Torso Simulator for Ballistics Testing

Abstract

A device for simulating the anatomy of an animal to determine projectile performance is provided, comprising an enclosure having a front side and a rear side, wherein the front side includes a plurality of target images; a plurality of containers equal in number to the plurality of target images, wherein each of the containers is positioned within the enclosure and aligned behind one of the target images, and wherein each container includes at least one internal organ simulant material; a front hide/skin simulant material within the enclosure positioned between the front side and the containers, and a rear hide/skin simulant material positioned between the rear side and the containers; a front muscle simulant material within the enclosure positioned between the front hide/skin simulant material and the containers, and a rear muscle simulant material positioned between the rear hide/skin simulant material and the containers; and a front bone simulant material within the enclosure positioned between the muscle simulant material and the containers, and a rear bone simulant material positioned between the rear muscle simulant material and the containers.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for simulating the anatomy of an animal to determine projectile performance, comprising:
 (a) an enclosure having a front side and a rear side, wherein the front side includes a plurality of target images;   (b) a plurality of containers equal in number to the plurality of target images, wherein each of the containers is positioned within the enclosure and aligned behind one of the target images, and wherein each container includes at least one internal organ simulant material;   (c) a front hide/skin simulant material within the enclosure positioned between the front side and the containers, and a rear hide/skin simulant material positioned between the rear side and the containers;   (d) a front muscle simulant material within the enclosure positioned between the front hide/skin simulant material and the containers, and a rear muscle simulant material positioned between the rear hide/skin simulant material and the containers; and   (e) a front bone simulant material within the enclosure positioned between the muscle simulant material and the containers, and a rear bone simulant material positioned between the rear muscle simulant material and the containers.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is sealed. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of containers includes a plurality of air inserts. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of containers includes a combination of air inserts and liquid inserts. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the front and rear hide/skin simulant materials is a panel approximately equal to the area of the front side and at least partially behind each of the plurality of target images. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the front and rear muscle simulant materials is a panel approximately equal to the area of the front side and at least partially behind each of the plurality of target images. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the front and rear bone simulant materials is a panel approximately equal to the area of the front side and at least partially behind each of the plurality of target images. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of target images is arranged in a predefined array. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the resilience to penetration of each of the hide/skin simulant material, the muscle simulant material, the bone simulant material, and the internal organ simulant material is determined based on anatomical characteristics of a specific animal. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the hide/skin simulant material is constructed from one of more layers of a material selected from the group consisting of fiberboard, cardboard, leather, fabric, or imitation leather. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the muscle simulant material is constructed from one or more layers of a resilient material. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bone simulant material is constructed from one or more layers of a fiberboard material. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein two or more devices are stacked along a trajectory of a projectile sufficient to simulate the anatomy of a large animal.