Modular sleeve yoke

• US 6,499,245 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2001
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Richard E. Swan
• Original Assignee: Richard E. Swan
• Inventors: Swan, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eldred, J. Woodrow
• Application Number:
  US10/061,515
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 42/710.1, 42/750.1, 421/24
• US Class Current: 42/71.01
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/00 Butts; Butt plates; Stocks handles for carrying smallarms F41C33/08
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/16 Forestocks; Handgrips; Hand guards pump-action guns F41C7/02
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

A Swan universal receiver sleeve attached to the top of a firearm upper receiver and extended forward above the firearm barrel to a position just short of the firearm front sight. The underside of the rear portion of the sleeve is fixedly attached to the receiver top. The underside of the forward portion of the sleeve has an upper handguard piece attached thereto. A bottom handguard piece is fitted about the bottom of the gun barrel and is attached to the upper handguard piece. The handguard pieces are not physically connected in any way to the gun barrel. The sleeve is self supported by the connection of the rear portion underside to the receiver top. A special yoke is inserted about the barrel nut of the firearm to which the modular sleeve is attached. The special yoke reinforces the modular sleeve while keeping the firearm barrel free floating.

Claims

1. In combination:

a modular sleeve for interfacing modular enhancements to a firearm, 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 having a forward portion, a top and a rearward portion, said barrel being joined to the forward portion of the receiver, said stock being joined to the rearward portion of the receiver, said barrel being detachable secured to a screw-threaded barrel port on said receiver forward portion by means of a barrel nut having a generally cylindrical body with a central longitudinal threaded opening permitting the nut to be slid over the firearm barrel, said barrel nut threaded opening adapted to engage the screw-threaded barrel port, said barrel nut having a forward end with a plurality of prongs protruding radially outward from the barrel nut body, said modular sleeve comprising;

a universal receiver sleeve having a top side, an underside and two opposite sides connecting said top side with said underside, said universal receiver sleeve being further defined as having a forward portion and a rear portion, the underside of the rear portion of the universal receiver sleeve being fixedly attached to the firearm receiver top, said receiver sleeve forward portion extended forward above the firearm barrel;

an upper handguard piece having a front, rear, top, open bottom, opposing sides, outer side surfaces and inner side surfaces, said top, sides and bottom defining a hollow interior, said front and rear defining an upper handguard piece longitudinal axis, said upper handguard piece top being joined to the underside of the forward portion of the receiver sleeve, each said outer side surface having two longitudinal channels formed therein, a large and shallow upper channel and a bottom interface channel, said channels being separated by a longitudinal element, said bottom interface channel being positioned near to the upper hand guard piece bottom, said upper handguard piece having a small, circular horizontal aperture formed through each upper hand guard piece side near to the rear in the bottom interface channel;

a bottom handguard piece having a front, rear, open top, bottom, opposing sides, outer side surfaces and inner side surfaces, said bottom, sides and top defining a hollow interior, said front and rear defining a bottom handguard piece longitudinal axis, said bottom handguard piece being removably attached to the upper handguard piece;

wherein, said upper handguard piece and attached bottom handguard piece surround the firearm barrel without touching said barrel;

a modular sleeve yoke, comprising;

a U-shaped device having two upright elements interconnected by a curvilinear element, said device having a top, bottom, front, rear and two opposite sides, said curvilinear element containing said device bottom, said upright elements terminating at the device top, said upright elements being generally rectangular block-like elements protruding forwardly away from said device rear, each upright element having two sides, each upright element having at least one threaded, lateral aperture formed therethrough, said device rear having a channel flange formed on the curvilinear element at the device bottom opening upward;

wherein, said device rear is positioned at and against the forward end of the barrel nut, said device adapted to engage the barrel nut body while the channel flange a plurality of prongs;

a threaded screw inserted through each upper handguard piece small, circular horizontal aperture for threaded engagement with each device upright element threaded, lateral aperture.

2. The combination as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an indentation formed about one side of each said device, upright element, threaded, lateral aperture, each said indentation adapted to receive a screw head.

3. The combination as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

a rectangular notch formed in the channel flange at the device bottom.

4. The combination as recited in claim 3, wherein:

said firearm has a conventional handguard delta ring, a delta ring spring, and a delta ring lock washer, mounted on said screw-threaded barrel port;

wherein said delta ring substantially covers the barrel nut and a portion of the special yoke.

5. The combination as recited in claim 4, wherein:

said barrel nut and modular sleeve yoke are each made from steel.

6. In combination:

a modular sleeve for interfacing modular enhancements to a firearm, 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 having a forward portion, a top and a rearward portion, said barrel being joined to the forward portion of the receiver, said stock being joined to the rearward portion of the receiver, said barrel being detachable secured to a screw-threaded barrel port on said receiver forward portion by means of a barrel nut having a generally cylindrical body with a central longitudinal threaded opening permitting the nut to be slid over the firearm barrel, said barrel nut threaded opening adapted to engage the screw-threaded barrel port, said barrel nut having a forward end with a plurality of prongs protruding radially outward from the barrel nut body, said modular sleeve comprising;

a universal receiver sleeve having a top side, an underside and two opposite sides connecting said top side with said underside, said universal receiver sleeve being further defined as having a forward portion and a rear portion, the underside of the rear portion of the universal receiver sleeve being fixedly attached to the firearm receiver top, said receiver sleeve forward portion extended forward above the firearm barrel;

an upper handguard piece having a front, rear, top, open bottom, opposing sides, outer side surfaces and inner side surfaces, said top, sides and bottom defining a hollow interior, said front and rear defining an upper handguard piece longitudinal axis, said upper handguard piece top being joined to the underside of the forward portion of the receiver sleeve, each said outer side surface having two longitudinal channels formed therein, a large and shallow upper channel and a bottom interface channel, said channels being separated by a longitudinal element, said bottom interface channel being positioned near to the upper hand guard piece bottom, said upper handguard piece having a small, circular vertical aperture formed through the longitudinal element along each upper hand guard piece side near to the upper handguard piece rear, said upper hand guard piece side having a notch formed along the bottom at the rear;

a bottom handguard piece having a front, rear, open top, bottom, opposing sides, outer side surfaces and inner side surfaces, said bottom, sides and top defining a hollow interior, said front and rear defining a bottom handguard piece longitudinal axis, said bottom handguard piece being removably attached to the upper handguard piece;

wherein, said upper handguard piece and attached bottom handguard piece surround the firearm barrel without touching said barrel;

a modular sleeve yoke, comprising;

a U-shaped device having two upright elements interconnected by a curvilinear element, said device having a top, bottom, front, rear and two opposite sides, said curvilinear element containing said device bottom, said upright elements terminating at the device top, said upright elements having generally rectangular block-like elements protruding laterally sideways, each laterally protruding block-like elements having a top with at least one threaded, vertical aperture formed there through, said device rear having a channel flange formed on the curvilinear element at the device bottom opening upward;

wherein, said device rear is positioned at and against the forward end of the barrel nut, said device adapted to engage the barrel nut body while the channel flange a plurality of prongs;

a threaded screw inserted through each upper handguard piece small, circular vertical aperture for threaded engagement with each device upright element protruding block-like element threaded, vertical aperture;

wherein, each the top of each laterally protruding block-like element engages each upper hand guard piece side notch.

7. The combination as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

an indentation formed on the top of each laterally protruding block-like element said device, about each threaded, vertical aperture.

8. The combination as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

a rectangular notch formed in the channel flange at the device bottom.

9. The combination as recited in claim 8, wherein:

said firearm has a conventional handguard delta ring, a delta ring spring, and a delta ring lock washer, mounted on said screw-threaded barrel port;

wherein said delta ring substantially covers the barrel nut and a portion of the special yoke.

10. The combination as recited in claim 9, wherein:

said barrel nut and modular sleeve yoke are each made from steel.