RIFLE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102024000020398 filed on September 13, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rifle.

In particular, by “rifle” is meant a rifle for sporting use, for example for hunting.

Preferably, the rifle is a semi-automatic rifle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In known embodiments, rifles comprise a main body, also known as receiver, in which specific components are housed or to which they are engaged, such as those of the shooting kinematic system or the trigger assembly.

The main body is also suitable for supporting the barrel and the butt.

In known rifle solutions, with particular reference to their butts, multiple problems are identified relating to the methods of damping the recoil action of the rifle.

In fact, it is required that the recoil action is effectively damped so that it does not reach, or only minimally reaches, the user’s body, but above all so that the weapon is not subject to particular movements.

For this reason, in the prior art this need has been addressed, also by the Applicant of the present application, by designing solutions that comprise multiple damping elements suitable for operating in parallel.

However, such solutions have proven to be not particularly effective in solving the above-mentioned problems, in addition to being particularly complex to manufacture and produce.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an alternative rifle solution to the solutions of the prior art, in which the aforementioned needs are addressed, that is, a butt solution that is extremely effective yet extremely simple.

This object is achieved by the rifle described and claimed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the description hereinbelow of its preferred embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a rifle according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a disassembled butt of the rifle of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3a and 3b respectively show two perspective views of an abutment device included in the butt;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a support device included in the butt;

FIGS. 4’ and 4’’ represent a top view and a side view of the support device of FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate two sectional views of the rifle of FIG. 1, and in particular of its butt, respectively in a resting configuration, in which the butt is mounted to a main body, and in a compressed configuration of the butt alone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the attached figures, number 1 denotes, as a whole, a rifle in accordance with the present invention.

Preferably, the rifle 1 is a rifle for sporting use, for example for hunting.

Preferably, the rifle 1 is a semi-automatic rifle.

In accordance with the present invention, the rifle 1 comprises a main body 2. Preferably, the main body 2 is also known as receiver.

The main body 2 houses or supports all the various components suitable for performing the shooting action. For example, the main body 2 houses all the components of the shooting kinematic system.

Preferably, the rifle 1 further comprises a barrel 3, which extends in length from the main body 2. The barrel 3 extends along a barrel axis X-X.

In accordance with the present invention, the rifle 1 comprises a butt 4 for the support or grip of the rifle 1 by the user.

The butt 4 comprises a butt body 5, which extends in length from the main body 2 in a second direction, along a butt axis C-C.

Preferably, the butt body 5 extends in length along the butt axis C-C, between a head end 51 facing the main body 2 and a bottom end 52.

According to a preferred embodiment, the barrel axis X-X and the butt axis C-C lie on the same imaginary plane.

According to a preferred embodiment, the barrel axis X-X and the butt axis C-C lie on distinct imaginary planes.

According to a preferred embodiment, the barrel axis X-X and the butt axis C-C are substantially aligned.

According to a preferred embodiment, the barrel axis X-X and the butt axis C-C are mutually misaligned.

Preferably, the main body 2 also extends along the barrel axis X-X and/or along the butt axis C-C.

Preferably, the butt body 5 is adjustable in its position with respect to the main body 2. A preferred embodiment of said adjustment is described hereinbelow.

Preferably, the butt body 5 is also known as stock.

According to the present invention, the butt 4 further comprises a butt tube 6 that extends along the butt axis C-C housed in the butt body 5.

Preferably, the butt tube 6 is slidable inside the butt body 5.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the butt body 5 comprises a butt cavity 500 and the butt tube 6 has an outer section complementary to the butt cavity 500.

Preferably, the walls defining the butt cavity 500 guide the axial movement of the butt tube 6.

According to a preferred embodiment, the shape coupling between the butt body 5 and the butt tube 6 prevents relative rotation between the two.

In particular, the butt tube 6 is engaged with the main body 2 in such a way as to receive the recoil action from the main body 2.

According to a preferred embodiment, the butt 4 further comprises a rod group 7. Preferably, the rod group 7 is suitable for mutually locking the main body 2 and the butt 4, in particular the butt tube 6.

According to the present invention, the rod group 7 comprises a tie-rod 70 fixedly engaged with the butt tube 6 and with the main body 2.

Preferably, the tie-rod 70 extends along a tie-rod axis T-T.

According to a preferred embodiment, the tie-rod 70 comprises a first tie-rod end 701 fixedly engaged with the main body 2 and a second tie-rod end 702 engaged with the butt tube 6.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the butt tube 6 comprises an inner transverse wall 60 engaged with the tie-rod 70, preferably at the second tie-rod end 702. Preferably, the tie-rod 70 engages the inner transverse wall 60 by means of a nut element engageable with the second tie-rod end 702.

Preferably, the inner transverse wall 60 is indicatively positioned at the axial centreline of the butt tube 6.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the butt tube 6 comprises a head member 65 positioned at one of its ends.

Preferably, the head member 65 engages the main body 2 identifying the relative inclination between the butt axis C-C and the main body 2.

Preferably, the tie-rod 70 crosses the head member 65.

Preferably, depending on the shape of the head member 65 and its engagement with the main body 2, the relative position between the butt axis C-C and the tie-rod axis T-T varies.

Preferably, the tie-rod axis T-T and the butt axis C-C are mutually inclined lying on the same imaginary plane.

Preferably, the tie-rod axis T-T and the butt axis C-C are mutually inclined and lie on different imaginary planes.

Preferably, the head member 65 is housable at the end of the butt tube 6 opposite to an abutment device 81 (described below).

In accordance with the present invention, the butt 4 further comprises a damper group 8, aimed at damping the recoil action to eliminate or minimise its discharge onto the user.

The damper group 8 comprises a support device 80, an abutment device 81, a hydraulic piston 82, and a spring 83.

In particular, the damper group 8 can indeed be engaged by the user, being engaged with the butt body 5, but above all being suitable for cooperating with the butt tube 6.

According to the present invention, the damper group 8 comprises a support device 80 comprising a base 800 fixedly engaged with the bottom end 52.

Furthermore, the support device 80 comprises at least two arms 801 that extend from the base 800, parallel to the butt axis C-C inside the butt body 5. The arms 801 are suitable for cooperating with the abutment device 81.

The abutment device 81, in fact, extends at least partially inside the butt tube 6 and comprises a radial abutment 810 suitable for abuttingly engaging the butt tube 6.

In accordance with the present invention, the abutment device 81 is suitable for being engaged by the butt tube 6 in its axial movement induced by the main body 2.

In accordance with the present invention, the abutment device 81 is engaged with the arms 801 movable in the axial direction.

In particular, the abutment device 81 on one side is engaged by the butt tube 6, while on the other side it is engaged by the support device 80, being engaged with its arms 801.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the butt tube 6 comprises a tube cavity 600 and the abutment device 81 comprises an axial segment 811 shaped complementarily to the tube cavity 600.

Preferably, the main body 2 comprises a body protrusion 25 at least partially housed in the tube cavity 600 on the side opposite to the damper group 8.

Preferably, the body protrusion 25 is shaped to engage the head member 65 and discharge the recoil action onto the head member 65.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the head member 65 comprises outer walls that engage the walls of the tube cavity 600.

Preferably, the shape coupling between the tube cavity 600 and the head member 65 is such as to prevent relative rotation between the two components.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the abutment device 81, in particular in the axial segment 811, comprises outer walls that engage the walls of the tube cavity 600.

Preferably, the walls defining the tube cavity 600 engage the abutment device 81.

Preferably, the shape coupling between the tube cavity 600 and the abutment device 81 is such as to prevent relative rotation between the two components.

Preferably, the abutment device 81 is a flat body, except for specific guide housings 8110 for the arms 801 and for a cavity in which the hydraulic piston 82 is partially housed. Preferably, the arms 801 are suitable for sliding inside the guide housings 8110.

According to the present invention, the hydraulic piston 82 is engaged with a first piston end 821 to the abutment device 81 and with a second piston end 822 to the support device 80.

Therefore, the pushing action induced by the butt tube 6 onto the abutment device 81 is discharged onto the hydraulic piston 82 which then acts on the support device 80.

According to the present invention, the spring 83 is positioned between the base 800 and the radial abutment 810.

Preferably, the spring 83 is suitable for performing a return action bringing the abutment device 81, and thus the butt tube 6, back to position once the recoil action is completed.

In accordance with the present invention, therefore, the main body 2 transmits the pushing action to the butt tube 6 which in turn pushes the radial abutment 810 and thus the piston 82, while the spring 83 transmits a return action in the opposite direction.

According to a preferred embodiment, the spring 83 is concentric to the piston 82 along the butt axis C-C.

According to a preferred embodiment, the spring 83 is a helical spring.

Preferably, the support device 80 comprises a travel stop on which the abutment device 81 rests at the end of its translation.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the arms 801 comprise a retaining tooth 8010 that snap engages the abutment device 81.

Preferably, the retaining tooth 8010 comprises a sliding wall 8011 suitable for allowing the sliding into the abutment device 81 by forcing the arm 801 to bend.

According to a preferred embodiment, the sliding wall 8011 is shaped with a varying inclination so that the sliding of a first initial segment is forced more compared to the sliding of a further segment.

According to a preferred embodiment, the sliding wall 8011 comprises a first inclination and a second inclination. Preferably, the first inclination is greater than the second inclination. By “inclination” is meant a smooth inclined wall, but also an arcuate wall.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the abutment device 81 is moved in the axial direction by pressing the hydraulic piston 82, in such a way as to press the teeth and cause the arms 801 to slide in the guide housings 8110.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, under the action of the spring 83, the abutment device 81 is moved in the axial direction until it is latched by the retaining teeth 8010, suitable for finding housing in specific radial cavities 815.

According to a preferred embodiment, the support device 80 comprises four arms 801. Preferably, the abutment device 81 is specifically shaped to cooperate with the four arms 801.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the base 800 is engaged with the bottom end 52 by transverse fastening members 9, for example two screws.

Preferably, the support device 80 comprises a buttpad 805 engaged with the base 800 on the side opposite to that comprising the arms 801.

Innovatively, the rifle object of the present invention fully achieves the intended purpose.

Advantageously, the rifle object of the present invention is an alternative solution to known ones.

Advantageously, the rifle object of the present invention features a butt provided with a damper group suitable for operating effectively and above all suitable for correctly distributing the recoil action.

Advantageously, in the rifle object of the present invention, the butt tube engages and discharges the pushing action onto the abutment device, which in turn is suitable for discharging the action onto the piston. Advantageously, the damper group comprises annular components suitable for receiving the actions and discharge them annularly.

It is clear that a person skilled in the art, in order to meet contingent needs, may make changes to the invention described above, all within the scope of protection as described and claimed herein.