COMPACT FIREARM
Firearms have a lower frame including a trigger and a grip, an upper frame including a barrel and a bolt, and a magazine receptacle configured to receive a magazine and positioned between the upper and lower frames. The lower frame and upper frame may each have forward portions pivotally connected to each other to form a pivotal connection. The pivotal connection may be operable to pivot on a horizontal axis transverse to the firearm. The upper and lower frames may be movable between an open position in which the upper and lower frame are angularly separated from each other and the magazine receptacle is accessible for removal and replacement of a magazine, and a closed position in which the magazine is closely received between the upper and lower frames. The magazine receptacle may be laterally open on both sides of the firearm.
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This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/842,685 filed on Apr. 7, 2020, entitled “COMPACT FIREARM,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all that is taught and disclosed therein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to firearms, and more particularly to a firearm that has an elongated magazine parallel to the barrel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHorizontal magazines are employed in compact rifles to provide a large ammunition capacity without a substantial protrusion below the firearm. An example is the Fabrique Nationale (Herstal, Belgium) P-90 firearm, which has a 50-round magazine positioned atop the frame above and parallel to the barrel. While useful, this example is bulkier than is sometimes desired for more compact or concealable firearms, with a buttstock extending well to the rear of the installed magazine and containing essential trigger mechanism componentry, Further, the positioning of the magazine above the barrel creates added vertical bulk, and elevates sights or an aiming optic farther above the barrel axis than is desirable.
Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved firearm that incorporates a horizontal magazine in a more compact configuration. In this regard, the various embodiments of the present invention substantially fulfill at least some of these needs. In this respect, the firearm according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a firearm with a magazine receptacle configured to receive a horizontal magazine positioned between the upper and lower frames to form a pistol-like firearm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides an improved firearm, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an improved firearm that has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned above.
To attain this, the preferred embodiment of the present invention essentially comprises a lower frame including a trigger and a grip, an upper frame including a barrel and a bolt, and a magazine receptacle configured to receive a magazine and positioned between the upper and lower frames. The lower frame and upper frame may each have forward portions pivotally connected to each other to form a pivotal connection. The pivotal connection may be operable to pivot on a horizontal axis transverse to the firearm. The upper and lower frames may be movable between an open position in which the upper and lower frame are angularly separated from each other and the magazine receptacle is accessible for removal and replacement of a magazine, and a closed position in which the magazine is closely received between the upper and lower frames. The magazine receptacle may be laterally open on both sides of the firearm, such that a major portion of lateral edges of the magazine is exposed when the frames are in the closed position. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENTAn embodiment of the firearm of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral 10.
The magazine 16 is the top mounted longitudinal magazine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,394 to Predazzer. The magazine was developed for the FN P90® selective fire carbine in the late 1980s by FN Herstal of Belgium. The magazine is a detachable polymer magazine having a 50-round capacity. Although the FN P90® has been commercially successful, the FN P90® is significantly longer than the magazine, resulting in additional bulk and weight. By comparison, the current invention is far more pistol-like and extends only minimally forward and rearward of the magazine. The magazine has a front 22, rear 24, top 26, bottom 28, left side 30, and right side 32. The top rear of the magazine has a circular feeder 34 that defines the maximum width of the magazine. The rear of the magazine also defines a latching notch 36.
The firearm 10 has an open position and a closed position. In the open position shown in
The top 94 of the receiver 58 where the rear of the accessory rail 100 terminates defines three apertures (apertures 130, 132 are visible) that are axially registered with three apertures 136, 138, 140 in the top 134 of the trunnion 72 so that screws 142, 144, 146 can secure the trunnion within the interior 98 of the receiver. The trunnion defines a central aperture 146 that receives the chamber of the barrel. Thus, the muzzle block 38 and trunnion 72 work together to retain the barrel within the interior of the receiver in a fixed position. The rear sight 70 is secured within a slot 148 defined by the top rear 92 of the receiver by left and right socket head capture screws 150, 152 received in apertures communicating with the slot (aperture 154 is visible). The receiver release bar 56 is secured within the rear interior of the receiver by screws 156, 158 received in two apertures (aperture 160 is visible) axially registered with threaded openings (opening 162 is visible) in the left and right opposed ends 164, 166 of the receiver release bar.
The left grip 42 has a front 224, rear 226, left side 228, right side 230, and bottom 232. The right grip 44 has a front 234, rear 236, left side 238, right side 240, and bottom 242. The rear of the left grip and the rear of the right grip form a pistol grip 244. The left grip and the right grip are two halves of a lower frame 246. The hinge axle 168 passes through an aperture 248 in the bottom 250 of the muzzle block 38 (shown in
While a current embodiment of a firearm has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the magazine can have a capacity of 10 or 30 rounds in addition to the 50 rounds described. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A firearm comprising:
- a lower frame including a trigger and a grip;
- an upper frame including a barrel and a bolt and configured to separate from the lower frame; and
- a magazine receptacle configured to receive a magazine and positioned between the upper and lower frames.
2. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the lower frame and upper frame each have forward portions pivotally connected to each other to form a pivotal connection.
3. The firearm of claim 2 wherein the pivotal connection is operable to pivot on a horizontal axis transverse to the firearm.
4. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower frames are movable between an open position in which the upper and lower frame are angularly separated from each other and the magazine receptacle is accessible for removal and replacement of a magazine, and a closed position in which the magazine is closely received between the upper and lower frames.
5. The firearm of claim 4 wherein the magazine receptacle is laterally open on both sides of the firearm, such that a major portion of lateral edges of the magazine is exposed when the frames are in the closed position.
6. The firearm of claim 4 wherein the magazine is an elongated body having major opposed upper and lower faces, and elongated side edges.
7. The firearm of claim 6 wherein the side edges are exposed when the frames are in the closed position.
8. The firearm of claim 6 wherein the magazine includes an ammunition exit facility at the upper surface and wherein the upper frame bolt is operable to strip a cartridge from the ammunition exit facility.
9. The firearm of claim 8 wherein the ammunition exit facility is at a rear end of the magazine.
10. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the barrel has a muzzle end proximate a forward end of the magazine receptacle.
11. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower frames are pivotally connected on a hinge axis at a level below the magazine receptacle.
12. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the magazine receptacle has a rear end proximate the grip.
13. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the upper frame includes a forward barrier defining a forward portion of the magazine receptacle.
14. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the upper frame includes a reciprocating bolt assembly operable to move between a forward battery position and a rear retracted position, the bolt assembly having a forward portion forward of a breech end of the barrel when in the forward battery position.
15. The firearm of claim 14 wherein the forward portion of the bolt assembly is forward of a breech end of the barrel when the bolt assembly is in the retracted position.
16. The firearm of claim 14 wherein the bolt assembly has a center of mass forward of a breech end of the barrel when the bolt assembly is in the forward battery position.
17. The firearm of claim 14 wherein the bolt assembly has a forward portion proximate a muzzle end of the barrel when in the forward battery position.
18. The firearm of claim 14 wherein the bolt assembly has a rear portion rearward of the barrel and having a breech face, an elongated connector element having a rear end connected to the rear portion of the bolt assembly and an opposed forward end, and a forward weight connected to the forward end of the connector element.
19. The firearm of claim 18 wherein the forward weight defines a channel receiving the barrel and having opposed side portions on opposite lateral sides of the barrel.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 10, 2022
Publication Date: Sep 15, 2022
Applicant: Kel-Tec CNC Industries Inc. (Cocoa, FL)
Inventor: George Kellgren (Cocoa, FL)
Application Number: 17/571,587