Frangible Projectile, And Weapon Cartridge Containing Same

Abstract

A frangible projectile, and weapon cartridge containing same, is provided, in which the frangible projectile is comprised of a hollow outer body composed of, for example, a plastic or polymeric material, configured to provide a payload material. Preferably, the hollow outer body has an interior surface having a divider formed or disposed therein, for controlling the movement of the payload material after firing. The hollow outer body of the frangible projectile, upon impact, rapidly fragments upon impact into relatively harmless pieces, and releases/mixes the payload material. However, the payload material may be chosen to provide sufficient mass, and accordingly sufficient kinetic energy, to provide desired target effects, such as powder metals. Alternatively, payload materials, such as reactive chemical components, marking agents, chemiluminescent compositions, incapacitants, multi component reactive compositions, etc., preferably contained within one or more payload containers, are provided.

1 . A frangible projectile comprising:
 (a) a hollow outer body formed of a plastic or polymeric material, said hollow outer body having:
 (i) an outer circumference defining an outer portion; and 
 (ii) an inner circumference opposite the outer circumference so as to define an interior portion, said inner circumference having a plurality of locators formed therein and/or thereon; 
   (b) a divider disposed within the interior portion, said divider comprised of one or more walls having ends disposed adjacent the locators so as to be engageable therewith; and   (c) a payload disposed within the interior portion, adjacent the divider,   wherein the divider controls movement and/or maintains separation of dissimilar contents of the payload within the interior portion of the hollow outer body after firing of the projectile, thereby maintaining or increasing accuracy of the projectile after firing, and wherein the hollow outer body fragments upon impact.   
     
     
         2 . The frangible projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the locators are one or more of a slot formed in the inner circumference, a ridge formed integral with the inner circumference, and a protrusion attached to the inner circumference. 
     
     
         3 . The frangible projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the payload is comprised of a powder. 
     
     
         4 . The frangible projectile of  claim 3 , wherein the powder is a metallic powder. 
     
     
         5 . The frangible projectile of  claim 3 , wherein the powder is one or more selected from the group consisting of tungsten powder, lead powder, graphite powder and iron powder. 
     
     
         6 . The frangible projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the payload comprises one or more of a glass or plastic vial containing one or more liquids. 
     
     
         7 . The frangible projectile of  claim 6 , wherein the liquids are comprised of one or more of a visible paint, a chemiluminescent agent, and a marking agent visible in the IR spectrum. 
     
     
         8 . The frangible projectile of  claim 6 , wherein the liquids are comprised of a plurality of reactants which, upon impact, are caused to mix and react, thereby providing a desired effect. 
     
     
         9 . The frangible projectile of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 engagement threads formed in the inner circumference of the hollow outer body;   a removable nose section having threads formed therein, so as to removably engage the engagement threads;   a threaded plug removably disposed within the interior portion between the nose portion and the divider, and engageable with the engagement threads, so as to be operable to contain the payload.   
     
     
         10 . The frangible projectile of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more frangible payload containers having an outer circumference smaller in diameter than the inner circumference of the hollow outer body, and removably disposed within the interior portion,   wherein said payload containers having a depression formed therein so as to be enable insertion into the hollow outer body adjacent the divider, and said payload containers operable to contain one or more payloads.   
     
     
         11 . The frangible projectile of  claim 1 , wherein a payload container is comprised of two or more payload subcompartments, so as to contain two or more payloads separately until impact of the projectile. 
     
     
         12 . A frangible projectile comprising:
 (a) a hollow outer body formed of a plastic or polymeric material, said hollow outer body having:
 (i) an outer circumference defining an outer portion; and 
 (ii) an inner circumference opposite the outer circumference so as to define an interior portion, said inner circumference having a plurality of slots formed therein, and said inner circumference; and 
 (iii) one or more slots formed in the inner circumference; 
   (b) a payload container removably disposed within the interior portion, said payload container comprised of:
 (i) an outer circumference smaller in diameter than the inner circumference of the hollow outer body, 
 (ii) a divider having one or more walls disposed within or formed integral with the outer circumference of the payload container, so as to be operable to separate one or more payload materials disposed within the payload container; and 
 (iii) one or more ridges formed on or attached to the outer circumference, so as to be engageable with the slots of the hollow outer body; 
   wherein the divider controls movement of the payload within the payload container, thereby maintaining or increasing accuracy of the projectile after firing of the projectile, and wherein the hollow outer body fragments upon impact.   
     
     
         13 . The frangible projectile of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more payloads disposed within the payload container. 
     
     
         14 . The frangible projectile of  claim 13 , wherein the payloads comprise one or more liquid components. 
     
     
         15 . The frangible projectile of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more liquid components are selected from marking agents, chemiluminescent compositions, incapacitants, flammable liquids and liquid explosives. 
     
     
         16 . The frangible projectile of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more payloads comprise a multi-component payload, such that upon impact of the projectile, the multiple components are mixed, thereby forming a desired payload.