Safety cartridge

Abstract

Firearms are used for self defense and sport. Self defense requires immediate access to a loaded firearm. A safety cartridge is designed to prevent an unauthorized person from firing a loaded pistol, revolver, rifle, or shotgun. The safety cartridge is placed in the firing chamber of a loaded firearm containing live ammunition. The firearm owner may quickly use his weapon for self defense or in a police action by ejecting the safety cartridge or by rotating the cylinder. An attempt to fire the loaded firearm by an unauthorized person initiates the safety cartridge causing the resulting primer gases to propel the slug down the gun barrel until it is stopped by action of the spring which is attached to both the cartridge case and the slug causing it to jam preventing injury to the firearm owner or children. Removing the fired safety cartridge requires skill.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Shows a sectioned view of the assembled 9 mm Safety Cartridge.

FIG. 2 Shows a sectioned view of the fired 9 mm Safety Cartridge.

FIG. 3 Shows the fired 9 mm Safety Cartridge.

FIG. 4 Shows a sectioned view of a loaded 9 mm pistol which is jammed or locked up by a fired 9 mm Safety Cartridge.

FIG. 5 Shows a sectioned view of the assembled .38 Special Safety Cartridge.

FIG. 6 Shows a sectioned view of a loaded .38 Special revolver which is jammed or locked up by a fired .38 Special Safety Cartridge.

FIG. 7 Shows a sectioned view of the assembled .45 ACP Safety Cartridge.

FIG. 8 Shows a sectioned view of the assembled 30-06 Safety Cartridge for a 30-06 rifle.

FIG. 9 Shows a sectioned view of the assembled 12 gauge Safety Cartridge for a 12 gauge shotgun.

FIG. 10 Shows a sectioned view of the assembled .38 Special Safety Cartridge containing a standoff tube to assure proper cartridge length and an o-ring to make it even more difficult to remove from the firearm after it has been fired.

FIG. 11 Shows a sectioned view of the assembled .32 Auto Safety Cartridge Preferred Embodiment for production where the spring is attached directly to the cartridge case eliminating the need for a spring double coil end and the pin.

FIG. 12 Shows a sectioned view of the assembled .380 Auto Safety Cartridge Preferred Embodiment for production where the spring is attached directly to the cartridge case eliminating the need for a spring double coil end and the pin.

Claims

1. A safety cartridge for a firearm where said firearm includes a barrel having a breech end, firing chamber, and a firing mechanism, the safety cartridge comprising: a. a cartridge case shaped and dimensioned to be inserted in the firing chamber of the firearm,b. a primer containing propellant in said cartridge case ignited by the firing mechanism to form gas in said cartridge case,c. a spring within the cartridge case having a first straight end protruding through a hole at the base of said cartridge case said first straight end bent at 90 degrees to secure said spring to said cartridge case and having a second straight end outside the cartridge case protruding through a hole within the slug said second straight end bent 90 degrees to hold said safety cartridge together before primer ignition and after primer ignition causing safety cartridge length expansion several times its original length forced by said gas pressure and said spring resisting force as its length expands,d. said slug shaped and dimensioned similar to a projectile or bullet to permit chambering from the magazine of a pistol, rifle, or shotgun except having a diameter slightly less than the barrel inside diameter allowing it to move freely in the barrel after primer ignition.

2. Safety cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein the safety cartridge can work with any firearm and configured to lock the slug in place in the barrel with a pound per square inch up to several thousands pounds per square inch by placing an o-ring onto said slug.

3. Safety cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein the removal of the safety cartridge after firing can be accomplished by inserting a rod in the barrel of an automatic pistol, rifle, or shotgun firearm and pushing said slug, spring and cartridge case out of the firing chamber.

4. Safety cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein the removal of the safety cartridge after firing can by accomplished by inserting a rod in the barrel of the revolver firearm and pushing said slug back into its prefired position within the cartridge case allowing the revolver chamber to be rotated out of line with the barrel permitting removal of the safety cartridge out of the firing chamber.

5. Safety cartridge as defined in claim 1, whereby when the gun is accidentally discharged the firing mechanism will be protected and dry firing will do no harm.

6. Safety cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein the safety cartridge can work with any firearm and configured to lock the slug in place in the barrel with a pound per square inch up to several thousands pounds per square inch by increasing said slug diameter to slightly greater than the barrel inside diameter causing it to wedge in the barrel after primer initiation.

7. Safety cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein said slug has a chamfered or rounded rear end to facilitate and permit slug re-entry into the cartridge case during fired safety cartridge removal from a revolver firearm.

8. Safety cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein said slug is bright colored anodized aluminum to distinguish said safety cartridge from live ammunition.

9. Safety cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein said slug is light weight white plastic (Delrin) to distinguish said safety cartridge from live ammunition and which nearly doubles said fired safety cartridge length because of its lighter weight.

10. Safety cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein a plastic standoff tube is inserted onto said spring second straight end and touching said slug to permit safety cartridge length to be identical to live ammunition cartridge length.

11. Safety cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring is longer having additional coils providing a longer fired safety cartridge length for larger long guns such as rifles and shotguns.

12. Safety cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein a small propellant charge is added to the primer providing a longer fired safety cartridge length for larger long guns such as rifles and shotguns.

13. Safety cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein the slug is equipped with a gas operated sound generator such as a reed operated whistle.

14. Safety cartridge as defined in claim 1, wherein the slug is made from a combustible material which emits smoke and a strong odor after primer ignition.