APPARATUS FOR REDUCING THE MANUAL CYCLING FORCE OF A FIREARM

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for selectively changing the force required to cycle a firearm. In some embodiments, an apparatus is provided with at least two biasing members or springs where one biasing member generates a softer or smaller force than another biasing member. When manually cycling the firearm, the softer biasing member reduces the effort required for a person to cycle the firearm, which reduces the likelihood of injury and allows people with a broader range of physical abilities to cycle the firearm. Then, when the firearm fires a round, the other biasing member provides the greater force required to cycle the firearm in a conventional, semi-automatic or automatic manner.

Claims

1. An apparatus for selectively changing a cycling force of a firearm, comprising: a primary biasing member having a first force constant; a secondary biasing member having a second force constant; a bushing assembly operably engaged with one end of said primary biasing member; a piston operably engaged with one end of said secondary biasing member; wherein, in response to a first force on said bushing assembly, said bushing assembly compresses only said primary biasing member; and wherein, in response to a second force that is greater than said first force on said bushing assembly, said bushing assembly engages said piston such that said bushing assembly compresses both of said primary biasing member and said secondary biasing member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bushing assembly comprises a first bushing with a first cam surface and a second bushing with a second cam surface, wherein said first and second cam surfaces operably engage as said first and second bushings move toward each other along a longitudinal axis to rotate said second bushing from a first position to a second position where said second bushing can selectively engage said piston.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a bushing stud extending from an inner surface of said second bushing; and a piston stud extending from an outer surface of said piston, wherein said bushing stud selectively engages said piston stud to selectively compress both of said primary and secondary biasing members.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said primary biasing member has a rotational force; wherein, when said primary biasing member is at a first displacement, a longitudinal force from said primary biasing member is greater than said rotational force, and said second bushing is in said first position; and wherein, when said primary biasing member is at a second displacement that is greater than said first displacement, said longitudinal force from said primary biasing member is less than said rotational force, and said second bushing is reset to said second position.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said second force causes said second bushing to rotate to said second position faster than said first force.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a guide tube, wherein said primary biasing member and said bushing assembly are disposed around said guide tube, and said secondary biasing member and said piston are disposed in an interior volume of said guide tube.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second force constant is greater than said first force constant.

8. An apparatus for selectively changing a cycling force of a semi-automatic firearm, comprising: a primary biasing member having a first force constant and a rotational force; a secondary biasing member having a second force constant, wherein said primary and secondary biasing members are oriented along a longitudinal axis; a bushing assembly having a first bushing with a first cam surface and having a second bushing with a second cam surface, wherein said first and second cam surfaces operably engage as said first and second bushings move toward each other along said longitudinal axis to rotate said second bushing from a first position to a second position; wherein, when said primary biasing member is at a first displacement, a longitudinal force from said primary biasing member is greater than said rotational force, and said second bushing is in said second position; and wherein, when said primary biasing member is at a second displacement that is greater than said first displacement, said longitudinal force from said primary biasing member is less than said rotational force, and said rotational force resets said second bushing to said first position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a piston positioned in a guide tube, wherein a bushing stud extends from an inner surface of said second bushing, and a piston stud extends from an outer surface of said piston, wherein said bushing stud selectively engages said piston stud to selectively engage said secondary biasing member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a channel extending through a sidewall of said guide tube, wherein said bushing stud and said piston stud extend into said channel.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a guide stud extends inwardly from said first bushing into a groove of said guide tube to fix a rotational position of said first bushing as said first bushing moves along said guide tube.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first cam surface is oriented at a first cam angle, and said second cam surface is oriented at a second cam angle that complements said first cam angle, wherein said first and second cam angles control the timing and selective engagement of the piston stud by the bushing stud.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first and second cam surfaces are flat to provide a linear relationship between movement of said second bushing along said longitudinal axis and rotation of said second bushing between said first and second positions.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first cam surface is one of a plurality of first cam surfaces that are equally spaced about said first bushing, and said second cam surface is one of a plurality of second cam surfaces that are equally spaced about said second bushing.

15. An apparatus for selectively changing a cycling force of a semi-automatic firearm, comprising: a guide tube adapted to be positioned in a slide of said semi-automatic firearm, wherein said guide tube extends from a first end to a second end, and said guide tube has an interior volume and a channel providing access into said interior volume; a primary biasing member disposed around said guide tube; a bushing assembly disposed around said guide tube and positioned at one end of said primary biasing member, wherein said bushing assembly has a bushing stud extending inwardly into said channel; a secondary biasing member disposed in said interior volume of said guide tube; a piston positioned in said interior volume of said guide tube and positioned at one end of said secondary biasing member, wherein said piston has a piston stud extending outwardly into said channel; wherein, in response to a first speed of said slide, said bushing stud passes said piston stud such that said bushing assembly compresses only said primary biasing member; and wherein, in response to a second speed of said slide that is faster than said first speed, said bushing stud engages said piston stud such that said bushing assembly compresses both of said primary and secondary biasing members.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: a second channel and a third channel in said guide tube providing access into said interior volume; a second bushing stud extending inwardly into said second channel, and a second piston stud extending outwardly into said second channel, wherein said second bushing stud passes said second piston stud in response to said first speed, and said second bushing stud engages said second piston stud in response to said second speed; and a third bushing stud extending inwardly into said third channel, and a third piston stud extending outwardly into said third channel, wherein said third bushing stud passes said third piston stud in response to said first speed, and said third bushing stud engages said third piston stud in response to said second speed.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said guide tube extends along a longitudinal axis, and said channels are equally spaced about said longitudinal axis.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a cap that is threadably engaged to said first end of said guide tube, wherein a length of said cap controls a position of said piston in said interior volume of said guide tube, and said position of said piston controls the timing and selective engagement of said piston stud by said bushing stud.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a first recess in said bushing assembly and a second recess in said second end of said guide tube, wherein ends of said primary biasing member extending into said first and second recesses to establish a rotational force of said primary biasing member.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first recess is one of a plurality of first recesses in said bushing assembly, and said second recess is one of a plurality of second recesses to adjust said rotational force of said primary biasing member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the Summary given above and the Detailed Description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these embodiments. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosure or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. Additionally, it should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale.

[0038] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a prior art pistol and its components;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of an apparatus for selectively changing the cycling force of a firearm in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0040] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of components of the apparatus in FIG. 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0041] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first bushing from FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0042] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second bushing and a piston from FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0043] FIG. 6A is a side elevation view of the apparatus in FIG. 2 in a first mode of operation in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0044] FIG. 6B is a side elevation view of the apparatus in FIG. 2 in a second mode of operation in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0045] FIG. 7 is a further side elevation view of the apparatus in FIG. 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0046] FIG. 8A is a side elevation view of a prior art pistol during either a manual cycling or firing of the pistol;

[0047] FIG. 8B is a side elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 in a firearm during a first mode of operation in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0048] FIG. 8C is a side elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 in a firearm during a second mode of operation in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] Similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a letter that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

[0050] A list of the various components shown in the drawings and associated numbering is provided herein:

TABLE-US-00001 Number Component 2 Pistol 4 Frame 6 Trigger 8 Slide 10 Barrel 12 Biasing Assembly 14 Biasing Member 16 Apparatus 18 Guide Tube 20 Primary Biasing Member 22 Bushing Assembly 24 Secondary Biasing Member 26 First Bushing 28 Second Bushing 30 First Cam Surface 32 Second Cam Surface 36 Piston 38 Guide Cap 40 Piston Stud 42 Channel 44 Longitudinal Axis 46 Groove 48 First End 50 Second End 52a, 52b, 52c First Recess 54a, 54b Second Recess 56 Guide Stud 58 Bushing Stud 60 First Path 62 Second Path 64 Longitudinal Force 66 Rotational Force

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] The present disclosure has significant benefits across a broad spectrum of endeavors. It is the Applicant's intent that this specification and the claims appended hereto be accorded a breadth in keeping with the scope and spirit of the disclosure being disclosed despite what might appear to be limiting language imposed by the requirements of referring to the specific examples disclosed. To acquaint persons skilled in the pertinent arts most closely related to the present disclosure, a preferred embodiment that illustrates the best mode now contemplated for putting the disclosure into practice is described herein by, and with reference to, the annexed drawings that form a part of the specification. The exemplary embodiment is described in detail without attempting to describe all of the various forms and modifications in which the disclosure might be embodied. As such, the embodiments described herein are illustrative, and as will become apparent to those skilled in the arts, may be modified in numerous ways within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

[0052] Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning.

[0053] Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein and as depicted in the drawings. It is expressly understood that although the figures depict an apparatus for selectively changing the cycling force of a firearm, the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the term “biasing member” encompasses not only springs, but also bellows, elastomeric or other resilient materials, etc.

[0054] Now referring to FIG. 2, a side elevation view of an apparatus 16 according to the present disclosure is provided. As noted above with respect to FIG. 1, a prior art biasing assembly has a single biasing member for any mode of operation, whether a user is manually racking the slide of the pistol or firing the pistol. In contrast, the apparatus 16 of the present disclosure has two biasing members, a primary biasing member 20 and a secondary biasing member 24, for use in different modes of operation. Specifically, the primary biasing member 20 is lighter with a smaller force constant to make manually racking the slide of a pistol easier for various users. Then, the secondary biasing member 24 is heavier with a greater force constant to aid in the operation of the pistol as it fires.

[0055] In this embodiment, the primary biasing member 20 is disposed about a guide tube 18, and the secondary biasing member 24 is disposed within an interior volume of the guide tube 18. A bushing assembly 22 selectively engages the secondary biasing member 24 in different modes of operation. Specifically, in a first mode of operation, a user manually racks the slide with a smaller force that acts on the bushing assembly 22. The bushing assembly 22 compresses the primary biasing member 20 but not the secondary biasing member 24, which makes racking the slide much easier. Then, in a second mode of operation, the pistol fires, which imposes a greater force on the bushing assembly 22, which causes the bushing assembly 22 to engages both of the primary and secondary biasing members 20, 24 to provide a sufficient biasing action to operate the pistol as it fires.

[0056] Now referring to FIG. 3, a side elevation view of various components of the apparatus in FIG. 2 is provided. The bushing assembly generally comprises a first bushing 26 and a second bushing 28 that operably engage with each other to selectively engage the secondary biasing member 24 in different modes of operation, as discussed herein. Specifically, the first bushing 26 has a first cam surface 30, and the second bushing 28 has a second cam surface 32 that operably engage each other. The first bushing 26 remains in a fixed rotational position as the first bushing 26 moves in a longitudinal direction along the guide tube 18 in any mode of operation. Thus, the cam surfaces 30, 32 engage each other to rotate the second bushing 28 between a first rotational position and a second rotational position to selectively engage the secondary biasing member 24.

[0057] In the depicted embodiment, the first and second cam surfaces 30, 32 are flat, and movement of the second bushing 28 toward the first bushing 26 along a longitudinal axis 44 translates to rotational movement of the second bushing 28 in a linear relationship. Moreover, the depicted angles of the cam surfaces 30, 32 are approximately 45 degrees, and the cam surfaces 30, 32 complement each other. The term “approximately” can imply a variation of +/−10% on a relative basis. However, it will be appreciated that the cam surfaces 30, 32 can be changed to alter the operation of the bushing assembly. The angles of the cam surfaces 30, 32 can be changed to change the manner in which the second bushing 28 rotates to selectively engage the secondary biasing member 24. In other words, these angles can dictate how quickly the second bushing 28 rotates in response to a force impulse and/or acceleration associated with the pistol firing a round. It will be appreciated that the present disclosure encompasses other embodiments with other cam surface angles and other cam surface shapes to create other relationships between the longitudinal and rotational movement of the second bushing 28.

[0058] The secondary biasing member 24 and a piston 36 are positioned within the guide tube 18, and a guide cap 38 is secured to one end of the guide tube 18 to secure the secondary biasing member 24 and the piston 36 within the guide tube 18. The guide cap 38 along with a flanged end of the guide tube secure the primary biasing member 20 and the bushing assembly around the guide tube 18. The piston 36 positioned at one end of the secondary biasing member 24 has a piston stud 40 that extends outwardly into a channel 42 cut through a sidewall of the guide tube 18. A bushing stud extending inwardly from the second bushing 28 and into the channel 42 to selectively engage the piston stud 40. As a user manually racks the slide in a first mode of operation, the bushing stud does not engage the piston stud 40, and the bushing assembly compresses only the primary biasing member 20. As a user fires the pistol in a second mode of operation, the bushing stud engages the piston stud 40 such that both of the primary and secondary biasing members 20, 24 are compressed.

[0059] In the depicted embodiment, the guide tube 18 has three channels 42 evenly spaced around the longitudinal axis 44 of the guide tube 18. Similarly, the piston 36 has three piston studs 40, and the second bushing 28 has three bushing studs. Then, the guide tube 18 has a groove 46 cut into the sidewall. A guide stud extends from an inner surface of the first bushing 26 into the groove 46 to hold the rotational position of the first bushing 26 as the first bushing 26 moves along the guide tube 18. In the depicted embodiment, the guide tube 18 has three grooves 46 evenly spaced around the longitudinal axis 44 of the guide tube 18, and the first bushing 26 has three corresponding guide studs.

[0060] Next, the primary biasing member 20 imparts a rotational force on the second bushing to reset the rotational position of the second bushing after any mode of operation. The primary biasing member 20 has a first end 48 and a second end 50 that each extends away from the helical shape of the rest of the biasing member to engage a first recess 52a in the second bushing 28 and a second recess 54a in the guide tube 18, respectively. The connection between the ends 48, 50 and the recesses 52a, 54a secure the primary biasing member 20 in position and also set a rotational force that the primary biasing member 20 imposes on the second bushing 28. Each of the second bushing 28 and the guide tube 18 can have multiple recesses to accommodate several different positions of the ends 48, 50 of the primary biasing member 20 to establish many different rotational forces. Moreover, for example, the second bushing 28 can have more recesses than the guide tube 18 provide for fine adjustment versus coarse adjustment of the rotational force, or vice versa.

[0061] Now referring to FIG. 4, a perspective view of the first bushing 26 is provided. From this view the first cam surface 30 is shown, and also a guide stud 56 that engages the groove on the guide tube is shown. The first bushing 26 has three guide studs 56 equally spaced about an inner surface of the first bushing 26. Though the guide stud 56 is shown as having a generally circular or spherical shape, other shapes are contemplated. For instance, the guide stud 56 may have a hexagonal shape or a shape with at least one flat surface to prevent rotation or canting of the first bushing 26 as the first bushing 26 moves along the guide tube.

[0062] Now referring to FIG. 5, a perspective view of the second bushing 28 and the piston 36 is provided. Various recesses 52a-52c are shown where an end of the primary biasing member can be selectively inserted to establish the rotational force of the primary biasing member. Next, the second bushing 28 has three bushing studs 58 that selectively engage corresponding piston studs 40 on the piston 36.

[0063] It will be appreciated that some embodiments of the present disclosure can have three bushing studs, three piston studs, three pairs of cam surfaces, and three channels in the guide tube as well as three guide studs and three grooves in the guide tube to prevent rotation between the first bushing and the guide tube, all evenly arrayed around the longitudinal axis of the guide tube. This configuration provides stability to the bushing assembly in the different modes of operation. Moreover, this configuration evenly distributes forces about the longitudinal axis as the cam surfaces engage each other and as the bushing studs contact and engage the piston studs in the second mode of operation. However, it will be appreciated that other embodiments may have fewer or greater than three sets of bushing studs, piston studs, channels in the guide tube, pairs of cam surfaces, grooves, and guide studs.

[0064] Now referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, side elevation views of the apparatus in a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation are provided, respectively. The first bushing 26 remains in the same rotational position during the cycling of the slide of the pistol in any mode of operation, but the second bushing 28 rotates between a first position and a second position as the cammed surfaces of the bushings 26, 28 engage each other. The second bushing 28 is in the first position as shown in FIG. 2, and the second bushing 28 is in the second position as shown in either FIG. 6A or FIG. 6B. Thus, the second bushing 28 rotates to the second position in either mode of operation, but the manner in which the second bushing 28 rotates to the second position controls whether the second bushing 28 engages the piston and the secondary biasing member for the second mode of operation where the pistol is firing.

[0065] FIG. 6A shows two paths that a bushing stud can travel as the second bushing 28 rotates from the first position to the second position. On a first path 60, and in response to a smaller force as a user manually racks the slide during a first mode of operation, the second bushing 28 rotates slowly, and the bushing stud travels by the piston stud 40 without engaging the piston stud 40. On a second path 62, and in response to a greater force as a user fires the pistol during a second mode of operation, the second bushing 28 rotates quickly, and the bushing stud contacts and engages the piston 40, as shown in FIG. 6B. The much greater force impulse and/or acceleration causes the second bushing 28 to rotates more quickly to engage the piston, which compresses the secondary biasing member as the bushing assembly compresses the primary biasing member. The width of the channel cut into the guide tube can be described as being at least as large as the combination of the width of the piston stud 40 and the width of the bushing stud to allow the different paths 60, 62 of the bushing stud.

[0066] Various aspects of the apparatus can be adjusted to accommodate many different types of firearms, ammunitions, etc. A given firearm and/or ammunition can require a certain range of forces acting on different components of the firearm at different times and location to ensure that the firearm functions properly. Yet the apparatus must also function to ensure that the bushing engages the piston. Thus, the force constants of the biasing members 20, 24, the cam surfaces of the bushing assembly, the size and position of the piston, as established by the guide cap, and other components can be adjusted to ensure that the apparatus functions as intended in any mode of operation.

[0067] Now referring to FIG. 7, a further side elevation view of the apparatus 16 is provided. As noted above, the second bushing 28 rotates from a first position to a second position in any mode of operation. At the conclusion of any mode of operation, the second bushing 28 must be returned to the first position. The primary biasing member 20 has a force constant where, as the primary biasing member 28 is compressed, the primary biasing member 20 exerts a longitudinal force 64 that increases as the primary biasing member 20 is further compressed. The primary biasing member 20 can also be wound with its ends extending into recesses in the guide tube and second bushing 28, as described above, to impart a rotational force 66. This rotational force 66 remains substantially constant as the primary biasing member 20 is compressed during operation in any mode.

[0068] In FIG. 7, the rotational force 66 is greater than the longitudinal force 64 to locate the second bushing 28 in the first position. As the primary biasing member 20 is compressed in any mode of operation, the cam surfaces of the bushings engage and rotate the second bushing 28 to the second position. Then, as the primary biasing member 20 begins to expand, the longitudinal force 64 is initially greater than the rotational force 66, and the second bushing 28 remains in the second position. However, as the primary biasing member 20 continues to expand, the longitudinal force 64 becomes smaller and smaller, and eventually the longitudinal force 64 is less than the rotational force 66 such that the rotational force 66 resets the second bushing 28 to the first position.

[0069] FIGS. 8A-8C show the operation of a prior art biasing member and the apparatus of the present disclosure in the context of a pistol. FIG. 8A shows a prior art biasing member 12 that compresses as the slide 8 of a pistol acts on the biasing member 12. The prior art biasing member 12 has the same force constant regardless of whether the slide 8 is moving in response to a small force like a user manually racking the slide 8 or in response to a large force when the pistol is firing.

[0070] In contrast, FIG. 8B shows the apparatus 16 of the present disclosure in a first mode of operation, and FIG. 8C shows the apparatus 16 in a second mode of operation. Specifically, FIG. 8B shows the pistol in a first mode of operation where a user is manually racking the slide 8. The apparatus 16 has therefore not engaged the piston 36 and the secondary biasing member 24, and only the lighter primary biasing member is compressed to provide an easier racking motion for the user. FIG. 8C shows the pistol in a second mode of operation where the pistol is firing, which exerts a greater force on the apparatus 16. As a result, the apparatus has engaged the piston and both of the primary and secondary biasing members are compressed to provide a sufficient force to operate the pistol as it fires.

[0071] While the figures show an apparatus that has a system of studs for selective engagement of a piston and a secondary biasing member, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure encompasses further embodiments of selective engagement. For example, in one embodiment, a freely rotatable first bushing can have a beveled end that can contact a retractor with a sufficient force, e.g., when a pistol is fired in a second mode of operation, to cause a retractor to engage a piston to compress both of a primary biasing member and a secondary biasing member. Further disclosure of such an exemplary embodiment can be found in Appendix D.

[0072] The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the disclosure to the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments described and shown in the figures were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure, the practical application, and to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure.

[0073] While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Moreover, references made herein to “the present disclosure” or aspects thereof should be understood to mean certain embodiments of the present disclosure and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a particular description. It is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure, as set forth in the following claims.