Patents by Inventor Robert Charles Nichols

Robert Charles Nichols has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11852449
    Abstract: Bismuth-based firearm projectiles, optionally firearm cartridges containing the same, and methods for forming bismuth-tin-copper alloys or bismuth-nickel alloys and bismuth-based firearm projectiles are disclosed herein. The bismuth-based firearm projectiles include a projectile body comprising a bismuth-tin-copper alloy or bismuth-nickel alloy that forms at least 90 wt % of the projectile body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Federal Cartridge Company
    Inventors: Robert Charles Nichols, Zachary Hugh Smith, Ralph Nauman
  • Publication number: 20220397377
    Abstract: Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges, and methods for forming the same. The projectiles are formed from metal powder and include an anti-sparking agent. One or more of iron, zinc, bismuth, tin, copper, nickel, tungsten, boron, and/or alloys thereof may form the metal powder. The projectiles may be formed from a compacted mixture of two or more different metal powders. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid, zinc chloride, and/or petrolatum. The anti-sparking agent may be dispersed within, and/or applied as a coating on, the exterior of the projectile. The compacted mixture may be heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. Such domains may be formed by a mechanism that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does form a liquid phase of the metal powder or utilize a polymeric binder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Joseph Franklin Morse, Ralph Nauman, Robert Charles Nichols
  • Publication number: 20220205766
    Abstract: Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges containing the same, and methods for forming the same. The firearm projectiles are formed from compacted metal powders that may include an anti-sparking agent. The compacted metal powders may be or include a compacted mixture of metal powders that may include powders of one or more of iron, zinc, bismuth, copper, tungsten, nickel, boron, and/or alloys thereof, and/or oxides thereof. The compacted mixture may be heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. The frangible firearm projectile may be formed by a mechanism that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does not include forming a liquid phase of any of the metal powders or utilizing a polymeric binder. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Joseph Franklin Morse, Ralph Nauman, Robert Charles Nichols
  • Patent number: 11359896
    Abstract: Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges, and methods for forming the same. The projectiles are formed from metal powder and include an anti-sparking agent. One or more of iron, zinc, bismuth, tin, copper, nickel, tungsten, boron, and/or alloys thereof may form the metal powder. The projectiles may be formed from a compacted mixture of two or more different metal powders. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid, zinc chloride, and/or petrolatum. The anti-sparking agent may be dispersed within, and/or applied as a coating on, the exterior of the projectile. The compacted mixture may be heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. Such domains may be formed by a mechanism that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does form a liquid phase of the metal powder or utilize a polymeric binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Federal Cartridge Company
    Inventors: Joseph Franklin Morse, Ralph Nauman, Robert Charles Nichols
  • Publication number: 20220120543
    Abstract: Bismuth-based firearm projectiles, optionally firearm cartridges containing the same, and methods for forming bismuth-tin-copper alloys or bismuth-nickel alloys and bismuth-based firearm projectiles are disclosed herein. The bismuth-based firearm projectiles include a projectile body comprising a bismuth-tin-copper alloy or bismuth-nickel alloy that forms at least 90 wt % of the projectile body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Charles Nichols, Zachary Hugh Smith, Ralph Nauman
  • Patent number: 11280597
    Abstract: Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges containing the same, and methods for forming the same. The firearm projectiles are formed from compacted metal powders that may include an anti-sparking agent. The compacted metal powders may be or include a compacted mixture of metal powders that may include powders of one or more of iron, zinc, bismuth, copper, tungsten, nickel, boron, and/or alloys thereof, and/or oxides thereof. The compacted mixture may be heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. The frangible firearm projectile may be formed by a mechanism that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does not include forming a liquid phase of any of the metal powders or utilizing a polymeric binder. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Federal Cartridge Company
    Inventors: Joseph Franklin Morse, Ralph Nauman, Robert Charles Nichols
  • Publication number: 20210048280
    Abstract: Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges containing the same, and methods for forming the same. The firearm projectiles are formed from compacted metal powders that may include an anti-sparking agent. The compacted metal powders may be or include a compacted mixture of metal powders that may include powders of one or more of iron, zinc, bismuth, copper, tungsten, nickel, boron, and/or alloys thereof, and/or oxides thereof. The compacted mixture may be heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. The frangible firearm projectile may be formed by a mechanism6 that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does not include forming a liquid phase of any of the metal powders or utilizing a polymeric binder. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Joseph Franklin Morse, Ralph Nauman, Robert Charles Nichols
  • Patent number: 10900759
    Abstract: Die assemblies for forming a firearm projectile and methods of utilizing the die assemblies are disclosed herein. The die assemblies include a forming die, a first punch, and a second punch. The forming die defines a first side, a second side that is opposed to the first side, and a die cavity that extends between the first side and the second side. The first punch is configured to seal against the forming die from the first side. The second punch is configured to be received within the die cavity from the second side. When the first punch seals against the forming die and the second punch is received within the die cavity, the first punch, the second punch, and the forming die collectively define a forming surface shaped to define an external contour of the firearm projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Environ-Metal, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Charles Nichols
  • Patent number: 10690465
    Abstract: Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges containing the same, and methods for forming the same. The firearm projectiles are formed from compacted metal powders that may include an anti-sparking agent. The compacted metal powders may be or include a compacted mixture of metal powders that may include powders of one or more of iron, zinc, bismuth, copper, tungsten, nickel, boron, and/or alloys thereof, and/or oxides thereof. The compacted mixture may be heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. The frangible firearm projectile may be formed by a mechanism that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does not include forming a liquid phase of any of the metal powders or utilizing a polymeric binder. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Environ-Metal, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Franklin Morse, Ralph Nauman, Robert Charles Nichols
  • Publication number: 20200141708
    Abstract: Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges containing the same, and methods for forming the same. The firearm projectiles are formed from compacted metal powders that may include an anti-sparking agent. The compacted metal powders may be or include a compacted mixture of metal powders that may include powders of one or more of iron, zinc, bismuth, copper, tungsten, nickel, boron, and/or alloys thereof, and/or oxides thereof. The compacted mixture may be heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. The frangible firearm projectile may be formed by a mechanism that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does not include forming a liquid phase of any of the metal powders or utilizing a polymeric binder. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Joseph Franklin Morse, Ralph Nauman, Robert Charles Nichols
  • Publication number: 20200094319
    Abstract: Die assemblies for forming a firearm projectile and methods of utilizing the die assemblies are disclosed herein. The die assemblies include a forming die, a first punch, and a second punch. The forming die defines a first side, a second side that is opposed to the first side, and a die cavity that extends between the first side and the second side. The first punch is configured to seal against the forming die from the first side. The second punch is configured to be received within the die cavity from the second side. When the first punch seals against the forming die and the second punch is received within the die cavity, the first punch, the second punch, and the forming die collectively define a forming surface shaped to define an external contour of the firearm projectile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventor: Robert Charles Nichols
  • Publication number: 20190242681
    Abstract: Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges, and methods for forming the same. The projectiles are formed from metal powder and include an anti-sparking agent. One or more of iron, zinc, bismuth, tin, copper, nickel, tungsten, boron, and/or alloys thereof may form the metal powder. The projectiles may be formed from a compacted mixture of two or more different metal powders. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid, zinc chloride, and/or petrolatum. The anti-sparking agent may be dispersed within, and/or applied as a coating on, the exterior of the projectile. The compacted mixture may be heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. Such domains may be formed by a mechanism that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does form a liquid phase of the metal powder or utilize a polymeric binder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Franklin Morse, Ralph Nauman, Robert Charles Nichols
  • Patent number: 10260850
    Abstract: Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges containing the same, and methods for forming the same. The firearm projectiles are formed from a compacted mixture of metal powders that includes zinc and iron powders and which may include an anti-sparking agent. The compacted mixture is heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. The frangible firearm projectile may be formed by a mechanism that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does not include forming a liquid phase of any of the metal powders or utilizing a polymeric binder. A majority component of the frangible firearm projectile may be iron. One or more of zinc, bismuth, tin, copper, nickel, tungsten, boron, and/or alloys thereof may form a minority component of the frangible firearm projectile. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Environ-Metal, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Franklin Morse, Ralph Nauman, Robert Charles Nichols
  • Publication number: 20170268858
    Abstract: Frangible firearm projectiles, firearm cartridges containing the same, and methods for forming the same. The firearm projectiles are formed from a compacted mixture of metal powders that includes zinc and iron powders and which may include an anti-sparking agent. The compacted mixture is heat treated for a time sufficient to form a plurality of discrete alloy domains within the compacted mixture. The frangible firearm projectile may be formed by a mechanism that includes vapor-phase diffusion bonding and oxidation of the metal powders and that does not include forming a liquid phase of any of the metal powders or utilizing a polymeric binder. A majority component of the frangible firearm projectile may be iron. One or more of zinc, bismuth, tin, copper, nickel, tungsten, boron, and/or alloys thereof may form a minority component of the frangible firearm projectile. The anti-sparking agent may include a borate, such as boric acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph Franklin Morse, Ralph Nauman, Robert Charles Nichols