U.S. patent application number 11/931404 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-20 for muzzle-loading firearm and easily removable breech plug for use therewith.
Invention is credited to David C. DeLeeuw.
Application Number | 20080282596 11/931404 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40026086 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080282596 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DeLeeuw; David C. |
November 20, 2008 |
MUZZLE-LOADING FIREARM AND EASILY REMOVABLE BREECH PLUG FOR USE
THEREWITH
Abstract
A muzzle-loading firearm includes a breech plug for mating,
non-threaded engagement with a housing located at the breech end of
an axial bore of the firearm barrel. The breech plug includes a
body member having opposite first and second ends and an outer
surface between the ends and configured so that when the breech
plug is positioned within the housing, the outer surface is spaced
close to the inside surface of the housing to facilitate insertion
and removal of the breech plug from the housing. The body member is
formed with a passageway for fluidly communicating ignition with a
powder charge at the second end when the firearm is loaded. The
ignition source (primer or percussion cap) can be inserted directly
to a chamber in the first end of the body member or alternatively,
to a chamber in the breech area of the firearm itself where that
chamber fluidly communicates with the passageway at the first end
of the body member. The body member may have a powder chamber for
receiving and retaining at least part of a powder charge at the
second end when the firearm is loaded. The material and dimensions
of the body member may be such that the body member deforms
radially outwardly so that the outer surface of the body member and
the inside surface of the housing form an essentially gas-tight
seal during firing. The powder chamber contains much of the powder
residue generated by the firing. In order to insure that the
muzzle-loader cannot be readily used as, or converted to, a
breech-loading firearm, different muzzle-loader/breech plug design
features are presented. With one design feature, the maximum
cross-sectional inner dimension of the housing is less than the
diameter of the bore of the barrel. With another design feature,
alignment of the firing pin and primer chamber (or hammer and
percussion cap holder) is along an axis not centered with the axial
bore of the barrel. The cross-sectional shape of the housing and
breech plug may be non-cylindrical. For example, the
cross-sectional shape can be oblong, essentially triangular, etc.
Thus, conventional, breech-loading ammunition will not be
effectively usable in the muzzle-loading firearm.
Inventors: |
DeLeeuw; David C.; (Midland,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C.
1000 TOWN CENTER, TWENTY-SECOND FLOOR
SOUTHFIELD
MI
48075
US
|
Family ID: |
40026086 |
Appl. No.: |
11/931404 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11197811 |
Aug 5, 2005 |
7316092 |
|
|
11931404 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/51 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 21/12 20130101;
F41C 9/08 20130101; F41A 3/74 20130101; F41C 9/085 20130101; F41A
3/58 20130101; F42B 5/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/51 |
International
Class: |
F41C 7/00 20060101
F41C007/00 |
Claims
1. A muzzle-loading firearm comprising: a barrel having a breech
end and an axial bore; a non-threaded housing located at the breech
end of the barrel wherein the housing is non-cylindrical in cross
section; and a non-threaded and non-cylindrical breech plug in
mating engagement with the housing and including a body member
having opposite first and second ends and an outer surface between
the ends and configured so that the outer surface is spaced away
from an inside surface of the housing to facilitate insertion and
removal of the plug and a passageway for fluidly communicating the
first end with a powder charge at the second end when the firearm
is loaded.
2. The firearm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body member is
formed with a primer chamber for receiving and retaining a primer
or percussion cap at the first end that fluidly communicates with
the passageway and may further include a notch adjacent to the
primer chamber to permit the primer or percussion cap to be removed
from the primer chamber.
3. The firearm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body member is
formed with a powder chamber for receiving and retaining at least
part of the powder charge at the second end when the firearm is
loaded.
4. The firearm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material and
dimensions of the body member are such that the body member deforms
radially outwardly so that the outer surface of the body member and
the housing form an essentially gas-tight seal during firing and
the powder chamber contains much of the powder residue generated by
the firing.
5. The firearm as claimed in 1, wherein a primer chamber for
receiving and holding a primer or percussion cap is located in the
breech area of firearm itself and a passageway is included in the
firearm that is aligned with the passageway at the first end of the
breech plug such that it fluidly communicates ignition to the
powder charge at the second end of the breech plug when the firearm
is closed and loaded and may further include a notch adjacent to
the primer chamber to permit the primer or percussion cap to be
removed from the primer chamber.
6. The firearm as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an ejector
and a lateral peripheral rim portion at the first end of the breech
plug to allow the plug to be ejected from the firearm by the
ejector.
7. A breech plug configured for mating engagement with a
non-cylindrical housing located at a breech end of a barrel of a
muzzle-loading firearm, the plug comprising: a non-threaded body
member having a non-cylindrical cross section, opposite first and
second ends and an outer surface between the ends and configured so
that the outer surface is spaced from an inside surface of the
housing to facilitate insertion and removal of the plug, wherein
the body member is formed with a primer chamber for receiving and
retaining a primer or a percussion cap at the first end and a
passageway for fluidly communicating the primer chamber with the
second end.
8. A breech plug configured for mating engagement with a
non-cylindrical housing located at a breech end of a barrel of a
muzzle-loading firearm, the plug comprising: a non-threaded body
member having a non-cylindrical cross section, opposite first and
second ends and an outer surface between the ends and configured so
that the outer surface is spaced from an inside surface of the
housing to facilitate insertion and removal of the plug, wherein
the body member is formed with a passageway for fluidly
communicating the first end with the second end.
9. A muzzle-loading firearm comprising: a barrel having a breech
end and an axial bore; a firing pin and primer chamber not centered
with the axial bore of the barrel; a non-threaded housing located
at the breech end of the barrel; and a non-threaded breech plug in
mating engagement with the housing and including a body member
having opposite first and second ends and an outer surface between
the ends and configured so that the outer surface is spaced away
from an inside surface of the housing to facilitate insertion and
removal of the plug and a passageway that aligns to an ignition
source, for fluidly communicating the first end with a powder
charge at the second end when the firearm is closed and loaded.
10. The firearm as claimed in claim 9, wherein the body member is
formed with a primer chamber for receiving and retaining a primer
or percussion cap at the first end that fluidly communicates with
the passageway and may further include a notch adjacent to the
chamber to permit the primer or percussion cap to be removed from
the primer chamber.
11. The firearm as claimed in claim 9, wherein the body member is
formed with a powder chamber for receiving and retaining at least
part of the powder charge at the second end when the firearm is
loaded.
12. The firearm as claimed in claim 9, wherein the material and
dimensions of the body member are such that the body member deforms
radially outwardly so that the outer surface of the body member and
the housing form an essentially gas-tight seal during firing and
the powder chamber contains much of the powder residue generated by
the firing.
13. The firearm as claimed in 9, wherein a primer chamber for
receiving and holding a primer or percussion cap is located in the
breech area of firearm itself and a passageway is included in the
firearm that is aligned with the passageway at the first end of the
breech plug such that it fluidly communicates ignition to the
powder charge at the second end of the breech plug when the firearm
is closed and loaded and may further include a notch adjacent to
the primer chamber to permit the primer or percussion cap to be
removed from the primer chamber.
14. The firearm as claimed in claim 9, further comprising an
ejector and a lateral peripheral rim portion at the first end of
the breech plug to allow the plug to be ejected from the firearm by
the ejector.
15. A breech plug configured for mating engagement with a housing
located at a breech end of a barrel of a muzzle-loading firearm,
the plug comprising: a non-threaded body member having opposite
first and second ends and an outer surface between the ends and
configured so that the outer surface is spaced from an inside
surface of the housing to facilitate insertion and removal of the
plug, wherein the body member is formed with a primer chamber for
receiving and retaining a primer or a percussion cap at the first
end that is not centered with the bore of the barrel and a
passageway for fluidly communicating the primer chamber with the
second end.
16. A breech plug configured for mating engagement with a housing
located at a breech end of a barrel of a muzzle-loading firearm,
the plug comprising: a non-threaded body member having opposite
first and second ends and an outer surface between the ends and
configured so that the outer surface is spaced from an inside
surface of the housing to facilitate insertion and removal of the
plug, wherein the body member is formed with a passageway for
fluidly communicating the first end with the second end wherein the
passageway is not centered with the bore of the barrel at the first
end of the body member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/197,811 filed Aug. 5, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to muzzle-loading firearms and, in
particular, to muzzle-loading firearms and non-threaded, easily
removable breech plugs for use with such firearms.
[0004] 2. Background Art
[0005] Modern breech-loading firearms, such as rifles, include a
barrel having an axial bore, a stock to support the barrel, and a
receiver at the breech end of the barrel. The receiver is comprised
of a housing which includes a chamber for insertion of a cartridge
into the breech of the barrel, a means for firmly securing the
cartridge in the breech of the barrel in a sealed and locked
position, a firing pin to discharge the cartridge primer, a trigger
to move the firing pin into engagement with the cartridge primer,
and an ejector to remove the cartridge after firing. For effective
ballistics and accuracy, a close tolerance is required between the
outside diameter of a bullet and the bore (inside diameter) of the
barrel. Thus, in order to insert a bullet from the breech, the bore
of the barrel must be less than or equal to the internal diameter
of the chamber. Furthermore, with the exception of small-bore rim
fired cartridges, breech-loaded firearms/ammunitions (commonly
referred to as "center fire") employ a firing pin/primer location
that is centered along the axis of the chamber and bore of the
barrel.
[0006] Muzzle-loading rifles and other muzzle-loading firearms are
also comprised of a barrel with an axial bore and a supporting
stock. However, a muzzle-loading rifle is loaded by inserting a
charge of powder, wadding and shot through the muzzle end of the
barrel and tamping the charge securely into the breech end of the
barrel. The powder is then ignited, e.g., by striking a primer or
percussion cap, which sends a flame, normally through a small
opening or flame bore, into the breech of the barrel through a
breech plug or permanently enclosed breech chamber which separates
the primer or percussion cap from the powder charge. Currently, all
commercially available muzzle-loading firearms with removable
breech plugs employ cylindrically shaped threaded connection
between the firearm and at least one component of the breech plug
and the primer or percussion cap is inserted in direct contact with
at least one part of the breech plug. Furthermore, the diameter of
these threaded connections is always greater than the bore of the
barrel.
[0007] Muzzle-loading rifles have several disadvantages in
comparison with breech-loading cartridge rifles. They are more
difficult and time consuming to load, and require greater skill to
use. Malfunctions are more common due to the relatively more
complex firing mechanisms required to ignite the powder.
Muzzle-loading rifles are affected by inclement weather,
particularly rain and moisture which affects the powder and causes
the rifle to misfire. Muzzle-loading rifles must also be cleaned
thoroughly to prevent clogging and corrosion by the powder
residue.
[0008] Despite these disadvantages, many hunters and firearm
enthusiasts prefer to use muzzle-loading firearms, at least on some
occasions, due to the nostalgia and the sport which the
muzzle-loaders afford. In addition, many states allow a longer
hunting season and special hunting areas for muzzle-loading
firearms, due to the greater challenge provided and, consequently,
the much smaller number of animals taken.
[0009] U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,227,330 and 4,232,468 to Chapin disclose a
conversion plug that can be configured to be removably inserted
into a breech-loading firearm to convert the firearm into a
muzzle-loading type. The conversion plug includes a primer
cap-receiving chamber which communicates with the bore of the rifle
through a flash hole.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,191 to Lee, et al; U.S. Pat. No.
4,437,249 to Brown, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,677 to Carron; and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,677 to Camp all disclose variations of the
Chapin-type conversion plug for converting a shotgun or rifle into
a muzzle-loader. However, since there is no permanent modification
of the firearms themselves in these designs, they would still be
useful as, and considered to be, breech-loading firearms. These
patents disclose conversion plugs for breech-loading firearms, not
breech plugs for muzzle-loading firearms.
[0011] Various designs have been proposed for the construction of
improved muzzle-loading rifles. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
4,700,499 to Knight discloses a muzzle-loading rifle that uses a
"nut cracker" type of action in which the hammer is centered with
the axis of the bore of the barrel to fire a conventional
percussion cap. U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,464 to Anderson and U.S. Pat.
No. 4,283,874 to Vaughan disclose mechanisms for replacing the
flash hole structure in muzzle-loading firearms to allow firing
with modern metallic cartridge primers. Both inventions use a cap
covering to hold the primer in place until firing.
[0012] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,511,334 and 5,642, 583, issued to Ball, et
al., disclose a two-component breech plug design where one of the
components is cylindrically shaped and readily removable. However,
the flame bore extending through these components can become
clogged or corroded after repeated use. This may require that
various components be replaced at some expense.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,030 issued to Ball discloses an improved
muzzle-loading firearm and three-component breech plug. The
improvement is achieved by modifying the design of the
two-component breech plug described in the above-referenced Ball
patents to include a replaceable aperture adjacent to the firing
chamber (third component) which can be easily replaced if damaged
beyond repair. The firing module described in this patent permits
loading of the firearm as a muzzle-loader, while also permitting
the firing module to be inserted and ejected like a cartridge in a
conventional breech-loading firearm. This firing module breech plug
design greatly simplifies the insertion and removal of a primer
from the firearm.
[0014] The disclosure of each patent referenced above is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0015] Unfortunately, each of the above-noted muzzle-loader/breech
plug designs requires at least a portion of the breech plug to be
attached using threaded connections and various "tools" for their
insertion and removal. Such tools are awkward to use and the
intricate designs require time-consuming cleaning operations to
disassemble, clean powder residue from complex shapes (including
threads), and reassemble. In addition, these complex shapes are
expensive to manufacture and these designs are not conducive to
unloading by means other than firing the charge. Furthermore, in
all of the firearms suitable for use by the above-noted patents,
when a firing pin or hammer is used along the axis of the barrel,
it is centered with the bore of the barrel. Finally, in each of the
firearms suitable for use by these patents, the housing that
receives the breech plug is cylindrical and threaded with an inside
diameter that is greater than the bore of the barrel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Objects of some embodiments of the present invention are to
provide: a muzzle-loader/breech plug design where the breech plug
and housing are non-threaded; the breech plug is easily removable;
the muzzle-loader and breech plug are relatively inexpensive to
manufacture; the muzzle-loader is easily unloaded without firing;
the muzzle-loader is easy to clean after firing, and the
muzzle-loader cannot be effectively used as, or readily converted
to, a breech-loading firearm.
[0017] In carrying out the above objects and other objects of the
present invention, a breech plug configured for mating engagement
with a housing located at the breech end of the barrel of a
muzzle-loading firearm is provided. The plug includes a
non-threaded body member having opposite first and second ends and
an outer surface between the ends and configured so that the outer
surface is spaced close to (small tolerance to facilitate insertion
and removal) the inside surface of the housing. The body member is
formed with a passageway that fluidly communicates from the first
end to the powder charge that is located at the second end when the
firearm is loaded.
[0018] The shape of the plug may be other than cylindrical. For
example, the cross-sectional shape may be oblong, essentially
triangular, etc.
[0019] The plug may include a powder chamber to receive and retain
part or all of the powder charge at the second end when the firearm
is loaded.
[0020] The material and dimensions of the body member may be such
that the body member deforms radially outwardly so that the outer
surface of the body member and the housing form an essentially
gas-tight seal during firing and the powder chamber contains much
of the powder residue generated by the firing.
[0021] The plug may include a primer chamber at the first end for
receiving and retaining an ignition source such as a primer or
percussion cap. The plug may also include a notch adjacent to the
primer chamber to permit the primer or percussion cap to be removed
from the primer chamber. Where the ignition source is not directly
received or held in the breech plug, a primer chamber for receiving
and holding the ignition source may be located in the breech area
of firearm itself and a passageway may be included in the firearm
that aligns with the passageway at the first end of the breech plug
such that it fluidly communicates ignition to the powder charge at
the second end of the breech plug when the firearm is closed and
loaded.
[0022] The passageway for communicating ignition and the primer
chamber, if present, may be disposed along or off a central axis of
the plug.
[0023] The plug may include an alignment notch in the outer surface
between the ends to ensure that the primer chamber is properly
angularly positioned within the barrel about the central axis.
[0024] The plug may include a lateral peripheral rim portion at the
first end to allow the plug to be ejected from the firearm by an
ejector of the firearm. The alignment notch may be formed in the
rim portion.
[0025] In carrying out the above object and other objects of the
present invention, a muzzle-loading firearm is provided with a
housing at the breech end of the barrel to accept the unthreaded
breech plug designs described above where the maximum
cross-sectional dimension of the housing is less than the diameter
of the bore of the barrel. Alignment of the firing pin and primer
chamber (or hammer and percussion cap holder) may be along the axis
of the bore, but not centered with the bore of the barrel.
[0026] The shape of the muzzle-loader housing may be
non-cylindrical. For example, the cross-sectional shape can be
oblong, essentially triangular, etc.
[0027] The muzzle-loader may include an alignment tab at the breech
end of the housing to engage with a notch in the breech plug and
ensure that the primer chamber is properly angularly positioned
within the barrel about the central axis.
[0028] The muzzle-loader may include an ejector that engages with
the lateral peripheral rim portion at the first end of the breech
plug to allow the plug to be ejected from the firearm. The
alignment tab may be formed in the ejector.
[0029] The above objects and other objects, features, and
advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the
following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out
the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view, partially
broken away and in cross section, showing one embodiment of a
breech plug of the present invention prior to insertion into a
muzzle-loading firearm of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a side view, partially broken away and in cross
section, of the plug in the process of being ejected from the
firearm of FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a side view, partially broken away and in cross
section, of the plug of FIGS. 1 and 2, with the firearm loaded and
in its closed position;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 3 immediately
after the firearm is fired wherein the outer cylindrical walls of
the plug have radially expanded or deformed to seal against the
housing which accepts the plug;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of one embodiment of the
plug having a primer cup or chamber, a fire hole which communicates
a primer spark, a powder chamber and a small notch adjacent to the
primer chamber which allows the primer to be removed from the
plug;
[0035] FIG. 6 is an end view of the plug of FIG. 5;
[0036] FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of another embodiment of the
plug having its primer chamber formed off-center;
[0037] FIG. 8 is an end view of the plug of FIG. 7;
[0038] FIG. 9 is an end view of an oblong-shaped plug;
[0039] FIG. 10 is an end view of an essentially triangularly-shaped
plug; and
[0040] FIG. 11 is a side view, partially broken away and in cross
section, of the plug and the firearm loaded and in the closed
position; in this view, the plug does not contain a chamber for
receiving and retaining a primer or percussion cap and the firearm
itself includes such a chamber.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1-6, one embodiment of a muzzle-loading
firearm or muzzle-loader including a breech plug constructed in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is
schematically indicated. A non-threaded plug 10 is to be inserted
slidably into a housing 21 at the breech end 14 of the
muzzle-loading firearm, generally indicated at 11 in FIG. 1.
[0042] In the preferred embodiment, the muzzle-loader 11 includes a
barrel 13 with the breech end 14 at which is located the
cylindrical housing 21. An axial bore 12 of the barrel 13 accepts
the non-threaded breech plug 10 wherein the inside diameter of the
housing 21 is less than the inside diameter of the bore 12 of the
barrel 13. Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, alignment of a firing
pin 16 and a primer holder or chamber 17 (or a hammer 20 and
percussion cap holder 17) is along the axis of the bore 12.
[0043] More specifically, referring to FIGS. 1-4, the plug 10 is to
be slidably inserted into the housing 21 located at the breech end
14 of the axial bore 12 of the barrel 13 of the rifle 11. A stock
15 supports the barrel 13. The rifle 11 also includes the firing
pin 16 to discharge a cartridge primer or percussion cap received
and retained within the primer chamber 17 of the plug 10. A trigger
18 of the rifle 11 moves the firing pin 16 into engagement with the
cartridge primer or percussion cap by means of a hammer 20. The
rifle 11 typically includes an ejector mechanism 19 at a lateral
peripheral rim portion 30 of the plug 10 to remove the plug 10
(i.e., FIG. 2) after firing as indicated in FIG. 4.
[0044] In each of the drawing figures, the shape of the breech plug
primer chamber 17 represents the shape necessary for accepting 209
type shotgun primer. Other shapes required for accepting rifle-type
primers or percussion caps are not shown, but are within the scope
of this invention. Similarly, in each of these figures, the shape
of the breech plug 10 is shown as cylindrical and containing the
rim portion 30 to facilitate ejection of the plug 10, a small notch
33 for removal of the primer or percussion cap, and long thin walls
34 for containing part or all of the powder charge. These are
preferred embodiments only and are not intended as limitations of
the scope of this invention.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 3, the rifle 11 is loaded by inserting a
charge of powder 22, wadding and shot 24 through the muzzle end of
the barrel 13 and tamping the charge of powder 22 securely into the
muzzle end 34 of the plug 10 and into a powder chamber 31 of the
plug 10 using a loading rod. Depending on the size and amount of
the charge of powder 22, some of the powder may extend outside of
the powder chamber 31.
[0046] "Powder charge" is intended to represent any commercially
available muzzle-loading propellant such as black powder, pyrodex,
or smokeless powder and in any form such as loose powder or cake
(pellet).
[0047] In the preferred embodiment, the non-threaded plug 10 is
inserted into the housing 21 located at the breech end 14 of the
barrel 13 as shown in FIG. 1. The plug 10 is capable of holding the
percussion cap, a 209 (shotgun) type, or rifle type primer within
the chamber 17. In the preferred embodiment, an essentially gas
tight seal is achieved between a 209 type or rifle type primer and
the plug 10 within the chamber 17.
[0048] In the preferred embodiment, the primer could be inserted
into the breech plug 10 directly, without the use of tools or
fixtures, and could be removed simply by prying it out of the
chamber 17 with the blade of a pocketknife, etc. at the notch 33
adjacent the primer chamber 17.
[0049] The plug 10 includes a hole 28 that extends from the base of
the primer chamber 17 to the powder chamber 31 of the breech plug
10 in order to communicate ignition from the primer to the powder
charge 22.
[0050] In the preferred embodiment, the plug 10 has thin elongated
walls 36 that extend into the housing 21 at the breech end 14 of
the axial bore 12 so that part or all of the powder charge 22 can
be held within the plug 10 thereby encouraging an essentially
gas-tight seal of the plug walls 36 to the housing 21 during firing
while at the same time containing much of the powder residue which
is generated.
[0051] In the preferred embodiment, the plug 10 can be ejected
after firing by the conventional ejector 19 of a "break-open"
barrel design. This preferred design provides that essentially all
of the powder residues are contained within the ejected breech plug
10 and the firearm's barrel 13. This design permits easy inspection
and cleaning of the unobstructed barrel 13 without the need for
awkward tools.
[0052] In the preferred embodiment, the removable breech plug 10 is
made of inexpensive materials (such as a rifle or shotgun shell
casing) so a used plug 10, though potentially reusable, can be
disposed of directly, eliminating the need for cleaning it.
Inherent to this design is the ability to unload the firearm 11
easily without firing by simply opening the gun 11 to eject the
breech plug 10, removing the powder 22 by gravity from the breech,
and driving the bullet/wad 24 from the barrel 13 using the loading
rod.
[0053] In another embodiment of a breech plug, generally indicated
at 10' in FIGS. 7 and 8 (wherein the parts of the plug 10' having
the same or similar structure and/or function as the plug 10 have
the same reference number but a prime designation), the location of
a primer chamber 17' within the breech plug 10' is sufficiently
"off center" (with respect to a central axis of the plug 10') to
insure that the firearm 11 cannot be readily converted to fire
conventional breech loading ("center fire") cartridges.
[0054] Other embodiments of a breech plug include a plug having an
oblong cross-sectional shape (i.e., 10'' in FIG. 9) and a plug
having an essentially triangular cross-sectional shape (i.e., 10'''
in FIG. 10). Parts of the plugs 10'' and 10''' having the same or
similar structure and/or function as the plugs 10 and 10' have the
same reference number but a double prime or triple prime
designation, respectively.
[0055] The breech plug 10' includes an alignment notch 38' which
mates with a corresponding projection (not shown) at the breech end
of the firearm barrel to ensure that the primer chamber 17' and its
retained primer are consistently positioned at the same off-center
location for striking by a firing pin of the firearm.
[0056] The plugs 10 and 10' are easy to remove, inexpensive to
manufacture and the corresponding firearms are, simple to clean,
and easy to unload without firing.
[0057] As seen in FIG. 11, a primer chamber 17 for receiving and
holding the ignition source may be located in the breech area of
firearm itself and a passageway may be included in the firearm that
is aligned with the passageway 28 at the first end of the breech
plug such that it fluidly communicates ignition to the powder
charge 22 at the second end of the breech plug when the firearm is
closed and loaded. In this configuration, the breech plug does not
contain a primer chamber for receiving and retaining an ignition
source.
[0058] While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and
described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and
describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words
used in the specification are words of description rather than
limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *