Abstract:
A novel bullet adapted to be discharged from a firearm at least includes: a leading edged portion; and a trailing edge portion coupled to the leading edge portion, the trailing edge portion comprising a base and spiral fins, the spiral fins adapted to channel the boundary layer during flight of the bullet, and increase longitudinal stability.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention generally relates to firearms and ammunition for firearms, and specifically relates to improvements in the ammunition used in personal firearms.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Prior art bullets cooperate with riffling in firearms to achieve longitudinal spin during flight. The imparted spin improves the accuracy of a fired bullet. Nonetheless, many bullets exhibit a degree of wobbling in flight that leads to adverse pitching and yawing with respect to the intended target.  
         [0005]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to address the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a bullet with improved aerodynamic qualities during flight by reducing wobble for greater accuracy and longer distance. Further, there is an interest in providing a bullet with improved penetration qualities upon impacting the intended target.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a novel bullet adapted to be discharged from a firearm that at least includes: a leading edged portion; and a trailing edge portion coupled to the leading edge portion, the trailing edge portion comprising a base and spiral fins, the spiral fins adapted to channel the boundary layer during flight of the bullet, and increase longitudinal stability.  
         [0007]     Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.  
         [0008]     Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.  
     
    
       [0009]     These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     In order for the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side oblique view of the present-inventive bullet with the casing attached; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side oblique view of the present-inventive bullet only.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.  
         [0014]     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.  
         [0015]     The present-inventive bullet apparatus  100  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The apparatus  100  contains a conventional casing  170  filled with an explosive such as gunpowder. As is well known, the end of the casing has a ledge  180  to serve as a stop when the correct barrel position is reached when inserted into a barrel of a firearm.  
         [0016]     The bullet or cartridge  110  has a leading edge portion  120  (which leads the bullet in flight), and a trailing edge portion  140 . The leading edge portion  120  can have many conventional shapes or curvatures, ranging from a round laterally projected shape to a conic laterally projected shape.  
         [0017]     The novel trailing edge portion  140  contains spiral fins  130  in the nature of screw threads around its periphery. The diameter of the base  150  of the trailing edge portion and that of the spiral fins  130  are substantially identical in the preferred embodiment, so that the projected diameter of the bullet is consistent along its longitudinal axis.  
         [0018]     In the preferred embodiment, the grain weight of the bullet  110  is substantially the same as that of a bullet with a solid trailing edge portion (sans the spiral fins). This can be accomplished by constructing the spiral fins of a denser material than the leading edge portion. Also in the preferred embodiment, the pitch of the spiral fins substantially matches the pitch of the riffling of the intended firearm.  
         [0019]     In operation, the spiral fins, while spinning in flight, are believed to increase laminar flow of air around the bullet, leading to increased range. The interaction of the air between the fins in flight is also believed to increase stability and therefore accuracy.  
         [0020]     An added feature of the spiral fins is greater penetration upon impact, as the spiral fins act as screw threads to more effectively bore into the target.  
         [0021]     It is understood that the above-described preferred embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.  
         [0022]     It is expected that there could be numerous variations of the design of this invention.  
         [0023]     Finally, it is envisioned that the components of the device may be constructed of a variety of materials.  
         [0024]     Thus, while the present invention has been fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made, without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.