U.S. patent application number 14/026208 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-19 for recoil reducer.
The applicant listed for this patent is James Johnston. Invention is credited to James Johnston.
Application Number | 20140165443 14/026208 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50929266 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140165443 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Johnston; James |
June 19, 2014 |
Recoil Reducer
Abstract
The present invention relates to a recoil reducer for a firearm.
The recoil reducer includes a means to reduce the energy
transmitted from the firearm via the use of a soft viscoelastic
gel, which is surrounded by means to further reduce the energy
transmitted, above that provided solely by the characteristics of
the gel, while at the same time holding the soft gel in place and
assisting it to return to its pre-distortion state.
Inventors: |
Johnston; James;
(Indianapolis, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Johnston; James |
Indianapolis |
IN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50929266 |
Appl. No.: |
14/026208 |
Filed: |
September 13, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61701599 |
Sep 15, 2012 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 23/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/74 |
International
Class: |
F41C 23/08 20060101
F41C023/08 |
Claims
1. A RECOIL REDUCER for placement on the stock or grip of a firearm
such that the user contacts the recoil reducer and not the firearm,
directly, comprising: a) a cushioning element made up of
viscoelastic gel which is larger than the stock or grip in which it
is placed, said gel having a Shore OO hardness of less than 60; and
b) an energy containment element which wraps around the cushioning
element and serves to further dissipate energy transmitted to the
cushioning element as well as assisting to return the cushioning
element to its pre-distortion state.
2. The RECOIL REDUCER of claim 1 whereby the viscoelastic gel is
silicon.
3. The RECOIL REDUCER of claim 1 whereby the cushioning element is,
at minimum, 25% larger than the stock or grip in which it is
attached.
4. The RECOIL REDUCER of claim 1 whereby the energy containment
element includes three cords equally spaced and wrapped vertically
around the cushioning element.
5. The RECOIL REDUCER of claim 1 whereby the energy containment
element includes three cords equally spaced and wrapped vertically
around the cushioning element where the cords are elastic in
nature.
6. A RECOIL REDUCER for placement on the stock or grip of a firearm
such that the user contacts the recoil reducer and not the firearm,
directly, comprising: a) a receiver element which is attached to
the stock or grip of a firearm in such a way to minimize movement
of the receiver element as the firearm is used: b) an energy
dissipation element which is fixedly attached to the receiver
element and is larger than the stock or grip in which the recoil
reducer is attached which includes a cushioning element and an
energy containment element; c) a cushioning element made up of
viscoelastic gel said gel having a Shore OO hardness of less than
60; and b) an energy containment element which wraps around the
cushioning element and serves to further dissipate energy
transmitted to the cushioning element as well as assisting to
return the cushioning element to its pre-distortion state.
7. The RECOIL REDUCER of claim 6 whereby the viscoelastic gel is
silicon.
8. The RECOIL REDUCER of claim 6 whereby the cushioning element is,
at minimum, 25% larger than the stock or grip in which it is
attached.
9. The RECOIL REDUCER of claim 6 whereby the energy containment
element includes three cords equally spaced and wrapped vertically
around the cushioning element.
10. The RECOIL REDUCER of claim 6 whereby the energy containment
element includes three cords equally spaced and wrapped vertically
around the cushioning element where the cords are elastic in
nature.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
61/701,599 (filed Sep. 15, 2012) is claimed, and that provisional
application is hereby incorporated by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERAL SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEV.
[0002] Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a recoil reducer in the
realm of reducing or eliminating the recoil normally associated
with the discharge of firearms. More specifically, the present
disclosure relates to a recoil reducer which dissipates the recoil
from a firearm by introduction of this invention onto the end of an
existing gun stock or grip used on said firearms.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0004] FIG. 1 shows one version of the recoil reducer from a top
and bottom view, as mounted onto an existing stock of a
shoulder-fired firearm.
[0005] FIG. 2 shows one version of the recoil reducer from a side
view.
[0006] FIG. 3 shows a version of the recoil reducer from 3-D
view.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0007] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the
principles of the present invention, reference will now be made to
the embodiment illustrated in specific language contained herein.
It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the
scope of the invention is thereby intended; any alterations and
further modifications of the described or illustrated embodiments
and any further applications of the principles of the invention as
illustrated therein are contemplated as would normally occur to one
skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
[0008] A common problem associated with the discharge of firearms,
particularly those that are shoulder-fired, is the recoil or kick
that occurs upon the discharge of the firearm. This recoil is
generated by the fact that a projectile is being launched from the
firearm at great velocity. The energy associated with the
projectile leaving the firearm causes the firearm to move backward
toward the user of the firearm. This situation is experienced in
handguns (those that are meant to be held and discharged with one
or two hands) as well as shoulder-fired firearms (those that are
meant to be placed with a stock against the shoulder prior to
discharge). While the present invention has application, in one
form or another, to all firearms, it is ideally suited to deal with
shoulder-fired firearms.
[0009] Recoil reducers have been used for almost as long as
firearms have been around as a means to increase the comfort of the
firearm's user. The need for such reducers has increased over time
as firearms have gotten lighter while, at the same time, ammunition
is more powerful than in the past, both of which contribute to
greater force to the user, commonly known as "kick."
[0010] Historically, a variety of approaches have been seen in this
area. Early on a soft material, such as rubber, was merely affixed
to the end of the gun stock. The softness of the rubber used would
vary from hard to soft. The use of hard solid rubber recoil
reducers, which are still in use today, is limited as the rubber
does not significantly deform upon the introduction of force, thus
only a small amount is dissipated and the user still feels
significant "kick." There are also the issues of user "feel" since
the length of stock is increased with the introduction of this
item. While hard rubber was common, on the other end of the
spectrum, soft rubber was also used and would dissipate more force,
but would be unstable and subject to color transfer and would be
become dirty. Also, all rubber recoil reducers continue to cure and
thus, harden over time.
[0011] Of the rubber versions originally developed, the harder
version was more universally adopted and thus people undertook to
improve this design. One way in which this was done was to
introduce voids or venting in the cross section of the hard rubber
to attempt to increase the force dissipation characteristics of the
rubber. While this provided greater force reduction, it did not
eliminate the force transmitted to the user in a significant way.
Further, this design did not address the fact that voids or venting
could break down over time as a result of the movement associated
with use or that the rubber would continue to harden as it aged,
which would further lessen the force dissipation characteristics
over time.
[0012] The next approach was attempts to use thin fluid in an open
cellular structure. This method was meant to lessen the force
transmitted to the user by using friction forces, as fluid moved
within the structure. However, reduction was minimal because the
size of the structure and amount of fluid was limited. Attempts to
eliminate the open cellular structure and increase the amount of
fluid would only increase the force felt versus reducing it.
[0013] The next iteration of development included the introduction
of viscoelastic gels such as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,115 (Cook).
However the problem with these is that they would use some solid
core and would combine this with gels which were too hard (Shore OO
hardness of above 60), which provided improved, but limited, amount
of force reduction. Coupled with this is the fact that the size was
limited to that which was substantially similar to the stock in
which they were used. Further, they also failed to incorporate
additional elements, in addition to the gel, to ensure that the
force was effectively reduced, while at the same time assisting the
gel returned to their pre-compressed form.
[0014] These prior solutions have not succeeded in effectively and
optimally reducing the recoil transmitted to the user, while
keeping the recoil pad low cost, simple, easy to manufacture and
lightweight. Thus, there is still a need for a recoil pad that
meets the goals noted above.
DESCRIPTION
[0015] One form of the present invention includes a receiver
element 1, which is placed onto the stock 2 of a shoulder-fired
firearm, as identified in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. This receiver 1 element
is such that it fits snugly onto the stock 2 and deflects very
little in standard use. A preferred choice of material for the
receiver element 1 is some form of durable fabric and not rubber.
Rubber degrades over time and cracks with use. The methods of
putting this receiver element 1 onto the stock 2, includes any
method in which the movement or deflection of the invention within
the stock is minimized. This could include a friction fit with
Velcro, string cinching, or other means understood as a way to
ensure minimal movement between the invention and the stock. In the
preferred embodiment, there is a tab 3, small ribbon or similar
element, on the bottom underside of the receiver element which is
used to cinch the receiver element around the stock, while the
Velcro 4 is secured. This ensures a snug fit with minimal movement
of the receiver element on the stock.
[0016] In the preferred embodiment, the Velcro 4 used to hold the
receiver element in place does not use any elements that are the
vertical portion of the receiver element, but is rather contained
on the bottom underside of the receiver element. In this way, it
eliminates the possibility that an unintentional snag may occur,
which could cause inadvertent removal of the recoil reducer or
damage to the user's clothes or equipment.
[0017] Fixedly attached to the back edge of receiver element of the
preferred embodiment is the energy dissipation element 5. This
element includes an exterior portion 6 which contains the other
portions, a cushioning portion 7 which extends from the areas in
which the receiver element is attached to energy dissipation
element and continues back to the point where the user places the
recoil reducer against their shoulder in normal operation. The
cushioning portion 7 contains a viscoelastic material, preferably
silicon gel, with a Shore OO hardness of less than 60, having a
minimum depth along the trailing edge of the energy dissipation
element (that which is placed against the users' shoulder) of at
least 1/2 inch from the energy containment portion 8. The energy
containment portion 8 surrounds a portion of the cushioning
portion. In the preferred embodiment, the energy containment
portion 8 consists of cording numbering at least three, which go
around the outside of the cushioning portion 7 and are spaced at
least 1/8 of an inch from each other. This energy containment
portion 8 serves to allow the gel in the cushion portion to deform
around the cording, which allows for additional energy dissipation,
but also maintains the relative position of the recoil reducer and
to speed the return of cushioning portion 7 to its pre-distortion
form. This method allows for the use of much softer cushioning
portion than previously used as the energy containment portion
provides the stability which previously was obtained through the
use of harder cushioning elements.
[0018] It also an element of this invention that the energy
dissipation element 5 be significantly larger than the stock. One
of the main reasons prior versions of recoil reducers were not as
efficient, as they were limited to substantially similar size as
the stock. This limitation would reduce the potential energy
dissipation capacity of the unit and ultimately lead to a device
that was ineffective. In the present invention, an energy
dissipation element 5 of, a minimum, of at least 25% larger than
the stock in which it is attached, is necessary. It should be noted
that this amount is somewhat adjustable, dependent upon the power
of the firearm involved. Certain firearms, which are more powerful
and thus generate greater recoil, might require an even larger
amount of differential from the stock or grip. Notwithstanding, it
is imperative that there be some means in which to dissipate the
force generated by the recoil over a greater area than that which
is provided by the standard recoil reducers. It is in this way that
greater comfort is achieved for the firearm user.
[0019] The exterior portion 6 of the energy dissipation element is
any fabric well known in the art which provides a reasonable amount
of movement, such that the material within can work effectively,
but is not so much movement that the user experiences difficulty
maintaining control of the firearm.
[0020] In use, the recoil reducer is placed against the shoulder of
a user along the section noted as 9 in the Figures which could be
called the user engagement point. The user engagement point is what
actually comes into contact with the shoulder of the user, opposite
the end in which the receiver element is attached. When the firearm
is discharged, force from the discharge travels along the stock 2
and is transmitted to the energy dissipation element 5 where the
viscoelastic material contained therein undergoes deformation which
dissipates the energy. Further energy dissipation occurs by the
energy containment portion 8 as the energy is transmitted through
the viscoelastic material to the energy containment element 8 which
causes the energy containment elements to deflect. The combination
of these portions greatly lessens the energy ultimately transmitted
to and received by the user at the user engagement point 9.
[0021] Another form of the present invention is such that the
energy dissipation element 5 is incorporated into the manufacture
of the firearm such that the need for a receiver element 1 is
eliminated. In this way, the energy dissipation element 5 is
fixedly connected to the stock during the manufacturing
process.
[0022] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail with the foregoing description, the same is to be considered
as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being
understood that only the preferred embodiment has been described
and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit
of the invention are desired to be protected.
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