Projectile absorbing and containment apparatus

Abstract

A projectile absorbing and containment method and apparatus for individual and vehicle safety, protection, i.e. armor, and more particularly a reusable projectile target for absorbing and containing the projectile using a mass of self-adhesive polymeric beads. The target of the present invention includes a plurality of layers of different materials making up a composite material for absorbing and containing a projectile which is specifically of importance for safety purposes for high speed projectiles often fired from handguns or other projectile launching devices inside a building or room for example where control and containment of the projectile is important to protect the person using the projectile launching device and others in the vicinity.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A projectile absorbing composite for recreational shooting comprising:
 a frame for supporting a composite material including multiple layers of different materials;   a first layer removably situated within the frame comprising a plurality of self-adhering polymeric beads bonded together by an attractive force;   an impenetrable layer positioned adjacent the first layer of self-adhesive polymeric beads within the frame that is substantially impassable to the projectile; and   a projectile force absorbing layer positioned adjacent the impenetrable layer for absorbing forces projected onto the impenetrable layer by the projectile.   
     
     
         2 . The projectile absorbing composite as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the frame further comprises a plurality of sidewalls substantially containing the first layer, impenetrable layer and force absorbing layer. 
     
     
         3 . The projectile absorbing composite as set forth in  claim 2  wherein a top edge of the plurality of sidewalls are substantially flush with a planar surface of the first layer. 
     
     
         4 . The projectile absorbing composite as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the attractive force is provided by an adhesive material provided on the polymeric beads. 
     
     
         5 . The projectile absorbing composite as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the attractive force is provided by an electrical attraction. 
     
     
         6 . A method of making a composite apparatus for stopping and containing a projectile comprising the steps of:
 providing a frame for supporting a composite material including multiple layers of different materials;   situating a first layer removably within the frame, the first layer comprising a plurality of self-adhering polymeric beads bonded together by an attractive force;   positioning an impenetrable layer adjacent the first layer of self-adhering polymeric beads within the frame that is substantially impassable to the projectile; and   positioning a projectile force absorbing layer adjacent the impenetrable layer for absorbing forces projected onto the impenetrable layer by the projectile.