EXTERNALLY LOADING SEMI-AUTOMATIC FIREARM WITH INTEGRAL OR NON-REMOVABLE FEEDING DEVICE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/925,783 filed Jan. 10, 2014, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to semi-automatic firearm systems, and more specifically, a semi-automatic firearm system with an integral or non-removable ammunition reservoir.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

All U.S. patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The M16 family of semi-automatic firearms, including AR-15/AR-10 rifles, has gained significant success with military, law enforcement and civilians alike. The continued evolvement of these firearms is diverse with variations being developed regularly due to the inherent modularity of the base platform. The design of these rifles has been refined thereby improving functional reliability, expanding mission roles, and reducing manufacturing costs; however, the design principles have not been significantly improved. There are multiple variations in the design of these rifles for various calibers.

Typically these rifles are loaded using an ammunition magazine that is loaded apart from the rifle. Once the magazine is loaded, the magazine is inserted into the magazine well located in the lower receiver of the rifle system. The standard magazine well is straight walled and designed to receive any magazine which conforms to its basic shape and latch mechanism, well-known in the prior art. The ability of the user to quickly insert a magazine is of paramount importance for military, paramilitary personnel and civilian users. Factory magazine wells are narrow and easy to miss when the users are careless with inserting the magazine into the magazine well. Damage to the feed lips of the magazine occurs when the user attempts to insert the magazine into the magazine well and strikes the magazine lip into the side of the magazine well. This type of damage can lead to misfires and unnecessary wear and tear on the rifle. Furthermore, using magazines can be cumbersome, leading to the user dropping and fouling the magazine and rounds prior to insertion into the magazine well. This is not desired as it can lead to misfires.

The object of the present invention is to improve the loading design of these rifles and overcome the undesirable features of using a separate magazine for loading ammunition. The present invention provides a non-removable or integral feeding device to eliminate the possibility of the feeding device (e.g., ammunition magazines) from being lost or damaged when out in the field, or from damaging the weapon system during insertion of an ammunition magazine. The present invention also allows for a more robust and precision construction that aids in the reliability of the firearm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention solve many of the problems and/or overcome many of the drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art by providing weapon or rifle systems and methods for loading said weapon or rifle systems with one or more cartridges of ammunition without the need of using a removable or external and separate ammunition magazine.

Embodiments of the present invention may include a lower receiver for use with an M16 type of weapon or rifle system, including an AR-15 and AR-10 rifle systems. In one aspect, the lower receiver is modified for loading one or more cartridges through an aperture into an ammunition well or reservoir that is an integral or non-removable feeding device, without having to open the action (receiver or receivers) or without disassembly (fully or partially) of the weapon or rifle system. As provided herein, the ammunition well or reservoir is designed to have the loading aperture on a lateral side of the ammunition well or reservoir. The ammunition well or reservoir of the lower receiver has a pull channel, a follower pull coupled to the pull channel with screws, and a follower adapted for intermediate coupling or contact with the follower pull, wherein the intermediate contact occurs during retraction of the follower and compression of a follower spring. In one embodiment the pull channel is capable of snapping or locking into contact with a bottom cover or with the ammunition well. The pull channel can be snapped or locked into contact with the bottom cover or with the ammunition well when the ammunition well or reservoir is emptied, partially loaded or completely loaded. When the user moves the pull channel away from the lower receiver or moves it to snap it onto the lower receiver, the follower pull passes along a recessed path within a lateral side of the ammunition well or reservoir, thereby not impacting or impeding the movement of the cartridges within the ammunition well or reservoir.

In one aspect, the ammunition well or reservoir also has an ammunition feeding device with a feed lip coupled to or in the upper portion of the ammunition well or reservoir. The feed lip presents one cartridge at a time for extraction by the bolt carrier group into the chamber through the action of the bolt carrier group. The ammunition feeding device is coupled to the ammunition well or reservoir with one or more screws and comprises at least one plunger. The ammunition well or reservoir also has a bottom cover coupled to or in the bottom portion of the ammunition well or reservoir. The bottom cover has a number of guide pins that properly align and place the bottom cover in position and one or more screws that couple the bottom cover to or in the lower portion of the ammunition well or reservoir.

In one embodiment of the invention, the ammunition well houses a follower and a follower spring that work in unison to force cartridges toward the ammunition feeding device with feed lip for extraction by the bolt carrier group. One end portion of the follower spring contacts the bottom of the follower and a bottom portion of the follower spring contacts the bottom cover. When the follower and follower spring are not retracted, the follower spring forces the follower toward the ammunition feeding device with feed lip.

One aspect of certain embodiments of the invention is that the bottom cover is formed with a passage through which the follower pull passes and moves in a relative perpendicular manner to the surface of the bottom cover. The follower pull is coupled with the pull channel that allows a user to pull the pull channel away from the ammunition well and retract the follower while compressing the follower spring into a retracted and locked position generally past the aperture, thus allowing for loading one or more cartridges. In another embodiment, the lower receiver is equipped with at least one detent for locking the follower in a retracted position locked past the aperture for loading one or more cartridges into the ammunition well or reservoir. Another embodiment of the invention is that the follower pull comprises a lipped edge that contacts a groove on the ammunition feeding device with a feed lip. This contact is used to retract the follower to a position to be locked past the aperture for loading one or more cartridges into the ammunition well or reservoir.

In another embodiment, the lower receiver is part of a weapon or rifle system as provided and discussed herein.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of loading the weapon or rifle system with a lower receiver described herein. One method of loading a weapon or rifle system of the present invention involves the steps of retracting a pull channel away from the lower receiver by dislodging or unsnapping the pull channel from the bottom cover or lower portion of the ammunition well or reservoir. Once uncoupled from the bottom cover or lower portion of the ammunition well, the pull channel is pulled generally in a perpendicular direction away from the lengthwise plane of the lower receiver. The pulling of the pull channel continues until the follower pull has retracted and locked the follower and compressed the follower spring to a point generally past the aperture allowing the user to load one or more cartridges into the ammunition well or reservoir. Locking the retracted follower and compressed follower spring at a point generally past the aperture is through the use of a detent positioned on a lateral side of the ammunition well or reservoir. With the follower locked and retracted and any aperture covers opened for loading, the user inverts the weapon or rifle system. In another embodiment, the weapon or rifle system can be inverted prior to retracting and locking the follower at a point generally past the aperture.

With the weapon or rifle system inverted and the follower retracted and locked, the user loads one or more cartridges through the aperture. With one or more cartridges loaded up to a maximum capacity for the ammunition well or reservoir, the follower and follower spring are released from the retracted and locked position by disengaging the detent. This allows the follower spring to force the follower into contact with the one loaded or last loaded cartridge and forces the cartridge or cartridges toward the ammunition feeding device with feed lip for extraction by the bolt carrier group. After disengaging the detent, the pull channel is pushed toward the lower receiver and locked on the bottom cover or the lower portion of the ammunition well or reservoir.

In another embodiment, retracting the follower and compressing the follower spring to a point generally past the aperture for loading by pulling the pull channel will engage the detent to lock the follower at the point generally past the aperture for loading. In another embodiment, pushing the pull channel toward the lower receiver will disengage the detent and release the retracted follower and the compressed follower spring, thereby forcing the loaded cartridge or cartridges toward the ammunition feeding device with feed lip for extraction by the bolt carrier group.

Retraction of the follower and compression of the follower spring is managed by a lipped edge or similar design on the follower pull that contacts a groove or similar design on the follower. Pulling the pull channel away from the lower receiver brings the lipped edge or similar design of the follower pull into contact with the grooved edge or similar design of the follower and pulls the follower in the direction the pull channel is pulled until the follower is retracted and locked at a point generally past the aperture for loading one or more cartridges.

Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention are set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a lower receiver of a rifle system of the present invention in expanded form.

FIG. 2 shows another view of a lower receiver of a rifle system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A weapon system for an externally loaded semi-automatic firearm with an integral or non-removable feeding device is described. The examples described herein relate to a weapon system with an improved lower receiver for illustrative purposes only. The weapon system and methods described herein may be used for many different gun types, including, for example, AR-15/AR-10 rifles, modern sporting rifles and pistols with removable feeding devices (e.g., magazines) that are prone to being lost and easily damaged due to construction and use, as well as others.

Although not required, the weapon or rifle systems and methods are described in the general context of the M16 type family of rifles, including AR-15/AR-10 rifles and all of their derivatives. These weapon or rifle systems are described in basic and specific detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,444,775, 7,461,581, 5,726,377, 3,366,011, 7,806,039, for example, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Characteristics discussed generally herein can be found in detail in the referenced U.S. Patents incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. For example, upper receivers, trigger mechanisms, gas operating systems (i.e., direct or indirect gas operated), bolts and bolt carrier groups, hand guards and rails, buffer tubes and springs, stocks, and lower receiver aspects other than those improved by the present invention, and the multiple variations of the known weapon or rifle systems will be understood by the skilled artisan to be usable with the disclosed invention.

A firearm system of the present invention, most notably its lower receiver 100, is shown in FIG. 1 in expanded view. The frame of lower receiver 100 has an ammunition well 110 for receiving ammunition or cartridges through an external loading port aperture 112, wherein aperture 112 is sized depending on the rifle system and cartridge size of the rifle system. As used herein, an ammunition well and reservoir are interchangeable terms. External loading port aperture 112 can also have a port flap located on the external surface of ammunition well 110, preferably on the side or back, and equipped to be opened as needed for loading ammunition and closed after loading ammunition. Coupled in the upper portion of ammunition well 110 is an ammunition feeder with feed lip 120, from which a bolt carrier group extracts the presented cartridge from the feeding device. The ammunition feeder with feed lip 120 is coupled in the upper portion of ammunition well 110 via screws 122(a) and 122(b). The number of screws and locations of the screws may vary depending on the weapon system and type, form and style of ammunition feeder with feed lip desired. In certain embodiments, ammunition feeder with feed lip 120 is mated with plunger 124 and located within a top portion of ammunition well 110.

Coupled to the bottom portion of ammunition well 110 is bottom cover 114. Alignment pins 115(a)-(d) are used to align bottom cover 114 within the bottom portion of ammunition well 110. Screws 116(a)-(c) are used to couple bottom cover 114 within the bottom portion of ammunition well 110. The number of and position of alignment pins to be used may vary depending on the weapon system to be used.

Within ammunition well 110 and located between the coupled ammunition feed device with feed lip 120 and bottom cover 114 is a follower 130 and follower spring 131, each sized for movement between ammunition feeder with feed lip 120 and bottom cover 114. Follower 130 is designed to force cartridges toward ammunition feeder with feed lip 120 for extraction by the bolt carrier group as the bolt carrier group moves from a generally recessed position toward the chamber, resulting in the bolt carrier group extracting the cartridge from ammunition feeder with feed lip 120.

As cartridges are extracted from ammunition well 110, follower 130 is forced by follower spring 131 closer and closer toward feed lip 120, until follower 130 is in relative contact with ammunition feeder with feed lip 120. When ammunition well 110 is empty of cartridges, follower spring 131 is essentially fully expanded or near full expansion, meaning the least amount of force is applied on follower 130. Follower 130 and follower spring 131 are retracted toward bottom cover 133 by use of follower pull 132. Follower pull 132 is coupled to pull channel 133 with screws 134(a)-(b). The number and position of screws coupling follower pull 132 to pull channel 133 may vary depending on the weapons system to be used. Follower 130 is provided with a groove for intermediate coupling or intermediate contact with follower pull 132. This groove allows follower 130 to be retracted and locked in the retracted position by use of a detent for loading as discussed herein. The lipped edge of follower pull 132 is only required to couple with or contact with follower 130 during retraction of follower 130, which retraction compresses follower spring 131 to the retracted position.

Follower pull 132 is coupled to one side and to one end of pull channel 133. Follower pull 132 also passes through a passage in bottom cover 114 in a relative perpendicular manner. Follower pull 132 also comprises a lipped edge that enables follower pull 132 to engage or grasp follower 130 and retract follower 130 and follower spring 131 to a retracted position for loading cartridges into ammunition well 110 through aperture 112. Ammunition well 110 is designed with a recessed channel that allows movement of follower pull 132 in a relative perpendicular path to bottom cover 114 and ammunition feeder with feed lip 120. As ammunition well 110 is emptied of cartridges, follower 130 and follower spring 131 extend by spring force toward ammunition feeder with feed lip 120. Once ammunition well 110 is emptied of cartridges, follower 130 is designed to come to rest, in part, against the lipped edge of follower pull 132. At this point, pull channel 133 can be pulled in a generally perpendicular direction away from ammunition well 110 until follower 130 and follower spring 131 are retracted and locked to a point past aperture 112 away from ammunition feeder with feed lip 120, thereby allowing the user to load cartridges through aperture 112. Follower 130 is locked into this position through use of a detent that can be spring loaded and positioned about ammunition well 110 as desired in relation to the position of aperture 112. Positioning of the detent, however, must allow for follower 130 to be retracted and locked past aperture 112 so that one or more cartridges can be loaded.

With follower 130 in the retracted and locked position (FIG. 2), the weapon system can be loaded by inverting the weapon system. While inverted and relatively parallel to the ground, the user can insert cartridges into aperture 112, whereby the cartridges will move or fall generally toward ammunition feeder with feed lip 120 as they are loaded. Once the user has loaded one or more cartridges into ammunition well 110, the user can then force pull channel 133 toward ammunition well 110. This action moves follower pull 132 toward ammunition feeder with feed lip 120 through the recessed channel, thereby allowing follower spring 131 to expand and force follower 130 into contact with the closest cartridge and forcing the one or more cartridges toward ammunition feeder with feed lip 120. This places the first loaded cartridge in direct line with the bolt carrier group or slide so that the first loaded cartridge can be chambered.

While FIGS. 1 and 2 show aspects of the invention from one lateral side of the lower receiver, the invention also encompasses the described aspects from either side of the lower receiver. By way of example, FIGS. 1 and 2 demonstrate a system designed for loading cartridges from the right side of the weapon system; however, the skilled artisan will realize that these aspects can be designed and oriented for loading the weapon or rifle system from the left side of the weapon system as well. Therefore, the aspects of the invention can be designed and oriented for loading from either lateral side of ammunition well 110.

Although the foregoing description is directed to the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is noted that other variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Moreover, features described in connection with one embodiment of the invention may be used in conjunction with other embodiments, even if not explicitly stated above.