METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVED SIMULATION OF FIREARMS USAGE
A Reciprocating Slide Device for use with a semi-automatic pistol or rifle, which will simulate the action of the firearm by use of an electromagnet upon user activation of the trigger, and a spring that reciprocates the slide in order to reset the trigger thereafter.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/844,761 entitled “METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVED SIMULATION OF FIREARMS USAGE” filed in the name of Packes, Jr. on Dec. 6, 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis disclosure generally relates to firearms safety, and in particular it relates to safe practice with semi-automatic pistols.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREFirearms are widely owned and used in modern society. Regarding pistols, semi-automatic actioned pistols and rifles have gained worldwide popularity for their simplicity of use, reliability, and safety for various applications.
Virtually all owners of pistols and rifles including military, police, and citizens practice pistol and rifle techniques without live ammunition in order to gain proficiency in shooting fundamentals. This is commonly referred to as ‘dry-fire’ or similar, and is beneficial as it allows safe, highly available, and inexpensive opportunities to practice.
With common semi-automatic pistols specifically, dry-fire practice can be inefficient in general, but more cumbersome based on action type: Single-action only (SAO), Double-action/Single action (DA/SA), or Double Action (DA).
For all semi-automatic pistols, dry fire practice lacks a reciprocating slide. This portion of dry-fire practice is extremely important as it enables the shooter to re-acquire the sight picture after the slide moves, disrupting the sight picture as firing a live round would. A common inconsistency in shooting which requires practice is re-acquiring sight picture after firing. Additionally, the lack of trigger reset or trigger pull change without a reciprocating slide creates a disruption to the shooter as they have to manually rack the slide rearward in between trigger presses.
In DA pistols such as the P250 manufactured by SIG SAUER INC., the trigger can be pulled multiple times without resetting the action (commonly done by pulling back the slide as a live round would). Despite the trigger being active and pressable multiple times without any additional user activity, the lack of slide reciprocation diminishes the effectiveness of live-fire practice.
In DA/SA pistols such as the P226 manufactured by SIG SAUER INC., the user will be able to pull the trigger multiple times, however the trigger pull is not realistic. In DA/SA action the first trigger pull reciprocates then releases the hammer as in DA actions, however subsequent trigger pulls are SAO with a much shorter trigger travel. Dry fire practice without a reciprocating slide to reset the hammer and change the trigger pull, as well as lack of a sight picture disruption is inefficient.
SA or SAO pistols such as the GLOCK 19 manufactured by GLOCK INC as well as many others are far more difficult and inefficient to use for dry fire practice, despite being the most popular actions in modern pistols. For a user to practice dry-fire, the user must manually pull back the slide to reset the trigger, pull the trigger, then once again pull back the slide manually to reset the trigger and continue practice. This process greatly diminishes the value of dry fire practice as it is not realistic or efficient.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus to improve efficiency of dry-fire practice and allow semi-automatic firearms to, subsequent to a press of a trigger, reciprocate a slide to reset a trigger in order to make dry fire practice more effective and realistic, and remove necessary manual intervention.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present invention describes a Reciprocating Slide Device(s) (RSD) that can be used with a semi-automatic pistol or rifle, which will at least partially reciprocate a slide or action enough to reset a trigger, upon user activation of the trigger. User activation of the trigger pushes a firing pin of the firearm action into a button of the RSD, via either hammer strike (DA/SA, DA) or striker release or set and release (SA) as is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art, causing a portion of the RSD to push backwards against the slide or action and reset the trigger of the firearm. In another embodiment, the RSD has a shock sensor which detects the hammer strike or striker strike of the firearm and similarly causes a portion of the device to push backwards against the slide or action of the firearm and reset the trigger. In another embodiment, the device of the present invention has a sound sensor in place of or in addition to a shock sensor to enable the above functionality.
For use in a SA, DA, DA/SA or other action variant of a semi-automatic pistol, one embodiment of the present invention includes a Threaded Barrel Rod Housing pushed into the muzzle end of the barrel of the pistol which includes a Barrel Rod Stop at the muzzle end, which threads onto a Receiving Capsule fitting into the entry portion/chamber of the barrel of the pistol. The Receiving Capsule may include a Receiving Capsule Descending Support which aligns with the feed ramp of the barrel which further supports the Receiving Capsule, and also acts to depress the follower of a standard pistol magazine (to prevent the slide from locking back when reciprocating due to the presence and proper function of the follower on an empty magazine). The Receiving Capsule includes a Receiving Capsule Button aligned with the firing pin channel of the pistol, based on pistol caliber. When depressed by the firing pin, the Receiving Capsule Button of the Receiving Capsule activates an electro-magnet housed either in the Receiving Capsule or in the Barrel Rod Stop. The electro-magnet repels a Repelling Block, which may be a second electromagnet, a magnetic substrate, rare-earth or standard magnet, housed within the Receiving Capsule, Barrel Rod, or Barrel Rod Stop. When the Repelling Block is repelled by the electro magnet, the slide is pressed to the rear by the Receiving Capsule, Barrel Rod, Barrel Rod Block, Barrel Rod Stop, or a combination thereof to reset the trigger. The Receiving Capsule, Barrel Rod, Barrel Rod Block and/or Barrel Rod Stop may include static or adjustable springs to further facilitate slide reciprocation and augment the capabilities of the electromagnet.
It is anticipated that within the apparatus, pressure adjustments may be made by the user, or automatically by the apparatus. The user may have an analog (e.g. screw type adjustment) or digital (e.g. potentiometer) Pressure Adjustment Control (PAC) present on any one of the Receiving Capsule, Barrel Rod, or Barrel Rod Stop in order to dial in correct and efficient/effective pressure needed to reciprocate the slide based on the firearm type, guide rod spring weight, friction, or other factors which cause various pressures to reciprocate slides of varied pistols as is known by those in the art.
In another embodiment, a smaller version of the RSD is envisioned whereby the functionality described above is encapsulated in a smaller unit, about the size of a standard cartridge suitable for use in each firearm. In this embodiment, the Barrel Rod and Barrel Rod Stop are shortened to fit within and be held backwards by the chamber of any mentioned firearm, for example, as the brass of the cartridge is held in position and prevented from entering the barrel by the chamber of firearms.
Continuing from above, the use for semi-automatic rifles is similar. For rifles such as the MINI-14 manufactured by RUGER, AK variants such as those manufactured by CENTURY ARMS INC, AR-10 and AR-15 type variants such as the M&P Sport manufactured by SMITH AND WESSON, INC., the process and apparatus defined above is similar or identical. For rifles, for example, in the embodiment describing a full-length Barrel Rod, the Barrel Rod would be longer to accommodate generally longer barrels in rifles. Additionally, the functionality of the Barrel Rod and Barrel Rod Stop can be encapsulated within the bolt and bolt carrier group of the rifle, reducing size of the apparatus. In other embodiments wherein the RSD is encapsulated at least substantially within the chamber of the barrel of the firearm, the RSD would be smaller to fit within the chamber of the firearm barrel. These embodiments may use the buffer spring or other spring of the firearm against which to recoil.
As above, it is envisioned that in addition to or instead of an electro-magnet, a Tension Adjustable Spring may be present to generate rearward force on the Barrel Rod or Barrel Rod Stop. The Tension Adjustable Spring would provide rearward force to assist the electro-magnet, and could be adjustable using a Spring Adjustment knob, dial, switch, potentiometer or other mechanism or device able to change pressure in this manner. For example, a Spring Adjustment Knob on the rear of the Receiving Capsule could be turned clockwise to tighten it rearward, inherently putting more rearward pressure on the spring. Such a design would create flexibility for various designs of firearms and help offset the pressure of the firearm's guide rod spring, recoil spring, buffer spring, or any other spring or similar device used by the firearm in actuating the action, assisting in loading of cartridges, etc. As a further example, a lower caliber pistol such as a .380 caliber may require less force to reciprocate the slide than a .45 caliber pistol. In this example, the user of the RSD would be able to loosen or tighten the pressure on the Tension Adjustable Spring to dial in a range of an amount of force for the RSD to operate properly. It is contemplated that a guide for users would be provided, with indications of tension on the housing of the Receiving Capsule, or elsewhere on or off the RSD, offering tensioning guidelines for various calibers and firearm types.
Further aspects of the present disclosure will be more readily appreciated upon review of the detailed description of its various embodiments, described below, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:
In one embodiment, the EM 35 could be reversed, so that when the MSR is on the EM 35 is attracting the Repelling Block 32, and upon activation of the Receiving Capsule Button 14, the EM 35 is momentarily turned off and the forces from the Block Spring 31 and/or TAS 81 drive the Barrel Rod Block 15 and/or Slotted Buffer Extension 130 rearward.
In one embodiment, the Receiving Capsule Button 14 is not present, rather the RSD is activated upon impact using a impact detecting switch, motion detector, or similar on/off device which can be activated upon sudden impact. Of course, the RCB 14 may be present or not present, and function in conjunction with the impact detecting switch.
In one embodiment the RSD has an external power switch, in another embodiment the RSD turns on when the Barrel Rod Block 15 and/or Slotted Buffer Extension 130 is pushed forward/inward. When on, the RCB 14 is then ‘listening’ for impact, upon which it performs the actions described above to activate the RSD. This embedment is useful for battery conservation and end user safety.
In another embodiment the compact and full versions of the RSD as described herein can be combined, so the end user has the option to have the Barrel Rod Stop 11 protruding out of the muzzle end of the barrel, but can also use the RSD without it. This could be for user convenience, preference, or to include additional or larger batteries in the RSD unit. Also additional muzzle-end devices such as projectile launchers could be affixed to the BRS 11 of the RSD.
In another embodiment, the EM 35 could be replaced with a motorized screw mechanism to create the reciprocation necessary to reciprocate the slide. For example, on actuation of the Receiving Capsule Button 14, the motorized screw mechanism would activate, the motor spinning for a duration necessary to create rearward pressure.
In various embodiments described herein the Threaded Barrel Rod Housing 12 and Barrel Rod 33 could be combined, or supplemented with additional iterations of bars/rods in order to add efficiency to the present invention. Further, threading for attachment could be moved to different parts depending on implementation preferences, necessities, efficiencies, or other decisions regarding production. Threading of course can be replaced with lug-style attachments, magnets, or any other means of fastening such items. In some embodiments attachments are unnecessary as the pressure created by installing the present invention is sufficient to carry out the operation described herein.
Although the best methodologies have been particularly described in the foregoing disclosure, it is to be understood that such descriptions have been provided for purposes of illustration only, and that other variations both in form and in detail can be made thereupon by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, which is defined first and foremost by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A device for installation within a chamber of a firearm to simulate firing and for simultaneously resetting a trigger thereof, comprising:
- a power source connected to a trigger of a firearm via a switch;
- a barrel rod having a magnetized end;
- an electromagnet disposed between the power source and the barrel rod, the electromagnet receiving power from the power source; and
- a spring disposed between the power source and the barrel rod and further disposed at least in part around the electromagnet, wherein upon activation of the trigger, the power source activates the electromagnet which repulses the magnetized end of the barrel rod in conjunction with a tension provided by the spring, and thereafter, the recoil of the firearm causes the trigger to reset.
2. A method for simulating the firing of a firearm and simultaneously resetting a trigger thereof, comprising:
- connecting a power source to a trigger of a firearm via a switch, the firearm having a barrel rod including a magnetized end;
- disposing an electromagnet disposed between the power source and the barrel rod,
- providing power from the power source to the electromagnet;
- disposing a spring between the power source and the barrel rod and further at least in part around the electromagnet; and
- in response to an activation of the trigger, activating the electromagnet such that it repulses the magnetized end of the barrel rod in conjunction with a tension provided by the spring, and thereafter, the recoil of the firearm causes the trigger to reset.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 6, 2020
Publication Date: Aug 12, 2021
Inventor: John M. Packes, JR. (Norwalk, CT)
Application Number: 17/113,064