Renewable projectile trap-target based on thermally reversible, viscoelastic materials

Abstract

Thermally reversible visco-elastic materials suitable for use as projectile target materials and trap materials.

1 . A body of material for decelerating and capturing a predetermined projectile, the body comprising a thermally reversible visco-elastic gel composition having a size and shape adapted to be received in a confinement structure for capturing the predetermined projectile, the predetermined projectile being selected from the group of a bullet, BB, pellet gun pellet, or an archery projectile, the projectile having a velocity of at least about 200 feet per second at point of impact with the body of material.  
     
     
         2 . The body of material of  claim 1  wherein the confinement structure comprises a bullet trap.  
     
     
         3 . The body of material of  claim 1  wherein the confinement structure comprises an archery target.  
     
     
         4 . The body of material of  claim 3  wherein the confinement target comprises a replica of a human or animal, and the body represents a section of anatomy.  
     
     
         5 . The body of material of  claim 3  wherein the confinement structure comprises a target of a projectile propelled by a pressurized gas other than the gas generated from combustion of a propellant in a cartridge in a projectile chamber of a firing apparatus.  
     
     
         6 . A kit comprising a mold and the sufficient ingredients to form a body of a thermally reversible visco-elastic gel composition, the mold having a shape adapted to be received in a confinement structure for capturing a predetermined projectile.  
     
     
         7 . The body of material of  claim 1  and a confinement structure for the body of material.  
     
     
         8 . The body of material and confinement structure of  claim 7  assembled as a bullet trap.  
     
     
         9 . The bullet trap of  claim 8  wherein the confinement structure has at least one access area along its length for retrieving a captured projectile or fragments thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The bullet trap of  claim 8  wherein one portion of the confinement structure includes a shooting port for receiving the muzzle of a weapon to be fired into the trap.  
     
     
         11 . The bullet trap of  claim 10  wherein an opposite portion of the confinement structure includes a back stop for limiting the motion of projectile, the body of gel being intermediate the muzzle port and the back stop.  
     
     
         12 . The bullet trap of  claim 8  wherein the body comprises a non-aqueous gel composition consisting of thermoplastic block copolymers and an oil, the block copolymer being in a concentration that imparts to the gel composition sufficient properties to decelerate and capture a desired projectile.  
     
     
         13 . The bullet trap of  claim 8  wherein the gel composition comprises a substantially transparent gel.  
     
     
         14 . The bullet trap of  claim 8  wherein the gel composition comprises a substantially translucent gel.  
     
     
         15 . The archery target of  claim 3  wherein the gel composition comprises a substantially opaque gel.  
     
     
         16 . The body of material of  claim 1  wherein the body includes a material or structure, as a discontinuous phase of the gel composition.  
     
     
         17 . The body of material of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises a non-aqueous gel composition consisting of thermoplastic block copolymers and an oil, the block copolymer being in a concentration that imparts to the gel composition sufficient properties to decelerate and capture a desired projectile.  
     
     
         18 . The body of material of  claim 17  wherein the block copolymer comprising the gel composition is selected from the group of polymers comprising (i) styrene-butadiene-styrene polymers; (ii) styrene-isoprene-styrene polymers; (iii) styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene polymers; (iv) styrene-ethylenepropylene polymers; (v) styrene-ethylenebutylene polymers; (vi) styrene-butadiene polymers; and (vii) styrene-isoprene polymers.  
     
     
         19 . The body of material of  claim 1  further comprising a material or structure for simulating a body part, as a discontinuous phase of the gel composition.  
     
     
         20 . The gel composition of  claim 18  wherein the composition includes about 12 wt % to about 22 wt % of the block copolymer.  
     
     
         21 . The gel composition of  claim 18  wherein the copolymer comprises a styrenic block copolymer.  
     
     
         22 . The gel composition of  claim 21  wherein the styrenic block copolymer is a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer.  
     
     
         23 . A method comprising providing a non-aqueous gel composition consisting of thermoplastic block copolymers and an oil, the block copolymer being in a concentration, size and shape that imparts to the gel composition sufficient properties to decelerate and capture a predetermined projectile.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising melting the gel composition after a projectile is captured therein and allowing it to reform as a gel in a desired shape.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising forming a discontinuous phase in the gel.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising forming a functional gradient in the gel.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the discontinuous phase corresponds to a body part or region.  
     
     
         28 . A method comprising providing sufficient ingredients for a body of material for use in capturing a predetermined projectile in a target or a trap, wherein the ingredients enable the formation of a body comprising a non-aqueous gel composition consisting of thermoplastic block copolymers and an oil, the block copolymer being in a concentration that imparts to the gel composition sufficient properties to decelerate and capture a predetermined projectile.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the predetermined projectile is selected from the group comprising a bullet, BB, pellet gun pellet, or an archery projectile, the projectile having a velocity of at least about 200 feet per second at point of impact with the body of material.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the body has a depth of between about 12 inches to about 96 inches for decelerating and capturing the predetermined projectile.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the composition is provided as a body of material, wherein the body has a depth of between about 3 inches to about 96 inches for decelerating and capturing the predetermined projectile, the predetermined projectile being selected from the group of a bullet, BB, pellet gun pellet, or an archery projectile, the projectile having a velocity of at least about 200 feet per second at point of impact with the body of material.  
     
     
         32 . The body of material of  claim 1  wherein the body has a depth of between about 3 inches to about 96 inches for decelerating and capturing the predetermined projectile.