BULLET TRAP ARRANGEMENT

Description

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(a)-(d) from European Patent Application No. 24202552.6 filed Sep. 25, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an outdoor bullet trap arrangement, and more particularly to a bullet trap arrangement comprising at least one container with protective plates and a bullet trap provided inside the container.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Bullet traps or bullet banks perse are well-known and have been used for many years. Typically, such traps are used by firearm manufacturers, by training facilities for military or police personnel, and by recreational target shooting facilities and shooting ranges. Bullet traps are of widely varying configurations, from wood boards to sand-filled traps, to complex deceleration chambers.

Existing mechanical bullet traps have not proved fully adequate at solving a problem of safely minimizing lead contamination to the environment with an economical, easily maintained device. Waste management relating also to other materials used in bullets, such as heavy metals and tungsten specifically, have not been sufficiently managed. Existing bullet traps for professional purposes normally are heavy. In most shooting ranges, the bullet trap arrangements are stationary and difficult to re-arrange or move to other sites. Bullet trap arrangements that are not stationary in most cases suffer from security issues with regard to shooting angles and shooting distances.

WO 2023/141448 discloses a modular bullet bank. The modular bullet bank includes a unitary rectangular box configured for movement as a single unit from location to location and a collection unit contained within the unitary rectangular box and configured for collecting bullets. The unitary rectangular box is constructed with sheet metal container construction walls. In some embodiments, the modular bullet bank further includes auxiliary panels configured for extending in a same direction as walls of the tapered intake funnel.

From the above it is understood that there is room for improvements and the invention aims to solve or at least mitigate the above and other problems.

SUMMARY

The invention is defined by the appended independent claims. Additional features and advantages of the concepts disclosed herein are set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the described technologies. The features and advantages of the concepts may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the described technologies will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims or may be learned by the practice of the disclosed concepts as set forth herein.

The disclosed bullet trap arrangement comprises at least one container with an internal space sufficient to receive one or a plurality of bullet traps. The bullet traps are exposed through an opening in a front side of the container. Protective plates providing an armored plating are arranged around the opening to protect the container. The protective plates extend beyond the front side of the container to receive or capture bullets that are not directed into the opening.

In some embodiments, protective plates are provided at different positions between a front and back side of the container (i.e. at different positions of the container along the direction in which an incoming bullet travels). For example, at least one first protective plate may be provided at or close to the back of the container, while at least one second protective plate may be provided at or near the front of the container. For instance, one or more height protective plates may be arranged at or near the back of the container while one or more side protective plates may be arranged at or near the front of the container. Optionally, one or more first protective plates may be arranged at the front of the container, while one or more second protective plates may be arranged at a distance from the front of the container (e.g. on a side closer to the back of the container). Optionally, one or more first protective plates may be arranged at a first distance from the front of the container, while one or more second protective plates may be arranged at a second distance from the front of the container, the second distance being larger than the first distance. Optionally, one or more first protective plates may be arranged on a first side (along the front-back direction) of a centre of gravity of the container (together with any bullet traps located therein), while one or more second protective plates may be arranged on a second and opposite side of said centre of gravity.

Several containers can be arranged side by side to extend the total number of bullet traps. Adjacent containers are configured to be safely attached to each other.

In various embodiments, the container of the disclosed bullet trap arrangement is a shipping container. In such embodiments, adjacent containers can be attached to each other using existing interconnecting systems, such as bridge fittings or twistlocks that connect two shipping containers via corner castings of the containers.

In a first aspect the disclosed bullet trap arrangement comprises at least one first container having a front side, a back side, a bottom side, a top side, a first end side, and a second end side, wherein the front side has an opening, said bullet trap arrangement further comprising a plurality of protective plates arranged to enclose the opening and to stop bullets that are directed outside the opening; and at least one bullet trap device provided inside the container to be exposed through the opening and configured to receive bullets from a shooter placed in front of the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to best describe the manner in which the above-described embodiments are implemented, as well as define other advantages and features of the disclosure, a more particular description is provided below and is illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting in scope, the examples will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematical perspective view of an embodiment of a disclosed bullet trap arrangement with a single container shown without any anti-ricochet arrangements and without any bullet traps,

FIG. 2 is a schematical perspective view of container prepared for use in a bullet trap arrangement,

FIG. 3 is a schematical side view of an embodiment of a disclosed bullet trap arrangement with a single container shown with an anti-ricochet arrangements and with a bullet trap provided inside the container,

FIG. 4 is schematical perspective view of an embodiment of a disclosed bullet trap arrangement with two containers shown without any anti-ricochet arrangements and without any bullet traps,

FIG. 5 is a schematical perspective view of an embodiment of an attachment means for attaching two adjacent containers, and

FIG. 6 is a schematical perspective view a partly completed setup of an embodiment of a disclosed bullet trap arrangement with a single container shown with an anti-ricochet arrangements and with bullet traps provided inside the container.

Further, in the figures like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the disclosed methods and arrangements are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components, configurations, and steps may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

In the description and claims the word “comprise” and variations of the word, such as “comprising” and “comprises”, does not exclude other elements or steps.

Hereinafter, certain embodiments will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the inventive concept. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice disclosed herein. The embodiments herein are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept, and that the claims be construed as encompassing all equivalents of the present inventive concept which are apparent to those skilled in the art to which the inventive concept pertains. If nothing else is stated, different embodiments may be combined with each other.

A basic configuration of the disclosed bullet trap arrangement 10 is shown in FIG. 1. A container 12, such as a shipping container, supports a plurality of protective plates. The container has front side 14, a backside 16, a bottom side 18, a top side 20, a first end side 22, and a second end side 24. The front side 14 has an opening 26 extending at least substantially from one end side 22 to the second end side 24. The bullet trap arrangement 10 is placed to expose the opening 26 to a shooter in various positions in front of the opening 26. In use, a bullet trap is provided inside the container behind the opening 26.

An upper protective plate 28, a lower protective plate 30, a first side protective plate 32 and a second side protective plate 34 provide a frame to the opening 26 and cover the front side 14 of the container. As shown in FIG. 1, extension side plates 35 are provided adjacent to the first side protective plate 32 and the second side protective plate 34. The width and number of extension side plates 35 may vary in dependence of applicable law and legislation. Adjacent protective plates preferably overlap, so as avoid joints that otherwise would require further covering protective plates to prevent bullets from slipping through such joints. Preferably, the protective plates are arranged in a substantially upright position, so as to provide a maximum surface around the opening 26 as seen from a shooter's position in front of the bullet trap arrangement. In various embodiments some or all of the protective plates are inclined towards the shooter.

Height protective plates 36 are provided to extend over the top side 20 of the container 12. The height and width of the height protective plates 36 may vary in dependence of applicable law and legislation. The protective plates are made of or covered by steel or similar material capable of withstanding bullets that are fired against bullet traps arranged inside the container 12. In various embodiments, the protective plates are made of hardened steel sheets with a thickness of about 8 mm or other thicknesses as required by applicable laws and regulations.

The protective plates further out on the sides and the top of the container extend the shooting angels that can be accepted. The protective plates are used to stop bullets that are not captured by bullet traps arranged inside the container 12. By using protective plates extending on the sides and on the top of the container there will be no requirement to arrange the disclosed bullet trap arrangement by a dirt berm or similar facility to capture incorrectly directed bullets. Some protective plates, such as the height protective plates 36, may require supporting beams 38 to maintain an upright position. In various embodiments, some or all of the protective plates can be inclined towards the shooter using the disclosed bullet trap arrangement.

As shown in FIG. 1, the height protective plates 36 can be provided at the back side of the container 12. Such an arrangement will result in a better balance of the bullet trap arrangement 10 when bullet traps 50 are provided close to the front side 14 of the container 12 and lower the risk for problems when there are heavy winds. In alternative embodiments, the height protective plates 36 instead can be provided at the front side 14 of the container. In such embodiments, the supporting beams 38 are attached at a lower end to the container 12 close to the back side 14 of the container.

In various embodiments, the height protective plates 36 are connected to an edge of the top side 20 of the container 12 in a manner to be rotated from a horizontal position to an upright position as shown in the figures. In the embodiment shown in the figures, hinged joints are provided on the top side 20 along the back side 16. During transport of the disclosed bullet trap arrangement 10, the height protective plates 36 rest on the top side 20. When the bullet trap arrangement 10 is at an intended site for use, the height protective plates 36 are rotated to the position shown in the figures and secured with the supporting beams 38. The extension side plates 35 may require support grids 48 to be well secured in the positions shown in the figures. The supporting beams 38 and the support grids 48 normally are fastened to the container and protective plates at the site during a mounting process.

The supporting beams 38, the support grids 48 and any number of required extension side protective plates can be stored inside the container 12 behind the bullet traps during transport between different sites.

The container 12 shown in FIG. 2 is a shipping container. Doors (not shown) at one end wall have been removed, so as to allow installation and mounting of bullet traps inside the container, see also FIG. 3. In use, the doors are mounted again to provide a confined and burglar-proof device. As shown in FIG. 2, the opening 26 is rectangular and extends from a first corner beam 40 to a second corner beam 42. An upper wall section 44 and a lower wall section 46 remain of the front side wall 14 of the container 12.

The bullet trap arrangement shown in FIG. 3 comprises a bullet trap 50 arranged inside the container 12 and exposed to the opening 26. In various embodiments, a plurality of modular bullet traps, such as described in WO2024/013329, are arranged side by side to completely cover the opening 26 of the container 12. Each bullet trap 50 may comprise a rear panel 52, a frame 54, and an arrangement or a first row of a plurality of vertically displaced deflecting slats 56 mounted in the frame in front of the rear panel, wherein each slat will cover a section of a higher placed slat from a direction in parallel with the normal to the arrangement of slats. The slats are flat and configured to be arranged in slots of panels at either side of the arrangement of slats and a collecting funnel 58 is arranged below the arrangement of slats, wherein the collecting funnel has a top opening located below the slats for receiving bullets and residues of bullets, and a lower opening where bullets and residues of bullets are discharged.

In various applications, multiple rows of slats are arranged in front of each other in each bullet trap. A bullet impacting the bullet trap will hit a slat in a front row, be deflected and then hit a rear slat 57 in a rear row of slats. The bullet will be further deflected at a rear panel behind the rows of slats. The kinetic energy of the bullet thus will be absorbed in three steps. After being deflected on two slats the remaining kinetic energy will not be large enough to damage the rear wall or the collecting funnel 58 below.

In various embodiments, the bullet trap arrangement 10 is provided with an alternative bullet trap device, such as a collection unit embodied as rubberized block or similar device that is configured to receive safely bullets.

The bullet trap 50 is arranged close to the opening 26 of the container 12 leaving a substantial free space 66 between the bullet trap 50 and the back side 16 of the container 12. The free space 66 is sufficient for storage of protective plates, supporting beams 38, support grids 48, and other materials that need to be stored during transport of the container 12. The free space 66 can be used also for storing of electric power devices, ventilation devices, and spare targets and similar equipment.

The supporting beams 38 extend from a position close to the front side 14 of the container 12 to a position at a top edge of the height protective plates 36. The format and arrangement of protective plates shown in the drawings normally require an anti-ricochet layer 60 or rebound protection layer. The anti-ricochet layer 60 can be made of rubber, polyboard, wood and/or other materials and can be affixed to the protective plates directly or such that a gap is provided between the anti-ricochet layer and the protective plates. In various embodiments the anti-ricochet layer or rebound protection layer comprises rubber sheets or studs or laths 62 of wood. Spacers 64 can be arranged to provide the gap. The anti-ricochet layer oftentimes is between about 10 mm and 95 mm thick, with thicknesses between 55 mm and 70 mm being common, although other thicknesses may be utilized. The total thickness of the anti-ricochet layer 60 will vary if spacers 64 are used or not. The studs 62 of the anti-ricochet layer 60 extend in the vertical direction and are mounted tight against each other.

The height protective plates 36 can be further supported by vertical rods 49 extending from the back side 16 of the container 12 to a position substantially above the top side 20 of the container 12. The rods 49 can be removed from the back side 16 and then stored inside the container 12 during transport.

The bullet trap arrangement 10 shown in FIG. 4 comprises two containers 12 mounted side by side. Each container 12 is provided with upper protective plates 28, lower protective plates 30, and height protective plates 36. A first container 12 is provided with a first side protective plate 32, and a second container 12 is provided with a second side protective plate 34. Extension side protective plates 35 are provided at outer edges of the bullet trap arrangement 10. Adjacent protective plates of the two containers 12 are covered with cover plates 70 to ensure that no gaps remain at the joint between the containers 12. Preferably, the cover plates 70 are made from the same material as the protective plates.

In embodiments where the bullet trap arrangement 10 comprises two or more containers 12 the containers can be secured to each other at corner castings at adjacent corners by bridge fittings or twistlocks 72, as shown in FIG. 5. The bridge fittings 72 will provide a very firm and stable connection between the containers 12. It should be noted that there are no specific limitations with regard to the number of containers that can be used in combination. It is also possible to arrange the containers at different angles towards each other to provide a semi-circle or U-shaped formation. In such arrangements adjacent containers can be connected to each other by other means as a complement or in addition to the bridge fittings.

The bullet trap arrangement 10 shown in FIG. 6 comprises one container 12 and is shown with the second side protection plate 34 and the extension side protection plate 35 at one side of the container 12 only. The first side protection plate 32 and the corresponding extension side protection plate 35 at the other side of the container 12 have been omitted in the figure. In the bullet trap arrangement 10 shown in FIG. 6, all protection plates and supporting beams 38 are covered with the anti-ricochet layer 60 comprising studs 62 of wood.

Inside the container 12 there is provided a bullet trap device 74 with a plurality of targets 76. In various embodiments, the bullet trap device 74 comprises a set of bullet traps 50, such as the type shown in FIG. 3.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. For example, the principles herein may be applied to other types of bullet traps. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the present invention without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.