Pellet for air guns

Abstract

A pellet having an external configuration capable of promoting the aerodynamic and/or terminal (penetration) characteristics of the pellet. The pellet includes a head that defines a projectile tip coinciding with an axis of the pellet, and a raised pattern centered around the projectile tip. The raised pattern comprises a plurality of legs radiating from a center of the raised pattern that coincides with the projectile tip. The raised pattern is defined by at least two tiers that are generally congruent, of different size, and converge at the projectile tip. A smallest of the tiers is superimposed on a largest of the tiers and defines the projectile tip.

1 . An air gun pellet comprising:
 a head defining a projectile tip coinciding with an axis of the pellet; and   a raised pattern centered around the projectile tip, the raised pattern comprising a plurality of legs radiating from a center of the raised pattern that coincides with the projectile tip, the raised pattern being defined by at least two tiers that are generally congruent, of different size, and converge at the projectile tip, a smallest tier of the at least two tiers being superimposed on a largest tier of the at least two tiers and defining the projectile tip.   
     
     
         2 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 1 , further comprising a skirt having a distal end oppositely disposed from the head, wherein the skirt is hollow and has a frustoconical-shape such that the skirt increases in diameter in an axial direction away from the head, has a minimum exterior diameter adjacent the head to define a waist therebetween, and has a maximum exterior diameter at the distal end thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 1 , wherein the head of the pellet comprises two adjoining surfaces that define a periphery that forms a maximum diameter of the head. 
     
     
         4 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 3 , wherein a first of the surfaces is closer to the projectile tip than a second of the surfaces, and the first surface has a generally paraboloid shape that tapers to increase in diameter in an axial direction away from the projectile tip. 
     
     
         5 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 4 , wherein the second surface has a generally frustoconical shape that tapers to increase in diameter in the axial direction toward the projectile tip. 
     
     
         6 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 3 , wherein the raised pattern is entirely defined on a first of the surfaces that is closer to the projectile tip than a second of the surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 6 , wherein the first surface has a generally paraboloid shape that tapers to increase in diameter in an axial direction away from the projectile tip. 
     
     
         8 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 1 , wherein the smallest and largest tiers gradually increase in thicknesses in the axial direction towards the projectile tip. 
     
     
         9 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of legs radiate equi-angularly from the center of the raised pattern. 
     
     
         10 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of legs of the raised pattern consist of three to six legs. 
     
     
         11 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of legs of the raised pattern consist of six legs. 
     
     
         12 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least two tiers of the raised pattern consist of the smallest and largest tiers. 
     
     
         13 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the smallest and largest tiers of the raised pattern define offset edges. 
     
     
         14 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 13 , wherein the offset edges of the raised pattern comprise six edges defined by the smallest tier and twelve edges defined by the largest tier. 
     
     
         15 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of each of the legs defined by the smallest tier has sides that converge such that the portion has a triangular cross-section. 
     
     
         16 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 1 , wherein the smallest and the largest tiers have roughly equal thicknesses at the projectile tip of the pellet in an axial direction thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 1 , wherein portions of the legs defined by the largest tier have equal radial lengths and extend to a maximum diameter defined by an outermost periphery of the head. 
     
     
         18 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 1 , wherein portions of the legs defined by the smallest tier have equal radial lengths and do not extend to a maximum diameter defined by an outermost periphery of the head. 
     
     
         19 . The air gun pellet according to  claim 1 , wherein portions of the legs defined by the largest tier extend to a maximum diameter defined by an outermost periphery of the head, and portions of the legs defined by the smallest tier are shorter and extend roughly halfway to the outermost periphery of the head. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 placing the pellet of  claim 1  in an air gun;   firing the pellet from the air gun to induce a spin in the pellet about the axis thereof; and   impacting a target with the pellet, wherein the smallest and largest tiers of the raised pattern define offset cutting edges and the smallest and largest tiers and the offset cutting edges distort upon impact with the target to increase an entry hole in the target formed by the pellet.