Noise making projectile

A projectile for firing from an ammunition shell. The projectile includes an elongated hollow body of a resilient material, the hollow body further having a trailing end, a mid-portion, and a leading end, the leading end being closed and the trailing end having an aperture providing access to the interior surface. A propellant is included near the leading end of the hollow body and against the interior surface of the elongated hollow body, so that the interior surface of the hollow body between the trailing end of the hollow body and the mid-portion of the hollow body defines a hollow space. The projectile is adapted for placement within the ammunition shell to allow firing of the projectile from a shotgun or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 (a) Field of the Invention
 This invention generally relates to a device for creating noise when fired
 from a gun. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a
 projectile which cooperates with a shell, the projectile being fired from
 a gun, preferably a shotgun, and including a whistling composition and may
 also include an exploding section.
 (b) Discussion of Known Art
 The need to scare away wildlife or deliver a signal charge to a desired
 distance has long been recognized. Unfortunately, however, known signaling
 devices of the type which create a loud noise in order to scare away
 wildlife suffer from limitations in safety, effectiveness and
 manufacturability. Similarly, devices which are use for signaling deliver
 pyrotechnic charges to a desired distance, within projectiles which are
 full of the pyrotechnic materials also suffer from limitations relating to
 stability, manufacturability, and effectiveness.
 An example of an early device used for signaling by creating a bright
 explosion with a pyrotechnic projectile is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 191,843
 to Detwiller. The Detwiller device is fired from a shotgun shell like
 housing, and includes a charge placed immediately over a primer, the
 charge being held against the primer by a wad. Attached to the wad is a
 cylinder of a highly combustible composition which is used as the charge.
 Attached to the cylinder is a fuse which delays the detonation of the
 cylinder, allowing the cylinder to reach the desired height or distance
 before exploding. A significant disadvantage of the Detwiller device is
 that due to the uniform configuration of the cylindrical projectile, the
 projectile may become unstable and thus tumble and self destruct before
 reaching its desired height or distance. Furthermore, it is known that it
 is desirable to include a loud whistling noise in combination with the
 explosive component in order to effectively frighten wildlife. Thus, the
 Detwiller device, while providing means for signaling, is limited in its
 ability to frighten and get rid of undesired wildlife without actually
 harming the animals.
 Yet another early device which was used for signaling is taught in U.S.
 Pat. No. 197,339 to Coston. The Coston device is shot from a gun by means
 of powder ignited by a fulminate. The Coston signal cartridge includes a
 two stage fuse and rests immediately over the powder, so that upon
 ignition of the powder the fuse is also ignited. A limitation of the
 Coston device is that it requires the use of a fuse, which complicates the
 function and structure of the device. Additionally, the Coston device does
 not provide for whistling, reducing its effectiveness as a device for
 scaring away wildlife.
 Another early device used for signaling by firing a pyrotechnic projectile
 is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 231,705 to Faure. The projectile of the Faure
 device includes a metal sleeve that holds a sound charge by means of a
 metal plug at one end of the sleeve and a cap at the other end of the
 sleeve. The metal plug includes a time fuse which permits the sound charge
 to detonate after the projectile has been launched. While the Faure device
 achieves its goals of providing a blast after launching, it is highly
 desirable to incorporate a whistle feature into such a projectile in order
 to frighten a wide variety of birds or animals. Still further, the Faure
 device is in essence a single solid projectile with its center of gravity
 somewhere near its geometric center. This kind of structure is vulnerable
 to tumbling. Tumbling can lead to self destruction of the device before
 detonation and, perhaps more importantly, to an unstable trajectory.
 Another device which includes a projectile with structure that is similar
 to that of Faure is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 216,552 to Bogardus. The
 Bogardus device includes a fuse that connects a charge that is used for
 propelling the projectile; the explosive charge is held within the
 projectile. Additionally, the Bogardus device uses a wad between the
 projectile and the explosive charge to seal and isolate the projectile.
 Important limitations of the Bogardus device include the number of parts
 that are needed for fabrication, and the uniform filling of the body of
 the projectile with explosives, again presents the problems of tumbling.
 Moreover, the Bogardus device is not capable of whistling, which would
 enhance the effectiveness of the signaling ability of the projectile.
 Yet another device for firing a signaling projectile is taught in U.S. Pat.
 No. 621,553 to Behr. The Behr device includes a projectile that mounts
 directly over a powder charge, which includes a section of granulated
 sulfur and a layer of magnesium. While the Behr device solves problems
 associated with providing a bright burning projectile, it does not address
 the importance of providing noise, as with a whistle. Additionally, the
 Behr device does not address the important functions of providing a
 projectile which can be fired to a known distance, and which will provide
 at least a whistling sound, and, if desired, a whistling sound that leads
 up to a loud blast or report to frighten away wildlife.
 An examination of more recent signaling devices reveals a similar approach
 as was taken by the early devices. This includes U.S. Pat. No. 3,062,144
 to Katsu Kenneth Hori et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,323,456 to Rothman, and U.S.
 Pat. No. 4,457,233 to Hyde. These devices all include a primer, a charge
 immediately over, and in contact with, the primer, and a fuse which is
 ignited by the charge and which conducts the needed reaction to the
 different stages of the projectile. None of the above devices includes a
 whistle mechanism, and few address stability issues associated with the
 weight distribution of components of the projectile.
 Thus it will be apparent from the above discussion that there remains a
 need for a simple projectile that is stable and which can be fired from a
 shotgun to carry a noise making component to a desired area or distance.
 There remains a need for a simple signaling projectile that will not harm
 the barrel of the firing gun, and thus there remains a need for a
 projectile that provides the stability of known metal projectiles, but
 which is soft and stable enough to withstand the forces of the blast used
 to deliver the projectile from the gun.
 There remains a need for a noise making projectile that serves for scaring
 away wildlife and the like by providing a loud whistling noise and which
 can be easily manufactured.
 There remains a need for a simple noise making projectile which can be
 fired from a shotgun or the like and which can provide accurate, stable
 flight trajectory.
 There remains a need for a projectile which uses few parts and which can be
 assembled consistently, without having to ensure that the pyrotechnic
 components are in contact with one another.
 SUMMARY
 It has been discovered that the problems left unanswered by known art can
 be solved by providing a projectile to be fired from a shotgun, the
 projectile includes:
 a) an elongated hollow body of a resilient material, the elongated hollow
 body having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a trailing end and a
 leading end; and
 b) a propellant, the propellant being near the leading end and against the
 interior surface of the elongated hollow body, so that the interior
 surface of the hollow body next the trailing end of the hollow body is a
 hollow space.
 It has been discovered that by providing a hollow body of a resilient
 material, such as an ABS polymer, and filling the leading end of the
 projectile body with a propellant, while leaving the trailing end
 unfilled, one achieves unexpected new and useful results. More
 specifically, it has been discovered that by filling the leading end of
 the projectile's body with a propellant, preferably as a solid or
 semi-solid unitary section, while leaving the trailing edge unfilled, one
 produces a highly stable projectile which cooperates with the barrel of
 the gun to advantageously harvest the gases used to propel the projectile
 from the gun and which maintains a stable trajectory once the projectile
 leaves the gun.
 It has been discovered that the hollow trailing end of the disclosed
 invention can deflect or expand under the pressure of the propellant
 gases. This expansion of the trailing end provides a seal against the
 barrel of the gun, preventing or greatly reducing the occurrence of
 blow-by of the propellant gasses.
 Furthermore, it has been discovered that by placing the desired pyrotechnic
 or propellant material at the leading end of the projectile, while leaving
 the trailing end hollow, results in a structure that exhibits highly
 stable flight trajectory and flight attitude, displaying little or no
 propensity to tumble.
 In a preferred embodiment of the projectile, the leading end is also filled
 with a whistle composition in addition to a propellant composition. The
 propellant composition is placed closer to the trailing end than the
 whistle composition, facing an aperture in the trailing end of the
 projectile. The aperture in the trailing end is at a distance from the
 propellant composition.
 In a highly preferred embodiment of the invention the projectile has been
 adapted for firing from a shotgun. In this embodiment, the projectile
 cooperates with a shell cartridge which includes means for accepting a
 primer and sidewalls which have been adapted for accepting most of the
 hollow body, allowing the leading end of hollow body to extend from the
 sidewalls of the cartridge. The aperture in the trailing end of the
 projectile has also been adapted for placement about the primer. This
 arrangement results in an assembly in which the propellant is at a
 distance from the means for accepting a primer and any primer that may be
 supported by the means for supporting a primer. It will be understood that
 this arrangement allows the primer to deliver a spark that travels through
 the hollow area of the first end of the invention before encountering and
 igniting the propellant.
 In addition to the above preferred embodiment, it is also contemplated that
 a cap for accepting another desired pyrotechnic material may also be
 attached to the leading end of the instant invention. In a highly
 preferred embodiment, this cap will include a pyrotechnic composition for
 providing a flash and bang or crack. A highly preferred embodiment of this
 composition includes a mixture of potassium perchlorate, aluminum and
 sulfur.
 The cap holding the pyrotechnic material will preferably fit and attach
 over the leading end of the hollow body. With this embodiment, the leading
 end of the hollow body will include an aperture through the leading end.
 The aperture will provide communication between the interior of the
 leading end of the hollow body and the interior of the cap. It has been
 discovered that by placing a layer of propellant, followed by a layer of
 whistling composition at the leading end of the hollow body, to take
 advantage of the time required for combustion of the whistling composition
 to delay the detonation of the pyrotechnic composition. It has been
 discovered that the aperture at the leading end of the hollow body
 provides sufficient communication between the interior of the hollow body
 and the interior of the cap so as to cause detonation of the pyrotechnic
 material once the whistling composition has been consumed, and thus
 obviating the need to provide a fuse.
 Thus, it will be appreciated that the disclosed projectile structure
 provides important new and useful results in ease of assembly.
 Importantly, it will be appreciated that the disclosed structure obviates
 the need to incorporate fuses into the structure of the projectile, while
 preserving the staged reaction of the different pyrotechnic components of
 the invention.
 Still further, it will be appreciated that the disclosed invention
 cooperates with the barrel of the gun producing new and unexpected results
 in the reduction of by-pass losses.
 Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the disclosed invention provides
 for detonation of the propellant, placing the propellant at a distance
 away from the cartridge's primer.
 It should also be understood that while the above and other advantages and
 results of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in
 the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings,
 showing the contemplated novel construction, combinations and elements as
 herein described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims. It
 should be clearly understood that changes in the precise embodiments of
 the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included within the scope
 of the claims, except insofar as they may be precluded by the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 While the invention will be described and disclosed here in connection with
 certain preferred embodiments, the description is not intended to limit
 the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described here, but
 rather the invention is intended to cover all alternative embodiments and
 modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as
 defined by the claims included herein as well as any equivalents of the
 disclosed and claimed invention.
 Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, where a highly preferred embodiment of the
 invention has been shown. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate that the invention
 includes a projectile 20 which may be fired from within a cartridge 22. It
 is important to note that the term cartridge should be interpreted to
 include shells or other artifacts used to hold a projectile and a firing
 primer for firing the projectile from a gun.
 Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 it will be understood that the projectile 20
 includes an elongated hollow body 24 which will preferably be made from a
 resilient material, and most preferably of unitary, one piece,
 construction from a polymer having the resiliency and other properties
 similar to or better than those of an ABS polymer. The elongated hollow
 body has an exterior surface 26 and an interior surface 28, as well as a
 trailing end 30, a mid-portion 32, and a leading end 34. The leading end
 34 of the embodiment is completely closed off by an endwall 36. In the
 embodiment shown on FIGS. 1-3 the endwall 36 incorporates an aerodynamic
 nose portion 38 which terminates in a generally flat area 40. The
 generally flat area 40 allows the user to load several cartridges 22 into
 the magazine of a shotgun, for example, and minimizes the chance of having
 the tip of the nose portion 38 of one projectile 20 to press against the
 primer of a cartridge ahead of the projectile, causing the cartridge to
 discharge.
 Also illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 is that the trailing end 30 includes an
 aperture 42 which provides access to the interior surface 28 of the
 elongated hollow body 24. Thus, as illustrated, the aperture 42 at the
 trailing end 30 of the projectile 20 could be fairly described as a hollow
 skirt 44. The projectile 20 will also retain a chemical propellant 46,
 which is held within the hollow body 24. The propellant 46 will preferably
 be in cake or substantially solid form in order to cling onto the interior
 surface 28 of the projectile 20. Following the propellant 46 is a layer of
 a combustible whistle composition 47. The whistle composition 47 will
 preferably be made from a mixture of potassium perchlorate, sodium
 salicylate and red gum, and will generate a loud whistle noise as the
 products of combustion of the mixture escape the hollow body. The tone of
 the whistling sound will be controlled by the diameter of the projectile
 20 and the length of the hollow skirt 44. Thus an examination of FIGS. 1-3
 reveals that the hollow skirt 44 of the trailing end 30 will preferably
 terminate near the propellant 46, which will be near the leading end 34
 and before the whistle composition 47.
 Also shown on FIGS. 1-3 is that the elongated hollow body 24 will
 preferably be adapted for insertion and retention within the cartridge 22.
 The cartridge 22 of the preferred embodiment will be of a 12 gage shotgun
 caliber, and include a standard No. 209 shotgun shell primer 48. The
 aperture 42 at the trailing end 30 will preferably be adapted for fitting
 about the primer 48, so that the interior surface 28 of the hollow body
 between the trailing end 30 of the hollow body and the mid-portion 32 of
 the hollow body 24 can accept the discharge of the primer 48. Since the
 hollow skirt 44, or hollow area between the mid-portion 32 and the
 trailing end 30, of the projectile 20 provides access to the propellant
 46, the placement of the hollow skirt 44 about the primer 48 allows the
 primer 48 to discharge towards and thus detonate the propellant 46.
 Turning now to FIGS. 4-6 where a side sectional view of the components of a
 highly preferred embodiment of the invention have been shown, the
 embodiment including a cap 50 which carries a pyrotechnic flash
 composition 52, such as a mixture of potassium perchlorate, aluminum and
 sulphur, which will yield a loud report together with a bright flash. The
 cap 50 will preferably attach to the leading end 34 of the embodiment of
 the projectile 20A shown on FIGS. 4-6 by means 54 for attaching the cap 50
 to the leading end 34 of the projectile 20A. These means 54 for attaching
 the cap 50 may include a recess that allows the assembly to maintain a
 smooth profile and an adhesive or a mechanical, welded or chemical joint.
 As shown on FIG. 6 a preferred embodiment of the cap 50 includes a hollow
 body 55 with a trailing end 56 and a leading end 58. The trailing end 56
 of the cap includes means for attaching the cap 50 to the leading end 34
 of the elongated hollow body 24 of the projectile 20A or means for
 cooperating with the means 54 for attaching the cap 50 found on the
 projectile 20A.
 Also shown on FIG. 6 is that in a preferred embodiment the pyrotechnic
 flash composition 52 is at a distance from the trailing end of the cap 50,
 so that when the cap 50 is attached to the leading end 34 of the hollow
 body 24 the pyrotechnic material is held at a distance 60 from the
 aperture 61 in the end-wall 36 of the hollow body 24. It is important to
 note that the detonation of the pyrotechnic flash composition 52 may be
 carried out without a fuse, but in a highly preferred embodiment of the
 invention a safety layer of 0.1 grams of black powder (not shown) is
 interposed between the whistling composition and the pyrotechnic flash
 composition 52 to prevent unwanted ignition of the flash composition.
 The use of the instant invention will be understood with reference to FIG.
 7, which is a side sectional view of the components shown assembled in
 FIG. 2 while in the firing chamber of a gun. The chamber is connected to
 the barrel 62 of the gun in a well known arrangement. Once the primer 64
 is struck and the projectile 20 is fired from the cartridge 22, as the
 combustion of the propellant 46 will drive the projectile 20 through the
 barrel as shown in FIG. 8. Also illustrated in FIG. 8 are the pressure of
 the gasses, illustrated by arrows 64, produced by the combustion of the
 propellant 46. It is contemplated that these gases will fill the hollow
 skirt 44 and deflect the resilient walls of the hollow skirt 44 at the
 hollow trailing end 30 of the hollow body 24 in the direction arrows 65.
 The deflected skirt 44 has been shown in dashed lines indicated by the
 numeral 66. The radial deflection of the hollow skirt 44 will form a seal
 against the barrel 62 of the gun, minimizing the amount of blow-by losses
 while increasing the efficiency of the use of the products of combustion
 of the propellant 46 material.
 Turning now to FIG. 9 where the relationship between the length, indicated
 by the letter "l" to the diameter of the projectile, indicated by the
 letter "d" has been illustrated. In a highly preferred embodiment of the
 invention the ratio of l divided by d will be about 3.7. While it is
 contemplated that a variety of other ratios may be used without departing
 from the spirit and scope of the invention taught herein, but it has been
 discovered that this ratio produces good results with regards to stability
 and aerodynamic drag.
 Turning now to FIG. 10 it will be understood that the embodiment of the
 projectile 20A, shown on FIG. 4, will be used in same manner as the
 embodiment of the projectile 20. Similarly, as shown on FIG. 11 it is
 contemplated that the embodiment of the projectile 20A will also benefit
 from the deflection of the skirt 44 as the projectile 20A travels through
 the barrel 62 of the gun.
 Turning now to FIGS. 12 and 13 it will be understood that since the mass of
 the whistling compound is at or near the leading end 34 of the projectile
 20 or 20A, most of the momentum or kinetic energy of the projectile will
 be near the leading end 34 of the projectile, while the trailing end 30
 will carry far less kinetic energy due to the fact that the body of the
 projectile is hollow. With this arrangement any commencement of tumbling,
 by means of the leading end 34 decelerating faster than the trailing end
 30, will be quickly extinguished due to the fact that commencement of
 tumbling will expose the trailing end 30 to aerodynamic drag as the
 trailing end 30 turns about the leading end 34. Since the trailing end 30
 carries less kinetic energy than the leading end 34, aerodynamic drag will
 have a greater deceleration effect on the trailing end 30 than on the
 leading end 34, and thus quickly reduce the speed of the trailing end 30
 so as to prevent the rotation of the trailing end 30 relative to the
 leading end 34.
 Thus it can be appreciated that the above described embodiments are
 illustrative of just a few of the numerous variations of arrangements of
 the disclosed elements used to carry out the disclosed invention.
 Moreover, while the invention has been particularly shown, described and
 illustrated in detail with reference to preferred embodiments and
 modifications thereof, it should be understood by that the foregoing and
 other modifications are exemplary only, and that equivalent changes in
 form and detail may be made without departing from the true spirit and
 scope of the invention as claimed, except as precluded by the prior art.