Firearm Cleaning Kit

Abstract

The cleaning kit includes a cloth clam-shell style case and one or more removable tool inserts, tethered within the case interior. The tool inserts securely hold the various cleaning tools and implements of the cleaning kit. The inserts include a plurality of tool retaining features that securely hold the various tool implements via a friction fit mechanism. The retaining features secure the various implements, but allow the implements to be readily removed from the inserts. Each tray also includes a plurality of “push tabs” or “push levers” that assist in retrieving tool implements from the inserts. The push levers are manually pushed and deflect to engage and dislodge the particular cleaning implements from the insert. The inserts are tethered to the case by a nylon strap that allows the insert trays to be exposed like pages in a book when the case is opened.

Description

This invention relates to firearm cleaning tools, and in particular a firearm cleaning kit for carrying various cleaning tools.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Cleaning is one of the most important elements of firearm use and ownership. Proper cleaning of a firearm after use is essential to ensuring the firearm retains its accuracy, safety, and reliability. Firearms often need to be cleaned in the field. A variety of compact and lightweight firearm cleaning kits have been developed to carry, stow and organize the various solvents and cleaning tools needed to clean firearms in the field. These cleaning kits are generally designed to store the precise tools and components needed to thoroughly clean or service a particular firearm and include specific cleaning tools such as brushes, picks, scrapers, and rods.

The cleaning kit of this invention includes a cloth clam-shell style case and one or more removable tool inserts, tethered within the case interior. The tool insert securely holds the various cleaning tools and implements of the cleaning kit. The inserts include a plurality of tool retaining features that securely hold the various tool implements via a friction fit mechanism. The retaining features secure the various implements, but allow the implements to be readily removed from the inserts. Each tray also includes a plurality of “push tabs” or “push levers” that assist in retrieving tool implements from the inserts. The push levers are manually pushed and deflect to unseat the particular cleaning implements from the insert. The inserts are tethered to the case by a nylon strap that allows the insert trays to be exposed like pages in a book when the case is opened.

The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may take form in various system and method components and arrangement of system and method components. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating exemplary embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. The drawings illustrate the present invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the cleaning kit of this invention in a closed orientation;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning kit of FIG. 1 in an open orientation showing the tethered tool inserts stacked atop one another;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cleaning kit of FIG. 1 in an open orientation showing the tethered tool inserts spaced from one another;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cleaning kit of FIG. 1 in an open orientation showing one of the tool inserts being untethered from the pouch;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of one of the tool inserts of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial side sectional view of the tool insert of FIG. 5 showing the push lever beneath the cleaning rod section; and

FIG. 7 is a partial side sectional view of the tool insert of FIG. 5 showing the push lever deflected to engage and disclose the cleaning rod section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown byway of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the firearm cleaning kit of this invention, which is designated generally as reference numeral 100. Cleaning kit 100 is designed and intended to securely stow and carry cleaning solvents, cloth rags and patches, cleaning rods and an assortment of conventional cleaning tool heads, such as chamber brushes, mops, patch jabs, picks and scrapers. These types of cleaning tools are well known and commonly used in the firearms industry.

As shown, cleaning kit 100 includes a clam-shell style pouch or case 110 and removable tool inserts 120 that securely hold a variety of tool implements. Generally, two or more inserts 120 are removably tethered within case 110 like pages of a book so that the end user may clearly identify and select the desired cleaning tools and implements within the case when opened. Tethering inserts 120 also allows insert trays to be added or interchanged to accommodate servicing and cleaning different types or calibers of firearms.

As shown, case 110 is generally made from a soft, durable fabric, such as nylon fabric. In alternative embodiments, the case may or may not be a rigid, hard shell construction if increased toughness is required. Case 110 is adapted to be worn or carried by an end user. As shown, case 110 has a first side 112 and a second side 114 that fold together in a clamshell fashion along a joined spine 116 and defines a case interior 111. Spine 116 allows the two case sides to be manually folded between an open position exposing the case interior (shown) and a closed position enclosing the case interior (not shown). As shown, case 110 is generally rectangular in shape, but may take any shape that permits the first case sides to be folded together in a clamshell fashion. Case 110 includes a zipper 118 that secures first side 112 to second side 114 and allows case 110 to be manually opened and closed. Zipper 118 extends along three sides of the case body. In alternative embodiments, other fasteners, secure the case in a closed position, such as one or more snaps, hook and loop strips such as (VELCRO®) brand fasteners, or ties.

Inserts 120 securely hold the various cleaning tools and materials carried in cleaning kit 100. This embodiment of cleaning kit 100 is illustrated with two distinct inserts 120A and 120B. Inserts 120A and 120B are identical in construction and function and only differ in the layout of the retaining features of cleaning tools and implements carried by each insert. Generally, inserts 120 are formed or molded from a suitable polymer material, such as a thermoplastic. Each insert 120 has a bottom wall 122 and a raised peripheral side wall 124 that define an open interior 121. Bottom wall 122 has a tether strap slot 123 and large window openings 125 to reduce weight and allow an end user to partially see the tool implements through the bottom wall.

Inserts 120 are tethered to case 110 by a strap loop 130 sewn to the inside on one of the case sides (FIGS. 2-4). Strap loop 130 is constructed from two lengths of nylon webbing (a short loop section 132 and a long loop section 134). One end of both loop sections 132 and 134 are sewn or otherwise fixed to first side 112 of case 110. The other ends of loop sections 132 and 134 are joined by a snap button 136, which allows the sections to be detached from one another. Strap loops 130 extend through strap slot 123 to tether inserts 120 to case 110. Inserts 120 slide freely along the length of strap loop 130 so that inserts 120 can be manually turned like pages in a book when case 110 is opened and stacked atop one another when the case is closed. Snap button 136 allows inserts 120 to be removed, interchanged and rearranged within case 110 as desired.

FIGS. 2-5 illustrate three inserts 120 (identified individually as 120A, 120B and 120C) having retaining features securing cleaning rod sections 20 and handles 22 and various cleaning tool heads, such as scraping heads 30, patch jag heads 40, brush and mop heads 50. Inserts 120 include a plurality of tool retaining features which are configured to securely hold the cleaning rod sections 20 and the various tool heads. Generally, the retaining features hold the rod sections, handles and tool heads using a friction or “press” fit type mechanism, while allowing the tools and implements to be manually removed from the inserts. The retaining features are generally molded into the insert and extend from bottom wall 122. The retaining features are molded friction fit projects from bottom wall 122 that use the elasticity of the material of inserts 120 to securely hold the implements to and within inserts 120. The retaining features include retainer tabs 140 and 142, a raised jag bar 144 and the plurality of brush guards 146. As shown, paired retainer tabs 140 are configured to secure various cleaning rod sections 20 and tool handles within the insert. Other sets of paired retainer tabs 142 restrictively receive the threaded shanks of scraping heads 30 and brush and mop heads 50. Jag bar 144 is a raised surface extending from bottom wall 122. Jag bar 144 has four friction fit openings 145 that received the jags 40. Brush guards 146 protect the bristles and cloth fabrics of brush and mop heads 50. Brush guards 146 may take the form of an annular loop or opposed arches that extend from bottom wall 122 to encircle and protect the bristled or soft ends of brush and mop heads 50. In certain inserts 120C (FIG. 4), bottom wall 122 has an opening 125 through which scrapers 30 may be accessed from the back of the insert.

Inserts 120 also have a plurality of U-shaped channels 151 cut or formed in bottom wall 122 that form “push tabs” or “push levers” 150 that assist in retrieving tool implements from inserts 120. Push levers 150 are rectangular levers positioned beneath the various tool or implement seated in the retainer tabs 140 and 142. Push levers 150 align axially with the particular associated rod section 20, scraper heads 30, and brush and mop heads 50 within inserts 120. Each push lever 150 also has raised saddle 152 configured to engage the particular rod section or tool head. U-channels allow the levers 130 to be manually pressed and deflected to dislodge and unseat tool implements from retaining features 140 and 142. As shown, in FIGS. 6 and 7, manually deflecting push lever 150 upward engages the shaft of above the tool head and unseats the shaft from retainer tabs 140 and 142 for easy removal of the tool head.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that an invention having significant advantages has been provided. While the invention is shown in only a few of its forms, it is not just limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. The embodiment of the present invention herein described and illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is presented to explain the invention so that others skilled in the art might utilize its teachings. The embodiment of the present invention may be modified within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A weapon cleaning kit for carrying a plurality of cleaning tools, the kit comprising: a case having an interior thereof;a first removable insert for removably retaining one or more of the plurality of cleaning tools; anda second removable insert for removably retaining one or more of the plurality of cleaning tools,the case includes an elongated strap secured to the case within the case interior,the first removable insert and the second removable are detachably tethered to strap within the case interior.

2. The cleaning kit of claim 1 wherein the case includes a first case side and a second case side pivotally connected to the first case side so that the case can move between an open position where the first case side and the second case side are spaced apart from one another exposing the case interior and a closed position where the first case side and the second case side overlie one another enclosing the case interior.

3. The cleaning kit of claim 2 wherein the first insert and the second insert are tethered together by the strap such that the first removable insert overlie the second removable insert when the case is in the closed position and the first insert can be manually moved to be spaced adjacent the second insert when the case is in the open position.

4. The cleaning kit of claim 2 wherein the strap has a first strap end secured to one of the first case side and the second case side and a second strap end detachably connected to the one of the first case side and the second case side.

5. The cleaning kit of claim 4 wherein each of the first insert and the second insert has a slot opening therein, the strap extending through the slot opening in each of the first insert and the second insert.

6. The cleaning kit of claim 1 wherein each of the first insert and the second insert has a flat bottom wall thereof.

7. The cleaning kit of claim 6 wherein the bottom wall of each of the first insert and the second insert has a retaining feature extending from the bottom wall for securely retaining one of the plurality cleaning tools to the bottom wall thereof, and a push lever formed in the bottom wall adjacent to the retaining feature, the push lever adapted to be manually deflected to engage and dislodge the one of the plurality of cleaning tools from the retaining feature.

8. The cleaning kit of claim 7 wherein the push lever pivots from the bottom wall towards the retaining feature.

9. The cleaning kit of claim 7 wherein the retaining feature is a pair of opposed tabs adapted to restrictively retain the one of the cleaning tools there between.

10. A tool insert for carrying a plurality of cleaning tools, the insert comprising: a flat bottom wall thereof,a retaining feature extending from the bottom wall for securing one of the cleaning tools; anda push lever formed in the bottom wall adjacent to the retaining feature, the push lever adapted to be manually deflected to engage and dislodge the one of the cleaning tools from the retaining feature.

11. The insert of claim 10 wherein the push lever pivots from the bottom wall towards the retaining feature.

12. The insert of claim 10 wherein the retaining feature is an integral pair of opposed tabs extending from the bottom wall and adapted to restrictively retain the one of the cleaning tools there between.

13. The insert of claim 10 wherein the retaining feature and the push lever are integrally formed into the bottom wall.

14. The insert of claim 10 and an annular loop extending from the bottom wall for enclosing a portion of the cleaning tool.

15. The insert of claim 1 wherein the bottom wall has an opening there through for accessing the cleaning tool.