U.S. patent application number 11/409349 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-15 for firearm receivers with hollow body profiles and methods of producing the same.
Invention is credited to Wilhelm Fischbach, Johannes Murello.
Application Number | 20070033850 11/409349 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34529709 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070033850 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Murello; Johannes ; et
al. |
February 15, 2007 |
Firearm receivers with hollow body profiles and methods of
producing the same
Abstract
In one example, a weapon component is disclosed. The component
includes a receiver and a hollow body profile. The hollow body
profile is formed as an injection molded portion wherein the hollow
body profile is integral with and reinforces the receiver. Further,
the hollow body profile forms one edge of a cartridge case ejector
window.
Inventors: |
Murello; Johannes;
(Deisslingen, DE) ; Fischbach; Wilhelm;
(Deisslingen-Laufen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HANLEY, FLIGHT & ZIMMERMAN, LLC
150 S. WACKER DRIVE
SUITE 2100
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
34529709 |
Appl. No.: |
11/409349 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP04/11493 |
Oct 13, 2004 |
|
|
|
11409349 |
Apr 21, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/71.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 23/16 20130101;
F41C 23/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/071.01 |
International
Class: |
F41C 23/00 20060101
F41C023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 22, 2003 |
DE |
103 49 160.0 |
Claims
1. A weapon component comprising: a receiver; and a hollow body
profile formed as an injection molded portion wherein the hollow
body profile is integral with and reinforces the receiver and
wherein the hollow body profile forms one edge of a cartridge case
ejector window.
2. A component as defined in claim 1, wherein: the weapon further
includes a scope axis; the receiver further includes a shaft
region; and the hollow body profile includes a first section that
runs in the shaft region in the direction of the scope axis.
3. A component as defined in claim 1, wherein the shaft region
includes a scope side end and the hollow body profile further
includes a second section that is constructed essentially
vertically to the scope axis at the scope side end.
4. A component as defined in claim 1, further comprising a bush,
wherein the bush is embedded in the receiver, couples a scope and
includes a face that points toward the shaft region of the
receiver.
5. A component as defined in claim 4, wherein the bush is made of
one of a metal or a carbon-fiber impregnated plastic material.
6. A component as defined in claim 4, wherein the bush holds a
braking system of the scope or a breech mechanism in addition to or
instead of the scope.
7. A component as defined in claim 6, wherein the scope is in one
of stationary or flexible arrangement in the bush in the direction
of the axis.
8. A component as defined in claim 4, further comprising a recess
that exposes a portion of an outer surface of the bush.
9. A component as defined in claim 4, wherein the bush further
includes holes for anchoring in the receiver.
10. A component as defined in claim 1, wherein the hollow body
profile includes at least one of closing magnets or hinged elements
of a cover flap of the cartridge case ejector window.
11. A component as defined in claim 1, wherein the first section is
arranged largely in the interior of the receiver.
12. A component as defined in claim 11, wherein the hollow body
profile has outer surfaces in the interior of the receiver that
guide a breech element.
13. A component as defined in claim 12, wherein the breech element
is a breechblock carrier.
14. A method of forming a weapons component, the method comprising:
molding a receiver; forming a profile integrally with the receiver,
wherein at least a portion of the profile is formed to be an edge
of a cartridge ejection window; and injecting the profile with a
first material to form a hollow space in the profile.
15. A method of forming a weapons component as defined in claim 14,
wherein the first material is a gas.
16. A method of forming a weapons component as defined in claim 14,
further comprising filling the hollow space with a second
material.
17. A method of forming a weapons component as defined in claim 16,
wherein the second material is at least one of elastomer,
artificial resin, or foam.
18. A method of forming a weapons component as defined in claim 14,
wherein the first material is injected via a needle.
19. A method of forming a weapons component as defined in claim 14,
wherein the component is a plastic material.
20. A method of forming a weapons component as defined in claim 19,
wherein the plastic is polyamide.
21. An automatic or semi-automatic firearm for use with
large-caliber ammunition, the firearm comprising: a receiver; and a
hollow body profile integrally formed with the receiver wherein the
hollow body profile forms one edge of a cartridge case ejector
window.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This patent is a continuation of International Patent
Application Ser. No. PCT/EP2004/011493, filed Oct. 13, 2004, which
is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to firearms and more
particularly to firearm receivers with hollow body profiles for
supporting and reinforcing other components of the firearm.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Typically firearms include a component such as a frame,
housing, casing or receiver to which other components of the weapon
are attached. The housing, along with some or all of the other
components of the weapon may be enclosed in a case. One known
weapons case, which is made of plastic via injection molding
technology, is described in EP 1 357 348 A1. This weapon includes a
two-part weapons case and offers considerable weight and costs
advantages. The weapon disclosed in EP 1 357 347 A1 has a hollow
body with reinforcement bridges in the area at the attachment of
the barrel. The hollow body reinforcement bridges are formed when
the two parts of the weapons case are assembled. This assembly also
maintains a uniform construction with respect to the wall.
[0004] The method of manufacturing the known two-part weapon case
in EP 1 357 348 A1 has limited advantages. For example, this method
of manufacture is advantageous in the manufacturing of components
that already have all the important functional surfaces and
elements externally and internally for the addition of further
weapons components. However, this requires close manufacturing
tolerances so that the aforementioned weapon components can be
added on to the weapon case as simply as possible without expensive
refinishing operations.
[0005] Furthermore, when the weapon is fired, the case tends to
experience high mechanical loads. Conventionally, for the
absorption of these loads, metallic elements are included in the
injection mold during the formation of the case for the purpose of
reinforcing the weapon and all of its components while striving to
make the walls of the structures as thin as possible.
[0006] However, there are areas at which the wall should be of a
greater thickness. For example, when guide bushes for holding a
scope are enclosed in a receiver, the guide bushes need to be
sufficiently anchored in the receiver material, i.e., in the
plastic. To adequately ensure that the scope is anchored, certain
areas of the plastic material must have an increased thickness,
i.e., the load transfer regions need to be sufficiently dimensioned
so as to provide reinforcement. This is typically done by
introducing metallic inserts at these regions.
[0007] However, metallic inserts increase the tooling and
manufacturing costs associated with the production of the weapon.
Furthermore, the addition of metallic inserts increases the weight
of the weapon, and metallic inserts are difficult, in terms of
structural geometries, to design.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a lateral view of an example receiver of an
example weapon.
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view through the
shaft and scope region of the example receiver component of FIG.
1.
[0010] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view from the rear of the example
receiver component of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along the line A--A of
FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of a partially open hollow body
profile sections at the transition between the shaft region and the
scope mounting region of the example receiver component of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The present disclosure details an example weapons component,
i.e., a receiver, a housing, or a casing of a weapon, that may
include for example, a grip, a pistol stock, a shaft part, and/or a
shoulder support. Such receiver may be made of plastic and able to
hold additional components of the firearm such as, for example, a
weapon scope, breech mechanism, trigger device, ammunition supply
device, sighting/aiming device, etc. Furthermore, in the case of
automatic pistols, the example receiver may form both the barrel
shaft and the grip portion of the weapon, i.e., operating
components and components that interface with and are handled by
the marksmen.
[0014] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a receiver 1 for a weapon in
so-called "bull pup" design, which is a design in which the trigger
mechanism is located in front of a cartridge magazine viewed in the
direction of fire. In this example, the receiver 1 is integral with
a housing 1, and the two terms will be used interchangeably
throughout this description.
[0015] Throughout this description, positional terms such as
"front", "up", "rear," etc. refer to a properly positioned weapon
when firing horizontally, with the direction of fire running to the
front. Also all terms, such as "left" and "right" are specified
from the point of view of the marksman.
[0016] The receiver 1 has a shaft region 4 and a scope mount region
6, which may be configured as one integral piece. The receiver 1
also has a first opening 8 toward the bottom at the rear section of
the scope mount region 6 that extends toward the rear into the
shaft region 4. A trigger unit (not shown) as well as a cartridge
magazine (not shown) may be inserted or introduced through the
first opening 8. The receiver 1 also has a second opening 10
located at the rear end of the shaft region 4, into which, for
example, a shoulder support element (not shown) may be inserted,
which would, thus, close the second opening 10.
[0017] In the shaft region 4 of the receiver 1, a cartridge case
ejector window 12 is constructed both on the left side and on the
right side of the receiver 1. The left cartridge case ejector
window 12 is shown in FIG. 1, and the right cartridge case ejector
window 12 is shown in FIG. 2. The cartridge case ejector windows 12
may be closed by a flap or cover (not shown). To support the cover,
the receiver 1 includes hinged elements 14 that are formed on the
bottom edge of the ejector window 12 and closing elements 16 that
are formed on the top edge of the ejector window 12. In this
example, the closing elements 16 may be formed by magnets that hold
the cover in a closed position via magnetic attraction with
corresponding magnetic counterparts located on the cover. However,
the magnetic attraction, while great enough to hold the cover in
the closed position, is weak enough to permit the ejection of a
cartridge case.
[0018] Additionally, the scope mounting region 6 has a recess 18
accessible from above toward the rear of the scope mounting region
6. The recess 18 exposes a portion of an outer surface 20 of a bush
22 to which a weapons scope may be enclosed or coupled.
[0019] As mentioned above, housing 1 and receiver 1 are used
interchangeably because they are integrally formed, i.e., are
manufactured in one piece. However, the example receiver 1 can just
as well be assembled from several housings or case components that
can be detachably or rigidly connected to each other in any
suitable fashion. For example, the case component parts can be
glued, welded, screwed, riveted or joined by any mechanical or
chemical fasteners.
[0020] In the example bull pup style firearm, not only is the
cartridge magazine located behind the trigger, as described above,
but the cartridge case ejector windows 12 are located behind the
trigger device as well. As a result the cartridge ejection takes
place quite close to the head of the marksman. Two cartridge
ejection windows 12 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) are included in the example
receiver 1 so that cartridge ejection can occur optionally on the
left or the right side of the weapon, depending on which side
points away from the head of the marksman. In alternative examples,
the receiver 1 may also be constructed for a weapon in which the
ammunition supply device is located in front of the trigger device
and/or in which only one single cartridge case ejector window 12 is
provided, which may or may not include a cover flap.
[0021] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the contour of a hollow body profile 24
constructed in the receiver 1. The hollow body profile 24 proceeds
from the rear end of the shaft region 4 parallel to the scope axis
26 to the front to the scope mounting region 6. The hollow body
profile 24 has a first section 28 and a second section 30. The
first section 28 runs generally in the direction of the scope axis
26 and simultaneously forms the upper edge of the cartridge case
ejection window 12. At the front end of the shaft region 4 the
contour of the hollow body profile 24, 28 bends down and runs along
a rear face 29 of the bush 22 essentially following the outline of
the face 29 down into the opening 8, forming the second section 30
of the hollow body profile 24. Thus, the second section 30 runs in
a curved route corresponding to a peripheral section, i.e., the
rear face 29, of the bush 22 and essentially vertically to the
scope axis 26. The hollow body profile 24 includes a hollow space
32 that generally runs from the opening 10 at the end of the shaft
region 4 via the first section 28 to the second section 30 into the
opening 8, i.e., throughout the entire hollow body profile 24. The
transition, i.e., the change of direction, of the hollow body
profile 24 is shown in more detail in FIG. 5.
[0022] The cross-section profile of the first section 28 protrudes
completely into the interior of the receiver 1. The outer surfaces
34 (FIG. 4) of the profile 24 form a prismatic or sliding rail that
reinforces the shaft region 4 of the receiver 1 and stabilizes the
upper edge of the cartridge case ejector window 12. Further, the
outer surfaces 34 hold the closing elements 16 in the cartridge
case ejector window region 12, which engage a corresponding closing
element (e.g., a groove, magnets, etc.) on the cover flap and fix
the path of motion of the cover flap. In the illustrated example,
the outer surfaces 34 are level; however, in alternative examples,
the outer surfaces 34 may also be bent, convex, concave, or
constructed with additional guide grooves or profiles. Furthermore,
though the outer surfaces 34 are shown in the illustrated example
as sliding rails, in alternative examples, the outer surfaces 34
may be roller rails or roller/sliding rail combinations.
[0023] The second section 30 of the hollow body profile 24 proceeds
from the shaft side 4 at the rear face 29 of the bush 22 and
follows the outline of the bush 22 and forms the transition
reinforcement 38 (FIG. 3). The transition reinforcement 38 is
constructed at the exterior of the receiver 1 between the scope
mounting region 6 and the shaft region 4, which has a width smaller
than the diameter of the of the scope mounting region 4.
[0024] The bush 22 is positively and non-positively embedded in the
rear scope mounting region 6 in the receiver 1, i.e., the bush 22
may be embedded in or supported by the scope mounting region 6. The
rear face 29 of the bush 22 supports itself partially on the second
section 30 of the hollow body profile 24, while the front face (not
shown) of the bushing 22 is enclosed in the scope mounting region
6. The outer surface 20 of the bush 22 is provided with
indentations or perforations 40 for additional anchoring in the
receiver material, the indentations or perforations 40 are
penetrated by the receiver material. To ensure anchoring in axial
direction, perforations 40 on the bush 22 run axially and over the
entire out surface 20 of the bush 22, as shown in the illustrated
example (FIG. 2). The interior of the bush 22 has two annular
recesses or rings 42 arranged at an axial distance to one another.
The faces of the annular rings 42 engage a braking system (not
shown) of a scope locking mechanism (not shown) or the breech or
locking mechanism itself. Radial inner surfaces 44 of the rings 42
serve as linear gliding bearings of a weapons scope (not shown)
that can be moved in axial direction. The bush 22 may also be
constructed in such that the bush 22 itself axially secures the
weapons scope.
[0025] Furthermore, for the purposes of heat dissipation, an
alternative example may be constructed wherein the scope is
embedded into the receiver 1 without the inclusion of a bush 22.
Also, in other alternative examples, the indentations or
perforations 40 in the bush 22 may be replaced or supplemented with
nub-like elevations, annular grooves, longitudinal profiles, milled
edges or other suitable topographies.
[0026] The mounting of the bush 22 toward the front of the second
section 30 ensures a particularly favorable flux of force along the
scope axis 26 over the outer and inner radial walls 46 and 48 to
the shaft region 4 and back to the first section 28.
[0027] In the illustrated example, there are two extensively
symmetrical hollow body profiles 24 constructed in the receiver 1,
one of each of the left and the right sides. The first sections 28
of each profile 24 proceeds on the upper edge of the cartridge case
ejector window 12. However, in alternative examples, the first
sections 28 profiles 24 may run on the lower edge of the cartridge
case ejector windows 12. In addition, one single or even several
hollow body profiles 24 can run in the shaft region 4. Also, one
single or even several hollow body profiles 24 can run in the scope
mounting region 6, in which a bush 22 is arranged, for example,
between two corresponding second sections 30 of two corresponding
hollow body profiles 24.
[0028] The outer surface 20 of the bush 22 is partially exposed by
the recess 18. Consequently, the outer surface 20 is accessible for
the attachment of sighting/aiming devices and other devices and
components (not shown) thereto. Because the arrangement of the bush
22 with respect to the hollow body profile 24 enables the recess 18
to have a great dimension with an especially large attachment
surface 20, the additional components and devices may be tightly
and securely coupled to the weapons scope and uninfluenced by
deformations of the receiver 1 such as, for example, those
deformations caused by heat and/or stress. Further, this
arrangement enables robust and precise adjustment of the additional
components and devices.
[0029] In one example, the receiver 1 is manufactured through a
conventional plastic injection molding process. In particular PA
(polyamide) pellets with solid body admixtures (e.g., glass fibers,
carbon fibers) work well. The plastic pellets are heated in an
extrusion press and injected into a mold corresponding to the
receiver 1. The hollow space 32 of the hollow body profile 24,
which is first completely filled with plastic, is produced by means
of the injection of a gas, which partially squeezes the still fluid
or plastic synthetic material out of a duct. The gas injection
takes place via suitable needles, nozzles, or other injection
apparatus and is controlled in such a way that the desired wall
strengths of the profile 24 are constructed. The resulting hollow
space 32 remains dimensionally stable even when the gas injection
process ceases and the receiver cools, for example by quenching.
The plastic material solidifies without sink marks or without
distorting adjoining thin-walled areas. To increase the stability
or to influence damping characteristics the hollow space 32 can
then be filled with a suitable material (e.g. elastomer, artificial
resin, foam). In addition, filling the hollow spaces 32 prevents
moisture from penetrating into the hollow spaces 32, and/or
prevents the hollow spaces 32 from soiling. In addition,
prefabricated hollow body profiles 24 can be injected, cemented,
welded or installed in some other way.
[0030] The integration of weapons components such, for example,
housings, grips, handles, shaft elements, etc. into the receiver 1
is particularly beneficial for weapons that require particularly
robust, light components with a great degree of freedom of design
as well as for weapons that use large-caliber ammunition with the
required precision. These weapons may include not only small arms
of all types, but also automatic weapons that are easily
transportable (e.g., while mounted on racks or carriages) whose
receivers previously were manufactured exclusively of metal.
[0031] As described above, the present examples enable the
attachment of other components and devices without extremely tight
tolerance requirements to maintain a secure fitting. Further, the
present examples allow the receiver 1 to support high mechanical
loads that are associated with the firing of the weapon without the
need for metallic inserts in the receiver 1. These benefits are
accomplished by the inclusion of the hollow body profile 24
integrally to the injection molded receiver 1 for the purpose of
reinforcement, wherein the hollow body profile 24 is formed by the
injection of a suitable medium such as, for example, of a gas.
[0032] The construction of one or more reinforcing hollow body
profiles 24 on the receiver 1 increases, for example, the
dimensional stability of a receiver 1. The hollow body profiles 24
reinforce the receiver 1 without causing volume contraction to
occur as is the case with conventional massively constructed
profiles where sink marks and/or tolerance deviations are caused by
the cooling of the receiver 1. Furthermore, in the illustrated
example, the purposeful arrangement of the hollow body profiles or
hollow ribs 24 enables the average wall thickness of the total
receiver 1 to be reduced.
[0033] As mentioned above, in some examples, the receiver 1
includes a hollow body profile 24 that has a first section 28
running across the shaft region 4 of the receiver 1 along the
weapons scope axis 26. In other examples, the receiver 1 has a
hollow body profile 24 that includes a second section 30 that is
essentially vertically constructed with respect to the weapons
scope axis 26 at the scope side end of the shaft region 4. These
constructions stabilize a large relatively thin-walled area of the
shaft region 4 of the weapons receiver 1 and create a load bearing,
groove-free transition 38 to the scope mounting region 6 of the
weapons receiver 1.
[0034] As described herein, the bush 22, which is manufactured, for
example, out of metal or CFK (carbon-fiber impregnated plastic), is
securely coupled to the receiver 1. Consequently, the bush 22 can
assume several core functions at the same time. The bush 22 holds
the weapons scope itself, which depending on the design of the
weapon, is in fixed or flexible arrangement in the direction of the
scope axis 26. Additionally, the bush 22 serves as an impact point
of a brake system, which restricts the axial movement of the scope,
and the bush 22 can also serve as a function element of the breech
mechanism (not shown). The unique embedding of the bush 22 allows a
recess 18 in the plastic receiver 1 that exposes a part of the
outer surface 20 of the bush 22, which in turn can then serve as
the connection point for a sighting, fire control devices, or other
elements, which require a rigid connection that is free of strict
tolerance requirements.
[0035] Turning to the portion of the hollow body profile 24 in the
shaft region 4, the hollow body profile 24 reinforces the edge, in
the illustrated example, the top edge, of the cartridge case
ejector window 12 and simultaneously serves as a stable stop or
connection or guide rail for an associated breechblock (not shown).
Further, the portion hollow body profile 24 that is exposed to the
outside of the weapon may also hold engagement elements for
engaging the cover. Traditionally and particularly in the case of
large-caliber weapons with large ejector windows, these functions
were otherwise only able to be implemented through expensive
engineering design and production processes.
[0036] In some examples, the hollow body profile 24 is located in
the interior of the receiver 1 and includes outer surfaces 34 that
are pointed toward the interior of the receiver 1. The outer
surfaces 34 may serve as guide rails of a breech element such as,
for example, a breechblock carrier (not shown), as described above.
The use of the outer surfaces 34 as guide rails is assured by the
high fitting accuracy and the high dimensional stability of the
hollow profile 24.
[0037] The hollow body profile 24 may be constructed, as described
above via an injection molding process that also includes
constructing a hollow space 32 in the hollow body profile 24 by
injecting a suitable medium such as, for example, a gas. This
manufacturing method permits the construction of virtually any
geometric shapes of the hollow body profile 24. Furthermore, the
gas may be injected with a needle, which makes it possible to
construct the hollow body profile 24 in arbitrary places on the
component. Also, in some examples, the method involves using a
suitable material such as, for example, a plastic like polyamide to
create the hollow body profile 24.
[0038] The receiver 1 and integral hollow body profile 24 and other
components mentioned herein are suitable for any number of firearms
including small arms that have automatic or semi-automatic firing
of large-caliber anmunition.
[0039] This application claims priority to German Patent
Application 103 49 160.0 that was filed on Oct. 22, 2003, which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0040] Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of
manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of
this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent
covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly
falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or
under the doctrine of equivalents.
* * * * *