U.S. patent application number 13/481144 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-03 for adapter for use in non-lethal weapons and ammunition.
This patent application is currently assigned to UTM IP LIMITED. The applicant listed for this patent is Michael Ernest SAXBY. Invention is credited to Michael Ernest SAXBY.
Application Number | 20130255126 13/481144 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46160052 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130255126 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SAXBY; Michael Ernest |
October 3, 2013 |
ADAPTER FOR USE IN NON-LETHAL WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION
Abstract
A telescopically expandable cartridge comprising an anterior
portion 1 and posterior portion 2, the posterior portion 2 carries
a first primer 3 which when initiated releases gases which propel a
ball 4 along a channel 5 to impact upon a second primer 6 in the
anterior portion 1. First primer 3 is configured for centre firing.
The cartridge is located in the barrel of a weapon which has an off
set firing pin 7. An adapter 8 is received in a recess in the
posterior portion 2 to the rear of the first primer 3 and directly
in front of the firing pin 7. The adapter 8 comprises a cylindrical
body having an annular recess 9 provided around its outer
circumference. An O-ring 10 is received in the annular recess 9. On
an anterior surface of the adapter 8 proximal to the first primer 3
is provided a pointed protrusion 11 positioned centrally of the
anterior surface.
Inventors: |
SAXBY; Michael Ernest;
(Eastbourne, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAXBY; Michael Ernest |
Eastbourne |
|
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
UTM IP LIMITED
Mildenhall
GB
|
Family ID: |
46160052 |
Appl. No.: |
13/481144 |
Filed: |
May 25, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/69.01 ;
102/469 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 19/13 20130101;
F42B 5/045 20130101; F42B 5/285 20130101; F42B 5/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/69.01 ;
102/469 |
International
Class: |
F41A 19/13 20060101
F41A019/13; F42B 5/285 20060101 F42B005/285 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 30, 2012 |
GB |
1205712.1 |
Claims
1. An adapter for translating an impact in an off centre location
of the adapter to an impact in a centre location to facilitate the
firing of a centre fire primer cartridge by a weapon with an offset
firing pin.
2. An adapter a claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises a
rigid cylinder having a closed end on which is provided a centrally
positioned protruding point.
3. An adapter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cylinder is
solid.
4. An adapter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cylinder has an
open end and a hollow portion.
5. An adapter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the adapter comprises
a cylindrical body provided with an annular recess into which is
received a rubber O-ring.
6. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a seal
integrally formed therewith.
7. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a unitary
body.
8. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, further comprising multiple
components suitably assembled.
9. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter is
comprised substantially of metal.
10. An adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter is
comprised substantially of a rigid plastic.
11. A combination of a non-lethal centre fire cartridge including a
recess adjacent a centre fire primer and an adapter received in the
recess, the adapter having the form as set forth in claim 1.
12. A combination of a gun with an offset firing pin and an adapter
as claimed in claim 1.
13. A combination is claimed in claim 12, further including a
non-lethal centre fire cartridge having a recess adjacent a centre
fire primer into which the adapter is received.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from United Kingdom Patent Application No. 1205712.1 filed
on Mar. 30, 2012, of which the contents are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an improved method of
adapting a cartridge with a centre fire primer so that it can be
fired by a weapon with an offset firing pin.
[0003] The Applicant's earlier published patent application WO
01/59398 describes various modifications of a gun to replace its
centrally located firing pin with an offset firing pin. The adapted
gun is proposed for use in combination with a non-lethal cartridge
which is provided with rim fire primer. Thus a lethal weapon is
rendered non-lethal as it is no longer able to fire lethal, centre
fire primer ammunition and is suited for use in training
applications firing the applicant's rim fire primer cartridges.
[0004] Prior to the Applicant's invention described in WO 01/59398,
non-lethal ammunition was available with a centre fire primer. The
Applicant's previous invention recognised that if both the
non-lethal and lethal cartridges were fired by a centre fire pin,
there was considerable risk of an accident if the lethal and
non-lethal ammunition became confused. However, a number of
problems are associated with the manufacture and use of rim fire
primer cartridges, including the cost of manufacturing the rim fire
primers and cartridges including such primers, their availability,
and toxicity of the currently available rim fire primers.
Accordingly, non-lethal cartridges are still produced which have
centre fire primers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention seeks to provide a device which can be
used swiftly to adapt a centre fire non-lethal cartridge to be
suited for firing by a weapon with an offset firing pin. The
adaptation is conveniently reversible if the cartridge has
application in both centre firing and rim firing weapons.
[0006] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
an adapter for translating an impact in an off centre location of
the adapter to an impact in a centre location whereby to facilitate
the firing of a centre fire primer cartridge by a weapon with an
offset firing pin. The present invention maintains the safety of a
weapon having an offset firing pin which is designed to prevent the
weapon from firing lethal ammunition, while also allowing
non-lethal cartridges having lower cost centre fire primers to be
used in such a weapon.
[0007] In a simple embodiment, the device comprises a rigid
cylinder having a closed end on which is provided a centrally
positioned protruding point. For example, the closed end of the
cylinder may have a centrally positioned substantially conical
protrusion. The cylinder is shaped to fit snugly but not immovably
in a bore in an end of the cartridge. In use, the protruding point
is located against the centre fire primer of the cartridge. When
the gun is fired, the firing pin impacts the periphery of the
cylinder creating a thrust against the adapter, the cylinder
carries this thrust to the protruding point which impacts upon and
initiates the centre fire primer of the cartridge.
[0008] The cylinder may be completely solid or have one open end
and a hollow centre. Desirably, the adapter incorporates an annular
seal about its outer circumference to prevent leakage of gaseous
products from the rear of a fired cartridge during use. The seal
may conveniently be provided in the form of a rubber O-ring located
in an annular recess provided around the outer circumference of the
cylinder. In an alternative, the seal may be formed integrally with
the cylinder. For example, the cylinder may be crimped about its
outer circumference to facilitate sealing with the cartridge during
use.
[0009] The adapter may comprise a single piece or modular
components suitably assembled. Most conveniently the adapter
comprises a unitary body which may be manufactured by any suitable
method. For example, the unitary body may be moulded, cast,
extruded and/or machined to the desired shape. Likewise, where the
adapter comprises modular components suitably assembled, the
individual components may be moulded, cast, extruded and/or
machined to the desired shape.
[0010] A variety of materials may be used for the purpose but
material use is restricted to one which is solid, hard and inert in
the presence of primer gases. For example, the adapter may be
comprised substantially of metal, a metal alloy, or a rigid
plastic. Preferred metals and metal alloys include aluminium,
titanium, brass, steel, such as stainless steel, and titanium
alloys. Where the adapter comprises modular components suitably
assembled, the individual components may be made from the same
material or may be made from different materials.
[0011] In one embodiment, the adapter comprises a metal body, for
example a steel, titanium or aluminium alloy. Hard, inert plastics
materials may provide a suitable alternative.
[0012] The arrangement has been found to have some advantages over
prior art rim fire cartridges. For example, the combination of the
adapter and centre fire cartridge can be produced at lower cost, it
addresses problems of retention of rim fire cartridges on firing,
and gives improved reliability and energy control.
[0013] In addition, several different lengths of adapter can be
produced so as to restrict the range of ammunition fireable by a
specifically adapted weapon. For example the adapter may range from
about 4 mm in length to about 30 mm in length, preferably from
about 5 mm in length to about 20 mm in length, more preferably from
about 6 mm in length to about 10 mm in length. The adapter may be
produced with a range of different diameters for use with a range
of different cartridges. The diameter of the adapter should conform
to the internal diameter of a bore in the cartridge, to enable a
snug fit of the adapter in the cartridge, without being immovable.
Typical diameters of the adapter may be in the range of from about
3 mm to about 15 mm. By way of example, the adapter may have a
diameter of from about 7.0 mm to about 7.1 mm to enable use with
0.22 rimfire firing pin offsets in the adapted weapons.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way
of an example, with reference to the following figures in
which:
[0015] FIG. 1 shows in cross section a non-lethal, centre fire
cartridge fitted with an adapter of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows front and rear views of the adapter shown in
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a telescopically expandable cartridge (as is
known from the prior art) comprising an anterior portion 1 and
posterior portion 2, the posterior portion 2 carries a first primer
3 which when initiated releases gases which propel a ball 4 along a
channel 5 to impact upon a second primer 6 in the anterior portion
1.
[0018] First primer 3 is configured for centre firing. The
cartridge is located in the barrel of a weapon (not shown) which
has an off set firing pin 7.
[0019] The adapter of the invention 8 is received in a recess in
the posterior portion 2 to the rear of the first primer 3 and
directly in front of the firing pin 7. As can be seen, the adapter
8 comprises a cylindrical body having an annular recess 9 provided
around its outer circumference. An O-ring 10 is received in the
annular recess 9. On an anterior surface of the adapter 8 proximal
to the first primer 3 is provided a pointed protrusion 11
positioned centrally of the anterior surface.
[0020] FIG. 2a) shows the adapter of FIG. 1 as viewed from the
anterior surface. FIG. 2b) shows the rear surface of the adapter 8.
As can be seen, the adapter comprises a solid cylindrical body 8.
On the anterior surface, at the centre, a conical protrusion 11 is
provided. An O-ring seal 10 extends slightly beyond the outer
circumference of the body 8. The rear of the adapter comprises a
flat circular surface.
* * * * *