Token system for use with dedicated rounds of ammunition

Abstract

A firearm cartridge with a specially-configured token disc added to its base. The token includes an outer section and a central strike plate. The strike plate includes a strike ball at its center. The presence of the token increases the effective length of the cartridge and thereby prevents the closure of the bolt of a conventional firearm. As a result, the inventive cartridge cannot be fired in a conventional firearm.

Claims

1. A cartridge configured for use in a centerfire firearm having a defined maximum headspace, comprising: a. a base with a centrally located primer; b. a token disc affixed to said base of said cartridge, said token disc including, i. an outer section, ii. a central strike plate separated from said outer section by a cutout, iii. an arm linking said central strike plate to said outer section, iv. a strike ball mounted in said central strike plate, with said strike ball lying proximate said centrally located primer; and c. wherein a thickness of said token disc is configured to produce a critical cartridge length for said cartridge that is substantially beyond said defined maximum headspace.

2. The cartridge as recited in claim 1, wherein said outer section, said arm, and said strike plate are made as an integral piece from one material.

3. The cartridge as recited in claim 2, wherein: a. said strike plate is separated from said arm by a first hinge relief; and b. said arm is separated from said outer section by a second hinge relief.

4. The cartridge as recited in claim 3, wherein: a. said strike plate includes a passage; and b. said strike ball is pressed into said passage.

5. The cartridge as recited in claim 3, wherein: a. said strike plate includes a passage: and b. said strike ball is pressed into said passage.

6. The cartridge as recited in claim 2, wherein said strike ball is made of a hard metal.

7. The cartridge as recited in claim 6, wherein said outer section, said arm, and said strike plate are made from a material selected from the group consisting of brass, aluminum, and plastic.

8. The cartridge as recited in claim 2, wherein: a. said strike plate includes a passage; and b. said strike ball is pressed into said passage.

9. The cartridge as recited in claim 1, wherein: a. said strike plate includes a rearward surface; and b. said rearward surface of said strike plate lies to the rear of a rearward most extent of said strike ball.

10. The cartridge as recited in claim 1, wherein said outer section has a thickness greater than 2.0 mm.

11. The cartridge as recited in claim 1, wherein said outer section has a thickness greater than 2.3 mm.

12. A cartridge configured for use in a centerfire firearm having a defined maximum headspace, comprising: a. a base with a centrally located primer; b. a token disc affixed to said base of said cartridge, said token disc including a strike ball mounted in a central strike plate, with said strike ball being centered on said centrally located primer; and c. wherein a thickness of said token disc is configured to produce a critical cartridge length for said cartridge that is substantially beyond said defined maximum headspace.

13. The cartridge as recited in claim 12, wherein said token disc includes: a. an outer section; b. a central strike plate separated from said outer section by a cutout; c. an arm linking said central strike plate to said outer section; and d. wherein said strike ball is mounted in said central strike plate.

14. The cartridge as recited in claim 13, wherein: a. said strike plate is separated from said arm by a first hinge relief; and b. said arm is separated from said outer section by a second hinge relief.

15. The cartridge as recited in claim 13, wherein said outer section, said arm, and said strike plate are made from a material selected from the group consisting of brass, aluminum, and plastic.

16. The cartridge as recited in claim 13, wherein: a. said strike plate includes a passage; and b. said strike ball is pressed into said passage.

17. The cartridge as recited in claim 13, wherein: a. said strike plate includes a rearward surface; and b. said rearward surface of said strike plate lies to the rear of a rearward most extent of said strike ball.

18. The cartridge as recited in claim 12, wherein said strike ball is made of a hard metal.

19. The cartridge as recited in claim 12, wherein said token disc has a thickness greater than 2.0 mm.

20. The cartridge as recited in claim 12, wherein said token disc has a thickness greater than 2.3 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view, showing a prior art shotgun bolt assembly.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view, showing a shotgun bolt assembly modified according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a sectional top view of the inventive bolt assembly.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view, showing a prior art shotgun shell.

(5) FIG. 5 is a sectional elevation view, showing some internal details of the prior art shotgun shell.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view, showing a shotgun shell modified according to the present invention.

(7) FIG. 7 is an elevation view, showing the inventive token disc.

(8) FIG. 8 is a sectional elevation view, showing some internal details of the token disc of FIG. 7.

(9) FIG. 9 is a sectional elevation view, showing the inventive token disc attached to a prior art shotgun shell.

(10) FIG. 10 is a sectional elevation view, showing the detonation of the inventive shotgun shell.

(11) FIG. 11 is a sectional plan view, showing the inventive shotgun shell chambered in a modified shotgun.

(12) FIG. 12 is a sectional plan view, showing the modified shotgun of FIG. 11 with a conventional shotgun shell loaded.

(13) FIG. 13 is a detailed sectional elevation view, showing the strike ball.

(14) FIG. 14 is an alternate embodiment including a slot along the side of a shotgun bolt and a corresponding receiver pin mounted in a shotgun receiver.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

(15) 8 bolt assembly 10 breech bolt 12 locking toggle 14 locking toggle passage 16 bolt face 18 firing pin aperture 20 extractor 21 follower 24 firing pin 25 nose 26 flange 27 normal position 28 compression spring 30 counterbore 32 shotgun shell 34 hull 36 primer 38 head 40 base 42 rim 44 base wad 46 wall 48 primer pocket 50 propellant 54 barrel 60 barrel extension 62 receiver 90 recessed bolt face 92 token disc 94 strike plate 96 strike ball 98 arm 100 first hinge relief 102 second hinge relief 104 cut-out 106 outer section 108 passage 110 overhang 112 slot 114 receiver pin

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(16) The present invention may be adapted for use in a wide variety of centerfire firearms. It is particularly suited to those firearms having a linearly reciprocating breech bolt. Thus, it could be applied to pump shotguns, semi-automatic/automatic shotguns, semi-automatic/automatic pistols, slide-action rifles, straight-pull rifles (such as the Blaser), semi-automatic/automatic rifles, and Mauser-type bolt riflesamong other types. Exemplary shotgun applications include the Remington 870 pump shotgun, the Remington 1100-series semi-automatic shotguns, the Winchester SXP pump shotgun, the Browning Auto 5 semi-automatic shotgun, the Mossberg 500, and the Benelli Black Eagle-series shotguns. Because the Remington 870 is widely used in law enforcement, it is used in the attached illustrations. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate how the invention could be applied to many other firearm models and types.

(17) As explained previously, FIG. 1 shows a prior art bolt assembly 8 such as used in the Remington Model 870 shotgun. FIG. 2 shows the same bolt assembly modified according to the present invention. A portion of bolt face 16 is relieved to create recessed bolt face 90. A bolt is typically manufactured by finish machining a forging. The overall thickness of the bolt face itself may need to be increased to accommodate the relieved portion. However, for the relatively mild pressures associated with shotguns, most bolts have considerably more thickness around the bolt face than is needed. It may therefore be possible to simply machine away some of the thickness of the bolt face without modifying the forging.

(18) In any event the finished result preferably looks like FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown, a portion of the original bolt face is left along the left side of the bolt. A portion of the original bolt face also remains along the rights side of the bolt proximate the extractor. Throughout this disclosure, the reader should bear in mind that directional terms such as left, right, forward, and rearward are referring to the viewpoint of a user holding a firearm in a customary firing position (with the firearm's barrel in a horizontal orientation). Many firearms are handed, meaning that they are configured for a right-handed or left-handed shooter. The bolt shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is from a shotgun configured for use by a right-handed shooter. The loading port on such a weapon is on the right side of the receiver and thus the extractor is on the right side of the bolt.

(19) FIG. 3 shows a sectional top view taken through the mid-plane of the bolt assembly. Firing pin 24 rests within the bolt assembly, with the nose of the firing pin being recessed within firing pin aperture 18. Compression spring 28 is a coil spring located over the forward portion of the firing pin. It is compressed between flange 26 and counterbore 30. The rear portion of the firing pin (not shown) is engaged by a journal in the breech bolt and thereby prevented from exiting the breech bolt. Compression spring 28 remains in compression even when the firing pin is in a resting state (as shown) thereby ensuring that the nose of the firing pin remains behind the bolt face. When the trigger is pulled and the rear portion of the firing pin is struck by the shotgun's hammer, the nose of the firing pin is forced beyond the bolt face and it will then strike the primer of a cartridge that is present in the firing chamber. The compression spring then urges the firing pin back toward the retracted position shown. This type of arrangement is sometimes referred to as a rebounding firing pin action. It is present in the vast majority of modern firearms. Extractor 20 is held in position by the compression spring acting on follower 21. The claw portion of the extractor is configured to slip over and engage the flange (sometimes called a rim) on the base of a shotgun shell. The reader wishing to further understand these prior art mechanisms is referred to U.S. Pat. No. 2,645,873which pertains to the Remington Model 870 shotgun.

(20) In FIG. 3, the reader will again note that a portion of the bolt face has been relieved to produce recessed bolt face 90. Normal position 27 (shown in dashed lines) represents the normal forward extent of an unmodified firing pin. In the present invention, the firing pin is shortened. Nose 25 of this modified firing pin thus resides behind recessed bolt face 90 in its resting state. An unmodified firing pin would protrude to the position indicated by the dashed line.

(21) The modified breech bolt of FIG. 3 requires a modified shotgun cartridge in order for the bolt assembly to close, lock, and fire. FIG. 6 shows an example of such a modified cartridge. Its general construction is the same as for the prior art cartridge described previously. It includes a hull and a head. Base 40 is modified, however, by the addition of token disc 92. Token disc 92 is affixed to the base of the shell using a suitable adhesive. It then becomes part of the shotgun shell. Using this approach, the token disc and the conventional shotgun shell may be united at the time of original manufacturing. On the other hand, existing shotgun shells may be modified into the inventive shotgun shell by adding the token disc. The result is the same.

(22) FIG. 7 shows a plan view of token disc 92. The disc is preferably circular and made as one integral piece. Strike plate 94 is situated in the center. The strike plate is separated from outer section 106 by cut-out 104a channel which extends all the way through the material. Arm 98 connects strike plate 94 to the surrounding outer section 106.

(23) Strike ball 96 is mounted in the center of strike plate 94. In operation, the strike ball will be struck by the nose of the modified firing pin and the strike ball will then be propelled into the primer to detonate the cartridge. It is preferable for the strike plate and arm to pivot relative to outer section 106. First hinge relief 100 and second hinge relief 102 are provided to facilitate this motion. The hinge reliefs are simply recesses in the material that extend partly through the material. They allow the material to flex more easily.

(24) FIG. 8 shows a sectional elevation view through the token disc. The reader will note how cut-out 104 extends all the way through the material whereas first and second hinge reliefs 100, 102 extend only partially. Strike ball 96 is contained within passage 108 in strike plate 94. The strike ball is preferably retained by a press fit. The passage may be a cylindrical hole with a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the strike ball. The passage may also be made with a non-circular cross-section so that multiple point contacts result with the spherical shape of the strike ball. As an example, passage 108 might be given a hexagonal cross section with the clearance between opposing facets being slightly less than the diameter of the strike ball.

(25) The strike ball is preferably made of a hard metal such as steel. The surrounding strike plate, outer section, and arm are preferably made as a single integral piece. These portions may be made as a die casting of aluminum or brass. They may also be formed as an injection molded polymer.

(26) FIG. 9 shows a section view through the inventive cartridge (in this case a shotgun shell) with the token disc attached. In this example the token disc is attached using a two-part adhesive. Strike ball 96 is centered on primer 36. FIG. 10 shows the firing sequence. Firing pin 24 hits strike ball 96 and the strike ball then detonates primer 36.

(27) Those skilled in the art of firearms will be familiar with the term headspace. Headspace generally means the distance measured from a reference datum in the firing chamber itself to the bolt face. The reference datum is the chamber feature that stops the forward motion of the cartridge, when the cartridge is pressed into the chamber. For a shotgun shell, the reference datum is the forward portion of the rim recess (against which the shotgun shell's rim comes to rest). For most centerfire rifle cartridges the reference datum is somewhere along the slope of the cartridge case neck. For belted magnum rifle cartridges the reference datum is the forward portion of the belt recess.

(28) Proper headspace is very important to the proper and safe operation of a firearm. If the head-space is too great, the cartridge will be loose in the chamber. This phenomenon can produce a case rupture. If the headspace is too small then the bolt will not close on the cartridge. Most firearms have safety features that prevent firing if the bolt is not closed.

(29) Mass-produced firearms have a defined headspace for each caliber. A tolerance is permitted on this headspace, but it is fairly tight. As an example, the Small Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI) defines the allowable headspace for a 12 gauge shotgun chamber to be between 0.0576 and 0.0716 inches (1.463 and 1.819 mm). Therefore, a shotgun shell with a rim thickness exceeding 0.0716 inches (1.819 mm) would not permit the bolt to fully close. This is ordinarily an undesirable condition.

(30) However, the present invention presents a cartridge that inherently requires much more headspace than a standard firearm possesses. This feature means that a standard firearm cannot properly chamber the inventive cartridge and a standard firearm cannot fire the inventive cartridge. Every cartridge possesses a critical cartridge length which is defined as a distance from a reference datum on the cartridge configured to coincide with the reference datum on the firing chamber (when the cartridge is chambered) to the rearward surface of the cartridge configured to lie against any part of the bolt face.

(31) The critical cartridge length for a 12 gauge shotgun shell is the rim thickness (including a slight offset for a fillet where the rim blends into the case head). SAAMI specifies the rim thickness of a 12 gauge cartridge to lie in the range of 0.0436 to 0.0576 inches (1.107 mm to 1.463 mm).

(32) In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the token disc is made thick enough so that the critical cartridge length becomes much too large for the inventive cartridge to be chambered in a conventional firearm. For example, the token disc can be given a thickness of 2.35 mm. Once such a disc is applied to the base of a 12 gauge cartridge, the critical cartridge length will lie between 2.457 and 2.813 mm. The token disc thickness is preferably at least 2 mm and even more preferably at least 2.3 mm. This substantial increase in critical cartridge length makes it impossible to fire the inventive cartridge in a conventional firearm.

(33) FIG. 11 shows a sectional plan view (looking from the top down) of the inventive cartridge 32 loaded into a pomp shotgun in which the breech bolt has been modified by providing a recessed, bolt face 90. The depth of the recessed bolt face is sufficient to accommodate the thickness of the token disc and the adhesive that is used to attach it. If a disc thickness of 2.3.5 mm is used, then the recess is preferably 2.40 mm deep. Thusas shown in FIG. 11the modified bolt can close even though token disc 92 is present.

(34) As explained previously, nose 25 of firing pin 24 has been shortened to the position shown. The firing pin is preferably shortened by 2.0 to 2.5 mm for a disc thickness of 2.35 mm. When the firing pin shown in FIG. 11 is struck by the firearm's hammer, it will be propelled forward (to the right in the view) and the nose of the firing pin will strike the strike balldriving the strike ball into the primer and detonating the inventive cartridge.

(35) The thickness of the token disc should be selected so that the critical cartridge length is substantially greater than the maximum headspace allowable for a conventional firearm of the caliber in question. In this context, the phrase substantially beyond means more than 1.0 mm and preferably more than 1.5 mm.

(36) The other components of the shotgun shown are conventional. The firearm is again a Remington Model 870. A shotgun shellmodified as shown in FIG. 6is chambered within the firing chamber in barrel 54. Shotgun shells are located longitudinally by the forward face of the shell's rim mating against the rearward-facing surface of a counterbore at the very rear of the firing chamber (The counterbore is commonly known as a rim relief). In the Model 870 design barrel 54 threads into barrel extension 60 as shown. Barrel extension 60 is connected to receiver 62. Breech bolt 10 cycles within receiver 62 (cycles from right to left and back again, with respect to the vantage point shown in the view).

(37) FIG. 12 shows a sectional view through the same modified firearm with a conventional shotgun shell chambered and ready to fire. In FIG. 12, the hammer has struck, the rear of firing pin 24 and propelled it forward to its maximum extent of forward travel. Nose 25 stops short of base 40 and is then urged back to its rest position by the compression spring. Thus, the firearm modified with the bolt face relief and the shortened firing pin cannot fire a conventional shotgun shell.

(38) The reader will thereby understand and appreciate the following: (1) An inventive shotgun shell modified with the addition of the token disc cannot be fired in a conventional firearm because the bolt of the conventional firearm cannot close on the inventive shotgun shell; and (2) A firearm modified by the addition of the bolt face relief and the shortened firing pin cannot fire a conventional shotgun shell.

(39) It is of course preferable for the inventive cartridge to possess the same safety features as a conventional cartridge. In a conventional cartridge, the primer is recessed somewhat into the base so that the primer is unlikely to be struck if the cartridge is dropped on its base. The token disc can provide the same protection. FIG. 13 shows a detailed sectional view through strike plate 94. As explained previously, strike ball 96 is preferably a press fit into the passage through the strike plate. Overhang 110 can be provided in the rearward most portion of the strike plate (the left side in the orientation of the view). The strike ball can be pressed into the passage from the forward side of the strike plate before the token disc is affixed to the base of the conventional cartridge.

(40) The diameter of the strike ball is made less than the thickness of the strike plate so that the rearward most extent of the strike ball is offset from the rear of the strike plate. This fact means that the strike plate protects the strike ball in the event the modified cartridge is dropped on its base. Overhang 110 may be created by a swaging operation when a metallic material is used for the token disc. Where a plastic material is used for the token disc the overhang can be formed as part of a molding operation. The reader should bear in mind that the overhang is an optional feature. If a straight passage is used through the token disc the press-fitting of the strike ball into place can be sufficient to retain the strike ball in a recessed position.

(41) The reader will recall that the use of the inventive cartridge requires both the inventive (modified) cartridge and a modified firearm (including a recessed bolt face). Those skilled in the art will realize that it is possible to easily change the breech bolt in many types of firearms. In the Remington 870 pump shotgun, for example, it is possible to disassemble the firearm and swap the breech bolt in a matter of minutes. There is therefore the concern that an operator might swap the breech bolt in a modified firearm and thereby equip it to fire a conventional cartridge without the token disc. FIG. 14 depicts an additional modification intended to address this concern.

(42) In the embodiment of FIG. 14, slot 112 has been added to the right side of breech bolt 10. A corresponding receiver pin 114 (shown in dashed lines) is added to the right side of the shotgun's receiver. The receiver pin rests within the slot in the breech bolt. If a user attempts to add a conventional breech bolt, the receiver pin will interfere with the breech bolt and prevent the assembly of the weapon (the bolt being conventionally introduced by sliding it rearward into the forward part of the receiver).

(43) The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by reference to the claims ultimately presented rather than the examples given.