Patent Publication Number: US-2019195583-A1

Title: Firearm mountable ammunition case catcher

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to firearm accessories, and more particularly to a firearm mounted catcher for catching spent ammunition cases ejected from the firearm. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Various types of rifles and other firearms are configured to eject spent ammunition cases. In automatic and semi-automatic rifles, the cases are ejected automatically after the bullets are fired from the cases. Other types of rifles are configured for manual ejection of cases, such as by throwing a bolt lever or pumping a stock. Ejected cases can scatter around a shooting area and need to be retrieved for reloading or discarding. Ejected cases can also be hot and pose a safety risk. Some firearm mounted catchers for catching and collecting ejected cases are known. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a cartridge case catcher is for catching cartridges ejected from an action of a firearm. The cartridge case catcher includes a mount configured to mount to the firearm. A receptacle has a case compartment sized for carrying cases ejected from the action. The receptacle has a mouth providing access to the case compartment. A pivot connection connects the receptacle to the mount. The pivot connection is configured to permit movement of the receptacle with respect to the mount and firearm about the pivot connection between an operational orientation to receive cases ejected from the firearm action through the mouth into the case compartment and an access orientation in which the mouth of the receptacle is spaced farther away from the action than in the operational orientation to permit access to the action of the firearm. 
     In another aspect, a method is for catching cartridges ejected from an action of a firearm. The method includes mounting a cartridge case catcher on the firearm and firing the firearm. Cases ejected from the action of the firearm are caught in a receptacle of the cartridge case catcher while the receptacle is supported by the firearm and in an operational orientation. Without dismounting the cartridge case catcher from the firearm, the cartridge case catcher is reconfigured to move the receptacle to an access orientation in which the receptacle is supported by the firearm and permits access to a jammed cartridge or stuck case in the action. The jammed cartridge or stuck case in the action is cleared. The cartridge case catcher is reconfigured to move the receptacle back to the operational orientation. 
     In yet another aspect, a cartridge case catcher is for catching cartridges ejected from an action of a firearm. The cartridge case catcher includes a mount and a receptacle supported by the mount. The mount includes a brace and at least first and second fasteners. The first and second fasteners are each configured to secure the brace to the firearm. The brace has a firearm axis that extends generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the firearm when the mount is mounted on the firearm. The first and second fasteners are spaced from each other along the firearm axis. The receptacle has a case compartment sized for carrying cases ejected from the action. The receptacle has a mouth providing access to the case compartment for receipt of cases therein. 
     Other objects and features of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective of a cartridge case catcher; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective of the cartridge case catcher; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevation of the cartridge case catcher mounted on a firearm in an operational orientation; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation similar to  FIG. 3  but showing the cartridge case catcher in an access orientation; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary rear elevation of the cartridge case catcher in the operational orientation; 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  but showing a pivot connection of the cartridge case catcher in section; 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  but showing the mount pivoted about 45 degrees out of the page such that the receptacle is out of the operational orientation; 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7  but showing the pivot connection in section; 
         FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 7  but showing the mount pivoted about 90 degrees out of the page such that the receptacle is in the access orientation; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded fragmentary rear perspective of the cartridge case catcher showing components of the pivot connection; and 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 10  showing details of a pivot connector of the pivot connection. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a firearm mountable ammunition case catcher embodying aspects of the present invention is designated generally by the reference number  10 . As explained in further detail below, the case catcher  10  is configured to be mounted on a firearm F and to catch ammunition cases ejected from an action A of the firearm. For example, the catcher  10  is shown mounted on an AR-15 rifle in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The catcher generally includes a mount  12  for mounting on the firearm F and a receptacle  14  for catching the ejected cases. The receptacle  12  is movable with respect to the mount between an operational orientation (e.g.,  FIGS. 1-3, 5, 6 ) for catching the cases and an access orientation (e.g.,  FIGS. 4, 9 ) in which the receptacle is oriented to permit user access to the action of the firearm without removing the mount from the firearm. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the access orientation could be different than illustrated. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the receptacle  14  includes a support in the form of a frame  16  and a container in the form of a bag  18 . The bag  18  defines a case compartment  18 A ( FIG. 1 ) sized for carrying cases ejected from the action A ( FIG. 4 ). The bag has an opening  18 B ( FIG. 1 ) defining the mouth of the receptacle  14 . The frame  16  supports the bag  18  to maintain the mouth  18 B open and to maintain the case compartment  18 A generally open for receiving cases therein. The frame  16  includes a rectangular mouth portion  16 A to which the bag  18  is secured around the bag opening  18 B. The frame  16  also includes two props  16 B (only one of which is shown in  FIG. 1 ) extending rearward at left and right sides of the mouth portion  16 A for supporting the bag  18 . The right side of the mouth portion  16 A defines a handle  16 C for use in pivoting the receptacle  14 , which will be explained in further detail below. The frame  16  can be made of metal, and the bag  18  can be formed of fabric (e.g., nylon material and/or mesh material). The bag  18  has a zippered bottom opening  18 C that can be selectively opened to empty cases from the case compartment  18 A. Receptacles having other configurations can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, other types of containers can be used in place of the bag  18 , and the frame can have other constructions or be omitted. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 10 , the mount  12  generally includes a brace  20  and two fasteners  22  for mounting to the firearm F. The brace  20  includes a bracket  26  having a generally  FIG. 8  shape and a protective pad  28  on an inner surface of the bracket. The protective pad  28  defines a firearm engagement surface  28 A of the mount  12 . The brace  20  can be made of a suitable material such as metal, and the protective pad  28  can be made of elastomeric material or other suitable material. When the brace  20  is applied to the firearm F, the firearm engagement surface  28 A of the pad  28  directly engages the firearm F (e.g., on a handguard of the firearm as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ), and the fasteners  22  hold the brace  20  in position on the firearm. The brace  20  has a firearm axis FA that extends along a longitudinal axis LA of the firearm F when the brace is mounted on the firearm (see,  FIG. 3 ). In the illustrated embodiment, the firearm axis FA of the brace  20  is the longitudinal axis of the brace. 
     The fasteners  22  are provided in the form of two straps spaced from each other along the length of the brace  20 . The straps  22  each include an upper strap portion  30  and a lower strap portion  32 . The strap portions  30 ,  32  include proximal ends wrapped around respective fastener attachment segments  26 A of the bracket  26  ( FIGS. 5, 10 ) and secured (e.g., stitched at  30 A,  32 A in  FIG. 1 ) to themselves to secure the strap portions to the bracket. The protective pad  28  is held in position with respect to the bracket  26  by threading of the strap portions  30 ,  32  through respective openings  28 A in the pad  28 . Alternatively, the pad  28  could be adhered to or overmolded onto the bracket  26 . The upper strap portions  30  have buckles  30 B at their distal free ends through which distal free ends of the lower strap portions  32  are threaded to mount onto a firearm. The lower strap portions  32  have hook material on one surface (e.g., indicated at  32 B in  FIG. 2 ) and loop material on an opposite surface (e.g., indicated at  32 C in  FIG. 2 ). When the lower strap portions  32  are threaded through the buckles  30 B, the lower strap portions can be pulled through the buckles and folded over themselves to cinch the straps  22  around the firearm F. The straps  22  can be independently adjusted (cinched different amounts) to conform to respective portions of the firearm F over which the straps  22  are wrapped. The straps  22  can be releasably secured in their cinched configurations by applying the hook material  32 B against the loop material  32 C. 
     It will be appreciated that providing multiple fasteners  22  and spacing the fasteners along the firearm axis FA of the brace  20  provides several benefits. For example, the multiple fasteners  22  securely hold the brace on the firearm to prevent the cantilevered receptacle from sagging. The weight of the receptacle  12  applies a force on the brace tending to cause the receptacle to sag when the catcher  10  is mounted on the firearm F. The tendency to sag is increased when several cases are held in the receptacle  12  and thus add weight. In other words, the weight of the receptacle  12  and cases tends to cause the firearm axis FA of the brace  20  to rotate out of its generally parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis LA of the firearm F. If one fastener were provided for securing the brace to the firearm F, the brace may pivot about the fastener, permitting the receptacle to sag. With the two fasteners  22 , the brace is substantially prevented from pivoting about either of the fasteners and thus prevents receptacle sag. Desirably, the material of the pad  28  (e.g., resiliently compressible material) is selected to provide high friction against the firearm and assists the multiple fasteners  22  in preventing receptacle sag. The multiple fasteners  22  also securely support the brace  20  against movement when a user is moving the receptacle  12  between the operational and access positions. 
     Other types of mounts can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, other types of braces and fasteners (e.g., other types of straps, clamps, firearm connectors, etc.) can be used. Moreover, other numbers of fasteners, such as one, three, four, etc. can be used. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5, 6, and 10 , the catcher  10  includes a pivot connection  40  joining the receptacle  14  to the mount  12 . The receptacle  14  is pivotable with respect to the mount  12  about the pivot connection between the operational orientation and the access orientation. As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the receptacle  14  is in the operational orientation, and the catcher  10  is suitably mounted on a firearm F, the mouth  18 B faces and overlies the action A of the firearm for receiving ejected ammunition cases into the case compartment  18 A. In the operational orientation, the mouth  18 B is generally parallel with the brace  20  such that the mouth extends generally parallel with the firearm axis FA of the brace. The receptacle  14  is movable to the access orientation by pivoting the receptacle in a direction away from the firearm action A. The straps  22  spaced along the length of the brace  20  assist in maintaining the brace securely on the firearm as the receptacle is pivoted. As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the receptacle  14  is in the access orientation, the receptacle is still supported by the firearm F but is spaced farther from the action A of the firearm F to permit the user to access the action without dismounting the catcher  10  from the firearm or disconnecting the receptacle  14  from the mount  12 . For example, the user may need to access the action A to clear a jammed cartridge or stuck case. The movability of the receptacle  14  makes accessing the action A more convenient and less time consuming than if the mount  12  were required to be removed from and then remounted on the firearm. In the access orientation, the mouth  18 B extends outward from the firearm F and transverse to the firearm axis FA of the mount  12 . Although the mouth  18 B is shown at a 90 degree angle with respect to the firearm axis FA in the illustrated access orientation, other transverse relationships (e.g., other angles) may be used without departing form the scope of the present invention. The user can move the receptacle  14  back to the operational orientation by pivoting the receptacle toward the action A. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 10 , the pivot connection  40  includes a first pivot connector  50  secured to the mount  12  (e.g., welded to the brace  20 ) and a second pivot connector  52  secured to the receptacle  14  (e.g., welded to the frame  16 ). The pivot connection  40  also includes a fastener  54  and a coil spring  56 . The components of the pivot connection  40  can be formed of metal or another suitable material. The fastener  54  secures the first pivot connector  50  to the second pivot connector  52 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot connectors  50 ,  52  are generally cylindrical fittings, and the fastener  54  is a bolt having a head  54 A and a threaded shaft  54 B. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the bolt  54  is received in a smooth bore  50 A of the first pivot connector  50  and is threaded into a threaded bore  52 A of the second connector  52 . The bolt  54  defines a pivot axis PA of the pivot connection  40  about which the receptacle  14  is pivotable with respect to the mount  12 . Still referring to  FIG. 6 , the bolt shaft  54 B extends through the center of the spring  56 , and the head  54 A of the bolt compresses the spring against a shoulder  50 B in the bore  50 A of the first pivot connector  50 . The arrangement is such that the spring  56  biases a lower face  50 F ( FIG. 10 ) of the first pivot connector  50  against an upper face  52 F ( FIGS. 10, 11 ) of the second pivot connector  52 . 
     The faces  50 F,  52 F of the first and second pivot connectors  50 ,  52  are configured to act in conjunction with the fastener  54  and spring  56  to provide a detent arrangement to releasably retain the receptacle  14  in the operational orientation and releasably retain the receptacle in the access orientation. The upper face  52 F of the second pivot connector  52  is shown in detail in  FIG. 11 , and it will be understood that the lower face  50 F of the first pivot connector  50  has essentially the same construction. The faces  50 F,  52 F each include a plurality of lugs  60  and recesses  62  between the lugs. The lugs  60  can be referred to broadly as retainers or detents. When the lugs  60  are received in the recesses  62 , the lugs resist rotation of the receptacle  14  with respect to the mount  12  about the pivot axis PA. The spring  56  biases the faces  50 F,  52 F into engagement with one another such that the lugs  60  are biased into the recesses  62 . As shown by comparison of  FIGS. 5 and 6  to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , application of sufficient force to the receptacle  14  (e.g., at the handle  16 C) tending to pivot the receptacle about the pivot axis PA causes the lugs  60  to ramp out of the recesses  62  against the bias of the spring  56  and thus permit rotation of the receptacle  14  from the operational or access orientation to the other of the operational and access orientation. As shown by comparison of  FIGS. 6 and 8 , ramping of the lugs  60  out of the recesses  62  causes the spring  56  to compress. More specifically, the receptacle pivot connector  52  moves downward relative to the mount pivot connector  50  such that the spring  56  is compressed between the bolt head  54 A and the shoulder  50 B of the mount pivot connector  50 , thus decreasing the length of the spring. Accordingly, the detent arrangement is releasable by application of force to the receptacle  14  tending to pivot the receptacle in a direction toward the desired new orientation. As the receptacle  14  is pivoted to reach the operational or access orientation, the lugs  60  of the first and second pivot connectors  50 ,  52  “snap” into the recesses  62  under the bias of the spring  56  to releasably maintain the receptacle in that orientation. The fitment of the lugs  60  in the recesses  62  predetermines the operational and access orientations of the receptacle with respect to the mount. When the lugs  60  are received in the recesses  62 , the lugs may be said to be in retaining positions, and when the lugs are out of the recesses, the detents may be said to be in non-retaining positions. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the lugs  60  on the upper face  52 F of the receptacle pivot connector  52  each have an inner side  60 A facing the threaded bore  52 A of the connector  52  (facing the pivot axis PA) and an outer side  60 B facing away from the threaded bore. It will be appreciated that the lugs  60  of the lower face  50 F of the mount pivot connector  50  have a similar construction. Each lug  60  has a first intermediate surface  60 C that extends between the inner and outer sides  60 A,  60 B of the lug  60  and also defines a portion of an adjacent recess  62 . Each lug  60  has a second intermediate surface  60 D opposite the first intermediate surface  60 C that extends between the inner and outer sides  60 A,  60 B and defines a portion of an opposite adjacent recess  62 . The lug intermediate surfaces  60 C,  60 D are ramped and extend in directions radially outward from the pivot axis PA. The arrangement is such that the ramped intermediate surfaces  60 C,  60 D of the lugs  60  of the first and second pivot connectors  50 ,  52  engage each other conformally to facilitate the automatic withdrawal of the lugs  60  from the recesses  62  responsive to application of force on the receptacle  14  tending to pivot it about the pivot axis. 
     It will be appreciated that other arrangements permitting movement of the receptacle between the operational and access orientations can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, other types of connections and/or additional connections (pivot connections, slide connections, etc.) can be used. A pivot connection could permit pivoting about more than a single pivot axis to move the receptacle. Other configurations can also be used to releasably retain the receptacle in the operational or access orientations. For example, fewer retainers or detents (e.g., one) may be provided, and the retainer or detent may not automatically be released by application of force tending to pivot the receptacle toward the next desired orientation. Moreover, retainers having other configurations and/or mounted elsewhere than on a pivot connector can be used. Other types of springs can be used, and the spring can be omitted or provided as an integrated component of another part of the pivot connection. 
     In a method of using the catcher, the mount  12  may be secured to the firearm F as shown in  FIG. 3  such that the mouth  18 B of the receptacle  14  overlies the action A or case ejection port of the firearm F when the receptacle is in the operational orientation. The firearm F can be fired several times, and cases can be ejected into the receptacle  14 . If a jam occurs in the action A, or the user otherwise needs to access the action, the user can pull the handle  16 C away from the firearm F to pivot the receptacle  14  to the access orientation such as shown in  FIG. 4 . When the user desires to continue shooting, the receptacle  14  can be moved back to the operational orientation by applying force to the receptacle tending to pivot it in that direction. The detent arrangement of the pivot connection  40  releasably maintains the receptacle  14  in the operational and access orientations. 
     It will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. 
     As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.