ZA200801056B - Bullet projectile - Google Patents

Description

AS di "2008/0795 a = _ 2 : 6

BULLET PROJECTILE

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bullet projectile.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a bullet projectile with markings for identifying a bullet projectile that has been discharged from a firearm.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

In most countries, all legal firearms have serial numbers and are registered in the name of a specific owner. When the firearm is used to discharge a bullet projectile, certain scratch markings are made on the bullet projectile as it travels through the firearm barrel. When investigating possible crimes, police and investigators analyze the scratch markings in an attempt to confirm that the bullet projectile was discharged from a specific firearm however, this requires that they have possession of the firearm or at least have a database record of the ballistic test results of the firearm. When a positive result is obtained the registered owner of the firearm is then normally considered one of the prime suspects of the crime.

A problem is encountered when a bullet projectile is found but no firearm is recovered. The scratch markings on their own cannot lead to the suspect.

Furthermore, it is not currently feasible to conduct ballistic testing on each firearm that is sold and to keep the results thereof in a database as the ballistic results can be altered by cleaning or scratching the inside of the firearm barrel.

The applicant is aware of certain bullets that are provided with serial numbers on the bullet casings. These serial numbers allow the bullets to be registered in a person’s name when sold and thus assists the police in quickly and accurately identifying the owner of the bullets when a bullet is retrieved at a crime scene.

Unfortunately these serial numbers can be filed off or altered relatively easily.

The applicant is also aware of a bullet projectile that has an identification insert with serial numbers thereon that is encased in the lead projectile of a bullet.

DrG Ref: 668514

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Again, this insert can be removed and changed by melting the lead to gain : access to the insert.

It is an object of the invention to suggest a bullet projectile, which will assist in overcoming these problems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, a bullet projectile includes a body; a casing at least partially enclosing the body; and an identification means provided on the casing.

The body may be made of lead.

The casing may be a jacket made of a metal having a high melting point.

The casing may be made of copper.

The body may have an operative forward part, with the forward part being enclosed by the casing.

The body may have an operative rear part, with the rear part being enclosed by the casing.

The identification means may be a serial number.

The identification means may be engraved or stamped into the casing.

The bullet projectile may be adapted to be joined to a cartridge containing a propellant.

The casing may be adapted to be at least partially inserted into the cartridge.

The identification means may be adapted to be covered or hidden when the bullet projectile is joined to the cartridge.

The identification means may also be provided on the cartridge.

The invention extends to a bullet cartridge provided with a bullet projectile as set out herein.

DrG Ref: 668514

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawings there is shown in:

Figure 1: A front perspective view of a first embodiment of a bullet projectile according to the invention;

Figure 2: A rear perspective view of the bullet projectile shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3: A side view of the bullet projectile of Figures 1 and 2, shown located in a cartridge;

Figure 4: A rear perspective view of a second embodiment of a bullet projectile according to the invention; and

Figure 5: A rear perspective view of a third embodiment of a bullet projectile according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a bullet projectile in accordance with the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown. The bullet projectile 10 includes a main body 12 made of lead and a outer casing 14 which at least partially encloses the body 12. The body 12 is normally made of lead.

An identification number 16 is stamped or engraved onto the casing 14. The casing 14 is made of a relatively hard metal, such as copper, having a melting point sufficiently high that the identification number 16 will not be damaged or become obscure when the bullet projectile 10 is discharged from a firearm.

Also, the casing 14 should be structurally resilient to prevent excessive deformation so that the identification number 16 will not be damaged or become obscure when the bullet projectile 10 is discharged from a firearm.

DrG Ref: 668514

As shown in Figure 3, the casing 14 partially encloses the operative forward part . of the bullet projectile 10. The operative rear part of the bullet projectile 10 is adapted to be joined to a cartridge 18 containing a propellant 20.

The identification number 16 is provided on the side of the casing 14 in an area 5 that is to be gripped by the cartridge 18 so that the identification number 16 is hidden from view when the bullet projectile 10 is operatively joined to the cartridge 18. Should the bullet projectile 10 be pulled out from the cartridge 18, any tampering with the identification number 16 will change the outer dimensions of the casing 14 and will thus prevent the bullet projectile 10 from being correctly re-seated in the cartridge 18.

Alternative forms of bullet projectiles 10.1, 10.2 are shown in Figures 4 and 5 respectively. The bullet projectile 10.1 has a casing 14.1 that almost fully encloses its body 12.1, with the identification number 16.1 as shown. The bullet projectile 10.2 has a casing 14.2 that only covers the rearmost end of its body 12.2, with the identification number 16.2 as shown.

Optionally, the cartridge 18 can also be stamped with the identification number 16 so that the casing can be identified if found. The identification number 16 can be stamped on the inside of the cartridge 18, i.e. in the vicinity of the propellant 20 or in the area of adapted to grip the casing 14 so that the identification number 16 is hidden from view.

DrG Ref: 668514

Claims (14)

. 08/7010 Lv : J 6 \ TT . CLAIMS

1. A bullet projectile including a body; a casing at least partially enclosing the body; and an identification means provided on the casing.

2. A bullet projectile as claimed in claim 1, in which the body is made of lead.

3. Abullet projectile as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the casing is a jacket made of a metal having a high melting point.

4. A bullet projectile as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the casing is made of copper.

5. A bullet projectile as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body has an operative forward part, with the forward part being enclosed by the casing.

6. A bullet projectile as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the body has an operative rear part, with the rear part being enclosed by the casing.

7. A bullet projectile as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the identification means is a serial number.

8. A bullet projectile as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the identification means is engraved or stamped into the casing.

9. A bullet projectile as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the bullet projectile is adapted to be joined to a cartridge containing a propellant.

10. A bullet projectile as claimed in claim 9, in which the casing is adapted to be at least partially inserted into the cartridge.

11. A bullet projectile as claimed in claim 9 or 10, in which the identification means is adapted to be covered or hidden when the bullet projectile is joined to the cartridge.

12. A bullet projectile as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, in which the identification means is also provided on the cartridge. DrG Ref: 668514

13. A bullet projectile substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to . and as illustrated in the accompanying schematic drawings.

14. A bullet cartridge provided with a bullet projectile as set out herein. Date: 30 January 2008 Ld John Spicer DR GERNTHOVTZ INC Patent Attorn of Applicant(s) P O Box 8; pe Town 8000; South Africa Union Road; Milnerton 7441; South Africa Tel: (021) 551 2650 Fax: (021) 551 2960 DrG Ref.: 668514 : is t:\files\14\668514\668514 spec.docx DrG Ref: 668514