Shotgun shell de-jamming device

A cylindrical device with flared and rounded ends for use in instantly dislodging spent (fired) shotgun shells from the breech opening of shotguns. The shell de-jammer comprises a cylindrical solid body member of sufficient weight and density to quickly and easily dislodge a spent shotgun shell that has become stuck in the breech. The device is loaded axially into the open end of a barrel and dropped vertically down the barrel with the dead weight impact force of the device instantly dislodging the stuck shell. The construction and coating of the device is such that it does not scratch or damage the gun bore defining surface or ejection or closing mechanisms of the gun.

BACKGROUND--FIELD OF INVENTION 
This invention relates to shotguns, specifically to a device for easily and 
quickly dislodging a spent shell that is difficult to remove due to the 
ejection mechanism failing to clear it automatically from the breech. 
BACKGROUND--DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART California. 
Shotgun shells become stuck in a shotgun's breech or ejection mechanism s 
because of a faulty or malfunctioning ejection mechanism or because the 
shell swelled or became distorted and was out of tolerance with respect to 
the shell's outside diameter in relation to the gun bore diameter. This is 
a common occurrence with shells that have been repeatedly reloaded and 
reused. When a shell becomes jammed, the shooter frequently tries to pry 
it out using a knife or other metal tool or tries to push it out by 
ramming a rod or stick down the barrel. The use of a knife or similar tool 
may cause damage to the gun, ejection mechanism, or to the knife itself. 
The use of a stick may introduce undesirable foreign material into the 
gun's operating mechanisms. Finding a stick may be difficult or impossible 
when in a boat or duck blind or when hunting in rocky or desert areas. A 
cleaning rod of sufficient length is often not practicable to carry in 
hunting or shooting situations. Neither the knife prying, cleaning rod and 
stick ramming methods are desirable to the shooter who wants to get back 
into action quickly. 
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
Accordingly, the object and advantages of my shell de-jammer invention are 
the quick, efficient, positive removal of shotgun shells that have become 
stuck in a gun barrel or ejection mechanism. 
The de-jammer can be considerable safer than other methods, because once 
dropped down the open barrel, hands are not near the end of the barrel or 
the breech mechanisms. 
The de-jammer is very portable and readily available to the shooter as it 
is relative small and compact and thus can be easily and conveniently 
carried in a pocket, shell vest pouch, or a belt carrying a sheath. A 
plastic coating protects it during storage, while carrying it and when 
used. The inner surfaces of the barrel bore have protection from 
scratching and damage because of the coating on the De-Jammer device.

SUMMARY 
DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically to FIG. 1, a shotgun 
shell de-jammer device 10 of the present invention is illustrated in a 
isometric view. In this view fore and aft ends 16 of the invention are 
shown as being similar. The fore and aft ends 16 are rounded and flared 
12. Referring now FIG. 1 a., the cylindrical body 19 of the invention 10 
is coated. 
Referring to FIG. 2 the rounded and flared surfaces and the fore and aft 
ends 16 are shown. Referring now to FIG. 3 the body 19 and the coating 18 
of the invention 10 and the fore and aft ends 16 are shown. 
In FIG. 4 in the invention fore or aft ends 16 and the rounded and flared 
ends contact the bore defining surfaces 24 of the barrel 20. Referring now 
to the drawings, and more specifically to FIG. 5, a shotgun shell 
de-jammer device 10 of the present invention is illustrated disposed in a 
shotgun barrel's bore 22 partially shown. The barrel 20 is provided with a 
breach, a nozzle 26 and a bore 22 extending there through and defined by 
bore defining surface 24. The bore 22 and bore defining surface 24 of the 
barrel 20 is illustrated, and concerns regarding the construction and 
gauge of the barrel 20 are not believed necessary herein to understand and 
appreciate the improvements of the shell de-jamming and dislodging device 
10 of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4 the shell de-jamming and 
dislodging device 10 is inserted into the bore opening through the nozzle 
26 of which the diameters are larger than the flared and rounded fore and 
aft ends 16 of the present invention and can be moved through the bore 
defining surface 24 from the point of entering the nozzle 26 to the breech 
28 end and out through the nozzle 26 of a barrel 20 or the breech 28 upon 
dislodging and freeing the jammed or lodged shell 30. 
The configuration of the device 10, its weight, and coated exterior 
surfaces 18 that contact the bore defining surface 24 ensure that the 
shell 30 is readily dislodged without scratching or damaging to the bore 
defining surface 24 as the rounded and flared fore and aft ends 16 
uniformly contact the bore defining surface 24 of the barrel 20 as the 
device 10 is moved through the bore defining surface 24 by action of 
gravity or force applied as it is entering the nozzle 26 of the barrel 20 
and moves through the bore defining surface 24 to come into contact with 
the jammed or lodged shell 28. The shell is pushed towards the open breach 
end by the shell de-jamming device 10, and the device may be returned 
through the breech or the barrel's nozzle end 26 and out towards the 
ground with the nozzle facing the earth to allow gravity to move it 
through the bore defining surface 24 away from the breech end of the 
barrel. 
The shell de-jamming and dislodging device 10 is a cylindrical body shaped 
with two ends that are rounded and flared circular in diameter, and 
rounded larger than the cylindrical body 19, and of sufficient in size to 
prevent entry into the magazine loading compartment mechanisms of 
automatic shotguns. The ends fore 16 and aft 16 are similar in 
construction and shape. 
It is to be understood that the cylindrical body and ends can be fabricated 
of any material having the desired rigidity, weight, density and coating, 
so that the and diameters of the fore and aft areas and body 10 abuttingly 
engage the shell 30 that is lodged or jammed in the bore defining surface 
24 of the barrel 20. Further the complete body 10 of the device, the 
cylindrical rod and rounded and flared fore and aft ends 16 are preferably 
fabricated as one unit from Ledloy, C12L14 19 and coated 18 with a powder 
type of plastic polymer coating made by TIGER of Rancho Cucamonga, 
California; The powder coating is a trade name of DRYLAC which is a 
registered trademark and is a material, either natural or synthetic, 
having the desired properties of not damaging or scratching the bore 
defining surface 24 of the barrel 20 or any other of the guns mechanisms 
or surfaces is preferred. The ends and body in the preferred embodiment 
are of different diameters to facilitate insertion and use in the bore 
defining surface 24 of the barrel 20 and may be equal in some 
ramifications. The coating material is sufficiently smooth to allow it to 
slide through the gun barrel 20 bore defining surface 24 without damage to 
it or becoming lodged in it. It will be appreciated that many polymeric 
materials will also be candidates for the selected material to cover the 
body 10 and ends 16 of the invention, the shell de-jammer, and dislodging 
device. 
Because of the desire to forcefully and abuttingly engage a jammed or 
lodged shell the cylinder body 10 and rounded and flared fore and aft ends 
16 do contact the bore defining surface 24 and as well the fore and aft 
ends 16 are to contact and strike the shell casing nose end of the lodged 
shell in the breech of the barrel 28. The coating must be resistant to gun 
powders, and primer's chemical components, and the entire cylindrical body 
10 and ends are formed as one unit and of a weight and density to dislodge 
a shell 28 from the bore defining surface 24 and push it through the 
breech end. For single and double shot guns, the device can be removed by 
the action of lowering the barrel toward the earth. For automatic shotguns 
with multiple shells, the unit is sufficient in length to prevent it from 
entering the loading magazine or compartment. 
It will be clear that the present invention of a shell de-jammer is well 
adapted to carry out the objects and advantages and to attain the 
advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While presently 
the preferred embodiments of the invention of the shell de-jammer have 
been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes can be 
made which will readily suggest themselves to these skilled in the art 
which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention of the shell 
de-jammer disclosed and defined in the appended claims. 
OPERATION OF INVENTION 
Referring to FIG. 4, the manner of using the shell de-jamming device to 
dislodge, remove and de-jam a shotgun shell from the gun barrel bore 
defining surface 24 is accomplished very easily. With the gun's breech 
mechanism held open or in the locked open position and while pointing the 
gun in a safe direction, the de-jamming device 10, by its rounded and 
flared fore or aft ends can be inserted into the nozzle 26 of the barrel 
20 and dropped into the bore defining surface 24 of the barrel 20. The 
weight and design of the de-jammer's cylindrical body 10 and rounded and 
flared fore and aft ends 16 provide sufficient force to abuttingly engage 
the shell, forcing the lodged or jammed shell 28 free from being jammed 
into the barrel's bore defining surface 24, and the shell 30 is pushed out 
of the open breech and out of the gun. The shell de-jammer device is 
coated and does not scratch or damage the gun's barrel bore defining 
surface 24 or other mechanisms. The length of the de-jammer's body 10 is 
sufficient to prevent it from entering the magazine loading compartment. 
The shell de-jamming 10 can be removed from the barrel when lowered 
towards the ground; it slides out the nozzle end of the barrel 20. 
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE OF INVENTION 
Accordingly the reader will see that the shotgun de-jammer and dislodging 
device provides an efficiently, quick and expeditious method that is 
convenient and a simple solution for the removal of jammed and lodged 
shells. The invention is a convenient device to dislodge and remove shot 
gun shells, from the breech of shotguns, that have become lodged or 
jammed. The present invention may be used with or made for a variety of 
shotgun gauges but is shown as being used with a 12-gauge shotgun for 
illustration. It is not limited to a particular gauge of shotgun shell or 
barrel gauge. The de-jammer has a special self lubricating smooth coating 
that prevents scratching or metal to metal damage to the barrel or closing 
and ejection mechanisms. The invention may even be made from or 
encapsulated by a suitable nonscratching or noncorrosive material. 
The de-jammer can be coated with highly visible coating making it easy to 
find if accidentally dropped in shallow water, snow, or grass. The 
de-jammer special polyester exterior powder coatings are long lasting and 
resist rusting, damage, and moisture retention. It can be easily cleaned 
by a quick wiping and can be successfully used for many years. The 
de-jammer enables the hunter or shooter to instantly return to active 
shooting which is extremely critical in duck and upland game hunting 
situations. When using the invention there is no need to field strip or 
disassemble the gun which may be difficult or impossible without special 
tools. The use of the de-jammer is cost effective; it allows the thrifty 
shooter to save considerable money by doing his own reloading without fear 
of stuck shells negating hunting or shooting activities.