Projectiles for ammunition and methods of making and using the same

• US 10,126,105 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantum Ammunition, LLC
• Original Assignee: Quantum Ammunition, LLC
• Inventors: Lemke, Paul, Marin, Juan Carlos, Johnson, Steven Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Semick, Joshua T
• Application Number:
  US15/668,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20180045496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/24 with inclined grooves
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/74 of the core or solid body
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/76 of the casing
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/10 Air gun pellets ; Ammunition for air guns, e.g. propellant-gas containers

Abstract

Projectiles for ammunition and ammunition for firearms are disclosed. Methods of making projectiles for ammunition and ammunition for firearms, and methods of using projectiles for ammunition and ammunition for firearms are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A projectile (1) for ammunition, said projectile (1) comprising an outer profile geometry on an impact end portion (5) thereof, said outer profile geometry comprising three or more notches (2) equally spaced from one another and extending in an axial orientation relative to a dissecting axis (3) extending longitudinally through said impact end portion (5) of said projectile (1), wherein each of said three or more notches (2) (a) comprises notch surface portions (4,7) so as to increase (i) an overall outer surface area of said impact end portion (5) of projectile (1), and (ii) a given length of an outer surface periphery (S_p) extending along a line within a plane normal to said dissecting axis (3), (b) has a notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) extending axially through and being located along a path that represents a largest depth within said notch (2), and (c) extends a length substantially equal to a distance along said dissecting axis (3) from a projectile tip end (18) of said projectile (1) to a transition periphery (52) along said projectile (1), said transition periphery (52) separating said impact end portion (5) of said projectile (1) from a cylindrical portion (6) extending from said transition periphery (52) towards an opposite end (61) of said projectile (1), and

wherein each of said three or more notches (2) further comprises:

a notch dissecting line (L_nd) extending axially through and being centrally located within said notch (2),

notch outer periphery points (P_L,P_R) along an outer notch perimeter (21) on opposite sides of said notch dissecting line (L_nd), and

right and left-hand line portions (22_L,22_R) of a normal line extending from said notch dissecting line (L_nd) to each notch outer periphery point (P_L,P_R), wherein each of said right and left-hand line portions (22_L,22_R) (i) increases in length along at least a first portion of said notch dissecting line (L_nd) and subsequently (ii) decreases in length along at least a second portion of said notch dissecting line (L_nd) extending between an uppermost periphery portion (23) of said notch (2) and a lowermost periphery portion (24) of said notch (2).

2. The projectile (1) of claim 1, wherein said impact end portion (5) comprises a metal, wherein said metal is selected from brass, silver, lead, lead alloy, copper plated lead alloy, copper, or stainless steel.

3. The projectile (1) of claim 1, wherein said notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) of each notch (2) curves as said notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) moves from said uppermost periphery portion (23) of each notch (2) to said lowermost periphery portion (24) of each notch (2).

4. The projectile (1) of claim 3, wherein said notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) of each notch (2) has a J-shape or reverse J-shape as said notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) moves from said uppermost periphery portion (23) of each notch (2) to said lowermost periphery portion (24) of each notch (2).

5. The projectile (1) of claim 1, wherein said notch surface portions (4,7) comprise one or more cylindrically-shaped notch surface portions (4,7).

6. The projectile (1) of claim 1, wherein said opposite end (61) of said projectile (1) has a truncated cone shape or a reduced diameter cylindrical shape.

7. The projectile (1) of claim 1, wherein said projectile (1) comprises three notches (2).

8. The projectile (1) of claim 1, wherein said projectile (1) comprises four notches (2).

9. A composite or polymer casing comprising the projectile (1) of claim 8 mounted therein.

10. A metal casing comprising the projectile of claim 8 mounted therein.

11. A box of composite casings comprising:

one or more composite or polymer or metal casings in combination with the projectile of claim 8;

a cartridge-holding device; and

an outer box sized to contain said cartridge-holding device with the one or more composite or polymer or metal casings in combination with said projectile positioned therein.

12. A method of making the projectile of claim 8, said method comprising:

molding or machining metal to form the projectile.

13. A method of using the projectile (1) of claim 8, said method comprising:

positioning a composite or polymer or metal casing comprising the projectile (1) in a chamber of a projectile-firing weapon; and

firing the weapon.

14. A method of using the projectile (1) of claim 8, said method comprising:

positioning the projectile (1) in a chamber of a projectile-firing compressed air weapon; and

firing the weapon.

15. A projectile (1) for ammunition, said projectile (1) comprising an outer profile geometry on an impact end portion (5) thereof, said outer profile geometry comprising three or four notches (2) equally spaced from one another and extending in an axial orientation relative to a dissecting axis (3) extending longitudinally through said impact end portion (5) of said projectile (1), wherein each of said three or four notches (2) (a) comprises notch surface portions (4,7) so as to increase (i) an overall outer surface area of said impact end portion (5) of projectile (1), and (ii) a given length of an outer surface periphery (S_p) extending along a line within a plane normal to said dissecting axis (3), (b) has a notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) extending axially through and being located along a path that represents a largest depth within said notch (2), wherein said notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) has a J-shape or reverse J-shape as said notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) moves from an uppermost periphery portion of said notch to a lowermost periphery portion of said notch, and (c) extends a length substantially equal to a distance along said dissecting axis (3) from a projectile tip end (18) of said projectile (1) to a transition periphery (52) along said projectile (1), said transition periphery (52) separating said impact end portion (5) of said projectile (1) from a cylindrical portion (6) extending from said transition periphery (52) towards an opposite end (61) of said projectile (1),

wherein said impact end portion (5) comprises a metal, wherein said metal is selected from brass, silver, lead, lead alloy, copper plated lead alloy, copper, or stainless steel.

16. A method of using the projectile (1) of claim 15, said method comprising:

positioning a composite or polymer or metal casing comprising the projectile (1) in a chamber of a projectile-firing weapon; and

firing the weapon.

17. The projectile (1) of claim 15, wherein each of said three or four notches (2) further comprises:

a notch dissecting line (L_nd) extending axially through and being centrally located within said notch (2),

notch outer periphery points (P_L,P_R) along an outer notch perimeter (21) on opposite sides of said notch dissecting line (L_nd), and

right and left-hand line portions (22_L,22_R) of a normal line extending from said notch dissecting line (L_nd) to each notch outer periphery point (P_L,P_R), wherein each of said right and left-hand line portions (22_L,22_R) (i) increases in length along at least a first portion of said notch dissecting line (L_nd) and subsequently (ii) decreases in length along at least a second portion of said notch dissecting line (L_nd) extending between an uppermost periphery portion (23) of said notch (2) and a lowermost periphery portion (24) of said notch (2).

18. A projectile (1) for ammunition, said projectile (1) comprising an outer profile geometry on an impact end portion (5) thereof, said outer profile geometry comprising three or more notches (2) equally spaced from one another and extending in an axial orientation relative to a dissecting axis (3) extending longitudinally through said impact end portion (5) of said projectile (1), wherein each of said three or more notches (2) (a) comprises notch surface portions (4,7) so as to increase (i) an overall outer surface area of said impact end portion (5) of projectile (1), and (ii) a given length of an outer surface periphery (S_p) extending along a line within a plane normal to said dissecting axis (3), (b) has a notch depth dissecting line (Lad) extending axially through and being located along a path that represents a largest depth within said notch (2), (c) extends a length substantially equal to a distance along said dissecting axis (3) from a projectile tip end (18) of said projectile (1) to a transition periphery (52) along said projectile (1), said transition periphery (52) separating said impact end portion (5) of said projectile (1) from a cylindrical portion (6) extending from said transition periphery (52) towards an opposite end (61) of said projectile (1), and (d) comprises (i) a notch dissecting line (L_nd) extending axially through and being centrally located within said notch (2), (ii) notch outer periphery points (P_L,P_R) along an outer notch perimeter (21) on opposite sides of said notch dissecting line (La), and (iii) right and left-hand line portions (22_L,22_R) of a normal line extending from said notch dissecting line (L_nd) to each notch outer periphery point (P_L,P_R), wherein each of said right and left-hand line portions (22_L,22_R) (a) increases in length along at least a first portion of said notch dissecting line (L_nd) and subsequently (b) decreases in length along at least a second portion of said notch dissecting line (L_nd) extending between an uppermost periphery portion (23) of said notch (2) and a lowermost periphery portion (24) of said notch (2).

19. The projectile (1) of claim 18, wherein said opposite end (61) of said projectile (1) has a reduced diameter cylindrical shape.

20. The projectile (1) of claim 19, wherein said projectile (1) further comprises a shelf connecting said cylindrical portion (6) and said reduced diameter cylindrical shape of said opposite end (61), said shelf extending along an outer periphery of said projectile (1).