Patents Examined by Meena Chelliah
  • Handgun having metallic rails within a polymeric frame
    Patent number: 5669169
    Abstract: The present invention is a handgun having a polymeric frame with metallic rails that are inserted within the frame after the frame has been formed by a molding process. The rails are inserted into recesses formed in a channel within the frame, before the frame has completely cooled and contracted. The rails comprise a pair of front rails and a pair of rear rails. The rear pair of rails are positioned within rear recesses and held in place by the sear block. The front pair of rails are positioned within front recesses and held in place by a plurality of metallic parts. The parts include a horseshoe, an unlock block, and a spreader block that are positioned between and matingly engage the front rails, thus securing them within their respective recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: FN Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward P. Schmitter, Harold L. Miller, Milton W. Erickson, Gerald A. Thoe
  • Method and apparatus for fast disassembly of blowback autoloading pistol
    Patent number: 5666755
    Abstract: A method and a device for retrofitting existing autoloading pistols having a one-piece bolt stop pin. The first step of the retrofitting method is to cut off the original bolt stop pin and then machine a threaded bore in the remaining shaft. In addition, an extension which mimicks the original bolt stop pin configuration is manufactured. The extension has a threaded end which is screwed into the threaded bore in the remaining shaft portion of the original bolt stop pin. To disassemble a pistol having a two-piece bolt stop pin, the bolt stop pin extension is unthreaded from the remaining shaft portion using a screwdriver or similar implement. Then the loose extension is pulled upwards and out of the receiver, freeing the bolt to be pulled rearward and out of the receiver. The pistol is further modified by rounding the sharp upper corner of the hammer, e.g., by machining a smooth radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Dino C. Longueira
  • Shotgun having light weight interchangeable barrel tubes with improved fit
    Patent number: 5666756
    Abstract: A tubular insert for a shotgun such as an over/under shotgun provides a chamber end portion with a smooth outer surface. In order to achieve a good fit between the tubular insert at the chamber end portion and the shotgun barrel at its breech, a polymeric disk member is mounted in a correspondingly sized and shaped socket milled into outer surface of the chamber end portion of the tubular insert. The polymeric disk member extends a distance away from the outer surface of the chamber end portion to create a slight interference fit between the shotgun barrel bore at the breech and the tubular insert at its chamber end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Briley Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Clifford Moller
  • Fuel assembly and spacer for a nuclear reactor
    Patent number: 5666389
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel assembly (1) and a spacer (7) for a nuclear reactor wherein the spacer comprises a plurality of cells (9) for retaining and mutually fixing parallel elongated elements (3, 8) extending through the cells to form a bundle in the fuel assembly. The cells are tubular and internally provided with four elongated, non-independently resilient supports (10), formed in the sleeve material, or with two elongated, non-independently resilient supports (10), formed in the sleeve material, and two independently resilient supports (16), wherein the supports are intended to provide an all-sided positioning of the elongated element. (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: ABB Atom AB
    Inventors: Ingmar Andersson, Mahdi Majed, Clas-Goran Wiktor, Dietmar Wolfram
  • Weapon bolt assembly having premature ignition-preventing means
    Patent number: 5664357
    Abstract: A weapon bolt assembly includes a bolt portion including a recess; a firing pin unit including a striker plunger axially slidably received in the recess and having an axially measured length and a firing pin attached to the striker plunger. The firing pin unit has a first position in which the firing pin projects from the bolt portion and a second position in which the firing pin is situated in its entirety within the bolt portion. A firing spring is disposed in the recess and has a relaxed state and a stressed state. In the relaxed state of the firing spring and in the first position of the firing pin unit a clearance is defined between the two components. In the stressed state the firing spring exerts a force on the firing pin unit urging it into its first position. The axially measured length of the firing pin unit is such that in the second position the firing spring remains in the relaxed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Rheinmetall Industrie GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Kilfitt, Heinz-Peter Hellmeister, Olaf Kersten, Frank Junker
  • Game call holster
    Patent number: 5664360
    Abstract: A holster for game calls which can be fastened around the stock of a gun or of a bow. The holster has an elongated body made of flexible material, with a plurality of pockets formed on one side. The pockets are preferably formed so as to open toward the center of the elongated body. A fastener, such as hook-and-loop material (Velcro.RTM.) allows the elongated body to be wrapped around the gunstock and the ends fastened to each other, so as to form a sleeve around the stock with pockets on the outside. If the pockets are formed to open toward the center of the elongated body, they will open upwards when the holster is fastened around the generally horizontal gunstock. Game calls can be inserted into the pockets, and removed easily without removing the gun from the shoulder of the hunter and without startling the game. A bow-hunting variation has the pockets turned 90.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Inventor: John Conway
  • Rifled weapon barrel and method of making the same
    Patent number: 5664359
    Abstract: A weapon barrel includes a muzzle, a breech, a chamber at the breech and a rifling, formed of alternating lands and grooves, extending along an interior of the weapon barrel. The lands have a hardened surface to a depth of 0.3 to 0.5 mm. The hardened surface extends along a barrel length portion which includes the muzzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Rheinmetall Industrie GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Sabranski, Henning Von Seidlitz, Ralf-Joachim Herrmann
  • Barrel lock for a hand gun
    Patent number: 5664358
    Abstract: Disclosed is a barrel lock to be removably inserted and reliably locked within the barrel of a hand gun to prevent the accidental and unauthorized firing of the hand gun without requiring any manufacturing changes to the gun. The barrel lock includes an expandable chamber lock that is located at the distal end of a barrel lock tube. The barrel lock tube is adapted to slide inwardly through the gun barrel to locate the chamber lock to be received in and retained at the existing bullet chamber of the gun barrel, whereby the hand gun is disabled. A combination lock cooperates with the proximal end of the barrel lock tube to prevent the barrel lock tube from being withdrawn from the gun barrel and the chamber lock from being removed from the bullet chamber until a particular predetermined combination has first been successfully dialed in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Habley Medical Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Terry M. Haber, William H. Smedley, Clark B. Foster
  • Explosive powder charge operating setting tool
    Patent number: 5664361
    Abstract: An explosive powder charge operated setting tool includes a driving piston (1) positioned in an axially extending piston guide (4) with a base surface (5) at a trailing end of the piston guide. A spacer (2) is located on the trailing end surface of the piston (1) and projects axially from its trailing end surface. The spacer (2) has a stop face (3) extending perpendicularly of the piston guide axis with a surface area smaller than the area of the base surface (5) against which it contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Frommelt, Norbert Heeb
  • Single-shot falling breech block action
    Patent number: 5659992
    Abstract: A single shot falling breech block action that includes an upper receiver assembly, a lower receiver assembly, breech block assembly, a trigger assembly, a stationary rack, a movable rack, a pinion, an action plate, and pinion rotating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Inventor: Bernard J. Mistretta
  • Nipple for muzzle loading firearms
    Patent number: 5657569
    Abstract: A nipple for use in igniting a propellant charge in a muzzle loading firearm employing percussive ignition caps, has an elongated body with a generally cylindrical cap receiving portion adjacent one end and a mounting portion adjacent the other end. The outer surface of the cap receiving portion is cooperatively dimensioned and configured to slidably seat percussion caps thereon. The body has a passage extending axially therethrough with a generally funnel shaped inlet portion extending axially from the one end through a major portion of the length of the body. The funnel shaped inlet portion tapers radially inwardly from the one end towards the other end at an angle less than 25.degree. relative to the longitudinal axis of the passage, and the throat portion has a generally uniform cross section corresponding to the smallest cross section of the inlet portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Connecticut Valley Arms, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall D. Jernigan, Francis J. Korhonen
  • Ornamental magazine base
    Patent number: 5651204
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ornamental base attached to an ammunition magazine for magazine fed weapons, particularly handguns. The ornamental base is attached to a conventional magazine. A locking means comprising a hook shaped tab and aperture is used to keep the ornamental base securely attached to the magazine. The locking means is accessible through an elongated channel extending from the back edge of the base plate to the aperture. This type of locking means allows the entire outside surface of the base plate to be utilized for decoration as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Inventors: David A. Hulsey, Don B. Lopez
  • Cartridge casting collector
    Patent number: 5651208
    Abstract: A cartridge casing collector, for use with rifles of the type having a cartridge casing ejection port in connection with the exterior of the rifle, including a housing member having a collecting chamber formed therein in communication with a casing receiving aperture, and a spring loaded gripping assembly secured to the housing assembly for securing the casing receiving aperture over the ejection port of a rifle in a manner such that cartridge casings ejected from the ejection port are directed through the cartridge casing receiving aperture and into the collecting chamber. The collecting chamber is at least partially defined by an interior surface having a radius of curvature between three and one-eight (3-1/8") and five and one-half (5-1/2") inches and a length corresponding to an arc of at least thirty (30.degree.) degrees of the radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Inventor: Phillip Dean Benson
  • Barrel retaining device for firearms
    Patent number: 5649383
    Abstract: A barrel retaining device for an automatic pistol has a locking element that locks the pistol barrel and breech both of which are guided on the stock of the weapon. In order to remove the breech with the barrel from the stock in order to disassemble the pistol, the locking element has an actuating element on both sides of the stock which, when depressed, unlocks a lock between the barrel and the stock. At the same time, depressing of the actuation element releases the trigger finger into a forward position to impart a forward movement to a spring loaded trigger arm which is also cammed downwardly to disengage the trigger arm and the driver on the firing pin in the breech. The connections between the breech and the stock are thus released by a single unlocking movement when disassembling a pistol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Carl Walther GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Wesp, Peter Dallhammer
  • Gun trigger lock
    Patent number: 5647158
    Abstract: A trigger lock for a gun comprises a pair complimentary housings that overly opposite sides of the gun trigger guard. One of the housings has a connector shaft with a plurality of teeth thereon that extends through the trigger guard. The other of the housings has a latch plate with a plurality of teeth thereon engageable with the teeth on the connector shaft to effect locking of the housings to one another and to the gun. Each of the housings has an elastomeric pad that is compressible about the trigger of the gun to preclude movement thereof. The housings are separable from the gun upon opening of a lock and depression of a release button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Inventors: Conrad W. Eskelinen, Ivan M. Bucko
  • Adjustable gun resting system
    Patent number: 5644862
    Abstract: A new Adjustable Gun Resting System for providing an adjustable compact gun rest which supports a gun while allowing the user to easily adjust the height of the gun to a comfortable shooting position preventing the user from having to bend over during operation of the gun. The inventive device includes a gun resting base, a supporting means secured to the gun resting base, a gun holding means which supports the gun, and an adjusting means allowing a user to adjust the gun holding means for the height of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Inventor: Neil Folmer
  • Method for the manufacture of underwater flotation spheres
    Patent number: H1671
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of underwater flotation spheres using a persl computer and spreadsheet linked to a numerical control machine is provided. Base data is entered into the spreadsheet and may be verified. Formulae for the design equations are entered and computed for each sphere with data in the spreadsheet. The results of the calculations are readily available and may be displayed in a graphical manner. Sphere design geometry is transmitted to the controller of a numerical controlled (NC) machine. The NC machine produces finished spheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Ely G. Fishlowitz
  • Tissue products made from low-coarseness fibers
    Patent number: H1672
    Abstract: Tissue products made with fibers having a low Coarseness Index have improved softness relative to tissue products made with conventional papermaking fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Robert Dale Sauer, Shafi Ul Hossain, John Dennis Litvay
  • Abrasive article including a polyvinyl carbamate coating, and methods for making and using the same
    Patent number: H1678
    Abstract: An abrasive article comprising: (a) a backing having a first major surface; (b) an abrasive layer coated on the first major surface, the abrasive layer comprising (i) an organic-based bond system, and (ii) a plurality of abrasive particles adhered in the bond system; and (c) an outermost coating layer comprising a poly(vinyl carbamate) polymer at least partially coated over said abrasive layer, and a method of making and using the abrasive article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Albert James Ronning
  • Process for preparing an optically pure intermediate for a phosphonosulfonate soualene synthetase inhibitor
    Patent number: H1679
    Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a substantially optically pure phosphonate ester or phosphonate thioester intermediate via an enzymatically catalyzed enantioselective reaction, which intermediate is employed in preparing phosphonosulfonate squalene synthetase inhibitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
    Inventors: Amit Banerjee, Ramesh N. Patel, Laszlo J. Szarka