Silencer

Abstract

A silencer for a gun, in particular a handgun, is provided, comprising a silencer housing with a rear end wall which faces the barrel of the gun and with a front end wall which lies opposite the rear end wall. The silencer also comprises an attachment rail for attaching the silencer to the gun, with the attachment rail being arranged on the rear end wall of the silencer housing. The silencer can also be used as a duel simulator. Furthermore, a holster is also provided for holstering the firearm according to the invention.

Claims

1. A silencer (10) for a gun (90), comprising a silencer housing (11) with a rear end wall (HE), which faces a gun barrel (91) of the gun, and with a front end wall (VE) opposing the rear end wall, and a fixation rail (30) for fixing the silencer to the gun, wherein the fixation rail (30) is arranged at the rear end wall (HE) of the silencer housing, wherein the silencer housing (11) and the fixation rail (30) are formed as one part, wherein the fixation rail (30) comprises a first longitudinal guide and a second longitudinal guide, wherein the first longitudinal guide is formed at an inner surface of a first side wall of a U-shaped profile, and the second longitudinal guide is formed at an inner surface of a second side wall of the U-shaped profile, and wherein in an interior of the silencer housing, a structured insert (50) is arranged, by means of which an expansion of explosively expanding gases can be controlled; wherein, in the silencer housing (11) between the rear end wall (HE) and the front end wall (VE), a light channel (20) running parallel to a longitudinal axis (LA) of the silencer housing is arranged with an inlet opening (71) at the rear end wall and an outlet opening (72) at the front end wall; and wherein the light channel (20) is configured pressure- and/or air-tightly against a gas chamber (15) of the silencer.

2. The silencer of claim 1, wherein the fixation rail (30) extends parallel to a longitudinal axis (LA) of the silencer housing (11).

3. The silencer of claim 1, wherein the at least one longitudinal guide (32) runs parallel to a longitudinal axis (LA) of the silencer housing (11).

4. The silencer of claim 1, wherein the fixation rail (30) has a substantially U-shaped profile.

5. The silencer of claim 1, wherein the rear end wall (HE) has a receiving aperture (25), with which a front end of the gun barrel (91) can be brought into engagement, and wherein the fixation rail (30) is arranged below the receiving aperture (25).

6. The silencer of claim 1, wherein an internal profile of a U-shaped profile of the fixation rail (30) substantially corresponds to an external profile of a mounting rail (94) of the gun (90), in order to bring the fixation rail into engagement with the mounting rail, in order to fix the silencer releasably to the gun.

7. The silencer of claim 1, wherein a mounting rail (34) is provided at a lower side of the silencer.

8. The silencer of claim 7, wherein the mounting rail (34) extends substantially over the entire length of the fixation rail (30) and the silencer housing (11).

9. The silencer of claim 1, wherein the front end wall (VE) is configured as a cover (40) being releasable from the silencer housing (11).

10. The silencer of claim 9, wherein the cover (40) is formed trough-shaped.

11. The silencer of claim 1, wherein the silencer is embodied as duel simulator, wherein in the silencer housing (11), an expansion chamber (16) is formed, into which an overpressure channel (18) leads for discharging of gases expanding in the expansion chamber.

12. The silencer of claim 11, wherein in the silencer housing (11), there is arranged a receiving channel (21) between the rear end wall (HE) and the front end wall (VE), wherein the expansion chamber (16) is formed within the receiving channel, wherein a bulkhead (17) is formed in the receiving channel, which delimits the expansion chamber (16) towards the front end wall (VE), and wherein the expansion chamber is arranged coaxially to a gun barrel (91), and on the gun side, can be coupled to the gun barrel substantially pressure-tightly.

13. The silencer of claim 12, wherein the expansion chamber (16), on the gun barrel side, can be closed by a reducer (19) being arranged at the muzzle opening of the gun barrel (91), wherein the reducer has a longitudinal channel (19a), which connects the expansion chamber to the gun barrel.

14. The silencer of claim 12, wherein the illuminant module is arranged behind the bulkhead (17).

15. The silencer of claim 12, wherein the bulkhead (17) is movable within the receiving channel (21) in longitudinal direction relative to the receiving channel (21).

16. The silencer of claim 1, wherein a cover plate (60) is arranged in front of the rear end wall (HE) and substantially parallel to the rear end wall, and wherein the cover plate can be moved in vertical direction relative to the rear end wall.

17. The silencer of claim 16, wherein the cover plate (60) has an opening or recess (61) concentrically with respect to a receiving aperture (25) of the silencer housing (11), which substantially has a size and shape that is the same as the receiving aperture.

18. The silencer of claim 16, wherein a spring member (64) is arranged at the lower side of the cover plate (60).

19. The silencer of claim 16, wherein at a side of the cover plate (60) facing the rear end wall (HE), guide rails or guide gaps (62) are provided, which engage with guide gaps or guide rails at the rear end wall.

20. The silencer of claim 19, wherein the guide gaps or guide rails (62) are formed according to a dovetail guide.

21. The silencer of claim 16, wherein a hole (63) is provided in the cover plate (60) below an opening or recess (61).

22. The silencer of claim 1, wherein an upper wall (12) of the silencer housing (11) running between the rear end wall (HE) and the front end wall (VE), after being mounted to the gun, is flush with a movable slide of the gun.

23. The silencer of claim 1, wherein an upper portion (OS) of the silencer housing (11) substantially has an external profile or dimensions that are the same as an upper portion (OV) of a movable slide of the gun (90).

24. A gun (90) comprising a silencer (10), the silencer comprising: a silencer housing (11) with a rear end wall (HE), which faces a gun barrel (91) of the gun, and with a front end wall (VE) opposing the rear end wall, and a fixation rail (30) for fixing the silencer to the gun, wherein the fixation rail (30) is arranged at the rear end wall (HE) of the silencer housing wherein the silencer housing (11) and the fixation rail (30) are formed as one part, wherein the fixation rail (30) comprises a first longitudinal guide and a second longitudinal guide, wherein the first longitudinal guide is formed at an inner surface of a first side wall of a U-shaped profile, and the second longitudinal guide is formed at an inner surface of a second side wall of the U-shaped profile, and wherein in an interior of the silencer housing, a structured insert (50) is arranged, by means of which the expansion of explosively expanding gases can be controlled, wherein, in the silencer housing (11) between the rear end wall (HE) and the front end wall (VE), a light channel (20) running parallel to a longitudinal axis (LA) of the silencer housing is arranged with an inlet opening (71) at the rear end wall and an outlet opening (72) at the front end wall; and wherein the light channel (20) is configured pressure- and/or air-tightly against a gas chamber (15) of the silencer.

25. A silencer (10) for a gun (90), comprising a silencer housing (11) with a rear end wall (HE), which faces a gun barrel (91) of the gun, and with a front end wall (VE) opposing the rear end wall, and a fixation rail (30) for fixing the silencer to the gun, wherein the fixation rail (30) is arranged at the rear end wall (HE) of the silencer housing, wherein the silencer housing (11) and the fixation rail (30) are formed as one part, wherein the fixation rail (30) comprises a first longitudinal guide and a second longitudinal guide, wherein the first longitudinal guide is formed at an inner surface of a first side wall of a U-shaped profile, and the second longitudinal guide is formed at an inner surface of a second side wall of the U-shaped profile, and wherein in an interior of the silencer housing, a structured insert (50) is arranged, by means of which an expansion of explosively expanding gases can be controlled; wherein an illuminant (80) is arranged in the front end wall (VE); wherein control electronics (81) and/or a power supply (82) for the illuminant (80) is/are provided in the silencer housing (11); and wherein the illuminant (80) and the control electronics (81), or the power supply (82) are arranged within an air- and/or pressure-tight housing (83), wherein the illuminant (80) is arranged in a side wall of the air- and/or pressure-tight housing, and wherein the air- and/or pressure-tight housing and components illuminant (80), control electronics (81), and power supply (82) are arranged therein together form an illuminant module.

26. The silencer of claim 25, wherein a recess (85) is provided in the silencer housing (11) in the area of the front end wall (VE) for receiving the illuminant module.

27. The silencer of claim 25, wherein the control electronics (81) or an illuminant module comprise a sensor unit (84) for detection of a firing off of ammunition.

28. The silencer of claim 27, wherein the sensor unit (84) comprises a pressure sensor and/or acoustic sensor.

29. The silencer of claim 27, wherein the control electronics (81) are adapted to, after a detection of a firing off of ammunition, instruct the illuminant (80) to emit a light ray.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Details and features of the invention can be derived from following description in connection with the drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a silencer according to the invention in a perspective view, as well as two alternative profiles of a fixation rail of the silencer according to the invention;

(3) FIGS. 2A-C show a silencer according to the invention in a side view along the longitudinal axis of the silencer, as well as a view of the front end and the rear end of the silencer;

(4) FIGS. 3A-B show a cover for covering the front end of the silencer;

(5) FIGS. 4A-B show an insert of the silencer in a view from the front as well as a sectional view along the longitudinal axis;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective sectional view along the longitudinal axis of the silencer according to the invention;

(7) FIGS. 6A-C show an alternative embodiment of the silencer according to the invention with a cover plate, as well as two possible embodiments of the cover plate;

(8) FIGS. 7A-C show a further embodiment of the silencer according to the invention in a view from the rear, in a sectional view along the longitudinal axis, as well as in a perspective view;

(9) FIGS. 8A-B show the front end of a silencer according to the invention with an illuminant means arranged therein;

(10) FIGS. 9A-B show a silencer according to the invention mounted at the gun; and

(11) FIG. 10 shows a silencer according to the invention, which is configured as duel simulator according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) The silencer according to the invention described in the following has the substantial advantage that it may be fixed or mounted and demounted in a particularly simple, safe, and quick manner, in particular, without a screwing onto the gun. A further substantial advantage of the silencer according to the invention lies therein that it can also be used for handguns, which have a movable barrel or a self-loading function, without having to use a pulse generator for this, wherein the self-loading function of the handgun nevertheless is maintained. The use of the silencer according to the invention has been found to be specifically advantageous for handguns, which have a rearward-moving and pivoting barrel.

(13) FIG. 1 shows a silencer 10 according to the invention in a perspective view.

(14) The silencer in the embodiment shown here comprises a substantially rectangular shaped silencer housing 11 and a fixation rail 30.

(15) The silencer housing has a rear end wall HE, which in a mounted state faces the gun barrel of the firearm, and the front end wall VE opposing the rear end wall. Between the rear end wall and the front end wall, an upper wall 12 of the silencer housing is formed.

(16) The silencer housing 11 may also have another shape than the rectangular shape shown here, in particular, the silencer housing may have a cylindrical shape, whereby a fixation rail may be arranged according to the invention also at a cylindrical silencer housing.

(17) At the rear end or at the rear end wall HE of the silencer housing 11, a receiving aperture 25 is provided, with which the front end of a gun barrel engages or may be brought into engagement. In the interior and subsequent to the receiving aperture 25 of the silencer housing 11, a shot channel 20 for a bullet is formed running axially or parallel to the longitudinal axis LA.

(18) The fixation rail 30 is arranged in the lower region of the silencer housing 11 and below the receiving aperture 25, and extends in the longitudinal direction, i.e., parallel to the longitudinal axis LA of the silencer housing 11 beyond the rear end wall HE. The fixation rail in the embodiment of a silencer according to the invention shown here, has a U-shaped profile. At the two side walls 31 of the U-shaped fixation rail 30, longitudinal guides 32 are provided, which run parallel to the longitudinal axis LA of the silencer 10.

(19) In the embodiment of the fixation rail 30 shown the perspective view of the silencer 10, each side wall 31 comprises a guide gap 32, which substantially extends over the entire length of the fixation rail 30.

(20) The silencer 10 is fixed at a mounting rail of a firearm by means of the fixation rail 30 such that a front end of the gun barrel is brought into engagement with the receiving aperture 25 of the silencer. The internal profile of the fixation rail 30 is adapted to the external profile of the mounting rail of the firearm.

(21) In a lower region of the fixation rail 30, a transverse channel 33 is formed, which substantially runs parallel to the transverse axis QA of the silencer 10. The transverse channel 33 is provided for receiving a locking and/or arresting means, which is not shown here, for locking the silencer at the mounting rail of the firearm. By means of the locking and/or arresting means, it is ensured that the silencer 10 is not able to autonomously detach from the gun.

(22) At the lower side of the silencer 10, here, a mounting rail 34 is provided, which can be used for attaching additional accessories, for example, an additional handle or a tactical light. The mounting rail 34 extends in the embodiment of a silencer according to the invention shown here, over the entire length of the silencer 10, i.e., from the rear end of the fixation rail 30 to the front end or to the front end wall VE of the silencer housing 10.

(23) The silencer according to the invention can be fixed at a mounting rail of a handgun by means of the fixation rail 30, whereby the longitudinal guides or guide gaps 32 are brought into engagement with correspondingly formed longitudinal guides of the mounting rail of the handgun at the mounting rail of the handgun. By means of the locking or arresting means arranged within the transverse channel 33, the silencer can be locked at the handgun, in order to prevent an autonomous or unintended axial movement of the silencer relative to the handgun. The locking or arresting means may be configured as passive or active locking or arresting means.

(24) Further, two alternative profiles of a fixation rail 30 are shown FIG. 1.

(25) According to the first alternative, a groove of a dovetail guide may be provided at the bottom of the fixation rail, which can be brought into engagement with a tongue of the dovetail guide of the mounting rail corresponding to the groove.

(26) According to a second alternative, a tongue of the dovetail guide can be provided at the bottom of the fixation rail, which can be brought into engagement with a tongue corresponding to the groove of a dovetail of the mounting rail.

(27) The groove as well as the tongue of the dovetail guides shown in the two alternatives extend in axial direction and parallel to the longitudinal axis LA of the silencer.

(28) The longitudinal guides 32 shown in FIG. 1 may extend over the entire length of the fixation rail. However, it is also possible that the longitudinal guides only extend over a certain area, depending in the end on the concrete configuration of the corresponding longitudinal guides of the mounting rail of the gun. It is only important that the longitudinal guides 32 of the fixation rail correspond to corresponding longitudinal guides at the mounting rail, and allow for a movement of the silencer along the longitudinal axis LA relative to the handgun, as far as the silencer is not locked at the mounting rail.

(29) With the silencer shown here, a particularly fast and particularly easy mounting of the silencer at the handgun is possible. This is because the silencer only has to be pushed onto the mounting rail of the handgun, which is provided below the barrel, and until the front end of the barrel is brought into engagement with the receiving aperture 25 of the silencer or until the locking and/or arresting means locks the silencer at the gun or at the mounting rail of the gun within the transverse channel 33. Also, a particularly simple and fast demounting of the silencer from the handgun is possible. Only the locking or arresting means has to be released and the silencer can be pulled off the mounting rail of the handgun.

(30) Because the silencer is not fixed at the movable slide/breech or at the movable barrel, but rather at the frame of the gun or at the mounting rail of the gun, the barrel is able to move backwards independently of the silencer such that a self-loading function of the gun is not impaired by the silencer. Because the front end of the barrel engages with the receiving aperture 25 of the silencer, and because the silencer is not fixed to the barrel but rather at the frame of the gun, a pulse generator neither has to be provided. In particular, the silencer according to the invention may also be used for guns with a so-called pitching or pivoting barrel, whereby also there, no pulse generator is necessary.

(31) FIGS. 2A-C show a silencer according to the invention in a sectional view along a longitudinal axis LA of the silencer, as well as a view of the rear end HE and a view of the front end VE of the silencer.

(32) In FIG. 2A, a longitudinal section of the silencer 10 is shown, whereby the fixation rail extends in axial direction, i.e., parallel to the longitudinal axis LA beyond the rear end or beyond the rear end wall HE of the silencer housing 11, in an upper portion of the silencer housing 11, the receiving aperture 25 for receiving the front end of a gun barrel is provided. In the interior of the silencer housing 11, a gas chamber 15 is formed.

(33) In FIG. 2B, a view from the rear of the silencer 10 is shown. Here, the configuration of the longitudinal guides or longitudinal gaps 32 can be seen, which have a substantially wedge shaped profile. The configuration of the mounting rail provided at the tower side of the silencer 10 for receiving additional equipment at the lower side of the silencer can be seen here also.

(34) In FIG. 2C, the view from the front of the silencer 10 is shown. In the illustration shown here, the silencer is open and may be closed by a cover, as shown in FIG. 3A. In the interior of the silencer housing, a structured insert 50 is arranged, by means of which the expansion of the explosively expanding gases can be controlled. The concrete configuration or shape of the insert 50 is not important for the present invention and is only shown exemplary here. The silencer housing 11 in the embodiment shown here comprises at the front end VE four boreholes 41, into which the cover shown in FIG. 3A can be screwed by means of fixation screws.

(35) According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the silencer housing 11 may also be closed at the front side VE.

(36) FIG. 3A shows a cover 40 for closing or covering the front end VE of the silencer housing 11, as far as the silencer housing is not closed at the front end. The cover 40 has a muzzle opening 23, through which the bullet fired off can exit. The cover 40 has bore holes 42, which correspond to the bore holes 41 of the silencer housing, and by means of which the cover 40 can be fixed at the silencer housing 11.

(37) FIG. 3B, a section of the cover 40 along the sectional axis 3B-3B is shown. It can be seen here that the cover 40 has a substantially trough-like shape, which has the advantage that by attaching the cover 40 at the silencer housing 11, the volume of the gas chamber 15 can be increased. With differently deep trough-shaped covers, different volumes of the gas chamber 15 can be realized.

(38) Further, by this, differently long structured inserts 50—as they are shown, for example, with reference to FIG. 5—can be inserted.

(39) According to an alternative configuration, the cover 40 may also be formed flat, i.e., not trough-shaped.

(40) FIGS. 4A-B show an example of a structured insert 50 for a silencer 10 according to the invention.

(41) In FIG. 4A, the insert 50 is shown in a view from the front, and in FIG. 4B, the insert 50 is shown in a sectional view taken along sectional axis 4B-4B. The external profile of the insert 50 substantially corresponds to the internal profile of the gas chamber 15 of the silencer 10 such that the insert 50 can be pushed into the gas chamber 15 of the silencer 10 so as to be substantially flush with it.

(42) The insert 50 here has a number of fins 51, which at least partially are inclined backwards at a slanted angle, and wherein some of the blades have longitudinal bores 52. In the upper region of the fins, a shot channel 20 is formed such that the bullet may pass through the insert unimpededly. The structure, number, and configuration of the fins 51 may differ from the fins shown in FIG. 49, and basically depends on the concrete requirements to the sound absorbing properties of the silencer.

(43) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a silencer 10 according to the invention in a sectional view along the sectional axis 4B-4B of FIG. 4A. Here, the longitudinal guides 32 along the side wall 31 of the fixation rail 30 can be seen. Further, here the silencer housing 11 can be seen with the cover 40 fixed to the front end of the silencer housing 11, as well as the insert 50 having a number of fins 511 arranged within the interior of the silencer housing 11. A shot channel 20 is formed within the insert 50, which extends between the receiving aperture 25 and the muzzle opening 23 of the silencer or of the silencer housing 11. Also, the mounting rail 34 arranged at the lower side of the silencer 10 can be seen here, which has a number of transverse ribs, whereby the transverse ribs substantially are provided for locking additional equipment attached to the mounting rail 34.

(44) The silencer housing 11 and the fixation rail 30 projecting at the rear end or at the rear end wall HE of the silencer housing and running parallel to the longitudinal axis LA may be configured in one part. Alternatively, the silencer housing 11 and the fixation rail 30 may also be configured as two parts, whereby the fixation rail 30 can be attached to the rear end of the silencer. According to still a further embodiment of the invention, the fixation rail 30 and the mounting rail 34 may be configured as one part, whereby the silencer housing 11 can be fixed to the upper side of the mounting rail 34 releasably. Thereby, it is possible to mount one and the same silencer housing to different attachment rails, which are adapted to different mounting rails of a gun.

(45) FIGS. 6A-C show a further development according to the invention of a silencer 10 according to the invention.

(46) In FIG. 6A, the rear region of the silencer 10 or the silencer housing 11 is shown in a sectional view. In FIG. 6B, a first embodiment of a cover plate 60 is shown, and in FIG. 6C, a second embodiment of a cover plate 60 is shown.

(47) At the rear end of the silencer housing 11, a cover plate 60 is provided, which is arranged at or abuts against the rear end wall HE of the silencer housing 11. The cover plate 60 is movable upwards or relative to the silencer housing 11. Further, an opening or recess 61 is provided in the cover plate 60, which essentially has the same shape and the same size, preferably slightly larger, as the receiving aperture 25 of the silencer. The front end of the gun barrel may be brought into engagement with the receiving aperture 25 of the silencer through the opening 61 of the cover plate 60.

(48) The use of the cover plate 60 shown here is particularly advantageous in a case, where the silencer according to the invention is used for guns having a barrel which is movable and pivoting backwards. With respect to such handguns, the front end of the gun barrel is moved out of the receiving aperture 25 of the silencer in axial direction after firing off of a bullet. The rear end of the gun barrel is then tilted slightly downwards for the purpose of reloading, whereby the front end of the gun barrel slightly tilts upwards, leading thereto that a relatively large area of the receiving aperture 25 is completely open, and gases may be discharged through this opening.

(49) The cover plate 60 now is provided to substantially prevent during the loading procedure that a larger area of the receiving aperture 25 is open, when the front end of the barrel is tilted forwards. The cover plate 60 is configured or is arranged at the silencer housing 11 such that the cover plate 60 with a front end of the gun barrel tilting forwards also moves upwards—and, in fact, synchronously with the front end of the barrel—such that the cover plate 60 moving upwards through the opening of the receiving aperture 25 closes again by an upwards tilting of the front end of the gun barrel. After the loading procedure, the front end of the gun barrel moves downwards again and into the receiving aperture 25, whereby at the same time also the cover plate 60 is moved downwards again.

(50) FIG. 6B shows a first embodiment of a cover plate 60. The cover plate 60 consists of a substantially flat plate having an opening or recess 61. The diameter of the opening or recess 61 substantially corresponds to the diameter of the receiving aperture 25 such that the front end of a gun barrel may penetrate through the opening 61 unimpededly. According to an embodiment of the cover plate 60, the rim of the opening 61 may be slightly chamfered.

(51) At the rear side or at the side of the cover plate 60 facing the silencer housing 11, here, two guide rails 62 running perpendicular are provided, which here are formed as a groove of a dovetail guide. A first one of the two guide rails 62 extends on the right-hand side of the opening 61, and a second one of the two guide rails 62 extends on the left-hand side of the opening 61.

(52) At the rear end wall HE of the silencer housing 11, also corresponding guide rails are provided, with which the guide rails 62 of the cover plate 60 may be brought into engagement. For example, two tongues of a dovetail guide extending perpendicular and corresponding to the guide rails 62 of the cover plate 60 may be provided in the rear end wall of the silencer housing 11. The cover plate 60 may then be moved upwards or downwards along the guide rails at the rear end wall of the silencer housing 11.

(53) With respect to the cover plate 60 shown in FIG. 6C, the front end projecting from the receiving aperture 25 of the silencer and tilting upwards picks up the cover plate 60 such that substantially the lower half of the cover plate closes the opening of the receiving aperture 25, which is formed during the loading procedure.

(54) In FIG. 6C, an alternative embodiment of a cover plate 60 is shown. The cover plate 60 has at the upper end, a rim-sided semi-circular recess 61, the radius of which substantially corresponds to the radius of the receiving aperture 25 of the silencer or to the radius of the front end of the gun barrel. At the lower end of the cover plate 60, a spring member 64 is provided. The spring member 64 pushes the cover plate against the gun barrel from below such that during the tilting of the front end of the gun barrel upwards, the cover plate 60 also is moved upwards due to the spring force of the spring member 64, and thereby closes the opening in the receiving aperture 25 being formed during the loading procedure.

(55) The embodiment of the cover plate 60 shown in FIG. 6C compared to the cover plate 60 shown in FIG. 6B has the advantage that the gun barrel does not have to push the cover plate upwards, but rather the spring member 64 pushes the cover plate upwards such that the gun barrel may tilt forwards unimpededly and without any resistance.

(56) According to the embodiment of a cover plate 60 shown in FIG. 6C, also guide rails 62 may be provided, as shown in FIG. 6B.

(57) According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6B, also a spring member 64 may be provided, by means of which a moving of the cover plate upwards can be supported.

(58) According to the cover plate 60 shown in FIG. 6C, a hole 63 is provided in a lower area of the cover plate, which here is formed as an elongated hole. The cover plate having the elongated hole 63 is advantageous in such a case, if the cover plate is used together with a silencer, as will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A-C and FIGS. 9A-B. The configuration of the hole 63 as elongated hole is advantageous, in order not to interrupt a light ray passing through the hole 63 during a movement of the cover plate 60 upwards.

(59) A corresponding hole or elongated hole 63 may also be provided in a cover plate 60 according to FIG. 6B.

(60) In FIG. 6A, a small gap is provided between the cover plate 60 and rear end wall of the silencer housing 11. However, it is nevertheless advantageous, if this gap is as small as possible, in order to ensure a covering as good as possible of the opening of the receiving aperture 25 being formed during the loading procedure.

(61) FIGS. 7A-C show a further development according to the invention of a silencer 10 according to the invention, whereby in FIG. 7A, the rear end HE, in FIG. 7B a sectional view along sectional axis 7B-7B of FIG. 7A, and in FIG. 7C a perspective view of the silencer are shown.

(62) Here, a light channel 70 is arranged within the silencer 10 or within the silencer housing 11, which has an inlet opening 71 and an outlet opening 72, and which extends from the rear side wall to the front side wall of the silencer housing. The light channel 70, here is formed as a cylindrically shaped channel, through which a light ray may pass through unimpededly from the inlet opening 71 up to the outlet opening 72.

(63) A silencer configured according to FIGS. 7A-C having a light channel 7 may, for example, be employed, if the handgun has a light source, as a laser pointer, for example, at the front end or below the gun barrel. The laser pointer may be arranged, for example, at the front end of the closing or return spring, or at or in the spring sleeve of the closing or return spring of the gun. A corresponding configuration is shown with reference to FIGS. 9A-B.

(64) The light channel or light cylinder 70 may be made from stable plastics or from a metal, which is fixed to the front sided or rear sided end wall of the silencer housing in an air or pressure tight manner. When using an insert 50, as shown with reference to FIGS. 4A-B, the light channel or light cylinder 70 may be passed through the fins 51 of the insert. The fins 51 may then provide for additional stability of the light channel 70.

(65) In an embodiment of the invention, the light channel 70 may be provided as a component of the insert 50, and may be connected to the insert 50 fixedly such that the light channel 70 may be removed from the silencer housing 11 together with the insert. According to this embodiment, it only has to be taken care of the light channel 70, after insertion of the insert into the silencer housing 11, being sealed against the gas chamber 15 in an air or pressure tight manner.

(66) FIG. 8A shows the front end VE of a silencer according to the invention according to a further embodiment in a sectional view.

(67) With respect to the silencer 10 shown in FIGS. 8A-B, an illuminant 80 is arranged in the front region or at the front end wall of the silencer housing, which here is configured as laser diode. The illuminant 80 may be coupled to electronics 81, by means of which the function or the operation of the illuminant 80 may be controlled. For example, the intensity of the laser diode may be controlled. The illuminant 80 and the electronics 81, here, are coupled to a power supply 82, as for example, a battery.

(68) According to an embodiment of the invention, the illuminant 80, the electronics 81, and the power supply 82 are accommodated within a housing 83, whereby the illuminant 80 is arranged within an opening of the housing, as shown in FIG. 8B. Preferably, the housing 83 is configured in an air or pressure tight manner such that it may be arranged within the interior of the silencer housing 11. The silencer housing may comprise, at the front end, a support 85, into which the housing 83 with the illuminant, the electronics, and the power supply may be inserted and locked. Thereby, a modular illuminant means can be provided, which may be removed from the silencer as needed, or which may be replaced by another illuminant module.

(69) If the support 85 is formed in an air or pressure tight manner against the gas chamber 15, then a pressure or air tight configuration of the housing 83 of the illuminant module may be omitted, thus enabling a simpler production of the illuminant module.

(70) FIG. 9A shows a silencer 10 according to the invention, which is arranged or fixed at a mounting rail 94 of a gun 90. The gun barrel or the front end of the gun barrel 91, here, protrudes into the receiving aperture 25 of the silencer 10, whereby the front end of the gun barrel 91 may close the silencer housing or the gas chamber of the silencer housing preferably in an air or pressure tight manner.

(71) Below the gun barrel, a laser diode 80 is provided at the gun, the optical axis of which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the light channel 70.

(72) At the front end of the gun 90, a bead 92 is provided at the movable slide or breech 93 of the gun 90, whereby due to the particular shape of the silencer housing 11, no modifications to the bead 92 are necessary, if the gun is used in combination with the silencer according to the invention.

(73) Also due to the specific shape of the silencer according to the invention, the gun sight of the gun is also usable during use of the silencer.

(74) Due to the specific configuration of the silencer, i.e., due to the substantially cuboid shape of the silencer housing, it is possible to build the silencer housing 11 substantially shorter than with respect to common cylindrically shaped silencers. This has the advantage that a holstering of the gun also is possible with a silencer mounted thereto.

(75) In order to achieve the advantages mentioned above, it is advantageous, if the external profile of the upper portion OS of the silencer housing 11 of a silencer 10 substantially has the same external profile as an upper portion OV of the movable slide or breech 93 of a gun 90, as shown with reference to FIG. 9B.

(76) Above, a silencer has been described, which is provided according to its intended reduction of sound emission during firing off a shot from a gun. According to a further embodiment according to the invention, the silencer may also be used as duel simulator.

(77) FIG. 10 shows a further configuration of a silencer according to the invention, which can be used as duel simulator, for example, for training and/or educational purposes, whereby blank and maneuver bullets are employed.

(78) During use of blank and maneuver bullets in guns having a self-loading function, the problem exists that the blank and maneuver bullets during firing off in most of the cases do not generate or establish sufficient pressure, in order to move the breech of the gun fast enough and/or wide enough backwards, such that the used bullet sleeve is ejected and a new bullet may be loaded.

(79) For solving this problem, the silencer 10 according to the invention is further developed in that the silencer may be used as duel simulator. The silencer used as duel simulator is configured according to the invention such that it is ensured that also with the use of blank and/or maneuver bullets, the self-loading function of the gun still is maintained.

(80) The basic structure of a silencer 10 used as duel simulator basically corresponds to the one shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the duel simulator comprises a silencer housing 11 and a fixation rail 30, whereby the fixation rail 30 is fixed or arranged at the silencer housing, as shown with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 9B.

(81) When using a silencer according to the invention as duel simulator, the silencer housing 11 may, however, be formed substantially shorter than with respect to the silencer shown with respect to FIG. 1 to FIG. 9B, because the volume of an expansion space for the expanding gases of the blank and/or maneuver bullets may or has to be substantially smaller than the volume of the expansion space of a duel simulator of a silencer used as intended. The expansion space of a duel simulator, therefore, should be selected smaller than the volume of an expansion space of a common silencer already for the reason to provide a sufficiently strong return force or pressure for the returning of the breech.

(82) In the interior of the silencer housing 11, an expansion space 16 is formed in the rear area, which follows to the receiving aperture 25 of the silencer housing 11 such that during firing off of a blank and/or maneuver bullet, the gases expanding in the gun barrel 91 may reach the expansion space 16. By the relatively small sized expansion space 16, it is ensured that the gas entering into the expansion space establishes a pressure, which ensures a reliable functioning of the self-loading function of the gun.

(83) The expansion space 16 may be connected to an overpressure channel 18, which leads up to the front end wall VE of the silencer housing 11. The gases expanding in the expansion space 16 are lead to the outside via this overpressure channel 18 such that the pressure within the expansion space is reduced again. The overpressure channel 18 preferably is sized such that in spite of discharging the gases from the expansion space 16, there will be established a sufficiently high pressure within the expansion space 16, which is sufficient for the self-loading function of the gun, and such that the pressure within the expansion space is reduced to a normal level until the next shot is fired off.

(84) The expansion space 16 of the duel simulator after mounting the duel simulator on the gun 90 is coupled to the gun barrel 91 pressure-tight such that between the expansion space and the gun barrel, as little gas as possible is able to escape. With such a pressure-tight coupling of the expansion space to the gun barrel, a reducer 19 for blank and/or maneuver bullets may be omitted.

(85) According to an embodiment of the duel simulator, the latter may also be used together with a reducer 19 being arranged at the muzzle opening of the gun barrel 91. The reducer 19 is screwed into the muzzle opening of the gun barrel 91 or is screwed onto the muzzle opening of the gun barrel and ensures that after firing off of a shot, a sufficient pressure is established within the gun barrel 91 in order to ensure a proper functioning of the self-loading function of the gun also during the use of blank and/or maneuver bullets.

(86) The reducer has a conical shape in the embodiment shown here. The reducer may, however, also have any other arbitrary suitable shape. The reducer 19 has a longitudinal channel 19a, through which the gas expanding in the gun barrel 91 may escape. When using the duel simulator according to the invention, the front end of the reducer 19 protrudes into the receiving aperture 25 of the duel simulator. Preferably, the reducer 19 seals the expansion space 16 in a pressure tight manner against the receiving aperture 25.

(87) When using the duel simulator according to the invention together with a reducer 19 arranged at the gun, the expansion space 16 is provided in the first line to discharge the gases exiting from the reducer 19 via the overpressure channel 18. Nevertheless, the expansion space 16 may be provided when being used together with a reducer 16 such that a pressure necessary for the maintenance of the self-loading function of the gun is established and reached such that the expansion space 16 basically fulfils the same function as when using the duel simulator without a reducer 19 being arranged at the gun barrel.

(88) In the embodiment of a silencer used as duel simulator shown here, the expansion space 16 is arranged substantially coaxially to the gun barrel 91, and basically has the same diameter as the gun barrel 91.

(89) In the housing 11 of the duel simulator, here, a receiving channel 21 is provided, which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 11, and which extends from the rear end wall HE up to the front end wall VE of the housing 11. In the rear region, i.e., in the portion of the receiving channel 21 facing the rear end wall HE, the expansion space 16 described above is formed, whereby a bulkhead 17 is arranged in the receiving channel 21, which separates the rear region of the receiving channel from the front region of the receiving channel pressure and gas tightly. The overpressure channel 18 leads into the rear region of the receiving channel 21, which forms the expansion space 16.

(90) According to a specific configuration of the duel simulator according to the invention, the bulkhead 17 can be moved in longitudinal direction relative to the receiving channel 21, and the receiving channel may be locked. Thereby, differently large expansion spaces can be formed such that the size of the expansion space 16 may be adapted to the blank and/or maneuver bullets used, if needed. For example, when using a blank cartridge, which generates a pressure which is too low for the proper functioning of the self-loading function of the gun, the expansion space 16 may be reduced in size correspondingly, coming up to an effective pressure increase.

(91) The receiving channel 21, here, is formed cylindrically. The receiving channel may, however, also have any other shape, for example, it may have a rectangular or square profile. In particular, the front region of the receiving channel 21 may have another profile than the rear region, which forms the expansion space 16.

(92) In the front region of the receiving channel 21, a power supply, for example, a battery, a sensor unit and a laser diode are arranged. The battery 22 serves for energy supply of the sensor unit 84 of the laser diode 80.

(93) The sensor unit may, for example, comprise an acoustic sensor, by means of which the firing off of a blank or maneuver bullet may be detected acoustically.

(94) Alternatively, the sensor unit 84 may also comprise a pressure sensor, by means of which a pressure increase within the expansion space 16 may be detected, which is effected by the firing off of a blank or maneuver bullet.

(95) Further, an evaluation or control means not shown here is arranged in the receiving channel 21, which is coupled operatively to the sensor unit 84. The evaluation and/or control unit is adapted to evaluate the sensor signal provided by the sensor unit 84, and to control the laser diode 80 depending on the evaluation result. Preferably, the evaluation or control means is adapted to instruct the laser diode 80 to emit a laser beam after detection of a shot fired off. According to a further particular embodiment of the invention, after the detection of a firing off of a shot, an encoded laser beam is emitted from the laser diode. The encoded laser beam may, for example, comprise an identification number of the shooter and information on the guns and/or type of ammunition used.

(96) The duel simulator may be configured in a modular manner, whereby the receiving channel 21 together with the overpressure channel 18 forms a module, which can be inserted into the housing 11. Thereby, different modules may be inserted into the housing 11, which respectively are adapted to the different requirements.

(97) The use of the silencer according to the invention as duel simulator, as described with reference to FIG. 10, has the advantage that the duel simulator does not have to be screwed onto the gun barrel 91, but rather may be fitted at the mounting rail 94 of the gun, which enables a particularly quick mounting and demounting of the duel simulator at or from the gun.

(98) According to the invention, a holster for holstering a handgun is provided, to which a silencer according to the invention may be mounted. The holster (preferably is configured such that the gun may be holstered together with the silencer mounted thereto, providing the advantage that the gun always is ready to be used with the silencer mounted thereto. Due to the moderate length of the silencer according to the invention, such a holster may be configured as an armpit or shoulder holster, as belt holster, or as leg holster or thigh holster.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(99) 10 silencer 11 silencer housing 12 upper wall of the silencer housing 15 gas chamber 16 expansion space 17 bulkhead 18 overpressure channel 19 reducer 19a longitudinal channel in the reducer 20 shot channel of the silencer 21 receiving channel 23 muzzle opening of the silencer 25 receiving aperture of the silencer 30 fixation rail (U-shaped) of the silencer 30a, 30b alternative profiles of the fixation rail 31 side wall of the fixation rail 32 longitudinal guide (e.g. guide gaps) of the fixation rail 33 transverse channel for receiving a locking or arresting means 34 mounting rail at the lower side of the silencer 40 cover (flat or trough-shaped) 41 bore holes at the front end of the silencer 42 bore holes at the cover 50 (structured) insert of the silencer 51 fins of the insert 52 longitudinal bores in the fins 60 cover plate 61 opening or recess in the cover plate 62 guide rail (e.g., groove of a dovetail guide) 63 hole (e.g., elongated hole) in the cover plate 64 spring member 70 light channel 71 inlet opening of the light channel 72 outlet opening of the light channel 80 illuminant (e.g., laser diode) 81 electronics of the illuminant 82 power supply for the illuminant (e.g., battery) 83 housing of the illuminant module 84 sensor unit 85 recess or support in the silencer for an illuminant module 90 gun 91 gun barrel 92 bead 93 breech or breech component 94 mounting rail at the lower side of the gun or below the breech component HE rear end of the silencer or rear end wall of the silencer housing LA longitudinal axis of the silencer OS upper portion of the silencer housing OV upper portion of the breech of the gun QA transverse axis of the silencer VE front end of the silencer or front end wall of the silencer housing