Firearms – Implements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-25
2001-01-23
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3643)
Firearms
Implements
C042S083000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176031
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to muzzleloading or black powder rifle accessories. In particular, the present invention relates to a tool for quickly aligning and inserting a percussion cap on the firing nipple of an in-line muzzleloader.
2. Known Art
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, firearms have been well known for literally centuries. For example, prior to the introduction of today's modern firearms, guns known as “black powder” and “muzzleloaders” were commonplace. Such guns often employed ammunition loaded in two stages. In the first stage, the ammunition, including the gunpowder, patches and actual projectile, would be inserted through the muzzle of the firearm where it was packed appropriately. On flintlock weapons, powder would be placed in the “flash pan” struck by the hammer while percussion cap firearms used a cap placed on the firing “nipple”. In both cases, the hammer would strike and ignite a powder charge to subsequently fire the projectile.
As can be readily appreciated, percussion cap firearms were a great improvement over flintlocks for a number of reasons, including convenience, dependability, simplicity of use, etc. However, inserting the percussion cap on the firing nipple was often a difficult task for the user.
Often the nipples on percussion cap firearms are very small and wholly contained within the gun breech. Such guns also employ correspondingly small percussion caps. Small percussion caps are often difficult to handle, especially in cold weather when the user's hands may be bundled in gloves or mittens. Consequently, several devices have been proposed to alleviate the problem of handling percussion caps and placing them on nipples.
For example, some prior art devices serve as elongated holders that permit the user to place a single percussion cap on the firing nipple. These devices typically require the user to refill the tool with another cap before subsequent use. This devices requires the user to closely monitor the insertion of the cap on the nipple. As such, it is inoperable for quick second shots because of the excited or nervous condition of the user during quick second shot situations.
A closely related device enables the user to insert multiple caps without refilling the tool. These devices comprise an elongated tube capable of storing multiple caps in the tube itself. They generally employ a push spring to force caps to the tool end. Another prior art device comprises a circular holder with multiple cap holders equidistantly spaced along its periphery. Both of these devices fail to provide an easily aligned capping tool or a capping tool that accommodates both popular sizes of percussion caps.
Thus, the known prior art fails to provide an efficient method for easily aligning and inserting percussion caps quickly and efficiently on a firing nipple. For example, the known prior art fails to provide a combination capping tool that permits the user to use the various types of percussion caps that are commonly available. The known prior art also fails to provide a method for easily aligning the cap with the nipple during insertion.
Furthermore, the known prior art fails to provide capping tools that are ambidextrous. The known prior art discussed hereinabove is only designed for right handed usage. That is, these tools fail to permit a user to utilize the cap with either their right or left hand.
A desirable improvement would be to provide a capping tool that would enable the user to easily align a percussion cap with a firing nipple. Another desirable improvement would be to provide a capping tool that could be employed with either the right or the left hand of the user. Yet another desirable contribution would be an improvement in which the capping tool would automatically align the cap with the nipple during insertion. Such an improvement would facilitate quick second shots regardless of the user's ability to see the firing nipple. Another improvement would be a capping tool that worked well with nipples of different sizes. A capping tool that held multiple caps to facilitate rapid reloading would also be desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
My invention overcomes the above perceived problems associated with the known prior art. The invention comprises a self-aligning tool that may be employed ambidextrously by a user to insert a percussion cap on to the firing nipple of a conventional muzzleloading firearm.
The present invention is adapted to accommodate all commonly available percussion caps. The invention comprises a tool with a central body or hub that has regularly spaced apart spokes emanating from the outer periphery of the hub. Preferably, the central hub defines three radially spaced apart integral spokes protruding outwardly therefrom. Each spoke forms an integral arm that terminates in a distal hand that temporarily secures the percussion cap during the insertion process.
Each elongated arm further comprises a plurality of storage orifices or holes penetrating the spoke body at regular intervals. These storage orifices provide means for storing additional percussion caps upon the tool itself.
As previously mentioned, each distal hand comprises at least one holding cup for temporarily receiving and securing the percussion cap. Since commercially available percussion caps generally are available in two standard sizes, it is preferable to employ two cups, one for each size. Thus, preferably at least two such cups protrude on opposite sides of each hand. Each cup comprises a circular hole bisected by an elongated slot. In the preferred embodiment, the slot also laterally bisects the longitudinal axis of the respective spoke. The lateral slot facilitates percussion cap removal from the cup during installation on the nipple, as will be more fully discussed hereinafter. One of the holes may optionally employ a reinforcing base to support the cap during retention therein.
Preferably, the outer cap perimeter adjacent the lateral slot is arcuately formed so that the cup may be easily aligned inside the gun bore. In other words, the interior lip and exterior lip abutting the slots have arcuate outer perimeters. This is particularly advantageous since most muzzleloading gun breeches are of the same approximate diameter even though the actual diameters of the barrel bore vary between differing calibers of guns (i.e., 0.45 caliber, 0.50 caliber, etc.).
Preferably the tool is manufactured from high density polyethylene or a similar thermoplastic or other plastic-like material that may be easily molded and that is subsequently semi-rigid. It is desirable that the percussion cap slip from the holding cup upon the application of a sufficient twisting motion by the user. Consequently, a slippery, plastic type is preferred. Of course, other suitable materials known to the art could be substituted for high density polyethylene so long as these desirable characteristics are maintained.
The user may employ the tool to easily mount a percussion cap on a conventional nipple in the breech of a muzzleloader. The user first inserts a percussion cap into the appropriate cup upon the tool spoke. Ideally, the user may fill all of the spaced apart spokes with the chosen percussion caps prior to initiating a hunt. Consequently, the user will be able to rapidly insert several caps when reloading his muzzleloader for firing.
During the insertion process, the user aligns the percussion cap with the nipple by inserting the arcuate cup lips into the exposed breech. It is an important feature of the present invention that the arcuate cup lips permit the tool to automatically align the percussion cap with the nipple. Once aligned, the user presses the percussion cap firmly on to the nipple. Once seated, the percussion cap may be removed from the tool cup by a simple twisting action. The cap remains seated on the nipple as a result of the friction generated upon the cap sidewalls by the twisting action. The lateral slot permits the cap to easily slide from the cup during the
Carone Michael J.
Head, Johnson & Kachgian
Nguyen Son T.
LandOfFree
Self aligning tool for inserting percussion caps on firing... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Self aligning tool for inserting percussion caps on firing..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Self aligning tool for inserting percussion caps on firing... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2509621