Abstract:
A firearm attachable bullet trap for use on a gas operated firearm having a compensator attached to the barrel. The bullet trap captures bullets from live rounds and provides an visual and tactile indication of live rounds having been fired. The bullet trap is designed for the shooting of blank rounds, but is adapted to handle live rounds having a bullet in a semi-automatic or automatic firearm.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to rifles or light machine guns. More particularly, the present invention relates to a firearm attachable bullet trap for stopping a bullet fired from a round in a rifle or light machine gun and dissipating the energy associated with the round. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Canadian Patent 2,094,048 to Compton et al. (hereinafter Compton) teaches a blank firing attachment for use on a gas operated automatic rifle or light machine gun. The device restricts the exit of gases from the rifle barrel when a blank cartridge is filed, thus retaining sufficient gas pressure in the barrel to actuate the rifle&#39;s automatic firing mechanism and permit blank cartridges to be fired automatically or semi-automatically. 
     While the Compton device provides an essential function in allowing blank rounds, such as type C79A1 blank rounds, to be fired automatically or semi-automatically, it is not designed to stop ball rounds, such as NATO standard C77 type ball rounds. 
     It is, therefore, desirable to provide a firearm attachable bullet trap to stop at least one ball type round fired from a rifle to substantially prevent the bullet from exiting the rifle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to obviating or mitigating at least one disadvantage of previous firearm attachable bullet traps. 
     The firearm attachable bullet trap attaches to the firearm and functions normally as a blank firing attachment (BFA). In the event a ball round is fired, the firearm attachable bullet trap is designed to prevent the exit of the bullet and prevent injury to personnel by slowing, destructing, and preventing the bullet from exiting the rifle. 
     In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a bullet trap for use on a gas operated firearm having a compensator attached to the barrel, having a body adapted to engage said compensator, a spigot attached to said body, the spigot having a spigot bore extending therethrough, a ballistic plate chamber proximate the end of the spigot, distal said compensator, the ballistic plate chamber housing a ballistic plate, a bullet trap chamber, and a bullet trap orifice extending between the ballistic plate chamber and the bullet chamber, and at least one gas track extending between the ballistic plate chamber and the atmosphere, wherein the firearm attachable bullet trap is adapted to operate as a blank firing attachment with blank rounds and as a bullet trap with ball rounds. 
     In one embodiment, the spigot bore has a solid end, distal said compensator. 
     In one embodiment, the ballistic plate is adapted to move between a ready position and an impacted position when a bullet impacts upon the ballistic plate. 
     In one embodiment, the ballistic plate is adapted to substantially seal off the bullet trap orifice when in the ready position and substantially open the bullet trap orifice when in the impacted position. In one embodiment, the ballistic plate adapted to substantially seal off the at least one gas track when in the ready position and substantially open the at least one gas track when in the impacted position. 
     In one embodiment, the bullet trap of claim has an impact indicator operatively connected with the ballistic plate, the impact indicator adapted to provide both visual and tactile indication of when the ballistic plate has received the impact of a bullet. 
     In one embodiment, the spigot bore reducing in diameter through a plurality of steps. In one embodiment, said plurality of steps comprising three. 
     In one embodiment, said at least one gas track comprising two. 
     In one embodiment, the spigot is threadably movable relative to the body. 
     In one embodiment, the ballistic plate comprising armour plating. 
     In one embodiment the bullet trap having a gas escape connected to a bullet trap chamber, the gas escape adapted to diffuse gas and particles away from the line of fire as well as reduce velocity. 
     Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a firearm attachable bullet trap in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the firearm attachable bullet trap of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the firearm attachable bullet trap of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the firearm attachable bullet trap of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the firearm attachable bullet trap of  FIG. 1  mounted to a rifle; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the firearm attachable bullet trap of  FIG. 5 , shown in a ready position; and 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the firearm attachable bullet trap of  FIG. 5 , shown in an impacted position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Generally, the present invention provides a firearm attachable bullet trap for slowing, destructing, and preventing a bullet from exiting a rifle. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the firearm attachable bullet trap  10  includes a body  20  adapted to attach to a firearm  260  (see  FIGS. 5-7 ). The body  20  has an attachment portion  30  with a flange  40  proximate a rear end  50  of the body  20 , the flange  40  adapted to engage a compensator  270  (see  FIGS. 6-7 ) to secure the firearm attachable bullet trap  10  to barrel  250 . A set screw  60  provides for adjustment of the connection fit. 
     A spigot  70  is received within and attached to the body  20 . Threads  80  may engage the body  20  to threadably secure the spigot  70  within the body  20 . The spigot  70  has a front end  90 , a rear end  100 , and a reducing cross-section spigot bore  110  extending from the rear end  100  toward the front end  90 . The spigot bore terminates at a solid end  115  near the front end  90  (see  FIG. 4 ). The rear end  100  of the spigot  70  is adapted to sealingly engage the compensator  270  (see  FIGS. 6-7 ). The spigot  70  also has a blank firing attachment (BFA) orifice  120  extending between the spigot bore  110  and atmosphere. 
     A ballistic plate chamber  130  is formed at the front end  90  of the spigot  70  closed by a front cap  140 . The front cap  140  and the spigot  70  are sealingly connected. In one embodiment a plug  150  extends through a plug channel  160  through a portion of the front cap  140  into a plug recess  170  and welded in place, but one ordinarily skilled in the art recognizes that there are many alternative means for making the connections. 
     A ballistic plate  180  is movably retained in the ballistic plate chamber  130  (see also  FIGS. 4 , and  6 - 7  and the associated description for additional details). 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the firearm attachable bullet trap  10 . The ballistic plate  180  is movable between a ready position  190  ( FIGS. 4 and 6 ), and an impacted position  200  ( FIG. 7 ) within the ballistic plate chamber formed within the spigot  70  and the closed by the front cap  140 . The ballistic plate  180  is axially aligned with the spigot bore  110 . An impact indicator  210  is operatively connected with the ballistic plate  180 , and the impact indicator  210  is adapted to provide visual and tactile indication of when the ballistic plate  180  has received the impact of bullets, such as in the impacted position  200  or somewhere in-between. 
     A bullet trap chamber  220  is provided within the body  20 , for example as an annular space between the spigot  70  and the body  20 , and provides for secondary gas expansion and material storage chamber. A bullet trap orifice  230  extends between the ballistic plate chamber  130  and the bullet trap chamber  220 . The bullet trap orifice  230  is sealed off by the ballistic plate  180  when the ballistic plate  180  is in the ready position  190  and the bullet trap orifice  230  is opened when the ballistic plate  180  is not in the ready position  190  (for example the impacted position  200  or somewhere in-between), providing a connection between the bullet trap chamber  220  and the ballistic plate chamber  130 . In the embodiment shown, there are six (6) bullet trap orifices  230 . 
     At least one gas track  240  extends between the ballistic plate chamber  130  and the atmosphere. The at least one gas track  240  is sealed off by the ballistic plate  180  when the ballistic plate  180  is in the ready position  190  and the at least one gas track  240  is opened when the ballistic plate  180  has received the impact of at least one bullet (for example, the impacted position  200  or somewhere in-between), providing a fluid connection between the ballistic plate chamber  130  and the atmosphere. In the embodiment shown, there are two (2) gas tracks  240 . 
     As shown, the cross-sectional area of the spigot bore  110  reduces from the rear end  100  towards the front end  90 . The cross-sectional area may reduce stepwise by a reduction in diameter. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the firearm attachable bullet trap  10  is shown attached to the barrel  250  of a firearm  260 . One ordinarily skilled in the art understands the types of firearms  260  that the firearm attachable bullet trap  10  of the present invention are applicable, for example but not limited to a C9A1 light machine gun (LMG) or one of the many other types. The types of rifles that the firearm attachable bullet trap  10  of the present invention are designed to be used with generally include a compensator/flash hider  270  attached to the end of the barrel  250 . In this document, any reference to compensator is used for convenience and includes a compensator, flash hider or other attachment at the end of the barrel  250 , or direct attachment to the barrel  250 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the firearm attachable bullet trap  10  is shown in the ready position  190 , attached to the compensator/flash hider  270  of the gun barrel  250 . The only fluid path for gases from the barrel  250  is through a portion of the spigot bore  110  and out the BFA orifice  120  to atmosphere. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the firearm attachable bullet trap  10  is shown in the impacted position  200 , attached to the compensator/flash hider  270  of the gun barrel  250 . A bullet has travelled through the spigot bore  110  and broken through the solid end  115 , and impacted upon the ballistic plate  180  (pushing it from the ready position  190  into the impacted position  200 ). When the ballistic plate  180  is moved, the BT orifice  230  and the gas tracks  240  are opened, and the impact indicator  210  provides a visual and tactile indication. 
     In operation (referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) the firearm attachable bullet trap  10  functions as a normal blank firing attachment (BFA) until a ball round is fired in the rifle. The firearm attachable bullet trap  10  employs stages to slow, destruct and prevent bullets from exiting the rifle. 
     The spigot bore  110  is closed by the solid end  115 , which results in the bullet compressing the column of air ahead of it in the spigot bore  110 . The only exit for the air is the relatively small BFA orifice  120 . 
     As the bullet enters the spigot bore  110 , the bullet encounters a plurality of diameter reductions that first strip the bullet of its jacket, then compress the steel penetrator and lead pusher into progressively smaller diameter projectiles and slow their forward momentum. 
     The separated bullet pieces then engage the solid end  115  of the spigot bore  110 . The solid end  115  is penetrated, forming an open end  280  where the solid end  115  was, and the bullet fragments enter the ballistic plate chamber  130 . The penetration of the solid end  115  occurs only on the first ball round. Once the solid end  115  is penetrated, the firearm attachable bullet trap will no longer provide sufficient back-pressure, and the rifle will not be able to fire blank rounds in automatic or semiautomatic mode. 
     The bullet fragments push the ballistic plate  180  from the ready position  190  into the impacted position  200  which opens the BT orifices  230  allowing flow of gases and bullet pieces into the bullet trap chamber  220 . The movement of the ballistic plate  180  into the impacted position  200  also opens the gas tracks  240  allowing escape of gas out the front end cap  55  and the body  20  while blocking bullet material exit from the gas tracks  240 . 
     The column of high pressure gas behind the bullet moves a substantial amount of the bullet fragments into the bullet trap chamber  220  and the ballistic plate chamber  130 . The escape of gas and minute bullet fragments is forced to exit via a gas escape, shown as feature  281 . In one embodiment gas escape  281  takes the form of an “S”. Gas escape  281  is formed by the front of the body  20  and the rear of the cap  55 . This feature diffuses the escaping gases and reduces fragment size and velocity. 
     In the preceding description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. 
     The above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations can be effected to the particular embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.