Patent Application
20130192450
The present invention is in the field of firearms equipment and refers more specifically to the methods used to collect ammunition casings.
Over the course of the last 50 years, the number of civilian-owned firearms around the country has increased significantly. This increase in firearms has been accompanied by an increase in ammunition sales and use. In addition, the military services and law enforcement agencies continue to train their members in the use of firearms. Target practice at military, law enforcement, and civilian shooting ranges generate significant quantities of spent shell casings.
When a firearm fires a round correctly, it typically ejects an ammunition casing which falls to the ground.
When a firearm has a malfunction, the shooter performs a specific procedure based upon the type of firearm being used, in order to fix the malfunction, which typically results in a damaged ammunition casing falling to the ground.
Conventional techniques for retrieving ammunition casings traditionally force firearm owners or users to spend large amounts of time in uncomfortable positions. Because of this, three main types of tools have been invented in an attempt to ease the burden of collecting ammunition casings, namely the full size, table-top, and gun mounted. These tools are colloquially referred to as “brass catchers”, which is derived from the colloquial term for ammunition casings, “brass”.
The first of these types, the full size, has a rigid frame supporting a net which stands on or is embedded in the ground, and has an opening allowing ammunition casings to enter the tool (a variation of this is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,716.) It is very reliable for catching brass; however, the shooter must maintain a constant, stable body position in relation to the aperture so as to ensure that the weapon remains in the same relative location throughout every shooting iteration. Due to this limitation, the shooter is not able to fire while moving in width and in depth in relation to his target without littering the surrounding area with ammunition casings. Also, this tool can only be used by one shooter at a time, resulting in each individual shooter having to provide his own tool. In the case of military recruits or police trainees, this can result in broken or forgotten tools, thus hindering the training. A further drawback to this tool is that, for shooters in any position other than seated at a bench, and especially for shooters in the standing position, it is difficult to maintain stability of the tool due to the moments generated by wind, weight of brass collected, etc., which require the tool to have a large and unwieldy base, or be embedded in or otherwise fixed to the ground surface, making this category of tool generally impractical for most users. Finally, depending on the size of the opening, it is generally necessary to adjust the height of the opening to correspond approximately with the height of the horizontal axis of the gun barrel, and may also require adjustment to accommodate the different ejection trajectories of different weapons, further inconveniencing the user.
The second of these types, the table-top, is, again, a rigid framed tool designed to stand upright, and is typically but not necessarily fixed to the shooting table. The opening, which allows the ammunition casing to enter the tool for collection, on the table-top version is much smaller than on the full size tool previously discussed. This means that the shooter has to maintain the weapon in an even more specific location so as to ensure that the ammunition casing enters the tool. Again, this does not allow the shooter to fire while moving in width and in depth in relation to the target without littering the surrounding area with ammunition casings. It is therefore useful only in the very restrictive case of a shooter sitting at a shooting table, and even then it may also require adjustment to accommodate the different trajectories of different weapons. The same problem arises with this tool as with the full size version in that this tool can only be used by one shooter at a time, resulting in each individual shooter having to provide his own tool. In the case of military recruits or police trainees, this can result in broken or forgotten tools, thus hindering the training.
The third type of tool is mounted on the weapon itself (a variation of this is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,439). This weapon-mounted tool allows the shooter to move in depth and in width relative to his target. Although this tool allows freedom of movement, some of the same problems arise with this tool as with the two tools previously discussed. This tool can only be used by one shooter at a time. In the case of military recruits or police trainees, this can result in forgotten tools, thus hindering the training. The fact that this tool is mounted to the weapon itself also presents a significant problem to military recruits or police trainees in that, once several ammunition casings are collected inside of the tool, the weight of the tool and collected casings on one side of the weapon will throw off the balance, thus hindering a recruit or trainee's ability to accurately gauge his ability to engage a target effectively. Moreover, the overriding purpose of target practice is to develop and improve shooting accuracy in as realistic a simulated environment as possible, and applying a variable torque to the main axis of the weapon is a highly undesirable characteristic of this third type of tool. The last problem with this tool is that in most military or police training environments, the recruits are required to shoot and move around obstacles such as vehicles, buildings, and other barriers, often times resulting in collisions with other people and objects. This type of tool can break, causing delays in training and resulting in ammunition casings having to be picked up by hand.
The present invention is a fabric which lays flat on the ground and has a plurality of handles and/or drawstrings which, when lifted, allow ammunition casings to collect at one or more common points. The shape of the fabric can be square, or rectangular, or circular, or oval, or of any other geometric shape desired. In addition, one or more closeable apertures can be provided at or near the common collection points of the fabric to allow the collected casings to be easily removed.
Referring now to the invention in more detail, the fabric lays flat on the ground. It is typically, but not necessarily, a mesh with apertures small enough that the spent casings cannot pass through. There is typically, but not necessarily, canvas or other material attached to the edges to reinforce and protect the edges (including the edges of the apertures if any are included), and to anchor the handles. Attached to the outer edges of the fabric or the edge reinforcement are handles. The number of handles is dependent upon the size and shape of the fabric. Furthermore, in addition to handles, there can be one long line, or multiple segments of a line passing through eyelets or grommets or similar reinforced apertures, extending around the edge of the fabric. This line, or the multiple segments of lines, are in the nature of a drawstring and when pulled simultaneously, will channel ammunition casings to a common collection point. Furthermore, a bag can be attached to the fabric at one or more common collection points to retain the collected casings. Furthermore, there can be lines of material attached to the edge or bottom of the fabric which, once the fabric is rolled up, can be tied together in the nature of sail gaskets and simplify the process of transportation and storage.
In another embodiment, the fabric is constructed so that there is a vertical component running along the edge, which will prevent spent casings that land on the fabric from rolling off the fabric. Alternatively, one or more edges can be turned up to a more vertical position to serve the same purpose.
In further detail, still referring to the invention, the dimensions of the fabric will be sufficiently wide enough to allow for the desired number of shooters, to be able to actively use the fabric at the same time. The fabric will also be sufficiently long enough to allow for the desired number of shooters, to be actively using the fabric at different distances from the target. In order to allow flexibility for the desired number of shooters, and to accommodate the requirement in some situations that shooters move forward, backward, and laterally and around obstacles such as vehicles, buildings and other bathers, any number of devices, which can be of varying sizes and shapes, can be joined together through some temporary mechanism, such as hook-and-loop fasteners or snaps attached to the edges, that permits temporary connection with adjoining fabrics and therefore expansion or contraction of the surface area and configuration to accommodate obstacles and complex terrain as desired.
The handles will allow for easy gripping. The line of material, or multiple segments of lines of material, attached around the edges will be constructed long enough so as to allow the fabric (but not the vertical edging, if any) to lay flat on the ground. The closeable aperture at the common collection point or points, will be constructed with a wide enough cross-section so as to allow any type of small-arms ammunition casing to easily pass. The lines of material attached to the bottom of the fabric, for use in the nature of sail gaskets during transportation and storage, will be long enough to easily tie around and secure the rolled-up fabric. These lines of fabric may or may not be attached, so as to allow the owner to fold or roll the device in any way that he deems necessary.
The construction details of the invention are that the fabric may be made of any sufficiently strong, flexible material such as nylon, polypropylene, teflon, polyethylene, polyester or the like, and will typically, but not necessarily be a mesh fabric to ensure no ponding of water on the surface in the event of rain. The construction details of the handles are that the handles will be constructed of any material sufficiently strong enough to lift that area of the fabric. The construction details of the line of material, or multiple segments of lines of material, running along the edges of the fabric are that they will be constructed using a sufficiently strong material so as to allow them to pull up all sides of the fabric simultaneously. The line of material, or multiple segments of lines of material, running along the edges of the fabric will be long enough to allow the fabric (but not the vertical edging, if any) to lay flat on the ground while in use. Any apertures that are incorporated with the device will be reinforced in such a manner as to prevent the weight of the collected shell casings from tearing or distending the fabric, and will have some temporary mechanism, such as hook-and-loop fasteners or snaps, that permit s temporary connection with a removable aperture closure piece, or a removable bag or chute, any of which can be inserted in the aperture at the election of the user.
The removable aperture closure piece, if incorporated, will be constructed of a durable material which can be joined to the aperture through some temporary mechanism, such as hook-and-loop fasteners or snaps, that permits temporary connection with and closure of the aperture. A bag or chute may also be incorporated into the location of the aperture, to collect or guide the discharge of the casings. The bag or chute may be permanently or temporarily attached to the aperture, and if the attachment is temporary, the bag or chute will include some temporary mechanism, such as hook-and-loop fasteners or snaps, that permits temporary connection with and closure of the aperture. The lines of material attached to the bottom of the fabric, for use during transportation and storage, will be made of any durable material such as nylon, or the like, that is capable of keeping the fabric from unrolling during transportation.
The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, that its compactness makes it exceedingly easy to store, transport and use. Conventionally, firearm owners are forced to spend large amounts of time in uncomfortable positions picking up ammunition casings. This invention allows people to collect ammunition casings at a much faster rate than those conventional methods. The tools that have been invented in the past have in general been cumbersome to transport, inconvenient to install, impractical to use, and they impose severe limitations on the types of shooting that firearm owners or users can do. This invention gives shooters freedom of movement, meaning that the tool will still be effective if shooters decide to engage their targets while moving in depth and in width in relation to their targets, or if obstacles are present on the range. This invention is durable and in no way will hinder a shooter's movement during training. This invention allows for large military and police units, and civilian shooters, to only be accountable for one tool, while also allowing all members to train at the same time. Not only can this invention be used by large groups of people, but can also be used by individual shooters who wish to have freedom of movement while shooting. Also, it will be made of light weight and durable material, so it can be cleaned quickly using water and left to air dry.
In broad embodiment, the present invention is a fabric which lays flat on the ground and has a plurality of handles which, when lifted, allow ammunition casings to collect at a common point.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all the embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the inventions as claimed.
Further viewing of the drawings shown within will encompass the idea of the invention.
In FIG. 3/LID OPTION (top and side view of this attachment): 2 indicates any woven fabric that does not allow spent ammunition casings to pass through when lifted above the ground. 3 indicates any material that could be attached to the outer edge of 2, so as to reinforce that edge and prevent tearing of 2. 7 depicts a closure piece used to cover the whole of 5 (as shown in
In FIG. 3/CHUTE OPTION (side view of this attachment): 2 indicates any woven fabric that does not allow spent ammunition casings to pass through when lifted above the ground. 3 indicates any material that could be attached to the outer edge of 2, so as to reinforce that edge and prevent tearing of 2. In the CHUTE OPTION, 9 indicates any chute, built of any material, that could be used to funnel spent casings into a container, or common area. 8 indicates any hook and loop material that can be attached to any side of 3 to allow the two opposite sides of 8 to remain joined together when pressed against the other. In the CHUTE OPTION, 8 is shown being used to attach 9 to the invention and allow funneling of ammunition casings through 9.
In FIG. 3/BAG OPTION (side view of this attachment): 2 indicates any woven fabric that does not allow spent casings to pass through when lifted above the ground. 3 indicates any material that could be attached to the outer edge of 2, so as to reinforce that edge and prevent tearing of 2. 8 indicates any hook and loop material that can be attached to any side of 3 to allow the two opposite sides of 8 to remain joined together when pressed against the other. 10 indicates the possibility of attaching a bag or other container to the invention, which would serve as a possible detachable common collection point. 10, like all other optional attachments discussed in
The hook and loop material discussed in
