Ordnance

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/310,749, filed Mar. 5, 2010.

The content of the above application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to ordnance and, more particularly, to ballistic ordnance including ballistic weapons and ammunition.

BACKGROUND

A ballistic weapon typically fires ballistic ammunition in a straight line subject to ballistic conditions, like gravity and wind. Projectiles of ballistic ammunition are generally spherical or cylindrical and, when fired from a weapon, travel in a generally straight line subject to ballistic conditions. Although such ballistic ordnance is effective for conventional battlefield operations, it is not always well suited for modern urban firefights.

Urban firefights usually involve engaging enemy combatants positioned around corners of buildings, on roofs of buildings, on opposite sides of buildings, and the like. It is difficult to shoot enemy combatants when they are so positioned, and use of airstrikes or use of other ordnance such as grenades are not always suitable alternatives.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One exemplary embodiment of a projectile for a gun includes a boomerang-shaped body having a longitudinal axis, longitudinally opposite end portions, and an external surface having an alignment feature extending parallel to the longitudinal axis between said end portions.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, there is provided an ammunition cartridge comprising the projectile recited above.

In accordance with an additional exemplary embodiment, there is provided a weapon barrel through which a boomerang-shaped projectile is fired, said barrel comprising an elongated hollow body having a longitudinal axis, a breech end, and a muzzle end longitudinally opposite said breech end, a bore extending through said body from said breech end to said muzzle end, and an alignment feature in at least a portion of said bore and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis between said ends for orienting said projectile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of one or more of the disclosed embodiments of this disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments and the claims, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic view of exemplary embodiment of a cartridge including an exemplary embodiment of a boomerang-shaped projectile;

FIG. 1A is a rearward end view of the cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 1B is a forward end view of the cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic view of a second exemplary embodiment of a cartridge including a second exemplary embodiment of a boomerang-shaped projectile;

FIG. 2A is a rearward end view of the cartridge of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2B is a forward end view of the cartridge of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic view of a third exemplary embodiment of a cartridge including a third exemplary embodiment of a boomerang-shaped projectile;

FIG. 3A is a rearward end view of the cartridge of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a cartridge including a fourth exemplary embodiment of a boomerang-shaped projectile;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a weapon barrel;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the weapon barrel of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6A is an alternative cross-sectional view of the weapon barrel of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 and 7A are other alternative cross-sectional views of the weapon barrel of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of exemplary flight paths of boomerang-shaped projectiles around opposite corners of adjacent buildings;

FIG. 9 is a diagram of exemplary flight paths of boomerang-shaped projectiles over a building; and

FIG. 10 is a diagram of additional exemplary flight paths of boomerang-shaped projectiles over a building.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, ballistic ordnance will be described using one or more examples of exemplary embodiments of ballistic projectiles and related weapons that include features to allow projectiles to be fired according to boomerang-like flight paths. The example embodiments will be described with reference to use in firearms. However, it will be appreciated as the description proceeds that the invention is useful in many different applications and may be implemented in many other embodiments. In this regard, and as used herein and in the claims, it will be understood that the term projectile and weapon refers not only to firearm applications, but also to other ordnance applications.

Referring specifically to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a cartridge 10 including a projectile 12, a case 14 having a rearward end 16 and a forward end 18, a propellant 20 disposed in the case 14 between the projectile 12 and the rearward end 16 of the case 14, and a cap or primer 22 carried by the case 14 between the propellant 20 and the rearward end 16 of the case 14. The cartridge 10 also may include a wad 24 disposed between the projectile 12 and the propellant 20 to support the projectile 12 and/or to distribute explosive force of the propellant 20 to the projectile 12.

The cartridge 10 may be of any suitable caliber and any suitable type. Likewise, the propellant 20, primer 22, and wad 24 may be of any suitable type. Although the case 14 may be generally similar to conventional cases at the rearward end 16, the rest of the case 14 may be adapted to the shape of the projectile 12.

Unlike conventional projectiles, which are round or generally cylindrical, the projectile 12 is boomerang-shaped. As used herein, the terminology “boomerang-shaped” includes any shape suitable to cause a projectile to have a flight path that is curved, and to have a rotational axis of constantly changing orientation, for example, according to gyroscopic precession.

The projectile 12 has a longitudinal axis A, longitudinally opposite rearward and forward end portions 26, 28, and an external surface 30 having one or more alignment features 32 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis A between the end portions 26, 28. If a plurality of alignment features 32 are used, they may be spaced apart and parallel to one another. The projectile 12 may extend beyond the forward end 18 of the case 14, or may be generally contained within the case 14 as shown with an open ended aperture in the case 14 corresponding to the alignment feature 32.

In this first embodiment, the projectile 12 is V-shaped with a central portion 34 and two lobes 36, 38 extending therefrom according to the classic and familiar boomerang design. Accordingly, the alignment feature 32 is interrupted by a space between the lobes. The projectile 12 may be weighted asymmetrically about the longitudinal axis A. For example, the projectile 12 may have a greater weight on one side of the longitudinal axis A than on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis. Also, the projectile 12 may be weighted heavier at one longitudinal end than at the other. Furthermore, a mild rifling of a corresponding weapon barrel throughout the length of barrel or only at the muzzle end may be used to initiate rotation of the projectile 12.

In the illustrated embodiment, the rearward end 16 of the case 14 may be round or cylindrical as shown in FIG. 1A, and other portions of the case 14 may be shaped to accommodate the boomerang-shape of the projectile 12. For example, the forward end 18 of the case 14 may be generally rectangular in shape as shown in FIG. 1B. As also shown in FIG. 1B, a portion of the case 14 may be notched to form an opening for the alignment feature 32. Portions of the case 14 between the forward and rearward ends also may be generally rectangular or may have a gradual transition shape from the forward end 18 to the rearward end 16.

FIGS. 2 through 4 illustrate other exemplary embodiments of projectiles. These embodiments are similar in many respects to one another ant to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-1B, and like numerals between the embodiments generally designate like or corresponding elements throughout the several views of the drawing figures. Additionally, the descriptions of the embodiments are incorporated by reference into one another and the common subject matter generally may not be repeated here.

Referring to FIG. 2, a cartridge 110 includes a projectile 112 with a longitudinal axis A, longitudinally opposite rearward and forward end portions 126, 128, and an external surface 130 having an alignment feature 132 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis A between the end portions 126, 128. In this second embodiment, the projectile 112 is cross-shaped with four lobes 137 and a central portion 134. The alignment feature 132 may be provided from end to end across the central portion 134 and may be a recess as shown.

In the illustrated embodiment, a rearward end 116 of a case 114 may be elliptical as shown in FIG. 2A, and other portions of the case 114 may be shaped to accommodate the boomerang-shape of the projectile 112. As used herein, the term elliptical includes ellipse-shaped, oval, or rounded rectangular shaped. For example, a forward end 118 of the case 114 may be generally elliptical in shape as shown in FIG. 2B. As also shown in FIG. 2B, a portion of the case 114 may be notched to form an opening for the alignment feature 132. Portions of the case 114 between the forward and rearward ends also may be generally elliptical or may have a gradual transition shape from the forward end 118 to the rearward end 116.

Referring to FIG. 3, a cartridge 210 includes a projectile 212 having a longitudinal axis A, longitudinally opposite rearward and forward end portions 226, 228, and an external surface 230 having an alignment feature 232 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis A between the end portions 226, 228. In this third embodiment, the projectile 212 is bean-shaped with two lobes 236, 238 and a central portion 234. The alignment feature 232 may be provided along the central portion 234.

In the illustrated embodiment, a rearward end 216 of a case 214 may be rectangular as shown in FIG. 3A, and other portions of the case 214 may be shaped to accommodate the boomerang-shape of the projectile 212. The case 214 may be rectangular shaped at its forward end 218 like the embodiment of FIG. 1B, or may be elliptical shaped like the embodiment of FIG. 2B.

Referring to FIG. 4, a cartridge 310 includes a projectile 312 having a longitudinal axis A, longitudinally opposite rearward and forward end portions 326, 228, and an external surface 330 having an alignment feature 332 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis A between the end portions 326, 328. In this fourth embodiment, the projectile 312 is triangle or delta-shaped with three lobes 337 and an open central portion 334. The alignment feature 332 may be provided from end to end and may be interrupted by the central portion 334.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a weapon barrel 50. The barrel 50 includes an elongated hollow body 52 having a longitudinal axis L, a breech end 54, and a muzzle end 56 longitudinally opposite the breech end 54. As also shown in FIG. 6, the barrel 50 also includes a bore 58 extending through the body 52 from end to end, and an alignment feature 60 in at least a portion of the bore 58 and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis L between the ends. The alignment feature 60 cooperates with a corresponding alignment feature on a projectile that is fired through the barrel 50. The corresponding alignment features of the barrel and projectile maintain the projectile in a straight line for at least a portion of its travel through the barrel. In the illustrated embodiment, the alignment feature 60 is a longitudinally extending groove or recess that may be rounded as shown.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 6A, a barrel 150 may include an alignment feature 160 that may be a longitudinally extending projection or ridge that may cooperate with a longitudinally extending recess or groove of a corresponding projectile.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a weapon barrel 250 with a bore 258 having a generally rectangular shape with an alignment feature 260. FIG. 7A illustrates another alternative embodiment of a weapon barrel 350 with a bore 358 having a generally elliptical shape with an alignment feature 360.

In general, the components of the disclosed cartridges and weapon barrels may be manufactured and assembled according to techniques known to those skilled in the art, including casting, forging, molding, machining, stamping, and/or the like. Likewise, any suitable materials can be used in making the components, such as metals, composites, polymeric materials, and/or the like.

However, the weapon barrels disclosed herein may be initially produced as generally cylindrical or tubular components and then may be formed into suitable cross-sectional shapes according to the projectiles and/or the cases. For instance, although not shown, a mandrel may be inserted into a cylindrical bore of a barrel and then the barrel may be pressed or otherwise formed to conform the bore to the mandrel into the desired shape that corresponds with the projectile and/or case.

One or more of the features of the exemplary embodiments described above, may provide one or more of the following benefits. Enemy combatants may be shot with a projectile from a weapon even though they are not in a direct line of fire from the weapon, for example, when they are positioned around corners of buildings, on roofs of buildings, on opposite sides of buildings, and the like. Moreover, the presently disclosed ordnance would confuse enemy combatants as to the origin of projectile firing. In other words, the origin of the projectile firing would be effectively disguised.

For example, FIG. 8 illustrates various flight paths that the presently disclosed projectiles may take when the presently disclosed weapon barrel is used to fire the presently disclosed projectiles so as to shoot an enemy combatant hiding around a corner of a building. Of course, the weapon or just the barrel may be inverted so that the weapon can fire a projectile around an oppositely disposed corner of an adjacent building. The illustrated exemplary flight paths may be generally elliptical as shown, or circular, or of any other boomerang flight path shape.

In another example, FIG. 9 illustrates various flight paths that the presently disclosed projectiles may take when the presently disclosed weapon barrel is used to fire the presently disclosed projectiles so as to shoot an enemy combatant hiding on a side of a building opposite that of the weapon. Accordingly, the flight paths are over the building. Of course, the flight paths may also strike an enemy combatant on top of the building. A similar example is depicted in FIG. 10, which shows flight paths resulting from moving a barrel from side to side or up and down.

Finally, the foregoing description is not a definition of the invention, but is a description of one or more examples of exemplary embodiments of the invention. The statements contained in the foregoing description relate to the particular examples and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention as claimed below or on the definition of terminology used in the claims, except where terminology is expressly defined above. And although the present invention has been disclosed using a limited number of examples, many other examples are possible and it is not intended herein to mention all of the possible manifestations of the invention. In fact, other modifications, variations, forms, ramifications, substitutions, and/or equivalents will become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. The present invention is intended to embrace such forms, ramifications, modifications, variations, substitutions, and/or equivalents as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the following claims. In other words, the present invention encompasses many substitutions or equivalents of limitations recited in the following claims. For example, the materials, sizes, and shapes, described above could be readily modified or substituted with other similar materials, sizes, shapes, and/or the like. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the particular examples of exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, but instead is defined solely by the claims below.