Patents by Inventor Gordon R. Cate

Gordon R. Cate has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7140138
    Abstract: A firearm hammer has a hammer body with a hammer pivot axis for attachment to a firearm frame. A spur is connected to the hammer body, and the spur is movable among a number of positions with respect to the hammer body. The spur may be attached in a standard position in which it extends within the medial plane of the hammer body for use without a scope, or offset positions in which it angles away from the medial plane to provide accessibility. The offset angle may be 45 degrees, and a mating feature may provide the several attachment positions, each secure against movement except by deliberate removal of a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Thompson Center Arms Company Inc.
    Inventors: Mark C. Laney, Gordon R. Cate
  • Patent number: 6604311
    Abstract: A muzzle-loading firearm with a lever-operated breechblock pivotally movable between a securely locked closed position to an open position to expose in plain view a removable breech plug having a cavity for receiving a primer, detonation of which causes ignition of a powder charge in the muzzle loader barrel. The breechblock and a lever are pivotally mounted on a rearward barrel lug which is attached to the barrel. The lever is operatively connected to the breechblock by a pivotally mounted link. The pivotal link in an angular position exerts a locking force on the closed breechblock. The lever manually moves the breechblock rearwardly and downwardly to an open position. A firing mechanism assembly, including a trigger, hammer, firing pin, and torsional springs for forwardly biasing the trigger and hammer, is a unitary member of the rotating breechblock structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Thompson Intellectual Properties, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark C. Laney, Karl K. Ricker, Gordon R. Cate
  • Patent number: 6532692
    Abstract: A breech plug assembly for a muzzle loading firearm. The breech plug assembly is screwed into the back opening at the breech end of the barrel of the firearm. The forward end of the conical projection has a tapered or conical projection for supporting the end of a pre-formed explosive pellet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Thompson Intellectual Properties, Ltd.
    Inventor: Gordon R. Cate
  • Publication number: 20010013191
    Abstract: A breech plug assembly for a muzzle loading firearm. The breech plug assembly is screwed into the back opening at the breech end of the barrel of the firearm. The forward end of the conical projection has a tapered or conical projection for supporting the end of a pre-formed explosive pellet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventor: Gordon R. Cate
  • Patent number: 6219951
    Abstract: A breech plug assembly for a muzzle loading firearm. The breech plug assembly is screwed into the back opening at the breech end of the barrel of the firearm. The forward end of the conical projection has a tapered or conical projection for supporting the end of a pre-formed explosive pellet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Thompson Intellectual Properties, Ltd.
    Inventor: Gordon R. Cate