Abstract:
A packaging system for a single ammunition includes a cylindrical metal container and a cap therefore. A locking mechanism locks the cap to the top end of the container and a guiding mechanism guides the cap onto the top end of the container before the locking mechanism is locked to assure proper alignment. A plurality of impact rings are located laterally about the container and the cap to provide impact protection therefore. A stacking mechanism for each container allows a plurality of the containers to be securely stacked adjacent one another. The stacking mechanism includes a first top member and a second top member located adjacent the top ring and located 180° from one another about the cap such that the first top member of one cap interlocks with the second top member of an adjacent cap, and a similar arrangement on the bottom ring of the container.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of provisional application 60/319,959, filed Feb. 20, 2003, the entire file wrapper contents of which provisional application are herein incorporated by reference as though fully set forth at length. 

   FEDERAL RESEARCH STATEMENT 
   The inventions described herein may be manufactured, used and licensed by or for the U.S. Government for U.S. Government purposes. 
   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   The present packaging system for 120 mm mortar tactical rounds consists of two fiber tubes in an overpacked metal container. In order to unpack the rounds, the user has to unpalletize the metal container, remove the fiber tubes and load the fiber tubes in a mortar carrier rack. The total weight of the packaging materials is 35 lb., with the metal container weighing 23 lb. and each fiber tube weighing 6 lb. Thus, the current packaging system requires two people to carry it even a short distance. This current packaging system is thus very heavy, bulky and has three layers, so that it is undesirable in terms of weight and ease of handling. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, a packaging system for a single ammunition is provided which includes a generally cylindrical container made of metal having an open top end and a closed bottom end. A cap closes and seals the top end of the container, and a locking mechanism locks the cap to the top end of the container. A guiding mechanism is used to guide the cap onto the top end of the container before the locking mechanism is locked so that the locking mechanism is properly aligned for locking. A plurality of impact rings are located about the container and the cap. These rings extends laterally beyond the container and the cap to provide impact protection for the container and the cap. The plurality of rings include a container bottom ring adjacent the bottom end of the container and a cap top ring adjacent the cap. A stacking mechanism is also provided on each container whereby a plurality of the containers are securely stacked adjacent one another. This stacking mechanism includes (a) a first top member and a second top member located adjacent the top ring of the cap and located 180° from one another about the cap such that the first top member of one cap interlocks with the second top member of an adjacent cap, and (b) a first bottom member and a second bottom member located adjacent the bottom end of the container and located 180° from one another about the container such that the first bottom member of one the container interlocks with the second bottom member of an adjacent the container. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the packaging system further includes a handle attached to the cylindrical container which fits laterally within a longitudinal profile of the impact rings, and a removable and adjustable shoulder strap which attaches to the container bottom ring and the cap top ring. In addition, a coating of fire-retardant paint is provided on the cylindrical container and the cap. 
   In the preferred embodiment, the first top member and the first bottom member include male segments, and the second top member and the second bottom member include female segments in which associated male segments are received to interlock adjacent containers. More preferably, the male segments are plugs which extend laterally from the cap top ring and the container bottom ring respectively, and the female segments are lateral holes in the cap top ring and the container bottom ring respectively in which associated plugs are received to interlock adjacent containers. 
   Also in the preferred embodiment, there are at least four of the impact rings, which are rounded octagonal shaped rings. In addition, the cap top ring extends longitudinally to a longitudinal end of the cap to help protect the cap longitudinally, and the container bottom ring extends longitudinally to a longitudinal end of the bottom end of the container to help protect the bottom end longitudinally. 
   Further in the preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism includes a tamper evident member. In addition, the locking mechanism pulls the cap longitudinally into the guiding mechanism during an initial locking movement of the locking mechanism. 
   It is an advantage of the present invention that the packaging system for a 120 mm mortar round can be carried by a single person. 
   It is also an advantage of the present invention that a handle and/or a shoulder strap is provided to make it easier to carry the packaging system for short distances. 
   It is a further advantage of the present invention that the packaging system provides environmental protection equal to or better than the present packaging system. 
   It is yet another advantage of the present invention that the reduced weight thereof allows for an increase in the number of rounds which can be carried by each standard pallet. 
   It is still another advantage of the present invention that it provides a stable side-by-side set up. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention are stated in or apparent from detailed descriptions of presently preferred embodiments of the invention found hereinbelow. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a packaging system for ammunition in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the packaging system depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the portion of the packaging system circled in  FIG. 2  and identified with the number  3 . 
       FIG. 4  is a top end view of the upper impact ring as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an interlocking of two packaging systems in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the portion of the guiding system circled in  FIG. 1  and identified with the number  6 . 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the portion of the container taken along section line  7 — 7  in  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   With reference now to the drawings in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the views, a packaging system  10  for a single ammunition  12  (shown only in a chained line in  FIG. 2 ) such as a 120 mm mortar tactical round is depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Packaging system broadly includes two parts, a generally cylindrical container  14  and a cap  16  therefore both of which are preferably made of a suitable strong and weldable metal. The overall weight of packaging system  10 , where packaging system is about 30 inches long and 5.4 inches wide, is about 9 pounds. 
   Container  14  includes an open top end  18  and a closed bottom end  20 . It will be appreciated that ammunition  12  is securely loaded in container  14  as known in the art by use of a nose support  22  which keeps the nose of ammunition  12  spaced from closed bottom end  20 . In addition, a corrugated liner  24  as best shown in  FIG. 7  is also used to keep ammunition  12  spaced from the side wall of container  14 . 
   Suitably welded to container  14  are a plurality of impact rings, namely a bottom ring  26 , a middle ring  28  and upper ring  30 . Rings  26 ,  28  and  30  are preferably rounded octagonal shaped as shown best by upper ring  30  in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , rings  26 ,  28  and  30  each extend laterally beyond container  14  to provide impact protection for container  14  (and more importantly for ammunition  12 ). As particularly shown in  FIG. 2 , bottom ring  26  extends longitudinally to the longitudinal end of container  14  formed by end plate  32  welded thereat. Rings  26 ,  28 , and  30  are formed from steel and are designed to absorb any impact during accidental drops of packaging system  10  or the like and thus to protect ammunition  12  from being damaged. The octagonal shape of rings  26 ,  28  and  30  increases the surface area of impact, and thus serves to reduce the overall shock of an impact. Obviously, bottom ring  26  is the more likely to be impacted during an accidental drop, as it protects packaging system  10  both laterally (together with rings  28  and  30 ) as well as longitudinally at closed bottom end  20 . 
   Cap  16  closes and seals the open top end  18  of container  14 , and in this preferred embodiment cap  16  includes a cylindrical section  34 . Cylindrical section  34  matches container  14 , and cylindrical section  34  includes an open bottom end  36  and a closed top end  38 . Top end  38  is closed by an end plate  40  welded thereat. Located at closed top end  38  is a cap top ring  42 . Top ring  42  also serves as an impact ring just like bottom ring  26 , and thus top ring  42  is essentially identical to bottom ring  26  but reversed in longitudinal direction to extend longitudinally to the longitudinal end of cap  16  formed by end plate  40 . Located interiorly of end plate  42  is an end liner  44  which prevents the tail end of ammunition  12  from contacting end plate  40  directly. 
   In order to properly align open bottom end  36  of cap  16  with open top end  18  of container  14  when closing packaging system  10 , a guiding mechanism  50  is provided as best shown in  FIG. 6 . Guiding mechanism  50  in this preferred embodiment is a pair of top opening notches  52  (only one of which is shown, the other being located 180° therefrom) provided in upper ring  30  and a suitably positioned mating pair of plugs  54  extending laterally from bottom end  36  of cap  16  which are received in respective notches  52  when cap  16  is properly positioned on container  14 . The use of guiding mechanism  50  provides for an easy and quick assembly of cap  16  to container  14  with no positioning error. 
   In order to lock cap  16  onto container  14 , a locking mechanism  60  is used. Locking mechanism  60  is preferably a toggle latch  62  or the like well known in the art, which is further preferably an over-center type so that once latch  62  is closed latch  62  is biased to stay in the closed position. Toggle latch  62  is substantially contained within the profile of upper ring  30  as shown in  FIG. 4  so that stacking of a plurality of adjacent packaging systems  10  can be easily effected (as discussed in detail subsequently). While not shown in detail due to the notoriously old nature of such toggle latches, it will be appreciated that latch  62  includes a lever portion having a movable V (or U) shaped claw, which lever portion is attached to upper ring  30 , and a hook is provided on cylindrical section  34  of cap  16  which the claw engages or hooks on. 
   Conveniently, as shown in  FIG. 4 , latch  62  also includes a tamper evident member  64  such that after an initial locking of toggle latch  62  it will be evident if toggle latch  62  has been opened and hence if cap  16  has been previously removed. As is well known in the art, tamper evident member  64  is typically a looped wire which is suitably sealed after passing through some hole portion of latch  62 . It will also be appreciated that the use of toggle latch  62  causes cap  16  to be pulled longitudinally to effect the guiding function of guiding mechanism  50  during an initial locking of latch  62  so long as notches  52  and plugs  54  are more or less aligned, but if not aligned toggle latch  62  can not close. 
   Except for the joint between cap  16  and container  14 , cap  16  and container  14  also protect ammunition  12  from the environment as container  14  and cap  16  are otherwise air water impervious. Thus, in order to completely seal packaging system  10  against air, water and the like, a seal  70  as best shown in  FIG. 3  is provided between open top end  18  of container  14  and open bottom end  36  of cap  16 . Seal  70  is preferably neoprene or the like, and seal  70  is adhesively attached to upper ring  30  by an adhesive (not shown) located between seal  70  and the small portion of container  14  extending up inside of upper ring  30  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Mounted adjacent open bottom end of cap  16  as by welding is a flange  72 , so that flange  72  compresses seal  70  to effect the seal when toggle latch  62  is closed to secure cap  16  to container  14 . 
   Packaging system  10  also includes a stacking mechanism  80  so that a plurality of packaging systems  10  can be securely or stably stacked adjacent one another (side-by-side) in a suitably sized pallet or the like, and this stability exists during the palletization process as well and makes transport easier. Thus, another reason that impact rings  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  42  are identically octagonal shaped and symmetrically positioned is to allow and to promote such a stacking ability of systems  10 . In addition, to better secure each system  10  in the stacked position, stacking mechanism  80  includes a first top member  82 . It will be appreciated that in  FIG. 5  exemplary portions of two top rings  42 A and  42 B of two adjacent packaging systems  10  are shown to illustrate stacking mechanism  80 . Preferably, first top member  82  includes a male segment extending laterally away from top ring  42 A, and in this preferred embodiment first top member  82  is a simple polyethylene plug  84  or the like. Conveniently, plug  84  is shaped to be resiliently positioned and then trapped in an aperture provided in top ring  42 A as shown in  FIG. 5 . Provided 180° around from first top member  82  is a second top member  88 , which in  FIG. 5  is depicted on an adjacent top ring  42 B. Preferably, second top member  88  includes a female segment extending laterally towards top ring  42 B for receipt of the male segment of top ring  42 A, and in this preferred embodiment second top member  88  is a simple lateral hole  90  in top ring  42 B sized to receive a portion of plug  84  extending from top ring  42 A as shown. 
   Similarly, stacking mechanism  80  includes a first bottom member  92  and a second bottom member  94  located in bottom ring  26 . As members  92  and  94  are otherwise identical to members  82  and  88  in form and function, members  92  and  94  will not be further discussed. By use of stacking mechanism  80 , each packaging system  10  within a stack is thus interconnected with two adjacent packaging systems in order to provide a relatively secure stack of packaging systems  10 . 
   As packaging system  10  is designed for only a single ammunition  12 , which while quite heavy can be carried for short distances by a user, packaging system  10  also includes a handle  100  attached to container  14  near the mid-weight point of loaded packaging system  10 . Handle  100  is preferably a simple hand strap or the like in order to fit within the profile of rings  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  42  and thus not to interfere with the stacking of packaging systems  10  as described above. In addition, packaging system  10  also includes an adjustable shoulder strap  102  which is clipped or otherwise releasably attached to bottom ring  26  and top ring  42  of packaging system  10  (as well known in the art). Shoulder strap  102  is intended to be used in place of handle  100  at the user&#39;s preference. As shoulder strap  102  does not fit within the profile of rings  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  42 , shoulder strap  102  is provided separately and attached to rings  26  and  42  as/when needed. 
   As an aid to removing cap  16  from container  14  when packing or unpacking is desired, a removable cap handle  104  can be provided which is similarly attached to cap  16  (on both sides) as shoulder strap  102  is attached. 
   In order to better protect ammunition  12 , packaging system  10  also includes a fire-retardant coating  110  as shown schematically in  FIG. 7 . Coating  110  is applied all over container  14  and cap  16  and serves to reduce the spreading of any flame and to enhance resistance to unplanned stimuli. 
   While packaging system  10  has been depicted with four impact rings, it will be appreciated that a minimum of three impact rings could be used or more than four impact rings could be used as desired and for particular applications (such as shorter or longer packaging systems, and/or lighter or heavier ammunition). 
   Thus, while the present invention has been described with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that other variations and modifications can be effected within the scope and spirit of the invention.