Bullet trap

• US 8,091,896 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2010
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• 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: Lambert, Spencer, Bateman, Kyle, Marshall, Thomas, Bassett, David
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US12/830,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 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 first bullet containment chamber section having an inlet for receiving bullets into the first bullet containment chamber section, the bullet containment chamber section comprising one or more plates for deflecting and containing a bullet and any bullet fragments as the bullet decelerates; and

a second bullet containment chamber section having an inlet for receiving bullets into the second bullet containment chamber section, the bullet containment chamber section comprising one or more plates for deflecting and containing a bullet and any bullet fragments as the bullet decelerates;

a support comprising a support frame and a plurality of flanges for receiving the first bullet containment chamber section and second bullet containment chamber section, wherein the first bullet containment chamber section and the second bullet containment chamber section are releasably attached to the support;

a plurality of cams disposed upon the support frame for holding at least one of the first bullet containment chamber section and second bullet containment chamber section to the support; and

wherein the first bullet containment chamber section and the second bullet containment chamber section are attached to one another so as to form a single uninterrupted inlet extending along a bullet containment chamber formed by the first bullet containment chamber section and the second bullet containment chamber section.

2. The bullet trap of claim 1, wherein the first bullet containment chamber section and second containment chamber section are releasably attached to one another.

3. The bullet trap of claim 1, wherein the support frame extends beyond the bullet containment chamber sections and is configured for holding one or more channeling plates.

4. The bullet trap of claim 3, wherein the one or more channeling plates comprises an upper channeling plate and a lower channeling plate.

5. The bullet trap of claim 4, wherein the channeling plates direct bullets to the inlet.

6. The bullet trap of claim 4, wherein at least one of the channeling plates comprises a plurality of generally planar impact zones.

7. The bullet trap of claim 3, further comprising a channel section corresponding to the first bullet containment chamber section and a channel section corresponding to the second bullet containment chamber section, and wherein the channeling sections are releasably attached together to form a continuous channel.

8. The bullet trap of claim 1, wherein one or more plates of each of the bullet containment chamber sections are generally arcuate.

9. The bullet trap of claim 1, wherein the first bullet containment chamber section and the second bullet containment chamber section are attached so as to form a bullet containment chamber having an interior which is uninterrupted between the bullet containment chamber sections by sidewalls.

10. The bullet trap of claim 1, further comprising a third bullet containment chamber section having an inlet for receiving bullets into the third bullet containment chamber section, the bullet containment chamber section comprising one or more plates for deflecting and containing a bullet and any bullet fragments as the bullet decelerates, wherein the third bullet containment chamber section is attached to the second bullet containment chamber section so as to form a single uninterrupted inlet along the bullet containment chamber formed by the first, second, and third bullet containment chamber sections.

11. The bullet trap of claim 10, wherein the first, second, and third bullet containment chamber sections are attached so as to form a bullet containment chamber which is uninterrupted by interior sidewalls.

12. A bullet trap comprising:

a first bullet containment chamber section having an inlet for receiving bullets into the first bullet containment chamber section, the bullet containment chamber section comprising one or more plates for deflecting and containing a bullet and any bullet fragments as the bullet decelerates; and

a second bullet containment chamber section having an inlet for receiving bullets into the second bullet containment chamber section, the bullet containment chamber section comprising one or more plates for deflecting and containing a bullet and any bullet fragments as the bullet decelerates;

a support comprising a support frame and a plurality of flanges for receiving the first bullet containment chamber section and second bullet containment chamber section, wherein the first bullet containment chamber section and the second bullet containment chamber section are releasably attached to the support;

wherein the first bullet containment chamber section and the second bullet containment chamber section are attached to one another so as to form a single uninterrupted inlet extending along a bullet containment chamber formed by the first bullet containment chamber section and the second bullet containment chamber section; and

further comprising a plurality of cams disposed upon the support frame for holding the first bullet containment chamber section and the second bullet containment chamber section to the support.

13. The bullet trap of claim 12, wherein the cams are configured for holding the first bullet containment chamber section and the second bullet containment chamber section against the plurality of flanges.

14. A bullet trap comprising:

a containment chamber segment comprising;

an inlet for allowing bullets to enter the containment chamber;

at least one impact plate configured for reversing a direction of movement of bullets entering the containment chamber at 180 degrees and thereby 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 at least one support of the plurality of supports further comprises a plurality of flanges for connecting a second containment chamber segment so that when the containment chamber segment is connected to the second containment chamber segment a single uninterrupted inlet extends along a bullet containment chamber formed by the containment chamber segment and the second containment chamber segment.

15. The bullet trap of claim 14, wherein the containment chamber consists of two generally arcuate impact plates.

16. The bullet trap of claim 14, wherein the containment chamber has a diameter and wherein the inlet is substantially smaller than the diameter of the containment chamber.

17. The bullet trap of claim 14, wherein the inlet is defined on an upper end and lower end by the at least one impact plate which forms the containment chamber.

18. A bullet trap comprising:

a first bullet containment chamber section having an inlet for receiving bullets into the first bullet containment chamber section, the bullet containment chamber section comprising one or more plates for deflecting and decelerating a bullet, the plates being substantially in the containment chamber so as to receive the bullets that have passed through the inlet;

a second bullet containment chamber section having an inlet for receiving bullets into the second bullet containment chamber section, the bullet containment chamber section comprising one or more plates for deflecting and decelerating a bullet, the plates being substantially in the containment chamber so as to receive the bullets that have passed through the inlet; and

a plurality of cams, the cams attaching to the first or second containment chamber, and when engaged, the cams causing the first containment chamber and second containment chamber to attach to one another; and

wherein the first bullet containment chamber section and the second bullet containment chamber section are attached to one another so as to form a single uninterrupted inlet extending along a bullet containment chamber formed by the first bullet containment chamber section and the second bullet containment chamber section.

19. The bullet trap of claim 18, wherein the first bullet containment chamber section and second containment chamber section are releasably connected to one another.

20. The bullet trap of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of supports wherein at least one support of the plurality of supports extends beyond the bullet containment chamber sections and is configured for holding one or more channeling plates.

21. The bullet trap of claim 20, wherein the channeling plates direct bullets to the inlet.

22. The bullet trap of claim 20, further comprising a channel section corresponding to the first bullet containment chamber section and a channel section corresponding to the second bullet containment chamber section, and wherein the channeling sections are releasably attached together to form a continuous channel.

23. A bullet trap comprising:

a containment chamber segment comprising;

an inlet for allowing bullets to enter the containment chamber;

an upper plate surface, the upper plate surface having a first end and a second end, the second end placed approximately at the entrance to the inlet;

a lower plate surface, the lower place surface having a first end and a second end, the second end placed approximately at the entrance to the inlet, and wherein the distance between the first end of the upper plate surface and the first end of the lower plate surface is greater than the distance between the second end of the upper plate surface and the second end of the lower plate surface;

at least one impact plate configured for decelerating bullets, wherein the upper and lower plates are substantially placed on one side of the inlet and the impact plate substantially placed on an opposite side of the inlet;

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 at least one support of the plurality of supports further comprise a plurality of flanges for connecting a second containment chamber segment so that when the containment chamber segment is connected to the second containment chamber segment a single uninterrupted inlet extends along a bullet containment chamber formed by the containment chamber segment and the second containment chamber segment.