Gun barrel cleaning device with quick-detachable cleaning implement
A gun barrel cleaning device includes a quick-detachable coupling mechanism releasably coupling a handle to a cleaning implement for cleaning a gun barrel bore. A thrust bearing is preferably provided for supporting the cleaning implement on the handle and for facilitating axial rotation of the cleaning implement relative to the handle. The gun barrel cleaning device may comprise part of a gun barrel cleaning kit, which may include a variety of different cleaning implements. A novel sheath for storing a gun barrel bore-cleaning implement is also disclosed.
Latest Michaels of Oregon Co. Patents:
This application relates to gun barrel cleaning devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONKnown gun barrel cleaning devices include a handle connected to an elongate rod or flexible cable, cord, or other length of material supporting a brush, swab, or other type of cleaning jag that is pushed or pulled through the bore of the gun barrel to remove residue or debris. In most known cleaning devices, the rod or other cleaning implement is either permanently connected or threadably attached to the handle. To prevent damage to rifled surfaces of the bore, the cleaning implement should be allowed to rotate as it moves through the barrel. In some bore cleaning devices, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,556,494 of Cooper and 3,208,302 of Lewis et al., the handle includes one or more bearings for reducing frictional resistance to rotation of the cleaning implement about its longitudinal axis relative to the handle under axial loading conditions that occur when pushing and pulling the cleaning implement through the gun barrel.
Many gun cleaning devices include cleaning rods comprising multiple rod sections threadably attached end-to-end. Some known cleaning systems provide for a variety of cleaning implements of different sizes and types that are selectively threadably attachable to the handle for cleaning guns of different calibers and types. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,674,218 of Boftomly and 4,901,465 of Hsu disclose examples of such interchangeable implement systems. However, the threaded connection used in these systems is somewhat inconvenient, subject to inadvertent loosening during use, and prone to damage or stripping of threads.
Other known detachable connections between handles and implements of a gun cleaning device require the use of collets or other attachments specially sized to fit the particular size of cleaning rod or implement selected. The various sizes of tools and collets required to fit cleaning rods and implements of various diameters are subject to being misplaced or lost due to their small size.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,223 of Sipple et al. describes a gun cleaning tool having a handle and multiple removable tip elements for cleaning various hard-to-reach surfaces of a gun. The handle includes an axial bore sized to fit a shank portion of each tip element, and a spring-clip latch mechanism that moves transversely of the axis of the handle to engage a recess in an outer side of the shank to thereby retain the tip element within the handle. To release the tip from the handle, a push-button mechanism in the side of the handle is depressed and moved transversely of the handle axis to displace the spring clip from the recess. Sipple et al. provides for a threadless, quick-detachable connection between the handle and various interchangeable implements. However, the cleaning tool of Sipple et al. is not suitable for cleaning the bore of a gun barrel and, due to the structure of the latch mechanism, the cleaning implements are not rotatable relative to the handle when attached thereto.
The present inventors have recognized a need for improved gun barrel cleaning devices and systems.
SUMMARYA gun barrel cleaning device includes a quick-detachable coupling mechanism releasably coupling a handle to a cleaning implement that may be sized for insertion into and cleaning of a gun barrel bore. The quick-detachable coupling mechanism includes a male part having an axis, a female part receiving the male part coaxially therein, and a latching device slidably movable between an unlatched position and a latched position. When the latching device is in the unlatched position, the cleaning implement is readily detachable from the handle. When the latching device is in the latched position, the cleaning implement is prevented from being detached from the handle. A thrust bearing is preferably provided for supporting the cleaning implement on the handle and for facilitating rotation of the cleaning implement about its axis relative to the handle.
In a preferred embodiment, one of the male and female parts of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism includes an axial bore and a detent ball movable along a radially extending passage in response to sliding movement of a latching device for engagement or disengagement with a circumferential groove in the other of the male and female parts of the quick-detachable coupling device. In a preferred embodiment, the latching device is slidably movable axially between an unlatched position wherein a recess of the latching device is aligned radially with the passage to permit movement of the detent ball and release of the coupling, and a latched position wherein the latching device interferes with movement of the detent ball to prevent the coupling from releasing. In other embodiments, the latching device is movable rotatably or in another direction or manner for releasing the quick-detachable coupling mechanism.
A gun barrel cleaning kit may include a variety of different cleaning implements, each of which typically includes one of the male and female parts of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism sized to engage a corresponding mating part of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism in the handle. A novel sheath for storing a cleaning implement is also disclosed herein. The sheath includes an inwardly extending mounting shoulder that engages an outer circumferential groove of the cleaning implement, to thereby support the cleaning implement such that its working end does not touch the bottom of the sheath.
Additional aspects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With reference to
Grip 20 is preferably formed of a plastic or elastomeric material coated with a soft foam material. However, other materials may be used for grip 20. An outer surface of grip 20 may be of a simple cylindrical shape, as shown, or may include contours for providing a more ergonomic gripping surface. When grip 20 is installed on handle 12 (not shown), a closed end 22 of grip 20 preferably covers a latch release button 24 of handle 12. The closed end 22 of grip 20 is sufficiently flexible so as to allow latch release button 24 to be manually depressed from the outside of grip 20 for actuating a quick-detachable coupling mechanism 30, which is described below with reference to
Female part 38 includes a bore 52 (
A spring 92 is provided for biasing plunger 84 toward the latched position (
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the male part (rather than the female part) of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism is mounted to the end of cleaning implement 14 for seating in axial bore 76 of sleeve section 60, and the latching device comprises a collar or sleeve slidably supported around sleeve section 60 and movable axially to selectively inhibit or allow radially outward movement of detent balls 66. The quick-detachable coupling mechanism and collar type latching device of this alternative embodiment may be similar to the quick-detachable coupling mechanisms described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,663,796 of Helling et al. and 6,070,501 of Braun et al., for example. In still other alternative embodiments (not shown), latching device 80 is a plunger or collar that is rotatably actuated (rather than axially movable) to selectively inhibit or allow movement of detent balls, as described for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,152,645 of Sanford and 6,511,100 of Le Clinche. In still other embodiments, female and male parts 38, 54 may be formed in shapes other than cylindrical, such as rectangular, for example. In yet other alternative embodiments, detent mechanisms not employing balls or circumferential grooves may be used to perform the same operational functions of the ball detent quick-detachable coupling mechanisms described above. For example, circumferential groove 74 may be replaced by one or more sockets each aligned radially with one of the passages 70. Thus, the scope of the terms “quick-detachable coupling mechanism” and “detent mechanism” should be construed expansively unless otherwise indicated by the context.
Sleeve section 60 is rotatably supported on handle body 94 via a first thrust bearing 132 and a second thrust bearing 134 located near opposite ends of handle 12. Thrust bearings 132, 134 facilitate axial rotation of cleaning implement 14 relative to handle 12 as cleaning implements 14 pass through a rifled gun bore, thereby preventing damage and wearing of rifling surfaces inside a rifle bore. Two sets of thrust bearings are provided in the preferred embodiment, to facilitate axial rotation during both pushing and pulling of cleaning implement 14 through a gun barrel bore.
First and second thrust bearings 132, 134 include respective first and second sets of ball bearings 142, 144 retained in respective first and second counterbores 152 (
Throughout the specification, reference to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “some embodiments” means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment. Thus appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or “in some embodiments” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the described features, structures, characteristics, and methods may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or not described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the embodiments.
It will be apparent to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the claims.
Claims
1. A gun barrel cleaning device, comprising:
- a handle;
- an elongate gun barrel cleaning implement sized for insertion into a gun barrel; and
- a quick-detachable coupling mechanism releasably coupling the handle to the cleaning implement, the quick-detachable coupling mechanism including a male part having an axis, a female part receiving the male part coaxially therein, and a latching device, located within the handle, slidably movable axially between an unlatched position in which the cleaning implement is detachable from the handle and a latched position preventing the cleaning implement from being detached from the handle.
2. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1, further comprising a thrust bearing supporting the cleaning implement on the handle and facilitating rotation of the cleaning implement relative to the handle.
3. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1 wherein, further comprising a spring for biasing the latching device toward the latched position.
4. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1 wherein:
- the quick-detachable coupling mechanism includes a detent ball;
- one of the male part and the female part of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism is supported at an end of the cleaning implement and includes a circumferential groove; and
- the other of the male part and the female part is supported on the handle and includes an axial bore and radially extending passage along which the detent ball is movable between a first position seated in the circumferential groove and a second position retracted from the circumferential groove.
5. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 4 wherein the latching device includes a recess aligned radially with the passage to permit movement of the detent ball from the first position to the second position and a latched position wherein the latching device interferes with movement of the detent ball from the first position to the second position.
6. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 4 wherein the male part is supported on the handle, the axial bore is formed in the male part, and the latching devise is supported in the axial bore.
7. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1 wherein an outer circumferential mounting groove is formed in an end of the cleaning implement.
8. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the latching device is axially movable to force the male and female parts of the quick-coupling mechanism apart.
9. A gun cleaning kit including the gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1.
10. A gun barrel cleaning device comprising:
- a handle;
- an elongate cleaning implement having an axis;
- a quick-detachable coupling mechanism releasably coupling the handle to the cleaning implement, the quick-detachable coupling mechanism including a latching device slidably movable between an unlatched position in which the cleaning implement is detachable from the handle and a latched position preventing the cleaning implement from being detached from the handle; and
- a plurality of thrust bearings at a first end of the handle and a plurality of thrust bearings at a second end of the handle supporting the cleaning implement on the handle and facilitating rotation of the cleaning implement about its axis relative to the handle.
11. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 10 wherein the thrust bearing includes ball bearings.
12. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 10 wherein the thrust bearing includes a first thrust bearing part that bears the load of axial movement of the cleaning implement in a first direction and a second thrust bearing part that bears the load of axial movement of the cleaning implement in a second direction opposite the first direction.
13. (canceled)
14. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 10 wherein:
- the quick-detachable coupling mechanism includes a male part having an axis, a female part receiving the male part coaxially therein, and a detent ball;
- one of the male part and the female part is supported in an end of the cleaning implement and includes a circumferential groove; and
- the other of the male part and the female part is supported on the handle and includes an axial bore and a radially extending passage along which the detent ball is movable between a first position seated in the circumferential groove and a second position retracted from the circumferential groove.
15. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 14 wherein the latching device includes a recess aligned radially with the passage to permit movement of the detent ball from the first position to the second position and a latched position wherein the latching device interferes with the movement of the detent ball from the first position to the second position.
16. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 10 wherein the latching device is axially movable to force the male and female parts of the quick-coupling mechanism apart.
17. A gun cleaning kit including the gun barrel cleaning device of claim 10.
18. A gun barrel cleaning device, comprising:
- a handle;
- a cleaning implement sized for insertion into a gun barrel; and
- a quick-coupling mechanism releasably coupling the handle to the cleaning implement, the quick-coupling mechanism comprising a male part having an axis, a female part receiving the male part coaxially therein, and a detent ball, one of the male part and the female part supported at an end of the cleaning implement and having a circumferential groove, and the other of the male part and the female part supported on the handle and having an axial bore and a radially extending passage along which the detent ball is movable between a first position seated in the circumferential groove and a second position retracted from the circumferential groove, the quick-coupling mechanism further comprising a latching device, located within the handle, slidably movable relative to the other of the male part and the female part between an unlatched position wherein a recess of the latching device is aligned radially with the passage to permit movement of the detent ball from the first position to the second position and a latched position wherein the latching device interferes with movement of the detent ball from the first position to the second position.
19. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 18, further comprising a thrust bearing supporting the cleaning implement on the handle and facilitating rotation of the cleaning implement relative to the handle.
20. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 18 wherein the latching device is axially movable to force the male and female parts of the quick-coupling mechanism apart.
21. A gun cleaning kit including the gun barrel cleaning device of claim 18.
22-25. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 10, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 14, 2006
Applicant: Michaels of Oregon Co. (Oregon City, OR)
Inventor: Thomas Peterson (New Ulm, MN)
Application Number: 11/150,841
International Classification: F41A 29/00 (20060101);