Abstract:
A recoil reduction system having an elongated forend portion having a front end, a rear end, a left side wall, a right side wall and a bottom wall; and recoil reduction means attached to said forend, wherein said recoil reduction means further comprises a longitudinally extending rail extending downwardly from a bottom surface of said forend portion; and an upright oriented handgrip having a top end, a bottom end, a front end, and a primary chamber that extends upwardly within said handgrip, wherein a track is formed in said top end of said handgrip, wherein said rail is slidably received in said track to support said handgrip, and wherein said recoil reduction means is mounted in said primary chamber of said handgrip.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/132,872, filed May 19, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,340,857, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed generally to a recoil reduction system. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a recoil reduction system that is attached are coupled to or embedded within the forearm of a firearm or other device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     One age-old problem that has existed with firearms or other similar devices is the fact that many of them have a severe recoil that affects the person firing the weapon. In firearms such as shotguns and rifles, the rear end of the butt stock is positioned against the shooter&#39;s shoulder and recoil often causes the shooter to raise the front of the firearm each time the weapon is fired. Also recoil varies depending upon the amount of explosive being fired and the recoil can result in pain and/or bruising to the shoulder area of the person firing the weapon. One example of the recoil being detrimental to a shooter&#39;s accuracy is where the firearm is a shotgun being used for skeet shooting by a male or a female. 
     In the past, recoil systems for the butt stock of a firearm have been very expensive and the inexpensive systems did not function properly. Two examples of expensive systems are a hydro-coil fluid dampening system and a pneumatic air chamber system. The present inexpensive recoil systems utilize compression coil springs to absorb the recoil forces. If the compression coil spring is a little too strong, you get more recoil than with a regular firearm. If the compression coil spring is not strong enough it is worse, in that it gives the gun some travel and it is the same as holding the butt stock too loosely. 
     One improvement in recoil systems for a firearm is illustrated in the Bentley et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,195. It has a pistol grip recoil assembly having a recoil base member and a pistol grip. The recoil base member is detachably secured to the rear end of the receiver of the firearm and it has an inverted T-shaped rail formed on its bottom wall. This inverted T-shaped rail is captured within and slides in an inverted T-shaped groove in the top end of the pistol grip. A recess formed in the front wall of the pistol grip adjacent its top end allows the trigger guard of the firearm to travel rearwardly with respect to the pistol grip when the firearm is fired. Various embodiments utilize springs to return the recoil base member forwardly to its static position after dissipating the recoil of the firearm resulting from its being fired. 
     Another recent improved recoil system for a firearm is illustrated in the Bentley et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,339. This patent discloses a recoil system for the butt stock of a firearm having a recoil suppressor assembly whose front end is mounted in the cavity in the rear end of the gun stock. The piston ram of the recoil suppressor assembly in its static position extends rearwardly into a bore hole cavity of a elongated recoil housing. When the firearm is shot, the elongated body portion of the recoil suppressor assembly and its transversely extending mounting flange portion instantaneously travel rearwardly into the bore cavity with the bore hole of the body housing reciprocally traveling over the piston ram. A coil spring whose front end is secured to the front end of the body portion whose rear end is secured to a cam assembly returns the elongated body portion to a static position once the recoil of the firearm has been suppressed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The novel recoil reduction system has been designed to be used with firearms such as shotguns and rifles. In each instance the recoil reduction structure is mounted forwardly of the receiver of the firearm. In one embodiment the recoil reduction structure is incorporated on the bottom wall of a forend and having an uptight handgrip secured to the bottom of the forend. The recoil reduction structure incorporates an inverted T-shaped rail extending downwardly from the forend that travels reciprocally forward and back in a track formed in the top end of the handgrip member. The handgrip member is gripped by the shooter&#39;s forward hand and when the gun is fired, the recoil action takes place forwardly of the receiver. The shooter can hold the firearm with the butt of the firearm spaced from the shooter&#39;s shoulder with out receiving a kick that stuns or bruises the shooter&#39;s shoulder. 
     The novel recoil reduction system can also be incorporated into the structure of a forend that does not have a handgrip member. The novel recoil reduction system can also be installed into the long gun stock of a rifle at a location forward of the receiver. Again in this instance, the shooter&#39;s front hand would be gripping the cover member located beneath a cutout cavity in the bottom surface of the long gun stock. 
     Another benefit of having the recoil reduction system mounted in front of the receiver is that in the version with the handgrip extending downwardly, the handgrip has little or no recoil to it when the firearm is fired. Therefore when incorporating a light mounting portion on the front of the substantially stationary hand gripping member, the light projected forwardly maintains a stable beam of light. 
     Accordingly, this invention provides a novel recoil system for a firearm that minimizes the amount of recoil force experienced by the person firing the weapon. 
     This invention separately provides a novel recoil system for a firearm that minimizes pain to the shoulder of the person firing the weapon due to recoil forces. 
     This invention separately provides a novel recoil system for a firearm that requires limited modification to the forend of a shotgun. 
     This invention separately provides a novel recoil system for a firearm that utilizes a block of elastomer material. 
     This invention separately provides a novel recoil system for the butt stock of a firearm that is easily mounted on the magazine tube of a shotgun. 
     This invention separately provides a novel recoil system for shotguns and rifles that is economical to manufacture and market. 
     This invention separately provides a novel double recoil system for a handgrip attached to a forend. 
     This invention separately provides a novel recoil reduction system that can be installed into a long gun stock such as used with dries. 
     These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in or are apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a shotgun illustrating the recoil reduction system mounted in a handgrip member secured to the bottom of the forend; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged side elevation view of a forend having the recoil reduction system mounted in the handgrip member; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the forend illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a vertical cross section view illustrating a first embodiment of the recoil reduction system mounted in the handgrip member; 
         FIG. 7  is a vertical cross section view illustrating a second embodiment of the recoil reduction system mounted in the handgrip member; 
         FIG. 8  is a vertical cross section view illustrating a third embodiment of the recoil reduction system mounted in the handgrip member; 
         FIG. 9  is a vertical cross section view illustrating a fourth embodiment of the recoil reduction system mounted in the handgrip member; 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of a shotgun illustrating the recoil reduction system mounted within the interior of the forend member; 
         FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the forend member illustrated in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a right side elevation view of the forend member illustrated in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view taken along lines  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of the support unit for the recoil reduction structure received in the forend illustrated in  FIGS. 11-13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a front elevation view of the support unit illustrated in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a rear elevation view of the support unit illustrated in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom plan view of the support unit illustrated in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 18  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 2  with portions of the handgrip member illustrated in cross section; 
         FIG. 19  is a front elevation view of  FIG. 18  with portions shown in cross section; 
         FIG. 20  is a side elevation view of a rifle having the recoil reduction system positioned forwardly of the receiver in the bottom of the long gun stock; 
         FIG. 21  is a partial bottom plan view of  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 22  is a top plan view of the cover member; 
         FIG. 23  is a side elevation of the cover member; 
         FIG. 24  is a front elevation view of the cover member; 
         FIG. 25  is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the cover member having a retractable handgrip member secured to its bottom surface; 
         FIG. 26  is a side elevation view of the alternative cover member showing the handgrip member in its retracted position; 
         FIG. 27  is a side elevation view illustrating a flashlight and a laser light mounted on the front end of a handgrip member; and 
         FIGS. 28-37  show various exemplary embodiments and exemplary elements of an improved recoil reduction system according to this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The novel recoil reduction system for a firearm will now be described by referring to  FIGS. 1-9  and  18 - 19 . A shotgun  30  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  having butt stock  31 , a receiver  32 , a gun barrel  33 , a magazine  34 , a forend  35  and a handgrip member  36 . The recoil reduction system is mounted within handgrip member  36 . 
       FIGS. 2-5  and  18 - 19  illustrate views of the forend  35  from various sides and angles. 
       FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view and it shows that forend  35  has a generally U-shaped transverse profile with a ring  38  formed at its front end. Ring  38  has a bore hole  39  that would telescope over magazine  34 . The remainder of forend  35  has a left side wall  40 , a right side wall  41 , and a bottom wall  42 . A plurality of screws  44  secure an inverted T-shaped rail  46  to the bottom surface of forend  35 . Handgrip member  36  has a longitudinally extending inverted T-shaped track  48  along which rail  46  reciprocally travels. Track  48  has a chamber  49  formed in its rear end that receives an elastomer block  51  having a cylindrical shape. Track  48  and chamber  49  are formed in track housing  52  that extends rearwardly from the top end of handgrip  36 . A cavity  53  is formed in the bottom surface of rail  46 . A primary chamber  54  extends upwardly through almost all of the height of handgrip member  36 . A lever  56  is pivotally mounted in primary chamber  54  by a pivot pin  57 . A cam roller  58  is mounted on the top end of lever  56  by a pin  59 . A retainer ring  61  is mounted on the bottom end of lever  56  by a pin  62 . A coil spring  63  has its top hook member  64  captured in retainer  61 . Coil spring  63  has a bottom hook member  65  captured by the rigid pin  66 . 
     Forend  35  is rigidly secured to the magazine  34  or other structure that is rigidly secured to receiver  32 . When the shotgun is fired, a forend  35  recoils rearwardly causing rail  46  to also travel in the same direction. The elastomer block  51  is compressed to reduce some of the recoil. Cam roller  58  is pivoted rearwardly about pivot pin  57  causing coil spring  63  to be stretched and then returned to its static position and this also provides recoil reduction. 
     The first variation of the recoil reducing structure in the handgrip member  36  is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . A rod  68  has its bottom end connected to plate  69  and its top end is pivoted on pin  62 . An elastomer tube  70  is telescoped over rod  68  and its top end bears against pins  70  and  71 . Rearward travel of rail  46  will pivot lever  56  rearwardly causing elastomer tube  70  to be compressed and reduce recoil. 
     A second alternative recoil reducing structure is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . It has a leaf spring  73  having a stressed curvature in its static state. Its top end is captured by attachment structure  74  on the bottom end of lever  56  and its bottom end is captured in slot  75  in the inner wall of handgrip member  36 . Rearward travel of rail  46  will compress elastomer block  51  causing recoil reduction. Likewise spring  73  will be stretched upwardly when lever  56  is rotated rearwardly. This also reduces the recoil force. 
     A third alternative recoil structure is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . It has a coil spring  77  in rail chamber  49 . A screw  79  has its top end captured by pin  62 . A coil spring  80  surrounds screw  79  and has a nut  81  on its bottom end. Pins  70  and  71  press against the top end of spring  80 . When rail  46  travels rearwardly, coil spring  77  reduces the recoil force. Also as lever  56  has its top end pivoted rearwardly, spring  80  would be compressed to also reduce recoil force. 
     In Although this invention has been described in connection with specific forms and embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that various modifications other than those discussed above may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those specifically shown and described, certain features may be used independently of other features, and the number and configuration of various vehicle components described above may be altered, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended Claims. 
     In  FIGS. 10-17 , the recoil reduction system is mounted inside forend  85 . Forend  85  has a handrest stop  86  extending downwardly from its forward end to prevent the shooter&#39;s hand from slipping off the forend.  FIGS. 11-13  illustrate different views of forend  85 . Forend  85  is generally U-shaped throughout most of its length. It has a left side wall  86 , a right side wall  87 , a top wall  88 , and a bottom wall  89 . A portion of forend  85  has a connecting wall member  91  at its top end and a bore hole  92  is formed for telescopically receiving the magazine  34 . Finger grooves  92  are formed along the outside surface of the respective left and fight side walls. Forend  85  has an interior cavity  94  having outwardly extending tracks  95  adjacent its bottom end. 
     The structure for mounting the recoil reduction system is illustrated in  FIGS. 14-17  and is generally identified as support unit  97 . Support unit  97  is a solid piece of material that is telescopically received in cavity  94  of forend  85 . Support unit  97  has a top wall  98 , a left side wall  99 , a right side wall  100 , a bottom wall  101  and rails  103  extend outwardly from the respective side walls adjacent bottom wall  101 . A bore hole  104  extends the length of support unit  97  so that it telescopes over magazine  34 . Grooves  105  extend inwardly into rails  103  and these grooves receive set screws  106  extending inwardly from the side walls of forend  85 . Bottom wall  101  is best seen in  FIG. 7 . It has a tongue  107  extending from its front end. An outer cavity  108  is formed in bottom wall  101  for receiving part of the hardware of the recoil reduction system. A second deeper cavity  109  accommodates the bottom portion of coil spring  110 . One end of coil spring  110  is secured to a pin  112  and the other end is secured to a retainer member  113  whose free end is secured to one end of lever  115 . Lever  115  is secured to tongue  107  by a pivot pin  116 . A cam roller  118  is supported by a pin on the other end of lever  115 . Attachment screws  120  secure support unit  97 . As support unit  97  travels rearwardly, cam roller  118  engages pin  121  extending into the side wall of forend  85 . It engages earn roller  118  causing it to rotate about pivot pin  116  causing spring  110  to be stretched and reduce recoil. 
     In  FIGS. 20-24 , the recoil reduction system is mounted in a rifle  123 . Rifle  123  has a recoil suppression butt stock assembly  125 , a receiver  126 , a gun barrel  127 , and a long gun stock  128 . For the embodiment to be discussed, long gun stock  128  would have a removable front piece  130 . It is to be understood that a single long gun stock  28  could also have primary recess  132  integrally formed in a single long gun stock. In the illustrated embodiment, stock cover  134  can only be installed by removing front piece  130 . Long gun stock  128  has three identifiable portions, butt stock portion  136 , middle portion  137 , and front portion  138 . Front portion  138  is located forward of receiver  128 . Primary recess  132  has a bottom wall  140 . Bottom wall  140  has rails  142  extending along its lateral edges and above it are formed an inwardly extending track  144 . A recess  146  is formed in bottom wall  140  and lever  147  is mounted on a pivot pin  148  therein. A cam roller  149  is pivotally secured to one end of lever  147 . A retainer member  150  is secured to the other end of  147  and it captures one end of spring  152 . The other end of spring  152  is captured by a pin  153 . The top portion of spring  152  extends into a deeper recess  155 . A cover member  160  has a front end  161 , a rear end  162 , a left side wall  163 , and a fight side wall  164 . Finger grips  167  are formed in both of the side walls  163  and  164 . Cover member  160  has a bottom wall  170  having a bore hole  172  therein. Tracks  174  are formed on the inner side wall surfaces and they telescopically receive rails  142 . A screw  176  extends upwardly through bore hole  172  and is threaded into the bottom end era tapered nut  178 . Once cover  160  is slid onto rails  142 , screw  176  is tightened which causes tapered nut  178  to push upwardly until it contacts cam roller  149  and preloads spring  152 . The length of cover member  160  is about 1 inch short of the length of primary recess  132 . When the rifle is fired, long gun stock  128  will travel rearwardly while cover member  160  is held stationary by the forward hand of the person holding the rifle. Cam roller  149  will contact tapered nut  178  causing lever  147  to pivot forwardly causing spring  152  to be stretched thereby reducing the recoil force. 
     In  FIGS. 25 and 26 , cover member  160  is illustrated as having a handgrip member  190  with its top end pivotally secured to hinge assembly  192 . Handgrip member  190  rotates around pivot pin  194  to its retracted position. When handgrip member  190  is in its down position, bore holes  194  and  195  align to receive a locking pin  197 . 
       FIG. 27  is a side elevation view illustrating a flashlight and a laser light mounted on the front end of a handgrip member. 
       FIGS. 28-37  show various exemplary embodiments and exemplary elements of an improved recoil reduction system according to this invention. 
     While this invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those specifically shown and described, certain features may be used independently of other features, and the number and configuration of various vehicle components described above may be altered, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended Claims. 
     Such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed exemplary embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology of terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes, modifications, and/or adaptations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.