Free-floating rifle rail and barrel locking system(S)/assemblies

• US 10,641,568 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brendon Zinsner
• Original Assignee: Brendon Zinsner
• Inventors: Zinsner, Brendon, Fitzgerald, Lisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdosh, Samir
• Application Number:
  US16/456,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20200025484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 42 7101, 42 7501- 7503
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 11/02 Modular concepts, e.g. weapon-family concepts
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 11/04 Articulated or collapsible guns, i.e. with hinged or telescopic parts for transport or storage breakdown shotguns or rifles F41C7/11; folding or telescopic stocks or stock parts F41C23/04
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/48 Barrel mounting means, e.g. releasable mountings for replaceable barrels
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/482 using continuous threads on the barrel
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/16 Forestocks; Handgrips; Hand guards pump-action guns F41C7/02
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 7/11 Breakdown shotguns or rifles hinge-frame revolvers F41C3/16; breech mechanisms therefor F41A3/58; cocking mechanisms therefor F41A19/41
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

A free-floating rifle rail and barrel locking system that provides a barrel assembly and rail assembly, which is detachable from the main body of a rifle without tools. This is advantageous for quick field breakdown and/or rifle modification. The user has the option to disassemble the rifle for easy transport, to change barrel length, to change barrel caliber or change rail configurations. The rails are free-floating, meaning the rails do not come in contact with the barrel and thus do not impact the precision of the rifle.

Claims

1. A rifle comprising:

(a) a rifle assembly for attachment to a release assembly that forms the rifle when completely assembled, the release assembly, comprising;

(b) a rail assembly including;

(i) a sleeve configured to directly attach to the rifle assembly;

(ii) an elongate rail mount having a first end and second end that are spaced apart from one another, wherein;

the first end of the elongate rail mount securely receives the sleeve of the rail assembly therein, and

the spaced apart second end of the elongate rail mount has flared portions that are configured to securely mate within a rail of the rail assembly; and

(iii) a rail having a first end and second end that are spaced apart from one another, wherein;

the first end of the rail is configured to receive and securely mate with the flared portions of the second end of the elongate rail mount to align the sleeve, elongate rail mount, and rail along the longitudinal axis of the rail assembly,

the first end of the rail further includes a plurality of securing levers positioned externally thereon with a first securing lever configured to engage and disengage the elongate rail mount and a second securing lever configured to engage and disengage a barrel assembly to release the rail and barrel assemblies from the rifle assembly, and

the second end of the rail is configured to receive the barrel assembly therein; and

(c) the barrel assembly including a barrel having a first end and a second end that are spaced apart from one another, wherein;

a portion of the barrel assembly is configured to advance through the rail of the rail assembly and is securely received within the second end of the elongate rail mount such that the second securing lever of the rail assembly securely engages the barrel assembly such that the barrel assembly and rail assembly are aligned to form an internal channel in fluid communication with the one another when the rifle is assembled.

2. The rifle of claim 1, wherein the barrel assembly further comprises a bushing configured for fastening around the first end of the barrel of the barrel assembly, the bushing having an opening that receives an arm of the second securing lever therein when the second securing lever is in an engaged position thereby securing the barrel assembly to the rail assembly.

3. The rifle of claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the first end of the elongate rail mount securely engages the outer diameter of the sleeve of the rail assembly.

4. The rifle of claim 1, wherein the flared portions of the elongate rail mount extend beyond an outer diameter of a main body of the elongate rail mount and are configured to align and securely mate within openings positioned on the rail.

5. The rifle of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of securing levers is coplanar or recessed relative to an outer surface of the rail when in an engaged state.

6. The rifle of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of securing levers is perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of the rail assembly when in a disengaged state.

7. The rifle of claim 1, wherein the rail assembly, barrel assembly, or a combination thereof are detachable from the rifle assembly without the use of any additional tools.

8. A quick release assembly configured for attachment to a rifle assembly, the quick release assembly comprising:

(a) a rail assembly including;

(i) a sleeve configured to attach to the rifle assembly;

(ii) an elongate rail mount having a first end and second end, wherein;

the first end of the elongate rail mount securely receives the sleeve of the rail assembly therein, and

the spaced apart second end of the elongate rail mount has flared portions that are configured to securely mate within a rail of the rail assembly; and

(iii) a rail having a first end and second end, wherein;

the first end of the rail is configured to receive and securely mate with the flared portions of the second end of the elongate rail mount to align the sleeve, elongate rail mount, and rail along the longitudinal axis of the rail assembly,

the first end of the rail further includes securing levers positioned externally thereon with a first securing lever configured to engage and disengage the elongate rail mount and a second securing lever configured to engage and disengage a barrel assembly to release the rail and barrel assemblies from the rifle assembly; and

(b) the barrel assembly including a barrel having a first end and a second end, wherein;

a portion of the barrel assembly is configured to advance through the rail of the rail assembly and is received within the second end of the elongate rail mount such that the second securing lever of the rail assembly securely engages the barrel assembly such that the barrel assembly and rail assembly are aligned to form an internal channel.

9. The quick release assembly of claim 8, wherein the barrel assembly further comprises a bushing configured for fastening around the first end of the barrel of the barrel assembly, the bushing having an opening that receives an arm of the second securing lever therein when the second securing lever is in an engaged position thereby securing the barrel assembly to the rail assembly.

10. The quick release assembly of claim 8, wherein an inner diameter of the first end of the elongate rail mount securely engages the outer diameter of the sleeve of the rail assembly.

11. The quick release assembly of claim 8, wherein the flared portions of the elongate rail mount extend beyond an outer diameter of a main body of the elongate rail mount and are configured to align and securely mate within openings positioned on the rail.

12. The quick release assembly of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of securing levers is coplanar or recessed relative to an outer surface of the rail when in an engaged state.

13. The quick release assembly of claim 8, wherein each securing lever is perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of the rail assembly when in a disengaged state.

14. The quick release assembly of claim 8, wherein the rail assembly, barrel assembly, or a combination thereof are detachable from the rifle assembly without the use of any additional tools.