Projectiles with light transmissive tips

• US 20070131130A1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: OLIN Corporation
• Original Assignee: OLIN Corporation
• Inventors: Stock, Michael, Gardner, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/512,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20070131130A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/473
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/36 for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/74 of the core or solid body

Abstract

A projectile according exemplary embodiments generally includes a body. The body has a generally cylindrical proximal portion and an ogival distal portion terminating at a distal rim. The ogival distal portion includes a distal-facing aperture extending inwardly from the distal rim into the body. The projectile also includes a nose element. The nose element has a proximal section extending at least partially into the distal-facing aperture, and an ogival distal section external to the distal-facing aperture. At least a portion of the nose element is at least partially light transmissive through which at least some ambient light is transmissible and visually perceptible to an observer.

Claims

1. A projectile comprising a body having a generally cylindrical proximal portion and an ogival distal portion terminating at a distal rim, the ogival distal portion including a distal-facing aperture extending inwardly from the distal rim into the body, and a nose element having a proximal section extending at least partially into the distal-facing aperture, and an ogival distal section external to the distal-facing aperture, at least a portion of the nose element being at least partially light transmissive through which at least some ambient light is transmissible and visually perceptible to an observer.

2. The projectile of claim 1 wherein substantially the entire ogival distal section of the nose element is light transmissive.

3. The projectile of claim 2 wherein substantially the entire nose element is light transmissive.

4. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the nose element includes a proximal-facing shoulder intermediate the proximal and distal ends of the nose element, the proximal-facing shoulder substantially abutting against the distal rim of the body, thereby forming a relatively smooth transition from the nose element to the body.

5. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the ogival distal section of the nose element terminates in a point at the distal end thereof.

6. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the proximal section of the nose element comprises a generally cylindrical shaft, and wherein the distal-facing aperture of the body comprises a generally cylindrical passage configured to engagingly receive the generally cylindrical shaft.

7. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the nose element is made from at least one of a translucent material and a transparent material.

8. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the nose element is made from a red translucent polycarbonate.

9. The projectile of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the nose element is colored and visually perceptible to an observer.

10. The projectile of claim 9 wherein the colored portion is at least partially light transmissive.

11. The projectile of claim 1 wherein substantially the entire ogival distal section of the nose element is light transmissive and colored in the visible spectrum.

12. The projectile of claim 1 wherein substantially the entire nose element is light transmissive and colored in the visible spectrum.

13. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the nose element comprises at least one or more of a red portion, an orange portion, a yellow portion, a green portion, a cyan portion, a blue portion, an indigo portion, a violet portion, a portion having a non-metallic color, one or more special effect pigments, and glitter.

14. A projectile comprising a light transmissive tip at a distal end portion of the projectile through which at least some ambient light is transmissible and visually perceptible to an observer.

15. The projectile of claim 14 wherein the light transmissive tip is made from at least one of a translucent material and a transparent material.

16. The projectile of claim 14 wherein the light transmissive tip is made from a red translucent polycarbonate.

17. The projectile of claim 14 wherein the light transmissive tip includes an ogival portion terminating in a point at the distal end thereof.

18. The projectile of claim 14 wherein the light transmissive tip is colored in the visible spectrum.

19. The projectile of claim 14 wherein the light transmissive tip comprises at least one or more of a red portion, an orange portion, a yellow portion, a green portion, a cyan portion, a blue portion, an indigo portion, a violet portion, a portion having a non-metallic color, one or more special effect pigments, and glitter.

20. A nose element for a projectile the nose element comprising at least a portion that is at least partially light transmissive through which at least some ambient light is transmissible and visually perceptible to an observer.

21. The nose element of claim 20 wherein the nose element is made from at least one of a translucent material and a transparent material.

22. The nose element of claim 20 wherein the nose element is made from a red translucent polycarbonate.

23. The nose element of claim 20 wherein at least a portion of the nose element is colored.

24. The nose element of claim 23, wherein the light transmissive portion comprises the colored portion.

25. The nose element of claim 20 wherein the light transmissive portion comprises at least one or more of a red portion, an orange portion, a yellow portion, a green portion, a cyan portion, a blue portion, an indigo portion, a violet portion, a portion having a non-metallic color, one or more special effect pigments, and glitter.

26. An ammunition round comprising the nose element of claim 20

27. A method of enhancing the cosmetic appearance of a projectile having a body, the method comprising coupling to the body a tip having at least a portion that is at least partially light transmissive through which at least some ambient light is transmissible and visually perceptible to an observer.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein substantially the entire tip is light transmissive.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the tip is colored in the visible spectrum.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising providing a first type of projectile with a first tip configuration, and providing a second type of projectile with a second tip configuration, the first and second tip configurations including at least one of a different color and a different light transmissibility to thereby differentiate between the first and second types of projectiles.