Recoil System and Method for Upper Receiver

• US 20120204713A1
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Otis Patent Trust
• Original Assignee: Swetal K. Patel
• Inventors: Patel, Swetal K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,661,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 89/199
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/66 Breech housings or frames; Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/82 Coil spring buffers F41A3/80 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

In embodiments, a modular rifle includes a lower receiver assembly, an upper receiver assembly, and a coupling mechanism. The upper receiver contains a bolt carrier and a housing enclosing the recoil spring and rod. Within the housing is a counter bore shoulder against which the recoil spring rests. Integrated into the top face of the bolt carrier are compartments, upon which the housing is mounted. Holes in the front of the housing and the upper receiver assembly accommodate the rod. Containing the recoil spring and rod within in the housing mounted to the bolt carrier allows the modular rifle to have a folding, collapsible, or otherwise non-fixed stock. Attached to the rod is a retaining tab, the depression of which allows for the release of the upper receiver from the lower receiver for disassembly of the rifle.

Claims

1. A modular rifle system comprising:

a lower receiver assembly;

an upper receiver assembly containing a bolt carrier;

a housing contained within the upper receiver assembly, the housing enclosing a recoil spring and a rod;

wherein the housing is mounted on the bolt carrier.

2. The modular rifle system of claim 1, wherein the rifle system includes a folding stock.

3. The modular rifle system of claim 1, wherein the overall length of the rifle system is 22 inches or less.

4. The modular rifle system of claim 1, wherein the rifle system is of the type M16 or M4.

5. The modular rifle system of claim 4, wherein the caliber of the rifle system is 5.56 mm or .223 caliber.

6. The modular rifle system of claim 1, wherein the rifle system is of the type AR10 or SR25.

7. The modular rifle system of claim 6, wherein the rifle system is of the caliber 7.62 mm or .308 caliber.

8. The modular rifle system of claim 1, wherein the bolt carrier has receptacle compartments integrated into its top face, the compartments allowing for the housing to rest upon the bolt carrier inside the upper receiver assembly.

9. The modular rifle system of claim 8, wherein the rifle system includes a folding stock.

10. The modular rifle system of claim 8, wherein the housing contains:

a counter bore shoulder against which the recoil spring rests;

a hole in the front of the housing through which the rod protrudes; and

a hole in the upper receiver assembly through which the rod protrudes.

11. The modular rifle system of claim 10, wherein the rifle system includes a folding stock.

12. The modular rifle system of claim 11, further comprising:

a retaining tab attached to the rod, wherein depressing the retaining tab releases the upper receiver assembly from the lower receiver assembly.

13. A modular rifle system comprising:

a lower receiver assembly;

an upper receiver assembly containing a bolt carrier, wherein the bolt carrier has receptacle compartments integrated into its top face;

a housing contained within the upper receiver assembly, the housing enclosing a recoil spring and a rod, wherein the housing;

is mounted within the compartments on the top face of the bolt carrier;

contains a counter bore shoulder against which the recoil spring rests; and

contains a hole in the front of the housing through which the rod protrudes;

a hole in the upper receiver assembly through which the rod protrudes; and

a retaining tab attached to the rod, wherein depressing the retaining tab releases the upper receiver assembly from the lower receiver assembly.

14. The modular rifle system of claim 13, wherein the rifle system is of the type M16 or M4.

15. The modular rifle system of claim 13, wherein the rifle system is of the type AR10 or SR25.

16. The modular rifle system of claim 13, wherein the rifle system includes a folding stock.

17. A method of containing a recoil mechanism of a modular rifle system within an upper receiver assembly containing a bolt carrier having a top face, comprising the steps of:

mounting a housing on the bolt carrier;

enclosing with the housing a recoil spring and a rod;

containing the housing within the upper receiver assembly; and

connecting a lower receiver assembly to an upper receiver assembly containing the bolt carrier.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising the additional steps of:

fashioning a hole in the front of the housing through which the rod protrudes;

creating a vertical planar surface within the housing surrounding the hole such that a shoulder is formed against which the recoil spring rests; and

fashioning a hole in the upper receiver through which the rod protrudes.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising the additional steps of:

integrating receptacle compartments into the top face of the bolt carrier;

mounting the housing on the bolt carrier by inserting the housing into the compartments.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising the additional step of:

attaching a retaining tab to the upper receiver assembly, wherein depressing the retaining tab releases the upper receiver assembly from the lower receiver assembly.