REMOVABLE STOCK ADAPTER
A stock adapter for removably coupling a stock to a firearm without the use of tools includes an adapter housing; a firearm connector on a first side of the adapter housing; a stock connector on a second side of the adapter housing; and a stock release actuator including an actuator lever rotatably coupled to the adapter housing. The actuator lever is positioned to depress a stock release pushbutton on a firearm when the firearm connector on the stock adapter is attached to a connector for a removable stock on the firearm. The stock release actuator is configured to depress the stock release pushbutton by a displacement of the actuator lever in a direction opposite to the direction for pulling the trigger to discharge the firearm.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/795,516, filed Jan. 22, 2019, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments relate generally to a firearm capable of accepting a removable stock and more particularly to a device for securely and removably attaching a removable stock to a firearm.
BACKGROUNDA stock may be provided on a firearm to support the firearm against a person's shoulder while the firearm is being aimed and fired. The stock may improve firing accuracy and may absorb and distribute recoil forces to reduce discomfort. The stock may be configured to be removed from other parts of the firearm, for example to prepare the firearm for safe storage and/or transport, and for re-attachment to prepare the firearm for use.
A removable stock may include a connector that couples securely to a corresponding stock connector on a firearm. For example, a channel, ridge, or flange on the stock may firmly engage with a corresponding channel, ridge, or flange on the firearm. A picatinney rail connector on a stock may engage with a corresponding picatinney rail on a firearm. Some firearms may use a stock fitted with a buffer tube having a threaded end configured to engage with a corresponding threaded aperture on the firearm. Some buffer tubes have an adapter for connecting to a picatinney rail on a firearm.
The firearm may include a securing mechanism configured to retain a removable stock firmly to the firearm. An example of a securing mechanism includes a spring-loaded pushbutton positioned at the back end of the receiver on the firearm such that the pushbutton may extend into a corresponding pushbutton aperture on the stock. When engaged with one another, the pushbutton and pushbutton aperture oppose separation of the stock from the firearm. The pushbutton may be positioned to avoid unintended release of the stock from the firearm and may therefore be difficult to reach and/or operate. Deliberately operating the securing mechanism to intentionally remove the stock from the firearm may be difficult for a person wearing gloves or a person with poor finger dexterity. The connector to the firearm on the stock and the connector to the stock on the firearm may be engaged so tightly as a result of friction or mechanical interference that striking the stock with a mallet or similar tool may be helpful to separate the stock from the firearm. A prying tool may be needed to access and/or provide sufficient leverage to operate the securing mechanism holding the stock to the firearm. Carrying a suitable tool for removing the stock may not be convenient. Striking a firearm or using a prying tool to remove a stock presents risks of cosmetic and mechanical damage to the stock and other parts of the firearm and injury to the person using the tool, and may cause unintended discharge of the firearm if a person fails to unload the firearm before attempting to remove the stock.
SUMMARYAn example apparatus embodiment of a stock adapter includes an adapter housing; a firearm connector on a first side of the adapter housing; a stock connector on a second side of the adapter housing opposite the first side; and a stock release actuator including an actuator lever rotatably coupled to the adapter housing, with the actuator lever positioned to contact a stock release pushbutton on a firearm when the firearm connector on the stock adapter is attached to a connector for a removable stock on a firearm. The adapter housing is preferably formed with an aperture configured to receive the stock release pushbutton.
The actuator lever extends out from a bottom side of the adapter housing. The stock release actuator is configured to depress the stock release pushbutton on the firearm by a displacement of an outer end of the actuator lever toward the first side of the adapter housing, i.e., toward the firearm and in a direction opposite to the direction for pulling the trigger to discharge the firearm. The actuator lever is formed with a shoulder extending outward from a front side of the actuator lever. The shoulder is positioned on the actuator lever to contact and depress the stock release pushbutton.
Apparatus embodiments include a stock adapter configured for safe and easy removal and re-attachment of a stock from other parts of a firearm, without the use of tools and without alteration of the stock and firearm. The example stock adapter embodiments oppose accidental separation of the stock from the firearm and simplify intentional separation of the stock from the firearm. The example stock adapter embodiments securely and removably attach to a firearm between a firearm connector on the stock and a corresponding stock connector on the firearm. Depending on the configuration of the firearm, the stock connector on the firearm may be at the back end of the receiver or may be some distance from the receiver, where the receiver includes the firing mechanism of the firearm. A connector on a front end of the stock adapter has a shape and function corresponding to the connector on the front end of a removable stock configured for attachment to a firearm. Another connector on the back end of the stock adapter has a shape and function corresponding to the stock connector on the firearm. When not in use or when needed for use on another firearm, the stock adapter may be easily removed from the stock and firearm and the stock may be reattached directly to the firearm without the intervening stock adapter.
A stock release actuator included with the stock adapter is positioned to easily and safely depress a stock release pushbutton on the firearm. The stock release actuator provides an actuator lever with mechanical advantage to increase finger force against the lever to a magnitude and direction sufficient for fast and easy depression of the stock release pushbutton. The stock release actuator eliminates the need for a prying tool such as a screwdriver or knife blade to depress the stock release pushbutton. Stock adapter embodiments are advantageous for a person wearing gloves or a person with insufficient finger strength or dexterity to quickly and safely separate the stock from the firearm without the use of tools.
Turning to the examples of
A stock release actuator 168, preferably included in all embodiments of the stock adapter 100, includes an actuator lever 134 rotatably coupled to the adapter housing 102. The actuator lever 134 is positioned in the adapter housing to contact a stock release button on a firearm when the firearm connector 170 on the stock adapter 100 is connected to the corresponding stock connector on the firearm. An amount of force applied to the actuator lever by a person's finger is increased through the mechanical advantage of the stock release actuator and directed onto the spring-loaded stock release button on the firearm to depress the button, enabling the stock adapter 100, and a stock when attached to the stock adapter, to be released from the firearm and/or connected to the firearm without the use of a separate tool for depressing the stock release pushbutton.
The stock release actuator 168 is preferably configured so that the actuator lever 134 is unlikely to be mistaken for the trigger for discharging the firearm. The actuator lever 134 may be held in a rest position by the spring-loaded stock release pushbutton urging the actuator lever toward the back side 110 of the stock adapter 100. Operating the stock release actuator 168 to decouple the stock adapter 100 from the firearm requires a displacement of the outer end 178 of the actuator lever 134 in a forward direction 128, toward the receiver of the firearm and in a direction opposite to the direction in which the trigger is pulled to discharge the firearm.
Embodiments of the stock adapter 100 are further configured to provide an adjustable retaining force for holding the firearm connector 170 on the front side 108 of the adapter housing 102 to the corresponding connector on the back of the firearm. A grub screw 164 threadably engaged with the adapter housing may be selectively extended and retracted to press against the firearm's receiver, thereby increasing or decreasing an amount of force pressing the firearm connector 170 on the stock adapter 100 against the corresponding stock connector on the firearm. The grub screw 164 may be set for easy separation of the stock adapter 100 from the firearm after activation of the stock release actuator 168, for engagement between the stock adapter and firearm that is sufficiently strong to prevent separation of the parts without substantial effort, or for intermediate degrees of difficulty in separating the stock adapter from the firearm as selected by the person making the adjustment.
The example of a stock adapter in
When the stock adapter 100 is attached to a firearm, the stock release pushbutton on the firearm extends into a release button aperture 166, preferably engaging the walls of the aperture 166 with a sliding fit and opposing separation of the firearm connector 170 from the corresponding stock connector on the firearm. Displacing the outer end 178 of the actuator lever 134 in a forward direction 128 (ref.
An example of the back side 110 of the stock adapter 100 is shown in
Unless expressly stated otherwise herein, ordinary terms have their corresponding ordinary meanings within the respective contexts of their presentations, and ordinary terms of art have their corresponding regular meanings.
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an adapter housing;
- a firearm connector on a first side of said adapter housing;
- a stock connector on a second side of said adapter housing opposite said first side;
- and
- a stock release actuator comprising: an actuator lever rotatably coupled to said adapter housing, said actuator lever positioned to contact a stock release pushbutton on a firearm when said firearm connector is attached to a connector for a removable stock on a firearm; and said adapter housing formed with an aperture configured to receive said stock release pushbutton.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuator lever extends out from a bottom side of said adapter housing.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said stock release actuator is configured to depress said stock release pushbutton by a displacement of an outer end of said actuator lever away from said second side of said adapter housing.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuator lever comprises a shoulder extending outward from a front side of said actuator lever, said shoulder positioned on said actuator lever to contact said stock release pushbutton.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pivot pin attached to said actuator lever, said pivot pin forming a center of rotation of said actuator lever relative to said adapter housing.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a bushing on said pivot pin, wherein said busing and said pivot pin fit into a bushing aperture formed in said adapter housing.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said adapter housing is formed with a slot for receiving said actuator lever.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a retaining plate attached to said adapter housing, said retaining plate positioned on said adapter housing to retain said actuator lever in said adapter housing.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a grub screw threadably engaged with said adapter housing, said grub screw positioned to extend outward from said first side of said adapter housing.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said grub screw is configured to press said firearm connector against said connector for a removable stock on a firearm.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said stock connector on said adapter housing is configured to receive a buffer tube on a stock for a firearm.
12. The adapter of claim 11, wherein said stock connector is formed as an internally-threaded hollow cylinder.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 21, 2020
Publication Date: Sep 3, 2020
Inventor: Daniel Peknik (Cave Creek, AZ)
Application Number: 16/748,788