Method for forming ballistic joints

• US 7,653,979 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2007
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Action Target Incorporated (Action Target Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Action Target Incorporated (Action Target Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Bateman, Kyle, Marshall, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant; David P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koehler; Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US11/781,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20080022847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 295/250.2, 295/251.1, 295/251.3, 294/62, 292/435.8, 298/973.2, 295/250.1, 89/360.2, 89/360.1, 428/58, 428/61, 413/4, 413/7, 403/205, 403/286, 403/293, 403/337, 403/402, 273/404, 273/408, 273/410, 109/79, 109/80
• US Class Current: 29/462
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/0053 Stud welding, i.e. resistive with an arc B23K9/20
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/18 Sheet panels
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/506 bolted or riveted
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 13/00 Bullet catchers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49629 Panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49892 Joining plate edge perpendicularly to frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49948 Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49966 with supplemental joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/50 Bridged by diverse connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/551 Externally bridged

Abstract

A bullet trap is disclosed which is formed without intervening sidewalls to enable cross-shooting and the like with reduced risk or ricochet or damage to the bullet trap. Furthermore, the bullet trap can be configured in a variety of ways to eliminate the need for facing plates while providing a removable attachment mechanism, to enable repair on the trap, to reduce bullet adhesion to the trap and to provide improved containment of lead and improved access to the trap.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

selecting a first piece of plate metal;

selecting a second piece of plate metal;

welding a plurality of nuts to a peripheral edge one a back side of each of the first and second pieces of plate metal;

placing the peripheral edge having the plurality of permanently affixed nuts of the first piece of plate metal adjacent to the peripheral edge having the plurality of permanently affixed nuts of the second piece of plate metal;

extending a plurality of bolts through a backing plate which simultaneously covers the peripheral edge having the plurality of permanently affixed nuts of the first piece of plate metal and the peripheral edge having the plurality of permanently affixed nuts of the second piece of plate metal; and

securing the plurality of bolts to the plurality of nuts so that the first piece of plate metal is secured to the second piece of plate metal by the backing plate, such that the plurality of bolts are not presented on a front side of the first and second pieces of plate metal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the welding is spot welding.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the welding is one of arc welding, mig welding, and tig welding.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a dampening filler material between the first piece of plate metal and the second piece of plate metal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first piece of plate metal and the second piece of plate metal are configured to be impacted by bullets.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching a third piece of plate metal to at least one of the first piece of plate metal and the second piece of plate metal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the third piece of plate metal is disposed between the backing plate and the first and second pieces of plate metal.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the third piece of plate metal is attached adjacent to at least one of the first piece of plate metal and the second piece of plate metal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a front side of the first and second pieces of plate metal are free from fasteners.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the backing plate includes a plurality of holes, each of the plurality of holes corresponding to each of the plurality of nuts.