Double air valve recoil dampener for firearms

Abstract

A pair of pistons with O-rings are mounted on a plate attach to an end of a butt of a firearm. A pair of cylinders for receiving the pistons are mounted on a plate attached to a shoulder pad and attached to the firearm by having the pistons inserted in the cylinders. An air release hole in a bottom plate of each cylinder communicates with an air outlet having an adjustable air valve to adjust the amount of damping of a recoil of the firearm.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to recoil reducers for firearms, and particularly to a double air valve recoil dampener for a gun stock which comprises two air pistons each set in a cylinder within the butt of the firearm.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A problem that exists with firearms is the fact that many of them have a severe recoil that affects the person firing the weapon. In firearms such as shotguns and rifles, the rear end of the butt stock is positioned against the shooter's shoulder and the recoil often causes the shooter to raise the front of the firearm each time the weapon is fired. Recoil is detrimental to a shooter's accuracy and can result in bruising and pain to the shoulder of the person firing the weapon.

Prior art devices do not adequately address the problem of providing a recoil dampener which is compact and maintains the appearance and normal functioning of a rifle or shotgun while absorbing the recoil effectively with adjustment capability to adjust for different firearms, shooting situations, and individuals.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,176,424, issued Apr. 6, 1965 to Hoge, provides a recoil absorbing stock for firearms which utilizes a pneumatic unit containing compressed air to cushion the shock of the recoil, the pressure of the air within the unit being automatically maintained at a desired level.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,937, issued Sep. 13, 1988 to Gregory, puts forth a pneumatic recoil reduction device for a shotgun that includes means for adjusting the stock length of the shotgun. The device, fitted into a cavity in the butt end of a shotgun, has an air cylinder equipped with a valved hole, or port, which is located in the end of the air cylinder, closest to the butt end of the shotgun. This permits adjusting the pressure in the air cylinder from the rear without disassembling the butt stock.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,446, issued Jan. 30, 1990 to Gregory, concerns an adjustable comb and buttplate assembly for shoulder firearms, such as shotguns, having a stock and a recoil reducing or absorbing means at the butt end of the stock. A pneumatic, readily adjustable recoil reducing mechanism is preferably used.

U.S. Patent Application No. 20020088161, published Jul. 11, 2002 by Sims, is for recoil reducing accessories for firearms, designed to reduce the recoil felt by the shooter when a firearm is discharged. The accessories meet this goal by modifying the decay pattern of vibrations set up in the stock when the firearm is discharged. Kick may be further reduced by elastic compression and also by pneumatic compression of air in sealed pockets formed in and by accessory components.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,549, issued Feb. 3, 2004 to Bragg, is for a recoil apparatus for a firearm comprising a base portion and shoulder member coupled to a base portion and movable longitudinally with respect to the base portion upon firing of the firearm. A magnet system disposed in the base portion comprises a first magnet, a second magnet, and a third magnet. The first magnet provides a magnetic attractive force that prevents relative movement between the shoulder member and the base portion when the firearm is being aimed prior to firing. The second and third magnets are positioned in a repelling configuration with each other such that upon firing, the recoil of the firearm is dampened by the repulsive forces produced by the second and third magnets. In an alternate embodiment, a conventional recoil reducer (e.g., one or more compression spring(s), hydraulic cylinder(s), or a pneumatic air chamber) may be used in lieu of the spring and the second and third magnets.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,820,866, issued Nov. 23, 2004 to Mason, provides an attenuator apparatus that has an outer housing with a first chamber filled with a first fluid, and a bellows member of elastomeric material mounted in the first chamber and having a second chamber filled with a second fluid, the bellows member having a first end facing away from the first chamber. A piston is slidably mounted in the housing at the first end of the bellows member for acting on the bellows member in response to a force applied to the piston so as to expand the bellows member in the first chamber and cushion the force. The bellows member returns to its original configuration and biases the piston back in a second direction opposite to the first direction on removal of the force. An alternate embodiment is provided that uses the attenuator as a recoil softener unit in the butt stock of a shotgun or rifle.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,653, issued Dec. 29, 1981 to Goes, describes a fluidic recoil buffer for small arms. The buffer includes a fluidic device having a first and a second chamber. During recoil, a compressive force is applied to the fluid in the first chamber and flow from the first chamber to the second chamber is restricted by a fluidic diode in relationship to the pressure differential between the first and second chamber. On counter recoil, the fluid flows from the second chamber to the first chamber in an essentially unrestricted manner. The level of flow restriction by the fluidic diode is greater at high pressure differentials than at low pressure differentials. The device can be fixed to a gun in a suitable manner, such as in the stock.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,644, issued Jun. 22, 1982 to Goes, discloses a fluidic recoil buffer for small arm weapons that utilizes a pair of fluid containing reciprocating chambers to attenuate recoil forces by limiting fluid flow in relation to chamber travel between the pair. In the second chamber of the pair a flow control element moves in the direction of a restricting member when the fluid pressure drop through the flow control element reaches a predetermined point. The flow restricting member limits fluid flow through the flow control element when the flow control element travels to a point proximate the flow restricting member. Fluid flow in the opposite direction is substantially unrestricted by the flow restricting members. The device can be fixed to a gun in a suitable manner, such as in the stock.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,493, issued May 20, 2003 to Forman, indicates a recoil protection device for absorbing the shock of a gun that is removably attachable to the end of a gunstock. The device comprises a base plate releasably secured to the end of the gunstock. A substantially rigid panel has a pair of spaced holes extending therethrough. A pair of mounts is attached to and extends away from the base plate. Each of the mounts is positioned such that each extends through one of the holes in the panel. A shock absorber is mechanically coupled to the panel and to each of the mounts. The shock absorber is compressed along a line, which is substantially co-planar with a plane of the base plate. A covering is attached to a peripheral edge of the panel and extends over a side of the panel opposite of the base plate.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,348, issued Jul. 16, 1991 to Carey, illustrates a shoulder gun stock assembly has a comb piece coordinated with a shoulder piece and an associated recoil assembly. The comb piece and shoulder piece remain stationary during shooting while the recoil assembly absorbs the recoil. The comb piece provides a stationary cheek rest which eliminates the cheek-chafing action usually associated with the operation of shoulder firearms. To absorb the recoil developed during shooting, a versatile and effective damping unit is used. The damping assembly employed comprises a conventional hydraulic or air cylinder shock absorber having a rearwardly extending actuating piston.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,342, issued Feb. 23, 1982 to Griggs, is for a recoil absorber and redirector mechanism for a shoulder held gun stock which reduces the effects of recoil by causing one of two normally aligned members mounted on the butt end of a gun stock to move laterally of the other under recoil thereby redirecting the forces of recoil with the movable member resiliently absorbing most of the recoil energy which is later used to reset the mechanism to its normal inactive position. An alternate embodiment provides a pneumatic device used to absorb the recoil of the firearm. The pneumatic device comprises a piston mounted in a cylinder that is provided with a port at one end thereof.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,470, issued Oct. 15, 1968 to Wesemann, shows a pneumatic recoil buffer attachment for a firearm which comprises an air-tight, cylindrical, elongated tube unit, having one or more slidable pistons therein. The pistons are adapted to be slidably moved by the force of the weapon's recoil against a cushion of compressed air in the cylinder, thereby counteracting or absorbing the sudden shock of the recoil.

What is needed is a compact efficient recoil dampener for firearms which maintains the appearance and normal functioning of a rifle or shotgun while absorbing the recoil effectively with adjustment capability to adjust for different firearms, shooting situations, and individuals and with instant recovery for rapid firing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a compact efficient recoil dampener for firearms with a double adjustable air cylinder attached to a rifle butt between the stock and the rubber shoulder pad, which maintains the appearance and normal functioning of a rifle or shotgun while absorbing the recoil effectively with adjustment capability to adjust for different firearms, shooting situations, and individuals and with instant recovery for rapid firing.

Another object of the present invention is to fabricate the components of the invention of lightweight metals so that the balance of the firearm is not affected.

One more object of the present invention is to align the piston and cylinder action with the barrel for smooth effective shock absorption to dampen the recoil.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an air relief hole in each cylinder to prevent suction and backpressure for a fast return of the piston to the original position to enable rapid firing of the firearm.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an air release control valve to adjust the damping of the recoil.

A Contributory Object of the Present Invention

An added object of the present invention is to provide close tolerances so that a large amount of recoil can be dampened with a short run of the piston in the cylinder to minimize the size of the device.

An ensuing object of the present invention is to use rubber O-rings and light oil to provide a smooth close tolerance action of the piston in the cylinder.

In brief, a pair of pistons with O-rings are mounted on a plate attach to an end of a butt of a firearm. A pair of cylinders for receiving the pistons are mounted on a plate attached to a shoulder pad and attached to the firearm by having the pistons inserted in the cylinders. An air release hole in a bottom plate of each cylinder communicates with an air outlet having an adjustable air valve to adjust the amount of damping of a recoil of the firearm.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a compact efficient recoil dampener for firearms with a double adjustable air cylinder attached to a rifle butt between the stock and the rubber shoulder pad, which maintains the appearance and normal functioning of a rifle or shotgun while absorbing the recoil effectively with adjustment capability to adjust for different firearms, shooting situations, and individuals and with instant recovery for rapid firing.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the balance of the firearm is not affected.

One more advantage of the present invention is that it provides smooth effective shock absorption to dampen the recoil.

An additional advantage of the present invention is that it prevents suction and backpressure for a fast return of the piston to the original position to enable rapid firing of the firearm.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides adjustment of the damping of the recoil.

An added advantage of the present invention is that it provides a large amount of recoil dampening with a short run of the piston in the cylinder to minimize the size of the device.

An ensuing advantage of the present invention is that it provides a smooth close tolerance action of the piston in the cylinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shotgun and a rifle fitted with the double air valve recoil damper of the present invention between the butt and the rubber pad of each of the firearms;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the double air valve recoil damper of the present invention with the components aligned for assembly;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the plate attachable to the rubber pad with the plate on its side and the cylinders and air release openings of the double air valve recoil damper of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded elevational view of the components of the double air valve recoil damper of the present invention with the components aligned for assembly.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-4, a double air valve recoil damper device 20 for shotguns 40A and rifles 40B comprises a pair of pistons 22A mounted in a pair of cylinders 22B communicating with an air release outlet 26 and air release control valve 24.

The pair of pistons 22A are spaced apart and rigidly mounted on a butt end of a firearm 40 on a support cap 29 attached by a threaded end 14 screwed into threaded plate openings 15 in a plate 21 which screws onto an end of a rifle butt 40. The pair of pistons 22A each comprise a cylindrical shaft with preferably two circular grooves 18 around a perimeter of an end of the cylindrical shaft receive an O-ring 28 in each of the grooves.

A mating pair of cylinders 22B are mounted on a plate 23 attached to a shoulder pad 30 for the firearm. The pair of cylinders 22B are sized to receive the pair of pistons 22A with one of the pistons in each of the cylinders fitting with an air-tight slidable fit to compress the air in each cylinder. In FIGS. 3 and 4, a bottom of each of the cylinders has an inner plate with an air release hole 27 to prevent suction and backpressure. The cylinders 22B are attached to the firearm by having the pistons 22A inserted in the cylinders 22B, as shown in FIG. 1.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, an air release outlet 26 comprises an elongated bored hole in a raised housing 25 on the plate 23, which air release outlet communicates with each of the air release holes 27 and communicates with an adjustable air valve 24 for adjusting and controlling the pressure required to release air from the cylinder so that a recoil of a firearm produced by firing the firearm causes the pair of pistons to be forced into the pair of cylinders to dampen the recoil and absorb an amount of shock adjustably determined by the adjustable air valve.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the adjustable air valve 24 is mounted adjacent to one of the cylinders 22B at an outer end of the air release outlet 26 and the adjustable air valve 24 is angled outwardly away from the cylinder for ease of access.

The cylinder and piston action is parallel with gun bore for efficient maximum recoil dampening.

The pair of pistons and pair of cylinders are fabricated of light weight material, such as billet aluminum, brass, and chrome moly, so that they do not affect gun balance.

The device of claim 1 wherein an amount of stock length adjustment can be achieved by letting air out and using less of the stroke.

The piston to cylinder and piston to cap tolerances are such as to aid in smooth action both forward and reverse. Tight tolerances enable a short piston cylinder action of half an inch of piston travel to dampen the recoil. The cap and O-rings acting as guides, these tolerances however, change depending on compression cylinder bore diameter, which is determined by the caliber of gun being worked with. The only fixed dimension is the 0.5″ piston travel, stopping on a cushion of compressed trapped air. The expansion of this compressed air provides an automatic return of the piston to its inactive resting place. All other dimensions are adjustable to user needs.

The components can be positioned to adjust stock pitch, either up or down. A small amount of light weight oil provides lubrication for the O-rings 28. As the piston 22A moves back and forth, oil is drawn onto the O-rings.

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A double air valve recoil damper device for shotguns and rifles, the device comprising:

a pair of pistons rigidly mounted on a butt end of a firearm spaced apart, the pair of pistons each comprising a cylindrical shaft with at least one circular groove around a perimeter of an end of the cylindrical shaft and an O-ring in the at least one circular groove;

a mating pair of cylinders mounted on a shoulder pad for the firearm, the pair of cylinders sized to receive the pair of pistons with one of the pistons in each of the cylinders fitting with an air-tight slidable fit, a bottom of each of the cylinders having an inner plate with an air release hole, the cylinders attached to the firearm by having the pistons inserted in the cylinders;

an air release outlet communicating with each of the air release holes and communicating with an adjustable air valve for adjusting and controlling the pressure required to release air from the cylinder so that a recoil of a firearm produced by firing the firearm causes the pair of pistons to be forced into the pair of cylinders to dampen the recoil and absorb an amount of shock adjustably determined by the adjustable air valve.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the pair of pistons are attached to a plate attached to the butt of the firearm.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the pair of cylinders is attached to a plate attached to the shoulder pad.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the adjustable air valve is mounted adjacent to one of the cylinders at an outer end of the air release outlet and the adjustable air valve is angled outwardly away from the cylinder for ease of access.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein cylinder and piston action is parallel with gun bore.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the pair of pistons and pair of cylinders are fabricated of light weight material so that they do not affect gun balance.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein an amount of stock length adjustment can be achieved by letting air out and using less of the stroke.