U.S. patent application number 11/894205 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-10 for redundant latch suppressor mount.
Invention is credited to Kevin Tyson Brittingham.
Application Number | 20100139145 11/894205 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42229479 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100139145 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brittingham; Kevin Tyson |
June 10, 2010 |
REDUNDANT LATCH SUPPRESSOR MOUNT
Abstract
A mount designed to be integrated into a noise suppressor. The
proposed apparatus encompasses an acme thread and two springs which
serve as secondary latches. Offsetting the secondary spring latches
in such a manner as to ensure one always fully seats into the
indexing points of a flash hider mount limits the rotational
movement of an installed noise suppressor which incorporates my
proposed mount. Further, this method is more cost efficient than
timing each flash hider with each noise suppressor mount.
Inventors: |
Brittingham; Kevin Tyson;
(Norcross, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JAMES C. EAVES JR.;GREENEBAUM DOLL & MCDONALD PLLC
3500 NATIONAL CITY TOWER, 101 SOUTH FIFTH STREET
LOUISVILLE
KY
40202
US
|
Family ID: |
42229479 |
Appl. No.: |
11/894205 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60931670 |
May 24, 2007 |
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60927001 |
May 1, 2007 |
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60904340 |
Feb 28, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/90 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 21/325
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/90 |
International
Class: |
F41A 21/32 20060101
F41A021/32 |
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. A firearm noise suppressor mount, comprising: an adapter
configured for coaxial attachment to a firearm muzzle, including a
suppressor attachment thread and a plurality of circumferentially
spaced external engagement teeth with notches there-between axially
spaced from the suppressor attachment thread; and interface
structure for coaxially securing a noise suppressor body to the
adapter comprising a thread configured to engage the attachment
thread of the adapter and a plurality of spring biased latches
positioned to engage with the adapter teeth and notches, wherein
the latches alternately pass over teeth and notches as the noise
suppressor is threadingly mounted on the adapter and are
circumferentially positioned such that all latches do not
simultaneously engage notches.
15. The noise suppressor mount of claim 14, wherein said interface
structure thread includes an internal acme thread.
16. The noise suppressor mount of claim 14, wherein said interface
structure includes a housing welded to the noise suppressor
body.
17. The noise suppressor mount of claim 15, wherein said internal
acme thread is a single lead stub acme thread.
18. The noise suppressor mount of claim 14, wherein said adapter
includes a flash hider.
19. The noise suppressor mount of claim 14, wherein said latches
are circumferentially offset ten degrees.
20. The noise suppressor mount of claim 14, wherein said plurality
of latches comprise at least one spring member having a plurality
of integral elbows configured to engage with the teeth and notches
of the adapter.
21. The noise suppressor mount of claim 14, wherein said plurality
of latches comprise a plurality of spring members circumferentially
and axially offset from one another, each having an integral elbow
configured to engage with the teeth and notches of the adapter.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] This invention generally relates to firearms, specifically
to noise suppressors and devices which are used to rotationally
restrain the noise suppressor on the muzzle of a firearm and
prevent it from backing off due to the incidental vibrations
resulting from the discharge of the host firearm.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] Previous systems exist for attaching noise suppressors to a
firearm, and specifically for removing or attaching a noise
suppressor to a flash suppressor affixed to the muzzle of a
firearm. Systems such as the one presented in Advanced Armaments
Corp, Inc's M4-2000 fall short in several areas such as secondary
latch engagement between the teeth present about the rear of the
preferred embodiment flash hider once the silencer is completely
threaded on. There is a need for a secure attachment system for
mounting noise suppressors to a firearm particularly a flash
suppressor which will withstand the vibrations incidental to firing
an automatic rifle or other small arm, provide for an secondary
spring latch which will reliably engage the teeth located about the
flash hider once the host noise suppressor is threadedly secure
without requiring the noise suppressor to be backed off to ensure
proper engagement of the secondary spring latch.
[0005] Designs such as the one present in Surefire U.S. Pat. No.
6,948,415 fail to provide several features which are novel to my
design. The mounting system referenced requires two hands to mount.
When a solider or police officer is manipulating a firearm with one
hand it is not possible to fully attach a noise suppressor which
utilizes the referenced mount. The mounting ring may also become
stuck making it difficult to remove the attach noise suppressor
should it become damaged.
[0006] Designs where the mount is located within the interior of
the noise suppressor are flawed. Exposing the spring of a noise
surprise mount to the heat of a discharging firearm anneals the
metal causing it to fatigue and ultimately rendering the mount
ineffective at retaining the noise suppressor on the host firearm.
Materials generally selected for springs are not well suited to the
high heat environment present inside of a noise suppressor during
use. An example of a noise suppressor utilizing this style of mount
is the GemTech G5.
[0007] Minimizing the use of secondary latches, rings and other
devices simplifies my apparatus making it easy to use. Proper
material selection creates a more robust spring while using two
springs creates system redundancy which lessons the chance of
failure. My design is also backwards compatible with currently
produced Advanced Armament noise suppressor flash hider mounts.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
[0008] Accordingly several objects and advantages of the present
invention are [0009] (a) To provide the capability to quickly
attach a noise suppressor to flash hider which has the appropriate
threads and secondary retaining device present to receive the
proposed noise suppressor mount. [0010] (b) To provide a spring
latch with two elbows offset from one another by 10 degrees to
ensure that one elbow has positive engagement between the teeth of
the gear present on the rear of the flash hider mount. [0011] (c)
to provide a secure secondary spring latch which will engage the
teeth present on the preferred embodiment flash hider mount thus
eliminating unintentional rotation of the noise suppressor due to
vibrations resulting from the discharge of a firearm. [0012] (d) To
provide an apparatus which may be utilized single handedly.
[0013] Still further objects and advantages will become apparent
from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
SUMMARY
[0014] In general terms the present inventions provides a mount
which may be incorporated into a noise suppressor where a fast
attached feature would be desirable. The ease of installation which
is afforded by my design will be greatly appreciated by the end
user of my proposed device.
[0015] Specifically my device affords several advantages over other
existing designs. There are no moving parts on my mount except the
two secondary spring latches which help secure the mount to the
host firearm. My mount allows the end user to install a noise
suppressor properly equipped onto a firearm with one hand. The
secondary spring latches in my design are not exposed to the high
temperatures present inside of the noise suppressor thereby
minimizing the possibly of annealing said springs. Offsetting the
two secondary spring latches 10 degrees ensures that a secure fit
will always be achieved when my device is used in conjunction with
a flash hider having 18 teeth spread evenly over a 1.5'' diameter
surface. I will note that the proposed apparatus is not limited to
the above flash hider design.
[0016] DRAWINGS
[0017] The novel features believed to be characteristic of the
invention, together with further advantages thereof, will be better
understood from the following description considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of
the present invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be
expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the
purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended
as a definition of the limits of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 1 shows an external side view of a flash hider and a
noise suppressor with the proposed noise suppressor redundant mount
installed;
[0019] FIG. 2 shows an external, horizontal side view of the noise
suppressor redundant mount and spring retaining notch.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the proposed noise suppressor
redundant mount;
[0021] FIG. 4 shows an internal, side view of the proposed noise
suppressor redundant mount;
[0022] FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the proposed noise suppressor
redundant mount;
[0023] FIG. 6 shows an example of the two springs used in the
preferred embodiment of the noise suppressor redundant mount;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] Turning now to the drawings in which like reference
characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several
views, attention is directed to FIG. 2 which illustrates the
preferred embodiment noise suppressor mount 1. Noise suppressor
mount 1 includes two main elements, the internal acme threads 10,
and the retaining springs 7. Noise suppressor mount 1 is
permanently coupled to noise suppressor 8 by a circumferential
weld.
[0025] In FIG. 1, there is illustrated a view of how the flash
hider 4 should be oriented prior to insertion within the noise
suppressor mount 1. Once the flash hider 4 is fully seated into the
noise suppressor mount 1 the acme threads 9 present about the flash
hider 4 will threadedly secure to the noise suppressor mount acme
threads 10.
[0026] In FIGS. 2 & 3, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 an
example of a noise suppressor mount 1 to which an Advanced Armament
flash hider 4 would be inserted and threadedly secured. Advanced
Armaments single lead ACME thread mounts incorporated onto a flash
hider 4 are well known in the prior art. Spring latches 7 are
restrained in noise suppressor mount 1 by means of spring retaining
notch 5 restraining spring retainer 3. Outward movement of spring
latch 7 is facilitated by (2) mount relief's 6 provided on the
noise suppressor mount 1. The retaining springs 7 are placed one
before the other as show by the (A) view.
[0027] In FIGS. 4, shows an internal view of the noise suppressor
mount 1 illustrating the location of the noise suppressor mount
acme threads 10, and mount reliefs 6. The seating surface 12
located on the flash hider 4 presses against the seating surface 11
of the noise suppressor mount 1 ensuring that flash hider 4 is
properly centered with the noise suppressor mount 1.
[0028] In FIG. 5, shows a bottom view of the noise suppressor mount
showing how the two retaining springs 7 are oriented within the
noise suppressor mount 1.
[0029] As used herein, the word "front" or "forward" corresponds to
the firing direction of the firearm (i.e., to the right as shown in
FIG. 2); "rear" or "rearward" or "back" corresponds to the
direction opposite the firing direction of the firearm (i.e., to
the left as shown in FIG. 2); "longitudinal" means the direction
along or parallel to the longitudinal axis a of the noise
suppressor mount 1; and "transverse" means a direction
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
[0030] Noise suppressor mount 1 is secured to the noise suppressor
8 by circumferentially welding the mount to the body of the noise
suppressor 8. The spring retaining notch 5 is drilled into the back
of the noise suppressor mount 1. Two mount releifs are machined
into the side of the noise suppressor mount 1, housing the
retaining springs 7 and allowing the spring elbows 2 clearances to
move outwards while the noise suppressor mount 1 is being
threadedly secured about the flash hider 4. The noise suppressor
mount 1 is threadedly secured to flash hider 4 by means of the
flash hider male threads 9 and the noise suppressor mount threads
10. The noise suppressor mount 1 is secured once the seating
surfaces 11, 12 are in contact. The threads are the primary means
of attachment for my proposed apparatus while the retaining springs
7 serve as a secondary means.
[0031] The retaining springs 7 are offset by 10 degrees to minimize
rotational movement of the noise suppressor mount 1 while mounted
on the flash hider 7. The offset retaining springs 7 minimize the
potential for a gap between the two seating surfaces when the noise
suppressor mount 1 is threadedly secured about the flash hider 7.
With one retaining spring 7 always landing in the valley of a
retaining notch located about flash hider 4 movement in the noise
suppressor mount 1 is minimized and thereby minimizing the
possibility of a bullet contacting the baffles of the noise
suppressor 8 or poor accuracy of the host firearm.
[0032] The noise suppressor mount 1 is machined from 316 stainless
while the retaining springs 7 are formed from stainless wire.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATION, AND SCOPE
[0033] Accordingly the reader will see that, according to the
invention, I have provided a system for threadedly securing a noise
suppressor equipped with my apparatus about a flash hider. I have
afforded the user of my product the ability to securely retain the
noise suppressor with minimal rotational or side to side movement
once the noise suppressor is fully seated. The two secondary spring
latches of my apparatus ensure that once the mount is fully
threaded on the acme threads of the flash hiders, one of the
secondary spring latches will fully engage the retaining notches
located about the circumference of said flash hider.
[0034] While my above drawings and description contain many
specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the
scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one
preferred embodiment thereof. For example, my design is not limited
to the use of two secondary spring latches, three of more secondary
spring latches may be uses and offset set at various degrees if
more strength is required from the secondary retaining deices.
[0035] Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined
not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and
their legal equivalents."
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