Spinning and exploding projectile

• US 6,349,651 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maxam Outdoors, S.A. (Maxamcorp Holding S.L.)
• Original Assignee: Juan Martinez Garcia
• Inventors: Martinez Garcia, Juan
• Primary Examiner(s): TUDOR, HAROLD JAY
• Application Number:
  US09/716,444
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 102/439, 102/448, 102/501, 102/506-510, 102/517-519, 102/491-493, 244/3.23
• US Class Current: 102/517
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/02 Bullets
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 7/10 Ball or slug shotgun cartridges

Abstract

A projectile for use in hunting is formed of a hard tapered first body, and second and third bodies disposed behind the first body. The three bodies are connected together by an axial stem extending rearwardly from the first body and a securing nut threaded onto its end to attach the bodies together. A chamber in the second body is closed by the first body. When the first body impacts a hard object, the chamber and air therein are pressurized to cause explosion of the second body to generate shrapnel. The outer surfaces of the second and third bodies have helical grooves for guidance and spinning of the projectile. At a rear end of the projectile, the outer surface is provided with an annular smooth area to fit complementarily with the smooth interior surface of the gun barrel, to prevent leakage of combustion gases.

Claims

1. A projectile for use in a weapon having a barrel with a smooth internal surface, said projectile comprising:

a first body comprising a forwardly tapered tip having a front end and a rear end;

a second body having a front end and a rear end, said rear end of said first body resting on said front end of said second body;

a third body having a front end and a rear end, said rear end of said second body resting on said front end of said third body, such that said first, second and third bodies are aligned along an axial direction;

an axially elongated stem extending rearwardly from said rear end of said first body;

a securing member secured to a rear end of said stem, such that said second and third bodies are secured between said first body and said securing member; and

a cover mounted to said rear end of said third body and concealing said securing member;

wherein an axial chamber is formed in said second body behind said first body.

2. A projectile according to claim 1, wherein

said tapered tip is formed of a material harder than a material of said second body, and said third body is formed of a plastic material.

3. A projectile according to claim 2, wherein

said material of said tapered tip comprises steel, and said material of said second body comprises lead.

4. A projectile according to claim 2, wherein

said axial chamber opens through said front end of said second body and is closed in a sealed manner by said rear end of said first body.

5. A projectile according to claim 4, wherein

said securing member comprises a nut threaded onto said rear end of said stem.

6. A projectile according to claim 1, wherein

said axial chamber opens through said front end of said second body and is closed in a sealed manner by said rear end of said first body.

7. A projectile according to claim 1, wherein

said securing member comprises a nut threaded onto said rear end of said stem.

8. A projectile according to claim 1, wherein

said second and third bodies together form a forwardly tapered body.

9. A projectile according to claim 8, wherein

helical grooves are formed in an outer surface of said forwardly tapered body to cause spinning of said projectile in the barrel of the weapon.

10. A projectile according to claim 9, wherein

a smooth annular area is formed at a rear end of said outer surface of said forwardly tapered body to fit complementarily with the smooth interior surface of the barrel of the weapon, to prevent leakage of combustion gases.

11. A projectile according to claim 1, wherein

said second and third bodies together have a continuous outer surface;

and

helical grooves are formed in said continuous outer surface to cause spinning of said projectile in the barrel of the weapon.

12. A projectile according to claim 11, wherein

a smooth annular area is formed at a rear end of said continuous outer surface to fit complementarily with the smooth interior surface of the barrel of the weapon, to prevent leakage of combustion gases.

13. A projectile according to claim 1, wherein

a smooth annular area is formed on an outer surface at a rear end of said second body to fit complementarily with the smooth interior surface of the barrel of the weapon, to prevent leakage of combustion gases.

14. A projectile according to claim 1, wherein

said chamber is formed in said second body such that, upon impact of said first body with a hard object, air in said chamber is compressed to explode said second body to create shrapnel.

15. A projectile according to claim 14, wherein

said axial chamber opens through said front end of said second body and is closed in a sealed manner by said rear end of said first body.

16. A projectile according to claim 1, wherein

a cavity is formed in said rear end of said second body;

and

said front end of said third body has a projection portion which is complementary to said cavity and disposed in said cavity.

17. A projectile according to claim 16, wherein

said cavity has a laterally projecting cleft;

and

said projection portion includes a laterally projecting intrusion portion complementary to said cleft and disposed in said cleft.

18. A projectile according to claim 1, wherein

said rear end of said third body has a recess formed therein;

and

said cover is complementary to said recess and disposed in said recess.