BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a firearm, in particular to a self-loading small-caliber rifle.
A firearm of the type mentioned above is comparatively complex. In particular, a firearm such as this is frequently suitable only for right-handed gunners. The firearm can only be converted only by means of expensive additional parts to make it suitable for left-handed gunners.
One problem on which the invention is based is to provide a firearm of the type mentioned initially which can be converted at low cost and/or easily for left-handed gunners and right-handed gunners.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The firearm according to the invention may be in the form of a rifle, in particular a small-caliber rifle. However, the firearm may also be in the form of a handheld firearm, in particular a pistol or revolver.
The invention provides for the breech and/or the breech housing to be designed such that the firearm can be changed from a first assembled arrangement, which is suitable for right-handed gunners, to a second assembled arrangement, which is suitable for left-handed gunners, with the firearm preferably being in the form of a rifle of the Bullpup type. Particularly in the case of a rifle of the Bullpup type, it has been found to be extremely important to adapt the firearm for left-handed or right-handed gunners since, otherwise, powder vapors or the like emerge close to the gunner's head.
In this case, the invention makes it possible to provide the capability for the assembled arrangement which is suitable for right-handed gunners, to use essentially the same parts, in particular, the identical parts, as those used for the assembled arrangement which is suitable for left-handed gunners.
A firearm according to the invention provides the capability, by means of the arrangement of the individual parts with respect to one another, to assemble the firearm either such that it is suitable for a right-handed gunner, or else to assemble it such that it is suitable for a left-handed gunner. This avoids additional costly parts for conversion.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the breech and/or the breech housing to be essentially left/right symmetrical in the installed position. The symmetrical configuration of the breech housing allows the low-cost conversion mentioned above to be achieved using the same parts and in a very simple means.
The invention in this case makes it possible to provide for the breech housing to have cutouts both on its left-hand side in the installed position and on its right-hand side in the installed position, whose size and position correspond to one another on the left-hand side and on the right-hand side.
The invention in this case makes it possible to provide for panels as well as an injection window to be incorporated in the cutouts.
The invention in this case makes it possible to provide for a slide retraction lever to project through one of the cutouts both on the right-hand side and on the left-hand side of the breech housing, depending on the assembled arrangement.
The symmetrical arrangement of the cutouts on the left-hand side and on the right-hand side of the breech housing thus makes it possible to interchange the panels and injection windows in a very simple manner, so that the firearm can be converted from the first assembled arrangement to the second assembled arrangement in little time and at low cost.
The invention makes it possible to provide breech to in each case have a longitudinal slot and/or a circular opening on its left-hand side and right-hand side in the installed position.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the size and position of the longitudinal slot which is arranged on the left-hand side to correspond to the size and position of the longitudinal slot which is arranged on the right-hand side, and/or for the size and position of the opening which is arranged on the left-hand side to correspond to the size and position of the opening which is arranged on the right-hand side.
The invention in this case makes it possible to provide for an extractor and/or a slide retraction lever to be fitted both on the left-hand side of the breech and on the right-hand side of the breech.
The symmetrical design of the breech can thus be used to change the firearm from the first assembled arrangement to the second assembled arrangement using very simple means and at low cost.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the breech to be in the form of an MIM (metal injection molding) part, in particular in the form of an MIM part composed substantially of steel. The use of an MIM part for the breech considerably reduces the production costs for the breech. Nevertheless, a breech can be produced from steel powder for the production of this MIM part, which has approximately the same density and approximately the same characteristics as a breech which is machined from steel.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the breech housing to be manufactured at least partially from a zinc dye-casting.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the system housing to be manufactured at least partially from a zinc dye-casting.
The production of the breech housing and system housing from a zinc dye-casting reduces the production costs for these parts, with their functionality not being adversely affected, or being adversely affected only insignificantly, by the choice of a zinc dye-casting as the material. Furthermore, the use of zinc dye-cast parts reduces the weight of the firearm.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the stock to be manufactured at least partially from plastic. Manufacturing the stock from plastic reduces the production costs of the firearm, and reduces its weight.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the sear to be at least partially in the form of an MIM part, in particular, an MIM part which is composed substantially of steel. Manufacturing the sear as an MIM part also considerably reduces the production costs of the firearm.
The production of individual parts of the firearm as an MIM part, zinc dye-cast part, or plastic part offers the advantage that parts, such as these, can be removed ready for use from the corresponding mold that is used to produce them. There is no need for labor-intensive subsequent machining, thus making it possible to considerably reduce the production costs.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the barrel to be connected to the breech housing via an eccentric screw connection. The eccentric screw connection allows a very firm connection, involving very little complexity, to be produced between the barrel and the breech housing, in particular because a single screw makes it possible to provide two different contact options.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the firearm to have a stock upper part which can be connected to the breech housing via a latching connection. The use of a latching connection for connection of the stock upper part to the breech housing makes it easier to disassemble and assemble the firearm.
The invention in this case makes it possible to provide for the firearm to have a rear stock, which covers the latching connection between the stock upper part and the breech housing when the firearm is in the assembled state. The use of the rear stock to cover the area of the latching connection between the stock upper part and the breech housing results in the latching connection providing similar safety to a screw connection as is known from the prior art.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the rifle to have a magazine safety device which can block the push rod. Magazine safety devices are admittedly known from the art for handheld firearms, but not for long-barreled weapons. The present invention thus for the first time provides a magazine safety device for a long-barreled weapon.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the push rod to be connected to the trigger via a spring element, in particular via an angled spring steel rod. The connection of the push rod to the trigger via a spring element makes it possible to prevent pressure on the trigger causing damage to the firearm when the push rod is blocked by the magazine safety device, because the spring element can absorb the forces that are applied.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the firearm to have two breech springs which are parallel to one another. The use of two breech springs instead of one large breech spring, as is known from the art, makes it possible to further reduce the production costs of the firearm.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the stop damper to be manufactured from plastic. The use of plastic for the stop damper on the one hand reduces the recoil mode, while on the other hand it allows the costs for production of the firearm to be reduced.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the stop damper to have at least one holder for guiding the spring guide rod. The stop damper can thus carry out two functions, specifically on the one hand the function of damping and on the other hand the function of guiding the spring guide rod. This makes it possible to further reduce the costs of the firearm.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the firearm to have two magazine holders. Despite the rifle being of the Bullpup type, the abovementioned measure according to the invention for the first time makes it possible to also accommodate a spare magazine in a rifle such as this.
The invention makes it possible to provide for an unlocking element for removal of a magazine to be arranged in the recess, in particular on the rear face of the recess. Positioning of the unlocking element on the rear face of the recess, which is used as a thumbhole, has been found to be highly ergonomic.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the stock to have a mounting rail, and for a sight part of the sight (48) to be integrated in the mounting rail. Integration of the sight part in the mounting rail makes the firearm more compact, and can contribute to reducing the production costs of the firearm.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the sight part to be moved from a stow position to an in-use position, in particular by moving it upwards to the in-use position of the firearm. The capability to stow the sight part makes it possible to protect it against damage.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the sight to have a disk which can rotate and has grooves which are used for aiming in it, in which case different grooves can be used to select different elevation positions for aiming. The disk which can rotate and has the various grooves allows different elevation aiming positions in a very simple manner.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the safety unit to have at least one operating slide with a safety vane which is arranged on it at the end and has a colored marking, with a safety vane which has a colored marking being visible during the aiming process, in particular from above, when the firearm is in the armed state. The visibility of the safety vane with the colored marking during the aiming process improves the handling safety of the firearm according to the invention.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the firearm to have a childproof safety device which acts on the safety unit. In the prior art, childproof safety devices generally act on the trigger itself. A childproof safety device which acts on the safety unit reduces the complexity for production of a childproof safety device such as this.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the firearm to have a cocking indication. A cocking indication such as this provides the gunner at all times with information as to whether or not the firearm is cocked.
In this case, The invention makes it possible to provide for the cocking indication to be in the form of a colored marking on the rear face of the or of one of the panels, which can be inserted into one or more of the cutouts in the breech housing. The arrangement of the colored markings for the cocking indication on the rear face of one of the panels represents a very simple way to produce a capability to provide such a cocking indication.
The invention makes it possible to provide for the system housing to have the capability to be connected to the rear stock by means of at least one screw, which can be held on the rear stock by means of a flexible plastic part. The abovementioned flexible plastic part which, by way of example, can also be injection molded during the manufacture of the rear stock from plastic allows the screw to be held by very simple means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further advantages and features of the present invention will become clear from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and with reference to the attached figures, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective exploded illustration of a firearm according to the invention and in the form of a rifle;
FIG. 2 shows a perspective exploded illustration of a rear section of the rifle in an assembled arrangement for right-handed gunners;
FIG. 3 shows an illustration, corresponding to FIG. 2, in an assembled arrangement for left-handed gunners;
FIG. 4 shows a perspective detailed view of a section of the barrel and the breech housing;
FIG. 5 shows a sectioned detail from FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 shows a perspective detailed view of the upper stop and of the breech housing detached from one another;
FIG. 7 shows a view, corresponding to FIG. 6, of the upper stock and breech housing connected to one another;
FIG. 8 shows a section corresponding to the arrows VIII-VIII in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 shows a detailed side view of the breech housing with the breech arranged at the rear;
FIG. 10 shows a view, corresponding to FIG. 9, with the breech arranged at the front and with the sear cocked;
FIG. 11 shows a detailed perspective exploded view of the breech with spring guide rods, a breech spring and a stop damper;
FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the parts which can be seen in FIG. 11 in the assembled state and with the breech in a first position;
FIG. 13 shows a view, corresponding to FIG. 12, with the breech in a second position;
FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of a system housing half, of the trigger and of a spring element connecting them together;
FIG. 15 shows a side view of a central part of the rifle with a safety unit;
FIG. 16 shows a plan view of a central part of the rifle with the safety unit;
FIG. 17 shows a detailed view of an area of the rifle essentially above the trigger, with a sight in a stowed position;
FIG. 18 shows a view, corresponding to FIG. 17, with the sight in an extended position;
FIG. 19 shows a detailed view corresponding to the arrow IX-IX in FIG. 18;
FIG. 20 shows a detailed side view of a central section of the rifle according to the invention, with the grip and with a part of the rear stock;
FIG. 21 shows a detailed view corresponding to the arrow XXI-XXI in FIG. 20;
FIG. 22 shows a partially sectioned illustration of a rear section of the rifle, which shows the connection between the rear stock and the system housing;
FIG. 23 shows a detailed view corresponding to the arrow XXIII-XXIII in FIG. 22;
FIG. 24 shows a perspective view of a part of the system housing with a magazine inserted;
FIG. 25 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 24 with the magazine having been pulled downward;
FIG. 26 shows a detailed view corresponding to XXVI-XXVI in FIG. 24;
FIG. 27 shows a detailed view corresponding to XXVII-XXVII in FIG. 25; and
FIG. 28 shows a perspective view of the rifle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The firearm according to the invention, which is in the form of a rifle, and of which an exploded illustration can be seen in FIG. 1 and a perspective view can be seen in FIG. 28 essentially has a barrel 1, a breech 2 with a breech housing 3, a trigger 4, a system housing with system housing halves 5, 6, as well as a front stock 7, a rear stock 8 and a stock upper part 9.
The detailed view of the rear section of the rifle illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 shows that a grip 10 is integrally formed on the rear stock 8. Two cutouts 11, 12 are arranged on each of the longitudinal faces of the breech housing 3. The size and position of the cutouts 11, 12 on the left-hand side of the breech housing 3 correspond exactly to the size and position of the cutouts 11, 12 on the right-hand side of the breech housing 3.
In the assembled arrangement of the rifle according to the invention as illustrated in FIG. 2, the cutouts 11, 12 which are located on the left-hand side of the breech housing 3 are closed by panels 13, 14. An ejection window 15 is incorporated in the front cutout 11 in the firing direction on the right-hand side of the breech housing, through which an extractor 16 which is located in the interior of the breech housing can eject the empty cartridge cases. The empty cartridge cases are thus ejected on the right-hand rear side of the rifle, so that the rifle is suitable for a right-handed gunner. An extractor 17 is also arranged in a corresponding manner on the right-hand side of the breech 2. The breech is likewise symmetrical for this arrangement of the extractor 17 and for the arrangement of a slide retraction lever 18, such that the abovementioned parts can be used both on the left-hand side and on the right-hand side of the breech 2. In this context, reference should be made to FIG. 11, which shows a longitudinal slot 19 on the breech 2 for holding the extractor 17, and an opening 20 with a circular cross section for holding the slide retraction lever 18. In this case, longitudinal slots 19 and openings 20 whose sizes and positions in each case correspond exactly to one another are located both on the left-hand side and on the right-hand side of the breech 2.
As can be seen from FIG. 2, the slide retraction lever 18 extends to the right from the breech 2, so that it can extend to the right out of the breech housing 3 through the rear cutout 12 in the firing direction. The assembled arrangement shown in FIG. 2 is thus suitable for right-handed gunners.
In the assembled arrangement for left-handed gunners shown in FIG. 3, the panels 13, 14 are inserted into the cutouts 11, 12 on the right-hand side of the breech housing 3. The ejection window 15 is inserted in a corresponding manner into the front cutout 11 on the left-hand side of the breech housing 3. Furthermore, the extractor 17 and the slide retraction lever 18 are mounted on the left-hand side of the breech 2, so that the slide retraction lever 18, in particular, can extend out of the breech housing 3 through the rear left-hand cutout 12. The assembled arrangement shown in FIG. 3 is thus suitable for left-handed gunners.
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 in particular show that the process of conversion from an assembled arrangement for right-handed gunners to an assembled arrangement for left-handed gunners can be carried out without the use of additional parts. All that is necessary is to move parts from the left-hand side to the right-hand side, and parts from the right-hand side to the left-hand side.
FIG. 11 once again illustrates the breech 2, in more detail. According to the invention, the breech 2 is in the form of an MIM part (Metal Injection Molding). In this case, the breech is, in particular, formed so as to allow the breech to be produced using the MIM method. Further materials which are used are plastic for the stock, that is to say for the front stock 7, the rear stock 8 and the stock upper part 9. The system housing and the breech housing 3 are manufactured from a zinc dye-casting. It is also possible for the sear 21 which can be seen in FIG. 1 to be produced from steel using the MIM method.
FIG. 11 also shows that two spring guide rods 22 can be attached to the breech 2, with two breech springs 23 being guided on them. FIG. 11 as well as FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 also show a stop damper 24, through which the spring guide rods 22 extend. The stop damper 24 may be composed of plastic while, in contrast, the spring guide rods 22 and the breech springs 23 may be composed of steel. FIG. 12 shows the breech in a front position while, in contrast, FIG. 13 shows the breech in a rear stop position, in which the breech springs 23 are in the cocked state In the embodiment which can be seen from FIG. 11 to FIG. 13 it is worth noting that the stop damper 24 is at the same time used to guide the spring guide rods 22. Two holes which extend through the stop damper 24 in the longitudinal direction of the rifle are provided in the stop damper 24 for this purpose, in which case end stops 25 for the spring guide rods 22 can also rest, in the assembled state, on that side of the stop damper 24 which faces away from the breech.
FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show the connection of the breech housing 3 to the stock upper part 9. The stock upper part 9 has four latching tongues 26 which project downward and can be introduced into corresponding latching holders 27 which are provided on both sides of the breech housing 3. In this case, FIG. 8 shows that the latching tongues 26 have a thickened area on their lower face, which can engage in a groove (which is used as a latching holder 27) in the breech housing 3.
As can be seen from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in this case, the breech housing 3 and the stock upper part 9 are introduced into the rear stock 8 in the assembled state, in which they are clipped to one another, with the connecting areas between the latching tongues 26 and the latching holders 27 being covered in a fitting form at the side by the rear stock 8 when the stock is in the assembled state, so that the connection between the breech housing 3 and the stock upper part 9 cannot be detached in this assembled state.
FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the connection between the breech housing 3 and the barrel 1. The connection is made via a holding plate 28, which is fitted to the breech housing 3 by means of a screw 29. The detailed view in FIG. 5 in this case shows that a threaded hole 30 is provided in the breech housing 3, and is used to hold the screw 29. Furthermore, a hole 31 is provided in the holding plate 28, and is used to allow the screw 29 to be passed through the holding plate 28. Furthermore, a cutout which extends conically into the holding plate 28 is provided on the front face of the holding plate 28, in order to accommodate the head 33 of the screw 29. In this case, the rotationally symmetrical cutout 32 is, in particular, not formed to be coaxial with respect to the rotationally symmetrical hole 31 so that the holding plate is moved both to the right as shown in FIG. 5 and upwards as shown in FIG. 5 by screwing the screw into the threaded hole 30 and thus by pushing the conical head 33 of the screw 29 into the cutout 32. This allows the holding plate 28 to fix the barrel 1 on the breech housing 3 both in the longitudinal direction of the rifle and in the vertical direction. Once the screw 29 has been screwed in, it is mechanically protected against sliding out. For this purpose, a bracket-like screw securing device is pushed from the side through a slot over the thread of the screw 29, for example in the end area of the arrow, which is provided with the reference symbol 30.
As can be seen from FIG. 14, the trigger 4 is connected to the push rod 35 via a spring element 34. The push rod 35 is in this case arranged on the system housing, the right-hand system housing half 5 of which is illustrated in FIG. 14.
FIG. 14 also shows a locking element 36 for a magazine safety device. This locking element 36 can engage in a corresponding groove 37 in the push rod 35. The spring element 34 is in the form of an angled spring steel rod, which can absorb the forces exerted by the user on the trigger when the push rod is blocked by the magazine safety device.
The function of the magazine safety device can be seen in detail from FIG. 24 to FIG. 27. In particular, these figures indicate that the locking element 36 is in the form of a tab at the end of a locking lever 54 which can pivot and can be pivoted upward against the force of a spring 55. Pivoting the locking lever 54 upwards allows the magazine 56 to be inserted (in this context, see FIG. 26). FIG. 25 and FIG. 27 show that the locking lever 54 pivots downwards once the magazine 56 has been removed, so that the locking element 36 can engage in the groove 37, thus preventing a shot from being fired.
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 also show that, despite the rifle according to the invention being of the Bullpup type, it is designed such that two holders 38, 39 for magazines, which are not illustrated, are provided in the rear stock 8.
In this case, the front holder 38 is used for holding the magazine that is being used at that time while, in contrast, the rear holder 39 is used for holding a spare magazine.
FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 20 also show that the rear stock 8 has a cutout 40, which is used as a thumb hole, behind the grip 10. A longitudinal slot 41 which extends essentially vertically is provided on the rear face of this cutout 40 in the rear stock 8 in order to accommodate an unlocking element 53 (in this context, see FIG. 20 and FIG. 21). This unlocking element 53 is used to unlock the magazine, so that it can be removed from the cutout 38.
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show a detailed view of the breech housing 3 with the breech 2 located in it. This shows the view from the right-hand side, with the rifle being in an assembled arrangement for right-handed gunners. The rear cutout 12 in the breech housing 3 is thus closed by a panel 14 on the side which cannot be seen but is at the rear in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, although the inner face of the panel 14 can be seen in FIG. 10. Red markings 42 which can be seen in FIG. 10 are arranged on this inner face of the panel 14. These red markings 42 can be seen by the gunner when the breech 2 is pushed forward, with the sear 21 thus being cocked. The rear face of the panel 14 can thus be used as a cocking indication.
FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 show a safety unit 43 in the central part of the rifle. The safety unit 43 has an operating slide 44 on each of the sides of the rifle, with the two operating slides 44 being connected to one another. The operating slides 44 have red safety vanes 45 at their rear ends, which project upwards out of the stock when the rifle is armed. FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 show the armed position. The red safety vanes 45 can be seen by the gunner from above while aiming, thus improving the safety of the rifle. The safety unit 43 may also have a red dot 46 in a known manner on the front face of the respective operating slide 44, which likewise indicates the armed state of the rifle.
The rifle also has a childproof safety device 47, which can likewise be seen in FIG. 15. This childproof safety device 47 may in this case have, in a known manner, a rotating element with, by way of example, a roof-like external profile which can be operated only by using a suitable key. The childproof safety device does not act directly on the trigger, but on the safety unit 43, which cannot be moved from the safe position to the armed position when the childproof safety device 47 is locked.
FIG. 17 to FIG. 19 show a sight 48, which essentially comprises a sight part 50, which is arranged on a mounting rail 49 on the stock such that it can be moved. The sight 48 is, in particular, integrated in the mounting rail 49 on the front stock 7. The sight part 50 is shown in FIG. 17 in a position in which it has been pushed downwards and is thus stowed, while, in contrast, FIG. 18 shows the sight part 50 pushed upwards, and thus ready for use. FIG. 19 shows that the sight part 50 has a disk 51 which can rotate and has grooves 52 arranged on the circumference. The grooves 52 are in this case used for aiming at a target and are at different radial distances from the center of rotation of the disk 51. This allows the elevation position of the sight to be adjusted. FIG. 19 shows that a total of six different grooves are provided on the disk 51.
FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 show the connection between the rear stock 8 and the system housing. Parts of the two system housing halves 5, 6 are shown for this purpose in FIG. 22. The connection is made by means of a screw 57 which can be screwed into a corresponding hole in the system housing halves 5, 6, through the rear stock 8, from its lower face. The significant feature according to the invention in this case is that a flexible plastic part 58 holds the screw 57 in the area of the lower face of the rear stock 8. The detailed view illustrated in FIG. 23 shows that the flexible plastic part 58 has two arms 59 which are spaced apart from one another, run parallel to one another, and can hold the screw between them. The introduction of the screw results in the arms 59 being bent away from one another to a certain extent, so that the clamping force of the arms 59 holds the screw.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
1 Barrel
2 Breech
3 Breech housing
4 Trigger
5, 6 System housing halves
7 Front stock
8 Rear stock
9 Stock upper part
10 Grip
11, 12 Cutout
13, 14 Panel
15 Ejection window
16 Ejector
17 Extractor
18 Slide retraction lever
19 Longitudinal slot
20 Circular opening
21 Sear
22 Spring guide rod
23 Breech spring
24 Stop damper
25 End stop for 22
26 Latching tongue
27 Latching holder
28 Holding plate
29 Screw through 28
30 Threaded hole
31 Hole
32 Conical cutout
33 Head of 29
34 Spring element
35 Push rod
36 Locking element
37 Groove
38, 39 Magazine holder
40 Cutout behind 10
41 Longitudinal slot
42 Red marking
43 Safety unit
44 Operating slide
45 Red safety bracket
46 Red dot
47 Childproof safety device
48 Sight
49 Mounting rail
50 Sight part
51 Disk
52 Grooves
53 Unlocking element
54 Locking lever
55 Spring
56 Magazine
57 Screw
58 Flexible plastic part
59 Arms of the part 58
Patent Application
20050235546
