US3919799A — Grenade launcher and annular cartridge therefor

Claim 1

Independent Claim 120 words

A firearm for launching grenade projectiles of annular configuration comprising, a hollow receiver, a barrel having a rifled bore of larger diameter than said receiver secured to the forward end thereof, said barrel having a transverse feedway therethrough rearwardly adjacent said rifled bore for retaining an annular grenade projectile in position to be fired therefrom, a tubular member slidably disposed in said receiver for movement between a rearward position wherein said feedway is exposed for the insertion of an annular cartridge therein and a forward position passing through the annular projectile in supporting engagement therewith, and a charging handle projecting outwardly from said tubular member for imparting slidable movement thereto within said receiver between said forward and rearward positions thereof.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 120 words

A firearm for launching grenade projectiles of annular configuration comprising, a hollow receiver, a barrel having a rifled bore of larger diameter than said receiver secured to the forward end thereof, said barrel having a transverse feedway therethrough rearwardly adjacent said rifled bore for retaining an annular grenade projectile in position to be fired therefrom, a tubular member slidably disposed in said receiver for movement between a rearward position wherein said feedway is exposed for the insertion of an annular cartridge therein and a forward position passing through the annular projectile in supporting engagement therewith, and a charging handle projecting outwardly from said tubular member for imparting slidable movement thereto within said receiver between said forward and rearward positions thereof.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 42 words

The firearm as defined in Claim 1 including, a stop pin in said feedway for halting the annular projectile in axial alignment with said tubular member, and a spring-biased detent projecting upwardly into said feedway to releasably retain the annular projectile therein.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 53 words

The firearm as defined in claim 1 wherein said receiver includes a longitudinal slot terminating in a locking recess at the forward end thereof, and spring means normally biasing said charging handle outwardly of said receiver into locking engagement in said locking recess when said tubular member is in said forward position thereof.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 150 words

In a grenade launcher for firing an annular grenade cartridge, the combination of, a hollow receiver terminating in a circumferentially enlarged forward end, a barrel threadably secured to said forward end of said receiver and having a rifled bore of larger diameter than said receiver in axial alignment therewith, a feedway extending transversely through said outer barrel between said forward end of said receiver and said rifled bore for retaining the annular cartridge in position to be fired, a tubular cartridge support slidably disposed within said receiver for concentric cooperation with said rifled bore to define an annulus for passage of the fired projectile therethrough, and a charging handle projecting outwardly from said cartridge support for imparting slidable movement thereto between a rearward position wherein said feedway is exposed for the insertion of an annular cartridge therein and a forward position through the cartridge for establishing said annulus passage therefor.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 150 words

In a grenade launcher for firing an annular grenade cartridge, the combination of, a hollow receiver terminating in a circumferentially enlarged forward end, a barrel threadably secured to said forward end of said receiver and having a rifled bore of larger diameter than said receiver in axial alignment therewith, a feedway extending transversely through said outer barrel between said forward end of said receiver and said rifled bore for retaining the annular cartridge in position to be fired, a tubular cartridge support slidably disposed within said receiver for concentric cooperation with said rifled bore to define an annulus for passage of the fired projectile therethrough, and a charging handle projecting outwardly from said cartridge support for imparting slidable movement thereto between a rearward position wherein said feedway is exposed for the insertion of an annular cartridge therein and a forward position through the cartridge for establishing said annulus passage therefor.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 54 words

The grenade launcher as defined in claim 4 including, spring means normally biasing said charging handle into locking engagement with said receiver in the forward position of said inner barrel, and a firing pin slidably disposed in the forward end of said receiver for firing impact with the rear end of the annular cartridge.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 208 words

In a grenade launcher for firing an annular grenade projectile, the combination of a hollow receiver, a barrel of larger diameter than said receiver secured thereto in axial alignment therewith, said barrel having a rifled bore and a transverse feedway therethrough rearwardly adjacent said bore, an annular holder surrounding an annular grenade cartridge, comprising, an annular cartridge case having a combined annular primer and propellant charge in the rear end thereof, an annular sabot in said cartridge case in resilient gripping engagement with the annular projectile, and an annular piston disposed between said propellant charge and said sabot for imparting forward movement thereto in response to the firing of said propellant charge, a tubular cartridge support slidably disposed in said receiver for movement between a rearward position wherein said feedway is exposed for the insertion of said holder together with said cartridge therein and a forward position through said piston and said sabot to cooperate with said barrel for defining an annulus passage for the annular projectile, a charging handle projecting outwardly from the rear end of said cartridge support for imparting slidable movement thereto within said receiver between said forward and rearward positions, and a firing pin slidably disposed in said receiver for impact with said primer.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 208 words

In a grenade launcher for firing an annular grenade projectile, the combination of a hollow receiver, a barrel of larger diameter than said receiver secured thereto in axial alignment therewith, said barrel having a rifled bore and a transverse feedway therethrough rearwardly adjacent said bore, an annular holder surrounding an annular grenade cartridge, comprising, an annular cartridge case having a combined annular primer and propellant charge in the rear end thereof, an annular sabot in said cartridge case in resilient gripping engagement with the annular projectile, and an annular piston disposed between said propellant charge and said sabot for imparting forward movement thereto in response to the firing of said propellant charge, a tubular cartridge support slidably disposed in said receiver for movement between a rearward position wherein said feedway is exposed for the insertion of said holder together with said cartridge therein and a forward position through said piston and said sabot to cooperate with said barrel for defining an annulus passage for the annular projectile, a charging handle projecting outwardly from the rear end of said cartridge support for imparting slidable movement thereto within said receiver between said forward and rearward positions, and a firing pin slidably disposed in said receiver for impact with said primer.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 92 words

The combination defined in claim 6 including, a stop pin in said receiver extending into engagement with said holder for halting said annular cartridge in position for passage therethrough of said tubular support, a spring-biased detent projecting upwardly from said receiver into engagement with said annular cartridge holder for the releasable retention thereof in said feedway prior to the passage of said support through said annular cartridge, and an inwardly turned flange at the front end of said holder for retaining said cartridge case therein during the exit of said sabot therefrom.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 90 words

The combination defined in claim 6 wherein said piston includes obturating means at the rear end thereof engageable with the exterior surface of said cartridge support to seal against the discharge gases generated during the firing of said Propellant charge, and said sabot is provided with an obturating ring at the rear end thereof for sealing engagement with the interior surface of said cartridge case and a plurality of rotating bands on the forward end thereof engageable with said rifled bore in said barrel for imparting rotation to said sabot.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-11-17	1979-05-19	1979-11-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-11-17	1983-05-19	1983-11-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-11-17	1987-05-19	1987-11-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Grenade launcher and annular cartridge therefor

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