QUICK-DISCONNECT POSITIVE MUZZLE MOUNTING MECHANISM

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/633,883, filed Apr. 15, 2024, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to mounting of removable devices, such as sound suppressors (silencers) or blast shields, to the muzzle of a firearm barrel.

BACKGROUND

Various devices can be attached to the muzzle of a firearm barrel that that affect its use or the auditory/visual effect of it being fired. Examples include muzzle brakes, compensators, and flash hiders/reducers. Typically, these are threaded onto the muzzle and secured permanently or semi-permanently. A “blast shield” can be used to redirect sound away from the user without actually reducing the sound produced.

Sound suppressors can be directly threaded onto the muzzle by many turns of standard threads, but are usually readily removable by hand. Sound suppressors (and blast shields) can also be removably attached to a mount fixed to the muzzle. These mounting mechanisms require two cooperating portions: one fixed to the muzzle, and one that is either built into or adapted onto the suppressor body. The mount fixture may have either just one to two turns of acme threads or can have two or three lugs that require only part of a turn to attach or detach the suppressor. These are generally referred to as a “quick-disconnect” or QD mount mechanism. The mount fixture may incorporate another functional feature, such as a brake or flash hider, that is covered by and/or cooperate with the attached suppressor, or may function solely as a mount. Acme thread mount devices often have a rachet mechanism to hold the suppressor in place and prevent unthreading. Lug mounts may have a spring detent to hold the suppressor in the engaged position. Need for improvement in these mechanisms remains.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a quick-disconnect mounting mechanism for attaching a device, such as a blast shield or sound suppressor, to the barrel of a firearm.

The mounting mechanism has a mount fixture and a coupling assembly. The mount fixture is fixable to the muzzle end of a firearm barrel and includes a plurality of substantially radial lugs. The coupling assembly is fixable to a muzzle device and includes a first part with a non-round opening adapted to axially receive the lugs of the mount fixture and a second part axially adjustable relative to the first part to clamp the lugs therebetween.

The mechanism attaches in two-stages: the first with a partial turn over lugs and the second to clamp the parts together firmly and rigidly.

Other aspects, features, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to a person of skill in the art from the detailed description of various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, all of which comprise part of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear isometric disassembled view a first embodiment of the mounting mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a similar assembled view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a first isometric exploded view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a second exploded isometric view thereof;

FIG. 5A is an isometric disassembled view thereof with the coupling assembly shown is longitudinal section;

FIG. 5B is similar view in a first stage of assembly;

FIG. 5C is a similar view in a second stage of assembly;

FIG. 6A is partial isometric view showing how the lugs of the muzzle mount portion align with the non-round opening of the coupling assembly;

FIG. 6B shows the mount fixture inserted into the non-round opening of the coupling assembly;

FIG. 6C shows the coupling assembly hub axially rotated 90 degrees relative to the mount fixture;

FIG. 6D shows the coupling assembly hub rotated relative to that shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B;

FIG. 7A is side sectional disassembled view;

FIG. 7B is a similar view in a first stage of assembly;

FIG. 7C is a similar view in a second stage of assembly in which the lugs are axially clamped into place;

FIG. 8 is a rear isometric disassembled view a second embodiment of the mounting mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a similar assembled view thereof;

FIG. 10 is a first isometric exploded view thereof;

FIG. 11 is a second exploded isometric view thereof;

FIG. 12A is an isometric disassembled view of the muzzle mount with the hub of the coupling shown in cross-section;

FIG. 12B is similar view with the muzzle mount inserted;

FIG. 12C is a similar view showing the hub of the coupling rotated in a first stage of assembly;

FIG. 12D is a view like FIG. 12 C with the muzzle mount shown in cross-section to show detain of the lug engagement;

FIG. 13A is disassembled side sectional view of the muzzle mount and coupling assembly;

FIG. 13B is a similar view showing the mount inserted into the coupling assembly;

FIG. 13C shows the coupling assembly (and blast shield) rotated to seat the lugs into internal recesses and outer hub rotated to clamp the lugs firmly into the recesses:

FIG. 14A is cross-sectional view take substantially along line 14A-14A of FIG. 13B with the lugs of the muzzle mount inserted into the non-round opening of the coupling assembly outer hub but not yet rotated;

FIG. 14B is a similar view taken substantially along line 14B-14B of FIG. 13C showing the coupling assembly rotated to seat the lugs into internal recesses of the outer hub;

FIG. 15A is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 15A-15A of FIG. 13B showing the detent ball engaged with an opening in the outer hub of the coupling assembly; and

FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 15B-15B of FIG. 13C showing the detent ball disengaged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawing figures, this section describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. Throughout the specification, reference to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “some embodiments” means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or “in some embodiments” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the described features, structures, and characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In view of the disclosure herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, materials, or the like. In some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or not described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the embodiments. “Longitudinal” will mean the axial direction of the forearm/barrel. “Forward” will indicate the direction of the muzzle and the direction in which projectiles are fired, while “rearward” will indicate the opposite direction. “Lateral” or “transverse” indicates a side-to-side direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the barrel. Although firearms may be used in any orientation, “left” and “right” will generally indicate the sides according to the user's orientation, “top” or “up” will be the upward direction when the firearm is gripped in the ordinary manner.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-4, therein is shown a mounting mechanism 110 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The mounting mechanism 110 includes two cooperating portions: a mount fixture 112 attached to the muzzle, and a coupling assembly 114 that is either built into or adapted onto the body of a blast shield 116 or suppressor (not shown). In FIGS. 1 and 2, the mount fixture 112 is illustrated with the muzzle end of a barrel 118 (shown in phantom line) and the coupling assembly 114 is shown connected to a rearward end of a blast shield 116 (shown in phantom line). Specific structure of the blast shield 116 (or of a sound suppressor) is not relevant to this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mount fixture 112 is attached onto the threaded muzzle end of the barrel 18 in a well-known manner. The attachment lugs 120 can be, but do not have to be, “clocked” to a particular rotational orientation. In the drawing figures, the lugs 120 are illustrated positioned in an up and down, twelve o'clock and six o'clock, orientation for consistency of illustration and description. The coupling assembly 114 can be integrated into the rear end of a suppressor body or, as shown, be a separable unit threaded into a suppressor body or blast shield 116.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mount fixture 112 includes a flash hider 124 at its forward end, which is positioned in the blast shield 116 (or in the blast chamber of a suppressor body) when the mount fixture 112 and coupling assembly 114 are assembled together. Instead of a flash hider 124, the mount fixture 112 could be configured to include, for example, a muzzle brake or to be a mount only with no additional function feature. The structural details or function of a flash hider or brake feature of the mount fixture 112 are not important to the present invention.

Referring still to FIGS. 1-4, the coupling assembly 114 includes a hub 126, a guide ring 128, guide pins 130, an annular abutment 132, a spring means 134, a collar 136, and an adapter 138. At its rearward end, the hub 126 and guide ring 128 have non-round openings 140, 142 sized and shaped to receive the mount fixture 112 when the lugs 120 are aligned with the orientation of the openings 140, 142. Inside, the guide pins 130 prevent the hub 126, guide ring 128, and abutment 130 from rotating relative to each other while allowing relative longitudinal (axial) movement therebetween. The forward exterior surface of the adapter 138 can have threads 144 that mate with internal threads at the rear end of a blast shield 116 or suppressor body (not shown). The hub 126 has exterior threads 146 that mate with interior threads 148 at the rear end of the collar 136. The abutment 132 and adapter are fixed together, such as by mating threads 150, 151. The coupling feature of the adapter 138 could be integrated into a suppressor body (not shown) such that the features of the adapter member 138 that operably engage with the abutment 132 are integral or permanently attached to the suppressor body, such as by welding. When connected, the adapter 138 and blast shield 116 or suppressor body act as an integral unit, even if separable. When the coupling assembly 114 is assembled, the spring means 164 is captured inside collar 136 by the abutment 132 and adapter 138. The spring means 32 can be a waffle spring, as shown, a coil spring, or any other suitable resilient biasing member or device.

Attachment of the coupling assembly 114 (along with the blast shield 116 or a suppressor body) to the mount fixture 112 is accomplished in two steps or stages. The first stage is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5A, and 5B, and also in FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B. These figures show how the lugs 120 first are aligned with the non-round opening 140 in the hub 126. The mount fixture 112 and coupling assembly 114 are then moved axially together so that the lugs 120 of the mount fixture 112 pass through the non-round opening 140, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5B. The entire coupling assembly 114 (and blast shield 116 or suppressor body) are then rotated 90 degrees, as indicated by the arrow a in FIGS. 5B and 6B. As shown in FIGS. 5C and 6C, this rotation allows the lugs 120 to be received by and seat in internal recesses 152 inside the rear wall of the hub 126 to prevent further rotation of the hub 126 relative to the mount fixture 112. FIGS. 6D and 7C show the internal structure of the hub 126 rotated 90 degrees relative to the view shown in FIGS. 6A and 7A.

The second stage of attachment, after rotating the coupling assembly 114 to seat the lugs 120, illustrated in FIGS. 5B and 5C, involves clamping the lugs 120 firmly in place. In 5C, and 6C, the lugs 120 are seated into the recesses 152, but the connection may have some remaining play and the parts can be disconnected simply by rotating the coupling assembly 114 back 90 degrees so the lugs 120 again align with the non-round openings 140, 142 of the hub 126 and guide ring 148. When used with a suppressor, it is especially important that the attached device be firmly fixed in axial alignment with the barrel bore. Thus, the present invention provides a positive lock-up feature.

Rotating the collar 126 as shown by arrow b in FIG. 5B, the collar 136 is then threaded further onto the hub 126 to the position shown in FIGS. 5C and 7C to clamp the lugs 120 in place and assure a positive lock connection. The collar has internal annular shoulder 154 that captures the spring means 134 against a forward surface of the abutment 132 This forces the abutment 132 toward the forward lugs 120. At the same time, internal surfaces 156 of abutment 132 mate against external surfaces 158 of the mount fixture 112.

Referring to FIGS. 5B, 5C, 7B, and 7C, and also again to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the mount fixture 112 can include an annular bevel or frustoconical portion 160 having an angle that mates against an internal bevel or frustoconical portion 162 of the abutment 132. These surfaces 160, 162 are forced together as the collar 136 is threaded further into the hub 126. This causes the parts to maintain axial alignment and provides an effective seal against back-pressure leakage until the threaded connection is purposefully reversed.

To disassemble the coupling assembly 114 and blast shield 116 (or suppressor body) from the mount fixture 112, the steps are reversed. The collar 136 is partially unthreaded from the hub 126 by hand, allowing the lugs 120 space to disengage from the recesses 152 so that the whole coupling assembly 14 (and blast shield 160 or suppressor) can be removed with a quarter turn rotation and axial displacement.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, therein is shown a mounting mechanism 210 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The mounting mechanism 210 includes two cooperating portions: a mount fixture 212 attached to the muzzle, and a coupling assembly 214 that is either built into or adapted onto the body of a blast shield 216 or suppressor (not shown). In FIGS. 8 and 9, the mount fixture 212 is illustrated with the muzzle end of a barrel 218 (shown in phantom line) and the coupling assembly 214 is shown connected to a rearward end of a blast shield 216 (shown in phantom line). Specific structure of the blast shield 116 or of a suppressor is not relevant to this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mount fixture 212 is attached onto the threaded end of the barrel 218 in a well-known manner. This embodiment includes three radial attachment lugs 220, which can be evenly circumferentially spaced apart or can be, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, unevenly spaced so as to assure attachment will always be in the same orientation and the attached device (such as a suppressor) will be repeatably “clocked” to a particular rotational orientation. The coupling assembly 214 can be integrated into the rear end of a suppressor body or, as shown, it can be a separable unit threaded into a suppressor body or blast shield 216.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mount fixture 212 includes a flash hider 224 at its forward end, which is positioned in the blast shield 216 (or in the blast chamber of a suppressor body) when the mount fixture 212 and coupling assembly 114 are assembled together. Instead of a flash hider 124, the mount fixture 112 could be configured to include, for example, a muzzle brake or to be a mount only with no additional function/feature. The structural details or function of a flash hider or brake feature of the mount fixture 212 are not important to the present invention.

Referring now also to FIGS. 10, 11, 12A-D, and 13A-D, the coupling assembly 214 includes an outer hub 226, a spring means 228, a clutch ring 230, and an adapter body 232. The spring means 228 can be a waffle spring, as shown, a coil spring, or any other suitable resilient biasing member, device, or material. As described later, the adapter body 232 may include a radial socket 234 configured to receive a detent ball 236 that is biased by a spring 238 to releasably engage a recess or opening 240 in the outer hub 226. The adapter body 232 is attachable, either permanently, integrally, or as shown detachably to a device, such as a suppressor body as described for the first embodiment. The illustrated embodiment shows a threaded engagement, though the specific connection may not be important to the present invention. The outer hub 226 has a non-round opening 242 sized and shaped to receive the mount fixture 212 when the lugs 220 are aligned with the orientation of the opening 242.

The coupling assembly 214 can include an internal clutch mechanism to detain the rotational position of the outer hub 226 relative to the adaptor body 232 in any position. In the illustrated example, the forward-facing surface 246 of the clutch ring 230 and the reward-facing surface 248 of the adapter body 232 with which it interfaces may include detent features to releasably retain the two parts in rotational relationship. The detent features can be, for example, a series of ridges and grooves, splines, detents, or similar structures. As shown, the clutch ring 230 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ridges 250 on its forward-facing surface 246 that engage with a corresponding series of radial notches 252 on the rearward-facing surface 248 of the adapter body 232. These detent features 250, 252 are biased into engagement by the spring means 228.

In the illustrated embodiment, the clutch ring 230 and outer hub 226 include corresponding features to keep them rotationally aligned while allowing relative axial movement between them. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the clutch ring 230 has flats 254 on its outer periphery that are configured to engage corresponding lands 256 inside the outer hub 226.

The outer hub has interior threads 258 that mate with exterior threads 260 on the adapter body 232 to allow axial adjustment by relative rotation of the parts. In the illustrated embodiment, the detent ball 236 will engage the opening 240 in the outer hub 226 when the adjustment has reached a predetermined end point so as to deter inadvertent disassembly without preventing intentional disassembly.

Attachment of the coupling assembly 214 (along with the blast shield 216 or a suppressor body) to the mount fixture 212 is accomplished in two steps or stages. The first stage is illustrated in FIGS. 8, 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B. FIGS. 8 and 12A shows how the lugs 220 first are aligned with the non-round opening 242 in the outer hub 226. The mount fixture 212 and coupling assembly 214 are then moved axially together so that the lugs 220 of the mount fixture 212 pass through the non-round opening 242, as shown in FIGS. 9, 12B, and 13B. The entire coupling assembly 214 (and blast shield 216 or suppressor body) are then rotated, as indicated by the arrow c in FIGS. 12B, and 13B. As shown in FIGS. 12B and 12C, this rotation allows the lugs 120 to be received by internal recesses 244 inside the rear wall of the outer hub 226 to prevent further rotation of the hub 226 relative to the mount fixture 212.

The second stage of attachment is illustrated, for example, in FIG. 13C. FIG. 13B shows the mount fixture 212 axially inserted into the coupling assembly 214, with the coupling assembly 214 and blast shield 216 (or suppressor body) subsequently rotated to align the lugs 220 with the internal recesses 244. In this view, the lugs 220 are seated into the recesses 244, but the connection may have remaining play and the parts can be disconnected simply by rotating the coupling assembly 214 back so the lugs 220 again align with the non-round opening 242 of the outer hub 226.

When used with a suppressor, it can be especially important that the attached device be firmly fixed in axial alignment with the bore of the barrel 218. Thus, the present invention provides a positive lock-up feature. Referring now to FIG. 13C, the outer hub 226 is then rotated, releasing the detent ball 236, by threading further onto the adaptor body 232, clamping the lugs 220 into the recesses 244 against the spring 228 and clutch ring 230 to provide a positive lock connection.

Referring again also to FIGS. 8, 10, 11, and 13A, the mount fixture 212 includes an external annular bevel or frustoconical portion 262 having an angle that mates against an internal bevel or frustoconical portion 264 of the adapter body 232. These surfaces 262, 264 are forced together as the outer hub 226 is threaded further onto the adapter body 232. This causes the parts 212, 232 to maintain axial alignment and provides an effective seal against back-pressure leakage until the threaded connection is purposefully reversed.

To disassemble the coupling assembly 214 (and blast shield 216 or suppressor body) from the mount fixture 212, the steps are reversed. The outer hub 226 is partially unthreaded from the adapter body 232 by hand, allowing the lugs 220 room to disengage from the recesses 244 so that the whole coupling assembly 214 (and blast shield 216 or suppressor) can be rotated to align the lugs 220 with the non-round opening 242 of the outer hub 226 and axially removed.

As depicted in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the three lugs 220 can be asymmetrically circumferentially spaced to assure repeatable positioning of the device being mounted. Additionally, the shape/configuration of the internal recesses 244 allows the coupling assembly 214 to rotate only one direction (shown by arrows in FIG. 14A) for assembly/disassembly onto the lugs 220.

As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the detent ball 236 is biased by a spring 238 into a detent recess or opening 240 in the periphery of the outer hub 226. In the illustrated embodiment, the detent opening 240 is formed at a non-radial angle so as to make it easier to rotated the outer hub 226 in one direction and deter rotation in the opposite direction. This detent mechanism is intended to prevent over-rotation of the outer hub 226 out if the clamping position, or to at least provide a tactile indication when the outer hub has been sufficiently loosened. If the coupling assembly is to be disassembled. The detent ball 236 can be manually displaced/pressed to allow the outer hub 226 to be further threaded off of the adapter body 232 and completely removed.

While one or more embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing is intended only to be illustrative of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not intended to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be included and considered to fall within the scope of the invention, defined by the following claim or claims.