Arrow vane and method for the preparation thereof

Claim 1

The method of injection molding a vane for arrow shafts of a thermoplastic elastomeric polyurethane polymer wherein the vane includes a solid fletch defined by a curved outer edge and projecting from the point of a V shaped base with an obtuse inside V angle which attaches to the arrow shaft, the fletch having a cross-section which tapers away from the point of the V towards the edge of the fletch such that the fletch can wrinkle if the base is formed straight in molding which comprises: (a) providing mating injection molds with cavities having roughened surfaces defining the shape of the vane to be molded except that there is a reverse curve in the cavities for the base with a radius towards the point of the V and with a single gate into the cavity at one end of the base; (b) injection molding the polymer into the mated mold cavities through the gate at elevated temperatures such that the plastic is molded at a pressure of less than about 10,000 pounds per square inch, wherein the mold is at an elevated temperature less than a temperature at which the polymer is thermoplastic and wherein the vane is held in the mold until the plastic solidifies; (c) ejecting the vane from the mold and trimming the polymer at the gate wherein the reverse curve in the base decreases after the vane cools; and (d) curing the vane on a flat surface at room temperature for a period of time sufficient to prevent permanent deformation during storage, thereby forming a vane wherein the fletch does not wrinkle when the vane is attached to an arrow shaft due to the molded reverse curve in the base.

Claim 2

The method of injection molding a vane for arrow shafts of a thermoplastic elastomeric polyurethane polymer wherein the vane includes a solid fletch defined by a curved outer edge and projecting from the point of a V shaped base with an obtuse inside V angle which attaches to the arrow shaft, the fletch having a cross-section which tapers away from the point of the V towards the edge of the fletch such that the fletch can wrinkle if the base is formed straight in molding which comprises: (a) providing mating injection molds with cavities having roughened surfaces defining the shape of the vane to be molded except that there is a reverse curve in the cavities for the base with a radius towards the point of the V and with a single gate into the cavity at one end of the base; (b) injection molding the polymer into the mated mold cavities through the gate at elevated temperatures such that the plastic is molded at a pressure of less than about 10,000 pounds per square inch, wherein the mold is at an elevated temperature less than a temperature at which the polymer is thermoplastic and wherein the vane is held in the mold until the plastic solidifies; (c) ejecting the vane from the mold and trimming the polymer at the gate wherein the reverse curve in the base decreases after the vane cools; and (d) curing the vane on a flat surface at room temperature for a period of time sufficient to prevent permanent deformation during storage, thereby forming a vane wherein the fletch does not wrinkle when the vane is attached to an arrow shaft due to the molded reverse curve in the base.

Claim 9

The method of forming by molding an arrow vane with a base which attaches to the arrow and with a solid fletch defined by a curved outer edge projecting from the base, the fletch having a cross-section which tapers away from the base to the edge of the fletch such that the fletch can wrinkle if the base is formed straight in molding which comprises: (a) providing mating injection molds with cavities having roughened surfaces defining the shape of the vanes to be molded except that there is a reverse curve towards the fletch in the cavities for the vane base; (b) injection molding an elastomeric polyurethane polymer at less than 10,000 psi to form the vane; (c) ejecting the vane from the mold and trimming excess polymer wherein the reverse curve in the base decreases after the vane cools; and (d) curing the vane on a flat surface thereby forming a vane whch will not wrinkle when attached to an arrow shaft due to the molded reverse curve in the base.

Claim 10

The method of forming by molding an arrow vane with a base which attaches to the arrow and with a solid fletch defined by a curved outer edge projecting from the base, the fletch having a cross-section which tapers away from the base to the edge of the fletch such that the fletch can wrinkle if the base is formed straight in molding which comprises: (a) providing mating injection molds with cavities having roughened surfaces defining the shape of the vanes to be molded except that there is a reverse curve towards the fletch in the cavities for the vane base; (b) injection molding an elastomeric polyurethane polymer at less than 10,000 psi to form the vane; (c) ejecting the vane from the mold and trimming excess polymer wherein the reverse curve in the base decreases after the vane cools; and (d) curing the vane on a flat surface thereby forming a vane whch will not wrinkle when attached to an arrow shaft due to the molded reverse curve in the base.