Ammunition counter integrated into ammunition can

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10139211-B1
Application number	US-201514843019-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 2, 2015
Priority date	Sep 2, 2015
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

An ammunition can that provides a user with a count of stored ammunition, includes a housing and a window formed on one side of the housing to provide a visual indication of the count of the stored ammunition. The window extends from the top side to a bottom side of the housing, to provide a clear sampling view of the stored ammunition. A scale, disposed in close proximity to the window, provides a more accurate visual indication of the count of the stored ammunition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ammunition can ( 100 ) that provides any of a user or a command center with a percentage count of then currently stored ammunition ( 500 ), comprising:
a housing ( 120 ) that contains the ammunition;
means including strain gauges ( 720 , 722 ) for providing the weight of the ammunition can including the stored ammunition; and
a counter ( 777 ) that is electrically connected to the means for providing the weight; and
wherein the counter calculates the percentage number of the stored ammunition based on the then currently measured weight of the ammunition can including stored ammunition weight.

2. The ammunition can of claim 1 , wherein the means for providing the weight of the ammunition can, including stored ammunition, includes a flexible platform ( 1111 ) that is disposed in proximity to a bottom side of the container; and
a sensing layer ( 1120 ) including piezoelectric elements disposed between the platform and the bottom side, to convert the weight of the stored ammunition, including stored ammunition, into a representative electrical signal, and to transmit the representative electrical signal to the counter ( 777 ).

3. The ammunition can of claim 2 , further including a handle ( 130 ); and
wherein the means for providing the weight of the ammunition can, including stored ammunition, includes strain gauges ( 720 , 722 ).

4. The ammunition can of claim 1 , further including:
a window ( 111 ) formed within the housing to provide a visual indication of the approximate count of the stored ammunition;
wherein the window extends from a top side to one side of the housing, to an opposite side, to provide a clear sampling view of the stored ammunition; and
a scale ( 150 ), disposed in close proximity to the window, to provide an approximate visual count of the stored ammunition (as a percentage remaining).

5. The ammunition can of claim 1 , wherein the counter ( 777 ) includes a display ( 1222 ), a control pad 1224 ), a processor ( 1220 ), a memory ( 1226 ), and a power source ( 1228 ).

6. The ammunition can of claim 1 , wherein the counter ( 777 ) is secured to a top side of the housing.

Assignees

• Tillinghast Ralph C
• Wright Michael T
• Saalman Ryan
• Us Army

Inventors

• Tillinghast Ralph C
• Wright Michael T
• Saalman Ryan

Classifications

• G01G19/007

  fractioning a determined weight of material in several equal parts · CPC title

• G01G19/64

  Percentage-indicating weighing apparatus, i.e. for expressing the weight as a percentage of a predetermined or initial weight · CPC title

• G01G19/52

  Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture (with walking sticks A45B3/08) · CPC title

• B65D25/28

  Handles (of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/46; of bottles or jars B65D23/10 {; holders for glasses, bottles, cartons, plastic bags, cans A47G23/02}) · CPC title

• B65D25/20

  External fittings (of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44) · CPC title