Patents by Inventor Sean P. O'Dwyer

Sean P. O'Dwyer 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: 8424233
    Abstract: Clips for use with projectiles and projectile stacking systems in which individual projectiles are clipped together to form a stack are disclosed. The projectiles may be joined individually by a user before loading in a barrel, or during a loading process assisted by features on the breech of the barrel. The tail of each projectile includes a set of clips which engage the nose of a trailing projectile in the stack. Projectiles may be withdrawn from barrel and unclipped as required by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Metal Storm Limited
    Inventors: Joseph F. Cronin, Sean P. O'Dwyer, Roger H. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20130047880
    Abstract: A projectile for use in a barrel with stacked projectiles, particularly for a weapon which can be reloaded by a user in the field. The projectile comprises a tail assembly. The tail assembly comprises a casing and a closure in the tail assembly, the casing and closure forming a chamber containing a propellant charge, an exit from the casing for release of propellant gases into the barrel when the propellant is ignited to launch the projectile from the barrel, the closure closing the exit, wherein the closure is opened by ignition of the propellant within the chamber, a primer in a leading end of the casing, an inductor around the casing, and a signal detector at a leading end of the casing and inductor, wherein the signal detector triggers the primer and the signal detector receives a signal output from the inductor to trigger the primer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Metal Storm Limited
    Inventor: Sean P. O'Dwyer
  • Publication number: 20110277657
    Abstract: A projectile for use in a barrel with stacked projectiles, particularly for a weapon which can be reloaded by a user in the field. The projectile includes a chamber containing a propellant charge, with an exit from the chamber for release of propulsion gases into the barrel. A seal blocks the exit and is opened by ignition of the propellant within the chamber but is resistant to gases produced by ignition of propellant in other projectiles in the barrel. The exit and seal are provided in a range of different forms. The exit may be an aperture in a wall of the chamber with the seal as a moveable barrier, such as a valve-like structure, for example. The seal may also include a rupturable or deformable barrier across the aperture. Alternatively the seal is a thin barrier around the charge such as a wax coating and the exit involves a disintegrable character of the barrier. The seal may also be an inherent property of the geometry of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Metal Storm Limited
    Inventor: Sean P. O'Dwyer
  • Patent number: 7984675
    Abstract: A projectile for use in a barrel with stacked projectiles, particularly for a weapon which can be reloaded by a user in the field. The projectile includes a chamber containing a propellant charge, with an exit from the chamber for release of propulsion gases into the barrel. A seal blocks the exit and is opened by ignition of the propellant within the chamber but is resistant to gases produced by ignition of propellant in other projectiles in the barrel. The exit and seal are provided in a range of different forms. The exit may be an aperture in a wall of the chamber with the seal as a moveable barrier, such as a valve-like structure, for example. The seal may also include a rupturable or deformable barrier across the aperture. Alternatively the seal is a thin barrier around the charge such as a wax coating and the exit involves a disintegrable character of the barrier. The seal may also be an inherent property of the geometry of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Metal Storm Limited
    Inventor: Sean P. O'Dwyer
  • Publication number: 20110030542
    Abstract: Projectile stacking systems in which individual projectiles are clipped together to form a stack. The projectiles may be joined individually by a user before loading in a barrel, or during a loading process assisted by features on the breech of the barrel. The tail of each projectile includes a set of clips which engage the nose of a trailing projectile in the stack. Projectiles may be withdrawn from barrel and undipped as required by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph F. Cronin, Sean P. O'Dwyer, Roger H. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20100282111
    Abstract: A projectile for use in a barrel with stacked projectiles, particularly for a weapon which can be reloaded by a user in the field. The projectile includes a chamber containing a propellant charge, with an exit from the chamber for release of propulsion gases into the barrel. A seal blocks the exit and is opened by ignition of the propellant within the chamber but is resistant to gases produced by ignition of propellant in other projectiles in the barrel. The exit and seal are provided in a range of different forms. The exit may be an aperture in a wall of the chamber with the seal as a moveable barrier, such as a valve-like structure, for example. The seal may also include a rupturable or deformable barrier across the aperture. Alternatively the seal is a thin barrier around the charge such as a wax coating and the exit involves a disintegrable character of the barrier. The seal may also be an inherent property of the geometry of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Metal Storm Limited
    Inventor: Sean P. O'Dwyer
  • Patent number: 7743705
    Abstract: A projectile for use in a barrel with stacked projectiles, particularly for a weapon which can be reloaded by a user in the field. The projectile includes a chamber containing a propellant charge, with an exit from the chamber for release of propulsion gases into the barrel. A seal blocks the exit and is opened by ignition of the propellant within the chamber but is resistant to gases produced by ignition of propellant in other projectiles in the barrel. The exit and seal are provided in a range of different forms. The exit may be an aperture in a wall of the chamber with the seal as a moveable barrier, such as a valve-like structure, for example. The seal may also include a rupturable or deformable barrier across the aperture. Alternatively the seal is a thin barrier around the charge such as a wax coating and the exit involves a disintegrable character of the barrier. The seal may also be an inherent property of the geometry of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Metal Storm Limited
    Inventor: Sean P. O'Dwyer
  • Publication number: 20100043628
    Abstract: Clips for use with projectiles and projectile stacking systems in which individual projectiles are clipped together to form a stack are disclosed. The projectiles may be joined individually by a user before loading in a barrel, or during a loading process assisted by features on the breech of the barrel. The tail of each projectile includes a set of clips which engage the nose of a trailing projectile in the stack. Projectiles may be withdrawn from barrel and unclipped as required by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Metal Storm Limited
    Inventors: Joseph F. Cronin, Sean P. O'Dwyer, Roger H. Thompson