U.S. BACKGROUND
A bayonet is typically implemented as a knife, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket, firearm, or similar weapon, doubling the weapon also as a spear or sword. It is often considered an ancillary close-quarter combat weapon. Modern firearms often have rail systems allowing for additional or ancillary accessories to be attached.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 sets forth a line drawing of a firearm that includes a bayonet system according to example embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 2 sets forth a line drawing further aspects of a removable and retractable firearm bayonet according to example embodiments of the present invention that further illustrates aspects of the extended and retracted positions without illustrating the firearm.
FIG. 3 sets forth a line drawing of an exploded view of a removable and retractable firearm bayonet system according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4 sets forth a line drawing of additional aspects of removable and retractable firearm bayonet systems according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 5 sets forth a line drawing illustrating additional aspects of removable and retractable firearm bayonet systems according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 6 sets forth a line drawing illustrating additional aspects of removable and retractable firearm bayonet systems according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 7 sets forth a line drawing of a removable and retractable firearm bayonet system that is attached to a handle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Example embodiments of removable and retractable firearm bayonet systems according to embodiments of the present invention are provided that include a blade and a mount. In typical embodiments, the blade is secured within the mount and the mount provides at least two secured positions. The secured positions include a retracted position wherein the blade is secured at least partially within the mount and an extended position wherein the blade is secured to the mount with at least a portion of the blade extending beyond the mount. In typical embodiments, the mount also includes one or more removable attachments to secure the mount to a rail system of a firearm.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
Removable and retractable firearm bayonet systems according to embodiments of the present invention are set forth with accompanying drawings beginning with FIG. 1. FIG. 1 sets forth a line drawing of a firearm (100) that includes a bayonet system (102) according to example embodiments of the present invention. The firearm (100) of FIG. 1 is depicted as an M4 machine gun. The M4 machine gun or carbine is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle. The M4 is often implemented as a 5.56×45 mm NATO, air-cooled, direct impingement gas-operated, magazine-fed carbine. It often has a 14.5 in (370 mm) barrel and a telescoping stock. The M4 is heavily used by the United States Armed Forces and is replacing the M16 rifle in most United States Army combat units. The depiction of the M4 and its use in describing removable and retractable firearm bayonet systems in accordance with the present invention is for explanation and not for limitation. In fact, almost any firearm may be adapted for use in conjunction with removable and retractable firearm bayonet systems of the present invention including rifles, hand guns, automatic weapons, semi-automatic weapons and so on as will occur to those of skill in the art.
In the example of FIG. 1, the firearm (100) includes a firearm rail system (104). A firearm rail system is an apparatus attached to the firearm that allows for attachment of accessory devices to the firearm. Often such firearm rail systems include pieces of metal, composite, or derivatives thereof attached to the surface of the firearm in standardized configuration to allow for the attachment of accessory devices.
The example of FIG. 1 depicts a Picatinny rail system. The Picatinny rail, also sometimes referred to as a MIL-STD-1913 rail, Standardization Agreement 2324 rail, or tactical rail, is a bracket for firearms that provides a standard mounting platform for accessories and attachments, similar to the Weaver rail mount. The Picatinny rail consists of a series of ridges with a T-shaped cross-section interspersed with flat “spacing slots.” Accessories are often mounted either by sliding them on from one end or the other; by means of a Weaver mount which is clamped to the rail with bolts, thumbscrews or levers; or onto the slots between the raised sections.
The Picatinny locking slot width is typically 0.206 in (5.23 mm). The spacing of slot centers is typically 0.394 in (10.01 mm) and the slot depth is typically 0.118 in (3.00 mm). One difference between the Picatinny rail and the similar Weaver rail are the size of these slots and the fact that they are typically standardized. Weaver rails often have a slot width of 0.180 in (4.57 mm), but are not necessarily consistent in the spacing of slot centers. Some accessories are designed to fit on both Weaver and Picatinny rails; but most Picatinny devices will not fit on Weaver rails. Many rail-mounted accessories may be attached with and come with only a single recoil pin, avoiding the issue of differing slot spacing between various rail systems. The Picatinny rail system is provided herein for explanation and not for limitation. In fact, many rail systems may be used in conjunction with removable and retractable firearm bayonet systems according to embodiments of the present invention including, but not limited to, the Weaver rail system, the NATO Accessory Rail system, and the KeyMod rail system and many others as will occur to those of skill in the art.
The example of FIG. 1 includes a removable and retractable firearm bayonet system (102) that can be attached to the firearm rail system (104) in a number of different configurations. The bayonet system can be attached to the firearm rail system below the barrel of the firearm, to the side of the barrel of the firearm, above the barrel of the fire arm or in other ways as will occur to those of skill in the art. Furthermore, the bayonet system of FIG. 1 may be attached to the firearm rail system in a number of configurations relative to the rail system. The bayonet system may be attached so that very little of it extends beyond the rail system or may be attached to the rail system so that most of the bayonet system extends beyond the rail system.
The bayonet system of FIG. 1 includes a retractable blade (106). A retractable blade (106) according to embodiments of the present invention is a device utilized in cutting, tearing, ripping, prying, shredding and other activities consistent with blades and their uses as will occur to those of skill in the art. Blades according to embodiments of the present invention can be manufactured from a variety of materials such as Carbon steel, Stainless steel, Titanium, Ceramic composites and other materials that will occur to those of skill in the art. The retractable blade (106) in the example of FIG. 1 may be implemented as a straight blade, a clip point, a drop point, a spear point, a sheep's foot, a false edge, a tanto point, a forward recurve, a recurved blade, a training blade, a pry bar, a tool, or any other blade as will occur to those of skill in the art. In the present embodiment the blade (106) may also have a shielded surface at the proximate most point to the firearm to provide for accidental harm to the user.
The retractable blade (106) is retractable in the sense that it has at least two secured positions one of which exposes at least a portion of the blade and one of which does not expose at least most of the blade. The blade may also include other features such as blood grooves, serration, safety features and so on as will occur to those of skill in the art. In some embodiments, the blade (106) may also have a shielded surface at the proximate most point to the firearm to provide for accidental harm to the user.
The bayonet system of FIG. 1 also includes a mount (108). A mount (108) according to embodiments of the present invention is a configurable attachment to a firearm rail system (104). In some embodiments aspects of the mount may be configured specifically for a particular rail system. In other embodiments, such mounts may be generic to various rails systems.
The mount of FIG. 1 includes a supplemental rail system (170). The supplemental rail system of FIG. 1 provides an additional rail system similar to that already attached to the firearm and serves to provide the ability to incorporate additional accessories mounted not directly to the firearm but instead mounted to the bayonet system (102) of FIG. 1. Additional accessories available to be mounted on additional rail systems in accordance with the present invention include tactical lights, scopes, laser aiming modules, night vision devices, reflex sights, foregrips, bipods, wire cutters, bottle openers, additional bayonet systems and others as will occur to those of skill in the art.
The bayonet system of FIG. 1 is removable as aspects of the mount may be loosened or disassembled such that the bayonet system may be removed from the rail system. For ease of attachment and removal, the mount of FIG. 1 also includes one or more removable attachments (112) to secure the mount (108) to a rail system (104) of a firearm (100). Examples of such removable attachments include quick detachable locks, bolts, thumbscrews, levers, and others as will occur to those of skill in the art. In the example of FIG. 1, three removable attachments are used to secure the mount to the firearm rail system. This is for explanation and not for limitation. In fact, only one removable attachment may be used to secure the mount in some embodiments. In other embodiments, more than one removable attachment may be used.
In the example of FIG. 1, the firearm (100) includes a magazine (116) and a magazine well (114). The magazine (116) is a device to hold ammunition for the firearm. The magazine (116) of the current embodiment fastens into the magazine well (114). The magazine well (114) is made to receive the magazine and fasten the ammunition storage to the firearm. Often users will hold the magazine in the operation of the firearm. By allowing a user to attach the bayonet system (102) to the firearm rail system (104) in a number of different configurations the user may be able to customize the distance between the magazine and the bayonet system of FIG. 1 (if the user attaches the bayonet system to the bottom of the barrel of the firearm) to accommodate user preference in operating the firearm.
In the example of FIG. 1, the blade (106) is secured within the mount (108) and the mount provides at least two secured positions (142, 140). The secured positions in the example of FIG. 1 include a refracted position (142) and an extended position (140). In the example of FIG. 1, when the blade (106) is secured within the mount (108) in the retracted position (142) the blade is at least largely housed within the mount. Housing the blade in the retracted position protects both the blade itself and the user when the blade is not needed for operational use.
In the example of FIG. 1, when the blade (106) is secured in the extended position (140), the blade (106) is secured to the mount (108) with at least a portion of the blade (106) extending beyond a front edge (182) of the mount (108). How far the blade extends in the extended position may vary according to embodiments of the present invention according to various user configurations, manufacturing considerations, operational needs, and other factors that will occur to those of skill in the art.
In the example of FIG. 1, the retractable blade (106) is illustrated in the extended position (140). In the retracted position (142), in the example of FIG. 1, the retractable blade (106) would not be visible. For further explanation, FIG. 2 sets forth a line drawing displaying further aspects of a removable and retractable firearm bayonet (102) according to example embodiments of the present invention that further illustrates aspects of the extended and retracted positions without illustrating the firearm. In the example of FIG. 1, the retracted position (142) is embodied by the blade (106) being housed inside the body of the mount (108). In the example of FIG. 2, the blade (106) is in extended position (140) as it was in the example of FIG. 1.
In the example embodiment of FIG. 2, the blade (106) is held in extended position (140) by a tensioner (118). A tensioner applies force to create or maintain tension to secure the blade to the mount (108). Examples of a tensioners useful in accordance with embodiments of the present embodiment include spring loaded tensioners, screw-type tensioners, locking mechanisms and others as will occur to those of skill in the art.
In the example of FIG. 2, the mount (108) of the bayonet system (102) includes a tensioner (118) for securing the blade (106) with an engagement at the refracted position (142) and for securing the blade with an engagement at the extended position (140). Such engagements may be implemented as positions in the mount itself such that the blade may move in between the retracted and extended positions freely but are secured in place when navigated to the extended or retracted positions. In the example of FIG. 2, a locking knob provides locking to the tensioner itself (illustrated further in FIG. 3) and also allows a user to use the locking knob as a handle to navigate the blade back and forth from the retracted position (142) and the extended position (140).
In some embodiments of the present invention, the tensioner secures the blade to the mount by providing tension parallel to the direction of retraction and exposure of the blade. In some embodiments of firearm bayonet systems according to the present invention a tensioner is implemented to provide constant pressure toward the front edge of the mount and the mount includes an engagement at the retracted position (142) to secure the blade (106) at the refracted position (142) against the constant pressure of the tensioner (118). In this manner when the blade is released from the retracted position the constant pressure forces the blade to an engagement at the extended position (140) to secure the blade (106) at the extended position (140) against the constant pressure of the tensioner (118). In this manner, the bayonet system operates an automatic switch blade.
In some embodiments of the present embodiment, the tensioner is capable of automatic release through a release trigger. The release trigger provides for a release of the tension and the activation of the blade from the retracted position to the extended position. The release trigger is provided for in ambidextrous configurations to allow for ease of use by the user.
In some embodiments the tensioner (118) secures the blade to the mount by providing stable attachment perpendicular to the direction of retraction of the blade. For further explanation, FIG. 3 sets forth a line drawing of an exploded view of a removable and retractable firearm bayonet system according to embodiments of the present invention that illustrates such a tensioner. In the example of FIG. 3, the mount (108) includes a tensioner (118). The tensioner (118) of FIG. 3 includes a tensioner bolt (138), a tensioner spring (136), and a locking knob (134). The tensioner bolt (138), a tensioner spring (136), and a locking knob (134) secure the retractable blade (106) inside the mount (108). Furthermore, the locking knob (134) of the tensioner allows a user to move the retractable blade from the retracted position to the extended position and vice versa.
The removable and retractable firearm bayonet system of FIG. 3 includes a mount (108) that includes a supplemental rail system (170) and a base tray (132). The base tray (132) in the example of FIG. 3 is a receptacle to house and guide the retractable blade (106). The base tray (132) of the present embodiment serves to sheath the retractable blade (106) and provide for stability and support while also serving as an attachment site for the supplemental rail system (170). The configuration allows for a sheathed capability of the retractable blade (106) while also providing for protection against elemental damages and safety of the user.
In the example of FIG. 3, the mount (108) is attached to the firearm rail system through a set of removable side walls (130) and one or more removable attachment designed to attach devices to a rail system of a fire arm. In the example of FIG. 3, the one or more removable attachments (112) are implemented as one or more quick detachable locks (120). In the present embodiment the quick detachable locks (120) are secured through guide pins (126) which attach to the clamp (128) through a secured pin (124). The quick detachable locks (120) of FIG. 3 also include a locking bar (122) which allow a user to move the locking bar to lock and unlock the attachments thereby providing a user with an efficient way to mount, unmount, or other wise move the removable and retractable firearm bayonet system of the present invention. In the example of FIG. 3, three quick detachable locks are depicted. This is for explanation and not for limitation. As mentioned above, any number of quick detachable locks may be used to secure the mount to a firearm as will occur to those of skill in the art.
In the example of FIG. 3, the mount (108) includes a removable side walls (130) adapted to receive between them the blade (106) and adapted to receive the one or more removable attachments (112) to secure the removable side walls (130) to the rail system (not shown) of the firearm. In the example of FIG. 3, the side walls are removable such that the bayonet system (102) may be attached to the rail system in a number of different configurations. In the firearm bayonet system of FIG. 3 the side walls are symmetrically adapted such that the bayonet may be attached to the rail system in a right had mode and in a left hand mode. The terms right and left handed are used for explanation and not for limitation. The term right and left are simply used to distinguish one orientation of the operation of the system from another. If the system is mounted at the bottom of the rails system the system is oriented as a right hand operation and a left hand operation. Those of skill in the art will immediately recognize that if the system is mounted to the side of the firearm the right and left orientations become top and bottom orientations. Such reversibility and symmetry allows for both left and right handed users to benefit from the ergonomics and use of the bayonet system (102) in a number of configurations.
For further explanation, FIG. 4 sets forth a line drawing of additional aspects of removable and retractable firearm bayonet systems according to embodiments of the present invention. In the example of FIG. 1, the bayonet system (102) includes a tensioner (118) that also includes a textured lock knob (134) that fastens to the tensioner bolt (136) to secure the retractable blade (106) in the extended position (140) with the aid of the engagement (192). In the example of FIG. 4, the engagement is implemented as position and shaped within the side walls of the mount of the bayonet system designed to receive and secure the blade in position with the aid of the tensioner. The engagement of FIG. 4 is for explanation and not for limitation In fact, many engagements may be used to secure blades according to the present invention as will occur to those of skill in the art.
For further explanation, FIG. 5 sets forth a line drawing illustrating additional aspects of removable and retractable firearm bayonet systems according to embodiments of the present invention. The example of FIG. 5 is similar to the examples of FIGS. 1-4 in that the removable and retractable firearm bayonet system of FIG. 5 includes a retractable blade (106), a locking knob (134), and a mount (108) with an illustrated extended position (140) and a supplemental rail system (170). The example of FIG. 5 differs in the examples of FIGS. 1-4 in that the example of FIG. 5 also includes a supporting structure (166) having an aperture (168). The supporting structure (166) of FIG. 5 attaches to the mount and provides additional support to the retractable blade (106). In the example of FIG. 5, the aperture (168) of the supporting structure (166) is shaped to accommodate a base (196) of the blade (106). The example of FIG. 5 also includes engagements (198a and 198b) for securing the supporting structure (166) to the mount (108). The supporting structure (166) of FIG. 5 is provided for explanation and not for limitation. In fact, many components may provide additional support for blades useful with removable and retractable firearm bayonet systems according to embodiments of the present invention as will occur to those of skill in the art.
For further explanation, FIG. 6 sets forth a line drawing illustrating additional aspects of removable and retractable firearm bayonet systems according to embodiments of the present invention. The example of FIG. 6 is similar to the example of FIG. 5 in that the removable and retractable firearm bayonet system of FIG. 5 includes a retractable blade (106), a locking knob (134), a tensioner (118), and a mount (108) with a supporting structure (166). The example of FIG. 6 differs from the example of FIG. 5 in that the supporting structure of FIG. 6 is secured to the mount with a securing screw (160). The securing screw (160) securely mounts the supporting structure (166) to the mount (108) allowing the securing structure (166) to provide additional support and stability to the blade (106).
The supporting structure (166) of FIG. 6 also has an aperture (166) shaped to sheath at least a portion of the retractable blade (106). The aperture (168) of FIG. 6 is shaped closely to the cross-sectional profile of the blade. Providing an aperture (168) shaped closely to the cross-sectional profile of the blade may provide both support for the blade and also provide some cleaning for the blade upon retraction of the blade. That is, upon retraction of the blade, debris that has accumulated upon the blade may be pushed outside of the mount by the supporting structure itself. Even further, the supporting mount or the interior of the aperture may be made of a material such that the blade may be sharpened upon the retraction and extension of the blade. Examples of sharpening materials include those often used in sharpening stones such as honing stones, ceramic, diamond stones and others as will occur to those of skill in the art.
As mentioned above, removable and retractable firearm bayonet systems according to embodiments of the present invention may be used as handheld devices when removed from a firearm or other device upon which they are attached. For further explanation, FIG. 7 sets forth a line drawing of a removable and retractable firearm bayonet system that is attached to a handle (192). In the example of FIG. 7, the handle (192) is adapted to engage the mount such that the bayonet system may be used as a handheld weapon without being attached to the firearm. In the example of FIG. 7, the handle (192) includes a rail system such that the mount attaches to the handle in the same manner as it attaches to a firearm rail system of a firearm. A user may therefore keep a handle as an ancillary device and attach to that handle the bayonet system according to embodiments of the present invention for use as a hand held device.
The removable and retractable firearm bayonet system also provides additional weight to the firearm. Such additional weight reduces recoil muzzle climb allowing a user to be even more accurate when using the firearm in its typical fashion.
It will be understood from the foregoing description that modifications and changes may be made in various embodiments of the present invention without departing from its true spirit. The descriptions in this specification are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the language of the following claims.
Patent Application
20170122699
