Abstract:
A shotgun shell storage and dispenser device in the form of a hollow elongated housing to hold the shotgun shells in vertical array, the housing adjusted for loading and dispensing shotgun shells through a loading end of the housing. Shotgun shells are positioned by structural elements on a rear wall of the housing and constant force springs in conjunction with a follower to urge the shotgun shells toward a loading and discharge end of the housing.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/554,147 filed Oct. 30, 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention pertains to the ability of a person engaged in use of a shotgun to have readily an accessible and easily dispensed quantity of shotgun shells. Such persons are normally engaged in law enforcement, the military or sporting endeavors such as skeet shooting, trap shooting and sporting clays. 
         [0003]    Shotgun users that wish to carry ammunition in excess of that which is either designated capacity by the manufacturer of a shotgun such as a pump shotgun or an automatic shotgun or is limited by laws or regulations may wish to carry extra ammunition (shotgun shells) that can be readily available and readily dispensed for reloading the weapon. 
         [0004]    The extra ammunition can be carried by such devices as a bandolier made from fabric with individual slings or pockets to carry shotgun shells. The bandolier is normally worn across the chest of the user from a shoulder to the waist. A similar device in the form of a belt worn around the waist of the user is also available. 
         [0005]    Certain manufacturers offer a cover for a rifle or shotgun sling that can be adapted to carry extra shells. It is also possible to buy a flexible carrier or a rigid carrier that can be removably fastened to the stock of the shotgun to carry extra shells. 
         [0006]    Belt patches as well as vests with pouches are also available to carry extra shotgun shells. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,837,258; 6,817,135 and 3,219,244 are representative of the state of the art. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention pertains to a shotgun shell storing and dispensing device that is in the form of an elongated hollow housing adapted to receive the shells in a generally horizontal array so that the user can select a shell from a bottom opening of the housing for rapid reloading of a shotgun. The housing includes means to urge the shells from a top or second end to the open bottom or first end of the housing to maintain the shells in position during transport and until the user calls for a shell. 
         [0009]    Therefore, in one aspect the present invention is a device for storing and dispensing shotgun shells comprising: a generally elongated hollow housing having a generally rectangular shaped cross-section; the housing adapted to position shotgun shells in a generally vertical array with the longitudinal axis of each of the shotgun shells generally perpendicular to a long axis of the housing between opposite elongated sides of the housing; means on a first or dispensing end of the housing to prevent shells from falling out of the housing and to position each shotgun shell to be dispensed for easy grasp by a user; and a pair of constant force springs positioned on opposite sides of a follower movable between the first and second ends of the housing, the constant force springs and follower adapted to maintain said shotgun shells inside said device regardless of the orientation or movement of said device and to urge the shotgun shells toward the dispensing end of the housing for ready access by a user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an apparatus according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a right side view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a rear elevational view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the device of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a rear elevational view of the device of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 9   a  is a front elevational view of a portion of the device shown in  FIG. 1  or 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrating interior details thereof. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9   b  is identical to  FIG. 9  with the addition of a top, follower and constant force springs. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the device of  FIG. 9  illustrating the follower assembly. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a front elevational view of the device of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 12   a  is a top view of the device of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 12   b  is a top view of the device of  FIG. 2  with its cover removed. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13   a  is identical to  FIG. 9   a  with the addition of shotgun shells in positions of storage and dispensing. 
           [0026]      FIG. 13   b  is an isometric view of the device of  FIG. 13   a.    
           [0027]      FIG. 14   a  is an enlarged perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1  illustrating in schematic form loading of shotgun shells into a device according to the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 14   b  is a fragmented left side view of the device of  FIG. 14   a.    
           [0029]      FIG. 15   a  is an enlarged perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1  illustrating in schematic form dispensing of a shotgun shell into the hand of a user. 
           [0030]      FIG. 15   b  is a fragmented left side view of the device of  FIG. 15   a.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , a shotgun shell carrying and dispensing device  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention has a housing  12  having a front or face portion  14  and a rear portion  16 . The housing  12  can also be molded as a one piece unit. 
         [0032]    The device  10  also includes a mechanical device generally illustrated as  18  ( FIG. 5 ) so the user can fix the device  10  to an article of clothing such as a belt. Any of the known devices for attaching accessories or tools to the belt or clothing of a user can be adapted for this purpose. Device  10  can also be adapted to be carried by the stock of the shotgun. The device  10  includes a cover  20  on a top or second end  21  of the housing  12  and a thumb or finger grip  22  and receiver  24  on a bottom or first end  26  of the housing  12  to aid the user in dispensing a shell or shells. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  illustrate another embodiment  10 ′ of the device of  FIG. 1  which includes means to identify the number of shotgun shells present in the case. The means of identification includes a plurality of slots or windows  30 ,  32  with numerical indicator  33 , slots  34 ,  36  with numerical indicator  35 , and slots  38 ,  40  with numerical indicator  37 . With the slots or windows, a user will be able to rapidly determine how many shotgun shells have been loaded into the device  10  or dispensed therefrom. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 8  the back of device  10 ′ can be fitted with a myriad of means  41  to attach the device to a user or other apparatus. The means  41  can consist of, for example, threaded receivers  42  which can receive a cover plate (not shown) fastened to the means  41  by suitable screws. The cover plate can be adapted to hold hooks, loops or any other convenient apparatus to fix the device  10 ,  10  to the clothing of the user or the user&#39;s shotgun. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 9   a , the front of housing  12  has been removed to illustrate a key feature of the device. As shown in  FIG. 9   a , a pair of raised ribs or rails  44 ,  46  are formed on a back wall of the housing  12  to add in maintaining the shotgun shells within the housing  12  without jamming, as will be discussed in more detail below. The rails  44 , 46  are angled from the second end  21  to the first end  26  of the device  10  with the rails spreading apart as they are positioned from second end  21  to first end  26 . The interior portions  48 ,  50  proximate the first end  26  of housing  12  taper inwardly to aid in positioning the lowermost shotgun shell for rapid dispensing. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , a plurality of shotgun shells, one of which is illustrated by the numeral  52 , are arrayed generally horizontally (relative to a vertical axis through the long dimension of the housing  12 ) from the first or dispensing end  26  to the cover or second end  21  of housing  12 . As part of the features of the present invention for securely maintaining the position of the shotgun shells inside of the housing  12  by hooks or rounded portions  54 ,  56  formed in the first (discharge or dispensing) end  26  of the housing  12 . The housing  12  includes a follower  58  which is moveable between the first  26  and second  21  ends of the housing  12 . Housing  12  includes a pair of channels  60 ,  62  on opposite inside side walls of the housing  12  as shown in  FIG. 12  where a portion of the front wall of housing  12  is removed and  FIG. 13  where the full housing is shown. Follower  58  contains a pair of constant force springs  64 ,  66  such as part numbers SH4D15 or SH4E15 available from Vulcan Spring of Telford, Pa. A prototype device was constructed using the SH4D15 springs fabricated from Type 301 stainless steel. The springs were selected to provide secure holding of one to any number of the capacity of the shotgun shells inside the housing  12  without fear of the shotgun shells being prematurely ejected, regardless of the orientation of the housing  10 . In other words, the force of the constant force springs is selected to achieve a secure loading resistant to shock, vibration or gravitational forces. 
         [0037]    The constant force springs  64 ,  66  permit the follower  58  to tilt to accommodate shotgun shells positioned at an angle as shown in  FIG. 10 . The follower  58  is shaped so that the constant force springs  64 ,  66  will not contact or jam the follower  58  if it is not longitudinally dispersed, i.e. tilted as shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 . The constant force springs  64 ,  66  are disposed in channels  60 ,  62  respectively, each having a free end ( 63 ,  65 ) respectively fastened to a corresponding side of housing  12  as shown in  FIG. 11 . The free ends  63 ,  65  of constant force springs  64 ,  66  can be fastened by rivets, screws, hooks or any other convenient means. The coiled portion of the constant force springs  64 ,  66  on the follower  58  helps maintain the position of the constant force springs  64 ,  66  in their respective grooves or channels  60 ,  62 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 13   a  and  FIG. 13   b , the shotgun shells  52 ,  55  can be loaded with the rim of each shotgun shell  53  placed on the same side of the housing, the slight angular disposition of the shotgun shells will not cause the shotgun shells to jam or not move down in the housing  12 . 
         [0039]    The shotgun shells can be loaded with the rims left or right relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing  12  or with the shotgun shells loaded alternately left or right without jamming. The shotgun shells are kept in a generally horizontal position in a vertical array as illustrated. Furthermore as illustrated in  FIG. 13   a , shotgun shells of varying lengths or gauges can be loaded at one time. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 9   a , the tapered portions  48 ,  50  of housing  12  position the lowermost shell, (e.g. 55) in a horizontal position for dispensing. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 13   a  and  FIG. 13   b , the rails or vertical projections  44 ,  46  in conjunction with the follower  58  and constant force springs  64 ,  66  maintain the position of the shotgun shells without jamming and permit ready movement of the shells down the device  10  or  10 ′ to the dispensing end  26 . The rails  44 ,  46  are positioned so that the various lengths of shotgun shells of any gauge can be held in the housing as illustrated in  FIG. 13   a  where shotgun shells are of varying lengths are depicted. Users thus can load shells of varying lengths without fear of shotgun shells jamming inside of the housing. 
         [0042]      FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  illustrate the device  10  of  10 ′ having a ridge or thumb holder  22  and recess  24  located to assist the user in extracting shells from the device  10 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 14   a  and  FIG. 14   b  are schematic illustrations of the device of the invention being loaded with shotgun shells. The user&#39;s hand  70  grips each shotgun shell  72  using the thumb  74  and one or more fingers, e.g. index finger  76  and places it inside housing  12  forcing the follower  58  upwardly inside the housing  12 . The constant force springs  64 ,  66  position the first shotgun shell  72  inserted into the housing  12  in a generally horizontal position as shown with the lowermost shotgun shell  55  in  FIG. 13   a . As subsequent shotgun shells are placed into housing  12  the previously loaded shotgun shells and follower are urged upwardly from the end  26  to end  21  of housing  12 . Here again the follower  58  and constant force springs  64 ,  66 , in conjunction with rails  44 ,  46 , maintain the loaded shotgun shells within housing  12 . 
         [0044]    The shotgun shells loaded into the housing  12  of device  10  are firmly held so that they are not prematurely ejected if the housing  12  is oriented with the end  26  pointing downward toward a user&#39;s feet, or at another angle. The device of the invention can be oriented so end  26  is in an upward position for a user to extract shotgun shells. 
         [0045]    A device according to the present invention has been loaded with shotgun shells and a user has carried the device while running, jumping, falling through thick under bush, etc. without having shotgun shells ejected from the device. 
         [0046]      FIG. 15   a  and  FIG. 15   b  are schematic illustrations of the device  10  according to the present invention dispensing a shotgun shell from a previously loaded housing  12  into the hand  70  of the user. The user can rest his thumb  74  on the rib  22  and use one or more of his fingers (e.g. index finger  76 ) to extract a shotgun shell  78  from the housing  12 . As one shotgun shell is extracted, the remaining shotgun shells are urged or move toward end  26  of housing  12  to be ready when needed. Here again the constant force springs  64 ,  66 , follower  58  and rails  44 ,  46  maintain the shotgun shells remaining in the case in position for movement without jamming the remaining shotgun shells inside housing  12 . 
         [0047]    A device according to the present invention is adapted to hold and dispense different gauges of shotgun shells (e.g. 20, 12, 10 gauge). The number of shotgun shells that can be held and dispensed can be varied from 1 to 25 depending upon the length of the housing  12 . 
         [0048]    A device according to the present invention can be fabricated as a solid structure to be weather proof and water proof and to protect the shotgun shells. With few moving parts a case according to the invention will have increased use and durability. 
         [0049]    A device according to the present invention can be used by either a right or left handed shotgun user. 
         [0050]    A device according to the present invention does not require special structure, e.g. grooves on the inside side walls of the case to grip the rim of the shotgun shells in order to maintain the vertical array of the generally horizontally disposed shotgun shells. A device according to the invention has a removable lid for servicing but is loaded and unloaded through the bottom of housing  12 . 
         [0051]    In a preferred embodiment the curved dispensing fingers can be constructed to support half the length of one shotgun shell. The width of the dispensing gap occurring between the top edge of the curved region and the bottom edge of the front wall of the housing is arranged to be large enough for only one shotgun shell to dispense at a time and is positioned so that when the dispenser is not being accessed, the bottom shotgun shell and those above it are held in position. Thus no shotgun shell leaves the device without the upward/outward motion required to dispense the shotgun shells. 
         [0052]    The forgoing description provides illustrative embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention. The description of the embodiments of the invention will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing the invention. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0053]    Having thus described our invention what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is set forth in the appended claims.