Hollow bullet with internal structure

• US 9,372,058 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2012
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fritz, Randy R.
• Original Assignee: Fritz, Randy R.
• Inventors: Fritz, Randy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): KLEIN, GABRIEL J
• Application Number:
  US14/369,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20140326158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/02 characterised by the warhead or the intended effect
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/74 of the core or solid body
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/745 the core being made of plastics; Compounds or blends of plastics and other materials, e.g. fillers
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/02 Driving bands; Rotating bands F42B14/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/02 Bullets
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/025 characterised by the dimension of the case or the missile
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 7/10 Ball or slug shotgun cartridges

Abstract

A bullet has a cylindrical body portion and a conical tip monolithically formed with the body portion. The bullet is hollowed out to form an internal cavity. A sidewall defines the structure of the body portion and the conical tip. Bullet structure provides for a bore size, low weight, high velocity, and low recoil projectile having a full-bore size that does not have to expand to a larger diameter during firing in order to transfer its energy to a larger wound channel. In one embodiment, a plurality of recesses is provided on the body portion and extends through the sidewall. The recesses are disposed circumferentially in the radial direction and are offset longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the bullet. The internal cavity includes a plurality of trusses extending in a radial direction. Instead of or in addition to, the trusses, the wall of the internal cavity may include one or more ridges.

Claims

1. A bullet for use with a weapon having a barrel, the bullet comprising:

a hollow, cylindrical body portion;

a conical tip monolithically formed with the body portion, the body portion and the conical tip defining an internal cavity;

a plurality of recesses provided on at least one of the body portion and the conical tip, the plurality of recesses extending at least partially through a sidewall of the bullet; and

at least one truss extending radially across a portion of the internal cavity from an interior portion of the sidewall,

wherein the at least one truss includes a plurality of spokes extending radially outward from a central longitudinal axis of the internal cavity to an interior portion of the sidewall, the plurality of spokes separated by empty hollow spaces extending through a full thickness of the at least one truss,

wherein the recesses are disposed circumferentially in the radial direction of the bullet and are offset longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the bullet,

wherein the at least one truss has an upper surface facing the conical tip and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and

wherein the sidewall of the bullet is thickened in a location of the at least one truss.

2. The bullet of claim 1, wherein the plurality of recesses extends fully through the sidewall of the bullet.

3. The bullet of claim 1, wherein the plurality of recesses are disposed circumferentially in a radial direction of the body portion and are offset longitudinally along a central axis of the bullet.

4. The bullet of claim 1, further comprising at least one ridge extending radially inward within the internal cavity toward a central axis of the bullet.

5. The bullet of claim 4, wherein the at least one ridge is located in a transition portion between the body portion and conical tip.

6. The bullet of claim 1, wherein a bottom end of the body portion opposite the conical tip is enclosed.

7. The bullet of claim 1, wherein the conical tip terminates at a pointed tip.

8. A bullet for use with a weapon having a barrel, the bullet comprising:

a hollow, cylindrical body portion;

a conical tip monolithically formed with the body portion, the body portion and the conical tip defining an internal cavity; and

at least one truss extending radially across a portion of the internal cavity from an interior portion of a sidewall of the bullet,

wherein the at least one truss includes a plurality of spokes extending radially outward from a central longitudinal axis of the internal cavity to an interior portion of the sidewall, the plurality of spokes separated by empty hollow spaces extending through a full thickness of the at least one truss,

wherein the cylindrical body portion includes a recessed portion extending radially inward into an outer portion of the sidewall of the cylindrical body portion to reduce an area of contact between the bullet and a gun barrel,

wherein the at least one truss has an upper surface facing the conical tip and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and

wherein the sidewall of the bullet is thickened in a location of the at least one truss.

9. The bullet of claim 8, wherein the at least one truss fills at least a portion of the internal cavity to reinforce the internal cavity of the bullet.

10. The bullet of claim 9, wherein the at least one truss is formed from a polymeric material.

11. The bullet of claim 8, wherein a part of the cylindrical body portion that extends past the recessed portion forms a driving band.

12. The bullet of claim 11, wherein a leading edge of the driving band proximate to the conical tip transitions into a radius of the conical tip.

13. The bullet of claim 8, wherein the conical tip terminates at a pointed tip.

14. An ammunition round for use with a weapon having a barrel, the ammunition round comprising:

a cartridge having a generally cylindrical form including a closed bottom portion, an open top portion, and a cartridge sidewall extending circumferentially therebetween;

a primer provided at the terminal end of the closed bottom portion for interacting with a firing pin of a weapon;

a powder charge filling at least a portion of an interior of the cartridge between the open top portion and the closed bottom portion; and

a bullet provided at the open top portion of the cartridge, the bullet comprising;

a hollow, cylindrical body portion;

a conical tip monolithically formed with the body portion, the body portion and the conical tip defining an internal cavity; and

at least one truss extending radially across a portion of the internal cavity from an interior portion of a sidewall of the bullet,

wherein the at least one truss includes a plurality of spokes extending radially outward from a central longitudinal axis of the internal cavity to an interior portion of the sidewall, the plurality of spokes separated by empty hollow spaces extending through a full thickness of the at least one truss,

wherein the cylindrical body portion includes a recessed portion extending radially inward into an outer portion of the sidewall of the cylindrical body portion to reduce an area of contact between the bullet and a barrel of a weapon,

wherein the at least one truss has an upper surface facing the conical tip and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and

wherein the sidewall of the bullet is thickened in a location of the at least one truss.

15. The ammunition round of claim 14, wherein the at least one truss fills at least a portion of the internal cavity to reinforce the internal cavity of the bullet.

16. The ammunition round of claim 15, wherein the at least one truss is formed from a polymeric material.

17. The ammunition round of claim 14, wherein a part of the cylindrical body portion that extends past the recessed portion forms a driving band.

18. The ammunition round of claim 14, wherein a leading edge of the driving band proximate to the conical tip transitions into a radius of the conical tip.

19. The ammunition round of claim 14, wherein the conical tip terminates at a pointed tip.