Construction for cartridge

• US 3,935,816 A
• Filed: 01/09/1974
• Issued: 02/03/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Howard S. Klotz
• Original Assignee: Howard S. Klotz
• Inventors: Boquette, Lawrence E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feinberg, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jordan, C. T.
• Application Number:
  US05/431,949
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 102/41, 102/92.7, 102/43, 102/43 P, 102/38
• US Class Current: 102/444
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/78 of jackets for smallarm bullets ; Jacketed bullets or projectiles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/067 Mounting or locking missiles in cartridge cases F42B5/18 takes precedence

Abstract

A bullet is formed of an explosive charge with a primer at one end and a projectile mass at the other end, all enclosed in a continuous plastic sheath. The sheath has a weakened central section to define a line of separation for a projectile section from the body of the plastic sheath when the explosive charge is fired. By controlling the weight of the projectile and the stress required to separate the plastic case at the weakened section, the impact characteristics of the projectile can be controlled. A blank is fabricated by eliminating the projectile and forming the weakened sheath section at the end of the sheath. The combined primer and charge is encased by a thin, plastic sheath portion which is thin enough to allow a weapon firing pin to fire the primer. The combined primer and charge is also formed of a small caliber blank with a conventional brass case.

Claims

1. A live ammunition cartridge comprising, in combination:

a cylindrical powder charge body having a constant diameter, a primer disposed in one end of said powder charge body, an elongated cylindrical and continuous sheath of plastic material having an axial bore of said constant diameter;

a first portion of said elongated plastic sheath bore closely receiving said powder charge body with said primer being juxtaposed with one end of said elongated plastic sheath;

a second portion of said sheath having an elongated projectile-shaped section which is closed at its end and which extends axially away from said powder charge body;

a projectile mass disposed within and completely filling said constant diameter bore in said projectile-shaped sheath section;

said first plastic sheath portion having a wall thickness sufficiently strong to withstand the forces due to expanding gas created when said powder charge is ignited by said primer;

said second plastic sheath portion having a substantially constant wall thickness, said second portion wall thickness being less than said first portion wall thickness;

said first plastic sheath portion being ejected with said projectile mass when said powder charge body is ignited.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 which further includes a thin planar plastic layer of constant thickness extending across said one end of said plastic sheath and covering said primer, whereby the entire cartridge outer surface is plastic and is impervious to moisture and contamination;

said thin layer being sufficiently thin to transmit the force of a firing pin to said primer.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said projectile mass abuts another end of said powder charge body, and further including a circumferential tear line around said sheath at the junction outwardly formed about said another end of said powder charge body by the differing wall thicknesses of said first and second sheath portions to define a tear line at which said projectile shaped section of said sheath will separate from the remainder of said sheath when said powder charge body is ignited.

4. The cartridge of claim 3 wherein said circumferential tear line is defined by a line of spaced depressions in said plastic sheath.

5. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein said primer and said charge body are components of a brass case blank of smaller caliber than the caliber of said cartridge.

6. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said projectile mass is of light-weight material.