Frameless bullet trap

Abstract

A slat arrangement for redirecting the trajectory of a bullet has a plurality of elongated steel slats, and each elongated steel slat has a longitudinal front edge and a longitudinal back edge stretching between a first end and a second end. The steel slats are positioned in a louver-like fashion for changing the direction of a bullet following a trajectory along the normal of the slat arrangement. A support structure is connected to each steel slat at the back edge of the steel slat, between the first end and the second end of the steel slat.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A slat arrangement for changing the direction of a bullet, the slat arrangement comprising:
 a plurality of elongated steel slats, wherein each elongated steel slat has a longitudinal front edge and a longitudinal back edge extending between a first end and a second end; and   a support structure supporting the plurality of steel slats;   wherein the steel slats are positioned in a louver-like fashion configured so as to be capable of changing the direction of a bullet following a trajectory normal to the slat arrangement;   wherein the support structure is connected to each steel slat at the back edge of the steel slat and between the first end and the second end of the steel slat;   wherein the support structure comprises an elongated steel bar that has a first front edge and that comprises a plurality of cut-outs, and each cut-out having an opening at the first front edge and encloses a portion of a steel slat located at the back edge of the steel slat; and   wherein the steel slats are arranged so that a bullet following a trajectory along the normal of the slat arrangement must hit a steel slat prior to hitting the steel bar.   
     
     
         22 . The slat arrangement according to  claim 21 , wherein the steel bar has an elongated flat first side surface and an elongated flat second side surface, the first side surface and the second side surface being parallel, wherein the flat steel bar is positioned with the first side surface and the second side surface parallel to the normal of the slat arrangement, and wherein the cut-outs are from the first side surface to the second side surface. 
     
     
         23 . The slat arrangement according to  claim 22 , wherein the steel bar is flat and formed from a single piece of flat sheet metal. 
     
     
         24 . The slat arrangement according to  claim 21 , wherein each steel slat has a cross-section having a configuration that is selected from the group consisting of bent, curved, and folded. 
     
     
         25 . The slat arrangement according to  claim 21 , wherein each steel slat has an elongated first flat portion located at its front edge and extending between the first end of the slat and the second end of the slat, and wherein the first flat portion is slanted with respect to the normal of the slat arrangement; and
 wherein each steel slat further has an elongated second flat portion located at its back edge and extending between the first end of the slat and the second end of the slat, and wherein the second flat portion is slanted with respect to the first flat portion.   
     
     
         26 . The slat arrangement according to  claim 25 , wherein steel bar connects to the second flat portion of each steel slat. 
     
     
         27 . The slat arrangement according to  claim 25 , wherein the steel slats are arranged such that a bullet following a trajectory along the normal of the slat arrangement first hits a first flat portion of a steel slat prior to hitting any other part or portion of the slat arrangement. 
     
     
         28 . The slat arrangement according to  claim 27 , wherein the elongated first flat portions of the steel slats have the same transverse widths. 
     
     
         29 . The slat arrangement according to  claim 28 , wherein all pairs of neighboring steel slats have the same separation between them. 
     
     
         30 . A bullet trap comprising a slat arrangement, wherein the slat arrangement comprises:
 a plurality of elongated steel slats, wherein each elongated steel slat has a longitudinal front edge and a longitudinal back edge extending between a first end and a second end; and   a support structure supporting the plurality of steel slats;   wherein the steel slats are positioned in a louver-like fashion configured so as to be capable of changing the direction of a bullet following a trajectory normal to the slat arrangement;   wherein the support structure is connected to each steel slat at the back edge of the steel slat and between the first end and the second end of the steel slat;   wherein the support structure comprises an elongated steel bar, the steel bar having a first front edge and comprises a plurality of cut-outs, wherein each cut-out has an opening at the first front edge and encloses a portion of a steel slat located at the back edge of the steel slat; and   wherein the steel slats are arranged so that a bullet following a trajectory along the normal of the slat arrangement must hit a steel slat prior to hitting the steel bar.   
     
     
         31 . The bullet trap according to  claim 30 , wherein the bullet trap further comprises a conveyor system located below the slat arrangement arranged to remove bullets or fragments of bullets from the bullet trap. 
     
     
         32 . The bullet trap according to  claim 31 , wherein the conveyor system comprises a conveyor belt oriented so as to run in a direction parallel to the elongated steel slats. 
     
     
         33 . The bullet trap according to  claim 30 , wherein the slat arrangement further comprises a first steel plate positioned behind the steel slats and arranged to change the direction of the bullet or bullet fragments subsequent to the bullet hitting a steel slat. 
     
     
         34 . The bullet trap according to  claim 33 , wherein the first steel plate is transverse to the normal of the slat arrangement. 
     
     
         35 . The bullet trap according to  claim 33 , wherein the bullet trap further comprises a second steel plate positioned below the slat arrangement for stopping or changing direction of a bullet or fragments from a bullet subsequent to the bullet passing the slat arrangement. 
     
     
         36 . The bullet trap according to  claim 35 , wherein the second steel plate has a first planar portion inclined with respect to the normal of the slat arrangement. 
     
     
         37 . The bullet trap according to  claim 35 , wherein the conveyor system is arranged for removing bullets or fragments of bullets from the bullet trap subsequent to the bullets or bullet fragments being stopped by the second steel plate. 
     
     
         38 . The bullet trap according to  claim 35 , wherein the conveyor system comprises a frame supporting the conveyor belt, and wherein the second steel plate is arranged to shield the frame from bullets and bullet fragments subsequent to the bullets hitting the slat arrangement.