Patents Assigned to VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
  • Patent number: 11378368
    Abstract: A cartridge comprising an elongate rifle bullet with a plurality of circumferential grooves having overmolded polymer therein defining embedded polymer rings. The cartridge further having a case and propellant. The polymer rings have an outer surface that is flush with, that is, conforming to the outer surface of the body. The polymer may have be selected to have a favorable coefficient of friction with respect to the barrel. The bands offering reduction of the metal to metal contact between the bullet and the barrel while not diminishing the ballistic coefficient of the bullet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventors: Bryan P. Peterson, Richard Hurt, David M. Laska, Drew L. Goodlin
  • Patent number: 11378364
    Abstract: Devices and methods for an 8 mm semiautomatic handgun cartridge providing a reduced form factor for carrying a greater number of rounds in a smaller space while maintaining ballistic performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventors: Bryan P. Peterson, Matthew S. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 11346641
    Abstract: A cartridge with a bullet has desirable penetration capabilities and controlled separation of components upon terminal impact. In embodiments of the invention, the bullet comprises a forward component, a lead core, and a copper jacket. The bullet having a forward nose portion with a plurality of cutaways spaced circumferentially about the nose portion. The copper jacket having a leading edge portion positioned at the cutaways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventor: Bryan P. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11333472
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a projectile includes a projectile body including a tail portion, a nose portion, a barrel engaging portion between the nose portion and the tail portion, and a metal jacket that defines an exterior of the projectile that surrounds an interior solid core. In one or more embodiments the projectile includes one or more circumferential grooves defined in the interior core portion, each of the one or more circumferential grooves covered by and positioned adjacent to the metal jacket and within the barrel-engaging portion. In various embodiments, during firing of the projectile, the one or more circumferential grooves define a void that allows material of one or more of the metal jacket and interior solid core to displace into the void for reduction in radial stiffness to the projectile in the barrel engaging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventor: Bryan P. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11306989
    Abstract: Devices and methods for chambering and releasing a high pressure cartridge case from a firearm. In some embodiments, a static chamber insert of high elastic modulus is disclosed. In some embodiments, a dynamic or adaptable chamber insert that radially expands in an out-of-battery configuration and radially contracts in a battery configuration is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventor: Bryan P. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11280595
    Abstract: A rifle cartridge with a bullet has desirable penetration capabilities and controlled separation of components upon terminal impact. In embodiments of the invention, the bullet comprises a forward component, a lead core, and a copper jacket. The lead jacket having a leading edge portion that extends to the cylindrical mid portion. The forward component may have a forward pointed ogive portion, a cylindrical mid portion, a mid ogive portion, and a pair of cylindrical portions separated by an annular groove. The jacket having a cannelure at the annular groove and the casing upper lip crimped into the cannelure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventor: Bryan P. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11268791
    Abstract: A rimless cartridge comprising a case and a bullet mounted therein. In embodiments, the bullet comprises a jacket having a cylindrical body portion, an ogive portion, and a plurality of longitudinally extending paths of weakness formed in the ogive portion and defining petals there between and extending rearward from the mouth. The bullet includes a malleable core mounted within the jacket. The bullet further comprises a circumferential groove between forward and rearward circumferential indentations imparted in the body portion of the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventors: Frederick Frees, Richard D. Hurt, David M. Laska, Lawrence P. Head, Shawn D. Fitzsimonds
  • Patent number: 11255635
    Abstract: A holster comprising a body portion, the body portion comprising a port shell and a starboard shell that cooperate to define a cavity for receiving and holding the handgun. The holster comprising a pair of flat ears, the ears including a forward ear extending forward of the cavity and a rearward ear extending rearward of the cavity. The forward ear defining a forward slot and the rearward ear defining a rearward slot, each slot having a forward edge and a rearward edge. Each slot being configured and dimensioned to receive one of a belt and a clip. Each ear having changes in thickness adjacent the forward and rearward edges of each slot. The changes in thickness defining multiple discrete positions for receiving a holster body attachment portion of the clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian Shults, Robert Kincaid, Liam Yarbrough
  • Patent number: 11248883
    Abstract: A cartridge casing of a cartridge for a lever action firearm, the cartridge casing comprising a rim comprising a flat front face configured to provide a gripping surface for an extractor of the lever action firearm to remove the cartridge casing of the cartridge after firing of the lever action firearm, the rim having a radial gradient that decreases from a maximum radius at a first location on the rim that is prior to the flat front face to a minimum radius value at a second location on the rim corresponding to the flat front face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jacob C. Burns, Jared C. Kutney
  • Patent number: 11226182
    Abstract: A cartridge comprising a bullet, the bullet providing a radially expanding array of bullet fragments upon entering a target and also providing an increase in effective surface area of the bullet within the target by structural features that facilitate tumbling or mushrooming in the target. In an embodiment a pair of axial core members are aligned in a bullet jacket with the forward core member being segmented with separation junctures formed by engaged faces of adjacent segments. Impact causing fracturing of the segments from a base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventor: Bryan P. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11221199
    Abstract: A .22 caliber rimfire cartridge includes a generally cylindrical casing having a rearward rimfire end and an opposing mouth end, wherein the rearward rimfire end has an annular rim connecting to a cylindrical casing portion extending to a casing forward edge and a bullet is disposed in the forward mouth end. In embodiments, the bullet comprises copper and a polymer binder. In embodiments, the bullet has a forward tapering portion with a central cavity, a first cylindrical portion with a first diameter and a cylindrical surface directly rearward of the tapering portion, a cylindrical driving band directly rearward of the first cylindrical portion, the cylindrical driving band having a second diameter greater than the first diameter and having an outer second cylindrical surface, a third cylindrical portion directly rearward of the cylindrical driving band, the third cylindrical portion having a third cylindrical surface with a diameter equal to the first diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventors: Justin Ruegsegger, Robert Winker
  • Patent number: 11199372
    Abstract: A high capacity magazine for high powered rimfire cartridges comprises a header portion that has a form factor to be received in a rotary magazine receptacle and an arcuate cartridge bank portion that holds a column of cartridges. A pair of clamshell halves define an arcuate cartridge bank and a lower portion of the header potion. A header caps the upper ends of the clamshell halves securing the clamshell halves together. The head and clamshell halves define the cartridge pathway to the magazine exit to be fed into the rifle chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Michael
  • Patent number: 11175107
    Abstract: An electronic magazine loader for loading cartridges into a magazine includes a lifting wheel, a chute, and a magazine loading portion. The wheel receives an unordered batch of cartridges and singularly lifts and deposits the cartridges into the chute. The chute transfers the cartridges to the magazine loading portion where a setting mechanism inserts the cartridges into the magazine. A mechanism for directionally orienting the cartridges orients all cartridges to a proper directional orientation before reaching the magazine loading portion. The mechanism can be lifting wheel shelf structure or chute structure. The chute having a C-shaped portion above the magazine loading portion that precludes the cartridges from changing their proper directional orientation. The setting mechanism receives cartridges on a rotating wheel with rotating insertion lobes and cartridge receiving voids between adjacent lobes. The cartridges drop into a cartridge receiving void, and are urged into the magazine by a rotating lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Paul R. Fischer, William Hemeyer
  • Patent number: 11162757
    Abstract: A muzzleloader firearm for use with a projectile, a propellant containment vessel including a prepackaged propellant charge therein, and a primer. The muzzleloader has a stock and a barrel supported by the stock. The barrel has a breech end, a muzzle end, and a barrel wall extending in a forward direction from the breech end to the muzzle end. A breech plug is at the breech end. The barrel being ported to transfer expanding gases from the barrel to the breech plug. A gas passageway in the breech plug directs expanding propellant gases to the propellant chamber behind the propellant vessel seated therein wherein the expanding gases can eject the used propellant vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventors: Bryan P. Peterson, Drew L. Goodlin
  • Patent number: 11156418
    Abstract: A motorized magazine loader for loading cartridges into a magazine includes a powered sorting and lifting wheel rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation, a vertical gravity fed cartridge chute positioned laterally next to the sorting and lifting wheel, an accumulator portion at a lower end of the chute, and a loading portion comprising a receiver for magazines to be loaded and a pusher mechanism for inserting cartridges into the magazines, all supported and substantially contained by a housing. Control circuitry includes jam mediation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard Slevin, Paul R. Fischer
  • Patent number: D937961
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Richard Slevin
  • Patent number: D937962
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventors: Justin Ruegsegger, Robert Winker
  • Patent number: D945312
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher J. Michael, Daniel D. Sereday
  • Patent number: D950946
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul N. Smith, Daniel Sereday, Christopher J. Michael, Troy E. Lance
  • Patent number: D954546
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul N. Smith, Troy E. Lance, Oscar C. Woods, Daniel D. Sereday, Christopher J. Michael