U.S. patent application number 13/556031 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-20 for apparatus, system, and method for a firearm conversion kit.
The applicant listed for this patent is Bjorn Muller. Invention is credited to Bjorn Muller.
Application Number | 20140075803 13/556031 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50272958 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140075803 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Muller; Bjorn |
March 20, 2014 |
APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR A FIREARM CONVERSION KIT
Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed for a firearm conversion kit. The
apparatus includes left and right hand portions configured to form
furniture of a firearm having a trigger, a remote trigger coupled
with a platform, the platform extending into a slot in at least one
of the left and right hand portions, and a single linkage rod
coupling the remote trigger to a trigger engagement device
configured to actuate the trigger when the remote trigger is
actuated.
Inventors: |
Muller; Bjorn; (Heber City,
UT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Muller; Bjorn |
Heber City |
UT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50272958 |
Appl. No.: |
13/556031 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61510881 |
Jul 22, 2011 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/16 ; 29/401.1;
42/69.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/49716 20150115;
F41A 19/09 20130101; F41A 19/00 20130101; F41A 11/02 20130101; F41A
3/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/16 ; 42/69.01;
29/401.1 |
International
Class: |
F41A 19/00 20060101
F41A019/00; F41A 3/00 20060101 F41A003/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: left and right hand portions configured
to form furniture of a firearm having a firing trigger; a remote
trigger coupled with a movable platform, the platform extending
into a slot in at least one of the left and right hand portions;
and a single linkage rod coupling the movable platform to a trigger
engagement device configured to actuate the firing trigger when the
remote trigger is actuated.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the furniture comprises a fore
end and a stock end of the firearm.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a helper spring
configured to return the remote trigger to a default position.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising adjustment devices
coupled with the trigger engagement device and configured to adjust
the position of the trigger engagement device relative to the
linkage rod and the firing trigger.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a riser coupled to
the single linkage rod, the riser placing the single linkage rod
vertically and laterally offset from the remote trigger.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the left and right hand
portions include corresponding attachment points for securely
fastening the firearm between the left and right hand portions.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the left and right hand
portions are formed of a rigid plastic that includes reinforcing
ridges.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the left and right hand
portions include separate forward and rear sections.
9. A firearm comprising: a bolt assembly; a trigger assembly,
including a firing trigger, coupled to the bolt assembly; a barrel
coupled to the bolt assembly; a magazine removably connected to the
bolt assembly; left and right hand portions configured to form
furniture of the firearm having a firing trigger; a remote trigger
coupled with a movable platform, the platform extending into a slot
in at least one of the left and right hand portions; and a single
linkage rod coupling the movable platform to a trigger engagement
device configured to actuate the firing trigger when the remote
trigger is actuated.
10. The firearm of claim 9, wherein the furniture comprises a fore
end and a stock end of the firearm.
11. The firearm of claim 9, further comprising a helper spring
configured to return the remote trigger to a default position.
12. The firearm of claim 9, further comprising adjustment devices
coupled with the trigger engagement device and configured to adjust
the position of the trigger engagement device relative to the
linkage rod and the firing trigger.
13. The firearm of claim 9, further comprising a riser coupled to
the single linkage rod, the riser placing the single linkage rod
vertically and laterally offset from the remote trigger.
14. The firearm of claim 9, wherein the left and right hand
portions include corresponding attachment points for securely
fastening the firearm between the left and right hand portions.
15. The firearm of claim 9, wherein the left and right hand
portions are formed of a rigid plastic that includes reinforcing
ridges.
16. The firearm of claim 9, wherein the left and right hand
portions include separate forward and rear sections.
17. A method for converting a firearm, the method comprising:
removing the original furniture of the firearm; disposing the
firearm between left and right hand portions configured to form
furniture of a firearm having a firing trigger; connecting a remote
trigger to the firing trigger by means of a linkage assembly; and
fastening the firearm between the left and right hand portions by
attachment means using attachment points disposed on the firearm
furniture.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the linkage assembly includes a
helper spring configured to return the remote trigger to a resting
position and adjustment devices for adjusting the fore and aft
position of the remote trigger.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the linkage assembly includes
adjustment devices coupled with the trigger engagement and
configured to adjust the position of the trigger engagement device
relative to the linkage rod and the firing trigger.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein the linkage assembly comprises
one or more of a single component and individual elements that form
the linkage assembly when assembled.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 61/510,881 entitled "Firearm Conversion Kit"
and filed on Jul. 22, 2011 for Bjorn Muller, which is incorporated
herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to firearms and more particularly
relates to bullpup-style firearm conversion kits.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Conventional firearms are configured such that the firing
trigger is situated below and/or behind the action of a firearm. In
a bullpup-style configuration, on the other hand, the action is
located behind the firing trigger. By moving the firing trigger in
front of the action, no space is wasted for the rear stock of the
firearm, as in conventional firearm configurations. The
bullpup-style design permits a shorter firearm length, while
maintaining the same barrel length, thus reducing the overall
weight of the firearm and allowing for improved
maneuverability.
[0004] Many conventional firearms may be converted to a
bullpup-style configuration with a conversion kit. In some
bullpup-style conversion kits, however, the remote trigger linkage
assembly does not provide a realistic feeling trigger squeeze
similar to the trigger squeeze of the original firing trigger.
Moreover, other bullpup-style conversion kits can be tedious to
assemble, requiring many parts or modifications to the original
firearm action and/or trigger.
SUMMARY
[0005] From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a
need exists for an apparatus, system, and method that converts a
conventional firearm to a bullpup-style configuration.
Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would provide a
more reliable trigger linkage system and easier conversion
assembly.
[0006] The present invention has been developed in response to the
present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the
problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved
by currently available bullpup-style firearm conversion kits.
Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an
apparatus, system, and method for converting a conventional firearm
to a bullpup-style configuration that overcomes many or all of the
above-discussed shortcomings in the art.
[0007] The apparatus, in one embodiment, includes left and right
hand portions configured to form the furniture of a firearm with a
firing trigger. A remote trigger, in some embodiments, is coupled
with a movable platform which extends into a slot in at least one
of the left and right hand portions of the firearm furniture. In
one embodiment, a single linking rod couples the movable platform
to a trigger engagement device. The trigger engagement device, in
another embodiment, is configured to actuate the firing trigger
when the remote trigger is actuated.
[0008] A system of the present invention is also presented to
convert a conventional firearm to a bullpup-style configuration. In
particular, the system, in one embodiment, includes a bolt
assembly, a trigger assembly, a barrel, and a magazine. In one
embodiment, the trigger assembly, including a firing trigger, and
the barrel are coupled to the bolt assembly. The magazine is also
connected to the bolt assembly, but may be removed in some
embodiments.
[0009] The system may further include, in one embodiment, left and
right hand portions configured to form the furniture of a firearm
with a firing trigger. In some embodiments, a trigger is coupled to
a movable platform which extends into a slot in at least one of the
left and right hand portions. Also included in other embodiments is
a single linkage rod which couples the movable platform to a
trigger engagement device. The trigger engagement device, in one
embodiment, is configured to actuate the firing trigger when the
remote trigger is actuated.
[0010] A method of the present invention is also presented for
converting a conventional firearm to a bullpup-style configuration.
The method in the disclosed embodiments substantially includes the
steps necessary to carry out the functions presented above with
respect to the operation of the described apparatus and system. In
one embodiment, the method includes removing the original furniture
of the firearm and placing the firearm between the left and right
hand portions of the conversion kit, which are configured to form
the furniture of a firearm having a firing trigger. The method, in
some embodiments, may include connecting a remote trigger to the
firing trigger using a linkage assembly and fastening the firearm
between the left and right hand furniture portions by attachment
means using attachment points located on the firearm furniture.
[0011] Reference throughout this specification to features,
advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the
features and advantages that may be realized with the present
invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the
invention. Rather, language referring to the features and
advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature,
advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an
embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present
invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and
similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not
necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
[0012] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and
characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable
manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art
will recognize that the invention may be practiced without one or
more of the specific features or advantages of a particular
embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages
may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in
all embodiments of the invention.
[0013] These features and advantages of the present invention will
become more fully apparent from the following description and
appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention
as set forth hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] In order that the advantages of the invention will be
readily understood, a more particular description of the invention
briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific
embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings.
Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments
of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be
limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and
explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is an exploded side view diagram illustrating one
embodiment of a firearm conversion kit relative to a firearm in
accordance with the present subject matter;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a side view diagram illustrating another
embodiment of the firearm conversion kit coupled to a firearm in
accordance with the present subject matter;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a side view diagram illustrating one embodiment of
a left hand portion of a firearm conversion kit with a remote
trigger assembly in accordance with the present subject matter;
and
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view diagram illustrating one
embodiment of a remote trigger linkage assembly of a firearm
conversion kit in accordance with the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment,"
"an embodiment," or similar language means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one
embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language throughout
this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the
same embodiment.
[0020] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or
characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable
manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description,
numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough
understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the
relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be
practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with
other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other
instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not
shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the
invention.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, and according to one embodiment, a
firearm conversion kit (hereinafter "kit") 100 converts a firearm
101 to a configuration in which the action or bolt assembly 102 is
located closer to a shooter than the trigger (e.g., remote trigger
104). Such a configuration is referred to as a "bullpup"
configuration, and is achieved by connecting an actual or original
trigger 106 of the firearm 101 to the remote trigger 104 via a
linkage 105 as will be discussed in more detail below.
[0022] The kit 100 includes left and right hand portions 108, 110,
that, when joined together, form the so-called "furniture" of the
firearm. Generally, the firearm 101 includes an ammunition magazine
112, a barrel 114, the trigger assembly 106, and a bolt assembly
102. The remaining parts of the firearm 101, such as the stock, are
often referred to as the furniture of the firearm and may be
removed without affecting the functionality of the firearm. The
depicted embodiment illustrates a firearm 101 with the furniture
removed so that the kit 100 may be attached to the firearm 101. The
firearm 101 may be a shotgun or a rifle. Depicted here is a
Kalashnikov-style shotgun for illustrative purposes only, as the
kit 100 may be adapted to many different styles of rifles, pistols,
and shotguns.
[0023] The kit 100 is configured with attachment points 118 for
coupling the left and right hand portions 108, 110 together around
the firearm 101. The left hand portion 108 has attachment points
118 that correspond with the attachment points 118 of the right
hand portion 110. In a further embodiment, the left and right hand
portions 108, 110 may include attachment points 118 that correspond
with attachment points 120 of the firearm 101. Stated differently,
the left and right hand portions 108, 110 may include attachment
points 118 that align with openings in the firearm 101 for
receiving screws, for example.
[0024] In one embodiment, the left or right hand portions 108, 110
may be separated into distinct pieces. For example, as shown in
FIG. 1, the right hand portion 110 includes separate forward and
rear sections 110a, 110b. With the right hand portion 110 including
multiple separate sections, the kit 100 is capable of accommodating
the bolt assembly 102 of the firearm 101. In other words, the right
hand portion 110 is formed according to the specific configuration
of the firearm 101, and may be separated into forward and rear
sections. In an alternative embodiment, the left hand portion 108
may be separated in a similar manner to accommodate firearms 101
that eject cartridges to the left, instead of to the right as
depicted in FIG. 1.
[0025] In a further embodiment, the kit 100 may include cutouts to
accommodate moving parts of the firearm 101. For example, the right
hand portion 110 includes cutouts 122 to allow a sliding bolt
action to move freely. The left and right hand portions 108, 110
may also include ventilation ports 123 for cooling the barrel 114
of the firearm 101.
[0026] In yet another embodiment, the kit 100 may include a gas
adjustment lever 124 for modifying firearms 101 that utilize
gas-operated reloading. Gas-operated reloading systems use a
portion of high pressure gas from a cartridge being fired to power
a mechanism that extracts the spent cartridge case and inserts a
new cartridge. This mechanism, as in the depicted embodiment, may
include a gas cylinder 126 positioned adjacent the barrel 114. As
gas operated reloading systems are known to those of skill in the
art, further explanation is not warranted. The gas adjustment lever
124 is positioned in either the left or right hand portion 108, 110
according to the position of a gas cylinder adjustment device of
the firearm, which will vary depending upon the particular firearm
101 for which the kit 100 is designed to fit. In the depicted
embodiment, using a Kalashnikov style firearm, the gas adjustment
lever 124 is positioned in the right hand portion 124 in a forward
location near the forward end of the gas cylinder 126. As used
herein, the term "forward" refers to an end of the firearm 101
opposite a shooter. In other words, the "forward" end of the barrel
114 is the end through which a projectile exits the barrel 114.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, the kit 100 converts the firearm 101
into a bullpup-style firearm having a trigger 104 in front of both
the bolt assembly 102 and magazine 112 as discussed above. The
firearm 101 is disposed between the left and right hand portions
(the right hand portion 110 being visible in FIG. 2), with the kit
100 forming the furniture or stock of the firearm, which includes a
shoulder stock 202 and a fore end 204. The shoulder stock 202
covers the original trigger 106 shown in FIG. 1 and also provides
support for the linkage 105 that mechanically connects the remote
trigger 104 to the original trigger 106.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a side view diagram illustrating one embodiment of
the interior of the left hand portion 108. The kit of FIG. 1, in
one embodiment, is formed of a rigid and resilient plastic, for
example, high-impact and heat-stabilized glass-filled nylon.
Alternatively, the kit 100 may be formed of any suitable light
weight material, including but not limited to, ABS, fiberglass,
carbon fiber, and other composite, polymer, or natural
materials.
[0029] The depicted left hand portion 108 is formed with
reinforcing ridges or webbing 302 positioned throughout the
interior of the left hand portion 108. Similarly, although not
depicted here, the right hand portion 110 is formed with
corresponding reinforcing ridges. The ridges 302, in one
embodiment, are shaped to matingly engage and support a firearm
(e.g., firearm 101). Different firearms will have different surface
profiles and therefore require a different profile of the
reinforcing ridges 302.
[0030] The left hand portion 108 is formed having a slot 304 for
receiving a sliding remote trigger 306 of a linkage assembly 301.
The sliding remote trigger 306 is coupled with a platform 308 that
extends outward from the trigger 306 and engages the slot 304.
Although the platform 308 is shown extending outward into the slot
304 of the left hand portion 108, in certain embodiments, the
platform 308 can also extend into a corresponding slot formed in a
right hand portion. A riser 310 couples the platform 308 with a
linkage 312. The riser 310 may be laterally and vertically offset
from the remote trigger 306 and platform 308. The linkage 312, in
one embodiment, is a solid, rigid rod that mechanically connects
the trigger 306 with the trigger 106 of a firearm as depicted in
FIG. 1. The solid nature of the linkage rod 312 results in a stiff
trigger squeeze that feels substantially similar to the trigger
squeeze of the original trigger. Stated differently, because the
linkage rod 312 is a single piece, pulling the remote trigger does
not result in a compressible-feeling linkage like other firearm
conversion kits. Preferably, the linkage 312 is made from a metal,
such as steel or aluminum. However, in some embodiments, the
linkage is made from a plastic.
[0031] The ridges 302 of the left hand portion 108, or right hand
portion 110, may be configured with openings for receiving the
linkage 312 to maintain and guide the sliding movement of the
linkage 312. In a further embodiment, one end of the linkage 312
may extend through the stock end 313 of the left hand portion 110.
Additionally, the ridges 302 may collectively define a slot within
which the linkage is positioned to maintain the linkage in
alignment with the riser 310 and the stock end 313. The left hand
portion 108 is depicted here because firearms typically discharge
shells to the right side of the firearm, and therefore, the left
hand portion 108 does not require an opening for the bolt assembly.
As such, the linkage 312 may be embedded in the left hand portion
108 and therefore, not visible when the left hand portion 108 is
mated to the right hand portion 110. However, in certain
embodiments, as one skilled in the art will recognize, the linkage
312 may be adapted to kits 100 that are designed for firearms that
discharge shells to the left, top, bottom, or front of the
firearm.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a perspective view diagram illustrating one
embodiment of a linkage assembly 400 similar to linkage assemblies
105, 301 discussed above. The linkage assembly 400 mechanically
couples a remote trigger 306 with an original trigger of a firearm.
The linkage assembly 400 includes the linkage rod 312, which
couples the remote trigger 306 to the original trigger. When a
shooter pulls the remote trigger 306, the trigger movement is
translated through the linkage rod 312 to a trigger engagement
device 314. The trigger engagement device 314 is formed, in one
embodiment, of a lightweight rigid material having a low
coefficient of friction. For example, the trigger engagement device
314 may be formed of PTFE, or other lightweight rigid polymers
having low coefficients of friction. The trigger engagement device
314 may be formed as a cylinder of the lightweight rigid polymer,
and secured to the linkage rod via a fastening device 315, for
example, a nut secured to a threaded rod.
[0033] The trigger engagement device 314 is coupled to the linkage
rod 312 by a carrier 320 that includes a rod engagement element 322
and a spacer element 324 extending downwardly from the rod
engagement element. The rod engagement element 322 includes an
interior channel (not shown) through which the linkage rod extends.
The spacer element 324 couples the trigger engagement device 314
and the rod engagement element 322. In one implementation, the
length of the spacer element 324 positions the trigger engagement
device 314 in vertical alignment with the original trigger of the
firearm and the remote trigger 306. Accordingly, the linkage
assembly 400 includes a linkage rod 312 that is offset from the
actual trigger of the firearm and the remote trigger 306, but
includes a carrier 320 that positions the actual trigger engagement
device 314 in alignment with both the remote and actual triggers.
In this manner, the linkage rod 312 need not be in direct alignment
between the remote and actual triggers in order to facilitate a
responsive and natural feel when engaging the remote trigger to
actuate the actual trigger. The carrier 320 is preferably made from
a metal, but in certain implementations, can be made from a plastic
material.
[0034] As described above in FIG. 3, the remote trigger 306 is
formed having a platform 308 that extends outward from the remote
trigger 306 into at least one of the left or right hand portions
108, 110. In the depicted embodiment, the platform 308 extends into
both the left and right hand portions 108, 100, and inserts into
corresponding slots formed in the left and right hand portions 108,
110. The platform 308 serves to guide the remote trigger 306.
Extending from the platform 308 is the riser 310 which couples with
the linkage rod 310 to place the rod vertically and laterally
offset from the remote trigger. These above described elements may
be formed as a single, unitary linkage assembly 400, or
alternatively, as individual elements assembled to form the linkage
assembly 400.
[0035] The linkage assembly 400, in one embodiment, includes a
helper spring 316 that compresses as the remote trigger 306 is
pulled, and therefore, helps return the remote trigger 306 to a
default or resting position. One end of the helper spring 316
engages the riser 310 of the linkage assembly 400, and the opposite
end may engage a reinforcing ridge of either the left or right hand
portion 108, 110. Certain firearms do not require the use of a
helper spring 316 as the original trigger will provide enough force
to return the remote trigger 306 to the default position.
[0036] In a further embodiment, the linkage assembly 400 includes
adjustment devices 318 for adjusting the fore and aft positioning
of the trigger engagement device 314. The adjustment devices 318
may comprise nuts threadably engaged with a threaded area of the
linkage rod 312. In other words, the adjustment devices 318 may be
rotated on a threaded area of the linkage rod 312 to adjust the
fore and aft position of the carrier 320, which is slidable along
the threaded area, and thus the trigger engagement device 314.
[0037] The present invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from its spirit or essential
characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in
all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of
the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims
rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be
embraced within their scope.
* * * * *