Abstract:
An electrically-ignited muzzle loader is provided having a stock portion, a trigger assembly, and a barrel portion. The trigger assembly is electrically coupled to a spark plug which extends partially into the barrel portion of the gun. Within the stock is a hand cranked magneto for generating an electric charge. The magneto is electrically coupled to capacitor and coil portions to configure the electrical charge so as to cause the spark plug to generate an igniting spark.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a firearm comprising an electrical-generating mechanism to produce a spark to ignite a projectile. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many people still enjoy the use of muzzleloader style fire arms which utilize black powder. Such fire arms utilize the principle of striking flint and steel together to produce a spark which ignites the black power, and propels a projectile forward. As such, when a gun is fired, a small piece of flint is propelled by a spring when the trigger is depressed. The flint then strikes down on a hardened steel face, and produces a spray of sparks. The sparks, with the use of primer powder, then ignites the main charge. Several technological advancements have been achieved to obviate the problems with black powder ordinances and muzzleloader style firearms, but many people enjoy the nostalgia and challenges associated with such firearms. However, as one could imagine, such a mechanical system is not always reliable, and often results in misfires and subsequent missed shots. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which the spark producing process on muzzleloaders firearms can be improved to prevent the problems as described above. 
     Existing art in this field employ electrical ignition systems to combat the above-referenced problem of reliability. While these systems address the reliability issue of the firing mechanism, these systems have problems of their own. These electronic firing systems either require special ammunition or a battery or external supply for electricity, or both. Furthermore, these systems fail to provide a means to access the mechanism for maintenance and servicing. In addition, some of these systems are elaborate and expensive. It is desirous to have a firearm that discharges black powder ordinances, but also utilizes a more reliable method of ignition. It is further desirous for such a firearm to incorporate a device within its internal mechanics to achieve this. It would be beneficial for this device to be readily accessible, removable, and replaceable to accommodate maintenance and servicing due to soot and other particulate deposition from black powder combustion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an electrically-ignited muzzle loader, which provides a muzzleloader-style firearm utilizing an electric means to produce a spark during the firing of the firearm. The device comprises a firearm that discharges black powder ordnance, wherein the firing mechanism comprises of components to produce an electrical charge to ignite the black powder charge. The electrical components further comprises a wind-up-type magneto assembly, a capacitor, a coil, a spark plug, a pair of plates, a cover, and a plurality of electrical wires and connectors. Electric current is produced by the wind-up-type magneto assembly located within a portion of the firearm. The magneto assembly further comprises a shaft, a system of stationary and rotating magnets, and a crank arm. The crank arm serves to allow a user to wind the magneto assembly. The magneto assembly is provided with a cover having an access aperture to allow egress to a shaft portion of the assembly. A circuit is formed by interconnection of the magneto assembly, the capacitor, the trigger mechanism, and the coil via the plurality of electrical wires. The trigger mechanism utilizes a pair of points to conduct the electrical charge to the spark plug. Electrical current from the magneto assembly is stored within the capacitor until the trigger mechanism closes the circuit. Once the circuit is closed, current it directed through the coil and arced across a gap portion of the spark plug. The spark from the plug ignites the black powder. 
     A user pre-loads black powder and necessary ordnance into the bore and chamber portions of the firearm. The crank arm is rotated to charge the capacitor. The trigger is actuated to close the circuit and cause the spark plug to produce a spark, which ignites the black powder. The system neither requires a battery source nor an external electrical supply. The system further comprises of cost-effective parts that are commonly found in the market. The system is provided with access to enable proper maintenance of the device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrically-ignited muzzle loader  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a close-up view of a trigger assembly portion  80  of the electrically-ignited muzzle loader  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a close-up view of a magneto assembly portion  50  of the electrically-ignited muzzle loader  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 4  is an electrical block diagram of the electrically-ignited muzzle loader  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                  10 
                 electrically-ignited muzzle loader 
               
               
                   
                  22 
                 frame 
               
               
                   
                  23  
                 cover bracket 
               
               
                   
                  24  
                 stock 
               
               
                   
                  25  
                 recoil pad 
               
               
                   
                  26  
                 spark plug cover 
               
               
                   
                  30  
                 barrel 
               
               
                   
                  31  
                 chamber 
               
               
                   
                  32  
                 bore 
               
               
                   
                  34a 
                 rear sight 
               
               
                   
                  34b 
                 front sight 
               
               
                   
                  35 
                 ram rod 
               
               
                   
                  36  
                 forestock 
               
               
                   
                  50  
                 magneto assembly 
               
               
                   
                  52a 
                 crank arm 
               
               
                   
                  52b 
                 crank knob 
               
               
                   
                  53 
                 magneto cover 
               
               
                   
                  54a 
                 crank aperture 
               
               
                   
                  54b 
                 crank recess 
               
               
                   
                  54c 
                 knob recess 
               
               
                   
                  55  
                 stock cavity 
               
               
                   
                  56  
                 stationary magnet 
               
               
                   
                  57  
                 shaft 
               
               
                   
                  58  
                 rotating magnet 
               
               
                   
                  60  
                 coil 
               
               
                   
                  62  
                 capacitor 
               
               
                   
                  64  
                 wiring 
               
               
                   
                  66  
                 connector 
               
               
                   
                  80  
                 trigger assembly 
               
               
                   
                  82a 
                 trigger lever 
               
               
                   
                  82b 
                 trigger pivot fastener 
               
               
                   
                  83a 
                 first point 
               
               
                   
                  83b 
                 second point 
               
               
                   
                  84a 
                 spring 
               
               
                   
                  84b 
                 spring anchor eyelet 
               
               
                   
                  86  
                 stationary bracket 
               
               
                   
                  87  
                 trigger guard 
               
               
                   
                  88  
                 safety mechanism 
               
               
                   
                  90  
                 spark plug 
               
               
                   
                  91  
                 terminal 
               
               
                   
                 100 
                 fastener 
               
               
                   
                 102 
                 fastener aperture 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of the described embodiments, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4 . However, the disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only certain configurations have been shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     It can be appreciated that, although such terms as first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one (1) element from another element. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed a second element without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It also will be understood that, as used herein, the term “comprising” or “comprises” is open-ended, and includes one (1) or more stated elements, steps or functions without precluding one (1) or more unstated elements, steps or functions. Relative terms such as “front” or “rear” or “left” or “right” or “top” or “bottom” or “below” or “above” or “upper” or “lower” or “horizontal” or “vertical” may be used herein to describe a relationship of one (1) element, feature or region to another element, feature or region as illustrated in the figures. It should be understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. It should also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. It should also be understood that the sizes and relative orientations of the illustrated elements are not shown to scale, and in some instances they have been exaggerated for purposes of explanation. 
     The present invention describes an electrically-ignited muzzle loader (herein described as the “firearm”)  10 , which provides a muzzleloader-style firearm which utilizes an electric means to produce a spark during the firing of the firearm  10 . The firearm  10  does not utilize a conventional flint and steel striking mechanism, but instead uses a spark plug  90  to ignite previously loaded black powder. Electricity to produce a spark at the spark plug  90  is produced by a wind-up-type magneto assembly  50  located within a stock portion  24  of the firearm  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the firearm  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The firearm  10  comprises expected conventional features including a metal frame  22 , a stock  24  with recoil pad  25 , barrel  30  and bore  32  portions, a rear sight  34   a , a front sight  34   b , a ram rod  35 , and a forestock  36 . However, the firearm  10  also comprises internal portions which produce an electrical charge used to ignite the black powder. 
     The electric power is produced by a wind-up-type magneto assembly  50  located within a stock portion  24  of the firearm  10 . Electrical current produced by the magneto assembly  50  is stored within a capacitor  62 . A coil  60  is then used to boost the charge to a high voltage capable of jumping across a gap portion of the spark plug  90 . A trigger assembly  80  utilizes a pair of points  83   a ,  83   b  to conduct the electrical charge to the spark plug  90  located within a breach end of the chamber  31 . The spark from the spark plug  90  instantaneously ignites the black powder causing the firearm  10  to propel a projectile in a normal manner (see also  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
     The muzzle loaded firearm  10  is envisioned being made of conventional materials used in the manufacturing of firearms such as metal, wood, composite plastic, and the like, and being assembled together using threaded fasteners  100 . 
     Although the firearm  10  is illustrated here in a form of a rifle firearm, it is understood that the teachings of the firearm  10 , particularly the electricity generating and ignition portions, may be incorporated into designs of other muzzle loaded firearms such as, but not limited to: handguns, cannons, and other firearms which utilize a closed breech section, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the firearm  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a close-up view of a magneto assembly portion  50  of the firearm  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The magneto assembly  50  comprises a wind-up-type device comprising conventional stationary magnet  56  and rotating magnet  58  portions. The centrally-located rotating magnet portion  58  further comprises a central shaft portion  57  being pivotingly attached to a crank arm  52   a . The crank arm  52   a  further comprises an integral crank knob  52   b  which provides a means for the user to grasp and wind the magneto assembly  50 . The magnet portions  56 ,  58  of the magneto assembly  50  are located discreetly within a stock cavity  55  within the stock  24  which is concealed by a flush-mounted magneto cover  53  being fastened to the stock  24  via a plurality of fasteners  100  and corresponding fastener apertures  102 . The magneto cover  53  further comprises a crank aperture  54   a  which allows egress of the shaft portion  57  of the magneto assembly  50 . Additionally, the magneto cover  53  comprises partial-depth crank recess  54   b  and knob recess  54   c  features which enable a user to flip the crank arm  52   a  one-hundred eighty degrees (180°) and insert the crank arm  52   a  and crank knob  54   b  portions discreetly within respective crank recess  54   b  and knob recess  54   c  features in a flush manner. 
     A simple circuit is formed by interconnection of the magneto assembly  50 , the capacitor  62 , the trigger assembly  80 , and the coil  60  via a plurality of insulated wires  64  (see  FIG. 4 ). The coil  60  and capacitor  62  portions are also mounted within the stock cavity  55 . Electrical power from the magneto assembly  50  is stored within the capacitor  62  until the trigger assembly  80  closes the circuit (see  FIG. 3 ), thereby allowing said electrical power to subsequently pass through the coil  60  to the spark plug  90 . The coil  60  boosts the voltage of the electrical charge high enough to arc across a gap portion of the spark gap  90 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a close-up view of a trigger assembly portion  80  of the firearm  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The trigger assembly  80  provides a means to close a circuit and thereby release electrical power stored within the capacitor  62  for conduction through the coil  60  and the spark plug  90 . The trigger assembly  80  further comprises a trigger lever  82   a  having an integral first point portion  83   a , and a stationary bracket  86  mounted to the frame  22  having an integral stationary second point portion  83   b . The points  83   a ,  83   b  are in electrical communication with respective capacitor  62  and coil  60  portions via wiring  64 . Activation of the trigger lever  82   a  by the user causes the points  83   a ,  83   b  to contact each other, thereby allowing current to flow through the circuit to the spark plug  90 . The trigger lever  82   a  is pivotingly attached to the frame portion  22  of the firearm  10  via a trigger pivot fastener  82   b  such as a shoulder screw or the like. A lower end portion of the trigger lever  82   a  is biased in a forward direction via a spring  84   a  and a stationary spring anchor eyelet portion  84   b  of the frame  22  to maintain a normally-open condition of the points  83   a ,  83   b . Additionally, the trigger assembly  80  comprises a conventional sliding-cylinder-type safety mechanism  88  being integrated into a trigger guard portion  87  of the trigger assembly  80 . 
     The firearm  10  further comprises a half-cylinder-shaped spark plug cover  26  located above the trigger assembly  80  which provides a removably attachable means to access the spark plug  90  to perform maintenance or replacement tasks as needed. The spark plug cover  26  provides an aesthetic smooth transition between the barrel  30  and the stock  24  portions in a flush manner and is affixed to opposing internal cover bracket portions  23  of the frame  22  via a plurality of fasteners  100  and corresponding fastener apertures  102 . 
     The spark plug  90  is envisioned to be similar to those in motor vehicles and in like manner is threadingly inserted into the breach end of the barrel  30  of the firearm  10  having electrode portions of the spark plug  90  extending into the chamber portion  31  of the barrel  30 . An insulated wire  64  housed within the spark plug cover  26  extends from the coil  60  and is connected to a terminal end portion  91  of the spark plug  90  via a connector  66  being soldered or crimped to the wire  64 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an electrical block diagram of the firearm  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The firearm  10  provides a simple direct current (DC) circuit which conducts electricity generated by the magneto assembly  50  through wiring  64  to the capacitor  62  which stores the electric charge until a user closes the circuit by closing the first  83   a  and second  83   b  points, thereby allowing the capacitor  62  to discharge through the voltage-increasing coil  60 . The high-voltage charge is then conducted to the spark plug  90  to produce a spark to ignite the black powder fuel. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the firearm  10 , it would be utilized as indicated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
     The method of utilizing the firearm  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring the firearm  10 ; proceeding to a safe location suitable for firing the firearm  10 ; setting the safety mechanism  88  to a “safe” position; pre-loading black powder, wadding, and projectile portions into the bore  32  and chamber  31  portions of the barrel  30  in a conventional manner using the ram rod  35 ; flipping the crank arm outwardly one-hundred eighty degrees (180°) to expose the crank knob  52   b ; grasping the crank knob portion  52   b ; rotating the crank arm  52   a  a sufficient number of revolutions to charge the capacitor  62 ; returning the crank arm  52   a  into the crank recess  54   b ; positioning the firearm  10  against a user&#39;s shoulder to assume a shooting posture; sliding the safety mechanism  88  to a “ready” position; aiming the firearm  10  using the rear  34   a  and front  34   b  sights in a normal manner; firing the firearm  10  at an intended target by squeezing the trigger lever  82   a ; causing the points  83   a ,  83   b  to close and cause the spark plug  90  to produce a spark; igniting the black powder to fire the projectile at the target; repeating the firearm loading and firing steps described above for subsequent firing of projectiles from the firearm  10 ; and, benefiting from an easily renewable ignition source and improved ignition reliability of a firearm afforded a user of the present invention  10 . 
     The spark plug  90  and magneto assembly  50  may be accessed and maintained as needed by removing respective spark plug cover  26  and magneto cover  53  portions by removing the respective fasteners  100 . It is envisioned that the spark plug  90  will require periodic cleaning and replacement. Additionally, removal of the spark plug cover  26  and spark plug  90  is envisioned to improve a user&#39;s ability to clean and inspect the barrel  30  using a standard firearm cleaning kit 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.