MOUNTING DEVICE FOR SILENCER

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to German Patent Application Serial No. DE 10 2024 115 542.6, filed Jun. 4, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a fastening device for fastening a silencer to a firearm, in particular to a handgun.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Handguns are understood to be sidearms such as recoil loaders, gas-pressure loaders, pistols, or the like.

It is known to arrange a silencer on a firearm, such as a pistol.

FIG. 1 shows a silencer 10 known from the prior art, which is attached to a weapon 90, wherein only the front end of the weapon is shown here, i.e. only the slide/barrel 91 of the weapon 90.

Below the slide/barrel 91, a mounting rail to which the silencer can be attached is provided on the grip of the weapon. For the fastening, a fastening rail 30 of the silencer 10 is pushed onto the mounting rail of the weapon. The fastening rail 30 is arranged at the rear end, i.e. at the end facing the weapon, of the silencer housing 11.

This way of fastening has the advantage that the silencer 10 can be attached to the weapon 90 independently of the barrel/slide. A disadvantage, however, is that when a shot is fired, the silencer 10 is caused to vibrate, in particular if the grip is made of plastic, such as polyamide. The silencer can vibrate in different directions, in particular horizontally (shown by arrow P1) and vertically (shown by arrow P2). The silencer performs the vibrations independently of the movement of the barrel, so that under certain circumstances the weapon is ready to fire again while the silencer is still vibrating. While the silencer is vibrating, the center axis of the barrel is not coaxial with the center axis of the firing channel 20 formed in the silencer, so that no further shot can be fired as long as the silencer is vibrating. This disadvantage is particularly noticeable with semi-automatic or fully automatic firearms.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the task of the present invention to provide solutions which at least partially avoid the above disadvantages known from the prior art and which largely prevent a vibration of a silencer attached to the grip or at least reduce it to such an extent that the firing of one or more shots is not impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved according to the invention with a fastening device for fastening a silencer to a handgun according to the independent patent claim. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

Accordingly, a fastening device for fastening a silencer to a handgun is provided, wherein the handgun has a mounting rail and a trigger guard, wherein the fastening device has a fastening rail, wherein the fastening rail is designed

• • to be brought into engagement with the mounting rail of the handgun or
  • to be pushed onto the mounting rail of the handgun,
    wherein the fastening rail has a support surface which lies at least in sections on an end face of the trigger guard of the handgun when the fastening device is attached to the handgun, and
    wherein a projection is arranged below the support surface, wherein the projection has a contact surface, wherein the contact surface corresponds at least in sections to an underside of the trigger guard and/or to a transition section between the end face of the trigger guard and the underside of the trigger guard, such that the contact surface rests at least in sections flush with the underside of the trigger guard and/or with the transition section of the trigger guard when the fastening device is attached to the handgun.

In this context, “below the support surface” means that the axial projection is located at the lower end of the support surface. “Axial projection” means that a projection running in the axial direction is arranged at the lower end of the support surface. The underside of the trigger guard is essentially the portion of the trigger guard that runs largely parallel to the barrel of the weapon.

This prevents the silencer attached to the weapon from vibrating when a shot is fired.

Without an axial projection according to the invention, the silencer can tip downwards when a shot is fired (due to the gas pressure), so that the support surface of the fastening rail may in some circumstances no longer have contact with the end face of the trigger guard. The firing channel of the barrel will then no longer be coaxial with the firing channel of the silencer, which can result in a “glancing shot” in the silencer when a shot is fired. The provision of the axial projection according to the invention and its contact surface prevents the support surface of the fastening rail from losing contact with the end face of the trigger guard. This allows the force to be absorbed by the end face of the trigger guard when a shot is fired, preventing the silencer from tipping downwards.

When one or more shots are fired, the polymer of the handgun grip may expand differently than the metal (e.g. aluminum) of the silencer. Here too, it may happen that the support surface of the fastening rail may in some circumstances no longer have contact with the end face of the trigger guard. The result would again be a tipping of the silencer. The axial projection according to the invention effectively prevents the silencer from tipping/vibrating in this situation as well.

It is advantageous if a first section of the contact surface corresponding to the underside of the trigger guard runs largely parallel to the fastening rail. In this context, “largely parallel” means that the first section of the contact surface can also be slightly inclined or slightly slanted in relation to the fastening rail, i.e. that an angle of a few degrees can be enclosed between the first section of the contact surface and the fastening rail.

It can further be advantageous if a second section of the contact surface corresponding to the transition section of the trigger guard has a predetermined radius which corresponds to an outer radius of the transition section of the trigger guard.

In one embodiment of the invention, a second section of the contact surface corresponding to the transition section of the trigger guard can run obliquely, i.e. at a predetermined angle, to the support surface of the fastening rail.

In an embodiment of the invention with a first section of the contact surface and with a second section of the contact surface, the second section of the contact surface can

• • present obliquely to the support surface of the fastening rail and obliquely to the first section of the contact surface, or
  • have the predetermined radius.

In an embodiment of the invention,

• • the surface of the support surface facing the trigger guard has a convex curvature, and
  • the front end of the trigger guard can be designed as an end-face counter-support surface which corresponds at least in sections to the convexly curved support surface.

It is advantageous if the support surface of the fastening rail lies largely flush on the end-face counter-support surface when the fastening device is attached to the firearm.

At the rear end of the fastening rail, two axial wings spaced apart from one another can be provided, which project at least partially in the axial direction on the support surface.

It is advantageous if the spacing of the two wings from one another is selected such that it substantially corresponds to the width of the front end of the trigger guard, with the result that the front end of the trigger guard substantially form-fittingly engages at least in sections between the two wings when the fastening device is attached to the handgun.

This largely prevents the silencer from vibrating horizontally relative to the weapon.

The support surface can run between the two wings and perpendicular to the two wings.

It is advantageous if two side walls running parallel to each other are arranged on the upper side of the axial projection, wherein the contact surface runs between the two side walls. This can further prevent the silencer from vibrating horizontally relative to the weapon.

The distance between the two side walls can be selected such that it corresponds to the width of the underside of the trigger guard. Alternatively or additionally, the two side walls can be designed as guide rails that correspond to guide means on the underside or on a lower portion of the trigger guard.

The fastening rail and the axial projection can be formed in one piece.

Furthermore, a silencer for a handgun is provided, wherein the silencer has a fastening device according to the invention.

The silencer and the fastening device can be formed in one or two parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Details and features of the invention as well as specific, particularly advantageous exemplary embodiments of the invention result from the following description in conjunction with the drawing. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a silencer known from the prior art which is attached to a weapon;

FIG. 2 shows a fastening device according to the invention for fastening a silencer to a handgun;

FIG. 3 shows the rear end of a fastening device according to the invention in a perspective view;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the rear end of a fastening device according to the invention shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a silencer according to the invention; and

FIG. 6 shows various embodiments of the fastening device according to the invention and various embodiments of a trigger guard of a handgun.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The fastening device according to the invention described below for fastening a silencer to a handgun has the advantage that the silencer can be attached to the weapon independently of the barrel/slide. Another significant advantage is that a vibration of the silencer, in particular after a shot has been fired, is effectively prevented. A silencer attached to a handgun according to the invention thereby also makes possible semi-automatic or fully automatic operation of the firearm.

FIG. 2 shows a fastening device according to the invention for fastening a silencer 10 to a firearm 90. The firearm shown here is a pistol.

The silencer 10 here consists of a silencer housing 11 and a fastening rail 30 arranged on the rear end wall of the silencer housing 11. The rear end wall of the silencer housing 11 is the end wall that faces the barrel/slide 91 when the silencer is attached to the weapon 90.

Alternatively, the fastening rail 30 can also be arranged on a lower side wall of the silencer and extend beyond the rear end wall of the silencer.

The fastening rail 30 and the silencer can be formed in one piece or in two pieces. The fastening rail 30 and the silencer arranged thereon are hereinafter referred to jointly as silencer 10.

The fastening rail 30 here forms the fastening device according to the invention.

On the underside of the grip 92 of the weapon 90, a mounting rail 94 is provided, onto which the fastening rail 30 is pushed (along the arrow shown in FIG. 2). The barrel and the slide 91 can move independently of the silencer attached to the fastening rail 30. A detailed view of a possible embodiment of the fastening rail 30 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 5.

The rear end 33 of the fastening rail 30 has a support surface 36 (shown in FIG. 3), the surface of which largely corresponds to the end-face surface 97a of the trigger guard 97. The end-face surface 97a of the trigger guard 97 forms a counter-support surface for the support surface 36 of the fastening rail 30. The support surface 36 of the fastening rail 30 is described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.

Below the support surface 36, an axial projection 70 is arranged or provided, on the upper side of which a contact surface 71 (seen in FIG. 3 to FIG. 6) is formed. The contact surface 71 corresponds at least in sections to an underside 97c of the trigger guard 97 and/or to a transition section 97b between the end face 97a of the trigger guard 97 and the underside 97c of the trigger guard 97, in such a way that the contact surface 71 lies at least in sections flush on the underside 97c and/or on the transition section 97b of the trigger guard 97 when the fastening device is attached to the firearm. The projection 70 projects beyond the support surface 36 in the axial direction or extends beyond the support surface 36 in the axial direction.

The pistol or the grip of the pistol can be made of a polymer. The fastening device according to the invention can be made of a metal, such as aluminum. The thermal expansion of polymer, e.g. when a shot is fired or at high ambient temperatures, is different from the thermal expansion of aluminum. At high temperatures, it can therefore happen that there is no longer any contact between the support surface 36 and the end-face surface 97a of the trigger guard 97 (counter-support surface), which may result in the silencer vibrating relative to the weapon when a shot is fired (due to the gas pressure), in particular tipping downwards. This in turn has the result that the firing channel of the silencer is no longer coaxial with the barrel of the weapon. This can result in grazing shots in the silencer, which can cause damage to the silencer.

The axial projection 70 prevents the silencer from tipping downwards. The axial projection 70 thus causes the support surface 36 and the end-face surface 97a of the trigger guard 97 to remain in contact. When a shot is fired, the force is then absorbed again by the counter-support surface and tipping downwards is prevented. The specific design of the axial projection 70 is described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 6.

To attach the silencer to the firearm 90 with the fastening rail 30, it is pushed completely onto the mounting rail 94 so that the support surface 36 of the fastening rail 30 rests largely flush on the counter-support surface 97a. At the same time, the axial projection 70 then also rests on the underside 97c and/or on the transition section 97b of the trigger guard 97.

The silencer can be locked to the weapon using the locking rockers 13 arranged at the rear end 33 of the fastening rail 30, so that the silencer 10 cannot detach independently or unintentionally from the weapon.

The fact that the support surface 36 of the fastening rail 30 rests on the counter-support surface 97a of the trigger guard 97 when the silencer 10 is mounted on the weapon reliably prevents the silencer from vibrating in the vertical direction P2 after a shot has been fired from the weapon. The front portion of the grip 92 can no longer vibrate downwards because downward movement is prevented by the fastening rail 30 resting on the counter-support surface 97a of the trigger guard 97. If the grip and the fastening device are made of different materials, vibration is also prevented by the axial projection 70—the axial projection ensures that the support surface 36 of the fastening rail 30 always rests on the counter-support surface 97a of the trigger guard 97. This also increases the overall rigidity of the grip 92.

At the rear end 33 of the fastening rail 30, two axially projecting wings 35 can also be provided, which run spaced apart from one another and largely parallel to one another. The support surface of the fastening rail 30 runs between these two wings 35. The distance between the two wings is selected so that it essentially corresponds to the width of the end-face section (the section on which the counter-support surface 97a is located) of the trigger guard 97. After the silencer has been pushed completely onto the mounting rail 94, the two wings 35 run laterally along the end-face section of the trigger guard 97. This means that the end-face section of the trigger guard 97 engages essentially in a form-fitting manner between the two wings 35. The engagement of the trigger guard 97 between the two wings 35 ensures that the silencer 10 vibrates in the horizontal direction P1 after a shot has been fired from the weapon. In addition, this further increases the rigidity of the grip.

On the upper side of the axial projection 70, two side walls 72 running parallel to one another can be arranged (as can be seen in FIG. 3), wherein the contact surface 71 runs between the two side walls 72. This further prevents the silencer from vibrating in the horizontal direction P1.

The above-mentioned measures improve the vibration behavior of the silencer to such an extent that semi-automatic or fully automatic operation of the firearm is also possible, in particular under thermally suboptimal conditions. These measures almost completely prevent the silencer from vibrating after a shot has been fired.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the counter-support surface 97a has a substantially concave surface. Accordingly, the corresponding support surface 36 of the fastening rail 30 has a convex surface. Of course, it is also possible for the counter-support surface 97a to have a substantially convex surface and for the support surface to have a concave surface corresponding substantially thereto.

In principle, the surfaces of the support surface and the counter-support surface can be designed as desired. However, it is important according to the invention that the two surfaces correspond to each other so that when the silencer is mounted, the support surface of the fastening rail 30 rests on the counter-support surface, preferably largely flush with its shape.

FIG. 3 shows the rear end 33 of a fastening device according to the invention in a perspective view.

The fastening rail 30 of the fastening device has two upper side walls 31. The two side walls 31 each have internal longitudinal guides 32 which are designed as guide grooves. The guide grooves correspond to the mounting rail 94, which is provided on the weapon on the grip 92 below the barrel/slide 91. With the help of the longitudinal guides 32, the silencer can be pushed onto the mounting rail 94 of the firearm.

In addition, the support surface 36 is formed at the rear end 33 and is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA of the fastening rail 30. Furthermore, the support surface 36 extends between two wings 35 formed at the rear end, wherein the wings 35 are arranged substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface 36 and run parallel to the longitudinal axis LA of the fastening rail. The two wings 35 project backward on the supporting surface 36.

The support surface 36 itself has a convex surface and is designed such that it corresponds to a concave surface of the end-face counter-support surface 97a of the trigger guard 97 and, when the silencer is mounted, rests substantially flush on it. However, the support surface 36 can also be flat, i.e. not curved.

The spacing of the two wings 35 from one another is selected such that it essentially corresponds to the width of the front end of the trigger guard 97. During mounting of the silencer, the front end of the trigger guard 97 engages between the two wings 35, preferably forming a positive connection between the wings and the front end of the trigger guard 97, i.e. the rear end 33 of the fastening rail 30 cannot move in the horizontal direction relative to the trigger guard 97.

The two side walls 31 with their longitudinal guides 32 here do not extend as far as the two wings 35 or the support surface 36 because the mounting rail usually ends before the trigger guard 97.

Below the support surface 36 or at the lower end of the support surface 36 there is arranged an axial projection 70, on the upper side of which a contact surface 71 is formed. The axial projection runs essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis LA of the fastening rail. The contact surface 71 corresponds at least in sections to an underside 97c of the trigger guard 97, such that the contact surface 71 rests at least in sections flush on the underside 97c of the trigger guard 97 when the fastening device is attached to the firearm. Further embodiments of the contact surface 71 according to the invention are shown with reference to FIG. 6.

On the upper side of the axial projection 70, two side walls 72 running parallel to one another are arranged, with the contact surface 71 running between the two side walls 72. The side walls 72 are optional.

If the two side walls are provided, the distance between the two side walls 72 is selected so that it corresponds to the width of the underside 97c of the trigger guard 97. In addition, the two side walls 72 can be designed as guide rails (not shown in FIG. 3) which correspond to guide means on the underside 97c of the trigger guard 97.

FIG. 4 shows the rear end 33 of a fastening device according to the invention in a perspective view and in a sectional view.

The convex surface of the support surface 36 is clearly visible here. Otherwise, the rear end 33 of the fastening device shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to the rear end 33 shown in FIG. 3. Also clearly visible here is the axial projection 70 adjoining the support surface 36, which extends in the axial direction at the lower end of the support surface.

FIG. 5 shows a concrete example of a silencer 10 according to the invention with a fastening device according to the invention. According to the invention, the silencer or silencer housing 11 and the fastening rail 30 are made in one part or in one piece. In an alternative embodiment, the silencer and the fastening rail 30 can be made in two parts, i.e. the silencer or the silencer housing 11 can be detachably connected to the fastening rail 30.

On the top side of the fastening rail 30, two fastening rails 31 are provided, which run essentially parallel to each other and are provided for fastening the silencer to the mounting rail of the firearm. The two fastening rails 31 are designed such that they correspond to an outer profile of a mounting rail 94 of the weapon.

The fastening rail 30 can have a locking device designed as a locking pin 12, by means of which the silencer pushed onto the mounting rail of the weapon can be locked to the weapon in order to prevent unintentional or independent detachment of the silencer from the weapon.

At the rear end 33 of the fastening rail 30, two vertically extending wings 35 are arranged parallel and spaced apart from one another and parallel to the longitudinal axis LA, which project in the axial direction at the rear end 33 of the fastening rail 30. The distance between the two wings 35 corresponds to the width of a front section of a trigger guard 97 of the weapon to which the silencer is attached. Furthermore, the two wings 35 are arranged relative to each other in such a way that the front section of the trigger guard 97 engages between the two wings when the silencer is mounted on the weapon.

When the silencer is attached to the firearm, the front end or the front portion of the trigger guard 97 engages between the two wings 35, so that the side walls of the trigger guard rest essentially flush on the two inner sides of the wings 95.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the support surface 36 extending between the two wings 35 does not have a convex surface, but rather a largely flat one. The counter-support surface 97a of the trigger guard 97 is formed correspondingly.

Here, too, an axial projection 70 is arranged at the lower end of the support surface 36, which projects in the axial direction (largely parallel to the longitudinal axis LA of the fastening device) on the support surface 36.

On the underside of the fastening rail 30 there is a further mounting rail 34 on which additional accessories can be arranged.

FIG. 6 shows various embodiments of the fastening device according to the invention and various embodiments of a trigger guard of a handgun.

In illustrations (a), (b), (c) and (d) of FIG. 6, possible embodiments of the fastening device according to the invention are shown (in section). In illustrations (e), (f) and (g) of FIG. 6, possible embodiments of a trigger guard 97 of a handgun are shown.

Illustration (e) shows a trigger guard 97 which essentially has a vertical portion 97a (counter-support surface) and an adjoining horizontal portion 97c.

Illustration (f) shows a trigger guard 97 which essentially comprises a vertical portion 97a (counter-support surface), a horizontal portion 97c and an oblique portion 97b extending between the vertical and horizontal portions. The oblique portion 97b is at a certain angle to the vertical and horizontal portions of the trigger guard 97.

In illustration (g), a trigger guard 97 is shown which essentially has a vertical portion 97a (counter-support surface), a horizontal portion 97c, and a curved portion 97b extending between the vertical and the horizontal portions. The curved portion 97b has a certain outer radius.

According to illustration (a), the contact surface 71 of the axial projection 70 has a first section 71c which runs largely parallel to the fastening rail 30 and corresponds to the underside 97c of the trigger guard 97, so that the first section 71c rests flush on the underside 97c of the trigger guard 97 when the silencer is mounted on the handgun. A silencer with a fastening device according to illustration (a) can be attached to the handguns according to illustrations (e), (f) and (g)—in each case the first section 71c rests on the underside 97c of the trigger guard 97.

The contact surface 71 of the axial projection 70 according to illustration (b) has a second section 71b which is at a certain angle (e.g. between 60° and 30°) in relation to the support surface 36. The second section 71b corresponds to an oblique portion 97b of the trigger guard 97, so that the second section 71b rests flush on the oblique portion 97b of the trigger guard 97 when the silencer is mounted on the handgun. A silencer with a fastening device as shown in illustration (b) can be attached to the handguns as shown in illustration (f).

Illustration (c) shows a contact surface 71 of an axial projection 70 having a first section 71c extending substantially parallel to the fastening rail 30 and corresponding to the underside 97c of the trigger guard 97. Furthermore, the contact surface 71 has a curved second section 71b which runs between the first section 71c and the vertical support surface 36. When the silencer is mounted on the handgun, the first section 71c rests flush on the underside 97c of the trigger guard 97 and the curved second section 71b lies on the curved portion 97b of the trigger guard 97. A silencer with a fastening device as shown in illustration (c) can be attached to the handguns as shown in illustration (g). It is also possible to attach it to the handguns as shown in illustration (f), although in this case the curved second section 71b does not rest on the oblique portion 97b of the trigger guard—however, the effect described above is still achieved because the first section 71c rests flush on the underside 97c of the trigger guard 97.

The embodiment according to illustration (d) largely corresponds to the embodiment according to illustration (c). In contrast to illustration (c), the embodiment according to illustration (d) does not have a curved but rather an oblique second section 71b, which rests on the oblique portion 97b of the trigger guard 97 when the silencer is mounted on the handgun. A silencer with a fastening device as shown in illustration (d) can be attached to the handgun as shown in illustration (f).