FORWARD-PRESSED FINGER REST FOR SLIDE-ACTION STOCK

Abstract

A slide-action stock for a semi-automatic firearm. The side-action stock includes a handle provided with an integral finger rest. The finger rest forms a cradle for the user's trigger finger. In use, the user grasps the handle with one hand while pressing the dorsal side of their index finger firmly against the cradle. When intending to fire a round of ammunition, the user pushes the receiver forward with their other hand so that the trigger collides with the stabilized index finger. Recoil force quickly separates the trigger from the user's finger against the cradle. The user pushes the receiver forward to repeat the firing cycle. A firing mode selector can be selectively engaged to restrict longitudinal movement of the trigger relative to the handle, thereby returning the firearm to normal semi-automatic functionality.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to firearms, and more particularly toward a manually reciprocated slide-action stock for semi-automatic firearms.

2. Related Art

Various techniques and devices have been developed to increase the firing rate of semi-automatic firearms. Many of these techniques and devices make use of the concept known as rapid-action or “bump firing”, which is the manipulation of the recoil of the firearm to rapidly activate the trigger. One such rapid-action firing technique is known as the “belt loop” method. To execute the belt loop method, the shooter first places the firearm next to his or her hip and hooks one finger through both the trigger guard (in front of the trigger) and a belt loop in his or her clothing. The opposite hand is placed on the forward hand guard attached to the barrel of the firearm. When the firearm is tugged forward by the shooter, the trigger is activated by the hooked finger to discharge a bullet. The recoil from the bullet pushes the firearm backwards away from the trigger finger, allowing the trigger to re-set. Forward force must be applied to the hand guard in order to activate the firing mechanism for each round that is fired. However, this may be achieved in very rapid succession.

Although able to achieve a high rate of firing, the belt loop method has many safety and accuracy issues. For example, to correctly operate many firearms with the belt loop method, the operator's arm must be placed in the path of hot gasses being expelled from the ejection port of the firearm. This could lead to skin burns or possibly pinch the operator's sleeve or skin in the action. Another issue with the belt loop method arises because the operator cannot have a firm grip on the firearm. Because the belt loop method only works if the firearm is held loosely with one hand, the chances of the operator losing control of the firearm are greatly amplified. Because of this unnatural and unbalanced firing grip, the firearm is very difficult to aim and control during the belt loop method.

Commercial devices are also available for assisting in the rapid-action firing concept, including the HELLSTORM 2000 and TAC Trigger. Both of these are small devices that mount to the trigger guard of the firearm and use springs to aid in quickly resetting the trigger while the firearm is rapid-action fired, as described above. However, the same safety and accuracy issues of the belt loop method apply to these devices because the firearm cannot be held securely with the trigger hand or the stock of the firearm.

The slide-action stock concept marked under the trademark Slide Fire® pioneered by Slide Fire Solutions LP, Moran, Tex., has become a popular accessory enabling rapid fire capability to semi-automatic rifles without compromising safety. In use, a user pulls their trigger finger rearwardly against a specially designed rest adjacent the trigger while holding the butt section of the rifle snug against their shoulder in a normal shooting posture. Forward pressure is applied to the front hand-guard to initiate shooting. The user remains in complete control as the rifle continues to fire while forward pressure is maintained on the front hand-guard. For a more complete description of the Slide Fire) slide-action stock, reference is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,127,658; 8,176,835; 8,356,542; 8,371,208; 8,448,562; 8,459,171 and 8,474,169, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference and relied upon.

There exists a continuing need for further improvements in devices that will allow the shooter to practice new and interesting ways to shoot firearms in a legal and safe manner, to increase the firing rate of semi-automatic firearms without compromising the safety of the operator or the accuracy of the firearm, which are generally universally functional without respect to ammunition type, and which are sufficiently distinguished from a fully automatic weapon so as to fall within compliance of federal firearms regulations. There exists further a need for an improved interface device or system disposed operatively between the firing unit of a firearm and the handle portion of a firearm that is durable, sturdy, and not prone to binding in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of this invention, a slide-action stock for a semi-automatic firearm includes a handle adapted to be grasped by a user's hand. The handle includes an opposing surface for directly interacting with a bearing element of the firearm so that the handle is able to reciprocate relative to the bearing element back-and-forth along a constrained path. The slide-action stock also includes a finger rest configured to stabilize the end of a user's trigger finger in a partially extended condition so that in use the user's trigger finger stretches in front of the firearm trigger while the remaining fingers of the user's hand grasp the handle. The finger rest and the handle are fixed together as a unit for concerted back-and-forth movement along the constrained path. The finger rest has a rearwardly facing cradle against which the dorsal portion of a user's trigger finger is pressed in a forwardly acting direction while the remaining fingers of the user's rear hand grasp the handle.

According to another aspect of this invention, a method is provided for rapid-firing a semi-automatic firearm using a slide-action stock. The method includes the steps of: supporting a firing unit portion of a firearm in a handle for back-and-forth movement relative to the handle, the firing unit includes a trigger, grasping the handle with a hand of the user, and stabilizing an index finger of the user's hand in a partially extended condition stretched in front of the trigger. The stabilizing step includes pressing the dorsal portion of the user's finger forwardly against a rearwardly facing cradle.

This invention fulfills many needs in the sporting arms field, including enabling shooters to practice new and interesting ways to shoot firearms in a legal and safe manner, increasing the firing rate of a semi-automatic firearm without compromising the safety of the user or the accuracy of the firearm, providing generally universal functional without respect to ammunition type, and in compliance with federal firearms regulations. This present invention represents an improved interface device disposed operatively between the firing unit of a firearm and the handle portion of a firearm that is durable, sturdy, and not prone to binding in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated when considered in connection with the following detailed description and appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified side view of a firearm fitted with a sliding stock system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a an enlarged fragmentary view of the firearm of FIG. 1 shown with stock and firing unit elements exploded apart;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the trigger area of a firearm as in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are time sequence views of the fragmentary portion of the firearm as depicted in FIG. 3 and showing relative movement between the stock and firing unit elements with a human finger operatively disposed on a finger rest of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a human hand grasping a pistol grip portion of the sliding stock system;

FIG. 6 is a highly enlarged view of the trigger region with a human finger operatively disposed on a finger rest and depicting a rearward recoiled position of the trigger in phantom;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the finger rest and pistol grip according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the upper side of the finger rest of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the underside of the finger rest of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the figures wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a semi-automatic firearm according to one exemplary embodiment of this invention is generally shown at 10 in FIG. 1. In the illustrated examples, the firearm 10 is depicted as a rifle or long gun; however the principles of this invention may be applied with success to hand guns and pistols. Therefore, those of skill in the art should appreciate that the term firearm as used throughout this patent application is applicable to all forms of semi-automatic projectile-firing devices.

The firearm 10 includes a receiver 12 and a barrel 14 and a trigger 16 operatively connected together as a firing unit. Ammunition (not shown) fed into the receiver 12 (such as through a magazine 17 or a belt system) is presented into a firing chamber (not shown) at the base of the barrel 14. A firing pin struck by a hammer (neither of which are shown) ignites a round of ammunition in the firing chamber when a user pulls the trigger 16. In the context of this invention, the firing unit is provided with at least one bearing element, generally indicated at 18. The bearing element 18 in this illustrative example is attached to the rearward end of the receiver 12. The bearing element 18 may include a channel 20 along its undersurface as shown for example in FIG. 3, as will be described in further detail below. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the bearing element 18 could take many different forms, and is not intended to be limited to the specific design shown in the accompanying illustrations.

A slide-action stock, generally indicated at 22, is interactive with the firing unit and includes a handle configured to provide an interface through which a user grasps the firearm with at least one hand. The slide-action stock 22 includes an opposing surface 24 that directly interacts with the bearing element 20 of the firing unit so that the firing unit is able to reciprocate relative to the slide-action stock 22 back-and-forth along a constrained path. In the illustrated embodiment, the opposing surface 24 is a rib-like T-track perhaps best shown in FIG. 2. The channel 20 has a complementary shape to facilitate sliding motion along a constrained linear path that is generally parallel to the length of the barrel 14. It should be understood, however, that the bearing element 20 and opposing surface 24 can take many different cooperating forms that provide linear, curvilinear and/or pivotal relative motion so that the firing unit may achieve its reciprocating back-and-forth movement with respect to the slide-action stock 22. Thus, the term “slide action” with reference to the stock 22 must not be construed so narrowly as to preclude an interpretation of pivotal motion at the bearing element 20/opposing surface 24 interface accomplished through links are other means.

The slide-action stock 22 is shown according to one exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1 including a finger rest 26 and a handle. The handle includes a pistol grip 28 and a shoulder stock 30. In alternative variations, however, the shoulder stock 30 portion may be omitted (as in pistol-type configurations) or the pistol grip 28 may be omitted (as in hunting/patrol rifle type configurations). For primarily ergonomic benefits, the pistol grip 28 may extend obliquely downwardly and away from the finger rest 26. The pistol grip 28 and shoulder stock 30 are interconnected (in this example) through a connector bar 32, upon which the opposing surface 24 is positioned. A cheek-piece 34 may optionally be affixed to or otherwise integrated with the shoulder stock 30 as shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 4A-6, the finger rest 26 is configured to stabilize a finger 36 of the user's hand, and more specifically the shooter's index or trigger finger, in a partially extended and hooked position so that in use the user's finger 36 is stretched in front of the trigger 16 when it is desired to shoot the firearm 10. The finger rest 26 has a rearwardly facing cradle 38 against which the dorsal portion of the user's finger 36 is pressed in use. The rearward direction is defined as generally opposite the direction a projectile travels as it exits firearm 10. The arrow 40 in FIG. 5 depicts the forwardly-directed force with which the user exerts on their finger 36 in order to maintain the dorsal side (i.e., fingernail side) pressed against the cradle 38. In the illustrated embodiment, the cradle 38 is comprises a section of a continuous bounded inner periphery formed by a generally D-shaped loop or ring-like extension from the connector bar 32. Although the finger rest 26 is a depicted as being generally oblong in appearance, alternate embodiments include loops of various shapes (e.g., circular, square, triangular, polygonal, regular or irregular). In still further embodiments, the “loops” may not actually form a closed loop, but may instead simply provide a surface (e.g., a surface similar to the cradle 38) upon which a shooter's finger 36 can rest and which inhibits the forward movement of the shooter's trigger finger 36.

The loop portion of the finger rest 26 may have a size generally equivalent to the firearm trigger guard 42, and be positioned so that the finger rest 26 lies to the left side (as shown) or right side (not shown) of the trigger guard 42. The finger rest 26 may be used by left-handed and right-handed shooters without the need to switch the finger rest 26 from one side of the trigger to the other. Nevertheless, while the embodiments disclosed herein generally depict finger rest 26 as being positioned on the left side of the trigger 16 when installed on the firearm 10 (which may be more intuitive to use by right handed shooters than by left-handed shooters), alternate embodiments include a loop positioned on the right side of the trigger 16, and still further embodiments include a loop positioned on both sides of the trigger 16.

Detailed views of one embodiment of the finger rest 26 are shown in FIGS. 7-9. The finger rest 26 may include a mounting lug 44 formed with an threaded hole 46 and adapted to receive a standard replacement pistol grip 28 via a through-the-grip fastener 48. The finger rest may optionally include an adjustable mounting structure that enables selective adjustment of the spacing between the cradle 38 portion of the finger rest 26 and the handle. In the one illustrated example, the adjustable mounting structure includes a series of mounting holes 50 that engage cooperating features on the connector bar 32 (not shown) and enable the extended length of the cradle 38 to be custom fit for any particular application. Of course, many alternative approaches can be contemplated to enable selective adjustment of the cradle 38 relative to the handle.

In use, a semi-automatic firearm can be rapid-fired by a human user using the slide-action stock 22 by supporting the firing unit in the handle for back-and-forth movement relative to the handle, grasping the handle with a hand of the user, and stabilizing an index finger 36 of the user's hand in a partially extended condition stretched in front of the trigger 16. The stabilizing step includes pressing the dorsal portion of the user's finger 36 forwardly (arrow 40) against the rearwardly facing cradle 38. In order to fire one or more rounds of ammunition, the user manually pushes the firing unit forward relative to the handle with their other hand while grasping the handle and stabilizing the finger with the first hand.

As depicted in FIGS. 4A-6, with the receiver 12 positioned in a rearward orientation with respect to stock 22, the cradle 38 of finger rest 26 is positioned forward of trigger 16 (see FIGS. 4A and 5). Conversely, when the receiver 12 is positioned in a forward orientation with respect to stock 22, the cradle 38 of finger rest 26 is positioned nearer to the trigger 16 (see FIGS. 4B and 6). Thus, relative movement of the cradle 38 relative to the trigger 16 occurs as receiver 12 moves between its forward orientation and its rearward orientation with respect to the slide-action stock 22.

When using a firearm 10 with the finger rest 26 installed, a shooter may place the shoulder stock 30 against the shooter's shoulder, grasp the pistol grip 28 with the shooter's trigger finger hand, insert the shooter's trigger finger 36 (or other suitable appendage or non-human trigger actuator) into the space in front of the trigger 16 and behind the cradle 38 of the finger rest 26. The shooter may then place the dorsal side of the shooter's trigger finger 36 against the cradle 38 and bias the trigger 16 (and generally the entire firing unit) forward by grasping a forward grip 52 with the shooter's non-trigger hand and urging the forward grip 52 in a forward (downrange) direction. The forward urging can be described as using the shooter's arm strength to bias the forward grip 52 and the trigger 16 using human muscle power.

As the trigger 16 moves forward in response to the shooter urging the forward grip 52 in the forward direction, the trigger 16 eventually contacts the shooter's trigger finger 36. Contact between the trigger 16 and the shooter's trigger finger results in actuation of the trigger 16 (and the trigger group assembly). Consequently, a projectile is discharged from the firearm 10. The discharging of the projectile results in a recoil force that moves the trigger 16 rearward against arm tension in the shooter's hand that remains grasping forward grip 52—provided, of course, that the user's forward muscle effort is not greater than the recoil force.

After the firing unit has moved rearward a sufficient distance in response to the recoil force, the trigger assembly resets, i.e., the trigger 16 rotates forward with respect to the trigger assembly a sufficient amount to reset the trigger assembly. When the trigger 16 is again pushed forward a sufficient distance by the shooter maintaining a forward urging force on the forward grip 52, trigger 16 will be actuated a second time by the shooter's trigger finger 36, and a second round will be discharged. This sequence may be repeated by the shooter maintaining an appropriate amount of forward pressure on the forward grip 52 to continue rapid-action firing the firearm 10.

The rapid-action firing of a firearm 10 will continue until the shooter's non-trigger hand and arm cease the forward biasing of the firing unit (or decreases the forward biasing by a sufficient amount), thereby resulting in the trigger 16 not moving sufficiently forward to actuate trigger 16 and discharge another projectile from firearm 10. The firing of firearm 10 can also continue until the shooter's non-trigger hand and arm increase the forward biasing of the trigger 16 by an amount sufficient to overcome the recoil force and prevent trigger 16 from moving the rearward to reset the trigger 16 after a projectile is discharged from firearm 10

The slide-action stock 22 may include an optional firing mode selector 54 can control the interaction (e.g., sliding interaction) between the slide-action stock 22 and the firing unit. The firing mode selector 54 may be oriented in either of two positions: one position to allow the trigger 16 to move in relation to the slide-action stock 22, and the other position to inhibit relative motion between the trigger 16 and slide-action stock 22. To operate the firearm 10 in a traditional semiautomatic manner, the shooter sets the firing mode selector 54 to restrict the movement between stock 22 and the receiver 12. Using this method, one shot is discharged for each squeeze of the trigger 16.

Use of the finger rest 26 allows the shooter to transition from bump firing a firearm to firing the same firearm using traditional semi-automatic firing techniques and back again to bump firing the firearm without the need to move the shooter's trigger finger, which can provide a more seamless transition from bump firing to traditional semi-automatic firing techniques. When firing the firearm using a traditional semi-automatic firing technique, the finger rest 26 supplements the trigger guard 42 and inhibits accidental actuation of the trigger 16 while providing unobstructed access to the trigger 16 by the shooter's trigger finger.

The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A slide-action stock for a semi-automatic firearm comprising: a handle adapted to be grasped by a user's hand, said handle including an opposing surface for directly interacting with a bearing element of the firearm so that said handle is able to reciprocate relative to the bearing element back-and-forth along a constrained path,a finger rest, said finger rest configured to stabilize the end of a user's trigger finger in a partially extended condition so that in use the user's trigger finger stretches in front of the firearm trigger while the remaining fingers of the user's hand grasp said handle,said finger rest and said handle being fixed together as a unit for concerted back-and-forth movement along said constrained path,and wherein said finger rest has a rearwardly facing cradle against which the dorsal portion of a user's trigger finger is pressed in a forwardly acting direction while the remaining fingers of the user's rear hand grasp said handle.

2. The slide-action stock of claim 1, wherein said rearwardly facing cradle comprises a section of a continuous bounded inner periphery.

3. The slide-action stock of claim 1, wherein said cradle is spaced apart from said handle, and including an adjustable mounting structure enabling selective adjustment in said spacing between said finger rest and said handle.

4. The slide-action stock of claim 1, wherein said handle includes a pistol grip.

5. The slide-action stock of claim 1, wherein said handle includes a shoulder stock extending longitudinally rearwardly from said finger rest.

6. The slide-action stock of claim 1, wherein said handle includes a pistol grip extending obliquely downwardly and away from said finger rest, and a shoulder stock.

7. The slide-action stock of claim 1, wherein said opposing surface of said handle includes a sliding track, said sliding track configured to engage within a complementary channel in the bearing element of the firearm.

8. The slide-action stock of claim 8, wherein said sliding track has a T-shaped cross-section.

9. A semi-automatic firearm comprising: a receiver and a barrel and a trigger operatively connected together as a firing unit, said firing unit including at least one bearing element,a slide-action stock interactive with said firing unit and configured to provide an interface through which a user grasps said firearm with at least one hand, said slide-action stock including an opposing surface directly interacting with said bearing element of said firing unit so that said firing unit is able to reciprocate relative to said slide-action stock back-and-forth along a constrained path,said slide-action stock including a finger rest, said finger rest configured to stabilize a finger of the user's hand in a partially extended and hooked position so that in use the user's finger is stretched in front of said trigger, said finger rest having a rearwardly facing cradle against which the dorsal portion of the user's finger is pressed in use.

10. The firearm of claim 9, wherein said rearwardly facing cradle comprises a section of a continuous bounded inner periphery.

11. The firearm of claim 9, wherein said slide-action stock includes a handle adapted to be grasped by a user's hand, said finger rest and said handle being fixed together in use as a rigid unit.

12. The firearm of claim 11, wherein said cradle is spaced apart from said handle, and including an adjustable mounting structure enabling selective adjustment in said spacing between said finger rest and said handle.

13. The firearm of claim 11, wherein said handle includes a pistol grip.

14. The firearm of claim 11, wherein said handle includes a shoulder stock extending longitudinally rearwardly from said finger rest.

15. The firearm of claim 11, wherein said handle includes a pistol grip extending obliquely downwardly and away from said finger rest, and a shoulder stock.

16. The firearm of claim 9, wherein said opposing surface includes a sliding track, said sliding track configured to engage within a complementary channel in the bearing element of the firearm.

17. The slide-action stock of claim 16, wherein said sliding track has a T-shaped cross-section.

18. The firearm of claim 9, wherein said firearm is a rifle.

19. A method for rapid-firing a semi-automatic firearm using a slide-action stock comprising the steps of: supporting a firing unit portion of a firearm in a handle for back-and-forth movement relative to the handle, the firing unit including a trigger,grasping the handle with a hand of the user,stabilizing an index finger of the user's hand in a partially extended condition stretched in front of the trigger,said stabilizing step including pressing the dorsal portion of the user's finger forwardly against a rearwardly facing cradle.

20. The method of claim 19, further including manually pushing the firing unit forward relative to the handle with another hand of the user simultaneously with said grasping step.