Apparatus for launching subcaliber projectiles at propellant operating pressures including the range of pressures that may be supplied by human breath

Abstract

An apparatus for efficiently and accurately launching subcaliber projectiles comprises: an elongate barrel; an associated discarding sabot; and an associated subcaliber projectile. In one embodiment, the sabot includes a registration means adapted to limit lateral displacement of the projectile while simultaneously permitting the projectile to touch the inner surface of the bore of the barrel. An alternative embodiment includes a magnetically attractable portion incorporated into the projectile and a magnetic detent for holding the projectile within the barrel bore in readiness for launching. Other alternative embodiments are disclosed.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for launching subcaliber projectiles, comprising:
 a blowgun means, said blowgun means including an elongate barrel provided with a substantially straight bore communicating between a breech opening and a muzzle opening;   a sabot means sized, shaped and adapted for launch through and out said bore by the breath of the user, said sabot means including firstly a rearward facing thrust-pressurization surface adapted to receive thrust pressure supplied by the breath of the user and thereby be accelerated during launch and secondly a projectile-engaging sabot registration means, said sabot registration means including a forward facing thrust-transmitting surface and a forwardly extending projectile-alignment stop means disposed in proximity of said thrust-transmitting surface; and   a subcaliber projectile means sized, shaped, and adapted for launch through and out said bore by thrust transmitted by abutting engagement with said sabot means, said subcaliber projectile means including a rearward facing thrust-receiving surface adapted to abuttingly engage said thrust-transmitting surface of said sabot means in such manner that said sabot means may thereby efficiently transmit thrust to said subcaliber projectile means during launch acceleration and separate from said subcaliber projectile means after launch acceleration;   wherein:   
       said sabot means and said subcaliber projectile means are adapted to exit said muzzle opening after launch acceleration;
 wherein: 
 
       said sabot means is adapted in such manner that, after launch acceleration, atmospheric drag upon said sabot means may cause said sabot means to separate from and discard from said subcaliber projectile means;
 wherein: 
 
       said projectile-alignment stop means is sized, shaped, and adapted in such manner that, when said thrust-receiving surface is abuttingly engaged with said thrust-transmitting surface, at least one surface portion of said projectile-alignment stop means is disposed alongside at least one surface portion of said subcaliber projectile means, whereby said projectile-alignment stop means is configured to abuttingly stop said subcaliber projectile means from excessive lateral displacement and to thereby maintain said sabot means in registration with said subcaliber projectile means; and
 wherein: 
 
       said sabot means and said subcaliber projectile means are cooperatively adapted to be configurable with each other in such manner that, when said subcaliber projectile means and said sabot means are located fully inserted together within said bore with said thrust-transmitting surface abuttingly engaged with said thrust-receiving surface, at least one portion of said subcaliber projectile means may touch the inner surface of said bore. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said subcaliber projectile means includes an elongate penetrator rod portion; and
 wherein:   
       said sabot means and said subcaliber projectile means are adapted to be configurable together within said bore, in readiness for launching, in such manner that at least one portion of said elongate penetrator rod portion may, pending commencement of launch acceleration, touch the inner surface of said bore. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said subcaliber projectile means further includes a magnetically attractable portion, and wherein said blowgun means further includes a detent means, said detent means including a magnetic means adapted to produce a magnetic field, with said magnetic means disposed and oriented in such manner that said magnetically attractable portion of said subcaliber projectile means may be brought within influence of said magnetic field when said subcaliber projectile means and said sabot means are fully inserted together within said bore in readiness for launching, whereby said magnetic means may, pending commencement of launch acceleration, exert a magnetic restraining influence upon said magnetically attractable portion and thereby magnetically engage and hold said subcaliber projectile means in proximity of said sabot means; and
 wherein:   
       said magnetic means is adapted in such manner that the pressure of the user's breath received into said bore may establish a pressure differential across said sabot means sufficient to release said subcaliber projectile means from the said magnetic restraining influence of said magnetic means as launch acceleration commences. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said sabot means comprises a conical shell portion. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said sabot registration means is adapted to supportingly carry at least one portion of said subcaliber projectile means during launch acceleration. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said sabot registration means is non-petaling. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for launching subcaliber projectiles, comprising:
 an elongate barrel, said barrel including an elongate, substantially straight bore communicating between a breech opening and a muzzle opening;   a sabot means, said sabot means being sized, shaped and adapted for launch through and out said bore by the breath of the user;   a subcaliber projectile means containing a magnetically attractable portion, said subcaliber projectile means being sized, shaped, and adapted for launch through and out said bore by thrust transmitted by abutting engagement with said sabot means; and   a detent means, said detent means including a magnetic means adapted to produce a magnetic field, with said magnetic means disposed in such manner that said magnetically attractable portion of said subcaliber projectile means may be brought within influence of said magnetic field when said subcaliber projectile means and said sabot means are fully inserted together within said bore in readiness for launching, whereby said magnetic means may exert a magnetic restraining influence upon said magnetically attractable portion and thereby magnetically engage and hold said subcaliber projectile means within said bore in proximity of said sabot means pending commencement of launch acceleration;   wherein:   
       said magnetic means is adapted in such manner that the pressure of the user's breath received into said bore may establish a pressure differential across said sabot means sufficient to release said subcaliber projectile means from the said magnetic restraining influence of said magnetic means as launch acceleration commences;
 wherein: 
 
       said sabot means is adapted to abuttingly engage said subcaliber projectile means in such manner that, during launch acceleration, at least one portion of said subcaliber projectile means may touch the inner surface of said bore;
 wherein: 
 
       said subcaliber projectile means is adapted in such manner that said subcaliber projectile means may separate from said sabot means after launch acceleration and travel in flight unencumbered by said sabot means; and
 wherein: 
 
       said sabot means and said subcaliber projectile means are adapted to exit said muzzle opening after launch acceleration. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said subcaliber projectile means includes an elongate penetrator rod portion; and
 wherein:   
       said sabot means and said subcaliber projectile means are adapted to be configurable together within said bore, in readiness for launching, in such manner that at least one portion of said elongate penetrator rod portion may, pending commencement of launch acceleration, touch the inner surface of said bore. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said subcaliber projectile means includes an aerodynamic stabilizer means. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for launching subcaliber projectiles, comprising:
 an elongate barrel, said barrel including an elongate, substantially straight bore communicating between a breech opening and a muzzle opening;   a sabot means, said sabot means being sized, shaped and adapted for launch through and out said bore by the breath of the user;   a subcaliber projectile means containing a magnetically attractable portion, said subcaliber projectile means being sized, shaped, and adapted for launch through and out said bore by thrust transmitted by abutting engagement with said sabot means; and   a detent means, said detent means including a magnetic means adapted to produce a magnetic field, with said magnetic means disposed in such manner that said magnetically attractable portion of said subcaliber projectile means may be brought within influence of said magnetic field when said subcaliber projectile means and said sabot means are fully inserted together within said bore in readiness for launching, whereby said magnetic means may exert a magnetic restraining influence upon said magnetically attractable portion and thereby magnetically engage and hold said subcaliber projectile means within said bore in proximity of said sabot means pending commencement of launch acceleration;   wherein:   
       said magnetic means is adapted in such manner that the pressure of the user's breath received into said bore may establish a pressure differential across said sabot means sufficient to release said subcaliber projectile means from the said magnetic restraining influence of said magnetic means as launch acceleration commences;
 wherein: 
 
       said sabot means and said subcaliber projectile means are adapted to be configurable within said bore, in readiness for launching, in such manner that at least one portion of said subcaliber projectile means may, pending commencement of launch acceleration, touch the inner surface of said bore;
 wherein: 
 
       said sabot means is adapted to separate from said subcaliber projectile means, after launch acceleration and thereby permit said subcaliber projectile means to travel in flight unencumbered by said sabot means; and
 wherein: 
 
       said sabot means and said subcaliber projectile means are adapted to exit said muzzle opening after launch acceleration. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said sabot means is sized, shaped and adapted for launch through and out said bore by the breath of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said subcaliber projectile means includes an elongate penetrator rod portion; and
 wherein:   
       said sabot means and said subcaliber projectile means are adapted to be configurable together within said bore, in readiness for launching, in such manner that at least one portion of said elongate penetrator rod portion may, pending commencement of launch acceleration, touch the inner surface of said bore. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for launching subcaliber projectiles from a blowgun, comprising:
 a sabot means sized, shaped and adapted for launch through and out the bore of a blowgun by the breath of the user, said sabot means including firstly a rearward facing thrust-pressurization surface adapted to receive thrust pressure supplied by the breath of the user and thereby be accelerated during launch and secondly a projectile-engaging sabot registration means, said sabot registration means including a forward facing thrust-transmitting surface and a forwardly extending projectile-alignment stop means disposed in proximity of said thrust-transmitting surface;   wherein:   
       said sabot means is adapted to exit the bore of the blowgun after launch acceleration;
 wherein: 
 
       said thrust-transmitting surface of said sabot means is adapted to abuttingly engage a subcaliber blowgun projectile in such manner that said sabot means may thereby efficiently transmit thrust to the subcaliber blowgun projectile during launch and separate from the subcaliber blowgun projectile after launch acceleration;
 wherein: 
 
       said projectile-alignment stop means is sized, shaped, and adapted in such manner that, when said thrust-transmitting surface is abuttingly engaged with the subcaliber blowgun projectile in readiness for launch, at least one surface portion of said projectile-alignment stop means is disposed alongside at least one surface portion of the subcaliber blowgun projectile, whereby said projectile-alignment stop means is configured to abuttingly stop the subcaliber blowgun projectile from excessive lateral displacement and to thereby maintain said sabot means in registration with the subcaliber blowgun projectile; and
 wherein: 
 
       said sabot means is adapted to be configurable with the subcaliber blowgun projectile in such manner that, when the subcaliber blowgun projectile and said sabot means are fully inserted together within the barrel bore of the blowgun with said sabot means abuttingly engaged in registration with the subcaliber blowgun projectile, at least one portion of the subcaliber blowgun projectile may touch the inner surface of the barrel bore of the blowgun. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , in which said sabot means comprises a conical shell portion. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said sabot registration means is adapted in such manner that, when said thrust-transmitting surface is abuttingly engaged with the subcaliber blowgun projectile during launch acceleration, said sabot registration means may supportingly carry at least one portion of the subcaliber blowgun projectile during launch acceleration. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , in which said sabot registration means is non-petaling. 
     
     
         17 . A combined blowgun and sabot projectile means, comprising:
 a blowgun, said blowgun including an elongate barrel provided with an elongate, substantially straight bore communicating between a breech opening and a muzzle opening, and   a sabot projectile means, said sabot projectile means including a sabot projectile adapted for launch through and out said bore by thrust supplied by the breath of the user, said sabot projectile containing a sabot means and a subcaliber projectile means, with said subcaliber projectile means containing at least one subcaliber projectile,   with said sabot means containing a forward-facing surface adapted to abuttingly engage a rearward-facing surface of said subcaliber projectile means in such a manner that said sabot means may thereby efficiently transmit thrust to said subcaliber projectile means during launch, yet also in such a manner that said sabot means may separate from and discard from said subcaliber projectile means at the conclusion of launch acceleration.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said sabot means comprises a conical shell portion. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said sabot means is non-petaling.