Joint plate mounting mechanism

Abstract

A joint plate mounting mechanism includes a backing strip with a first arm, a second arm and a middle portion disposed between the first arm and the second arm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bullet trap having a joint plate mounting mechanism comprising:
 a first plate disposed generally horizontally;   a second plate disposed generally vertically;   a facing strip having a first arm and a second arm, the first arm engaging the first plate and the second arm engaging the second plate; and   a beveled backing strip having a first arm and a second arm, the first arm engaging the first plate and the second arm engaging the second plate.   
     
     
         2 . The bullet trap of  claim 1 , wherein the beveled backing strip has a middle portion disposed between the first arm and the second arm. 
     
     
         3 . The bullet trap of  claim 2 , wherein the first arm of the beveled backing strip and the middle portion of the beveled backing strip are disposed at an angle of between 40 and 50 degrees with respect to one another and wherein the middle portion of the beveled backing strip and the second arm of the beveled backing strip are disposed at an angle of between 40 and 50 degrees from one another. 
     
     
         4 . The bullet trap of  claim 1  wherein the beveled backing strip has a length and wherein the first arm of the beveled backing strip has a plurality of slots extending through said first arm, the slots extending lengthwise generally perpendicular to the length of the beveled backing strip. 
     
     
         5 . The bullet trap of  claim 4 , wherein the middle portion of the beveled backing strip includes a plurality of elongate slots extending therethrough, and wherein the elongate slots in the middle portion of the beveled backing strip extend generally parallel with the length of the beveled backing strip. 
     
     
         6 . The bullet trap of  claim 1  wherein the first arm of the beveled backing strip has an outer edge and wherein the second arm of the beveled backing strip has an outer edge and wherein at least one of the first arm of the beveled backing strip and the second arm of the beveled backing strip has a bevel along the outer edge of the arm, such that the first arm of the beveled backing strip or the second arm of the beveled backing strip has a width that reduces as it approaches an end of the beveled backing strip. 
     
     
         7 . The bullet trap of  claim 6  wherein the outer edge of the first arm of the beveled backing strip is beveled as it extends to both ends of the beveled backing strip. 
     
     
         8 . The bullet trap of  claim 6  wherein the outside edges of the first arm of the beveled backing strip and the second arm of the beveled backing strip both bevel as they approach a common end of the beveled backing strip. 
     
     
         9 . The bullet trap of  claim 1  further comprising a backing band disposed adjacent the beveled backing strip. 
     
     
         10 . The bullet trap of  claim 1  further comprising a third plate, the third plate being disposed horizontally on the first plate and wherein the backing band engages the second plate and the third plate. 
     
     
         11 . The bullet trap of  claim 10 , wherein the backing band includes a first arm, a middle portion and a second arm and wherein there are elongate slots which extend through the first arm and the second arm and wherein the middle portion lacks a hole or slot extending therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The bullet trap of  11 , wherein the first arm and the second arm of the backing strip have slots disposed therein and wherein slots on the backing band are larger than the slots on first arm and the second arm of the beveled backing strip. 
     
     
         13 . A backing strip for holding together plates in a bullet trap, the backing strip comprising a first arm, a second arm and a middle portion, the first arm and the second arm being oriented 90 degrees from one another, and a middle portion disposed between the first arm and the second arm, the middle portion being disposed at an angle of 40 to 50 degrees from the first arm and an angle or 40 to 50 degrees from the second arm relative to a width of the backing strip. 
     
     
         14 . The backing strip of  claim 13  wherein the first arm has a plurality of slots formed therein and wherein the second arm has a plurality of slots formed therein and wherein the middle portion has a plurality of slots formed therein. 
     
     
         15 . The backing strip of  claim 14 , wherein the backing strip has a length and wherein the slots in the middle portion run generally parallel to the length of the backing strip and wherein the slots in the first arm and the slots in the second arm run generally perpendicular to the length of the backing strip. 
     
     
         16 . The backing strip of  claim 15 , wherein the slots in the middle portion are larger than the slots in the first arm and larger than the slots in the second arm. 
     
     
         17 . The backing strip of  claim 13 , wherein the first arm has an outer edge opposite the middle portion and wherein the first arm tapers along the outer edge as the outer edge approaches an end of the backing strip. 
     
     
         18 . The backing strip of  claim 17 , wherein the second arm has an outer edge opposite the middle edge and wherein the second arm tapers along the outer edge as the outer edge approaches an end of the backing strip. 
     
     
         19 . The backing strip of  claim 18 , wherein the first arm tapers adjacent both ends of the backing strip and wherein the second arm tapers adjacent other ends of the backing strip. 
     
     
         20 . A method for forming the inlet of a bullet trap, the method comprising:
 selecting a first plate and a second plate and disposing the plates generally perpendicular to one another;   disposing a facing strip and a backing strip on opposing sides of the plates and tightening bolts which engage the facing strip and the backing strip to clamp the facing strip and the backing strip against the first plate and the second plate, and were the backing strip has a first arm, a middle portion and a second arm, and wherein the first arm is disposed to engage the first plate, the second arm is disposed to engage the second plate and wherein the middle portion is disposed at a 45-degree angle to the first arm and the second arm and does not touch either the first plate or the second plate.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the backing strip has a length and wherein the middle portion has a plurality of slots formed therein, the slots extending generally parallel with length and wherein the method further comprises extending bolts through the middle portion and the facing strip to hold an angle strip in front of the facing strip.