Abstract:
A cartridge shell casing collector and method therefor capable of allowing a user to easily collect shell casings discharged from a gun without having to bend over or come into direct physical contact with the discharged cartridge shell casings.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to collecting devices and, more specifically, to a cartridge shell casing collector and method therefor capable of allowing a user to collect shell casings discharged from a gun without coming into direct physical contact with the discharged cartridge shell casings. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A gun cartridge is made up of a shell having a detonator at one end and a bullet at the other. Inside the shell is an explosive propellant which, when set off by the detonator, propels the bullet towards its target The detonator is designed to be set off by the firing mechanism of the gun. When this happens, the bullet is projected forward while the now empty cartridge shell casing is ejected from the gun. The empty shell casings fall to the ground where they lay until they are picked up. Many people, known as “reloaders”, choose to recycle the empty shell casings by collecting them and inserting a detonator, filling them with gun powder and securing a bullet to the end opposite the detonator. Other people simply pick up the discharged shell casings in order to throw them away. Whatever the reason, those that fire guns often are forced to come into direct physical contact with discharged shell casings. 
     This presents several problems. Discharged shell casings are often hot to the touch, and can burn one&#39;s hands. Additionally, discharged shell casings often retain lead oxide residue and other propellant residues which are both a health and safety hazard. The Occupational Safety &amp; Health Administration (OSHA), in the U.S. Department of Labor, advises people not to handle fired brass shells with one&#39;s bear hands. In addition lo the other health hazards, simply bending over repeatedly to pick up scattered shell casings puts strain on one&#39;s back and knees. 
     A need therefore existed for a cartridge shell casing collector and method therefor capable of allowing a user to easily collect shell casings discharged from a gun without coming into direct physical contact with the discharged cartridge shell casings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a method for collecting cartridge shell casings that allows a user to easily collect discharged cartridge shell casings without having to substantially bend over or come into direct physical contact with the discharged shell casing. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cartridge shell casing collector capable of allowing a user to easily pick up discharged shell casings without having to bend over or come into direct physical contact with the shell casings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for collecting cartridge shell casings is disclosed, comprising, in combination, the steps of providing a receptacle having an open end dimensioned to receive discharged shell casings from a gun, providing a substantially L-shaped member having a handle end and a receptacle coupling end, the receptacle coupling end is coupled to the receptacle, providing a flap coupled to the open end of the receptacle, providing a flap activating mechanism having a triggering end and a flap coupling end, the triggering end is coupled proximate the handle end of the substantially L-shaped member and the flap coupling end of the flap activating mechanism is coupled to the flap, the triggering end is dimensioned to trigger the flap to close and open relative to the open end of the receptacle, triggering the triggering end of the flap activating mechanism to open the flap relative to the open end of the receptacle, positioning the open end of the receptacle between a shell casing and the flap, and triggering the triggering end of the flap activating mechanism to close the flap relative to the open end of the receptacle causing the flap to drive the shell casing into the receptacle. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a cartridge shell casing collector is disclosed, comprising, in combination, a receptacle having an open end dimensioned to receive shell casings discharged from a gun, a substantially L-shaped member having a handle end and a receptacle coupling end, the receptacle coupling end is coupled to the receptacle, a flap coupled to the open end of the receptacle, and a flap activating mechanism having a triggering end and a flap coupling end the triggering end is coupled proximate the handle end of the substantially L-shaped member and the flap coupling end of the flap activating mechanism is coupled to the flap, the triggering end is dimensioned to trigger the flap to close and open relative to the open end or the receptacle. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cartridge shell casing collector of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the cartridge shell casing collector of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a back, cross-sectional view of the substantially L-shaped member coupled to the wheel of the flap activating mechanism of the cartridge shell casing collector of FIG. 2, taken along line  3 — 3 . 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the flap of the flap activating mechanism of the cartridge shell casing collector of FIG. 2, taken along line  4 — 4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the cartridge shell casing collector, hereinafter cartridge shell casing collector  10 , or the present invention, is shown. The cartridge shell casing collector  10  comprises a receptacle  12  having an open end  14  dimensioned to receive shell casings  16  discharged from a gun (not shown). 
     An the preferred embodiment, the receptacle  12  defines a plurality of apertures  18  dimensioned to allow debris  20  (shown in FIG. 1) that may have been inadvertently collected with the shell casings  16  to pass through the apertures  18  and out of the receptacle  12  while at the same time the apertures  18  are small enough to prevent the shell casings  16  from passing through the apertures in and out of the receptacle  12 . While, in the preferred embodiment, the receptacle  12  defines a plurality of apertures  18 , it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the cartridge shell casing collector  10  in which the receptacle does not define any apertures  18 . 
     Still referring to FIGS. 1-2, the cartridge shell casing collector  10  further comprises a substantially L-shaped member  22  having a handle end  24  and a receptacle coupling end  26 . The receptacle coupling end  26  is coupled to the receptacle  12 . The cartridge shell casing collector  10  further comprises a flap  29  (shown in FIGS. 1-2, and  4 ) coupled to the open end  14  of the receptacle  12  Preferably, the flap  28  defines a plurality of notches  29  (shown in FIG. 4) dimensioned to allow debris  20  to pass through the notches  29  while at the same time the notches  29  are small enough to prevent the shell casings  16  from passing through the notches  29  of the flap  28 . While, in the preferred embodiment, the flap  28  defines a plurality of notches  29 , it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the cartridge shell casing collector  10  in which the flap  28  does not define any notches  29 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the flap  28  has a curved bottom end  31  dimensioned to mate with a corresponding recessed bottom portion  33  (shown in FIG. 2) defined by the open end  14  of the receptacle  12 , although it should be clear that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the cartridge shell casing collector  10  in which the flap  28  has no curved bottom end  31  and the open end  14  of the receptacle  12  does not define a recessed bottom portion  33 , so long as the flap  28  is capable of securely mating with the open end  14  of the receptacle  12  so as to prevent shell casings  16  from falling out of the receptacle  12  after the shell casings  16  have been collected. 
     The cartridge shell casing collector  10  further comprises a flap activating mechanism  30  having a triggering end  32  and a flap coupling end  34 . The triggering end  32  is coupled proximate the handle end  24  of the substantially L-shaped member  22 . The flap coupling end  34  of the flap activating mechanism  30  is coupled to the flap  28 . The triggering end  32  is dimensioned to trigger the flap  28  to close and open relative to the open end  14  of the receptacle  12 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the flap activating mechanism  30  preferably comprises a substantially vertical rod  36  having a first end  38  and a second end  40 . The first end  38  is coupled to the triggering end  32  of the flap activating mechanism  30 . The flap activating mechanism  30  preferably comprises a wheel  42  (shown in FIGS. 1-3) having a center portion coupled to the substantially L-shaped member  22  proximate the receptacle coupling end  26 . The second end  40  of the substantially vertical rod  36  is preferably coupled to an outer area of the wheel  42  The flap activating mechanism  30  preferably comprises a substantially horizontal rod  44  having a first end  46  and a second end  48 . The first end  46  of the substantially horizontal rod  44  is coupled to an outer area of the wheel  42  The second end  48  of the substantially horizontal rod  44  is coupled to the flap  28 . While, in the preferred embodiment, the flap activating mechanism  30  comprises a substantially vertical rod  36 , a wheel  42  and a substantially horizontal rod  44 , it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the cartridge shell casing collector  10  in which the flap activating mechanism  30  comprises an alternative means for triggering the flap  28  to close and open relative to the open end  14  of the receptacle  12 . 
     STATEMENT OF OPERATION 
     When a user of the cartridge shell casing collector  10  wishes to collect a shall casing  16 , the user should first position the open end  14  of the receptacle  12  between the shell casing  16  and the flap  28 . Then, the user should trigger the triggering end  32  of the flap activating mechanism  30  to close the flap  28  relative to the open end  14  of the receptacle  12 , causing the flap  28  to drive the shell casing  16  into the receptacle  12 . This method should be repeated until all shell casings  15  have been collected. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.