Patent ID: 6564720
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: F42B

Abstract:
A sabot in combination with a subcaliber projectile, the sabot comprising:a molded member and having: a base portion; and exactly four petal portions, separated from each other by exactly four circumferential gaps, each said gap extending between sabot interior and exterior circumferential surfaces and being substantially wider at the sabot exterior circumferential surface than at the sabot interior circumferential surface, each said petal portion: having inboard and outboard surface portions of the sabot interior and exterior circumferential surfaces; having a pair of connecting surfaces along the adjacent gaps connecting the inboard and outboard surface portions; extending forward from a proximal root at the base portion to a distal tip; and cooperating with the base portion to define a volume accommodating the projectile in a pre-firing condition; a reinforcement at least partially embedded in the base portion, the reinforcement being more rigid than the molded member and having: fore and aft faces; a lateral perimeter; a central aperture along a central longitudinal axis of the projectile; and a plurality of additional apertures with said base portion extending through the additional apertures and being effective to retain the reinforcement within the molded member upon firing.