U.S. patent application number 13/530963 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-18 for barrel nut mounted mounting structure for a rifle accessory item and system comprising same.
This patent application is currently assigned to UNIVERSAL QUALITY MACHINE LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is David N. Moore. Invention is credited to David N. Moore.
Application Number | 20130180151 13/530963 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48778986 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130180151 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moore; David N. |
July 18, 2013 |
BARREL NUT MOUNTED MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR A RIFLE ACCESSORY ITEM
AND SYSTEM COMPRISING SAME
Abstract
A main body of a rifle accessory mounting apparatus comprises an
accessory mounting structure having opposing end portions and a
barrel nut engaging structure connected to a first one of the end
portions of the accessory mounting structure. An end face of the
accessory mounting structure defines a front end face of the main
body and an end face of the barrel nut engaging structure defines a
rear end face of the main body. A central passage of the main body
extends through the accessory mounting structure and the barrel nut
engaging structure.
Inventors: |
Moore; David N.; (Hampden,
MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Moore; David N. |
Hampden |
MA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
UNIVERSAL QUALITY MACHINE
LLC
Holyoke
MA
|
Family ID: |
48778986 |
Appl. No.: |
13/530963 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61631893 |
Jan 13, 2012 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/90 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 27/00 20130101;
F41C 23/16 20130101; F41A 21/482 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/90 |
International
Class: |
F41C 27/00 20060101
F41C027/00 |
Claims
1. A main body of a rifle accessory mounting apparatus, comprising:
an accessory mounting structure having opposing end portions; a
barrel nut engaging structure connected to a first one of the end
portions of the accessory mounting structure, wherein an end face
of the accessory mounting structure defines a front end face of the
main body and an end face of the barrel nut engaging structure
defines a rear end face of the main body; and a central passage of
the main body extends through the accessory mounting structure and
the barrel nut engaging structure.
2. The main body of claim 1, further comprising: a barrel nut
shoulder receiving recess within the end face of the barrel nut
engaging structure, wherein the barrel nut shoulder receiving
recess is substantially circular in shape.
3. The main body of claim 2, further comprising: a barrel nut
shoulder engaging lip within the barrel nut shoulder receiving
recess the barrel nut engaging structure includes, wherein the
barrel nut shoulder engaging lip is substantially circular in
shape.
4. The main body of claim 3 wherein: the accessory mounting
structure is cylindrically shaped; the barrel nut shoulder
receiving recess is substantially concentric with the central
passage of the main body; and the barrel nut shoulder engaging lip
is substantially concentric with the central passage of the main
body.
5. The main body of claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of
fastener receiving passages extending through the barrel nut
engaging structure, wherein each one of the fastener receiving
passages extends substantially parallel to the central passage of
the main body.
6. The main body of claim 5, further comprising: a fastener
clearance recess within an exterior side face of the accessory
mounting structure, wherein the exterior side face extends between
the front end face of the main body and the barrel nut engaging
structure and wherein the fastener clearance recess extends
substantially perpendicular to the central passage of the main
body.
7. The main body of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of
fastener receiving passages extending through the barrel nut
engaging structure, wherein each one of the fastener receiving
passages extends substantially parallel to the central passage of
the main body.
8. The main body of claim 6, further comprising: a barrel nut
shoulder receiving recess within the end face of the barrel nut
engaging structure; and a barrel nut shoulder engaging lip within
the barrel nut shoulder receiving recess; wherein the accessory
mounting structure is cylindrically shaped; wherein the barrel nut
shoulder receiving recess is substantially circular in shape;
wherein the barrel nut shoulder engaging lip is substantially
circular in shape; and wherein the barrel nut shoulder engaging lip
and the barrel nut shoulder receiving recess are each substantially
concentric with the central bore of the main body.
9. The main body of claim 8, further comprising: a fastener
clearance recess within an exterior side face of the accessory
mounting structure, wherein the exterior side face extends between
the front end face of the main body and the barrel nut engaging
structure and wherein the fastener clearance recess extends
substantially perpendicular to the central passage of the main
body.
10. A rifle accessory mounting apparatus, comprising: a main body
having an accessory mounting structure and a barrel nut engaging
structure connected to the accessory mounting structure, wherein an
end face of the accessory mounting structure defines a front end
face of the main body and an end face of the barrel nut engaging
structure defines a rear end face of the main body, and wherein a
central passage of the main body extends through the main body
between the front and rear end faces thereof; and a barrel nut
securing member having a main body attachment structure integral
therewith, wherein the main body attachment structure is alignable
with an engagement member attachment structure of the barrel nut
engaging structure for enabling a shoulder of a barrel nut to be
securely engaged between the barrel nut engaging structure and the
barrel nut securing member when the shoulder of the barrel nut is
positioned between the barrel nut engaging structure and the barrel
nut securing member.
11. The rifle accessory mounting apparatus of claim 10 wherein: the
barrel nut engaging structure includes a barrel nut shoulder
receiving recess within the end face thereof; and the barrel nut
shoulder receiving recess is substantially circular in shape.
12. The rifle accessory mounting apparatus of claim 10 wherein the
barrel nut securing member is semi-circular in shape.
13. The rifle accessory mounting apparatus of claim 12 wherein: the
main body attachment structure includes a plurality of the fastener
receiving passages; and the engagement member attachment structure
includes a plurality of fastener receiving passages extending
therethrough substantially parallel to the central passage of the
main body.
14. The rifle accessory mounting apparatus of claim 10 wherein: the
barrel nut engaging structure includes a barrel nut shoulder
receiving recess within the end face thereof; the barrel nut
shoulder receiving recess is substantially circular in shape; the
barrel nut engaging structure includes a barrel nut shoulder
engaging lip within the barrel nut shoulder receiving recess
thereof; and the barrel nut shoulder receiving recess is
substantially circular in shape.
15. The rifle accessory mounting apparatus of claim 10 wherein the
main body is a one-piece unit.
16. A rifle accessory system, comprising: a mounting apparatus main
body including an accessory mounting structure having opposing end
portions and a barrel nut engaging structure connected to a first
one of the end portions of the accessory mounting structure such
that an end face of the accessory mounting structure defines a
front end face of the mounting apparatus main body and an end face
of the barrel nut engaging structure defines a rear end face of the
mounting apparatus main body, wherein a central passage of the
mounting apparatus main body extends through the accessory mounting
structure and the barrel nut engaging structure; and a rifle
accessory main body having a first end portion and a second end
portion, wherein a central passage of the rifle accessory extends
therethrough between the first and second end portions thereof,
wherein the first end portion of the rifle accessory defines a main
body engaging collar configured for having the accessory mounting
structure of the mounting apparatus main body engaged therein, and
wherein the main body engaging collar and the accessory mounting
structure are jointly configured such that a centerline axis of the
rifle accessory central passage remains substantially aligned with
a centerline axis of the accessory mounting structure central
passage when the accessory mounting structure of the mounting
apparatus main body is engaged within the main body engaging
collar.
17. The rifle accessory system of claim 16 wherein: the barrel nut
engaging structure includes a barrel nut shoulder receiving recess
within the end face thereof; and the barrel nut shoulder receiving
recess is substantially circular in shape.
18. The rifle accessory system of claim 16 wherein: the main body
attachment structure includes a plurality of the fastener receiving
passages; and the engagement member attachment structure includes a
plurality of fastener receiving passages extending therethrough
substantially parallel to the central passage of the main body.
19. The rifle accessory system of claim 16 wherein: the rifle
accessory main body is a one-piece unit; and the main body engaging
collar includes a slot therein extending from an end face at the
first end portion of the rifle accessory toward the second end
portion of the rifle accessory.
20. The rifle accessory system of claim 19 wherein: the barrel nut
engaging structure includes a barrel nut shoulder receiving recess
within the end face thereof; the barrel nut shoulder receiving
recess is substantially circular in shape; the main body attachment
structure includes a plurality of the fastener receiving passages;
and the engagement member attachment structure includes a plurality
of fastener receiving passages extending therethrough substantially
parallel to the central passage of the main body.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims priority to co-pending U.S.
Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 61/631,893; filed
Jan. 13, 2012; entitled "Means Of Attaching A Free Floating Hand
Guard Or Rail System To A Barrel Nut Of A Rifle"; having a common
applicant herewith; and being incorporated herein in its entirety
by reference.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The disclosures made herein relate generally to rifles and,
more particularly, to mounting structures for allowing an accessory
item to be mounted on a rifle through a barrel nut thereof.
BACKGROUND
[0003] There is often the need to mount an accessory item on a
rifle. In many instances, such accessory item is mounted at a
position that overlays at least a portion of a barrel of the rifle.
A hand guard and a rail system are two examples of such an
accessory item. One shortcoming of mounting an accessory item
directly on the elongated portion of the barrel is heat generated
through discharge of ammunition being transferred into the
accessory item. Another shortcoming of mounting an accessory item
directly on the elongated portion of the barrel is vibration
resulting from discharge of ammunition being transferred into the
accessory item. Still another shortcoming of mounting an accessory
item directly on the elongated portion of the barrel is complexity
of integrating a barrel mounting structure into the accessory item
as it related to differences in barrel
dimensions/configurations.
[0004] Therefore, a novel and unique means for mounting an
accessory item over a barrel of a rifle in a manner that overcomes
one or more shortcoming associated with known approaches for
mounting an accessory item over a barrel of a rifle would be
advantageous, desirable and useful.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a
mounting structure for allowing an accessory item to be mounted on
a rifle through a barrel nut of the rifle. Furthermore, a mounting
structure configured in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention preferably allows the accessory item to be
mounted through a barrel nut in a manner in which the accessory
item is free-floating in regard to contact with the barrel. For
example, a hand guard with integral rail is mounted entries on the
rifle through the barrel nut and is free-floating. Examples of an
accessory item being free-floating with respect to the barrel
include the accessory item not being in contact with the barrel of
the firearm and the accessory item not being inhibited from
longitudinal movement along a length of the firearm through its
direct engagement with the barrel. Accordingly, embodiments of the
present invention advantageously overcome one or more shortcomings
associated with known approaches for mounting an accessory item
over a barrel of a rifle.
[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, a main body of a
rifle accessory mounting apparatus comprises an accessory mounting
structure having opposing end portions and a barrel nut engaging
structure connected to a first one of the end portions of the
accessory mounting structure. An end face of the accessory mounting
structure defines a front end face of the main body and an end face
of the barrel nut engaging structure defines a rear end face of the
main body. A central passage of the main body extends through the
accessory mounting structure and the barrel nut engaging
structure.
[0007] In another embodiment of the present invention, a rifle
accessory mounting apparatus comprises a main body and a barrel nut
securing member. The main body has an accessory mounting structure
and a barrel nut engaging structure connected to the accessory
mounting structure. An end face of the accessory mounting structure
defines a front end face of the main body and an end face of the
barrel nut engaging structure defines a rear end face of the main
body. A central passage of the main body extends through the main
body between the front and rear end faces thereof. The barrel nut
securing member has a main body attachment structure integral
therewith. The main body attachment structure is alignable with an
engagement member attachment structure of the barrel nut engaging
structure for enabling a shoulder of a barrel nut to be securely
engaged between the barrel nut engaging structure and the barrel
nut securing member when the shoulder of the barrel nut is
positioned between the barrel nut engaging structure and the barrel
nut securing member.
[0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, a rifle
accessory system comprises a mounting apparatus main body and a
rifle accessory main body. The mounting apparatus main body
includes an accessory mounting structure having opposing end
portions and a barrel nut engaging structure connected to a first
one of the end portions of the accessory mounting structure such
that an end face of the accessory mounting structure defines a
front end face of the mounting apparatus main body and an end face
of the barrel nut engaging structure defines a rear end face of the
mounting apparatus main body. A central passage of the mounting
apparatus main body extends through the accessory mounting
structure and the barrel nut engaging structure. The rifle
accessory main body has a first end portion and a second end
portion. A central passage of the rifle accessory extends
therethrough between the first and second end portions thereof. The
first end portion of the rifle accessory defines a main body
engaging collar configured for having the accessory mounting
structure of the mounting apparatus main body engaged therein. The
main body engaging collar and the accessory mounting structure are
jointly configured such that a centerline axis of the rifle
accessory central passage remains substantially aligned with a
centerline axis of the accessory mounting structure central passage
when the accessory mounting structure of the mounting apparatus
main body is engaged within the main body engaging collar.
[0009] These and other objects, embodiments, advantages and/or
distinctions of the present invention will become readily apparent
upon further review of the following specification, associated
drawings and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a rifle accessory mounting
apparatus configured in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the rifle accessory mounting
apparatus of FIG. 1 shown in relation to a rifle accessory and a
delta ring of a rifle.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in
FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 4 is an assembly view corresponding to the exploded
view of FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in
FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a rifle accessory mounting apparatus
100 (i.e., apparatus 100, which can also be considered a device) is
shown. The apparatus 100 includes a main body 102, a barrel nut
107, and compression members 110. The main body 102 (i.e., a
mounting structure) has a generally round flange 104 (i.e., a
barrel nut engaging structure) that is mounted in contact with the
forward-facing surface 106 of a barrel nut 107 of a rifle (e.g.,
AR-15/M-16/M4 family of rifles). In the depicted embodiment, the
forward facing surface 106 is at least partially defined by a front
face of a toothed shoulder 108 that carries barrel nut teeth (i.e.,
the teeth 109). The main body 102 is fixedly secured against the
barrel nut 107 by one or more compression members 110 (i.e., barrel
nut securing members). The compression members 110 have a curved
interior surface 112 to follow the contour (e.g., radius) of a
rear-facing shoulder 114 of the barrel nut 107. The compression
fittings 110 can be curvilinear in shape (i.e., annular shaped as
shown) such they follow the curve of a cylindrical portion of the
barrel nut 107 (e.g., the curvature of the rear-facing shoulder
114). A front face 116 of each compression members 110 is
configured (e.g., can be substantially flat) for engaging a
rearward-facing surface 118 of the toothed shoulder 108. In this
manner, the main body 102 is fixedly secured to the barrel nut 107
by capturing the toothed shoulder 108 between the flange 104 and
the one or more compression members 110. The main body 102 has a
central passage 115 extending between its opposing end
portions.
[0016] The flange 104 is secured to the compression fittings 110
using, for example, screws 120 (i.e., threaded fasteners) that
extend through passages 122 (e.g., through holes) in the flange 104
and into corresponding passages 124 (e.g., threaded holes) in the
compression fittings 110. As shown, longitudinal centerline axes of
the screw receiving passages 122, 124 extend generally parallel to
each other and to the central passage 115 and, thus to a
longitudinal centerline axis of a barrel of the rifle. In this
regard, the screws 120 can draw the flange 104 in the front of the
barrel nut 107 toward the compression fittings 110, thereby
engaging the toothed shoulder 108 therebetween. Preferably, but not
necessarily, all or a portion of the screws 120 pass through a
respective one of the notches 126 between two adjacent teeth 109
(e.g., in somewhat of a similar configuration to that in which
pins/bushes in a bicycle chain engage between teeth of the a chain
ring or sprocket). It is disclosed herein that, in some
embodiments, the toothed shoulder 108 can be replaced with a
toothless shoulder.
[0017] A delta nut 127 and the compression fittings 110 can be
jointly configured for allowing the compression fittings 110 to sit
at least partially within a recess 129 of the delta nut 127.
[0018] The strength and stability of the device 100 is obtained
primarily by the rearward and forward compression of the flange 104
and compression fittings 110 against the forward-facing and
rearward-facing surfaces 106,118 of the toothed shoulder 108. The
flange 104 is prevented from sliding laterally or vertically on the
forward-facing surface 106 of the barrel nut 107 by a protruding
lip 128 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) within a recess 130 of the flange 104.
The protruding lip 128 (or similarly functioning structure) engages
a recess 132 (i.e., a mating portion) of the barrel nut 107. The
flange 104 can also be prevented from sliding laterally or
vertically on the forward-facing surface 106 of the barrel nut 107
by the above-described screws 120 that sit in the notches 126 of
the barrel nut teeth 109. As shown in FIG. 3, the protruding lip
128 and the recess 130 are circular in shape and substantially
concentric with the central passage 115.
[0019] After the flange 104 and compression fittings 110 are
securely fastened to the barrel nut 107, a rifle accessory (e.g., a
handguard, accessory rail, or the like) can be attached to the
flange main body 102 in such a way that the accessory item is
physically supported by the main body 102 (e.g., by the flange
104). In a preferred embodiment, a handguard 134 (shown in FIGS.
204) is constructed such that no portion of the handguard 134
touches a barrel of the rifle either directly or indirectly and is
coupling thereto entirely through the barrel nut 107. The handguard
134 is one example of a main body of a rifle accessory (i.e., a
rifle accessory main body).
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the handguard 134 includes a tubular
style handguard that slips over a nose portion 136 (i.e., forward
end) of the main body 102 and/or flange 104. The nose portion 136
is also referred to herein as an accessory mounting portion of the
main body 102. In this regard, the handguard 134 can have a main
body-receiving collar 135 in which the nose portion 136 of the main
body 102 and/or flange 104 is engaged (e.g., via a close tolerance
fit). The handguard can then be secured on the nose portion 136 in
any number of possible ways. One preferred securing means is by one
or more screw holes 138 placed tangentially through the handguard
in an orientation generally perpendicular to the barrel of the
rifle. Such screw holes 138 serve to receive screws to tighten
(i.e., draw) together a lengthwise running slit 139 (i.e., parallel
to the barrel of the rifle) in the main body receiving collar 135
of the handguard 134, thus compressing the main body receiving
collar 135 snugly onto the outer generally cylindrical surface of
the nose portion 136 and, optionally, flange 104 of the main body
102. Such tightening screws can travel through and sit in channels
140 (i.e., a fastener clearance recess) cut tangentially in a
side-to-side fashion across the surface of the nose portion 136 of
the main body 102 such that each tightening screw is constrained by
a respective one of the channels 140 from slipping forward or
rearward along the nose portion 136 of the main body 102.
[0021] Another embodiment of the handguard to be attached to the
flange can be a multi-piece handguard that is attached by screws to
a flange and/or nose portion of a device configured in accordance
with the present invention.
[0022] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the
main body can be a multi-piece device that looks and functions
basically as though the generally round/cylindrical main body 102
described above had been sliced into two symmetrical halves, or
into smaller pieces than halves. In another alternative embodiment
of the present invention, the main body can be round/cylindrical
and have a section throughout the front-to-back length of the main
body such that instead of being basically round, it takes on the
general shape of a "C". This "C" shape would enable the main body
to be mounted to the barrel nut by slipping the main body over the
barrel of a rifle and onto the barrel nut without requiring removal
of installed firearm components (e.g., the gas block, gas tube,
piston drive unit, etc). In any of these alternative embodiments,
the portion of the main body (e.g., a flange thereof) would still
be engaged with a forward-facing surface of a barrel nut of a rifle
in the same means as described above in reference to the device
100.
[0023] In the preceding detailed description, reference has been
made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in
which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in
which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments,
and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient
detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice embodiments
of the present invention. It is to be understood that other
suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical,
chemical and electrical changes may be made without departing from
the spirit or scope of such inventive disclosures. To avoid
unnecessary detail, the description omits certain information known
to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is,
therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set
forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such
alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *