Patent Application
20200200505
This invention relates to a collapsible stock for a firearm, particularly a rifle. More specifically, it relates to a stock capable of collapsing to minimal length, that may be self-deploying using an internal spring, and that can be attached to a firearm via a top accessory rail.
A wide variety of designs have been proposed for collapsible or folding rifle stocks so that the stored length of the weapon can be significantly shorter than when it is in use. In a standard AR-pattern firearm, an extension tube protrudes from the rear of the lower receiver to provide a housing for the buffer and recoil spring, axially aligned with the bolt carrier assembly for cycling the action. This standard extension or buffer tube significantly limits the extent to which the stock length (length of pole) can be reduced by sliding the buttstock thereof. The buttstock creates further challenges and may preclude cycling of the action when folded.
Various designs have been proposed that shorten the length of the recoil assembly to allow more compact collapsible or folding stocks for the AR-pattern weapon system. Each of these, however, require at least some extension to the rear of the lower receiver, limiting the minimum overall length when a stock is collapsed or folded.
More recently, there have been alternate upper receiver assembly designs that enclose the entire recoil system within the upper receiver, while remaining mountable to a standard AR-pattern lower receiver. These eliminate the need for the extension or buffer tube and have allowed alternate stock designs to attach directly to the threaded interface at the rear of a standard AR-pattern lower receiver. One such foldable stock is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 9,829,272 issued Sep. 28, 2017. Other collapsible stock designs, whether used without a receiver extension or with a shortened receiver extension, have been supported on rods or rails that collapse into positions close to and on opposite sides of the upper receiver. Due to variance in the external features and dimensions of AR-pattern upper receivers, collapsible stocks of this type may not be usable or may interfere with other structure and/or controls of the firearm.
The present invention provides a collapsible stock for a firearm. A sliding beam is slidably attachable to the top surface of the firearm and slidable between collapsed and deployed positions. A butt member is on the sliding beam and a latch is configured to releasably hold the sliding beam in at least the collapsed and deployed positions.
Other aspects, features, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to a person of skill in the art from the detailed description of various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, all of which comprise part of the disclosure.
Like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various drawing figures, wherein:
With reference to the drawing figures, this section describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. Throughout the specification, reference to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “some embodiments” means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or “in some embodiments” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the described features, structures, and characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In view of the disclosure herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, materials, or the like. In some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or not described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the embodiments. “Forward” will indicate the direction of the muzzle and the direction in which projectiles are fired, while “rearward” will indicate the opposite direction. “Lateral” or “transverse” indicates a side-to-side direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the barrel. Although firearms may be used in any orientation, “left” and “right” will generally indicate the sides according to the user's orientation, “top” or “up” will be the upward direction when the firearm is gripped in the ordinary manner.
Referring first to
The sliding beam 14 and butt plate 16 may be milled, cast, or extruded from an aluminum alloy, steel, or a suitable fiber-reinforced polymer material. The top of the sliding beam 14 may also include a 1913 MIL-STD (Picatinny) accessory rail 30 for attachment of sights or other parts or accessories. Despite minor specification differences between the “1913 MIL-STD” and “Picatinny” accessory mounting rails, the terms are used interchangeably herein in reference to standard firearm accessory mounting rails. In place of the butt plate 16, a forearm support brace (not shown) could be used in a pistol configuration and references herein to a “butt plate” are meant to be inclusive of either. For firearms that do not have a top accessory rail (including ones that are not of the AR-pattern), a different slide rail (not shown) that slidingly interfaces with a channel on the sliding beam (not necessarily the Picatinny dovetail profile) can be used to mount the stock 12 to the top surface of a firearm.
According to another aspect or embodiment of the invention, a forward anchor block 32 may be attached to the top rail 22 of the forearm (or top rail 18 of the upper receiver 20) forward of where the sliding beam 14 will rest in its collapsed position. The forward anchor block 32 may include a dovetail channel 38 that mates with the profile of the top rail 18. The forward anchor block 32 may be secured to the rail 22 with a cross bolt 34 and nut 36 that passes between adjacent lugs of the rail 18, for example. It may also include a short length of Picatinny accessory rail 40 matching that of the sliding beam 14 to accommodate mounting of a front sight. The forward anchor block 32 provides a support for a guide tube 42 (shown) or a guide rod (not shown) for a deployment spring 44. The deployment spring 44 and guide tube 42 fit into a longitudinal guide bore or groove 46 of the sliding beam 14.
Referring now in particular to
Referring now to
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When the plunger 56 is pressed (as shown by an arrow in
According to another embodiment of the invention, an elevated mount 64 providing a fixed accessory rail 66 may be attached to the firearm 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the elevated mount 64 is attached to the forearm 24 using threaded fasteners, such as M-LOK (shown), KEYMOD, or other mounting system. The elevated mount 64 allows an optical sight (not shown) to be mounted at a more appropriate height for alignment with the shooter's eye and at a fixed longitudinal position that does not move with deployment of the stock. The elevated mount 64 may be milled, cast, or extruded from an aluminum alloy or suitable fiber-reinforced polymer material.
While one or more embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing is intended only to be illustrative of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not intended to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be included and considered to fall within the scope of the invention, defined by the following claim or claims.
