Shot protector

Claim 2

A shot protector formed from a one-piece plastic body for use with a shotshell, said shot protector comprising: a. substantially cylindrical wall means sub-divided into a plurality of longitudinally extending flexible petals of predetermined thickness defining at least part of the side wall of a shot pocket, said petals having separate tip portions defining a mouth on said shot pocket, said tip portiOns being outwardly flared with respect to the remainder of said petals and said tip portions forming means to stressingly force said petals outwardly when said tip portions are deflected inwardly from their outwardly flared positions; b. a transverse web having a surface defining a closed transverse bottom wall of said shot pocket; and c. connecting means joining adjacent ones of said petals to provide a rupturable connection between said petals.

Claim 3

The shot protector of claim 1, wherein said connecting means is a membrane having a wall thickness substantially thinner than the wall thickness of said petals.

Claim 4

A shot protector formed from a one-piece plastic body and for use with a shotshell, said shot protector comprising: a. cylindrical wall means sub-divided into a plurality of longitudinally extending flexible petals of predetermined thickness defining at least part of the side wall of a shot-receiving pocket; b. a transverse web having a surface defining a closed transverse bottom wall of said shot-receiving pocket; c. membrane means joining adjacent side edges of adjacent ones of said petals, said membrane means having a wall thickness which is substantially thinner than the wall thickness of said petals, and said membrane means being operative to provide a rupturable connection between adjacent ones of said petals; and d. outwardly flared separated tip means connected to said petals along a substantially rigid hinge line, said tip means being operative to bias said petals outwardly when said tip means are deflected inwardly from their flared positions.

Claim 5

A shot protector formed from a one-piece plastic body and for use with a shotshell, said shot protector comprising: a. cylindrical wall means sub-divided into a plurality of longitudinally extending flexible petals of predetermined thickness defining at least part of the side wall of a shot-receiving pocket; b. a transverse web having a surface defining a closed transverse bottom wall of said shot-receiving pocket; c. membrane means joining adjacent side edges of adjacent ones of said petals, said membrane means having a wall thickness which is substantially thinner than the wall thickness of said petals, and said membrane means being operative to provide a rupturable connection between adjacent ones of said petals; and d. outwardly flared separated tip means connected to said petals along a substantially rigid hinge line, said tip means being operative to bias said petals outwardly when said tip means are deflected inwardly from their flared positions.

Claim 6

The shot protector of claim 3, further comprising a flexible annular skirt extending from said transverse web and substantially coaxial with said cylindrical wall, said skirt combining with said transverse web to define gas obturating means.

Claim 7

The shot protector of claim 3, further comprising at least one radially inwardly projecting protrusion on said cylindrical wall operative to retain a filler wad in position adjacent to said bottom wall of said shot-receiving pocket.

Claim 8

The shot protector of claim 5, wherein said protrusion is spaced apart from said bottom wall of said shot-receiving pocket a distance approximately equal to the thickness of a filler wad.

Claim 9

The shot protector of claim 5, wherein said protrusion is a rib extending longitudinally from said bottom wall of said shot-receiving pocket toward said flared tip means.

Claim 10

A shotshell comprising: a. tubular side wall means; b. a propellant charge positioned within said tubular side wall means; and c. a unitary plastic shot protector positioned within said tubular side wall means and overlying said propellant charge to form a gas obturating seal thereabove, said shot protector including shot pocket means having a side wall comprising a plurality of flexible petals of predetermined wall thickness, outwardly flared tip means connected to said petals along a substantially rigid hinge line, said tip means defining the mouth of said shot pocket means and said tip means being disposed in stressed engagement with said tubular side wall means and operative to position said petals in a stressed condition to bias said petals against said tubular side wall means, and membrane means interconnecting adjacent ones of said petals to form a rupturable connection between said petals, said membrane means having a wall thickness which is substantially less than said petal wall thickness, and said membrane means being operative to transmit stress from one petal to each of the petals adjacent thereto.

Claim 11

A shotshell comprising: a. tubular side wall means; b. a propellant charge positioned within said tubular side wall means; and c. a unitary plastic shot protector positioned within said tubular side wall means and overlying said propellant charge to form a gas obturating seal thereabove, said shot protector including shot pocket means having a side wall comprising a plurality of flexible petals of predetermined wall thickness, outwardly flared tip means connected to said petals along a substantially rigid hinge line, said tip means defining the mouth of said shot pocket means and said tip means being disposed in stressed engagement with said tubular side wall means and operative to position said petals in a stressed condition to bias said petals against said tubular side wall means, and membrane means interconnecting adjacent ones of said petals to form a rupturable connection between said petals, said membrane means having a wall thickness which is substantially less than said petal wall thickness, and said membrane means being operative to transmit stress from one petal to each of the petals adjacent thereto.