Foam swab for cleaning star chamber in firearms

Abstract

Applicant has disclosed a handheld tool and related method for cleaning and lubricating: the entire star chamber in a firearm (e.g., AR-15 and M-14 rifles), including the top lands, bottom lands, and canted faces of the locking lugs forming a star inlet to the chamber in a rifle; and the remaining headspace of the firearm. One tool embodiment comprises: a paddle grip; a midsection shank; and a generally T-shaped foam swab affixed over an end portion of the shank, wherein the swab has two wings and a stem. The wings are designed to fit, simultaneously or contemporaneously, between and against opposing faces of different pairs of successive locking lugs and against bottom lands of those different pairs. Afterwards, the swab can be pushed through the star inlet to clean the chamber portion behind the inlet, including the backside of the inlet.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning a star chamber in a rifle, the method comprising: a. inserting and simultaneously compressing a first wing of a foam swab simultaneously: between and against opposing faces of two successive locking lugs of a star inlet of the star chamber and against a first bottom land between the two successive locking lugs; b. contemporaneously with the step of inserting and simultaneously compressing the first wing, inserting and simultaneously compressing a second wing of the foam swab simultaneously: between and against opposing faces of two other successive locking lugs of the star inlet and against a second bottom land between the two other successive locking lugs; i. wherein the second bottom land is spaced 180 from the first bottom land about a longitudinal axis of the star chamber; c. removing the first wing from between the two successive locking lugs; and d. removing the second wing from between the two other successive locking lugs.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: a. expanding the first wing and the second wing by pushing the first wing and the second wing through the star inlet into a chamber of the star chamber behind the star inlet; and b. after pushing the first wing and the second wing into the chamber, rotating the swab to clean a headspace of the chamber with the first wing and the second wing.

3. A method of cleaning a star chamber of a rifle, the method comprising: a. holding a paddle grip with an attached foam swab comprised of a stem and, extending perpendicularly from opposite sides of the stem, a first wing and a second wing; b. pushing, while holding the paddle grip, the first wing and the second wing through a star inlet of the star chamber into a headspace of the star chamber behind the star inlet, whereupon the first wing and the second wing, upon entering the headspace, expand such that the first wing and the second wing contact the headspace; c. after pushing the first wing and the second ring into the headspace, inserting a free end of the stem into a barrel end, closest to the star inlet, and d. upon inserting the free end of the stem into the barrel end, rotating the swab to clean the barrel end with the free end of the stem and to clean the headspace with the first wing and the second wing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent upon reading the following description and drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred star chamber cleaner constructed in accordance with Applicant's invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged side plan view of a foam swab taken along sight line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is an enlarged front plan view of the swab taken along sight line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view of the swab of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a paddle and a shank, shown in FIG. 1, prior to the swab being added;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of Applicant's star chamber cleaner;

(8) FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a swab of the alternate embodiment;

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a soiled star chamber of an AR-15; and

(10) FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the star inlet shown in FIG. 8 but with the soiling removed for simplicity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

(11) Applicant has disclosed a handheld tool and a related method for cleaning and lubricating star chambers in firearms. Such firearms (not shown) include but are not limited to AR-15 and M-14 rifles and variants. Super Brush LLC markets this new product under SWAB-ITS Star Chamber Cleaning Foam Swabs. SWAB-ITS is a registered trademark belonging to Super Brush LLC.

(12) As used in this application, the term opposing face or opposing faces means the oppositely canted faces between successive locking lugs of the star inlet. Each locking lug of a star inlet (see FIGS. 8, 9) has a straight face, like some gear teeth. Between the opposing faces of successive locking lugs (of the star inlet) is a bottom land.

(13) As shown in the accompanying FIGS. 1-9, Applicant's preferred embodiment 100 of a star chamber cleaner comprises: a molded plastic (polypropylene) paddle grip 102; a midsection shank 104 (molded polypropylene) integral with the paddle grip 102; and a substantially T-shaped foam swab (or mitt) 106 permanently affixed (preferably bonded) to an unseen end portion (or stem) 108 of the shank.

(14) The anatomy of the letter T comprises a stem and one arm. Applicant sometimes refers to the T arm 110 of swab 106 as wings 112a, 112b in this application. The T stem, of swab 106, is referenced as 114.

(15) FIG. 4 shows shank 104 before bonding. Shank 104 includes an annular shoulder 116 followed by the end portion 108. End portion 108 comprises a rod 118 with a series of annular spacers or ridges (e.g., 120a, 120b), spaced apart. These spaced ridges provide a sealing surface for the swab 106 without requiring the entire end portion 108 subject to the sealing heat. The ridges (e.g., 120a, 120b) protect the rest of rod 118 from being melted and thus becoming brittle and subject to greater breakage. The spaced ridges (e.g., 120a, 120b) also maintain flexibility of the end portion 108 after bonding.

(16) Applicant's SWAB-ITS star chamber cleaner 100 is made from a preferred process (not shown). Two sheets (not shown) of zapped polyurethane foam are placed onto the melted ridges (e.g., 120a, 120b) to bond the sheets to the shank 104. Then the affixed sheets are cut. Next the cut sheets are sealed thermally to provide tight seams. Preferably only the swab's T stem 114 is affixed to the shank 104; that allows more flexibility and movement of the swab's T arm 110.

(17) As shown in FIG. 1, the end portion 108 of shank 106 extends through most of the swab's T stem 114.

(18) UFP Technologies has described zapping, also known as thermal reticulation, as:

(19) Zapping is a process that involves placing a bun of foam in a very large vacuum pressure vessel known as a zapper. The vessel is evacuated and filled with an explosive gas mixture. The gas is ignited and a controlled flame front passes through the foam, melting the window membranes and leaving the skeletal structure intact. Zapping works with both polyester and polyether polyurethanes. The benefit of the zapping process is a smooth, clean polished cell stand.

(20) In the preferred embodiment 100, the T-shaped mitt 106 (when designed for an AR-15/M-14 rifle) is approximately 1.90 inches long and approximately 0.5 inches thick; the T stem 114 is approximately 1.40 inches long and approximately 0.50 inches wide; and the T arm 110 is approximately 1.25 inches long. The mitt 106 tapers at its seams (see FIGS. 1-3).

(21) Each wing 112a, 112b is substantially shaped, along its side and leading edge, like the space formed by opposing faces (e.g., 122, 124) and a bottom land (e.g., at 126)(see FIGS. 8, 9) of two successive locking lugs (e.g., 128, 130) but longer and wider.

(22) Wing 112a is adapted in size and shape to fit (by compression) between and against opposing faces (e.g., 122, 124) and a bottom land (e.g., 126) of successive lugs (e.g., 128, 130). Wing 112b is adapted in size and shape to fit (by compression) simultaneously or near the same time (i.e., contemporaneously) between and against two other opposing faces (e.g., 132, 134) and a different bottom land (e.g., 136) between two other successive lugs (e.g., 138, 140). The bottom lands 126, 136 are approximately 180 apart; so too are the wing tips.

(23) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5-7, wing 112a extends from one side of T stem 110. Wing 112b extends from another side of T stem 110. Each wing is integral with the stem.

(24) Due to the mitt's dimensions and materials, a shooter (not shown) easily can clean and lubricate: the entire star chamber 142, including the top lands (e.g., 143) and bottom lands (e.g., at 126, 136) and opposing faces (e.g., at 122, 124 and 132, 134) forming the star inlet 144, by, e.g., using T wings 112a, 112b.

(25) There are multiple was to clean a star inlet with Applicant's SWAB-ITS star chamber cleaner 100. Typically the wings 112a, 112b are inserted respectively, between and against opposing faces (e.g., 122, 124 and 132, 134) and bottom lands (e.g., 126, 136), then retracted. (The compressed wings 112a, 112b expand upon removal.) This in and out process (insertion and retraction) can be repeated, for the same opposing faces and bottom land, if desired. Then the tool is rotated, around its longitudinal axis. The wings 112a, 112b are inserted into the next pairs of opposing lug faces and bottom lands, substantially 180 apart, and retracted from the star inlet 144. This process continues until all of the locking lug faces and associated bottom lands have been cleaned.

(26) Sometimes users rotate the wings 112a, 112b in a continuous motion to clean all the opposing faces and bottom lands in the star inlet 144. But that is not the most thorough method to clean those areas with Applicant's swab cleaner 100.

(27) Applicant's SWAB-ITS star chamber cleaner 100 also is designed to easily pass, by compression of the wings, through the star inlet 144 (e.g., through adjacent locking lugs) and then re-expand into the rest of star chamber 142 (i.e., a chamber 146 behind the star inlet 144) allowing 360 of access. A free end 148 T stem 114 can be inserted into the barrel end (not shown) for centering. Then Applicant's SWAB-ITS star chamber cleaner 100 can be rotated around its longitudinal axis 150 to clean the headspace in the chamber 146 (e.g., the inner diameter), including the back of the star inlet 144.

(28) Applicant's T arm 110, of swab 106, can also be used to clean the remaining headspace (not shown) of the firearm. In firearms, headspace is the distance measured from the face of the bolt (not shown) to the part of another chamber that stops forward motion of a cartridge. The preferred swab 106 design calls for material (foam) which will compresses against walls of the barrel extension and thus making tight contact with the inner walls of the firearm.

(29) Applicant's SWAB-ITS star chamber cleaner 100 also can be used to lubricate the star chamber, its star inlet 144 and the remaining headspace of the firearm. Place a few drops of lubricating fluid onto the swab 106. Then repeat the steps above.

(30) Applicant's SWAB-ITS star chamber cleaner 100 (i.e., the paddle 102, shank 104 and swab 106) are flexible enough to easily enter through the ejection port on the upper receiver (not shown), without breaking down the firearm.

(31) FIGS. 6-7 depict an alternate embodiment 200 of Applicant's SWAB-ITS star chamber cleaner. Most parts of this alternate star chamber cleaner 200 are found in the preferred embodiment 100. Like parts in FIGS. 6-7 (compared to FIGS. 1-5) use the prefix 200 instead of 100. For example, swab 108 is referenced as 208 in the alternate embodiment.

(32) There is no paddle grip in the alternate embodiment 200. Instead, an externally threaded stub 260, attached to a modified shoulder 262 of the shank 204, enables the star chamber cleaner 200 to be threaded into a cleaning rod (not shown). Also the shank 204 is shortened to the shoulder 262 and the unseen, after bonding, end portion 208. That unseen portion 208 serves as the backbone for T stem 214. As shown in FIG. 6, the unseen portion 208 has spacers or ridges (e.g., 220a, 220b) for bonding.

(33) Some other advantages of either embodiment 100, 200 of Applicant's invention include: precision cleaning; a tight fit; and maximum lubrication. No residue is left behind like the shedding from cotton swabs; and the standard patch is eliminated for cleaning.

(34) Less cleaning solution is used with Applicant's SWAB-ITS star chamber cleaner 100, 200. Instead of constantly pouring liquid over a traditional cleaning patch, Applicant's foam mitts 106, 206 can be soaked once in cleaning solution and if desired dipped for a second time. Applicant's swabs (mitts) 106, 206 provide even dispersion of cleaning and lubricating fluids in the barrel extension and chamber.

(35) Applicant's star chamber cleaner 100, 200 also: cleans the firearm's headspace and barrel extension in one motion; provides a visual indicator of cleanliness; and has no metal components.

(36) Applicant's embodiment 100 can be thought of as a method of cleaning a star inlet of a star chamber in a rifle, the method comprising: a. holding a handle (e.g., a paddle grip or a cleaning rod) with an attached substantially T-shaped foam swab comprised of a stem and an arm substantially perpendicular to the stem; i. wherein the arm comprises a first wing and a second wing, b. cleaning opposing faces and bottom lands of successive locking lugs of the star inlet by: i. inserting the first wing, while holding the handle, between and against opposing faces of two successive locking lugs and against a first bottom land between the two successive locking lugs; ii. contemporaneously with step b.i., inserting the second wing, while holding the handle, between and against opposing faces of two other successive locking lugs and against a second bottom land, between the two other successive lugs; iii. wherein the first bottom land and the second bottom land are spaced apart 180; and iv. removing the first wing from between the two successive locking lugs and removing the second wing from between the two other successive lugs.

(37) Additional method steps comprise: a. cleaning a headspace portion of the star chamber behind the star inlet; and b. inserting the free end of the swab into a barrel end, closest to the star inlet, and rotating the tool to clean the headspace portion and the barrel end.

(38) It should be understood by those skilled in the art that obvious structural modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the paddle grip 102 could be omitted, whereby the shank 104 could act instead as the handle. Or the mitt 106, 206 could be made of different material. Accordingly, reference should be made primarily to the accompanying Claims rather than the foregoing Specification to determine the scope of the invention.