Air Driven Projectile

Abstract

A system for propelling an air-driven projectile from an air gun includes an air gun with an elongate bore and a source of compressed air in fluid communication with the elongate bore. A projectile is disposed within the bore of the air gun, the projectile having an outer diameter that is less than an inner diameter of the elongate bore.

1 . A projectile, comprising:
 an elongate tubular member;   a tip disposed about a distal end of the elongate tubular member;   a butt disposed about a proximal end of the elongate tubular member, wherein the butt has an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the elongate tubular member and comprises a rear face having a diameter greater than the diameter of the elongate tubular member;   first and second annular grooves disposed about the butt, said annular grooves circumscribing the butt and each comprising an O-ring.   
     
     
         2 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the annular grooves each comprises a tapered section having a slope, wherein the slopes of each of the tapered sections are in opposite directions. 
     
     
         3 . The projectile of  claim 2 , wherein the slope of the tapered groove of the first section is equivalent to the slope of the tapered groove of the second section. 
     
     
         4 . The projectile of  claim 2 , wherein the slope of the tapered groove of the first section is less than the slope of the tapered groove of the second section. 
     
     
         5 . The projectile of  claim 2 , wherein the slope of the tapered groove of the first section is greater than the slope of the tapered groove of the second section. 
     
     
         6 . The projectile of  claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the first groove is less than a diameter of the second groove. 
     
     
         7 . The projectile of  claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the first groove is greater than a diameter of the second groove. 
     
     
         8 . The projectile of  claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the O-ring of the first groove in an unbiased state is less than a diameter of the O-ring of the second groove in an unbiased state. 
     
     
         9 . The projectile of  claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the O-ring of the first groove in an unbiased state is greater than a diameter of the O-ring of the second groove in an unbiased state. 
     
     
         10 . The projectile of  claim 2 , wherein a length of the first groove is greater than or less than a length of the second groove. 
     
     
         11 . The projectile of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of cylindrical stabilizers disposed about the elongate tubular member, each stabilizer comprising a tapered face. 
     
     
         12 . A method of propelling a projectile from an air gun, comprising:
 placing a quantity of pressurized fluid into the air gun, the quantity of pressurized fluid in fluid communication with a bore of the air gun;   placing an elongate projectile into the bore of the air gun, wherein said elongate projectile comprises a cylindrical butt disposed about a proximal end of the elongate projectile, the butt having a first and second annular grooves;   releasing the pressurized fluid into the bore of the air gun propelling the elongate projectile from the bore of the air gun, wherein as the elongate projectile is propelled down the bore of the air gun, the O-ring frictionally advances over the tapered section and engages riflings within the air gun causing the elongate projectile to rotate within the bore of the air gun.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each of the annular grooves comprise a tapered section. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein an O-ring is disposed in each of the annular grooves. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein when the projectile is propelled out of the bore of the air gun, the O-ring in the first groove is forced to the rear of the first groove and the O-ring in the second groove is forced to the front of the second groove. 
     
     
         16 . A mounting system for an arrow, comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical member having an aperture on a distal end sized to receive an arrowhead therein; and   a conical member disposed about an exterior of the substantially cylindrical member, the conical member having a through lumen that is in fluid communication with the aperture of the substantially cylindrical member.   
     
     
         17 . The mounting system of  claim 16 , further comprising an arrow having the substantially cylindrical member disposed in a distal end and the conical member disposed about an exterior of the cylindrical member and the distal end of the arrow. 
     
     
         18 . The mounting system of  claim 16 , wherein a head of the conical member is tapered. 
     
     
         19 . The mounting system of  claim 17 , wherein a head of the conical member is sized to be greater than an internal diameter of a bore of a gun. 
     
     
         20 . The mounting system of  claim 16 , wherein the cylindrical member comprises a head and a tail, the tail having an outer diameter that is substantially equivalent to an inner diameter of an arrow and the head having an outer diameter that is substantially equivalent to an outer diameter of the arrow.