Ammunition and explosives – Cartridges – Case
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-25
2002-04-09
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3641)
Ammunition and explosives
Cartridges
Case
C102S467000, C102S470000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06367389
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of firearms, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to an improved cartridge design and firing pin for the same.
The most popular cartridge used when firing a firearm is the 0.22 caliber rimfire cartridge. Rimfire ammunition is often used because it is relatively inexpensive as compared to center fire ammunition. Thus, rimfire ammunition allows greater use of the firearm with less cost for such activities as recreational shooting, weapons training, hunting, and the like. Rimfire ammunition may also be used with firearms that conventionally fire more expensive ammunition, such as military weapons. These types of weapons may be adapted to fire the lower cost rimfire ammunition during training exercises with the firearm, thus saving on training expense.
One example of a rimfire cartridge is illustrated in FIG.
1
and designated generally at
10
. Rimfire cartridge
10
includes a bullet
12
connected to a casing
14
at crimped portion
17
. Opposite bullet
12
, the casing
14
has a rearward end member
16
. Casing
14
also includes a wall
22
having an inner surface
22
a
and an outer surface
22
b
. Wall
22
and end member
16
define a hollow interior
24
. Projecting radially outward from wall
22
and extending between wall
22
and end member
16
is annular outer rim
18
. Outer rim
18
defines an annular pocket
20
communicating with hollow interior
24
. As is well known in the art, when the cartridge
10
is manufactured, a quantity of fluid priming composition
28
is spun into annular pocket
20
and allowed to dry. A quantity of powder
26
is then placed within hollow interior
24
of casing
14
. In order to fire the cartridge, a firing pin configured to sharply strike casing
14
at outer rim
18
crushes the priming composition in annular pocket
20
which in turn ignites powder
26
. Powder
26
burns rapidly and creates gas as it burns. The pressure from the gas forces bullet
12
from crimped portions
17
and propels bullet
12
down the barrel of the firearm.
One of the drawbacks with such rimfire cartridges is that casing
14
suffers from low strength and is prone to failure, particularly at rim
18
, when casing
14
is used for a high velocity cartridge. Thus, even though the capacity of casing
14
can hold a sufficient quantity of powder to produce a high velocity cartridge, casing
14
will fail due to the higher pressures generated by the larger quantity of burning powder. This results in less powder being used with the cartridge to minimize the risk of casing failure. The reduced amount of powder causes less gas pressure to be generated by the burning powder. This in turn lowers the velocity and the energy of the bullet when it is fired.
There remains a need for a cartridge which effectively addresses the problems of casing strength while maintaining the advantages associated with rimfire cartridges. The cartridge should be capable of use in existing firearms with minimum modification to its components. The present invention is directed towards meeting these needs, among others.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One form of the present invention is directed to a cartridge that includes a casing having a wall and a projection extending inwardly from the wall adjacent the end member of the cartridge. The projection and the end member of the casing form a recess for priming composition to be placed therein.
According to one aspect of the invention, a cartridge for a firearm is provided. The cartridge includes a bullet coupled to a casing. The casing includes a cylindrical wall that extends from a first end to an end member opposite the bullet. A hollow interior is formed by the wall and the end member. A flange extends radially outwardly from the cylindrical wall at the end member. A projection connected with the wall extends radially inwardly into the hollow interior. A recess for receiving priming composition is formed by the projection and the end member.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method for making a cartridge for a firearm is provided. The method includes (a) providing a casing with a cylindrical wall and a length extending between a first end and an end member, a hollow interior defined by the wall and end member, and a flange adjacent the end member that extends radially outwardly from the cylindrical wall; (b) forming a projection that extends from the wall into the hollow interior such that the projection and the end member form a recess; and (c) placing priming composition in the recess. In one embodiment, the method further includes (d) placing powder in said hollow interior; and (e) placing a bullet in the first end of the casing.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method for making a cartridge for a firearm is provided. The method includes: (a) providing a casing having a centerline axis and a cylindrical wall about the axis that has a length extending between a first end and an a end member, the wall and end member defining a hollow interior, and the cylindrical wall having an inner surface that is spaced a first distance from the centerline axis; (b) forming a recess in the interior of the casing by placing a projection on the cylindrical wall so that the recess is spaced a second distance from the centerline axis that is less than the first distance; and (c) placing priming composition in the recess.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a firing pin for a firearm is provided. The firing pin includes a body having a centerline axis extending between a rearward end and a striking end of the body. The striking end has a leading point spaced a first distance from the centerline axis so that it strikes a cartridge having a priming composition recess spaced a corresponding distance from the centerline of the cartridge casing. The striking end also includes a trailing point spaced the second distance from the axis to strike an outer rim of a rimfire cartridge.
These and other forms, embodiments, aspects, features and objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments.
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Semunegus Lulit
Woodard Emhardt Naughton Moriarty & McNett
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