Belt Feed Patents (Class 89/33.2)
  • Patent number: 11879702
    Abstract: A machine gun comprising an ammunition belt feed mechanism comprising a mechanism for ejecting a last two links of an ammunition belt, and an ejecting ratchet configured to push on a penultimate link and actuated by mobile parts of the machine gun wherein the ejecting ratchet is secured to a belt traction mechanism, wherein the belt traction mechanism comprises an advancing ratchet configured to push, in use, against an ammunition item, wherein the ejecting ratchet and the advancing ratchet are formed as a single part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: FN HERSTAL S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Marcel Henri Denis Franssen, Damien Nicole Freddy Verhaegen, Robert Beckers, Paul Michotte, Antoine Godbille
  • Patent number: 11774203
    Abstract: A link feed assembly. There is: a bolt carrier near a chamber of a modular weapon system; an infeed ramp, coupled to a first side of a weapon frame near the chamber; an outfeed ramp, coupled to a second side of the capon frame near the chamber and opposite the infeed ramp, positioned to form a space between the infeed ramp and the outfeed ramp; and a feed arm assembly coupled to the weapon frame and extending over the space between the infeed ramp and the outfeed ramp, the feed arm assembly functionally coupled to the bolt carrier such that cycling of the bolt carrier forward and backwards causes cycling of the feed arm assembly in a circuitous motion, the feed arm including a grabbing protrusion that is shaped to grab a top portion of a link during cycling of the feed arm assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Andrew Bennink
  • Patent number: 11686543
    Abstract: A firearm, top cover, and feed lever. The feed lever includes a feed lever body having a feed lever track, wherein the feed lever body is configured to be pivotally mounted within a topcover assembly, and wherein the feed lever body is configured to pivot in response to a force transmitted by a roller of an operating group to the feed lever track during cycling of the firearm. The feed lever further includes a feed lever track first end, wherein the feed lever track first end comprises a feed lever track exit portion configured to receive the roller of the operating group after the roller exits the feed lever track via the feed lever track exit portion as the firearm cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Edward Sugg
  • Patent number: 11592263
    Abstract: A buffer tube for a firearm can include a body defining an interior cavity for receiving a buffer spring and a rail disposed on and/or formed from the outer surface of the body. The rail can include one or more pin holes configured to receive a pin of a stock to lock the stock in a position. The buffer tube can also include a slide bar channel defined through at least a portion of the rail and configured to allow a slide bar to slide therein relative to the one or more pin holes to urge a pin out of a respective pin hole and/or to block a pin from being received by the pin holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Vantac International LLC
    Inventor: Joede Thomas Vanek
  • Patent number: 11365944
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine gun (1) comprising a carcass body (22) with an essentially tubular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: FN Herstal S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Marcel Henri Denis Franssen, Damien Nicole Freddy Verhaegen, Robert Beckers, Paul Michotte, Antoine Godbille
  • Patent number: 11268774
    Abstract: A belt-fed firearm includes a top cover that can move in at least two degrees of freedom of motion (surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch, and yaw) that in combination allow movement of the top cover to both clear a peripheral accessory mounted to the firearm (such as optics) and open access to a feed surface to permit loading of cartridges to the feed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ohio Ordnance Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Landies, III, Thomas M. Hardman, Brent Susnik
  • Patent number: 11209228
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine gun (1) comprising a feedway having a main surface (3) for sliding an ammunition belt (5), side faces (8, 23) that guide the ammunition (18) belt (5) during use, and at least one surface (25, 29) for retaining the belt (5), arranged on the upper edge of the side faces (8, 23), said retaining surfaces (25, 29) facing the sliding surface (3) and said retaining surfaces (29, 25) being open so as to allow the insertion of the ammunition (18) belt (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: FN HERSTAL S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Marcel Henri Denis Franssen, Damien Nicole Freddy Verhaegen, Robert Beckers, Paul Michotte, Antoine Godbille
  • Patent number: 11156415
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine gun (1) comprising an ammunition belt (5)-type feed mechanism, having a mechanism for ejecting the last two links of the belt (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: FN HERSTAL S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Marcel Henri Denis Franssen, Damien Nicole Freddy Verhaegen, Robert Beckers, Paul Michotte, Antoine Godbille
  • Patent number: 11047636
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine gun (1) comprising a feed channel for a belt (5) for ammunition (18), and a cover (2) for said feed channel, wherein the closing movement of the cover results in the longitudinal position of the ammunition (18) belt (5) being adjusted within the feed channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: FN HERSTAL S A.
    Inventors: Pascal Marcel Henri Denis Franssen, Damien Nicole Freddy Verhaegen, Robert Beckers, Paul Michotte, Antoine Godbille
  • Patent number: 10900725
    Abstract: A belt ammunition feeding device for a dual-feed automatic weapon includes, for each feeding channel, at least a first rigid chute leading an ammunition belt from a magazine to the weapon, and a second rigid guide chute arranged at each tilting arm, the second chute including an upper mouth arranged opposite the outlet opening of the first rigid chute, the mouth also including a flared part forming a guide funnel and making it possible to cap the outlet opening of the first rigid chute when the tilting arm is in its engaged position with a stationary positioning star.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: NEXTER SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Steve Baert
  • Patent number: 10359245
    Abstract: A rotor for a firearm having a tracks and locks for interaction with at least one firearm bolt with a rotatable head and carrier body may have a reversible lock structure such that locks may be merely turned around in relation to the rotor when one set of lock bosses is worn by the interaction of the lock and bolts when firing. Drive and delinker gears may also be geometrically keyed to the rotor to efficiently divide torque across the gears and to maintain correct timing for the firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Inventor: Brian F. Abbott
  • Patent number: 9488425
    Abstract: A lower-receiver type feeding device for belted ammunition cartridges. A lead cartridge of the belt is separated from its lead link at a central stripping station. A rocker-type transfer mechanism sequentially moves cartridges with connected link toward the central stripping station. The transfer mechanism is driven through a cam interface with the bolt-carrier group. A sheering lip is disposed at the central stripping station to engage the lead link directly below the lead cartridge and resist stripping forces when the lead cartridge is pushed through a first outlet for chambering. A mag well post slides into a magazine well of the firearm. A bolt catch extension is pivotally carried on the right pivot shaft to remotely activate the bolt catch. An end-of-link stop is joined to the end of the ammunition belt. The end-of-link stop comprised a dummy cartridge having a longitudinally extending groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Slide Fire Solutions LP
    Inventors: George Delury, Jeremiah Cottle
  • Patent number: 9383151
    Abstract: Magazines with tilt-resistant followers have a tubular body defining a passage, a follower movable within the passage, and the follower including a roller. The follower may have rollers on the front and the rear. The follower may have two rollers on at least one of the front and the rear. The follower may have a platform portion, a tine extending perpendicular to platform portion, a roller connected proximate to the platform, and a second roller connected proximate to a free end of the tine. The follower may have front and rear tines, each tine having a pair of rollers. The tubular body may define a major plane, and the roller may define a roller axis perpendicular to the major plane. The follower may define a transverse aperture receiving a pin, and the roller may be supported on the pin. The roller may include a set of ball bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: PRO MAG MFG., INC.
    Inventor: Michael Wayne Ballard
  • Patent number: 9347719
    Abstract: A feed ramp system for feeding cartridges into the chamber of a firearm. The feed ramp system includes a feed ramp insert having a body with at least one attachment tab projecting therefrom. The feed ramp insert is received within a mating recess formed in the receiver and is removably coupled to the receiver to enable replacement of the feed ramp insert. The feed ramp insert includes a pair of proximal ramp surfaces that align with distal ramp surfaces form at a breech end of the firearm barrel, to define a pair of feed ramps for directing cartridges into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: RA Brands, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Stone
  • Patent number: 8833228
    Abstract: RCWS (Remote Controlled Weapon System or Station) of the deck-penetrator type and a method for protected reloading of a weapon system that is fed by belt of rounds from an ammunition container that is positioned in the RCWS, wherein the RWCS includes a system for protected reloading of the weapons system, that comprises—a bracket, that on it the ammunition container is mounted, and the bracket is amenable to be propelled via an opening in the deck of the vehicle upon which the RCWS is positioned, unto an inner space of the carrier vehicle and back from this space to the RCWS; and means for movably positioning the bracket, in at least two states—a first state wherein the bracket is positioned inside the inner space of the carrier vehicle and for reloading anew the weapons system; and a second state wherein the bracket is a least substantially embedded in the RCWS for feeding the weapons system by a belt of rounds from inside of the ammunition container that is positioned on the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Shimon Chachamian, Eyal Berkovich, Noam Katz
  • Patent number: 8763511
    Abstract: An ammunition magazine (20) contains an ammunition belt (34) of linked ammunition cartridges (36) to be fed into a machine gun (12), the magazine (20) including a front opening (26?), enabling a leading end of the ammunition belt (34) to be accessible for feeding the machine gun (12) and for linking with a trailing end of another ammunition belt (34), and a rear opening (26?), enabling a trailing end of the ammunition belt (34) to be accessible for linking with a leading end of another ammunition belt (34). An arrangement of consecutive and adjacent ammunition magazines (20) allows movement of an ammunition belt (34) from the distal magazine (20b) into the proximal magazine (20a) towards the machine gun (12) during operation, enabling continuous feeding of ammunition belts (34) into the machine gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Adolf Schvartz, Avner Koren, Shlomo Alkaher
  • Patent number: 8752466
    Abstract: A modular articulated guide assembly comprises a series of guide lugs disposed transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of flexure of the chute. The guide lugs have generally U-shaped bodies with laterally spaced side walls joined by bottom walls to define guide channels. Centerline tabs project forwardly from the bottom walls, with each centerline tab being slidably received in a central recess in the bottom wall of an adjacent guide lug. The centerline tabs are in an abutting relationship when the guide assembly is retracted on its axis of flexure, and are adapted to slide in their respective central recesses and to move apart when the guide assembly is extended along or flexed from its axis of flexure. The guide lugs are interlocked in a manner permitting their limited movement to accommodate extension and flexture of the guide assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Here Be Dragons LLC
    Inventors: Frank A. Howell, Justin A. Kiger
  • Patent number: 8573109
    Abstract: An armament system for aircraft includes an ammunition system and a mount system for a machine gun. The ammunition system includes an ammunition canister and feed system, the canister having a pair of brackets releasably coupled to a pair of receivers supported by a vertical mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: James Buechler, Michael Holzmeyer
  • Patent number: 8479631
    Abstract: An explosion-driven setting tool includes a setting mechanism (12) driven by a propellant (23), an ignition unit (18) for igniting the propellant (23), a receptacle (15) for receiving a propellant holder (20), a data communication interface (31) for receiving and transmitting data of the propellant holder (20), and a data processing unit (30) for receiving data transmitted by the data communication interface (31) and connected with a display (50) for displaying the propellant supply level (27) of the propellant (23) in the propellant holder having a housing (21) with an interior space (22) for receiving the propellant (23), and a data storage identification unit (40) in which the propellant supply level (27) is stored for being read-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Ehmig, Tilo Dittrich
  • Patent number: 8397617
    Abstract: An ammunition feed adapter and method of use is provided that converts a semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm from a magazine-fed firearm into a belt-fed firearm enabling the firearm to be used as a sustainable source of firepower. Modification of a soldier's standard issue automatic or semi-automatic rifle into a belt-fed firearm increases the options for strategic maneuvering of a combat unit on the field of battle by overcoming the limitations of traditional sources of sustained firepower, such as a Squad Automatic Firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventors: Darrell E. Shirts, Darren Saunders
  • Patent number: 8356539
    Abstract: An ammunition feed chute has a plurality of feed chute links releasably connected together. The feed chute links have interior surfaces that define a guide path for belted ammunition. Each of the feed chute links has a transitional surface attached to one of the feed chute link's interior surfaces, the transitional surfaces each extending from the interior surface to which it is attached to a location where it overlaps the adjacent feed chute link's transitional surface. A tongue extending from one of the feed chute links may be received by a slot in an adjacent feed chute link to releasably connect the feed chute links together. The ligaments may each receive the top insert and the rivet of one of the feed chute links within their closed slots and removably receive the top insert, AN washer, and rivet of an adjacent feed chute link within their open slots to releasably connect the feed chute links together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventor: Xavier G. Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20130000473
    Abstract: An ammunition magazine (20) contains an ammunition belt (34) of linked ammunition cartridges (36) to be fed into a machine gun (12), the magazine (20) including a front opening (26?), enabling a leading end of the ammunition belt (34) to be accessible for feeding the machine gun (12) and for linking with a trailing end of another ammunition belt (34), and a rear opening (26?), enabling a trailing end of the ammunition belt (34) to be accessible for linking with a leading end of another ammunition belt (34). An arrangement of consecutive and adjacent ammunition magazines (20) allows movement of an ammunition belt (34) from the distal magazine (20b) into the proximal magazine (20a) towards the machine gun (12) during operation, enabling continuous feeding of ammunition belts (34) into the machine gun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Adolf Schvartz, Avner Koren, Shlomo Alkaher
  • Patent number: 8342072
    Abstract: A linking system for rimmed ammunition is disclosed. The linking system features individual links that each encompass one ammunition cartridge while having an arcuate lateral arm which encompasses a neighboring link and associated cartridge. A plurality of collet arms secure the cartridge and separate as the cartridge is forced forward in the delinking process. Angular momenta from the feeding motion and the rotational motion of the de-linking assembly combine to rotate a first link away and apart from the next associated link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Magpul Industries Corp.
    Inventor: Brian F. Abbott
  • Patent number: 8272308
    Abstract: A feed disengage mechanism for a weapon with a sprocket-type feed system may include a sprocket rotatably fixed to the receiver. A forward pawl may be selectably engageable with a forward end of the sprocket. The forward pawl may include a flange and be biased for engagement with the sprocket. An anti-backup pawl may be selectably engageable with a rear end of the sprocket. The anti-backup pawl may include a cam path and be biased for engagement with the sprocket. A feed cover may include a feed slide assembly that may be translatable in a slot in the feed cover. The feed slide assembly may include a front pin engageable with the flange of the forward pawl and a rear pin engageable with the cam path of the anti-backup pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Hansen Lukman, Adam M. Jacob, Curtis D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120152094
    Abstract: An ammunition feed chute has a plurality of feed chute links releasably connected together. The feed chute links have interior surfaces that define a guide path for belted ammunition. Each of the feed chute links has a transitional surface attached to one of the feed chute link's interior surfaces, the transitional surfaces each extending from the interior surface to which it is attached to a location where it overlaps the adjacent feed chute link's transitional surface. A tongue extending from one of the feed chute links may be received by a slot in an adjacent feed chute link to releasably connect the feed chute links together. The ligaments may each receive the top insert and the rivet of one of the feed chute links within their closed slots and removably receive the top insert, AN washer, and rivet of an adjacent feed chute link within their open slots to releasably connect the feed chute links together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Xavier G. Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20120118132
    Abstract: An weapon system comprising: a plurality of barrels, wherein the barrels are disposed coaxially around a main shaft and wherein the barrels are held in place by at least one barrel rack; and a plurality of intermeshing, counter rotating cylinders, wherein the cylinders include a central hole for the main shaft or a lower shaft and a plurality of coaxial half-holes disposed around the central hole at the edge of the cylindrical shape to form a chamber when the cylinders mesh. An ammunition belt comprising: a first and second ammunition case, wherein each ammunition case comprises: a casing having a first and second end, wherein the first end is adapted to receive and hold a primer and the second end is adapted to receive and hold propellant and a projectile, wherein the first ammunition case is attached to the second ammunition case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Gary L Coker, John Timothy Roberts, David M. Stevens, Charles C. McPherson
  • Patent number: 8151684
    Abstract: An armament system for aircraft includes an ammunition system and a mount system for a machine gun. The ammunition system includes an ammunition canister and feed system, the canister having a pair of brackets releasably coupled to a pair of receivers supported by a vertical mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: James Buechler, Michael Holzmeyer
  • Patent number: 8146281
    Abstract: A link for a toy ammunition chain made up of a plurality of links hinged together side-by-side in articulated fashion includes a cylindrical body adapted to receive a soft projectile. A first hinge component extends laterally from the body and has a pair of hinge pins. A second hinge component extends laterally from the body at a position opposite the first hinge component and has a pair of recesses each for pivotally receiving a hinge pin of an adjacent link in the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Buzz Bee Toys (H.K.) Co., Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8136440
    Abstract: An ammunition feed adapter and method of use is provided that converts a semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm from a magazine-fed firearm into a belt-fed firearm enabling the firearm to be used as a sustainable source of firepower. Modification of a soldier's standard issue automatic or semi-automatic rifle into a belt-fed firearm increases the options for strategic maneuvering of a combat unit on the field of battle by overcoming the limitations of traditional sources of sustained firepower, such as a Squad Automatic Firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventors: Darrell E. Shirts, Darren Sunders
  • Publication number: 20120048101
    Abstract: An ammunition feed adapter and method of use is provided that converts a semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm from a magazine-fed firearm into a belt-fed firearm enabling the firearm to be used as a sustainable source of firepower. Modification of a soldier's standard issue automatic or semi-automatic rifle into a belt-fed firearm increases the options for strategic maneuvering of a combat unit on the field of battle by overcoming the limitations of traditional sources of sustained firepower, such as a Squad Automatic Firearm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Darrel E. Shirts, Darren Saunders
  • Publication number: 20120000351
    Abstract: A linking system for rimmed ammunition is disclosed. The linking system features individual links that each encompass one ammunition cartridge while having an arcuate lateral arm which encompasses a neighboring link and associated cartridge. A plurality of collet arms secure the cartridge and separate as the cartridge is forced forward in the delinking process. Angular momenta from the feeding motion and the rotational motion of the de-linking assembly combine to rotate a first link away and apart from the next associated link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: MAGPUL INDUSTRIES CORP.
    Inventor: Brian F. Abbott
  • Patent number: 8061256
    Abstract: A cartridge loop for an ammunition belt having a coupling interface with an opening and a pair of substantially parallel lines side walls having a compliant tab formed therein to deflect easily without deforming the loop when a coupling is engaged in the interface is provided. The compliant tab is formed by a U-shaped cut-out from the loop across the side walls to the front face of the coupling interface. The walls of the interface are separated by a distance and the coupling has first and second ends connected by a link connecting the first and second ends, the first end having a locking head with four sides having a diagonal that forms an interference fit with the compliant tabs formed in the side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: A.K. Stamping Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Kurz, Bernard Duetsch, Yusef Tilipman
  • Patent number: 7908957
    Abstract: A synchronized ammunition container apparatus and system is provided with a weapon, rotating automatic arm, ammunition container, and rotatable turret base that allows an anti-aircraft weapon, to traverse, depress and elevate in order to engage a rapid, head-on, fly-over target. The synchronized ammunition container apparatus synchronizes the movement and position of the rotating automatic single arm, ammunition container and rotatable turret base to insure that the ammunition belt will not twist, tangle or break when the weapon follows a rapid, head-on, fly-over target. The synchronized ammunition container system and apparatus gives the user increased flexibility for multiple deployment locations and engaging multiple targets from different directions. Other embodiments include a synchronized anti-aircraft ammunition container and combining the apparatus and anti-aircraft weapon into an integrated anti-aircraft defense system with the synchronized ammunition container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Fee Chan Leung
  • Publication number: 20100319521
    Abstract: A link chute ejection adapter for conveying spent links of an ammunition belt from the receiver chamber of a machine gun to a link chute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Glen Dick, James Buechler, Michael Holzmeyer
  • Publication number: 20100294119
    Abstract: An armament system for aircraft includes an ammunition system and a mount system for a machine gun. The ammunition system includes an ammunition canister and feed system, the canister having a pair of brackets releasably coupled to a pair of receivers supported by a vertical mounting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: James BUECHLER, Michael HOLZMEYER
  • Publication number: 20100212483
    Abstract: A clamping mechanism corrects a design flaw in the NSN 1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly without modifying it. The fine details of military regulations have encouraged the design flaw's persistence by limiting and preventing actions for correcting or modifying the NSN 1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly. The clamping mechanism can be fielded without violating any regulations and thereby without necessitating the very expensive and time consuming acceptance procedures that would be required of other solutions. The clamping mechanism addresses the design flaw while simultaneously remaining within the regulatory regime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Steve Hines
  • Patent number: 7707760
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for safety apparatuses for weapons. An example safety apparatus includes an interchangeable barrel and a safety mechanism. The safety mechanism can be moved between an open position that corresponds to an unlocked position and a closed position that corresponds to a locked position. The safety mechanism includes a feeder cover that is part of cartridge loading equipment that supplies cartridges to the weapon. The feeder cover includes a locking mechanism that engages with a barrel locking device and prevents the feeder cover from entering the closed position if the interchangeable barrel is not coupled to the weapon via the barrel locking device. Further, the unlocked position prevents the weapon from being fired and the locked position allows the weapon to be fired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Heckler & Koch GmbH
    Inventor: Jurgen Gablowski
  • Patent number: 7568421
    Abstract: A cartridge feeding attachment for a firearm generally consisting of a housing attachable to the firearm having means for guiding a stack of cartridges into the cartridge chamber of the firearm along a first line of travel, a follower engageable with one of such cartridges and means disposed between the housing and the follower for biasing the follower along the first line of travel to feed a cartridge into the cartridge chamber; a sprocket supported on the housing having circumferentially spaced recesses each receiving a cartridge of a cartridge belt trained over the sprocket, and a rotational axis positioned so that upon rotational indexing thereof, a cartridge of the belt will be positioned along a second line of travel extending between the follower and a cartridge of the stack of cartridges; means displaceable along the second line of travel extending between the follower and a rearwardmost cartridge of the stack of cartridges; means displaceable along the second line of travel between a retracted positi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Rockland, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Cummings
  • Patent number: 7500421
    Abstract: A magazine for an automatic shell-firing weapon mounted on a gun carriage, wherein the magazine is adapted to contain a belt and comprises two closed magazine portions interconnected by a closed transfer channel. The two magazine portions are disposed on opposite sides of the weapon. In a fully loaded state of the magazine, a front section of the belt is disposed in a first magazine portion disposed on a belt supply side of the weapon. The upper part of the first magazine portion has a removal opening that faces the weapon. A rear section of the belt is disposed in a second magazine portion on the opposite side of the weapon. A middle section of the belt is guided through the transfer channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Becker
  • Publication number: 20090025545
    Abstract: This invention, as a unit, is a training adjustable combination sight, primarily intended to be mounted on a vehicle of smaller vessel for close-in defence of these against air and ground attacks. In its entirety, aside from the required sight sensors (16-18) situated in an intentionally elevatable sensor housing (4), the combination sight entails a weapon (8) that is controlled by the sensors. The sight sensors (16-18) included in the combination sight can also be utilized for fire control of exterior weapons located elsewhere as well as for gathering purely surveillance data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: BAE Systems Bofors AB
    Inventors: Rolf Persson, Ulf Palm-Lov, Jorgen Bergmark
  • Patent number: 7428795
    Abstract: A firearm comprises an upper receiver body and a lower receiver assembly. The upper receiver body is configured for receiving belt-fed ammunition and the lower receiver assembly is attached to the upper receiver body. The lower receiver assembly includes a receiver body having an accessory mounting structure, a trigger group mounting structure, one of an integrally-formed, non-detachable butt-stock mounting structure and an integrally-formed, non-detachable butt-stock, and one of a hand grip mounting structure and an integrally-formed, non-detachable hand grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Inventor: Geoffrey A. Herring
  • Publication number: 20070289189
    Abstract: A cartridge magazine includes a carrier member (20) having a plurality of receptacles (21) for receiving propellant-containing cartridges (11), longitudinal ribs provided on longitudinal sides of the recess (27) and limiting same; and a cover strip (30) for securing the cartridges in the receptacles and located in the recess (27) formed in a flat surface (23) of the carrier member (20) and extending in a longitudinal direction (L), for limiting the recess, and a cover strip (30) for securing the cartridges in the receptacles and located in the recess (27).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Kurt Oehri
  • Patent number: 6779430
    Abstract: External armament apparatus, including a machine gun, an associated ammunition box for supplying belted ammunition to the gun, a flare dispenser, a missile launcher or other external stores apparatus, and a forward looking infrared sensor (FLIR), is exteriorly supported on a landing gear sponson tow plate of a helicopter, adjacent a cabin area gunner's window. The external mounting of the gun and other armament apparatus frees up cabin space, permits the gunner's window to be closed with the gun in a ready position, and permits a 0.50 caliber machine gun to be used an alternative to either a 7.62 mm mini-gun or a single barrel 7.62 mm machine gun adjacent the gunner's window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventor: Paul H. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 6715396
    Abstract: A cartridge feed tray for belt ammunition is modified to receive shorter ammunition and exclude ammunition of standard length by inclusion of an insert positioned along the forward containment wall of the tray. The insert carries a feed lip that fits through a loading port orifice in the feed tray to direct shorter ammunition downwardly as it is being advanced towards the weapon breach for loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: SNC Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Sylvain Dionne
  • Publication number: 20030177896
    Abstract: A cartridge feed tray for belt ammunition is modified to receive shorter ammunition and exclude ammunition of standard length by inclusion of an insert positioned along the forward containment wall of the tray. The insert carries a feed lip that fits through a loading port orifice in the feed tray to direct shorter ammunition downwardly as it is being advanced towards the weapon breach for loading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventor: Sylvain Dionne
  • Patent number: 6343535
    Abstract: A combustion activated tool includes a housing having a longitudinal bore that extends and connects with a vertical bore, a piston and piston guide disposed within the longitudinal bore and moveable axially therein, and an advance lever having a reset end and an advancing end, the lever disposed on a pivot skew to the axis of the longitudinal bore, the lever having an axis essentially parallel with the longitudinal bore, the advancing end of the lever attached on an arm of the lever angled to one side of the axis of the longitudinal bore and effective to engage teeth on the side of a strip of charges disposed in the vertical bore, the reset end of the lever being disposed on the same side of the axis of the longitudinal bore engaging the piston guide along an edge of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Powers Fastening, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Gaudron
  • Patent number: 6269729
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for separating consecutive cartridge-receiving cells of a driven magazine for an aircraft-mounted machine gun or cannon. The apparatus includes an elongated, substantially cylindrical shaft constructed of a fiber-reinforced plastic, wherein the shaft has end portions designed for attachment to a movable transport chain, and a middle portion defined by a driver constructed of an elastomer. The driver preferably dampens the gravitational forces introduced to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Heckler & Koch GmbH
    Inventor: Rudi Beckmann