A bullet trap and a bullet trap installation
Patent Information
- Application Number
- US18/994420
- Authority / Receiving Office
- US · United States
- Patent Type
- Applications(United States)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-07-14
- Filing Date
- 2023-07-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-27
Smart Images
Figure US20260251427A1-D00000_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to bullet traps. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bullet trap that retains a substantial portion of a bullet trapped by the bullet trap, and a bullet trap installation comprising at least two bullet trap modules.BACKGROUND
[0002] Bullet traps perse are well-known and have been used for many years. Typically, such traps are used by firearm manufacturers, by training facilities for military or po-lice personnel, and by recreational target shooting facilities. Bullet traps are of widely varying configurations, from wood boards to sand-filled traps, to complex deceleration chambers.
[0003] Existing mechanical bullet traps have not proved fully adequate at solving a problem of safely minimizing lead contamination to the environment with an economical, easily maintained device. For example, deflecting plate / deceleration chamber designs have employed large quantities of expensive high strength steel necessitated by the high bullet impact angles employed in the designs. In addition, the construction of deceleration chambers normally is complex and therefore expensive to build. Known deceleration chambers also suffer from the fact that their designs make inspection and replacement of parts difficult or impossible. Moreover, many of the known bullet traps fail to provide any means for preventing the release of lead particles and dust into the atmosphere because they cause a substantial breakdown of bullets fired into them.
[0004] From the above it is understood that there is room for improvements and the invention aims to solve or at least mitigate the above and other problems.SUMMARY
[0005] The invention is defined by the appended independent claims. Additional features and advantages of the concepts disclosed herein are set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the described technologies. The features and advantages of the concepts may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the described technologies will become more fully apparent from the following description and ap-pended claims or may be learned by the practice of the disclosed concepts as set forth herein.
[0006] In various embodiments, the disclosed bullet trap comprises an arrangement with a plurality of vertically displaced deflecting slats or plates mounted in a frame arranged in a housing. Each slat is rotated approximately 45° downwardly from a normal to the arrangement of slats and each slat will cover a section of a higher placed slat. As a result, bullets directed to the bullet trap will hit a first slat and be deflected downwardly towards a funnel. A substantial part of the kinetic energy of the bullet will be absorbed when the bullet hits the slat and during further deflections. The re-mains of the bullet will then fall along a rear panel or a rear wall of the housing and into a container at the bottom of the housing. Normally, the arrangement of slats is perpendicular to the horizontal plane. The structure of the frame and housing makes it possible to arrange a single bullet trap as a standalone module.
[0007] Several frames or modules can be mounted side by side to provide a bullet trap of different widths. When several frames are mounted side by side only frames at each end will be provided with a side wall. In various embodiments, different connection pieces can be used between the frames to provide a bullet trap arrangement with a nonplanar form, such as a U-form.
[0008] In various embodiments, the disclosed bullet trap comprises also a collecting funnel and a bottom part in which bullets and residue of bullets will be collected. A collecting tray is provided below the connecting funnel for receiving bullets and resides of bullets.
[0009] In various embodiments, the slats are mounted in slots of vertically extending panels. The slots are inclined, and the slats are inserted in the slots. The slats can easily be removed and exchanged by just pulling the slat out of the slots and inserting a new one.
[0010] In various embodiments, each slat is flat and rectangular. As a result, the slats can be turned upside down and inserted again in the same slot or in any other slot. In a first aspect there is disclosed a bullet trap, comprising a rear panel, a frame, and an arrangement or a first row of a plurality of vertically displaced deflecting slats mounted in the frame in front of the rear panel, wherein the slats are inclined an angle α downwards with reference to a normal N to the arrangement of slats, wherein the angle α is in the interval of 22° to 76°; wherein each slat will cover a section of a higher placed slat from a direction in parallel with the normal to the arrangement of slats; wherein the slats are flat and configured to be arranged in slots of panels at either side of the arrangement of slats, detachably arranged in the slots and inserted upside down in the same slots as well as in other slots; and wherein a collecting funnel is arranged below the arrangement of slats, wherein the collecting funnel has a top opening located below the slats for receiving bullets and residues of bullets, and a lower opening where bullets and residues of bullets are discharged.
[0011] In some applications, where large caliber ammunition or harder types of bullets are used, the capacity of the bullet trap can be improved by using multiple rows of slats arranged in front of each other. A bullet impacting the bullet trap will hit a slat in a front row, be deflected and then hit a slat in a rear row. The bullet will be further deflected at a rear panel behind the rows of slats. The kinetic energy of the bullet thus will be absorbed in three steps. After being deflected on two slats the remaining kinetic energy will not be large enough to damage the rear wall or the collecting funnel below. Three rows of slats arranged in front of each other will further improve these properties. The inclination of the slats of each row will be adjusted accordingly.
[0012] Alternatively, or in addition to multiple rows of slats it is possible to decrease damages on the collecting funnel and a collecting tray arranged under the funnel by a further deflecting arrangement above the collecting funnel and tray. In various embodiments, the deflecting arrangement comprises a wearing plate and / or a lower bent section of the rear wall provided below the wearing plate. A lower bent section of the rear wall will deflect bullets and residues in an upward direction towards the wearing plate. After being deflected on the wearing plate bullets and residues from bullets will fall by gravity into the collecting tray below the wearing plate.
[0013] When it is desired to use shooting angles from higher positions a lower front slat rotated in a reverse direction as compared to the other slats. The lower front slat is arranged below and in front of the other slats and will deflect bullets upwards and towards a bottom slat in the arrangement of slats.
[0014] The collecting funnel is configured to effectively collect all bullets and residues from bullets and further direct it into the collecting tray. In various embodiments, an upper opening of the collecting funnel corresponds to a lower opening of the bullet trap below the slats. Furthermore, a lower opening of the collecting funnel connects tightly to the collecting tray for securing that all residues will be collected. It should be noted that different embodiments as described above can be combined in different ways. It is for instance possible to include the further deflecting arrangement in embodiments with either one or a plurality of rows of slats. Also, a lower front plate can be used in any of the embodiments referred to above.
[0015] In a further aspect there is disclosed a bullet trap installation, comprising at least two bullet traps as defined above, wherein the frames of adjacent bullet traps are interconnected, the bullet trap installation comprising a cover plate arranged to cover end sections of adjacent arrangements of deflecting slats for directing bullets towards slats of either one of the bullet traps.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] In order to best describe the manner in which the above-described embodiments are implemented, as well as define other advantages and features of the disclosure, a more particular description is provided below and is illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting in scope, the examples will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a bullet trap,
[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the bullet trap shown in FIG. 1,
[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view from line A-A in FIG. 2,
[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an upright panel used in the bullet trap of FIG. 1 to FIG. 3,
[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of an installation with two bullet traps,
[0022] FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of the bullet trap installation shown in FIG. 5,
[0023] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a cover plate used in the bullet trap installation of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6,
[0024] FIG. 8 is a top view of the cover plate shown in FIG. 7 with received deflecting slats,
[0025] FIG. 9 is a schematic top view of a deflecting slat as mounted in an inclined position,
[0026] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of an end wall plate for covering end sections of the deflecting slats,
[0027] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of an alternative embodiment of a bullet trap with a removed side panel,
[0028] FIG. 12. is a schematic side view of a further alternative embodiment of a bullet trap with a removed side panel, and
[0029] FIG. 13 is a schematic part sectional view of a collecting tray connection to a collecting funnel.
[0030] Further, in the figures like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures.DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] Various embodiments of the disclosed methods and arrangements are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be under-stood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components, configurations, and steps may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
[0032] In the description and claims the word “comprise” and variations of the word, such as “comprising” and “comprises”, does not exclude other elements or steps.
[0033] Hereinafter, certain embodiments will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the inventive concept. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice disclosed herein. The embodiments herein are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept, and that the claims be construed as encompassing all equivalents of the present inventive concept which are apparent to those skilled in the art to which the inventive concept pertains. If nothing else is stated, different embodiments may be combined with each other. All references below to a horizontal direction and a vertical direction are based on the condition that the disclosed arrangement is disposed on a horizontal surface. The word front should be understood as seen from a shooting position.
[0034] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 a disclosed bullet trap 10 comprises a frame 12 and an arrangement of a plurality of vertically displaced deflecting slats 14. The slats 14 are loosely inserted in inclined slots 16 (c.f. FIG. 4) in upright panels 18 mounted to the frame 12. In the embodiment shown, two upright panels 18 are provided close to side sections of the frame 12. A funnel 20 with a collecting tray 30, c.f. FIG. 3, is provided below the arrangement of slats 14. A rear side wall or rear panel 22 covers the back side of the bullet trap 10. The arrangement of vertically displaced deflecting slats 14 extends vertically at a horizontal distance from the rear wall panel 22 and at a horizontal distance from a front opening of the bullet trap 10 to allow bullets and residues of bullets to move downwards towards the funnel 20. The front opening of the bullet trap 10 is turned against an intended shooting position.
[0035] When mounted in the slots 16 of the upright panels 18 the slats 14 will be inclined an angle α downwards from a normal N to the arrangement of slats, wherein the normal N corresponds to a horizontal line when the bullet trap is disposed on a horizontal surface. At an angle α of approximately 45° a wide shooting angle in a vertical direction can be allowed while maintaining a full function of the bullet trap. Shooting angles β and δ as shown in FIG. 3 can both be approximately 24°. If other shooting angles can be accepted, the angle α can be larger or smaller than 45°, but still preferably within an interval of 30° to 50°. Wider shooting angles require a wider angle α, such as in the interval of 40° to 75°.
[0036] The frame 12 is mounted on a bottom section 32 and comprises upright studs 34, a horizontally arranged lower framework 36, and a horizontally arranged top frame-work 38. The lower framework 36 has a central opening corresponding to a wide section of the funnel 20. The lower framework 36 and the top framework 38 are supported by the upright studs 34.
[0037] In various embodiments, the panels 18 are supported at a lower position by the lower framework 36 and at an upper position by the top framework 38. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the panels 18 can be L shaped with a lower horizontal base section 35 configured to be attached to the lower framework 36. An upper vertical section is fastened to the top framework 38. As shown in FIG. 4, the panels 18 can be provided with holes 44 for screws. The frame 12, the upright studs 34, the horizontally arranged lower framework 36, and the horizontally arranged top framework 38 provide a stability that allows for a single module standalone bullet trap 10. There is no need for mounting the bullet trap to a wall or other structures.
[0038] At side edges of the arrangement of deflecting slats end wall plates 39 (c.f. FIG. 5 and FIG. 10) can be provided to cover end sections of the arrangement of deflecting slats. It should be noted that end wall plates 39 normally are provided also in single module installations, even though no wall plates 39 are shown in FIG. 1.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the collecting tray 30 is placed below a lower opening 28 of the funnel 20 to receive bullets and residues from bullets entering from a top opening 26 of the funnel. Inside the funnel 20 there is provided an upper deflecting plate 40 and a lower deflecting plate 42. The upper deflecting plate 40 and the lower deflecting plate 42 will contribute to directing bullets and residues towards the collecting tray 30. The funnel 20 and the collecting tray 30 will ensure that bullets and residues from bullets will not exit to the environment. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a curtain or map 43 can be arranged in front of the deflecting slats 14. The curtain 43 will further prevent bullets and residues from bullets from escaping from the bullet trap after hitting the deflecting slats 14.
[0040] The bullet trap 10 is configured to be attached as a module to more bullet trap modules 10 of the same design. In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, two identical bullet trap modules 10 have been joined to form a two-section bullet trap installation 52. Further bullet trap modules 10 can be attached as modules at both sides to provide a bullet trap installation of any desired width. By using separate joint pieces between modules, it is possible to provide bullet trap installations of different shapes, for instance a U-shape or an installation with a curved form. As shown in FIG. 5, lower front panels 46 and upper front panels 48 are attached to the frame 12 of each module. A side panel 50 is attached to the frame 12 at end modules to enclose an inner space 60 of the bullet trap 10. The side panels 50 form side walls. Some or all of these panels can be excluded in applications where the complete bullet trap is placed in an outer housing, such as a container, with an opening in front of the area covered by deflecting slats 14 and cover plates 54. They can be excluded also if the bullet trap is used in sites where butts are arranged to receive bullets.
[0041] When two bullet trap sections 10 have been connected there is a vertical open space 70 between side edges of a first arrangement of deflecting slats 14 that have been inserted in the slots 16 of the upright panels 18 of a first bullet trap module 10 and a second arrangement of deflecting slats 14 that have been inserted in the slots 16 of the upright panels 18 of a second bullet trap module 10 (c.f. FIG. 5). In the bullet trap installation 52, there is provided a cover plate 54, an example of which is shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, to cover the vertical open space. The cover plate 54 comprises an elongated left side section 56 and an elongated right side section 58. The side sections are bent along a longer side and joined together in a sharp edge along the longer side. A plurality of inclined indents 68 are formed in both sided sections. FIG. 7 shows one deflecting slat 14 received in one inclined indent 68.
[0042] A V-shaped distance plate 62 is attached at each end of the side sections at the inside of the sharp edge. The V-shaped distance plate 62 will improve the stability of the cover plate 54. As shown in FIG. 8, the left side section 56 is somewhat longer than the right side section 58. As a result, a sharp tip 64 of the left side section 56 will point at the direction of incoming bullets when the cover plate 54 is in an operating position between two bullet trap modules 10. The cover plate 54 is pushed obliquely downwards over already inserted deflecting slats 14 to a position shown in FIG. 8. Bullets hitting the cover plate 54 along arrow H will be deflected towards the arrangement of slats 14.
[0043] An example of a deflecting slat 14 is shown in FIG. 9. The deflecting slat 14 is flat and basically rectangular with two longer sides and two shorter sides. The length of the longer sides could be around 1350 mm and the length of the shorter sides could be around 240 mm. As shown in FIG. 9, two recesses 66 are formed in one longer side a short distance from both shorter sides. When a deflecting slat 14 is inserted in the slots 16 of two upright panels 18 (one shown in FIG. 9), a section of the upright panels 18 will be received in each one of the slots 16. In this position, the deflecting slat 14 cannot slide in a longitudinal direction. In the embodiment shown, the deflecting slat 14 is symmetrical. As a result, a deflecting slat 14 can be turned upside down and thus be used in two different positions. Furthermore, the deflecting slats 14 can be moved between different positions in the bullet traps, for instance if the deflecting slats are unevenly worn.
[0044] The thickness of the deflecting slat 14 depends on the material used and the intended use. A suitable material is abrasion-resistant steel. An example of such material is marketed under the trademark HARDOX. Using this material with hardness (HBW) of 450, the thickness can be around 8 mm. By using steel of even higher hardness, such as 650, thinner steel plates can be used.
[0045] The frame structure of the bullet trap is very convenient and allows exchange of different plates and sheets in dependance of intended use. The deflecting slats 14 very easily can be exchanged to slats of harder or softer material. This applies also to the rear wall panel 22 and the cover plate 54.
[0046] The end wall plate 39 shown in FIG. 10 basically is one half of the cover plate 54 and corresponds to the left side section 56 shown in FIG. 8. The end wall plate 39 shown in FIG. 10 will be used at the right side of the arrangement of slats 14 as shown in FIG. 5. A mirror-inverted version of an end wall plate (and corresponding to the right side section 58) will be used at the left side of the arrangement of slats 14.
[0047] In the embodiments shown in FIG. 11, a further deflecting arrangement 72 is provided below the row of slats 14. A rear section 74 of the further deflecting arrangement 72 is formed by a lower section of the rear panel 22 bent forward. A front section 76 of the further deflecting arrangement 72 comprises a wearing plate 78 with a top section 80. The top section 80 extends horizontally or at a low angle in relation to normal N and will prevent bullets and residues from moving upwards. The rear section 74 of the further deflecting arrangement 72 will direct bullets and residues towards the wearing plate 78 and prevent bullets and residues from hitting the collecting funnel 20 directly with high energy.
[0048] A lower front slat 82 is provided below and in front of the other slats 14. The lower front slat 82 is inclined an angle α3 upwards in relation to the normal N. The angle α3 depends on the desired angles of incoming bullets, such as along the line B. The slats 14 are arranged at the angle α in relation to the horizontal line. The up-right panels 18 with the slots 16 are formed with curved outer edges 19 between adjacent slots 16. The curved outer edge 19 will facilitate removal of slats 14 from the slots 16 as indicated by arrow R in FIG. 11. A separate slot 17 is provided at a bottom section of the upright panels 18 to receive the lower front slat 82. A boss 86 is provided on the lower framework 36 to keep the lower front slat 82 in the position shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 after being inserted in the separate slot 17.
[0049] Side sections of the collecting tray 30 engage lower side sections of the collecting funnel 20, so as to ensure that bullets and residues will be collected in the collecting tray 30. In various embodiments, opposite side edges of the lower side sections of the collecting funnel 20 are folded to form horizontal shoulders on which internally extending flanges 31 of the collecting tray 30 can slide, as shown in FIG. 13. Normally, the rear lower side of the bullet trap is open, so as to allow withdrawal of the collecting tray 30 in the direction of arrow M, as shown in FIG. 12. If the bullet trap 10 is placed against a wall, preventing withdrawal of the collecting tray 39 back-wards, the lower front panel 46 can be provided with a hinged joint, so as to allow rotation of the lower front panel 46 to a position where the collecting tray can be pulled out forward, that is in the reverse direction of arrow M.
[0050] In the embodiments shown in FIG. 12, two rows or sections of slats 14 are arranged. A front row 84 of slats 14 corresponds to other embodiments with only one row of slats. However, since a rear row 86 of slats are arranged behind the front row 84 the slats of the front row 84 are arranged at an angle α1 in relation to a horizontal line. Normally, the angle α1 is smaller than the angle α. This means that bullets will be less deflected and hit a slat in the rear row 86 of slats where the bullet is further deflected. Slats 14 of the rear row 86 of slats are inclined a second angle α2 in relation to the normal N. Normally, α2 is considerably larger than α1. The angle α1 normally is 20° to 30°, such as around 25°. The angle α2 normally is 60° to 70°, such as around 65°. A deflection of bullets in two steps will allow a use of larger calibers and heavier bullets compared to only one using one row of slats. Bullets will be further deflected when impacting the rear wall 22. Each impact of a bullet will damage the slat less when a smaller angle in relation to the normal N is applied, as shown in FIG. 12. A slat of the rear row 86 will cover deflection of bullets from at least two slats of the first row 84. Normally, a slat of the rear row 86 will cover deflection of bullets from three slats of the first row 84. In the shown embodiments, the same type and size of slats are used in all positions, including the lower front slat 82.
[0051] The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. For example, the principles herein may be applied to any bullet trap. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the present invention without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A bullet trap, comprising:a rear panel;a frame; andan arrangement or a front row of a plurality of vertically displaced deflecting slats mounted in the frame in front of the rear panel;wherein the slats are inclined a first angle downwards with reference to a normal to the arrangement of slats;wherein each slat covers a section of a higher placed slat from a direction in parallel with the normal to the arrangement of slats;wherein the slats are flat and configured to be:arranged in slots of upright panels at either side of the arrangement of slats,detachably arranged in the slots, andinserted upside down in the same slots as well as in other slots;wherein a collecting funnel is arranged below the arrangement of slats;wherein the collecting funnel has a top opening located below the slats for receiving bullets and residues of bullets, and a lower opening where bullets and residues of bullets are discharged.
2. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first angle is in the interval of 30° to 65°.
3. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first angle is in the interval of 40° to 50°.
4. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first angle is approximately 45°.
5. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 1, wherein a further deflecting arrangement is provided below the arrangement of slats.
6. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 5, wherein the slats are detachably arranged in slots in at least two horizontally displaced upright panels.
7. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 6, wherein the frame comprises upright studs, a lower rectangular framework, and an upper rectangular framework that form a standalone module;wherein the collecting funnel extends below the lower rectangular framework.
8. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 7, wherein the upright panels extend between the lower rectangular framework and the upper rectangular framework.
9. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 8, wherein the upright panels comprise a lower base section attached to the lower rectangular framework.
10. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement of a plurality of vertically displaced deflecting slats is horizontally displaced from the rear wall panel.
11. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 1, comprising a collecting tray arranged below the lower opening of the collecting funnel.
12. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 1, comprising a rear row of a plurality of vertically displaced deflecting slats;wherein slats of the rear row of a plurality of vertically displaced deflecting slats are horizontally displaced from and visually fully covered by slats of the front row of deflecting slats from a shooting, position;wherein slats of the rear row are inclined downwards a second angle in relation to the normal; andwherein the second angle is larger than the first angle.
13. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 12, wherein slats of the rear row of slats are arranged at a vertical height in relation to a vertical height of slats of the first row of slats; andwherein the second angle and the first angle are selected such that each slat of the rear row will receive deflections of bullets from at least two slats of the first row of slats.
14. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one intermediate row of a plurality of vertically displaced deflecting slats is provided between the rear row and the front row.
15. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 12, comprising a lower front slat inclined upwards a third angle in relation to the normal;wherein an upper rear edge of the lower front slat lays in a vertical position above a lower front edge of a bottom slat of the rear row.
16. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 15, wherein a separate slot is provided at a bottom section of the upright panels to receive a front section of the lower front slat.
17. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upright panels with the slots are formed with a curved outer edge between adjacent slots.
18. The bullet trap as claimed in claim 1, comprising a further deflecting arrangement below the arrangement of slats;wherein the further deflecting arrangement is configured to prevent bullets and residues from directly impacting the collecting funnel.
19. A bullet trap installation, comprising:at least two bullet traps as claimed in claim 1;wherein the frames of adjacent bullet traps are interconnected;a cover plate arranged to cover end sections of adjacent arrangements of deflecting slats.
20. The bullet trap installation as claimed in claim 19, wherein the cover plate has a V-shaped profile and is formed with inclined recesses corresponding to the shape and angle of the arrangements of deflecting slats.
21. The bullet trap installation as claimed in claim 19 wherein the cover plate comprises at least one V-shaped distance plate arranged at an end section of the cover plate.
22. The bullet trap installation as claimed in claim 19, wherein the cover plate comprises an elongated left side section and an elongated right side section;wherein the elongated left side section and the elongated right side section are joined in a longitudinally extending sharp tip.
23. The bullet trap installation as claimed in claim 22, wherein the longitudinally extending sharp tip is formed by an edge of one of the side sections.