U.S. patent application number 13/407877 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-29 for upper receiver device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Las Americas Avenue Development Corp.. The applicant listed for this patent is RICARDO JORGE NUNES. Invention is credited to RICARDO JORGE NUNES.
Application Number | 20130219763 13/407877 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49001287 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130219763 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NUNES; RICARDO JORGE |
August 29, 2013 |
UPPER RECEIVER DEVICE
Abstract
The Upper Receiver Device (URD) is a safety invention to protect
a left handed person from shooting a right handed rifle and the hot
spent cases striking them in the face, eyes and neck which may
cause burns, blindness and other injuries. The left side Upper
Receiver Device (URD) is new and an improvement in the left handed
rifles. The Lefty URD is different from those used by right handed
rifles as you look at them in the right and left side. The bolt
lock, carrier of the Lefty URD is different in the number of
ridges. The bolt lock, gas hole and the internal components are
different and must be manufactured to the Lefty URD specifications.
We reference the AR-10 and other rifles with various substitutions
and modifications this invention applies to other firearms and is
included in this disclosure.
Inventors: |
NUNES; RICARDO JORGE;
(Takoma Park, MD) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NUNES; RICARDO JORGE |
Takoma Park |
MD |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Las Americas Avenue Development
Corp.
|
Family ID: |
49001287 |
Appl. No.: |
13/407877 |
Filed: |
February 29, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 3/66 20130101; F41A
15/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/16 |
International
Class: |
F41A 3/66 20060101
F41A003/66 |
Claims
1. A receiver for a firearm wherein spent cartridge casings are
ejected in a rearward trajectory of motion at a side ejection port
thereof, said port having a backstop rib means at its rear
position, said receiver ejecting casings whose rearward motion is
stopped when striking said backstop rib means and also casings
whose rearward motion is not stopped despite striking, or by
completely missing of, said backstop rib means and continue in a
rearward trajectory towards the person of the shooter, said
receiver comprising a boss thereon to change the rearward
trajectory of those non stopped casings so they can never strike
the physical body of the shooter, on account of their changed
trajectory.
2. A receiver for a firearm wherein spent cartridge casings are
ejected in a rearward trajectory motion at a side ejection port
thereof; said port having a back stop means at its rear position,
said receiver ejecting cases whose rearward motion is stopped when
striking said back stop means and continue in a rearward
trajectory, said receiver comprising a boss thereon to change the
rearward trajectory of those casings which are not stopped so those
non-stopped cases which in their rearward motion reach as far back
as the body position of a shooter of said firearm, cannot
nonetheless strike the physical body of the shooter, on account of
their changed trajectory.
3. A receiver as in claim 2 wherein said firearm is a rifle.
4. A receiver as in claim 3 wherein the changed trajectory is to be
in a direction going above the head of the shooter.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for
a firearm attachment. More particularly, the present invention is
an attachable upper receiver for a rifle which is especially
configured for accommodating safely a "southpaw" or left-handed
shooter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The conventional AR-10 rifles were designed so that the hot
spent, cartridge casings would strike a small deflector rib at the
back of what is known as the ejection port and rebounds forward at
about 40 degrees. As the rifles cyclic rate of fire decreases; the
ejection pattern slowly shifts rearward. At around 700 rounds pre
minute, the spent hot cartridge cases miss the current defector rib
and spins back almost parallel to the side of the rifle, on the
left side with respect to the shooter's perspective. For a
right-handed rifleman, this condition is dangerous because the hot
spent cases strike them in the face eyes and neck, sometimes
causing burns, blindness or other injuries. In one unfortunate
documented incident for a right-handed shooter, a burning hot
expended cartridge was not deflected properly and rolled inside his
open shirt neck, eventually burning his stomach areas;
panic-shooting led to the accidental death of one soldier and the
wounding of still other soldiers. Such spent cases would probably
just go over the left shoulder where the rifle rests, if they miss
the back end of the ejection port. For a right hander, however the
rifle butt rests right shoulder; the fired cases which miss the rib
would then likely hit him in the face, neck or eyes. Yet some
78-82% of soldiers statistically are estimated to be right handed.
Clearly then, any improvement to safeguard the right handed shooter
against spent cases is greatly needed, especially with this
rifle/weapons platform, given its widespread use by our Armed
Forces and civilians alike.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] To remedy this problem the present invention provides for a
left-handed upper receiver, with an integrated deflector which is
made part of the rifle positioned to the rear of the ejection port
protruding/jutting out toward the left side. It provides a barrier
for fired cases, preventing same from coming straight back into the
shooters face, eyes and neck, but instead to strike and bounce off
the deflector and being forced to land considerable away from the
shooter's person.
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
introduce an improved rifle upper receiver which permits use by
left-handed shooters without the possibility of hot spent cartridge
cases being cast in the direction of the shooter's face, eyes, and
neck areas. It is another object of the present invention to adapt
this particular rifle/weapons platform particularly to the needs of
a left-handed shooter without affecting ordinary operations. It is
yet a further object of the present invention to provide a rifle
which may be used by either right or left-handed operators without
the need of any field adaptation for the right-hander, to avoid the
possibility of his injury. Other objects and advantages of the
inventions will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a
reading of the attached specifications and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS IN APPENDIX X
[0005] FIG. 1 is a left-side perspective view of the new and
improved left-handed rifle upper receiver of the present
invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a right-side perspective view of the rifle upper
receiver of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 3 is an alternative right-side perspective view of the
rifle upper receiver of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 4 is an alternative left-side perspective view of the
rifle upper receiver of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a rear-side close-up elevation view of the rifle
upper receiver of the present invention, without a hinge cover or a
hinge pin.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the rifle upper
receiver of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a left-side perspective view of the upper receiver
attached to a lower receiver of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 8 is a right-side perspective view of the upper
receiver attached to a lower receiver of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the upper receiver
attached to a lower receiver of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 10 is a rear-side perspective view of a bolt, a bolt
carrier, and a bolt lock of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 11 is an alternative rear-side perspective view of the
bolt, the bolt carrier, and the bolt lock of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 12 is a close-up cross-sectional view of the bolt, the
bolt carrier, and the bolt lock of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 13 is a right-side perspective view of the bolt, the
bolt carrier, and the bolt lock of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 14 is a close-up bottom view of a plurality of ridges
of the bolt carrier of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 15 is a left side view of the bolt, the bolt carrier,
and the bolt lock of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 16 is a close-up cross sectional view of the bolt, the
bolt carrier, and the bolt lock of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the bolt, the bolt carrier,
and the bolt lock of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 18 is a close-up top plan view of the bolt of the
present invention.
[0023] FIG. 19 is a close-up rear-side view of the bolt of the
present invention.
[0024] FIG. 20 is a left-side perspective view of the bolt inserted
into the translucent bolt carrier.
[0025] FIG. 21 is a close-up right-side perspective view of the
bolt insert into the translucent bolt carrier.
[0026] FIG. 22 is a rear-side perspective view of the bolt of the
present invention.
[0027] FIG. 23 is an alternative rear-side perspective view of the
bolt, the bolt carrier and the bolt lock of the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 24 is a further alternative rear-side perspective view
of the bolt, the bolt carrier, and the bolt lock of the present
invention.
[0029] FIG. 25 is a close-up view of a bolt lock hole and a gas
hole.
[0030] FIG. 26 is a close-up left-side perspective view of the bolt
inserted into the translucent bolt carrier.
[0031] FIG. 27 is a close-up left-side perspective view of a
plurality of internal components of the bolt inserted into the
translucent bolt carrier of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 28 is a left-side perspective view of a bolt for a
right-handed AR-10.
[0033] FIG. 29 is a front-side perspective view of the bolt.
DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
[0034] The applicant here assumes that the reader starts with the
knowledge of the ordinary spent cartridge ejection process as it
pertains to the weapons platform, at what is termed the said
ejection port.
[0035] The present invention is intended to be adapted for various
firing mechanisms including but not limited to gas impingement,
piston, automatic, semi-automatic, open bolt, and locking bolt
firing mechanisms. The gas impingement and piston firing mechanisms
and systems contribute to the dependability and function of the
bolt and the bolt carrier. The other firing mechanisms and systems
may apply as desired depending on the user. These other firing
mechanisms may be used by the military to provide a readily
accessible firearm for those who are predominantly left handed.
[0036] As was mentioned previously, the conventional weapons
platform is configured so that the spent cartridge case strikes a
small deflector rib at the back of the ejection port, 102 area in
FIG. 1 and rebounds forward at about 40 degrees. FIG. 2 shows more
detail of the upper receiver from various views. As the cyclic rate
of fire for a rifle decreases, the ejection pattern slowly shifts
rearward. At around 700 rounds per minute, the spent case misses
the current deflector rib and spins back almost parallel to the
side of rifle, on the left side looking from the shooters
perspective. For a right-handed rifleman, this condition is
dangerous because the hot spent cases strike them in the face,
eyes, and neck, sometimes causing burns. In the present invention,
the rifle upper receiver comprises a boss 101, which is mold
injected as part of the receiver when the receiver is originally
made. However, it is intended that the present invention is added
as an attachment to the rifle. Now from a shooter's perspective in
the direction down the barrel, ejected cartridge casings which miss
the current rib at the rear end of the ejection port 102 encounter
the boss 101 as an obstacle. The ejection of the spent cartridge
casings occurs to the left of the upper receiver due to the
ejection port 102 being positioned on the left side of the rifle
upper receiver. From surface 103, the casings would be deflected at
a shallow angle to the left of the right-handed shooter. A
right-handed shooter and certainly a left-handed shooter are
protected from hot spent shell casing ever striking him/her.
[0037] The concept of the present invention is applicable to any
firearm where the ejection pattern may be rearward. However, the
shape of the physical embodiment may require some change to adapt
it to a particular firearm. In regards to the AR-10 and other
weapon platforms/rifles from scrupulous experimentation, it was
discovered that certain features are critical and important. One
critical feature is the 45 degree angle slant to surface 103
looking from the top down on the boss as shown in FIG. 7 which is a
detail of section F-F. If the angle is less than 45 degrees, then
at very high cyclic rates of fire, the spent cartridge casings will
strike the surface 103 and spin back into the ejection port and
cause a malfunction. Another important feature is the distance at
which surface 103 extends out from the centerline of the receiver,
which is along the 1.31'' radius shown in FIG. 5.
[0038] The present invention comprises an upper receiver (rifle)
which is especially configured for accommodating safely a
"southpaw" or left-handed shooter and, more specifically, a
soldier. The purpose of the left-handed receiver is to fill a much
needed void in an arms industry that has traditionally only made
arms or rifles for the right-handed shooter. This fact in itself
can be considered discriminatory in some industries.
[0039] The upper receiver is invented and configured especially
with the left-handed, or southpaw, shooter or soldier in mind. The
ergonomics of the upper receiver and internal components, such as a
bolt carrier and a bolt, are invented and adapted to make it
possible for a left-handed user to safely discharge the rifle
platform without using adaptors or shell casing deflectors while
firing from the left hand. When a southpaw fires right-handed
standard rifles, such implements are needed. It is important to
note that special instructions, training and or re-training classes
are also sometimes needed.
[0040] The upper receiver for a left-handed user is invented with
the following improvements: [0041] 1. The upper receiver body is
made to universally adapt to any AR-10, SR25, and LR308 platform on
the market today. [0042] 2. The ejector port and ejector port cover
will be 3 mm oversized in order to safely eject spent casings
downward or upward. The oversized ejection port door will also open
upward in order that it will not affect any operations of the lower
receiver. [0043] 3. The oversized casing deflector will be able to
deflect shell casings either upward or downward depending on the
radius of the locking bolt extractor. [0044] 4. The forward assist
is positioned further rearward in order to better accommodate the
serrations of the bolt carrier group (BCG).
[0045] It is important to note that BCG for the left hand only
functions in a left-hand upper receiver as described herein. Upper
receivers and the bolt carrier group parts for a left-handed and
right-handed firearm are not interchangeable.
[0046] In the preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises
an upper receiver which is attachable to a buttstock and a barrel
of a rifle. The upper receiver further comprises a tubular body
wherein a bolt and a bolt carrier are positioned. The bolt is
positioned concentrically within a cavity of the bolt carrier. The
current bolt and bolt carrier intended for the right-handed upper
receiver do not fit or operate correctly with the left-handed upper
receiver of the present invention as many of the functions of a
right-handed bolt and bolt carrier do not correlate with that of
the left-handed upper receiver. The tubular body comprises a barrel
receiving end and a buttstock receiving end. The said barrel
receiving end and the buttstock receiving end are opened for
receiving the barrel and the buttstock of the rifle, respectively.
For the purpose of indicting directional positions of the following
components, the buttstock receiving end designates the front side
of the present invention and the barrel receiving end designates
the rear side of the present invention. It is therefore appropriate
for the tubular body to comprise a front side and rear side;
similarly therefore, the upper receiver comprises a front side and
a rear side, as designated by the buttstock receiving end and the
barrel receiving end, respectively. It is of further notice to
indicate a left side and a right side of the tubular body and,
similarly, of the upper receiver. Therefore the upper receiver
comprises a left side and a right side. The left side and the right
side of the upper receiver are located on the upper receiver with
respect to the front side as designated by the buttstock receiving
end. It is important to note the left side and the right side in
order to distinguish the advantages for modifying the conventional
upper receiver for a right-handed rifle by providing a left-side
ejection of casings for a left-handed user.
[0047] The upper receiver comprises an ejection port, an ejection
hinge, an ejection port cover; an oversized casing deflector, a
forward assist, and a bolt lock housing. The ejection port is
positioned on the left side of the upper receiver. The ejection
hinge is positioned on the left side of the upper receiver and
above the ejection port. The ejection cover is positioned on the
left side of the upper receiver and connects to the ejection hinge
by a hinge pin. The ejection cover opens upward about the hinge and
the hinge pin. The oversized casing deflector is positioned on the
left side of the upper receiver and adjacent to the ejection port
and ejection cover so as to allow spent shell casings to exit the
ejection port and deflect off the oversized casing deflector. The
oversized casing deflector comprises a surface area from which
spent shell casings are deflected either up or down depending on
the radius of a locking bolt extractor. The oversized casing
deflector compensates for a deflection rib which lacks adequate
size to completely deflect a spent shell casing in a desired angle
and direction. The angle of deflection also depends on the angle of
the deflection surface of the oversized casing deflector. The
forward assist is positioned on the left side of the upper receiver
and adjacent to the oversized casing deflector so as to allow for
the bolt to make contact and lock onto a shell. The forward assist
may comprise a button for performing said bolt locking. The bolt
lock housing is positioned on the right side of the upper housing
so as to allow for a head portion of the bolt lock, which is
inserted into the bolt carrier, to slide and lock into
position.
[0048] The aforementioned modifications made to the conventional
upper receiver for a rifle affect subsequent parts and equipment.
The subsequently affected parts may include but is not limited to
the bolt and the bolt carrier. The present invention may further
affect the equipment used in creating and manufacturing said
components. Affected equipment may include but is not limited to
dyes, jigs, and tools. As each component that is fitted
specifically for a right-handed upper receiver, subsequent parts
and equipment used are affected in the manufacturing for a
left-handed upper receiver and subsequently affected parts.
[0049] Because the upper receiver of the present invention
comprises the bolt lock housing positioned on the right side, the
bolt and bolt carrier are subsequently affected. The bolt comprises
a bolt lock hole, whose chamfered angle is modified for the
left-handed upper receiver. The bolt lock hole is positioned at an
angle so as to allow for the bolt to properly lock with a shell and
to receive the bolt lock. The bolt carrier comprises a bolt carrier
lock hole which is modified so as to allow for being positioned
over the bolt lock hole for a left-handed user. The bolt comprises
an extractor whose angle changes so as to allow for extraction and
ejection of a spent shell. The bolt further comprises a plurality
of locking lugs whose angles are also subsequently modified for
proper fitting into the left-handed upper receiver. The left-handed
bolt locking radius differs from the right-handed bolt. Within the
left-handed bolt carrier, the left-handed bolt locks to the
right-hand side.
[0050] In reference to FIG. 11, the bolt carrier may also comprise
a flute feature, which is an extruded slot positioned on the top of
the bolt carrier. The bolt carrier may further comprise
weight-reduction if desired.
[0051] A plurality of ridges positioned along the length of the
bottom side of the bolt carrier may be mirrored for proper fitting
into the left-handed upper receiver. Similarly, a plurality of
ridges which serve as a locking mechanism for the forward assist
may also be mirrored for proper fitting into the left-handed upper
receiver. A plurality of bore-holes may also be mirrored for proper
fitting into the left-handed upper receiver.
[0052] The bolt carrier group comprises parts which fill an
existing need to better and safely accommodate the left-handed
shooter without the need of special adaptors and re-training.
Re-training may include a shooter learning how to acclimate one's
less predominant hand to fire a firearm. As in current practice,
re-training involves a left-handed shooter to learn how to fire a
right-handed firearm. The present invention eliminates this need by
providing a left-handed upper receiver for converting a
right-handed firearm into a left-handed firearm.
BOLT CARRIER GROUP PARTS LIST
[0053] 1. Bolt carrier [0054] 2. Gas key [0055] 3. Gas key screws
.times.2 [0056] 4. Firing pin [0057] 5. Firing pin retention cotter
pin [0058] 6. Firing pin spring [0059] 7. Bolt cam (locking)
BOLT PARTS LIST
[0059] [0060] 1. Bolt [0061] 2. Extractor [0062] 3. Extractor
spring [0063] 4. Extractor buffer [0064] 5. Extractor pin [0065] 6.
Gas rings .times.3 The present invention is adapted for a
commercial carry-on handle.
[0066] While the inventions may have been described with reference
to a particular embodiment or embodiments, it should be noted and
understood that various substitutions and modifications thereto are
possible, and that all such changes are also included in this
disclosure of the invention, as will occur to one skilled in this
art.
* * * * *