This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of Ser. No. 13/621,592 filed Sep. 17, 2012 by the present inventor, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,646,388 issued Feb. 11, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Not Applicable
This invention relates to firearm projectiles, more specifically a firearm projectile that combines the functionality of a retractable broad head arrowhead with that of a shotgun shell intended for use with smoothbore shotguns.
The use of projectiles for big game hunting has been a unique method of hunting for mankind since the beginning written history. Mankind's ingenuity has perfected the firearm projectile into a highly effective hunting tool, specifically discussed here are the methods of hunting utilizing a bow and arrow and also that of the firearm and bullet. Both methods deliver a greatly enhanced method of harvesting meat via hunting and both methods offer their own advantages and disadvantages when compare to the other method of hunting discussed here. Unfortunately neither method it compatible with each other, both methods needs to be immersed within its own discipline with both the strategy and with equipment used to hunt. There have been attempts in the past to incorporate the advantages of both methods of hunting, bow and arrow and gun and bullet, but all have failed to bring a significantly superior product to the consumer market as their designs lack functionality, are too costly, do not perform well, or just plain do not work. The following are descriptions of prior art and discussions as to why these products have not been successful.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,318,858 was issued to John Frick for an expansible projectile for use in firearms and the like. Frick's invention has “outwardly projecting arms or cutting blades which are automatically positioned either due to the force of explosion or by the impact of the projectile against an object.” Unfortunately Frick's invention utilizes a complex arrangement to deploy his blades including a plunger. This construction and operation of his expansible projectile make it expensive and too difficult to implement in a practical manner. The plunger style orientation for deploying the blades is also not reliable, as any variation of impact may not activate the plunger correctly. Frick's projectile also does not utilize a sabot to protect his blade while traveling the length of the firearm barrel thus allowing for destabilizing forces to disrupt the intended trajectory. The present invention is intended for use in a firearm with a smoothbore barrel such as a 12-gauge shotgun. The Broadhead Bullet relies upon a sabot or several blade mounted sabots to accurately guide it though the length of the firearm barrel.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,661,694 was issued to James Allen and William Cantrell for the Spreader Panel Bullet that “spread laterally upon impact with an object”. As with Frick's invention the Spreader Panel Bullet does not incorporate a sabot to encase the projectile thus necessitating the blades and its supporting mechanisms to be encase within the projectile. This configuration is too complicated and expensive for the projectile to be except in specialty situations. The blades also are not connected to the projectile and only deploy in a forward swept position thus severely hindering its damaging potential, as this design would quickly slow the projectile as it enters the target medium. The blades would be subject to ejection from the projectile causing unpredictable performance. The supporting mechanisms for deploying the blades are complicated and therefore would be expensive and difficult to implement. The present invention utilizes a much simpler and more effective design and would thus be less expensive and yield better performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,407 was issued to Marvin Carlston for his Expandable Blade, Composite Plastic, and Broadhead Hunting Arrow Tip. Carlston here describes the use of “rotatable blades which are trunnion mounted securely in the body of the tip, and which are designed to be partially exposed while in flight”. Carlston describes the function of the blades as being able to “rotate into an expanded position upon impact” and “the blades are mounted in a forward position with the tips of the blades protruding outside of the tip body”. Carlston's design is one of simplicity and functionality and has been proven successful in the marketplace. Carlston's invention however is designed for bow hunting and is not for use with firearms, therefore it does not have any relevance to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,849 was awarded to Christopher Holler for the Projectile with Expanding Members. Holler's invention has “open-biased arm members” that are “compressed into a restrained position” before firing the bullet. When the bullet is fired “the arms extend to the unrestrained position” which then catch the target material and slow the projectile down. Holler's invention is for a projectile suited for use in a rifled barrel and not a smooth bore shotgun as it relies upon centrifugal force for stabilization. Also his arms extend when the projectile is fired and not upon impact thus creating a massive amount of drag upon the projectile thus making it grossly inefficient as a projectile. Holler's projectile unfortunately may not be a feasible working projectile as it has many lacking characteristics that prevent it from becoming a workable firearm projectile.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,178,462 was awarded to Beasley for the Projectile with Members that Deploy Upon Impact. Beasley's projectile relies upon a “nose piece that shears off upon impact with the target, causing the nose piece to be pushed inside the projectile”. The “nose piece pushes on members that deploy outwardly and lock into place, thereby greatly increasing the damage done to the target”. Beasley's invention, much like Holler's, is a projectile intended for use within a rifled barrel and not a smoothbore barrel as it relies upon centrifugal force for stabilization of the projectile. Beasley's members or blades reside inside of the projectile and require an intricate mechanical arrangement for the deployment of the blades. Also the members or blades are unfortunately restricted in size due to the stowing of the blades within the bullet thus the members are also severely restricted in the amount of damage the can inflict upon the target. In all Beasley's projectile is complicated in use and construction and offers minimal advantage for the members to inflict damage therefore the concept has minimal value for its intended purpose.
The advantages of the Broadhead Bullet are as follows:
The Pin 5 here is constructed from high tensile strength material such as steel and supports the Pivoting blades 7. The Pin 5 is supported by Pin support 31, which is constructed from a high tensile strength material such as steel and can have the configuration such as a collar or wire. Pin support 31 here is connected to both the Pin 5 and Core weight 13.
Pivoting blade 7 have a Pivoting blade stop 8 located at the rear portion of the Blade 7 such that the Stop 8 creates a nodule out from the circular circumference shape of the Blade 7 portion surrounding the Pin 5. When the Pivoting blade 7 is in the fully deployed position the Pivoting blade stop 8 contacts Shaft blade stop 15, here constructed from the Shaft 1 material. Pivoting blade 7 in the fully deployed position have Pivoting blade edges 21 that face towards the Penetrating tip 3 portion of the Shaft 1.
The Fin units 9 are located near the rearward portion of the Shaft 1 and consists of two pieces that when the Blades 7 are in the stowed position they combine to contain both the Shaft 1 and Blades 7. The Fin units 9 separate into two separate pieces when the Pivoting blades 7 pivot into the deployed position.
When the Pivoting blades 7 are in the stowed position the Pivoting blade edge 21 is in contact with the Shaft 1 and the two Fin unit 9 parts are in contact with each other to form a continuous Fin unit 9. In this state the Broadhead Bullet assembly 19 is either encased by the Wad 17 or is in flight sans the Wad 17.
While in flight the Fin unit 9 creates a pressure, via air flowing across the Fin unit 9, creating fluid resistance that is directed downward onto the Pivoting blades 7. This pressure is sufficient to maintain the Pivoting blades 7 stowed position during flight until the Broadhead-Bullet 19 either strikes the Target material 37 or achieves a zero velocity state. Fin unit support 10 maintains the desired shape of the Fin unit 9 when the halves are combined and until the Broadhead-Bullet 19 contacts the Target material 37 adding stability to the Broadhead-Bullet 19 during flight.
The Blade sheaths 11 have an air foil shape where the fluid resistance from the flow of air around Sheaths 11 would have a minimal value or less value than if the Broadhead-Bullet were to be sans the Sheaths 11. The combined fluid pressure effect on the Sheaths 11 and the Fin unit 9, as well as the forward position of the Core weight 13 would create a Center of Pressure rearward of the Center of Gravity therefore creating the conditions for a stable flying projectile.
The Broadhead-Bullet 19 would have a sub-sonic velocity of roughly 1000 ft/sec or 3 times the velocity compared to an arrow fired from a high-powered compound bow. This velocity would give the Broadhead Bullet assembly 19 an effective range of roughly 100 yards thus allowing for it to be used in areas limited to short ranges due to applicable hunting regulations. The trajectory of the Broadhead-Bullet 19 beyond 100 yards aggressively deteriorates.
As the Broadhead-Bullet assembly 19 strikes the Target material 37 the Blade sheaths 11 and the Penetrating tip 3 are the first portions of the Broadhead-Bullet 19 to contact the Target material 37. As the Broadhead-Bullet 19 enters the Target material 37 the Gouge trough 29 of the Penetrating tip 3 forces the Target material 37 into the Blade sheaths 11 which in turn rotates the frontal portions of the Pivoting blades 7 outward from their stowed position, pivoting the Blades 7 on the Pin 5. The Fin unit 9 halves separate as the Pivoting blades 7 deploy from the stowed position. As the Shaft 1 completely enters the Target material 37 the Pivoting Blades 7 have pivoted outward until the Blades 7 are in the fully deployed position. Here the Pivoting blade stop 8 on each Pivoting blade 7 have contacted Shaft blade stops 15 stopping the rotation of the Blades 7. The Fin unit 9 halves and Blade sheaths 11 separate from Pivoting blades 7 as the Broadhead-Bullet 19 enters the Target material 37. The fully deployed position of the Pivoting blades 7 will allow the maximum cutting effect the Pivoting blades 7 can achieve thus causing the most cutting effect to the target material as the Broadhead-Bullet assembly 19 travels through the Target material 37.
The mass of the Core weight 13 will provide the Broadhead-Bullet 19 the majority of the kinetic energy it requires to complete its trajectory and pull it through the Target material 37. The Pin support 31 will support the Pin 5 when the Broadhead-Bullet 19 strikes the Target material 37 thus keeping the Pivoting blades 7 from separating from the Shaft 1.
The SS pivoting blades 47 are attached to opposite sides of SS shaft 41 via SS pin 45. SS pivoting blades 47 when in the stowed position are rotated forward on SS pin 45 such that SS pivoting blade edge 57 is flush with the edge SS shaft 41. SS pivoting blade tip 61 is on located on the opposite end of SS pivoting blade 47 from SS pin 45 and have a shape that extends outward from the spine of the SS pivoting blade 47. The fore end portion of SS pivoting blade tip 61 is blunt in comparison to SS pivoting blade edge 57. A SS blade sheath 62 is attached to and encases the fore portion of the Pivoting blade tip 61. SS blade sheath is constructed from an impact resistant material such as plastic. SS penetrating tip 43 resides at the frontal most portion of the SS shaft 41. Both the SS shaft 41 and the penetrating tip 43 here are constructed from an impact resistant material such as plastic and here consist of one continuous part.
SS core weight 51 here is constructed from a dense material such as lead or in the case of a lead free Broadhead-Bullet it is constructed from material with a high density quality such as steel or high-density concrete. The SS shaft 41 and SS penetrating tip 43 here are molded plastic surrounding and encasing the SS core weight 51.
The SS Pin 45 here is constructed from high tensile strength material such as steel and supports the SS Pivoting blades 47. The SS pin 45 is supported by SS Pin support 59, which is constructed from a high tensile strength material such as steel and can have the configuration such as a collar or wire. SS Pin support 59 here is connected to both the SS pin 45 and SS core weight 51.
SS shaft 41 has SS blade stops 53 located on opposing sides and aft portion of the SS shaft 41 behind SS pivoting blades 47. SS blade stop 53 here is molded into the SS shaft 41 during SS shaft 41 construction. When SS Pivoting blades 47 are in the fully deployed position the rearward spine portion of the SS pivoting blade 47 contacts the SS shaft blade stop 53, here constructed from the SS shaft 41 material. SS pivoting blade 47 in the fully deployed position have SS pivoting blade edges 57 that face towards the SS penetrating tip 43 portion of the SS shaft 41.
The SS fin units 49 are located near the rearward portion of and encase the SS shaft 41 and stowed SS pivoting blades 47. SS fin units 49 are two separate parts that combine to surround both the SS shaft 41 and SS pivoting blades 47. The SS fin units 49 separate into two pieces when the SS pivoting blades 47 deploy.
When the SS pivoting blades 47 are in the stowed position the SS pivoting blade edge 57 is flush with SS shaft 41 and the two SS fin unit 49 parts are in contact with each other to form a continuous SS fin unit. In this state the Broadhead Bullet SS assembly 39 is either encased by the SS wad 55 or is in flight sans the SS wad 55.
While in flight the SS fin unit 49 creates a pressure, via air flowing across the SS fin unit 49, creating fluid resistance that is directed downward onto the SS pivoting blades 47. This pressure is sufficient to maintain the stowed position of the SS pivoting blades 47 during flight until the Broadhead-Bullet SS 39 either strikes the Target material 37 or achieves a zero velocity state. SS fin unit support 63 maintains the desired shape of the SS fin unit 49 when the halves are combined and until the Broadhead-Bullet SS assembly 39 contacts the Target material 37 adding stability to the Broadhead-Bullet SS 39 during flight. The combined fluid pressure effect on the SS fin unit 49, as well as the forward position of the SS core weight 51 would create a Center of Pressure rearward of the Center of Gravity therefore creating the conditions for a stable flying projectile.
The Broadhead-Bullet SS 39 would have a sub-sonic velocity of roughly 1000 ft/sec or 3 times the velocity compared to an arrow fired from a high-powered compound bow. This velocity would give the Broadhead Bullet SS assembly 39 an effective range of roughly 100 yards thus allowing for it to be used in areas limited to short ranges due to applicable hunting regulations. The trajectory of the Broadhead-Bullet SS 39 beyond 100 yards aggressively deteriorates.
A SS blade sheath 62 is attached to and encases the fore portion of the Pivoting blade tip 61. As the Broadhead-Bullet SS assembly 39 strikes the Target material 37 the SS blade sheaths 62 and the SS penetrating tip 43 are the first portions of the Broadhead-Bullet SS 39 to contact the Target material 37. As the SS penetrating tip 43 penetrates into the Target material 37 the SS blade sheaths 62 remain on the exterior of the Target material 37. SS pivoting blades tips 61 slide along the inside portion of SS blades sheaths 63 forcing the SS pivoting blades 47 to rotate on SS pin 45 and outward from their stowed position and into the deploying position. The SS pivoting blades 47 ends deployment when the lower spine portion of Blades 47 contact SS blade stops 53 portion of SS shaft 41. Here the SS pivoting blades 47 are oriented such that SS pivoting bladed edges 57 are facing forward towards the SS penetrating tip 43. As the Broadhead-Bullet SS assembly 39 enters the Target material 37 the SS blade sheaths and SS fin units 49 are ejected from the Broadhead-Bullet SS assembly 39. The SS pivoting blades 47 cut a wound channel through the Target material 37 until the Broadhead-Bullet SS assembly 39 depletes its kinetic energy.
The mass of the SS core weight 51 will provide the Broadhead-Bullet SS 39 the majority of the kinetic energy it requires to complete its trajectory and pull it through the Target material 37. The SS pin support 59 is connected to and supported by SS core weight 51 and SS shaft 41. SS pin support will support the SS pin 45 when the Broadhead-Bullet SS 39 strikes the Target material 37 thus keeping the SS pivoting blades 47 connected to the Broadhead-Bullet SS assembly 39.
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