MODULAR GRENADE LAUNCHER SYSTEM

• US 20160153744A1
• Filed: 12/01/2015
• Published: 06/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
• Original Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
• Inventors: Teetzel, James W., Lemire, Gary M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,578,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 11/02 Modular concepts, e.g. weapon-family concepts
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/10 Triggers; Trigger mountings
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/58 Breakdown breech mechanisms, e.g. for shotguns
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 35/06 Adaptation of guns to both right and left hand use
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/04 Folding or telescopic stocks or stock parts articulated or collapsible guns F41A11/04
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/16 Forestocks; Handgrips; Hand guards pump-action guns F41C7/02
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 27/06 Adaptations of smallarms for firing grenades, e.g. rifle grenades, or for firing riot-control ammunition; Barrel attachments therefor signal pistols F41C3/02
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

A modular grenade launcher system includes an upper chassis and lower chassis secured on opposite sides of a barrel of a weapon, such as a firearm. The chassis removably receives any of a plurality of interchangeable modules, including grenade launcher assemblies having different calibers. A separate modular and removable firing mechanism is provided, wherein multiple grenade launcher barrel assemblies can share a common firing mechanism. An accessory rail module is also provided to replace the grenade launcher barrel assembly and firing mechanism.

Claims

1. A barrel-interchangeable weapon system for use in conjunction with a firearm, the barrel-interchangeable weapon system comprising:

a chassis capable of being attached to and detached from the firearm, wherein said chassis is configured to removably attach a modular grenade launcher system, and wherein the modular grenade launcher system comprises at least one trigger assembly and at least one grenade launcher barrel assembly;

said chassis including an upper chassis portion and a lower chassis portion removably attachable to said upper chassis portion, said chassis configured to circumscribe the barrel of the firearm;

said upper chassis portion having at least one lower edge;

said lower chassis portion having at least one upper edge engaging said at least one lower edge;

a first fastener on a lower surface of said lower chassis portion capable of being attached to and detached from the at least one grenade launcher barrel assembly; and

a second fastener on a lower surface of said lower chassis portion capable of being attached to and detached from the at least one trigger assembly.

2. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 1, wherein said first fastener includes a boss receiver configured to removably receive an upstanding boss on the at least one barrel assembly and wherein said second fastener includes a receiving channel configured to removably receive a complementary mating element of the at least one trigger assembly.

3. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 2, further comprising:

said boss receiver being configured to pivotally receive the upstanding boss; and

a latch mechanism in the lower chassis portion for selectively locking and unlocking an attached grenade launcher barrel assembly, wherein an axis of the attached grenade launcher barrel assembly is parallel to an axis of a barrel of the firearm when the latch mechanism is locked and wherein the attached grenade launcher barrel assembly is pivotable out of alignment with the barrel of the firearm when the latch mechanism is unlocked.

4. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 1, further comprising the at least one grenade launcher barrel assembly and the at least one trigger assembly.

5. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 4, wherein the at least one grenade launcher barrel assembly includes a first grenade launcher barrel assembly configured to fire grenades having a first caliber and a second grenade launcher barrel assembly configured to fire grenades having a second caliber.

6. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 5, wherein the first caliber is 40 millimeters and the second caliber is 25 millimeters.

7. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 4, wherein the at least one trigger assembly includes a mounting shoe extending from an upper surface of the at least one trigger assembly and configured for slidable coupling with the receiving channel.

8. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 1, further comprising an accessory rail plate, the accessory rail plate having:

a first major surface configured to removably attach a firearm accessory; and

a second major surface opposite the first major surface, the second major surface including a third fastener configured for removable attachment to the first fastener and a fourth fastener configured for removable attachment to the second fastener.

9. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 1, further comprising an accessory rail member disposed on at least one side surface of the lower chassis portion, the accessory rail member configured to removably securing a firearm accessory device.

10. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 9, wherein the firearm accessory device is selected from the group consisting of a ballistics computer, fire control system, sighting device, range finder, laser designator, illuminator, camera, or any combination thereof.

11. A barrel-interchangeable weapon system comprising:

a frame having a fore end portion and a buttstock portion;

a chassis capable of being attached to and detached from the frame, wherein said chassis is configured to removably attach a modular grenade launcher system, and wherein the modular grenade launcher system comprises at least one trigger assembly and at least one grenade launcher barrel assembly;

said chassis including an upper chassis portion and a lower chassis portion removably attachable to said upper chassis portion, said chassis configured to circumscribe the fore end portion of the frame;

said upper chassis portion having at least one lower edge;

said lower chassis portion having at least one upper edge engaging said at least one lower edge;

a first fastener on a lower surface of said lower chassis portion capable of being attached to and detached from the at least one grenade launcher barrel assembly; and

a second fastener on a lower surface of said lower chassis portion capable of being attached to and detached from the at least one trigger assembly.

12. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 11, wherein said first fastener includes a boss receiver configured to removably receive an upstanding boss on the at least one barrel assembly and wherein said second fastener includes a receiving channel configured to removably receive a complementary mating element of the at least one trigger assembly.

13. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 12, further comprising:

said boss receiver being configured to pivotally receive the upstanding boss; and

a latch mechanism in the lower chassis portion for selectively locking and unlocking an attached grenade launcher barrel assembly, wherein an axis of the attached grenade launcher barrel assembly is parallel to an axis of a fore end portion when the latch mechanism is locked and wherein the attached grenade launcher barrel assembly is pivotable out of alignment with the axis of the fore end portion when the latch mechanism is unlocked.

14. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 11, further comprising the at least one grenade launcher barrel assembly and the at least one trigger assembly.

15. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 14, wherein the at least one grenade launcher barrel assembly includes a first grenade launcher barrel assembly configured to fire grenades having a first caliber and a second grenade launcher barrel assembly configured to fire grenades having a second caliber.

16. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 15, wherein the first caliber is 40 millimeters and the second caliber is 25 millimeters.

17. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 14, wherein the at least one trigger assembly includes a mounting shoe extending from an upper surface of the at least one trigger assembly and configured for slidable coupling with the receiving channel.

18. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 14, further comprising a hinged connection between the fore end portion and the buttstock portion.

19. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 14, further comprising a handgrip assembly removably attachable to the trigger assembly.

20. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 11, further comprising an accessory rail member disposed on at least one side surface of the lower chassis portion, the accessory rail member configured to removably securing a firearm accessory device.

21. The barrel-interchangeable weapon system of claim 20, wherein the firearm accessory device is selected from the group consisting of a ballistics computer, fire control system, sighting device, range finder, laser designator, illuminator, camera, or any combination thereof.