Patent Application
20250102250
A rifle is a type of weapon that fires rounds. Typically, the rifle includes a trigger, a hammer, and a barrel. The round is positioned in the barrel, and, when the trigger is pulled, the hammer fires the round through the barrel.
A bolt action rifle is loaded by a manually operated bolt. The rifle bolt is operated manually by using a bolt handle to open and close the breech. The breech is opened by rotating the bolt handle to unlock the bolt from the receiver and pulling it rearward to open the breech. Opening the breech provides for the extraction and ejection of a spent cartridge case, cocks the firing pin, and draws a new cartridged round from the magazine and into the breech. The bolt is closed by rotating the bolt handle to the original closed position to make the rifle ready to fire again.
The M1903 Springfield rifle is a type of conventional bolt-action rifle used primarily during the first half of the 20th century. The Remington M-700 rifle is another type of conventional bolt-action rifle commonly used by civilians for hunting and by military and civilian law-enforcement agencies as sniper rifles.
A modular rifle typically includes a lower receiver assembly, an upper receiver assembly housing the barrel, and one or more coupling mechanisms. The M-16 style rifle is a type of modular rifle system commonly used by military and police forces that features a gas-operated bolt and bolt carrier system, as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,951,424, issued to Eugene M. Stoner on Sep. 6, 1960 (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The AR-15 style rifle is a similarly designed modular rifle system commonly sold and used in civilian applications.
Systems and methods for modular rifles and for quick take-down barrel systems and methods are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,810,271, 8,661,963, 8,689,478, and 8,739,449 issued to Swetal K. Patel and are incorporated herein by reference.
A system and method for a bolt action rifle that uses an AR-15 style fire control system and a modular design with roller bearings on the bolt provides for a rifle system that allows for a reduced friction for the bolt carrier and therefore less mechanical wear, reduced size of the bolt carrier group, and increased performance and reliability, particularly with powerful .50 BMG cartridges, and that allows for and take-down, or disassembly, of the rifle in an expeditious manner in the field and without requiring the use of multiple tools.
Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the modular bolt action rifle system with bearings, the system 101 includes an upper receiver assembly 102 housing a barrel 104, a lower receiver assembly comprising an AR-style fire control system 105 and a magazine well 106, a bolt carrier group assembly 111 including bolt carrier 108, and a handguard assembly 103. Optionally, the system may include a stock or grip. The lower receiver comprising the AR-style fire control 105 and magazine well is releasably attached to the upper receiver 102 using conventional AR retaining pins. Prior to attachment of the barrel assembly, the bolt carrier group assembly 111, consisting of a bolt carrier 108, bolt head 109, bolt charging handle 107, top roller bearings 110, and side roller bearings 120, is inserted unto the upper receiver 102. An extension of the barrel assembly 104 is releasably attached to the upper receiver 102 to a barrel extension receiver. The barrel assembly 104 is releasably secured by releasable attachment of the handguard assembly 103 to the barrel extension receiver of the upper receiver assembly 102 and the handguard assembly by insertion of one or more screws into screw receptacles which, when the screws are tightened, both compress the handguard assembly 103 to the barrel extension receiver and secure the handguard assembly 103 to the barrel extension receiver and upper receiver assembly 102 by engaging one or more channels in the barrel extension receiver.
In certain embodiments, a modular bolt action rifle system with bearings includes an upper receiver assembly housing a barrel assembly, a lower receiver assembly comprising an AR-style fire control system and a magazine well, a bolt carrier group assembly including bolt carrier with top roller bearings and side roller bearings, and a handguard assembly. The lower receiver assembly comprising the AR-style fire control is releasably attached to the upper receiver using conventional AR retaining pins. The barrel assembly is releasably attached to the upper receiver to a barrel receiver extension. The barrel assembly is releasably secured by releasable attachment of the handguard assembly to a barrel receiver extension of the upper receiver assembly by insertion of one or more screws which, when tightened, both compress the rail assembly to both the barrel receiver extension and secure the rail assembly to the barrel receiver extension and upper receiver assembly and engaging a releasable pin though the handguard and a channel in the barrel receiver extension.
While particular embodiments of modular bolt action rifles with bearings have been disclosed in detail in the foregoing description and figures for purposes of example, those skilled in the art will understand that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.
In certain embodiments, this new system and method utilizes a traditional four-lug bolt head, bolt receiver, and firing pin, but has a bolt carrier that rides in its entirety on roller bearings such that the bolt carrier never touches in the interior of the bolt in the upper receiver.
In certain embodiments, the roller bearings consist of two or more roller bearings on the top, or 12 o'clock position relative to the bolt carrier, and there or more side roller bearings on each side, or 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, respectively, relative to the bolt carrier.
In certain embodiments, this new system and method allows for quick assembly and disassembly of a bolt action modular-style rifle system with bearings using an AR-style fire control system on a lower receiver assembly, joined to an upper receiver assembly with standard AR-style retaining pins, a barrel assembly, and handguard assembly, and an optional stock assembly.
In certain embodiments, a modular bolt action rifle with bearings provides for the mounting of the barrel assembly to the upper receiver to a barrel receiver extension and attaching the handguard or rail assembly to the barrel extension and the upper receiver with one or more screws which, when tightened, both compress the rail assembly to both the barrel receiver extension, and one or more releasable pins which and secure the handguard or rail assembly to the barrel receiver extension of the upper receiver assembly by engaging a receiving channel in the handguard and one or more channels in the barrel receiver extension.
In certain embodiments, to keep the handguard from rotating off the barrel receiver extension upper receiver assembly during firing of the rifle, the handguard portion is attached to the barrel receiver extension and one or more shoulder screws that compress the open machined slot at the 6 o'clock position on the hand guard portion.
In certain embodiments, one or more channels is machined in the outside diameter of the barrel receiver extension of the upper receiver assembly through which releasable pin is inserted, further keeping the hand guard portion from traveling forward along the barrel toward the muzzle during firing of the rifle. The handguard assembly is secured to the barrel assembly by one or more screws that, when tightened, compress the handguard to the barrel assembly. In this manner, the barrel assembly remains properly and securely attached to the upper receiver assembly of the rifle system.
In certain embodiments, the modular bolt action rifle system with bearings is chambered to fire .50 caliber, or .50 BMG, rounds.
In certain embodiments, the modular bolt action rifle system with bearings utilizes one-half inch bearings for the top roller bearings and 10 mm bearings for the side roller bearings.
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages of the disclosed system and method include variations and modifications apparent or that may become apparent to one of skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description, without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included within this description.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/584,635 filed Sep. 22, 2023, the contents of which being incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63584635 | Sep 2023 | US |
