Combination percussion-electric primer

Claim 1

A combination percussion-electric primer operable in a percussion mode or an electric mode, comprising: a primer cup adapted to be received in the primer pocket of a cartridge case; an insulation layer lining the inside of said primer cup; a contact button formed of conducting material and disposed within one end of said primer cup, the outer surface of said button defining a contact surface for engagement with a firing pin, and the inner surface of said button having a protrusion formed thereon in substantially the central portion thereof; a booster charge supporting cup disposed within said primer cup at the other end thereof, said booster cup containing booster charge; a closure member disposed on the outer surface of said supporting cup and having an opening in the center thereof; a supply of priming composition contained within said primer cup and disposed between said contact button and said supporting cup; in the percussion mode, said contact button moves axially within said primer cup upon engagement by a firing pin to compress said priming composition between said protrusion and said supporting cup and to ignite said booster charge so that the output is transmitted through the central opening of said closure member; and in the electric mode, said contact button adapted to be supplied with electric current from a firing pin and to conduct said electric current to said priming composition and to said booster charge to ignite same so that the output is transmitted through the central opening of said closure member.