Abstract: A sectional garage door has a roller track and a plurality of sections pivotally coupled together for movement along the roller track to and between open and closed positions relative to a door opening. A first one of the sections is heavier than other sections. The sectional garage also includes a counterbalance mechanism coupled to the sections to assist an operator in moving the sections along the roller tracks to and between the open and closed positions. The sectional garage door also has a weight assist mechanism coupled to the door and engaged with at least one of the sections to assist at least one of the sections to assist in the movement of the first one of the sections during movement along at least a portion of the roller track due to the weight of the first section relative to the other sections.

Abstract: A muzzle brake assembly for a firearm provides several benefits including an ability to reduce firearm recoil by redirecting the propellant gases and reshaping the pressure wave in a new manner, reduction or substantial elimination of muzzle movement upon discharge, lessening the acoustic signature of the firearm closer to non-braked levels and relatively easy and low cost to manufacture by current machining practices thereby minimizing cost of manufacturing. Ports in the muzzle brake assembly are arranged opposing one another about a circumference of the muzzle brake assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is sabot and a firearm round for a firearm. The sabot includes a compression section defining a payload receiving chamber. The payload chamber receives a slug to form the firearm round. Additionally, the sabot includes a solid section connected to the compression section. The solid section can include a powder cup section for sealing ignition gasses. Typically, the sabot is formed from a high density polyethylene.

Abstract: A piston assembly is provided for a gas-operated firearm of the type having a chamber and a barrel. The piston assembly includes a gas expansion housing and a piston mounted within the gas expansion housing. An annular recess is formed in the outer wall of the piston to receive exhaust gases diverted from the barrel upon firing of the firearm. At least one longitudinally extending groove extends from the annual recess to the head of the piston and forms a pathway for diverting the exhaust gases to the head of the piston. During firing, pressurized gases are diverted into the annular recess and expand longitudinally from the annular recess to the piston head, whereupon the pressurized exhaust gas drives the gas piston rearwardly along the housing.

Abstract: A gas block clamping apparatus for a firearm includes a plurality of sections, each including a shaped upper section, and a lower cylindrical section to which the shaped upper section is attached. A plurality of clamp sections are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of a barrel of the firearm, each clamp section having an upper surface for attaching the gas block to the barrel, a curved surface that aligns the clamp section to an outer surface of the barrel when the clamp sections are tightened, and a lower surface that aligns with the shaped upper section of the gas block. A plurality of fasteners are disposed through a plurality of openings in the lower surface of the clamp sections and the shaped upper surface of the gas block for securing each clamp section to both the barrel and gas block.

Abstract: A fire control assembly for a firearm includes a trigger engagement link comprising a forward end, a rearward end, and an intermediate portion. The fire control assembly further includes a sear including a bottom portion engageable with the intermediate portion of the trigger engagement link, and a hammer moveable between cocked and firing positions. The hammer includes a link displacement portion operable to displace the forward end of the trigger engagement link as the hammer is moved from its firing position to its cocked position. The displacement of the forward end of the trigger engagement link by the link displacement portion of the hammer disengages the intermediate portion of the trigger engagement link from the bottom portion of the sear so as to at least temporarily deactivate the fire control assembly.

Abstract: A piston assembly is provided for a gas-operated firearm of the type having a chamber and a barrel. The piston assembly includes a gas expansion housing and a piston mounted within the gas expansion housing. An annular recess is formed in the outer wall of the piston to receive exhaust gases diverted from the barrel upon firing of the firearm. At least one longitudinally extending groove extends from the annual recess to the head of the piston and forms a pathway for diverting the exhaust gases to the head of the piston. During firing, pressurized gases are diverted into the annular recess and expand longitudinally from the annular recess to the piston head, whereupon the pressurized exhaust gas drives the gas piston rearwardly along the housing.

Abstract: An improved firearm including a non-detachable, pivoting magazine is disclosed. The magazine is pivotally attached at its rear end to a sliding arm. The sliding arm is slidably retained within the magazine well of the firearm. The sliding arm is configured to move upwardly and downwardly within the track to allow the magazine to be raised into and lowered out of the magazine well. When the magazine is lowered out of the magazine well, the magazine can be pivoted about its pivotal connection with the sliding arm such that a front end portion of the magazine pivots downwardly and rearwardly to allow ammunition cartridges to be loaded into and unloaded from the magazine.

Abstract: A hand guard attachment assembly for a firearm having a barrel and a receiver fastened to the barrel by a barrel nut. The hand guard attachment assembly includes a forearm having a monolithic mounting rail/hand guard that is removably connected to the receiver. The monolithic rail/hand guard interfaces with an integral multi-slot mounting portion of the receiver. A cinch block is mated to the slots of the receiver and held in place by the monolithic rail/hand guard. A tension block is mated at one end of the monolithic rail/hand guard and is attached to the cinch block by a fastener to securely hold the monolithic rail/hand guard in place.

Abstract: A piston assembly is provided for a gas-operated firearm of the type having a chamber and a barrel. The piston assembly includes a gas expansion housing and a piston mounted within the gas expansion housing. An annular recess is formed in the outer wall of the piston to receive exhaust gases diverted from the barrel upon firing of the firearm. At least one longitudinally extending groove extends from the annual recess to the head of the piston and forms a pathway for diverting the exhaust gases to the head of the piston. During firing, pressurized gases are diverted into the annular recess and expand longitudinally from the annular recess to the piston head, whereupon the pressurized exhaust gas drives the gas piston rearwardly along the housing.

Abstract: An improved firearm including a non-detachable, pivoting magazine is disclosed. The magazine is pivotally attached at its rear end to a sliding arm. The sliding arm is slidably retained within the magazine well of the firearm. The sliding arm is configured to move upwardly and downwardly within the track to allow the magazine to be raised into and lowered out of the magazine well. When the magazine is lowered out of the magazine well, the magazine can be pivoted about its pivotal connection with the sliding arm such that a front end portion of the magazine pivots downwardly and rearwardly to allow ammunition cartridges to be loaded into and unloaded from the magazine.

Abstract: A piston assembly is provided for a gas-operated firearm of the type having a chamber and a barrel. The piston assembly includes a gas expansion housing and a piston mounted within the gas expansion housing. An annular recess is formed in the outer wall of the piston to receive exhaust gases diverted from the barrel upon firing of the firearm. At least one longitudinally extending groove extends from the annual recess to the head of the piston and forms a pathway for diverting the exhaust gases to the head of the piston. During firing, pressurized gases are diverted into the annular recess and expand longitudinally from the annular recess to the piston head, whereupon the pressurized exhaust gas drives the gas piston rearwardly along the housing.

Abstract: A fire control assembly for a firearm includes a trigger engagement link comprising a forward end, a rearward end, and an intermediate portion. The fire control assembly further includes a sear including a bottom portion engageable with the intermediate portion of the trigger engagement link, and a hammer moveable between cocked and firing positions. The hammer includes a link displacement portion operable to displace the forward end of the trigger engagement link as the hammer is moved from its firing position to its cocked position. The displacement of the forward end of the trigger engagement link by the link displacement portion of the hammer disengages the intermediate portion of the trigger engagement link from the bottom portion of the sear so as to at least temporarily deactivate the fire control assembly.

Abstract: A gas block clamping apparatus for a firearm includes a plurality of sections, each including a shaped upper section, and a lower cylindrical section to which the shaped upper section is attached. A plurality of clamp sections are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of a barrel of the firearm, each clamp section having an upper surface for attaching the gas block to the barrel, a curved surface that aligns the clamp section to an outer surface of the barrel when the clamp sections are tightened, and a lower surface that aligns with the shaped upper section of the gas block. A plurality of fasteners are disposed through a plurality of openings in the lower surface of the clamp sections and the shaped upper surface of the gas block for securing each clamp section to both the barrel and gas block.

Abstract: A receiver-stock connector (5) allows for secure attachment of various stocks to firearm receivers. The receiver (110) can be configured so that firearm components can be mounted in the receiver through an open rear end (112) of the receiver.

Abstract: A hinge assembly pivotally couples adjacent panels together in an overhead sectional door. The panels include stiles between each lateral end of the panel to which the hinge assemblies are attached. The hinge assembly includes an upper hinge leaf on an upper panel with a pair of spaced generally parallel flanges which span the juncture between the upper and lower panels. The hinge assembly also includes a lower hinge leaf with a pair of flanges projecting generally parallel to each other. The lower hinge leaf is mounted to one of the stiles of the lower panel and each flange includes a pivot axis hole near a terminal end thereof for alignment with a pivot axis hole in one of the flanges of the upper leaf. The stile includes a pair of spaced, parallel sidewalls and a notch, depression or recess is on each sidewall. The recesses provide a seat for the respective flanges of the hinge leaves and clearance between the sidewall of the stile and any adjacent components.

Abstract: A garage door has pivotally connected door panels, with each of the door panels including an outer skin having an outer surface. The outer skin has a metal, such as steel, having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. An overlay element, such as a decorative element, is coupled to the outer surface of at least one of the outer skins. The overlay element includes a fiber-reinforced thermoset material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. In one specific embodiment, the first and second coefficients of thermal expansion are substantially equal. In one embodiment, the overlay element includes a pultruded fiber-reinforced thermoset material. In yet another aspect, the overlay element is adhesively coupled to the outer surface. Adhesive coupling may, for example, include a hot-melt adhesive, a two-part glue, or double-sided adhesive tape.

Abstract: A garage door has pivotally connected door panels, with each of the door panels including an outer skin having an outer surface. The outer skin has a metal, such as steel, having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. An overlay element, such as a decorative element, is coupled to the outer surface of at least one of the outer skins. The overlay element includes a fiber-reinforced thermoset material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. In one specific embodiment, the first and second coefficients of thermal expansion are substantially equal. In one embodiment, the overlay element includes a pultruded fiber-reinforced thermoset material. In yet another aspect, the overlay element is adhesively coupled to said outer surface. Adhesive coupling may, for example, include a hot-melt adhesive, a two-part glue, or double-sided adhesive tape.

Abstract: A firing pin assembly is provided that includes a firing pin and a firing pin shaft. The firing pin is received in a slot of the end of the firing pin shaft to be retained therein with a spring retaining sleeve, a main spring, and a mainspring sleeve. The firing pin is removable from the firing pin assembly and can be replaced to result in a prolonged use of the firing pin assembly. The firing pin assembly will operate as a one-piece unit when the spring retaining sleeve is oriented to hold the components securely in place.

Abstract: A firing pin assembly is provided that includes a firing pin and a firing pin shaft. The firing pin is received in a slot of the end of the firing pin shaft to be retained therein with a spring retaining sleeve, a main spring, and a mainspring sleeve. The firing pin is removable from the firing pin assembly and can be replaced to result in a prolonged use of the firing pin assembly. The firing pin assembly will operate as a one-piece unit when the spring retaining sleeve is oriented to hold the components securely in place.