Mechanically adaptable projectile and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A mechanically adaptable projectile includes, in one example embodiment, a projectile body, the body including structure adapted to secure thereto one of multiple projectile components, and multiple projectile components each sized to be releasably secured to the projectile body, each of the multiple projectile components structurally dissimilar from all others of the multiple projectile components.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a projectile, comprising:
 providing a projectile body, said body including an aperture adapted to receive therein one of multiple projectile components;   inserting a projectile component into said aperture of said projectile body; and   releasably securing said component to said body.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said releasably securing said component to said body comprises securing said component with mating threads. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said projectile component has first and second ends positioned opposite one another and wherein said first and second ends of said projectile component are each adapted to be a leading edge of said projectile component when inserted into said projectile body. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said releasably securing said component to said body comprises securing said component to said body by the force of gravity. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said inserting said projectile component into said aperture is conducted manually. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said providing a projectile body comprises molding a body from a polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said projectile component is manufactured of a metal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said securing said component to said body is conducted by an end user at a time of use of said projectile. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said projectile body includes an exterior bearing surface and a base region and wherein said projectile component includes a tip and defines a meplat. 
     
     
         10 . A method of constructing a projectile:
 providing a projectile body that includes an interior cavity;   providing a plurality of unique projectile components, each unique projectile component sized to be received at least partially within said interior cavity of said projectile body; and   manually placing one of said plurality of unique projectile components at least partially into said interior cavity of said projectile body so as to form a projectile.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said projectile body is manufactured of a polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein at least one of said plurality of unique projectile components is manufactured of a metal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said step of placing one of said plurality of unique projectile components at least partially into said interior cavity of said projectile body is conducted by an end user immediately prior to discharging said projectile from a projectile launcher.