Abstract:
A collapsible gun cleaning rod including a plurality of elongated, tubular sections which fit together to form a rod having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the tubular section defining the proximal end portion being in screw engagement with the adjacent elongated tubular section, a biasing spring disposed within the proximal end portion, an inextensible strand fixed in the proximal end portion and extending through the plurality of elongated, tubular sections and fixed to the distal end portion, whereby, when either the proximal end portion or the tubular section adjacent thereto is rotated relative to each other, the gun cleaning rod is lengthened against the bias of the spring, causing the plurality of tubular elongated sections to fit together in the rigid manner relative to each other.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Korean Patent Application No. 2004-0156549-42 filed on Apr. 16, 2004, which is herein incorporated by reference.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to an improved collapsible gun cleaning rod and more particularly to a collapsible gun cleaning rod formed of several tubular sections which can be folded into a collapsible state for convenient storage.  
         [0003]     Various types of collapsible gun cleaning rods are known in the art. Generally, it is desirable or absolutely necessary to clean a gun barrel in a field camp, although a sportsman&#39;s firearm is typically cleaned at home. Usually, if a gun barrel bore becomes clogged with mud or snow while a sportsman is hunting, the hunter must remove the obstruction from the gun bore for his own safety. The firearm industry has long sought easy to carry, emergency cleaning rods for field cleaning firearms under adverse conditions. Conventional gun cleaning rods contain several tubular sections a tension cable disposed within the sections, a handle, and a cleaning brush. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,021 to Weiss discloses several tubular sections that can be folded together to form a compact package for storage. Running through the tubular sections is a tension cable provided with an enlargement abutting a shoulder disposed in the tubular element at the proximal end of the cleaning rod ( FIG. 4A ) and an enlargement abutting a shoulder in the distal tubular section ( FIG. 4B ). As best shown in  FIG. 4A , the tubular element is threaded into a tubular handle whereby the effective length of the assembly of elements can be lengthened or shortened to apply tension to, or relax tension on, the cable. In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , tension is applied to cable by a compression spring disposed within the tubular handle.  
         [0004]     Korean Utility Model Patent 20-152,599 discloses a stick for cleaning the muzzle of a gun which includes several tubular sections, a tension cable extending through the sections, and a handle screwed to the proximal end of the stick. U.S. Pat. No. 2,070,844 to Riley discloses a cleaning rod for firearms, in which a threaded tubular element in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  6  at the proximal end of the cleaning rod is used to apply and relax tension in flexible connector. U.S. Pat. No. 1,348,145 to Arden discloses a collapsible gun cleaning rod employing a pivoted lever  32  in the handle for applying and relaxing tension on a flexible connector. The tension on the flexible connector is limited by a compression spring in a casing that houses the proximal end of the flexible connector.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,402,950 to Hertzberg and U.S. Pat. No. 6,1245,235 to Emerson et al. disclose a rod for use in the barrel of a gun. Each of the rods has a pivoted handle that can be positioned to form a “T” with the rod or stowed against the side of the rod. U.S. Pat. No. 2,379,577 to Harsted, U.S. Pat. No. 2,705,015 to Langlais, U.S. Pat. No. 3,669,133 to Hyman, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,037 to Clark disclose additional examples of rods or poles formed of tubular sections which contain a strand connector extending through the sections.  
         [0006]     However, when such conventional gun cleaning rods are used for a long time, the tension cable tends to stretch, the screw threads become worn, and the handle does not freely move. Also, such conventional gun cleaning rods do not disclose effective mechanisms for applying and relaxing the tension in the strand connector and for freely rotating the tubular sections while a user is cleaning a gun barrel bore.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved collapsible gun cleaning rod which eliminates the above problems encountered with conventional gun cleaning rods.  
         [0008]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible gun cleaning rod formed of several sections that can be folded in a collapsed state for convenient storage such as packing storage disposed on a gun stock.  
         [0009]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a gun cleaning rod having several tubular sections with ends that fit into the end of an adjacent section. Mounted by threads to the distal end section is a short rod with a mechanism for holding a cleaning patch. The proximal end section is formed of two tubular elements that are coupled together by threads. The first of these tubular elements supports a tubular handle which moves relative to the tubular element between a folded position aligned with the tubular element and an extended position in which it forms a “T” with the tubular element and serves as a handle for the cleaning rod. The second of the tubular parts includes a distal end that fits into the end of the succeeding tubular section. An inextensible strand connector extends through the tubular sections with one end of the strand fastened to the distal end section. The proximal end of the cleaning rod is provided with an enlarged section disposed within the first tubular part of the proximal end section. The enlarged element engages a compression spring seated on a shoulder in the first tubular element. When the first tubular element is turned in a direction to extend the second tubular element, the spring applies tension to the strand so that when the tubular sections are fitted together, the cleaning rod is made rigid. When the first tubular element is turned in a direction to retract the second tubular element, the tension on the strand is relaxed so that the tubular sections can be separated and folded together into a collapsed, compact package.  
         [0010]     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible gun cleaning rod which is simple in structure, inexpensive to manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance.  
         [0011]     Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modification within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a collapsible gun cleaning rod according to the present invention in an assembled configuration;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the collapsible gun cleaning rod according to the present invention in a partially collapsed configuration;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the collapsible gun cleaning rod according to the present invention in a folded configuration for storage;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a partial and enlarged side cross-sectional view showing a first tubular elongated section and a tubular elongated support of the collapsible gun cleaning rod according to the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a partial and enlarged side cross-sectional view showing the first tubular elongated section and the tubular elongated support of the collapsible gun cleaning rod according to the present invention in a pressed spring configuration;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a partial, enlarged and explored side cross-sectional view showing the first tubular elongated section and the tubular elongated support of the collapsible gun cleaning rod according to the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are partial and enlarged side cross-sectional views of the first tubular elongated section and the tubular elongated support with a cylindrical rotor of the collapsible gun cleaning rod according to the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a partial side cross-sectional view of a handle of the collapsible gun cleaning rod according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , showing the improved collapsible gun cleaning rod of the present invention, generally indicated by reference numeral  1 , and shown in its assembled position. The collapsible gun cleaning rod  1  as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3 , comprises a plurality of tubular elongated sections  10 ,  20 ,  30  and  40 , a distal end elongated segment  50 , a tubular elongated support  60  and a handle  70 .  
         [0022]     The plurality of tubular elongated sections contains ends which fit into the end of an adjacent section. As shown in  FIG. 2 , screw threads  51  are provided on the endmost elongated segment  50  for engaging with the adjacent section in forming the distal end of the cleaning rod. Segment  50  contains an end portion  52  for holding a cleaning patch (not shown). The proximal end section is formed of the first tubular elongated section  10  and the tubular elongated support  60  which are coupled together by supporting threads  11 .  
         [0023]     The tubular elongated support  60  carries a hollow tubular element  61  that is pivoted for movement relative to the tubular part between a folded position aligned with the tubular part and an extended end position in which it forms a “T” with the tubular part, and serves as a handle  70  for the cleaning rod. The first tubular elongated section  10  includes the endmost elongated segment  50  that fits into the end of the succeeding tubular section such as the fourth section  40  through a threaded segment  51 .  
         [0024]     An extensible strand connector  2  such as a stainless steel cable extends through the sections  10 ,  20 ,  30  and  40  and is fastened at one end to the distal end section  40  and at the other end to the tubular elongated support  60  which is provided with a spring  65  ( FIG. 5 ) disposed therein.  
         [0025]     The compression spring  65  is seated on a shoulder in the tubular elongated support  60 . When the tubular elongated support  60  is turned in a direction to retract the first tubular elongated section  10 , the tension on the strand connector  2  is relaxed, whereby the tubular sections  10 ,  20 ,  30  and  40  can be separated and folded together into a collapsed compact package (not shown).  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIGS. 4, 5  and  6 , the tabular elongated support  60  includes the hollow tubular element  61  disposed on the inside thereof. The hollow tubular element  61  contains a raised portion  64 , an inner thread  62  disposed on the inside thereof and a tubular narrow end portion  63  ( FIG. 6 ). The tubular elongated support  60  further includes a stopping ring  67  disposed at the lower end thereof, and a groove  68  disposed between the ring  67  and the lower end of the tubular elongated support  60  ( FIG. 5 ).  
         [0027]     The first tubular elongated section  10  includes an external support thread  11  for securely fastening section  10  with the internal thread  62  of the tubular elongated support  60 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the first tubular elongated section  10  further includes an enlarged portion  12  disposed at one end thereof for firmly fitting into the hollow tubular element  61  of the tubular elongated support  60  when the tubular elongated section  10  engages with the tubular elongated support  60 .  
         [0028]     Referring in detail to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the spring  65  is disposed within the hollow tubular element  61  of the tubular elongated support  60 . At this time, the spring  65  is restricted by the raised portion  64  in the hollow tubular element  61 .  
         [0029]     The inextensible strand connector  2  extends through the first, second, third and fourth sections  10 ,  20 ,  30  and  40 , and is connected to a rotor  66 . When the sections  10 ,  20 ,  30  and  40  are assembled together with the tubular elongated support  60 , the rotor  66  compresses the spring  65  against its bias, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The rotor  66  can be, for example, a rotating solid ball or a cylindrical element  66 ′ ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). Also, a washer and a bearing can be used instead of the rotor  66  or the cylindrical rotor  66 ′.  
         [0030]     Referring in detail to  FIGS. 2, 4 ,  5 ,  7 ,  8  and  9 , the handle  70  for the gun cleaning rod includes a slot  71  disposed at one end thereof and a pair of elastic arms  72  disposed on both sides of the slot  71 . The width of the opening slot  71  is wider than the diameter of the groove  68  and is a little smaller than the diameter of the hollow tubular element of the tubular elongated support  60  and the diameter of the stopping ring  67 . Both elastic arms  72  have a pair of small inwardly extending stoppers  73  and  74 . Therefore, the pair of elastic arms  72  defining the opening slot  71  of the handle  70  are slidingly engaged within the groove  68  and disposed between the elastic arms  72  and the end of the lower end of the tubular elongated support  60  for slidingly moving the elastic ring  67  within the opening slot  71  in the up and down direction when the collapsible gun cleaning rod  1  is assembled and folded.  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , each tubular section  80  of the tubular elongated sections  10 ,  20 ,  30  and  40  is firmly and smoothly inserted into each hole of an adjacent elongated section when the collapsible gun cleaning rod  1  of the present invention is assembled. At this time, if necessary, the tubular section  80  can be a separate element which is first inserted a distance into an elongated section, for example section  40  where it is fused to the inside of the section. The part that extends from the end of section  40  can then be inserted into the adjacent tubular section. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the enlarged portion  12  of the external thread  11  can be enlarged by conventional pressing methods.  
         [0032]     Referring in detail to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the collapsible gun cleaning rod  1  according to the present invention is assembled by a user as follows. After the user grasps the folded collapsible gun cleaning rod  1  ( FIG. 3 ), it is held to hang down vertically, and the elongated sections  10 ,  20 ,  30  and  40  are assembled together by inserting section  80  into the hole  81  of the adjacent tubular section as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0033]     At this time, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the external thread  11  of the first tubular elongated section  10  stays at the entrance of the internal thread  62  of the tubular, narrow end portion  63 . When the user rotates the first tubular elongated section  10  or the tubular elongated support  60 , the thread engagement starts and finally the enlarged portion  12  of the first section  10  reaches the entrance of the internal thread  62 , so that both threads  11  and  62  are engaged tightly together ( FIG. 5 ).  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , as the external thread  11  of the first tubular elongated section  10  is engaged with the internal thread  62  of the tubular narrow end part  63 , the strand connector  2  containing the rotor  66  or cylindrical rotor  66 ′ is tightened to the extent that the threads  11  and  62  are engaged with each other. Therefore, the strand connector  2  compresses the spring  65  which is held in position by the raised portion  64  of the tubular elongated support  60 . That is, the spring  65  is compressed against its normal bias.  
         [0035]     Even though the spring  65  is in a compressed state, the tubular sections  20 ,  30 , and  40  can be rotated freely since the compressed spring  65 , which is elastic, provides a degree of elasticity between the tubular portion. Also, the tubular elongated support  60  can be freely rotated through the supporting ring  67  which is movably disposed in the pair of elastic arms  72  of the handle  70 . Therefore, the collapsible gun cleaning rod  1  of the present invention can be used to effectively clean the gun bore because the sections  20 ,  30  and  40 , and the support  60  with the section  10  can be freely rotated to freely wipe the gun bore.  
         [0036]     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the first tubular elongated section  10  is firmly fixed to the internal thread  62  of the tubular elongated support  60  through the enlarged portion  12  of the external thread  11 . Therefore, when the user cleans the gun bore, the support  60  and the first section  10  cannot be separated from each other even though the user pushes and pulls the cleaning rod  1 .  
         [0037]     Even though the inextensible strand connector  2  is stretched a little bit by long term use, because the strand connector  2  is connected to elastic spring  65 , the elasticity of the spring  65  can compensate for the stretching of the strand connector  2 . Therefore, the collapsible gun cleaning rod  1  according to the present invention is durable.  
         [0038]     Referring in detail to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the collapsible gun cleaning rod  1  according to the present invention is folded by a user as follows. When the first tubular elongated section  10  is released by loosening the engaging threads  11  and  62  from each other, the sections  10 ,  20 ,  30  and  40  separate from each other as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0039]     Thereafter, if the tubular elongated support  60  disposes within the opening slot  71  of the handle  70  is folded in the opening part direction, the tubular support  60  engages the pair of elastic arms  72 . At this time, if the user pushes the tubular support  60  into the pair of elastic arms  72 , the tubular support  60  is inserted into the opening slot  71  of the handle  70  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The folded gun cleaning rod  1  can then be stored in a convenient location such as a compartment provided in the gun stock (not shown).  
         [0040]     At this time, even though the tubular elongated support  60  is folded in the opening slot  71  of the handle  70 , the elongated support  60  can not be separated from the opening slot  71  of the handle  70  due to the presence of internal stoppers  73  and  74 . On the contrary, when the gun cleaning rod  1  is assembled, the stopping ring  67  is in contact with internal stopper  73  and erects, upright, the tubular elongated support  60  which extends from the pair of elastic arms  72 , and the support  60 , the sections  10 ,  20 ,  30  and  40 , and the endmost elongated segment  50  form a “T” shaped handle  70 .  
         [0041]     The collapsible gun cleaning rod  1  according to the present invention has a number of advantages, which includes improving the rotor  66  or cylindrical rotor  66 ′ attached to the end of inextensible strand connector  2 , providing the first elongated section  10  with the external support thread  11  and an enlarged portion  12 , utilizing a stopping ring  67  and grooves  68  of the tubular elongated support  60  dispose within the opening slot  71  and providing a pair of elastic arms  72  and internal stoppers  73  and  74 .  
         [0042]     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.