Safety cap for small arms cartridge

Abstract

A safety cap for a small arms cartridge fits over the primer end of the cartridge casing and includes a cushioning material and a rigid material. The cap holds the two materials over the primer and prevents a firing pin from igniting the primer; thereby, rendering the cartridge safe. Furthermore, the added circumference around the end of the cartridge will, in most cases, prevent the cartridge from fitting in a magazine or being chambered in the weapon for which it is sized.

1 . A safety cartridge comprising:
 a small arms cartridge having a primer located at a primer end of a casing;   a rigid portion located adjacent the primer end; and   a safety cap encapsulating the rigid portion and a portion of the primer end of the casing, wherein the rigid portion prevents a firing pin from striking the primer.   
   
   
       2 . The safety cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cushion located between the rigid portion and the primer end of the casing.   
   
   
       3 . The safety cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the cushion is circular and substantially equal in diameter as that of the primer end. 
   
   
       4 . The safety cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the cushion absorbs moisture. 
   
   
       5 . The safety cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the cushion is a sponge. 
   
   
       6 . The safety cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the safety cap includes a pull tab a perforations that assist in tearing the safety cap for its removal. 
   
   
       7 . The safety cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the safety cap extends up a length of the casing about one-third that length. 
   
   
       8 . The safety cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the safety cap has a color approximately the same as the casing. 
   
   
       9 . The safety cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the safety cap has a color different than the casing. 
   
   
       10 . The safety cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid portion is circular and has a diameter approximately the same as the primer end. 
   
   
       11 . The safety cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid portion is constructed from one of steel and aluminum. 
   
   
       12 . A safety cap for a small arms cartridge comprising:
 a housing having an opening located opposite a bottom end, the opening configured to fit over a primer end of a small arms cartridge;   a rigid portion located inside the housing and adjacent to the bottom end; and   a cushion located inside the housing and adjacent the rigid portion.   
   
   
       13 . The safety cap of  claim 12 , wherein the housing is constructed of a deformable plastic configured to hold the cushion against the primer end of the cartridge when such a cartridge is inserted into the housing. 
   
   
       14 . The safety cap of  claim 12 , wherein the cushion is a sponge. 
   
   
       15 . The safety cap of  claim 12 , wherein the rigid portion is constructed from one of steel and aluminum. 
   
   
       16 . The safety cap of  claim 12 , wherein the cushion and the rigid portion are both circular in shape and have a diameter approximately the same as the primer end. 
   
   
       17 . The safety cap of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a pull tab and perforations configured to assist in tearing the safety cap.   
   
   
       18 . A method for making a small arms cartridge safer comprising the steps of:
 providing a cushion adjacent a primer end of the small arms cartridge;   providing a rigid portion adjacent the cushion, whereby the rigid portion prevents any impact from a firing pin from reaching a primer located at the primer end; and   securely holding the cushion and rigid portion against the primer end.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the two providing steps and the holding step are performed as part of the manufacture of the small arms cartridge. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the two providing steps and the holding step are performed as a retrofit to a separately manufactured cartridge.