U.S. patent application number 10/724929 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-02 for minimum exposure weapon.
Invention is credited to Little, Ronald B..
Application Number | 20050115140 10/724929 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34620166 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050115140 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Little, Ronald B. |
June 2, 2005 |
MINIMUM EXPOSURE WEAPON
Abstract
A proven military combat-type weapon with the stock removed
therefrom converted to an improved tactical weapon by addition of
retrofit assemblies which include a collapsible and bilaterally
pivoting stock, a front stabilization system, and a sighting
system. This improved tactical weapon has the characteristics of
reduced exposure to enemy fire by allowing the operator to fire
while under cover, and increased weapon stability by the
utilization of the front stabilizer assembly. Utilizing this
invention, the operator is able to shoulder support and fire the
weapon with minimal exposure to enemy fire. Furthermore, by
exerting force to (leaning against) the weapon stock, the weapon is
pinned between the operator and the object (i.e., wall, tree,
etc.). The amount of gun movement is reduced and the stability of
the weapon is increased over a weapon which is only hand held when
the gun is fired.
Inventors: |
Little, Ronald B.;
(Florence, MS) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ronald B. Little
181 Hickory Ridge Road
Florence
MS
39073
US
|
Family ID: |
34620166 |
Appl. No.: |
10/724929 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/118 ;
42/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 23/04 20130101;
F41A 23/02 20130101; F41G 1/41 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/118 ;
042/072 |
International
Class: |
F41G 001/40 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A minimum exposure weapon comprising: (a) weapon having a
receiver, a buffer tube, a barrel projecting from the receiver,
firing mechanisms and at least one sight mounted with respect to
said barrel to establish a sighting line adjacent and substantially
parallel to said barrel; (b) a stock assembly adapter supporting a
stock assembly having a rear stock selectively positional along the
length of a stock extension, said stock extension also selectively
positional in regards to bilateral rotation to support the
positioning of said minimum exposure weapon to fire from behind a
wall, said stock assembly adapter removably mounted to said buffer
tube; (c) a front stabilizer mounted to a forward hand guard to
contact and maintain contact between said minimum exposure weapon
and said wall prior, during, and proceeding weapon discharging; and
(d) a horizontal compact periscope utilized to align the at least
one sight to provide for target acquisition.
2. The minimum exposure weapon, as set forth in claim 1, further
comprises the stock assembly adaptor containing both a pivoting pin
and a locking pin allowing said stock assembly to be capable of
bilateral rotation and secured in desired position, said stock
assembly adaptor is mounted adjacent said receiver by utilizing
buffer tube and locking nut, wherein an oval projection from said
stock adaptor mates with a detent in said receiver, thus
establishing and maintaining the proper orientation between said
stock assembly and said receiver.
3. The minimum exposure weapon recited in claim 2, further
comprising said stock extension having a plurality of detent holes
formed therein; and means for securing the rear stock to a desired
position on said stock extension.
4. The minimum exposure weapon as claimed in claim 3, is further
comprised of said stock extension which is rectangular in shape as
is also the mating receptacle of said rear stock, whereby in this
combination results the means that proper attitude is established
and maintained between said stock extension and said rear
stock.
5. The minimum exposure weapon, as claimed in claim 4, is further
comprised of said rear stock containing a slider pin and said rear
stock contains a spring as the means for holding said slider pin in
one of said plurality of detents in said stock extension.
6. The minimum exposure weapon, as claimed in claim 5, whereby said
rear stock utilizes a lever operably engaged with said slider,
releasing said slider pin from said detent in said stock extension
so that when said slider pin is released, said rear stock may be
moved to a different position along said stock extension.
7. The minimum exposure weapon, as claimed in claim 1, where said
front stabilizer comprises a front stabilizer mount in which a
military-style picatinny rail is utilized in order to attach the
front stabilizer mount to the said forward hand guard.
8. The minimum exposure weapon as claimed in claim 7 further
comprises said front stabilizer mount which is further comprised of
a pivot pin and a locking pin whereby the said front stabilizer is
locked into the neutral position in line with said barrel of said
minimum exposure weapon by said locking pin which mates with a
detent hole in said front stabilizer mount and, when required, is
released by said locking pin, whereby said front stabilizer is
allowed to rotate bilaterally, either to the right or to the left
around said front stabilizer mount pivot pin.
9. The minimum exposure weapon claimed in claim 8 further comprises
shock absorbing grippers screw mounted to the distal end of said
front stabilizer whereas said shock absorbing grippers contact said
wall or surface during target acquisition when said operator places
force against said rear stock.
10. The minimum exposure weapon claimed in claim 1 is also
comprised of a transverse sighting mount which provides a means for
quickly attaching and releasing said horizontal compact periscope
or other optical sighting systems to the receiver of said minimum
exposure Weapon.
11. The minimum exposure weapon claimed in claim 1, wherein said
horizontal compact periscope is mounted into a transverse sight
mount, utilizing military styled rails attached to the top and to
the bottom surface of said horizontal compact periscope, said
horizontal compact periscope is secured into position by mating a
quick release locking pin of said transverse sight mount to a
detent hole in said military style rail in said horizontal compact
periscope.
12. The minimum exposure system claimed in claim 1, wherein said
horizontal compact periscope is mounted to said receiver enables
visual alignment of the at least one sight during target
acquisition.
13. The minimum exposure weapon claimed in claim 12, wherein said
horizontal compact periscope comprises a rectangular tube body
having a mirror adjacent an inlet aperture to direct the shooter's
view substantially horizontally through said rectangular tube to a
mirror positioned by an outlet aperture where the shooter can
directly see the sighting line to the target.
14. The minimum exposure weapon claimed in claim 13 wherein said
horizontal compact periscope mounted either utilizing the said top
military style rail or mounted utilizing the said bottom military
style rail to support bilateral visual sighting support for
shooting from behind a left or right corner wall or object.
15. The minimum exposure weapon claimed in claim 2, wherein said
buffer tube and locking nut, attaches said stock adaptor to said
receiver by means of threads on the buffer tube, sufficient to
transverse the stock adaptor assembly and fully thread into the
receiver.
16. The minimum exposure weapon claimed in claim 15, wherein said
buffer tube is cylindrical in shape and is of such length, to
transverse said stock adapter assembly and to house a buffer weight
and recoil spring.
17. The minimum exposure weapon claimed in claim 7 further
comprises a military styled rail mount affixed to the bottom
surface of said front stabilizer and a handgrip mounted to said
military styled rail.
18. (Canceled)
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to firearms and, more
particularly, pertains to a minimum exposure weapon which allows
the user to stabilize and fire the weapon from a covered position
with minimal exposure to enemy fire.
[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0004] The use of firearms is known in the prior art. More
specifically, firearms heretofore devised and utilized are known to
consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural
configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed
by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the
fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
[0005] Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 324,557;
6,637,141 B1; 6,598,329 B1; 6,517,133 B2; 6,397,507 B1; 6,070,355;
5,675,112; 4,878,305; 4,827,652; 4,677,781; 3,369,316; 2,826,848;
2,771,697; and 1,386,247.
[0006] The inventive device substantially departs from the
conventional concepts and designs of the prior art and in doing so
provides a weapon primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a
user to support the weapon in the conventional stance (utilizing
both hands and a shoulder to brace the weapon) while having a
minimal exposure to enemy fire.
[0007] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of firearms now present in the prior art, the present
invention provides for increased weapon stability while allowing
the user to fire from behind structures with a minimum of exposure
to incoming fire.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The minimum exposure weapon consists of a pre-existing
weapon upon which is retrofitted by replacing the rear stock and
buffer tube with the improved stock and buffer tube. The improved
stock is a collapsible stock and has the ability to pivot to the
left or to the right. A front stabilizer is mounted to the forward
hand guard and its purpose is to pivot out and make contact with
the corner of a wall while allowing the barrel to protrude adjacent
to the wall.
[0009] For example, to shoot from behind the left corner of a wall,
the rear stock would be pivoted left and locked into position and
the front stabilizer would be pivoted left and locked into
position. A horizontal compact periscope would then be mounted from
the left into a mount on the upper receiver and locked into
position.
[0010] At this point, the shooter would use a conventional standing
stance, gripping the rifle with his left hand on the forward
handgrip, right hand on the trigger pistol grip, and pivoted stock
butt against right shoulder. The shooter can lean his upper body
weight against the stock and the weapon is effectively pinned
between his shoulder and the wall. The weapon is supported and
steadied. Mounted on the distal end of the front stabilizer is a
shock absorber gripper, and as the weapon is fired the weapon
recoils through the stock and into the shooter's right shoulder,
but because the shooter is leaning into the stock, the amount of
travel of the weapon is greatly reduced. The shock absorber gripper
helps to prevent any hammering or excessive forces being applied to
the weapon or to the shooter's right shoulder after the primary
recoil. In other words, the shock absorber gripper cushions the
contact between the gun and the wall, and also applies a friction
point between the gun and the wall to stabilize and hold the
weapon.
[0011] The horizontal compact periscope is used to allow the
shooter to visually align the upper receiver mounted sight with the
far sight mounted on the barrel during target acquisition while the
shooter is hidden behind the wall.
[0012] The rear stock assembly is unique because it is not mounted
to the buffer tube, but is mounted to a stock adaptor, which in
turn is mounted to the lower receiver of the weapon. The stock
assembly contains a stock extension, a rectangular bar, in which
the stock interfaces. The stock extension contains a number of
detents on which the slider pin can lock in; this gives the stock
its collapsible function. The stock adaptor also contains a locking
pin which, when released, allows the stock extension to rotate
about the pivot pin which attaches it to the stock adaptor. The
same locking pin will interface with the detent holes in the stock
extension which locks the pivot position of the stock assembly to
either neutral, left or to the right.
[0013] The front stabilizer is mounted to the bottom picatinny
style rail on the forward hand guard utilizing the front stabilizer
mount. The mount contains a locking pin which will lock the front
stabilizer in the neutral position or will, when unlocked, allow it
to rotate to the left or to the right.
[0014] The horizontal compact periscope has picatinny styled
accessory mounts which allow it to be mounted bilaterally (left or
right) into the upper receiver transverse sighting mount. The
transverse sighting mount contains a locking pin to lock the
horizontal compact periscope in position.
[0015] It is an object of the present invention to provide a weapon
which can be carried and used as a conventional weapon and when
necessary this weapon can be rapidly converted real time to support
firing from behind a corner of a building or object.
[0016] It is a further object of the invention to provide a
sighting system which is strictly passive in nature (requiring no
electronics or power sources, i.e., rechargeable batteries) in
order to assure the reliability of a system which may be exposed to
various environments and extreme variation of combat conditions
over prolonged periods of time that the user may be in the
field.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a left side elevated view of a typical tactical
weapon embodying the present invention with the weapon in the
conventional mode.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a left side elevated view of the weapon in the
minimum exposure weapon mode.
[0019] FIG. 3A is a left side view of the rear stock.
[0020] FIG. 3B is a detailed view of the slider locking pin
assembly.
[0021] FIG. 4 is an anterior to posterior end view of the rear
stock.
[0022] FIG. 5 is the bottom view of the stock extension.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a left side view of the stock extension.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a top view of the stock extension.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a left side view of the stock adaptor.
[0026] FIG. 9 is a posterior to anterior view of the stock
adaptor.
[0027] FIG. 10 is an anterior to posterior view of the stock
adaptor (the lower receiver mating surface).
[0028] FIG. 11 is a left side view of the front stabilizer
mount.
[0029] FIG. 12 is an anterior to posterior view of the front
stabilizer mount.
[0030] FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the front stabilizer mount.
[0031] FIG. 14 is a left side view of the front stabilizer
assembly.
[0032] FIG. 15 is the top view of the front stabilizer
assembly.
[0033] FIG. 16 is the bottom view of the front stabilizer
assembly.
[0034] FIG. 17A is the left side view of the buffer tube.
[0035] FIG. 17B is an end view of the buffer tube.
[0036] FIG. 18 is a left side view of the transverse sight
mount.
[0037] FIG. 19 is a top view of the transverse sight mount.
[0038] FIG. 20 is a posterior to anterior view of the transverse
sight mount.
[0039] FIG. 21 is an anterior to posterior view of the horizontal
compact periscope.
[0040] FIG. 22 is a posterior to anterior view of the horizontal
compact periscope.
[0041] FIG. 23 is a top view of the horizontal compact
periscope.
[0042] FIG. 24 is a top view of the horizontal compact periscope
with cut-away sections showing mirror mounts.
[0043] FIG. 25 is a side and end view of the front stabilizer pivot
bolt.
[0044] FIG. 26 is a side and end view of the stock adaptor pivot
pin.
[0045] FIG. 27 is a side and end view of the locking pin assembly
used in the stock adaptor, the transverse sight mount, and the
front stabilizer assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0046] Turning now to the drawings, the minimum exposure weapon
embodying the present invention is indicated generally by the
reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1. This zero exposure weapon 10 is in
the conventional mode in FIG. 1. In the conventional mode, the
stock 14 is in the collapsed position on stock extension 16 and is
captured in this position by the lock pin 18. the stock extension
16 is in line with respect to the stock adaptor 20 and locked in
place with the lock pin 36. The stock adaptor 20 is mounted to the
lower receiver 30, utilizing the additional threaded area on the
buffer tube 22 and the locking nut 24. The transverse sight mount
26 is mounted to picatinny rail on the upper receiver 28.
[0047] Further examination of FIG. 1 shows that the front
stabilization assembly 32 is attached to a picatinny accessory
mount on the forward hand guard 34, utilizing the front
stabilization mount 38. In the conventional mode, the front
stabilizer assembly 32 is in line with the weapon 10 and is locked
in position with the lock pin 40.
[0048] The minimum exposure weapon is comprised of an existing
weapon with its stock and buffer tube removed. The buffer tube is
replaced with a buffer tube 22 which has been manufactured with an
additional length of threads which will act as a bolt, and with the
accompanying locknut 24 the stock 14, stock extension 16 and stock
adaptor 20 are mounted to the receiver. The front stabilization
group (38, 40, and 32) is attached to the front hand guard.
Finally, the transverse sight mount 26 is connected to the upper
receiver 28.
[0049] Reference FIG. 2. When the shooter determines he needs cover
or protection from possible enemy fire, the zero exposure weapon 10
in FIG. 2 is converted to the minimum exposure mode. The stock 14
has been extended to the rear on the stock extension 16 by
depressing the locking pin 18 release lever 42 and extending the
stock 14. The pivot locking pin 36 releases the stock extension 16
and allows the stock extension 16 to rotate around pivot pin 44,
where locking pin 36 locks stock extension 16 at the required
angle. User-carried horizontal compact periscope 46 is installed in
the rail mount slot 48 (FIG. 1) of transverse sight mount 26 (FIG.
1), using the bottom accessory rail 50 (FIG. 21) on the horizontal
compact periscope 46, and is locked in place by the transverse
sight mount locking pin 52 (FIG. 18). The front stabilizer assembly
is rotated about the pivot pin 54 (FIG. 11) in the front stabilizer
mount 38. The locking pin 40 (FIG. 1) uses detent 58 (FIG. 11) and
when released from detent 58 (FIG. 11), the front stabilizer
assembly 32 can rotate bilaterally. Two shock absorber grippers 56
are mounted to the distal end of the front stabilizer assembly 32.
the shock absorber grippers 56 provide for shock reduction during
recoiling. When the user is in position behind a wall, he leans
into the weapon and the shock absorber grippers 56 make contact
with the wall. During the recoil process, the weapon is pinned
between the shooter and the wall. The force is initially
transmitted to the shooter, but because the shooter is leaning into
the weapon stock 14, some of the force is transmitted through the
weapon 10 via the front stabilization assemble 32 and the shock
absorber gripper assembly 56 into the wall. Basically, the shock
absorber gripper assembly 56 will absorb some of the shock or
jarring which would cause excessive wear to the weapon and
excessive jarring to the shooter.
[0050] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4 detail the rear stock 14. Locking pin 18
is secured in stock housing by the locking pin nut 19. Spring 17
provides the means to hold locking pin 18 into one of the detents
60 (FIG. 6) on the stock extension 16 (FIG. 2). Lever 42 releases
locking pin 18 from one of the detent 60 (FIG. 6) to reposition the
rear stock 14.
[0051] FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 detail the stock extension 16. The
plurality of detents 60 are located to specific location for
locking and positioning of the collapsible stock 14 (FIG. 3A) into
the desired position, utilizing locking pin 18 (FIG. 3). Track 62,
in conjunction with locking pin 18 (FIG. 3B), maintains stock 14
(FIG. 3) on receiver extension 16 (FIG. 1). Orifice 64 is
penetrated by pivot pin 44 (FIG. 2) to allow rotation or pivoting
of the entire stock assembly. Locking pin 36 (FIG. 2) will reside
and lock in one of three detents, 70, 68 or 66, depending upon
whether the stock assembly is locked to the right, centered, or to
the left, respectively.
[0052] FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 detail the previously discussed stock
adaptor 20 (FIG. 1). The feature not previously discussed is the
oval protrusion 72 which penetrates an orifice contained on the
lower receiver to maintain correct orientation of the stock adaptor
20, thus the entire stock assembly.
[0053] FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 detail the front stabilizer mount pivot
bolt 54, allowing pivoting of the front stabilizer assembly 32
(FIGS. 14, 15 and 16) through hole 74 (FIGS. 15 and 16). Detent 58
(FIG. 11) interfaces with locking pin 40 (FIG. 14) to either allow
the front stabilizer 32 to rotate to the right or to the left, or
to be locked in the center or neutral position.
[0054] FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 further detail the front stabilizer
assembly 32, has a bottom mounted rail 76 in which a handgrip 78
(FIG. 1) is mounted. FIG. 15 details the shock absorber gripper 56,
which is screwed into the distal end of the front stabilizer
assembly 32. A threaded hole 80 houses the locking pin 40.
[0055] FIGS. 17A and 17B detail the improved buffer tube and
locking nut.
[0056] FIGS. 18, 19, and 20 detail the transverse site mount which
is mounted to the upper receiver picatinny rail by the bottom rail
receptacle 82. The upper rail receptacle 84 accepts the horizontal
compact periscope 46 (FIG. 2) accessory mount 50 (FIGS. 21,22) and
locking pin 52 interfaces with detent 86 (FIGS. 22 and 23) and the
horizontal compact periscope 46.
[0057] FIGS. 21, 22, 23, and 24 detail the horizontal compact
periscope 46. the basic construction consists of two windows, 88
and 90 (FIGS. 21 and 22), two mirror mounts, 92 and 94, (FIG. 24)
seen on the cut-away view of FIG. 24, attached with 2 mirrors 96
(FIG. 24). The detent 86 (FIG. 22), in conjunction with the
transverse sight mount 26 lock pin 52 (FIG. 18), properly aligns
the horizontal compact periscope. Basically, the periscope will
allow the operator to sight the rifle from the upper receiver sight
98 (FIG. 2) to the far sight. the advantage of this system allows
for the user to remove and install the horizontal compact periscope
without disturbing the alignment of the rifle 10 based sighting
system.
[0058] FIG. 25 details the pivot bolt 54 which is mounted in the
front stabilizer mount (FIG. 11). FIG. 25 details the pivot pin 44
which is mounted in the stock adaptor 20 (FIG. 8).
* * * * *