Amusement devices: games – Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor... – Projectile backstop
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-22
2001-09-25
Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor...
Projectile backstop
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293552
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to range safety devices, and more specifically to a projectile backstop assembly using granulate material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A number of backstop assemblies have been known whose object is to slow down projectiles fired into them along a specified distance until they drop to the ground. For example, German Patent 31 31 228 discloses a backstop assembly in which multiple panels are vertically spaced from each other in two rows so that zigzag passages are formed between the panels of the rows where projectiles are bounced back and forth until they have slowed down enough to drop to the ground. DE-OS 32 12 781 discloses another backstop assembly wherein a container holds a granulate bonded by a bonding agent into a lumped structure, of which the objective also is to slow down projectiles fired into the granulate.
One drawback of the prior granulate-type backstop assembly is that it is difficult to dispose since the projectiles fired into the bonded granulate are retained thereby, i.e. they become part of the bonded granulate. As a consequence, removal of the projectiles is possible only by disposing the bonded granulate together with the projectiles embedded therein. Thus the quantities to be disposed of per unit backstop operating time are relatively high. Further, a major effort and considerable expense are needed to separate the bonded granulate from the projectiles embedded therein.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved backstop assembly of the kind specified above so that projectiles may be disposed in a simpler and more efficient manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a granulate backstop assembly that allows simple disposal of projectiles. In particular, the granulate may be separated in a simple and efficient manner from the slowed-down projectiles included therein. As a consequence, the projectiles or projectile fragments may be recovered very simply and reconditioned and further processed. At the same time the granulate so reconditioned may be re-used in the backstop assembly. The overall operating costs of the inventive backstop assembly are greatly reduced since the granulate used as a slowing-down medium may be re-used and the quantities ultimately to be disposed of, i.e. the projectiles removed from the backstop assembly, are much smaller. Further, the inventive backstop assembly does not involve the outages needed in prior assemblies to replace the slowing-down media (rubber louvers or bonded granulate) used therein.
One embodiment of the present invention is a backstop assembly including a container having a plurality sides, at least two of the sides defining target openings for allowing projectiles such as bullets to enter the container. The target openings are enclosed by a plurality of self-healing sheets such that the projectiles penetrate the self-healing sheets in order to enter the container. A particulate material is contained within the container for slowing down and capturing the projectiles within the container. The backstop assembly also includes a structure for facilitating movement of the backstop assembly such that the backstop assembly can be easily reoriented to expose different sides to projectile fire.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a backstop assembly including a container having an opening covered by a self-healing medium for allowing projectiles to enter the container. The container includes first and second chambers which are filled with particulate material for slowing down and capturing the projectiles within the container. The first and second chambers are separated such that particulate material and spent projectiles can be removed from the first chamber without removing the particulate material and spent projectiles within the second chamber thereby improving the cost effectiveness of the backstop assembly.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a projectile trap assembly for capturing projectiles emitted along a line substantially parallel to ground. The projectile trap assembly includes a support frame having an upper surface inclined relative to the line of the projectiles and a particulate flowable granulate material exhibiting an angle of repose. The particulate granulate material is supported by the support frame at the angle of repose, whereby the particulate granulate material receives and slows down the projectiles.
A variety of advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
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Magazine Article: “Die Jagd Findet Im Saale Statt,” pp. 44-45 (Feb. 1991).
Brochure: “Super Trap”, 3 pages (date unknown).
Faust Paul T.
Nesler Leslie F.
Wojcinski Alan Stefan
Caswell International Corporation
Graham Mark S.
Merchant & Gould P.C.
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