# US 4,391,199 A · Safe ammunition for exhibition and target shooting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,391,199 A - Document ID: US4391199A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/190,261 - Filed: 1980-09-24 - Granted: 1983-07-05 - Earliest claimed: 1980-09-24 - Inventors: Lionel Morin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4391199A ## CPC - F42B 8/02: Cartridges {(F41A33/02, F42B7/12 take precedence)} - F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D) ## Abstract Safety ammunition for use with a variety of weapons has a holder, charge carrier and a projectile. The holder has a base and cylindrical and frustoconical holes. The charge carrier is retained by the holder and includes a nose, a hollow central portion which can receive a powder charge, a tail with a base, a collar between the nose and the tail, and a cover adapted to close the hollow portion at the base. The projectile has a base and central hole and is retained between the holder and the carrier. This ammunition results in lower noise levels upon shooting as well as reducing range and danger upon firing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Safety ammunition adapted for shooting at a reduced level in order to minimize noise, range and physical danger, said ammunition adapted to be used with various weapons, including both muzzle loading and breech loading weapons, said ammunition comprising: (a) a plastic charge carrier, said charge carrier comprising a small, tubular container having an interior opening and a closed, generally conical nose, said closed generally conical nose having an enlarged, constant diameter and generally cylindrical portion, a median small collar and a tail provided with an enlarged portion having a uniform diameter which is substantially the same as the enlarged nose portion, said charge carrier being generally hollow and having a narrow, circular groove positioned adjacent to said small collar, said groove comprising a fracture line; (b) a hollow plastic projectile coupled with said charge carrier, said projectile including an interior opening adapted to receive either the tail or the nose of said charge carrier, said charge carrier and projectile including means for assembling them into a single unit having two different positions, a safety position in which said projectile opening receives said charge carrier tail, and a firing position in which said projectile opening receives said charge carrier nose; and (c) a holder coupled to said charge carrier and said projectile. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Safety ammunition in accordance with claim 1 futher comprising a plastic fuse carrier connected to and extending from said charge carrier. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Safety ammunition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said holder is longer than said carrier and said projectile. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Safety ammunition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said groove is above said collar. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Safety ammunition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said groove is below said collar. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Safety ammunition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said charge carrier comprises polyolefin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Safety ammunition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said collar is solid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Safety ammunition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said collar is hollow. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Safety ammunition according to claim 1 wherein said projectile comprises a generally hollow body terminating at its upper end in a solid semi-spherical portion bored with an axial hole and surrounded by a toothed crown extending generally upwardly from the sides of the cylinder and a groove adjacent to said crown between said crown and said sides. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) Safety ammunition in accordance with claim 9 wherein said projectile has a hollow opening over approximately two thirds of its length and a reduced exterior diameter nesting zone at its base. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) Safety ammunition in accordance with claim 9 wherein said projectile comprises polystyrene. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) Safety ammunition according to claim 9 wherein said tail has a base portion and the interior opening of the charge carrier has a slightly larger diameter at said base for receiving a cover to retain powder in said opening, said base comprising a slight inlet chamfer and a slit, said base being adapted to receive a firing cap force fit within said base. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Safety ammunition in accordance with claim 12 in which said holder is a relatively short, cylindrical plastic holder which comprises a hollow frustoconical opening and a smaller diameter cylindrical opening, said projectile having a base fit within said frustoconical opening and one of said bulging areas fit within the axial hole of said projectile. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) Safety ammunition according to claim 1 wherein said holder is relativelly long and straight and has a plurality of restrictions which retain a guide mandrel on the interior of the holder, said ammunition further comprising a percussion element slidably positioned within said mandrel, said element biased away from a firing cap held in said charge carrier by a spring held between the mandrel and a small collar of said element, an anvil positioned against said extension via a sealing washer and said mandrel having an upper end terminating in a point. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Safety ammunition in accordance with claim 14 wherein said mandrel and said holder comprise an integral plastic element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) Safety ammunition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said holder is an extended plastic fuse carrier comprising a plurality of fingers and a tail, said fingers being integral with a cylinder fitted on the base of said tail to maintain said ammunition at a predetermined distance from a fuse slot for holding a fuse, said fuse comprising a wick attached to a capsule containing fuse powder. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) Safety ammunition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said holder has a base with a shoulderless opening, said opening having a diameter sufficiently small to prevent the introduction of a firing cap and accordingly render the transformation of said ammunition into a dangerous bullet cartridge impossible.