Patent Application
20250012530
This invention relates to a hunting rifle calibre conversion kit and procedure for converting the calibre of said rifle of the type specified in the preamble of the first claim.
In particular, the object of the invention is a kit that makes it possible to modify the calibre of bullets that can be used by the same hunting rifle changing, at the same time, the firepower.
As known, rifles are firearms that are widely used in hunting. Among the various types of rifles, in particular, double-barrelled rifles are known, with side-by-side or over-and-under barrels, and carabines.
Double-barrelled rifles basically comprise two barrels, which are joined in the case of double-barrelled shotguns and superimposed in other cases, each designed to contain a buckshot cartridge. After shooting, the cartridge carcasses are stored inside the barrel and are then removed by extractors before being able to re-load the rifle again.
The carabine is, in contrast, a firearm similar to a rifle or musket, but shorter and, sometimes, less powerful than a rifle, for example using pistol ammunition. There are currently various types of different carabines on the market, for example the Steyr AUG or M4 model or more common carabines having magazines, for example with seven shots, in the stock.
In addition, revolving rifles have been known for a long time. The latter were developed as early as the mid-19th century. In particular, the Colt New Model Revolving rifles, produced by Colt's Manufacturing Company between 1855 and 1864, are an example of the development of a revolving rifle.
These rifles are essentially similar to revolvers, with a rotating cylinder that houses five or six cartridges with different calibres, for example, .36 and .64 inches.
In general, all rifles, hereby including revolving rifles, comprise revolving cylinders and barrels designed for a specific calibre. Therefore, in a rifle, cartridges with specific diameters can be used that cannot be modified.
Therefore, the prior art described here has some major drawbacks.
In particular, in fact, it is impossible to use ammunition of different calibres in the same rifle.
Thus, it is impossible to modify the firepower or firing features, in general, of the hunting rifle. In this context, the hunter would thus be forced to equip themselves with different rifles to be able to alternate them during the hunt with clear drawbacks in terms of dimensions and weight.
In this situation, the technical purpose behind this invention is to devise a hunting rifle calibre conversion kit and procedure for converting the calibre of said rifle able to substantially overcome at least some of the drawbacks mentioned above.
In the context of said technical task, an important purpose of the invention is to obtain a hunting rifle calibre conversion kit and procedure for converting the calibre of said rifle enabling a user, for example a hunter, to use different calibre ammunitions in the same rifle.
Another important purpose of the invention is to provide a hunting rifle calibre conversion kit and procedure for converting the calibre of said rifle that allows to reduce the necessary dimensions and weight for the user to have firearms with different levels of firepower.
The technical task and specified purposes are achieved with a hunting rifle calibre conversion kit and procedure for converting the calibre of said rifle as claimed in the appended claims.
Preferred technical solutions are highlighted in the dependent claims.
The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In this document, the measures, values, shapes, and geometric references (such as perpendicularity and parallelism), when used with words like “about” or other similar terms such as “approximately” or “substantially”, are to be understood as except for measurement errors or inaccuracies due to production and/or manufacturing errors and, above all, except for a slight divergence from the value, measure, shape, or geometric reference which it is associated with. For example, if associated with a value, such terms preferably indicate a divergence of no more than 10% from the value itself.
Furthermore, when terms such as “first”, “second”, “upper”, “lower”, “main” and “secondary” are used, they do not necessarily identify an order, relationship priority or relative position, but they can simply be used to distinguish different components more clearly from one another.
Unless otherwise specified, as is apparent from the following discussions, it is considered that terms such as “processing”. “computer science”, “determination”, “calculation” or similar, refer to the computer action and/or processes or similar electronic computing devices that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic quantities of registers of an information system and/or memory, other data similarly represented as physical quantities within computer systems, registers or other devices for storing, transmitting or displaying information. Unless otherwise stated, the measurements and data reported in this text shall be considered as performed in International Standard Atmosphere ICAO (ISO 2533:1975).
With reference to the figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes the calibre conversion kit according to the invention.
The calibre conversion kit 1 is preferably configured to be used in hunting rifles or carabines. In particular, this kit 1 makes it possible to use different calibre cartridges and, at the same time, change the firepower of a firearm like a rifle 2.
Thus, the kit 1 comprises at least one rifle 2.
The rifle 2 preferably comprises a barrel 3. The barrel 3 defines a central axis 3a. Alternatively, the rifle 2 may comprise two barrels 3. They may be side by side or they may be vertically aligned and in contact. Of course, the rifle 2 could also include several barrels 3, for example three or even more. The rifle 2, in general, may be any rifle without particular limitations as to kind.
In any case, the barrel 3 is configured to house cartridges of a predetermined main calibre. This main calibre is preferably, but not necessarily, a 12-gauge. The main calibre may be less than a 12-gauge. As known, as the calibre increases, the diameter of the barrel 3 decreases and, thus, the diameter of the cartridges that can be used. For example, a 12-gauge includes a barrel 3 having a diameter of 18.5 mm while a 20-gauge has a barrel 3 having a diameter of 15.6 mm.
The kit 1 advantageously comprises a first conversion apparatus 10. This first conversion apparatus 10 comprises a hollow cylindrical element 4. The cylindrical element 4 defines a first expansion axis 4a. This is configured to be positioned inside the barrel 3 so that the expansion axis 4a coincides with the central axis 3a. In particular, the cylindrical element 4 is configured to house cartridges of a greater calibre than the predetermined main calibre. These cartridges may be, for example, 20-gauge.
In addition, the cylindrical element 4 may comprise a shoulder 40. The shoulder 40 is designed to integrally constrain the reciprocal translation between the cylindrical element 4 and the barrel 3 along the central axis 3a.
Therefore, it is preferable to introduce the cylindrical element 4 into the barrel 3 starting from the inner end of the barrel 3, or the end opposite the outlet end for the bullets.
The rifle 2 may comprise, in addition, a drum 5. The drum 5, if present, has a cylindrical shape. This thus defines a longitudinal axis 5a. In addition, the drum 5 comprises a first base surface 501 and a second base surface 502 opposite the first surface 501. The drum 5 is configured to be removably fastened to the rifle 2. For example, the drum 5 may be fastened to the rifle 2 by means of a joint. The drum 5 may be advantageously removed manually from the rifle 2. In addition, the drum 5 selectively communicates with the barrel 3. In particular, the second base surface 502 is connected with the barrel 3.
The drum 5 comprises housings 50. For example, the drum 5 may comprise six housings 50. The housings 50 are preferably through holes extending parallel to the longitudinal axis 5a. In particular, the housings 50 define respective centres 50a. The centres 50a are distributed on said first base surface 501 along a first circumference 50b and preferably with a first, predetermined pitch. More preferably, the centres 50a are reciprocally equidistant along the circumference 50b. The housings 50 may be made exclusively on one half of the drum 5. In this case, the drum 5 preferably comprises three housings 50.
The housings 50 are configured to house cartridges of the predetermined main calibre.
In one embodiment in which the rifle 2 includes a drum 5, the kit 1 preferably comprises a second conversion apparatus 11. The second conversion apparatus 11 consists of a first alternative drum 5′. The alternative drum 5′ comprises housings 50′ structurally similar to the housings 50 described above. These housings 50′ are designed to house cartridges that have a higher calibre than the predetermined main calibre. In addition, the housings 50′ define respective centres 50a′. The centres 50a′ are distributed along a second circumference 50b′, preferably with a second pitch. The second pitch is preferably equivalent to the first predetermined pitch. In particular, the second conversion apparatus 11 may comprise multiple alternative drums 5′ each defining a specific calibre greater than the predetermined main calibre.
In one additional embodiment in which the rifle 2 includes a drum 5, the kit 1 may comprise, alternatively, multiple third conversion apparatuses 12. Each of these third conversion apparatuses 12 consists of multiple hollow rods 6. Each rod 6 is designed to be arranged in a corresponding housing 50. In particular, the rods 6 are configured to house cartridges of a calibre greater than the predetermined main calibre. In addition, each rod 6 may comprise a groove 600 designed to house the end part of a cartridge, generally intended to remain in the barrel after a shot, so that the latter does not protrude from the rod 6. The drum 5 and the rods 6 together produce a second alternative drum 5″.
Specifically, each rod 6 comprises a shoulder 60. This shoulder 60 is designed to be arranged outside said housings 50. In particular, it contacts the first base surface 501 of the drum 5. The shoulder 60 is configured to integrally constrain the reciprocal translation between the rod 6 and respective housing 50 parallel to the longitudinal axis 5a.
In the embodiment comprising a drum 5, 5′. 5″, the rifle 2 may advantageously comprise a covering. The covering is configured to contain, in use, the drum 5, 5′, 5″ so that it is not accessible from the outside.
The operation of the kit 1 described above in structural terms, is as follows. A user inserts the cylindrical element 4 in the barrel 3 of the rifle 2. The cylindrical element 4 is integrally constrained to the barrel 3 via the shoulder 40.
In the configuration in which the rifle 2 does not comprise the drum 5, it is sufficient to insert cartridges that have a calibre corresponding to the calibre of the cylindrical element 4 into the barrel 3, more specifically into the cylindrical element 4, before proceeding to operate the rifle 2.
An alternative embodiment of the rifle 2 requires that the latter comprise the drum 5. A user manually removes the drum 5 from the rifle 2 and replaces it with the first alternative drum 5′. Subsequently, the user inserts cartridges that have a calibre corresponding to the calibre of these housings 50′ in the housings 50′. An additional configuration stipulates that, inside each housing 50 of the drum 5, a rod 6 is inserted having a calibre corresponding to the calibre of the cylindrical element 4. Cartridges of a suitable calibre are then inserted Inside the rods 6. The invention comprises a new procedure comprising the steps previously described.
The kit 1 according to the invention achieves important advantages.
In fact, a user may use different calibre cartridges inside the same rifle 2 so as to obtain different levels of firepower.
In addition, the kit 1 reduces the dimensions and weight that a user has to carry with them to have firearms with different levels of firepower.
The invention is susceptible to variations falling within the scope of the inventive concept defined by the claims.
In this context, all details can be replaced by equivalent elements, and the materials. shapes, and dimensions may be any materials, shapes, and dimensions.
