WO2021220074A1

WO2021220074A1 - Cartridge

Info

Publication number: WO2021220074A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/052478
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Christopher KANTUREK-LUCAS
Original assignee: Kanturek Lucas David Christopher
Priority date: 2020-04-29
Filing date: 2021-03-25
Publication date: 2021-11-04
Also published as: ZA202211649B

Abstract

This invention relates to a cartridge (1), and more particularly but not exclusively, to a transparent cartridge (1) that allows a projectile (3) contained therein to be visible through the cartridge (1). The cartridge (1) has a casing (4) with a projectile (3) therein and a retainer (2) at a right circular front end of the casing (4).

Description

CARTRIDGE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a cartridge, and more particularly but not exclusively, to a transparent cartridge that allows a projectile contained therein to be visible through the cartridge.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Non-lethal ammunition is used in crowd control, crime fighting activities, self-defense and the like. The non-lethal ammunition serves to slow-down or stop an individual from performing an act, without causing permanent harm or damage to such individual.

Various designs of non-lethal ammunition are available on the market.

Bean bags are one such example of non-lethal ammunition. The bean bag is a sock shaped pouch which is filled with lead, silicone, or rubber balls, and is shot from a shotgun. The pouch expands on impact to provide for wider footprint on a target.

US patent number US 6,655,294 B1 , entitled “Ammunition for a less-lethal projectile” and filed in the name of James T. Kerr, discloses a bean bag installable in a cartridge for use as a less-lethal projectile in striking a target without killing or seriously injuring the target. A doubled-back open-sleeved configuration of the fabric-constructed material includes a compartment in a shorter portion interiorly disposed to a longer portion of the opened-sleeved configuration, pellets pre-measured by weight substantially filling the compartment. The length of the open-sleeved configuration of the material for the bean bag is determined by weight rather than by its length. The shorter portion and longer portion are fastened together as at thereby determining the size of compartment for the weighted pellets. A flowing structure is included in the longer portion to provide stabilization in flight of the bean bag while a peripheral curl or roll along the open end of the flowing provides accuracy to the target as the bean bag is propelled from its cartridge detonated in a gun weapon.

There are some difficulties with the use of bean bags. A shotgun cartridge, containing bean bags, has to be clearly marked to differentiate it from a shotgun containing lethal ammunition. According to the National Institute of Justice of the United States of America, confusion between shotguns containing bean bags and shotguns containing lethal ammunition, caused several deaths. An officer might shoot at an individual with, what he presumes to be a shotgun containing bean bags, whilst it in fact contains lethal ammunition which may result in the individual’s death or injury, more serious than the case would have been had non-lethal ammunition been used. However, even when a person uses the gun correctly, there is still a risk of serious bodily injury or death when a bean bag is fired, for example, at the head or other critical body part of an individual. This can easily happen because it is difficult to aim accurately when shooting at a moving individual.

Blunt-impact projectiles include plastic flat-nose bullets that are made from plastic or are coated with a layer of silicone, gel or foam. The bullets are designed to flatten further upon impact with a surface. The bullets can also be filled with pepper spray or smelly liquids that release upon contact. Due to the inherent wide impact surface of the bullet and the resultant flattened impact surface created upon impact, the bullets do not easily pierce through skin or injure internal organs.

The blunt-impact projectiles may be expensive and those that are not designed for short or medium range shooting, may still cause damage at short or medium range. The bullets can also cause death or serious bodily injury when fired at in individual’s critical body parts, such as their neck, head or chest.

Pepperballs are small, round, plastic balls that are filled with synthetic capsaicin powder which is the active ingredient of chili peppers. The balls are fired with a paintball style gun and explode upon impact with a surface which releases the powder therein. One of the benefits of the pepperball is that if the bullet misses a target it will still be effective if it impacts with an object in close proximity to the target as the impact will release the powder which will reach and affect the target. The round shape of the pepperball and its light weight, makes it unstable and thus inaccurate when traveling through the air.

US patent number 3,902,683 (“US 683”), entitled “Plastic frangible training projectile”, filed in the name of Stephen J. Bilsbury and assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, discloses a plastic frangible projectile especially useful in training exercises to break up instead of ricocheting on impact. An injection molded jacket with an integral rotating band is made from a thermoplastic material and includes an open central portion extending rearwardly from an ogival head portion. A plurality of washers or platelets fit in the central portion of the plastic jacket with a pusher plate behind and the projectile is enclosed on the bottom by a plastic base cap.

US 683 discloses an entire bullet (projectile) casing made from a plastics material that will break up upon impact with a target. US 683 does not disclose a plastic cartridge containing a number of projectiles (bullets) inside the cartridge. The projectile can also not be reused because it breaks upon impact.

US patent number 3,678,858 (“US 858”), entitled “All plastic polycarbonate shot shell with star crimp”, filed in the names of George L. Herter; Glen L. Mittelsteadt and assigned to Herter's Inc., discloses a plastic molded one piece shot shell case entirely of plastic and with the open mouth end reduced in thickness by molding and formed in a star crimp to close the case and confine the shot and powder. The mouth end of the shot shell case can be closed with a star crimp and then reopened upon firing and then reclosed again upon reloading through a number of reloadings so that maximum use can be obtained of the case.

US 858 discloses a star-formation crimp technique to close the mouth end of the plastic shot shell. In other words, the open end of the shell is cut in a number of triangular castellated sections and folded in towards each other to close the shell. The contents of the shell are not visible through the shell. Dummybullet.com (https://www.dummybuSiet. com/12%20qauqe.htm!) discloses a training shotgun shell having a translucent casing wall and a separate brass shell head that fits over the rear end of the casing wall. The mouth opening of the casing has a transparent overshot disc that fits therein. The casing mouth end edges are crimped to secure the overshot disc in place. Dummybullet.com does not disclose a shell head that forms part of the casing or a cap that clips into the mouth end opening of the casing.

US patent number 3,614,929 (“US 929”), entitled “Plastic shotgun shell” and filed in the name of G.L. Herter et al, discloses an all plastic shotgun shell comprised of a tubular plastic casing having an integral base wall with an aperture therein through which a primer extends, a plastic over-shot wad closing the end of said tubular casing opposite said base wall, a one-piece plastic shot cup and over-powder wad unit within the tubular casing, and a plastic base wad seated within said casing against said base wall. There is a non-binding fit between the primer and the aperture in the casing base wall, the primer being firmly gripped and held in place by means of a force fit between the primer and an axial pocket formed within the yieldable base wad into which the primer extends.

The front end of the shell of US 929 is crimped to close it off.

In this specification the “shot” shall, depending on the context, mean a number of projectiles, such as, for example, a number of small metal or plastic balls as may typically be found in a cartridge for a shotgun or the activation of a firearm i.e. a shot fired by a firearm.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a cartridge which, at least partially, alleviates some of the abovementioned difficulties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention there is provided a cartridge comprising a casing with a projectile therein and a retainer at a right circular front end of the casing.

There is provided for the retainer to be securable to the casing.

There is further provided for the retainer to be securable to the casing with a snap-fit formation.

There is also provided for the retainer to be a dome shaped lid or ring shaped.

There is provided for the casing to be a cylinder with an open front end.

There is further provided for the casing to be transparent.

There is provided for a projectile to be a plurality of balls.

There is further provided for the projectile and/or retainer and/or piston and/or propelling blank to be coloured to identify their properties.

There is provided for the projectile to be a bag with an orientation controller at a rear end thereof and filled with a filler material.

Alternatively, the projectile is a bag with a line at a rear end thereof and filled with a filler material.

There is further provided for the filler material to be sand and/or beans and/or marker dye and/or capsicum powder and/or lead and/or shot.

Further alternatively, there is provided for the projectile to be ovate shaped with fins extending from a rear end thereof.

There is further provided for the projectile to have a line extending therefrom.

Further alternatively, there is provided for the projectile to be solid. Yet further alternatively, there is provided for the projectile to be a cardboard cylinder casing with explosive powder therein.

There is still further alternatively provided for the projectile to be a plurality of shots. There is further provided for the shots to be plastic.

There is provided for the cartridge to be filled with an explosive propellant.

There is provided for the cartridge to be filled with a flash powder.

The projectile can also be ovate shaped.

There is further provided for the projectile to have a line extending from a rear end thereof.

There is provided for the casing to be injection moulded so that the casing does not have an opening at a rear end thereof but instead have a membrane at a rear end of the casing.

There is provided for the membrane to be adjacent to a primer.

There is provided for the primer to ruptures the membrane on firing.

These and other features are described in further detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side isometric view of a first embodiment of a cartridge, which has three projectile balls therein; Figure 2 shows a side isometric exploded view of the cartridge of figure 1 ; Figure 3 shows a sectional side view of the cartridge of figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows the cartridge of figures 1 to 3, fired from a firearm; Figure 5a shows an exploded side view of the cartridge of figures 1 to 4; Figure 5b shows a side view of the cartridge of figures 1 to 5a; Figure 6a shows an exploded side view of a second embodiment of a cartridge; Figure 6b shows a side view of the cartridge of figure 6a, with a sandbag projectile therein;

Figure 7a shows an exploded side view of a third embodiment of a cartridge; Figure 7b shows a side view of the cartridge of figure 7a, with a fin stabilized projectile therein;

Figure 8a shows an exploded side view of the fourth embodiment of a cartridge; Figure 8b shows a side view of the cartridge of figure 8a, with a solid projectile therein;

Figure 9a shows an exploded side view of a fifth embodiment of a cartridge; Figure 9b shows a side view of the cartridge of figure 9a, with a cardboard projectile therein;

Figure 10a shows an exploded side view of a sixth embodiment of a cartridge; Figure 10b shows a side view of the cartridge of figure 10a, with a plurality of shot therein;

Figure 11a shows an exploded side view of a seventh embodiment of a cartridge; Figure 11b shows a side view of the cartridge of figure 11a, with explosive powder therein;

Figure 12a shows an exploded side view of an eighth embodiment of a cartridge; Figure 12b shows a side view of the cartridge of figure 12a, with a fin and line stabilized projectile therein;

Figure 13a shows an exploded view of a ninth embodiment of a cartridge; and Figure 13b shows a side view of the cartridge of figure 13a, with a line stabilized projectile therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference to the drawings, in which like features are indicated by like numerals, different embodiments of a cartridge are shown.

A first embodiment of a cartridge is generally indicated by reference numeral 1 in figures 1 to 5b.

The cartridge 1 has a casing 4 with a projectile 3 therein and a retainer 2 at a right circular front end of the casing 4.

The casing 4 is a hollow transparent plastic cylinder. The casing 4 has a front end 35 and rear end 36. The front end or mouth 35 is open-ended. A groove extends around the inner circumference of the casing 4. The groove is located near the front end 35. A brim extends around an outer edge of the rear end. A hole extends centrally through the rear end 36. A recess in the rear end 36 extends around the outer edge of the hole to form a seat formation.

The retainer 2 is a cap. The cap 2 locates in the open-ended front end 35. The cap 2 has a generally dome shaped front end. An apex of the dome is flattened. The outer edge of the dome aligns with the outer edge of the cylinder. Side walls extends from an inner surface of the dome. A protrusion extends around an outer circumference of the side wall. The protrusion corresponds with the groove in the cylinder.

A metal primer 7 is situated in the hole in the rear end 36. The primer 7 is a short cylinder. A brim extends around the outer edge of the cylinder. The cylinder locates in the hole in the rear end 36. The brim seats in the seat formation of the rear end 36.

A plastic piston 5 locates in the casing 4 towards the rear end 36. The piston 5 is a short, hollow cylindrical stub. A rear end of the piston 5 is open-ended. A front end of the piston 5 is concave. The inside surface of the side walls of the piston 5 tapers outward towards the rear end of the piston 5.

The projectile 3 is three balls. The balls 3 are made from a polymer. The balls 3 locate in the open area between the cap 2 and piston 5 inside the casing 4. The balls 3 are marked with different colours or colour combinations. These different colours represent different ball properties. For example, a red ball may be suitable for long range applications. A red ball may thus be made of a dense plastics material and may even include a steel or lead or other dense and heavy core. A yellow ball may be made of a less dense plastics material and may also have a hollow core. A yellow ball may thus be suitable for shorter distance applications. These colour examples are examples only and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many other embodiments are possible to achieve different objectives in respect of long range, short range and force of impact objectives. Typically, three balls will be loaded into a casing with all three balls having identical characteristics.

Power charge 6 is located in an open area of the casing 4 between the rear end 36 and piston 5.

In use, the coloured balls are visible inside the transparent casing. A user chooses a cartridge depending on the application. If the user wishes to use a projectile suitable for a long-range application, they would choose a casing containing red balls as per the example above. The chosen cartridge is loaded in a shotgun. When fired, the primer ignites the propellant charge inside the casing which forces the piston forward inside the casing, thus forcing the projectiles (balls) forward, disengaging the cap from the casing. The cap, balls and primer exit a barrel of the shotgun. The primer and cap quickly dissipate their kinetic energy. The balls travel in accordance with their designed characteristics i.e. for long range, short range and force of impact. The casing is ejected from the shotgun as is known in the art with respect to prior art shotgun casings.

Figures 6a and 6b show a second embodiment 8 of a cartridge. In this embodiment, instead of balls 3, the projectile 9 is a bag. The bag 9 is elongate. A front end of the bag 9 is closed. A rear end of the bag 9 is open. The bag 9 is filled with filler material, for example, sand or beans and/or shots. A line 11 is tied around the open rear end to close it off after being filled. A free end of the line 11 extends away from the bag 9. The line acts as an orientation controller.

When this projectile travels through the air after being fired, the bag is amorphic shaped as a result of the turbulence as a result of the line attached to its rear end. The line also acts to assist in orientating the bag in the direction of travel. The free end of the line extends away from the bag, generally co-axially with the bag, whilst the bag travels through the air. When the front end of the bag makes contact with an object the surface area of the bag rapidly increases as the rear end and associated filler material catches up with the front end of the bag.

Figures 7a and 7b show a third embodiment 12 of a cartridge. In this embodiment, the projectile 12 is a cylinder 14 with rounded closed off ends. Four fins 15 extend from a rear, rounded end of the cylinder 14. The fins 15 are spaced apart on the rear end of the cylinder 14. A pointed, outer end of each fin 15 extends away from the cylinder 14. The inner ends of the fins 15 are centrally connected with each other.

When this projectile travels through the air, the fins assist with stabilizing the projectile to maintain its direction of travel.

Figures 8a and 8b show a fourth embodiment 16 of a cartridge. In this embodiment, the projectile has a cylindrical body 17 and a base 18. The body 17 has a domed top 19. The dome 19 is formed with split, triangular flanges that curve towards a central axis of the body 17. A ball is located centrally inside body 27, in front of the dome 19. The base 18 is a disc 17.

Upon impact with an object, the ball is forced rearward and forces the split triangles that form the dome, to crimp open to impact with the object.

Figures 9a and 9b show a fifth embodiment 20 of a cartridge. In this embodiment 20 the piston 5 is replaced with a projectile 21 which is a combined piston 23 and cylinder 22. The piston 23 is attached to a rear end of the cylinder 22. The cylinder 22 extends co-axially from the piston 23. The cylinder 22 is made from a soft lightweight material, for example cardboard or plastic. A front end of the cylinder 22 is closed. A fuse is located centrally in the piston 23. An explosive propellant is situated inside the cylinder 22.

When the propellant charge ignites inside the casing, the fuse in the piston is also ignited. The projectile with the ignited fuse is ejected from the barrel of the shotgun. The projectile travels a distance before the fuse ignites the explosive propellant inside the projectile. The ignited explosive propellant forces the body of the projectile open which resulting in a loud noise and smoke. The projectile of this cartridge is not intended to impact with an object. Instead, the purpose of this projectile is to travel a certain distance where after it explodes with a loud noise and erupts in smoke to scare, disorient or intimidate.

Figures 10a and 10b show a sixth embodiment 37 of a cartridge. In this embodiment, instead of balls 3, the projectile 24 is a plurality of round plastic shots. The plastic shots 24 are lightweight.

When the shots are ejected from a barrel of the shotgun, the shots spread out and travel in a general direction. The shots make impact with a general area of an object. The plastic bullets are lighter than metal shots and therefore will have less momentum. As a result, the plastic shots travel with less energy and do not cause as much damage as metal or other heavier shots.

Figures 11a and 11 b show a seventh embodiment 25 of a cartridge. In this embodiment, the piston 5, propellant charge 6 and a projectile are omitted. An explosive powder 26 is located inside the casing 4.

Upon ignition of the primer, the explosive powder ignites. The ignited explosive powder forces the cap off the casing and out of a barrel of a shotgun. The ignited exploded powder follows the cap and explodes inside the barrel. The exploded powder causes a noise, flash and smoke.

Figures 12a and 12b show an eighth embodiment 27 of a cartridge. In this embodiment, the projectile 28 is identical to the projectile described for figures 7a and 7b. In addition, a line 34 extends through a hole in the rear end of the body. A loose end of the line 34 remains free and unattached.

When this projectile travels through the air, the line aids with stabilizing the body. Figures 13a and 13b show a ninth embodiment 31 of a cartridge. In this embodiment, instead of balls 3, the projectile 32 is similar to that of the projectile of the embodiments of figures 7a, 7b, 12a and 12b, without the fins 15. Body 33 is longer than body 14 of figures 7a, 7b, 12a and 12b. In the place of the fins 15. A hole extends through a rear end of the body 33 through which one end of a line 34 is secured. The opposite end of the line 34 remains free and unattached.

When this projectile travels through air, the line aids with stabilizing the body.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the primer can be replaced by a blank, for example, a 9mm blank and the propellant of the cartridge can be omitted so that the propellant of the blank will ignite when a shot is fired, as is known in the art. In other words, a 9mm blank replaces the primer of the cartridge making it possible for a 9mm blank to be used in a shotgun for propulsion. In this context a “blank” means a round, including a casing, with a primer and propellant, without a projectile.

It is envisaged that the cartridges with the different projectiles described herein will be convenient to use for different applications and purposes. The selection of the required cartridge containing a desired projectile is made easy and facilitated by the transparent casings. A desired cartridge and associated projectile can thus be chosen quickly, with ease and with high confidence that a correct selection has been made. The cartridge is also reloadable. The use of a blank, i.e. a 9mm blank, allows for assembly of a cartridge casing in an environment that does not comply with ammunition assembly security requirements. The assembled cartridge casing can be transported without security and safety precautions. The 9mm blanks can be transported separate to the cartridge casings with a licensed carrier. The 9mm casings will take less space than transporting the assembled cartridge with a licensed carrier. Only the 9mm blanks need to be kept in a safe and as a result a smaller safe will suffice than when the entire cartridge needs to be kept in a safe. The end user can insert the 9mm blank inside the cartridge.

Claims

1 . A cartridge comprising a casing with a projectile therein and a retainer at a right circular front end of the casing.

2. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 in which the retainer is securable to the casing.

3. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the retainer is securable to the casing with a snap-fit formation.

4. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the retainer is a dome shaped lid.

5. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the retainer is ring shaped.

6. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the casing is a cylinder with an open front end.

7. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the casing is transparent.

8. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the projectile is a plurality of balls.

9. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the projectile is coloured to identify its properties.

10. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the retainer is coloured to identify its properties.

11 . A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a piston is coloured to identify their properties.

12. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a propelling blank is coloured to identify its properties.

13. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the projectile is a bag with an orientation controller at a rear end thereof and filled with a filler material.

14. A cartridge as claimed in claim 13 in which the orientation controller is a line.

15. A cartridge as claimed in claim 13 in which the filler material is sand.

16. A cartridge as claimed in claim 13 in which the filler material is beans.

17. A cartridge as claimed in claim 13 in which the filler material is marker dye.

18. A cartridge as claimed in claim 13 in which the filler material is capsicum powder.

19. A cartridge as claimed in claim 13 in which the filler material is lead.

20. A cartridge as claimed in claim 13 in which the filler material is shot.

21 . A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the projectile is ovate shaped.

22. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the projectile is ovate shaped with fins extending from a rear end thereof.

23. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the projectile has a line extending therefrom.

24. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the projectile is solid.

25. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the projectile is a cardboard cylinder casing with explosive powder therein.

26. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the projectile is a plurality of shots.

27. A cartridge as claimed in claim 26 in which the shots are plastic.

28. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the cartridge is filled with an explosive propellant.

29. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the cartridge is filled with a flash powder.

30. A cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the casing is injection moulded so that the casing does not have an opening at a rear end thereof but instead have a membrane at a rear end of the casing.

31. A cartridge as claimed in claim 30 in which the membrane is adjacent to a primer.

32. A cartridge as claimed in claim 31 in which the primer breaks through the membrane on firing.