Ammunition carrying device

Abstract

A molded ammunition carrying device including a plurality of independently expandable “C” profile cradles. The cradles are adapted to wrap compressively in partial circumferential relation about a shell body or other large diameter ammunition to provide support despite variations in individual ammunition dimensions. The carrying device may be adapted for attachment to other structures including belts, webbing, quick reload devices, or other structures used by a shooter in the field.

1 . An ammunition carrying device adapted to support a plurality of shells for large bore firearms, the carrying device comprising:
 a plurality of expansible cradle elements disposed in molded-in integral relation to a backing wall to define a unitary molded construction, wherein the cradle elements each comprise a pair of complimentary, opposing resilient sidewalls oriented longitudinally on the carrying device and projecting away from the backing wall, the sidewalls having free edges curved radially inwardly such that each of the cradle elements has a substantially “C” shaped cross section with a longitudinal slot between the free edges of the opposing resilient sidewalls, and wherein the sidewalls of each cradle element are independently flexible relative to sidewalls of adjacent cradle elements, the cradle elements being adapted to receive a shell by axial insertion of the shell between the opposing resilient sidewalls such that the complimentary, opposing resilient sidewalls wrap in circumferential compressible relation partially around a body portion of the shell.   
     
     
         2 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cradle elements comprises a curved depression in the backing wall defining a base of the cradle element. 
     
     
         3 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein at least one raised rib is disposed on the curved depression. 
     
     
         4 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cradle elements extends circumferentially around an angle of about 270 degrees or greater along at least a portion of its length. 
     
     
         5 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said at least one of the cradle elements comprises a curved depression in the backing wall defining a base of the cradle element, the base being of substantially fixed geometery. 
     
     
         6 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 5 , wherein at least one raised rib is disposed on the curved depression. 
     
     
         7 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said at least one of the cradle elements extends circumferentially around an angle of about 270 degrees or greater along at least a portion of its length. 
     
     
         8 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cradle elements comprises a chamfered lower end. 
     
     
         9 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said at least one of the cradle elements extends circumferentially around an angle of about 270 degrees or greater at a position above the chamfered lower end. 
     
     
         10 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said at least one of the cradle elements comprises a curved depression in the backing wall defining a base of the cradle element, the base being of substantially fixed geometery. 
     
     
         11 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein at least one raised rib is disposed on the curved depression. 
     
     
         12 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the carrying device further comprising a first ledge projecting away from the backing wall in a direction facing away from the cradle elements, the first ledge including an eyelet opening, and wherein a box protrusion is disposed at an elevation below the first ledge in aligned relation to the eyelet opening in the first ledge to define a second ledge, 
     
     
         13 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the box protrusion is hollow such that the eyelet opening and box protrusion are adapted to receive a connection strap in threaded relation. 
     
     
         14 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the carrying device further comprises at least one internal channel adapted to slidingly receive a lock strap insert in snap-in relation. 
     
     
         15 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the carrying device further comprising a first ledge projecting away from the backing wall in a direction facing away from the cradle elements, the first ledge including an eyelet opening, and wherein a box protrusion is disposed at an elevation below the first ledge in aligned relation to the eyelet opening in the first ledge to define a second ledge, and wherein a leg extends downwardly away from the ledge. 
     
     
         16 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a rotatable cover adapted for disposition in covering relation head portions of shells held within the cradle elements. 
     
     
         17 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the cover has an open mesh grid construction. 
     
     
         18 . An ammunition carrying device adapted to support a plurality of shells for large bore firearms, the carrying device comprising:
 a plurality of expansible cradle elements disposed in molded-in integral relation to a backing wall to define a unitary molded construction, wherein the cradle elements each comprise a pair of complimentary, opposing resilient sidewalls oriented longitudinally on the carrying device and projecting away from the backing wall, the sidewalls of each cradle element having free edges curved radially inwardly such that each of the cradle elements has a substantially “C” shaped cross section with a longitudinal slot between the free edges of the opposing resilient sidewalls of the cradle element, and wherein the sidewalls of each cradle element are independently flexible relative to sidewalls of adjacent cradle elements, the cradle elements each being adapted to receive a shell by axial insertion of the shell between the opposing resilient sidewalls such that the complimentary, opposing resilient sidewalls wrap in circumferential compressible relation partially around a body portion of the shell, wherein each of the cradle elements extends circumferentially around an angle of about 270 degrees or greater along at least a portion of its length, and wherein each of the cradle elements comprises a chamfered lower end.   
     
     
         19 . An ammunition carrying device as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the carrying device further comprises a first ledge projecting away from the backing wall in a direction facing away from the cradle elements, the first ledge including an eyelet opening, and wherein a box protrusion is disposed at an elevation below the first ledge in aligned relation to the eyelet opening in the first ledge to define a second ledge, the box protrusion being hollow such that the eyelet opening and box protrusion are adapted to receive a connection strap in threaded relation. 
     
     
         20 . An ammunition carrying device adapted to support a plurality of shells for large bore firearms, the carrying device comprising:
 a plurality of expansible cradle elements disposed in molded-in integral relation to a backing wall to define a unitary molded construction, wherein one or more of the cradle elements comprise a curved depression in the backing wall defining a base of the cradle element, at least one raised rib being disposed on the curved depression and a pair of complimentary, opposing resilient sidewalls oriented longitudinally on the carrying device and projecting away from the backing wall at opposing sides of the curved depression, the sidewalls of each cradle element having free edges curved radially inwardly such that each of the cradle elements has a substantially “C” shaped cross section with a longitudinal slot between the free edges of the opposing resilient sidewalls of the cradle element, and wherein the sidewalls of each cradle element are independently flexible relative to sidewalls of adjacent cradle elements, the cradle elements each being adapted to receive a shell by axial insertion of the shell between the opposing resilient sidewalls such that the complimentary, opposing resilient sidewalls wrap in circumferential compressible relation partially around a body portion of the shell;   the carrying device further comprising a first ledge projecting away from the backing wall in a direction facing away from the cradle elements, the first ledge including an eyelet opening, a box protrusion being disposed at an elevation below the first ledge in aligned relation to the eyelet opening in the first ledge to define a second ledge, the box protrusion being hollow such that the eyelet opening and box protrusion are adapted to receive a connection strap in threaded relation;   the carrying device further comprising at least one internal channel adapted to slidingly receive a lock strap insert in snap-in relation.