Color Coded Polymer Ammunition Cartridge

Abstract

The present invention provides a color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge comprising: a polymeric bullet-end upper portion comprising a first polymer composition, connected to a polymeric middle body comprising a second polymer composition, wherein the first polymer composition, the second polymer composition or both comprise one or more pigments to provide an indicia.

1 . A color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge comprising:
 a primer insert comprising a top surface opposite a bottom surface and an coupling element that extends from the bottom surface, a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface, a flash hole aperture positioned in the primer recess to extend through the bottom surface, and a flash aperture groove in the primer recess that extends circumferentially about the flash hole aperture;   a mid-body comprising a second polymer composition having a nose coupler at one end extending to an overmolded primer insert, wherein the second polymer composition extends over the coupling element and into the flash hole aperture to the flash aperture groove to form an overmolded flash hole;   a nose connected to the coupling element wherein the nose comprises a first polymer composition, wherein the nose comprises a mid-body coupling element connected to a projectile end aperture to engage a projectile by a shoulder; and   wherein the first polymer composition comprises a first colorant and the second polymer composition comprises at least a second colorant to provide an indicia to identify the color coded polymeric ammunition.   
     
     
         2 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first colorant comprises one or more pigments selected from black pigments, white pigments, gray pigments, pink pigments, red pigments, orange pigments, yellow pigments, green pigments, cyan pigments, blue pigments, violet pigments, purple pigments, brown pigments, tan pigments, brass pigments, copper pigments, or gold pigments. 
     
     
         3 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a second colorant comprises one or more pigments selected from black pigments, white pigments, gray pigments, pink pigments, red pigments, orange pigments, yellow pigments, green pigments, cyan pigments, blue pigments, violet pigments, purple pigments, brown pigments, tan pigments, brass pigments, copper pigments, or gold pigments. 
     
     
         4 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first colorant comprises one or more first pigments selected from black pigments, white pigments, gray pigments, pink pigments, red pigments, orange pigments, yellow pigments, green pigments, cyan pigments, blue pigments, violet pigments, purple pigments, brown pigments, tan pigments, brass pigments, copper pigments, or gold pigments and the at least a second colorant comprises one or more second pigments selected from black pigments, white pigments, gray pigments, pink pigments, red pigments, orange pigments, yellow pigments, green pigments, cyan pigments, blue pigments, violet pigments, purple pigments, brown pigments, tan pigments, brass pigments, copper pigments, or gold pigments. 
     
     
         5 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first colorant comprises one or more first dye selected from black dye, white dye, gray dye, pink dye, red dye, orange dye, yellow dye, green dye, cyan dye, blue dye, violet dye, purple dye, brown dye, tan dye, brass dye, copper dye, or gold dye and the at least a second colorant comprises one or more second dyes selected from black dye, white dye, gray dye, pink dye, red dye, orange dye, yellow dye, green dye, cyan dye, blue dye, violet dye, purple dye, brown dye, tan dye, brass dye, copper dye, or gold dye. 
     
     
         6 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first colorant are present in an amount of between 0.001 and 10 wt % and more specifically 0.001 wt %, 0.01 wt %, 0.1 wt %, 0.25 wt %, 0.5 wt %, 0.75 wt %, 1 wt %, 2 wt %, 2.1 wt %, 2.25 wt %, 2.5 wt %, 2.75 wt %, 3.1 wt %, 3.25 wt %, 3.5 wt %, 3.75 wt %, 4.0 wt %, 4.25 wt %, 4.5 wt %, 4.75 wt %, 5.0 wt %, 5.25 wt %, 5.5 wt %, 5.75 wt %, 6.0 wt %, 6.25 wt %, 6.5 wt %, 6.75 wt %, 7.0 wt %, 7.25 wt %, 7.5 wt %, 7.75 wt %, 8.0 wt %, 8.25 wt %, 8.5 wt %, 8.75 wt %, 9.0 wt %, 9.25 wt %, 9.5 wt %, 9.75 wt %, 10.0 wt % and incremental variations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a second colorants are present in an amount of between 0.001 and 10 wt % and more specifically 0.001 wt %, 0.01 wt %, 0.1 wt %, 0.25 wt %, 0.5 wt %, 0.75 wt %, 1 wt %, 2 wt %, 2.1 wt %, 2.25 wt %, 2.5 wt %, 2.75 wt %, 3.1 wt %, 3.25 wt %, 3.5 wt %, 3.75 wt %, 4.0 wt %, 4.25 wt %, 4.5 wt %, 4.75 wt %, 5.0 wt %, 5.25 wt %, 5.5 wt %, 5.75 wt %, 6.0 wt %, 6.25 wt %, 6.5 wt %, 6.75 wt %, 7.0 wt %, 7.25 wt %, 7.5 wt %, 7.75 wt %, 8.0 wt %, 8.25 wt %, 8.5 wt %, 8.75 wt %, 9.0 wt %, 9.25 wt %, 9.5 wt %, 9.75 wt %, 10.0 wt % and incremental variations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first pigments and the one or more second pigments are different pigments. 
     
     
         9 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first polymer composition, the second polymer composition or both comprise polybutylene terephthalate, polyurethane prepolymer, cellulose, fluoro-polymer, ethylene inter-polymer alloy elastomer, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon, polyether imide, polyester elastomer, polyester sulfone, polyphenyl amide, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride or thermoset polyurea elastomer, acrylics, homopolymers, acetates, copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadinen-styrene, thermoplastic fluoro polymers, inomers, polyamides, polyamide-imides, polyacrylates, polyatherketones, polyaryl-sulfones, polybenzimidazoles, polycarbonates, polybutylene, terephthalates, polyether imides, polyether sulfones, thermoplastic polyimides, thermoplastic polyurethanes, polyphenylene sulfides, polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfones, polyvinylchlorides, styrene acrylonitriles, polystyrenes, polyphenylene, ether blends, styrene maleic anhydrides, polycarbonates, allyls, aminos, cyanates, epoxies, phenolics, unsaturated polyesters, bismaleimides, polyurethanes, silicones, vinylesters, urethane hybrids, polyphenylsulfones, copolymers of polyphenylsulfones with polyethersulfones or polysulfones, copolymers of poly-phenylsulfones with siloxanes, blends of polyphenylsulfones with polysiloxanes, poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers, blends of polyetherimides and polysiloxanes, and blends of polyetherimides and poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers. 
     
     
         10 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric bullet-end upper portion, the polymeric middle body or both comprise a nylon polymer or a polycarbonate polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber-reinforced polymeric composite contains between about 3 and about 50 wt % glass fiber fillers, mineral fillers, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric bullet-end upper portion and the polymeric middle body are welded, sintered, soldered or bonded together. 
     
     
         13 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge is a 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm, 308, 338, 3030, 3006, 50 caliber, 45 caliber, 380 caliber, 38 caliber, 9 mm, 10 mm, 12.7 mm, 14.5 mm, 14.7 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 57 mm, 60 mm, 75 mm, 76 mm, 81 mm, 90 mm, 100 mm, 105 mm, 106 mm, 115 mm, 120 mm, 122 mm, 125 mm, 130 mm, 152 mm, 155 mm, 165 mm, 175 mm, 203 mm, 460 mm, 8 inch, or 4.2 inch ammunition cartridge. 
     
     
         14 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first colorant and the at least a second colorant comprise brown pigments. 
     
     
         15 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first colorant or the at least a second colorant comprise a brown pigment. 
     
     
         16 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first colorant, the at least a second colorant or both comprise green pigments. 
     
     
         17 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first colorant or the at least a second colorant comprise green pigments. 
     
     
         18 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first polymer composition, the second polymer composition or both comprise green pigments to provide a camouflage appearance. 
     
     
         19 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first colorants and the at least a second colorant are the same pigment and the pigment correlates to a first feature of the color coded polymeric ammunition, wherein the first feature is selected from propellant load, projectile type, projectile shape, projectile use, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The color coded polymeric ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first colorants and the at least a second colorant are the different pigments and the first colorants correlates to a first feature of the color coded polymeric ammunition, and the at least a second colorant correlates to a second feature of the color coded polymeric ammunition, wherein the first feature and second feature are independently selected from propellant load, projectile type, projectile shape, projectile use, or a combination thereof.