Patent Application
20200333097
The present invention relates generally to the field of firearms and firearm accessories, and more particularly to a firearm having a receiver capable of interchangeably accepting a threaded or a non-threaded barrel.
Firearms of various types may include a non-threaded barrel connection, wherein the breech end of the barrel is engaged with a close sliding, location, transition, or interference fit into the receiver. For example, the Ruger 10/22, one of the most popular rimfire rifles, typically has an unthreaded connection between the barrel and the receiver, with a barrel clamp system configured to maintain the barrel-receiver connection. The unthreaded barrel-receiver connection, however, may allow some degree of play or movement between components, even when the barrel clamp system is properly engaged, potentially causing shooting accuracy to suffer.
The popularity of such firearms has led to the production of many aftermarket accessories, such as high precision barrels for improved accuracy or specialized barrels for particular purposes. Some shooters, for example, may purchase multiple barrels for interchangeable use with their firearm's receiver for different types of shooting, for example a shorter and lighter barrel for hunting and a longer and heavier barrel for target shooting. And even if they purchase a new firearm, shooters may still wish to use a previously purchased barrel with their new firearm.
In example embodiments, the present invention provides a firearm having a threaded barrel-receiver connection, which is also interchangeable for retrofit use with an unthreaded firearm barrel. In this manner, improved accuracy may be provided by the threaded barrel-receiver connection. And if a user desires to use a previously purchased unthreaded barrel, the threaded barrel can be removed, and the receiver will accept the unthreaded barrel and allow interchangeable connection.
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a firearm including a receiver having a threaded receiver opening and at least one barrel clamp bore. The firearm preferably also includes a threaded barrel having a threaded hub configured for threaded engagement within the threaded receiver opening of the receiver.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a firearm including a receiver having a threaded receiver opening, the threaded receiver opening having female threads with a flat crested thread profile. The firearm preferably also includes a threaded barrel having male threads with a barrel thread profile configured for cooperative engagement with the flat crested receiver thread profile.
In still another aspect, the invention relates to a firearm including a receiver having a threaded receiver opening and at least one barrel clamp bore. The threaded receiver opening preferably includes female threads having a flat crested thread profile. The firearm preferably also includes a threaded barrel having male threads with a barrel thread profile configured for cooperative engagement with the flat crested receiver thread profile. The firearm preferably also includes a clamping system having a clamping member and at least one clamping screw configured for cooperative engagement with the at least one barrel clamp bore of the receiver. In this manner an unthreaded barrel can be interchangeably installed in place of the threaded barrel.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a firearm barrel including an elongate barrel portion having a bore extending therethrough, and a threaded hub for removable engagement with a corresponding threaded receiver opening of a firearm, the threaded hub having threads with a flat or rounded crest and root thread profile, such as for example an Acme or square thread profile.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of example embodiments are explanatory of example embodiments of the invention, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of example embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.
With reference now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout the several views,
In example embodiments, and as shown in greater detail in
A barrel clamp system 80 is provided for connection of the unthreaded retrofit barrel 140 with the threaded receiver 30 of the firearm 10 in the retrofit or change-out configuration. The barrel clamp system 80 includes a clamping member 82, and one or more (two are depicted) clamping screws or bolts 84. In example embodiments, the clamping member 82 comprises a female dovetailed profile having opposed inwardly tapering, acutely-angled engagement surfaces, configured to positively engage the clamp-engagement cutout 146 of the retrofit barrel 140, and align with a correspondingly configured cooperating male dovetailed profile of the lower engagement portion 36 of the receiver 30. The clamping screw(s) 84 are inserted through clearance holes or bores in the clamping member, and into threaded engagement within the barrel clamp bores 38 in the lower engagement portion 36 of the receiver 30. Tightening the clamping screws 84 pulls the male mounting hub 142 of the barrel 140 into engagement within the bore 32 of the receiver 30, with the clamping member positively engaged in the clamp-engagement cutout 146 to securely retain the retrofit barrel 140 in the receiver 30 as shown in
In use, the firearm 10 will typically be provided with a threaded barrel 40 installed as original equipment, with the threaded barrel securely screwed into the threaded receiver 30 (
If and when desired, a user may remove the threaded barrel 40 by unscrewing it from the receiver to disengage the threaded hub 42 from the threaded receiver opening 32, and may install the threaded barrel by screwing it into the receiver to engage the threaded hub into the receiver opening. The threaded connection may be hand-tight, allowing for manual removal and installation without the need for tools, or a wrench or other tool may be provided for removal and installation of the threaded barrel 40.
After removal of the threaded barrel 40, an unthreaded retrofit barrel 140 can then be interchangeably installed in place of the threaded barrel. The retrofit barrel 140 is installed by sliding the unthreaded hub 142 of the barrel into the threaded receiver opening 32 of the receiver 30. The outside diameter of the unthreaded hub 142 is configured to be slidingly received within the threaded receiver opening 32. The provision of threads 60 in the threaded receiver opening 32 having a flat or rounded crest/apex surface thread profile, for example an Acme or other trapezoidal or square thread profile, will provide an improved sliding fit and more secure coupling engagement with the barrel hub 142 than a sharp V-shaped thread configuration, and reduce the likelihood of damaging the threads of the receiver opening upon installation of the unthreaded barrel hub. The barrel clamping system 80 is then engaged by installation of the clamping member 82 into the clamp-engagement cutout 146 of the retrofit barrel 140, inserting the clamping screw(s) 84 through the clamping member, and screwing the clamping screws into threaded engagement with the barrel clamp bores 38 in the lower engagement portion 36 of the receiver 30. Tightening the clamping screws 84, for example with an Allen wrench or screwdriver, securely couples the barrel 140 with the receiver 30, allowing the firearm to be used with the retrofit barrel.
The unthreaded retrofit barrel 140 can be removed by disengaging the clamping system 80 in reverse manner, and slidingly removing the barrel from the receiver. The user may then interchangeably reinstall the threaded original equipment barrel 40 back in its place, as desired by the user, for example for different shooting activities or for comparing barrel performance. For example, two or more interchangeable barrels of different lengths, weights, rifling twists, sight configurations, accessory features, materials of construction, coupling formats, and/or other differing configurations or features may be installed and removed for use with the firearm, as desired by the user.
While the invention has been described with reference to example embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions and deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.
