Modular Firearm

• US 20120297656A1
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colt's Manufacturing IP Holding Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Colt Defense LLC (Colt Defense Holding LLC)
• Inventors: Langevin, Kevin, Audibert, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 9,459,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/16
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 11/02 Modular concepts, e.g. weapon-family concepts
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/66 Breech housings or frames; Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/84 mounted within the gun stock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49817 with other than ancillary treating or assembling

Abstract

A firearm having a lower receiver is provided. The receiver is adapted to couple with a plurality of upper receivers having different calibers. The lower receiver comprises a receiver extension having an opening therein. A spring is disposed within the opening. A buffer member is provided having a first portion having an end. The buffer member is coupled to the spring within the opening, wherein the buffer member is movable between a first position where the end is within the opening and a second position wherein the end external to the opening.

Claims

1. A firearm comprising:

a lower receiver having an extension portion with an opening, the lower receiver being configured to selectively couple with a first upper receiver and a second upper receiver, the first upper receiver sized to receive a first bullet having a first caliber, the second upper receiver sized to receive a second bullet having a second caliber, the second caliber being larger than the first caliber; and

,

a buffer assembly disposed at least partially within the opening, the buffer assembly including a biasing member and a buffer member, the buffer member being movable between a first position, a second position and a third position, wherein the buffer member is movable between the first position and the second position when the first upper receiver is coupled to the lower receiver and movable between the first position and the third position when the second upper receiver is coupled to the lower receiver.

2. The firearm of claim 1 wherein:

the biasing member has a first outer diameter sized to fit with in the opening and an inner diameter; and

,

the buffer member has a first portion having a second outer diameter sized to fit within the opening and a second portion having a third outer diameter sized to fit within the inner diameter.

3. The firearm of claim 2 wherein the second outer diameter is sized to keep the buffer assembly substantially axially aligned with the opening.

4. The firearm of claim 2 wherein:

the opening has a first end; and

,

the first portion includes a second end disposed within the opening and a third end disposed beyond the first end when in the third position.

5. The firearm of claim 4 wherein the third end is substantially within the opening when in the second position.

6. The firearm of claim 4 wherein the third end is substantially co-planar with the first end when in the second position.

7. A firearm comprising;

a lower receiver having an extension portion with an opening having a first end and a second end, the lower receiver being configured to selectively couple with a plurality of upper receivers, wherein each of the plurality of upper receivers is configured to receiver a bullet having a different caliber;

a biasing member disposed within the opening, the biasing member having a third end and a fourth end, the third end being in contact with the second end; and

,

a buffer member having a first portion operably coupled to the fourth end, the buffer member also includes a second portion having a diameter sized to axially align the buffer member within the opening, wherein the buffer member is movable between a first position and a plurality of extended positions, and wherein each of the plurality of extended positions is associated with at least one of the plurality of upper receivers, wherein the second portion is at least partially disposed within the opening in each of the plurality of extended positions.

8. The firearm of claim 7 wherein the first portion is sized to fit within an inner diameter of the biasing member.

9. The firearm of claim 7 wherein the plurality of upper receivers includes a first upper receiver and a second upper receiver, the first upper receiver being sized to receive a first bullet having a first caliber, and the second upper receiver being sized to receive a second bullet having a second caliber, the second caliber being larger than the first caliber.

10. The firearm of claim 9 wherein:

the plurality of extended positions includes a second position and a third position;

the buffer member is movable between the first position and the second position when the first upper receiver is coupled to the lower receiver; and

,

the buffer member is movable between the first position and the third position when the second upper receiver is coupled to the lower receiver.

11. The firearm of claim 10 wherein the second portion includes a face on a fifth end opposite the first portion, the face being substantially co-planar with the first end when in the second position.

12. The firearm of claim 11 wherein the face is beyond the first end when in the third position.

13. The firearm of claim 12 wherein the second portion includes a sixth end opposite the fifth end, the sixth end being disposed within the opening when in the third position.

14. The firearm of claim 9 wherein the first upper receiver is configured to receive a NATO 5.56 mm bullet.

15. The firearm of claim 14 wherein the second upper receiver is configured to receive a NATO 7.62 mm bullet.

16. A method of operating a firearm comprising:

coupling a first upper receiver to a lower receiver, the lower receiver having an extension portion having an opening, the first upper receiver having a first bolt carrier assembly;

moving a buffer member from a first position to a second position, the buffer member being at least partially disposed within the opening;

removing the first upper receiver;

coupling a second upper receiver to the lower receiver, the second upper receiver having a second bolt carrier assembly; and

,

moving the buffer member from the first position to a third position within the opening.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

engaging the first bolt carrier assembly with the buffer member when in the second position; and

,

engaging the second bolt carrier assembly with the buffer member when in the third position.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising positioning an end of the buffer member substantially co-planar with the opening when in the second position.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising positioning the end beyond the opening when in the third position.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising axially aligning at least a portion of the buffer member with the opening when in the third position.