GUN BARREL CLEANING DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention is an improvement to a gun barrel cleaning tool which enables a user to attach and remove gun barrel cleaning devices to a gun barrel cleaning rod by inserting a cleaning device into a recess formed in the cleaning rod whereupon a latch located in the recess engages a recess of the cleaning device to secure the cleaning device to barrel cleaning rod.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a device for cleaning debris from a gun barrel and a method of use for such a device.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Firearms generally comprise a barrel structure, a chamber for housing a propellant, and a method of causing the propellant to propel a projectile down the barrel structure. The barrel structure is intended to guide the projectile toward its intended target. Frequently the inner surface of the barrel structure may be caused to have spiral indentations intended to cause the projectile to spin as it travels down the barrel. Such spin imparts stability and may result in a projectile that more consistently travels the path imparted by the barrel assembly. Other embodiments of firearms may have smooth inner barrel structure surfaces. Such other embodiments may rely on other methods of guiding a projectile towards its intended target. In order to guide a projectile towards its intended target, the inner surface of the barrel structure may have an inner diameter that is very close to the outer diameter of the projectile. This closeness in diameter is particularly critical when the barrel is designed to impart a spinning motion on the projectile.

Projectiles are frequently comprised of lead or other malleable material. In addition, some projectiles may have a coating or jacket material such as copper. As these projectiles travel down the barrel, the closeness in diameter causes the projectile to rub against the barrel assembly inner surface. The result may be traces of lead, copper, or other materials deposited from the projectile onto the barrel assembly.

Many embodiments of firearms rely on a propellant such as gunpowder or a similar chemical composition to propel a projectile down the barrel assembly. These designs may use a pressure sensitive substance to ignite the gunpowder in response to a user action such as pulling a trigger device. When the gunpowder ignites, it causes an explosion within a portion of the barrel assembly resulting in a rapidly expanding gas. This gas causes the projectile to travel rapidly down the barrel assembly and then continue on to the intended target. As the result of the exploding gunpowder, chemical particles may be deposited onto the inner surface of the barrel assembly.

As described above, traces of lead, copper, and other materials as well as chemical particles that result from the explosion of propellant may be deposited on the barrel assembly inner surface. Over time, such deposits may damage the surface of the gun barrel assembly and can interfere with the interface between the projectile and the gun barrel. Such interference may result in a reduction of the accuracy and performance of the firearm. As a result, the inner surface of the barrel assembly should be regularly cleaned to remove deposits.

Cleaning devices such as rods or cable devices are known in the art. Such devices commonly have removable cleaning devices. During an exemplary process for cleaning a barrel assembly these devices may be removed and replaced with devices for performing the various steps in the cleaning process. For example, a device for holding a cloth saturated with a cleaning solution may be caused to be attached to a cleaning rod. This cloth may then be pushed or pulled through the barrel assembly to cause cleaning solution to be deposited therein. The device for holding a cloth may be removed from the cleaning rod and replaced with a brush or scraper device to remove deposits from the barrel assembly. In this exemplary cleaning process the brush or scraper may be removed and replaced with another device for holding a cloth that contains a corrosion inhibitor or lubricant material. As with the cleaning solution saturated cloth, this cloth containing a corrosion inhibitor or lubricant material may be pushed or pulled through the barrel assembly to deposit the corrosion inhibitor or lubricant onto the barrel assembly inner surface.

As described above, it is common for a cleaning process to be performed using multiple steps where each step may require a different device. A frequent problem during the performance of such steps is the recurring need to remove and replace the various devices used during the cleaning process. Known designs of cleaning devices, cleaning rods, and cleaning cables use a threaded interface between the rod or cable and the cleaning devices. Such a threaded interface requires that the user twist the cleaning device to engage the threaded interface and continue to twist until the threaded cleaning device is fully secured to the rod or cable. In order to accommodate longer gun barrel assemblies, sections of rod or cable are frequently required to be threaded together in a manner similar to what was described for attaching the cleaning device. In addition to being time consuming and tedious to assemble, threaded assemblies may be susceptible to cross-threading which may damage or destroy the threaded connection. Such a damaged connection may separate during use, resulting in a cleaning device becoming lodged in the barrel assembly or barrel damage from the unsecured cleaning rod or cable. A known improvement to such a threaded connection is a connection that uses an enlarged end located on the cleaning device which is inserted into a keyhole shaped receiver located on a cleaning rod or cable. While such a connection eliminates the need to thread a cleaning device onto a barrel cleaning rod or cable, it only serves to secure the connection during a pulling motion. A pushing motion may cause this connection to release or become misaligned. The ability to push and pull a cleaning device through a gun barrel assembly allows for a more effective cleaning operation and eliminates the need to pull a cleaning device through the gun barrel assembly, disconnect the device from the cleaning rod or cable, reinsert the cleaning rod or cable, and reattach the cleaning device in order to perform the cleaning step a second time. With an attachment method that allows a user to apply a pushing and pulling motion to a cleaning device, that user may “scrub” the cleaning device back and forth in areas of the gun barrel assembly that require additional cleaning.

What is needed is a device to allow a user to quickly and easily change from one device to another during the cleaning process where such a device allows the user to both push and pull a cleaning device through a gun barrel assembly without unintended disconnection of the cleaning device from the cleaning rod or cable.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a hinged latch type interface between a cleaning rod or cable and cleaning device or additional segments of cleaning rod or cable may be formed using at least one engagement recess or groove which on a first section of the interface, partially or fully encircles a first shaft portion of the cleaning device or non-receiving portion of a cleaning rod and is inset radially from the first shaft portion of the cleaning device or non-receiving portion of the cleaning rod. A second section of the interface comprises a section of channel formed axially into an end portion of a cleaning rod or cable to receive the first shaft portion of the cleaning device or non-receiving portion of a cleaning rod. The second section of the interface may also comprise at least one hinged latch which may engage the engagement groove portion of the first shaft portion of the cleaning device or non-receiving portion of a cleaning rod as it is inserted into the first section of channel. In the described exemplary embodiment, the first shaft portion of the interface is positioned such that the engagement groove of the first shaft portion of the cleaning device enters the channel section of the second section of the interface. The first and second sections may be positioned such that the first shaft portion of the cleaning device makes contact with the end of the hinged latch. Once such contact is made, the first section may be inserted further into the second section so that the first shaft of the cleaning device is pressed further into the second section of the interface causing the hinged latch to move along the outer surface of the first shaft portion until it encounters the engagement recess or groove. When a trailing edge of the hinged latch reaches the beginning of the recess or groove of the first shaft portion of the cleaning device, the hinged latch may move downward such that the latch captures the engagement recess or groove, latching the cleaning device in place. When a user wishes to remove the cleaning device, that user may press an end of the hinged latch opposite from that portion of the hinged latch that is capturing the engagement groove of the cleaning device, causing the end of the hinged latch to rise above the edge of the engagement groove, releasing the groove and hence the cleaning device from the cleaning rod. In such an embodiment, the interface may be used to enable a user to connect a cleaning rod or cable to a cleaning device or an additional cleaning rod or cable by pushing such rod or cable and cleaning device together and partially twisting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In addition to the novel features and advantages mentioned above, other benefits will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustration of an embodiment of the invention applied to a cleaning rod and cleaning device interface;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of an embodiment of the invention showing the cleaning rod and cleaning device interface partially engaged;

FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of an embodiment of the invention showing the cleaning rod and cleaning device interface fully engaged; and

FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of an embodiment of the invention comprising an adapter for a threaded cleaning rod adapter illustrating a cleaning device fully engaged with an embodiment of the cleaning device interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, specific details such as detailed configuration and components are merely provided to assist the overall understanding of these embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The present invention comprises an improved device for cleaning tubular barrel assemblies, including gun barrels. One skilled in the art will realize that such an invention may be used to clean other elongated tubular structures such as, but not limited to, pipes, musical instruments, chimneys, and laboratory instruments. A preferred embodiment of the present invention may utilize a molded plastic material as described herein but one ordinarily skilled in the art will understand that an equivalent device may be fabricated from other materials including, but not limited to, metals, wood, and glass without departing from the spirit of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates, in a perspective view, a barrel cleaning tool 100 configured with an embodiment of the invention. As is illustrated at 102, a barrel cleaning device 104 is secured to a cleaning rod portion 106 of the cleaning tool 100. This cleaning rod portion 106 may be fabricated from a rigid material but may also be fabricated from a flexible material. Examples of such a flexible material may be, but are not limited to, flexible plastic or a cable material. FIG. 2 illustrates a cutaway view of a portion of the barrel cleaning device 104 showing an engagement groove 202, a first shaft portion 204, and a second shaft portion 206. As illustrated, the barrel cleaning device 104 is partially inserted into an axial recess 212 of the cleaning rod portion 106 of the barrel cleaning tool 100. A hinged latch 208 located in a recess formed in the cleaning rod portion 106 of the cleaning tool 100 is illustrated in a partially raised position. The hinged latch 208 may be affixed to the cleaning rod 106 using a pivot pin 210 or similar shape. As is illustrated in the figure, as the barrel cleaning device 104 is being inserted into an axial recess portion 212 of the cleaning rod 106, the leading edge of the hinged latch 214 may rest against the first shaft portion 204 of the barrel cleaning device 104. As is shown, a spring 216 may be used to cause the leading edge of the hinged latch 214 to be pressed against the first shaft portion 204 of the barrel cleaning device 104. Although the spring 216 is illustrated as a ribbon shape, such a spring may also be a coil shape or a flexible material anchored such as to apply pressure against the hinged latch 208. In addition to or in place of the springs described, embodiments of the invention may employ material such as, but not limited to, rubber, latex, or other compressible material to apply pressure to the hinged latch 208.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, as the first shaft portion 204 of the barrel cleaning device 104 is fully inserted into a hollow shaft portion 212 of the shaft 106 of the cleaning tool 100, the second shaft portion 206 of the barrel cleaning device 104 may come into contact with the end of the cleaning rod 106. At about the same time, the leading edge of the hinged latch 214 may be pressed into the engagement groove 202 formed in the first shaft portion 204 of the cleaning device 104 by the spring 216. As a result, the cleaning device 104 may become firmly affixed to the end of the shaft 106 of the barrel cleaning tool 100. To remove the cleaning device 104 from the end of the shaft 106, a user may apply pressure to the trailing end 218 of the hinged latch 208. Such pressure may compress the spring 216 and cause the hinged latch 208 to pivot about the pivot pin 210 which in turn, causes the leading edge 214 of the hinged latch 208 to lift out of the engagement groove 202, releasing the cleaning device 104 from the barrel cleaning tool 100.

In order to keep the hinged latch 208 from protruding beyond the outer diameter of the cleaning rod 106, a narrow ledge 220 may be formed in the trailing edge of the pivot latch 208. This narrow latch may be positioned such that it comes to rest against an inner surface of the hollow shaft portion 212 such that it prevents the trailing edge of the pivot latch 208 from being forced beyond the outer surface of the cleaning rod 106 by the spring 216. This is illustrated in FIG. 3 at 302.

A plurality of different cleaning devices may be connected to a cleaning rod 106 or cable using the engagement ridge and engagement latch arrangement described above. The cleaning device 104 shown is exemplary and it is not intended to represent the only such device that may be used in embodiments of the invention. Many other types of cleaning devices may be used, examples of which may include, but are not limited to, cleaning cloth loops, brushes, scrapers, and swabs. Additional embodiments of the invention may comprise a cleaning device interface that includes a first shaft portion 204, a second shaft portion 206, and an engagement groove 202 and that also comprises a threaded opening to allow for the attachment of threaded cleaning devices such that the convenience afforded to a user of the invention may be extended to other types of cleaning devices.

In addition to the embodiments described above and illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, an embodiment of the invention may also be comprised of an adapter design intended to be affixed to gun barrel cleaning tools which are configured with less convenient cleaning device attachment methods, an example of which may be a threaded connection. Other attachment methods may include, but are not limited to, press-fit, crimping, and adhesive. Such an adapter may comprise a first end with an attachment interface portion and a second end with a recess and pivot latch as described previously. An example of such an embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 4. As is shown, a threaded portion 402 may be provided to attach the adapter to a threaded gun cleaning rod. Other embodiments may replace the threaded portion with an appropriate shape depending upon the attachment method employed. Once attached, a user may change cleaning devices 104 by pressing the pivot latch 208 and removing or installing the cleaning device 104 as described earlier.

To conduct a gun barrel cleaning operation, a user may perform the described twisting motion to attach and remove cleaning devices without having to repeatedly twist to attach and detach cleaning devices as is the case when using known threaded attachment methods. In addition to attachment of cleaning devices, the invention may be applied to connect additional sections of barrel cleaning rods to accommodate longer barrels.

Any embodiment of the present invention may include any of the optional or preferred features of the other embodiments of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. Having shown and described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to the described invention. Many of those variations and modifications will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A system for cleaning debris from a tubular barrel assembly comprised of: a barrel cleaning tool comprising a cleaning rod portion;a recess formed in one end of the cleaning rod;an opening formed in the outer surface of the cleaning rod portion where the opening is in communication with the recess;a latch device located within the opening where a leading end of the latch device has a protrusion extending inwardly toward the recess;a barrel cleaning device with an elongated shaft where the shaft is sized such that it is insertable into the recess; anda recess portion located on the shaft which engages the protrusion of the latch device when the shaft is inserted into the recess.

2. The system of claim 1 where the cleaning rod portion of the barrel cleaning tool is flexible along its length.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the latch device is a hinged latch device which pivots about a pivot pin.

4. The system of claim 2, additionally comprising a spring which acts upon the hinged latch device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated shaft of the barrel cleaning device is substantially cylindrical in shape.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the recess portion on the shaft is formed on a portion of the shaft and extends around the complete circumference of the shaft.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated shaft of the barrel cleaning devices comprises at least two diameters, a first diameter sized to be insertable into the cleaning rod recess and a second diameter that is larger than the cleaning rod recess.

8. An adapter for use with a barrel cleaning tool comprising: a cylindrical rod portion wherein the rod portion comprises an attachment interface to a cleaning tool at a first end of the rod and a recess at a second end;an opening formed in the outer surface of the rod portion where the opening is in communication with the recess;a latch device located within the opening where a leading end of the latch device has a protrusion extending inwardly toward the recess;a barrel cleaning device with an elongated shaft where the shaft is sized such that it is insertable into the recess; anda recess portion located on the shaft which engages the protrusion of the latch device when the shaft is inserted into the recess.

9. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the latch device is a hinged latch device which pivots about a pivot pin.

10. The adapter of claim 9, additionally comprising a spring which acts upon the hinged latch device.

11. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the elongated shaft of the barrel cleaning device is substantially cylindrical in shape.

12. The adapter of claim 11, wherein the recess portion on the shaft is formed on a portion of the shaft and extends around the complete circumference of the shaft.

13. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the elongated shaft of the barrel cleaning devices comprises at least two diameters, a first diameter sized to be insertable into the cleaning rod recess and a second diameter that is larger than the cleaning rod recess.

14. A system for cleaning debris from a tubular barrel assembly comprised of: a barrel cleaning tool comprising a cleaning rod portion;a recess formed in one end of the cleaning rod;an opening formed in the outer surface of the cleaning rod portion where the opening is in communication with the recess;a hinged latch device which pivots about a pivot pin located within the opening where a leading end of the latch device has a protrusion extending inwardly toward the recess;a spring which acts upon the hinged latch device;a barrel cleaning device with an elongated cylindrical shaft comprising at least a first and a second diameter, where the first diameter of the shaft is sized such that it is insertable into the recess and the second diameter sized such that is it larger than the cleaning rod recess; anda recess portion located on the shaft formed on a portion of the shaft and extending around the complete circumference of the shaft which engages the protrusion of the hinged latch device when the shaft is inserted into the recess.