FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an improvement in the structure and function of projectile weapons. More specifically, the present invention is a singular modular barrel assembly that allows a projectile weapon to fire both tubular arrow type projectiles and internal bullet type projectiles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Projectile weapons are commonly used for sport, recreation, or for hunting. There are numerous types of projectile weapons that can fire various types of projectiles. Most conventional projectile weapons can fire either tubular arrow type projectiles or internal bullet type projectiles from a distinct and separate barrel design. There exists a need for a singular barrel design that allows a projectile weapon to fire both tubular arrow type projectiles and internal bullet type projectiles.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a singular modular barrel assembly or system that allows a projectile weapon to fire tubular arrow type projectiles or internal bullet type projectiles. The present invention includes components that can be attached or detached from the singular barrel modular assembly or system. These components alter the barrel configuration and allow the projectile weapon to fire either tubular arrow type projectiles or internal bullet type projectiles. In further detail, the base components of the present invention include an outer tube and inner tube that allow tubular arrow type projectiles to be loaded and then fired by a projectile weapon.
Additionally, the present invention includes a barrel-supporting tube, and a compressing and centering mechanism that allow internal bullet type projectiles to be fired by a projectile weapon. Furthermore, the present invention can operate with both pneumatic and pyrotechnic projectile weapons.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded front perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the present invention displaying the barrel-supporting tube and the lead dust collector.
FIG. 4 is an exploded front perspective view of the present invention displaying the barrel-supporting tube and the lead dust collector.
FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the present invention displaying the barrel-supporting tube.
FIG. 6 is an exploded front perspective view of the present invention displaying the barrel-supporting tube.
FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the inner tube displaying one embodiment of the plurality of outer grooves.
FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the inner tube displaying another embodiment of the plurality of outer grooves.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional schematic view of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional schematic view of another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional schematic view of another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional schematic view of another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
In reference to FIGS. 1 through 11, the present invention is a singular modular barrel assembly which allows a projectile weapon to fire tubular arrow type projectiles or internal bullet type projectiles. The present invention includes components that can be attached or detached. These components alter the barrel configuration and allow the projectile weapon to fire either tubular arrow type projectiles or internal bullet type projectiles. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the present invention comprises an outer tube 1, an inner tube 2, and a barrel-attachment body 8. The outer tube 1 is a barrel shroud that protects and aligns the inner tube 2. The inner tube 2 allows a tubular arrow type projectile to be loaded or allows passage for an internal bullet type projectile. The barrel-attachment body 8 allows the present invention to be attached onto the existing barrel of a projectile weapon. The present invention can be used with either pyrotechnic or pneumatic projectile weapons.
The general configuration of the aforementioned components allows the present invention to either load tubular arrow type projectiles or allow passage for internal bullet type projectiles. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer tube 1 and the inner tube 2 each comprise a distal open end 3 and a proximal open end 4. The inner tube 2 traverses into the outer tube 1 and is concentrically positioned with the outer tube 1. This arrangement allows the outer tube 1 to protect and center the inner tube 2 and prevents obstruction when a tubular arrow type projectile or an internal bullet type projectile is loaded. The distal open end 3 of the inner tube 2 and the distal open end 3 of the outer tube 1 are positioned coincident to each other in order to expose the tip of an arrow type projectile when loaded onto the inner tube 2. The proximal open end 4 of the inner tube 2 is positioned external to the outer tube 1, and the proximal open end 4 of the inner tube 2 and the proximal open end 4 of the outer tube 1 are positioned offset from each other. This allows the inner tube 2 to be in fluid communication with the firing mechanism of a projectile weapon. Further, the proximal open end 4 of the outer tube 1 is laterally mounted to proximal open end 4 of the inner tube 2 by the barrel-attachment body 8. This arrangement attaches the outer tube 1 to the barrel-attachment body 8, thereby, allowing the outer tube 1 to protect and align the inner tube 2. Additionally, a user can selectively detach the outer tube 1 from the barrel-attachment body 8. In order to achieve a vacuum-reduction effect and with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the present invention may further comprise a plurality of outer grooves 9. The plurality of outer grooves 9 is integrated into an outer lateral surface 5 of the inner tube 2 and is distributed around a central axis 6 of the inner tube 2. This arrangement reduces vacuum when an arrow type projectile is fired, and thus, there is an increase in speed and a reduction of noise level. In one embodiment of the present invention and with reference to FIG. 8, the plurality of outer grooves 9 may be arranged into a radial configuration about the central axis 6 of the inner tube 2. This arrangement is primarily used to reduce vacuum when a tubular arrow type projectile is fired. In another embodiment of the present invention and with reference to FIG. 7, the plurality of outer grooves 9 may be arranged into a helical configuration about the central axis 6 of the inner tube 2. This arrangement allows the inner tube 2 to reduce vacuum and exert a torque onto tubular arrow type projectiles.
In order to stabilize a bullet type projectile as it travels through the inner tube 2 and with reference to FIG. 7, the present invention may further comprise a plurality of inner grooves 10. The plurality of inner grooves 10, also known as “rifling,” with lands and grooves or polygonal in design, is integrated into an inner lateral surface 7 of the inner tube 2 and is distributed around the central axis 6 of the inner tube 2. This arrangement positions the plurality of inner grooves 10 in order to effectively modify the inner tube 2 and, thus, to stabilize objects which are fired through the inner tube 2. The plurality of inner grooves 10 is preferably arranged into a helical configuration about the central axis 6 of the inner tube 2. This arrangement allows the inner tube 2 to exert a torque onto internal bullet type projectiles as travel along the inner tube 2.
In order for the present invention to effectively be used to fire internal bullet type projectiles and with reference to FIGS. 3 through 6, the present invention may further comprise a barrel-supporting tube 12 and a compressing mechanism 13. The barrel-supporting tube 12 and the compressing mechanism 13 work in conjunction in order to increase accuracy by dampening vibrations as a bullet type projectile is fired through the present invention. The barrel-supporting tube 12 is attached into the distal open end 3 of the outer tube 1. This arrangement fully secures the barrel-supporting tube 12 to the outer tube 1 but also allows the barrel-supporting tube 12 to be detached when tubular arrow type projectiles are being used rather than internal bullet type projectiles. The barrel-supporting tube 12 is preferably attached to the outer tube 1 through a threaded fastener. The barrel-supporting tube 12 is concentrically positioned within the outer tube 1. This allows the outer tube 1 to protect and center the barrel-supporting tube 12. The distal open end 3 of the inner tube 2 traverses into the barrel-supporting tube 12, and the inner tube 2 is mounted into the barrel-supporting tube 12 by the compressing mechanism 13. Thus, any vibrations throughout the inner tube 2 can be dampened by the barrel-supporting tube 12 and the compressing mechanism 13.
In order to dampen vibrations and reduce noise level when an internal bullet type projectile is fired through the present invention and with reference to FIG. 9, the present invention may further comprise at least one first O-ring 14 and at least one second O-ring 15. The at least one first O-ring 14 is used to increase pressure between the inner tube 2 and the barrel-supporting tube 12. The at least one first O-ring 14 is laterally positioned around the inner tube 2 and is pressed in between the inner tube 2 and the barrel-supporting tube 12. Thus, the at least one first O-ring 14 creates pressure when the inner tube 2 is sleeved by the barrel-supporting tube 12. Moreover, the at least one second O-ring 15 is used to increase the pressure between the barrel-supporting tube 12 and the outer tube 1. The at least one second O-ring 15 is laterally positioned around the barrel-supporting tube 12 and is pressed in between the barrel-supporting tube 12 and the outer tube 1. Thus, the at least one second O-ring 15 creates pressure when the barrel-supporting tube 12 is sleeved by the outer tube 2.
In order to further reduce noise level and with reference to FIG. 10, the present invention may further comprise a plurality of vents 19. The plurality of vents 19 traverses through the barrel-supporting tube 12, and the inner tube 2 is in fluid communication with the plurality of vents 19. In further detail, the plurality of vents 19 is used to direct any expended air from the inner tube 2 rearward into the area between the inner tube 2 and the outer tube 1.
In order to further dampen vibrations and with reference to FIG. 11, the present invention may further comprise a compression sleeve 16. The compression sleeve 16 is laterally positioned around the inner tube 2, adjacent to the distal open end 3 of the inner tube 2 and, is compressed in between the inner tube 2 and the barrel-supporting tube 12. This arrangement increases the pressure between the inner tube 2 and the barrel-supporting tube 12. The increase in pressure dampens vibrations, reduces noise level, and increases accuracy.
In order to adjust the compression between the barrel-supporting tube 12 and the inner tube 2 and with reference to FIG. 11, the present invention may further comprise an annular body 17 and a male-threading feature 18, which are used in conjunction as a compression fastener. The male-threading feature 18 is laterally integrated into the annular body 17, and the male-threading feature 18 is threadably engaged to the barrel-supporting tube 12. Thus, the annular body 17 is secured to the barrel-supporting tube 12. Further, the inner tube 2 traverses through the annular body 17. In further detail, the annular body 17 provides compression between the inner tube 2 and the barrel-supporting tube 12, and this compression can be adjusted by either tightening or loosening the annular body 17 to or from the barrel-supporting tube 12.
In order to further suppress the noise level when firing an internal bullet type projectile through the present invention and with reference to FIG. 11, the present invention may further comprise a lead dust collector 20. The lead dust collector 20 is laterally attached to the barrel-supporting tube 12. The lead dust collector 20 is preferably attached to the barrel-supporting tube 12 by a threaded fastener. This arrangement allows the lead dust collector 20 to be secured to the barrel-supporting tube 12 while also allowing the lead dust collector 20 to be selectively detached from the barrel-supporting tube 12. Further, the lead dust collector 20 is concentrically positioned with the inner tube 2. This allows a bullet type projectile to pass through the inner tube 2 and out of the lead dust collector 20 and, thus, the noise level is suppressed. Both the lead dust collector 20 and barrel-supporting tube 12 can be detached as a single unit in order to allow the firing of tubular vaned or un-vaned arrow type projectiles.
In order to assist in centering the inner tube 2 when tubular arrow type projectiles are fired and with reference to FIG. 12, the present invention may further comprise an air choke 21. The air choke 21 is a ring that adds additional compression between the vanes of a vaned tubular arrow type projectile and the outer tube 1. The air choke 21 is laterally attached within the outer tube 1. In further detail, the air choke 21 can be installed or removed via a threaded fastener or using O-ring compression. The air choke 21 is not used when the barrel-supporting tube 12 is attached in order to allowing the firing of the bullet type projectiles.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Patent Application
20200378710
