Patent Application
20230296344
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The present invention relates to a firearm suppressor and, more particularly, to a firearm suppressor that includes a secondary retention system.
A conventional firearm operates by burning gunpowder to generate combustion gases that propel a projectile (bullet) through the barrel of the firearm and out of the barrel muzzle. The rapidly expanding combustion gases exit the muzzle explosively, producing a characteristic, loud report.
A suppressor (also sometimes referred to as a silencer) is a device attached to the muzzle of the firearm to reduce the noise produced by a discharging firearm. Suppressors are designed to reduce the noise created by the discharge by controlling and managing the energy levels of propellant gases emitted from the muzzle. Attenuation of such noise offers several advantages, such as mitigating damage to the hearing of the user.
The upstream end of a suppressor typically includes means for removably coupling the device to a weapon, and its downstream end includes an opening for the exit of the projectile. Typical suppressors include an elongated tubular housing containing one or more transverse baffles that define successive internal expansion chambers through which the projectile and expanding gasses pass after the weapon is fired. The baffles may be of various designs, and define a suppressor bore through which the projectile travels. These chambers serve to control, delay, and divert the flow, expansion, and exhausting of the propellant gases, and also to reduce their temperature and otherwise dissipate their energy, so as to achieve a corresponding reduction in the noise produced by the propellant gases as they ultimately exit the device.
The elongated tubular housing of a suppressor may be connected directly to the barrel muzzle such that the elongated tubular housing does not move relative to the barrel during firearm cycling or, as with many suppressors designed for modern handguns, the barrel muzzle may be connected to the suppressor by attachment to a piston at the upstream end of the piston. As to the latter configuration, the piston may reside at least partially within the suppressor's elongated tubular housing: when the firearm is discharged and the slide begins a rearward motion to cycle the firearm's action, the piston may remain stationary relative to the barrel, but the elongated tubular housing may move relative to the barrel, accommodating the barrel motion during recoil.
It is desirable for a firearm suppressor to be as lightweight as possible. Mounted at the muzzle of a firearm, the suppressor's mass increases the moment of inertia of the assembly, thereby slowing the angular acceleration of the assembly and reducing the ability to manipulate the firearm for target acquisition.
For handguns, rifles, and other firearms, conventional suppressors are attached and retained to the firearm muzzle by a threaded connection. Typically, a user or other handler of the firearm attaches the suppressor to a barrel muzzle by hand-tightening a length of threads carried by the suppressor (typically on an inner surface of the suppressor, acting as the female portion of the connection) to threads on the barrel muzzle (typically on an outer surface of the barrel, acting as the male portion of the connection) until hand-tight. In some instances, a user or other handler of the firearm may instead attach the suppressor to a barrel muzzle via an indirect attachment such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,921,021.
The discharge of a firearm produces high temperature and high pressure propellant gases, which is a harsh environment for components exposed to such gases. Baffles, and the housing in which baffles are carried, need to be constructed of material that can withstand high heat and pressure to which they will be exposed during use. Further, after repeated firing, the gasses from the combusted propellant can erode the suppressor bore edges of the baffles. The suppressor bore is typically precisely dimensioned, because the clearance between the suppressor bore and the projectile affects the performance of the suppressor—a closer clearance may result in better performance of the suppressor in reducing discharge noise levels.
Heat, high pressure, and vibration during firearm discharge imparts significant forces on the threaded connection between suppressor and firearm. Following a sufficient number of firearm discharges, the suppressor connection with the firearm barrel muzzle may loosen and the suppressor may begin to unthread from the firearm. Further discharges of the firearm may tend to further loosen the suppressor from the firearm. Any loosening is undesirable, as it may cause the suppressor to “droop” relative to the firearm's bore axis. Firing of the firearm in such a condition may result in the bullet striking the suppressor as the bullet passes through it (also known as a “baffle strike”), thereby endangering the shooter or bystanders, and/or damaging one or more baffle and/or the suppressor cap, and/or destroying the suppressor.
The relevant art has attempted to address the problem of loosening of the suppressor from the firearm to which it is attached, for example, by application of thread locker liquid to the threading between the suppressor and the firearm (e.g., LOCTITE™ brand Threadlocker Blue 242, available from the Henkel Corporation, Stamford, CT), through the use of PTFE tape (also known as thread seal tape and as plumber's tape) in the threaded connection between barrel muzzle and suppressor, or by welding of suppressor to barrel muzzle. Application of thread locker liquid may result in uneven (and therefore less reliable) coverage, and typically requires time to cure prior to the threading together of the mating parts. Both use of thread locker liquid and use of PTFE tape requires frequent cleaning as well as frequent reapplication. Welding of a suppressor to a barrel muzzle creates an undesirable irreversible connection. Further, it can be difficult to weld dissimilar materials together; for example, titanium and steel cannot be easily welded together, and materials can vary by firearm or suppressor type. Still other efforts directed to suppressor loosening include modifications to suppressor threading (e.g., the CAM-LOK® system, available from Griffin Armament, Wales, WI) that require an adaptor added to the firearm barrel for use of the modified suppressors with any firearm. Adaptors like these require extra installation steps and may complicate firearm cleaning and maintenance. Additionally, few convenient, inexpensive hand tools exist for the purpose of applying additional torque on a suppressor compared to that possible by hand-tightening, and risk damage to the firearm, to the suppressor, or to both.
In view of the foregoing, the present invention relates to an improvement upon the known systems and methods for retaining threaded connections between firearms and firearm suppressors, and provides distinct advantages over the conventional systems and methods.
A firearm suppressor including a secondary retention system and a firearm suppressor mount including a secondary retention system are provided. As revealed in the following description and the figures herein, this invention discovers a durable, lightweight, and easy-to-use firearm suppressor design and firearm suppressor mount design that provide a superior connection to a firearm barrel muzzle, reducing maintenance of use and improving performance over conventional firearm suppressors.
In accordance with certain aspects of certain embodiments of the present technology, a firearm suppressor is provided that includes a body having an upstream end and a downstream end. Threading resides proximate to the upstream end, the threading defining a length. An annular groove resides intermediate along the length and a compressible annulus resides in the groove. Additionally and/or alternatively, in various embodiments one or more of the following aspects may also be included:
In accordance with additional aspects of other embodiments of the present technology, a firearm comprising threads upon the barrel proximate to its muzzle is provided. The threads are outer threads and define a length. A suppressor is connected to the firearm at the muzzle of the firearm and a compressible annulus resides between the firearm muzzle and the suppressor intermediate along the length. Additionally and/or alternatively, in various embodiments one or more of the following aspects may also be included:
In accordance with yet additional aspects of other embodiments of the present technology, firearm suppressor comprises a body having an upstream end and a downstream end and defining a bore axis. Inner threading resides proximate to the upstream end, the inner threading defining a length. An annular groove resides intermediate along the length. An O-ring resides in the groove, the O-ring being annular, at least a portion of the O-ring residing closer to the bore axis than does any of the inner threading, and the O-ring being removable from the suppressor.
In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, a firearm suppressor may comprise a tubular core, a baffle carried within the core, and a tubular mount. The core may be integral with the mount, attached end-to-end to the mount, or connected to the mount such that the mount is rotationally locked relative to the core but movable axially. The firearm suppressor may further comprise an attachment threading at its upstream end, either inner threading or outer threading or both, for connecting the firearm suppressor to threads of a firearm barrel muzzle or an indirect attachment device. The firearm suppressor may include at least one recessed groove, annular around a perimeter of the surface of the tubular mount between the upstream and downstream ends of the attachment threading, and at least one compressible annulus residing within the at least one recessed groove.
In still further embodiments, a firearm suppressor mount is provided that comprises an attachment threading, either inner threading or outer threading or both, proximal to its upstream end for connecting the firearm suppressor mount to threads of a firearm barrel muzzle or an indirect attachment device. The firearm suppressor mount includes at least one recessed groove around a perimeter of the surface of the mount between the upstream and downstream ends of the attachment threading and at least one compressible annulus residing within the at least one recessed groove. The mount may provide a tubular shell for a suppressor or it may be integrated with other suppressor components as a “piston” such that the mount is rotationally immovable relative to a suppressor core, but movable axially.
Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The purpose of the Abstract hereinabove is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the public generally, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature of the technical disclosure. The Abstract is not provided for interpreting the scope of the claims herein, nor to define the invention or the application, nor to be limiting in any way as to the scope of the invention.
The details of the present invention, as to both its structure and its operation, can be understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
It should be noted that the drawings discussed above and below are not to scale in all instances, but may have exaggerated dimensions in some respects to illustrate the principles of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and is not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used with a second embodiment to yield a third embodiment. It is intended that the present application include such modifications and variations as come within the scope and spirit of the invention. Repeat use of reference characters throughout the present specification and appended drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the invention.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of formatives of the words “include,” “comprise,” and “have” is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof, as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “connected” and “carried by” are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, or couplings. Further, such phraseology is not limited to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
As used herein, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the relative location of components in a fluid pathway. Thus, in the context of a firearm suppressor, “upstream” is relatively closer to the muzzle of the firearm, and “downstream” is relatively further from the muzzle of the firearm.
As used herein, the term “radial direction” and variants thereof (e.g., “radially inward,” “radially outward,” “in a radial direction”) are directional references made relative to the central line running along the firearm bore and suppressor bore. A radius is a line that runs orthogonal to and intersecting with the central line. A first location is radially outward from a second location if the first location lies further along a radius relative to the central line than is the second location. A first location is radially inward from a second location if it lies closer to the central line along a radius from the central line than is the second location.
As used herein, the term “axial” and variants thereof are directional references, meaning parallel to the bore of the firearm and suppressor.
A firearm suppressor is attached to the muzzle of a firearm. Such a suppressor is generally tubular shaped, with the axis of the tube aligned with the bore of the firearm. An exemplary relevant art suppressor S is illustrated in
A conventional, relevant art suppressor S is illustrated in
In certain inventive embodiments, as illustrated in
Compressible annulus 70 may be of several configurations, depending on application constraints and/or user preference. For example, compressible annulus 70 may be fully annular, and thus occupying the entirety of the circumference of groove 60. Alternatively, compressible annulus 70 may be only partially annular, and thus occupying only an arcuate portion of the circumference of groove 60. Still further alternatively, compressible annulus 70 may occupy two or more separate arcuate portions of the circumference of groove 60. Compressible annulus 70 may be fabricated of any of several materials; compressible annulus 70 may be fabricated of a single material that is compressible; compressible annulus 70 may be fabricated of more than one material, only one of which is compressible; or compressible annulus 70 may be fabricated of more than one material, fewer than all of which are compressible. And compressible annulus 70 may have any of many cross-sectional shapes; the circular cross-section shape of compressible annulus 70 in
Placement of groove 60 and compressible annulus 70 between the upstream end of inner attachment threading 12 and the downstream end of inner attachment threading 12, intermediate along length L1 of such threading 12, instead at the upstream or downstream end of length L1, has been discovered to provide a more robust engagement between the firearm and attached suppressor. Threading at the ends of length L1 of inner attachment threading 12 has been discovered to be more important to providing a stable connection with firearm barrel muzzle threading 104 than the intermediate portions of threading 12 residing between the upstream and downstream ends of threading 12 along length L1. Thus, some threading between the upstream and downstream ends of inner attachment threading 12 along length L1 may be eliminated in favor of groove 60 and compressible annulus 70 without impacting the integrity of the firearm-suppressor engagement with the firearm, which integrity would be risked by locating a groove and compressible annulus proximate to or beyond either the upstream end or the downstream end of inner attachment threading 12 along length L1. Further, the inventive arrangement ensures that inner attachment thread length L1 from end to end in the inventive suppressors stays the same as conventional end-to-end inner attachment thread length. Maintaining suppressor end-to-end attachment thread length and a robust engagement between firearm and suppressor thus likewise maintains colinear bore alignment between the firearm bore and the suppressor bore. The end-to-end thread length of attachment threads located on a barrel muzzle are standard and fixed by firearms manufacturers for different firearms, so reducing the end-to-end length L1 (and L2, as described below) of suppressor attachment threads by placement of a compressible annulus at either end of or beyond the suppressor inner attachment threading 12 would diminish the engagement between the suppressor and firearm threading and thus, for example, risk colinear bore misalignment. The present invention avoids any such reduction.
In certain embodiments, recessed groove 60 and compressible annulus 70 are placed about the perimeter of an external surface of mount 40 between an upstream end of outer attachment threading 14 and a downstream end of outer attachment threading 14, as illustrated in
Various configurations of suppressors are compatible with the inventive secondary retention system of the present disclosure provided such suppressors use a threaded attachment for engaging to a firearm. For example, the suppressor 10 described in
In some embodiments, inner attachment threading 12 or outer attachment threading 14 may be either right or left-handed or be of different lengths, sizes, or pitch so as to correspond with the appropriate threading of the fire arm to which suppressor 10 is to be attached. Similarly suppressor 10 may have only inner attachment threading 12 or only outer attachment threading 14 or both.
Some firearms made by other manufacturers, however, use different barrel muzzle configurations. Such configuration barrel muzzles may include barrel muzzle threading 104 that extends to the downstream end of the barrel muzzle 102b, with no unthreaded portion 106.
The inventive suppressors and suppressor mounts of the present disclosure provide a secure, threaded connection between suppressor and firearm, capable of being achieved via hand-tightening. The inventive suppressor further requires little maintenance compared to conventional solutions, with compressible annulus 70 requiring infrequent replacement (only after many firearm discharges) and being easily replaceable using only simple, commonly-available tools. The medial location of groove 60 and compressible annulus 70 provides for robust engagement between firearm and suppressor as well as retained colinear bore alignment as compared to conventional suppressors not having medially-located groove 60 and compressible annulus 70, and provide for improved colinear bore alignment as compared to suppressors providing groove 64 and compressible annulus 74 at the distal, downstream end of inner attachment threads 12.
In each of the inventive embodiments disclosed herein, placement and sizing of groove 60 and compressible annulus 70 may significantly affect the functioning of the disclosed invention. As disclosed above, recessed groove 60 and compressible annulus 70 are configured and located such that, when suppressor 10 is attached to a barrel muzzle 102 of a firearm by hand-tightened threaded connection, compressible annulus 70 compresses between and against both the suppressor 10 and the barrel muzzle 102 and locks or binds the hand-tightened threaded connection for firearm use. The disclosed inventive firearm suppressors and suppressor mounts function optimally when compressible annulus 70 resides within groove 60 such that a radially innermost surface of compressible annulus 70 is radially outward from or equal to the relevant inner attachment threading 12 major diameter and radially inward from or equal to the pitch of inner attachment threading 12. In embodiments providing a groove 60 and compressible annulus 70 along the perimeter of an outer surface of mount 40, optimal function is observed when compressible annulus 70 resides within groove 60 such that a radially outermost surface of compressible annulus 70 is radially inward from or equal to the relevant outer attachment threading 14 major diameter and radially outward from or equal to the pitch of outer attachment threading 14. Tolerances for variation in location of compressible annulus 70 surface, by placement of groove 60 and selection of compressible annulus 70, may need to be kept within two one-thousandths of an inch in the radial direction to achieve optimal functionality of compressible annulus 70. Suboptimal radial placement of groove 60 and compressible annulus 70 may result in premature damage to compressible annulus 70 by damage from barrel muzzle threading 104, improper colinear bore alignment between the firearm bore and suppressor bore, or reduced effectiveness in providing a secure attachment between suppressor and firearm.
Configuring groove 60 and compressible annulus 70 as disclosed herein conforms compressible annulus 70 to the attachment threading profile, providing desirable, more secure engagement with barrel muzzle threading as compared to standard firearm O-ring, which may not be sized adequately. Additionally, some conventional firearm suppressors, for example, those common for use with firearms having a M13.5×1 LH thread configuration, illustrated in relevant art
In some embodiments, compressible annulus 70 may be an O-ring made of VITON® material (a fluorocarbon polymer), which has desirable heat, chemical, and mechanical durability. Other materials, such as those including varieties of silicones and polyethylenes, may also suffice.
It should be appreciated that, in the above description of embodiments, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not be interpreted as reflecting an intention that any claim requires more features than are expressly recited in that claim. Moreover, any components, features, or steps illustrated and/or described in a particular embodiment herein, can be applied to or used with any other embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the inventions herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that may issue from the benefit of the within disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of priority of U. S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/319,839, filed on Mar. 15, 2022, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63319839 | Mar 2022 | US |
