System for loading pellets

A system for loading pellets that includes a stock (1) on which a chamber (2) is fixed, said chamber (2) ends externally with a fork (102) wherein the barrel is articulated a barrel, the barrel (3) comprising a pellet chamber (5), a magazine (12) of pellets (13) and articulating means (4), characterized in that it comprises: a first structure (6) with central section (9) and two ends (7, 8) which is housed in fork (102) of chamber (2), a support (101) wherein the central section (9) of structure (6) with forward and reverse movement thereof is positioned, at least partially, a housing (100) for said magazine (12), and a pushing means (11), linked to the structure (6), arranged on the support (101).

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of this disclosure contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure in exactly the form it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 C.F.R 1.71(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

1. Field of the Invention

The present inventive concept relates to system for loading pellets, used in rifles with a articulated or “break barrel” type barrel, of the type comprising a stock wherein on which a chamber is fixed, said chamber ending externally with a fork wherein the barrel is articulated, the barrel comprising a pellet chamber, a pellet magazine and articulating means, characterized in that it comprises: a first structure with a central section and two ends that are housed in the fork of the chamber, a support wherein the central section of structure with forward and reverse movement thereof is positioned, at least partially, a housing for the magazine, a pushing means, linked to the structure, arranged on the support; the magazine being laid on the barrel with the barrel is closed, and the magazine being faced to the pellet chamber with the barrel at the moment of the barrel break trajectory, with a pellet that is placed in front of said pellet chamber at the end of the break trajectory.

2. Description of the Related Art

Patents are known in the state of the art to comprise systems for loading pellets for rifles with articulated barrels.

So, Patent WO2013074054 is known, from the year 2012, in the name of LUKASHEVYCH ANDRII BOGDANOVICH, which refers to an improvement to an automatic belt-fed pneumatic air gun, which is directed towards achieving a more compact cartridge arrangement in the cartridge belt, enabling the loading of the belt without the need for additional instruments, and also providing a feed mechanism for the new design of the pouch. The pistol includes a barrel, a breech, a valve stem for supplying compressed gas to the barrel bore, a firing pin to open the valve, a hammer for activating the firing pin, a bolt for seating cartridges in the barrel bore and sealing the hole, a cartridge belt, and a cartridge belt feed mechanism for moving the cartridge belt as the gun is reloaded. The cartridge belt constitutes a single component made from an elastic material and having a row of openings of a smaller diameter than the cartridges loaded into the. The cartridge belt feed mechanism comprises a slide mounted on the breech, in such a way that as to be able to move parallel to the barrel, a lever mounted above the slide, said lever being articulately connected to the breech and pressed to the slide by a spring, and a spring-loaded cartridge belt lock mounted on the end of the lever and engaging with the cartridge belt, wherein the bolt has a lateral protuberance which is disposed in a longitudinal groove in the slide.

The applicant firm is owner of Patent WO2017/125622, from the year 2016, relating to a pellet loading system, the ones used in rifles with a articulated or “break barrel” type barrel, of the type comprising a stock on which there is attached a chamber, a barrel where there is placed the pellet chamber, a pellet magazine and articulating means, characterized in that it comprises: an elastic rod with a central section and two ends that are housed in the chamber, a body where there is positioned the central section of the elastic rod with forward and reverse movement inside said body and which is attached to the barrel, and a pushing means, linked to the elastic rod and placed between the pellet to be loaded and the elastic rod, with the pushing means moving to one of the pellets in the magazine at the moment when the barrel collapses, thereby with the pushing means housing a pellet inside the pellet chamber, and with said pushing means then returning to the initial position when the barrel closes leaving the rifle loaded.

The search report of the above mentioned PCT application also quotes the following documents, although with little relevance: the German Patents DE1174653, DE102011008684 and DE826852 and the British ones GB545731 and GB1253184.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

The present general inventive concept relates to the pellet loading systems in rifles with articulated barrels, even though it could also be understood to be included in any guns with an articulated barrel.

The closest document is Patent WO2017/125622.

As it was indicated in the closest document, one of the big problems at present with rifles with an articulated barrel, also called “break barrel”, when they have a pellet magazine, is that when the pellets are housed in the pellet magazine, any misalignment between the barrel and the magazine can damage the pellet at the time of shooting, because the pellet, once damaged, will have an erratic trajectory once outside the barrel.

Said invention is very useful because in one of its embodiments it allows a configuration of a magazine in the form of a revolver, which facilitates loading and shooting the pellets.

This configuration is usually used with rifles that use telescopic sight, which is very common in countries like the USA.

In other countries the sportsmen prefer to use open sight (rear and front sight), such as for example, Spain, which means that using the revolver like magazines is discarded because they do not allow visual alignment of the line of fire through the magazine, from the sight.

To solve this problem the inventors have invented a system wherein, in rest position, with the rifle or air gun or CO2 gun, ready to fire, and the barrel closed, the magazine is hidden in a structure, not interfering to the view of the firing line from the sight.

To load the rifle or gun, the barrel is articulated or collapsed and meanwhile the magazine is moved towards the pellet chamber to which it lies opposite.

Subsequently, when the barrel is closed, the magazine moves towards its initial position, which is that of lying in connection with the barrel, allowing the sportsman's view and not interfering with the rear and firing line.

The pellet of the magazine is positioned inside the pellet chamber by a pushing means. Said pellet is placed in the magazine when the barrel is breaking at maximum, or a moment before or a moment after.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing system for loading system, used in rifles with a articulated or “break barrel” type barrel, of the type comprising a stock on which a chamber can be fixed, the chamber ending externally with a fork wherein the barrel is articulated, the barrel comprising a pellet chamber, a pellet magazine and articulating means, characterized in that the system can comprise: a first structure with a central section and two ends which are housed in the fork in the chamber, a support wherein the central section of structure with forward and reverse movement thereof is positioned, at least partially, a housing for the magazine, a pushing means, linked to the structure, arranged on the support; the magazine (12) being laid on barrel (3), with barrel (3) is closed and the magazine (12) being faced to the pellet chamber (5) with barrel (3) at the moment of the barrel break trajectory, with a pellet (13) placed in front of said pellet chamber (5) at the end of the break trajectory.

In an exemplary embodiment, when magazine (12) can be positioned in front of pellet chamber (5), pushing means (11) can be positioned in front of pellet (13) which, in turn, can be positioned in front of pellet chamber (5) and during the break movement of barrel (3), pushing means (11) can be in front of pellet (13) and said pushing means (11) insert the pellet (13) into pellet chamber (5) and then said pushing means (11) can be returned to the initial position when barrel (3) closes, the magazine (12) is returned to its lying down position and leaving the rifle loaded

In another exemplary embodiment, the system can be characterized in that at the end of the breaking operation of barrel (3), pushing means (11) can be positioned in front of pellet (13), and at the moment when the barrel (3) is closing, said pushing means (11) insert the pellet (13) into the pellet chamber (5), with said pushing means (11) then returning to their initial position, and with magazine (12) returning to its lying down position, leaving the rifle loaded.

In another exemplary embodiment, the system can include a body (10) articulated to barrel (3), and in that the housing (100) for magazine (12) can be articulated to the body (10).

In another exemplary embodiment, the system can be characterized in that the housing (100) for magazine (12) can be articulated to support (101) and to body (10).

In another exemplary embodiment, the system can be characterized in that pushing means (11) can be located inside the support (101).

In another exemplary embodiment, the system can be characterized in that the support (101) can comprise guiding pins (103) which are positioned on guides (104) of the body (10) along which they are moving.

In another exemplary embodiment, the system can be characterized in that housing (100) of magazine (12), can comprise stops (105) which are positioned outside of the chamber (2) and guiding the position changing movement of magazine (12).

In another exemplary embodiment, the system can be characterized in that damping means can be comprised in the body (10).

In another exemplary embodiment, the system can be characterized in that the damping means can comprise an axis with a second spring (123) and damping guides (106).

In another exemplary embodiment, the system can be characterized in that the support (101) can be articulated to housing (100) and to body (10).

In another exemplary embodiment, the system can be characterized in that a second structure (107) can be connected to support (101) and to body (10) and coordinated with first structure (6).

In another exemplary embodiment, the system can be characterized in that at least the first structure (6) or second structure (107) is a rod.

In another exemplary embodiment, the system can be characterized in that rod (107) is elastic.

The drawings illustrate a few exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, and are not to be considered limiting in its scope, as the overall inventive concept may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The elements and features shown in the drawings are to scale and attempt to clearly illustrate the principles of exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept. In the drawings, reference numerals designate like or corresponding, but not necessarily identical, elements throughout the several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept while referring to the figures. Also, while describing the present general inventive concept, detailed descriptions about related well-known functions or configurations that may diminish the clarity of the points of the present general inventive concept are omitted.

It will be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” can be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. Thus, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element may be termed a first element without departing from the teachings of this disclosure.

Also, when a part “includes” or “comprises” an element, unless there is a particular description contrary thereto, the part can further include other elements, not excluding the other elements. In the following description, terms such as “unit” and “module” indicate a unit to process at least one function or operation, wherein the unit and the block may be embodied as hardware or software or embodied by combining hardware and software.

Hereinafter, one or more exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1illustrates a stock1, a chamber2, a barrel3, an end7, a body10, a sight122, a first rotation axis124, a magazine12and a fork102.

FIG. 2represents the stock1, the barrel3, a first structure6, an end7, a central section9, a pushing means11, the magazine12, a housing100, a support101, the first rotation axis124, a second rotation axis125, the fork102and some damping guides106.

FIG. 9depicts the stock1, the barrel3, first structure6, end7, the central section9, pushing means11, magazine12, pellets13, the housing100, the support101, the fork102, the second rotation axis125, end stops105and a second structure107.

FIG. 11represents the stock1, the first structure6, the central section9, pushing means11, the magazine12, second rotation axis125, the housing100, and support101.

So, in a specific embodiment the pellet loading system, is one of those used in rifles with articulated or “break barrel” type barrels, the same type of barrel as those shown in the figures accompanying this application.

It comprises a stock1on which there is attached chamber2ending externally with a fork102where there is articulated a barrel thanks to articulating means4.

On barrel3there is positioned pellet chamber5, which is the place where the pellet to be fired is positioned after being removed from magazine12or pellets13.

The invention comprises a first structure6which is configured by a central section9and two ends7,8. Said two ends7,8are housed in fork102of chamber2.

It has, also, a support101where there is positioned, at least partially, central section9of first structure6. Said first structure6also has a forward and reverse movement, when barrel3collapses and closes, as will be indicated later.

A housing100is configured for placing magazine12, with said housing100having a movement with respect to barrel3which means that magazine12can change position without moving with respect to said housing100, as will be explained below.

The system, in its basic configuration, has a pushing means11, linked to first structure6, arranged on support101. In an optional embodiment, pushing means11is inside support101.

This way when barrel3is in the closed position, magazine12remains lying on barrel3, leaving free the rear sight122and the firing line for the shooter.

On the other hand, when the barrel3collapses, the magazine12moves together with the housing100until it lies facing said magazine12in pellet chamber5. This makes it easier to subsequently insert pellet13into magazine12inside pellet chamber5.

One of the embodiment comprises the fact that when magazine12is facing pellet chamber5, at the same time pushing means11is in front of the pellet13which, in turn, is in front of pellet chamber5. This way when barrel3collapses, pushing means11is in front of pellet13and said pushing means11inserts the pellet13into pellet chamber5. Pushing means11will return to the initial position when barrel3closes, with magazine12returning to its lying down position and leaving the rifle loaded.

Another embodiment could be that when the collapsing manoeuvre of barrel3finishes, pushing means11ends up in front of pellet13, and subsequently, when barrel3closes said pushing means11inserts pellet13into pellet chamber5, said pushing means11then returning to the initial position, and magazine12returning to its lying down position, leaving the rifle loaded.

Also, in another embodiment the housing100for magazine12is articulated to the support101and to the body10although also it could be support101articulated to housing100and to body10.

Pushing means11, optionally could be arranged inside support101, protected inside side support101as indicated above.

To facilitate the movements of support101and the rotation and movement of second rotation axis125, support101comprises guiding pins103which are positioned on some guides104, belonging to body10along which they move.

In order to improve the return of magazine12progressively to the lying down position, housing100of magazine12can comprise some end stops105that act in the return movement on the outside of chamber2and which then guide the position changing movement of magazine12.

The body10, in order to increase its tolerance and facilitate the guiding movements, comprises damping means on body10.

Said damping means comprise at least an axis with a second spring123(in this embodiment there are two of them) and damping guides106. This way the body10has certain linear movement, to-and-fro, in the same direction as the shot, and this is absorbed by the second spring123.

So, also it can have a second structure107which is connected to support101and to the barrel10, leaving therefore said second structure107coordinated to first structure6.

One of the manufacturing options is first structure6or second structure107, or both of them, as a rod.

It has been found that as rod107is elastic this allows saving on the manufacturing costs, and also allows some greater tolerances, although they could be rigid.

This way, when the sporting rifle, also known as “air rifle”, has just fired, said rifle remains as shown inFIGS. 3aand10, i.e., without a pellet13in pellet chamber5.

The rifle does not need pellet13to be inserted manually by the sportsman, instead it has a magazine12which stores different pellets13which are loaded in pellet chamber5during the collapsing movements of barrel3and the closure thereof.

To load the pellet13from the magazine12, the sportsman will break the barrel3, as shown inFIG. 4so that barrel3moves towards the perpendicular, in relation to chamber2.

This means that magazine12moves from a lying down position (FIG. 1-3b) to a position wherein it lies facing the pellet chamber. In other words, as the barrel breaks, the magazine also moves (FIG. 4-7).

When barrel3closes, magazine12moves from the position in front of pellet chamber5to lie down again and not interfere in the vision between the sight122and the firing line.

In order to carry out said operations the rifle comprises a first structure6with a central section9and two ends7,8which are housed in the fork102or the chamber2.

The first structure6, when barrel3breaks, rotates with respect to the fork102at the ends thereof7and at the same time its central section9pushes the pushing means11which is found on support101, approaching it towards pellet chamber5due to the fact that the rotation radius of first structure6is shortened and this means that central section9pushes pushing means11.

At the same time housing100which transports magazine12also starts a rotation movement, until magazine12ends up in front of pellet chamber5.

In this embodiment the rotation is made by means of first rotation axis124and second rotation axis125which are coordinated, so that when one rotates in one direction the other one rotates in the opposite direction, which facilitates it being a controlled movement.

So, while the housing100with the magazine12move the movement to place themselves in front of pellet chamber5, the support101with pushing means11make another movement to end up in front of the pellet13in the magazine12which has to be inserted into pellet chamber5.

In one of the embodiment options when barrel3collapses completely, the pushing means pushes pellet13inside pellet chamber5. Another possibility could be that when the manoeuvre for closing barrel3starts is when pushing means11inserts it or it could be before barrel3collapses completely.

In order to make the rotation movement with first rotation axis124, a first spring121has been configured, whereby while barrel3is closed said first spring121is compressed, and when barrel3collapses said first spring121is released facilitating the rotation movement of magazine12.

When the barrel3closes, first spring121is compressed and at the same time end stops105of body10rest on the chamber2, this prevents the system from closing abruptly, unbalancing the various elements.

There are damping means for body10, made up of damping guides106and second spring123which allow a to-and-fro movement of body10, facilitating its positioning in the manoeuvres for collapsing and closing the barrel.

The housing100can adopt different configurations to secure the magazine12to the housing100, such as for example a blocking mechanism for magazine12similar to a ski binding system, which would allow securing magazine12in the above-mentioned movements.

As shown inFIG. 8a, in order to facilitate the breaking and closing manoeuvres of barrel3, the arrangement of guides104has been envisaged inside body10which guiding pins103run along that are integral to support101, so that support101would have a controlled movement synchronized with that of body10.

The second rotation axis125is connected to the support101, and it is the one that articulates said support101and pushing means11as a result of the force applied on said pushing mean11by central section9of first structure6.

When ends7of first structure6rotate in fork102, said second rotation axis125allows support101to be placed correctly and consequently pushing means11would also be placed correctly when barrel3collapses; so, both would be placed correctly when the closing movement of barrel3occurs.

In another embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 9 to 13, the damping means are replaced by a second structure107, which attaches to support101and to a fixed element of barrel3, for example, the sight122, creating the same effect of the manoeuvre explained above.

Said first structure6in the two embodiments and second structure107, can adopt different configurations, as elastic rods, or rigid structures like splints.

This patent of invention describes a new pellet loading system. The examples mentioned herein are non-limiting of this invention, therefore it could have different applications and/or adaptations, all within the scope of the following claims.