AMMUNITION CONTAINER

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to an ammunition container.

BACKGROUND

Ammunition containers have been used to hold rounds of ammunition or bullets. In such containers, a compression seal is used to seal a box and a lid. The compression seal may require a clamping force to maintain the sealing between the box and the lid.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present disclosure includes an ammunition container that includes a box including a side wall; a lid covering the box and including a rib; a lid inner attached to the lid, at least a part of the lid inner being disposed in the box; and a flexible circumferential seal supported by the lid inner, the flexible circumferential seal being in contact with the side wall of the box and with the rib of the lid.

An embodiment of the present disclosure includes an ammunition container that includes a box including a side wall, wherein the side wall includes a corrugated shape including alternating radii, such that the side wall of the box is configured to distort without breaking, upon occurrence of an impact to the side wall; a lid covering the box; and a flexible circumferential seal that seals the box and the lid, wherein the side wall of the box includes a sealing surface in contact with the flexible circumferential seal, wherein the sealing surface of the box is substantially coincident with inner surfaces of crests of waves of the corrugated shape of the box.

An embodiment of the present disclosure includes an ammunition container that includes a box including a side wall; and a lid covering the box, wherein the side wall of the box and a first part of the lid form a hinge, and wherein a second part of the lid is detachably attached to the side wall of the box, and is rotatable around the hinge formed by the sidewall and the first part of the lid.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an ammunition container according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective view of an ammunition container according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates another perspective view of an ammunition container according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an ammunition container according to one embodiment, with omitting a lid from FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of an ammunition container according to one embodiment, with omitting a flexible circumferential seal from FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a box according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of an ammunition container according to one embodiment, with omitting a box from FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a lid according to one embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a lid inner and a flexible circumferential seal according to one embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of a lid inner according to one embodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of a flexible circumferential seal according to one embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along a line XII-XII in FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along a line XIII-XIII in FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective view of an ammunition container according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 15A-15D illustrate partial views of an ammunition container according to one embodiment.

FIG. 16A illustrates a partial view of an ammunition container according to one embodiment.

FIG. 16B illustrates a perspective view of an ammunition container according to one embodiment.

EMBODIMENTS

The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles of the present disclosure is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. Moreover, the features and benefits of the disclosure are illustrated by reference to the exemplified embodiments. Accordingly, the disclosure expressly should not be limited to such exemplary embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of the disclosure being defined by the claims appended hereto.

This disclosure describes the best mode or modes of practicing the disclosure as presently contemplated. This description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but provides an example of the disclosure presented solely for illustrative purposes by reference to the accompanying drawings to advise one of ordinary skill in the art of the advantages and construction of the disclosure. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.

It is important to note that the embodiments disclosed are only examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed disclosures. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others. In general, unless otherwise indicated, singular elements may be in plural and vice versa with no loss of generality.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an ammunition container according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective view of an ammunition container according to one embodiment. FIG. 3 illustrates another perspective view of an ammunition container according to one embodiment.

In some embodiments, an ammunition container 101 in the present disclosure may be configured to hold rounds of ammunition or bullets, but the use of the ammunition container 101 is not limited to this example, and the user may put other things I the ammunition container 101. The ammunition container 101 may include a box 200, a lid 300, a lid inner 400, and a flexible circumferential seal 500.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an ammunition container according to one embodiment, with omitting a lid from FIG. 1. FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of an ammunition container according to one embodiment, with omitting a flexible circumferential seal from FIG. 4. FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a box according to one embodiment.

The box 200 may include a side wall 210, and a bottom 230 (see FIG. 3). The side wall 210 may extend upwardly from the bottom 230. With reference to FIG. 13, in some embodiments, the side wall 210 may include a corrugated shape 215 including alternating radii 216, such that the side wall 210 of the box 200 is configured to distort without breaking, upon occurrence of an impact to the side wall 210. In the illustrated example shown in FIG. 3, the corrugated shape 215 may include a portion at a bottom corner 290 of the box 200. The bottom 230 may include a corrugated shape 235 including alternating radii 236. The corrugated shape 235 of the bottom 230 may be continuous with the corrugated shape 215 of the side wall 210. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the bottom 230 may include stacking features 239 that are larger and offer more ease of stacking compared to conventional military packaging.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of an ammunition container according to one embodiment, with omitting a box from FIG. 2. FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a lid according to one embodiment. FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along a line XII-XII in FIG. 1. FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along a line XIII-XIII in FIG. 1.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 7, 8, and 12, the lid 300 may cover the box 200. The lid 300 may be closed or opened with the lid inner 400 and the flexible circumferential seal 500 being attached to the lid 300. As shown in FIG. 12, in some embodiments, the lid 300 may include a top 310, an outer wall 320, a rib 330, and a protrusion(s) 340, but any other configurations may be possible. The outer wall 320 may extend downwardly from the top 310. The outer wall 320 may be disposed outside the box 200. Each of the rib 330 and the protrusion 340 may extend downwardly from the top 310. In some embodiments, at least a part of each of the rib 330 and the protrusion 340 may be disposed in the box 200. With reference to FIG. 13, in some embodiments, the top edge 211 of the side wall 210 of the box 200 may include a bump 2111, and the lid 300 may include a notch 360 engaging with the bump 2111 of the top edge 211 of the side wall 210.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a lid inner and a flexible circumferential seal according to one embodiment. FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of a lid inner according to one embodiment.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 9-10, and 12-13, in some embodiments, the lid inner 400 may be attached to the lid 300. In one example, the lid inner 400 may be mechanically fastened to the lid 300 via heat staking at locations 491 (see FIG. 7). In some embodiments, the lid inner 400 may include teeth 493 (see FIG. 9) that mechanically lock against the lid 300 to hold in place. Configurations of the lid inner 400, which are shown in the figures, are just examples, and the lid inner may include various configurations not shown in the figures. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the lid inner 400 may be in contact with the protrusion 340. At least a part of the lid inner 400 may be disposed in the box 200. In some embodiments, the lid inner 400 may include a base 410, a rib 440, and protrusion 450. The base 410 may be fixed to the protrusion 340. Each of the rib 440 and the protrusion 450 may extend upwardly from the base 410. Each of the rib 440 and the protrusion 450 may be in contact with the top 310. The rib 440 of the lid inner 400 and the rib 330 of the lid 300 may be opposed to each other, and may create a slot 810. The base 410 may include an overhanging flange 411 extending from the rib 440 of the lid inner 400 toward the side wall 210 of the box 200. In the illustrated example in FIG. 12, the overhanging flange 411 and the side wall 210 of the box 200 may create a gap 820 between the overhanging flange 411 and the side wall 210. In other embodiments, the overhanging flange 411 may be in contact with the side wall 210 of the box 200. With reference to FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, the lid inner 400 with the lid 300 may form an I-beam construction (in the illustrated embodiment, a part(s) 496 (see FIG. 4) of the lid inner 400 and a part(s) 396 (see FIG. 8) of the lid 300 form a web of the I-beam construction, a part 497 (see FIG. 7) of the lid inner 400 forms a lower flange of the I-beam construction, and a part 396 (see FIG. 8) of the lid 300 forms an upper flange of the I-beam construction), which stiffens the lid 300.

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of a flexible circumferential seal according to one embodiment.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 9, 11, and 12, in some embodiments, the flexible circumferential seal 500 may be supported and trapped by the lid inner 400. In the illustrated example, the flexible circumferential seal 500 may be supported by the overhanging flange 411 and the rib 440. As shown in FIG. 4, in a plan view of the ammunition container 101, the flexible circumferential seal 500 may extend, in an inside of the box 200, along a top edge 211 of the side wall 210 of the box 200. The flexible circumferential seal 500 may be in contact with the side wall 210 of the box 200 and with the rib 330 of the lid 300. In some embodiments, the flexible circumferential seal 500 may be pressed, by the lid 300, against the lid inner 400. In the illustrated example, the flexible circumferential seal 500 may be pressed, by the rib 440 of the lid inner 400, against an inner surface 213 of the side wall 210 of the box 200.

With reference to FIG. 12, in some embodiments, the flexible circumferential seal 500 may include a J-shape cross section, but any other configurations may be possible. In some embodiments, the flexible circumferential seal 500 may include a first portion 510, a second portion 520, and a bending portion 530. The bending portion 530 may be connected to the first portion 510 and to the second portion 520. The first portion 510 may extend from the bending portion 530 toward the lid 300, and the second portion 520 may extend from the bending portion 530 towards the side wall 210 of the box 200.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12, the first portion 510 of the flexible circumferential seal 500 may be disposed between the rib 330 of the lid 300 and the rib 440 of the lid inner 400, and may be in contact with the rib 330 of the lid 300 and with the rib 440 of the lid inner 400. The first portion 510 may be fixed, by the rib 440 of the lid inner 400 and the rib 330 of the lid 300, in the slot 810 created by the rib 440 of the lid inner 400 and the rib 330 of the lid 300. The first portion 510 may be a vertical leg 511 extending vertically along the rib 440 of the lid inner 400. In some embodiments, the he first portion 510 may include at least one bump 540 in contact with the rib 330 of the lid 300. Optionally, or alternatively, in some embodiments, the first portion 510 may further include at least one bump 550 in contact with the rib 440 of the lid inner 400. In other embodiments, the first portion 510 does not include the bump 540 or bump 550. Some embodiments may have multiple bumps to aid in sealing the first portion 510 against the ribs 440 and 330.

In some embodiments, the second portion 520 may be disposed between the side wall 210 of the box 200, and the rib 330 of the lid 300. The second portion 520 may be disposed between the top edge 211 of the side wall 210 of the box 200, and the rib 330 of the lid 300. The second portion 520 may be in contact with the inner surface 213 of the top edge 211 of the side wall 210 of the box 200.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 12, in some embodiments, the J-shape geometry of the flexible circumferential seal 500 may create a side seal on the inner surface 213 of the box 200, which may be unique to military packaging. In some embodiments, with the J-shape geometry of the flexible circumferential seal 500, when more exterior pressure is applied, the more force may be exerted on the flexible circumferential seal 500, in such a manner as to increase the seal load against the side wall 210 and thereby seal more effectively. With the bump 540 of the flexible circumferential seal 500, when the flexible circumferential seal 500 is mechanically held and trapped between the lid 300 and lid inner 400, the flexible circumferential seal 500 may effectively seal the box 200 against external pressure.

As shown in FIG. 13, the inner surface 213 of the side wall 210 may include a sealing surface in contact with the flexible circumferential seal 500. In some embodiments, the inner surface 213 (e.g., a flat sealing surface) may be substantially coincident with inner surfaces 219 of crests of waves of the corrugated shape 215 of the box 200.

In some embodiments, the following variations may be possible in the ammunition container in the present disclosure. With reference to FIGS. 14 and 15A, the side wall 210 of the box 200 and a first part 381 of the lid 300 may form a hinge 391, which may be unique to military packaging. In some examples, it may be possible that the hinge 391 has no pin that connects the lid 300 with the box 200. In some embodiments, a part 386 of the lid 300 may align with a part 286 of the box 200. In some embodiments, the box 200 may include a locking pin 288 at the side wall 210, and the pin 288 may be disposed in a notch 388 of the lid 300. As shown in FIG. 15B, the lid 300 may include a second part 382 attached to the side wall 210 of the box 200. As shown in FIG. 15D, the second part 382 may be rotatable around the hinge 391. In some embodiments, the second part 382 of the lid 300 and the side wall 210 of the box 200 may form a locking latch 392. In some embodiments, in order to form the latch 392, the lid 300 may include one or more openings 3821, and the side wall 210 may include one or more protrusions 2821 that engage with the openings 3821, respectively. In some embodiments, the protrusions 2821 may be formed by a component separated from a main portion of the side wall 210 of the box 200. The component may move up and down relative to the main portion of the sidewall 210, and engage with the second part 382 (e.g., openings 3821) of the lid 300, and may lock the lid 300 to the box 200 using the openings 3821. However, the protrusions 2821 may be integral with the main portion of the side wall 210. As shown in FIG. 15D, in some embodiments, the user may be able to use one hand and arm to effectively unlock, open, and remove the lid 300 from the box 200 in one fluid motion for a fully packed box. In some embodiments, the second part 382 may include a living hinge. As shown in FIG. 16A, one or more integral drone attachment points 219 for a drone attachment 850 (see FIG. 16B) may be formed at the side wall 210 of the box 200.

In the present disclosure, the ammunition container 101 may include the flexible circumferential seal 500. The flexible circumferential seal 500 may be beneficial because the flexible circumferential seal 500 does not need to rely on a clamping force to maintain a compression seal. In addition, in some embodiments, the flexible circumferential seal 500 may be disposed between the top edge 211 of the side wall 210 of the box 200 and the rib 330 of the lid 300, with the flexible circumferential seal 500 directly between the top edge 211 and the rib 330. Further, there is “overtravel” when the lid 300 is closed, meaning that even if the lid 300 lifts up a small distance the flexible circumferential seal 500 does not have to be compromised. This may be one of the advantages over a compression seal.

There may be a shorter load path between the lid inner 400 (which may locate the flexible circumferential seal 500) and the outer wall 320 of the lid 300 (which locates an upper edge of the box 200). This may make the relationship between these elements more accurate and stronger. In addition, the lid inner 400 may be close to the inner surface 213 of the top edge 211, which may prevent the top edge 211 from buckling inward.

In some embodiments, the flexible circumferential seal 500 may include a J-shape cross section, which may be oriented that way so that the flexible circumferential seal 500 may increase in effectiveness as the outside pressure differential increases, and so that the flexible circumferential seal 500 may not get caught and/or flipped when lid 300 is closed.

In some embodiments, the overhanging flange 411 may support the flexible circumferential seal 500, and protect the flexible circumferential seal 500 from damage. In some embodiments, the overhanging flange 411 may help guide the installation of the lid 300 onto the box 200. In addition, the overhanging flange 411 may provide mechanical support and location for the part of the box 200 that the flexible circumferential seal 500 seals against. If the top edge of the box 200 were allowed to move laterally, the seal may leak.

In some embodiments, the flexible circumferential seal 500 may include the bump 540. The bump 540 may be in contact with the rib 330 of the lid 300. This configuration may preferably seal the lid 300 and the box 200.

In some embodiments, the lid inner 400 and the lid 300 may have the rib 440 and the rib 330, respectively, that are opposed to each other. The ribs 440 and 330 may create the slot 810. The slot 810 may be used for the first portion 510 of the flexible circumferential seal 500 to jam in the slot 810.

In some embodiments, the side wall 210 may include the corrugated shape 215, and/or the bottom 230 may include the corrugated shape 235. Such corrugated shapes may provide one or more of the following. (1) Adds more material without increasing the wall thickness. (2) Increases the moment of inertia of the cross section (as seen from above) which may increase its bend strength and buckling resistance. (3) Creates “stand off distance” and also an ability for the corrugation to distort under impact in a way that a flat wall would break instead. This is in the same sense that a car has a crumple zone, or how you design an “egg drop” enclosure. This may provide distance over which the box can continue moving as it decelerates upon impact with a hard object, and the deformation of the corrugations provides energy dissipation. These two factors together can reduce the peak accelerations experienced by the contents of the box, and therefore the peak loads experienced by the box during the impact. (4) Creates “room to move” so the walls of the box can distort without breaking. While more rigid than a flat wall, the “extra material” in a corrugated shape allows it to be deformed to a greater displacement distance without rupture than a flat wall.

Some other geometric characteristics of the corrugated shape may include one or more of the following. (1) The corrugations may be more important in the corners of the box because those are more subject to impact, and also may need the column strength for stacking boxes on top of each other. (2) The seal mates with the inside of the top of the box. This surface may be well located and also be rounded in the corners. Another requirement may be that the inside of the box needs to be formed with no undercuts, for molding purposes. Therefore, this flat wall that forms this sealing surface has to be coincident with the outer crests of the waves of the corrugations.

In some embodiments, the flexible circumferential seal 500 may create some restrictions on what can be done with a hinge. The design in the present disclosure may utilize all of the available space allowed by the design restrictions, and may place the hinge point at a location which allows the flexible circumferential seal 500 to rotate past the box 200 as the lid 300 is opened. The undercut hook on the lid may be sized to allow mold actions called lifters to form the undercut. There may be a radius on the hook on the box to avoid stress concentration, and there may be small ribs that reinforce this area.

An embodiment of the present disclosure includes an ammunition container that includes a box including a side wall; a lid covering the box and including a rib; a lid inner attached to the lid, at least a part of the lid inner being disposed in the box; and a flexible circumferential seal supported by the lid inner, the flexible circumferential seal being in contact with the side wall of the box and with the rib of the lid.

In an embodiment, the flexible circumferential seal is pressed, by the lid, against the lid inner.

In an embodiment, the lid inner includes a rib, and wherein the rib of the lid inner and the rib of the lid are opposed to each other, and create a slot.

In an embodiment, the flexible circumferential seal is pressed, by the rib of the lid inner, against an inner surface of the side wall of the box.

In an embodiment, the flexible circumferential seal includes: a first portion that is fixed, by the rib of the lid inner and the rib of the lid, in the slot created by the rib of the lid inner and the rib of the lid; and a second portion disposed between the side wall of the box, and the rib of the lid.

In an embodiment, the first portion of the flexible circumferential seal is disposed between the rib of the lid and the rib of the lid inner, and is in contact with the rib of the lid and with the rib of the lid inner.

In an embodiment, the first portion of the flexible circumferential seal includes a vertical leg extending vertically along the rib of the lid inner.

In an embodiment, the second portion of the flexible circumferential seal is disposed between a top edge of the side wall of the box, and the rib of the lid.

In an embodiment, the second portion of the flexible circumferential seal is in contact with an inner surface of the top edge of the side wall of the box.

In an embodiment, the flexible circumferential seal includes a bending portion connected to the first portion and to the second portion, and wherein the first portion extends from the bending portion toward the lid, and the second portion extends from the bending portion towards the side wall of the box.

In an embodiment, the first portion of the flexible circumferential seal includes at least one bump in contact with the rib of the lid.

In an embodiment, the lid inner includes an overhanging flange extending from the rib of the lid inner toward the side wall of the box.

In an embodiment, the overhanging flange and the side wall of the box create a gap between the overhanging flange and the side wall of the box.

In an embodiment, in a plan view of the ammunition container, the flexible circumferential seal extends, in an inside of the box, along a top edge of the side wall of the box.

In an embodiment, a top edge of the side wall of the box includes a bump, and wherein the lid includes a notch engaging with the bump of the top edge of the side wall.

In an embodiment, the flexible circumferential seal includes a J-shape cross section.

An embodiment of the present disclosure includes an ammunition container that includes a box including a side wall, wherein the side wall includes a corrugated shape including alternating radii, such that the side wall of the box is configured to distort without breaking, upon occurrence of an impact to the side wall; a lid covering the box; and a flexible circumferential seal that seals the box and the lid, wherein the side wall of the box includes a sealing surface in contact with the flexible circumferential seal, wherein the sealing surface of the box is substantially coincident with inner surfaces of crests of waves of the corrugated shape of the box.

In an embodiment, the corrugated shape includes a portion at a bottom corner of the box.

In an embodiment, the box includes a bottom including a corrugated shape including alternating radii, wherein the corrugated shape of the bottom is continuous with the corrugated shape of the side wall.

An embodiment of the present disclosure includes an ammunition container that includes a box including a side wall; and a lid covering the box, wherein the side wall of the box and a first part of the lid form a hinge, and wherein a second part of the lid is detachably attached to the side wall of the box, and is rotatable around the hinge formed by the sidewall and the first part of the lid.

In an embodiment, the second part of the lid and the side wall of the box form a locking latch.

In an embodiment, the locking latch includes a component that is configured to move up and down, and that engages with the second part of the lid.

In an embodiment, the lid is configured to be opened and removed from the box, with one hand, in one fluid motion.

In an embodiment, the second part of the lid includes a living hinge.

In an embodiment, one or more integral drone attachment points are formed at the side wall of the box.

While the present disclosure has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the disclosure.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the disclosure and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the disclosure, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.