Abstract
A firearm cleaning device with removably attachable components, configured to pass through internal aspects—such as through a barrel and/or breach—of a firearm. The firearm cleaning device as presented includes the use of various cleaning elements combinable with each other to provide a faster and more efficient cleaning of internal aspects of a firearm.
Claims
1. A firearm cleaning device comprising: a first cleaning element comprising a first end, a second end, and a shank extending from the first end to the second end; the first cleaning element comprising a first aperture through the shank and second aperture through the shank, the apertures coincident with a longitudinal axis of the shank, wherein the apertures are proximal to the second end of the first cleaning element; the first aperture comprises an axis extending therethrough which is perpendicular to the a longitudinal axis of the shank; and the second aperture is adjacent to the first aperture, and comprises an axis extending therethrough which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank, wherein the axis of the second aperture is angularly offset from the axis of the first aperture as related to the longitudinal axis of the shank, wherein the angular offset between the first aperture and the second aperture is fixed, and wherein the first cleaning element is configured to pass through a barrel of a firearm.
2. The firearm cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the apertures of the first cleaning element each comprise a lateral opening.
3. The firearm cleaning device of claim 1, further comprising a flexible member between the first aperture and the second aperture, wherein the flexible member is configured to allow the articulation of the first cleaning element.
4. The firearm cleaning device of claim 3, further comprising a semi-rigid shaft comprising a first end and a second end; the first end of the semi-rigid shaft comprises a fastening feature configured to interconnect with a fastening feature interconnected with the first end of the first cleaning element; and the second end of the semi-rigid shaft comprises a fastening feature configured to interconnect with a fastening feature interconnected with a first end of a second cleaning element.
5. The firearm cleaning device of claim 4, wherein the fastening features of the semi-rigid shaft comprise screw threads; the fastening feature of the first cleaning element comprises screw threads; and the fastening feature of the second cleaning element comprises screw threads.
6. The firearm cleaning device of claim 5, wherein the fastening features of the semi-rigid shaft are interconnected to the semi-rigid shaft with a swivel connection, wherein the fastening features of the semi-rigid shaft are free to rotate independently of the semi-rigid shaft.
7. The firearm cleaning device of claim 6, wherein the second cleaning element comprises a textile sleeve having an oblong form comprising a first closed end and a second closed end; the textile sleeve containing a deformable element therein; and the first closed end comprising a fastening feature interconnected thereto, wherein the fastening feature is configured to interconnect with the fastening feature of the second end of the semi-rigid shaft.
8. The firearm cleaning device of claim 7, wherein the deformable oblong element comprises a closed-cell foam cylinder.
9. The firearm cleaning device of claim 8, wherein the oblong textile sleeve comprises a micro-fiber terrycloth.
10. The firearm cleaning device of claim 1, comprises a semi-rigid material, thereby allowing articulation of the first cleaning element between the first aperture and the second aperture.
11. The firearm cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the apertures comprise an oblong shape.
12. The firearm cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the angular offset of the first aperture from the second aperture is 90-degrees.
13. The firearm cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the second end of the first cleaning element further comprises a jag extending away from the first cleaning element of the firearm cleaning device.
14. The firearm cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the second end of the first cleaning element further comprises a jag extending away from the first cleaning element of the firearm cleaning device.
15. The firearm cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the first aperture comprises an upper hook-form and a lower hook-form; and the second aperture comprises an upper hook-form and a lower hook-form.
16. The firearm cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the first aperture comprises an upper hook-form and a lower hook-form; and the second aperture comprises an upper hook-form and a lower hook-form.
17. The firearm cleaning device of claim 16, wherein the upper hook-forms of the apertures comprise a beveled aspect; and the lower hook-forms of the apertures comprise a beveled aspect, wherein the beveled aspects of the hook-forms are configured to guide the placement of an object through the lateral opening and into the aperture.
18. A firearm cleaning system comprising: (a) a first cleaning element comprising a first end, a second end, and a shank extending from the first end to the second end; the first cleaning element comprising a first aperture through the shank and second aperture through the shank, the apertures coincident with a longitudinal axis of the shank, wherein the apertures are proximal to the second end of the first cleaning element; a fastening feature at the first end of the first cleaning element; the first aperture comprises an axis extending therethrough which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shank; and the second aperture is adjacent to the first aperture, and comprises an axis extending therethrough which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank, wherein the axis of the second aperture is angularly offset from the axis of the first aperture as related to the longitudinal axis of the shank, wherein the angular offset between the first aperture and the second aperture is fixed, and wherein the first cleaning element is configured to pass through a barrel of a firearm, (b) a semi-rigid shaft comprising a first end comprising a first fastening feature configured to removably interconnect with the fastening feature of the first cleaning element, wherein the interconnection of the fastening feature of the first cleaning element and the first fastening feature of the semi-rigid shaft results in the longitudinal constraint of the first cleaning element with the second cleaning element.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the fastening feature of the semi-rigid shaft further comprises a swivel connection, wherein the first cleaning element is permitted to rotated freely in relation to the semi-rigid shaft.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the semi-rigid shaft further comprises a second fastening feature at the second end of the semi-rigid shaft.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1A-A system view of certain embodiments comprising a plurality of cleaning elements of various types
(2) FIG. 1B-A detail view of FIG. 1A
(3) FIG. 1C-A side view of the system view shown in FIG. 1A
(4) FIG. 1D-A section view of the system view shown in FIG. 1C
(5) FIG. 1E-A detail view of the system view shown in FIG. 1D
(6) FIG. 1F-A section view of the system view shown in FIG. 1E
(7) FIG. 1G-A detail view of the system view shown in FIG. 1D
(8) FIG. 2A-A side view of certain embodiments comprising a fastening feature
(9) FIG. 2B-A section view of certain embodiments shown in FIG. 2A
(10) FIG. 3A-A side view of certain embodiments comprising a fastening feature
(11) FIG. 3B-A section view of certain embodiments shown in FIG. 3A
(12) FIG. 4—A side view of certain embodiments comprising a cleaning element comprising clamping elements
(13) FIG. 5A—An overhead view of certain embodiments comprising a first fastening feature fully engaged with a second fastening feature
(14) FIG. 5B—An overhead view of certain embodiments comprising a first fastening feature partially engaged with a second fastening feature
(15) FIG. 5C—An overhead view of certain embodiments comprising a first fastening feature disengaged from a second fastening feature
(16) FIG. 5D—An overhead view of certain embodiments comprising a first fastening feature removed from a second fastening feature
(17) FIG. 6A-A side view of certain embodiments comprising a first fastening feature fully engaged with a second fastening feature
(18) FIG. 6B-A side view of certain embodiments comprising a first fastening feature partially engaged with a second fastening feature
(19) FIG. 6C-A side view of certain embodiments comprising a first fastening feature disengaged from a second fastening feature
(20) FIG. 6D-A side view of certain embodiments comprising a first fastening feature removed from a second fastening feature
(21) FIG. 7A-A section view of certain embodiments comprising a first fastening feature fully engaged with a second fastening feature as shown in FIG. 5A
(22) FIG. 7B-A section view of certain embodiments comprising a first fastening feature partially engaged with a second fastening feature as shown in FIG. 5B
(23) FIG. 7C-A section view of certain embodiments comprising a first fastening feature disengaged from a second fastening feature as shown in FIG. 5C
(24) FIG. 7D-A section view of certain embodiments comprising a first fastening feature removed from a second fastening feature as shown in FIG. 5D
(25) FIG. 8A-A side view of certain embodiments comprising a cleaning element having a first aperture and a second aperture
(26) FIG. 8B-A front view of certain embodiments comprising a cleaning element having a first aperture and a second aperture
(27) FIG. 8C—An isometric view of certain embodiments comprising a cleaning element having a first aperture and a second aperture
(28) FIG. 9A-A side view of certain embodiments comprising a cleaning element having a sleeve with a deformable solid disposed therein
(29) FIG. 9B-A section view of certain embodiments comprising the cleaning element as shown in FIG. 9A
(30) FIG. 10A-A side view of certain embodiments comprising a semi-rigid shaft having fastening features at the ends
(31) FIG. 10B-A detail view of the semi-rigid shaft shown in FIG. 10A
(32) FIG. 11—An exploded view of a system comprising a semi-rigid shaft, a first cleaning element, and a second cleaning element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
(33) In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1A-FIG. 11, the present invention comprises a cleaning device 1000 comprising a first cleaning element 1100 adapted to pass through a barrel of a firearm and clean internal surfaces of a barrel of a firearm, wherein the first cleaning element 1100 comprises a first fastening feature 1210 interconnected with a first end 1110 of the first profile cleaner, and a second fastening feature 1220 interconnected with a second end 1120 of the first profile cleaner.
(34) In certain embodiments, the present invention comprises a first cleaning element 1100 and a second cleaning element 1100. It will be appreciated that the cleaning elements 1100 of certain embodiments comprise similar cleaning elements, while alternate embodiments comprise differing cleaning elements. The cleaning elements each comprise a first fastening 1210 feature interconnected to a first end 1110, and each cleaning element comprises a second fastening feature 1220 interconnected to a second end 1120. The first fastening feature 1210 of each cleaning element is configured to removably interconnect with the second fastening feature 1220 of each cleaning element. Thereby, the first and second cleaning elements 1100 are interconnectable in a first configuration and a second configuration.
(35) In certain embodiments, the present invention comprises a plurality of cleaning elements 1100, each of the plurality of the cleaning elements comprising a first fastening feature 1210 at the first ends 1100 of the cleaning elements, and each of the plurality of the cleaning elements each comprise a second fastening 1220 feature at the second ends 1120 of the cleaning element. The first fastening feature 1210 of each cleaning element is removably interconnectable with a second fastening feature 1220 of each cleaning element. Thereby, a user is able to configure a cleaning device 1000 comprising a plurality of cleaning elements 1100 with any combination of cleaning elements, with any order of cleaning elements. It will be appreciated that such “daisy-chaining” of elements is not limited to any number, combination, or configuration of elements as disclosed herein.
(36) As shown in FIG. 1A-FIG. 1D, the cleaning elements of certain embodiments comprise a variety of forms. Certain cleaning elements comprise a profile cleaner 1300 which is configured to clean the volume of an extruded volume such as the internal surface of a barrel. The cleaning elements of certain embodiments, such as the profile cleaner 1300, comprise a shaft having a semi-rigid property thereby allowing both flexibility and anti-kinking properties. Such properties allow for the navigation of a cleaning element from the breach-end of a firearm allowing the cleaning device to be advanced through the barrel from the breach-end toward the muzzle end of the firearm.
(37) As shown in FIG. 1A-FIG. 1D, the cleaning elements of certain embodiments, such as a deformable cleaner 1400 comprise a form which are dissimilar (e.g., larger in diameter) to the internal aspects of a firearm such as the breach, barrel, or other aspect which is the target of cleaning. Such cleaning elements comprise a deformable outer surface 1410 wherein forcing such a cleaning element through a firearm results in deforming the outer surface of the cleaning element allowing the cleaning element to pass through and clean the firearm.
(38) As shown in FIG. 1A-FIG. 1D, the cleaning elements of certain embodiments comprise a wire-brush 1500 or other stiff-bristled aspects configured to pass through a firearm to scour and clean the internal surfaces of a firearm.
(39) Shown in FIG. 4, the cleaning element of certain embodiments comprise a clamping element 1600 comprising a first clamping member 1610 and a second clamping member 1620 each axially slidably affixable along an axial member 1630. The first clamping member comprises a textured surface 1640 and the second clamping member comprises a textured surface 1640, wherein the textured surfaces of the clamping members are disposed toward each other. Thus, a user is permitted to sandwich a cleaning element—such as a cloth patch or brush between the clamping elements and lock the clamping elements in place along the axial member 1630. The clamping element 1600 can then be passed through the firearm to clean the internal surface of the firearm. In certain embodiments, the textured surfaces comprises teeth 1650, but are not limited thereto. Alternative embodiments comprise a first clamping element 1610 which is configured to sandwich a cleaning element between the first clamping element 1610 and a rigid cap 1660. Such cleaning elements allow for the use of improvised cleaning with any material suited for the cleaning of the internal aspects of a firearm such as textiles, paper products such as coffee filters, steel wool, and other cleaning materials known to a person having ordinary skill in the art.
(40) Certain fastening features (1200, 1210, 1220) of various embodiments are discussed herein, such as those shown in FIG. 1A-FIG. 3B, and FIG. 5A-FIG. 7D, but are not limited thereto. The fastening features of certain embodiments comprise a first fastening feature 1210 of a male feature 1230 such as a ball, and a second fastening feature of a female feature 1240 such as a socket. In certain embodiments, shown in FIG. 2A-FIG. 3B the connection of a male feature 1230 to a female feature 1240 requires the male feature 1230 to be interconnected with the female feature 1240 by inserting the male feature 1230 into the female feature 1240 from a lateral aspect with the male feature 1230 parallel to the female feature 1240. In certain embodiments, FIG. 5A-FIG. 7D, a male feature 1230 is inserted into the recess of the female feature 1240 from a lateral aspect (FIG. 5A-FIG. 5B, FIG. 6A-FIG. 6B, FIG. 7A-FIG. 7B) with the male feature 1230 oriented orthogonal to the axis of fixation. The male feature 1230 is then rotated (FIG. 5C-FIG. 5D, FIG. 6C-FIG. 6D, FIG. 7C-FIG. 7D) to align with the axis of fixation 1205. Each of the aforementioned fastening features 1200 are configured to allow articulation between cleaning elements while mitigating the disconnection of adjacent cleaning elements when loaded axially in tension or compression.
(41) In certain embodiments, shown in FIG. 8A-FIG. 11, the fastening features comprise male threaded features 1230 and female threaded features 1240.
(42) In certain embodiments, shown in FIG. 8A-FIG. 8C, a firearm cleaning device comprises a cleaning element 1700 comprising a first end 1710, a second end 1720, and a shank 1730 therebetween. A first aperture 1740 and the second aperture 1740′ are aligned with a longitudinal axis 1750 of the shank, and the apertures are proximal to the second end of the cleaning element. The first aperture 1740 and the second aperture 1740′ are angularly offset from each other. Thus, the apertures each have an axis (1760, 1760′) extending therethrough which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 1750 of the shank, while the axis 1760 of the first aperture is non-parallel with the axis 1760′ of the second aperture. In certain embodiments the angular offset of the axis 1760 of the first apertures is radially offset from the axis 1760′ of the second aperture by 90-degrees. It will be appreciated that although embodiments disclosed herein comprise two apertures (1740, 1740′), embodiments comprising three or more apertures are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will be appreciated that such cleaning elements as shown in FIG. 8A-FIG. 8C allow for the use of improvised cleaning with any material suited for the cleaning of the internal aspects of a firearm such as textiles, paper products such as coffee filters, steel wool, and other cleaning materials known to a person having ordinary skill in the art.
(43) In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8C, a cleaning element further comprises a jag 1795, or spike, disposed at a distal end of the cleaning element wherein a cloth patch or similar can be pierced by the jag 1795 prior to pushing it through the internal aspects of a firearm to retain the cloth patch to the cleaning element.
(44) In certain embodiments the apertures further comprise a lateral opening (1770, 1770′) thereby creating a hook-form. The lateral opening (1770, 1770′) permits a user to place a cloth patch or other cleaning element therethrough laterally and into the aperture. It will be appreciated that the lateral opening of certain embodiments is configured to result in an upper hook-form 1780′ and lower hook-form 1780 wherein the cloth patch is captive within the aperture regardless if the cleaning element is pushed or pulled through a firearm. In certain embodiments the lateral opening 1770 further comprises beveled aspects 1790 configured to guide the placement of a cloth patch into the apertures from a lateral aspect, while further restricting the removal of the cloth patch thereby mitigating the inadvertent removal of the cloth patch from the apertures.
(45) In certain embodiments of the present invention, shown in FIG. 9A-FIG. 9B, a cleaning element 1800 comprises a flexible outer sleeve 1810 with a deformable element therein 1820. The outer sleeve 1810 of certain embodiments comprises a textile configured to clean the internal aspects of a firearm. In certain embodiments the outer sleeve 1810 comprises a micro-fiber textile material, but it will be appreciated that alternative textiles known to those skilled in the art can be used while in keeping with the spirit and scope of the present invention. The deformable element 1820 comprises an oblong shape and is able to conform to the internal aspects of the firearm as the cleaning element is forced therethrough. The deformable element 1820 typically comprises a closed-cell foam, but embodiments using other deformable elements are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In certain embodiments the cleaning element 1800 comprises a fastening feature 1250 at a first end configured to removably interconnect with a fastening feature of other cleaning elements.
(46) Certain embodiments of a firearm cleaning device 1000, shown in FIG. 10A-FIG. 11, comprises a semi-rigid shaft 1900 having a first end 1910 and a second end 1920. The ends of the semi-rigid shaft 1900 comprise fastening features 1200 configured to removably interconnect with fastening features of cleaning elements. In certain embodiments, the fastening features 1200 of the semi-rigid shaft comprise female threaded features 1260 configured to interconnect with the fastening features of the cleaning elements 1100 wherein the fastening features of the cleaning elements comprise male threaded features 1250. It will be appreciated that the fastening features of the semi-rigid shaft can comprise two female threaded features 1260, two male threaded features 1250, or a male threaded feature 1250 and a female threaded feature 1260 while in keeping with the spirit and scope of the present invention.
(47) In certain embodiments, a firearm cleaning device comprises semi-rigid shaft 1900 having a first end and a second end, each comprising female threaded features configured to interconnect with cleaning elements having male threaded features.
(48) In certain embodiments, shown in FIG. 10A-FIG. 10B, a semi-rigid shaft 1900 comprises fastening features at the first 1910 and second ends 1920, wherein the threaded features 1260 of the semi-rigid shaft further comprise a swivel connection 1930 between the threaded feature and semi-rigid shaft wherein the threaded features axially aligned with the semi-rigid shaft, while the threaded features are free to rotate independent of the semi-rigid shaft. The swivel connection allows the use of cleaning elements within rifled barrels without encumbrance from rifling and without damage to the rifling of the barrel.
(49) In certain embodiments, shown in FIG. 11, a first cleaning element 1700 comprising two apertures which are angularly offset is removably interconnected to a first end 1910 of a semi-rigid shaft. Interconnected to a second end 1920 of the semi-rigid shaft is a second cleaning element 1800 comprising a textile sleeve having a deformable element therein.
(50) While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Further, the inventions described herein are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “adding” and variations thereof herein are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof, as well as additional items.
