Patent Application
20210262775
The present invention relates to ammunition, specifically to primer storage containers and assemblies for storing primer with firearms.
A muzzleloader is any firearm into which the projectile and usually the propellant charge is loaded from the muzzle of the gun (i.e., from the forward, open end of the gun's barrel). This is distinct from the more popular modem designs of breech-loading firearms where the projectile and charge is loaded at the breech (usually a single unit together). The term “muzzleloader” applies to both rifled and smoothbore type muzzleloaders and may also refer to the marksman who specializes in the shooting of such firearms. The firing methods, paraphernalia and mechanism further divide both categories as do caliber (from cannons to small-caliber palm guns).
In general, the sequence of loading is to put in first the charge (e.g. gunpowder), then wadding and projectile(s) are pushed down into the breech with a ramrod until they are firmly seated against the propellant charge. A primer (e.g. priming powder, priming charge, self-contained primer) is installed (e.g. poured, placed, inserted) near the breech. Then the firing mechanism may be initiated to ready the firearm for firing.
Modern muzzleloading firearms range from reproductions of sidelock, flintlock and percussion long guns, to in-line rifles that use modern inventions such as a closed breech, sealed primer and fast rifling to allow for considerable accuracy at long ranges.
Modern inline muzzleloaders typically have a removable breach plug at the rear of the barrel. The breach plug is machined to receive a standard 209 primer and has a flash hole extending to the primary powder charge in the barrel. The 209 primer is a standard primer used in most centerfire shotgun ammunition, and produces a hotter flame than a percussion cap. Thus, the chances of a misfire or hang-fire using an inline muzzleloader are less than with the other type of muzzle loading ignition systems described above.
The most commonly used ignition systems today for muzzle loaders are the percussion and inline ignition systems. Both types of ignition systems require that a user handle small parts—percussion caps in the case of percussion rifles and 209 primers in the case of inline rifles. Some users may find this task difficult to carry out.
209 Primers are generally purchased in large quantities (e.g. 100-1,000+) and generally include packaging similar to that used for ammunition (e.g. boxes and sometimes trays with inset cavities for holding single units in arrays with each other. While the purchase packaging is useful and efficient for acquisition by the purchaser, they are unwieldy and difficult to use during actual use of the product.
In many instances, a hunter or shooter will be utilizing a single shot weapon. When the weapon has been fired, it is desirable to be able to quickly and conveniently load an additional cartridge into the weapon. Normally the cartridges are carried in the person's pocket, belt, etc. and the location of the same makes it inconvenient to quickly and easily re-load the weapon.
In using a rifle or other firearm, it is desirable to have the cartridges or ammunition of the firearm close at hand. Hunters are often working their way through brush with their rifles and need to be able to access their equipment relatively easily with minimal physical bang-ups in the field. Thus, the ammunition can be readily placed in the firearm and fired without having to perform other time consuming steps.
Various devices/schemes exist to aid hunters in carrying extra ammunition, while also attempting to provide relatively quick and easy access to that ammunition. In the related art, it has been known to use an ammunition carrier which is at hand whether by attachment to or building into the stock. Many proposed solutions exist, with some providing built-in structures in a gun stock, a bunter's utility belt, or a carrier device that is attached to a lanyard to wear around a hunter's neck. Having a few rounds readily available without leaving the firing position is favored by some shooters and thus, some ammunition cases associated with the stock have been developed including small strap on cases.
Some improvements have been made in the field. Examples of references related to the present invention are described below in their own words, and the supporting teachings of each reference are incorporated by reference herein:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,576 issued to Moravek, discloses a cartridge holder is described for mounting on either a pistol, rifle or shotgun. The cartridge holder is comprised of an elastic member which is sewn in such a manner so as to create a first loop portion which may be slipped over the forearm of a weapon to maintain the ember on the weapon. A pair of spaced-apart smaller loops are also formed in the member adapted to receive a cartridge therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,564, issued to Story, discloses the present invention provides an ammunition clip holder or clip wrap which is carried by a flexible panel or sheet-like body. The body can be formed into a sleeve and this sleeve can be wrapped around and re movably secured to the stock of a firearm, such as a rifle. The body thus forms the base of a clip holder which is substantially stationary on the stock. The clip wrap or holder has at least a pair of pocket units with front openings at the front ends thereof to receive and hold ammunition clips. Straps are provided to removably close the front openings of the pocket units to retain the clips therein until the clips are to be pulled out of the pocket units and used in the firearm. The body of the clip wrap can be of any suitable heavy duty material, such as flexible nylon material. Moreover, Velcro strips can be used to hold the body of the clip wrap in a sleeve-like configuration on the stock of a firearm. Thus, the sleeve will be retained on the stock. Removal of the sleeve from the stock requires only that the Velcro strips be separated from each other to thereby open the sleeve.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,365, issued to Finn, discloses disclosed is a combination flexible cheek piece, stock cover, ammunition holder and pouch for long guns such as rifles and shotguns. The combination is designed to be held about the stock of a long gun by adjustable straps which hold the device securely on the stock of the gun. One face presents a cheek piece for the shooter. The opposite face presents a series of cartridge loops as well as pouch for holding small items. In one embodiment, a second pouch is secured to the top of the device to elevate the cheek piece, particularly for use with rifles carrying a telescopic sight, Hook and pile type fasteners are used for effective adjustable fit.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,407, issued to Jones et al., discloses an ammunition pouch 10 for carrying and protecting ammunition having a tubular shaped, resilient, elastic body 20 that is adaptable to be worn either slipped over a belt 130, the end of a firearm 120 or carried freely. The body 20 has an upper flap 30 for opening or closing access to the ammunition 140; a number of retaining slots 100 for retaining individual pieces of ammunition 140 such as shells; a rear pocket 150 for storing other paraphernalia such as a lighter, keys or sunglasses; and a connecting means 90 such as VELCRO® for closing and protecting the pouch 10. The pouch 10 is constructed of a lightweight, waterproof, camouflage print material
U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: 2013/0074392, by McCaffery, discloses what is disclosed is the present inventive concept is generally directed to a magnetic, detachable, side-mounted, ammunition carrier for a gun, specifically for a rifle or shotgun. Generally speaking, the carrier is detachably located by a user on one of the sides of ammunition-chamber loading region of a rifle or shotgun. In an embodiment, the ammunition carrier is comprised of a substantially rigid, magnetic Substrate on which is a plurality of flexible, elastic, radially closed, loops/sleeves that are each adapted to receive a shotgun shell or other round of ammunition. The ammunition carrier allows for the easy mounting and access of extra ammunition without having to modify the firearm from its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) configuration. In some variations, the ammunition carrier is further equipped with a non-magnetic tab of sorts to aid a user in the easy detachment of the device from the metal side of the firearm.
The inventions heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages including but not limited to being inefficient, requiring many hand movements on loading, slowing down load time, resulting in significant opportunities to drop the primer, being too expensive, and being difficult to manufacture.
What is needed is a primer holder device, kit, or assembly that solves one or more of the problems described herein and/or one or more problems that may come to the attention of one skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with this specification.
The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the an that have not yet been fully solved by currently available primer storage containers. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an primer storage device, kit and assembly.
In one embodiment of the invention, there may be a scope assembly that may comprise: a firearm scope, that may include a scope neck; a scope wrap, that may be disposed along the scope neck and/or may be removably coupled to the scope neck; a first coupling strap, that may be coupled coupled to the scope wrap, and/or removably coupled to the scope neck; and/or a plurality of pockets that may be shaped and/or sized to hold primers, that may be disposed along the scope wrap and/or coupled to the scope wrap. The first coupling strap may be disposed near a first end of the scope wrap. The scope assembly may further comprise a second coupling strap that may be disposed near a second end of the scope wrap opposite the first coupling strap and/or spaced from the first coupling strap by the pockets, coupled to the scope wrap, and/or removably coupled to the scope neck.
In another embodiment of the invention, the coupling straps may be zip ties. The pockets may be cups, and/or the cups may be coupled to the scope wrap and/or extend outwardly therefrom orthogonal to a length of the scope neck. The primer pockets may include ovoid, non-circular, openings. The primer pockets may be in a single array and/or may have spacing between the pockets; and/or the wrap may further comprise a first ridged lip that may be disposed at the first end and/or exterior to the first coupling strap, and/or a second ridged lip that may be disposed at the second end and/or exterior to the second coupling strap. The wrap ancon the pockets may be a single molded piece.
Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.
These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
In order for the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawing(s). It is noted that the drawings of the invention are not to scale. The drawings are mere schematics representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. Understanding that these drawing(s) depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not, therefore, to be considered to be limiting its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying, drawing(s), in which:
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing(s), and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.
Reference throughout this specification to an “embodiment,” an “example” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or combinations thereof described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases an “embodiment,” an “example,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, to different embodiments, or to one or more of the figures. Additionally, reference to the wording “embodiment,” “example” or the like, for two or more features, elements, etc. does not mean that the features are necessarily related, dissimilar, the same, etc.
Each statement of an embodiment, or example, is to be considered independent of any other statement of an embodiment despite any use of similar or identical language characterizing each embodiment. Therefore, where one embodiment is identified as “another embodiment,” the identified embodiment is independent of any other embodiments characterized by the language “another embodiment.” The features, functions, and the like described herein are considered to be able to be combined in whole or in part one with another as the claims and/or art may direct, either directly or indirectly, implicitly or explicitly.
As used herein, “comprising” “containing,” “is,” “are,” “characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional unrecited elements or method steps. “Comprising” is to be interpreted as including the more restrictive terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.”
The illustrated firearm 101 may be a muzzleloader or any firearm such that a projectile and usually a propellant charge is loaded from the muzzle of the gun. The firearm 101 may be any muzzle-loaded small arm or artillery piece that has a rifled barrel rather than a smooth bore, The firearm 101 may be an in-line muzzle-loading rifle.
As shown, the firearm scope 100 is coupled to the firearm 101. Scopes 100 are often coupled to firearms 101 to provide an optical sighting device. Scopes 100 enable one to place a more precise shot on a target by aligning and magnifying the target.
The illustrated scope wrap 104 is coupled about the scope neck 102. The scope wrap 104 couples a plurality of primers about the scope 100 and allows for easy storage and retrieval of primers at a location that is conveniently very close to the point of use. The scope wrap 104 may be a strip (e.g. silicone, fabric, metal) with coupling structures (e.g. snaps, buttons, clips, hook-and-loop patches, contact adhesive patches, ties, clasps, hooks) that allow one to wrap the scope wrap 104 about the scope neck 102 thereby placing primers in a conveniently close location. The scope wrap 104 may be formed as a clip that clips onto the scope neck 102.
In operation of one embodiment of the invention, a scope is coupled to a firearm. A scope wrap is coupled to a scope neck of a scope. A propellant charge, or primer, is stored within the scope wrap. The primer is removed from the scope wrap for use with firing the firearm. Advantageously, the scope wrap provides easy primer access very near the point of use, thereby reducing hand movements required to retrieve a primer and utilize that same primer while operating the firearm.
As shown, the firearm scope 100 includes a scope wrap 104 removably coupled to a scope neck 102 of the firearm scope 100. The scope wrap 104 is removably coupled to the scope neck 102 so that it may be added to, or removed from the scope 100. The scope wrap 104 may be removably coupled to the scope neck 102 through a variety of coupling mechanisms, such as, but not limited to: ties, straps, magnets, hook and loop, adhesives, snaps and so on.
The illustrated scope wrap 104 wraps around the scope neck 102. The wrap 104 covers a portion of the scope neck 102, such as a wrapper or wrapping. The wrap 104 may be comprised of a flexible material that stretches around the scope neck 102. Alternatively, the wrap 104 may be comprised of a rigid material and molded to form to the scope neck 102. Accordingly, the scope wrap 104 may be comprised of a variety of materials such as, but not limited to: plastic, rubber, metal, and various textiles.
The illustrated scope wrap 104 is coupled to the scope neck 102 of the firearm scope 100. The scope wrap 104 may be coupled to any portion of a firearm for providing primers to the firearm. The scope wrap 104 wraps around a portion of the scope neck 102. The scope wrap 104 may be a flexible material that bends around the scope neck 102, or the scope wrap 104 may be a rigid material that is constructed with a curvature formed to the scope neck 102. The scope wrap 104 is coupled to the scope neck 102 by a first coupling strap 106 and a second coupling strap 112.
As shown, the first coupling strap 106 is disposed near a first end of the scope wrap 104, and the second coupling strap 112 is disposed near a second end 114 of the scope wrap 104 opposite the first coupling strap 106. The coupling straps, 106 and 112, respectively, are shown disposed longitudinally along the scope wrap 104. In addition, the coupling straps 106 and 112 wrap around the scope neck 102. The coupling straps 106 and 112 serve to removably couple the scope wrap 104 to the scope neck 102. Accordingly, the scope wrap 104 may be removed from the scope neck 102 by removing the coupling straps 106 and 112 from the scope neck 102. The coupling straps 106 and 112 may be removed from the scope neck 102 by unfastening them from the scope neck 102. For instance, the coupling straps 106 and 112 may be removed from the scope neck by pulling, twisting, cutting, and so on.
The illustrated coupling strap 106, as well as coupling strap 112, may couple to itself and thereby wrap about the scope neck 102 and also to detach therefrom. The illustrated coupling straps 106 and 112 are zip ties. However, other and/or additional coupling devices for the straps 106 and 112 may be used, such as but not limited to hook-and-hook patches, contact adhesive patches, clips, snaps, hooks, buttons, ties, and the like and combinations thereof. The coupling straps 106 and 112 may be belts.
The illustrated plurality of pockets 108 couples a plurality of primers about the scope neck 102 and allows for easy storage and retrieval of primers at a location that is conveniently very close to the point of use. As shown, four pockets 108 are disposed along the scope wrap 104, However, any number of pockets 108 may be disposed along the scope wrap 104, such as one, two, or five, for example.
The illustrated pockets 108 are shaped and sized to hold primers such as, but not limited to 209 or 209a primers. For instance, in one non-limiting embodiment, the pockets 108 may be cups that are coupled to the scope wrap 104 and extend outwardly therefrom orthogonal to a length of the scope neck 102. In another non-limiting embodiment, the pockets 108 may be ovoid, non-circular openings 116. In a further non-limiting embodiment, the scope wrap 104 and the pockets 108 may be a single body of material.
In operation of one embodiment of the invention, primer is placed in the pockets of the scope wrap. The scope wrap is wrapped around the scope neck of the firearm scope and secured to the scope neck with coupling straps. Primer is removed from the pockets for use with firing the firearm.
As shown, the first ridged lip 200 is disposed at the first end 110 and exterior to the first coupling strap 106, and the second ridged lip 202 is disposed at the second end 114 and exterior to the second coupling strap 112. Accordingly, the first and second ridged lips, 200 and 202, respectively, form a ridge to hold the first and second coupling straps, 106 and 112, respectively, in place. The ridged lips 200 and 202 may be any elevation, protrusion, texturing, etc. that enable the scope wrap 104 to grip and/or hold the coupling straps 106 and 112, and prevent them from sliding off of the first and second ends, 110 and 114, respectively.
The illustrated the plurality of pockets 108 includes openings 116. The openings 116 are sized and shaped to store primer. The openings 116 may be round or non-circular. The openings 116 may store primer by tension/friction-fit. In another non-limiting embodiment, the openings 116 may store primer by magnetization via a small magnetic body disposed in an interior of the pocket and/or adjacent thereto.
As shown, the plurality of pockets 108 are disposed in an array. The plurality of pockets 108 are disposed in a single line. However, the pockets 108 may have any orientation along the scope wrap 104. For instance, the pockets 108 may be disposed in a circle, a grid, or an arc. In one non-limiting embodiment, the pockets 108 may include oblong openings 116.
The plurality pockets 108 allow for storage of primer 400 within the pockets 108. Accordingly, primer 400 may be removably and/or slidably coupled to the pockets 108. The primer 400 may be coupled to the pockets through a variety of mechanisms such as, but not limited to: tension/friction-fit, snap-fit, adhesives, magnets, and tongue and groove.
The primer 400 may be any chemical and/or device responsible for initiating the propellant combustion that will push projectiles out of the firearm barrel. The primer 400 may be such as a 209 muzzleloader primer. For example, in a non-limiting embodiment, the primer 400 may be a Federal #209 Muzzleloader Primer, by Federal Premium Ammunition, of 900 Bob Ehlen Dr., Anoka, Minn. 55303.
The illustrated scope wrap 104 includes a coupling strap 106. In one non-limiting embodiment, the coupling strap 106 may be a zip tie. The coupling strap 106 may couple the scope wrap 104 to a scope through a variety of coupling mechanisms such as, but not limited to: snaps, hook and loop, ties, and adhesives. The coupling strap 106 may have any size and/or shape for coupling the scope wrap to a scope.
As shown, the pockets 108 are cups that couple to the scope wrap 104 and extend outwardly therefrom. The pockets 108 may be cup-shaped so that they are concave and/or form a basin for supporting and/or securing primer. In one non-limiting embodiment, the wrap 104 and the pockets 108 may be a single molded piece.
As shown, the scope wrap 104 includes a coupling strap 106. In one non-limiting embodiment, the coupling strap 106 may be hook and loop. The illustrated scope wrap 104 includes a single coupling strap 106. The scope wrap 104 may include any number of coupling straps 106 such as, but not limited to: one, two, three, four, and five. The coupling straps 106 may be used to couple the scope wrap 104 to a scope, or other component of a firearm, such as the stock, barrel, etc.
It is understood that the above-described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
For example, although the figures illustrate pockets in an array, it is understood that the pockets may have any placement or orientation on the scope wrap. Additionally, although the figures illustrate cup-shaped pockets, it is envisioned that the pockets may have any size and/or shape for carrying, supporting and/or securing primer to the scope wrap. For instance, in one non-limiting embodiment, the pockets may be sewn into the scope wrap.
It is also envisioned that the coupling straps may have any orientation for securing the scope wrap. For example, a single coupling strap may be disposed down a middle of the scope wrap. Likewise, the coupling straps may couple to an end of the scope wrap and extend outwardly therefrom. Moreover, the coupling straps may be disposed longitudinally, and/or transversely, to a horizontal axis of the scope wrap.
It is expected that there could be numerous variations of the design of this invention. An example is that the scope wrap may have any size and/or shape such as, but not limited to: rectangular, square or circular. Similarly, the scope wrap may have any number of pockets such as, but not limited to: one, two, four and six. Additionally, the scope wrap may be sized and/or shaped to couple to the scope or any other part or piece of a firearm, such as a barrel.
Finally, it is envisioned that the components of the device may be constructed of a variety of materials such as, but not limited to: plastic, rubber, polymers, metal and textiles.
Thus, while the present invention has been fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made, without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims. Further, it is contemplated that an embodiment may be limited to consist of or to consist essentially of one or more of the features, functions, structures, methods described herein.
This invention claims priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, to the U.S. Patent Provisional Application No. 62/979,341 by Samuel George Aiken filed on Feb. 20, 2020, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62979341 | Feb 2020 | US |
