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).

  • Patent number: 11493293
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventors: Nathan Brown, Dwight Potter
  • Publication number: 20210231396
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Nathan Brown, Dwight Potter
  • Patent number: 10175012
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Inventors: David Anderson, Joseph J. Cramer, Dwight Potter
  • Publication number: 20180045475
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: David Anderson, Joseph J. Cramer, Dwight Potter
  • Patent number: 9791223
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventors: David Anderson, Joseph J. Cramer, Dwight Potter
  • Patent number: 9476660
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventors: Dwight Potter, Jason Pittman, Scott Warburton
  • Publication number: 20160298916
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: David Anderson, Joseph J. Cramer, Dwight Potter
  • Patent number: 9464859
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventors: Dwight Potter, Benjamin Gerard Hawkins, Michael Robert Tilton
  • Patent number: 9400149
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Inventor: Dwight Potter
  • Patent number: 9400148
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Inventors: Jason Pittman, Dwight Potter, Scott Warburton
  • Publication number: 20160033226
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Dwight Potter, Benjamin Gerard Hawkins, Michael Robert Tilton
  • Publication number: 20150377575
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Dwight Potter, Jason Pittman, Scott Warburton
  • Publication number: 20150096213
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Dwight Potter
  • Publication number: 20150089855
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Jason Pittman, Dwight Potter, Scott Warburton
  • Patent number: 8925230
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventors: Scott Warburton, Bruce Rozum, Dwight Potter
  • Patent number: 8881444
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventors: Scott Warburton, Bruce Rozum, Dwight Potter
  • Publication number: 20140026460
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Warburton, Bruce Rozum, Dwight Potter
  • Publication number: 20140013641
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Warburton, Bruce Rozum, Dwight Potter
  • Publication number: 20070151440
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Ryan Cook, Dwight Potter
  • Patent number: D828475
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventor: Dwight Potter