QUICK-RELEASE TAKE-DOWN SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Abstract

A quick-release take-down assembly for a weapon, including a quick-release, spring-loaded cam lever or handle, or a set of clips, that enables a handler to quickly and efficiently release the upper assembly from the lower assembly to access the bolt, carrier, and other components of the weapon for cleaning and other purposes. The quick-release system eliminates the need for standard, sliding take-down pins that can become stuck, require detent pins/springs in order to stay in place, require tools, and/or become misaligned.

Claims

1. A take-down assembly for a weapon, comprising: a. a lower assembly; b. an upper assembly configured to couple with the lower assembly; c. a wedge located within the lower assembly and configured to lock the upper assembly coupling to the lower assembly by force of a spring located within a bore of the lower assembly; and d. a handle coupled to the wedge and configured to pull the wedge away from the upper assembly and compress the spring, thereby unlocking the upper assembly coupling to the lower assembly.

2. The take-down assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle is an L-shaped cam arm that rotates on a cam pin and fits into a groove of the lower assembly.

3. The take-down assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle is a T-handle.

4. The take-down assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper assembly is configured to couple with the lower assembly via hooks on the upper assembly that wrap around pins of the lower assembly.

5. The take-down assembly of claim 4, wherein the pins are roll pins that are pressed into the upper assembly.

6. The take-down assembly of claim 4, wherein the pins are welded to the upper assembly.

7. The take-down assembly of claim 1, wherein the wedge is configured to lock the upper assembly coupling to the lower assembly by pressing against an angled portion of the upper assembly.

8. The take-down assembly of claim 1, wherein the weapon is an AR-15.

9. The take-down assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle is further configured to rotate to an unlocked position that prevents the wedge from contacting the upper assembly.

10. A method of disassembling a weapon, comprising: a. in a lower assembly of the weapon, pulling a handle coupled to a wedge to move the wedge away from an upper assembly and compress a spring; b. rotating the handle to a position in which a portion of the handle catches on the lower assembly to unlock the upper assembly by preventing the wedge from contacting the upper assembly; and c. removing the upper assembly from the lower assembly.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: d. coupling the upper assembly with the lower assembly; e. rotating the handle to a second position; and f. releasing the handle to cause the wedge to contact the upper assembly, thereby locking the upper assembly and the lower assembly in a coupled state.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the handle is an L-shaped cam arm that rotates on a cam pin and fits into a groove of the lower assembly.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the handle is a T-handle.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the weapon is an AR-15.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the upper assembly is coupled with the lower assembly via hooks on the upper assembly that wrap around pins of the lower assembly.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the wedge locks the upper assembly and the lower assembly in the coupled state by fitting against an angled portion of the upper assembly.

17. A take-down assembly for a weapon, comprising: a. a lower assembly; and b. an upper assembly configured to couple with the lower assembly via: (i) a first spring-loaded clip that is configured to latch onto a side of the lower assembly; and (ii) a second spring-loaded clip that is configured to latch onto the side of the lower assembly.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the first spring-loaded clip is configured to rotate on a first pin in response to a user squeezing a side of the first spring-loaded clip against a first spring force, thereby unlatching the first spring-loaded clip from the side of the lower assembly.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the second spring-loaded clip is configured to rotate on a second pin in response to the user squeezing a side of the second spring-loaded clip against a second spring force, thereby unlatching the spring spring-loaded clip from the side of the lower assembly.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the upper assembly is configured to be removed from the lower assembly when the first spring-loaded clip and the second spring-loaded clip are both unlatched from the side of the lower assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description when considered in connection with the drawing figures wherein:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a back view of the first example, with the cam arm 14 in the “closed” position;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a back view of the first example, with the cam arm 14 in the “closed” position, and with the lower assembly 12 shown with invisible walls to reveal certain inner components of the lower assembly 12;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view of the first example, with the cam arm 14 in the “closed” position, and with the lower assembly 12 shown with invisible walls to reveal certain inner components of the lower assembly 12;

[0022] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the first example, with the cam arm 14 in the “closed” position, and with the lower assembly 12 shown with invisible walls to reveal certain inner components of the lower assembly 12;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a back view of the first example, with the cam arm 14 in the “open” position, and with the lower assembly 12 shown with invisible walls to reveal certain inner components of the lower assembly 12;

[0024] FIG. 6 is a side view of the first example, with the cam arm 14 in the “open” position, and with the lower assembly 12 shown with invisible walls to reveal certain inner components of the lower assembly 12;

[0025] FIG. 7 is a back view of the second example, with the T-handle 36 in the “closed” position, and with the lower assembly 12 shown with invisible walls to reveal certain inner components of the lower assembly 12;

[0026] FIG. 8 is a back isometric view of the second example, with the T-handle 36 in the “closed” position, and with the lower assembly 12 shown with invisible walls to reveal certain inner components of the lower assembly 12;

[0027] FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the second example, with the T-handle 36 in the “closed” position, and with the lower assembly 12 shown with invisible walls to reveal certain inner components of the lower assembly 12;

[0028] FIG. 10 is a side view of the second example, with the T-handle 36 in the “closed” position, and with the lower assembly 12 shown with invisible walls to reveal certain inner components of the lower assembly 12;

[0029] FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the second example, with the T-handle 36 in the “open” position;

[0030] FIG. 12 is a back view of the second example, with the T-handle 36 in the “open” position;

[0031] FIG. 13 is a side view of the second example, with the T-handle 36 in the “open” position, and with the lower assembly 12 shown with invisible walls to reveal certain inner components of the lower assembly 12;

[0032] FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the second example, with the T-handle 36 in the “open” position, and with the lower assembly 12 shown with invisible walls to reveal certain inner components of the lower assembly 12.

[0033] FIG. 15 is a top view of the third example in the “closed” position with the upper assembly 10 attached to the lower assembly 12.

[0034] FIG. 16 is a side view of the third example in the “closed” position with the upper assembly 10 attached to the lower assembly 12.

[0035] FIG. 17 is a back view of the third example in the “closed” position with the upper assembly 10 attached to the lower assembly 12.

[0036] While the invention is described herein in terms of an example and generally associated methods, the inventor contemplates that alterations and permutations of the exemplary embodiments and methods will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

[0037] Accordingly, the above description of examples is not intended to constrain the invention.