Top loading shotgun

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9400149-B2
Application number	US-201414505585-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 3, 2014
Priority date	Oct 4, 2013
Publication date	Jul 26, 2016
Grant date	Jul 26, 2016

Abstract

A shell feeding system for a top loading shotgun in one embodiment includes a barrel, receiver, and a magazine. The magazine includes a cavity configured to receive a plurality of ammunition shells in stacked end-to-end relationship. The magazine is positioned above the barrel and extends forward from the receiver. Shell guide grooves are formed by internal surfaces in the receiver which engage and guide each shell in a feed pathway towards the lower part of the receiver for chambering. A portion of the guide grooves may be arcuately shaped to rotate and reposition the shell for loading by the bolt into the chamber. In one embodiment, the receiver and magazine may be formed as a unitary integral structure formed as either a single piece or in half sections coupled together.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shell feeding system for a top loading shotgun, the system comprising:
a barrel defining a longitudinal axis and an axially extending bore forming a projectile pathway;
a receiver supporting the barrel;
an elongated magazine positioned above the barrel and extending axially forward from the receiver;
the magazine including an axially extending cavity configured to receive a plurality of ammunition shells in stacked end-to-end relationship, the shells each having a head and diametrically enlarged rim;
a top loading port for loading shells into the magazine; and
shell guide grooves formed by a plurality of internal surfaces in the receiver, the guide grooves including a downwardly and rearwardly angled entrance portion, a central portion, and an exit portion;
wherein the guide grooves are configured to guide and feed each shell in a path downward and rearward in the receiver from the magazine into the central portion, and downward and forward from the central portion towards the barrel;
wherein the central portion has an arcuate shape that engages and rotates the head of the shell upwards.

2. A shell feeding system for a top loading shotgun, the system comprising:
a barrel defining a longitudinal axis and an axially extending bore forming a projectile pathway;
a receiver supporting the barrel;
an elongated magazine positioned above the barrel and extending axially forward from the receiver;
the magazine including an axially extending cavity configured to receive a plurality of ammunition shells in stacked end-to-end relationship, the shells each having a head and diametrically enlarged rim;
a top loading port for loading shells into the magazine;
shell guide grooves formed by a plurality of internal surfaces in the receiver, the guide grooves including a downwardly and rearwardly angled entrance portion, a central portion, and an exit portion; and
a spring-biased elongated follower disposed in the magazine that biases the stack of shells rearwards towards the receiver, the follower having a complementary configuration to the shells;
wherein the guide grooves are configured to guide and feed each shell in a path downward and rearward in the receiver from the magazine into the central portion, and downward and forward from the central portion towards the barrel;
wherein the follower has a greater length than the shells.

3. The shell feeding system of claim 2 , wherein the follower is configured to maintain contact with a shell as the shell moves through the guide grooves.

4. The shell feeding system of claim 2 , wherein the follower is hollow defining an internal cavity, the spring extending into the cavity of the follower.

5. A shell feeding system for a top loading shotgun, the system comprising:
a barrel defining a longitudinal axis and an axially extending bore forming a projectile pathway;
a receiver supporting the barrel;
an elongated magazine positioned above the barrel and extending axially forward from the receiver;
the magazine including an axially extending cavity configured to receive a plurality of ammunition shells in stacked end-to-end relationship, the shells each having a head and diametrically enlarged rim;
a top loading port for loading shells into the magazine; and
shell guide grooves formed by a plurality of internal surfaces in the receiver, the guide grooves including a downwardly and rearwardly angled entrance portion, a central portion, and an exit portion;
wherein the guide grooves are configured to guide and feed each shell in a path downward and rearward in the receiver from the magazine into the central portion, and downward and forward from the central portion towards the barrel;
wherein the receiver includes an upper receiver axially aligned with the magazine and a lower receiver axially aligned with the barrel, the guide grooves substantially disposed in the upper receiver.

6. The shell feeding system of claim 1 , further comprising a rear abutment surface disposed in the central portion of the guide grooves, the abutment surface arranged to engage the head of the shells and reposition the shells for entry into the exit portion of the guide grooves.

7. A shell feeding system for a top loading shotgun, the system comprising:
a barrel defining a longitudinal axis and an axially extending bore forming a projectile pathway;
a receiver supporting the barrel;
an elongated magazine positioned above the barrel and extending axially forward from the receiver;
the magazine including an axially extending cavity configured to receive a plurality of ammunition shells in stacked end-to-end relationship, the shells each having a head and diametrically enlarged rim;
a top loading port for loading shells into the magazine; and
shell guide grooves formed by a plurality of internal surfaces in the receiver, the guide grooves including a downwardly and rearwardly angled entrance portion, a central portion, and an exit portion;
wherein the guide grooves are configured to guide and feed each shell in a path downward and rearward in the receiver from the magazine into the central portion, and downward and forward from the central portion towards the barrel;
wherein the central portion of the guide grooves includes a division wall horizontally separating the loading port from the lower guide groove;
wherein the division wall has a convexly curved bottom surface arranged to engage the shell.

8. A shell feeding system for a top loading shotgun, the system comprising:
a barrel defining a longitudinal axis and an axially extending bore forming a projectile pathway;
a receiver supporting the barrel;
an elongated magazine positioned above the barrel and extending axially forward from the receiver;
the magazine including an axially extending cavity configured to receive a plurality of ammunition shells in stacked end-to-end relationship, the shells each having a head and diametrically enlarged rim;
a top loading port for loading shells into the magazine; and
shell guide grooves formed by a plurality of internal surfaces in the receiver, the guide grooves including a downwardly and rearwardly angled entrance portion, a central portion, and an exit portion;
wherein the guide grooves are configured to guide and feed each shell in a path downward and rearward in the receiver from the magazine into the central portion, and downward and forward from the central portion towards the barrel;
wherein the magazine has a tubular body and a bell mouth shaped rear entrance.

9. The shell feeding system of claim 1 , wherein the top loading port includes an inclined shell loading ramp.

10. The shell feeding system of claim 1 , wherein the magazine is formed as an integral unitary structural part of the receiver.

Assignees

• Sturm Ruger & Co

Inventors

• Potter Dwight

Classifications

• F41A9/48

  Loading by gravitational force · CPC title

• F41A9/23

  mounted within a smallarm · CPC title

• F41A9/55

  Fixed {or movable} guiding means, mounted on, or near, the cartridge chamber · CPC title

• F41A9/72 Primary

  Tubular magazines, i.e. magazines containing the ammunition in lengthwise tandem sequence · CPC title

• F41A9/82

  Reloading {or unloading} of magazines · CPC title