Shotgun shell wad

Abstract

A shotgun shell wad may include a plurality of resilient flaps spaced evenly around a circumference of a cylindrical body configured to receive shot, with the flaps covering less than half of the circumference. The flaps may be in an undeployed state until a shotgun shell is fired and the wad exits the barrel. The movement of the wad through air may urge the flaps into a deployed state. The flaps may retard the motion of the wad gradually such that the shot and wad remain together for up to 20 meters before decoupling.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A shotgun shell wad comprising:
 a cylindrical body having a front end and a rear end;   a forward chamber located in the body and having an opening at the front end, the forward chamber configured to receive shot;   a rearward chamber located in the body and having an opening at the rear end, the rearward chamber configured to receive a charge;   a partition located in the body between the forward chamber and the rearward chamber, the partition separating the forward chamber and the rearward chamber; and   a plurality of flaps located in the body, the plurality of flaps being connected at a rearward edge to the body and having a deployed state and an undeployed state, wherein a combined width of the plurality of flaps constitutes less than half of a circumference of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The shotgun shell wad of  claim 1 , the cylindrical body including a plurality of ridges on an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The shotgun shell wad of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of flaps is less than  45  degrees of the circumference of the body when in an undeployed state. 
     
     
         4 . The shotgun shell wad of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of flaps has a length that is equal to or less than 65% of the a length of the body. 
     
     
         5 . The shotgun shell wad of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of flaps comprise a forward edge, the forward edge being positioned a distance from the front end of the body, the distance being between 25% to 50% of a length of the forward chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The shotgun shell wad of  claim 1 , wherein the wad comprises four flaps, each of the four flaps being circumferentially spaced about the cylindrical body and the flaps each substantially opposing another flap. 
     
     
         7 . The shotgun shell wad of  claim 1 , wherein the partition includes a concave surface toward the rearward chamber. 
     
     
         8 . A shotgun shell wad comprising:
 a cylindrical body having a length, a front end and a rear end, the body having wall thickness along the length, the body being continuous about a first full circumference adjacent the front end and a second full circumference adjacent the rear end;   a forward chamber located in the body and having an opening at the front end, the forward chamber being configured to receive shot;   a rearward chamber located in the body and having an opening at the rear end, the rearward chamber being configured to receive a charge;   a partition located in the body between the forward chamber and the rearward chamber, the partition separating the forward chamber and the rearward chamber, wherein the wall thickness of the body being proximate the partition is greater than or equal to the wall thickness of the body proximate the front end; and   a plurality of flaps located in the body, the flaps connected at a rearward edge and having a deployed state and an undeployed state, wherein the flaps constitute less than half of a circumference of the body and at least two of the plurality of flaps are positioned substantially opposite one another.   
     
     
         9 . The shotgun shell wad of  claim 8 , wherein the wall thickness decreases from proximate the partition to the front end. 
     
     
         10 . The shotgun shell wad of  claim 8 , wherein the wall thickness decreases from proximate the partition to the rear end. 
     
     
         11 . The shotgun shell wad of  claim 8 , wherein the flaps are tapered. 
     
     
         12 . The shotgun shell wad of  claim 8 , wherein the body has a plurality of flutes spaced evenly about an outer surface of the body, the flutes extend rearwardly from the front end. 
     
     
         13 . A shotgun shell wad comprising:
 a cylindrical body having a length, a front end and a rear end, the body having wall thickness along the length, the body being continuous about a first full circumference adjacent the front end and a second full circumference adjacent the rear end, the body having a plurality of flutes spaced evenly about an outer surface of the body and extending rearwardly from the front end;   a forward chamber located in the body and having an opening at the front end, the forward chamber being configured to receive shot;   a rearward chamber located in the body and having an opening at the rear end, the rearward chamber being configured to receive a charge;   a partition located in the body between the forward chamber and the rearward chamber, the partition separating the forward chamber and the rearward chamber, the wall thickness of the body being greatest proximate the partition; and   at least four flaps located in the body, the flaps connected at a rearward edge and having a deployed state and an undeployed state, wherein the flaps constitute less than half of a circumference of the body.   
     
     
         14 . The shotgun shell wad of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of flutes have fluting interval between 10° and 45°. 
     
     
         15 . The shotgun shell wad of  claim 13 , wherein the second full circumference adjacent the rear end of the body has a smooth outer surface and is substantially longitudinally aligned with the rearward chamber. 
     
     
         16 . A shotgun shell comprising:
 a cylindrical case;   a wad configured to fit inside the case, the wad comprising
 a cylindrical body having a front end and a rear end, 
 a forward chamber located in the body and having an opening at the front end, the forward chamber configured to receive shot, 
 a rearward chamber located in the body and having an opening at the rear end, the rearward chamber configured to receive a charge, 
 a partition located in the body between the forward chamber and the rearward chamber, the partition separating the forward chamber and the rearward chamber, and 
 a plurality of flaps located in the body, the flaps connected at a rearward edge and having a deployed state and an undeployed state, wherein the flaps constitute less than half of a circumference of the body; 
   shot located in the forward chamber of the wad;   a base configured to circumferentially seal around the case;   a charge located in the rearward chamber of the wad and in the base; and   a primer located in the rearward chamber and the base, the primer adjacent the charge on at least one side.   
     
     
         17 . The shotgun shell of  claim 16 , wherein at least part of an outer surface of the body forms a seal with inner surface of the casing. 
     
     
         18 . The shotgun shell of  claim 16 , wherein the body comprises a wall, the wall tapering from the partition to the front end. 
     
     
         19 . The shotgun shell of  claim 16 , wherein the body comprises a wall, the wall tapering from the partition to the rear end. 
     
     
         20 . The shotgun shell of  claim 16 , wherein the body has a plurality of flutes spaced even about an outer surface of the body, the flutes extending rearwardly from the front end.