Abstract:
A protective cover for weapons made of a lightweight, compactable, elastomeric tube which resists moisture and environmental debris. The cover is held in place on the barrel by the elasticity of the tube itself, and/or means for cinching the ends of the tube to the weapon. The cover may contain slits to allow connection of various attachments. Also disclosed is a method of making the protective cover from a sock.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a protective covering device for weapons and more particularly to a new elastomeric tubular cover which helps keep the weapon clean and protected while being used, stored and transported. It is particularly well suited for soldiers in the field.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
       [0002]     Covers for weapons are well known in the art. Some covers serve safety functions by protecting the user or bystanders from accidental firings. Other covers are designed to protect the weapon itself.  
         [0003]     Some weapon covers protect the weapon by enclosing the weapon within a hardened exterior. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,495 to West). These types of covers are generally useful for transporting weapons where size or weight of covered weapon is not a factor. Other weapon covers protect the weapon by surrounding it in flexible material.  
         [0004]     Flexible covers are typically a bag or pouch. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,496 B2 to Gantert, U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,915 B1 to Mesica et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,388 to Jones et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,540,508 to Couch and U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,371 to Stackhouse). Flexible bags or pouches are useful in that they protect the weapon and are less cumbersome in the field than a case with a hardened case. However, bags and pouches still add weigh, require space, and typically must be removed prior to using the weapon.  
         [0005]     Finally, there are various devices which enclose and protect only portions of the weapon. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,479 to Easter, U.S. Pat. No. 2,932,334 to Steen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,361 to White, U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,965 to Seiger, U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,706 to Evans, U.S. Pat. No. Re. 32,752 to Kiang and U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,004 to Essary). Again, these add weight, require space, and often interfere with operation of the weapon.  
         [0006]     What is missing in the art is a device for protecting weapons that has negligible weight, requires essentially no space, does not interfere with the operation of the weapon, is inexpensive to produce and distribute, and can be easily used with no training. This type of device could be indispensable to soldiers in the field, as well as other weapons users such as hunters and recreational shooters.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The TUBULAR FLEXIBLE WEAPON COVER is essentially a cloth or cloth-like elastic tube which provides a physical barrier between the weapon and environmental dirt, debris and moisture. The TUBULAR FLEXIBLE WEAPON COVER will prolong the life of the weapon by protecting it from the environment, save the weapon operator&#39;s time and energy by minimizing the time required to clean and maintain the weapon, and increase soldier safety by allowing the soldier access to their weapon without having to remove a cumbersome cover.  
         [0008]     The TUBULAR ELASTIC WEAPON COVER is held onto the weapon by the elastic tension of the tube itself and/or by cinching means at the ends of the tube. Cinching may be achieved by use of a drawstring, elastic, straps which are can be snapped, buttoned or tied, Velcro, or other standard method.  
         [0009]     The tubular portion of the TUBULAR ELASTIC WEAPON COVER is elastomeric. It may be constructed as a continuous tube or as an elongated piece of elastomeric material whose longitudinal sides are sewn or otherwise attached together. In the field the tubular portion may be made by cutting the toe portion off of a sock. The elasticity must be adequate to allow the operator to put on and remove the device easily, but not so stretchy that it does not stay securely on the weapon.  
         [0010]     The material comprising the TUBULAR ELASTIC WEAPON COVER should be lightweight, and resistant to debris and moisture. Thus, when the cover is on the weapon, the holes in the material must be relatively small. The moisture resistance may be increased by the addition of water repellant chemicals, such as ScotchGard®. It must be strong and flexible enough to be distorted when attachments such as optics, lasers and flashlights are attached to the weapon. Alternatively, a single slit or multiple slits may be present in the tube to accommodate attachments.  
         [0011]     The material should be low volume or compactable so that the TUBULAR ELASTIC WEAPON COVER may be crumpled up and put into a pocket or other small place when not needed. This will also make the invention easy to distribute to soldiers in the field. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The invention will be better understood by a Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment, when read in reference to the drawings, in which:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a weapon with the cover;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the cover;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a weapon and attachment, with the cover;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the cover with a slit for a weapon attachment;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the cover with a means for cinching an end of the cover. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals reflect like elements throughout the various figures:  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a weapon with the cover. The distal end of the cover  1  is closest to the tip of the weapon barrel, the center elongated portion of the cover  3  extends along the barrel toward the midsection of the weapon and terminates at the proximal end of the cover  2 . The cover is tubular and completely encloses the portion of the weapon within the cover.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows the cover in detail. The center elongated portion  3  terminates at a proximal  1  and distal end  2 . The proximal and distal ends are identical, and designated as proximal or distal only when placed on the weapon, and depending upon their orientation to the midsection of the weapon. The proximal and distal ends are characterized by termination of the tubular material  4 .  
         [0021]     The tubular material may be one continuous tube, or formed by a flat and elongated piece of material which has been attached along the longitudinal edge to form a tube. The means of attaching longitudinal edges may be via sewing or fasteners of other method so long as the longitudinal edges are permanently bound, and do not effect the flexibility or elasticity of the tube as a whole.  
         [0022]     The material comprising the tube may be natural or synthetic fabric, rubber, plastic, a combination thereof, or any other material that meets the requirements set forth for elasticity, moisture resistance, weight and compactability.  
         [0023]     The material comprising the tube must stretch enough to easily slip over the barrel of the weapon, but contract enough to fit snugly in place. Moreover, when in place on the weapon, the material must be contracted to the extent that large gaps do not exist which would allow the passage of moisture and debris.  
         [0024]     The material must also be moisture resistant. The moisture resistant character of the material may be inherent to the material, for example rubberized elastic which creates a moisture barrier. Alternatively, the moisture resistant character of the material may arise from treating the material with a repellant such as ScotchGard®.  
         [0025]     The material must be lightweight and compactable so as not to burden soldiers with excess weight or volume. It should weigh very little and be capable of being scrunched up and placed in a pocket or small compartment.  
         [0026]     The termination of the tubular material  4  is preferably reinforced. The means for reinforcement can be stitching around the circumference of the edge or another method such that the elasticity and moisture resistance is not compromised, but the material of the tube does not unravel or split.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of a weapon with the cover. This cover includes a slit for an attachment  5 . Slits are an option on the weapon cover. Slits may be desirable or required for weapons which have attachments which connect to the portion of the weapon protected by the cover. For example, some weapons have handles, flashlights or scopes which attach to the proximal or mid-portion of the barrel. Where the cover will be used with a weapon which is likely to have an attachment, the cover may have one or more slits. The slit for attachment  5  is an example of a slit to accommodate a handle.  
         [0028]     It was previously stated that the proximal and distal ends of the cover,  2  and  1  respectively, are identical and designated as such only according to orientation on the weapon. This characterization as identical probably does not apply if optional slits are on the weapons cover, as a slit is likely to be closer to either the proximal or distal end of the tube.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows a weapon cover with an optional slit  5 . The slit should be large enough to accommodate the attachment but small enough to fit snugly and prevent debris and moisture from coming in contact with the weapon and/or attachment. The slit is preferably reinforced to prevent unraveling or splitting of the material. Reinforcement can be achieved by any method which does not compromise elasticity or moisture repellent qualities.  
         [0030]     The cover may contain as many slits as desired or necessary to accommodate the intended attachments.  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  shows a weapon cover with an optional cinching means  6  and  7 , at the edge  4 . The means depicted in  FIG. 5  is a tying drawstring assembly. As shown, a string is weaved in and out of along the circumference of outer edge of the tube  6 . The ends of the string are tied  7 . If the operator pulls the ends of the string  7  tight, the string weaved into the tube  6  will cinch the tube to the weapon. The cinching assembly is to keep the weapon cover in the desired position on the weapon.  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  depicts a drawstring means of cinching the cover, but it is understood by those in the art the desired cinching effect could be achieved by other means such as Velcro, snaps, buttons, elastic or ties. Any cinching assembly is acceptable as long as the lightweight, compactability, elasticity and water resistant characteristics of the cover are not compromised.  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  depicts the cinching assembly at only one end of the cover. The cinching assembly may be used at either or both ends.  
         [0034]     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been depicted in detail, modification and adaptations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as shown in the following claims: