LUBRICATION DEVICE INTEGRATED INTO A FIREARM UPPER RECEIVER

Abstract

A lubrication device for dispensing lubricant into an interior of a firearm receiver includes an insert configured to be positioned within an aperture opening into the interior of the receiver, such as an aperture defined by a forward assist housing. The insert defines a bore configured to receive at least a portion of a lubricant container, a nozzle aperture configured to receive a dispensing nozzle of the lubricant container, and a shoulder configured to engage an actuator head of the lubricant container. The lubrication device includes a plunger configured to engage a rearward end of the lubricant container and drive the lubricant container forward within the bore. A spring is positioned to bias the lubricant container rearwardly within the bore. When the plunger is depressed, the lubricant container is driven forward until the actuator head engages the shoulder, thereby restraining the actuator head while the lubricant container continues to move forward relative to the actuator head to dispense lubricant into the receiver.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/775,255, filed on Mar. 20, 2025, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to implementations of a lubrication device configured to dispense lubricant into an interior of a firearm receiver.

BACKGROUND

Firearms having reciprocating internal components, such as a bolt carrier group, may benefit from periodic lubrication during use. In some firearms, access to interior receiver components may be limited, and applying lubricant to such components may involve partial disassembly of the firearm and/or the use of a separate lubrication device.

SUMMARY

It is to be understood that this summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. This summary is exemplary and not restrictive, and it is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope thereof. The sole purpose of this summary is to explain and exemplify certain concepts of the disclosure as an introduction to the following complete and detailed description.

Some firearm receivers include an aperture or include a structure (e.g., a forward assist housing) that defines an aperture providing access to the interior of the receiver. However, such apertures are not ordinarily configured to support a dedicated lubrication device for selectively dispensing lubricant into the interior of the receiver. As a result, users may rely on separate lubricant applicators or containers that are not integrated with the firearm and that may be less convenient to use under field conditions.

Disclosed are implementations of a lubrication device for a firearm receiver. The lubrication device is configured to be supported by a structure defining an aperture opening into the interior of the firearm receiver and to dispense lubricant into the interior of the firearm receiver, such as into the bolt carrier channel.

In one example implementation, a lubrication device comprises an insert and a plunger coupled to a rearward end of the insert. The insert is configured to be received within an aperture opening into the interior of the firearm receiver. The insert defines a bore configured to receive at least a portion of a lubricant container, a nozzle aperture into which a dispensing nozzle of the lubricant container extends, and a shoulder configured to engage an actuator head of the lubricant container. The plunger is configured to engage a rearward end of the lubricant container.

In another example implementation, a lubrication device comprises a lubricant container, an insert, a plunger, and a spring. The lubricant container includes a dispensing nozzle and an actuator head. The insert is configured to be received within an aperture opening into the interior of the firearm receiver. The insert defines a bore configured to receive at least a portion of the lubricant container, a nozzle aperture into which the dispensing nozzle extends, and a shoulder. The plunger is coupled to a rearward end of the insert and configured to engage a rearward end of the lubricant container. The spring is positioned within the bore of the insert and configured to bias the lubricant container rearwardly within the bore. Upon depression of the plunger, the lubricant container is driven forward within the bore until the actuator head engages the shoulder, and continued forward movement of the lubricant container relative to the actuator head causes lubricant to be dispensed through the dispensing nozzle and into the interior of the firearm receiver.

Also disclosed are implementations of a firearm receiver assembly including a lubrication device.

In one example implementation, a firearm receiver assembly comprises a receiver defining an interior, a forward assist housing disposed on a sidewall of the receiver, and a lubrication device supported by the forward assist housing. The forward assist housing defines an aperture opening into the interior of the receiver. The lubrication device comprises an insert positioned within the aperture and is configured, when actuated, to dispense lubricant into the interior of the receiver.

Any of the implementations herein, further comprising a spring positioned within the bore of the insert and configured to bias the lubricant container rearwardly.

Any of the implementations herein, wherein the insert includes an angled contoured surface configured to correspond substantially to a shape of an exit end of the aperture opening into the interior of the firearm receiver.

Any of the implementations herein, wherein the plunger defines a contact surface on a rearward side thereof and a driving surface on a forward side thereof.

Any of the implementations herein, wherein the driving surface is defined by a forward end of a projection extending into the bore of the insert.

Any of the implementations herein, wherein the shoulder is formed at a forward end of the bore adjacent the nozzle aperture.

Any of the implementations herein, wherein the shoulder defines an end wall of the bore at a junction of the bore and the nozzle aperture.

Any of the implementations herein, wherein the spring is positioned between the shoulder and the lubricant container.

Any of the implementations herein, wherein the spring is positioned around the actuator head of the lubricant container.

Any of the implementations herein, wherein the plunger defines a contact surface on a rearward side thereof and a driving surface on a forward side thereof, the driving surface being configured to contact the rearward end of the lubricant container.

Any of the implementations herein, wherein, when the plunger is depressed, the actuator head engages the shoulder such that the actuator head is restrained relative to the insert while the lubricant container continues to move forward relative to the actuator head, thereby causing lubricant to be dispensed through the dispensing nozzle into the interior of the receiver.

Any of the implementations herein, wherein the receiver is an upper receiver.

Any of the implementations herein, wherein the insert is retained within the aperture by a pin.

Any aspect of any implementation, in combination with any one or more aspects of any other implementation(s).

Any one or more of the features disclosed herein.

Any one or more of the features as substantially disclosed herein.

Any one or more of the features as substantially disclosed herein, in combination with any one or more other features as substantially disclosed herein.

Any one of the aspects, features, or implementations, in combination with any one or more other aspects, features, or implementations.

Use of any one or more of the aspects or features disclosed herein.

It should be appreciated that any feature described herein can be claimed in combination with any other feature(s) described herein, regardless of whether the features originate from the same described implementation.

The details of one or more aspects of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the techniques described in this disclosure will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

Numerous additional features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the implementation descriptions provided below.

Additional features and advantages are described herein and will be apparent from the following description and figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upper receiver of an AR-15/M16-type firearm equipped with a lubrication device according to the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of the upper receiver and the lubrication device shown in FIG. 1, taken along section lines 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the upper receiver and the lubrication device shown in FIG. 1, taken along section lines 3-3.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the upper receiver and the lubrication device shown in FIG. 1, showing the return spring, lubricant container, insert, and plunger of the lubrication device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the insert shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the insert shown in FIG. 5, taken along section lines 6-6.

Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an upper receiver 10 of an AR-15/M16-type firearm equipped with a lubrication device 100 according to the principles of the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lubrication device 100 is configured to be positioned within an aperture 16 defined by a forward assist housing 14 located on the right sidewall of the upper receiver 10. The lubrication device 100 can be actuated to lubricate a bolt carrier group disposed within the interior of the upper receiver 10. Specifically, the lubrication device 100 is configured to dispense lubricant into the bolt carrier channel 12 of the upper receiver 10 through the aperture 16 in the forward assist housing 14, which opens into the interior of the upper receiver 10. Additionally, a roll pin aperture 18 is formed through at least a portion of the forward assist housing 14.

As shown best in FIG. 4, the lubrication device 100 comprises a lubricant container 110, a return spring 120, an insert 130, and a plunger 140.

The lubricant container 110 contains and is configured to dispense an aerosolized and/or liquid lubricant suitable for use with a firearm. In the illustrated implementation, the lubricant container 110 is a lubrication vial. The lubricant container 110 includes a reservoir 112 configured to store pressurized lubricant and a dispensing nozzle 114 defining an aperture through which the lubricant is discharged. The lubricant container 110 also includes an actuator head 116 positioned at its forward end. When the actuator head 116 is depressed, lubricant is released from the reservoir 112 and dispensed through the aperture of the dispensing nozzle 114. The actuator head 116 is actuable to open the dispensing nozzle 114 and permit lubricant to flow from the reservoir 112. The lubricant continues to flow as long as the actuator head 116 remains depressed and sufficient pressure remains in the reservoir 112.

The return spring 120 biases the lubricant container 110 rearwardly within the bore 132 of the insert 130. The return spring 120 may be a compression coil spring having a first end 122 and a second end 124. In some implementations, the return spring 120 may be configured to fit around the actuator head 116 of the lubricant container 110. The first end 122 of the return spring 120 engages a shoulder 136 formed in a bore 132 of the insert 130, and the second end 124 of the return spring 120 engages a forward end of the reservoir 112 of the lubricant container 110 (see, e.g., FIG. 2). When the actuator head 116 is depressed and subsequently released, the return spring 120 resiliently urges the lubricant container 110 back to a rest position, thereby stopping the discharge of lubricant through the dispensing nozzle 114.

The insert 130 is configured to fit within the aperture 16 defined by the forward assist housing 14. The insert 130 may be retained within the aperture 16 by a roll pin 20 that extends through the roll pin aperture 18 of the forward assist housing 14 and an aligned roll pin aperture 138 formed through at least a portion of the insert 130. The insert 130 has a forward end and a rearward end. The forward end may include an angled contoured surface 131 that substantially corresponds to the shape of the exit end of the aperture 16 defined by the forward assist housing 14, without extending into the bolt carrier channel 12 of the upper receiver 10 (see, e.g., FIG. 3). The insert 130 also includes a bore 132 configured to receive the reservoir 112 of the lubricant container 110 and a nozzle aperture 134 configured to receive the dispensing nozzle 114 of the lubricant container 110. In some implementations, the return spring 120 is positioned around the actuator head 116 of the lubricant container 110 and biases the lubricant container 110 rearwardly within the bore 132 of the insert 130. The return spring 120 extends between the reservoir 112 of the lubricant container 110 and a shoulder 136 formed at the forward end of the bore 132, adjacent to the nozzle aperture 134. The shoulder 136 thus defines an end wall of the bore 132 at its junction with the nozzle aperture 134.

The plunger 140 is configured to be removably affixed to the rearward end of the insert 130. The plunger 140 defines a contact surface 142 on its rearward side, against which a user applies force, and a driving surface 144 on its forward side, configured to contact the rearward end of the lubricant container 110. In some implementations, the plunger 140 may instead be coupled to the rearward end of the lubricant container 110. Thus, when the plunger 140 is depressed, the lubricant container 110 is advanced forward within the bore 132 until the actuator head 116 engages the shoulder 136 formed within the insert 130. This engagement restrains the actuator head 116 relative to the insert 130 while the plunger 140 drives the lubricant container 110 forward relative to the actuator head 116, thereby actuating the lubricant container 110 to dispense lubricant from the dispensing nozzle 114. The driving surface 144 is formed by the forward end of a projection 146 configured to extend into the bore 132 through an opening 135 at the rearward end of the insert 130.

While the example upper receiver 10 is for an AR-15/M16-type firearm, it should be understood that the lubrication device 100 could be adapted for use with other firearms having a receiver that defines, or includes a structure that defines, an aperture 16 opening into the interior of the receiver. In some implementations, the aperture 16 may open into a bolt carrier channel or another interior region of the receiver. For example, the receiver may be the upper receiver of a SIG MCX® rifle.

The foregoing description of the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claims to the precise forms disclosed. Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the foregoing description and associated drawings.

Reference throughout this specification to an “embodiment,” “implementation,” or words of similar import indicates that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the phrase “in some implementations,” or a phrase of similar import, as used throughout this specification, does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the present disclosure can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail.

Claims

1. A lubrication device for dispensing lubricant, the lubrication device comprising:

an insert defining a bore configured to receive at least a portion of a lubricant container, a nozzle aperture into which a dispensing nozzle of the lubricant container extends, and a shoulder configured to engage an actuator head of the lubricant container, the insert being configured to be received within an aperture opening into an interior of a firearm receiver; and

a plunger coupled to a rearward end of the insert and configured to engage a rearward end of the lubricant container.

2. The lubrication device of claim 1, further comprising a spring positioned within the bore of the insert and configured to bias the lubricant container rearwardly.

3. The lubrication device of claim 1, wherein the insert includes an angled contoured surface configured to correspond substantially to a shape of an exit end of the aperture opening into the interior of the firearm receiver.

4. The lubrication device of claim 1, wherein the plunger defines a contact surface on a rearward side thereof and a driving surface on a forward side thereof.

5. The lubrication device of claim 4, wherein the driving surface is defined by a forward end of a projection extending into the bore of the insert.

6. The lubrication device of claim 1, wherein the shoulder is formed at a forward end of the bore adjacent the nozzle aperture.

7. The lubrication device of claim 6, wherein the shoulder defines an end wall of the bore at a junction of the bore and the nozzle aperture.

8. A lubrication device for dispensing lubricant, the lubrication device comprising:

a lubricant container including a dispensing nozzle and an actuator head;

an insert configured to be received within an aperture opening into an interior of a firearm receiver, the insert defining a bore configured to receive at least a portion of the lubricant container, a nozzle aperture into which the dispensing nozzle extends, and a shoulder;

a plunger coupled to a rearward end of the insert and configured to engage a rearward end of the lubricant container; and

a spring positioned within the bore and configured to bias the lubricant container rearwardly within the bore;

wherein upon depression of the plunger, the lubricant container is driven forward within the bore until the actuator head engages the shoulder, and continued forward movement of the lubricant container relative to the actuator head causes lubricant to be dispensed through the dispensing nozzle and into the interior of the firearm receiver.

9. The lubrication device of claim 8, wherein the spring is positioned between the shoulder and the lubricant container.

10. The lubrication device of claim 9, wherein the spring is positioned around the actuator head of the lubricant container.

11. The lubrication device of claim 8, wherein the plunger defines a contact surface on a rearward side thereof and a driving surface on a forward side thereof, the driving surface being configured to contact the rearward end of the lubricant container.

12. The lubrication device of claim 11, wherein the driving surface is defined by a forward end of a projection extending into the bore of the insert.

13. The lubrication device of claim 8, wherein the shoulder is formed at a forward end of the bore adjacent the nozzle aperture.

14. The lubrication device of claim 13, wherein the shoulder defines an end wall of the bore at a junction of the bore and the nozzle aperture.

15. A firearm receiver assembly comprising:

a receiver defining an interior;

a forward assist housing disposed on a sidewall of the receiver, the forward assist housing defining an aperture opening into the interior of the receiver; and

a lubrication device supported by the forward assist housing, the lubrication device comprising an insert positioned within the aperture and being configured, when actuated, to dispense lubricant into the interior of the receiver.

16. The firearm receiver assembly of claim 15, wherein the lubrication device further comprises:

the insert defining a bore configured to receive at least a portion of a lubricant container, a nozzle aperture into which a dispensing nozzle of the lubricant container extends, and a shoulder;

a plunger configured to drive the lubricant container forward within the bore; and

a spring positioned within the bore and configured to bias the lubricant container rearwardly within the bore.

17. The firearm receiver assembly of claim 16, wherein when the plunger is depressed, an actuator head of the lubricant container engages the shoulder such that the actuator head is restrained relative to the insert while the lubricant container continues to move forward relative to the actuator head, thereby causing lubricant to be dispensed through the dispensing nozzle into the interior of the receiver.

18. The firearm receiver assembly of claim 15, wherein the receiver is an upper receiver.

19. The firearm receiver assembly of claim 15, wherein the insert includes an angled contoured surface configured to correspond substantially to a shape of an exit end of the aperture opening into the interior of the receiver.

20. The firearm receiver assembly of claim 15, wherein the insert is retained within the aperture by a pin.