Patent Application
20120067243
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
This invention relates to shotshells, and in particular for a wad or shot cup for holding the shot in a shot shell.
A shotshell typically comprises a casing with a head at one end. A load of shot is disposed inside the casing. A propellant is also disposed in the casing, behind the load of shot, to propel the shot from the shell when the shotshell is fired. Usually a wad is provided between the propellant and the load to protect the shot and/or improve the shot pattern. One type of wad is a shot cup, which is a cup for holding the load of shot. The cup helps protect the shot and the shot gun barrel as the load is expelled from the shell. The cups are often intended to help guide the load and improve the shot pattern, but because of difficulties in separating the shot from the cup, the cup often impairs the shot pattern.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved wad or shot cup for holding a load of shot in a shotshell. These embodiments include petals that can readily and reliably extend from the shot cup to facilitate the separation of the shot from the shot cup while minimizing interference with the flight path of the shot.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A preferred embodiment of a wad for a shotshell, in the form of a shot cup, is indicated as 20 in
As shown in
The shot cup 20 preferably comprises at least one, and preferably a plurality of distally-facing petals 40 formed therein, that deploy after the shot cup 20 leaves the casing 28 of the shotshell. In the preferred embodiment, there are three petals 40, but there could be fewer or more petals if desired. These petals 40 are preferably substantially evenly spaced about the circumference of the shot cup 20.
The petals 40 are preferably widest at some point 42 intermediate their proximal end 44 and their distal end 46. The petals 40 can be any shape, but in this preferred embodiment, they are generally diamond-shaped, with side edges 48 and 50 that diverge from the proximal end 44 toward the distal end 46, and side edges 52 and 54 that converge toward the distal end 46. In this preferred embodiment, the width of the petal 40 at its widest point (ww in
While the petals 40 are shown as generally diamond-shaped, alternatively the petals could be leaf-shaped, lens-shaped, or some other shape where the petal is wider intermediate the ends than it is at the ends.
This configuration provides several benefits: First, the relatively narrow width at the proximal ends of the petals means that the petals can relatively easily deploy from the sidewall, despite the curvature of the generally cylindrical sidewall. Second, the relatively large width of the petals intermediate their proximal and distal ends means that the petals more easily catch the air, further facilitating the deployment of the petals 40. Third, the relatively narrow configuration of the petals 40 near their distal ends means more of the rim of the cup adjacent the distal end 46 of the cup 20 is intact, helping to control and retain the shot therein.
The cup 20 is preferably made of a plastic, such as polyethylene. The petals 40 are preferably formed by cuts entirely through the sidewall 22 so that the petals readily open, but the petals could be formed by lines of weakness in the sidewalls, such as score lines or perforations.
A first alternate construction of the shot cup 20 is indicated as 20′ in
Another difference between shot cup 20′ and shot cup 20 is that the base 56 of the petal 40′ is closer to the end of the cup than the base of the petal 40. In at least some configurations, the longer petals 40′ open more easily and reliably. With multiple petals, it is often particularly desirable that all the petals deploy uniformly and consistently, so that the shot cop is less prone to wobbling and thus, less likely to impair the release of shot from the shot cup.
A second alternate construction of the shot cup 20 is indicated as 20″ in
In operation when a shotshell, including the shot cup 20, is fired, the shot cup 20 and its load of shot 32 are propelled from the shell, and out of the barrel of the shot gun. Once the shot cup 20 is free from the barrel of the shot gun, the petals 40 can expand. The configuration of the petals, and in particular the large cross sectional area in between the proximal and distal ends of each petal, and the small length of the connection of the petal at its proximal end, facilitate the deployment of the petals. Once the petals 40 deploy, the shot cup 20 will slow relative to the load of shot 32 contained therein, facilitating the separation of the shot from the shot cup 20. The petals 40 facilitate this separation before the shot cup 20 can tip or tilt, and either trap shot in the shot cup, or deflect the shot from an evenly dispersed shot pattern.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/384,000, filed Sep. 17, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61384000 | Sep 2010 | US |
