U.S. patent application number 11/368942 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-30 for shell stripper assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to RA Brands, L.L.C.. Invention is credited to Randall S. Murphy.
Application Number | 20090107023 11/368942 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36592941 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090107023 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Murphy; Randall S. |
April 30, 2009 |
SHELL STRIPPER ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A shell stripper assembly includes a shell stripper, a stripper
guide, a stripper guide plate, and a magazine insert. The shell
stripper strips the top round from the firearm magazine so that it
can be picked up by the firearm breech bolt. The shell stripper
slides between guide rails of the stripper guide, and its motion is
controlled by the stripper guide plate.
Inventors: |
Murphy; Randall S.;
(Elizabethtown, KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE, PLLC
ATTN: PATENT DOCKETING 32ND FLOOR, P.O. BOX 7037
ATLANTA
GA
30357-0037
US
|
Assignee: |
RA Brands, L.L.C.
|
Family ID: |
36592941 |
Appl. No.: |
11/368942 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60664847 |
Mar 24, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/69.02 ;
42/69.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 9/41 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/69.02 ;
42/69.01 |
International
Class: |
F41A 19/15 20060101
F41A019/15 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. The firearm of claim 14, wherein said shell stripper further
comprises: a second tab extending from a rear portion of said
second leg.
3. The firearm of claim 14, wherein said shell stripper further
comprises: a first guide groove; a second guide groove; and wherein
said stripper guide plate is sized to be received and to slidably
translate within said first and second guide grooves.
4. The firearm of claim 3, wherein said shell stripper further
comprises: at least one projection extending from a rear portion of
said first leg.
5. The firearm of claim 14, wherein said first leg comprises a
hinge portion.
6. The firearm of claim 14, wherein said stripper guide further
comprises: a magazine box clearance formed in a front of said
stripper guide.
7. The firearm of claim 14, wherein said stripper guide further
comprises: a hammer clearance formed in a rear portion of said
stripper guide.
8. The firearm of claim 14, wherein said stripper guide further
comprises: first mounting means along an underside portion of said
stripper guide.
9. The firearm of claim 14, wherein said stripper guide plate
comprises: a hammer clearance aperture extending along an
intermediate section of said stripper guide plate.
10. The firearm of claim 9, wherein said stripper guide plate
comprises: a rear portion having inclined shoulders.
11. The firearm of claim 12, wherein said magazine insert further
comprises: first, second, third, and fourth walls defining a
magazine receiving slot; and a magazine latch clearance formed in
said second wall.
12. The firearm of claim 8, wherein said magazine insert comprises:
second mounting means at an upper portion of said magazine insert
designed to engage said first mounting means in said stripper
guide.
13. (canceled)
14. A firearm, including a shell stripper assembly, the shell
stripper assembly comprising: a shell stripper comprising a first
elongate leg and a second elongate leg spaced from said first leg,
and a first tab extending from said first leg; a stripper guide
comprising a first guide rail and a second guide rail, said shell
stripper being sized to be received between said first and second
guide rails; a stripper guide plate adapted to be received between
the shell stripper and the stripper guide; and a magazine insert
adapted to support a magazine therein, wherein said firearm further
comprises: a receiver; a barrel operably connected to said
receiver; a chamber disposed at a rear end of said barrel; a
magazine disposed to the rear of said chamber in said magazine
insert; an axially translatable breech bolt that is engageable with
said chamber; and an action mechanism extending along a length of
said firearm and axially translatable along with said breech bolt,
wherein said shell stripper is mounted within said firearm to
cooperate with said action mechanism to strip rounds from said
magazine, and said stripper guide plate is fixedly mounted in the
firearm and in slidable engagement with said shell stripper.
15. The firearm of claim 14, wherein said shell stripper is
slidably mounted in said stripper guide.
16. (canceled)
17. The firearm of claim 15, wherein said magazine is mounted
within said magazine insert below said breech bolt.
18. A firearm, comprising: a barrel; a chamber disposed at a rear
end of said barrel; a magazine disposed adjacent said chamber; an
action mechanism axially translatable along a length of said
firearm; a shell stripper assembly mounted within said firearm and
adapted to cooperate with said action mechanism and to strip rounds
from said magazine; and an axially translatable breech bolt
cooperating with said action mechanism and said shell stripper
assembly and engageable with said chamber, wherein said shell
stripper assembly comprises: a shell stripper that is releasably
engageable with said action mechanism and is movable with said
action mechanism, said shell stripper having an engagement surface
adapted to engage a round of ammunition within said magazine; a
stripper guide fixedly mounted within said firearm, wherein said
shell stripper is slidably mounted within said stripper guide and
wherein said breech bolt rests on an upper surface of said shell
stripper.
19-20. (canceled)
21. The firearm of claim 18, wherein said shell stripper further
comprises a first elongate leg and a second elongate leg joined at
a nose portion, said engagement surface being disposed at said nose
portion.
22. (canceled)
23. The firearm of claim 18, wherein said stripper guide comprises:
a first guide rail and a second guide rail, said shell stripper
being slidably mounted between said first and second guide
rails.
24. The firearm of claim 23, wherein said stripper guide further
comprises: a magazine box clearance formed in a front of said
stripper guide; and a hammer clearance formed in a rear of said
stripper guide.
25. The firearm of claim 18, wherein said shell stripper assembly
further comprises: a stripper guide plate fixedly mounted in said
firearm and in slidable engagement with said shell stripper.
26. The firearm of claim 25, wherein said shell stripper further
comprises: a first guide groove; and a second guide groove, wherein
said stripper guide plate is slidably received within said first
and second guide grooves.
27. The firearm of claim 26, further comprising a hammer, wherein
said stripper guide plate comprises: a hammer clearance aperture
extending along an intermediate section of said stripper guide
plate, the hammer being movable through the hammer clearance
aperture; and a rear portion having inclined shoulders.
28. The firearm of claim 18, further comprising: a magazine insert
mounted below said breech bolt and housing said magazine, wherein
said magazine insert comprises first, second, third, and fourth
walls defining a magazine receiving slot.
29. The firearm of claim 28, wherein said magazine insert supports
said magazine such that a top round in said magazine is oriented at
a non-zero angle with respect to an axis of said breech bolt.
30. The firearm of claim 29, wherein said non-zero angle is in a
range of about 2-10 degrees.
31. The firearm of claim 28, wherein said magazine insert further
comprises mounting means at an upper portion of said magazine
insert designed to engage mounting means in said stripper
guide.
32-39. (canceled)
40. A firearm, comprising: a barrel a chamber disposed at a rear of
said barrel; a magazine disposed adjacent said chamber; an action
mechanism axially translatable along a length of said firearm: a
shell stripper assembly adapted to cooperate with said action
mechanism and to strip rounds from said magazine, said shell
stripper assembly comprising: a shell stripper that is releasably
engageable with said action mechanism and is movable with said
action mechanism; and a stripper guide, said shell stripper being
slidably mounted in said stripper guide; a translatable breech bolt
cooperating with said action mechanism and said shell stripper and
engageable with said chamber; and a stripper guide plate fixedly
mounted in said firearm between said shell stripper and said
stripper guide and in slidable engagement with said shell
stripper.
41. The firearm of claim 40, further comprising a hammer, wherein
said stripper guide plate comprises a hammer clearance aperture
extending along an intermediate section of said stripper guide
plate, said hammer being mounted for movement through said hammer
clearance.
42. The firearm of claim 40, wherein said breech bolt is slidable
over an upper surface of said shell stripper.
43. The firearm of claim 15, wherein said breech bolt is slidable
over an upper surface of said shell stripper.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/664,847, filed Mar. 24, 2005, entitled "SHELL
STRIPPER ASSEMBLY FOR FIREARM," the entire contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference as if presented herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The technical field is related to feeding mechanisms for
firearms which strip a round from a magazine and feed the round
into a chamber of a firearm.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Conventional firearms generally include a bolt assembly that
both strips the top round from a magazine and then seats the round
in the chamber of the firearm. Reliability of this action may
suffer, however, in cases such as where the breech bolt diameter is
relatively large. Because the breech bolt is typically cylindrical,
a large breech bolt diameter means that only a relatively small
forward area of the breech bolt will be available to reach into the
magazine well and strip the top round from the magazine. In
addition, such larger breech bolt diameters typically require a
correspondingly larger opening in the top of the magazine to enable
the breach bolt to reach in and strip the round from the magazine
for loading. These factors may impose undesirable dimensional
constraints in designing the firearm.
SUMMARY
[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a
shell stripper assembly comprises a shell stripper having a body
including a first leg, a second leg joined to the first leg at a
nose portion, and a first tab extending from the first leg. The
shell stripper assembly can also include a stripper guide having a
first guide rail and a second guide rail, a stripper guide plate,
and a magazine insert. The shell stripper body can be sized to be
received between the first and second guide rails, while the shell
stripper assembly is adapted to cooperate with an action mechanism
within a firearm, such as a rifle, shotgun or handgun, to strip
rounds from a magazine of the firearm. The shell stripper further
can be provided with an engagement surface that is adapted to
efficiently and reliably engage rounds in the magazine. The use of
the shell stripper to strip rounds from the magazine thus can
minimize or eliminate the requirement for the breech bolt to strip
rounds from the magazine. The breech bolt diameter may therefore be
minimized as a determining factor in the size or shape of the
magazine and/or the magazine well. In addition, the magazine insert
can support the magazine of the firearm at a non-zero angle so as
to place the top round in the magazine in an orientation to enable
the round to be easily and reliably engaged and lifted out of the
magazine into a position to be picked up by the breech bolt during
closing of the action of the firearm.
[0007] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a
firearm having the shell stripper assembly of the present invention
generally comprises a receiver or frame with a barrel operably
connected thereto, a chamber disposed at the rear end of the
barrel, and a magazine for supplying rounds of ammunition to the
chamber. The firearm further includes an axially translatable bolt
that is engageable with the firearm chamber and a firearm action
mechanism. The shell stripper assembly of the present invention
further generally will be mounted within the receiver of the
firearm and will cooperate with the action mechanism to strip fired
cartridge casings from the magazine and then seat additional rounds
successively within the chamber.
[0008] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a
method of operating a firearm is provided, comprising returning or
closing the action of the firearm after firing, causing the shell
stripper and breech bolt forward to be moved forward. During
forward motion of the breech bolt, the shell stripper removes or
strips a round from the magazine and places it in a position where
it can be loaded into the chamber. After firing, the firearm action
is opened, during which the shell stripper and breech bolt are
moved rearwardly, whereupon the spent cartridge or shell is removed
from the chamber.
[0009] Other aspects, features, and details of embodiments of the
present invention can be more completely understood by reference to
the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, taken
in conjunction with the drawings figures and from the appended
claims.
[0010] According to common practice, the various features of the
drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be
expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a shell stripper
assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of a shell stripper
according to the first embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of the shell
stripper.
[0014] FIG. 2C is a top plan view of the shell stripper.
[0015] FIG. 2D is a side elevational view of the shell
stripper.
[0016] FIG. 2E is a section view taken on line 2E-2E in FIG.
2C.
[0017] FIG. 2F is a section view taken on line 2F-2F in FIG.
2C.
[0018] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a stripper guide according
to the first embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 3B is a top plan view of the stripper guide.
[0020] FIG. 3C is a left side elevational view of the stripper
guide.
[0021] FIG. 3D is a front elevational view of the stripper
guide.
[0022] FIG. 3E is a rear elevational view of the stripper
guide.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a stripper guide plate
according to the first embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a magazine insert according
to the first embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 5B is a top plan view of the magazine insert.
[0026] FIG. 5C is a front elevational view of the magazine
insert.
[0027] FIG. 5D is a side elevational view of the magazine
insert.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an action bar for use
in a firearm having a shell stripper assembly.
[0029] FIGS. 7A-7F illustrate the operation of the shell stripper
assembly during a firing cycle.
[0030] FIG. 8 illustrates the angle of inclination at which the
magazine insert places a firearm.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] The shell stripper assembly according to the present
embodiments generally relates to a feeding mechanism for stripping
and/or feeding the top round of ammunition being fed from a
magazine into the chamber of a firearm, such as a rifle, shotgun or
other long gun, or a handgun. The firearm further can be, for
example, a gas actuated, inertia actuated, semiautomatic, pump
action, bolt action, or other type of firearm.
[0032] Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals
indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 is an
exploded perspective view of the individual components of a first
example embodiment of a shell stripper assembly 5 according to the
principles of the present invention. The shell stripper assembly 5
includes a shell stripper 10, a stripper guide 40, a stripper guide
plate 60 and a magazine insert 80. Each of the components of the
shell stripper assembly 5 are discussed in further detail below,
followed by a discussion of their functions within an exemplary
firearm.
[0033] FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of the shell stripper
10 of the shell stripper assembly 5 according to the first
embodiment of the invention. The shell stripper 10 includes a body
11, typically formed from steel or similar high strength metal or
other material, and having a first leg 12 and a second leg 14
joined at a front or nose portion 16. The first and second legs 12,
14 define a longitudinally extending clearance or slot 24 extending
substantially along the body 11 of the shell stripper approximately
in the center of the shell stripper 10, and having an enlarged
first or forward end 26, a narrowed intermediate portion 27 and an
outwardly flaring rear or second end 28. Stripper plate guide rails
20 generally extend inwardly from the rear or second end of the
clearance 24 into the interior of the rear of the shell stripper
10, and define stripper plate guide grooves 21 that are sized to
accommodate the stripper guide plate 60. A projection 30 extends
rearwardly and upwardly from the rear or free end 31 of the first
leg 12, with first and second tabs 18, 22 (shown in FIGS. 2A-2C)
extending outwardly from the sides of the first and second legs 12,
14, respectively.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 2C and 2F, the first and second legs 12,
14 of the shell stripper 10 generally are relatively flexible, and
during feeding of a round of ammunition into the chamber of a
firearm, the legs 12, 14 will tend to flex inwardly toward the
round, generally at hinge points 32, 34. FIG. 2F illustrates the
relatively narrow cross section of the hinged legs 12, 14 at the
hinge points 32, 34 with each leg 12, 14 further including a
respective inclined surface 13, 15 at its rear end 31. These
inclined surfaces 13, 15 can act as camming surfaces by which the
stripper guide 40 causes the first and second legs 12, 14 to flex
inwardly, and typically are inclined or angled at an angle of
inclination a. The angle of inclination a of the inclined surfaces
13, 15, measured with respect to the long axis of the shell
stripper 10, may be in a range of about 20-50 degrees, for example.
Additionally, referring to FIGS. 2D and 2E, the shell stripper 10
has a top profile 36 that may be generally shaped to accommodate a
bottom or lower surface of a breech bolt of the firearm. As shown
in FIG. 2E, the top profile 36 generally includes widened arcuate
surfaces 38 that may accommodate the bolt assembly when the first
and second legs 12, 14 are in both a flexed and an unflexed
condition.
[0035] FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate the stripper guide 40 of the shell
stripper assembly 5. The stripper guide 40 generally includes first
and second guide rails 42, 44 that pinch or flex the legs 12, 14 of
the shell stripper 10 together in order to disengage the shell
stripper 10 from an action bar of a firearm during firing.
Referring also to FIG. 3B, the stripper guide 40 generally includes
a ledge 46 for supporting the stripper guide plate 60. A clearance
48 for the magazine box of a firearm is formed into a front portion
of the stripper guide 40, while a hammer clearance 49 can be formed
into a rear portion of the stripper guide 40 to allow the hammer of
the firearm to move from a cocked position below the firearm breech
bolt and to strike the firing pin of the firearm to fire the round
of ammunition in the chamber of the firearm. Referring to FIG. 3C,
a mounting groove 50 extends across the bottom of the stripper
guide 40. The mounting groove 50 is shown here in a dovetail
configuration, although other shapes also can be used, and is used
to secure the stripper guide 40 to the magazine insert 80.
[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates the stripper guide plate 60 of the
stripper assembly 5. The stripper guide plate 60 generally has a
substantially flat body 61 formed from metal, such as a stamped
steel, or a durable high strength composite material, and controls
and guides movement of the shell stripper 10 as it cycles during
firing. The stripper guide plate 60 includes a first leg 62 and a
second leg 64 extending along a length of the guide plate 60. The
first and second legs 62, 64 are joined at a front portion 66 and
at a rear portion 70 of the body 61, defining a longitudinally
extending slot 72 that extends between the legs 62, 64 and allows
the hammer of the firearm to rise from beneath the stripper guide
plate 60 to strike the firing pin. The front portion 66 may also
include a countersunk bore 68 that accommodates a fastener 168
(shown in FIG. 7D) to secure the stripper guide plate 60 to the
magazine insert 80. The first and second legs 62, 64 (FIG. 4) are
sized to slide axially within the stripper plate guide rails 21
(shown in FIG. 2B). As further generally illustrated in FIG. 4, the
width of the rear portion 70 of the plate body 61 is generally
machined to correspond to an interior space or portion of an action
bar for the firearm in which the shell stripper assembly of the
present invention is used. The rear portion 70 of the plate body 61
also can include sloped or angled shoulders 74, 76 that act to help
center the rear portion 70 within the action bar as the action bar
moves rearwardly during the firing cycle.
[0037] FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate the magazine insert 80 for use with
the shell stripper assembly 5 according to the present invention.
The magazine insert 80 may be mounted within the receiver of a
firearm and houses the magazine. The magazine insert 80 includes
first and second parallel sidewalls 82, 84, a front wall 88, and a
rear wall 90. A magazine latch clearance 86 can be formed in the
second sidewall 84, while a dovetail mounting projection 92 extends
across an upper rear portion of the magazine insert 80, and a
threaded aperture 94 is provided in the mounting projection 92. The
mounting projection 92 is sized and dimensioned to be received
within the dovetail mounting groove 50 of the stripper guide 40,
whereupon the aperture 94 will be positioned to receive the
fastener 168 (FIG. 7D) that also extends through the bore 68 in the
stripper guide plate 60 (FIG. 4). The fastener 168 also extends
through the open central section of the stripper guide 40.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 5A, a curved support surface 95 extends
across the top of the front wall 88 of the magazine insert 80. The
support surface 95 engages a recess in the firearm receiver for
guiding the magazine insert 80 into and supporting the insert
within the receiver of the firearm. Referring to FIG. 5D, a
threaded aperture 99 is formed in the first sidewall 82, and is
positioned to accommodate a threaded fastener 199 (shown in FIG.
7B) that secures the magazine insert 80 to the receiver of the
firearm. In addition, a spring-loaded magazine release button 98 is
disposed in a release button recess 100 in the first sidewall 82,
for engaging a magazine latching assembly. The magazine latching
assembly can be, for example, conventional in construction, and
enables disengagement of a magazine from the magazine well of a
firearm.
[0039] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an action bar 110 of a
firearm for use with the stripper assembly 5 of the present
invention. The action bar 110 is the action mechanism which guides
the movement of the breech bolt during opening and closing of the
firearm action. The action bar 110 includes first and second
elongated rails 112, 114 (shown in FIG. 7A), which are joined at an
archlike rear portion 115. The action bar 110 includes first and
second apertures 118 (FIG. 7B), 122 (FIG. 7A) beneath the rear
portion 115. The apertures 118, 122 may be in the form of, for
example, rectangular slots, and generally are sized to receive and
to releasably engage with the first and second tabs 18, 22 on the
shell stripper 10. Other configurations and sizes of the apertures
118, 122, such as partially arcuate slots, also can be used.
[0040] FIGS. 7A-7F illustrate the operation of the shell stripper
assembly 5 in a partially exploded view of a firearm 200 during a
firing cycle. During the firing cycle, the shell stripper assembly
5 acts as a feeding mechanism for stripping the top round from a
magazine so that it can be picked up by the breech bolt and seated
into the chamber of the firearm 200. The firearm may be, for
example, a gas actuated or semiautomatic long gun or handgun, a
pump action shotgun, a gas actuated rifle, an inertia action
firearm, a bolt action firearm, or other type of firearm. The
exemplary firearm 200 illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7F operates by pump
action.
[0041] FIG. 7A illustrates a portion of the firearm 200 with the
action fully open. The firearm 200 is equipped with the shell
stripper assembly 5 arranged in operable engagement with the action
bar 110, a breech bolt 280, and a trigger plate assembly 220. The
breech bolt 280 generally rests on the top profile 36 of the shell
stripper 10 (shown in FIGS. 2D and 2E), which is mounted between
the first and second guide rails 42, 44 of the stripper guide 40.
The stripper guide plate 60 is secured to the magazine insert 80 by
a fastener 168 (shown in FIG. 7D), with the first and second legs
62, 64 of the stripper guide plate 60 being received within the
stripper guide plate grooves 21 at the rear of the shell stripper
10.
[0042] With the action fully open, the breech bolt 280 is in its
rearward most position. In this position, the first and second tabs
18, 22 of the shell stripper 10 are engaged with and temporarily
locked in position in the first and second slots 118, 122 of the
action bar 110, and with the rear of the breech bolt 280 received
within the archlike portion 115 at the rear of the action bar 110.
The projection 30 located at the rear of the shell stripper 10
abuts the rear of the breech bolt 280.
[0043] FIG. 7B illustrates a portion of the firearm 200 with the
action closing, with the closing movement of the action bar 110,
breech bolt and the shell stripper 10 generally being illustrated
by arrow C. The breech bolt 280 is not shown in FIG. 7B in order to
more clearly illustrate the operation of the shell stripper
assembly 5. The stripper guide 40, stripper guide plate 60, and
magazine insert 80 may be, for example, constructed to remain fixed
in position during operation of the firearm 200. In FIG. 7B, the
action bar 110 is shown fully engaged and pushing the shell
stripper 10 forward through the engagement of the first and second
slots 118, 122 in the action bar 110 with the first and second tabs
18, 22 on the shell stripper 10. The first and second legs 12, 14
of the shell stripper 10 are not flexed inwardly at this point, and
the tabs 18, 22 therefore remain in engagement with their
respective slots 118, 122. In operation, a loaded magazine (not
shown) would be placed in the firearm 200, with an uppermost round
of ammunition within the magazine proximate to the front portion 16
of the shell stripper 10. As the shell stripper 10 moves forwardly
along with the action bar 110, the front portion 16 of the shell
stripper 10 engages a rear portion or rim of the round and pushes
it forward, lifting the round out of the magazine and urging the
round into a position where it can be engaged and picked up by the
breech bolt 280.
[0044] FIG. 7B also illustrates the engagement of the fastener 199
received in the threaded aperture 99 in the magazine insert 80. The
fastener 199 may, for example, extend through the firearm receiver
and into the threaded aperture 99 to secure the magazine insert 80
to the receiver. Other fastening arrangements also may be used.
[0045] FIG. 7C illustrates a portion of the firearm 200 with the
action being further closed in the direction of the arrow C. In
FIG. 7C, the action bar 110 is not shown, however, in order to
better illustrate the closing action. At this point, the first and
second inclined surfaces 13, 15 (surface 13 is not visible in FIG.
7C) at the rear of each of the respective legs 12, 14 of the shell
stripper 10 engage a respective one of the first and second guide
rails 42, 44 of the stripper guide 40, which flexes the first and
second legs 12, 14 inwardly at the hinge points 32, 34 (FIG. 2C).
The inward flexing of the legs 12, 14 in turn causes the first and
second tabs 18, 22 to be disengaged from their respective slots
118, 122 in the action bar 110 (not shown), which accordingly
partially or wholly decouples the motion of the action bar 110 from
the shell stripper 10. As further shown in FIG. 7C, the dovetail
mounting projection 92 of the magazine insert 80 is received within
the dovetail mounting recess 50 of the stripper guide 40.
[0046] FIG. 7D illustrates a portion of the firearm 200 with the
action closed, at which point the breech bolt 280 in its forward
most position. At this point, the breech bolt 280 has urged the
shell into the chamber of the firearm 200 and the breech bolt 280
is in a closed and locked position and ready for firing. The legs
12, 14 of the shell stripper 10 are also partially unflexed as the
inclined surfaces 13, 15 on the legs 12, 14 disengage the guide
rails 42, 44 of the stripper guide 40.
[0047] FIG. 7D also illustrates the threaded fastener 168 extending
through the countersunk bore 68 in the stripper guide plate 60. The
fastener 168 may, for example, extend through the countersunk bore
68 and into the threaded aperture 94 in the magazine insert 80 to
secure the stripper guide plate 60 to the magazine insert 80. Other
fastening arrangements also may be used.
[0048] FIG. 7E illustrates a portion of the firearm 200 after
firing, with the action moving to an opened position. The opening
motion of the action is indicated by the arrow O. As the action bar
110 moves rearwardly, a rear portion of the action bar 110 engages
the upstanding projection 30 of leg 12 of the shell stripper 10,
thereby forcing the shell stripper 10 to also move rearwardly. As
the shell stripper 10 moves rearwardly relative to the stripper
guide 40, the first and second inclined surfaces 13, of the shell
stripper 10 move out of engagement with the first and second guide
rails 42, 44, as the first and second legs 12, 14 are flexed
outwardly. The first and second tabs 18, 22 are therefore in
position to re-engage with their respective slots 118, 122. As the
action bar 110 is moved further rearwardly so as to open the
chamber of the firearm 200, the spent casing of the previously
fired round of ammunition is ejected and a new round of ammunition
is urged upwardly to the top of the magazine.
[0049] FIG. 7F illustrates a portion of the firearm 200 with the
action returned to the fully opened configuration. The firearm 200
is now in the state shown in FIG. 7A, and is in position for
loading another round into the chamber of the firearm 200. In this
position, the tabs 18, 22 of the shell stripper 10 are again
engaged with their respective slots 118, 122 of the action bar 110
to couple the motion of the action bar 110 with the stripper 10, so
that forward movement of the action bar 110 also drives the shell
stripper 10 forward.
[0050] FIG. 8 illustrates a magazine 290 in a position for
insertion into the magazine insert 80. Once the magazine 290 is
inserted in the magazine insert 80, the magazine insert 80 supports
the magazine 290 such that a top round in the magazine is tilted at
angle of inclination .gamma.. The angle of inclination .gamma.
places the top round R in the magazine 290 at an angle such that
the top or uppermost round is more easily stripped from the
magazine 290 and picked up by the breech bolt 280. The angle of
inclination .gamma. may be defined in relation to the axis or path
that the breech bolt 280 travels as it translates above the
magazine 290. This path is indicated by CL.sub.BB in FIG. 8. The
axis of the top round R is indicated by CL.sub.R. The angle of
inclination .gamma. can be in the range of about, for example, 2-10
degrees. In certain embodiments, the angle .gamma. can be in the
range of about 3-8 degrees. In yet another embodiment, the angle
.gamma. is about 5 degrees.
[0051] According to the above embodiments, rounds are generally
more reliably stripped from the firearm magazine by the shell
stripper of the present invention. The use of the shell stripper to
strip rounds from the magazine thus reduces or potentially
eliminates the need for the breech bolt to strip rounds from the
magazine, and consequently, the breech bolt diameter may be
minimized as a determining factor in the size or shape of the
magazine or the magazine well.
[0052] According to the above embodiments, the shell stripper can
have an engagement surface that is adapted to efficiently and
reliably engage a round in the magazine. By contrast, in
conventional firearms, the breech bolt generally must be designed
to seal the chamber during firing as well as to strip rounds from
the magazine. The dual design requirements for conventional breech
bolts may compromise the ability of the breech bolt to strip rounds
from the magazine. For example, if the breech bolt is large, only a
small portion of the lower part of the breech bolt is available to
reach down into the magazine well to engage the top round in the
magazine.
[0053] The shell stripper assembly also allows various types of
magazines to be used in the firearms in which the shell stripper
assembly is used. For example, relatively narrow magazines can be
accommodated in firearms equipped with shell stripper assemblies
according to the above embodiments. By contrast, when the bolt
assembly is required to strip a round from a magazine, as in
conventional firearms, the opening in the magazine must be wide
enough to allow the cylindrical bolt face to reach down into the
magazine to strip the top round from the magazine.
[0054] Also, according to the above embodiments, the bolt assembly
280 may have a smooth, arcuate bottom and does not require rails on
its undersurface, as do conventional bolt assemblies.
[0055] In alternative embodiments, the projection 30 on the shell
stripper 10 may be omitted. In this case, the shell stripper 10 may
be designed such that friction between the first and second tabs
18, 22 and their respective slots 118, 122 is sufficient to move,
or "reset" the shell stripper 10.
[0056] The components of the shell stripper assembly 5 can be made
from, for example, conventional durable, high strength materials
including metals, such as hardened steel, composites, and other
materials.
[0057] The example embodiment of the shell stripper assembly 5
within a firearm illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7F is shown as being
operated by pump action, however, the shell stripper assembly 5
also may, in alternative embodiments, be adapted for use in other
types of firearms such as, for example, a semiautomatic
gas-actuated firearm. In such an embodiment, the gas-actuated
firearm will divert a portion of the ignition or combustion gases
generated by firing rearwardly so as to drive the action bar or
sleeve and breech bolt of the firearm rearwardly, which accordingly
opens the chamber or action and resets the bolt and sear of the
firearm to a ready to fire position. Other types of firearms may be
equipped with a shell stripper assembly as discussed herein without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0058] The foregoing description of the invention illustrates and
describes the present invention. Additionally, the disclosure shows
and describes only selected embodiments of the invention, but it is
to be understood that the invention is capable of use in various
other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable
of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive
concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings,
and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art.
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