U.S. patent application number 14/599822 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-23 for pellet for air guns.
The applicant listed for this patent is GAMO Outdoor USA, Inc.. Invention is credited to Lee Thomas Phillips, Louis F. Riley.
Application Number | 20150204639 14/599822 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53543541 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150204639 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Riley; Louis F. ; et
al. |
July 23, 2015 |
PELLET FOR AIR GUNS
Abstract
A pellet having an external configuration capable of promoting
the aerodynamic and/or terminal (penetration) characteristics of
the pellet. The pellet includes a head that defines a projectile
tip coinciding with an axis of the pellet, and a raised pattern
centered around the projectile tip. The raised pattern comprises a
plurality of legs radiating from a center of the raised pattern
that coincides with the projectile tip. The raised pattern is
defined by at least two tiers that are generally congruent, of
different size, and converge at the projectile tip. A smallest of
the tiers is superimposed on a largest of the tiers and defines the
projectile tip.
Inventors: |
Riley; Louis F.; (Weston,
FL) ; Phillips; Lee Thomas; (Mosca, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GAMO Outdoor USA, Inc. |
Ft. Lauderdale |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53543541 |
Appl. No.: |
14/599822 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61929167 |
Jan 20, 2014 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
102/501 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 6/10 20130101; F42B
10/46 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F42B 6/10 20060101
F42B006/10 |
Claims
1. An air gun pellet comprising: a head defining a projectile tip
coinciding with an axis of the pellet; and a raised pattern
centered around the projectile tip, the raised pattern comprising a
plurality of legs radiating from a center of the raised pattern
that coincides with the projectile tip, the raised pattern being
defined by at least two tiers that are generally congruent, of
different size, and converge at the projectile tip, a smallest tier
of the at least two tiers being superimposed on a largest tier of
the at least two tiers and defining the projectile tip.
2. The air gun pellet according to claim 1, further comprising a
skirt having a distal end oppositely disposed from the head,
wherein the skirt is hollow and has a frustoconical-shape such that
the skirt increases in diameter in an axial direction away from the
head, has a minimum exterior diameter adjacent the head to define a
waist therebetween, and has a maximum exterior diameter at the
distal end thereof.
3. The air gun pellet according to claim 1, wherein the head of the
pellet comprises two adjoining surfaces that define a periphery
that forms a maximum diameter of the head.
4. The air gun pellet according to claim 3, wherein a first of the
surfaces is closer to the projectile tip than a second of the
surfaces, and the first surface has a generally paraboloid shape
that tapers to increase in diameter in an axial direction away from
the projectile tip.
5. The air gun pellet according to claim 4, wherein the second
surface has a generally frustoconical shape that tapers to increase
in diameter in the axial direction toward the projectile tip.
6. The air gun pellet according to claim 3, wherein the raised
pattern is entirely defined on a first of the surfaces that is
closer to the projectile tip than a second of the surfaces.
7. The air gun pellet according to claim 6, wherein the first
surface has a generally paraboloid shape that tapers to increase in
diameter in an axial direction away from the projectile tip.
8. The air gun pellet according to claim 1, wherein the smallest
and largest tiers gradually increase in thicknesses in the axial
direction towards the projectile tip.
9. The air gun pellet according to claim 1, wherein the plurality
of legs radiate equi-angularly from the center of the raised
pattern.
10. The air gun pellet according to claim 1, wherein the plurality
of legs of the raised pattern consist of three to six legs.
11. The air gun pellet according to claim 1, wherein the plurality
of legs of the raised pattern consist of six legs.
12. The air gun pellet according to claim 1, wherein the at least
two tiers of the raised pattern consist of the smallest and largest
tiers.
13. The air gun pellet according to claim 1, wherein each of the
smallest and largest tiers of the raised pattern define offset
edges.
14. The air gun pellet according to claim 13, wherein the offset
edges of the raised pattern comprise six edges defined by the
smallest tier and twelve edges defined by the largest tier.
15. The air gun pellet according to claim 1, wherein a portion of
each of the legs defined by the smallest tier has sides that
converge such that the portion has a triangular cross-section.
16. The air gun pellet according to claim 1, wherein the smallest
and the largest tiers have roughly equal thicknesses at the
projectile tip of the pellet in an axial direction thereof.
17. The air gun pellet according to claim 1, wherein portions of
the legs defined by the largest tier have equal radial lengths and
extend to a maximum diameter defined by an outermost periphery of
the head.
18. The air gun pellet according to claim 1, wherein portions of
the legs defined by the smallest tier have equal radial lengths and
do not extend to a maximum diameter defined by an outermost
periphery of the head.
19. The air gun pellet according to claim 1, wherein portions of
the legs defined by the largest tier extend to a maximum diameter
defined by an outermost periphery of the head, and portions of the
legs defined by the smallest tier are shorter and extend roughly
halfway to the outermost periphery of the head.
20. A method comprising: placing the pellet of claim 1 in an air
gun; firing the pellet from the air gun to induce a spin in the
pellet about the axis thereof; and impacting a target with the
pellet, wherein the smallest and largest tiers of the raised
pattern define offset cutting edges and the smallest and largest
tiers and the offset cutting edges distort upon impact with the
target to increase an entry hole in the target formed by the
pellet.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/929,167, filed Jan. 20, 2014, the contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to ammunition
adapted to be fired from air (gas) operated guns (hereinafter, air
guns). More particularly, this invention relates to a pellet having
an external configuration capable of promoting the aerodynamic and
terminal (penetration) characteristics of the pellet.
[0003] Pellets adapted for use in air guns are typically configured
to have a solid head and a hollow skirt. The skirt typically has a
frustoconical shape that increases in diameter in the axial
direction away from the head, such that the minimum diameter of the
skirt is adjacent the head to define a waist between the head and
skirt, and the maximum diameter of the skirt is at an end thereof
oppositely disposed from the head. The skirt is often intentionally
designed to be more malleable than the head to enable the skirt to
radially expand when subjected to the high pressure gas used to
propel the pellet through the bore of an air gun, such that the
outer perimeter of the skirt serves to seal the skirt against the
bore to maximize the propulsion effect of the gas as the pellet
travels through the bore during firing.
[0004] Aerodynamic and terminal (penetration) characteristics of
pellets are of considerable interest, and various pellet designs
have been proposed to promote the performance of pellets, including
stability, firing accuracy, impact effect, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a pellet having an external
configuration capable of promoting the aerodynamic and/or terminal
(penetration) characteristics of the pellet.
[0006] The pellet includes a head that defines a projectile tip
coinciding with an axis of the pellet, and a raised pattern
centered around the projectile tip. The raised pattern comprises a
plurality of legs radiating from a center of the raised pattern
that coincides with the projectile tip. The raised pattern is
defined by at least two tiers that are generally congruent, of
different size, and converge at the projectile tip. A smallest tier
of the tiers is superimposed on a largest tier of the tiers and
defines the projectile tip.
[0007] Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be
appreciated from the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pellet in accordance with
a nonlimiting embodiment of the invention.
[0009] FIGS. 2 and 3 are top and bottom views of the pellet of FIG.
1
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pellet of FIG. 1 and
shows the top of the pellet in more detail.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a more detailed side view of the pellet head of
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] As represented in FIGS. 1 through 5, a pellet 10 in
accordance with a particular but nonlimiting embodiment of the
invention has a head 12, a hollow frustoconical-shaped skirt 14,
and a waist 16 therebetween. The head 12 defines a projectile tip
22 of the pellet 10 that coincides with an axis 34 of the pellet
10, which in the embodiment shown in the drawings is an axis of
symmetry. The skirt 14 defines an internal cavity or chamber 15
(FIG. 3) surrounded by the skirt 14. The skirt 14 increases in
diameter in the axial direction away from the head 12, such that
the minimum exterior diameter of the skirt 14 is adjacent the waist
16, and the maximum diameter of the skirt 14 is at a distal end 18
thereof oppositely disposed from the head 12. The head 12 may have
a maximum diameter that is less than the maximum diameter at the
end 18 of the skirt 14, such that significant contact does not
occur between the head 12 and the surface of an air gun's bore (not
shown) as the pellet 10 travels through the bore during firing. The
skirt 14 is preferably designed to be more malleable than the head
12 to enable the skirt 14 to radially expand when its chamber 15 is
subjected to a high pressure gas that serves to propel the pellet
10 through a bore, such that the outer perimeter of the skirt 14 at
its distal end 18 provides a sealing effect between the skirt 14
and the bore surface to maximize the propulsion effect of the gas.
Certain other aspects of the pellet 10 may be generally
conventional and therefore will not be discussed in any detail
here.
[0013] As represented in FIG. 1, the head 12 of the pellet 10
defines two surfaces 13A and 13B that adjoin to define a periphery
17 that forms the maximum diameter of the head 12. The surface 13A
closest to the projectile tip 22 has a generally paraboloid shape
that tapers to increase in diameter in the axial direction away
from the projectile tip 22 and toward the skirt 14. The surface 13B
closest to the skirt 14 has a generally frustoconical shape that
tapers to increase in diameter in the axial direction away from the
skirt 14 and toward the projectile tip 22. The surface 13A of the
head 12 has defined thereon a raised pattern 20 centered around the
projectile tip 22 of the head 12. The raised pattern 20 seen in the
figures is generally star-shaped, with six legs 24 (FIG. 2)
equi-angularly radiating from the center of the pattern 20, which
coincides with the projectile tip 22 of the pellet 10. Though the
raised pattern 20 is represented as defining six legs 24, the
pattern 20 could have fewer or more legs 24, with a preferred range
believed to be from three to six legs 24 equi-angularly radiating
from the center of the pattern 20.
[0014] The raised pattern 20 and its legs 24 comprise multiple
tiers that are generally congruent, of different size, and converge
at the tip 22. The raised pattern 20 is represented in the drawings
as having two tiers 26 and 28, though it is foreseeable that the
pattern 20 could comprise more than two tiers. In the embodiment
shown, the larger tier 28 defines the outermost perimeter of the
pattern 20 and legs 24 at the surface 13A of the head 12. The
larger tier 28 defines a surface 28A that is outwardly offset from
the surface 13A of the head 12 to define a step 28B therebetween at
the outermost perimeter of the pattern 20. Within each leg 24, the
offset of the step 28B (corresponding to the thickness of the
larger tier 28) gradually increases in the axial direction towards
the tip 22 of the pellet 10. In addition, each surface 28A tapers
to a point in the axial direction towards the skirt 14, which is
believed to promote the aerodynamic and/or terminal (penetration)
characteristics of the pellet 10. As more readily apparent from
FIG. 5, the intersections of the surfaces 28A and 28B define offset
edges 32.
[0015] The smaller tier 26 is superimposed on the larger tier 28
and defines the pellet tip 22. Within each leg 24, the smaller tier
26 generally has a triangular cross-section defined by two
converging side surfaces 26A, each tapering to a point in the axial
direction toward the skirt 14. As more readily apparent from FIG.
5, the intersections of the surfaces 26A define offset edges 30,
and the distance of each edge 30 from the surface 28A of the larger
tier 28 (corresponding to the thickness of the smaller tier 26)
gradually increases towards the tip 22 of the pellet 10. The edges
30 defined by the converging surfaces 26A are sharp and pointed in
the direction of flight, which is believed to enhance the
aerodynamic and terminal (penetration) characteristics of the
pellet 10.
[0016] Relative to the contour of the head 12 that would be present
in the absence of the raised pattern 20, the smaller and larger
tiers 26 and 28 have roughly the same thickness at the tip 22 of
the pellet 10 in the axial direction. The thicknesses of the tiers
26 and 28 are intended to culminate in a sharp point at the tip 22,
which is believed to further enhance aerodynamic and penetration
qualities of the pellet 10.
[0017] The two-tiered, six-legged raised pattern 20 shown in the
Figures creates a total of six offset edges 30 defined by the
smaller tier 26 (one edge 30 per leg 24) and twelve offset edges 32
defined by the larger tier 28 (two edges 32 per leg 24). The
multiple edges 30 and 32 are believed to be capable of promoting
terminal performance at the point of impact with a target. For
example, if fired from an air gun having barrel rifling, the spin
induced in the pellet 10 about its axis 34 and distortion of the
raised tiers 26 and 28 and their cutting edges 30 and 32 upon
impact will create a jagged cutting edge that will likely produce a
larger entry hole in a target and, if used for hunting, a more
destructive wound channel, relative to a pellet that lacks the
raised pattern 20 but is otherwise identical to the pellet 10. As
such, the offset edges 30 and 32 may be referred to as cutting
edges 30 and 32.
[0018] The portions of the legs 24 defined by the larger tier 28
are represented as having equal radial lengths and as extending
from the tip 22 toward the maximum diameter defined by the
periphery 17 of the head 12. As evident from FIG. 2, each portion
of the legs 24 defined by the larger tier 28 terminates in close
proximity to the periphery 17, but does not radially project
outside the periphery 17. The portions of the legs 24 defined by
the smaller tier 26 also have equal radial lengths and do not
radially project outside the periphery 17. However, the portions of
the legs 24 defined by the smaller tier 26 are shorter than the
portions of the legs 24 defined by the larger tier 28. For example,
the embodiment shown in the drawings depict the portions of the
legs 24 defined by the smaller tier 26 as extending roughly halfway
from the tip 22 to the periphery 17 of the head 12. As such, the
raised pattern 20 is entirely defined on the surface 13A of the
head 12 that is closer to the projectile tip 22 than the second
surface 13B, and the entire raised pattern 20 lies within the
periphery 17 when viewed as shown in FIG. 2. It is foreseeable that
the portions of the legs 24 defined by the smaller tier 26 could
have unequal radial lengths, or the portions of the legs 24 defined
by the larger tier 26 could have unequal radial lengths. In
addition, though it is possible that the portions of the legs 24
defined by the smaller tier 26 could extend farther and optionally
to the periphery 17 of the head 12, the relatively shorter radial
lengths of the tiers 26 are believed to promote the desired offset
cutting effect of the edges 30 defined by the smaller tier 26.
[0019] While the invention has been described in terms of a
specific embodiment, it is apparent that other forms could be
adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the pellet 10 could
differ in appearance and construction from the embodiment shown in
the Figures, and various processes and materials could be used in
the fabrication of the pellet 10. Accordingly, it should be
understood that the invention is not limited to the specific
embodiment illustrated in the Figures. It should also be understood
that the phraseology and terminology employed above are for the
purpose of disclosing the illustrated embodiment, and do not
necessarily serve as limitations to the scope of the invention.
Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the
following claims.
* * * * *