Breech plug for use with a muzzle-loading rifle

Abstract

A breech plug for removable engagement with a muzzle-loading firearm barrel having a seating surface that forms an oblique angle with the longitudinal axis of the barrel. The breech plug includes a circumferential tightening mechanism. The circumferential tightening mechanism is configured to move the breech plug along the longitudinal axis within the firearm barrel. The breech plug also includes a continuous flange with a circumferential distal edge. The distal edge is configured to form a seal with the firearm barrel oblique angle seating surface upon movement of the breech plug by the circumferential tightening mechanism.

1 . A breech plug for removable engagement with a muzzle-loading firearm barrel having a seating surface that forms an oblique angle with the longitudinal axis of the barrel, the breech plug comprising:
 a circumferential tightening mechanism, the circumferential tightening mechanism configured to move the breech plug along the longitudinal axis within the firearm barrel; and   a continuous flange comprising a circumferential distal edge, the distal edge configured to form a seal with the firearm barrel oblique angle seating surface upon movement of the breech plug by the circumferential tightening mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The breech plug of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential tightening mechanism comprises a threaded surface. 
     
     
         3 . The breech plug of  claim 2 , wherein the circumferential tightening mechanism further comprises a handle. 
     
     
         4 . The breech plug of  claim 2 , wherein the diameter of the circumferential tightening mechanism is greater than the diameter of the circumferential distal edge. 
     
     
         5 . The breech plug of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential tightening mechanism is unitarily constructed with the continuous flange. 
     
     
         6 . The breech plug of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential tightening mechanism is configured to move the continuous flange distal edge to a position beyond the firearm barrel seating surface. 
     
     
         7 . The breech plug of  claim 6 , wherein movement caused by the circumferential tightening mechanism after the circumferential distal edge contacts the firearm barrel seating surface increases the pressure between the circumferential distal edge and the firearm barrel seating surface. 
     
     
         8 . The breech plug of  claim 6 , wherein the circumferential distal edge is configured to form a seal with an internal position along the firearm barrel seating surface. 
     
     
         9 . A breech plug for removable engagement with a muzzle-loading firearm barrel having a seating surface that forms an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, the breech plug comprising:
 a continuous flange comprising a circumferential distal edge, the distal edge configured to contact the firearm barrel seating surface; and   a tightening mechanism configured to move the circumferential distal edge toward the firearm barrel seating surface, the tightening mechanism having unitary construction with the continuous flange, and movement caused by the tightening mechanism after the circumferential distal edge contacts the firearm barrel seating surface increases the pressure between the circumferential distal edge and the firearm barrel seating surface.   
     
     
         10 . The breech plug of  claim 9 , wherein the tightening mechanism comprises a circumferential surface having a greater diameter than the circumferential distal edge. 
     
     
         11 . The breech plug of  claim 10 , wherein the tightening mechanism circumferential surface comprises a threaded surface. 
     
     
         12 . The breech plug of  claim 9 , wherein the tightening mechanism is configured to move the continuous flange distal edge to a position beyond the firearm barrel seating surface. 
     
     
         13 . The breech plug of  claim 9 , wherein the circumferential distal edge is configured to form a seal with an internal position along the firearm barrel seating surface. 
     
     
         14 . A muzzle-loading firearm comprising:
 a barrel comprising a longitudinal axis and a seating surface that forms an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis;   a continuous flange comprising a circumferential distal edge, the distal edge configured to contact an internal position along the firearm barrel seating surface; and   a circumferential tightening mechanism configured to move the circumferential distal edge toward the firearm barrel seating surface, the circumferential tightening mechanism having unitary construction with the continuous flange, and movement caused by the circumferential tightening mechanism after the circumferential distal edge contacts the firearm barrel seating surface increases the pressure between the circumferential distal edge and the firearm barrel seating surface.   
     
     
         15 . The muzzle-loading firearm of  claim 12 , wherein the circumferential tightening mechanism comprises a handle. 
     
     
         16 . The muzzle-loading firearm of  claim 12 , wherein the circumferential tightening mechanism comprises a threaded surface. 
     
     
         17 . The muzzle-loading firearm of  claim 12 , wherein the circumferential tightening mechanism comprises a diameter greater than the continuous flange distal edge. 
     
     
         18 . A breech plug for a muzzle-loading firearm comprising:
 a threaded connection area having threads for engagement with a barrel of a muzzle-loading firearm, the threaded connection area defining an outside thread diameter;   an expanded gripping surface positioned at first end of the breech plug, the expanded gripping surface having an external diameter greater than the outside thread diameter of the threaded connection area;   a deformable, continuous circumferential sealing flange projecting axially forward from a second end of the breech plug opposite the threaded connection area from the expanded gripping surface, the sealing flange defining a flange diameter less than the outside thread diameter of the threaded connection area; and   an internal conduit extending through the breech plug from the first end to the second end.   
     
     
         19 . The breech plug of  claim 16 , comprising a unitary integral component. 
     
     
         20 . The breech plug of  claim 16 , further comprising a protective projection concentric with and externally positioned relative to the circumferential sealing flange. 
     
     
         21 . The breech plug of  claim 16 , wherein the expanded gripping surface comprises raised and recessed surface features.