Abstract:
An approach is presented for a temperature reduction protective wrap that wraps around a barrel of a firearm and protects a user&#39;s hand and fingers from being burned.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is relates to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/051,199 titled TEMPERATURE REDUCTION PROTECTIVE WRAP, filed on Sep. 16, 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This application relates to the field of firearms and more particularly to protective wraps place on firearms. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Many firearms, such as rifles, have barrels that heat up when discharged. The more rounds discharged through the barrel, the hotter the barrel becomes. This creates a problem for steadying the firearm by gripping the barrel. One approach employed by firearm manufactures has been to place wooden stocks under the barrel that can be gripped. A problem with this approach is that the hot barrel is still exposed and may be touched by a user of the firearm. Further, the wooden stock under the barrel is fixed and is not adjustable. Another approach that has been employed, is wrapping the barrel with a rag or cloth. The problem presented by this approach is the cloth slips on the metal barrel and the cloth does very little to stop the transfer of heat. 
         [0004]    Therefore there is a need for an approach and system to protect the user of a firearm from the heat of the barrel while allowing for adjustment of the placement and increasing the ability of the barrel to be gripped. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    An approach that protects a user of a firearm from the heat of a barrel is presented. A temperature reduction protective wrap (TRPW) encompasses a portion of the barrel of a firearm. The TRPW may have a protective layer that slows or prevents the transfer of heat from the firearm barrel to a user who is gripping the TRPW and firearm barrel. The TRPW is secured around the barrel and may be adjusted by un-securing and re-securing the TRPW. An outer layer of the TRPW may include a material to aid in a hand gripping the barrel and another layer may prevent or reduce the transfer of heat to the outer layer. 
         [0006]    The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. The TRPW disclosed herein extend to those embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the above-mentioned advantages. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The invention can be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an example of a temperature reduction protective wrap (TRPW) prior to securing means being coupled to the TRPW in accordance with an example implementation; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a depiction of a TRPW of  FIG. 1  with securing means in accordance with an example implementation; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3   a - 3   c  are example depictions of the TRPW of  FIG. 1  placed around a barrel of a firearm in accordance with an example implementation; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an example depiction of material that may be found in the TRPW of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an example implementation; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an example depiction of the different layers of the TRPW of  FIG. 1  being integrated together in accordance with an example implementation. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    A temperature reduction protective wrap (TRPW)  102  is described that protects a user of a firearm from burning their hand or fingers when aiming and discharging the firearm. In  FIG. 1 , an example diagram  100  of a TRPW  102  prior to securing means  104  and  106  being coupled to the TRPW  102  in accordance with an example implementation. Securing means  104  is a flexible member, such as a cord, wire, strip of fabric, or similar item capable of being tied. A locking mechanism  106  may be a securing means that locks the securing means  104  such that the securing means  104  stays tight or stressed. The securing means  104  may be passed through loops  108 - 122  that are spaced apparat across the TRPW  102  in parallel pairs. Loops  124  and  126  are perpendicular to loops  108 - 122  and are placed towards one end of the TRPW  102 . Loops  124  and  126  help to hold the securing means  104  in place on the TRPW  102 . Without loops  124  and  126 , the securing means  104  may be moved by the gripping motion of a person during use of the weapon. In  FIG. 1 , stitching  128  may also be seen as an approach for holding the parts of the TRPW  102  in place. 
         [0014]    The TRPW  102  is depicted in the diagram  100  as being flat. The ability of the TRPW  102  to lie flat prior to installation is a benefit that allows for easy shipment of the TRPW  102 . More TRPWs may be placed in a shipping container than if they were round and flat envelopes may be used to mail the TRPWs to consumers. In other implementations other types of shapes for the TRPW  102  may be employed, such as cylindrical. The TRPW  102  may have an outer covering that has a camouflage design. In other implementations, other colors or designs may be employed. 
         [0015]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , a depiction  200  of a TRPW  102  of  FIG. 1  with securing means  104  and  106  in accordance with an example implementation of the invention. The securing means  104  and  106  in the current example is a cord and a lock respectively. The cord  104  is secured in a manner similar to a shoe lace that pulls the TRPW  102  in two directions and forms a cylinder. An advantage to using a cord and lock is the TRPW  102  may be adjusted for different style and/or sized firearm barrels. In other implemental, the securing means may be Velcro, elastic straps, snaps, ties, or any other approach that can cause the flat TRPW  102  of  FIG. 1  to conform to a firearm barrel. In  FIG. 3   a - 3   c,  example depictions  300 ,  302 , and  304  of the TRPW  102  of  FIG. 1  placed around a barrel of a firearm in accordance with an example implementation is shown. 
         [0016]    Turning to  FIG. 4  is an example diagram  400  of material that may be found in the TRPW  102  of  FIG. 1  is depicted. A heat shield element  402 , (i.e. heat shield felt fabric) is placed such that it is between the other layers of the TRPW  102  and the firearm barrel. A protective element  404  (Cordura or nylon fabric) is placed over the heat shield element. The protective element  404  protects the heat shield element  402  and may have decorative qualities (such as having a camouflage design). An additional non-slip element  406  (non-slip fabric) may be placed on the protective element  404  to provide additional gripping support. In other implementations, the non-slip element  406  may be integrated into or a characteristic of the protective element  404 . Additional elements  408 , such as webbing strips (loops), may be secured to the protective element  404  to enable the securing means  104  and  106  anchor points to secure the TRPW. The webbing strips may be secured to the protective element  404  by sewing, gluing, riveting, or other approaches that may secure multiple layers of fabric or materials together. 
         [0017]    The heat shield element  402  may be a material that is flexible and reduces/prevents the flow of heat generated by a barrel of a firearm. In the current example a PAN-based carbon fiber with woven reinforcement is employed. The PAN-based carbon fiber material has a maximum temperature of 3000 degrees Fahrenheit with a service temperature of 1800 Fahrenheit. The thermal conductivity is 0.03 W/m*K with a weight of less than 22 oz. per square yard. The light weight material is also desirable as the resulting TRPW  102  has a minimum affect on the weight and balance of the firearm. In other implementations, other heat shield element  402  approaches may be employed, such as honeycomb or corrugated material. 
         [0018]    In  FIG. 5 , a diagram  500  of the different layers  402  and  404  of the TRPW  102  of  FIG. 1  being integrated together is depicted in accordance with an example implementation. In diagram  500 , the integration is accomplished via sewing or stitching. In other implementations, gluing, riveting, or other securing approaches may be employed. In yet other implementations, the securing means may be integrated through all the different layers  402  and  404  and secure the different lays around the barrel of a firearm. 
         [0019]    The foregoing detailed description of one or more embodiments of the TRPW  102  has been presented herein by way of example only and not limitation. It will be recognized that there are advantages to certain individual features and functions described herein that may be obtained without incorporating other features and functions described herein. Moreover, it will be recognized that various alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements of the above-disclosed embodiments and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different embodiments, systems or applications. Presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of any appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.