Abstract
A firearm training barrel for a replica gun, the gun having a slide and a magazine with a follower. The barrel includes an extended or extendable member positioned or positionable to simulate the presence of one or more pellets in the magazine, whereby the replica gun can be fired even after the magazine's follower has reached the top of the magazine.
Claims
1. A barrel for a gun, the gun having a slide and a magazine with a magazine follower, wherein the barrel comprises: a barrel-like cylindrical extension; a proximal end dimensioned to operably fit into the gun as a barrel and an extended member extending from the proximal end, wherein when the gun is assembled, the extended member is positioned to substitute the ‘next to be fired’ round in the magazine by pressing into the magazine and against the magazine follower.
2. The barrel of claim 1, wherein the gun is a replica gun.
3. The barrel of claim 1, wherein the barrel is configured for combination with a light emitting mechanism or optical pulse generator connected thereto, situated-in or unified with the barrel-like cylindrical extension and/or a distal portion of the barrel.
4. The barrel of claim 1, wherein the member can also be configured to be positionable elsewhere.
5. The barrel of claim 3, wherein the member is configured to be foldable.
6. The barrel of claim 3, wherein the member is configured to be retractable.
7. The barrel of claim 3, wherein the member is configured to be pivotable.
8. The barrel of claim 1, wherein the replica gun can be continually fired with a magazine with no rounds.
9. The barrel of claim 3, wherein when the member is not positioned in the magazine the replica gun allows use of rounds.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0019] The invention may be more clearly understood upon reading of the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the following drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a barrel for firearm training, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;
[0021] FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross sections of the barrel, in accordance with some embodiments, respectively showing an extendable member of the barrel in an extended and retracted position, extendable to simulate the presence of a round or cartridge in a firearm magazine, combined with a pellet ejection mechanism to simulate a spent casing/shell ejection;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the barrel with a cut-away showing the inner portion of its proximal end including a pellet ejection mechanism, in accordance with some embodiments;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the barrel showing a pellet about to be ejected therefrom;
[0024] FIGS. 5A and 5B show different views of the barrel of FIG. 4;
[0025] FIG. 5C show an additional embodiment the barrel of FIG. 4;
[0026] FIGS. 6A and 6B show further variations on the barrel of FIG. 4; and
[0027] FIGS. 7A-7D show cross sectional views of the barrel including the embodiments shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0028] The invention may be more clearly understood upon reading of the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the drawings.
[0029] The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings referred to above. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.
[0030] Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features/components of an actual implementation are necessarily described.
[0031] FIG. 1 shows a training barrel for a replica gun having a magazine and a slide, in accordance with the present invention. The training barrel is configured to allow repeated firing even when the gun's magazine has no rounds (pellets/BBs). The training barrel includes a barrel-like cylindrical extension 20; and a proximal end 22 dimensioned to operably replicate the geometry needed to fit into a replica gun. It is a particular feature of the training barrel wherein the barrel, in particular proximal end 22, further includes a member such as a projection or finger 24 that is configured, when the gun is assembled, to be situated in the magazine, particularly in the position of the ‘top’/‘next’ pellet and to press on the magazine follower thereby preventing the follower (not shown) from arriving all the way to the top of the magazine and pressing on the slide blocker (aka: slide stop).
[0032] As a result, no pellets are needed during simulated firing, the gun's slide (not shown) will continue to operate continuously and thereby slide forward and back (racking) as if a cartridge (typically pellets/BBs in the case of a replica gun), is being loaded and fired, whereby the shooter can fire continually in a so-called “Hollywood style” manner (continuously). This continued forward and backward motion of the slide enables the shooter to continue firing without regard to the number of rounds that the magazine would have held if the magazine was actually loaded.
[0033] The training barrel may include a muzzle or distal portion 100 configured to hold a light emitting mechanism 90 (see FIG. 6A) such as a laser production and emitter device (e.g. laser pulse generator), which can be used to provide the shooter with a simulated bullet impact location.
[0034] Cylindrical extension 20 may be connected to, combined with, unified with or there may be situated within a light emitting mechanism 90 and/or optical pulse generator 92 (see FIG. 7B) such as a laser production and emitter device (e.g. laser pulse generator), which can be used to provide the shooter with a simulated bullet impact location.
[0035] FIGS. 2A and 2B show an embodiment of projection/finger 24 configured so that it is arrange-able either in an active position, i.e. extended position (FIG. 2A), whereby the member (projection/finger) simulates the presence of a round (e.g. pellet) in the magazine and prevents the follower from arriving to the top of the magazine; or in a non-active position (FIG. 2B) (e.g. retracted or folded position) wherein the projection/finger is not positioned in the magazine. Depending on the actual mechanism used, projection/finger 24 may have an associated pivot pin 26; a folding/pivoting mechanism (or an extension/retraction mechanism (not shown); removal/attachment mechanism (not shown); or other suitable mechanism—hereinafter “folding/pivoting mechanism” or derivative thereof. This option to arrange projection/finger 24 in a non-active (folded/retracted/removed) position allows the follower to arrive to the top of the magazine whereby the gun can be fired with pellets/BBs. These configurations can be utilized in combination with light emitting mechanism 90 and/or optical pulse generator 92 connected to, situated-in or unified with barrel-like cylindrical extension 20 or/and or distal portion 100. The folding/pivoting mechanism can further include a fastener such as a screw or finger locking pin 28 to secure finger 24 in the desired position.
[0036] FIG. 3 shows a barrel whose proximal end 22 is designed to be used with a magazine holding pellets (not visible) or the like and to eject those pellets in a manner so as to simulate a casing ejection in a real firearm. In other words the pellets are ejected upward and sideways from proximal end 22 of the barrel upon firing, at an angle similar to that of a shell/casing ejection. The pellets are shot using the existing firing mechanism of the replica gun using pressurized gas from a capsule or canister or compressor (not shown, and known per se) or using an associated gas tank with a hose (not shown, and known per se) or the equivalent—referred to hereinafter as “canister”, “gas canister”, “pressurized gas canister” or derivatives thereof.
[0037] In some embodiments, this casing ejection simulation is achieved by proximal end 22 including a curved tunnel 30 (FIG. 3) that curves upwardly and to the side, and that is dimensioned to facilitate passage of the pellets from a chamber 31 and direct those pellets upward and to the side.
[0038] FIG. 4 shows a pellet 32 about to be ejected from curved tunnel 30 (not visible in this view), simulating a casing ejection. An upper portion of a magazine 34 is visible as well as the gun's nozzle 33.
[0039] FIGS. 5A and 5B show an embodiment wherein curved tunnel 30 includes two sections: a pellet loading ramp 35 and a pellet ejection tunnel 37. Loading ramp 35 facilitates the passage of pellet 32 just after the pellet is pushed from magazine 34 by nozzle 33 to loading ramp 35. Preferably, loading ramp 35 slightly diverges from the center/longitudinal axis of nozzle 33 towards the direction in which pellet 32 is intended to be ejected. Ejection tunnel 37 is at an angle with respect to loading ramp 35.
[0040] FIGS. 5A and 5B also show an embodiment wherein proximal end 22 further includes a vent tunnel 36 associated with curved tunnel 30 to bleed off some of the propellant gas and lower the gas pressure produced by the firing mechanism. Vent tunnel 36 may be oriented to bleed off the gas in a forward direction, for example through barrel-like cylindrical extension 20. By reducing the propellant gas pressure, Vent tunnel 36 can facilitate the proper ejection of the pellets from curved tunnel 30, in particular in a safe manner rather than a rapid ejection, which can potentially be dangerous for the shooter or someone standing nearby. Vent tunnel 36 can be dimensioned during manufacturing so as to produce a casing-simulating pellet ejection with an appropriate pellet ejection speed.
[0041] FIG. 5C shows an embodiment in which projection/finger 24 facilitates the “folding/pivoting mechanism” configuration, which provides the user with the option of using the training barrel with or without pellets—i.e. without pellets, when finger 24 is extended/open (FIG. 2A); and with pellets and a simulated shell ejection when finger 24 is folded/retracted (FIG. 2B).
[0042] FIGS. 6A and 6B show an embodiment wherein vent tunnel 36 has an associated bleed adjustment mechanism including a bleed screw 38 and a threaded lumen 40 whereby the amount of bleeding via the vent tunnel 36 can be set, controlled or calibrated in order to further provide a post-production adjustment option for the user. As such, the speed of the casing-simulating pellet ejection can be adjusted.
[0043] FIGS. 7A-7D illustrate an embodiment including a combination of a “folding/pivoting mechanism” finger 24; vent tunnel 36; distal portion 100; and threaded lumen 40 for receiving bleed adjustment screw 38 (FIG. 6B).
[0044] It should be understood that the above description is merely exemplary and that there are various embodiments of the present invention that may be devised, mutatis mutandis, and that the features described in the above-described embodiments, and those not described herein, may be used separately or in any suitable combination; and the invention can be devised in accordance with embodiments not necessarily described above.
