U.S. patent application number 12/806435 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-16 for gun-stock riser for ar15 type tactical firearm.
Invention is credited to Mark C. Larue.
Application Number | 20120036757 12/806435 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45563726 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120036757 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Larue; Mark C. |
February 16, 2012 |
Gun-stock riser for AR15 type tactical firearm
Abstract
A cheek riser mechanism has a mounting base or saddle that is
adapted for mounting to a gun-stock and defines guide rail members.
A movable cheek riser member has guide grooves that receive the
guide rail members and is linearly movable along the length of the
guide rails. Upon rearward movement of the charging handle of an
AR15 type rifle the movable cheek riser can be engaged and moved
rearwardly by the user's hand or by the charging handle so that it
does not interfere with a cartridge charging operation. A riser
spring is compressed during rearward movement of the cheek riser
and returns the movable cheek riser to its use position upon
release of the charging handle.
Inventors: |
Larue; Mark C.; (Leander,
TX) |
Family ID: |
45563726 |
Appl. No.: |
12/806435 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/73 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 23/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/73 |
International
Class: |
F41C 23/14 20060101
F41C023/14 |
Claims
1. A cheek riser mechanism for attachment to a gun-stock of a
firearm having a receiver and a having a movable cartridge charging
handle, comprising: a cheek riser base member for substantially
immoveable mounting to a gun-stock and defining a guide member; a
movable cheek riser member being movably mounted to said cheek
riser base member and being guided during movement by said guide
member; and an urging member maintaining said movable cheek riser
member at a predetermined use position and being yieldable
responsive to application of force to said movable riser member to
permit movement of said movable cheek riser member relative to said
cheek riser base member and upon removal of said force returning
said movable cheek riser to said predetermined use position.
2. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 1, comprising: said guide
member of said cheek riser base member being a guide rail defined
by said cheek riser base member; and said movable cheek riser
member having a guide groove receiving said guide rail in guided
relation therein and guiding movement of said movable cheek riser
member relative to said cheek riser base member.
3. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 1, comprising: said guide
member being a plurality of elongate guide rails projecting from
said cheek riser base member and being disposed in substantially
parallel relation with one another; and said movable riser member
having a plurality of generally parallel elongate rail receiving
grooves receiving said elongate guide rails in linear guided
relation therein.
4. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 1, comprising: said cheek
riser base member defining an external surface and an internal
surface; a guide and stop member projecting from said external
surface of said cheek riser base member; and a guide groove located
at said internal surface of said movable cheek riser member and
having guiding engagement with said guide and stop member.
5. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 1, comprising: a pair of
spaced cheek riser guide members projecting forwardly from said
cheek riser base member; elongate guide rail members projecting
from each of said spaced cheek riser guide members and being
disposed in substantially parallel relation with one another; and
said movable cheek riser member having a forward wall structure
defining spaced guide slots each receiving one of said elongate
guide rail members in guided engagement therein.
6. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 1, comprising: said urging
member being a spring retainer structure being defined within said
cheek riser base member; a spring passage being defined within said
spring retainer structure; and a helical compression spring and
spring plunger being at least partially located within said spring
passage, said spring plunger having an end portion thereof disposed
in fixed relation with said movable cheek riser member.
7. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 6, comprising: said movable
cheek riser member defining a front wall; and said spring plunger
having a mounting plate in fixed relation therewith, said mounting
plate being mounted in fixed relation with said front wall.
8. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 1, comprising: said cheek
riser base member being of generally U-shaped cross-sectional
configuration and having a downwardly facing elongate recess within
which the upper portion of a gun-stock is received; a plurality of
mounting holes being defined by said cheek riser base member; and
fasteners extending through said mounting holes and securing said
cheek riser base member in fixed relation with the gun-stock; and
said movable cheek riser member being secured in movable relation
with said cheek riser base member and being urged forwardly to a
predetermined operational position by said urging device and being
movable rearwardly from said predetermined operational position by
a force sufficient to overcome the resistance of said urging
device.
9. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 8, comprising: said cheek
riser base member defining an external surface and an internal
surface and said movable cheek riser member being of generally
U-shaped cross section and defining external and internal surfaces;
a pair of guide and stop members projecting from said external
surface of said cheek riser base member; and a pair of elongate
closed end guide grooves located at said internal surface of said
movable cheek riser member and having guiding engagement with said
guide and stop members; a plunger passage being defined in said
cheek riser base member; a plunger member being mounted to said
movable cheek riser member and having a portion thereof located
within said plunger passage; said urging member being a helical
spring surrounding said plunger and having a portion thereof
located within said plunger passage, said helical spring yielding
to permit rearward movement of said movable cheek riser member from
said predetermined use position responsive to a force and moving
said movable cheek riser member forwardly to said predetermined use
position.
10. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 1, comprising: a pair of
spaced cheek riser guide members projecting forwardly from said
riser base member and defining a pair of generally parallel
elongate guide rails; and said second cheek riser member being of
generally U-shaped configuration and having a forward wall defining
a pair of internal elongate guide slots receiving said generally
parallel elongate guide rails and guiding said movable cheek riser
member during linear movement thereof in relation with said cheek
riser base member between said predetermined use position and a
retracted position.
11. A cheek riser mechanism of adjustable length for attachment to
a gun-stock of an AR15 type tactical firearm having a receiver and
a having a charging handle that is moved linearly rearward during
cartridge charging, comprising: a cheek riser base member of
generally U-shaped cross-section defining a recess receiving an
upper portion of a gun-stock therein and defining a plurality of
fastener holes receiving fasteners mounting said cheek riser base
member in substantially immoveable relation with the gun-stock; a
pair of elongate guide rail members projecting from said cheek
riser base member; a movable cheek riser member of U-shaped
cross-section being movably mounted to said cheek riser base member
and defining guide slots disposed in guided engagement with said
elongate guide rail members to permit reciprocating movement of
said movable cheek riser member between a predetermined use
position and a retracted position; and an urging member maintaining
said cheek riser member at said predetermined use position relative
to said cheek riser base member and being movable from said
predetermined use position toward said retracted position during
rearward manual actuation of the charging handle of the firearm and
preventing interference with normal rearward movement of the
charging handle during cartridge charging cycling of the firearm,
said urging member returning said movable cheek riser member to
said predetermined use position when manual force being applied to
the charging is released.
12. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 11, comprising: said guide
member of said first cheek riser member being an elongate guide
rail projecting from said first cheek riser member; and said second
cheek riser member having an elongate guide groove receiving said
elongate guide rail in linear guided relation therein and guiding
linear movement of said second cheek riser member relative to said
first cheek riser member.
13. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 12, comprising: said guide
member being a plurality of elongate guide rails projecting from
said cheek riser base member and being disposed in substantially
parallel relation with one another; and said movable riser member
having a plurality of rail receiving grooves receiving said
elongate guide rails in linear guided relation therein.
14. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 11, comprising: a spring
retainer structure being defined within said cheek riser base
member; a spring passage being defined within said spring retainer
structure; and a helical compression spring and spring plunger
being at least partially located within said spring passage, said
spring plunger having an end portion thereof disposed in fixed
relation with said movable cheek riser member.
15. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 14, comprising: said movable
cheek riser member defining a front wall; and said spring plunger
having a mounting plate in fixed relation therewith, said mounting
plate being mounted in fixed relation with said front wall.
16. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 11, comprising: said cheek
riser base member being of generally U-shaped cross-sectional
configuration and having a downwardly facing elongate recess within
which the upper portion of a gun-stock is received; and a plurality
of mounting holes being defined by said first cheek riser member
and receiving fasteners securing said first cheek riser member in
fixed relation with the gun-stock.
17. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 16, comprising: a plurality
of internal structural rib members being defined within said cheek
riser base member and being disposed for engagement with a
gun-stock to which said cheek riser base member is mounted.
18. The cheek riser mechanism of claim 11, comprising: a pair of
spaced cheek riser guide members projecting forwardly from said
cheek riser base member and define a pair of generally parallel
elongate guide rails projecting from said generally U-shaped riser
base member; said movable cheek riser member being of generally
U-shaped configuration and having a front wall defining a pair of
spaced guide slots within which said generally parallel elongate
guide rails are received for guiding reciprocating movement of said
front wall portion of said movable cheek riser member; said cheek
riser base member defining guide and stop projections; and said
pair of internal elongate guide grooves receiving said guide and
stop projections in guided relation and guiding linear movement of
said movable cheek riser member between a use position and a
retracted position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to shoulder fired
firearms, particularly tactical firearms having gun-stock
mechanisms that have adjustable length for efficiency of storage
and handling and for adjustment of the firearms to suit the
intended usage, needs and the anatomy of different users. More
particularly, the present invention concerns the presence of cheek
riser devices on gun-stocks to provide users with more efficient
and secure aiming of the firearm. Even more specifically, the
present invention is directed to a tactical gun-stock cheek riser
mechanism that has a movable riser component to prevent riser
interference with the charging handle movement of the adjustable
length gun-stock of an AR15 type tactical firearm.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Tactical firearms have been use for a considerable period of
time that incorporate gun-stock mechanisms that provide for
adjustment of gun-stock length as desired between a minimum length
and a maximum length. The shoulder engaging adjustable gun-stock
mechanisms permit length adjustment to enable users of different
anatomy to adjust the firearm to a length that is comfortable for
that individual. The gun-stock mechanism can be adjusted to its
minimum length when the rifle is to be used in close quarters, such
as in the rooms of a building or in a wooded area where brush or
trees might interfere with efficient use of the rifle. When
tactical firearms are to be stored the user can adjust the length
of the gun-stock to or near its minimum length so that the length
of the rifle will facilitate efficient storage. This adjustable
length feature also facilitates ease of transportation of tactical
firearms in vehicles or in other modes of transportation.
[0005] AR15 type tactical rifles have a receiver structure within
which a bolt member is movable rearwardly to eject the cartridge
case of a spent or fired round of ammunition from the cartridge
chamber of the rifle barrel and is movable forwardly by the energy
of a bolt return spring to pick up another cartridge from a
cartridge magazine of the rifle and propel it into the cartridge
chamber of the rifle barrel. When no cartridge is present within
the rifle barrel, the user of the rifle will manually engage or
grasp a charging handle that is present at the rear portion of the
rifle receiver and move it rearwardly. A bolt actuating shaft
extends from the charging handle into the receiver and has
connection with the bolt of the firing mechanism so that rearward
movement of the charging handle also causes rearward movement of
the bolt to its charging position and compresses the bolt return
spring. When the charging handle is released the force of the bolt
return spring will drive the bolt member forward, causing the bolt
to pick up a cartridge from the cartridge magazine, propel the
cartridge into the cartridge chamber of the rifle barrel and
temporarily lock the bolt against rearward movement by the force of
cartridge chamber pressure when the cartridge is fired. In the
event something should interfere with complete rearward movement of
the charging handle, the bolt will not be moved rearwardly
sufficiently to adequately compress the bolt return spring. When
this condition occurs and the charging handle is released it is
likely that the forwardly moving bolt will have insufficient force
to pick up a cartridge and feed it into the cartridge chamber and
achieve locking actuation of the bolt.
[0006] It has been determined that the presence of cheek
projections on the gun-stocks virtually all types of shoulder fired
firearms often enable users to aim the firearm more accurately
since the cheek projections, also known as "cheek risers" permit
the user to comfortably rest the cheek of the user's face on the
cheek riser and position the user's aiming eye in substantial
alignment with the center of telescopes and other sighting and
aiming devices that are mounted to the firearm. Cheek risers are
especially advantageous when elevated sighting devices such as
telescopes or laser sights are employed. These cheek risers may be
defined by the structure of the gun-stock of the firearm or may be
in the form of attachments that are mounted to the gun-stock.
[0007] In the case of tactical rifles of the AR15 type, the rifles
typically have gun-stocks of adjustable length as mentioned above.
When a cheek riser is present on an adjustable length gun-stock,
depending on the adjusted position of the gun-stock, the cheek
riser can interfere with manual rearward movement of the charging
handle of the firearm to its cartridge charging position. This
condition also causes the bolt to fail to reach its cartridge
charging position and fails to completely load or compress the bolt
return spring. Upon release of the charging handle the bolt return
spring can fail to move the bolt forwardly with sufficient force to
pick up a cartridge from the cartridge magazine and propel it into
the cartridge chamber and can fail to completely lock the bolt in
preparation for firing of the cartridge. This cartridge feeding
malfunction often results in the cartridge being only partially
stripped from the cartridge magazine or becoming misaligned in the
receiver so that cartridge jamming occurs. The jammed cartridge
must be cleared from the receiver and a new cartridge must be
charged into the firing chamber of the barrel before the firearm
can be fired. During tactical situations time is often of the
essence and the user of the firearm could be subject to serious
danger during the time sequence that is required for clearing a
jammed cartridge and again charging the rifle from the cartridge
magazine by manual operation of the charging handle. It is
desirable, therefore to provide a cheek riser device or mechanism
that also has a characteristic of movement that accommodates and
does not interfere with the rearward movement of the charging
handle of a rifle regardless of the condition of the adjustable
length gun-stock.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is a principal feature of the present invention to
provide a novel cheek riser device for AR15 type tactical rifles
which is easily movable during rearward movement of the charging
handle of the firearm so that the cheek riser device does not
impede rearward movement of the charging handle and thus permits
normal spring urged forward bolt movement as a cartridge is charged
into the cartridge chamber of the barrel of the firearm.
[0009] It is another feature of the present invention to provide a
novel movable cheek riser for attachment to the gun-stock of a
tactical rifle and having the capability for accommodating
adjustment of the length of the gun-stock of the firearm and yet
maintaining efficient cheek riser positioning at all adjusted
lengths of the firearm gun-stock between its minimum length and its
maximum length, without cheek riser interference with the cartridge
charging operation of the firearm.
[0010] It is another feature of the present invention to provide a
novel cheek riser mechanism having a first cheek riser part that is
attached in fixed relation to the gun-stock of a shoulder fired
firearm and having a second cheek riser part that has reciprocating
movement relative to the first cheek riser part and is easily
movable to prevent cheek riser interference with manually actuated
cartridge charging.
[0011] It is an even further feature of the present invention to
provide a gun-stock that incorporates a novel movable cheek riser
mechanism wherein the gun-stock defines a guide and retention
system having a cheek riser member movably mounted thereto and
being movable in response to manually actuated movement of the
charging handle of the firearm.
[0012] Briefly, the various objects and features of the present
invention are realized through the provision of a cheek riser
assembly that has a mounting base or saddle structure that is
adapted for mounting to an adjustable gun-stock by means of
mounting screws or other mounting devices. The mounting base or
saddle is intended for substantially fixed relation with the
gun-stock structure. The mounting base or saddle structure defines
spaced forwardly extending cheek riser guide members that permit
the upper curved portion of the gun-stock to b exposed and ensures
that the charging handle of the firearm will not contact any
portion of the mounting base or saddle structure during charging
handle movement. The mounting base or saddle structure defines
opposed elongate first guide members that are disposed in
substantially parallel relation with one another. A cheek riser
member is movably mounted to the mounting base or saddle structure
by second guide members that are engaged with the first guide
members. One or more riser springs continuously urge the cheek
riser member forwardly to a use position against the force of the
riser springs. The force of the riser springs is overcome by
manually applied rearward movement of the charging handle of the
firearm, this preventing interference of the riser member with the
rearward movement of the charging handle and ensuring complete
spring urged forward cartridge charging movement of the bolt of the
firearm for efficiency of cartridge charging and minimizing
cartridge jamming during manually actuated charging of a cartridge
from the cartridge magazine into the firing chamber of the firearm
barrel. Movement of the cheek riser member may be linear movement
or any other character of movement that permits movement of the
cheek riser member in response to charging handle movement of the
firearm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] So that the manner in which the above recited features,
advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and
can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the
invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the
preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended
drawings, which drawings are incorporated as a part hereof.
[0014] It is to be noted however, that the appended drawings
illustrate only a typical embodiment of this invention and are
therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the
invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
IN THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view showing a rear portion of a
tactical firearm having a gun-stock of adjustable length and having
a movable cheek riser mechanism embodying the principles of the
present invention being in assembly with the gun-stock and further
showing the charging handle of the firearm mechanism being pulled
rearwardly during a manually actuated charging stroke by with the
hand of a user and being in contact a movable slide member of the
movable cheek riser mechanism;
[0016] FIG. 2 is an elevation view similar to FIG. 1, showing the
movable cheek riser slide member being further moved rearwardly as
the rearward charging movement of the charging handle
continues;
[0017] FIG. 3 is an elevation view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2,
showing the position of the movable cheek riser slide member when
the charging handle of the firearm has been moved to the full
extent of its rearward movement during manually actuated cartridge
charging of the firearm mechanism;
[0018] FIG. 4 is an isometric illustration showing the cheek riser
mechanism of the present invention with the movable cheek riser
slide member being shown at its forward most or normal
position;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the movable cheek riser mechanism
of FIG. 4;
[0020] FIG. 6 is an isometric illustration showing the bottom and
side details of the movable cheek riser mechanism of FIGS. 4 and
5;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a front view of the cheek riser mechanism of FIGS.
4-6;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a rear view of the movable cheek riser mechanism
of FIGS. 4-6;
[0023] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the riser base or saddle structure
of the cheek riser mechanism of the present invention being shown
mounted in substantially fixed relation to a gun-stock and showing
a pair of spaced guide members for guiding engagement within guide
slots of a movable cheek riser slide member and slide stop members
for guiding and limiting reciprocating movement of the cheek riser
slide member; and
[0024] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the cheek riser slide member of
the movable cheek riser mechanism of the present invention, showing
internal parallel guide grooves for slide control and for limiting
cheek riser slide movement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] Referring now to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, the rear
portion of a shoulder fired AR15 type rifle is shown generally at
10 and has a receiver 12 from which projects a handgrip 14. A
cartridge charging handle 15 of the rifle receiver is shown being
moved from its retracted position by the fingers of a user's hand
engaging the charging handle 15 and applying a pulling force. This
pulling force moves the charging handle 15 and the bolt mechanism
within the receiver rearwardly against the resistance of a bolt
return spring that is located within the buffer tube of the
firearm. In the charging handle position shown in FIG. 1 it should
be noted that the rear portion of the charging handle is in contact
with a cheek riser slide member which is discussed in greater
detail below.
[0026] The charging handle 15 is mounted to a charging shaft 17
that extends into the receiver 12 and is connected with a bolt
mechanism that is movable within the receiver of the firearm during
cartridge charging and cartridge firing sequences. The charging
handle 15 is manually movable rearwardly against the force of a
bolt return spring and moves the bolt mechanism of the firearm
rearwardly in preparation for charging the cartridge chamber of the
firearm barrel with a cartridge. When the manual force on the
charging handle 15 is released the bolt and the charging handle are
propelled forwardly by the force of the bolt return spring. During
this spring urged forward movement of the bolt mechanism, the bolt
will pick up a cartridge from the cartridge magazine of the firearm
and move it forwardly into the cartridge chamber of the barrel. The
bolt mechanism will be locked at its fully forward or closed
position, thereby securing and sealing a cartridge within the
cartridge chamber and causing the bolt mechanism to remain closed
and to resist rearward movement by the gas pressure that is
developed upon firing of the cartridge within the cartridge
chamber. The bolt mechanism is unlocked and moved rearwardly toward
its full open position by cartridge gas pressure when the bullet
being propelled through the rifle barrel passes a gas port and
exposes the gas port to cartridge gas pressure. Cartridge gas
pressure from the gas port of the firearm barrel acts on a piston
rod member causing the piston rod to be moved rearwardly and apply
a bolt unlocking force to the bolt mechanism. The piston rod force
also moves the bolt mechanism rearwardly to eject the spent
cartridge and repeat the cartridge charging process.
[0027] In the similar elevation view of FIG. 2 the charging
operational sequence is shown in further progress, with the
cartridge charging handle 15 of the rifle receiver having been
pulled further rearwardly by the fingers of the user's hand, such
that the cheek riser slide member is also being moved further
rearwardly by the manual force being applied to the charging
handle. A slide return spring of the cheek riser slide mechanism is
being loaded during this rearward slide movement so that when the
manual force on the charging handle is released the cheek riser
slide member will be moved forwardly by the force of a slide return
spring toward its original position.
[0028] The elevation view of FIG. 3 illustrates a further portion
of the manually actuated operational sequence for charging a
cartridge into the cartridge chamber of the firearm barrel. The
Figure shows the charging handle 15 of the firearm being manually
pulled substantially to its rearmost position and ready to be
released for spring urged forward movement by the bolt return
spring. The Figure also shows the cheek riser slide member having
been moved by the charging handle substantially to its rearmost
position. When the charging handle is released from the pulling
force the bolt return spring will move the charging handle
forwardly to its retracted position as the bolt return spring moves
the bolt through the cartridge charging portion of its cartridge
charging cycle. As the charging handle is moved forwardly the slide
return spring of the cheek riser mechanism will move the cheek
riser slide member forwardly to its operational position. This
feature permits the firearm to be provided with a cheek riser to
facilitate efficiency of firearm aiming and also ensures that the
cheek riser is movable during manually actuated cartridge charging
cycling and does not interfere with the cartridge charging cycle of
the firearm. During a firing sequence the lost-motion connection of
the charging handle with the bolt mechanism ensures that the
charging handle remains at its forward most or retracted
position.
[0029] The receiver 12 of the firearm 10 defines a gun-stock mount
16 that receives the externally threaded end 18 of a tubular
gun-stock support member 20 that is also referred to as a buffer
tube. Typically the buffer tube contains a bolt return spring and a
spring follower, with the bolt return spring urging the spring
follower in the forward direction toward the barrel of the firearm.
When a cartridge is fired a cartridge gas energized bolt actuating
rod member is moved rearwardly by cartridge gas pressure to unlock
the bolt member and move it rearwardly against the resistance of
the bolt return spring. This bolt recoil movement causes the bolt
mechanism to move the spring follower rearwardly and accomplishes
loading of the bolt return spring of the buffer tube. When rearward
movement of the bolt mechanism has been overcome by the resistance
of the bolt return compression spring the spring will drive the
bolt mechanism forwardly to pick up a cartridge from a cartridge
magazine of the receiver 12 and move the cartridge into the
cartridge chamber of the firearm barrel. A lock plate 22 and lock
nut 24 secure the buffer tube member 20 to the receiver 12 and
permit the gun-stock to be easily removed from the receiver 12 and
replaced if desired.
[0030] A moveable gun-stock 26, for engagement with the shoulder of
a user, defines an internal receptacle within which is adjustably
received the rear end portion of the tubular gun-stock member or
buffer tube 20. The buffer tube 20 further defines an internal
guide slot within which is received an elongate guide portion of
the tubular gun-stock member 20, thus preventing rotation of the
gun-stock relative to the buffer tube and permitting forward and
rearward adjustment of the gun-stock member 26 relative to the
buffer tube 20 to lengthen or shorten the firearm as suits the
needs and desires of the user. Obviously, when the gun-stock member
26 is adjusted to its maximum length, a cheek riser member, if
present on the gun-stock, will typically be located beyond the
rearward stroke of the charging handle and will not interfere with
the charging cycle of the firearm. However, if a cheek riser is
present on the gun-stock then its presence could prevent the
gun-stock from being adjusted to its minimum or intermediate
length. Thus the presence of a cheek riser on a gun-stock could
constitute a distinct disadvantage concerning normal use of the
firearm.
[0031] A pivotally mounted latch member 32 is manually positioned
to a latched position to secure the gun-stock member 26 at any
desired position along the length of the tubular gun-stock member
20 between minimum and maximum length positions. A pivotally
mounted latch release member 34 is mounted to the moveable
gun-stock member 26 and upon manual movement about its pivot 36
causes latch releasing movement of a latch release pin 38 which in
turn causes latch releasing movement of the latch member 32. This
latch releasing movement frees the gun-stock member 26 for linear
gun-stock position adjusting movement along the length of the
tubular gun-stock member 20.
[0032] As mentioned above, it is often desirable to include a cheek
riser on the gun-stock of a firearm to aid the user in positioning
the user's eye for efficient aiming, especially if the firearm is
fitted with an elevated sighting device such as a telescope. The
movable cheek riser mechanism of the present invention can be
provided in the form of an assembly that is mounted to a standard
gun-stock or may be provided as a component or structure of a
gun-stock. If a conventional cheek riser is present on the
gun-stock of an AR15 type firearm the riser will typically
interfere with manual rearward movement of the charging handle 15,
especially if the gun-stock has been adjusted to its more collapsed
position for minimum stock length as shown in FIG. 1. This
interference can prevent the bolt of the firearm from being moved
rearwardly to its full extent for maximum compression of the bolt
return spring and thus can prevent the bolt from being cycled
forwardly with sufficient spring induced force to pick up a
cartridge from the cartridge magazine and charge the cartridge into
the firing chamber of the firearm barrel. It is desirable,
therefore, to provide an AR15 type firearm with a gun-stock having
cheek riser assembly that incorporates a movable cheek riser member
that is easily movable during charging handle manipulation so that
the charging handle can be cycled to its full extent and the
movable cheek riser will not interfere with the cartridge charging
operation. This feature also permits the movable cheek riser to be
returned to its cheek supporting position by spring force when the
charging handle has been released by the firearm user and has been
moved forwardly by the bolt return spring.
[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, 9 and 10 a cheek riser assembly
having a variable position capability is shown generally at 40 and
comprises a riser saddle structure 42 having a rear portion of
generally U-shaped cross sectional configuration that defines a
downwardly facing recess 43 that substantially fits the curvature
of the upper curved surface portion 44 of the gun-stock 26. The
riser base or saddle structure 42 is preferably composed of any of
a wide range of polymer materials but may be composed of a metal
such as steel, aluminum alloy or magnesium if desired. A pair of
spaced cheek riser guide members 46 and 48 are integral with the
riser base or saddle structure 42 and project forwardly from the
U-shaped portion of the base or saddle structure 42. The spaced
cheek riser guide members 46 and 48 each define externally
projecting elongate guide rail members 50 and 52. The spacing of
the cheek riser guide members 46 and 48 permits the curved upper
portion 44 of the gun-stock 26 to be exposed so that the charging
handle 15 of the firearm will not come into contact with any
portion of the riser saddle structure 42 during its reciprocating
charging movement. Thus it is possible for the charging handle 15
to actually come into contact with the upper curved surface 44 of
the gun-stock without contacting any portion of the U-shaped saddle
structure 42. The U-shaped portion of the saddle structure 42 also
defines a pair of spaced guide and stop projections 54 and 56,
shown in FIG. 9 that are disposed in generally parallel relation
with one another and project upwardly and laterally from the
U-shaped saddle structure. A plurality of saddle mounting tabs 58,
60, 62 and 64 extend downwardly from opposed edge portions 66 and
68 of the riser saddle structure 42 and each define mounting holes
70 that receive mounting screws 72 or any other suitable retainer
devices that extend into the structural material of the movable
gun-stock member 26.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 a movable cheek riser member or
slide 74 is received for linear reciprocating movement by the riser
saddle structure 42 and defines spaced elongate internal guide
slots 76 and 78 that receive the spaced guide and stop projections
54 and 56 of the U-shaped saddle structure. The internal guide
slots 76 and 78 have closed ends that terminate short of the
respective ends of the movable cheek riser member as shown in FIG.
10. The closed ends of the internal guide slots define stops that
can be contacted by the respective ends of the spaced stop
projections 54 and 56 to limit the length of the reciprocating
movement of the movable riser member. Interrelation of the spaced
stop projections 54 and 56 and the internal guide slots 76 and 78
also permit the normal position of the forward end of the movable
cheek riser slide member to be substantially even with the forward
end of the gun-stock 26 as is essentially shown in FIG. 1. These
guide features permit the cheek riser member 74 to be linearly
movable relative to the cheek riser saddle structure 42, the length
of linear movement being greater than the manually energized
rearward linear extension movement of the charging handle 15 of an
AR15 type tactical firearm or its military equivalent.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rearward end portion of the
movable cheek riser member 74 can incorporate internal generally
U-shaped structural ribs 76, 78, 80 and 82 that enhance the
structural integrity of the cheek riser saddle structure 42. These
U-shaped internal structural ribs establish contact with the upper
curved surface 44 of the movable gun-stock 26 when the saddle
structure 42 of the cheek riser assembly 40 is mounted in fixed
relation with the movable gun-stock 26.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 10, the cheek riser saddle
structure 42 also defines an elongate structural section 84 of
generally cylindrical configuration which is also integral with the
cheek riser saddle structure 42. This elongate cylindrical
structural section defines a through passage 86 within which
extends a plunger member 88 and a plunger spring 90 that is
preferably in the form of a helical compression spring. A plunger
support plate member 92 to which the plunger member 88 is fixed is
mounted within a recess 94 that is defined within a front end wall
96 of the cheek riser slide member 74 by mounting screws 97 or
other suitable fastener devices that extend through fastener
openings 98 and are threaded into or otherwise engage within
openings of the plunger support plate 92. If desired the support
plate structure at the fastener openings may be internally threaded
to receive the threads of the mounting screws 97. Also if desired
the support plate may be mounted to the front end wall 96 by means
of screw, nut and lock washer assemblies or by any other suitable
means for attachment or mounting.
[0037] The front end wall 96 of the movable cheek riser member or
slide 74 defines guide slots or notches 100 and 102 within which
the externally projecting elongate guide members 50 and 52 are
movably received. As the movable cheek riser or slide member 74 is
moved linearly in the rearward direction by the charging handle of
the firearm or by manual force applied by the user of the firearm
the front end portion of the movable cheek riser or slide member
will be guided and will be prevented from separating from the fixed
cheek riser saddle structure 42.
[0038] As the riser slide member 74 is moved rearwardly by the
charging handle 15 of the firearm or by manually applied force the
plunger member 88, being mounted to the forward wall structure 96
of the riser slide member, will be moved within the through passage
86 of the elongate structural section 84 of the riser base or
saddle structure 42. As this occurs the compression spring 90 will
be further compressed so that a return spring force exists that
urges the riser slide member toward its original operational
position. Thus, during normal charging operations for the firearm
the charging handle is pulled to its maximum extent and released.
As the charging handle is pulled it engages and causes movement of
the riser slide member 74 so that the riser slide member does not
interfere with complete and efficient charging handle movement.
When the charging handle is released by the firearm user the bolt
return spring will move the charging handle forwardly to its
original position, in the process causing charging of a cartridge
into the cartridge chamber of the firearm. During forward movement
of the charging handle the spring force on the riser slide member
will move the riser slide member forwardly, essentially following
the charging handle. When the charging handle 15 has become seated
the riser slide member will have become located at its operational
position, ready for contact of the user's cheek with the riser
slide member.
[0039] In view of the foregoing it is evident that the present
invention is one well adapted to attain all of the objects and
features hereinabove set forth, together with other objects and
features which are inherent in the apparatus disclosed herein.
[0040] As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the
present invention may easily be produced in other specific forms
without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The
present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered as merely
illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being
indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and
all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalence
of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
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