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Patent Number: |
7571912 |
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Case ID: |
0 |
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Patent Title:
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Bullet trapping medium, system for employing said medium and method of use
of said medium
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Status: |
ACTIVE |
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Status Date: |
10/12/2009 7:43:48 AM |
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Issue Date:
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8/11/2009 |
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Filed Date:
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11/3/2004 |
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Serial #:
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0/979,834 |
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Assignee Name:
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The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
(Washington,
DC)
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Inventor(s):
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Larson, Steven L. , Weiss, Charles A. , Tom, Joe G. , Malone, Philip G. , Fransen, Edward J. |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a resilient mixture used in a bullet trap and method for employing same.
2. Background Description
In order to maintain proficiency in the use of firearms, it is common to engage in target practice on a training range. Traditionally, the primary concern on a training range was the prevention of ricochets. Thus, ranges often use a large dirt
berm behind the target to decelerate and trap the bullet.
More recently, however, considerable concern has been raised about the environmental impact of heavy metals (e.g., lead, tungsten, copper) contained within the bullet. Though a bullet fired into a mound of dirt is safely contained from the
standpoint of no longer being a dangerous projectile, heavy metals within the bullet remain free to leach into the soil, thereby contaminating the environment. Thus, shooting ranges have begun to stress containment a . . . . More |
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A stable fire retardant mixture for use in a backstop for decelerating and
trapping projectiles. The backstop generally includes a support structure
having an inclined surface and the stable fire retardant mixture serving
as a projectile trapping medium disposed on the inclined surface. The
projectile trapping medium is a resilient granular material intimately
mixed with a hydrated super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel and additives.
Preferably, the support structure is made of a shock absorbing, foamed,
fiber-reinforced concrete, such as SACON.RTM.. In embodiments, the
support structure also includes an enclosure. The additives control
alkalinity, chemically stabilize the mixture, prolong life of the
mixture, retard mold formation and bacterial growth and prevent leaching
of heavy metals.
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What is claimed is:
1. A stable fire retardant mixture for decelerating and trapping projectiles comprising at least in part heavy metals, said mixture at least reducing leaching of said heavy
metals, said mixture at least comprising: a resilient granular material; a hydrated super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel, wherein said hydrated SAP gel is intimately mixed with said resilient granular material to yield a first interim mixture, and wherein
said hydrated SAP gel adheres to said resilient granular material, resisting removal by either aqueous solutions or abrasion from said projectiles; at least one first additive, wherein said first additive chemically stabilizes at least said hydrated SAP
gel, and wherein said first additive facilitates maintaining the pH of at least said hydrated SAP gel at above about 4.5, and wherein said first additive forms a passive coating on metallic particles introduced to said stable fire retardant mixture; at
least one second additive, wherein . . . . More |
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