US-12618637-B2 - Muzzle loader

US12618637B2US 12618637 B2US12618637 B2US 12618637B2US-12618637-B2

Abstract

A muzzle loading system includes a ramrod and a muzzle loader. The ramrod includes ramrod body having a ramrod proximal end and a ramrod distal end. The muzzle loader receives the ramrod proximal end, applies a loading pressure to the ramrod, and provides audible and/or haptic feedback in response to the applied loading pressure reaching a target loading pressure.

Inventors

James Allan Blankenbeckler
Tanner William Metzmeier
Joseph Ramsey Porter

Assignees

James Allan Blankenbeckler

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20250314

Claims (10)

1 . A muzzle loader for muzzle-loading a firearm, comprising: an enclosure comprising an enclosure top side, an enclosure bottom side, one or more guides between the enclosure top side and the enclosure bottom side, and a ramrod receiving port through the enclosure bottom side; a plunger in the enclosure, the plunger comprising a plunger top side, a plunger bottom side, and a ramrod seat along the plunger bottom side; a cam comprising a cam top side, a cam bottom side, and one or more radially-inclined surfaces along the cam bottom side; and one or more springs between the enclosure top side and the cam top side that bias the plunger and the cam toward the enclosure bottom side; wherein the one or more guides engage the plunger and the cam and prevent rotation of the plunger and the cam within the enclosure; wherein the plunger and the cam are configured to move longitudinally toward the enclosure top side in response to pressure applied to the plunger via the ramrod receiving port; and wherein the cam is configured to rotate and partially release the pressure applied to the plunger in response to the pressure applied to plunger reaching a target loading pressure.
2 . The muzzle loader of claim 1 , wherein the plunger and the cam provide audible feedback when the target loading pressure is reached.
3 . The muzzle loader of claim 1 , wherein the plunger and the cam provide haptic feedback when the target loading pressure is reached.
4 . The muzzle loader of claim 1 , wherein: the enclosure comprises an enclosure body with threads toward a rim of the enclosure body; the enclosure comprises an enclosure cap with threads toward a rim of the enclosure cap; and the enclosure cap is screwed onto the enclosure body via the threads of the enclosure body and the enclosure cap.
5 . The muzzle loader of claim 4 , wherein the target loading pressure is increased by further screwing the enclosure cap onto the enclosure body.
6 . The muzzle loader of claim 4 , wherein the target loading pressure is decreased by partially unscrewing the enclosure cap from the enclosure body.
7 . The muzzle loader of claim 1 , wherein target loading pressure is adjustable.
8 . The muzzle loader of claim 1 , wherein the one or more guides engage one or more channels of the plunger and prevent the plunger from rotating within the enclosure.
9 . The muzzle loader of claim 1 , wherein: the cam comprises a cam catch along the cam bottom side; and the one or more guides engage a lateral side of the cam catch and prevent the cam from rotating within the enclosure until the one or more guides disengage the lateral side of the cam.
10 . The muzzle loader of claim 1 , wherein an upper end of each of the one or more guides is inclined to match one or more radially-inclined surfaces of the cam.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims benefit to and priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/566,726, filed Mar. 18, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD Aspects of the present disclosure are related to loading a firearm and more specifically to loading a firearm via its muzzle. BACKGROUND The conventional tools and processes for muzzle loading a firearm introduce variances that have negative impacts on the performance of the firearm. In particular, the conventional process includes inserting loose powder or pellets into a barrel via the muzzle to create a charge, loading a projectile into the barrel via the muzzle, and then inserting a ramrod into the barrel via the muzzle to set the projectile into position atop the charge and compress the charge. However, compression of the loose powder or pellets of the charge is dependent upon the pressure applied to the projectile by the ramrod when seating the projectile atop the charge. Variance in such compression creates a variance in the overall height of the complete load and may also cause a variance in chamber pressure upon ignition of the charge. The pressure variance may in turn cause a speed variance in the projectile resulting in accuracy issues down range. Moreover, excessive pressure applied to the projectile via the ramrod may damage a gas check or cup on the charge side of the projectile. Such damage to the projectile may also result in accuracy issues and may prevent consistent flight of the projectile. Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with aspects of the present disclosure as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, and set forth more completely in the claims, are muzzle loaders, muzzle loading systems, and methods for muzzle loading a firearm. In particular, a muzzle loader may engage a ramrod and apply pressure to the ramrod. The muzzle loader may further alert the user that a target loading pressure has been reached and/or may partially release pressure applied to the ramrod in response to the target loading pressure being reached. In this manner, the muzzle load may provide a more consistent loading pressure and chamber pressure, which may provide more consistent projectile performance. Furthermore, such alerts and/or partial release of pressure may prevent a user from inadvertently applying sufficient pressure to damage a gas check or a cup of a projectile when seating the projectile atop the charge. These and other advantages, aspects, and novel features of the present disclosure, as well as details of illustrated embodiments thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various features and advantages of the present disclosure may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements. FIG. 1 depicts a muzzle-loaded firearm and a muzzle-loading system in accordance with various aspects of the present application. FIGS. 2A-2D provide various views for a muzzle loader of the muzzle loading system depicted in FIG. 1. FIGS. 3A-3C provide various views for a plunger and a cam of the muzzle loader depicted in FIGS. 2A-2D. FIGS. 4A-4D depict an interaction of the plunger and the cam of FIGS. 3A-3C through various stages of muzzle loading. DESCRIPTION The following discussion provides various examples of a muzzle-loading system, a muzzle loader, and a muzzle-loading process. In some embodiments, the muzzle-loading system includes a muzzle loader and a ramrod. During a muzzle-loading process, the muzzle loader may apply suitable force or pressure to the ramrod so as to properly seat a projectile atop a charge. To this end, the muzzle loader may include a cam, a plunger, and a spring, which cooperate to ensure a consistent loading pressure is applied to the projectile. Upon achieving a desired or target loading pressure, the muzzle loader may partially reduce pressure applied to the ramrod, may provide a user of the muzzle loader with audible feedback, and/or may provide the user of the muzzle loader with haptic feedback. Such examples are non-limiting, and the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the particular examples disclosed. In the following discussion, the terms “example” and “e.g.” are non-limiting. The figures illustrate a general manner of construction. Descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. In addition, elements in the drawin