US1992001A

US1992001A - Bullet stop

Info

Publication number: US1992001A
Application number: US671128A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur D Caswell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-05-15
Filing date: 1933-05-15
Publication date: 1935-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 1952-02-19

Description

Feb. 19, 1935. A. D. CASWELL BULLET STOP Filed May 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Pi .1. r a

Arthur D. Caswell Feb. 19, 1935. A. D. CASWELL 1,992,001

BULLET STOP Filed May 15, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arthur D. Caswen 5%", My (42M arty/MA;

Patented Feb. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

" t '7 1,992,001-:: BULLET s'ror H Arthur D. 'Caswell, Anoka, Application May 15, 1933, Serial No. 671,128

3 Claims.

My invention relates to bullet stops and has for its object to provide a simple and effective device which willfunction positively and effectively.

An object'of the invention resides in'providing a bullet stop which may be constructed as an individual unit and which may be utilized in conjunction with other units to build up a battery of bullet stops.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing the bullet stop with two deflector plates arranged one above the other and inclined so as to causethe downward discharge of bullets when the bullets strike the same.

An object of the invention resides in providing a downwardly projecting lip at the lower end of each deflector plate from which the bullets are discharged.

Another object of theinvention resides in placing areceptacle below said .discharge lip and into which the bullets are discharged after the force of the bullets has been spent.

vA still further object of the invention'resides in arranging the uppermost bullet stop with the lipthereof projecting rearwardly of the bullet stop immediately below it so as to cause the discharge of bullets from said upper deflector plate directly into the receptacle. r

Another object of the invention resides in providing vertically extending guides and in slidably positioning one of the deflector plates for vertical movement relative to theiguide. A featureof' the invention resides in employing posts, preferably'of T-shaped or, angular cross section with theflanges thereof facing one another and lying in a common plane tosupport said deflector plates, the flanges of said posts forming the guides forthe movable deflector plates.

An object of the invention'resides in providing each or the deflector plateswith laterally, disposed flanges and, in further; providing means on said flanges for engagement, withthe flanges of the posts. i v

Another object of the invention resides in attaching pulleys to theupper ends of the posts and, in providing cables passing over said pulleys,

said cables being each secured at one end to one of said deflector platesand having attached to their other ends counter weights. I A feature of the invention resides in attaching each cable to a part of thestructure for guiding the deflector plate along the guides. i

An object of the invention resides in extending a rod across the flanges of each deflector plate nearthe upper ends thereof, said rods serving as supports for the targets.

Other. objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement ofparts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described. 1

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a portion of an installation illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical. sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. f

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1., V

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the guide structure utilized with oneof thedeflector plates.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3 taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

:My invention proper may-be installed in basements or other localities where thespace is confined and where protection isdesired. In the drawings I have shown a'portion ofabuilding having a floor 10' and a ceiling 11', .said ceiling comprising joists 12 arranged at spaced intervals and covered by flooring 13 forming the floor of an upper story. These joists serve to support the posts used with the invention. It can readily be comprehended, however, that where joists are not,available suitable auxiliary supports may be erected so that the invention may be installed in any type of building regardless of the con struction thereof or regardless of the ceiling height of the room in which the bullet stop is to be used. f. r i

My invention proper comprises a plurality of

metal posts

14, 15,16 and 17 which are preferably T-shaped in cross section having aligning

flanges

18 and 19 and outwardly extending flanges 20. These posts are preferably} arranged with the flanges18 and 19 in a common plane. Where the installation isbeing made in abuilding such as described,'the posts 14,-15, 16and-17 aresomewhat longer-than the height between-the floor 11 and the'undersidesof the joists 12 and the upper ends ofzthe said posts are in such case bolted directly to one of the joists 12 through bolts 21. The lower ends of these posts are bolted by means ofbolts 23 to a horizontally extending angle 22, which angle is in turn anchored to the floor 10 in any suitable manner. Between the various posts l4, 15, 16 and 17 are disposed identically constructed

deflector plates

24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, a detailed description of, one of which will suffice for all.

The deflector plate 26 is constructed of sheet steel and consists of a plate-like portion 30 which has bent downwardly therefrom along the two lateral edges thereof,

flanges

31 and 32. These

flanges

31 and 32 fit snugly in between the facing edges of the

flanges

18 and 19 of

posts

15 and 16. At the lower end of the plate portion 30 is a curved depending lip 33, the lower marginal portion of which extends substantially vertically when the deflector plate is properly mounted between the two

posts

15 and 16. 1

The deflector plate 26 is arranged in inclined relation with the lip 33 at the lower end thereof farthest from the shooting booth and with the plate portion 30 inclining upwardly and toward the marksman.

The deflector plate 26, like its companion

upper plates

24 and 28, is held in position through two pairs of

clip angles

34 and 35 which are welded to the

flanges

31 and 32 along lines 135. These clip angles are arranged in spaced relation, one pair thereof receiving the flange 19 of the post 15 and the other pair receiving the flange 18 of post 16, said clip angles being angularly disposed with respect to the

flanges

31 and 32 so as to hold the deflector plate in proper inclined position. Bolts 36 passing through the outstanding flanges 37 of the

clip angles

34 and 35 and through the

flanges

19 and 18 of the

posts

15 and 16 secure the said plate 26 to said posts. j

The deflector plate 27, like its companion

lower plates

25 and 29, is applied to the supporting posts in a manner'somewhat similar to the deflector plate 26. To each of the

flanges

31 and 32 of said plate 27 are secured a pair of

clip angles

38 and 39 which are welded to the

flanges

31 and 32 along lines 40. These clip angles are spaced as indicated at 41 in Fig. to form a groove for the reception of the

flanges

19 and 18 of posts and 16. The grooves 41 are of such width as to permit the deflector plate 27 to slide freely in a vertical direction along said flanges which serve as guides for slidably supporting the same.

For the purpose of supporting the deflector plate 27 in proper position, the flange 42 of clip angle 39 on flange 31 is extended above the upper surface of the plate-like portion 30 of said deflector plate. This extended part of said angle 39 is formed with an opening 43 in which is secured the end 44' of a cable 45. Cable 45 extends upwardly along the rearward face of the post 15 and passes over a pulley 46 secured to said post. This pulley is rotatably mounted on a stud shaft 65 which is formed with a threaded end 66 reduced in diameter. This portion of the stud extends through a bracket 67 secured to flange of post 15 and is held in place thereon through a nut 68. A counter weight 47 attached to the end 48 of the cable 45 serves partly to counterbalance the weight of the deflector plate 27. A similar cable is secured to the corresponding clip angle attached to flange 32 of plate 27 and passes over a similar pulley carried by post 16. This cable in turn has attached to it a counter weight identical with the weight 47. The two counter weights substantially balance the weight of the deflector plate 27, whereby the said deflector plate may be held in any adjusted position with respect to the

posts

15 and 16. The lower deflector plates and 29 are supported in a manner similar to that of said deflector plate 27. "To the clip angles 38 thereof are attached cables 49 which extend along the forward surfaces of

posts

14, 15, 16 and 17, and which pass over pulleys 50 mounted on. the

flanges

18 and 19 of said posts. These pulleys are journaled on stud shafts 69, similar to shafts 65, which are directly attached to the said flanges of the posts. Counter weights 51 are secured to the ends of the cables 49.

With each of the deflector plates is employed a target 52 which may be constructed of paper or any other suitable material. This target has secured to it two

hangers

53 and 54 which are constructed at their upper ends with hooks 55. These hooks are adapted to hook over a rod 56 extending between the

flanges

31 and 32 and secured thereto.

.By. means of this construction the targets 52 on the lower deflector plates are raised and lowered with said plates while the said plates are manipulated to accommodate the shooting positions assumed by the marksman.

The bullet stop is provided with a receptacle for bullets which is indicated in its entirety at 57. Receptacle 57 consists of

walls

58, 59, 60 and 61. This receptacle 57 is open at the top and may be constructed without a bottom and may rest directly upon the floor of the building inwhich the bullet stop is installed. Said structure. encloses the

posts

14, 15, 16 and 17 and may also enclose the angle 22. Within the receptacle. 57 sand is placed as. indicated at 62.

The invention is used and operates as follows: When the marksman desires to shoot while standing, the lower deflector plates are raised so that the relation thereof with respect to the fixed upper plates is the same asthat illustrated at the right and at. the left of Fig. 1. The marksman then shoots at the desired target. The bullets pass through the target and strike the planiform portion of the deflector plate carrying the target, said bullet being deflected downwardly and rearwa'rdly and thence finally downwardly by the lip 33' into the sand 62 in the receptacle 57. When the marksman wishes to shoot from a prone'position, one of the lower deflector plates is lowered into the position in which deflector plate2'1 in Fig. 1 is shown. The marksman may then shoot at the target carried thereby and the bullets, on striking said deflector plate, will be deflected downwardly and into the receptacle 57. Due to the fact that the lips of the uppermost deflector plates are rearwardly from those of the lowermost deflector plates, each set of deflector platescauses the discharge of bullets separately into the receptacle without interference and without the bullets from the uppermost deflector plate striking the lowermost deflector plate. When the marksman wishes to shoot from a kneeling position, one of the lower deflector plates carrying the particular target to be used may be elevated or lowered, as the case may be, into the proper position.

My invention is exceedingly simple and is positive in action. Each of the deflector plates can be constructed from sheet metal bent into the desired form and without special tools or equip ments. The deflector plates are adjustable to accommodate different postures of the marksman. Due to thefact that the lower deflector plates may be adjusted, the bullet stop may be employed for all positions of the marksman without requiring the entire surface of the wall in back of the bullet stop to be completely protected. By discharging the bullets in the sand contained within the receptacle for bullets, a part of the momentum of the bullet is absorbed when the bullet strikes the sand so that it becomes unneces-- sary to absorb all of the energy of the bullet at the deflector plate. By arranging the upper deflector plates, bullets are prevented from striking the lower deflector plates upon being discharged from the upper plates. By means of the pulleys and counter weights, the deflector plates may be easily and quickly adjusted from one position to another and require no locking means to hold them in any particular position. With my construction, the bullet stop may be built in units and additional units added as desired to build up a bullet stop of any desired width and to accommodate any number of marksmen.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by'Letters Patentis:

1. A bullet stopping device for use with targets disposed one above the other, said device includ:

ing upright supporting means, and deflector plates mounted thereon, one above the other, there being one deflector plate for each target, a bullet receptacle common to said deflector plates, said receptacle being located beneath the lowermost plate, each deflector plate being inclined downwardly from the front thereof and having a lip at its lower end with a downwardly extending discharge surface for directing bullet fragments downwardly into said receptacle, the lip of the lowermost deflector plate being disposed forwardly of the lip of the deflector plate thereabove, whereby bullet fragments discharged from said latter plate will be directed clear of said lowermost plate.

2, A bullet stopping device for use with targets disposed one above the other, said device including upright supporting means, and deflector plates mounted thereon, one above the other there being one deflector plate for each target, one of the plates being supported for vertical adjustment and having means for supporting its respective target in front thereof, a bullet receptacle common to said deflector plates, said receptacle being located beneath the lowermost plate, each deflector plate being inclined downwardly from the front thereof and having a lip 'at its lower end with a downwardly extending discharge surface for directing bullet fragments downwardly into said receptacle, the lip of the lowermost deflector plate being disposed forwardly of the lip of the deflector plate there- 'above, whereby bullet fragments discharged from said latter plate will be directed clear of said lowermost plate. r

3. A bullet stopping device for use with a target to be presented at various elevations to suit the various postures taken by marksmen, said device including an upright support and a deflector plate mounted thereon, a stationary bullet receptacle located beneath the deflector plate, said plate serving to direct bullet fragments into said receptacle, target supporting means carried by the deflector plate, and guide means directly attached to said deflector'plate and movable along said upright support for guiding said deflector plate and target for simultaneous movement along the support, whereby both target and plate may be stationed to accord with the particular posture assumed by the marksman in shooting at the target. 7

ARTHUR D. CASWELL.