Composite barrel construction made using injection molding

• US 4,769,938 A
• Filed: 07/06/1987
• Issued: 09/13/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ram-Line, Inc.
• Inventors: Chesnut, M. Gaines, Castetter, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kyle, Deborah L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US07/069,993
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 42/76.01, 42/76.02
• US Class Current: 42/76.02
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/02 Composite barrels, i.e. barrels having multiple layers, e.g. of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/484 using interlocking means, e.g. by sliding pins

Abstract

A number of rifle parts are provided to improve the appearance, facilitate the assembly/disassembly, and/or ease the carrying of a conventional rifle. In a preferred application one or more of the rifle parts are used with a 22 caliber rifle. The rifle parts include a handle unit that can be added to the conventional rifle and which is separate and detachable from the rifle body. The handle unit can be connected to the rifle body using fasteners or a dovetail arrangement. The handle unit preferably includes aligning holes through which the shooter can see the original rifle sight at the free end of the rifle barrel. A front sight assembly is provided in which a front sight is elevated to be in alignment with the rear sight. The front sight assembly makes use of the original sight or the sight slot to maintain the proper sight line between the rear sight and the front sight. A barrel retaining assembly is also provided which can be substituted for the conventional barrel retaining device. The retention assembly includes a wedge movable relative to a support block for use in engaging/disengaging a rifle barrel notch. A lighter rifle barrel construction is also provided. The rifle barrel includes a metal barrel end member for connection to the rifle body, a metal insert member press fitted to the barrel end member, and a casing that surrounds the insert member. Preferably, the casing is made of a plastic-like material and the plastic is located about the insert member by injection molding.

Claims

1. A method for use in making a relatively lighter rifle barrel, comprising:

providing a barrel end member having a bore;

providing a metal insert member having a length greater than the length of said barrel end member, wherein said barrel end member ans said metal insert member absorb a substantial majority of the explosive force that occurs when a bullet is fired from the rifle barrel;

connecting said insert member to said barrel end member; and

injection molding a homogeneous plastic-like material only about said insert member, said plastic-like material being lighter than at least one of said barrel end member and said metal insert member and wherein said barrel end member, said insert member, and said plastic-like material comprise the rifle barrel.

2. A rifle barrel made of different materials, comprising:

a barrel end member adapted to be connected to portions of a rifle;

a metal insert member connected to said barrel end member and having a length greater than the length of said barrel end member, wherein said barrel end member and said metal insert member absorb a substantial majority of the explosive force that occurs when a bullet is fired from the rifle barrel; and

a casing located about portions of said insert member, wherein said casing material consists essentially of a homogeneous plastic-like material lighter than at least one of said barrel end member and said metal insert member and with said-plastic-like material being provided by an injection molding process.

3. A rifle barrel made of different materials, comprising:

a barrel end member adapted to be connected to portions of a rifle, said barrel end member having a length equal to at least the total length of the casing of two bullets adapted to be fired from said rifle barrel;

a metal insert member connected to said barrel end member and having a length greater than the length of said barrel end member, wherein said barrel end member and said metal insert member absorb a substantial majority of the explosive force that occurs when a bullet is fired from the rifle barrel; and

a casing located about portions of said insert member, wherein said casing material includes a plastic-like material lighter than at least one of said barrel end members and said metal insert member and with said plasticlike material being provided by an injection molding process.

4. A rifle barrel made of different materials, comprising:

a barrel end member adapted to be connected to portions of a rifle;

a metal insert member connected to said barrel end member and having a length greater than the length of said barrel end member, wherein said barrel end member and said metal insert member absorb a substantial majority of the explosive force that occurs when a bullet is fired from the rifle barrel;

a casing located about portions of said insert member, wherein said casing material includes a plastic-like material lighter than at least one of said barrel end member and said metal insert member and with said plastic like material being provided by an injection molding process;

wherein said barrel end member includes a stem having a discontinuous outer surface in which spaces are defined between portions of said outer surface and wherein said plastic-like material flows between said portions of said discontinuous outer surface during said injection molding process such that portions of said plastic-like material substantially fills the spaces between said portions of said discontinuous outer surface to facilitate the providing of a secure connection between said casing and said barrel end member.