Clearing Trap

Abstract

A clearing trap for decelerating bullets including a housing and bullet deceleration material disposed within the housing. The bullet deceleration material may include a plurality of layers of rubber material and metal for safely decelerating a bullet. Further, the layers of rubber material may have different densities and different types of metal may be used to decelerate a bullet. The clearing trap may also include vent holes for dissipation of the force generated from discharging a firearm in the housing and diverters which channel vented gasses away from a shooter.

1 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A firearm clearing trap, the firearm clearing trap comprising:
 a housing having a cavity defined by an outer wall, an end wall and at least one open end, the outer wall being formed by hardened steel; and   a plurality of layers of bullet deceleration material removably disposed in the housing; and   a removable retention member disposed between the plurality of layers of bullet deceleration materials and the opening for limiting movement of the plurality of layers of bullet deceleration materials toward the opening.   
     
     
         31 . The firearm clearing trap of  claim 30 , further comprising a mounting plate having an opening disposed on the open end, and wherein the retention member has a diameter which is larger than the opening in the mounting plate. 
     
     
         32 . The firearm clearing trap of  claim 30 , wherein the retention member is a collar which can be removed through the opening in the housing along with the plurality of layers of deceleration material. 
     
     
         33 . The firearm clearing trap of  claim 30 , wherein the deceleration material comprises a plurality of generally square pieces of material stacked against one another. 
     
     
         34 . The firearm clearing trap of  claim 33 , wherein the housing has a generally square cross-section. 
     
     
         35 . The firearm clearing trap of  claim 33 , wherein at least one of the pieces of material comprises a piece of hardened steel which is removable from the housing. 
     
     
         36 . The firearm clearing trap according to  claim 30 , wherein the housing further comprises at least one flange, a containment shield and a mounting plate for holding the containment shield to the at least one flange. 
     
     
         37 . A firearm clearing trap comprising:
 a housing having a cavity defined by an outer wall, an end wall and at least one open end, the outer wall being formed by hardened steel; and   at least one vent disposed adjacent the open end; and   wherein the cavity has a generally consistent cross-section between the back wall and the open end so that gasses passing along the outer wall are directed to the at least one vent.   
     
     
         38 . The firearm clearing trap of  claim 37 , further comprising at least one of a mounting plate and a containment shield disposed so as to at least partially cover the open end of the housing, the at least one of the mounting plate and the containment shield directing gasses passing alone the sidewall out of the at least one vent. 
     
     
         39 . The firearm clearing trap of  claim 38 , further comprising at least one flange extending above the at least one vent for directing gasses away from the open end and toward the end wall. 
     
     
         40 . A firearm clearing trap comprising housing having an end wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and sidewalls, and wherein the sidewalls extend beyond the bottom wall so as to form a base which supports the housing on a surface. 
     
     
         41 . The firearm clearing trap of  claim 40 , wherein the side walls are formed of hardened steel. 
     
     
         42 . The firearm clearing trap of  claim 40 , wherein the sidewalls are bent and have holes formed therein for attaching the housing to another structure. 
     
     
         43 . A firearm clearing trap, the clearing trap comprising a housing having an open end, an end wall, and a sidewall so as to form a cavity, a deceleration medium removably disposed in the cavity, the deceleration medium being about 7 inches of less in length and able to stop a 50 caliber armor piercing round when the 50 caliber armor piercing round is fired into the bullet deceleration medium. 
     
     
         44 . The firearm clearing trap of  claim 43 , wherein the housing is no longer than about 10 inches long. 
     
     
         45 . The firearm clearing trap of  claim 43 , wherein the deceleration medium is formed from a plurality of sheets, at least one of the sheets being rubber and at least one of the sheets being hardened steel. 
     
     
         46 . The firearm clearing trap of  claim 43 , further comprising a removable retention member disposed between the deceleration medium and the open end of the housing. 
     
     
         47 . The firearm clearing trap of  claim 43 , further comprising a flange disposed at the open end of the housing and a mounting plate attachable to the flange.