INTEGRATED UPPER RECEIVER AND INTEGRATED LOWER RECEIVER FOR THE AR10 AND AR15 PLATFORMS

Abstract

A lower receiver of a rifle is connected to a buffer tube of the rifle. A buttstock is formed of a frame extending around the buffer tube with a lower portion of the frame connecting to the lower receiver. An opening to the buffer tube includes a curved transition region to the top of the lower receiver. The lower receiver, frame, and buffer tube are formed monolithically of a single piece of material. A grip frame may be formed monolithically with the lower receiver. A buttstock frame may be formed monolithically with a buffer tube that defines a threaded portion for securement to an upper receiver of a rifle.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to the construction of firearms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The AR10 and AR15 are very popular firearm platforms. There are many interchangeable, aftermarket components available making the platform very versatile. The standardization of the system is convenient for interchangeability. It would be an advancement in the art to improve the functionality and versatility of the AR10 and AR15 firearm platforms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus includes a lower receiver for a rifle, a buttstock monolithically secured to the lower receiver, and a buffer tube monolithically formed in the buttstock. A rib may extend rearwardly from the lower receiver, the buttstock securing to the rib. The buttstock may include a buttstock frame that is formed continuously with the rib and extends from the rib, around the buffer tube and secures to a top of the buffer tube.

In some embodiments, a butt pad secures to a rear portion of the frame. The butt pad may be adjustable. A cheek piece may be secured to a portion of the frame above the buffer tube. A grip frame may be monolithically secured to the lower receiver.

In some embodiments, there is a first curved transition between a top of the receiver portion and the buffer tube.

An upper receiver may be secured to the lower receiver. The upper receiver may include a second curved transition sized to nest within the first curved transition. A scope mount may be monolithically formed on the upper receiver. The upper receiver may include a threaded opening at a front end thereof and sized to receive a rifle barrel without the need for a barrel nut.

The apparatus may include a rifle barrel threaded into the threaded opening. A plurality of first rifle components mounted within the upper receiver may include (a) a gas block and gas tube, (b) a bolt carrier group, (c) a charging handle, (b) a forward assist, and (c) an ejection port cover. A plurality of second rifle components mounted within the lower receiver may include a trigger mechanism, an ejector mechanism, and a hammer mechanism.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes a buffer tube defining a threaded portion for securement to a lower receiver of a rifle. A frame is monolithically formed around the buffer tube and forms a buttstock for the rifle. The frame and buffer tube are monolithically formed. the frame comprises a loop of material extending around the buffer tube. The apparatus may include a butt pad secured to a rear portion of the frame. The butt pad may be adjustable. A cheek piece may be secured to a portion of the frame above the buffer tube, the cheek piece being adjustable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectional view of a buttstock of an AR15 in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a barrel attachment design of an AR 15 in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a scope mount for an AR 15 in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lower receiver, buffer tube, and buttstock for an AR15 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of components of an AR15 including the upper receiver, lower receiver, buffer tube, and buttstock for an AR15 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of a buttstock and buffer tube for an AR15 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A typical AR10 and AR15 firearm platform includes an upper receiver 10, a lower receiver 12, and a buttstock 14. A buffer tube assembly includes a buffer tube 16 having a buffer mass 18 sliding within it and a spring 20 biasing the buffer mass 18 toward the lower receiver 12.

In a typical AR15 and AR10, the buffer tube 16 is threaded onto the lower receiver 12 and requires several components to align and secure it to the lower receiver 12. The buttstock 14 is then attached to the buffer tube and is adjustable fore and aft. The complexity of this design is problematic for several reasons. First, because the buffer tube is a thin metallic tube with a threaded end and is cantilevered off the back of the firearm, it is common for the buffer tube to fail at the thread due to an impact or excessive static pressure. Second, the design is heavy due to many discrete components. Finally, the rifle is tedious and time-intensive to assemble and disassemble. The hand grip 22 of a traditional AR10/AR15 is attached to the lower receiver 12 with a single bolt. The strength of this connection can be improved upon through the proposed design disclosed herein.

Referring to FIG. 2, the barrel 24 of a traditional AR 10/AR 15 utilizes a threaded extension 26 which allows it to be slipped into the upper receiver 10. A barrel nut 28 is threaded onto the upper receiver 10 to hold the barrel extension 26 to the upper receiver 10. The accuracy of the rifle depends on the torque setting of this nut.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a scope 30 is utilized, it is mounted to a scope mount 32, which attaches to the upper receiver via a Picatinny rail 34, which is a dovetailed attachment method. The accuracy of the scope 30 depends on the alignment of the scope 30 to the mount 32 as well as the mount 32 to the upper receiver 10. There are also opportunities for weight savings by simplifying this attachment method.

FIG. 4 illustrates an improved design for an AR 15 and AR 10. The improved design may be understood with respect to a longitudinal direction 40, lateral direction 40b, and vertical direction 40c that are all perpendicular to one another. The longitudinal direction 40a may correspond to the length of the barrel of the AR 15 and AR 10 and the direction of travel of a bullet fired by the AR 15 and AR 10.

The illustrated assembly 42 may include a lower receiver portion 44 and a buffer tube-buttstock assembly 46.

The lower receiver portion 44 includes a lower receiver 47. The lower receiver 47 may include sides 48 opposite one another that define a cavity for receiving components of the AR 15 and AR 10 such as the trigger mechanism, ejector mechanism, and hammer mechanism. The sides 48 may be parallel to the longitudinal and vertical directions 40a, 40c. The size and configuration of the cavity may be according to any design known in the art for receiving any of the lower-receiver-mounted components of an AR 15 or AR 10 as known in the art. A top 50 of the lower receiver portion 44 defines one or more openings 52 providing a pass through to engage components housed in the upper receiver. In particular, the ejector mechanism and hammer mechanism may protrude up through the openings 52.

The lower receiver portion 44 further defines a magazine sleeve 54 sized to receive a magazine supplying loaded rounds through the openings 52 to the components in the upper receiver. A trigger guard 56 is mounted or formed on the lower receiver portion and is positioned aft of the magazine sleeve 54.

Aft of the trigger guard 56, the lower receiver portion 44 may include a grip frame 60 defining openings 58. Grip plates 64 may secure on either side of the grip frame 60, such as by means of fasteners passing through the grip plates 64 and the openings 58. In the illustrated embodiment, the grip frame is a rib forming a loop extending down from the sides 48 and back up again in a plane parallel to the longitudinal and vertical directions 40a, 40c.

In the illustrated embodiment, a portion 70 of the lower receiver portion 44 extends aft of the cavity defined by the sides 48 of the lower receiver portion 44. For example, the sides 48 may extend rearwardly from the cavity and be flush and continuous with sides of a rib 70 extending rearwardly from the cavity. The buffer tube-buttstock assembly 46 may be secured to this rib 70.

The buffer tube-buttstock assembly 46 includes a buffer tube 72 sized to receive the buffer mass 18 and spring 20 of an AR 15 or AR 10. A lower surface of the buffer tube 72 is fastened to the rib 70. As is apparent, there may also be a curved transition region 74 from the upper surface 50 of the sides 48 to a perimeter of the opening 76 to the buffer tube 72.

In the illustrated embodiment, the rib 70 forms part of a buttstock frame of the assembly 46. In particular, note how the rib 70 may continue along a portion of the underside of the buffer tube 72 and then slope downwardly from the buffer tube (down frame 80) to a bottom frame portion 82, which then is connected to a rear frame portion 84, which is connected to a top frame portion that connects to and extends along the top of the buffer tube 72. As is apparent there may be rounded transition regions between each frame portion (between 80 and 82, between 82 and 84, and between 84 and 86). It is apparent that the portions 70, 80, 82, 84, 86 of the buttstock form a rib of material that forms a loop in a plane parallel to the longitudinal and vertical directions 40a, 40c.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rear frame portion 84 may provide a point of attachment for an adjustable butt pad. For example, the rear frame portion 84 may define openings 88 that receive posts 90 secured to a butt pad. The posts 90 may be secured within the openings 88 due to the openings 88 and posts 90 being threaded, set screws extending into the openings 88, or some other securement means.

In some embodiments, a cheek piece 94 secures to the top frame portion 86. The cheek piece 94 may have the same securement means as the adjustable butt pad 92 (posts extending within openings in the top frame portion 86) or have some other adjustment means (see, e.g., FIG. 6). The adjustable butt pad 92 and cheek piece 94 may make use of any approach for implementing an adjustable butt pad 92 and cheek piece 94 as known in the art of firearm manufacture.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lower receiver portion 44 and buffer tube-buttstock assembly 46 are all formed of a single piece of material, excluding any grips 64 and the adjustable butt pad 92 and cheek piece 94. For example, a single monolithic piece of aluminum or steel may be machined to have the features of the lower receiver portion 44 and buffer tube-buttstock assembly 46 as described above.

As is apparent in the description of FIG. 4, the buffer tube 72 may be integrated with the buttstock, grip, and lower receiver 47, such as by milling the lower receiver 47, buffer tube 72, and buttstock from a solid piece of aluminum. By integrating these components into one piece, structural integrity can be greatly improved by eliminating weak points such as the threaded portion of the buffer tube 72. The weight can be reduced by eliminating the various components required to fasten the buffer tube 72 to the lower receiver 47 as well as the bulky removable stock and the components required to fasten the stock to the buffer tube.

As shown in in FIG. 4, the design may also include an integrated hand grip “spine” 60 or “backbone” that may also be machined from the same solid piece of aluminum. Grip plates 64 are attached to either side of the spine to create a customizable look and feel to the firearm. This eliminates the single-bolt connection of the standard AR grip design.

Referring to FIG. 5, in some embodiments an upper receiver portion 100 may secure to the lower receiver portion 44 and buffer tube-buttstock assembly 46. The upper receiver portion 100 includes an upper receiver 102. The upper receiver 102 may define a cavity sized and configured to receiver the upper-receiver-mounted components of an AR 15 or AR 10, such as the gas block and gas tube, bolt carrier group, charging handle, forward assist, and ejection port cover. As known in the art, the cavity of the upper receiver 102 defines one or more openings on its lower surface to enable the upper-receiver-mounted components to interface with the lower-receiver-mounted components.

The upper receiver 102 may define a front opening 104. The front opening 104 may be threaded to receive a threaded aft end of a barrel 114, thereby eliminating the need for the extension 26 and barrel nut 28 of previous designs.

The upper receiver 102 may define a rear opening 106 sized to interface with the opening 76 of the buffer tube 72. The upper receiver 102 may define a curved transition region 108 from the rear opening 106 to a lower surface 110 of the upper receiver. The curved transition region 108 may be shaped and sized to nest within the curved transition 74 between the top surface 50 of the lower receiver portion 44 and the opening 76.

In some embodiments, scope mounts 112 may secure to the upper receiver 102 and each define a semi-cylindrical seat for a scope. The scope mounts 112 may have the shape and configuration of the lower portion of any scope mount (e.g., a lower part of a tube ring) known in the art and may therefore define features, e.g. threaded openings for securing the upper portion of a scope mount (e.g., upper part of a tube ring) as known in the art.

In some embodiments, the upper receiver portion 100 is made of a single piece of material, e.g. milled out of a single piece of aluminum or steel. In particular, the scope mounts 112 and upper receiver 102 as described above may be machined into a single monolithic piece of material.

The upper receiver portion 100 of FIG. 5 addresses the weight, complexity, and accuracy issues of prior upper receivers by simplifying the barrel attachment and scope attachment. The barrel 114 may be threaded directly into the upper receiver, thus eliminating the barrel extension 26 and barrel nut 28. By simplifying the attachment of the barrel 114, the accuracy of the rifle will be improved.

As shown in FIG. 5, scope mounting rings 112 (e.g., lower ring portions) may be machined directly into the upper receiver instead of having the scope mount as a separate component. By integrating the scope mount 112, the alignment of the scope to the upper receiver 102 will be improved. The additional weight of mounting fasteners and the scope mount clamping mechanism are eliminated reducing the overall weight of the rifle.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a buffer tube-buttstock assembly 120. The assembly 120 may be used with a conventional AR 15 and AR 10 or may be used with in AR 15 and AR 10 using the upper receiver portion 100 described above with respect to FIG. 5. The lower receiver portion 44 may be the same as shown in FIG. 4 except that the buffer tube-buttstock assembly 46 is no longer connected by rib 70 to the lower receiver 47.

In the illustrated embodiment, the rib 70 may be replaced with a frame portion 122 that connects to the down frame portion 80 and extends toward a threaded portion 126 of the buffer tube-buttstock assembly 120. The threaded portion 126 may be sized to thread into a portion of the upper receiver of an AR 15 or AR 10 according to a conventional approach. In some embodiments, a front frame portion 124 connects to the frame portion 122 and the upper frame portion 86 in order to provide a complete loop defining the buttstock in a plane parallel to the longitudinal and vertical directions 40a, 40b. The threaded portion may protrude from the front frame portion 124. As for the embodiment of FIG. 4, there may be a curved or beveled transition regions between frame portion 122 and front frame portion 122 and between front frame portion 122 and top frame portion 86.

FIG. 6 further illustrates an approach for attaching the cheek piece 94 to the upper frame portion 86. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper frame portion 86 defines a slot 128 that receives a flange or plate 130 secured to the cheek piece 94. In the illustrated embodiment, the flange or plate 128 includes two flanges or plates 130. The flanges or plates 130 may be thin such that they may pass round the buffer tube 72 and may also be curved to extend around the buffer tube 72. The portion of the upper frame portion 86 in which the slot 128 is formed may be widened along the lateral direction 40b relative to portions of the upper frame portion 86 on either side. The upper frame portion 86 may define threaded openings 132 that pass into the slot 128 for receiving set screws that engage the flanges or plates 130 for fixing their position relative to the upper frame portion 86. Note that the cheek piece 94 and upper frame portion 86 of FIG. 4 may use the fastening means illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the design that integrates the buffer tube and stock into one assembly that can be attached to a standard lower receiver via the standard method. This offers the benefit of the simplified stock design with its weight savings and reduced part count while maintaining compatibility with existing rifles. Because a standard lower receiver would be used in this embodiment, the standard grip design may also be retained as opposed to the integral grip proposed in the embodiment of FIG. 4.

By integrating the various auxiliary components to the upper and lower receivers where they are milled from a single piece of material, many additional design options are available. The design can feature different overall shapes and sizes as well as different size and shape lightening holes, cutouts, and pockets. The surface of the part can be adorned with different textures, logos, images, etc. to allow infinite customization.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a lower receiver for a rifle;

a buttstock monolithically secured to the lower receiver; and

a buffer tube monolithically formed in the buttstock.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rib extending rearwardly from the lower receiver, the buttstock securing to the rib.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the buttstock comprises a buttstock frame that is formed continuously with the rib and extends from the rib, around the buffer tube and secures to a top of the buffer tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a butt pad secured to a rear portion of the frame.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the butt pad is adjustable.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a cheek piece secured to a portion of the frame above the buffer tube.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a grip frame monolithically secured to the lower receiver.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first curved transition between a top of the receiver portion and the buffer tube.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an upper receiver secured to the lower receiver.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the upper receiver comprises a second curved transition sized to nest within the first curved transition.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a scope mount monolithically formed on the upper receiver.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the upper receiver further comprises a threaded opening at a front end thereof and sized to receive a rifle barrel.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

the rifle barrel threaded into the threaded opening;

a plurality of first rifle components mounted within the upper receiver, the first rifle components including (a) a gas block and gas tube, (b) a bolt carrier group, (c) a charging handle, (b) a forward assist, and (c) an ejection port cover;

a plurality of second rifle components mounted within the lower receiver, the second rifle components including a trigger mechanism, an ejector mechanism, and a hammer mechanism.

14. An apparatus comprising:

an upper receiver for a rifle sized to receive within itself rifle components including one or more of (a) a gas block and gas tube, (b) a bolt carrier group, (c) a charging handle, (b) a forward assist, and (c) an ejection port cover; and

a scope mount monolithically formed on the upper receiver;

wherein a forward portion of the upper receiver defines a threaded portion for receiving a rifle barrel.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a rearward portion of the upper receiver defines a curved region for nesting with a lower receiver.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a buffer tube defining a threaded portion for securement to an upper receiver of a rifle; and

a frame monolithically formed around the buffer tube and forming a buttstock for the rifle;

wherein the frame and buffer tube are monolithically formed.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the frame comprises a loop of material extending around the buffer tube.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a butt pad secured to a rear portion of the frame.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the butt pad is adjustable.

20. The apparatus of 16, further comprising a cheek piece secured to a portion of the frame above the buffer tube, the cheek piece being adjustable.