Firearm barrel with non-metal outer sleeve

A firearm barrel with non-metal outer sleeve preferably includes an elongated tube, a first non-metal tube, a second non-metal tube, a sleeve nut and a coupler bushing. A first raised sleeve support section and a raised coupler section are formed on the elongated sleeve. The raised coupler section is formed in substantially a middle of the elongated tube. The bushing inner diameter is sized to slidably receive an outer diameter of the raised coupler section. The first and second non-metal tubes include a tube inner diameter and a plurality of openings formed through a wall thereof. The tube inner diameters are sized to slidably receive an outer diameter of the first raised sleeve support section and each end of the coupler bushing. The sleeve nut retains the first and second non-metal tubes and the coupler bushing on the elongated tube.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to firearms and more specifically to a firearm barrel with non-metal outer sleeve, which may be handled after use.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

It appears that the prior art does not teach or suggest a firearm barrel with non-metal outer sleeve, which may be handled after use.

Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a firearm barrel with non-metal outer sleeve, which may be handled after repeated firings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a firearm barrel with non-metal outer sleeve, which may be handled after use. The firearm barrel with non-metal outer sleeve preferably includes a firearm barrel, a first non-metal tube, a second non-metal tube, a sleeve nut and a coupler bushing. The firearm barrel includes an elongated tube. A barrel inner diameter is formed through a length of the elongated tube. A lead-in bore is formed concentric with the barrel inner diameter at an entrance end of the elongated tube. A threaded tap is preferably formed in the entrance end of the elongated tube to threadably receive an extension barrel. Suitable twist rifling is then applied to the barrel inner diameter. Material is preferably removed from the elongated tube to form an end flange, a reduced outer diameter, a first raised sleeve support section and a raised coupler section. The end flange is formed on an entrance end of the elongated tube. The first sleeve support is formed near the end flange. The raised coupler section is formed in substantially a middle of the elongated tube. A gas escape hole is formed through the raised coupler section to the barrel inner diameter. A sleeve thread is formed on an exit end of the elongated tube. The firearm barrel is preferably fabricated from any suitable steel, but other materials may also be used.

The coupler bushing includes a bushing inner diameter, a first reduced diameter and a second reduced diameter. The first reduced diameter is formed on a first end of the coupler bushing and the second reduced diameter end formed on a second end thereof. A combination gas escape and fastener hole is formed through the coupler bushing. The bushing inner diameter is sized to slidably receive an outer diameter of the raised coupler section. The coupler bushing is preferably fabricated from any suitable metal, such as steel. The first non-metal tube includes a first tube inner diameter and a plurality of first openings are formed through a wall of the first non-metal tube. The plurality of first openings may have any suitable spacing, size and shape. The first tube inner diameter is sized to slidably receive an outer diameter of the first raised sleeve support section and the first reduced diameter. The first non-metal tube is preferably fabricated from carbon fiber, but other non-metal materials could also be used.

The sleeve nut preferably includes a tube end and a rotation flange. The rotation flange is formed on an end of the tube end. A threaded bore is formed through a length of the sleeve nut to threadably receive the sleeve thread of the elongated tube. A plurality of holes are preferably formed in the rotation flange to receive pins of a spanner wrench. However, wrench flats could be formed on an outer perimeter of the rotation flange. The second non-metal tube includes a second tube inner diameter and a plurality of second openings are formed through a wall of the second non-metal tube. The plurality of second openings may have any suitable spacing, size and shape. The second tube inner diameter is sized to slidably receive an outer diameter of the second reduced diameter and the tube end of the sleeve nut. The second non-metal tube is preferably fabricated from carbon fiber, but other non-metal materials could also be used.

The firearm barrel with non-metal outer sleeve is preferably assembled in the following manner. The first non-metal tube is slid over the exit end of the elongated tube on to the first raised sleeve support section. The coupler bushing is slid over the exit end of the elongated tube and on to the raised coupler section. The first reduced diameter of the coupler bushing is slid into the first tube inner diameter of the first non-metal tube. The combination gas escape and fastener hole of the bushing sleeve is aligned with the gas escape hole of the elongated barrel. A gas block is slid over the bushing sleeve. A threaded fastener is inserted through a hole in the gas block and the combination gas escape and fastener hole and threaded into a threaded tap in one end of the combination gas escape and fastener hole. The second non-metal tube is slid over the exit end of the elongated tube and on to the second reduced diameter of the coupler bushing. The sleeve nut is threaded onto the sleeve thread to retain the first and second non-metal tubes on the elongated tube.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a firearm barrel with non-metal outer sleeve, which may be handled after repeated firings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to the drawings, and particularly toFIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a firearm barrel with non-metal outer sleeve1. With reference toFIGS. 2-7, the firearm barrel with non-metal outer sleeve1preferably includes a firearm barrel10, a first non-metal tube12, a second non-metal tube14, a sleeve nut16and a coupler bushing18. The firearm barrel10includes an elongated tube20. A barrel inner diameter22is formed through a length of the elongated tube20. A lead-in bore24is formed concentric with the barrel inner diameter22at an entrance end of the elongated tube20. A threaded tap26is preferably formed in the entrance end of the elongated tube20to receive an extension barrel100. Extension barrels are well known in the art and do not need to explained in detail. Suitable twist rifling is then applied to the barrel inner diameter22. Material is preferably removed from the elongated tube20to form an end flange28, a first raised sleeve support section30, a raised coupler section32and a reduced outer diameter33. The reduced diameter33has a diameter measurement, which is less than a diameter measurement of the first raised sleeve support section30and the raised coupler section32. The end flange28is formed on the entrance end of the elongated tube20. The first sleeve support32is formed near the end flange28. The raised coupler section32is formed in substantially a middle of the elongated tube20. A gas escape hole34is formed through the raised coupler section32to the barrel inner diameter22. A barrel clearance hole36is formed in the raised coupler section32, but not through to the barrel inner diameter22. A sleeve thread38is formed on an exit end of the elongated tube20. The firearm barrel10is preferably fabricated from any suitable steel, but other materials may also be used.

The coupler bushing18includes a bushing inner diameter40, a first reduced diameter42and a second reduced diameter44. The first reduced diameter42is formed on a first end of the coupler bushing18and the second reduced diameter end44formed on a second end thereof. A combination gas escape and fastener hole46is formed through coupler bushing18. A threaded tap48is formed in one end of the combination gas escape and fastener hole46. The bushing inner diameter40is sized to slidably receive an outer diameter of the raised coupler section32. The coupler bushing18is preferably fabricated from any suitable metal, such as steel. With reference toFIGS. 8-9, the first non-metal tube12includes a first tube inner diameter50and a plurality of first openings52are formed through a wall of the first non-metal tube12. The plurality of first openings52may have any suitable spacing, size and shape. The first tube inner diameter50is sized to slidably receive an outer diameter of the first raised sleeve support section30and the first reduced diameter42. The first non-metal tube12is preferably fabricated from carbon fiber, but other non-metal materials could also be used.

The sleeve nut16preferably includes a tube end54and a rotation flange56. The rotation flange56is formed on an end of the tube end54. A threaded bore58is formed through a length of the sleeve nut to threadably receive the sleeve thread38of the elongated tube20. A plurality of pin holes60are formed in the rotation flange56to receive pins of a spanner wrench. The second non-metal tube14includes a second tube inner diameter62and a plurality of second openings64are formed through a wall of the second non-metal tube14. The plurality of second openings64may have any suitable spacing, size and shape. The second tube inner diameter62is sized to slidably receive an outer diameter of the second reduced diameter44and the tube end54of the sleeve nut16. The second non-metal tube14is preferably fabricated from carbon fiber, but other non-metal materials could also be used.

The firearm barrel with non-metal outer sleeve1is preferably assembled in the following manner. The first non-metal tube12is slid over the exit end of the elongated tube20on to the first raised sleeve support section30. The coupler bushing18is slid over the exit end of the elongated tube20and on to the raised coupler section32. The first reduced diameter42of the coupler bushing18is slid into a first tube inner diameter50of the first non-metal tube12. The reduced diameter33has a diameter measurement, which is less than a diameter measurement of the first reduced diameter42, the second reduced diameter44and the tube end54to create an air gap between the reduced diameter33and the first and second tube inner diameters50,62. The combination gas escape and fastener hole46of the bushing sleeve18is aligned with the gas escape hole34of the elongated barrel20. A gas block102is slid over the bushing sleeve18. A threaded fastener66is inserted through a hole104in the gas block102and threaded into the threaded tap48in the coupler bushing18. The second non-metal tube14is slid over the exit end of the elongated tube20and on to the second reduced diameter44of the coupler bushing18. The sleeve nut16is threaded onto the sleeve thread38to retain the first and second non-metal tubes12,14on the elongated tube20. Heat from the elongated barrel20escapes through the plurality of first and second openings52,64.