Shooting range bullet trap structure

Claim 2

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; at least one vertical frame bar located along the back plate means intermediate and spaced from rear portions of the side plate means; oblique deflector plates extending from the side plate means above said bottom plate means and providing bullet deflection front surfaces slopping toward said back plate means with rear portions of the deflector plates cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; said deflector plates having side edges adjacent to one another at a joint generally aligned with and forwardly from said frame bar; cantilever supporting bracket arm means on said bar concealed behind and supportingly secured to said deflector plates adjacent to said edges; and a joint-bridging guard strip plate lapping margins of said front surfaces along the length of said joint; the space forwardly along said deflector plate surfaces between said side plates thus being free from any vertical obstructions.

Claim 3

A structure according to claim 1, including additional spaced vertical frame bars, said back plate means comprising at least one panel, and means on said spaced frame bars and said panel removably hanging the panel on and between said spaced bars.

Claim 4

A structure according to claim 2, including a plate member located between said spaced frame bars and having an upwardly extending margin lappingly disposed behind a lower margin on said panel, and clip means on said lower margin engaging said upper margin.

Claim 5

A structure according to claim 1, said top plate means comprising a canopy panel sloping downwardly and rearwardly towards and having an edge adjacent to said deflector plate means, said deflector plate means having an upper edge adjacent to and located in upwardly offset relation to said edge of the canopy panel.

Claim 6

A structure according to claim 1, including bullet deenergizing means below said deflector plate means and adjacent to the lower end portion of said back plate means including deenergizing bullet-spin surfaces and providing a chamber having said surfaces continuous about a horizontal axis except for a single entry and discharge gap at the bottom of the chamber, a ramp leading to said gap, and means providing a bullet-directing funnel opening toward said ramp and leading from said lower end portion of the back plate means.

Claim 7

A structure according to claim 5, said bullet deenergizing means comprising plate members of generally U-shape form assembled together to provide a deenergizing chamber and providing said bullet-spin surfaces about a generally horizontal axis, with upper margins of said members in lapping relation and lower margins of said members spaced apart to provide a gap into said chamber with one of said margins providing said ramp.

Claim 8

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; at least onE vertical frame bar located along the back plate means intermediate and spaced from rear portions of the side plate means; oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means and providing bullet deflection surface sloping toward said back plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; cantilever supporting bracket arm means on said bar concealed behind and supporting said deflector plate means; there being a space along said surface between said side plate means which is free from any vertical obstructions; attachment flange means on respectively opposite back side margins of the deflector plate means; attachment bolts securing the flange means along one margin adjustably to said arm means; an attachment bracket on said side plate means; and bolt means securing the remaining attachment flange means on said deflector plate means adjustably to said bracket.

Claim 9

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; at least onE vertical frame bar located along the back plate means intermediate and spaced from rear portions of the side plate means; oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means and providing bullet deflection surface sloping toward said back plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; cantilever supporting bracket arm means on said bar concealed behind and supporting said deflector plate means; there being a space along said surface between said side plate means which is free from any vertical obstructions; attachment flange means on respectively opposite back side margins of the deflector plate means; attachment bolts securing the flange means along one margin adjustably to said arm means; an attachment bracket on said side plate means; and bolt means securing the remaining attachment flange means on said deflector plate means adjustably to said bracket.

Claim 10

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; at least one vertical frame bar located along the back plate means intermediate and spaced from rear portions of the side plate means; oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means and providing bullet deflection surface sloping toward said back plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; cantilever supporting bracket arm means on said bar concealed behind and supporting said deflector plate means; there being a space along said surface between said side plate means which is free from any vertical obstructions; said deflector plate means being attached to said bracket arm means at one side of the bracket arm means; additional oblique deflector plate means attached to the opposite side of said arm means; and a joint covering strip overlapping adjacent front margins of said deflector plate means.

Claim 11

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; at least one vertical frame bar located along the back plate means intermediate and spaced from rear portions of the side plate means; oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means and providing bullet deflection surface sloping toward said back plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; cantilever supporting bracket arm means on said bar concealed behind and supporting said deflector plate means; there being a space along said surface between said side plate means which is free from any vertical obstructions; said deflector plate means being attached to said bracket arm means at one side of the bracket arm means; additional oblique deflector plate means attached to the opposite side of said arm means; and a joint covering strip overlapping adjacent front margins of said deflector plate means.

Claim 12

A structure according to claim 8, including forward edge protecting oblique deflector members carried by and along forward edge portions of both of said deflector plate means and having respective but adjacently located sides, and a joint-covering strip overlapping said sides along the front thereof and closing the joint therebetween.

Claim 13

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; at least one vertical frame bar located along the back plate means intermediate and spaced from rear portions of the side plate means; oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means and providing bullet deflection surface sloping toward said back plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; cantilever supporting bracket arm means on said bar concealed behind and supporting said deflector plate means; there being a space along said surface between said side plate means which is free from any vertical obstructions; said oblique deflector plate means including a panel having a front margin and edge; an oblique deflector guard panel disposed forwardly adjacent and extending above and below said edge; a mounting bracket carried by the back of said guard panel; and means detachably securing said bracket to said front margin.

Claim 14

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; at least one vertical frame bar located along the back plate means intermediate and spaced from rear portions of the side plate means; oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means and providing bullet deflection surface sloping toward said back plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; cantilever supporting bracket arm means on said bar concealed behind and supporting said deflector plate means; there being a space along said surface between said side plate means which is free from any vertical obstructions; said oblique deflector plate means including a panel having a front margin and edge; an oblique deflector guard panel disposed forwardly adjacent and extending above and below said edge; a mounting bracket carried by the back of said guard panel; and means detachably securing said bracket to said front margin.

Claim 15

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite siDe and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; at least one vertical frame bar located along the back plate means intermediate and spaced from rear portions of the side plate means; oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means and providing bullet deflection surface sloping toward said back plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; cantilever supporting bracket arm means on said bar concealed behind and supporting said deflector plate means; there being a space along said surface between said side plate means which is free from any vertical obstructions; said frame bar having a forwardly projecting flange; and said bracket arm means comprising a flat bar disposed in a vertical plane, and having a rear edge welded to said flange.

Claim 16

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite siDe and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; at least one vertical frame bar located along the back plate means intermediate and spaced from rear portions of the side plate means; oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means and providing bullet deflection surface sloping toward said back plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; cantilever supporting bracket arm means on said bar concealed behind and supporting said deflector plate means; there being a space along said surface between said side plate means which is free from any vertical obstructions; said frame bar having a forwardly projecting flange; and said bracket arm means comprising a flat bar disposed in a vertical plane, and having a rear edge welded to said flange.

Claim 17

A structure according to claim 11, said bar having a forwardly extending base bar extension welded to and projecting from a lower end portion of the frame bar and providing a forward support for the frame bar, said cantilever arm means and said deflector plate means.

Claim 18

A structure according to claim 12, including a brace panel having respective edges welded to said frame bar flange and to said forward base extension.

Claim 19

A structure according to claim 13, including means connecting said brace panel and said side plate means and contributing to stability of the structure in the assembly.

Claim 20

A structure according to claim 13, including bullet deflecting means carried by said bracing panel and protectively related to an edge thereof.

Claim 21

A structure according to claim 13, including means supporting said bottom plate means on said bracing panel.

Claim 22

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; at least one vertical frame bar located along the back plate means intermediate and spaced from rear portions of the side plate means; oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means and providing bullet deflection surface sloping toward said back plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; cantilever supporting bracket arm means on said bar concealed behind and supporting said deflector plate means; there being a space along said surface between said side plate means which is free from any vertical obstructions; said bottom plate means comprising a pair of panels disposed in an oblique upward and rearward plane intersectingly related to said deflector plate means; one of said panels being fixedly mounted and having an upper edge in adjacent spaced relation below said deflector plate means to provide a bullet-receiving gap, said one panel having a lower edge spaced upwardly relative to a supporting floor; the other of said panels having an upper margin overlapping said lower edge and having a lower margin adjacent to said floor; and hinge means connecting said lower margin to said floor whereby said remaining panel is movable as an access door to space behind said panels providing a bullet recovery pit.

Claim 23

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; at least one vertical frame bar located along the back plate means intermediate and spaced from rear portions of the side plate means; oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means and providing bullet deflection surface sloping toward said back plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; cantilever supporting bracket arm means on said bar concealed behind and supporting said deflector plate means; there being a space along said surface between said side plate means which is free from any vertical obstructions; said bottom plate means comprising a pair of panels disposed in an oblique upward and rearward plane intersectingly related to said deflector plate means; one of said panels being fixedly mounted and having an upper edge in adjacent spaced relation below said deflector plate means to provide a bullet-receiving gap, said one panel having a lower edge spaced upwardly relative to a supporting floor; the other of said panels having an upper margin overlapping said lower edge and having a lower margin adjacent to said floor; and hinge means connecting said lower margin to said floor whereby said remaining panel is movable as an access door to space behind said panels providing a bullet recovery pit.

Claim 24

A structure according to claim 17, including a bullet deflector guard mounted on the floor forwardly adjacent to said lower margin.

Claim 25

A structure according to claim 17, including a bullet decelerator located behind said one panel, means for guiding bullets moving down said back panel means into said decelerator, and means for directing spent bullets from said decelerator toward said door panel.

Claim 26

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and cooperating plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means so that the back plate means serves generally as a chute along which bullets fired theretoward travel downwardly; means defining a bullet-deenergizing chamber which is fully closed except for a bottom combination entry and discharge gap; means for directing bullets from the chute generally under said chamber and into said gap to spin out within said chamber until deenergized to drop from said gap; means for receiving the spent bullets dropping from said gap; a receiving ramp at and facing toward said gap and toward which said directing means is trained; and said directing means comprising members defining a funnel leading from said chute and trained toward but in spaced relation to said ramp to avoid interference with dropping of spent bullets from said chamber.

Claim 27

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and cooperating plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means so that the back plate means serves generally as a chute along which bullets fired theretoward travel downwardly; means defining a bullet-deenergizing chamber which is fully closed except for a bottom combination entry and discharge gap; means for directing bullets from the chute generally under said chamber and into said gap to spin out within said chamber until deenergized to drop from said gap; means for receiving the spent bullets dropping from said gap; a receiving ramp at and facing toward said gap and toward which said directing means is trained; and said directing means comprising members defining a funnel leading from said chute and trained toward but in spaced relation to said ramp to avoid interference with dropping of spent bullets from said chamber.

Claim 28

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and cooperating plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means so that the back plate means serves generally as a chute along which bullets fired theretoward travel downwardly; means defining a bullet-deenergizing chamber which is fully closed except for a bottom combination entry and discharge gap; means for directing bullets from the chute generally under said chamber and into said gap to spin out within said chamber until deenergized to drop from said gap; means for receiving the spent bullets dropping from said gap; and said deenergizing chamber means comprising a complementary pair of generally U-shaped plates having adjacent upper flanges in lapping relation and lower flanges in spaced relation providing said gap.

Claim 29

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and cooperating plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means so that the back plate means serves generally as a chute along which bullets fired theretoward travel downwardly; means defining a bullet-deenergizing chamber which is fully closed except for a bottom combination entry and discharge gap; means for directing bullets from the chute generally under said chamber and into said gap to spin out within said chamber until deenergized to drop from said gap; means for receiving the spent bullets dropping from said gap; and said deenergizing chamber means comprising a complementary pair of generally U-shaped plates having adjacent upper flanges in lapping relation and lower flanges in spaced relation providing said gap.

Claim 30

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and cooperating plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means so that the back plate means serves generally as a chute along which bullets fired theretoward travel downwardly; means defining a bullet-deenergizing chamber which is fully closed except for a bottom combination entry and discharge gap; means for directing bullets from the chute generally under said chamber and into said gap to spin out within said chamber until deenergized to drop from said gap; means for receiving the spent bullets dropping from said gap; said chamber means being located forwardly relative to said back plate means; and protective guard plate means forwardly from said chamber means providing a spent bullet pit receptive of the spent bullets from said chamber and including a hingedly mounted panel providing a forward clean-out access door.

Claim 31

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and cooperating plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means so that the back plate means serves generally as a chute along which bullets fired theretoward travel downwardly; means defining a bullet-deenergizing chamber which is fully closed except for a bottom combination entry and discharge gap; means for directing bullets from the chute generally under said chamber and into said gap to spin out within said chamber until deenergized to drop from said gap; means for receiving the spent bullets dropping from said gap; said chamber means being located forwardly relative to said back plate means; and protective guard plate means forwardly from said chamber means providing a spent bullet pit receptive of the spent bullets from said chamber and including a hingedly mounted panel providing a forward clean-out access door.

Claim 32

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; at least one vertical frame bar located along the back plate means intermediate and spaced from rear portions of the side plate means; a plurality of oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means and sloping toward said back plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; and cantilever supporting bracket arm means along said bar concealed behind and supporting said deflector plate means; means supporting said deflector plate means spaced one above the other with progressively greater spacing between the successively higher plate means relative to the immediately subjacent plate means.

Claim 33

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; at least one vertical frame bar located along the back plate means intermediate and spaced from rear portions of the side plate means; a plurality of oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means and sloping toward said back plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; and cantilever supporting bracket arm means along said bar concealed behind and supporting said deflector plate means; means supporting said deflector plate means spaced one above the other with progressively greater spacing between the successively higher plate means relative to the immediately subjacent plate means.

Claim 34

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate Means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; spaced vertical frame bars; oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means supported by said frame bars and sloping toward said back plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; said back plate means comprising at least one panel extending between the vertical frame bars; means on said spaced frame bars and said panel for removably hanging the panel on and between said spaced bars and comprising aligned horizontal pins projecting rigidly laterally from upper portions of said frame bars, and hook-shaped hangers on the panel engaging said pins; a plate member located between said spaced frame bars and having an upwardly extending margin lappingly disposed behind a lower margin on said panel; and clip means on said lower margin of the panel engaging said upper margin of the plate member.

Claim 35

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate Means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; spaced vertical frame bars; oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means supported by said frame bars and sloping toward said back plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; said back plate means comprising at least one panel extending between the vertical frame bars; means on said spaced frame bars and said panel for removably hanging the panel on and between said spaced bars and comprising aligned horizontal pins projecting rigidly laterally from upper portions of said frame bars, and hook-shaped hangers on the panel engaging said pins; a plate member located between said spaced frame bars and having an upwardly extending margin lappingly disposed behind a lower margin on said panel; and clip means on said lower margin of the panel engaging said upper margin of the plate member.

Claim 36

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; a plurality of oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; and means supporting said deflector plate means in spaced relation one above the other with progressively greater spacing between the successively higher deflector plate means relative to the immediately subjacent deflector plate means.

Claim 37

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; a plurality of oblique deflector plate means between the side plate means above said bottom plate means with rear portions cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; and means supporting said deflector plate means in spaced relation one above the other with progressively greater spacing between the successively higher deflector plate means relative to the immediately subjacent deflector plate means.

Claim 38

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; oblique deflector plate means and means supporting the same between the side plate means above said bottom plate means and sloping toward said back plate means with rear portion cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; said bottom plate means comprising a pair of panels disposed in an oblique upward and rearward plane intersectingly related to said deflector plate means; one of said panels being fixedly mounted and having an upper edge in adjacent spaced relation below said deflector plate means to provide a bullet-receiving gap; said one panel having a lower edge spaced upwardly relative to a supporting floor; the other of said panels having an upper margin overlapping said lower edge and having a lower margin adjacent to said floor; and hinge means connecting said lower margin to said floor whereby said remaining panel is movable as an access door to space behind said panels providing a bullet recovery pit.

Claim 39

A shooting range bullet trap structure, comprising: back plate means and top, opposite side and upwardly and rearwardly sloping bottom plate means providing surfaces for deflecting bullets rearwardly toward the back plate means; a spent bullet collecting chamber defined behind said bottom plate means; oblique deflector plate means and means supporting the same between the side plate means above said bottom plate means and sloping toward said back plate means with rear portion cooperating with said back plate means to define a downward bullet chute to said chamber; said bottom plate means comprising a pair of panels disposed in an oblique upward and rearward plane intersectingly related to said deflector plate means; one of said panels being fixedly mounted and having an upper edge in adjacent spaced relation below said deflector plate means to provide a bullet-receiving gap; said one panel having a lower edge spaced upwardly relative to a supporting floor; the other of said panels having an upper margin overlapping said lower edge and having a lower margin adjacent to said floor; and hinge means connecting said lower margin to said floor whereby said remaining panel is movable as an access door to space behind said panels providing a bullet recovery pit.

Claim 40

A structure according to claim 26, including a bullet deflector guard mounted on the floor forwardly adjacent to said lower margin.

Claim 41

A structure according to claim 26, including a bullet decelerator located behind said one panel, means for guiding bullets moving down said back panel means into said decelerator, and means for directing spent bullets from said decelerator toward said door panel.