COMPOSITE FOREND CONSTRUCTION
The composite forend construction replaces a portion of the metal in the forend with composite materials thereby reducing overall height and weight of the firearm while increasing strength, cooling capabilities and resistance to moisture and chemicals.
This invention relates to firearms and more particularly to improvements in forend construction through the use of composite materials, wood and metal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ARTTraditionally firearm forend construction, the wooden hand grip in front of the frame which insulates the hand from the barrel, were constructed from wood and used the metal forend iron to provide solid locking of the forend stock to the firearm's barrel lug. Variations of this have been in use since the 1800's in firearms construction.
In prior art, the use of substantial metal support in the forend provides solid lock-up of the forend to the firearm, but this method increases the overall weight and height of the firearm. The prior art forends of total plastic or composite material still rely on substantial metal support in their designs presenting the same limitations as mentioned before.
The composite forend construction in this patent application uses lightweight composites in addition to wood and metal to significantly reduce weight and height while increasing overall forend strength and providing a added barrier against heat, moisture, and chemicals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention improves forend construction by replacing a portion of the metal in the forend with composite materials. The overall height of the firearm can be reduced which provides the shooter with a more naturally pointing firearm. The shape and nature of the composite material used in this forend construction provides extremely high strength and rigidity with very low weight versus the amount of metal normally used in forend construction. The shape and physical characteristics of the composite material used in this forend construction provides a cooling channel for the barrels around the portion of the barrels that radiate the most amount of heat from discharging ammunition from the firearm while creating an impermeable barrier against moisture, cleaning chemicals and oils that may, over time, weather or breakdown the wooden part of the forend. By placing the composite material inside the wooden forend using a bonded or laminated composite form construction produces the esthetic beauty of fine wood with the high strength and rigidity of composites with less weight (over a 50% reduction in weight) and overall height (substantially lower by 0.1 to 0.375 inches).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
1 Wooden forend
2 Forend iron
3A Composite form
3B Composite form recoil boss
4A Forend latch retainer
4B Forend latch retainer screws
4C Forend latch retainer barrel lug slot
4D Forend latch retainer alignment holes
5 Forend iron attachment rails
6 Forend latch housing
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThis invention improves forend construction by replacing a portion of the metal in the forend with composite materials. Using of composite construction in addition to wood and metal allows a significant reduction in weight and height while increasing overall forend strength and providing a added barrier against heat, moisture, and chemicals.
The composite form is molded to shape and cured. The composite form is comprised of multiple composite layers arranged and shaped to provide maximum strength and rigidity for the particular composite used. In doing so, the composite form is U-shaped, wrapping around the barrel channel and extending up the sides of the wooden forend to provide maximum strength and rigidity to the forend. Composite materials suitable for use include pre-preg carbon fiber, fiberglass, Kevlar, and other related composites in various forms such as sheet, fiber, matting, etc.
The composite form has an air gap allowance that provides a non-contact area between the composite form and the barrel assembly enhancing the air flow and optimizing cooling of the barrel assembly when firing the gun. This air gap is located on the breech end of the wooden forend and extends past the forcing cone area into the bore so that it cools the area of the barrel assembly where the most heat build-up occurs during shooting the firearm.
An important feature of the composite form is the composite form recoil boss 3B, a rectangular shape on the bottom of the form that contains the forend lug plate. The rectangular shape provides a registration surface for the composite form with the wooden forend that is blunt to dissipate recoil shock from firing the gun but does not induce cracks in the wooden forend.
The wooden forend 1 is shaped or relieved inside to accept the composite form plus an allowance for adhesive determined by the adhesive manufacturer's application specifications. The relief also allows for the composite form to be inserted and drop into the wooden forend 1. The composite form 3A is bonded with adhesive to effectively laminate the composite form to the inside of the wooden forend.
Forend iron attachment rails 5 are encased between the composite form and the wooden forend with bonding adhesive agents. The forend iron attachment rails have barbs and or other engagement surfaces that promote enhanced bonding strength.
The forend iron 2 attaches to the wooden forend with fasteners that thread into the forend attachment rails 5.
In summary, the composite forend construction provides a high strength rigid forend with lower overall height and weight. This is a major factor in achieving a very low profile firearm that has a natural pointing characteristic. This is essential for a competitive shooting gun.
Claims
1. A composite forend construction for firearms, comprising:
- a forend as a means to stabilize the front of a firearm,
- a composite form as a means to connect the forend iron and forend latch housing enabling the forend to stay mounted to the firearm,
- means of joining the forend and composite form to create one unified structure,
- whereby said composite forend will be lighter in weight, lower profile, with improved barrel cooling efficiency.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 19, 2005
Publication Date: Sep 21, 2006
Inventor: Ernest Lazor (Southbury, CT)
Application Number: 10/907,096
International Classification: F41C 23/00 (20060101);