U.S. patent application number 14/790073 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-08 for feed ramp extension bracket for firearm.
The applicant listed for this patent is Bryan D. Sigler. Invention is credited to Bryan D. Sigler.
Application Number | 20160258699 14/790073 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56850804 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160258699 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sigler; Bryan D. |
September 8, 2016 |
FEED RAMP EXTENSION BRACKET FOR FIREARM
Abstract
A feed ramp bracket for a firearm is provided. A channel is
formed within an upper receiver. The channel is positioned to be
below a barrel extension feed ramp of a barrel extension secured
within the upper receiver. A bracket is releasably secured within
the channel. The bracket is a replaceable piece that replaces a
portion of the upper receiver, preventing wear.
Inventors: |
Sigler; Bryan D.; (Coral
Springs, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sigler; Bryan D. |
Coral Springs |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56850804 |
Appl. No.: |
14/790073 |
Filed: |
July 2, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62126859 |
Mar 2, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 21/482 20130101;
F41A 3/66 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41A 9/01 20060101
F41A009/01; F41A 3/66 20060101 F41A003/66 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: an upper receiver of a firearm; a
channel formed within the upper receiver and positioned to be below
a barrel extension feed ramp of a barrel extension secured within
the upper receiver; and a bracket releasably secured within the
channel.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bracket further comprises
a concave cutout formed to mate with a convex shape of the barrel
extension.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the bracket further comprises
bracket feed ramps positioned to align with the barrel extension
feed ramps.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises a pair
of arms extending substantially perpendicular to a base.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pair of arms each comprise
threaded through holes.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising set screws
releasably securing the bracket within the channel through the
threaded through holes.
7. A method of preventing damage to an upper receiver comprising:
forming a channel within the upper receiver positioned to be below
a barrel extension feed ramp of a barrel extension secured within
the upper receiver; and releasably securing a bracket within the
channel.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the bracket further comprises a
concave cutout formed to mate with a convex shape of the barrel
extension.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the bracket further comprises
bracket feed ramps positioned to align with the barrel extension
feed ramps.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the bracket comprises a pair of
arms extending substantially perpendicular to a base.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pair of arms each comprise
threaded through holes.
12. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of
threading set screws into the through holes until the set screws
abut a portion of the upper receiver.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S.
provisional application No. 62/126,859, filed Mar. 2, 2015, the
contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to firearms and, more
particularly, to a feed ramp bracket secured to an upper receiver
of a firearm.
[0003] The AR platform is a lightweight, cartridge magazine-fed,
air-cooled rifle with a rotating lock bolt, actuated by direct
impingement gas operation or long/short stroke piston operation. It
has been produced in many different versions, including numerous
semi-automatic and select fire variants. It is manufactured with
extensive use of aluminum alloys and synthetic materials.
Currently, hard tipped ammunition causes erosion or wear in the
upper receiver on the AR platform rifles. This wear causes an
obstruction or ridge to form between the barrel extension and the
upper receiver. The wear induced obstruction causes ammunition not
to feed into the chamber of the AR platform rifle, which increases
pre-mature failure rates for the AR platform rifles.
[0004] As can be seen, there is a need for a replaceable bracket
that prevents wear to the upper receiver of a firearm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus
comprises: an upper receiver of an AR platform firearm; a channel
formed within the upper receiver and positioned to be below a
barrel extension feed ramp of a barrel extension secured within the
upper receiver; and a bracket releasably secured within the
channel.
[0006] In another aspect of the present invention, a method of
preventing damage to an upper receiver comprises: forming a channel
within the upper receiver positioned to be below a barrel extension
feed ramp of a barrel extension secured within the upper receiver;
and releasably securing a bracket within the channel.
[0007] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention shown in use;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a modified upper
receiver shown with a bracket installed;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a reverse bottom perspective detail view of the
modified upper receiver shown with the bracket installed;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an exploded view demonstrating the bracket removed
from a channel formed within the modified upper receiver;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a section detail view of the receiver along line
7-7 in FIG. 3; and
[0015] FIG. 8 is a prior art view of an unmodified upper
receiver.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the
invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense,
but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general
principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is
best defined by the appended claims.
[0017] The present invention includes a hardened feed ramp bracket
that merges with the barrel extension on AR platform rifles. The
hardened feed ramp bracket of the present invention solves the
problem of erosion to the AR platform upper receiver. The bracket
part prevents damage to the upper receiver that causes the ridge to
form between the upper receiver and the barrel extension. This
eliminates the failure to feed issues and extends the lifespan of
the AR platform rifles. Further, if the bracket is worn or damaged,
a user may easily replace the bracket as opposed to replacing the
entire receiver.
[0018] The present invention may be made from material that is
harder than the AR platform upper receiver. The bracket may be
placed within a channel formed in the upper receiver with the arms
of the bracket facing the front of the barrel. The concave radius
cut corresponds to the convex shape of the barrel extension, and
the relief cuts are in a position so as to allow ammunition to feed
into the chamber of the rifle without making contact with the upper
receiver of the AR platform rifle. The holes in the arms of the
bracket allow for set screws or pins to hold the part in place,
although with a good fit, the piece could be fit in place without
the arms of the bracket.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 8, the present invention
includes a modified upper receiver 22 and a bracket 10. The
modified upper receiver 22 may be from an AR firearm 26 or other
type of firearm. A channel 20 is formed within the upper receiver
22 and positioned to be below a barrel extension feed ramp 30 of a
barrel extension 28 secured within the upper receiver 22. A bracket
10 is releasably secured within the channel 20. The bracket 10
includes a replaceable piece that replaces a portion of the upper
receiver 22 that typically receives wear from receiving
bullets.
[0020] The bracket 10 of the present invention may include a
substantially straight base having an upper surface. A concave
cutout 14 may be formed in the upper surface. The concave cutout 14
may mate with a convex shape of the barrel extension 28 when the
bracket 10 is within the channel 20 and the barrel extension 28 is
secured to the upper receiver 22. In certain embodiments, bracket
feed ramps 12 may be formed within the concave cutout 14. The
bracket feed ramps 12 may include cutouts within the concave cutout
14 with a smaller radius of curvature. The bracket feed ramps 12
are positioned to align with the barrel extension feed ramps 30,
which prevent additional wear to the bracket 10.
[0021] In certain embodiments, the bracket 10 may be U-shaped,
having a base with two arms substantially perpendicular and
extending from opposite ends of the base. The base and pair of arms
of the bracket 10 may fit within the channel 20. In certain
embodiments, each of the pair of arms includes a threaded through
hole 16. Threaded set screws 18 are operable to engage the threaded
through holes 16, abutting a portion of the receiver, and thereby
securing the bracket 10 within the channel 20.
[0022] A method of preventing damage to an upper receiver 22 may
include the following. A channel 20 may be formed in an unmodified
upper receiver 24 of a firearm 26, forming the modified upper
receiver 22. The channel 20 is positioned to be below a barrel
extension feed ramp 30 of a barrel extension 28. The bracket 10 may
be inserted into the channel 20. In certain embodiments, the
bracket 10 may include the threaded through holes 16 formed through
the arms. A set screw may screwed into a through hole 16 of each
arm. The set screws 18 may be driven until the set screws 18 abut a
portion of the upper receiver, thereby securing the bracket 10
within the channel 20. Once the bracket 10 is placed in the upper
receiver 22, the potential wear on the upper receiver 22 would be
eliminated. If the bracket 10 were to experience wear, the bracket
10 could be replaced in the field in a matter of minutes. The
ability to replace the part extends the lifespan of the weapon.
[0023] The bracket 10 of the present invention may be made of a
metal stronger than that of the upper receiver 22. For example, the
bracket 10 may be made of steel and the upper receiver 22 may be
made of aluminum. However, the bracket is not limited to steel and
may be made of various materials, such as ceramics, various metals
or metal alloys. The bracket 10 can be cut from a larger piece of
material and shaped with tools by hand or with machines. The
bracket 10 could also be molded.
[0024] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *