Muzzle brake for rifle or similar firearms

A muzzle brake for a rifle or firearm serves to dissipate the forces generated by the weapon during firing which, if not dissipated, could affect the intended trajectory of the projectile. The present muzzle brake is a cylindrical member having a plurality of slots formed therein. The slots permit the egress of the gases formed during firing. The slots are formed in an arrangement such that the gases are equally dispelled in all directions. The cylindrical member may be formed such that the diameter thereof lessens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present apparatus concerns an attachment to a rifle. More particularly, 
the present invention concerns a muzzle-brake attachment to the forward 
end of a rifle to negate the forces associated with the firing of a rifle. 
2. Prior Art 
One example of prior attempts to address this problem is found in U.S. Pat. 
No. 3,114,289 issued Jul. 12, 1962 to Aulabaugh and is entitled, "MUZZLE 
BRAKE". Aulabaugh teaches an elongated tubular assembly which threadingly 
attached at the rearward end thereof to the forward end of a rifle barrel. 
The forward end of the muzzle brake has a plurality of loose radial slots 
formed therein. The muzzle brake further has protrusions formed in the 
tubular assembly to direct the expulsion of the gases formed therein 
during firing. This then attempts to effect an even expulsion of the gases 
by the radial slots thereof. Yet imbalances still occur, not compensated 
for by this design. 
Another example of a muzzle brake is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,683 
issued Jan. 16, 1973 to Kaltmann and is entitled, "MUZZLE-BRAKE WITH A 
FLASH HIDER FOR AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AND GUNS". Kaltmann teaches an integral 
member having at its rearward end a threaded extension for attachment to 
the rifle barrel. The medial portion of the integral member, which forms 
the muzzle brake, comprises a cylindrical shell with a central bore formed 
therein. A matrix of bores is distributed evenly around the member, the 
matrix having five rows of twelve bores each. However, the regular matrix 
does not achieve the force alleviation desired. 
Still another example of an attempt to address the problem of alleviating 
the force associated with discharging a weapon is found in U.S. Pat. No. 
2,662,326 issued May 30, 1950 to Powell et alia and is entitled, "SHOT 
PATTERN CONTROL MUZZLE ATTACHMENT FOR FIREARMS". Powell teaches a 
cylindrical member having two rows of V-shaped slots formed therein to 
allow the gases to dispel therethrough. This design also does not achieve 
the balanced dispersion of the discharge forces sought for by firearm 
shooters. 
It is to this end of balanced dispersion of the discharge forces of a rifle 
or similar firearm that the present invention is directed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is a muzzle brake attachment for a rifle or similar 
firearm, comprising: 
(a) a cylindrical member having: 
(1) a forward end, 
(2) a medial portion and 
(3) a rearward end, 
the medial portion having a plurality of slots formed therein, the slots 
being formed in a plurality of rings, each ring comprising three slots, 
the slots of each rings being deployed such that no slot in any one ring 
aligns with any slot from another ring. By this arrangement of the slots, 
the forces generated during firing are equally dissipated around the gun. 
The number of rings may vary, with the preferred number of rings being 
four. An alternate embodiment of three rings is also envisioned. Further, 
means for attaching the muzzle brake to the rifle is provided. 
The present invention will be more clearly understood with reference to the 
accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like 
parts, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to FIG. 1, we see therein the present invention, to wit, a 
muzzle brake 10 attached to a rifle 12. It is noted that, while most 
commonly used in connection with firearms such as the rifle 12, the muzzle 
brake 10 of the present invention may be adapted to work with other 
firearms, such as pistols, revolvers and machine guns. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, the first embodiment of the muzzle brake 10 
comprises a forward end 14, a rearward end 16, a medial portion 18 and 
means 20 for attaching the muzzle brake 10 to the rifle 12. The muzzle 
brake 10 is formed of steel or other suitable metal alloys which can 
withstand the heat and force associated with the discharge of firearms. 
The medial portion 18 has formed therein a plurality of slots 22. Each slot 
22 is substantially identical, and comprises a hole formed in the side of 
the medial portion 18. The hole is of an enlarging circumference as it 
proceeds from the interior surface 24 to the outer surface 26 of the 
muzzle brake 10. The slots 22 allow the gases formed during the discharge 
of the rifle 12 to escape from the interior of the muzzle brake 10, in a 
manner that will more fully be described herein below. 
The slots 22 are arranged into a plurality of rings 28. Each ring 28 
comprises three slots 22. As seen in FIG. 2, the number of rings 28 of the 
first embodiment is four; however, more or less rings may be utilized. The 
rings 28 are deployed in a manner such that no slot of any one ring is 
aligned with a slot from any other ring. That is, any one ring has its 
slots offset to some degree from the slots of any other ring. As seen in 
FIG. 2, the slot 22 is not aligned with the slot 22', which is disposed 
slightly clockwise, approximately 10.degree. from the slot 22. Such 
offsets are similar for all other slots. 
This deployment of slots 22 allows for the even distribution of the gases 
and forces associated with rifle discharge. Each slot 22 allows gas to 
escape. Since each slot is substantially identical in size, the forces 
will seek egress from the interior of the muzzle brake 10 from the slots 
22, 22' evenly. Further, the orientation of each slot 22, 22' is unique 
and set such that the forces are balanced as they exit the muzzle brake 
10. This prevents the jarring of the rifle 12 during firing, such that the 
aim and trajectory of the bullet is not altered. 
Means 20 for attaching the muzzle brake 10 to the rifle 12 are depicted as 
threadings 30 deployed around the interior surface 24 proximate the 
rearward end 14. The threadings 30 would threadingly interconnect with 
corresponding threadings (not shown) on the barrel of the rifle 12. 
Alternately, the threadings could be replaced by an interlocking system of 
slots and stems (not shown) to secure the brake 10 thereon the rifle 12 or 
other systems as may be known in the art. 
Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, there is shown a second embodiment of the 
muzzle brake 110 of the present invention. The medial portion 118 of the 
brake 110 has formed therein three rings of slots 122. As in the first 
embodiment, the slots 122 are not aligned such that the forces are 
dissipated evenly during discharge. Additionally, the medial portion has a 
taper, such that the diameter of the medial portion 118 is less at the 
rearward end 116 as compared with the forward portion 114 at the muzzle 
brake 110. This taper positively affects the directing the expulsion gases 
during firing toward the slots 122. In all other aspects, the second 
embodiment of the muzzle brake 110 is identical with the brake 10 of the 
first embodiment.