Shell catching accessory for firearms

Claim 2

A shell catching accessory for a gun having a shell ejector port for discharging a shell outwardly from its barrel comprising: a. attaching means for removably connecting a catcher with said gun; said attaching means having: i. a first portion having at least one mounting bracket for being mounted on said gun such that said first portion does not interfere with normal loading, sighting and shooting of said gun; and ii. a second portion that is disconnectably connected with said first portion; said second portion including a frame disposable opposite said shell ejector port such that shells ejected from said shell ejector port will pass through said second portion; and b. a catcher comprising a flexible, lightweight sack that is at least three feet long; said sack having: i. an entry end connected to said second portion such that said entry end is maintained open to receive said shells; ii. a bottom end pendent from said entry end, said bottom end being adapted to retain ejected shells therewithin and having a quick opening means adjacent its bottom end for dumping collected shells without removing said catcher from said gun; and iii. a fastener carried on the lower portion of said sack for fastening it to the wearing apparel of a shooter for sustaining a major portion of the weight of the collected shells without hampering the handling of the gun.

Claim 3

A shell catching accessory for a gun having a shell ejector port for discharging a shell outwardly from its barrel comprising: a. attaching means for removably connecting a catcher with said gun; said attaching means having: i. a first portion having at least one mounting bracket for being mounted on said gun such that said first portion does not interfere with normal loading, sighting and shooting of said gun; said first portion including a first member having a longitudinally extending slot having an external portion that is open at one end for insertion of at least one dual dimensioned member and that has its other end closed; said first member having at least one laterally extending dead end slot for receiving said dual dimensioned member; said dead end slot intersecting said external portion of said slot near its closed end; said slot also hAving an internal passageway of cross sectional dimension larger than the cross sectional dimension of said external portion; and ii. a second portion that is disconnectably connected with said first portion; said second portion including a frame disposable opposite said shell ejector port such that shells ejected from said shell ejector port will pass through said second portion; said second portion including at least one dual dimensioned member connected with said frame; said dual dimensioned member having a shaft of a cross sectional dimension less than the cross sectional dimension of said external portion of said slot so as to slide therewithin and having an enlarged head portion of cross sectional dimension greater than the cross sectional dimension of said external portion of said slot and less than the cross sectional dimension of said internal passageway of said slot so as to be slidably retained within said internal passageway by way of said external portion of said slot; said laterally extending dead end slot being adapted to receive said shaft and keep said second portion from inadvertently sliding out of engagement with said first portion; and b. a catcher comprising a flexible, lightweight sack; said sack having: i. an entry end connected to said second portion such that said entry end is maintained open to receive said shells; and ii. a bottom end pendent from said entry end, said bottom end being adapted to retain ejected shells therewithin; whereby ejected shells are directed by said second portion into and collected within said catcher.

Claim 4

A shell catching accessory for a gun having a shell ejector port for discharging a shell outwardly from its barrel comprising: a. attaching means for removably connecting a catcher with said gun; said attaching means having: i. a first portion having at least one mounting bracket for being mounted on said gun such that said first portion does not interfere with normal loading, sighting and shooting of said gun; said first portion including a first member having a longitudinally extending slot having an external portion that is open at one end for insertion of at least one dual dimensioned member and that has its other end closed; said first member having at least one laterally extending dead end slot for receiving said dual dimensioned member; said dead end slot intersecting said external portion of said slot near its closed end; said slot also hAving an internal passageway of cross sectional dimension larger than the cross sectional dimension of said external portion; and ii. a second portion that is disconnectably connected with said first portion; said second portion including a frame disposable opposite said shell ejector port such that shells ejected from said shell ejector port will pass through said second portion; said second portion including at least one dual dimensioned member connected with said frame; said dual dimensioned member having a shaft of a cross sectional dimension less than the cross sectional dimension of said external portion of said slot so as to slide therewithin and having an enlarged head portion of cross sectional dimension greater than the cross sectional dimension of said external portion of said slot and less than the cross sectional dimension of said internal passageway of said slot so as to be slidably retained within said internal passageway by way of said external portion of said slot; said laterally extending dead end slot being adapted to receive said shaft and keep said second portion from inadvertently sliding out of engagement with said first portion; and b. a catcher comprising a flexible, lightweight sack; said sack having: i. an entry end connected to said second portion such that said entry end is maintained open to receive said shells; and ii. a bottom end pendent from said entry end, said bottom end being adapted to retain ejected shells therewithin; whereby ejected shells are directed by said second portion into and collected within said catcher.

Claim 5

The shell catching accessory of claim 2 wherein said dead end slot extends laterally and then longitudinally and wherein a latch is provided adjacent said dead end slot for latching said shaft when it is slid into said dead end slot to ensure retention of said second portion in place until said latch is released.

Claim 6

The shell catching accessory of claim 2 wherein said dual dimensioned member comprises at least one T-shaped member, the cross bar portion of the T comprising the enlarged head portion thereof.

Claim 7

The shell catching accessory of claim 2 wherein said dual dimensioned member comprises a pi -shaped member having two shafts and, serving as the enlarged head portion thereof, a cross bar and wherein said first portion includes two laterally extending dead end slots spaced apart the same distance as said shafts for receiving the two shafts of said pi -shaped member.

Claim 8

A shell catcher for use with a second portion of an attaching means for removably connecting a shell catching accessory to a gun having a shell ejector port for discharging a shell outwardly from its barrel; said second portion being removably connectable with a first portion mounted on said gun and including a frame disposed opposite said shell ejector port for directing shells into said shell catcher; comprising an elongate, flexible, lightweight sack in the form of a chute at least three feet long; said sack having an entry end with encircling means for encircling at least a portion of said frame such that said entry end will be maintained open to receive ejected shells and including releasable fasteners facilitating emplacement of the encircling means of said entry end about said frame and facilitating removal and replacement of said catcher; said sack having a bottom end that is at least closable for retaining ejected shells therewithin; and a fastener provided on the lower portion of said catcher for fastening the lower portion to the wearing apparel of a shooter for sustaining a major portion of the weight of collected shells without hampering handling of the gun with which the entry end is connected.

Claim 9

A shell catcher for use with a second portion of an attaching means for removably connecting a shell catching accessory to a gun having a shell ejector port for discharging a shell outwardly from its barrel; said second portion being removably connectable with a first portion mounted on said gun and including a frame disposed opposite said shell ejector port for directing shells into said shell catcher; comprising an elongate, flexible, lightweight sack in the form of a chute at least three feet long; said sack having an entry end with encircling means for encircling at least a portion of said frame such that said entry end will be maintained open to receive ejected shells and including releasable fasteners facilitating emplacement of the encircling means of said entry end about said frame and facilitating removal and replacement of said catcher; said sack having a bottom end that is at least closable for retaining ejected shells therewithin; and a fastener provided on the lower portion of said catcher for fastening the lower portion to the wearing apparel of a shooter for sustaining a major portion of the weight of collected shells without hampering handling of the gun with which the entry end is connected.

Claim 10

The shell catcher of claim 6 wherein said shell catcher has a quick opening means adjacent its bottom end for dumping collected shells without removing said shell catcher from said gun.