Abstract:
A gun barrel cleaning shell uses a pressurized cartridge alone or within a shell casing to propel cleaning material through the bore of the firearm. Inside the cartridge is a strike pin that when the firing pin of the firearm is actuated will cause the strike pin to puncture a rupturable end of the cartridge to release the compressed fluids therein to force the cleaning material toward and through the barrel of the firearm.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/165,382, filed Nov. 12, 1999, entitled “Gun Barrel Cleaning Shell” 
    
    
     SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of apparatus for cleaning firearms, such as shotguns, rifles, and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     After use, the bore or barrel of a firearm typically contains burnt powder, residue and foreign materials. Such residue and materials have been known to attract moisture during or after use which can collect and corrode the barrel, if not cleaned within a reasonable time after use. Removal of these contaminants and the lubrication thereof is required to prevent corrosion and ultimate damage to the bore, and to maintain the firearm for it&#39;s intended use. 
     Historically, cleaning of the firearm has been done manually using a long multi-part cleaning rod having a handle at one end and means at the other end to hold cleaning materials such as removable solvent, and/or lubricating cleaning pads, patches, and wire brushes. Not only is this time consuming process with the cleaning equipment located elsewhere, usually at home or a shop, but many users put off, or forget the job, sometimes too late to prevent damage to expensive firearms. 
     Others have proposed propelling special projectiles through the bore of firearms. Many of these have proposed the use of a primer as the explosive force, which in and of itself will leave unwanted residue. Still others have proposed the use of common CO 2  cartridges which are punctured by a variety of complex devices to accomplish the propelling force. Such prior art has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,495,008; 3,209,690; 3,740,883; 4,328,632; 4,843,750; 4,998,368; 5,341,744; 5,421,263; and 5,777,258. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a quick and efficient means of removing contaminants and protecting the bore or barrel of a firearm. 
     A primary object is to provide an improved power cartridge having an actuating or firing mechanism that simplifies the cleaning and maintenance of firearms. 
     Another object is to provide a device that will clean and protect the firearm barrel surface which device is small in size, safe to use, and easily carried, unobtrusively, by the user with other firearm accessories. The device can be carried with the hunter or target shooter and used in the field at any time. 
     Another object is to provide a device for cleaning and protecting the bore of a firearm that is comprised of a single, non-ignitable explosive shell-like casing that can be loaded into the shell chamber and discharged by the action of the firing pin to propel all of the necessary implements for cleaning and applying protective materials,to the bore of a firearm such as a shotgun or rifle. 
     Another object is to provide a firearm cleaning device that can be used and rearmed and reused for a variety of different types of firearms, such as shotguns, rifles, pistols and revolvers. 
     A yet further object of the invention is to provide a new form of puncturable pressurized gas, e.g., CO 2 , cartridge. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a puncturable gas cartridge that is particularly designed for use with a firearm cleaning shell that can be positioned within the firing chamber, and fired by the firing pin. 
     Additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a gun barrel cleaning device for a firearm having a shell chamber and a firing pin, as shown in the aforementioned prior art. The device comprises a cylindrical casing for seating within the shell chamber with the rearward end of the casing contiguous to the firing pin. Within the casing is a compressed gas cartridge sealed within the casing with its rearward end adjacent the inside rearward end of the casing. 
     The improved cartridge, at its forward end, is constructed of a rupturable wall portion. Within the cartridge, there is an axially moveable strike pin. The forward end of the pin abuts or is abuttable against the rupturable portion of the cartridge. The rearward end of the strike pin is axially supported so as to abut the rearward end of the casing so as to be moved by the action of the firing pin causing the forward end of the strike pin to rupture the forward end of the cartridge and permit the release of compressed fluid. 
     A projectile of barrel cleaning material is positioned withing the casing forward of the cartridge so as to be propelled through the firearm barrel upon the release of the compressed fluid. 
     Although preferably the compressed fluid is a nonflammble, non-corrosive gas, e.g., CO 2  or N 2 , the cartridge could contain a mixture of a propellant gas and liquid. The liquid being a material that functions to also clean, treat, and lubricate the barrel. 
     The projectile cleaning material can be a wad of material that wipes the inner surface of the barrel to loosen, clean and wipe any residual dirt, burnt powder residue, moisture, or other debris which is carried through the bore and out the open end of the barrel. Materials include random woven organic or synthetic fibers which are larger, usually compressed yet having resiliency and strength to sweep through the diameter of the bore in which it is to be used. Nylon, polyesters, fiberglass, graphite, and those materials described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,883 and other prior art are inclusive of this invention. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one form of firearm bore cleaning device of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a compressed air or CO 2  cartridge powered cylinder for use with this invention. 
     FIG. 3A is a sectional view of the cartridge strike pin guide. 
     FIG. 3B is a front view of the guide of FIG.  3 A. 
     FIG. 4A is a side view of the cartridge strike and rupturing pin. 
     FIG. 4B is an end view of the cartridge strike and rupturing pin. 
     FIG. 5A is a sectional view of one form of firearm bore cleaning device of this invention as assembled. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of a power cylinder and cleaning material. 
     FIGS. 7-9 represent other forms of power cylinders for use in this invention. 
     FIG. 10 is an assembly view, in partial cross section, of another embodiment similar to that shown in FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the parts that make up the embodiment of FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made to FIGS. 1-5 where like numerals refer to like parts in all the views. In this embodiment, the cylindrical outer shell casing  10  is a regular shotgun shell or casing as commercially found for loading conventional shells. Of course, the casing and its assembly per this invention may be specially manufactured for use with this invention. Positioned within the casing  10  is a metal power cylinder  20  containing compressed fluids, including CO 2 , or compressed gas, and/or liquids in combination therewith. The cartridge  20  comprises a rearward end cap  26  and a forward nozzle portion  24 . The rearward end  26  is sealed and is of diameter so as to fit within the opening  21  of the end cap  22 . In some instances this is the place within the casing where a normal shotgun shell primer is located. The forward end of the cartridge  20  is sealed by a rupturable closure  28 . This closure may be of a thinner wall of the metal cartridge  20 . Contained within the cartridge  20  is a axially movable strike pin  30  that extends across the length of the cartridge. The strike pin  30  is axially supported by a guide bushing  32 , which may be of metal or resilient material (See FIG.  5 ), that abuts against the sealed firing end cap  22 . The forward end of the strike pin  36 , which may be pointed or sharpened, is abutting, or abuttable, against the rupturable closure  28 . 
     Forward of the cartridge  20  is a combination of a compressed wad material  40 , that acts like a piston when propelled forward in use. Forward of the wad material  40  is a mat of fibrous cleaning material  42 . This combination is not to be limiting to the invention, as a variety of propelled cleaning materials and objects as known in the prior art are within the scope of this invention. 
     FIG. 6 represents an alternate embodiment wherein a power cartridge  50  is combined with a piston of cleaning material piston  51 , which assembly, essentially becomes the ‘shell’, without the usual casing  10 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, to be positioned within the firearm&#39;s firing chamber. This embodiment can also be used within a casing  10 . The rearward end  52  of the ‘shell’ is placed adjacent the firearm&#39;s firing pin, not shown, but well known in the art. A forward nozzle end  54  includes a rupturable closure  56 . A strike pin  58  is axially supported within the cartridge from the rearward end  52  to the forward end  54  against the rupturable closure  56 . 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 represent a variety of modified power cartridge shapes for use with the invention, but still using the heretofore described elements. 
     FIG. 9 is yet another form of cartridge having metal cartridge  60 , with a rearwardly sealed end  62  and internal strike pin  64 . The strike pin  64  is axially supported by guide bushing  66  at the rearward end. The forward end  68  of the strike pin  64  is sharpened so as to rupture the forward end  70  of the cartridge when actuated by movement of the firearm&#39;s firing pin. 
     FIG. 10, and the exploded view of FIG. 11, is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 9 with like numbers used for like parts. In this embodiment the strike pin  74  is pointed so as to effect rupture of the end  70 . 
     The rupturable end  70  is, for example, of a thickness in the center of about 0.011″ or less, or at least sufficient to contain compressed fluids of at least 250 psi. 
     The power cartridges of this invention will sufficient compressed gases, usually CO 2 , to fire the wad and/or cleaning materials through and out the bore of the firearm where they quickly lose power once the cleaning materials leave the bore. It is apparent to the man skilled in the art that the amount of compressed energy will vary with the size of the gun barrel and the characteristics of the cleaning materials to be propelled through the barrel. For example, with a standard 12 gage shotgun the amount of compressed gases will be within the range of 50 to 1250 psi. 
     Although, the cleaning materials shown in these views comprise the wad  40  and open or random woven or matted fibrous material  42 , this is not to be limiting to the invention. Other forms and combinations of cleaning materials are inclusive of this invention. This includes, but is not limited to pads, patches, metallic scraping devices, lubricants, and rust inhibitors. Those cleaning and lubricating materials described in the prior art patents are incorporated herein by reference. 
     In use, the assembly described herein is positioned in the shell chamber of the gun. The firing pin of the gun is activated by it&#39;s own trigger mechanism to strike the rearward end  22 , of the power cartridge  20  (end  52  and cartridge  50  of FIG.  6 ). See also end  62  of cartridge  60  in FIGS. 9-11. That action causes a slight forward movement of the strike pin  30  sufficient to rupture the forward closure  28  as shown in FIG. 5, or strike pin  58  and forward closure  56  of FIG. 6, or strike pin  64  and forward closure  70  of FIG. 9, or strike pin  74  and forward closure  70  of FIGS. 10 and 11. With rupture of the cartridge, compressed fluids are released forwardly. The propellant strikes the wad  40  ( 51  of FIG.  6 ), moving it, and cleaning materials  42  forward out of the shell casing into and through the bore of the gun. As the wad and cleaning materials pass through the barrel, the scraping and cleaning action loosens the residual powder and carries it out the end of the barrel. As with any firearm, safety is paramount. The cleaning action should not be pointed toward any person or object that may be harmful. Preferably, the cleaning material will drop harmlessly once it leaves the gun barrel. 
     Another aspect of this invention is a new type of compressed gas cartridge for other intended usages. For example, as an emergency inflating device for life preservers, other inflatable devices. 
     Other modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.