Projectile with expanding members

• US 6,240,849 B1
• Filed: 06/10/1999
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher A. Holler
• Original Assignee: Christopher A. Holler
• Inventors: Holler, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TUDOR, HAROLD JAY
• Application Number:
  US09/329,820
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 102/371, 102/400, 102/439, 102/501, 102/504, 102/507, 102/517, 244/3.3, 89/13.4
• US Class Current: 102/439
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/14 using fins spread or deployed after launch, e.g. after leaving the barrel
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/02 characterised by the warhead or the intended effect
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/82 reducing friction
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/04 Lubrication means in missiles coatings for reducing friction F42B12/82
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/02 Bullets

Abstract

A projectile attachment is disclosed that has open-biased arm members that can be either mounted directly onto the projectile base or may be mounted to a mutual connection means which is then attached to the projectile base. The arms are compressed into a restrained position so that they may be inserted into the casing of the bullet. Upon firing, the arms extend to the unrestrained position. Upon impact the projectile penetrates the target then the extended arm members engage the target surface to cause widespread damage while slowing the projectile. The members may optionally have hook-like ends.

Claims

1. An expandable attachment for a lethal projectile comprising:

a plurality of deformable open biased members having a plurality of member ends including a joining end and a second end, wherein each of the deformable open biased members is resilient and capable of bending from a first memory position to a second memory position;

wherein the joining end of the deformable members are attached to the rear of the projectile such that upon firing of the projectile, the resilience of the deformable members causes the deformable members to respectively bend from the first memory position to the second memory position to radially expand with respect to each other, springing forward the second member ends with respect to the direction of travel of the projectile, wherein when the projectile is disposed in a barrel of a firing means, with the barrel having an inner barrel wall, each deformable open-biased member includes a contact region engaging the inner wall of the barrel, the contact region of each member is positioned between the respective joining end and the respective second end, and each second end is positioned away from the barrel wall, and

wherein, when the projectile penetrates an object, said second member ends of the deformable members, with the deformable members disposed in the second memory position, engage the object to create more widespread destruction of the object, said member ends effectively slowing the projectile once inside the object thereby limiting penetration distance.

2. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 1 wherein each deformable open biased member is made of spring steel.

3. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 2 wherein the deformable open-biased members have the respective first memory position in an unrestrained condition and the respective second memory position in a restrained condition, the first memory position is naturally assumed when in the unrestrained condition, and the second memory position is assumed in the restrained condition.

4. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 3

wherein each deformable open-biased member being coated with a sacrificial material applied to the contact region at a point of contact of the barrel inner wall and the contact region of each member such that when the projectile is fired, the sacrificial material is worn off as the projectile exits the barrel of the firing means thereby limiting damage to the barrel wall as the members scrape along the barrel inner wall.

5. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 2 wherein each deformable open-biased member has a substantially flat cross section.

6. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 2 wherein the second end of each deformable open-biased member includes a hook.

7. An expandable attachment for a lethal projectile comprising:

a plurality of deformable open-biased members having a plurality of member ends including a joining end and a second end wherein each of the deformable open-biased members is resilient and capable of bending from a first memory position to a second memory position;

wherein the joining end of the deformable members are attached to a mutual connection means, the connection means is mountable on the rear of the projectile such that upon firing of the projectile, the resilience of the deformable members causes the deformable members to respectively bend from the first memory position to the second memory position to radially expand with respect to each other springing forward the second member ends with respect to the direction of travel of the projectile, wherein when the projectile is disposed in a barrel of a firing means, with the barrel having an inner barrel wall, each deformable open-biased member includes a contact region engaging the inner wall of the barrel, the contact region of each member is positioned between the respective joining end and the respective second end, and each second end is positioned away from the barrel wall, and

wherein, when the projectile penetrates object, said second member ends of the deformable members, with the deformable members disposed in the second memory position, engage the object to create more widespread destruction of the object, said members effectively slowing the projectile once inside the object effectively limiting penetration distance.

8. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 7 wherein each deformable open-biased member is made of spring steel.

9. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 8 wherein the deformable open-biased members have the respective first memory position in an unrestrained condition and the respective second memory position in a restrained condition, the first memory position is naturally assumed when in the unrestrained condition, and the second memory position is assumed in the restrained condition.

10. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 9

wherein each deformable open-biased member being coated with a sacrificial material applied to the contact region at a point of contact of the barrel inner wall and the contact region of each member such that when the projectile is fired, the sacrificial material is worn off as the projectile exits the barrel of the firing means thereby limiting damage to the barrel wall as the members scrape along the barrel inner wall.

11. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 8 wherein each deformable open-biased member has a substantially flat cross section.

12. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 8 wherein the second end of each deformable open-biased member includes a hook.

13. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 8 wherein the connection means to the base of the projectile includes a weld joint.

14. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 8 wherein the connection means to the base of the projectile includes a threaded joint.

15. A firearm cartridge with an expandable attachment comprising:

a casing comprising a base with primer, and a side wall forming a powder chamber with a chamber area;

a projectile with an expandable attachment comprising

a plurality of deformable open-biased members having a plurality of member ends including a joining end and a second end, wherein each of the deformable open-biased members is resilient and capable of bending from a first memory position to a second memory position;

wherein the respective joining end of the deformable members are attached to the rear of the projectile, the members naturally disposed by the resilience of the members to extend outward from the first memory position to the second memory position, the members compressed toward each other when in the first memory position, trailing a body of the projectile so that the members in the first memory position may be located inside the chamber area, wherein when the cartridge is disposed in a barrel of a firearm, with the barrel having an inner barrel wall, each deformable open-biased member includes a contact region engaging the inner wall of the barrel, the contact region of each member is positioned between the respective joining end and the respective second end, and each second end is positioned away from the barrel wall,

the chamber area filled with powder surrounding the deformable members;

wherein upon firing of the projectile, the primer igniting the powder, the expanding gases therefrom causing the projectile to travel along the barrel of the firearm, the deformable members contact the barrel walls as the projectile travels the length of the barrel, upon exiting the barrel the deformable members outwardly expand to respectively bend from the first memory position to the second memory position to achieve an unrestrained condition with respect to each other, springing forward the second member ends with respect to the direction of travel of the projectile,

wherein when the projectile penetrates an object, said second member ends engage the object to create more widespread destruction of the object, said second member ends effectively slowing the projectile once inside the object thereby limiting penetration distance.

16. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 15 wherein each deformable open-biased member is made of spring steel.

17. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 16 wherein the deformable open-biased members have the respective first memory position in the unrestrained condition and the respective second memory position in a restrained condition, the first memory position is naturally assumed when in the unrestrained condition, and the second memory position is assumed in the restrained condition.

18. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 17

wherein each deformable open-based member being coated with a sacrificial material applied to the contact region at a point of contact of the barrel inner wall and the contact region of each member such that when the firearm cartridge is fired, the sacrificial material is worn off as the projectile from the firearm cartridge exits the barrel of the firearm thereby limiting damage to the barrel inner wall as the members scrape along the barrel inner wall.

19. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 16 wherein each deformable open-biased member has a substantially flat cross section.

20. The expandable attachment for a lethal projectile of claim 16 wherein the second end of each deformable open-biased member includes a hook.