U.S. patent application number 12/072376 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-27 for center balanced gunstock with pistol grip and trigger actuator rod and folding front foregrip.
Invention is credited to Bernard Hope Rolfe.
Application Number | 20090211140 12/072376 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40996930 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090211140 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rolfe; Bernard Hope |
August 27, 2009 |
Center balanced gunstock with pistol grip and trigger actuator rod
and folding front foregrip
Abstract
A center balanced gunstock with pistol grip and trigger actuator
rod and folding front foregrip is an after market gunstock suited
for use on well designed, mechanically sound, unaltered rifle
actions that would benefit from current production of an
ergonomically designed alternate rifle stock system.
Inventors: |
Rolfe; Bernard Hope;
(Phoenix, AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BERNARD HOPE ROLFE
1401 WEST PALMAIRE AVENUE
PHOENIX
AZ
85021
US
|
Family ID: |
40996930 |
Appl. No.: |
12/072376 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11820505 |
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12072376 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/71.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 23/14 20130101;
F41C 23/18 20130101; F41C 23/20 20130101; F41C 23/04 20130101; F41C
23/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/71.01 |
International
Class: |
F41C 23/00 20060101
F41C023/00 |
Claims
1. A method of designing and fabricating a center balanced gunstock
with pistol grip and trigger actuator rod and folding front
foregrip as an after market gunstock suited for use on well
designed, mechanically sound, unaltered rifle actions (not a part
of this patent application) that would benefit from current
production of an ergonomically designed alternate rifle stock
system; a. The method of claim 1, wherein the pistol grip is
located at the center point of balance of a loaded rifle, stock
included, which would rest on the web of the right hand, located
between the thumb and first finger at the rear of the pistol grip
and could be articulated with the single right hand grasped around
the pistol grip; b. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiver of
the rifle is located closer to the sportsman's shoulder by
eliminating approximately 10 to 12 inches of rifle stock, designed
to be directly in line with the force of battery/recoil, thereby
minimizing barrel lift during firing; c. The method of claim 1
wherein the fore end of the stock has an attached concealed front
grip, easily articulated to be opened as needed, providing
additional vertical grip support; d. The method of claim 1 wherein
the trigger of the unaltered manufactured rifle action shall be
actuated by a specifically profiled and fabricated metal rod
connecting the unaltered rifle trigger and the center balanced
trigger module located in the trigger guard of the center balance
pistol grip using a pulling motion similar to industry standard
mechanical function; e. The method of claim 1 wherein the face of
the added trigger is no less than 3/8'' wide, providing several
times the standard trigger width to allow for more accurate sense
of trigger pull and engagement due to increased tensile contact
with the forefinger and face of the trigger; f. The method of claim
1 wherein the standard iron sight optics of the rifle action (not a
part of this patent application) are rendered ansillary due to the
provision of optics ready mounts, suitable for magnifying scopes,
red-dot scopes or any suitable optics system which can be mounted
on the sighting structure provided with the center balanced rifle
stock; g. The method of claim 1 wherein the rear of the stock, as
attached to the pistol grip body, is attached in such a manner to
accommodate hinging of the rear section of the center balance stock
at the rear of the grip module to accommodate access to the
unaltered manufactured trigger or safety system as may be needed
for field adjustments, using field available tools and equipment;
h. The method of claim 1 wherein the hinging of said rear stock
section as noted in section 7, is accomplished through a series of
center balance stock parts manipulation allowing the field safe
condition of the closed stock to be openable with the use of the
hands and fingers only;
2. The method of making a center balance rifle stock comprising of:
a. Lightweight, air-entrained PVC at the rear stock housing,
machined to curve around the trigger actuator rods while allowing
for unhindered operation of the trigger actuator rod movement; b.
Lightweight air-entrained PVC at the stock foreend housing,
machined to be supported by the pistol grip body core and thereby
supporting the two postion front grip system, located so as not to
engage the rifle barrel for barrel ventilation purposes; c.
Aircraft grade aluminum at the pistol grip body machined to
accommodate connection to the rear stock section and the stock
foreend/front grip assembly and provide support to the optics ready
mounts, while mechanically attaching to the rifle action to ensure
secure operations and sighting; d. Aircraft grade aluminum at the
pistol grip body trigger machined to accommodate connection via the
trigger actuator rod to the unaltered rifle action trigger housed
within the rear stock section; e. Lightweight, air-entrained PVC at
the side panels of the pistol grip body to accommodate reduced
weight and tactile comfort; f. Delrin composite plastics material
attached to the upper pistol grip body and machined to accommodate
optics installation and operation; g. Delrin composite plastics
material attached to the rear stock butt, and machined and fitted
to accommodate rifle recoil forces while being manipulable for
access to parts covered by the rear stock body; h. Lightweight
curved PVC, attached to the left side rear stock, adjacent to and
curved over the receiver portion so as to provide incidental
protection for the face in the event of bolt operations gases
emissions. i. Perforated and machined 1/16'' aluminum curved and
attached at the front of the pistol grip assembly above the fore
end grip wrapping on the three exposed sides to provide incidental
heat protection from the barrel in the event of heat generated by
multiple, sustained firings.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to gun stocks, and more particularly
to aftermarket gun stocks for well designed, mechanically sound,
unaltered rifle actions.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Rifle stocks of military grade battle rifles are typically
made from wood products, machined to fit around the rifle actions
and provide protection from the barrel, which tends to become
heated during repeated firing operations in short periods of
time.
[0003] The wood itself is an excellent insulator and support
mechanism for battle conditions where the wood stock can also be
used as a club in the event of close proximity engagement
conditions with animals or otherwise.
[0004] However, as beautiful and generally functional as a wood
stock may be, woods tends to warp due to wood grain differentials.
And depending on the configuration, grade, density and moisture
content of the wood utilized for the stock, the bullet traveling
through the steel rifle barrel may be impacted by unfavorable field
conditions which could cause incidental wood warpage. The wood
could thereby affect the accuracy sometimes required by long-range
sighting requirements by putting inconsistent pressure on the
barrel at points or planes of contact.
[0005] Secondarily, the design of many rifle actions, though
mechanically sound and field functional, are sometimes fitted, for
various economic impact and/or production deadlines or other
reasons, with stock designs that are less than ergonomically
considerate of human anatomy and general balance. Some of these
parameters were not even a consideration in the development of some
of these fine firearms.
[0006] Whereas today, many sportsmen who appreciate the well
machined firearms of the past century are willing to handle and
fire the rifle in various sports or engagements due to the longer
range of weapons with longer barrels than are generally
manufactured today, many would also appreciate the feel of a
balanced firearm that could be easily manipulated with one hand,
while enjoying the benefit of the longer controlled bullet reach
due to increased muzzle velocity generated by the longer
barrell.
[0007] They would further benefit from the enhanced tactile contact
with the wider trigger mechanism provided by the direct contact
center balanced trigger and rod provided which would allow them to
better sense the engagement of the rifle action trigger stages and
therefore provide the possibility of better accuracy even without
modification of the factory trigger group.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The aftermarket center balanced gunstock with pistol grip
and trigger actuator rod and folding front foregrip enhances the
shooting experience by providing the shooter with remarkable rifle
balance, even being able to handle the entire assembled unit with a
single hand while meeting all of the dimensional legal requirements
for a rifle.
[0009] It also allows a rifle with a longer barrel to be easily
transported and utilized, normally benefiting better target
accuracy and foot-pounds impact due to the higher muzzle velocities
of bullets generated by bullet gases generating additional force
due to expansion through a longer barrel.
[0010] It provides for the use of modern field and target optics,
as attached to structurally sound optics bases and attachments of
the center balanced stock body.
[0011] If provides for easy access to the original rear of the
rifle action trigger group and facilitates removal of the original
bolt cover without the use of intricate or easily lost or misplaced
screws or means of attachment.
[0012] It is physically designed to separate the stock fore end
from the barrel to eliminate as much incidental field conditions
warpage as possible, while providing a ventilated handguard to
prevent incidental touching of the barrell in the event of repeated
firing so that the shooter's fingers do not come in contact with
the area above the fore end.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of a center balance rifle stock only
with the front grip at the fore end in closed position.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a side view of a center balance rifle stock only
with the front grip at the fore end in open position.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of a center balance rifle stock only
with the front grip at the fore end in open position with the rear
stock butt hinged in access position.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side view dashed line drawing of what could be
considered a sample rifle action (rifle action for example only,
not a part of this patent application). This sample is used to
demonstrate how the center balance rifle stock with actuator
trigger rod interfaces with the unmodified rifle action.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a side view dashed line drawing of what could be
considered a sample rifle action (rifle action for example only,
not a part of this patent application) shown as wire line drawings
showing the general fit and interface with the center balanced
stock.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a side view solid line drawing of what could be
considered a sample rifle action (rifle action for example only,
not a part of this patent application) shown as solid wire line
drawings showing the general fit and interface with the center
balanced stock in layered style drawings.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a side view solid line drawing of what could be
considered a sample rifle action (rifle action for example only,
not a part of this patent application) showing the general fit and
interface with the center balanced stock in an opaque surfaces
drawing.
[0020] FIG. 8 is an axiomatic three dimensional view of the center
balanced stock only (not including the front section of the sample
rifle action).
[0021] FIG. 9 is an axiomatic three dimensional view of the center
balanced stock, including the front section of the sample rifle
action.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] In FIG. 1, a stock pistol grip 101, attached to the stock
fore end 102 with operable fore grip 103, with handguard 104,
integral scope mount 105, gas shield 106, stock butt plate release
mechanism 107, buttstock 108, trigger section 109 and trigger
actuator rod 110 are shown as integral parts of the center balanced
rifle stock, attached in a manner to accommodate the fit and
various operations of this patent.
[0023] Other prior art rifle stocks were normally one-piece units
simply designed to fit, as tightly as possible, the rifle receiver
and barrel and gripped as a club or stick.
[0024] According to the invention, the relocated center of balance
due to the restructuring of the handling grips, fore end and butt
stock and resulting center of balance and associated recoil forces,
provide an ergonomic structure to better accommodate ease of
handling and a more pleasurable shooting experience.
[0025] In FIG. 2, the operable foregrip 203 is shown in dropped
position.
[0026] In FIG. 3, the stock butt release mechanism 307 and hinged
butt assembly 308 is shown in rifle action receiver and trigger
group access position.
[0027] In FIG. 6, a proposed sample rifle action and barrel (not a
part of this patent application) is provided as an example of an
unmodified rifle action suitable for this patent shown with the
stock buttplate release mechanism 607 open allowing for the hinged
position of the buttstock 608 as well as the operable foregrip 603
in open mode.
[0028] It can be appreciated that the center balanced rifle stock
with trigger actuator rod provides a complete stock system,
properly interfacing with the rifle action (not a part of this
patent) that is suitable for this type of application, embodying
the innovations required to accommodate the balance and ergonomic
design currently desired by modern shooting sportsmen.
[0029] The foregoing embodiments are illustrative of the broad
inventive concepts of the invention.
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