Patent Publication Number: US-8112932-B1

Title: Tool for single handed reloading of muzzle loading firearms

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/210,840, filed Mar. 23, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a new and novel reloading tool that includes water resistant containers to store pelletized powder a bullet and a primer, as well as all of the ancillary tools typically used to facilitate the loading or reloading of modern muzzle-loading firearms. It is further the object of this invention to reduce the time required to reload modern muzzle-loading firearms with a tool that is weatherproof and that can be managed and manipulated with one hand. 
     In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment this invention comprises an invention that embodies all of the tools and containers necessary to facilitate the very rapid loading or reloading a modern muzzle-loading firearm with one hand, while the shooter&#39;s other hand secures the firearm. The inventinon includes four distinct tools and two containers that are used in the charging and priming of a modern muzzle-loading firearm, as well as a primer removal tool, which is used in the removal of a spent or unfired primer thus allowing the shooter to reload without ever having to take his hands off of the muzzleloader. This invention dramatically reduces the time necessary to reload a muzzle-loading firearm as well as the amount of time cartridge components are exposed to adverse weather conditions during the reloading process. 
     The components of the invention include a water resistant chamber for containing propellant powder charge pellets and a bullet of various calibers, (hereinafter referred to as cartridges). A second water resistant chamber is provided for protecting a pre-positioned primer. An integrated and extensible primer removal tool, an integrated and extensible primer retaining and insertion tool provide for quick spent primer removal and replacement. An integrated bullet starter and an integrated universal ramrod T-handle adapter extend laterally from the tool. Removable water resistant chamber end caps seal the chambers. A lanyard attached to ends of the caps and to the tool extends around a user&#39;s neck for loss prevention. Several complete multipurpose tools and their caps may be connected to a single lanyard, or an individual lanyard may be used with a single multipurpose tool and its caps. In the latter case, several lanyards and tools may be carried by the user. The replaceable primer tool can be manufactured to accommodate removal, storage and insertion of multiple types of primers. 
     The new tool is loaded with a bullet and power in one storage chamber and a primer in the other chamber. A primer is pushed into the primer placement tool, and a cap is pushed on to close the primer chamber. The tool is inverted, and a bullet is placed in the longer storage chamber, followed by filling the chamber with a predetermined powder load, and that chamber is capped. 
     To load a muzzle loading firearm, the shoulder stock is placed on a level surface and a left handed of a right-handed person grips the barrel near the muzzle. The tool is held vertically in the right hand with the cap at the end of the powder and bullet chamber at the top. That cap is pushed from the chamber using the thumb of the right hand. The cap remains attached to the lanyard. The tool is raised and tipped, and the powder and the bullet are slid through the muzzle into the barrel. The tool is held in the right hand, and the bullet starter with a recessed end pushes the bullet further into the barrel. The bullet starter is pulled out of the barrel, and the tool is released to hang on its lanyard. A ramrod is withdrawn from its parallel holder adjacent the barrel with the right hand, inverted and pushed into the barrel. 
     The right hand again grips the tool and attaches the T-handle adapter on the tool to the end of the ramrod and pushes the bullet and powder home. The tool is released to hang on its lanyard, while the ramrod is pulled from the barrel and slid into its housing parallel to the barrel. 
     The right hand takes the tool and by sliding the primer recess cap with the thumb of the right hand, the cap on the primer end of the tool is removed. Using the thumb, the primer placement tool, which holds a primer, is slid outward from the multipurpose tool and into the primer receiver. 
     The left hand is slid downward along the barrel and lifts the firearm to a horizontal position for access to the primer receiver on the firearm. 
     If the firearm has been discharged previously, the primer removal fork that slides out with the placement tool is first used to remove the spent primer. 
     All of the containers and tools necessary to load or reload a modern muzzle loading firearm are included in the new single device, thus enabling firearm to be loaded or reloaded very quickly with one hand while the shooter&#39;s other hand secures the firearm. The novel elements of the invention reducing the likelihood of dropped or misplaced cartridge components or primers during the loading process. A bullet starter protrudes from the body of the tool. A universal ramrod T-handle is incorporated into the body of the new tool. A water resistant chamber contains the cartridge elements, propellant powder charge pellets and projectiles of various calibers and weights. A second water resistant chamber contains and stages a pre-positioned sealed primer. A replaceable and slideable integrated and extensible primer tool is used to facilitate quick primer removal and/or primer insertion. 
     Lanyard loops attached to the water resistant chamber end caps and to the main body of the tool reduce the potential for loss of the invention or its caps. The lanyard connects the end caps to the central body and is draped around the shooter&#39;s neck for easy access when in the field. 
     This invention is specifically designed for use with modern muzzle-loading firearms that utilize sealed primers and pelletized powder for hunting and for target shooting. 
     The primer is prepositioned in the primer insertion tool and is stored securely in a waterproof enclosure. The primer is as small as a pea and therefore the easiest item to drop or misplace while attempting to reload the rifle. The primer is often difficult to position on other primer tools while wearing gloves, which is not uncommon when hunting. Gloved shooters can easily use the invention to safely handle and reload a muzzle-loading firearm without removing their gloves or taking their hands off of their rifle. Prepositioning the primer on the primer tool and having the primer stored in the same unit is one of the most important elements of this invention because it dramatically reduces the time necessary to reload the rifle. 
     These and further and other objects and features of the invention are apparent in the disclosure, which include the above and ongoing written specification, with the claims and the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  shows a new integrated muzzle loading tool and one of the end caps. 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the new loading and primer removal and replacement tool with the primer tool retracted. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the primer tool. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the main body without the primer tool. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a first device end cap with a lanyard loop. 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a second device end cap with a lanyard loop. 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the invention with water resistant caps in place. 
         FIG. 7  shows a view of quick load hanging from shooter&#39;s neck, with the loader empty. 
         FIG. 8  new replacement primer prepositioned into primer retaining tool. 
         FIG. 9  shows a view of primer inserted and in place. 
         FIG. 10  show the primer tool end cap being replaced. 
         FIG. 11  shows a bullet being inserted in a cartridge storage end. 
         FIG. 12  shows pelletized powder being inserted following bullet into cartridge storage cavity. 
         FIG. 13  shows a view of additional powder being stored for use a desired by shooter. 
         FIG. 14  shows a water tight storage cavity cap being replaced. 
         FIG. 15  shows the tool ready for use with bullet, powder and primer in place. 
         FIG. 16  shows the rifle being reloaded, using thumb to remove cartridge cavity watertight cap. 
         FIG. 17  shows dumped powder and bullet being stored in cavity barrel at muzzle end. 
         FIG. 18  shows the powder charges which fall to the bottom of the barrel, and the bullet sitting on top of barrel. 
         FIG. 19  shows the bullet starter being used to force bullet into the barrel. 
         FIG. 20  shows a view of bullet starter full inserted into the barrel. 
         FIG. 21  shows the ramrod being removed from its stowage. 
         FIG. 22  show the bullet being pushed down into the barrel using the rifle&#39;s ramrod. 
         FIG. 23  shows the use of the Universal T handle to ensure that the bullet is fully seated on top of the powder charge. 
         FIG. 24  shows the repositioning of the rifle to gain access to spent primer in beach end of rifle. 
         FIG. 25  shows the primer storage cavity cover being removed using thumb, exposing replacement primer and primer removal tool. 
         FIG. 26  shows the primer insertion and removal tool being extended with thumb. 
         FIG. 27  shows primer removal tool forks prying out spent primer. 
         FIG. 28  shows spent primer being cleared from primer removal tool forks with thumb. 
         FIG. 29  shows the primer insertion and removal tool fully extended using thumb. 
         FIG. 30  shows new primer being inserted into primer nipple at beach end of rifle. 
         FIG. 31  shows the primer tool being removed from rifle. 
         FIG. 32  shows the rifle ready to fire. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1A-15  of the drawings show a multipurpose reloading tool  1  for use with modern muzzle loading firearms. The tool is constructed of a plastic material. 
       FIG. 1A  shows the tool  1  with a water resistant storage chamber  2  for a bullet and powder. A water resistant storage chamber  4  at the opposite end holds a new primer  6  attached to an extensible primer removal and insertion tool  20 . A solid bullet starter  12  extends radially from the tool  1 . A universal T-handle adapter  14  for a ramrod extends slightly from the tool at an angle to the bullet starter  12 . Friction sealed storage chamber lids  42  and  44  fit on opposite ends of the tool  1  and provide water tight compartments for the powder charge and primer. 
       FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the tool  1  with the primer tool  20  retracted. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the primer tool  20 . The spent primer extractor  22  with an extractor fork  24  is connected by a throat  26  which fits in groove  16  in the primer storage chamber  FIG. 1B   4 . An internal member  30  has an outer curve  35 , which matches the interior  FIG. 1B   5  of the recess  FIG. 1B   4  to hold the primer tool  20  assembled on the tool  1 . A slot  32  in the end of internal member  30  holds the replacement primer. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the main body of tool  1  with the primer tool  20  removed. The slot  16  is shown in the primer storage chamber  4 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a first end cap  42  for the bullet and powder storage chamber  2 . The cap  42  has a lanyard loop  43 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a second end cap  44  with a lanyard loop  45 . The sloped portion  46  of the cap  44  receives the end of the primer removing tool  22  and fork  24  shown in  FIG. 6  and the connecting throat  26  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the tool  1  with the water resistant caps  42  and  44  in place. The tool  1  hangs on a lanyard  50  shown in  FIG. 7 . The lanyard  50  has extensions  52 ,  54  connected through loops  43  and  45  to hold caps  42  and  44 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8-10 , to prepare the invention for use, the user removes end cap  42 , extends the primer insertion tool and inserts a primer  6  into the end slot  32  of the internal primer insertion tool member  30 . The user then retracts the primer insertion tool and replaces cap  44  on the primer storage chamber  4 . The user then removes cap  42  from the bullet and powder storage chamber  2  and inserts a bullet  62 , as shown in  FIG. 11  followed by powder pellets  64  as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , and replaces cap  42  on the end of the storage chamber  2  as shown in  FIG. 14 . The invention is now ready for use. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the filled tool  1  hangs on lanyard  50 , and the caps  42  and  44  are secured by extensions  52  and  54  of the lanyard. 
     To use the device shown in  FIGS. 1A-15 , as shown in  FIG. 16 , while grasping an unloaded muzzle loading firearm  70  with one hand, with the muzzle  72  pointing upward, the shooter grasps the tool  1  with the free hand, with the thumb pointing toward the cartridge container end  2 . Using the thumb as shown in  FIG. 16 , the shooter pushes the water resistant cap  42  off of the cartridge storage chamber  2  and carefully empties the contents of the container  2 , the pelletized powder  64  and the bullet  62 , into the muzzle  72  of the firearm  70  as shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . A properly sized bullet will fit snugly into the muzzle  72 . 
     The shooter then utilizes the tool&#39;s bullet starter appendage  12  to start the bullet  62  into the rifled barrel  74  as shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 . The shooter then releases the tool  1  to hang from its lanyard  52  while he retrieves the rifle&#39;s ramrod  80  a shown in  FIG. 21 . The shooter uses the ramrod  80  to seat the bullet firmly in the barrel on top of the pelletized powder charge as shown in  FIG. 22 . 
     To fully seat the bullet at the bottom of the barrel, the new multipurpose tool  1  includes a universal T-handle adapter  14  that can be positioned on top of the ramrod  80  to distribute the blunt pressure of the ramrod end and assure a proper bullet seat a shown in  FIG. 23 . 
     Once the bullet is firmly seated on top of the powder charge, the shooter withdraws and replaces the ramrod and then repositions the firearm  70  a shown in  FIG. 24  to access and remove the spent primer. As shown in  FIG. 25 , while firmly holding the firearm in one hand the shooter again grasps the tool, this time with his thumb pointing toward the primer-tool end. Using the thumb, the shooter pushes the water resistant cap  44  off of the primer-tool end  4  of the invention. 
     Again using the thumb, as shown in  FIG. 25 , the shooter extends the primer removal and insertion tool  20  sufficiently to expose the primer tool end as shown in  FIG. 26 . Utilizing the top side  22  and fork  24  of the primer tool  20 , the shooter then pries the spent primer from its seat as shown in  FIG. 27 . Once the spent primer is removed, the shooter simply rotates his wrist 180 degrees and inserts the replacement primer  6 , which has been neatly stored in primer retainer insertion side  26  of the primer tool, thus completing the muzzle loader reloading process as shown in  FIGS. 28-32 . 
     One exemplary embodiment of the invention has been shown and described. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     Accordingly, the foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes, modifications, and/or adaptations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, modifications and variations of the invention may be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the following claims.