FEED RAMP EXTENSION BRACKET FOR FIREARM

Abstract

A feed ramp bracket for a firearm is provided. A channel is formed within an upper receiver. The channel is positioned to be below a barrel extension feed ramp of a barrel extension secured within the upper receiver. A bracket is releasably secured within the channel. The bracket is a replaceable piece that replaces a portion of the upper receiver, preventing wear.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/126,859, filed Mar. 2, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to firearms and, more particularly, to a feed ramp bracket secured to an upper receiver of a firearm.

The AR platform is a lightweight, cartridge magazine-fed, air-cooled rifle with a rotating lock bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation or long/short stroke piston operation. It has been produced in many different versions, including numerous semi-automatic and select fire variants. It is manufactured with extensive use of aluminum alloys and synthetic materials. Currently, hard tipped ammunition causes erosion or wear in the upper receiver on the AR platform rifles. This wear causes an obstruction or ridge to form between the barrel extension and the upper receiver. The wear induced obstruction causes ammunition not to feed into the chamber of the AR platform rifle, which increases pre-mature failure rates for the AR platform rifles.

As can be seen, there is a need for a replaceable bracket that prevents wear to the upper receiver of a firearm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus comprises: an upper receiver of an AR platform firearm; a channel formed within the upper receiver and positioned to be below a barrel extension feed ramp of a barrel extension secured within the upper receiver; and a bracket releasably secured within the channel.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of preventing damage to an upper receiver comprises: forming a channel within the upper receiver positioned to be below a barrel extension feed ramp of a barrel extension secured within the upper receiver; and releasably securing a bracket within the channel.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a modified upper receiver shown with a bracket installed;

FIG. 3 is a reverse bottom perspective detail view of the modified upper receiver shown with the bracket installed;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view demonstrating the bracket removed from a channel formed within the modified upper receiver;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a section detail view of the receiver along line 7-7 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is a prior art view of an unmodified upper receiver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention includes a hardened feed ramp bracket that merges with the barrel extension on AR platform rifles. The hardened feed ramp bracket of the present invention solves the problem of erosion to the AR platform upper receiver. The bracket part prevents damage to the upper receiver that causes the ridge to form between the upper receiver and the barrel extension. This eliminates the failure to feed issues and extends the lifespan of the AR platform rifles. Further, if the bracket is worn or damaged, a user may easily replace the bracket as opposed to replacing the entire receiver.

The present invention may be made from material that is harder than the AR platform upper receiver. The bracket may be placed within a channel formed in the upper receiver with the arms of the bracket facing the front of the barrel. The concave radius cut corresponds to the convex shape of the barrel extension, and the relief cuts are in a position so as to allow ammunition to feed into the chamber of the rifle without making contact with the upper receiver of the AR platform rifle. The holes in the arms of the bracket allow for set screws or pins to hold the part in place, although with a good fit, the piece could be fit in place without the arms of the bracket.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 8, the present invention includes a modified upper receiver 22 and a bracket 10. The modified upper receiver 22 may be from an AR firearm 26 or other type of firearm. A channel 20 is formed within the upper receiver 22 and positioned to be below a barrel extension feed ramp 30 of a barrel extension 28 secured within the upper receiver 22. A bracket 10 is releasably secured within the channel 20. The bracket 10 includes a replaceable piece that replaces a portion of the upper receiver 22 that typically receives wear from receiving bullets.

The bracket 10 of the present invention may include a substantially straight base having an upper surface. A concave cutout 14 may be formed in the upper surface. The concave cutout 14 may mate with a convex shape of the barrel extension 28 when the bracket 10 is within the channel 20 and the barrel extension 28 is secured to the upper receiver 22. In certain embodiments, bracket feed ramps 12 may be formed within the concave cutout 14. The bracket feed ramps 12 may include cutouts within the concave cutout 14 with a smaller radius of curvature. The bracket feed ramps 12 are positioned to align with the barrel extension feed ramps 30, which prevent additional wear to the bracket 10.

In certain embodiments, the bracket 10 may be U-shaped, having a base with two arms substantially perpendicular and extending from opposite ends of the base. The base and pair of arms of the bracket 10 may fit within the channel 20. In certain embodiments, each of the pair of arms includes a threaded through hole 16. Threaded set screws 18 are operable to engage the threaded through holes 16, abutting a portion of the receiver, and thereby securing the bracket 10 within the channel 20.

A method of preventing damage to an upper receiver 22 may include the following. A channel 20 may be formed in an unmodified upper receiver 24 of a firearm 26, forming the modified upper receiver 22. The channel 20 is positioned to be below a barrel extension feed ramp 30 of a barrel extension 28. The bracket 10 may be inserted into the channel 20. In certain embodiments, the bracket 10 may include the threaded through holes 16 formed through the arms. A set screw may screwed into a through hole 16 of each arm. The set screws 18 may be driven until the set screws 18 abut a portion of the upper receiver, thereby securing the bracket 10 within the channel 20. Once the bracket 10 is placed in the upper receiver 22, the potential wear on the upper receiver 22 would be eliminated. If the bracket 10 were to experience wear, the bracket 10 could be replaced in the field in a matter of minutes. The ability to replace the part extends the lifespan of the weapon.

The bracket 10 of the present invention may be made of a metal stronger than that of the upper receiver 22. For example, the bracket 10 may be made of steel and the upper receiver 22 may be made of aluminum. However, the bracket is not limited to steel and may be made of various materials, such as ceramics, various metals or metal alloys. The bracket 10 can be cut from a larger piece of material and shaped with tools by hand or with machines. The bracket 10 could also be molded.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an upper receiver of a firearm;

a channel formed within the upper receiver and positioned to be below a barrel extension feed ramp of a barrel extension secured within the upper receiver; and

a bracket releasably secured within the channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bracket further comprises a concave cutout formed to mate with a convex shape of the barrel extension.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the bracket further comprises bracket feed ramps positioned to align with the barrel extension feed ramps.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises a pair of arms extending substantially perpendicular to a base.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pair of arms each comprise threaded through holes.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising set screws releasably securing the bracket within the channel through the threaded through holes.

7. A method of preventing damage to an upper receiver comprising:

forming a channel within the upper receiver positioned to be below a barrel extension feed ramp of a barrel extension secured within the upper receiver; and

releasably securing a bracket within the channel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the bracket further comprises a concave cutout formed to mate with a convex shape of the barrel extension.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the bracket further comprises bracket feed ramps positioned to align with the barrel extension feed ramps.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the bracket comprises a pair of arms extending substantially perpendicular to a base.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pair of arms each comprise threaded through holes.

12. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of threading set screws into the through holes until the set screws abut a portion of the upper receiver.