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The point assembly is segmented into modular components that can be independently replaced. The threaded insert separates the arrow shaft from the point, enabling quick swapping of points without affecting the arrow shaft itself. This modular design allows hunters to carry fewer points while maintaining versatility.
2Reliability
If hunters carry multiple points of each type to replace damaged ones, then reliability is improved, but weight and equipment complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The points are designed with hardened cutting edges through heat treatment or material selection, changing the physical parameters of the cutting surface to increase durability and resistance to damage. This reduces the frequency of point failure, allowing hunters to carry fewer backup points while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If hunters carry multiple points of each type to replace damaged ones, then reliability is improved, but the cost of hunting equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each point type is designed to be universally compatible with the threaded insert system, allowing a single set of points to serve multiple purposes. For example, broadhead points can be used for both big game and medium game, reducing the total number of points needed and thereby reducing overall equipment cost while maintaining reliability.
4Productivity
If points are designed with exposed cutting edges for penetration, then effectiveness is improved, but the risk of damage to cutting edges increases
Solution Approach 1:
The points are pre-sharpened and heat-treated to create an hardened cutting edge that is more resistant to damage during field use. This preliminary preparation of the cutting edge allows it to maintain sharpness and resist chipping or rolling during the hunting process, balancing effectiveness with durability.
Data Source
AI summary
The arrowhead assembly has a ferrule having a tip end and an arrow end. The arrow end is structured and arranged to couple to an arrow shaft. The ferrule has plural slots or grooves extending longitudinally. The grooves receive blades. Each blade has a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion is received into a nook on the ferrule, while the rear portion forms a corner that is received by a collar on the ferrule. Some of the blades have first and second cutting edges, wherein the second cutting edge is inserted into the groove while the first cutting edge is exposed for cutting. The blades are reversible in that the first cutting edge can be put into the groove while the second cutting edge is exposed. The grooves have an edge keeper to prevent the cutting edge from becoming dulled through contact through the ferrule. There are also disclosed lopper type blades which have cutting edges swept forward.