GB2121522A - Shot, a bullet, a pellet or other projectile means - Google Patents

Abstract

Shot, a bullet, a pellet, or other projectile means for being discharged from a shotgun, an airgun, a rifle, a cannon or other projectile discharging means, comprises a material which is non-toxic and soluble such as to allow the projectile means to be absorbed, over a period of time, by the blood of a creature shot by the projectile means.

Description

SPECIFICATION Shot, a bullet, a pellet or other projectile means The present invention relates to shot, a bullet, a pellet, or other projectile means for being discharged from a shotgun, an airgun, or other gun, a rifle, a cannon or other projectile discharging means.

Traditional means for shooting game comprises lead shot. At present, a high percentage of game is hit by lead shot in a way that does not immediately kill it, but as a result of lead poisoning the game dies possibly days orweeks later. In the event that the game is killed by the lead shot, its flesh may be mildly poisoned by the time it is consumed, especially since game is not usually prepared forthetable until some time after it has been shot and hung. Sometimes, the lead pellets themselves are consumed accidently with theflesh,withavery much increased risk of lead poisoning.

Even if the lead shot completely misses its target, it falls on the surrounding land, and the cumulative effect of many lead pellets falling in certain regions may be dangerous to life, especially if the land concerned is also used for grazing cattle or sheep, since consumption of the lead shot by one of those animals may result in the animal being poisoned, and also anyone who eats the meatofthe animal after it has been slaughtered.

The present invention seeks to overcome one or more of these disadvantages, and is accordingly directed to shot, a bullet, a pellet, or other projectile means for being discharged from a shotgun, airgun, or other gun, a rifle, a cannon or other projectile discharging means, comprising a material which is non-toxic. Preferably, the material allows the projectile means to be absorbed, over a period oftime, by the blood of a creature shot by the projectile means.

In one form, this invention may comprise shot or other projectiles such as bullets, which may be of various shape and size, to be discharged from cartridgesorothercasings byexplosive means in a shotgun, a rifle, or a cannon, the shot or other projectiles being manufactured from non-toxicsolu ble substances.

Thusthe present invention may comprise shotfor being discharged from a shotgun, a pelletfor being dischargedfromanairgun,ora bulletforbeing discharged from a gun or rifle. The non-toxic material may comprise sugar, and may include non-toxic colouring matter. In one particular form of the invention, non-toxic material may be used to inhibit fragmentation of the non-toxic soluble material on impact, such as the fibre of sugar cane, or other vegetable matter such as linen, hemp orflax. If the non-toxicsoluble material used is sugar, for example, the sugar may be melted, the binder added and mixed in, and then the material can be solidified, cast into the desired shape, with the binder distributed throughout the solidified sugar.

Another possible non-toxic material comprises sand bound together with fish glue, orthe material may comprise simplyfish glue, In one particular application ofthe present inven tion,there is provided a cartridge or other casing which holdsshot,a bullet,a pelletorotherprojectile means comprising a material which is non-toxic and which allows the projectile means to be absorbed, over a period oftime, by the blood of a creature, the cartridge or other casing also holding explosive means for discharging the projectile means from a shotgun or other gun, a rifle, a cannon or other projectile discharging means.

An advantage of using a projectile or projectiles comprising a non-toxic soluble material is that, while they may be equally effective in shooting game as existing traditional means, in the eventthatthe game is not killed outright, and perhaps is incapable of being retrieved after being hit, it would have an improved chance of survival by virtue ofthe increased likelihood of its wounds healing, and it would be less likely to suffer a painful and useless death. In the eventthat game is killed by shot made in accordance with the present invention, the remains would form part ofthe natural food chain of the environment since it would not be poisoned by the shot.

If the shot game is retrieved, it can be easily rendered fitforhuman consumption by extraction of the shotfrom the flesh, and should any of the shot be accidentally left in the flesh, it would not be harmful, and the flavour of the flesh would not be adversely affected, especially ifthe shot is made, for example, of sugar which would be readily dissolved in the cooking process.

Afurtheradvantage of shot or other projectile means made in accordance with the present invention is that it will not poison the flesh of cattle or sheep should they eat pellets of the shot which have fallen on the ground where they are grazing.

Shot, made in accordance with the present invention, may be shaped to have the same dimensions as a metal bullet, and would then have the same lethal effect in so far as it strikes a vital part of an animal or bird, but in the event of a non-fatal strike, it would not necessarily consignthe animal or bird to a painful and lingering death, but would givethewound a chance to heal, and the shot, bullet or other projectile means, if soluble, would in time be absorbed into the creature's bloodstream.

Similar advantages apply in the case of accidental injuryto people, and also to those who are deliberately shot. The material which would be absorbed into the bloodstream as a result would not be poisonous, the wound would heal more rapidly, less pain and discomfort would be felt by a person inflicted by the wound, and fewer medical operations would be called for. One application ofthe present invention would be in the firearms used by the police, since the likelihood of death, and the suffering caused by wounds, would be reduced.

Iftheshot or other projectile means contains a harmless colouring additive, it could be used as a control to provide evidence if poaching with greater certainty in criminal proceedings. This would serve both to reduce the monetary loss of game which may be otherwise more easily poached, and also in the conservation ofwildlife.

Example One example ofthe present invention comprises solubleshotcomprising refined sugar, which is a non-toxic soluble substance. At one stage in the manufacture of the shot, the sugar is melted and a suitable non-toxic binder such as the fibre of sugar cane is added and mixed in, whereafterthe sugar is solidified into shot pellets. The sugar is suitably hardened through a manufacturing process so that it may be fired from a shotgun. The shot made in this way may be made more economically and with less riskto health than lead shot, for example.

The accompanying drawing illustrates embodiments of the present invention.

CLAIMS (filed on 2015/83) 1. Shot, a bullet, a pellet, or other projectile means for being discharged from a shotgun, an airgun, a rifle, a cannon or other projectile discharging means, comprising a material which is non-toxic and which is soluble such astoallowtheprojectile meansto be absorbed, over a period oftime, by the blood of a creature shot by the projectile means.

2. Shot, a bullet, a pellet, or other projectile means according to claim 1, in which the non-toxic material comprises sugar.

3. Shot, a bullet, a pellet, or other projectile means according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising non-toxic colouring matter.

4. Shot, a bullet, a pellet, or other projectile means according to any preceding claim, including material arrangedto inhibitfragmentation ofthe said non-toxic material on impact.

5. Shot, a bullet, a pellet, or other projectile means according to claim 1 and substantially as described herein with reference to the foregoing example.

6. Shot according to any preceding claim, for being discharged from a shotgun.

7. A pellet according to any one of claims 1 to 5, for being discharged from an air gun.

8. A bullet according to any one of claims 1 to 5, for being discharged from a gun our a rifle.

9. Acartridgeorothercasingwhich holds shot, a bullet, a pellet or other projectile means as claimed in any preceding claim, and explosive means for discharging the projectile means from a shotgun, a rifle, a cannon orother projectile discharging means.

10. Acartridge orothercasing which holds projectile means and explosive means substantially as described herein with referenceto Figure 1 or Figure 2 ofthe accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. both to reduce the monetary loss of game which may be otherwise more easily poached, and also in the conservation ofwildlife. Example One example ofthe present invention comprises solubleshotcomprising refined sugar, which is a non-toxic soluble substance. At one stage in the manufacture of the shot, the sugar is melted and a suitable non-toxic binder such as the fibre of sugar cane is added and mixed in, whereafterthe sugar is solidified into shot pellets. The sugar is suitably hardened through a manufacturing process so that it may be fired from a shotgun. The shot made in this way may be made more economically and with less riskto health than lead shot, for example. The accompanying drawing illustrates embodiments of the present invention. CLAIMS (filed on 2015/83)

1. Shot, a bullet, a pellet, or other projectile means for being discharged from a shotgun, an airgun, a rifle, a cannon or other projectile discharging means, comprising a material which is non-toxic and which is soluble such astoallowtheprojectile meansto be absorbed, over a period oftime, by the blood of a creature shot by the projectile means.

2. Shot, a bullet, a pellet, or other projectile means according to claim 1, in which the non-toxic material comprises sugar.

3. Shot, a bullet, a pellet, or other projectile means according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising non-toxic colouring matter.

4. Shot, a bullet, a pellet, or other projectile means according to any preceding claim, including material arrangedto inhibitfragmentation ofthe said non-toxic material on impact.

5. Shot, a bullet, a pellet, or other projectile means according to claim 1 and substantially as described herein with reference to the foregoing example.

6. Shot according to any preceding claim, for being discharged from a shotgun.

7. A pellet according to any one of claims 1 to 5, for being discharged from an air gun.

8. A bullet according to any one of claims 1 to 5, for being discharged from a gun our a rifle.

9. Acartridgeorothercasingwhich holds shot, a bullet, a pellet or other projectile means as claimed in any preceding claim, and explosive means for discharging the projectile means from a shotgun, a rifle, a cannon orother projectile discharging means.

10. Acartridge orothercasing which holds projectile means and explosive means substantially as described herein with referenceto Figure 1 or Figure 2 ofthe accompanying drawing.