Bullet trap and a method of using it

• US 4,846,043 A
• Filed: 02/16/1988
• Issued: 07/11/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stuart Langsam
• Original Assignee: Stuart Langsam
• Inventors: Langsam, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/157,056
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 273/404, 273/403, 273/410, 89/36.02, 89/1.1, 89/1.11
• US Class Current: 89/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 13/00 Bullet catchers

Abstract

A bullet trap comprises a lid over a container body holding aggregated, randomly- or not-randomly-arranged swatches of one or more types of polyacrylamide fiber material or the like. The lid is penetrable by bullets and the aggregated swatches slow any bullets which penetrate the lid sufficiently to retain them in the container. The bullet trap is intended for use in a method of safely loading and unloading firearms in which the firearm is aimed at the trap during loading and unloading to trap any bullets accidentally discharged during loading and unloading.

Claims

1. Method for safely trapping a bullet accidentally discharged from a firearm pointed generally downward during loading or unloading of such firearm in a confined area such as a police locker room or like area which comprises:

(a) providing in such confined area bullet trap means capable of trapping any bullets accidentally discharged from the firearm during loading or unloading thereof in such confined area, said trap means having a substantially horizontal lid member substantially equal in size to the largest cross-section of the trap means, all of said lid member being readily penetrable by an accidentally discharged bullet;

(b) pointing the firearm generally downwards at said horizontal lid member in such confined area;

(c) loading or unloading the firearm in such confined area while pointing same generally downwards at said horizontal lid member; and

(d) safely trapping any bullet accidentally discharged the firearm during loading or unloading in such confined area while pointing the firearm generally downwards at said horizontal lid member, any such accidentally discharged bullet penetrating said lid member and being safely trapped in said bullet trap means.