The disclosure generally relates to firearms and more particularly relates to systems and methods for a blast control device for a firearm.
Typical muzzle brakes are designed to reduce the recoil that occurs when a firearm is discharged. The recoil occurs from the burst of gases that follow the departure of the projectile from the firearm. Muzzle brakes may divert a portion of the expanding gases at an angle, which prevents at least some of the force from being translated toward the person firing the firearm. However, the reduction in recoil achieved by a muzzle brake may increase the sound perceived by the user as well as increase gas exposure for nearby bystanders.
Some or all of the above needs and/or problems may be addressed by certain embodiments of the blast control device for a firearm disclosed herein. According to an embodiment, the blast control device may include a muzzle brake comprising a first end, a second end, a top, a bottom, a bore, one or more baffles, one or more gas openings disposed between the one or more baffles, an alignment channel disposed on the top, one or more gas holes disposed on the top within the alignment channel, an alignment groove disposed at an end of the alignment channel, and a latch notch. The blast control device also may include a blast shield attachable around the muzzle brake. The blast shield may include an alignment protrusion, a latch assembly, a plurality of internal ribs, and one or more gas ports.
Other features and aspects of the blast control device will be apparent or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and the detailed description. All other features and aspects, as well as other system, method, and assembly embodiments, are intended to be included within the description and are intended to be within the scope of the accompanying claims.
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably.
Described below are embodiments of a blast control device (as well as individual components of the blast control device) that can be attached to a firearm. Methods of installing and using the blast control device on the firearm are also disclosed. The firearm may be a conventional firearm. For example, the firearm may be an M-16 style rifle, an AR-15 style rifle, an AR-10 style rifle, or an M-4 style rifle, among others. The firearm may be a handgun or shotgun. Any type of firearm may be used in conjunction with the blast control device. The blast control device may be configured to aid in the funneling of gases forward and/or out of the top of the blast control device to reduce and/or redirect the muzzle jump, muzzle recoil, muzzle blast, and/or muzzle flash generated by the firing of the firearm by directing, slowing, expanding, trapping, and/or cooling the propellant gases associated with the firing of the firearm.
The blast control device may include a muzzle brake and a blast shield. The blast shield may be attached around the muzzle brake. In some instances, the muzzle brake may include a first end, a second end, a top, a bottom, a bore, one or more baffles, one or more gas openings disposed between the one or more baffles, an alignment channel disposed on the top, one or more gas holes disposed on the top within the alignment channel, an alignment groove disposed at an end of the alignment channel, and a latch notch.
The blast shield may include an alignment protrusion, a latch assembly, a plurality of internal ribs, and one or more gas ports. In certain embodiments, the internal ribs may comprise circular ribs. The gas ports may be disposed on each side of the internal ribs. In this manner, the internal ribs may direct gases towards the gas ports. The latch assembly may be at least partially disposed within a slot in the blast shield. The latch assembly may include a pivoting latch attached to a pivot pin disposed in a pin hole that passes through the slot. The pivoting latch may include a catch on one end and a spring on an opposite end such that the pivoting latch is biased in a closed position.
The alignment channel may comprise an elongated axial channel, and the alignment groove may comprise a circular groove transverse to and in communication with the alignment channel. In this manner, the alignment protrusion may be slid along the alignment channel into the alignment groove. The alignment protrusion may be rotated within the alignment groove. The catch may be configured to mate with the latch notch to limit rotation of the alignment protrusion within the alignment groove and ensure proper positioning of the blast shield about the muzzle brake. In addition, a front and a rear wall of the alignment groove may limit axial movement of the alignment protrusion.
These and other embodiments of the disclosure will be described in more detail through reference to the accompanying drawings in the detailed description of the disclosure that follows. This brief introduction, including section titles and corresponding summaries, is provided for the reader's convenience and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims or the proceeding sections. Furthermore, the techniques described above and below may be implemented in a number of ways and in a number of contexts. Several example implementations and contexts are provided with reference to the following figures, as described below in more detail. However, the following implementations and contexts are but a few of many.
In certain embodiments, as depicted in
An alignment channel 122 may be disposed at the top 110 of the muzzle brake 102. The alignment channel 122 may be disposed at any location about the muzzle brake 102. The alignment channel 122 may extend axially along an outer surface of the muzzle brake 102. The alignment channel 122 may be any size, shape, or configuration. In some instances, the gas holes 124 may be disposed on the top 110 of the muzzle brake 102 within the alignment channel 122. The gas holes 124 may be disposed at any location about the muzzle brake 102. In addition, an alignment groove 126 may be disposed at an end of the alignment channel 122. In this manner, the alignment channel 122 and the alignment groove 126 may be in communication with each other. The alignment groove 126 may comprise a circular groove along an outer surface of the muzzle brake 102. The alignment groove 126 may be any size, shape, or configuration. In some instances, the alignment groove 126 may be substantially transverse to the alignment channel 122.
The muzzle brake 102 also may include a latch notch 128. The latch notch 128 may be disposed about the first end 106 of the muzzle brake 102 at the top 110 thereof. The latch notch 128 may be any size, shape, or configuration. The latch notch 128 may be located anywhere on the muzzle brake 102.
As depicted in
As depicted in
In order to remove the blast shield 104 from around the muzzle brake 102, the lever 148 may be pressed to overcome the biasing force of the spring 156, which may pivot the pivoting latch 148 and release the catch 154 from the latch notch 128. The alignment protrusion 140 may then be rotated within the alignment groove 126 to align the alignment protrusion 140 with the alignment channel 122. The front wall 160 may include an opening 170 at the intersection between the alignment channel 122 and the alignment groove 126, which may enable the alignment protrusion 140 to pass between the alignment channel 122 and the alignment groove 126. Next, the alignment protrusion 140 may be slid along the alignment channel 122 to remove the blast shield 140 from the muzzle break 102. In some instances, an outer surface of the blast shield 104 may include a mark (such as a slit, groove, sticker, etc.) aligned with alignment protrusion 140 to help facilitate alignment of the alignment protrusions 140 with the alignment channel 122.
Referring back to
Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described, numerous other modifications and alternative embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure. For example, any of the functionality described with respect to a particular device or component may be performed by another device or component. Further, while specific device characteristics have been described, embodiments of the disclosure may relate to numerous other device characteristics. Further, although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments. Conditional language, such as, among others, “can”, “could”, “might”, or “may”, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.
The disclosure claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/278,001, filed Jan. 13, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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