U.S. patent application number 11/126730 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-16 for adjustable firearm stock.
Invention is credited to Timothy D. Giauque, Tonny Kaempe, Gregory D. Livermore.
Application Number | 20060254111 11/126730 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37417686 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060254111 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Giauque; Timothy D. ; et
al. |
November 16, 2006 |
Adjustable firearm stock
Abstract
An adjustable stock comprises a frame and a housing that slides
telescopingly with respect to the frame between at least two
configurations: a shortened configuration and a lengthened
configuration. Preferably there is at least one configuration of
intermediate length. To permit the adjustment of the stock, a lever
arm, biased in a locking position, is pressed, whereupon it unlocks
the housing from the frame and allows the user to slide the housing
with respect to the frame from one configuration to another. The
lever arm has a projection on the end that is either seated in one
of several recesses in the housing, thereby locking the frame to
the housing, or slidable within a channel formed in the housing and
running from one recess to another.
Inventors: |
Giauque; Timothy D.;
(Columbia, SC) ; Livermore; Gregory D.; (Columbia,
SC) ; Kaempe; Tonny; (Branford, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NEXSEN PRUET ADAMS KLEEMEIER, LLC
PO DRAWER 2426
COLUMBIA
SC
29202-2426
US
|
Family ID: |
37417686 |
Appl. No.: |
11/126730 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 23/04 20130101;
F41C 23/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/072 |
International
Class: |
F41C 23/00 20060101
F41C023/00 |
Claims
1. A stock for a firearm, said stock comprising: a frame; a housing
slidably carried by said frame between a shortened configuration
and a lengthened configuration; a locking lever pivotally carried
by said housing and pivotable between at least one locking position
and an unlocking position, said locking lever locking said frame to
said housing when said locking lever is in said at least one
locking position; and means for urging said locking lever into said
at least one locking position, said urging means limiting movement
of said locking lever from said at least one locking position to
said unlocking position.
2. The stock as recited in claim 1, wherein said locking lever is
adapted to lock said frame to said housing in said shortened
configuration and in said lengthened configuration.
3. The stock as recited in claim 1, wherein said frame has two
recesses formed therein and said locking lever carries a
projection, each recess of said two recesses dimensioned for
receiving said projection, said locking lever locking said frame to
said housing when said projection is received within said each
recess.
4. The stock as recited in claim 1, wherein said urging means
further comprises: a pin; a spring; and a butt plate, said spring
urging said locking lever into said locking position and said pin
limiting movement of said locking lever when said pin meets said
butt plate.
5. The stock as recited in claim 1, wherein said locking lever has
a first end and an opposing second end, said first end extending
outside of said housing, said second end being inside said
housing.
6. The stock as recited in claim 5, wherein said second end carries
a projection and said frame has at least two recesses, said
projection of said locking lever being received by either recess of
said at least two recesses when said frame is locked to said
housing.
7. The stock as recited in claim 6, wherein said frame has a
channel formed therein and running between said at least two
recesses, and wherein said projection moves within said channel
when said frame is moving with respect to said housing.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS
[0001] None.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to firearm stocks and
adjustable firearm stocks in particular.
[0003] A typical rifle or machine gun will include a stock that
enables the user to brace the firearm against his shoulder. The
stock is fastened to a receiver and a barrel. Most stocks are sized
for a typical adult and are not adjustable. Adjustable stocks are
most often found in high performance, competition rifles, that
allow the user to adjust the stock to the particular dimensions of
the user. These adjustable stocks can be moved between a shorter
configuration and a longer configuration by telescopingly sliding
one part of the stock with respect to another and then securing the
stock to the frame at the preferred configuration. Once fixed to
the dimensions of the user, they are locked in place and only
rarely adjusted a second time.
[0004] Military firearm stocks, on the other hand, may need to be
configured for a particular mission, and possibly reconfigured
during the mission for a change in use rather than for the body
dimensions of the user. For example, a shorter stock may be
preferred for its easier maneuverability in close quarters in urban
fighting; a longer stock may be preferred for shooting at a
distance. In either case, the adjustable stock will require some
way to lock the stock in its preferred configuration. In military
applications, the adjustability must be quicker and easier, driven
by mission rather than the personal body dimensions of a user.
[0005] Thus there remains a need for a better way to adjust the
length of a stock for military applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to its major aspects and briefly recited, the
present invention is an adjustable stock. The present stock
comprises a frame and a housing that slides telescopingly with
respect to the frame between at least two configurations: a
shortened configuration and a lengthened configuration. Preferably
there is at least one intermediate configuration. To permit the
adjustment of the stock, a lever arm, biased in a locking position,
is pressed, whereupon it unlocks the housing from the frame and
allows the user to slide the housing with respect to the frame from
one configuration to another. The lever arm has a projection on the
end that is either seated in one of several recesses in the housing
or slidable within a channel formed in the housing and running from
one recess to another.
[0007] An important feature of the present invention is the locking
lever, which allows the user to quickly, reliably and easily change
the configuration of the stock. Merely by squeezing the locking
lever, the user is able to unlock the housing with respect to the
frame. Releasing the locking lever assures that the housing and
frame will lock when they in one of the configurations.
[0008] Another important feature of the present invention is the
combination of a pin positioned in the stock that prevents
excessive rearward movement of the locking lever, the projection on
the end of the lever, and the channel the projection slides in when
the housing is moved relative to the frame. Only a small amount of
travel of the locking lever is required to move the projection out
of its recess and thereby unlock the housing from the frame;
excessive movement of the locking lever, if permitted, would cause
the projection on the lever to become misaligned with respect to
the channel. The pin in the stock prevents excessive movement of
the locking lever, and, accordingly, misalignment. Additionally,
the channel assures controlled movement of the projection from one
locking position to the next.
[0009] These and other features and their advantages will be
apparent to those skilled in the art of firearm design from a
careful reading of the Detailed Description of Preferred
Embodiments accompanied by the following drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] In the drawings,
[0011] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a firearm with a stock
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
stock in the shortened configuration;
[0012] FIG. 1B is a detail of the firearm of FIG. 1A showing the
stock in a lengthened configuration;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side exterior view of the stock in the shortened
configuration with its locking lever pulled, according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side exterior view of the stock of FIG. 2 in the
extended configuration and with its locking lever released;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side cross sectional view of the shortened stock
of FIG. 2; and
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view of the lengthened
stock of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The present invention is a new, replacement stock for an
existing firearm and a new firearm equipped with the present stock.
The stock is characterized by the fact that the user can quickly
and easily lengthen and shorten the stock without tools.
[0018] Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1A illustrates a
light-weight machine gun 10 having a barrel 12, a receiver 14, and
a stock 16. Barrel 12 has a receiver end 22 connected to a first
end 24 of receiver 14. An opposing, second end 26 of receiver 14 is
attached to a first end 28 of stock 16. Ammunition (not shown) is
inserted into a breech 30 of receiver 14 and fired through barrel
16 in the usual manner using a fire control system. Except for a
portion of trigger 18, the fire control system is housed in
receiver 14.
[0019] Although FIG. 1A shows light-weight machine gun 10, any
firearm capable of having a stock attached to it may be improved
with the present stock 16. Furthermore, the operation and
construction of firearms, particularly standard military rifles and
machine guns, are well known.
[0020] FIG. 1B illustrates a detailed view of a firearm focused on
stock 16 and a portion of receiver 14. It will be clear from a
comparison of stock 16 in FIGS. 1A and 1B that stock 16 in FIG. 1A
is shorter and stock 16 in FIG. 1B is longer. In particular, stock
16 has a frame 32 and a housing 34 slidably carried by frame 32.
Housing 34 slides over frame 32 in a telescoping fashion between a
shortened configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, and a
lengthened configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 1B. As will be
described, stock 16 may have at least one intermediate
configuration.
[0021] Stock has a cheek piece 36 and butt plate 38, a rear sling
attachment 40 and a front sling attachment 42. When first end 28 of
stock 16 is disconnected from second end 26 of receiver 14, a
receiver coupler 44 can be seen with an upper pin connection 46 and
a lower pin connection 48. A portion of a locking lever 56 is
visible along the bottom of frame 32. Acting somewhat like a
trigger that can be pulled or squeezed to release the internal
locking mechanism and thereby allow the reconfiguration of stock 16
between the shortened configuration, as shown in FIG. 1A as well as
FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, and the lengthened configuration, as shown in
FIG. 1B, FIG. 3 and FIG. 5.
[0022] The cross sectional views of FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the
operation of the locking mechanism. As the user squeezes exterior
portion 60 of locking lever 56, locking lever 56 pivots about a
pivot pin 62. Its distal end 64 rotates counter-clockwise when
stock 16 is viewed from the left and pulls a projection 66 carried
on its distal end downward and out of a recess 68 formed in a
channel 70 in frame 32. Once projection 66 is clear of recess 68,
housing 34 is free to slide with respect to frame 32. When housing
34 is sliding, projection 66 remains within channel 70, and thus
channel 70 acts as a guide or cam race for projection 66, keeping
it confined to a narrow track. Projection 66 thus serves two
functions. First, when in recess 68, it holds frame 32 locked to
housing 34. Second, when out of recess 68 but still in channel 70,
it serves as a cam, an alignment device, to keep housing 34 aligned
with frame 32 when the two are moving relative to each other.
[0023] It is important for alignment and repeatable operation of
frame 32 and housing 34 of stock 16 to limit the travel of exterior
portion 60 of locking pin 56 so that projection 66 does not pivot
clear of channel 70. It is also important to urge projection 66
into recess 68. Therefore, a retaining pin 76 biased by a spring 78
is positioned behind exterior portion 60 to limit its rearward
travel and urge it forward. When locking lever 56 is pressed
against a first end retaining pin 76, pin 76 moves rearward against
the urging of spring 78 until pin meets butt plate 38, whereupon it
and locking lever 56 can move no further.
[0024] It is intended that the scope of the present invention
include all modifications that incorporate its principal design
features, and that the scope and limitations of the present
invention are to be determined by the scope of the appended claims
and their equivalents. It also should be understood, therefore,
that the inventive concepts herein described are interchangeable
and/or they can be used together in still other permutations of the
present invention, and that other modifications and substitutions
will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing
description of the preferred embodiments without departing from the
spirit or scope of the present invention.
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