# US 7,610,857 B1 · Ballistic tracer platform for shotgun ammunition > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,857 B1 - Document ID: US7610857B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 11/894,063 - Filed: 2007-08-20 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2003-09-05 - Inventors: James Alfred Dunnam; Mauricio F. Quintana - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610857B1 ## CPC - F42B 12/382: {emitting an electromagnetic radiation, e.g. laser beam or infrared emission} - F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D) ## Abstract A ballistic tracer platform for use with a shotgun shell to provide an aiming and training aid for shotgun shooting sports, which also can be used for military and police applications. The ballistic tracer platform emits light after ignition of the shell, providing the shooter with a consistent reference to make corrections to his aiming point and shooting techniques. The tracer platform can be used in ordinary shotgun shells. The tracer platform comprises a translucent, resilient, elastic, cylindrical container in which the reactants, a fluorescent colored dye and oxalate solution and an activator, are held, separated from each other prior to ignition by encasing one or both in its own glass bulb or tube. The blast from ignition of the shell causes the glass bulb(s) or tube(s) to break. The resulting chemiluminescent reaction between the reactants results in emission of light which is visible to the shooter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cylindrical ballistic tracer platform for use with a shotgun shell having a lower end and an upper end, and further having propellant and a shot cup having a first end and an opposing end and holding shot, the propellant being contained inside the lower end of the shotgun shell below the second end of the shot cup, the tracer platform comprising a resilient, elastic, translucent container holding a first reactant, a second reactant, a fluorescent dye, and means for physically separating the first reactant from the second reactant and the fluorescent dye prior to their combination resulting in a chemiluminescent reaction, the tracer platform located inside the upper end directly under the crimped top of the shotgun shell, inside the first end of the shot cup and above the shot held in the shot cup, the tracer platform further comprising a disk-shaped spacer arranged under and adjacent to the tracer platform in order to separate the tracer platform from shot held in the shot cup, the tracer platform moving separately from the shot holder after leaving a shotgun barrel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ballistic tracer platform of claim 1 wherein the container is made from a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, and nylon. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ballistic tracer platform of claim 1 wherein the first reactant is a hydrogen peroxide solution and the second reactant is a phenyl oxalate ester solution. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ballistic tracer platform of claim 1 wherein the means for physically separating the first reactant from the second reactant and the fluorescent dye comprises at least one frangible glass container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ballistic tracer platform of claim 1 whereas the tracer platform has a flat, conical, or spherical top side. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ballistic tracer platform of claim 1 wherein the tracer platform has formed therein symmetrical cavities for adjusting the tracer platform's weight and flight characteristics. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ballistic tracer platform of claim 1 wherein the tracer platform has an outer surface with grooves formed therein. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ballistic tracer platform of claim 1 wherein the tracer platform has an outer surface with symmetrically-positioned fins attached thereto. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ballistic tracer platform of claim 1 wherein the tracer platform has an outer surface with orifices formed therein. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ballistic platform of claim 1 wherein the tracer platform further comprises means for partially encasing the container with reinforcing material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The ballistic platform of claim 10 wherein the reinforcing material is selected from the group consisting of nylon, high-strength plastic, composite material, and metal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The ballistic tracer platform of claim 1 wherein the disk-shaped spacer is made from plastic, cardboard, or cork. ### Claim 13 A shotgun shell with a chemiluminescent tracer for making shot projectiles visible to a shooter comprising: (a) a hollow shotgun shell having a lower end and an upper end; (b) a base with primer for ignition located inside the lower end of the shotgun shell; (c) propellant positioned proximate to the primer inside the lower end of the shotgun shell; (d) a shot cup holding shot pellets, the shot cup having a first end and an opposing second end, the shot cup located above the propellant with the second end of the shot cup proximate the propellant; (e) a disk-shaped spacer positioned inside the first end of the shot cup and above the shot pellets held in the shot cup; (f) a cylindrical ballistic tracer platform positioned inside the upper end of the shotgun shell and inside the first end of the shot cup, proximate to and above the spacer, the tracer platform comprising a resilient, elastic, translucent container holding a first reactant, a second reactant, a fluorescent dye, and means for physically separating the first reactant from the second reactant and the fluorescent dye prior to their combination resulting in a chemiluminescent reaction, the tracer platform moving separately from the shot cup after leaving a shotgun barrel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The shotgun shell of claim 13 wherein the container is made from an elastic material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, and nylon. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The shotgun shell of claim 13 wherein the first reactant is a hydrogen peroxide solution and the second reactant is a phenyl oxalate ester solution. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The shotgun shell of claim 13 wherein the means for physically separating the first reactant from the second reactant and the fluorescent dye comprises at least one frangible glass container. ### Claim 17 A shotgun shell having no shot, the shotgun shell having a tracer for making shot projectiles visible to a shooter comprising: (a) a hollow shotgun shell having a lower end and an upper end; (b) a base with primer for ignition located inside the lower end of the shotgun shell; (c) propellant positioned proximate to the primer inside the lower end of the shotgun shell; (d) a cylindrical wad having a first end and an opposing second end spaced from the second end, the second end of the wad positioned proximate to the propellant, the first end of the wad having a shot holder with petals, the shot holder containing no shot; and (e) a cylindrical ballistic tracer platform positioned inside the petals of the shot holder, the tracer platform comprising a resilient, elastic, translucent container holding a first reactant, a second reactant, a fluorescent dye, and means for physically separating the first reactant from the second reactant and the fluorescent dye prior to their combination resulting in a chemiluminescent reaction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The shotgun shell of claim 17 wherein the container is made from a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, and nylon. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The shotgun shell of claim 17 wherein the first reactant is a hydrogen peroxide solution and the second reactant is a phenyl oxalate ester solution. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The shotgun shell of claim 17 wherein the means for physically separating the first reactant from the second reactant and the fluorescent dye comprises at least one frangible glass container.