The present invention relates to firearms. More particularly, the present invention relates to a buffer assembly for a firearm.
The traditional M16/AR15 buffer has free floating weight inside the buffer which can cause a dead-blow effect. Because this weight is free floating, its position varies the moment the gun is fired which results in inconsistent recoil impulse. The distance the weight travels is relatively short, requiring more weight to get a dead-blow effect. This can decrease the reliability of the firearm.
Therefore, improvements in a buffer mechanism for a firearm are needed.
In the following description, like reference numbers are used to identify like elements. Furthermore, the drawings are intended to illustrate major features of exemplary embodiments in a diagrammatic manner. The drawings are not intended to depict every feature of every implementation nor relative dimensions of the depicted elements, and are not drawn to scale.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to clearly describe various specific embodiments disclosed herein. One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the presently claimed invention may be practiced without all of the specific details discussed below. In other instances, well known features have not been described so as not to obscure the invention.
As described herein, the term “pivotally connected” shall be used to describe a situation wherein two or more identified objects are joined together in a manner that allows one or both of the objects to pivot, and/or rotate about or in relation to the other object in either a horizontal or vertical manner.
As described herein, the term “removably coupled” and derivatives thereof shall be used to describe a situation wherein two or more objects are joined together in a non-permanent manner so as to allow the same objects to be repeatedly joined and separated.
Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
In addition, it should be understood that the specific mechanical configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of the invention and that other alternative mechanical configurations are possible.
Referring to
The buffer body 15 comprises an outer surface 30. The one or more magnets 20 may be spaced equidistantly from each other along the outer surface 30. The buffer body 15 may comprise one or more apertures 25 positioned along the outer surface 30. The one or more apertures 25 are configured to accommodate the one or more magnets 20 as shown in
According to some embodiments, the one or more magnets 20 are retained in the one or more apertures 25 using magnetic force. According to some embodiments, the buffer body 15 comprises metal material and is magnetically coupled with the one or more magnets 20. According to some embodiments, the one or more magnets 20 are retained in the one or more apertures 25 using adhesive and/or bonding. According to some embodiments, the one or more magnets 20 are retained in the one or more apertures 25 using interference and/or press fit. According to some embodiments, the buffer body 15 comprises non-metallic material and is adhesively coupled with the one or more magnets 20.
The buffer assembly 10 may also comprise a hammer 35. According to some embodiments, the hammer 35 is ring shaped. According to some embodiments, the hammer 35 is cylindrically shaped. The hammer 35 may comprise a through aperture 40 configured to accommodate the buffer body 15 as shown in
The buffer assembly 10 may also comprise a hammer retainer 45. According to some embodiments, the hammer retainer 45 is ring shaped. According to some embodiments, the hammer retainer 45 is cylindrically shaped. The hammer retainer 45 may be coupled with a first end 50 of the buffer body 15. The hammer retainer 45 may be removably coupled with a first end 50 of the buffer body 15. The hammer retainer 45 may comprise a through aperture 55 (shown in
According to some embodiments, a second end 110 of the buffer body 15 comprises a cap 112. According to some embodiments, diameter of the cap 112 is larger than diameter of the outer surface 30. According to some embodiments, the cap 112 is integrally coupled with the outer surface 30. According to some embodiments, the cap 112 is integrally coupled with the buffer body 15. According to some embodiments, the cap 112 is removably coupled with the buffer body 15. According to some embodiments, the cap 112 and the buffer body 15 are a solid structure formed from the same material.
According to some embodiments, a second end 110 of the buffer body 15 comprises a protrusion 113 extending from the outer surface 30. According to some embodiments, diameter of the protrusion 113 is larger than diameter of the outer surface 30. According to some embodiments, the protrusion 113 comprises a circular outer diameter.
According to some embodiments, the hammer 35 is configured to move between the protrusion 113 and the hammer retainer 45 along at least a portion of the outer surface 30. According to some embodiments, the hammer 35 is configured to move between the protrusion 113 and the hammer retainer 45. According to some embodiments, the hammer 35 is configured to move between the cap 112 and the hammer retainer 45 along at least a portion of the outer surface 30. According to some embodiments, the hammer 35 is configured to move between the cap 112 and the hammer retainer 45. According to some embodiments, the cap 112 and the hammer retainer 45 retain the hammer 35 along at least a portion of the outer surface 30. According to some embodiments, the protrusion 113 and the hammer retainer 45 retain the hammer 35 along at least a portion of the outer surface 30. According to some embodiments, the hammer 35 is positioned between the protrusion 113 and the hammer retainer 45. According to some embodiments, the hammer 35 is positioned between the cap 112 and the hammer retainer 45. According to some embodiments, an inner diameter of the through aperture 40 of the hammer 35 is less than the outer diameter of the cap 112 and the outer diameter of the hammer retainer 45. According to some embodiments, an inner diameter of the through aperture 40 of the hammer 35 is less than the outer diameter of the protrusion 113 and the outer diameter of the hammer retainer 45.
The buffer body 15 may comprise a through aperture 85 configured to accommodate a spring guide 90 shown in
According to some embodiments, once the spring guide 90 is inserted through the aperture 85 of the buffer body 15, the fastener 106 is configured to prevent the second end 110 of the buffer body 15 to slide over the spring guide 90. According to some embodiments, the aperture 85 at the second end 110 is stepped to at least partially accommodate the fastener 106. According to some embodiments, the fastener 106 prevents the spring guide 90 from sliding out of the aperture 85. According to some embodiments, the fastener 106 prevents first end 95 of the spring guide 90 from sliding through the aperture 85. According to some embodiments, the fastener 106 prevents first end 95 of the spring guide 90 from sliding completely through the aperture 85.
The buffer assembly 10 may also comprise a first spring 115 as shown in
The buffer assembly 10 may also comprise an end cap 125 as shown in
According to some embodiments, once the spring guide 90 is inserted through the aperture 130 of the end cap 125, the fastener 107 prevents the spring guide 90 from sliding out of the aperture 130. According to some embodiments, the fastener 107 prevents second end 100 of the spring guide 90 from sliding through the aperture 130. According to some embodiments, the fastener 107 prevents second end 100 of the spring guide 90 from sliding completely through the aperture 130. According to some embodiments, once the spring guide 90 is inserted through the aperture 130 of the end cap 125, the first spring 115 is positioned between the end cap 125 and the hammer retainer 45. According to some embodiments, once the spring guide 90 is inserted through the aperture 130 of the end cap 125, the first spring 115 is sandwiched between the end cap 125 and the hammer retainer 45.
According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the buffer body 15 is configured to slide along the spring rod 90 between a first (i.e. forward) position (shown in
According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the second (i.e. rear) position is position other than the first (i.e. forward) position. According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the second (i.e. rear) position is position in which the buffer body 15 is positioned away from the first end 95 of the spring rod 90. According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the second (i.e. rear) position is position in which the cap 112 is positioned away from the first end 95 of the spring rod 90. According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the second (i.e. rear) position is position in which the protrusion 113 is positioned away from the first end 95 of the spring rod 90.
According to some embodiments presently disclosed, moving the buffer body 15 from the first (i.e. forward) position to the second (i.e. rear) position compresses the first spring 115 between the end cap 125 and the hammer retainer 45. According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the first spring 115 urges the buffer body 15 towards the first (i.e. forward) position.
According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the hammer 35 is configured to slide along the outer surface 30 of the buffer body 15 between a first (i.e. rest) position (shown in
According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the first (i.e. rest) position is position in which the hammer 35 abuts the cap 112. According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the first (i.e. rest) position is position in which the hammer 35 abuts the protrusion 113. According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the first (i.e. rest) position is position in which a portion of the hammer 35 is positioned above the one or more magnets 20.
According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the second (i.e. end) position is position other than the first (i.e. rest) position. According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the second (i.e. end) position is position in which the hammer 35 is positioned away from the cap 112. According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the second (i.e. end) position is position in which the hammer 35 is positioned away from the protrusion 113. According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the second (i.e. end) position is position in which the hammer 35 is positioned away from the one or more magnets 20.
According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the one or more magnets 20 apply magnetic force to the hammer 35 to prevent the hammer 35 from moving to the second (i.e. end) position. According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the one or more magnets 20 apply magnetic force to the hammer 35 to keep the hammer 35 in the first (i.e. rest) position.
According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the buffer assembly 10 may also comprise a second spring 140 as shown in
According to some embodiments presently disclosed, moving the buffer body 15 from the first (i.e. forward) position to the second (i.e. rear) position compresses the first spring 115 and the second spring 140 between the end cap 125 and the hammer retainer 45 (shown in
According to some embodiments, the end cap 125 comprises a protrusion 145 According to some embodiments, a portion of the second spring 140 is positioned over the protrusion 145 (shown in
According to some embodiments, the aperture 85 is configured to accommodate the spring rod 90 and at least a portion of the first spring 115 as shown in cutaway
Referring to
The lower receiver 215 comprises an upwardly extending lobe 330. According to some embodiments, the upwardly extending lobe 230 is used to mount a buttstock 225 to the lower receiver 215 and is used to align a receiver extension (i.e. buffer tube) 231 with a bolt carrier 216 housed within an upper receiver (not shown). The receiver extension 231 is configured to accommodate the buffer assembly 10 as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the bolt carrier 216 comprises an aperture configured to accommodate the first end 95 of the spring guide 90 as the bolt carrier 216 is driven rearward in the direction 300. According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the bolt carrier 216 comprises an aperture configured to accommodate at least a portion of the spring guide 90 as the bolt carrier 216 is driven rearward in the direction 300.
Referring to
According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the hammer 35 starts to move in direction 301 towards the first (i.e. rest) position when the buffer body 15 is in the first (i.e. forward) position. According to some embodiments presently disclosed, the hammer 35 reaches the first (i.e. rest) position after the buffer body 15 reaches in the first (i.e. forward) position.
According to some embodiments, direction 301 is opposite direction 300.
According to some embodiments, the hammer 35 weighs between 0.5 oz and 2.5 oz. According to some embodiments, the hammer 35 weighs 0.85 oz. According to some embodiments, the hammer 35 weighs 2.2 oz.
It is to be understood that the buffer assembly 10 described above may be implemented on different types of firearms. The buffer assembly 10 described above may be implemented on firearms using a blowback system of operation, and/or firearm using a direct impingement system of operation, and/or firearm using piston system of operation. Blowback is a system of operation for self-loading firearms that obtains energy from the motion of the cartridge case as it is pushed to the rear by expanding gas crated by the ignition of the propellant charge. Direct impingement is a type of gas operation for a firearm that directs gas from a fired cartridge directly into the bolt carrier to cycle the action. Piston system uses gas pressure to mechanically move the bolt carrier to cycle the action. It is also to be understood that the buffer assembly 10 described above may be implemented on M-16 and Armalite style rifles (ARs).
While several illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternative embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The term “plurality” includes two or more referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains.
The foregoing detailed description of exemplary and preferred embodiments is presented for purposes of illustration and disclosure in accordance with the requirements of the law. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise form(s) described, but only to enable others skilled in the art to understand how the invention may be suited for a particular use or implementation. The possibility of modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. No limitation is intended by the description of exemplary embodiments which may have included tolerances, feature dimensions, specific operating conditions, engineering specifications, or the like, and which may vary between implementations or with changes to the state of the art, and no limitation should be implied therefrom. Applicant has made this disclosure with respect to the current state of the art, but also contemplates advancements and that adaptations in the future may take into consideration of those advancements, namely in accordance with the then current state of the art. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims as written and equivalents as applicable. Reference to a claim element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated. Moreover, no element, component, nor method or process step in this disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for . . . ” and no method or process step herein is to be construed under those provisions unless the step, or steps, are expressly recited using the phrase “step(s) for . . . .”
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/575,813 titled “Buffer Assembly” filed Jan. 14, 2022, now issued US Patent No. which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17575813 | Jan 2022 | US |
Child | 18197583 | US |