US3284942A

US3284942A - Shotgun pattern control tube

Info

Publication number: US3284942A
Application number: US482742A
Authority: US
Inventors: William W Moseley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-08-26
Filing date: 1965-08-26
Publication date: 1966-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-15

Description

Nov. 15, 1966 w. w. MOSELEY 3,284,942

SHOTGUN PATTERN CONTROL TUBE Filed Aug. 26, 1965 William W. Moseley INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,284,942 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 3,284,942 SHOTGUN PATTERN CONTROL TUBE William W. Moseley, 913 N. 11th Ave., Pensacola, Fla. Filed Aug. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 482,742 4 Claims. (Cl. 42-79) The present invention generally relates to an attachment for the muzzle end of a shotgun barrel and more particularly relates to a pattern control tube in the form of a spreader tube.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control sleeve or tube which increases in diameter from the end of the gun barrel axially outwardly with the expansion contour being uniform to provide uniform spreading or expansion of the shot so that the pattern of the shot as they reach the target will be more uniform throughout the pattern area and the pattern area will be accurately controlled.

The pattern control tube of the present invention is attached to the muzzle end of a shotgun barrel by axial screw-threaded attachment to the barrel or by the use of an adapter connected to the barrel with the tube screwthreadedly attached to the adapter and having an internal diameter at its inner end substantially equal to the intern-a1 diameter of the shotgun barrel at its muzzle end thus producing a smooth transition from the internal diameter of the shotgun barrel at the muzzle end to the spreader tube where it joins with the muzzle end of the shotgun barrel with the diameter of the spreader tube then increasing uniformly to the discharge end of the spreader tube. The specific degree of taper incorporated into the the present invention is such that it will cause the shot column to expand at a uniform rate for the purpose of providing a controlled pattern of shot at a target with the density of the shot in the pattern at the target being more uniform and accurately controlled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shotgun pattern control unit in the form of a sleeve or tube which tapers outwardly on the inner diameter thereof but which may be substantially cylindrical on the exterior and provides a compact attachment which is relatively streamlined and enhances the appearance characteristics of a gun. The tube of the present invention is quite simple and uncomplicated in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and easily attached to the barrel of a gun by gun manufacturers, gunsmiths or others desiring to install the device in place.

Essentially, the present invention employs only the uniform expansion of the shot column and provides no constriction whatsoever but only a continuous and uniform contour of expansion from the muzzle end of the shotgun barrel to the muzzle end of the spreader tube.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the are companying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the shotgun pattern control tube of the present invention attached to the muzzle end of a shotgun barrel;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 but illustrating the threaded connection between the spreader tube and an adapter attached to the shotgun barrel; and

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the structural details of the pattern tube.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the shotgun pattern control tube of the present invention which is attached to the muzzle end of a shotgun barrel 12 which is of conventional construction. A cylindrical adapter 14 is provided for attachment of the control tube and the adapter 14 is attached to the muzzle end of the barrel 12 in any suitable manner such as welding or the like in a known manner in which attachments are applied to shotgun barrels by gunsmiths and the like. The adapter 14 has an externally threaded portion 16 at its outer end with the threaded portion 16 being of reduced diameter and the inner limit threof being defined by a shoulder 18. The end of the adapter 14 is coextensive with and flush with the end of the barrel 12. Also, the adapter 14 is provided with a bead sight 20 attached thereto in a conventional manner such as by a screw-threaded connection 22 thus forming the front sight for the shotgun in a conventional manner. Essentially, the threaded portion 16 of the adapter 14 is necessary for attaching the control tube and this threaded adapter may be provided in any suitable manner and may even be formed directly on the end of the shotgun barrel during the manufacture thereof or by a gunsmith.

The control tube 10 includes an elongated tubular member 24 having a substantially elongated cylindrical external surface with a larger surface 26 formed at the inner end thereof and being internally threaded at 28 for detachable screw-threaded engagement with the threaded portion 16 of the adapter 14. The internal threads 28 are formed in a counterbore with a shoulder 30 being defined at the inner end thereof for abutting engagement of the shoulder 30 with the flush ends of the barrel 12 and adapter 14, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. The internal bore 32 of the tubular member 24 increases in diameter from a smaller diameter A at the end thereof which abuts against the muzzle end of a gun barrel to a larger diameter B at the discharge end or muzzle end of the tubular member 24 with the tubular member 24 having the bore 32 provided with a length C. The internal bore diameter increases uniformly throughout the length C from the smaller diameter A to the larger diameter B. The dimensions, of course, will vary depending upon the gauge of the shotgun barrel and depending upon the distance to the target and the shot pattern desired at the tar-get.

More effective performance of the shotgun as to the shot pattern at the target is accomplished by the spreader tube of the present invention by what is believed to be a slight relieving of the shot column of unnecessary pressure at a critical point thus lessening distortion of the shot column. This device employs a simple, uniform and relatively small expansion for the purpose of relieving the shot column pressure and it is believed that this relief lessens distortion and better shot patterns result from the use of the spreader tube of this invention.

In extensive tests conducted with the pattern control tube, it has been found that a significant increase in percentage of shot hitting a given area of a target has been consistently obtained. The construction of the control tube is such that it adds very little weight to the muzzle end of the barrel. For example, the weight added will be in the nature of three to four ounces depending upon the dimensions of the pattern control tube. An example of the dimensions is the provision of an over-all length of three and one-half inches to the tubular member 24 but with the dimension C being three inches, the dimension A being .730 inch and dimension B being .745 inch thus providing a uniform expansion of .005 inch per linear inch for the three inch length of bore 32. These dimensions are optimum for at twelve gauge gun. As will be appreciated, these dimensions will vary depending upon the gauge of the shotgun.

As an example of the variations, the control tube may range between a three-quarter inch length and a six inch length and range from .001 inch increase in diameter per linear inch to .01 inch-increase in diameter per linear inch. The material from which the control tube of the present invention is constructed may be the same or compatible with materials normally employed in shotgun barrel structures. In all instances wherein the control tube has been tested with a uniform expansion rate, there has been a marked and definite increase in the percentage of shot hitting a given circular target with the pattern of the increased number of shot in the circular target area also being more uniformly distributed. The control tube should be secured against working loose on the adapter by use of a suitable screw. A small headed screw can be used when skeet shooting or quail hunting and no changes are anticipated. However, when dove, duck or other type shooting is also contemplated a large knurled head with a wide kerf should be used to facilitate the changing of control tubes While in the field. The retaining screw will be at the bottom of the adapter and will penetrate the adapter but not the barrel.

This control tube is specifically constructed for skeet and upland shooting at ranges from 12 to 30 yards, where it contributes to uniform non-mutilating performance out to 18 yards, retaining sufficient density and uniformity for regular target breaking or bird killing patterns on out to approximately 30 yards.

The adapter 14 as disclosed may take many shapes, forms and configurations and generally may be a connector, union, sleeve or equivalent device.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling with the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is described as new is as follows:

1. An attachment for a shotgun barrel having a muzzle end comprising a tubular member adapted to be attached to the shotgun in alignment with and as an extension of the muzzle end of the barrel, said tubular member having an internal bore extending throughout the length thereof with the end of the bore adjacent the muzzle end of the shotgun barrel having a diameter substantially equal thereto and the internal diameter of the bore of the tubular member uniformly increasing throughout the length thereof with the cross-sectional configuration of the internal bore being identical throughout its length, a cylindrical adapter adapted to be attached to the muzzle end of the shotgun barrel, said adapter having a threaded portion of reduced diameter, said tubular member having an internally threaded portion of increased diameter as compared with the internal bore thereof for screw-threaded engagement with the adapter, said tubular member having a length within the range of three-quarter inch to six inches and uniformly increases in diameter from .001 inch per linear inch to .01 inch per linear inch.

2. The attachment as defined in claim 1 'Wherein said tubular member for attachment to a twelve gauge shotgun barrel has a minor diameter of .730 inch and a major diameter of .745 inch and is provided with a three inch internal bore thereby providing a uniform expansion in diameter of .005 inch per linear inch.

3. An attachment for the muzzle end of a shotgun barrel for providing contour control comprising a tubular member adapted to be attached to the shotgun in alignment with and as an extension of the muzzle and of the barrel, said tubular member having a continuous internal bore of circular cross-section extending throughout the length thereof with the end of the bore adjacent the muzzle end of the shotgun barrel having an internal diameter substantially equal to the barrel bore diameter, the internal diameter of the bore through the tubular member uniformly increasing throughout the length thereof, the major diameter of the internal bore of the tubular member remote from the shotgun barrel being substantially equal to the shotgun barrel bore plus an increase in diameter to provide a uniform expansion range within .001 to .01 inch per linear inch, the length of said tubular member being not less than three-quarter inch and not more than six inches.

4. The contour control attachment of claim 3 wherein said tubular member includes means on the end thereof adjacent the muzzle end of the shotgun barrel for attachment to the shotgun barrel, said means including an axial extension on the tubular member having an internal diameter greater than the internal diameter of the bore adjacent the muzzle end of the shotgun barrel and defining a shoulder at the inner end thereof for engagement with the muzzle end of a shotgun barrel when the axial extension on the tubular member is telescoped over the muzzle end of the shotgun barrel, and means securing the axial extension fixedly in relation to the shotgun barrel with the longitudinal axis of the internal bore of the tubular member aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shotgun barrel bore.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 927,572 7/1909 Michand 4279 1,227,987 5/1917 Wright 4279 3,029,540 4/1962 Pachmayr 42-79 3,226,871 1/1966 Sargeant et a1. 42--79 SAMUEL FEINBERG, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Examiner. s. W. ENGLE s is nt E aminer.