Narrowing high strength polymer-based cartridge casing for blank and subsonic ammunition

• US 9,003,973 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pcp Tactical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pcp Tactical, LLC
• Inventors: Padgett, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Bret
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freeman, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US14/315,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20150122142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 292 Days
• Field of Search: 102/446, 102/447, 102/464, 102/465, 102/466, 102/467, 102/469
• US Class Current: 102/467
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/76 of the casing
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/02 Filling cartridges, missiles, or fuzes; Inserting propellant or explosive charges F42B33/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/307 formed by assembling several elements
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/313 all elements made of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 8/04 Blank cartridges, i.e. primed cartridges without projectile but containing an explosive or combustible powder charge

Abstract

A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing includes an upper component of polymer, a bullet of a standard weight, a lower component of polymer, and an insert. The upper component has a shoulder portion and an upper component inner wall has a first diameter extending from the shoulder. The lower component has a lower component inner wall having a second diameter. The upper and lower component inner walls form a propellant chamber; and the first and second diameters reduce a volume of the propellant chamber. The reduced volume of the propellant chamber permits only enough propellant to propel a bullet engaged in the cartridge casing at subsonic speeds.

Claims

1. A high strength polymer-based cartridge for subsonic ammunition comprising:

an upper component, molded from a polymer;

a bullet, having a conventional weight for a caliber of the bullet, removably engaged with the upper component;

a lower component, molded from a polymer, and engaged the upper component;

an insert engaged to the lower component;

a shoulder portion of the upper component;

an upper component inner wall extending from the shoulder to the lower component and having a first diameter;

a lower component inner wall extending from the upper component to the insert having a second diameter; and

a linear slope disposed between the first diameter and the second diameter;

wherein the upper and lower component inner walls form a propellant chamber;

wherein the first diameter does not equal the second diameter;

wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter; and

wherein the slope between the first and second diameters reduces a volume of the propellant chamber.

2. The high strength polymer-based cartridge of claim 1, wherein the reduced volume of the propellant chamber permits only enough propellant to propel the bullet at subsonic speeds.

3. A method of making a high strength polymer-based cartridge casing for subsonic ammunition comprising the steps of:

molding an upper component from a polymer;

removably disposing a conventional weight bullet, for a caliber of the bullet, in the upper component;

molding a lower component from a second polymer;

engaging the upper component to the lower component;

forming an insert engaged to the lower component;

molding a shoulder portion of the upper component;

extending an upper component inner wall from the shoulder to the lower component;

molding a first diameter in the upper component;

extending a lower component inner wall from the upper component to the insert;

molding a second diameter in the lower component inner wall not equal to the first diameter;

molding a linear slope disposed between the first diameter and the second diameter;

forming a propellant chamber from the upper and lower component inner walls, the slope between the first and second diameters reducing a volume of the propellant chamber; and

permitting, based on the reduced volume, enough propellant to propel the bullet at subsonic speeds.

4. The method of claim 3,

wherein molding the second diameter comprises the step of molding the first diameter greater than the second diameter.

5. The method of claim 3,

wherein molding the second diameter comprises the step of molding the first diameter less than the second diameter.