U.S. patent application number 10/962136 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-02 for shock absorber for a rifle.
Invention is credited to Bond, Deborah E., Ebener, Warren R..
Application Number | 20050115134 10/962136 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34623053 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050115134 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bond, Deborah E. ; et
al. |
June 2, 2005 |
Shock absorber for a rifle
Abstract
A shock absorber for use on the butt of the stock of a rifle,
such as a shotgun, that absorbs significant recoil force by means
of a foam construction formed to have plural air-trapping chambers
in the base, which base is positioned between the butt of the stock
of said rifle or shotgun and the shoulder of the user. As the foam
base compresses, the air in the plurality of air-trapping chambers
(areas compressed); delaying and limiting rearward travel of the
force transfer of the stock to the shoulder of the user. Vent
nozzle holes in the base allow the air trapped in these chambers to
be vented but at the delayed and controlled rate to the outside of
the device. Thus, the recoil is brought to a slowed stop as the
increase in pressure of the air in the air-trapping chambers slows
and eventually matches the rate at which air is vented outside the
device through the vent holes.
Inventors: |
Bond, Deborah E.; (Cameron,
SC) ; Ebener, Warren R.; (Cameron, SC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DEBORAH E. BOND
155 STOUDENMIRE DRIVE
CAMERON
SC
29030-8420
US
|
Family ID: |
34623053 |
Appl. No.: |
10/962136 |
Filed: |
October 8, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60517185 |
Nov 4, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 23/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/074 |
International
Class: |
F41C 023/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A shock absorber for a rifle, as shown and described herein.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Non-provisional utility patent application claiming the
benefit of Provisional Patent titled SHOCK ABSORBER FOR A RIFLE
having U.S. application No. 60/517,185, and Filing Date of Nov. 04,
2003.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not applicable.
[0004] Certain rifles, such as shotguns, have a significant recoil
or kick. When the trigger is pulled and the round of ammunition
detonates, half of the kinetic energy released by the exploding
gunpowder in the shell propels the bullet or shot forward through
the barrel of the rifle and onward to the target. However, the
other half of the kinetic energy goes in the opposite direction,
rearward, and the rearward motion causes the force transfer to be
absorbed largely by the user. For those who are unaccustomed to
firing shotguns or who fire them a lot, the recoil can leave
shoulders sore or bruised.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for a way to minimize the force
transfer of the recoil of rifles such as shotguns. Several attempts
have been made and some of these are the subjects of U.S. patents.
See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,641, issued May 8, 1990, to
Johnson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,937, issued on Nov. 12, 1985, to
Seehase, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,360, issued Dec. 27, 1994, to
Vatterott.
[0006] Nonetheless, there remains a need for a more effective way
to absorb the kick, or force transfer of those rifles that have
significant recoil.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to its major aspects and briefly described, the
present invention is a shock absorber for use with a rifle. The
present shock absorber fits closely on the butt of the stock of a
rifle and is made of foam. In addition to the impact-absorbing
quality of the foam construction, the present device is shaped to
trap a quantity of air inside air chambers, and release it through
vent nozzles, thus using the compression bulge of the air and its
delayed release as a way to prevent the immediate impact force
transfer of momentum from stock to the shoulder of the user. By
decreasing the force which the recoil transfers to the user, the
impact is correspondingly reduced and, with it, the likelihood of
injury or bruising. While no device can or will greatly arrest the
rearward movement of the stock, the pain of recoil impact transfer
can be significantly reduced and bruising negated.
[0008] The combination of foam construction, air-tapping chambers,
and vent nozzle holes releasing said air are the features of the
present invention. This combination allows the recoil kinetic
energy to be managed and controlled so that it has less impact on
the shoulder of the user.
[0009] The use of vent nozzle holes communicating from the chambers
to the exterior of the device is another feature of the present
invention. The vent nozzle holes prevent the pressure in the
chamber from increasing sharply. As air pressure bulges the chamber
construction during recoil, the vent nozzle holes allow compressed
air to be released at a predetermined rate thus keeping the
compressed air from transferring the recoil impact (force transfer)
to the shoulder by the slow cushioning effect of air being vented
as compression builds. The use of air venting is not a necessary
by-product aiding springs, coils or other devices within cylinders;
but a combination of air chambers, foam construction and nozzle
release system working as one unit to produce a desired effect.
[0010] The one-piece moldable construction of the present device is
another feature of it. By being configured in one simple piece, the
present product is easier and cheaper to make. It is made of
lightweight foam. Furthermore its shape allows the device to be
fitted onto and easily removed from a rifle and transferred to
another rifle if desired. It allows an owner of several rifles to
own a set of the present shock absorbers at minimal expense, each
one tuned to that particular user and rifle. While this one-piece
construction is the preferred embodiment, the air chamber design
will lend itself to a type construction that can be attached to a
stock by screws or other fastening devices.
[0011] These and other features and their advantages will become
readily apparent to those skilled in the art of rifle accessories
from a careful reading of the following Detailed Description of
Preferred Embodiments, accompanied by the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] In the drawings,
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a shock absorber, according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, in use on a shotgun.
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional, side view of the shock
absorber of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 shows an end view of the shock absorber of FIG.
1.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a front view of a shock absorber according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional, side view of the shock absorber
of FIG. 1 during maximum compression.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] The present invention is a shock absorber for use on a
rifle, particularly shotguns and other rifles having a significant
recoil kick.
[0019] The shock absorber according to the present invention and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings fits like a sleeve or cup
over a portion of the stock of a rifle. The rifle of FIG. 1,
generally indicated by the reference number 10 has a stock 12 with
a shock absorber 14 carried thereon. Shock absorber 14 thus is
positioned, when rifle 10 is held in the standard shoulder-firing
position, between stock 12 and the shoulder of the user with the
butt 16 of rifle 10 (see FIG. 2) firmly seated in shock absorber
14.
[0020] Shock absorber 14 is made entirely of foam rubber, either
synthetic or natural foam rubber, and preferably of neoprene
(closed cell flexible) or urethane foam. It may be made in colors
such as camouflage colors, hunter orange or in basic black. Because
it is resilient, it may be slipped onto and off stock 12 easily
just as it may be slipped off of a mold in manufacture. Also, said
material may incorporate within material U.V. retardant and or
other chemicals to keep said material from breaking down with time
or losing elasticity due to sunlight, heat or water.
[0021] A cross sectional detailed view reveals shock absorber 14 to
have a much thicker base 20, in the preferred embodiment than walls
22. Base 20 has plural air-trapping chambers 24 formed in it, also
visible in FIG. 3, and each air-trapping chamber communicates with
the exterior of shock absorber 14 via vent nozzle holes to the
outside air 26, also visible in FIG. 4. Butt 16 is positioned to
engage base 20 when shock absorber 14 is fully seated on stock
12.
[0022] When rifle 10 is fired, the exterior surface 28 of base 20
is in position against the shoulder of the user.
[0023] When rifle 10 is fired, approximately half of the kinetic
energy from the exploding round is directed rearward, resulting in
movement of stock 12 rearward (to the right in FIGS. 2 and 5). The
movement of butt 16 toward the shoulder of the user compresses the
foam of base 20. It also compresses air 30 that is trapped in
air-trapping chambers 24. The trapped air is vented through vent
nozzle holes 26. However, vent nozzle holes 26 are sized or
positioned to permit only the delayed (controlled or predetermined)
venting of air to the outside of the device 30 and thereby act as
shock absorbers, spreading the rearward movement over a longer or
delayed time to reduce the impact by means of the foam construction
bulging with compressed air and nozzle release of said air
relieving said bulging therein greatly reducing the pain of force
transfer to the shoulder of the user.
[0024] Initially the air-trapping chambers cannot be vented fast
enough and pressure in air-trapping chambers 24 builds, thus
limiting the further compression of the foam of base 20. As recoil
compressed air bulges the typical air-trapping chambers 24 the
rearward movement of stock 12 increases pressure in the
air-trapping chambers and is eventually matched by the rate at
which air 30 is vented through vent nozzle holes 26; allowing
progressive release of additional compression or bulging of the
foam of base 20. The rearward movement is slowed and allows the
shock absorber to delay and absorb the recoil force over time
rather than suddenly.
[0025] The recoil of a rifle is dependent on the type of rifle and
to some degree, on the type of ammunition and or use of blow back
recoil gases. Nonetheless, the present shock absorber can easily be
engineered or tuned to the user and the rifle with modest rather
than undue experimentation. Using neoprene or urethane foam for
base 20 that is preferably one to two inches thick, with preferably
three air-trapping chambers 24, each one having one vent nozzle
hole 26 of 1/8.sup.th inches or smaller in diameter, reasonable
shock absorbing quality is obtained. Increasing the thickness of
base 20 reduces recoil, and by also increasing the inside diameter
of air-trapping chambers 24 while decreasing the size of vent
nozzle holes 26 adds to the shock absorbing effect. In some cases
the vent nozzle holes may be eliminated and type foam material
constructed thin enough to allow bulging to compensate the
recoil.
[0026] Wall 22 can be sized to grip stock 12 firmly, such as
approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch in thickness with an interior
dimension approximately equal to that of the exterior dimensions of
stock 12.
[0027] Those skilled in the art of firearm accessories will no
doubt see that many substitutions and modifications can be made to
the foregoing preferred embodiments without departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention, which is defined by the
appended claims.
* * * * *