Gun shell catcher device

A shell catcher for use with hand-held firearms adjustably detachably mounts on a side of the firearm for receiving and retaining spent shells expelled by the firearm. The shell catcher has a base, which mounts on a side of the firearm and a collapsible flexible housing, which is detachably pivotally mounted on the mounting base. The housing is stretched on a rigid frame that moves between a closed position when the shells are received in the housing and an open position allowing unobstructed view of the gun chamber. The spent shells are removed from the housing by means of opening the bottom of the housing or by removing the housing from the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to firearms, and more particularly, to shell catchers attachable to hunting rifles, handguns, and other similar devices for collecting of empty shells expelled by the firearm.

During practice or competition, gun aficionados use a large amount of ammunition, resulting in a pile of empty shells, which fall from the gun to the ground and have to be collected and then disposed in a prescribed manner. A hunter may prefer to retrieve the shells so as to remove the scent of the foreign smell in a hunting area and not alert the prey to the hunter's presence in the area. During hunting, the shells may fall into tall grass where the shell collecting is tiresome and time-consuming.

The present invention contemplates provision of a shell catcher device that can be detachably mounted on a firearm, be it a handheld gun, hunting rifle, or other such weapon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a shell catcher device, which can be detachably mounted on a hand-held firearm for catching spent shells.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shell catcher device that safely retains the shells in a compact bag attachable to the side of the firearm to make collection of the shells easy.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved through a provision of shell catcher device that is detachably mountable on a side of a firearm adjacent an area, where the empty shells are expelled. The shell catcher device comprises a mounting base adjustably detachably securable on the hand-held firearm, and a housing for receiving the spent shells detachably pivotally mountable on the firearm. The housing comprises a soft, flexible, collapsible bag stretched on a frame and a securing plate, which detachably engages the mounting base.

A release pin carried by the frame allows to pivotally move the housing into an open position away from the firearm and into a closed position in contact with the firearm. The pin is spring loaded to normally retain the housing in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral10designates the gun shell catcher device in accordance with the present invention. The shell catcher device comprises a base means12for mounting the device on a firearm and a shell receiving housing means14. The housing means14comprises a collapsible member15stretched over a frame assembly16, which is detachably secured on the base mounting means12and an enclosure100. The frame assembly16comprises a lower inner supporting rod18, an outer supporting rod20, a first transverse supporting rod22and a second transverse supporting rod24. The rods18,20,22, and24define a generally rectangular supporting frame. Extending outwardly from the rods22and24is an upright support member26and28, respectively. Each upright member26and28has a lower bent part30and32, respectively. The part30(FIG. 4) extends inwardly toward the outer rod20and engages the proximate end34of the first transverse rod22. The curved lower part32of the upright member28engages a corner plate36securely attached to a proximate end of the second transverse rod24. One end of the lower inner supporting rod18is fixedly engaged with the corner plate36. A second end of the rod18is secured to the proximate end34of the first transverse rod22.

An upper inner supporting rod40extends between the upright rods26and28in a generally parallel relationship to the lower inner supporting rod18and the outer supporting rod20. The rod40extends approximately from a point of intersection of the curved portions30and32with their respective upright rods26,28in order to provide further stability to the collapsible housing member14.

The device10further comprises a means for pivotally moving the frame of the housing means in relation to the first member, said means comprising an elongated engagement plate42secured on the rigid frame assembly16and adapted for detachable engagement with the first member, at least one sleeve44mounted on said engagement plate and a release pin50releasably engageable with said at least one sleeve44. The sleeve44is sized and configured to receive a portion of the inner supporting rod18therethrough. A pair of spaced apart engagement sleeves46and48(FIG. 6) is secured a distance from the sleeve44. The release pin50is slidably engaged within the sleeves46and48. The release pin50comprises a generally J-shaped member having a first portion52and a curved portion54. The curved portion54is engaged within the sleeves46and48, while a compression spring56is mounted about the portion52. The compression spring56urges against a head58of the release pin50on one end, and against the sleeve46—at its opposite end.

The release pin50allows the frame assembly16to move into a locked, close position in close proximity to a firearm80as shown inFIGS. 1,2,3, and6and to pivot into an open position as shown inFIG. 5. When the user pushes on the head58, the free end of the release pin50is released from the sleeve48, allowing a pivotal movement of the frame assembly16about an axis formed by the rod18. To bring the frame assembly16into a closed position, the user again pushes on the head58, against the force of the compression spring56and then moves the free end of the release pin50into a sliding engagement with the sleeve48.

The device10further comprises a means for detachably engaging the housing means through the engagement plate42with the mounting assembly through the mounting base60. The mounting base60is comprised of adjustably movable members mounted in a sliding relationship to each other. The first mounting base member has at least a portion having an L-shaped configuration in cross section. Of course, other cross-sectional configurations may be employed depending on the style and shape of the gun. The first mounting base member has an upright portion62and a horizontal portion64. The upright portion62is provided with a leaf spring66(FIG. 6) which is securely attached to the exterior surface of the upright portion62. The engagement plate42is adapted for sliding between the leaf spring66and the exterior surface of the portion62, thus detachably engaging the frame16on the firearm80.

The second mounting base member70has a portion having a generally L-shaped cross section, with a horizontal part72and a vertical upright part74. As mentioned above, other cross-sectional configurations may be employed depending on the style and shape of the gun, on which the shell catching device of the present invention is to be positioned. The horizontal part72of the mounting base member70slidably engages the horizontal portion64. The horizontal part72slides for a pre-determined adjustable distance along the top of the horizontal portion64of the first mounting base member. An engagement pin76extends through the vertical portion62of the first base member and engages with the horizontal part72of the second mounting base member70. The engagement pin76may be a threaded bolt, which is rotated to allow the vertical part74move toward and away from the vertical portion62.

When positioned on a firearm80, the upright part74engages one side of the firearm body, while the second upright portion62engages the opposite side of the firearm body. Due to the sliding engagement between the two portions of the mounting base60, the shell catching device of the present invention can accommodate different width firearms, assuring that the shell catching device10is securely positioned and tightly engages the firearm80. As a result, the shell catching device10retains its firm engagement with the firearm80whether the shell catching device is in a closed or open position, or the housing is removed from the base completely.

The frame assembly16further comprises an upper inner rod90, which is secured to upper ends of the upright members26and28. Connecting rod members92and94extend between the rod90and the outer supporting rod member20, thereby forming a cage for stretching of the collapsible member15thereon. A first panel96of the collapsible member15is stretched between the upper rod member90and the lower outer rod member20. A second panel98is stretched between the rod members26,94, and22, while the third panel member is stretched between the rod members28,92, and24. The third panel member is a mirror image of the panel member98.

A bag-shaped enclosure100is suspended from the rods20,22,18, and24. The enclosure100is fixedly attached to the panels96,98and a third panel (not shown). The enclosure100serves as a housing for receiving spent shells expelled by the firearm80. The side of the housing14opposite the panel96is open, allowing the spent shells to be received by the housing14and delivered by gravity into the enclosure100. The collapsible housing body14can be formed from a strong flexible, collapsible material such as canvas or other fabric and is designed to withstand the weight of the shells housed within the closure100.

In operation, the user positions the mounting base60on the firearm80and tightens the screw or bolt76such that the vertical part74and vertical portion62tightly engage opposite sides of the firearm80. The user then engages the engagement plate42between the leaf spring66and the mounting base60, thereby suspending the housing means14stretched on the frame assembly16on the firearm80. The protective cover of the panel96extends above and over the opening from which the shells are expelled. After the shooting competition or the hunt is over, the user can easily detach the housing14by pulling the frame16upward and releasing the plate42from its engagement on the mounting base60. The mounting base60can then be disengaged from the firearm80and stored separately from the housing14, if desired. The shells are then removed from the housing14and disposed of in the desired manner.

Many changes and modifications can be made in the apparatus of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. We therefore pray that our rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.