BUFFER TUBE INSERT AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

Abstract

A buffer tube insert includes an elongated portion and one or more projections extending from the elongated portion. The one or more projections are configured for insertion into one or more corresponding notches on a buffer tube. Each projection includes a connection arrangement such as, but not limited to, a threaded interior for receiving a connection member such as, but not limited to, a set screw that can facilitate the restriction of movement between the buffer tube and a gunstock.

Claims

1. A buffer tube insert, comprising: an elongated portion; and one or more projections extending from the elongated portion, each projection including an interior cavity; and wherein each of said projections is configured for insertion in a corresponding notch on a buffer tube of a firearm.

2. The buffer tube insert as defined in claim 1, wherein one or more of said projections is cylindrical or substantially cylindrical.

3. The buffer tube insert as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated portion has a plurality of said projections arranged in series along a length of said elongated portion.

4. The buffer tube insert as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated portion includes 2-6 of said projections.

5. The buffer tube insert as defined in claim 1, wherein said cavity of each of said of projections is configured to a connection member.

6. The buffer tube insert as defined in claim 5, wherein said connection member is releasably connected to said cavity.

7. The buffer tube insert as defined in claim 5, wherein said cavity includes a threaded cavity and said connection member is a threaded screw.

8. The buffer tube insert as defined in claim 1 configured to be received between rails extending from the buffer tube.

9. The buffer tube insert as defined in claim 8, wherein the rails extend from an underside of the buffer tube.

10. The buffer tube insert as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated member and/or said one or more projections are formed of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of steel and titanium.

11. A gunstock assembly, comprising: a collapsible gunstock including an adjustment mechanism; a buffer tube slidably housed within the collapsible gunstock, the buffer tube comprising: an elongated tube portion; and a flat portion affixed to an outer surface of the tube, the flat portion including: a track defined by two rails extending along at least a portion of a length of the elongated tube portion; and a plurality of notches arranged in series along at least a portion of a length of the flat portion between the two rails; a buffer tube insert including: an elongated portion; and one or more projections extending from the elongated portion, each projection including an interior cavity; and wherein each of said projections is configured for insertion in a corresponding notch on a buffer tube of a firearm; a connection member configured for insertion into the adjustment mechanism and releasably connectable with one of said projections of the buffer tube insert.

12. A method of using a buffer tube insert, the method comprising: positioning a buffer tube insert between rails extending from a buffer tube slidably housed within a gunstock, wherein the buffer tube insert includes: an elongated portion; and one or more projections extending from the elongated portion, each projection including an interior cavity; and wherein each of said projections is configured for insertion in a corresponding notch on a buffer tube of a firearm; axially adjusting a position of the gunstock relative to the buffer tube insert, such that an aperture of the adjustment mechanism aligns with said cavity of one of said projections; and securing a connection member through the aperture of the adjustment mechanism within said cavity of said projection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The following is a brief description of the drawings, which are presented for the purposes of illustrating the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein and not for the purposes of limiting the same.

[0032] FIG. 1 depicts a side plan view of a buffer tube insert according to one embodiment;

[0033] FIG. 2 depicts a top plan view of the buffer tube insert of FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 3 depicts an end plan view of the buffer tube insert of FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the buffer tube insert of FIG. 1 with a buffer tube and set screw;

[0036] FIG. 5 depicts a schematic view of the buffer tube insert of FIG. 1, along with the buffer tube and set screw of FIG. 4, with a buffer tube position secured within a gunstock by the set screw;

[0037] FIG. 6 depicts a side plan view of an buffer tube insert according to another embodiment;

[0038] FIG. 7 depicts a top plan view of the buffer tube insert of FIG. 6; and

[0039] FIG. 8 depicts an end plan view of the buffer tube insert of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS

[0040] Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the embodiments selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings and the following description below, it is to be understood that like numeric designations refer to components of like function.

[0041] The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0042] As used in the specification and in the claims, the term “comprising” may include the embodiments “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.” The terms “comprise(s),” “include(s),” “having,” “has,” “can,” “contain(s),” and variants thereof, as used herein, are intended to be open-ended transitional phrases, terms, or words that require the presence of the named ingredients/steps and permit the presence of other ingredients/steps. However, such description should be construed as also describing compositions or processes as “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” the enumerated ingredients/steps, which allows the presence of only the named ingredients/steps, along with any unavoidable impurities that might result therefrom, and excludes other ingredients/steps.

[0043] Numerical values in the specification and claims of this application should be understood to include numerical values which are the same when reduced to the same number of significant figures and numerical values which differ from the stated value by less than the experimental error of conventional measurement technique of the type described in the present application to determine the value.

[0044] All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the recited endpoint and independently combinable (for example, the range of “from 2 grams to 10 grams” is inclusive of the endpoints, 2 grams and 10 grams, and all the intermediate values).

[0045] The terms “about” and “approximately” can be used to include any numerical value that can vary without changing the basic function of that value. When used with a range, “about” and “approximately” also disclose the range defined by the absolute values of the two endpoints, e.g., “about 2 to about 4” also discloses the range “from 2 to 4.” Generally, the terms “about” and “approximately” may refer to plus or minus 10% of the indicated number.

[0046] As will be described herein, buffer tube inserts in accordance with the present disclosure are disclosed that can be used to convert a collapsible gunstock to a fixed gunstock. Gunstock assemblies including buffer tube inserts are also disclosed. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a buffer tube insert 10 can include can include an elongated portion 12 and a plurality of projections 14 extending from the elongated portion. Each of the plurality of projections 14 can include a threaded interior 16. As can be appreciated, cavity of the projections 14 can include other interior configurations (e.g., a locking slot arrangement, snap arrangement, pin arrangement, twist lock arrangement, quick release arrangement, a barb arrangement, etc.).

[0047] In certain embodiments, and as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the projections 14 can be arranged in series along a length of the elongated portion 12, and in such embodiments, the projections 14 can be located at each end thereof In certain embodiments, the buffer tube insert 10 can include six projections 14. It will be appreciated, however, that any suitable number of projections can be employed in any of a variety of configurations of a buffer insert tube. As such, the buffer tube insert 10 can include one or more projections 14 (e.g., 1-10+ and all values and ranges therebetween), and the buffer insert tube can be accordingly configured to include the same number, a smaller number or greater number of projections 14 as the number of guide notches 18 on a buffer tube 20. The longitudinal length of the buffer tube insert 10 can be the same length, a longer length or a shorter length than the buffer tube 20. The width of the of the buffer tube insert 10 can be the same width, a larger width or a smaller width than the buffer tube 20.

[0048] The buffer tube insert 10 can be configured for use with commercial buffer tubes or any conventional type of buffer tubes of firearms. In certain non-limiting embodiments, the body 11 of the buffer tube insert 10 includes plurality of projections 14. The number of projections 14 are non-limiting. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the buffer tube insert 10 has six (6) projections 14. The number of the projections 14 are generally the same as or less than the number of guide notches 18 on a buffer tube 20. The spacing of two or more adjacently positioned projections 14 are generally the same as the spacing of the guide notches 18 on the buffer tube 20; however this is not required.

[0049] The projections 14 are configured for insertion in corresponding position guide notches 18 on a buffer tube 20. As shown on the conventional buffer tube 20 depicted in FIG. 4, the guide notches 18 are cylindrically-shaped and arranged in series. As can be appreciated, the guide notches can have a different shape. Thus, in certain embodiments, each of the plurality of projections 14 can be cylindrical, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, such that the projections 14 can be configured to be effectively received by the notches 18. It will be appreciated, however, that while the projections 14 and notches 18 depicted in, for example, FIGS. 1-5 are shown to be cylindrical and arranged in series, projections and notches may be provided as cylindrical, substantially cylindrical, or in any of a variety of suitable shapes or configurations, such that the projections can be effectively received within the notches. Generally, the shape of the projections 14 is the same as the shape of the guide notches 18; however, this is not required.

[0050] In one non-limiting embodiment, the buffer tube insert 10 can have a length of about 90.75 mm and a width of about 8.00 mm to about 8.40 mm and the elongated portion 12 can have a height of about 4.35 mm and each of the projections 14 can have a height of about 3.5 mm, such that a height of the buffer tube insert 10 can be about 4.35 mm or about 7.85 mm along the length of the same. The diameter of the projections 14 can be about 8.00 mm to about 8.40 mm, and the diameter of the threaded interior 16 of the projection 14 can be about 4.00 mm. In such embodiment, a length between longitudinal axes of adjacent projections 14 can be about 16.55 mm. While the lengths between the longitudinal axes of adjacent projections 14 can be the same along the length of the buffer tube insert 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, lengths between longitudinal axes of adjacent projections can vary along a length of a buffer tube insert 110, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. As can be appreciated, the projections 14 can have a connection arrangement other than a threaded interior 16. Such other connection arrangements can include a slotted locking arrangement, a locking slot arrangement, snap arrangement, pin arrangement, twist lock arrangement, quick release arrangement, a barb arrangement, etc.

[0051] In another non-limiting embodiment, such as that shown in FIGS. 6-8, the elongated portion 112 can have a height of about 3.75 mm and each of the projections 114 can have a height of about 3.5 mm, such that a height of the buffer tube insert 110 can be about 3.75 mm or about 7.25 mm along the length of the same. Further, it will be appreciated that projections 14 and guide notches 18 may be provided in any of a variety of suitable sizes, such that the projections 14 can be effectively received within the guide notches 18.

[0052] In another embodiment, the buffer tube insert 10, 110 can be formed of a variety of materials. In one specific configuration, the buffer tube insert 10, 110 can be formed of steel and titanium. It will be appreciated, however, that a buffer tube insert can be formed from any of a variety of suitable materials. In certain embodiments, the buffer tube insert 10 could further provide improved wear resistance in the buffer tube 20.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 5, a gunstock assembly 22 can comprise a buffer tube 20 and a collapsible gunstock 24 including an adjustment mechanism 26, with a set screw 28. Generally, buffer tube 20 can be slidably housed within the collapsible gunstock 24 from a first position, in which a firearm is fully extended, and a second position, in which the firearm is collapsed. It will be appreciated, however, that in certain embodiments, a collapsible gunstock can be moved and secured at any position between a first position and a second position. The adjustment mechanism 26 of a collapsible gunstock 24 can be used to facilitate securement at such positions in association with the position guide notches 18.

[0054] In certain non-limiting embodiments, the buffer tube 20 can include an elongated tube portion 30 and a flat portion 32. The flat portion 32 can include the plurality of notches 18 and can be affixed to or integrated within an outer surface of the tube portion 30 of the buffer tube 20. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the flat portion 32 can include a track 34 defined by a pair of rails 36, which can extend along at least a portion of a length of the elongated tube portion 30 and on both sides of the plurality of notches 18. In certain embodiments, the track 34 can be positioned on an underside of the buffer tube 20. A portion or all of the buffer tube insert 10 can be received between the rails 36, and one or more of the plurality of projections 14 of the buffer tube insert can be inserted into the notches 18 of the flat portion 32 of the buffer tube 20, such that the buffer tube insert fits securely within the buffer tube. In certain embodiments, the buffer tube insert 10 can be secured by a snug fit between the rails. In certain embodiments, the buffer tube insert 10 can be secured or held in place by an interior portion of the gunstock 24. In certain embodiments, all or a portion of the buffer tube insert 10 can rest on the top or one or both rails. It will be appreciated, however, that the buffer tube insert can be secured to or urged against a buffer tube, or otherwise held in place, by any of a variety of suitable devices or methods.

[0055] In certain non-limiting embodiments, the adjustment mechanism 26 can define an aperture 38 and be used with the set screw 28 to restrict movement of the gunstock 24. With the projections 14 of the buffer tube insert 10 secured within the notches 18 of the buffer tube 20, as shown in FIG. 5, the gunstock 24 can be positioned such that the aperture 38 within the adjustment mechanism 26 is in alignment with the threaded interior 16 of one of the plurality of projections 14 of the buffer tube insert 10. The set screw 28 can extend through the aperture 38 and into the threaded interior 16 for threaded connection with one of the plurality of projections 14, as the threaded interior 16 for each of the plurality of projections 14 can be configured to receive the set screw 28. Upon securement of the set screw 28 to the buffer tube insert 10, movement of the gunstock 24 relative to the buffer tube 20 is restricted. Accordingly, a collapsible gunstock can be converted to a fixed gunstock. As can be appreciated, the removal of the buffer tube insert causes the gunstock to again be collapsible. The set screw or some other type of connector can be configured to be removable or irremovable once inserted into a projection 14 of the buffer tube insert 10.

[0056] A non-limiting method of using the buffer tube insert 10 in accordance with the present disclosure can include positioning the buffer tube insert between the pair of rails 36 such that one or more of the plurality of projections 14 can be insert into one or more of the corresponding plurality of notches 18 on the buffer tube 20. Subsequently, a user can adjust the position of the gunstock 24 relative to the buffer tube 20, such that the aperture 38 of the adjustment mechanism 26 aligns with the threaded interior 16 of one of the plurality of projections 14. A user can further secure the set screw 28 extending through the aperture 38 within the threaded interior 16 to restrict movement of the gunstock. The set screw 28 can be removed by the user to allow the movement of the gunstock.

[0057] In various embodiments disclosed herein, a single component can be replaced by multiple components and multiple components can be replaced by a single component to perform a given function or functions. Except where such substitution would not be operative, such substitution is within the intended scope of the embodiments.

[0058] Additional features and methods of operation of buffer tube insert 10 are included in the figures.

[0059] A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

[0060] Disclosed are materials, systems, devices, methods, compositions, and components that can be used for, can be used in conjunction with, can be used in preparation for, or are products of the disclosed methods, systems, and devices. These and other components are disclosed herein, and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions, groups, etc. of these components are disclosed that while specific reference of each various individual and collective combinations and permutations of these components may not be explicitly disclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein. For example, if a device is disclosed and discussed each and every combination and permutation of the device, and the modifications that are possible are specifically contemplated unless specifically indicated to the contrary. Likewise, any subset or combination of these is also specifically contemplated and disclosed. This concept applies to all aspects of this disclosure including, but not limited to, steps in methods using the disclosed systems or devices. Thus, if there are a variety of additional steps that can be performed, it is understood that each of these additional steps can be performed with any specific method steps or combination of method steps of the disclosed methods, and that each such combination or subset of combinations is specifically contemplated and should be considered disclosed.

[0061] To aid the Patent Office and any readers of this application and any resulting patent in interpreting the claims appended hereto, Applicant does not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.