Conversion kit having interchangeable barrel liners

Abstract

A conversion kit (1) for converting a firearm to fire a plurality of different types of non-lethal training ammunition comprises a single barrel (2) and a plurality of interchangeable barrel liners (3) which can be used in place of each other. The barrel (2) defines a bore (4) which receives one of the barrel liners (3) for firing non-lethal training ammunition and each barrel liner (3) is specific for a type of non-lethal training ammunition.

Claims

1. A conversion kit for converting a firearm to fire a plurality of different types of nonlethal training ammunition which comprises a single barrel and a plurality of interchangeable barrel liners which can be used in place of each other, wherein the barrel defines a bore which receives one of the barrel liners for firing nonlethal training ammunition and each barrel liner is specific for a type of non-lethal training ammunition, and a retaining pin, wherein one of the plurality of barrel liners is inserted into the barrel and is held in position with the retaining pin.

2. A conversion kit according to claim 1 wherein the kit comprises two or more barrel liners which can be received by the bore of the barrel in place of each other.

3. A conversion kit according to claim 1, wherein the conversion kit comprises three barrel liners which can be received by the bore of the barrel in place of each other.

4. A conversion kit according to claim 1, wherein the barrel liners comprise a substantially cylindrical body.

5. A conversion kit according to claim 4 wherein the body of each barrel liner has a radially outer surface which corresponds to the surface of the bore of the barrel.

6. A conversion kit according to claim 5 wherein the body of each barrel liner has a radially inner surface which corresponds to a type of non-lethal training ammunition.

7. A conversion kit according to claim 6, wherein the radially inner surface of the body of the barrel liner has one or more helical grooves.

8. A conversion kit according to claim 6, wherein the radially inner surface of the body of the barrel liner is free of helical grooves and the barrel liner is for firing blank ammunition.

9. A conversion kit according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of barrel liners is in a finished machined state prior to being inserted into the barrel.

10. A conversion kit according to claim 1 wherein the retaining pin is a coiled spring pin.

11. A conversion kit according to claim 1, wherein the retaining pin engages in a channel through the barrel which is substantially perpendicular to the bore of the barrel or the longitudinal axis of the barrel.

12. A conversion kit according to claim 1, wherein the retaining pin engages in a groove or notch in a radially outer surface of the barrel liner to retain the barrel liner in position relative to the barrel for firing ammunition.

13. A conversion kit according to claim 1, wherein each barrel liner fits in the barrel with substantially no gap between the barrel and the barrel liner.

14. A conversion kit according to claim 1, wherein the bore of the barrel is substantially axial and substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the barrel.

15. A conversion kit according to claim 1, wherein a longitudinal axis of the bore of the barrel is at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the barrel at 1°±20% to ±20%.

16. A conversion kit according to claim 1, wherein the firearm is a pistol.

17. A firearm comprising the conversion kit of claim 1.

18. A firearm according to claim 17, comprising a pistol.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) For the purposes of exemplification, the invention will now be further described with reference to the following Figures in which;

(2) FIG. 1 shows barrels (12) of known conversion kits (11) along with a cross sectional view of a barrel (2) of a conversion kit (1) of the invention. Cross sections A, B & C show the barrel configurations of known conversion kits. Section D-D shows an internal view of a barrel of the conversion kit of the invention. It can be seen that the conversion kit (1) of the invention differs from all of the known conversion kits (11). In this regard, the internal diameter of the drilled hole (4) is larger in diameter than section B-B and differs in structure to Section A-A & C-C so that it can receive various barrel liners (3) specific to different types of ammunition.

(3) FIG. 2, shows barrels (12) and the corresponding barrel liners (13) of known conversion kits (11). Also shown is an embodiment of a conversion kit (1) according to the invention showing three barrel liners (3) that all fit with the single barrel (2).

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

(4) It will be appreciated that aspects, embodiments and preferred features of the invention have been described herein in a way that allows the specification to be written in a clear and concise way. However, unless circumstances clearly dictate otherwise, aspects, embodiments and preferred features can be variously combined or separated in accordance with the invention. In a preferred embodiment, a device in accordance with the invention comprises all aspects of the invention.

(5) Within the context of this specification, the word “about” means preferably plus or minus 20%, more preferably plus or minus 10%, even more preferably plus or minus 5%, most preferably plus or minus 2%.

(6) Within the context of this specification, the word “comprises” means “includes, among other things” and should not be construed to mean “consists of only”.

(7) Within the context of this specification, the word “substantially” means preferably at least 90%, more preferably 95%, even more preferably 98%, most preferably 99%.

(8) With reference to the Figures, FIG. 1 shows barrels (12) of known conversion kits (11). In addition, it illustrates a typical embodiment of a barrel (2) of a conversion kit (1) of the invention. Cross sections A, B & C show the barrel (12) configurations of known conversion kits whereas section D-D shows a cross sectional view of a barrel (2) of the conversion kit (1) of the invention.

(9) It can be seen that the conversion kit (1) of the invention differs from all of the known conversion kits (11). In this regard, the internal diameter of the drilled hole (4) in section D-D is larger in diameter than the one in section B-B and differs in structure to those in Sections A-A & C-C so that it can receive various barrel liners (3) specific to different types of ammunition.

(10) FIG. 2 illustrates barrels (12) and the corresponding barrel liners (13) of known conversion kits (11). The figure also shows an embodiment of a conversion kit (1) according to the invention showing three barrel liners (3) that all fit with the single barrel (2).

(11) The barrel (2) defines a bore (4) which is substantially axial and substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the barrel (2). In this regard, in use, as shown in FIG. 2, the longitudinal axis of the bore (4) of the barrel (2) meets the longitudinal axis of the barrel (2) at about 1° to about 5°.

(12) The conversion kit (1) shown in the Figure comprises three barrel liners (3) which have bodies that are substantially cylindrical. In this regard, each barrel liner (3) has a radially outer surface which corresponds to the surface of the bore (4) of the barrel (2). Each barrel liner (3) has a radially inner surface which corresponds to a type of non-lethal training ammunition. In an embodiment, the radially inner surface of a barrel liner (3) has one or more helical grooves which provide riffling to spin a round fired through the liner and gyro stabilize the flight of the fired round. No grooves are provided in the bore of a barrel liner (3) for firing blank ammunition.

(13) The barrel liners (3) are inserted into the bore (4) of the barrel (2) in a finished machined state and held in position with a retaining pin in the form of a coiled spring pin. This allows the liners to be interchangeable. One barrel liner (3) can be easily swapped for a different barrel liner (3) by removing the retaining pin, changing the barrel liner (3) for an alternative barrel liner (3) and reinserting the retaining pin.

(14) The retaining pin engages in a channel (5) through the barrel (2) which is substantially perpendicular to the bore (4) of the barrel (2) and/or the longitudinal axis of the barrel (2). The barrel (2) has an upper surface (6) and a lower surface (7) in use and the channel (5) is located proximal to the upper surface (6).

(15) The retaining pin engages in a groove or notch (8) in a radially outer surface of the barrel liner (3) to retain the barrel liner (3) in position relative to the barrel for firing ammunition. In this regard, each barrel liner (3) fits in the bore (4) of the barrel (2) with substantially no gap between the barrel (2) and the barrel liner (3).

(16) The above described embodiments have been given by way of example only, and the skilled reader will naturally appreciate that many variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.