# US 8,465,384 B2 · Fletching sleeve system and method of application and manufacture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,384 B2 - Document ID: US8465384B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/615,119 - Filed: 2012-09-13 - Published: 2013-03-21 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-15 - Applicants: Ben D. Blosser; Sean E. Gordon - Inventors: Ben D. Blosser; Sean E. Gordon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465384B2 ## CPC - F42B 6/06: Tail ends, e.g. nocks, fletching - F41B 5/1446: {Arrow fletching jigs} - F41B 5/148: {Accessories and tools for bow shooting not otherwise provided for} - F42B 33/001: {Devices or processes for assembling ammunition, cartridges or cartridge elements from parts} - Y10T 29/53909: Means comprising hand manipulatable tool - Y10T 29/53952: Tube sleeve or ferrule applying or removing - F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D) - F41B: WEAPONS FOR PROJECTING MISSILES WITHOUT USE OF EXPLOSIVE OR COMBUSTIBLE PROPELLANT CHARGE; WEAPONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (projectiles for fishing, e.g. fish-spears, A01K81/00; sports implements for throwing A63B65/00, e.g. boomerangs A63B65/08; stationary apparatus for projecting sports balls, e.g. tennis balls, A63B69/40; throwing or slinging toys A63H33/18; knives, axes B26B; projectiles or missiles other than those incorporating springs as projecting means F42B6/00) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A disclosed fletching sleeve system and method of application and manufacture includes a fletching sleeve configured to frictionally fit onto an arrow shaft. The sleeve defines glue application holes and channels or cavities on an inner surface thereof adjacent the glue holes. Glue disposed on the arrow shaft at the holes is drawn into conduits formed between the channels and/or cavities with the arrow shaft. The sleeve also comprises three vanes formed integrally with the sleeve as one piece. One of the vanes may comprise a recessed surface to receive a decorating or indicia sticker flush with the vane. A collet application tool comprises two semi-cylindrical fingers extending orthogonally from a handle body, the fingers configured to hold and expand the sleeve as it and the collet are slid over the arrow nock and shaft. A dual core pin method of manufacturing enables forming a straighter sleeve and facilitates draft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An archery fletching sleeve configured to fit around an arrow shaft, the sleeve comprising a plurality of cavities and contact portions on an inner surface of the sleeve, the cavities configured to form at least one channel together with the arrow shaft for an application of an adhesive there between and the contact portions configured to directly contact the arrow shaft, the channel(s) configured to interconnect a plurality of glue holes or portals defined in the sleeve and draw a glue applied to the holes or portals through the channel(s) via a capillary action in the formed channel(s). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fletching sleeve of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a channel height to a vane height is 1 part channel height to 60 parts vane height plus or minus a manufacturing tolerance of 10%. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fletching sleeve of claim 1, wherein a portion of the sleeve over the cavities forms a raised rib portion on an outside surface of the sleeve in order to maintain a constant thickness of the sleeve over the cavities. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fletching sleeve of claim 1, wherein the cavities form one of a slot, a square, a rectangular and an oblong shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fletching sleeve of claim 1, wherein the cavities are configured to form a stretch area between a sleeve area above each cavity and another area of the sleeve, the stretch areas configured to lower an overall stretch resistance of the sleeve to facilitate an application of the sleeve onto the arrow shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fletching sleeve of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of glue holes defined in the sleeve wherein a cavity is formed one of adjacent a glue hole and formed concentric with a glue hole. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fletching sleeve of claim 1, further comprising at least 3 vanes longitudinally attached to the sleeve, one of the vanes comprising a recess configured to receive one of a sticker and a graphic plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fletching sleeve of claim 1, wherein the cavities form a plurality of slots on an inner surface of the sleeve, the slots configured to interconnect a plurality of glue holes defined in the sleeve, the slots configured to form channels with the arrow shaft and draw a glue applied to the holes through the slots via a capillary action in the formed channels. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fletching sleeve of claim 1, further comprising the cavities configured to form a plurality of slots on an inner surface of the sleeve, the slots configured to be parallel with an elongate axis of the sleeve, the slots configured to form a plurality of stretch sutures between a sleeve portion above each slot and another portion of the sleeve, the stretch sutures configured to lower an overall stretch resistance of the sleeve to facilitate an application of the sleeve onto the arrow shaft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fletching sleeve of claim 1, further comprising the cavities configured to form a plurality of circumferential slots on the inner surface of the sleeve, the circumferential slots concentric with a center defined in the sleeve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fletching sleeve of claim 1, further comprising the cavities configured to form a plurality of slots on an inner surface of the sleeve wherein the slots comprise a depth of (5 thousandths of an inch) 0.13 mm to (10 thousandths of an inch) 0.25 mm and a width of (one thousandths of an inch) 0.03 mm thus configured to form a capillary column able to draw a cyanoacrylate glue across a length of (1.75 inches) 44.5 mm against the force of gravity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fletching sleeve of claim 1, further comprising the cavities configured to form a plurality of slots on an inner surface of the sleeve wherein a length of a slot extends from a first end of the sleeve to a second end of the sleeve and the length is nominally (1.75 inches) 44.5 mm including one of a ten percent plus and a ten percent minus manufacturing tolerance. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The fletching sleeve of claim 1, further comprising the cavities configured to form a plurality of slots on an inner surface of the sleeve wherein the slots comprise one configuration of substantially orthogonal internal vertices and another semi-circular configuration with no vertices and any other slot-like configuration. ### Claim 14 An archery fletching sleeve configured to fit around a commercially available arrow shaft, the sleeve defining at least one adhesive application portal formed together with the arrow shaft to receive an adhesive during an application thereof onto the arrow shaft wherein an adhesive application portal comprises any length, radius and shape in the sleeve and be joined by a plurality of glue slots of any length formed on an inside of the fletching sleeve running longitudinally, radially and any direction from one of a portal to another portal and to a slot dead-end. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fletching sleeve of claim 14, wherein the adhesive application portal(s) comprise(s) raised portions configured to protrude above an outside diameter of the sleeve and receive and contain the adhesive for application onto the arrow shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The fletching sleeve of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of longitudinal vanes, wherein the vanes are one of attached to the sleeve and formed as an integral part of the sleeve, the vanes further configured to be one of offset from an elongate axis of the sleeve and formed in-line with the elongate axis of the sleeve, the offset axis configured to impart an aerodynamic spin to the arrow in flight. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The fletching sleeve of claim 14, a ratio of a slot height to a sleeve thickness/height is 1 part slot height to 3 parts sleeve thickness/height plus or minus a manufacturing tolerance of 10%. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The fletching sleeve of claim 14, wherein an adhesive application portal formed at an end of the fletching sleeve by a slot term therein is configured to draw glue from a bead of glue disposed around the end of the fletching sleeve into and through the channels formed with the slots and the arrow shaft. ### Claim 19 An archery fletching sleeve configured to fit around a commercially available arrow shaft, the sleeve comprising at least one adhesive application portal therein, wherein a ratio of portal area to sleeve surface area is at least one part portal area in 18.4 parts sleeve surface area, the portal(s) configured to receive an adhesive applied to the arrow shaft at the portal(s). ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The fletching sleeve of claim 19, further comprising a ratio of an area of the adhesive applied to the arrow shaft at the portal(s) to be at least one part in 18.4 parts sleeve surface area.