Patents by Inventor Dwight Potter
Dwight Potter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11493293Abstract: A magazine for a firearm comprises a tubular magazine body defining a cavity for holding cartridges, a spring, and a follower biased by the spring for dispensing cartridges from the magazine. A spring base disposed on the body includes a cantilevered resiliently deformable spring arm supporting the spring in one embodiment. The base is held in place by the floor plate. Sliding the floor plate onto the magazine body engages an inclined ramp of the floor plate with spring arm which automatically moves the spring arm from an undeflected to deflected position. When the floor plate is fully coupled to the magazine tube such that the spring arm clears the ramp, the spring arm snaps back to the undeflected position and locks the floor plate in place on the tubular body via interlocked retention features without use of tools.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Inventors: Nathan Brown, Dwight Potter
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Publication number: 20210231396Abstract: A magazine for a firearm comprises a tubular magazine body defining a cavity for holding cartridges, a spring, and a follower biased by the spring for dispensing cartridges from the magazine. A spring base disposed on the body includes a cantilevered resiliently deformable spring arm supporting the spring in one embodiment. The base is held in place by the floor plate. Sliding the floor plate onto the magazine body engages an inclined ramp of the floor plate with spring arm which automatically moves the spring arm from an undeflected to deflected position. When the floor plate is fully coupled to the magazine tube such that the spring arm clears the ramp, the spring arm snaps back to the undeflected position and locks the floor plate in place on the tubular body via interlocked retention features without use of tools.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2020Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Nathan Brown, Dwight Potter
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Patent number: 10175012Abstract: A firearm with tilting barrel-receiver assembly includes a frame and a barrel-receiver assembly pivotably mounted to the frame. The barrel-receiver assembly is movable between an open position and a closed position. A latching mechanism includes a latch that selectively engages the barrel-receiver assembly. The latching mechanism may be disposed in the frame in one embodiment. The latching mechanism is movable between a locked position wherein the barrel-receiver assembly is held in the closed position and an unlocked position wherein the barrel-receiver assembly is movable to the tilted open position. The latch may be spring biased into the locked position. The barrel-receiver assembly may be configured for complete removal from the pistol in some embodiments. An interlock mechanism formed by a movable safety may be provided which prevents the barrel-receiver assembly from being unlocked when the firearm is in a ready-to-fire condition.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2017Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Inventors: David Anderson, Joseph J. Cramer, Dwight Potter
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Publication number: 20180045475Abstract: A firearm with tilting barrel-receiver assembly includes a frame and a barrel-receiver assembly pivotably mounted to the frame. The barrel-receiver assembly is movable between an open position and a closed position. A latching mechanism includes a latch that selectively engages the barrel-receiver assembly. The latching mechanism may be disposed in the frame in one embodiment. The latching mechanism is movable between a locked position wherein the barrel-receiver assembly is held in the closed position and an unlocked position wherein the barrel-receiver assembly is movable to the tilted open position. The latch may be spring biased into the locked position. The barrel-receiver assembly may be configured for complete removal from the pistol in some embodiments. An interlock mechanism formed by a movable safety may be provided which prevents the barrel-receiver assembly from being unlocked when the firearm is in a ready-to-fire condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2017Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: David Anderson, Joseph J. Cramer, Dwight Potter
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Patent number: 9791223Abstract: A firearm with tilting barrel-receiver assembly includes a frame and a barrel-receiver assembly pivotably mounted to the frame. The barrel-receiver assembly is movable between an open position and a closed position. A latching mechanism includes a latch that selectively engages the barrel-receiver assembly. The latching mechanism may be disposed in the frame in one embodiment. The latching mechanism is movable between a locked position wherein the barrel-receiver assembly is held in the closed position and an unlocked position wherein the barrel-receiver assembly is movable to the tilted open position. The latch may be spring biased into the locked position. The barrel-receiver assembly may be configured for complete removal from the pistol in some embodiments. An interlock mechanism formed by a movable safety may be provided which prevents the barrel-receiver assembly from being unlocked when the firearm is in a ready-to-fire condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2016Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Inventors: David Anderson, Joseph J. Cramer, Dwight Potter
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Patent number: 9476660Abstract: A firearm with safety mechanism in one embodiment comprises a receiver, a trigger-actuated firing mechanism with movable trigger operable to discharge the firearm, and a safety mechanism configured to arrest the firing mechanism. The safety mechanism is movable between a first position preventing movement of the trigger and a second position allowing movement of the trigger for discharging the firearm. In one embodiment, an elongated stock bolt attaches a buttstock to the receiver. The stock bolt passes through a portion of the safety mechanism to engage the receiver. This allows an operating button of the safety to be ergonomically mounted on a top surface of the firearm above the stock bolt. In one implementation, the firing and safety mechanisms may each be operably mounted in a fire control module disposed in the receiver and removable therefrom as a separate self-supported unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2015Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Inventors: Dwight Potter, Jason Pittman, Scott Warburton
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Publication number: 20160298916Abstract: A firearm with tilting barrel-receiver assembly includes a frame and a barrel-receiver assembly pivotably mounted to the frame. The barrel-receiver assembly is movable between an open position and a closed position. A latching mechanism includes a latch that selectively engages the barrel-receiver assembly. The latching mechanism may be disposed in the frame in one embodiment. The latching mechanism is movable between a locked position wherein the barrel-receiver assembly is held in the closed position and an unlocked position wherein the barrel-receiver assembly is movable to the tilted open position. The latch may be spring biased into the locked position. The barrel-receiver assembly may be configured for complete removal from the pistol in some embodiments. An interlock mechanism formed by a movable safety may be provided which prevents the barrel-receiver assembly from being unlocked when the firearm is in a ready-to-fire condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2016Publication date: October 13, 2016Inventors: David Anderson, Joseph J. Cramer, Dwight Potter
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Patent number: 9464859Abstract: A firearm with barrel extension comprises a receiver, a barrel supported by the receiver that defines an ammunition shell chamber, and a rotatable locking bolt having radial bolt lugs. The bolt is carried by a slide disposed in the receiver for forward and rearward movement. A barrel extension is mounted on a rear end of the barrel which includes radial bolt locking lugs that rotatably engage the bolt lugs when the bolt is in a closed locked breech position in battery with the head of a chambered shell. The barrel extension includes a rear facing annular rim seating surface formed integrally on the barrel extension as a unitary structural part thereof. The rim seating surface extends radially inwards from an interior surface of the barrel extension to engage and support the rear rim of the chambered shell. The headspacing is defined entirely by the barrel extension independently of the barrel.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2015Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Inventors: Dwight Potter, Benjamin Gerard Hawkins, Michael Robert Tilton
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Patent number: 9400149Abstract: A shell feeding system for a top loading shotgun in one embodiment includes a barrel, receiver, and a magazine. The magazine includes a cavity configured to receive a plurality of ammunition shells in stacked end-to-end relationship. The magazine is positioned above the barrel and extends forward from the receiver. Shell guide grooves are formed by internal surfaces in the receiver which engage and guide each shell in a feed pathway towards the lower part of the receiver for chambering. A portion of the guide grooves may be arcuately shaped to rotate and reposition the shell for loading by the bolt into the chamber. In one embodiment, the receiver and magazine may be formed as a unitary integral structure formed as either a single piece or in half sections coupled together.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Inventor: Dwight Potter
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Patent number: 9400148Abstract: A magazine assembly for a firearm in one embodiment includes an outer magazine housing configured for attachment to a firearm and a magazine removably insertable into the housing. The magazine includes an axially extending internal cavity configured to hold a plurality of ammunition shells in stacked end-to-end relationship. In one embodiment, the magazine has an elongated tubular body. A shell catch lever is slideably mounted on the magazine for linear and pivoting movement in one arrangement. The shell catch lever retains a shell in the magazine in a first lateral position and releases the shell from the magazine in a second lateral position. The shell catch lever operates to retain and release shells from the magazine when either removed from or positioned in the magazine housing for loading the firearm.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Inventors: Jason Pittman, Dwight Potter, Scott Warburton
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Publication number: 20160033226Abstract: A firearm with barrel extension comprises a receiver, a barrel supported by the receiver that defines an ammunition shell chamber, and a rotatable locking bolt having radial bolt lugs. The bolt is carried by a slide disposed in the receiver for forward and rearward movement. A barrel extension is mounted on a rear end of the barrel which includes radial bolt locking lugs that rotatably engage the bolt lugs when the bolt is in a closed locked breech position in battery with the head of a chambered shell. The barrel extension includes a rear facing annular rim seating surface formed integrally on the barrel extension as a unitary structural part thereof. The rim seating surface extends radially inwards from an interior surface of the barrel extension to engage and support the rear rim of the chambered shell. The headspacing is defined entirely by the barrel extension independently of the barrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2015Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: Dwight Potter, Benjamin Gerard Hawkins, Michael Robert Tilton
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Publication number: 20150377575Abstract: A firearm with safety mechanism in one embodiment comprises a receiver, a trigger-actuated firing mechanism with movable trigger operable to discharge the firearm, and a safety mechanism configured to arrest the firing mechanism. The safety mechanism is movable between a first position preventing movement of the trigger and a second position allowing movement of the trigger for discharging the firearm. In one embodiment, an elongated stock bolt attaches a buttstock to the receiver. The stock bolt passes through a portion of the safety mechanism to engage the receiver. This allows an operating button of the safety to be ergonomically mounted on a top surface of the firearm above the stock bolt. In one implementation, the firing and safety mechanisms may each be operably mounted in a fire control module disposed in the receiver and removable therefrom as a separate self-supported unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Dwight Potter, Jason Pittman, Scott Warburton
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Publication number: 20150096213Abstract: A shell feeding system for a top loading shotgun in one embodiment includes a barrel, receiver, and a magazine. The magazine includes a cavity configured to receive a plurality of ammunition shells in stacked end-to-end relationship. The magazine is positioned above the barrel and extends forward from the receiver. Shell guide grooves are formed by internal surfaces in the receiver which engage and guide each shell in a feed pathway towards the lower part of the receiver for chambering. A portion of the guide grooves may be arcuately shaped to rotate and reposition the shell for loading by the bolt into the chamber. In one embodiment, the receiver and magazine may be formed as a unitary integral structure formed as either a single piece or in half sections coupled together.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventor: Dwight Potter
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Publication number: 20150089855Abstract: A magazine assembly for a firearm in One embodiment includes an outer magazine housing configured for attachment to a firearm and a magazine removably insertable into the housing. The magazine includes an axially extending internal cavity configured to hold a plurality of ammunition shells in stacked end-to-end relationship. In one embodiment, the magazine has an elongated tubular body. A shell catch lever is slideably mounted on the magazine for linear and pivoting movement in one arrangement. The shell catch lever retains a shell in the magazine in a first lateral position and releases the shell from the magazine in a second lateral position. The shell catch lever operates to retain and release shells from the magazine when either removed from or positioned in the magazine housing for loading the firearm.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Jason Pittman, Dwight Potter, Scott Warburton
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Patent number: 8925230Abstract: A bolt handle assembly for a firearm is disclosed. In one embodiment, the bolt handle assembly includes a bolt having an internal channel and a laterally extending slot, a bolt handle including a mounting tang insertable through the slot and having a locking aperture positioned in the internal channel, a firing pin striker slidably disposed in the internal channel, and a locking member mounted on the firing pin striker. The locking member is insertable through the locking aperture of the bolt handle and is configured for engaging the mounting tang of the bolt to removably secure the bolt handle to the bolt. The locking member is rotatable between locked and unlocked positions to secure and release the bolt handle from the bolt. A method for mounting the bolt handle to the bolt is also disclosed. In one embodiment, the firearm is a bolt-action rifle.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Inventors: Scott Warburton, Bruce Rozum, Dwight Potter
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Patent number: 8881444Abstract: A stock bedding system for a firearm is disclosed. In one embodiment, the stock bedding system includes a stock having a pair of bearing surfaces that are configured and arranged to mutually engage a mating pair of bearing surfaces formed on the barrel-receiver assembly. At least one of the four bearing surfaces has a predetermined convex surface profile which causes the barrel-receiver assembly to roll in an angular direction away from one lateral side of the stock towards the opposite lateral side when the barrel-receiver assembly is mounted to the stock. The convex surface profile acts to tighten the engagement between the opposing bearing surfaces of the barrel-receiver assembly and stock providing a secure and vibration resistant mounting. In one embodiment, the convex-shaped bearing surface is defined by a pillar lug mounted in the stock which engages a mating substantially flat bearing surface formed on the barrel-receiver assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Inventors: Scott Warburton, Bruce Rozum, Dwight Potter
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Publication number: 20140026460Abstract: A stock bedding system for a firearm is disclosed. In one embodiment, the stock bedding system includes a stock having a pair of bearing surfaces that are configured and arranged to mutually engage a mating pair of bearing surfaces formed on the barrel-receiver assembly. At least one of the four bearing surfaces has a predetermined convex surface profile which causes the barrel-receiver assembly to roll in an angular direction away from one lateral side of the stock towards the opposite lateral side when the barrel-receiver assembly is mourned to the stock. The convex surface profile acts to tighten the engagement between the opposing bearing surfaces of the barrel-receiver assembly and stock providing a secure and vibration resistant mounting. In one embodiment, the convex-shaped bearing surface is defined by a pillar lug mounted in the stock which engages a mating substantially fiat bearing surface formed on the barrel-receiver assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2012Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.Inventors: Scott Warburton, Bruce Rozum, Dwight Potter
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Publication number: 20140013641Abstract: A bolt handle assembly for a firearm is disclosed. In one embodiment, the bolt handle assembly includes a bolt having an internal channel and a laterally extending slot, a bolt handle including a mounting tang insertable through the slot and having a locking aperture positioned in the internal channel, a firing pin striker slidably disposed in the internal channel, and a locking member mounted on the firing pin striker. The locking member is insertable through the locking aperture of the bolt handle and is configured for engaging the mounting tang of the bolt to removably secure the bolt handle to the bolt. The locking member is rotatable between locked and unlocked positions to secure and release the bolt handle from the bolt. A method for mounting the bolt handle to the bolt is also disclosed. In one embodiment, the firearm is a bolt-action rifle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2012Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.Inventors: Scott Warburton, Bruce Rozum, Dwight Potter
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Publication number: 20070151440Abstract: A magazine for introducing a plurality of ammunition cartridges into a firearm is disclosed. Particularly, a magazine may include a first rotor configured for rotating about a first center of rotation and a second rotor configured for rotating about a second center of rotation, wherein a position of the first rotor and a position of the second rotor are fixed with respect to one another. Further, operation of the first and second rotor may cause at least one ammunition cartridge of a plurality of ammunition cartridges that are movable by the first and second rotor to move along a serpentine path. Firearm systems including such a magazine are also disclosed. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of introducing an ammunition cartridge into a firearm. More specifically, an ammunition cartridge may be moved along a selected serpentine path prior to introducing the ammunition cartridge into a firearm.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2006Publication date: July 5, 2007Inventors: Ryan Cook, Dwight Potter
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Patent number: D828475Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Inventor: Dwight Potter