Customizable Projectile Designed for Separation
A projectile for a firearm and a method of making the projectile. The projectile separates into fragments upon striking a target. The direction and paths of the fragment are determined by the dimensions and shape of the fragments.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 61/885,306 filed Oct. 1, 2013 and U.S. Ser. No. 61/925,495 filed Jan. 9, 2014.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThe field of the invention is projectiles for use in cartridges fired from handguns and other firearms.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONThe typical projectile is designed to create a single trajectory through a target. This particular outcome may be adequate for target shooting; however, to create the most damage to a target, as is the case in hunting, it is desirable to have multiple projectiles in multiple trajectories. One method of producing multiple trajectories is to design a projectile which separates upon impact. Thus, when the projectile strikes a target, pieces of the original projectile break away from the original trajectory and proceed in a direction different from the original trajectory, maximizing the damage to the target.
A problem observed with current projectiles designed to break apart, is the inability to control the separation. The trajectories created by these projectiles are inconsistent, meaning the fragments may arbitrarily follow the same trajectory as the original projectile or separate trajectories. Also, the size and performance of the fragments may be inconsistent and unpredictable, the distance traveled by the fragment may be inconsistent, and the size of the fragment may be small or large, thus affecting the depth to which the fragments penetrate the target.
Projectiles designed for the controlled separation of fragments may rely on certain designs, which fail to maximize the damage to a target. Often, the material used to make the projectile is too soft to facilitate a clean separation without the use of a weakened point cut into the projectile. Additionally, scoring of the tail end of the projectile may be required to facilitate separation. The scoring of the tail end will result in the complete fragmentation of the projectile, not allowing any pieces to follow the original trajectory. Much more effective designs are achieved by the current invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe current invention comprises designs for the precise separation of a projectile, with the ability to create consistent separation and consistent trajectories of multiple pieces or fragments, thus maximizing control of the projectile and the damage inflicted on the target. The design of the projectile may be tailored to the specification of the shooter or designer. The projectile comprises materials which facilitate the precise separation of consistent fragments from the base. It is to be understood that the term “fragment”, as used in this specification, refers to the one or more projectiles, parts, or pieces that result when the original projectile separates into multiple parts or pieces in accordance with the design of the original projectile. For convenience, this specification will refer to the resulting projectiles, pieces, or parts as “fragments” to distinguish them from the original, whole projectile prior to separation or “fragmentation” into pieces, parts or fragments of the original projectile. Many of the fragments referenced in the specification will also be “projectiles” in their own right. The use of “fragment” is not intended to be technical or to describe something different from a “projectile”, but is merely used to distinguish the pieces of the designed projectile from the entire, assembled projectile.
The projectile is generally made of copper or similar material; however, any type of metal, composite, or combination thereof may be used. Other suitable materials may also be used. One or more fragments separate from the main projectile without the need for additional lines of weakness along the base of the projectile. The projectile may have one or more slits along the sides of the projectile to define the shape of the two or more newly separated fragments and facilitate precise, accurate separation, allowing the base projectile to maintain a consistent direction toward the main target site. The customized projectile may be made and marketed for special purposes, such as for hunters or competitive shooters, with certain shapes and/or colors designating each special purpose. The customized projectiles may also be made in special colors or styles for men, women, sports teams, and other persons or groups. The customization, thus, provides opportunities for marketing advantages for the manufacturer.
The projectile 100 contains slits 114 that begin at the top of the first portion 110. The slits 114 are perpendicular to the top edge of the first portion 110 and run vertically, ending just below the top edge of the second portion 116. However, the number, width and length of the slits 114 may vary. For example, the slits 114 may continue vertically into the third portion 112.
When the projectile 100 is fired from a firearm, the projectile 100 retains its original form until it makes contact with the target. Upon impact, the fragments 130 separate from the third portion 112 along the first portion 110 of the projectile 100, generally from the point at which the slits 114 end, although the projectile may be designed in a way to cause the fragments 130 to separate from another point on the projectile 100.
The adjustments made to the projectile 100 are used to precisely control the performance of the projectile 100 when fired from a firearm and upon impact. For example, an adjustment applied to the projectile 100 to make the opening 120 more or less wide may, upon impact with a target, cause the trajectory of the fragments 130 to travel farther away or closer to the trajectory of the original projectile 100. Similarly, the same adjustment may cause the fragments 130 to travel a shorter or farther distance once contact is made with a target. The precise separation of the fragments 130 from the projectile 100 and the ability to manipulate the performance of the projectile 100 is a benefit provided by the present invention which has not been provided by fragmenting projectiles currently found on the market.
Just as in
The design of the embodiment 400 provides the ability to control the separation of some of the fragments 430, while leaving one or more fragments 430 still attached to the third portion 412.
Another embodiment is shown in
Yet another embodiment is shown in
As shown in
An upper portion 607 of the sides of the hole 604 in the base 601 may have a larger diameter than the lower portion of the hole 604. This may be accomplished by beveling the upper portion 607 of the hole 604. The larger diameter or beveling allows the projection 610 of the tip 602 to more easily separate from the base 601 upon impact with a target.
The leading end 603 of the tip 602 shown in
In some cases it may be desired to create lines of weakness in the projectile 600 to aid the tip 602 in separating from the base 601.
The tip 602 fits on the base 601 as shown schematically in
When made with a copper base 601 and composite (such as Delrin®) tip 602 the projectile 600 has several advantages. The use of the lighter weight tip 602 favorably balances the projectile 600.
The performance of the projectile 600 is similar to the performance of a wadcutter. Wadcutters can do substantial damage to a target. They are accurate at short distances, but, due to the heavy, blunt leading end, are not accurate at longer distances. The use of the tip 602 increases the accuracy of the base 601 as it is propelled toward the target. When it reaches the target, the tip 602 separates from the base 601so that the base 601 can cause damage commensurate with that of a wadcutter even at longer distances due to the additional accuracy afforded by the tip 602. Moreover, since the base of the projectile 600 has a flat top and flat bottom, the projectile 600 (like a wadcutter) has sharp edges and, thus, a cutting effect when it hits a target. The damage (cavity) 620 in ballistic gel G effected by the use of the projectile 600 is shown schematically in
Thus, the above described alternative embodiment projectile 600 is a lighter projectile with greater kinetic energy, produces less recoil in the firearm than a conventional projectile, is more favorably balanced and accurate at longer distances than a wadcutter, creates a great deal more damage when it hits the target due to the separation of the tip 602 from the base 601, and results in less friction due to the ridges 606 on the base 601.
Claims
1. A firearm projectile that separates into fragments upon impact with a target, the projectile comprising:
- (a) a leading end portion;
- (b) a middle portion extending from the leading end portion to a base portion, the middle portion being connected to the leading end portion and the base portion at opposite ends of the middle portion;
- (c) one or more slits formed in the projectile and dividing the projectile into at least two, separated fragments, each fragment connected to the base portion, the separated fragments forming an opening therebetween;
- whereby, when the projectile strikes a target, the fragments separate from one another at the slits.
2. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the projectile is made of metal.
3. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the projectile is made of copper.
4. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the leading end forms a partial dome with a flattened top.
5. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the slits extend from the top of the leading end portion to a top of the base portion.
6. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the slits extend at an angle through the leading end portion.
7. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the slits are in the leading end portion.
8. The projectile of claim 1 wherein tops of the leading end portions are angled inward toward a center of the projectile.
9. The projectile of claim 1 wherein there are slits forming four or more fragments.
10. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the dimensions of the leading end portion and the middle portion are varied to alter the direction, speed, and path length of the leading end portion after the projectile strikes a target.
11. The projectile of claim 1 wherein Delrin® is contained in the opening between the fragments.
12. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the middle portion of the projectile is encased in a layer of Delrin®.
13. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the paths, speed, and directions of the projectiles after striking a target are changed based on the dimensions and shapes of the fragments.
14. A firearm projectile that separates into fragments upon impact with a target, the projectile comprising:
- (a) a base having a hole in an upper portion thereof;
- (b) a tip having a leading end and a bottom end, the bottom end having a projection extending therefrom that is inserted in the hole in the upper portion of the base;
- whereby, when the projectile strikes a target, the projection of the tip separates from the hole in the base, the tip separates from the base, and the base and the tip impact the target in separate locations.
15. The firearm projectile of claim 14 wherein the base has raised ridges.
16. The firearm projectile of claim 14 wherein the base is made of metal.
17. The firearm projectile of claim 14 wherein the base is made of copper.
18. The firearm projectile of claim 14 wherein the tip is made of composite material.
19. The firearm projectile of claim 14 wherein the tip is made of Delrin.
20. The firearm projectile of claim 14 wherein the leading end of the tip comprises a rounded, pointed, or flat surface.
21. The firearm projectile of claim 14 wherein the hole is beveled at an upper edge thereof.
22. The firearm projectile of claim 14 wherein the tip has one or more lines of weakness.
23. A method of making a firearm projectile that separates into fragments upon impact with a target, the method comprising:
- (a) forming a projectile comprised of a leading end portion and a base portion, the portions connected to one another;
- (b) shaping said portions so that they form an opening therebetween; and
- (c) cutting one or more lines of weakness in at least one of the portions to separate the projectile into fragments upon impact with a target.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein the projectile is formed out of metal.
25. The method of claim 23 wherein tops of the leading end portions of the fragments are angled inward toward a center of the projectile.
26. The method of claim 23 wherein Delrin® is placed in an opening between the fragments.
27. The method of claim 23 wherein Delrin is removably installed around the outside of one or more portions of the projectile.
28. The method of claim 23 wherein the projectile is formed with a lathe.
29. The method of claim 23 wherein the leading end portion of the projectile is formed as a partial dome with a flattened top.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 18, 2014
Publication Date: Apr 2, 2015
Applicant:
Inventors: Sean Burke (Pittsburg, KS), Ryan Kraft (Fort Scott, KS), Gary Buntain (Fort Scott, KS), Bo Watson (Fort Scott, KS)
Application Number: 14/489,815
International Classification: F42B 12/02 (20060101);