BB-shot loader device for air weapon cartridges, cartridge for air weapons, loader assembly and method of loading BB-shot for air weapons

1. A loader device ( 1 ) for loading BB-shot into an air weapon cartridge ( 2 ), wherein the cartridge ( 2 ) comprises a main body ( 3 ) with a plurality of channels ( 4 ) for housing respective rows of BB-shot balls (P), at least one holding member ( 5 ) for holding the rows of BB-shot balls (P) in the channels ( 4 ), and a central hole ( 10 ) proximate to the holding member ( 5 ), the loader device ( 1 ) comprising:

an elongate container ( 18 ) having an open end ( 19 ) and a closed end ( 20 ) having a bottom wall ( 24 ), said container ( 18 ) being adapted to define a cavity ( 21 ) for storing a predetermined amount of BB-shot balls (P),

wherein said open end ( 19 ) houses a temporary connection element ( 22 ) to the body ( 3 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ),

wherein said temporary connection element ( 22 ) comprises, in said cavity ( 21 ), a central spindle ( 26 ) which axially extends from said bottom wall ( 24 ) and has a free end ( 27 ) adapted for removable engagement of the central hole ( 10 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ),

wherein the central spindle ( 26 ) has a free end ( 27 ) adapted to be removably engaged to the central hole ( 10 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ), and

wherein the open end ( 19 ) has a shape that is complementary to a shape of the main body ( 3 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ) and extends between a circular edge ( 25 ) of the container ( 18 ) and the central spindle ( 26 ) to define an annular open end that is adapted to face the plurality of channels ( 4 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ) to enable simultaneous gravity loading of the rows of the BB-shot balls (P) into the plurality of channels ( 4 ) with the loader device ( 1 ) disposed at a top of the cartridge ( 2 ) and the spindle ( 26 ) engaged to the central hole ( 10 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ).

2. The loader device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said container ( 18 ) has a substantially cylindrical side wall ( 23 ) which defines a longitudinal axis (L), and is joined to the bottom wall ( 24 ) that is substantially flat.

3. The loader device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the central hole ( 10 ) has internal threads, and wherein said free end ( 27 ) of said spindle ( 26 ) has external threads for screw engagement in the central hole ( 10 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ).

4. The loader device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said temporary connection element ( 22 ) comprises at least one pair of balls ( 28 ) located proximate to an edge ( 25 ) of the open end ( 19 ) of said container ( 18 ) and projecting into said cavity ( 21 ) through respective holes ( 29 ) whose diameter is smaller than a diameter of said balls ( 28 ), an elastic member ( 30 ) being provided, which acts on said balls ( 28 ) to bias said balls inwards and removably lock the cartridge ( 2 ).

5. The loader device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said elastic member ( 30 ) comprises an annular element ( 31 ) made of an elastic material and having an inner groove ( 32 ) for accommodating said balls ( 28 ) and radially bias said balls inwards.

6. A cartridge ( 2 ) for BB-shot (P), for use in air weapons, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical main body ( 3 ) with a plurality of channels ( 4 ) for housing respective rows of BB-shot balls (P); and

at least one holding member ( 5 ) for holding the rows of BB-shot balls (P) in the channels ( 4 ),

wherein said cylindrical body ( 3 ) comprises a central axial hole ( 10 ) located proximate to said holding member ( 5 ), and

wherein said central hole ( 10 ) is designed for removable engagement with a free end ( 27 ) of a central spindle ( 26 ) of a loader device ( 1 ) comprising:

an elongate container ( 18 ) having an open end ( 19 ) and a closed end ( 20 ) having a bottom wall ( 24 ), said container ( 18 ) being adapted to define a cavity ( 21 ) for storing a predetermined amount of the BB-shot balls (P),

wherein said open end ( 19 ) houses a temporary connection element ( 22 ) to the body ( 3 ) of the cartridge ( 2 )

wherein said temporary connection element ( 22 ) comprises, in said cavity ( 21 ), the central spindle ( 26 ) which axially extends from said bottom wall ( 24 ) and has a free end ( 27 ) adapted for removable engagement of the central hole ( 10 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ),

wherein said central spindle ( 26 ) has a free end ( 27 ) adapted to be removably engaged to the central hole ( 10 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ), and

wherein the open end ( 19 ) has a shape that is complementary to a shape of the main body ( 3 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ) and extends between a circular edge ( 25 ) of the container ( 18 ) and the central spindle ( 26 ) to define an annular open end that is adapted to face the plurality of channels ( 4 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ) to enable simultaneous gravity loading of the rows of the BB-shot balls (P) into the plurality of channels ( 4 ) with the loader device ( 1 ) disposed at a top of the cartridge ( 2 ) and the spindle ( 26 ) engaged to the central hole ( 10 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ).

7. The cartridge as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said holding member ( 5 ) comprises an O-ring ( 9 ) which is housed in an annular seat ( 6 ) formed on an outer surface ( 7 ) of said cylindrical body ( 3 ).

8. A method of loading BB-shot (P) for air weapons comprising the steps of:

a) providing a cartridge ( 2 ) comprising,

a substantially cylindrical main body ( 3 ) with a plurality of channels ( 4 ) for housing respective rows of BB-shot balls (P), and

at least one holding member ( 5 ) for holding the rows of BB-shot balls (P) in the channels ( 4 ),

wherein said cylindrical body ( 3 ) comprises a central axial hole ( 10 ) located proximate to said holding member ( 5 ), and

wherein said central hole ( 10 ) is designed for removable engagement with a free end ( 27 ) of a central spindle ( 26 ) of a loader device ( 1 ), wherein said holding member ( 5 ) is housed in an annular seat ( 6 );

b) providing a loader device ( 1 ) comprising,

an elongate container ( 18 ) having an open end ( 19 ) and a closed end ( 20 ) having a bottom wall ( 24 ), said container ( 18 ) being adapted to define a cavity ( 21 ) for storing a predetermined amount of the BB-shot balls (P),

wherein said open end ( 19 ) houses a temporary connection element ( 22 ) to the body ( 3 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ), to provide simultaneous gravity loading of the rows of the BB-shot balls (P) into the respective channels ( 4 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ), and

wherein said temporary connection element ( 22 ) comprises, in said cavity ( 21 ), the central spindle ( 26 ) which axially extends from said bottom wall ( 24 ) and has a free end ( 27 ) adapted for removable engagement of the central hole ( 10 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ), said loader containing the predetermined amount of the BB-shot balls (P) to load one or more cartridges ( 2 ) and having said open end ( 19 ) whose shape is substantially complementary to a shape of the main body ( 3 ) of the cartridge ( 2 );

c) removing said holding member ( 5 ) from a respective seat ( 6 ) thereof on said cartridge ( 2 );

d) connecting said cartridge ( 2 ) to the open end ( 19 ) of said loader ( 1 ) such that said seat ( 6 ) is located proximate to said open end ( 19 );

e) having the loader ( 1 ) located at a top of the cartridge ( 2 ) to promote simultaneous gravity transfer of the BB-shot (P) into said channels ( 4 ) to completely fill said channels with rows of BB-shot balls (P);

f) placing said holding member ( 5 ) back into said seat ( 6 ) to prevent the BB-shot (P) loaded in the channels ( 4 ) to come out of the channels;

g) having the loader ( 1 ) located at a bottom of the cartridge ( 2 ); and

h) removing said cartridge ( 2 ) fully loaded with BB-shot (P) from said loader ( 1 ).