Plastic ammunition casing and method

• US 20100275804A1
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roger Blaine Trivette
• Original Assignee: Roger Blaine Trivette
• Inventors: Trivette, Roger Blaine
• Granted Patent: US 8,186,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/448
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/30 of plastics , i.e. the cartridge-case tube is of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 7/06 with cartridge case of plastics F42B5/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 8/04 Blank cartridges, i.e. primed cartridges without projectile but containing an explosive or combustible powder charge

Abstract

Ammunition having an integrally formed, polymeric casing is provided. Plastic casings for ammunition may be made using injection molding processes for combat ammunition, target ammunition and blanks. The casings, in one embodiment, include a hollow tubular member with an open end and a closed end having an aperture for a primer cap. The base of the casing includes a conical shape within the tube that narrows toward the base. An annular groove and an annular rim are disposed about an outer periphery of the base. Plastic casings may be utilized for ammunition cartridges used in pistols, rifles and shotguns, and are lighter and less expensive to manufacture than traditional brass casings. Further, the polymeric casings may include any desired colorants to distinguish different calibers of ammunition by color, and the spent casings may be recyclable.

Claims

1. An integrally formed, non-metallic casing for ammunition comprising:

a hollow tubular member having an open end for receiving a projectile and a base member having a substantially closed end with an aperture for receiving a primer cap; and

an annular extracting rim formed about a periphery of said base member.

2. The integrally formed, non-metallic ammunition casing set forth in claim 1, wherein said tubular member includes a thin wall adjacent said open end, and further including a conical shape within said tubular member adjacent said substantially closed end that narrows toward said base member.

3. The integrally formed, non-metallic ammunition casing set forth in claim 1, wherein said base member further defines an annular groove about an outer portion thereof, adjacent said extracting rim.

4. The integrally formed, non-metallic ammunition casing set forth in claim 1, wherein said casing is manufactured in an injection molding process.

5. The integrally formed, non-metallic ammunition casing set forth in claim 1, wherein said casing is made from material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, PET, and polyphenylene sulfide.

6. The integrally formed, non-metallic ammunition casing set forth in claim 1, further including a series of evenly spaced, longitudinally extending ribs positioned on an inner surface of said tubular member.

7. The integrally formed, non-metallic ammunition casing set forth in claim 6, wherein said ribs extend from an inner surface of said thin walled section to an inner surface of said conical shaped section of said tubular member.

8. The integrally formed, non-metallic ammunition casing set forth in claim 1, wherein said casing is made from material containing a colorant.

9. An ammunition cartridge comprising:

an integrally formed, non-metallic casing comprising a hollow tubular member having an open end for receiving a projectile connected to a base member having a substantially closed end with an aperture for receiving a primer cap and an annular extracting rim formed about a periphery of said base member;

a propellant positioned within said hollow tubular member;

a primer cap inserted into said aperture in said base member; and

a projectile secured within said open end of said tubular member.

10. The ammunition cartridge set forth in claim 9, wherein said tubular member includes a thin wall adjacent said open end, and further including a conical shape within said tubular member adjacent said substantially closed end that narrows toward said base member.

11. The ammunition cartridge set forth in claim 9, wherein said base member further defines an annular groove about an outer portion thereof, adjacent said extracting rim.

12. The ammunition cartridge set forth in claim 9, wherein said integrally formed, non-metallic casing is manufactured using an injection molding process.

13. The ammunition cartridge set forth in claim 9, wherein said casing is made from material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, PET, and polyphenylene sulfide.

14. The ammunition cartridge set forth in claim 9, wherein said casing further includes a series of evenly spaced, longitudinally extending ribs positioned on an inner surface of said tubular member.

15. The ammunition cartridge set forth in claim 14, wherein said ribs extend from an inner surface of said thin walled section to an inner surface of said conical shaped section of said tubular member.

16. The ammunition cartridge set forth in claim 9, wherein said casing is made from material containing a colorant.

17. The ammunition cartridge set forth in claim 9, wherein said projectile comprises zinc or a zinc alloy with a copper jacket around an outer periphery thereof.

18. An integrally formed, non-metallic casing for a rifle blank, said casing comprising:

a body member defining a generally straight, hollow inner tubular member, and including at least one tapered section along an outer portion of said body member, and a tip at a first end; and

a base member at a second end of said body member, said base member including an annular groove adjacent an annular extracting rim, and further including an aperture for receiving a primer cap.

19. The integrally formed, non-metallic ammunition casing set forth in claim 18, wherein said casing is manufactured by an injection molding process.

20. The integrally formed, non-metallic ammunition casing set forth in claim 18, wherein said casing is made from material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, PET, and polyphenylene sulfide.

21. The integrally formed, non-metallic ammunition casing set forth in claim 18, wherein said casing is made from material containing a colorant.

22. An integrally formed, non-metallic casing for a shotgun, said casing comprising:

a tubular body member having an open end and a base member,

an inner portion of said tubular body member including a conical shape that narrows toward said base member;

said base including an aperture for receiving a primer cap; and

means for closing said open end.

23. The integrally formed, non-metallic casing for a shotgun set forth in claim 22, further including an annular rim disposed about said base member.

24. The integrally formed, non-metallic casing for a shotgun set forth in claim 22, wherein said means for closing said open end include a groove disposed about an inner surface of said tubular body member adjacent an open end, and a generally circular cap adapted to fit within said groove.

25. The integrally formed, non-metallic casing for a shotgun set forth in claim 22, further including:

a propellant disposed within said tubular body member;

a projectile disposed within said tubular body member; and

a primer cap disposed within said aperture defined by said base member.