Firearm Barrel Holders

Abstract

In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein an apparatus comprising a base and a barrel holder body coupled with the base. The barrel holder body comprises opposing arms made of a flexible material forming a cylindrical cavity with an opening configured to receive a first section of a barrel of a firearm.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/053,904, filed Sep. 23, 2014.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to firearms and firearm accessories.

BACKGROUND

Some firearms, such as air cooled .50 caliber machine gun, can fire a limited amount of ordinance before barrel heating becomes a problem. To remedy the problems associated with barrel heating, barrel change outs may be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification illustrate the example embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a firearm barrel holder.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the firearm barrel holder illustrated in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a side view of the firearm barrel holder illustrated in FIG. 1 with an optional strap attached.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a strap that can be employed by a firearm barrel holder.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a firearm barrel with multiple firearm holders and a sleeve attached thereto.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a stacking arrangement of firearm barrel holders.

OVERVIEW OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The following presents a simplified overview of the example embodiments in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the example embodiments. This overview is not an extensive overview of the example embodiments. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the example embodiments nor delineate the scope of the appended claims. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the example embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein an apparatus comprising a base and a barrel holder body coupled with the base. The barrel holder body comprises opposing arms made of a flexible material forming a cylindrical cavity with an opening configured to receive a first section of a barrel of a firearm.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

This description provides examples not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. The figures generally indicate the features of the examples, where it is understood and appreciated that like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “an example embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described is included in at least one embodiment described herein and does not imply that the feature, structure, or characteristic is present in all embodiments described herein.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, where FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a firearm barrel holder 100, there is illustrated an example of a firearm barrel holder 100 that comprises a generally planar flat mounting plate or base B and a body 102 formed by opposing arms 101 or sections which define a generally cylindrical cavity 103 configured to receive a section of a barrel of a gun. The body 102 with opposing arms 101, or separate bodies 102 having an arm 101 and arranged in an opposing relationship, are made of flexible material and with an opening 104 into the cylindrical cavity 103, through which a section of gun barrel is passed for engagement between the opposing arms in a snug or tight gripping engagement.

In an example embodiment, the barrel holder 100 can be mounting to a supporting structure 105 by fasteners 106 that pass through the mounting plate B and/or through a portion of the opposing arms 101. Two or more pairs of opposing arms 101 may be provided on a single mounting plate B with the cylindrical cavities 103 defined by the arms in alignment.

In an example embodiment, an optional securement strap S, attached at ends 107, 108 to a lateral area of the body 102 to traverse the arm pairs 101, The strap S may be provided to extend over the opening 104 to the cylindrical cavity 103. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a Strap S suitable for an example embodiment.

In an example embodiment, the firearm barrel holders 100 are molded either partially or entirely of one or more polymeric materials, which may include an elastic polymer or “elastomer” and thermoplastic elastomers which exhibit viscoelasticity in durometers in the approximate hardness ranges of 5 Shore A to 90 Shore A, 40 Shore A or lower, less than or equal to 80 Shore A, 40 Shore A to 70 Shore A, 50 Shore A to 70 Shore A, of 35 Shore A to 60 Shore A.

In an example embodiment, such materials may include, for example, one or more of the following: synthetic rubber, natural rubber, neoprene, butyl rubber, silicone, urethane, viscoelastic urethane, nylon, PVC, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, PVB (Polyvinyl butyral), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) or Nanbrol®, a nano-particle reinforced nitrite butadiene rubber (NBR), and thermoplastic polymer alloys with SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber), EPDM ((ethylene propylene diene terpolymer)) or urethanes as base polymers and blended to optimize dynamic properties, dimensional stability and elasticity, thermal resistance and fatigue performance.

In an example embodiment, additives which can be used with these materials in the manufacture of the described gun rail attachments include glass beads, Expandacel™, Kevlar™, Mylar™, fiberglass, cotton or other woven or non-woven materials in internal layers with the barrel holder bodies. In particular embodiments, additives or coatings (such as, for example, Nomex™ or Nitrile™) can be selectively incorporated into the gun rail attachment body material or design for improved heat resistance, durability, strength, tackiness or surface friction, or any other desired properties. The rigidity of the arms 101 can be selectively designed for optimal stiffness to allow installation of a gun barrel through the opening to the cylindrical cavity while providing a sufficient gripping force.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a firearm barrel GB with multiple firearm holders and 100 a sleeve 109 attached thereto. This example also illustrates bolt holes 107 that can be employed for fastening the barrel holders 100 onto the support structure 105. In an example embodiment, T strap latch points 108 are provided to enable a strap S to be attached to a firearm holder 100.

In the illustrated example, a first barrel holder 100-1 is mounted on a first end 110 of the support structure and a second barrel holder 100-2 is mounted on a second end 111 of the support structure 105. In particular embodiments, a barrel sleeve 109 is attached to the firearm barrel GB. In the illustrated example, the barrel sleeve 109 is located between the first barrel holder 100-1 mounted on first end 110 of the support structure and the second barrel holder 100-2, however, those skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the barrel sleeve 109 may be located at any convenient location on gun barrel GB. Those skilled in the art should also readily appreciate that the gun barrel GB is employed for ease of illustration and explanation of the example embodiments and does not form a part of any of the example embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a stacking arrangement 112 of firearm barrel holders 100. In an example embodiment, a strap 116 is employed to secure the firearm holders 100 in the stacking arrangement 112.

The firearm barrel holder 100 described in the example embodiments herein provide a novel firearm accessory by which the barrel of a firearm such as a machine gun, such as for example the M2 machine gun, can be quickly secured and safely fired in the installed position. The barrel holder 100 may be mounted to a fixed mounting structure such as a stand or frame member, or to an articulated structure such as a tripod or other mount which swivel or pivot function that allows movement of the firearm barrel in multiple dimensions. The interior surfaces of the opposing arms 101 can be molded in any configuration, such as for example smooth wall surfaces, one or more projections, tapered, or other configurations which have additional cavities or deviations from cylindrical and which may be configured to fit over other parts of a firearm than the barrel. Also, the arms 101 may function as cooperating supports for the barrel or breech or stock of a gun, wherein one or more sections of a gun are supported by the uppermost extent of each of the arms. Alternatively, the body may be formed with a single monolithic projection from the base to an upper support surface for contact with a gun barrel or other part or area of a gun.

Described above are example embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the example embodiments are possible. Accordingly, this application is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first base; and

a first barrel holder body coupled with the base, the first barrel holder body comprises first opposing arms made of a flexible material forming a first cylindrical cavity with a first opening configured to receive a first section of a barrel of a firearm.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further comprising a support structure, wherein one of a group consisting of the first base, the first barrel holder body, and both the first base and the first barrel holder body are coupled with a first end of the support structure via a fastener.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, further comprising

a second base; and

a second barrel holder coupled with the second base, the second barrel holder body comprises second opposing arms

wherein one of a group consisting of the second base, the second barrel holder body, and both the second base and the second barrel holder body are coupled with a second end of the support structure via a fastener.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3, wherein a first portion of a firearm barrel is engaged with the first barrel holder body and a second portion of the firearm barrel is engaged with the second barrel holder body, further comprising a barrel sleeve disposed on the firearm barrel between the first barrel holder body and the second barrel holder body.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further comprising a securement strap attached to ends of the first barrel holder body

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the first base and the first barrel holder body are molded at least partially of one at least one polymeric materials.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6, wherein the at least one polymeric material that includes an elastic polymer and a thermoplastic elastomer.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein the polymeric material has a hardness range selected from a group consisting of 5 Shore A to 90 Shore A, no more than 40 Shore A, less than 80 Shore A, 40 Shore A to 70 Shore A, 50 Shore A to 70 Shore A, and 35 Shore A to 60 Shore A.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein the polymeric material comprises one of a group consisting of synthetic rubber, natural rubber, neoprene, butyl rubber, silicone, urethane, viscoelastic urethane, nylon, PVC, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, PVB, PVDF or Nanbrol®, a nano-particle reinforced nitrite butadiene rubber (NBR), and thermoplastic polymer alloys with one of a group consisting of SBR, EPDM and urethanes as base polymers.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein the polymeric material further comprises an additive selected from a group consisting of glass beads, Expandacel™ Kevlar™, Mylar™, fiberglass, cotton, a woven material, and non-woven material

11. The apparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein the polymeric material further comprises a coating selected from a group consisting of Nomex™ and Nitrile™