CUSTOMIZABLE FIREARM SYSTEM

Abstract

A customizable firearm system includes a chassis. A barrel assembly is disposed in the chassis. The barrel assembly including a trunnion and a barrel nut assembly. The barrel nut assembly includes an outer barrel nut sleeve and an inner barrel nut sleeve receiving a barrel. The barrel nut assembly is removably disposed in the trunnion. A bolt carrier assembly is disposed in the chassis. The bolt carrier assembly includes a backplate assembly and a pair of guide rods. Each of the guide rods have a first end disposed in the backplate assembly, and a second end disposed in the trunnion. A bolt carrier slidably disposed on the guide rod.

Claims

1. A customizable firearm system, comprising: a chassis; a barrel assembly disposed in the chassis, the barrel assembly including: a trunnion; and a barrel nut assembly, the barrel nut assembly including an outer barrel nut sleeve and an inner barrel nut sleeve receiving a barrel, the barrel nut assembly removably disposed in the trunnion.

2. The customizable firearm system of claim 1, wherein the trunnion includes a central bore formed along a length of the trunnion, the central bore is circumscribed by an internal lip, and the barrel nut assembly abuts the internal lip.

3. The customizable firearm system of claim 1, wherein the barrel is disposed in the outer barrel nut sleeve and the inner barrel nut sleeve is disposed on the barrel and in the outer barrel nut sleeve.

4. The customizable firearm system of claim 3, wherein the inner barrel nut sleeve and the outer barrel nut sleeve are secured around the barrel via cooperating threads.

5. The customizable firearm system of claim 3, wherein the barrel is secured within the trunnion via a pin.

6. The customizable firearm system of claim 2, wherein the outer barrel nut sleeve and the central bore each include an aperture configured to guide and support a gas tube or line.

7. The customizable firearm system of claim 2, wherein the outer barrel nut sleeve has a shape and dimensions that are analogous to a shape and dimensions of the central bore of the trunnion, and the outer barrel nut sleeve is nested in the trunnion.

8. The customizable firearm system of claim 1, wherein the barrel assembly includes a release system, the release system configured to unsecure the barrel nut assembly from the trunnion.

9. The customizable firearm system of claim 8, wherein the release system includes a rod in communication with a lever, the rod disposed in a cylindrical opening of the trunnion and a divot of the outer barrel nut sleeve.

10. The customizable firearm system of claim 9, wherein the rod includes a cutout portion, the lever is configured to turn the rod, and when the cutout portion is rotated into alignment with the divot of the outer barrel nut sleeve, the barrel nut assembly is slidably removable from the trunnion.

11. A customizable firearm system, comprising: a chassis; a trunnion disposed in the chassis; and a bolt carrier assembly disposed in the chassis, the bolt carrier assembly including: a backplate assembly; a pair of guide rods, each of the guide rods having a first end disposed in the backplate assembly, and a second end disposed in the trunnion; and a bolt carrier slidably disposed on the guide rods.

12. The customizable firearm system of claim 11, wherein the backplate assembly includes a backplate, a pair of retaining clips disposed in the backplate, and a dampener.

13. The customizable firearm system of claim 12, wherein each of the retaining clips are spring loaded and include a guide rod retaining portion disposed within the backplate and a finger grip extending outwardly from a bottom surface of the backplate.

14. The customizable firearm system of claim 13, wherein the guide rod retaining portion of the retaining clip removably secures one of the guide rods into the backplate.

15. The customizable firearm system of claim 11, wherein the chassis includes an openable buttpad configured to be pivoted away from the chassis to allow access to an interior of the chassis and allow removal of the bolt carrier assembly.

16. The customizable firearm system of claim 12, wherein the bolt carrier is slidable on the guide rods from a home position adjacent to the trunnion to a distal position adjacent to the dampener of the backplate assembly.

17. The customizable firearm system of claim 11, wherein the guide rods are secured in the trunnion via corresponding grooves formed on the second end of the guide rod and an interior of the trunnion.

18. The customizable firearm system of claim 11, further comprising a trigger mechanism including a trigger in direct communication with a trigger linkage, the trigger linkage in communication with a trigger barrel, the trigger barrel in communication with a hammer, wherein the trigger is configured to move the trigger linkage, which actuates the trigger barrel, which actuates the hammer.

19. The customizable firearm system of claim 18, wherein the trigger barrel and the hammer are housed in a fire control housing, and the fire control housing is removably disposed within the chassis.

20. A customizable firearm system, comprising: a chassis; a barrel assembly disposed in the chassis, the barrel assembly including: a trunnion; and a barrel nut assembly, the barrel nut assembly including an outer barrel nut sleeve and an inner barrel nut sleeve receiving a barrel, the barrel nut assembly removably disposed in the trunnion; and a bolt carrier assembly disposed in the chassis, the bolt carrier assembly including: a backplate assembly; a pair of guide rods, each of the guide rods having a first end disposed in the backplate assembly, and a second end disposed in the trunnion; and a bolt carrier slidably disposed on the guide rod.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0026] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a customizable firearm system, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional, side elevational view of the customizable firearm system taken at section line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

[0029] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial, top perspective view of the customizable firearm system of FIG. 1, further depicted with a portion of the chassis removed;

[0030] FIG. 4 is an exploded, partial, top perspective view of a barrel assembly of the customizable firearm system of FIG. 1, further depicted removed from the chassis;

[0031] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional, partial, side elevational view of the barrel assembly, taken at callout 5 in FIG. 2;

[0032] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a bolt carrier assembly of the customizable firearm system of FIG. 1, further depicted removed from the chassis, where the bolt carrier assembly includes a bolt carrier at one end and a back plate assembly at the other end;

[0033] FIG. 7 is an enlarged, bottom perspective view of the end of the bolt carrier assembly of FIG. 6 including the back plate assembly;

[0034] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional, side elevational view of the bolt carrier assembly, taken at section line 8-8 in FIG. 6; and

[0035] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a trigger mechanism of the customizable firearm system of FIG. 1, further depicted removed from the chassis and rotated 180 degrees, including a portion taken at callout 9 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The following description of technology is merely exemplary in nature of the subject matter, manufacture and use of one or more inventions, and is not intended to limit the scope, application, or uses of any specific invention claimed in this application or in such other applications as may be filed claiming priority to this application, or patents issuing therefrom. Regarding methods disclosed, the order of the steps presented is exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps can be different in various embodiments, including where certain steps can be simultaneously performed, unless expressly stated otherwise. “A” and “an” as used herein indicate “at least one” of the item is present; a plurality of such items may be present, when possible. Except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description are to be understood as modified by the word “about” and all geometric and spatial descriptors are to be understood as modified by the word “substantially” in describing the broadest scope of the technology. “About” when applied to numerical values indicates that the calculation or the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecision provided by “about” and/or “substantially” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” and/or “substantially” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters.

[0037] Although the open-ended term “comprising,” as a synonym of non-restrictive terms such as including, containing, or having, is used herein to describe and claim embodiments of the present technology, embodiments may alternatively be described using more limiting terms such as “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of.” Thus, for any given embodiment reciting materials, components, or process steps, the present technology also specifically includes embodiments consisting of, or consisting essentially of, such materials, components, or process steps excluding additional materials, components or processes (for consisting of) and excluding additional materials, components or processes affecting the significant properties of the embodiment (for consisting essentially of), even though such additional materials, components or processes are not explicitly recited in this application. For example, recitation of an article of manufacture or process reciting elements A, B and C specifically envisions embodiments consisting of, and consisting essentially of, A, B and C, excluding an element D that may be recited in the art, even though element D is not explicitly described as being excluded herein.

[0038] Disclosures of ranges are, unless specified otherwise, inclusive of endpoints and include all distinct values and further divided ranges within the entire range. Thus, for example, a range of “from A to B” or “from about A to about B” is inclusive of A and of B. Disclosure of values and ranges of values for specific parameters (such as amounts, weight percentages, etc.) are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values useful herein. It is envisioned that two or more specific exemplified values for a given parameter may define endpoints for a range of values that may be claimed for the parameter. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have value A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned that Parameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1-10, or 2-9, or 3-8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of values including 1-9, 1-8, 1-3, 1-2, 2-10, 2-8, 2-3, 3-10, 3-9, and so on.

[0039] When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0040] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

[0041] Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0042] With reference to FIGS. 1-9, a customizable firearm system 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The customizable firearm system 100 can include a chassis 102. In certain embodiments, the chassis 102 can be manufactured from precision machined lightweight, high-strength metals, alloys, plastics, composites, and advanced polymers, as non-limiting examples. A skilled artisan can tailor various dimensions, calibers, and accessories, as desired. Though the figures depict a bullpup style of firearm, it should be appreciated that other firearm configurations can be selected within the scope of the present disclosure. While used throughout the specification, it is to be understood that the term “AR” or “AR-15” is meant to include not only those rifles manufactured by Colt Industries, but also those additional clones and any variants thereof.

[0043] The firearm system 100 can include a barrel assembly 104. The barrel assembly 104 can be configured to be disposed in the chassis 102 of the firearm. The barrel assembly 104 can include a trunnion 106 and a barrel nut assembly 108, for example, as shown in FIGS. 2-5. The barrel nut assembly 108 can also be configured to be slidably disposed within the trunnion 106. In particular, the trunnion 106 can have a central bore 110 formed through a length of the trunnion 106. The central bore 110 can run from a barrel side 112 of the trunnion to a bolt side 114 of the trunnion. An internal lip 116 can be disposed on an interior surface of the trunnion 106 circumscribing the central bore 110 adjacent to the bolt side 114 of the trunnion 106. When disposed in the barrel side 112 of the trunnion 106, the barrel nut assembly 108 can abut the internal lip 116 of the trunnion 106. Advantageously, the internal lip 116 is configured to hold the barrel nut assembly 108 in the trunnion and not allow the barrel nut assembly 108 to move through the bolt side 114 of the trunnion 106.

[0044] The barrel nut assembly 108 can include an outer barrel nut sleeve 118 and an inner barrel nut sleeve 120. The outer barrel nut sleeve 118 can be configured to be slidably inserted into the central bore 110 of the trunnion 106. Accordingly, the outer barrel nut sleeve 118 can have a shape and dimensions that are analogous to a shape and dimensions of the central bore 110 such that the outer barrel nut sleeve 118 can be securely nested within the central bore 110. The outer barrel nut sleeve 118 and the central bore 110 can include apertures 119 configured to guide and support a gas tube or line (not shown). Advantageously, nesting of the outer barrel nut sleeve 118 within the trunnion 106 can militate against rotation of the barrel nut assembly within the trunnion 106 while also allowing the barrel nut assembly 108 to be selectively removed from the chassis 102.

[0045] The outer barrel nut sleeve 118 and the inner barrel nut sleeve 120 can cooperate to secure a barrel 122 within the trunnion 106. In particular, the inner nut barrel sleeve 120 can be disposed around the barrel 122, and the inner nut barrel sleeve 120 and the barrel 122 can be disposed in the outer barrel nut sleeve 118. The barrel 122 can be further secured with a pin 124. The inner barrel nut sleeve 120 can be secured into the outer barrel nut sleeve 118 through cooperating threads 126 on each of the barrel nut sleeves 118, 120, for example, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0046] In operation, when assembling the barrel assembly 104, the barrel 122 can be inserted into the outer barrel nut sleeve 118, and the inner barrel nut sleeve 120 can be disposed around the barrel 122 and in the outer barrel nut sleeve 118. The inner barrel nut sleeve 120 can then be twisted into place along the threads 126. In this way, the outer barrel nut sleeve 118 and the inner barrel nut sleeve 120 can cooperate to secure the barrel 122 in place within the barrel assembly 104, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3-5. Advantageously, the dual sleeve barrel nut system (outer barrel nut sleeve 118 and inner barrel nut sleeve 120) can allow a standard AR barrel to be utilized with the customizable firearm system 100. Additionally, dimensions of the inner barrel nut sleeve 120 can be configured to receive additional barrel types, where corresponding changes can be made to the configuration of the outer barrel nut sleeve 118 to receive a particular barrel 122, as desired.

[0047] The barrel assembly 104 can include a release system 127. The release system 127 can include a lever 128 in communication with a rod 130. The rod 130 can include a cutout 132. The trunnion 106 can have a cylindrical opening 134 formed orthogonal to the central bore 110. The opening 134 can be open to the central bore 110. The outer barrel nut sleeve 118 can have a corresponding divot 136 formed therein such that the rod can be inserted into the cylindrical opening 134 and be in communication with the divot 136 of the outer barrel nut sleeve 118. The lever 128 can be configured to selectively rotate the rod 130. The lever 128 can have a free end that can be disposed on an exterior of the chassis 102, such that the lever 128 can be accessed by a user without removal of any components of the firearm 100. When rotated, the cutout of the rod 130 can be aligned with the divot 136 of the outer barrel nut sleeve 118 and the cylindrical opening 134 of the trunnion 106. When the cutout 132, cylindrical opening 134, and the divot 136 are aligned, the user can slide the barrel assembly 104 out of the chassis 102. In operation, additional components can be removed with the barrel assembly 104 including a gas tube, a gas block, and a muzzle break (not shown).

[0048] It should be appreciated that the quick-change barrel assembly 104 can be removed directly from a handrail of the chassis 102. Advantageously, the barrel system 104 can allow for a toolless removal of the barrel 122, in operation. The barrel assembly 104 can be swapped in less than a minute with no small parts at risk of being lost and does not alter the state of any other accessories or critical components of the firearm.

[0049] The customizable firearm system 100 can include a removable bolt carrier assembly 138, for example, as shown in FIG. 6-8. The bolt carrier assembly 138 can include a bolt carrier 140, a pair of guide rods 142, and a backplate assembly 144. Each of the guide rods 142 can have a first end 146 and a second end 148. The first end 146 of each of the guide rods 142 can be disposed in the backplate assembly 144. The second end 148 of each of the guide rods 142 can be disposed in the bolt side 114 of the trunnion 106. As shown in FIG. 8, the second end 148 of the guide rods 142 and the trunnion 106 can have corresponding machine grooves 180, which secure the guide rods 142 in the trunnion 106 without the need of an additional fastener. The bolt carrier 140 can be slidably disposed on the pair of guide rods 142. A spring 150 can be disposed on each one of the guide rods 142 between the bolt carrier 140 and the backplate assembly 144, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0050] With reference to FIG. 6-7, the backplate assembly 144 can include a backplate 152, a pair of retaining clips 154, and a dampener 156. Each of the retaining clips 154 can include a guide rod retaining portion 158 and a finger grip 160. The guide rod retaining portion 158 can be disposed in corresponding apertures 159 in the backplate 152 and be configured to receive the guide rods 142. The finger grips 160 can extend from a bottom surface of the backplate 152. The retaining clips 154 can be spring loaded, which allows the guide rod retaining portion 158 to push the guide rod 142 against an interior of the backplate 152. In operation, to remove the backplate assembly 144, the user can slide each one of the retaining clips 154 inward, which can release the guide rod 142 from the backplate assembly 144. Advantageously, this can allow the user to more easily replace the springs 150 on the guide rods 142.

[0051] It should be appreciated that the bolt carrier assembly 138 can be configured to be removed from the chassis 102. The chassis 102 can include a buttpad 162. The buttpad 162 can be pivotable about the chassis 102. The buttpad 162 can be secured to the chassis via a retaining pin 163. In operation, the retaining pin can be removed from the chassis 102, and the buttpad 162 can be rotated away from the chassis 102. The bolt carrier assembly 138 can be removed or otherwise accessed through an opening in a distal end of the chassis 102.

[0052] The dampener 156 of the bolt carrier assembly 138 can be fabricated from a rubberized material. The dampener 156 can be configured to receive the bolt carrier 140 following compression of the springs 150 and militate against the bolt carrier 140 contacting the backplate assembly 144. Specifically, in operation, the bolt carrier 140 can be slid on the guide rods 142, from a home position to a distal position adjacent to the backplate assembly 144. When the bolt carrier 140 is in the distal position the bolt carrier 140 is disposed against the dampener 156.

[0053] The firearm system 100 can include one or more charging handles 164 that can allow the user to move the bolt carrier assembly 138 from the home position to the distal position, in operation. Each charging handle 164 can have a grip portion 166 that extends to the exterior of the chassis 102. Each charging handle 164 can include a charging rod 168 which can have a first end disposed on a cross bar 170 of the bolt carrier 140, as shown in FIG. 3. The charging rods 168 can extend toward the barrel assembly 104 and be disposed around the trunnion 106. The grip portions 166 can be disposed on a second end of the charging rods 168.

[0054] The customizable firearm system can include a trigger mechanism 171. Advantageously, the trigger mechanism 171 can be fabricated without a bow. The trigger mechanism 171 can include a trigger 172 in communication with a trigger linkage 174. The trigger linkage 174 can be in communication with an extended trigger barrel 176. The trigger barrel 176 can be in communication with a hammer 178. A spring 182 biases the hammer 178 with respect to the extended trigger barrel 176, where the extended trigger barrel 176 can secure the hammer 178 in a cocked or spring-biased state. When the trigger 172 is pulled, moving the trigger linkage 174, the trigger linkage 174 causes the extended trigger barrel 176 to release the hammer 178 from being secured by the extended trigger barrel 176, where the hammer 178 is free to move under bias from the spring 182. The spring 182 then causes the released hammer 178 to strike a firing pin 184 in the bolt carrier assembly 138, where the firing pin 184 can move through the bolt carrier assembly 138 and strike a primer of a chambered round, if present (not shown). In operation, when the user pulls the trigger 172, the hammer 178 is released, and when a round is present and fired, subsequent reciprocation of the bolt carrier assembly 138 can compress the spring 182 and reset the hammer 178 to be secured by the extended trigger barrel 176. Reciprocation of the bolt carrier assembly 138 using the grip portion 166 of the charging handle 164 can also compress the spring 182 and reset the hammer 178 to be secured by the extended trigger barrel 176.

[0055] It should be appreciated that portions of the trigger mechanism 171 (e.g. the trigger barrel 176 and the hammer 178) can be housed in a fire control housing 184. The trigger control housing 184 can be removably disposed in a receiver 186 of the chassis 102. A pivotable door 188 can be opened to allow the user access to the fire control housing 184. Advantageously, the removable fire control housing 184 can allow the user to utilize different fire control housings 184, as desired.

[0056] It should be appreciated that the trigger mechanism 171 without a bow can allow the trigger linkage 174 to be directly connected to the trigger barrel 176. This direct connection allows the user to easily disconnect the linkage 174 to remove the fire control housing 184. This is desirable because it clears the hammer 178 from the bolt carrier assembly 138, which allows the bolt carrier assembly 138 to be slidably removed out of the chassis 102.

[0057] In certain embodiments, the customizable firearm system 100 can include the barrel assembly 104 and the bolt carrier assembly 138, each as described hereinabove. Advantageously, where both of the barrel assembly 104 and the bolt carrier assembly 138 are utilized, the firearm system 100 can allow for a total caliber change of the firearm.

[0058] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. Equivalent changes, modifications and variations of some embodiments, materials, compositions and methods can be made within the scope of the present technology, with substantially similar results.