Projectiles with light transmissive tips

Abstract

A projectile according exemplary embodiments generally includes a body. The body has a generally cylindrical proximal portion and an ogival distal portion terminating at a distal rim. The ogival distal portion includes a distal-facing aperture extending inwardly from the distal rim into the body. The projectile also includes a nose element. The nose element has a proximal section extending at least partially into the distal-facing aperture, and an ogival distal section external to the distal-facing aperture. At least a portion of the nose element is at least partially light transmissive through which at least some ambient light is transmissible and visually perceptible to an observer.

1 . A projectile comprising a body having a generally cylindrical proximal portion and an ogival distal portion terminating at a distal rim, the ogival distal portion including a distal-facing aperture extending inwardly from the distal rim into the body, and a nose element having a proximal section extending at least partially into the distal-facing aperture, and an ogival distal section external to the distal-facing aperture, at least a portion of the nose element being at least partially light transmissive through which at least some ambient light is transmissible and visually perceptible to an observer.  
   
   
       2 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein substantially the entire ogival distal section of the nose element is light transmissive.  
   
   
       3 . The projectile of  claim 2  wherein substantially the entire nose element is light transmissive.  
   
   
       4 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein the nose element includes a proximal-facing shoulder intermediate the proximal and distal ends of the nose element, the proximal-facing shoulder substantially abutting against the distal rim of the body, thereby forming a relatively smooth transition from the nose element to the body.  
   
   
       5 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein the ogival distal section of the nose element terminates in a point at the distal end thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein the proximal section of the nose element comprises a generally cylindrical shaft, and wherein the distal-facing aperture of the body comprises a generally cylindrical passage configured to engagingly receive the generally cylindrical shaft.  
   
   
       7 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein the nose element is made from at least one of a translucent material and a transparent material.  
   
   
       8 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein the nose element is made from a red translucent polycarbonate.  
   
   
       9 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the nose element is colored and visually perceptible to an observer.  
   
   
       10 . The projectile of  claim 9  wherein the colored portion is at least partially light transmissive.  
   
   
       11 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein substantially the entire ogival distal section of the nose element is light transmissive and colored in the visible spectrum.  
   
   
       12 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein substantially the entire nose element is light transmissive and colored in the visible spectrum.  
   
   
       13 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein the nose element comprises at least one or more of a red portion, an orange portion, a yellow portion, a green portion, a cyan portion, a blue portion, an indigo portion, a violet portion, a portion having a non-metallic color, one or more special effect pigments, and glitter.  
   
   
       14 . A projectile comprising a light transmissive tip at a distal end portion of the projectile through which at least some ambient light is transmissible and visually perceptible to an observer.  
   
   
       15 . The projectile of  claim 14  wherein the light transmissive tip is made from at least one of a translucent material and a transparent material.  
   
   
       16 . The projectile of  claim 14  wherein the light transmissive tip is made from a red translucent polycarbonate.  
   
   
       17 . The projectile of  claim 14  wherein the light transmissive tip includes an ogival portion terminating in a point at the distal end thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The projectile of  claim 14  wherein the light transmissive tip is colored in the visible spectrum.  
   
   
       19 . The projectile of  claim 14  wherein the light transmissive tip comprises at least one or more of a red portion, an orange portion, a yellow portion, a green portion, a cyan portion, a blue portion, an indigo portion, a violet portion, a portion having a non-metallic color, one or more special effect pigments, and glitter.  
   
   
       20 . A nose element for a projectile the nose element comprising at least a portion that is at least partially light transmissive through which at least some ambient light is transmissible and visually perceptible to an observer.  
   
   
       21 . The nose element of  claim 20  wherein the nose element is made from at least one of a translucent material and a transparent material.  
   
   
       22 . The nose element of  claim 20  wherein the nose element is made from a red translucent polycarbonate.  
   
   
       23 . The nose element of  claim 20  wherein at least a portion of the nose element is colored.  
   
   
       24 . The nose element of  claim 23 , wherein the light transmissive portion comprises the colored portion.  
   
   
       25 . The nose element of  claim 20  wherein the light transmissive portion comprises at least one or more of a red portion, an orange portion, a yellow portion, a green portion, a cyan portion, a blue portion, an indigo portion, a violet portion, a portion having a non-metallic color, one or more special effect pigments, and glitter.  
   
   
       26 . An ammunition round comprising the nose element of  claim 20   
   
   
       27 . A method of enhancing the cosmetic appearance of a projectile having a body, the method comprising coupling to the body a tip having at least a portion that is at least partially light transmissive through which at least some ambient light is transmissible and visually perceptible to an observer.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein substantially the entire tip is light transmissive.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the tip is colored in the visible spectrum.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising providing a first type of projectile with a first tip configuration, and providing a second type of projectile with a second tip configuration, the first and second tip configurations including at least one of a different color and a different light transmissibility to thereby differentiate between the first and second types of projectiles.