Apparatus and method for decelerating projectiles

• US 6,378,870 B1
• Filed: 12/24/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Action Target Incorporated (Action Target Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Action Target Incorporated (Action Target Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Sovine, H. Addison
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US09/471,626
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 273/410, 273/402-409, 89/360.2
• US Class Current: 273/410
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 13/00 Bullet catchers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for decelerating projectiles includes the use of rubber nuggets. The nuggets are preferably between 15 and 25 millimeters to decrease sluffing when disposed at an incline. Preferably, the nuggets are coated with a fire retardant which promotes adhesion in the presence of heat. If applied in a solution, the fire retardant can also be dried on the rubber nuggets to promote adhesion between the rubber pieces. Furthermore, glue may be mixed with the nuggets or applied with the fire retardant solution to further increase adhesion between the pieces of rubber and promote stability of the layer of rubber nuggets.

Claims

1. A method for forming a bullet trap, the method comprising:

selecting an inclined surface;

selecting pieces of rubber having an average diameter of between about 15 and 25 millimeters;

disposing the pieces of rubber to form a layer on the inclined surface; and

applying a fire retardant to the pieces of rubber which will not inhibit adhesion of the pieces of rubber in the presence of heat.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises applying a fire retardant to the pieces of rubber which promotes adhesion between the pieces of rubber.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the method comprises selecting borax and mixing the borax with the pieces of rubber.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises forming a solution containing the fire retardant and mixing the solution with the pieces of rubber.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the solution is sprayed on the pieces of rubber.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises applying glue to the pieces of rubber.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the glue is applied to the pieces of rubber in a solution.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the glue is mixed with the fire retardant.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the method further comprises periodically rewetting the pieces of rubber to cause the glue to adhere pieces of rubber together.

10. A method for forming a bullet trap, the method comprising:

forming an inclined surface;

disposing a plurality of pieces of rubber on the inclined surface to form a layer of rubber on the inclined surface; and

selecting a fire retardant which promotes adhesion between pieces of rubber under heat; and

mixing the fire retardant with the pieces of rubber.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method comprises selecting borax as the fire retardant.

12. The method according to claim 10, where the method further comprises selecting pieces of rubber having an average diameter of at least 15 millimeters.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method comprises selecting pieces of rubber having an average diameter of between 15 millimeters and 25 millimeters.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprises mixing the fire retardant in a solution and applying the solution to the pieces of rubber.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising mixing the pieces of rubber with glue.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the glue is mixed in a solution and then applied to the pieces of rubber.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises periodically wetting the glue to cause the glue to adhere pieces of rubber together.

18. A method for forming a bullet trap, the method comprising;

forming an inclined surface;

selecting pieces of rubber and disposing the pieces of rubber on the incline surface to form an inclined layer of rubber having an exposed surface disposed generally parallel to the inclined surface; and

selecting a glue capable of adhering pieces of rubber together and mixing the glue with the pieces of rubber to maintain the inclined layer of rubber.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the method comprises mixing the glue in a solution and applying the solution to the pieces of rubber.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the pieces of rubber are selected to have an average diameter between about 15 millimeters and 25 millimeters.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the method further comprises applying a fire retardant to the pieces of rubber.

22. The method according to claim 18 wherein clumps of rubber are formed by adhering pieces of rubber together and wherein the method further comprises removing the pieces of rubber from the inclined surface with an auger which will break at least some of the clumps of rubber into smaller pieces.

23. A method for forming a bullet trap, the method comprising;

forming an inclined surface;

selecting pieces of rubber and disposing the pieces of rubber on the incline surface to form an inclined layer of rubber having an exposed surface disposed generally parallel to the inclined surface;

selecting a glue capable of adhering pieces of rubber together and mixing the glue with the pieces of rubber to maintain the inclined layer of rubber; and

applying a fire retardant to the pieces of rubber, wherein the fire retardant is mixed in a solution and applied to the pieces of rubber so that the solution dries on the pieces of rubber.

24. A method for forming a bullet trap, the method comprising;

forming an inclined surface;

selecting pieces of rubber and disposing the pieces of rubber on the incline surface to form an inclined layer of rubber having an exposed surface disposed generally parallel to the inclined surface;

selecting a glue capable of adhering pieces of rubber together and mixing the glue with the pieces of rubber to maintain the inclined layer of rubber; and

applying a fire retardant to the pieces of rubber, wherein the fire retardant is selected from fire retardants which will not inhibit adhesion between the pieces of rubber in the presence of heat.

25. A bullet trap for decelerating bullets, the trap comprising:

an inclined surface;

a layer disposed on the inclined surface, the layer being formed from pieces of rubber material, the pieces of rubber material having an average diameter of between about 15 and 25 millimeters; and

a fire retardant which does not inhibit the adhesion of pieces of rubber to one another in the presence of heat.

26. The bullet trap according to claim 25, wherein the fire retardant is mixed with the pieces of rubber material, wherein the fire retardant is selected from the group consisting of fire retardants which do not promote adhesion of the pieces of rubber material under heat.

27. The bullet trap according to claim 25, wherein the bullet trap further comprises glue mixed with the pieces of rubber material.

28. A bullet trap for receiving bullets and decelerating the same, the bullet trap comprising:

an inclined surface;

a layer disposed on the inclined surface, the layer being formed by pieces of rubber material; and

glue mixed with the pieces of rubber material forming the layer for holding pieces of rubber material together to form an inclined rubber surface substantially held in place by the glue.

29. A bullet trap for decelerating bullets, the trap comprising:

an inclined surface;

a layer disposed on the inclined surface, the layer being formed from pieces of rubber material; and

a solution containing fire retardant applied to the pieces of rubber such that when the solution dries, the pieces of rubber are adhered together.