U.S. patent application number 14/862886 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-24 for firearm barrel holders.
The applicant listed for this patent is Frank J. Michal, Michael Stein. Invention is credited to Frank J. Michal, Michael Stein.
Application Number | 20160084603 14/862886 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55525458 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160084603 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Michal; Frank J. ; et
al. |
March 24, 2016 |
Firearm Barrel Holders
Abstract
In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed
herein an apparatus comprising a base and a barrel holder body
coupled with the base. The barrel holder body comprises opposing
arms made of a flexible material forming a cylindrical cavity with
an opening configured to receive a first section of a barrel of a
firearm.
Inventors: |
Michal; Frank J.; (Medina,
OH) ; Stein; Michael; (Medina, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Michal; Frank J.
Stein; Michael |
Medina
Medina |
OH
OH |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55525458 |
Appl. No.: |
14/862886 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62053904 |
Sep 23, 2014 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/94 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 35/00 20130101;
F41A 23/26 20130101; F41A 23/18 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41A 23/02 20060101
F41A023/02 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: a first base; and a first barrel
holder body coupled with the base, the first barrel holder body
comprises first opposing arms made of a flexible material forming a
first cylindrical cavity with a first opening configured to receive
a first section of a barrel of a firearm.
2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further comprising a support
structure, wherein one of a group consisting of the first base, the
first barrel holder body, and both the first base and the first
barrel holder body are coupled with a first end of the support
structure via a fastener.
3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, further comprising a second
base; and a second barrel holder coupled with the second base, the
second barrel holder body comprises second opposing arms wherein
one of a group consisting of the second base, the second barrel
holder body, and both the second base and the second barrel holder
body are coupled with a second end of the support structure via a
fastener.
4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3, wherein a first portion of a
firearm barrel is engaged with the first barrel holder body and a
second portion of the firearm barrel is engaged with the second
barrel holder body, further comprising a barrel sleeve disposed on
the firearm barrel between the first barrel holder body and the
second barrel holder body.
5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further comprising a
securement strap attached to ends of the first barrel holder
body
6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the first base and
the first barrel holder body are molded at least partially of one
at least one polymeric materials.
7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6, wherein the at least one
polymeric material that includes an elastic polymer and a
thermoplastic elastomer.
8. The apparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein the polymeric
material has a hardness range selected from a group consisting of 5
Shore A to 90 Shore A, no more than 40 Shore A, less than 80 Shore
A, 40 Shore A to 70 Shore A, 50 Shore A to 70 Shore A, and 35 Shore
A to 60 Shore A.
9. The apparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein the polymeric
material comprises one of a group consisting of synthetic rubber,
natural rubber, neoprene, butyl rubber, silicone, urethane,
viscoelastic urethane, nylon, PVC, polyethylene, polystyrene,
polypropylene, PVB, PVDF or Nanbrol.RTM., a nano-particle
reinforced nitrite butadiene rubber (NBR), and thermoplastic
polymer alloys with one of a group consisting of SBR, EPDM and
urethanes as base polymers.
10. The apparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein the polymeric
material further comprises an additive selected from a group
consisting of glass beads, Expandacel.TM. Kevlar.TM., Mylar.TM.,
fiberglass, cotton, a woven material, and non-woven material
11. The apparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein the polymeric
material further comprises a coating selected from a group
consisting of Nomex.TM. and Nitrile.TM.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/053,904, filed
Sep. 23, 2014.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to firearms and
firearm accessories.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Some firearms, such as air cooled .50 caliber machine gun,
can fire a limited amount of ordinance before barrel heating
becomes a problem. To remedy the problems associated with barrel
heating, barrel change outs may be employed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming a
part of the specification illustrate the example embodiments.
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a firearm barrel holder.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a side view of the firearm barrel holder
illustrated in FIG. 1
[0007] FIG. 3 is a side view of the firearm barrel holder
illustrated in FIG. 1 with an optional strap attached.
[0008] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a strap that can be
employed by a firearm barrel holder.
[0009] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a firearm barrel with
multiple firearm holders and a sleeve attached thereto.
[0010] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a stacking arrangement of
firearm barrel holders.
OVERVIEW OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0011] The following presents a simplified overview of the example
embodiments in order to provide a basic understanding of some
aspects of the example embodiments. This overview is not an
extensive overview of the example embodiments. It is intended to
neither identify key or critical elements of the example
embodiments nor delineate the scope of the appended claims. Its
sole purpose is to present some concepts of the example embodiments
in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description
that is presented later.
[0012] In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed
herein an apparatus comprising a base and a barrel holder body
coupled with the base. The barrel holder body comprises opposing
arms made of a flexible material forming a cylindrical cavity with
an opening configured to receive a first section of a barrel of a
firearm.
DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0013] This description provides examples not intended to limit the
scope of the appended claims. The figures generally indicate the
features of the examples, where it is understood and appreciated
that like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements.
Reference in the specification to "one embodiment" or "an
embodiment" or "an example embodiment" means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described is included in at
least one embodiment described herein and does not imply that the
feature, structure, or characteristic is present in all embodiments
described herein.
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, where FIG. 1 is a perspective view
of a firearm barrel holder 100, there is illustrated an example of
a firearm barrel holder 100 that comprises a generally planar flat
mounting plate or base B and a body 102 formed by opposing arms 101
or sections which define a generally cylindrical cavity 103
configured to receive a section of a barrel of a gun. The body 102
with opposing arms 101, or separate bodies 102 having an arm 101
and arranged in an opposing relationship, are made of flexible
material and with an opening 104 into the cylindrical cavity 103,
through which a section of gun barrel is passed for engagement
between the opposing arms in a snug or tight gripping
engagement.
[0015] In an example embodiment, the barrel holder 100 can be
mounting to a supporting structure 105 by fasteners 106 that pass
through the mounting plate B and/or through a portion of the
opposing arms 101. Two or more pairs of opposing arms 101 may be
provided on a single mounting plate B with the cylindrical cavities
103 defined by the arms in alignment.
[0016] In an example embodiment, an optional securement strap S,
attached at ends 107, 108 to a lateral area of the body 102 to
traverse the arm pairs 101, The strap S may be provided to extend
over the opening 104 to the cylindrical cavity 103. FIG. 4
illustrates an example of a Strap S suitable for an example
embodiment.
[0017] In an example embodiment, the firearm barrel holders 100 are
molded either partially or entirely of one or more polymeric
materials, which may include an elastic polymer or "elastomer" and
thermoplastic elastomers which exhibit viscoelasticity in
durometers in the approximate hardness ranges of 5 Shore A to 90
Shore A, 40 Shore A or lower, less than or equal to 80 Shore A, 40
Shore A to 70 Shore A, 50 Shore A to 70 Shore A, of 35 Shore A to
60 Shore A.
[0018] In an example embodiment, such materials may include, for
example, one or more of the following: synthetic rubber, natural
rubber, neoprene, butyl rubber, silicone, urethane, viscoelastic
urethane, nylon, PVC, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, PVB
(Polyvinyl butyral), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) or
Nanbrol.RTM., a nano-particle reinforced nitrite butadiene rubber
(NBR), and thermoplastic polymer alloys with SBR (styrene-butadiene
rubber), EPDM ((ethylene propylene diene terpolymer)) or urethanes
as base polymers and blended to optimize dynamic properties,
dimensional stability and elasticity, thermal resistance and
fatigue performance.
[0019] In an example embodiment, additives which can be used with
these materials in the manufacture of the described gun rail
attachments include glass beads, Expandacel.TM., Kevlar.TM.,
Mylar.TM., fiberglass, cotton or other woven or non-woven materials
in internal layers with the barrel holder bodies. In particular
embodiments, additives or coatings (such as, for example, Nomex.TM.
or Nitrile.TM.) can be selectively incorporated into the gun rail
attachment body material or design for improved heat resistance,
durability, strength, tackiness or surface friction, or any other
desired properties. The rigidity of the arms 101 can be selectively
designed for optimal stiffness to allow installation of a gun
barrel through the opening to the cylindrical cavity while
providing a sufficient gripping force.
[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a firearm barrel GB with
multiple firearm holders and 100 a sleeve 109 attached thereto.
This example also illustrates bolt holes 107 that can be employed
for fastening the barrel holders 100 onto the support structure
105. In an example embodiment, T strap latch points 108 are
provided to enable a strap S to be attached to a firearm holder
100.
[0021] In the illustrated example, a first barrel holder 100-1 is
mounted on a first end 110 of the support structure and a second
barrel holder 100-2 is mounted on a second end 111 of the support
structure 105. In particular embodiments, a barrel sleeve 109 is
attached to the firearm barrel GB. In the illustrated example, the
barrel sleeve 109 is located between the first barrel holder 100-1
mounted on first end 110 of the support structure and the second
barrel holder 100-2, however, those skilled in the art can readily
appreciate that the barrel sleeve 109 may be located at any
convenient location on gun barrel GB. Those skilled in the art
should also readily appreciate that the gun barrel GB is employed
for ease of illustration and explanation of the example embodiments
and does not form a part of any of the example embodiments.
[0022] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a stacking arrangement 112
of firearm barrel holders 100. In an example embodiment, a strap
116 is employed to secure the firearm holders 100 in the stacking
arrangement 112.
[0023] The firearm barrel holder 100 described in the example
embodiments herein provide a novel firearm accessory by which the
barrel of a firearm such as a machine gun, such as for example the
M2 machine gun, can be quickly secured and safely fired in the
installed position. The barrel holder 100 may be mounted to a fixed
mounting structure such as a stand or frame member, or to an
articulated structure such as a tripod or other mount which swivel
or pivot function that allows movement of the firearm barrel in
multiple dimensions. The interior surfaces of the opposing arms 101
can be molded in any configuration, such as for example smooth wall
surfaces, one or more projections, tapered, or other configurations
which have additional cavities or deviations from cylindrical and
which may be configured to fit over other parts of a firearm than
the barrel. Also, the arms 101 may function as cooperating supports
for the barrel or breech or stock of a gun, wherein one or more
sections of a gun are supported by the uppermost extent of each of
the arms. Alternatively, the body may be formed with a single
monolithic projection from the base to an upper support surface for
contact with a gun barrel or other part or area of a gun.
[0024] Described above are example embodiments. It is, of course,
not possible to describe every conceivable combination of
components or methodologies, but one of ordinary skill in the art
will recognize that many further combinations and permutations of
the example embodiments are possible. Accordingly, this application
is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and
variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended
claims interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are
fairly, legally and equitably entitled.
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