Extended rigid frame receiver sleeve

• US 5,343,650 A
• Filed: 03/30/1992
• Issued: 09/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard E. Swan
• Original Assignee: Richard E. Swan
• Inventors: Swan, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US07/859,958
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 42/100, 42/75.01, 42/101, 42/103, 42/102, 89/14.1
• US Class Current: 42/117
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/16 Forestocks; Handgrips; Hand guards pump-action guns F41C7/02

Abstract

An extended rigid interface frame with upper and lower rails joined to a firearm receiver and extending forward above the firearm'"'"'s barrel to a head assembly replacing the firearm'"'"'s normal front sight. A weaver type interface return portion is provided below the barrel from the head assembly to the receiver. A yoke braces the extended rigid frame receiver sleeve of the present invention to the forward portion of the firearm'"'"'s receiver. The distal end of the extended rigid frame receiver sleeve terminates in the front sight housing which connects the upper and lower rails and provides a housing for advanced laser and sensor components, and the standard front sight bead. The front sight housing is self supported by the connection of the upper and lower rails running back to the yoke and secured to the top of the receiver. The barrel of the rifle is free floating in that it does not touch the extended rigid frame receiver sleeve in any manner. Protective spring-loaded hand guards are incorporated into the extended rigid frame receiver sleeve, thereby protecting a user'"'"'s hands from a hot barrel, eliminating any pressure on the barrel, and providing quick access to the barrel area.

Claims

1. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve for interfacing integrated and modular enhancements to a firearm having forward and rearward portions, said firearm having minimally a receiver with a stock and barrel attached thereto, said barrel defining the forward portion of the firearm and said stock defining the rearward portion of the firearm, said firearm longitudinal axis being defined as horizontal and running from said stock through said receiver to said barrel, said receiver being comprised of an upper receiver and a lower receiver, said upper receiver having a forward portion, a top and a rearward portion, said barrel being joined to the forward portion of the upper receiver, comprising:

a forward interface portion having sides, a front and a rear; and

a rearward interface portion having sides comprised of;

a fixed receiver interface sleeve element joined to the top of the upper receiver and having a front joined to the rear of said forward interface portion; and

a slidable sleeve element slidably mounted on said fixed receiver interface sleeve element.

2. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 1, wherein said fixed receiver interface sleeve element is comprised of:

a bottom section attached to said firearm receiver and having a longitudinal axis extending in spaced, parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of said firearm, said bottom section having a longitudinal, horizontally positioned base portion along its length, said base portion having two long side edges and a first longitudinal rail extending downward from said base portion adjacent one of the long side edges and a second longitudinal rail extending downward from said base portion adjacent the other of the long side edges, wherein said second rail is in spaced parallel relationship to said first rail and a longitudinal channel is formed between said first and second rails, said channel being fitted over a portion of the firearm receiver; and

a top section attached to said bottom section and having a longitudinal axis extending in spaced, parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of said firearm, said top interface section having a longitudinal, horizontally positioned base portion along its length, said base portion having two long side edges, and a first longitudinal rail extending upward from said base portion adjacent one of the long side edges and a second longitudinal rail extending upward from said base portion adjacent the other of the long side edges, wherein said second rail is in spaced parallel relationship to said first rail and a longitudinal channel is formed between said first and second rails.

3. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 2, wherein said slidable sleeve element is comprised of:

a bottom section slidably joined to said fixed receiver interface sleeve element and having a longitudinal axis extending in spaced, parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of said firearm, said bottom section having a longitudinal, horizontally positioned base portion along its length, said base portion having two long side edges and a first longitudinal rail extending downward from said base portion adjacent one of the long side edges and a second longitudinal rail extending downward from said base portion adjacent the other of the long side edges, wherein said second rail is in spaced parallel relationship to said first rail and a longitudinal channel is formed between said first and second rails, said channel being fitted over a portion of the fixed receiver interface sleeve element; and

a top section joined to said bottom section and having a longitudinal axis extending in spaced, parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of said firearm, said top interface section having a longitudinal, horizontally positioned base portion along its length, said base portion having two long side edges, and a first longitudinal rail extending upward from said base portion adjacent one of the long side edges and a second longitudinal rail extending upward from said base portion adjacent the other of the long side edges, wherein said second rail is in spaced parallel relationship to said first rail and a longitudinal channel is formed between said first and second rails.

4. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 3, wherein said forward interface portion is comprised of:

a head assembly having two sides, a top and a bottom;

a forward upper sleeve element extending from the rearward interface portion above the barrel to the head assembly and forming a junction with the front of the fixed receiver interface sleeve element;

a yoke engaging the front of the receiver and said junction; and

a weaver type interface return element extending from the head assembly below the barrel to the yoke.

5. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 4, wherein:

neither the head assembly nor any part of forward interface portion touches the barrel.

6. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 5, wherein:

attachment of the yoke to the forward portion of the receiver and attachment of the sleeve rearward portion receiver interface sleeve element to the top of the upper receiver provide the support for the entire extended rigid frame receiver sleeve.

7. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 6, wherein said forward upper sleeve element is comprised of:

a top section having a longitudinal axis extending in spaced, parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of said firearm, said top section having a longitudinal, horizontally positioned base portion along its length, said base portion having two long side edges, and a first longitudinal rail extending upward from said base portion adjacent one of the long side edges and a second longitudinal rail extending upward from said base portion adjacent the other of the long side edges, wherein said second rail is in spaced parallel relationship to said first rail and a longitudinal channel is formed between said first and second rails; and

a bottom section joined to said top section and having a longitudinal axis extending in spaced, parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of said firearm, said bottom section having a longitudinal, horizontally positioned base portion along its length, said base portion having two long side edges and a first longitudinal rail extending downward from said base portion adjacent one of the long side edges and a second longitudinal rail extending downward from said base portion adjacent the other of the long side edges, wherein said second rail is in spaced parallel relationship to said first rail and a longitudinal channel is formed between said first and second rails, said rails having lower surfaces interconnected by means of a longitudinal element thereby forming an enclosed cavity.

8. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 7, wherein:

said forward upper sleeve element bottom section rails and longitudinal element each have a series of apertures formed therein.

9. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 8, wherein:

said head assembly has a generally rectangular shape with a rear face, front face, generally rectangular central opening, upper interface channel, lower interface channel, and a longitudinal axis vertically positioned transverse to the horizontal longitudinal axis of the firearm.

10. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 9, wherein:

the head assembly upper interface channel has a cross section corresponding to an external cross section of the forward upper sleeve element bottom section; and

the forward portion upper sleeve element terminates in the head assembly upper interface channel.

11. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 10, wherein the weaver type interface return element is comprised of:

a top section having a generally rectangular shaped ross section, a flat top, flat base, two longitudinal sides and a longitudinal channel horizontally positioned along the length of each said longitudinal side;

a top section angled engagement surface extending from each edge of the base the full length of the top section and extending inwardly and downwardly; and

a bottom section having a top portion, two long sides and a flat bottom, each of the two long sides having external angled engagement surfaces which extend the full length of the bottom section, wherein the surfaces each have a middle longitudinal section, upper longitudinal section, and lower longitudinal section, said upper section surface planes being directed outwardly and downwardly at a forty-five degree angle from the top section angled engagement surfaces, said middle section surface planes being directed vertically downwardly from said upper section surface planes in planes perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the flat bottom, and said lower section surface planes being directed inwardly and downwardly at a forty-five degree angle from the vertical planes of the middle sections to the flat bottom.

12. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 11, wherein:

said head assembly lower interface channel has a T-shaped cross section corresponding to the cross section of the weaver type interface return element top section.

13. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the weaver type interface return element top section engages the head assembly lower interface channel.

14. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 13, wherein:

said yoke has a generally rectangular shape with a rear face, forward face, central opening, upper interface channel, lower interface channel, and a longitudinal axis vertically positioned transverse to the horizontal longitudinal axis of the firearm.

15. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the yoke upper interface channel has a cross section corresponding in shape to the cross section of the forward portion upper sleeve element bottom section; and

the junction between the forward upper sleeve element and the rearward portion receiver interface sleeve element is positioned within said yoke upper interface channel.

16. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 15, wherein:

the yoke assembly lower interface channel has a T-shaped cross section corresponding in shape to the cross section of the weaver type interface return element top section; and

the weaver type interface return element top section terminates in the yoke assembly lower interface channel.

17. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

two hand guards mounted onto the forward interface portion interface, said hand guards being attached to the yoke and head assembly and adapted to rotate radially upward away from the weaver type interface return element, each said hand guard having a forward and a rear end terminating in a hinge, each said forward hinge being rotatably pinned to the rear face of the head assembly and each said rear hinge being rotatably pinned to the forward face of the yoke.

18. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 17, wherein:

the forward upper sleeve element has a front face; and

an electrical output cavity formed in said front face.

19. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

a battery compartment located on one side of the head assembly.

20. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

a cavity activation switch mounted on the head assembly side.

21. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

A front sight mounted on the forward portion upper sleeve element top section at the head assembly.

22. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

a plurality of zeroing screws attached through said head assembly to said firearm barrel.

23. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 22, wherein said plurality of zeroing screws are comprised of:

four screws, two providing horizontal adjustment and one providing bottom vertical adjustment and one providing top vertical adjustment, said horizontal screws penetrating the sides of the head assembly and radially abutting said barrel, said bottom vertical screw penetrating the weaver interface, through the head assembly lower interface channel and radially abutting against said barrel, and said top vertical screw penetrating the forward portion upper sleeve element attached to the head assembly upper interface channel, through the head assembly upper interface channel and radially abutting said barrel.

24. An extended rigid frame receiver sleeve as recited in claim 23, further comprising:

a rear sight aperture positioned at the rear of sight plane formed by the longitudinal channel of the top section of the forward upper sleeve element of the forward interface portion and the longitudinal channel of the top section of the slidable sleeve element of the rearward interface portion.