FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the reloading of ammunition cartridges with gun powder, and more particularly to a gun powder transfer device for effectively reloading ammunition cartridges with gun powder.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Reloading fired ammunition casings is an increasingly popular hobby of avid shooters. Shooters can often save a significant amount of money associated with the cost of ammunition by reloading their own ammunition. In addition, reloading allows a shooter to test different loads and bullet weights that can be tailored to the gun of the shooter's choice, thus resulting in more accurate shooting. Those of skill in the art understand that atmospheric pressure and moisture can negatively affect the reloading process. When gun powder is inserted into commercially available powder measures for subsequent reloading of ammunition, atmospheric pressure and moisture can result in densely packed and/or clumped gun powder within the powder measure, which can negatively affect the user's ability to determine the appropriate powder charge to be reloaded into the selected ammunition. Densely packed and/or clumped gun powder within the powder measure can also result in difficulty associated with the release of the gun powder from the powder measure and into the ammunition casing to be reloaded. If an insufficient amount of powder is utilized in the reloading process, a squib (i.e., a bullet that becomes stuck in the barrel of the gun) may result which can be extremely dangerous for shooters. Over-loading ammunition with gun powder can also result in hazardous conditions for the shooter. Thus, there is a need in the art for devices that facilitate the process of appropriately and accurately reloading ammunition.
SUMMARY
To address the foregoing problems, in whole or in part, and/or other problems that may have been observed by persons skilled in the art, the present disclosure provides methods, apparatus, instruments, and/or devices, as described by way of example in implementations set forth below.
According to one implementation, a gun powder transfer device includes a gun powder load chamber, a gun powder exit aperture, and a gun powder release mechanism disposed between the gun powder load chamber and the gun powder exit aperture. The gun powder load chamber is configured for receiving a quantity of gun powder from a powder measure. The gun powder release mechanism is selectively alterable between a closed state and an open state. In the closed state, the gun powder load chamber is isolated from the gun powder exit aperture such that none of the quantity of gun powder may be released form the gun powder load chamber to the gun powder exit aperture. In the open state, the gun powder release mechanism provides a flow path for enabling the quantity of gun powder to be released from the load chamber and into communication with the gun powder exit aperture.
According to another implementation, a method for reloading an ammunition cartridge includes coupling a powder measure to a gun powder transfer device, transferring a quantity of gun powder from the powder measure to a gun powder load chamber of the gun powder transfer device, placing an ammunition cartridge at the gun powder exit aperture, and releasing the quantity of gun powder from the gun powder load chamber and into communication with a gun powder exit aperture of the gun powder transfer device.
Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to those with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention can be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an implementation of a gun powder transfer device according to the present invention, showing a rotatable gun powder release mechanism.
FIG. 2 is a perspective assembled view of the gun powder transfer device illustrated in FIG. 1, further showing the rotatable gun powder release mechanism in an open state.
FIG. 3 is a perspective assembled view of the gun powder transfer device illustrated in FIG. 1, further showing the gun powder transfer device coupled to a powder measure.
FIG. 4. is an elevation view of an implementation of a gun powder load chamber according to the present invention, showing graduated markings.
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an implementation of a gun powder transfer device according to the present invention, showing a slidable gun powder release mechanism.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
By way of example, FIGS. 1-5 illustrate various implementations of a gun powder transfer device according to the present teachings. The various implementations provide a highly effective and efficient solution for accurately reloading ammunition cartridges with gun powder. It will be understood by those of skill in the art that the term “cartridge” may be used interchangeably with such terms as cases, casings, rounds, shells, etc. The gun powder transfer device according to the present teachings may be sized and configured for compatibility with any commercially available powder measure. For example, the gun powder transfer device may be easily coupled to an exit aperture of a powder measure so as to allow accurate measurement and proper inspection of the charge (or quantity) of gun powder (for example, to ensure that the charge of gun powder is not moist, clumped and/or densely packed) prior to loading the charge of gun powder in an ammunition cartridge.
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an implementation of a gun powder transfer device 100 according to the present invention. The gun powder transfer device 100 may generally include a gun powder load chamber 102, a gun powder exit aperture 104, and a gun powder release mechanism 106. As shown in FIG. 2, which is an assembled perspective view of the implementation of the gun powder transfer device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, the gun powder release mechanism 106 may generally be disposed between the gun powder load chamber 102 and the gun powder exit aperture 104. As shown in FIG. 3, the gun powder load chamber 102 may generally be configured to receive a quantity of gun powder (not shown) from a powder measure 302. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the gun powder transfer device 100 may be configured and sized for compatibility with any commercially available powder measure.
As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the gun powder release mechanism 106 may be rotatable (e.g., about a horizontal axis A-A), such that the gun powder release mechanism 106 is alterable between a closed state and an open state. In the closed state, the gun powder load chamber 102 may be isolated from the gun powder exit aperture 104 such that none of the quantity of gun powder present in the gun powder load chamber 102 may be released from the gun powder load chamber 102 and into communication with the gun powder exit aperture 104. In the closed state, a user may visually inspect the gun powder present within the gun powder load chamber 102 for any deficiencies (e.g., excess moisture, clumping, etc.). In the open state, the gun powder release mechanism 106 may provide a flow path for enabling the quantity of gun powder present in the gun powder load chamber 102 to be released from the load chamber 102 and into communication with the gun powder exit aperture 104 for subsequent loading of an ammunition cartridge 230 (see FIG. 2) positioned at the exit aperture 104. The gun powder release mechanism 106 may include an aperture 108 through which the quantity of gun powder may be released from the gun powder load chamber 102 when the gun powder release mechanism 106 is in the open state. As illustrated in FIGS. 2-3, the gun powder release mechanism 106 is in the open state, as the aperture 108 is in communication (e.g., in-line) with the gun powder load chamber 102 and the gun powder exit aperture 104. In some implementations, the gun powder release mechanism 106 may include an ergonomic handle 110 which may allow the user to easily alter (e.g., turn, push, pull, etc.) the gun powder release mechanism 106 between the open state and the closed state. O-rings 116 (or any other suitable coupling means known to those of skill in the art) may be used to secure the gun powder release mechanism 106 between the gun powder load chamber 102 and the gun powder exit aperture 104. In some implementations, the gun powder release mechanism 106 may be, for example, frictionally fitted or threadably coupled between the gun powder load chamber 102 and the gun powder exit aperture 104.
In some implementations, the gun powder load chamber 102 may include a housing 114 through which an inner conduit 112 extends. The housing may generally be constructed of transparent (or semi-transparent) material, such as any suitable polymeric material or glass, so as to allow a user to visually inspect gun powder present within the inner conduit 112. In such implementations, the gun powder release mechanism 106 is considered to be in the open state when the aperture 108 is in communication (e.g., in-line) with the inner conduit 112 and the gun powder exit aperture 104.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, in some implementations the housing 414 of the gun powder load chamber 402 may include graduated markings 440 (i.e., according to any desired scale) to allow a user to accurately measure a quantity of gun powder 442 that is received in the gun powder load chamber 402 from the powder measure (not shown). In some implementations, the gun powder load chamber 402 may include a slidable mark to allow a user to mark the quantity of gun powder 442 present within the gun powder load chamber 402 for the subsequent reloading of ammunition cartridges. In some implementations, a user may ensure that the quantity of gun powder 442 that is received in the gun powder load chamber 402 is accurate by causing the gun powder to be released from the gun powder transfer device and weighing the quantity of gun powder on a commercially available powder scale prior to loading the gun powder into an ammunition cartridge.
Returning to FIG. 1, in some implementations the gun powder exit aperture 104 may be coupled to a bottom portion 118 of the gun powder load chamber 102 via an O-ring 130 or other suitable coupling means. In some implementations, the gun powder exit aperture 104 may be frictionally fitted or threadably coupled to the bottom portion 118 of the gun powder load chamber 102. A user may position an ammunition cartridge (not shown) at the gun powder exit aperture 104 for reloading. When gun powder is present in the gun powder load chamber 102, the gun powder may be released from the gun powder load chamber 102 and into communication with the gun powder exit aperture 104 when the gun powder release mechanism 106 is selectively altered to the open state. The gun powder may exit the gun powder transfer device 100 via the gun powder exit aperture 104 to be received by an ammunition cartridge positioned at the gun powder exit aperture 104.
As further illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the gun powder transfer device 100 may include a coupling device 120 configured for removably securing the gun powder load chamber 102 to the powder measure 302. The coupling device 120 may include a first end 122 configured for removably coupling to a powder measure exit aperture 340, and a second end 124 configured for removably coupling to a top portion 126 of the gun powder load chamber 102. In some implementations, the second end 124 may be removably coupled to the top portion 126 via a lock nut 128, O-ring, or other suitable fastener. In some implementations, the first end 122 of the coupling device 120 may be threadably coupled to the powder measure exit aperture 340 and the second end 124 of the coupling device 120 may be threadably coupled to the top portion 126 of the gun powder load chamber 102. In some implementations, the first end 122 of the coupling device 120 may be configured for frictionally fitting to the powder measure exit aperture 340, and the second end 124 of the coupling device 120 may be configured for frictionally fitting to the top portion 126 of the gun powder load chamber 102. Any suitable coupling means may be utilized.
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an implementation of a gun powder transfer device 500 according to the present invention, including a slidable release mechanism 506 and showing a coupling device 520 configured for coupling a gun powder load chamber 502 to a powder measure exit aperture 340 (see FIG. 3), and a gun powder exit aperture 504. The gun powder release mechanism 506 may be slidable (e.g., movable perpendicular to a length of a housing 514 of the gun powder load chamber 502), such that the gun powder release mechanism 506 is alterable between a closed state and an open state. In the closed state, the gun powder load chamber 502 may be isolated from the gun powder exit aperture 504 such that none of a quantity of gun powder present in the gun powder load chamber 502 may be released from the gun powder load chamber 502 and into communication with the gun powder exit aperture 504. In the closed state, a user may visually inspect the gun powder present within the gun powder load chamber 502 for any deficiencies (e.g., excess moisture, clumping, etc.) prior to selectively altering (e.g., sliding) the gun powder release mechanism 506 to the open state. In the open state, the gun powder release mechanism 506 may provide a flow path for enabling the quantity of gun powder present in the gun powder load chamber 502 to be released from the load chamber 502 and into communication with the gun powder exit aperture 504 for loading into an ammunition cartridge positioned at the gun powder exit aperture 504. The gun powder release mechanism 506 may include an aperture 508 through which the quantity of gun powder may be released from the gun powder load chamber 502 when the gun powder release mechanism 506 is in the open state. When the gun powder release mechanism 506 is in the open state, the aperture 506 is in communication (e.g., in-line) with an inner conduit 512 (extending through the housing 514 of the gun powder load chamber 502) and the gun powder exit aperture 504. In some implementations, the slidable gun powder release mechanism 506 may include pins 550 (or “stoppers”) extending outward from the gun powder release mechanism 506. The pins 550 may be used to secure the gun powder release mechanism 506 between the gun powder load chamber 502 and the gun powder exit aperture 504. For example, the pins 550 may limit the lateral movement of the gun powder release mechanism 506 when the pins 550 come into contact with the housing 514 as the gun powder release mechanism 506 is altered by a user.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the gun powder release mechanism according to the present invention may comprise a spring-loaded release, a slidable release, a rotatable release, a ball valve or other suitable valve means, or any other suitable release means that is selectively alterable by a user between a closed state and an open state as set forth in the present teachings.
The gun powder transfer device according to the present invention enables a user to inspect gun powder that is to be used to reload an ammunition cartridge prior to charging the ammunition cartridge. For example, graduated markings may be used to visually inspect the charge of gun powder present in the gun powder load chamber of the gun powder transfer device. The user may visually inspect the charge of gun powder for moisture, packing, or clumping prior to charging the ammunition cartridge to be reloaded. Alternatively, or in addition to the foregoing, the user may release gun powder from the gun powder transfer device (via the gun powder exit aperture) to a commercially available scale to ensure the proper charge. After verifying the proper charge, the gun powder may be returned to the gun powder load chamber (via a powder measure, for example) for subsequent reloading of an ammunition cartridge placed at the gun powder exit aperture.
In general, terms such as “coupled to,” and “configured for coupling to,” and “secured to,” and “configured for securing to,” and “configured for receiving,” and “in communication with” (for example, a first component is “coupled to” or “is configured for coupling to” or is “configured for securing to” or is “configured for receiving” or is “in communication with” a second component) are used herein to indicate a structural, functional, mechanical, electrical, signal, optical, magnetic, electromagnetic, ionic or fluidic relationship between two or more components or elements. As such, the fact that one component is said to be, for example, in communication with a second component is not intended to exclude the possibility that additional components may be present between, and/or operatively associated or engaged with, the first and second components.
The foregoing description of implementations has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the claimed inventions to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20170115106
