Patent Application
20180347939
The present invention generally relates to firearms and more specifically to devices and methods for converting collapsible firearm stocks into fixed stocks.
As firearms laws and regulations shift over time, owners of some firearms and firearm accessories can find their products subject to additional and different laws and regulations. Moreover, newly purchased firearms can be subject to heightened regulations if they include certain types of accessories. Such restrictions can subject firearms that have collapsible stocks to heightened regulations or even bans. For instance, some legal jurisdictions have placed restrictions on collapsible stocks such as prohibiting the use of a collapsible stock in a semi-automatic rifle. In contrast, firearms that have fixed stocks can comply with these heightened regulations in some jurisdictions.
The various embodiments of the present stock converting devices (may also be referred to as “conversion device”) have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the present embodiments, their more prominent features will now be discussed below. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description,” one will understand how the features of the present embodiments provide the advantages described here.
One aspect of the present embodiments includes the realization that, in current collapsible stocks, the collapsible stocks typically function by means of a series of common parts. For example, collapsible stocks often have a lever that, when depressed, adjusts a pin allowing the collapsible stock to fit into various position holes of a receiver extension (may also be referred to as buffer tubes). The receiver extensions may have between four to seven position holes corresponding to different adjustments (i.g., lengths) of the collapsible stock. Typically, the receiver extension may be joined to a lower receiver of a firearm and the collapsible stock is then coupled to the receiver extension. By depressing the lever and moving the collapsible stock along the receiver extension, the pin may insert into one of the several position holes. The lever thereby allows adjustment of the collapsible stock along the receiver extension. Previous techniques for converting collapsible stocks into fixed stocks involved drilling holes in the collapsible stock and using additional pins to fix the collapsible stock in place. The drilling and pinning process can be destructive to stocks and cause permanent damage and/or alteration to the stocks. Therefore, there is a need in the firearms industry for devices and methods for converting collapsible stocks into fixed stocks without permanent alteration or damage to the stocks.
In a first aspect, a conversion device for converting a stock from being collapsible to fixed on a firearm is provided, the stock comprising a locking pin, wherein the stock is configured to slide along a receiver extension having a plurality of position holes and lock into position using the locking pin, the conversion device comprising: a first insert having a first plug configured to insert into a first position hole of the plurality of position holes of the receiver extension, wherein inserting the first plug into the first position hole covers the first position hole; a second insert having a second plug configured to insert into a second position hole of the plurality of position holes of the receiver extension, wherein inserting the second plug into the second position hole covers the second position hole; wherein inserting the first plug into the first position hole and inserting the second plug into the second position hole covers all of the plurality of position holes except for a single position hole for receiving the locking pin of the stock; and wherein the single position hole receiving the locking pin of the stock converts the stock from being collapsible to fixed on the firearm.
In an embodiment of the first aspect, the first position hole is located at a forward-most position of the plurality of position holes of the receiver extension.
In another embodiment of the first aspect, the inserting the first plug into the first position hole covers the first position hole and at least one addition position hole of the plurality of position holes of the receiver extension.
In another embodiment of the first aspect, the second position hole is located at a rearward-most position of the plurality of position holes of the receiver extension.
In another embodiment of the first aspect, the conversion device further comprises a front locking element that prevents the stock from sliding beyond the front locking element.
In another embodiment of the first aspect, the first and second plugs each have a tri-lateral symmetry and a center hollowing.
In another embodiment of the first aspect, the stock further includes a lever for adjusting the locking pin to a plurality of levels.
In another embodiment of the first aspect, the plurality of levels includes a fully undepressed, a partially depressed, and fully depressed.
In another embodiment of the first aspect, the conversion device is a singular unit that may be cut into the first insert and the second insert along at least one cutting groove.
In another embodiment of the first aspect, the conversion device is made using a polymer material.
In a second aspect, a method for converting a stock from being collapsible to fixed on a firearm using a conversion device is provided, the stock comprising a locking pin, wherein the stock is configured to slide along a receiver extension having a plurality of position holes and lock into position using the locking pin, the method comprising: inserting a first plug of a first insert of the conversion device into a first position hole of the plurality of position holes of the receiver extension, wherein inserting the first plug into the first position hole covers the first position hole; inserting a second plug of a second insert of the conversion device into a second position hole of the plurality of position holes of the receiver extension, wherein inserting the second plug into the second position hole covers the second position hole; wherein inserting the first plug into the first position hole and inserting the second plug into the second position hole covers all of the plurality of position holes except for a single position hole; sliding the stock along the receiver extension over the first position hole and the second position hole; and inserting the locking pin into the single position hole thereby converting the stock from being collapsible to fixed on the firearm.
In an embodiment of the second aspect, the first position hole is located at a forward-most position of the plurality of position holes of the receiver extension.
In another embodiment of the second aspect, the inserting the first plug into the first position hole covers the first position hole and at least one addition position hole of the plurality of position holes of the receiver extension.
In another embodiment of the second aspect, the second position hole is located at a rearward-most position of the plurality of position holes of the receiver extension.
In another embodiment of the second aspect, the conversion device further comprises a front locking element that prevents the stock from sliding beyond the front locking element.
In another embodiment of the second aspect, the first and second plugs each have a tri-lateral symmetry and a center hollowing.
In another embodiment of the second aspect, the stock further includes a lever for adjusting the locking pin to a plurality of levels.
In another embodiment of the second aspect, the plurality of levels includes a fully undepressed, a partially depressed, and fully depressed.
In another embodiment of the second aspect, the method further comprises cutting the conversion device along at least one cutting grove into the first insert and the second insert along at least one cutting groove.
In another embodiment of the second aspect, the conversion device is made using a polymer material.
Turning now to the drawings, stock converting devices in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In many embodiments of the invention, the stock converting device may be made using various high strength polymer materials including (but not limited to) plastics. In other embodiments, the stock converting device may be made using any suitable material including (but not limited to) metal and/or wood based materials. In several embodiments, the stock converting device may be fitted to a receiver extension and collapsible stock in a manner that removes the capability of an otherwise collapsible stock to be collapsed, as further described below. Thereby, the stock converting device may effectively convert collapsible stocks into fixed stocks without permanently modifying host firearms or host stocks. An exemplary embodiment of the invention features a stock converting device that is configured into a first insert and a second insert and fitted to a receiver extension, such as that on a M4 style semi-automatic rifle. Once fit to a receiver extension, the stock converting device may leave a single position hole open for insertion of a pin of the collapsible stock and further prevent the stock from collapsing inward towards the barrel of the firearm using a forward stopping element, as further described below.
In various embodiments, stock converting devices may be scored with at least one cutting groove to facilitate ease of trimming to fit. The cutting grooves can be marked to indicate lines which can be cut so that the stock converting device is configured into a first insert and a second insert that fits in various brands of receiver extensions such as (but not limited to) a Strike Industries® Viper MOD-1 Stock. Stock converting devices of several embodiments can further include a front locking element on the leading edge of the first insert to prevent the stock from moving and collapsing inward. Stock converting devices can also include various plugs that fit into particular position holes of receiver extensions.
When cut along particular cut grooves and inserted as two pieces (e.g., first insert and second insert) between a receiver extension and a collapsible stock, the first insert and second insert serve to fix the stock in place and prevent adjustment. In many embodiments, the first insert may include a first plug and the second insert may include a second plug that insert into particular position holes of the receiver extension by which the locking mechanism of a collapsible stock engages to hold a position. By inserting the first and second plug into particular position holes, the first and second inserts may cover the position holes such that only a single position hole is left open. In various embodiments, although each of the first plug and the second plug insert and cover a single position hole, the first insert and the second insert cover more than the two position holes covered by the first and second plugs. Once the first insert and second insert are inserted, the pin of the collapsible stock may only insert into the single open position hole. In many embodiments, the single open position hole is located between the position hole(s) covered by the first insert and the position hole(s) covered by the second insert. In addition, the first insert may include a front locking element that prevents the stock from collapsing inward. The resulting configuration of receiver extension, stock, and stock converting device fix stock in place and thereby result in a fixed stock.
As described above and herein, one aspect of the present embodiments includes the realization that current collapsible stocks other than the present embodiments do not allow a firearm owner to covert a collapsible stock into a fixed stock without permanently altering or damaging the stock. Further, previous techniques involved drilling and destructive modification of collapsible stocks with specialized tools and knowledge of precise locations on stocks for conversion into fixed stocks. Embodiments of the invention provide a firmly fixed stock without destructive modification. Some embodiments can further be utilized in circumstances where a receiver extension is not provided on a firearm. Various embodiments provide for longer or shorter stock converting devices that may be utilized in receiver extensions of differing sizes and with differing numbers of position holes without departing from the spirit of the invention. Stock converting devices having such advantages in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described further below.
Stock converting devices in accordance with embodiments of the invention allow for converting of collapsible stocks into fixed stocks with minimal tooling and no destructive modifications to the collapsible stocks. Once fixed, the stocks will not adjust from position to position while remaining removable from the firearm. A bottom perspective view of a stock converting device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
The stock converting device 100 may further include a rear side marker 115 and a front side marker 120 that may assist in orientation and installation of the stock converting device 100. In various embodiments, the rear side marker 115 may correspond to a position that is further from the barrel of the firearm. Whereas, the front side marker 120 may correspond to a position that is closer to the barrel of the firearm.
The stock converting device 100 may include several cutting grooves 125. Stock converting device 100 may include four cutting grooves 125, but different embodiments may have varying numbers of cutting grooves 125. In various embodiments, the cutting grooves 125 may correspond to locations that, when cut, will split the stock converting device 100 into a first insert and a second insert that fit into particular brands, makes, and models of receiver extensions and/or collapsible stocks. While the cutting grooves 125 provide suggested cutting lines which facilitate fixing certain brands of stocks at certain positions, stock converting devices of many embodiments may be modified to lock out other positions of collapsible stocks as required by the user. For instance, the stock converting device 100 could be cut further forwards on the polymer body at an unmarked, grooveless location such that the single uncovered position hole would be further forward on the receiver extension.
In some embodiments, the stock converting device 100 may further include brand markers such as (but not limited to) a M brand marker 130 and S brand marker 135. The brand markers may include arrows pointing to certain cutting grooves. If both cutting grooves that are pointed to by S brand markers 135 are cut, then the resulting three pieces of the stock converting device 100 will include two end pieces (the first insert having a first plug 140 and second insert having a second plug 145) that will fit into a Strike Industries® form factor receiver extension. Other embodiments may include different brand markers and associated cutting grooves as necessary to fit different makes, models, and shapes of collapsible stocks.
The stock converting device 100, when cut, blocks movement of collapsible stocks by inserting the first plug 140 and the second plug 145 into particular position holes in a receiver extension. In some embodiments, the first plug 140 may be placed on the forward end (e.g., closer to the barrel of the firearm) of the receiver extension while the second plug 145 may be placed on the rearward end (e.g., further away from the barrel of the firearm) of the receiver extension. Alternative embodiments of the invention may include different shaped inserts and/or inserts designed to fit into different position holes of receiver extensions. Specifically, multiple embodiments have dimensions so that they fit into receiver extensions with different numbers of position holes (such as between 4-10 position holes). Having discussed a bottom perspective view of stock converting device 100, a further illustration will be discussed from a top perspective view of stock converting device 100.
A top perspective view of stock converting device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
Stock converting device 100 of
A schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary receiver extension is illustrated in
A schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary collapsible stock is illustrated in
A schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary collapsible stock coupled to a receiver extension is illustrated in
Stock converting devices in accordance with embodiments of the invention provide an easy to install and non-destructive method for converting collapsible stocks into fixed stocks. A flowchart illustrating a process 600 for converting a collapsible stock into a fixed stock using a stock converting device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown in
The process 600 may include clipping (602) (may also be referred to as cutting) the body of a stock converting device along at least one cutting groove. Typically, two cuts may be made along brand marked cutting grooves, where the brand marker will match the brand of the previously arranged collapsible stock. After cutting along two grooves, three parts will result from the clipped body: a first insert, a central bit, and a second insert. In many embodiments, the first insert may include a forward stopping element, a forward mark, and a first plug to be inserted into the forward-most position hole of the receiver extension. The central bit can usually be discarded without affecting the fixing of the collapsible stock. In many embodiments, the second insert will include a rearward mark and a second plug to be inserted into the rearward-most position hole of the receiver extension.
The process 600 may include inserting (604) the first insert having the first plug and the second insert having the second plug into the receiver extension in accordance with the forward and rearward marks. In various embodiments, the first plug may be inserted into the forward-most position hole of the receiver extension but the first insert will cover more position holes of the receiver extension beyond the forward-most position hole. In addition, the second plug may be inserted into the rearward-most position hole of the receiver extension but, unlike the first insert, the second insert may only cover the rearward-most position hole of the receiver extension. In some embodiments, the second plug may be inserted into the rearward-most position hole of the receiver extension but the second insert will cover more position holes of the receiver extension beyond the rearward-most position hole. In such embodiments, the first plug may be inserted into the forward-most position hole of the receiver extension but, unlike the second insert, the first insert may only cover the forward-most position hole of the receiver extension. After insertion of the first and second plugs into the receiver extension, one position hole typically remains uncovered (e.g., open) while the remainder of the position holes will be covered by the first and second inserts.
The process 600 may further include fixing (606) the stock pin of the collapsible stock into the open position hole of the receiver extension. This can be accomplished by sliding the collapsible stock over the receiver extension with the lever fully depressed or partially depressed as described above. Optionally, the receiver extension can be installed onto the firearm prior to fixing of the stock pin and stock to the receiver extension. Once in place, the stock pin will be unable to be adjusted to other position holes due to the stock converting device being in place.
The process 600 may also include fixing (608) a front locking element against the stock to prevent the stock from collapsing inward toward the barrel of the firearm. Fixing the front locking element and fixing the stock pin into the receiver extension can be performed in any order and/or simultaneously. Once fixed, the stock will no longer adjust when the lever is partially depressed as the stock converting device has covered all but one position hole and further holds the stock in place with the front locking element. To remove the stock from the receiver extension completely, the lever of the stock may be fully depressed to pull the stock off the receiver extension, as described above. Having discussed a process for installing stock converting devices in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the following discussion will visually demonstrate the installation process using a series of illustrations.
A schematic diagram illustrating an example stock converting device that has been cut into first and second inserts in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
As described above, the first insert 700 may include a front locking element 725 and a first plug 730. The first insert 700 may be inserted into a receiver extension by inserting the first plug 730 into the front most position hole of a receiver extension. Likewise, the second insert 705 may be inserted into the receiver extension by inserting the second plug 735 into the rear most position hole of a receiver extension.
A schematic diagram illustrating an example stock converting device inserted into a receiver extension in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
A schematic diagram illustrating a collapsible stock converted into a fixed stock using a stock converting device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
The stock 900 may include a pin 920 that inserts into the open position hole 990 thereby converting the collapsible stock into a fixed stock. In addition, the stock converting device may also include a front locking element 950 that prevents the stock 900 from further collapsing inward towards the barrel of the firearm. The stock 900 is no longer capable of adjustment to the other position holes of the receiver extension 960 and thus is not collapsible. No drills, pins, glues, or cuts are applied to either of the receiver extension 960 or the stock 900. Advantageously, the receiver extension 960 and the stock 900 remain non-destructively altered and conversion from a collapsible to a fixed stock is accomplished.
The examples shown in
This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 62/516,048, filed on Jun. 6, 2017, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62516048 | Jun 2017 | US |
