CLEANING IMPLEMENTS FOR FIREARMS
The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for cleaning implements for firearms. In one embodiment, a single-use cleaning implement may include a hollow member; and a cleaning surface disposed along a length of the hollow member. The cleaning surface may be disposed about a circumference of the hollow member. A flexible shaft may be configured to extend through the hollow member. The flexible shaft may comprise a retainer component disposed at a distal end, the retainer component configured to abut a distal end of the cleaning implement and to impede the cleaning implement from passing over the retainer component. The flexible shaft may be used to pull the hollow cleaning implement through the barrel of the firearm while the retainer component abuts the distal end of the cleaning implement and the first cleaning surface engages with an inner surface of the barrel to clean the barrel.
The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/974,387, filed Apr. 2, 2014, and titled “CLEANING IMPLEMENTS FOR FIREARMS,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The present application also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/677,728, filed Apr. 2, 2015, and titled “CLEANING IMPLEMENTS FOR FIREARMS,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/152,454, filed May 11, 2016, and titled “CLEANING IMPLEMENTS FOR FIREARMS”, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis disclosure relates to systems and methods for cleaning a barrel of a firearm. More specifically, the present disclosure may include embodiments in which a cleaning implement may be used in connection with standard firearm cleaning equipment.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the disclosure are described, including various embodiments of the disclosure, with reference to the figures, in which:
The embodiments of the disclosure will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. It will be readily understood that the components of the disclosed embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following detailed description of embodiments of the systems and methods of the disclosure is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, as claimed, but is merely representative of possible embodiments of the disclosure. In addition, the steps of a method do not necessarily need to be executed in any specific order, or even sequentially, nor need the steps be executed only once, unless otherwise specified.
In some cases, well-known features, structures or operations are not shown or described in detail. Furthermore, the described features, structures, or operations may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It will also be readily understood that the components of certain embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations.
The cleaning surface 112 may be sized such that it is compressed when inserted into the barrel of a firearm. The compression of the cleaning surface 112 may exert an outward pressure on the barrel of the firearm and increase the ability of the cleaning surface 112 to clean the barrel and maintain the center of shaft 116 in the barrel and in/on the tip of a cleaning rod. Further, when the cleaning surface 112 exits from a distal end of a barrel, the cleaning surface 112 may expand and impede re-entry of the cleaning implement 110 into the barrel of the firearm.
The cleaning implement 120 includes two cleaning surfaces 122 and 123 disposed along a shaft 126. In some embodiments, the shaft may comprise wood, plastic, metal, or any suitable material. The material may be selected, in certain embodiments, to allow for low-cost production of disposable or one-time-use cleaning implement 120. The shaft 126 may be sized to fit within cleaning equipment produced by a variety of vendors and that are sold in a variety of outlets. The shaft 126 may be sized to fit in/on existing cleaning rods, which may be sold individually or as kits comprising various cleaning equipment that may be used for cleaning a firearm.
A plurality of cleaning surfaces disposed along the length of a shaft of a cleaning implement may serve to center the cleaning implement in the barrel of a firearm and center the cleaning implement shaft in/on the tip of the cleaning rod as the cleaning implement is passing through the barrel during cleaning. As illustrated in
Cleaning implement 130 includes three cleaning surfaces 132, 133, and 134. In various embodiments, each of the three cleaning surfaces may be formed of different materials. For example, in one embodiment, cleaning surface 132 may be formed of brass wool or brass bristles, cleaning surface 133 may be formed of a synthetic fiber, and cleaning surface 134 may be formed of brass wool. Still further, in some embodiments, different solvents and/or lubricants may be applied to cleaning surfaces 132, 133, and 134. The different materials and/or different solvents or lubricants may allow each of cleaning surfaces 132, 133, and 134 to achieve the result of three separate passes in a single pass, thus potentially reducing the time needed to clean a firearm.
Cleaning implement 140 includes a plurality of cleaning surfaces 142, 143, and 144 of increasing size. The sequentially increasing sizes of cleaning surfaces 142, 143, and 144 may apply a corresponding level of outward pressure on the barrel of the firearm, and may therefore be more effective in cleaning the barrel. As noted in connection with cleaning implement 130, different solvents and/or lubricants may be applied to each of cleaning surfaces 142, 143, and 144. Cleaning implement 140 also includes a threaded portion 148 disposed at the proximal end of shaft 146. The threaded portion 148 may be used in certain embodiments to couple cleaning implement 140 to a rod that may be used to push cleaning implement 140 along the barrel of a firearm.
In some embodiments, a diameter 227 of the shaft 116 may be smaller than the female end of a commonly available cleaning rod configured to receive the shaft 116 and to push the cleaning implement 110 along the length of a barrel of a firearm. In some embodiments, a rod (not shown) of firearm cleaning device may include a threaded female receptacle (not shown) that is configured to receive a male threaded tip (not shown). The cleaning implement 110 may be used in place of the threaded tip. The diameter 227 may be selected such that the proximal end of the cleaning implement 110 fits within and is received by the female receptacle disposed at the end of the rod. In some embodiments, the fit may be a friction fit, such that some amount of force is needed to overcome friction between the shaft 116 and the threads to engage or disengage the cleaning implement 110 from the receptacle.
In some embodiments, the rod may only be effective for pushing the cleaning implement 110 through the barrel since the cleaning implement 110 lacks threads on the proximal end of the cleaning implement 110. In other words, while a rod configured to receive a threaded tip may be used to push the cleaning implement 110 from a proximal end to a distal end of a barrel, motion of the rod in the opposite direction (i.e., from a distal end to a proximal end of a barrel) may result in separation of the rod and the cleaning element 110.
The shaft 316 may be received in a receptacle at the end of a rod 330. A diameter of the shaft 316 may be smaller than the end of the cleaning rod 330, which according to various embodiments may be a commercially available product or a custom model, configured to receive the shaft 316 and to push the cleaning implement 310 along the length of a barrel of a firearm. When the cleaning surface 312 is pushed out of the end of a distal end of a barrel of a firearm, the cleaning surface proximal end 322 may expand and impede re-entry of the cleaning implement 310 into the barrel of the firearm as the rod 330 is withdrawn from the barrel.
In still other embodiments, cleaning implements lacking a threaded component may be used in connection with cleaning rod 510. More specifically, as described in connection with
The cleaning implement 610 may exert an outward pressure against the barrel 608 while the cleaning implement 610 is disposed within the barrel 608 because the diameter of the cleaning implement 610 may exceed the diameter of the barrel 608. The outward pressure exerted by the cleaning implement 610 may be caused by compression of the cleaning implement 610 within the barrel 608. The pressure exerted by the cleaning implement 610 may help to clean the barrel 608 as the cleaning implement 610 passes from a proximal end 618 of the barrel 608 to a distal end 620 of the barrel 608. When the cleaning implement 610 exits from the distal end 620 of the barrel 608 the greater diameter of the cleaning implement 610 in comparison to the barrel 608 may prevent re-entry of the cleaning implement 610 into the barrel 608. As the cleaning rod 604 is moved in the direction of arrow 614, the cleaning implement 610 may disengage from the cleaning rod 604 as shown by arrow 612.
In various embodiments, the flexible shaft 706 may be formed of a variety of materials. For example, the flexible shaft 706 may be embodied as a plastic cord, a string, a rope, etc. In one specific embodiment, the flexible shaft 706 may comprise a plastic cord that may also be used in a line trimmer or string trimmer that may be used to trim grass and other plants. In other embodiments, the flexible shaft 706 may be embodied as a nylon string or rope.
A distal end 710 of the flexible shaft 706 may be configured to retain the hollow cleaning implement 702 on the flexible shaft 706 as the hollow cleaning implement 702 is pulled through a barrel of a firearm. In the illustrated embodiment, the flexible shaft 706 includes a flared portion 708. In one particular embodiment in which the flexible shaft is embodied as a plastic line, the flared portion 708 may be formed by heating the distal end 710 until the distal end at least partially melts and deforms. The deformation caused by heating may result in the flared portion 708, illustrated in
The coupler 806 may be inserted into the hollow cleaning implement 802. The coupler 806 may include a male threaded portion 812 that may be received within a female threaded component 814 disposed on the end of a flexible shaft 816. The flexible shaft 816 may be formed of a variety of materials. For example, the flexible shaft 816 may be embodied as a plastic cord, a string, a rope, etc. In one embodiment, the female threaded component may be affixed to the flexible shaft 816 by a user. The coupler 806 may further include a retainer 808 disposed at the distal end 810 of the coupler 806. The retainer 808 may be configured to retain the hollow cleaning implement 802 on the coupler 806 as the hollow cleaning implement 802 is pulled through a barrel of a firearm by impeding the hollow cleaning implement 802 from passing over the retainer 808 as the flexible shaft 816, the coupler 806, and the hollow cleaning implement 802 are pulled through the barrel of a firearm. In various embodiments, the hollow cleaning implement 802 may be disposable, while the flexible shaft 816 and the coupler 806 may be reusable.
Separators 910, 911, and 912 may be disposed along a shaft 908 and disposed between each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces 901, 902, 903, and 904. In the illustrated embodiment, a user may separate cleaning implement 900 into a single-cleaning-surface implement 920, a double-cleaning-surface implement 921, or a triple-cleaning-surface implement 922. Users may desire to separate cleaning implement 900 into separate cleaning implements for a variety of reasons. Specifically, a user may desire to accomplish multiple cleaning passes through a barrel of a firearm using different cleaning solvents, or a user may desire to utilize more or fewer cleaning surfaces depending on how much use the firearm has had since the last cleaning.
In some embodiments, the separators 910, 911, and 912 may facilitate the separation of cleaning implement 900 into a plurality of separate cleaning elements. In some embodiments, the separators 910, 911, and 912 may be a score mark on the shaft 908. Such embodiment may allow a user to separate sections of cleaning implement 900 by hand and without the use of a tool. In other embodiments, the separators 910, 911, and 912 may simply provide an indication of a suggested point of separation. Such embodiments may involve use of a cutting tool (e.g., scissors, a knife, etc.) to separate sections of cleaning implement 900. In some embodiments, the shaft may comprise wood, plastic, metal, or any suitable material.
The shaft 1002 may be received in a receptacle at the end of a cleaning rod 1006. A diameter of the shaft 1002 may be smaller than the end of the cleaning rod 1006, which according to various embodiments may be a commercially available product or a custom model, configured to receive the shaft 1002 and to push the cleaning implement 1000 along the length of a barrel of a firearm. When the cleaning surfaces 1004 are pushed out of the end of a distal end of a barrel of a firearm, the cleaning surfaces may impede re-entry of the cleaning implement 1000 into the barrel of the firearm as the rod 1006 is withdrawn from the barrel. Although cleaning surfaces 1004 are presented as extending from opposite sides of the shaft 1002, in alternative embodiments, the cleaning surfaces 1004 may be oriented at any angle. For example, in some embodiments, four sets of cleaning surfaces may be disposed about a circumference of the shaft at approximately 90° angles to one another.
In the illustrated embodiment, shaft 1002 may terminate with a sharp point 1006. The sharp point 1006 may be used in various embodiments to scrape carbon deposits, dirt, and the like from the barrel or other areas and parts of a firearm. As may be appreciated, a variety of embodiments of cleaning implements disclosed herein may include a sharp point at a distal end of the shaft for scraping the barrel of a firearm. For example, the embodiments illustrated in
While specific embodiments and applications of the disclosure have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the precise configurations and components disclosed herein. Accordingly, many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of this disclosure. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.
Claims
1. A single-use cleaning implement for a barrel of a firearm, comprising:
- a shaft;
- a plurality of cleaning surfaces disposed along the length of the shaft, each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces being separated from each other cleaning surface by at least a portion of the shaft, and each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces configured to be received within the barrel of the firearm during a cleaning process;
- a separator disposed between two adjacent cleaning surfaces, the separator configured to facilitate separation of a first portion of the shaft from a second portion of the shaft, such that after separation of the first portion of the shaft from the second portion of the shaft each of the first portion of the shaft and the second portion of the shaft comprise at least one of the plurality of cleaning surfaces;
- wherein each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces exert an outward force against the barrel while the cleaning implement is disposed within the barrel, such that each cleaning surface removes debris from the barrel as the cleaning surface passes through the barrel during the cleaning process.
2. The single-use cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the shaft and the second portion of the shaft each comprise a proximal end configured to create a friction fit within a threaded female receptacle of a cleaning rod.
3. The single-use cleaning implement of claim 2, wherein the friction fit results in engagement between the proximal end and the cleaning rod while the cleaning rod is pushed in a first direction through the barrel from the proximal end, and results in disengagement of the proximal end from the cleaning rod when the cleaning rod is pulled away from the proximal end in a second direction, the first direction being opposite to the second direction.
4. The single-use cleaning implement of claim 2, wherein the friction fit between the cleaning implement and the cleaning rod is configured to disengage when the proximal end exits from a distal end of the barrel.
5. The single-use cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a hollow member.
6. The single-use cleaning implement of claim 5, wherein the hollow member is configured to receive a flexible shaft through the hollow member, the flexible shaft comprising a retainer component disposed at a distal end, the retainer component configured to abut a distal end of the single-use cleaning implement and to impede the distal end of the single-use cleaning implement from passing over the retainer component.
7. The single use cleaning implement of claim 6 wherein the hollow member is configured to be pulled through the barrel of the firearm using the flexible shaft during the cleaning process and while the retainer component abuts the distal end of the single-use cleaning implement and at least one of the plurality of cleaning surfaces engages with an inner surface of the barrel to clean the barrel.
8. The single-use cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces increases in diameter from a distal end of the single-use cleaning implement to a proximal end of the cleaning implement.
9. The single-use cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of the cleaning surfaces comprises one of cotton, felt, flannel, wool, brass wool and steel wool.
10. The single-use cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces comprises a material wrapped around the hollow member.
11. A method of cleaning a barrel of a firearm, comprising:
- providing a single-use cleaning implement, comprising: a shaft; a plurality of cleaning surfaces disposed along the length of the shaft, each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces being separated from each other cleaning surface by at least a portion of the shaft, and each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces configured to be received within the barrel of the firearm; a separator disposed between two adjacent cleaning surfaces, the separator configured to facilitate separation of a first portion of the shaft from a second portion of the shaft, such that after separation of the first portion of the shaft from the second portion of the shaft each of the first portion of the shaft and the second portion of the shaft comprise at least one of the plurality of cleaning surfaces; separating the first portion of the shaft from the second portion of the shaft;
- performing a cleaning process by passing one of the first portion of the shaft and the second portion of the shaft through the barrel of the firearm, such that each cleaning surface removes debris from the barrel as the cleaning surface passes through the barrel.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first portion of the shaft and the second portion of the shaft each comprise a proximal end configured to create a friction fit within a threaded female receptacle of a cleaning rod.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the cleaning process further comprises:
- pushing the cleaning rod in a first direction through the barrel from the proximal end, the friction fit resulting in engagement between the proximal end and the cleaning rod; and
- pulling the cleaning rod in a second direction, the first direction being opposite to the second direction, the friction fit resulting in disengagement between the proximal end and the cleaning rod.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the friction fit between the cleaning implement and the cleaning rod disengages when the proximal end exits from a distal end of the barrel.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the shaft comprises a hollow member.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
- passing a flexible shaft through the hollow member,
- abutting a retainer component disposed at a distal end of the flexible shaft against a distal end of the single-use cleaning implement, the retainer component configured to impede the distal end of the single-use cleaning implement from passing over the retainer component.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the cleaning process further comprises: pulling the hollow member through the barrel of the firearm using the flexible shaft while the retainer component abuts the distal end of the single-use cleaning implement and at least one of the plurality of cleaning surfaces engages with an inner surface of the barrel to clean the barrel.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces increases in diameter from a distal end of the single-use cleaning implement to a proximal end of the cleaning implement.
19. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of the cleaning surfaces comprises one of cotton, felt, flannel, wool, brass wool and steel wool.
20. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of cleaning surfaces comprises a material wrapped around the hollow member.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 5, 2017
Publication Date: Apr 5, 2018
Inventor: Chien Hwang (Salt Lake City, UT)
Application Number: 15/831,714