Abstract:
A thin composite material fabricated specifically to assist in the use of percussion caps as they relate to muzzleloaded firearms.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present Invention relates to a new device and method of installing and removing percussion caps from the nipple of a muzzleloaded firearm. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Frustration with the handling of a percussion cap is wide-spread among most people who use muzzleloaded firearms, due to its small size. In the past, percussion caps have been installed and removed by the use of one&#39;s fingers. There are several tools one can use to install a percussion cap. Although tools may offer some assistance, the problem still exsists with the small size of the percussion cap--measuring about 3/16 of an inch in diameter and about 3/16 of an inch in length. Due to its small size, many percussion caps are lost during the installation and removal from the nipple of the firearm. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principal object of the present Invention is to provide a safe and easy to use devise for installing and removing a percussion cap from the nipple of a muzzleloaded firearm. 
     It also is an object of the present Invention to provide such a device which can be made of simple, inexpensive and recyclable material. 
     The foregoing objects can be accomplished by providing a Tab made of plastic or similar material, with a percussion cap located on each end. The percussion cap then could easily be installed by simply holding the Tab with one&#39;s fingers, inserting the percussion cap on the nipple of the firearm, thus leaving both the percussion cap with Tab on the nipple of the firearm. The firearm could now be discharged. Recharging the firearm could easily be done by placing one&#39;s fingers on the Tab, removing the discharged percussion cap, and installing the next percussion cap located on the opposite end of Tab. Once both percussion caps have been discharged from Tab, the material from which the Tab consisted of could then be recycled. 
     Removing and retaining a charged percussion cap from the nipple of the firearm can easily be done by placing one&#39;s fingers on the Tab, carefully retracting the charged percussion cap. Removal, for example, is necessary when in transit with the firearm. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top perspective of a plan view cap device in accordance with the present Invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an expanded side elevational view of the percussion cap device; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of such device in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged bottom view of the percussion cap device; 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with the corners of the rectangular plastic tab removed; and 
     FIG. 6 is an expanded perspective view of a muzzle loaded firearm and percussion gun device with parts broken away. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in the drawings, the preferred percussion cap device in accordance with the present Invention includes a thin Tab (1) of rectangular shape which preferably is of strong molded plastic material. The Tab 1 has two holes 2, one hole located at either end of Tab. The holes 2 should be made in such a manner as to receive the percussion caps 3 and hold the percussion caps in a secured position. 
     In use, the percussion caps 3 can easily be installed or removed by use of the attached Tab 1. 
     Preferably, the length of the Tab should be about 1 inch (25.4 millimeters). The width of Tab should be about 5/16 of an inch (7.93 millimeters). The wall thickness of about 1/32 of an inch (0.76 millimeters). 
     A commercially available muzzle loaded firearm 10 is shown in FIG. 6. The firearm 10 has a stock 11, a barrel 12, a breech block 13, a nipple 14 and a trigger 15. More of the percussion caps 3 is telescopically received on the free end of the nipple 14. The percussion cap 3, as shown in the drawing figures, extends from both ends of the hole 2 through the tab 1 and is encircled by the tab when the percussion cap is telescopically received on the nipple 14 and ready to fire.