Bullet trap

• US 7,793,937 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2008
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• 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, Bassett, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Mark S
• Application Number:
  US12/250,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20090096173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 273/403, 273/404, 273/407, 273/408, 273/410
• US Class Current: 273/410
• 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: F41J 13/00 Bullet catchers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

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 bullet trap comprising:

a containment chamber comprising;

an inlet for allowing bullets to enter the containment chamber;

at least one impact plate configured for decelerating bullets;

an outlet for allowing decelerated bullets to exit the containment chamber; and

a plurality of supports configured for supporting the at least one impact plate, each of the plurality of supports comprising at least one impact plate flange; and

at least one clamp for holding the at least one impact plate against the at least one impact plate flange to thereby attach the at least one impact plate to the plurality of supports; and

wherein the at least one clamp is configured for holding the at least one impact plate against the at least one impact plate flange without penetrating through the impact plate.

2. The bullet trap of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of plates disposed generally opposite one another and extending toward one another as the plurality of plates extend toward the containment chamber to define a narrowing channel for directing bullets into the containment chamber.

3. The bullet trap of claim 2, wherein the channel is defined by an upper channel plate and a lower channel plate.

4. The bullet trap of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of supports further comprises at least one channel plate flange for attaching the upper channel plate and lower channel plate to the support.

5. The bullet trap of claim 4, wherein the at least one channel plate flange is separate from the at least one impact plate flange.

6. The bullet trap of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of supports comprises an upper channel plate flange for attaching the upper channel plate to the support and a lower channel plate flange for attaching the lower channel plate to the support.

7. The bullet trap of claim 3, wherein the upper channel plate comprises a first section disposed at a first angle relative to horizontal and a second section disposed at a second angle relative to horizontal.

8. The bullet trap of claim 7, wherein the upper channel plate further comprises a third section disposed at a third angle relative to horizontal.

9. The bullet trap of claim 8, wherein the upper channel plate further comprises a fourth section disposed at a fourth angle relative to horizontal.

10. The bullet trap of claim 3, wherein the lower channel plate comprises a first section disposed at a first angle relative to horizontal and a second section disposed at a second angle relative to horizontal.

11. The bullet trap of claim 10, wherein the lower channel plate further comprises a third section disposed at a third angle relative to horizontal.

12. The bullet trap of claim 3, wherein the upper channel plate further comprises a handle disposed thereon.

13. The bullet trap of claim 6, wherein the upper channel plate is attached to the bottom of the upper channel plate flange and the lower channel plate is attached to the top of the lower channel plate flange.

14. The bullet trap of claim 1, wherein each of the supports comprises a first impact plate flange and a second impact plate flange, and wherein the bullet trap comprises a first impact plate and a second impact plate.

15. The bullet trap of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of supports comprises a support frame, and wherein the at least one impact plate flange is formed integrally with the support frame.

16. The bullet trap of claim 15, wherein the support frame, other than the impact plate flange, does not extend into the containment chamber.

17. The bullet trap of claim 15, further comprising a channel for directing bullets into the inlet, and wherein the support frame does not extend into the channel.

18. The bullet trap of claim 15, wherein the plurality of clamps are attached to the support frame.

19. The bullet trap of claim 1, wherein the at least one clamp comprises a plurality of clamps disposed along the plurality of supports to clamp the at least one impact plate against the at least one impact flange without penetrating therethrough.

20. The bullet trap of claim 1, wherein the at least one impact plate held by the at least one clamp comprises a plate that is generally arcuate.

21. The bullet trap of claim 20, wherein the at least one impact plate held by the at least one clamp comprises at least two generally arcuate plates.

22. The bullet trap of claim 1, wherein the containment chamber is configured to direct a projectile passing through the inlet in a generally circular path as the bullet decelerates.

23. A bullet trap comprising:

a containment chamber comprising;

an inlet for allowing bullets to enter the containment chamber;

at least one impact plate configured for decelerating bullets;

an outlet for allowing decelerated bullets to exit the containment chamber; and

a plurality of supports configured for supporting the at least one impact plate, each of the plurality of supports comprising at least one impact plate flange; and

at least one clamp for holding the at least one impact plate against the at least one impact plate flange to thereby attach the at least one impact plate to the plurality of supports, wherein each of the supports comprises a first impact plate flange and a second impact plate flange, and wherein the bullet trap comprises a first impact plate and a second impact plate; and

wherein the first impact plate is attached to the outside of the first impact plate flange and the second impact plate is attached to the-outside of the second impact plate flange such that the insides of the first impact plate flange and second impact plate flange define part of the containment chamber surface.

24. A bullet trap comprising:

a containment chamber comprising;

an inlet for allowing bullets to enter the containment chamber;

at least one impact plate configured for decelerating bullets;

an outlet for allowing decelerated bullets to exit the containment chamber; and

a plurality of supports configured for supporting the at least one impact plate, each of the plurality of supports comprising at least one impact plate flange; and

at least one clamp for holding the at least one impact plate against the at least one impact plate flange to thereby attach the at least one impact plate to the plurality of supports, and

wherein the at least one clamp comprises a plurality of rotatable cams.

25. A bullet trap comprising:

a containment chamber comprising;

an inlet for allowing bullets to enter the containment chamber;

at least one impact plate configured for decelerating bullets;

an outlet for allowing decelerated bullets to exit the containment chamber; and

a plurality of supports configured for supporting the at least one impact plate, each of the plurality of supports comprising at least one impact plate flange; and

at least one clamp for holding the at least one impact plate against the at least one impact plate flange to thereby attach the at least one impact plate to the plurality of supports;

wherein the plurality of supports each comprises a support frame; and

wherein the support frame does not substantially extend into the containment chamber, and wherein the impact plate flange does extend into the containment chamber.

26. A bullet trap comprising:

a first bullet trap section comprising at least one impact plate defining a containment chamber section configured for directing a bullet in a generally circular deceleration path;

a second bullet trap section comprising at least one impact plate defining a containment chamber section configured for directing a bullet in a generally circular deceleration path;

a first support disposed between the first bullet trap section and the second bullet trap section so as to join the first bullet trap section to the second bullet trap section so as to form a single elongate containment chamber, the first support comprising;

a support frame, the support frame extending generally around the exterior of the containment chamber;

at least one impact plate flange attached to the support frame; and

at least one clamp for holding the at least one impact plates of the adjacent bullet trap sections against the at least one impact plate flange to thereby attach the at least one impact plate to the support frame.

27. The bullet trap of claim 26, wherein the support frame, other than the impact plate flange, does not extend into the containment chamber.

28. The bullet trap of claim 26, wherein the at least one impact plate flange is disposed in the containment chamber and forms a part of the containment chamber impact surface.

29. The bullet trap of claim 26, wherein the at least one impact plate of each of the bullet trap sections comprises a front impact plate and a rear impact plate, and wherein the impact plates are generally curved in shape to form a generally cylindrical containment chamber.

30. The bullet trap of claim 26, wherein the at least one clamp comprises a plurality of rotatable cams attached to the support frame and configured to hold the plurality of impact plates against the outside of the at least one impact plate flange.

31. The bullet trap of claim 30, wherein the inside surface of the impact plate flange forms part of the surface of the containment chamber.

32. The bullet trap of claim 26, further comprising a channel for directing bullets into the containment chamber.

33. The bullet trap of claim 32, wherein the channel comprises an upper channel plate and a lower channel plate the upper channel plate and the lower channel plate sloping toward one another so as to define a narrowing channel.

34. The bullet trap of claim 33, wherein the upper channel plate comprises a first section disposed at a first angle relative to horizontal and a second section disposed at a second angle relative to horizontal, and wherein the second angle is smaller than the first angle.

35. The bullet trap of claim 34, wherein the upper channel plate further comprises a third section disposed at a third angle relative to horizontal, and wherein the third angle is greater than the second angle.

36. The bullet trap of claim 33, wherein the lower channel plate comprises a first section disposed at a first angle relative to horizontal and a second section disposed at a second angle relative to horizontal, and wherein the second angle is less than the first angle.

37. A bullet trap comprising:

a first bullet trap section comprising at least one impact plate defining a containment chamber section;

a second bullet trap section comprising at least one impact plate defining a containment chamber section;

a first support disposed between the first bullet trap section and the second bullet trap section so as to join the first bullet trap section to the second bullet trap section so as to form a single elongate containment chamber, the first support comprising;

a support frame, the support frame extending generally around the exterior of the containment chamber;

at least one impact plate flange attached to the support frame;

at least one clamp for holding the at least one impact plate of the adjacent bullet trap sections against the at least one impact plate flange to thereby attach the at least one impact plate to the support frame; and

a channel for directing bullets into the containment chamber, wherein the channel comprises an uninterrupted inlet extending across the first bullet trap section and the second bullet trap section.

38. The bullet trap of claim 37, wherein the support frame does not extend into the containment chamber in the area of the containment chamber immediately adjacent the inlet.

39. The bullet trap of claim 37, wherein the support frame does not extend into the containment chamber to an extent greater than half of the diameter of the containment chamber.

40. The bullet trap of claim 37, wherein the support frame does not substantially extend into the containment chamber.

41. A bullet trap comprising:

at least one impact plate forming a first containment chamber section;

a first support disposed at a first end of the first containment chamber section, the first support having at least one flange thereon;

at least one rotatable cam configured for holding the at least one impact plate against the at least one flange of the first support;

a second support disposed at a second end of the first containment chamber section, the second support having at least one flange thereon; and

at least one rotatable cam configured for holding the at least one impact plate against the at least one flange of the second support.

42. The bullet trap of claim 41, wherein at least one flange of the first support and the at least one flange of the second support form part of the first containment chamber section.

43. The bullet trap of claim 41, wherein the first support comprises a support frame, and wherein the at least one flange and the at least one rotatable cam are attached to the support frame.

44. The bullet trap of claim 41, further comprising at least one impact plate forming a second containment chamber section, wherein a first end of the second containment chamber section is disposed adjacent the second edge of the first containment chamber section.

45. The bullet trap of claim 44, further comprising at least one rotatable cam for holding the at least one impact plate of the second containment chamber section against the at least one flange of the second support.

46. The bullet trap of claim 45, wherein the second support is open through a middle thereof so as to unify the first containment chamber section and second containment chamber section into a single containment chamber.

47. The bullet trap of claim 44, further comprising a third support disposed at a second end of the second containment chamber section, the third support comprising at least one flange, and further comprising at least one rotatable cam configured for holding the at least one impact plate of the second containment chamber against the at least one flange of the third support.

48. The bullet trap of claim 44, further comprising a continuous inlet configured for allowing bullets to enter the first containment chamber section and the second containment chamber section.

49. The bullet trap of claim 44, further comprising at least one additional containment chamber section disposed between the first containment chamber section and the second containment chamber section and connecting the first containment chamber section and second containment chamber section into a continuous elongate containment chamber.

50. A bullet trap comprising:

a first bullet trap section having a first end and a second end, the first bullet trap section comprising a plurality of impact plates configured to form a bullet containment chamber section;

a second bullet trap section having a first end and a second end, the second bullet trap section comprising a plurality of impact plates configured to form a containment chamber section, wherein the first end of the second bullet trap section is connected to the second end of the first bullet trap section;

a first terminal support attached to the first end of the first bullet trap section, the terminal support comprising;

a support frame, the support frame extending so as to close an end of the containment chamber adjacent the first end of the first bullet trap section;

at least one impact plate flange attached to the support frame; and

a plurality of clamps for holding the plurality of impact plates of the first bullet trap section against the at least one impact plate flange to thereby attach the plurality of impact plates to the support frame;

a second terminal support attached to the second end of the second bullet trap section, the terminal support comprising;

a support frame, the support frame extending so as to close an end of the containment chamber adjacent the second end of the second bullet trap section;

at least one impact plate flange attached to the support frame; and

a plurality of clamps for holding the plurality of impact plates of the second bullet trap section against the at least one impact plate flange to thereby attach the plurality of impact plates to the support frame; and

wherein the plurality of clamps push the impact plates against an outside surface of the impact plate flanges such that an inside surface of the impact plate flanges define part of the containment chamber impact surface.

51. The bullet trap of claim 50, further comprising a first central support disposed between the second end of the first bullet trap section and the first end of the second bullet trap section, the central support comprising:

a support frame;

at least one impact plate flange attached to the support frame; and

a plurality of clamps for holding the plurality of impact plates of the adjacent bullet trap section against the at least one impact plate flange to thereby attach the plurality of impact plates to the support frame.

52. The bullet trap of claim 51, wherein the support frame of the central support extends around the exterior of the containment chamber.

53. The bullet trap of claim 51, wherein the support frame of the central support does not extend into the containment chamber beyond the at least one impact plate flange.

54. The bullet trap of claim 50, wherein the plurality of clamps are attached to the support frame and push the impact plates against the impact plate flanges.

55. The bullet trap of claim 54, wherein the plurality of clamps comprise a plurality of cams.

56. The bullet trap of claim 50, wherein the plurality of impact plates of each bullet trap section comprises a front impact plate and a rear impact plate configured so as to form a generally cylindrical containment chamber when the plurality of impact plates are clamped against the impact plate flange.

57. The bullet trap of claim 50, further comprising a channel for directing bullets into the containment chamber.

58. The bullet trap of claim 57, wherein the channel comprises an upper channel plate and a lower channel plate.

59. The bullet trap of claim 58, wherein at least one of the upper channel plate and lower channel plate comprises a plurality of channel plate sections disposed at different angles relative to horizontal.

60. A bullet trap comprising:

a containment chamber comprising;

an inlet for allowing bullets to enter the containment chamber;

at least one impact plate configured for decelerating bullets;

an outlet for allowing decelerated bullets to exit the containment chamber; and

a plurality of supports configured for supporting the at least one impact plate, each of the plurality of supports comprising at least one impact plate flange; and

at least one clamp for holding the at least one impact plate against the at least one impact plate flange to thereby attach the at least one impact plate to the plurality of supports; and

wherein the at least one impact plate comprises an impact plate held by the at least one clamp, the impact plate having a plurality of bends formed therein.

61. A bullet trap comprising:

a bullet containment chamber, the containment chamber comprising an inlet, a plurality of plates disposed to direct a projectile in a generally circular path while it decelerates, and an outlet;

a support having at least one flange, extending outwardly therefrom in a generally arcuate pattern; and

a plurality of clamps for holding the plurality of plates to the to the at least one flange.

62. The bullet trap of claim 61, wherein the at least one flange comprises a first, generally arcuate flange and a second, generally arcuate flange, and a void defined between the first generally arcuate flange and the second generally arcuate flange.