RIFLE ACTION RECEIVER

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for increasing the rigidity of a conventional pre-existing rifle action receiver (10) of the type which includes a cartridge magazine port (14) having first and second longitudinal edges (20, 22), an ejection port (12), and a bolt which reciprocates within the receiver to engage a cartridge and urge it into a chamber at the rearward end of a barrel which is secured into a threaded opening in the front of the receiver. First and second plates (28, 30) are fixedly coupled proximate the first and second edges (16, 18) of the magazine port and extend downward therefrom in parallel plate forming relationship. Rigidity can be further increased by coupling a transverse lateral plate (32) between the first and second plates.

Description: RIFLE ACTION RECEIVER This invention relates generally to firearms and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for increasing the rigidity of a rifle action receiver and therefore, the accuracy of the rifle. It is well known that the lack of rigidity in a rifle action (e.g., of the Mauser type) is a serious limiting factor to ultimate rifle accuracy, and various methods haved been developed to strengthen, stiffen and stabilize the receiver. Unfortunately, each such method has involved the use of a custom receiver which, as a result of their generally larger exterior dimensions, are unduly heavy. This is undesirable since (1) in certain competitions there are limits on the weight of the weapon used; and (2) the increased weight is extremely burdensome to hunters and other sportsmen who carry their rifles for long periods of time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for increasing the rigidity of a pre-existing commercial rifle action receiver, and a further object of the present invention is to provide a stabilizing apparatus for use in conjunction with a pre-existing, commercially available rifle action receiver which includes a cartridge loading plate. According to a broad aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for increasing the rigidity of a conventional, pre-existing rifle action receiver of the type which includes a receiver port, having first and second longitudinal edges and front and rear edges, for receiving a cartridge magazine, an ejection port, a bolt which reciprocates within said receiver so as to engage a cartridge and urge it into a chamber at the rearward end of a barrel which is secured into a threaded opening in a front wall of said receiver, said apparatus comprising a first plate capable of being fixedly coupled along an edge thereof to said receiver proximate said first longitudinal edge and extending downward therefrom; and a second plate capable of being fixedly coupled along an edge thereof to said receiver proximate said second longitudinal edge and extending downward therefrom. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an improved rifle action receiver of the type which includes a receiver port, having first and second longitudinal edges and front and rear edges, for receiving a cartridge magazine, an ejection port, a bolt which reciprocates within said receiver so as to engage a cartridge and urge it into a chamber at the rearward end of a barrel which is secured into a threaded opening in a front wall of said receiver, the improvement comprising a first plate fixedly coupled along an edge thereof to said receiver proximate said first longitudinal edge and extending downward therefrom; a second plate fixedly coupled along an edge thereof to said receiver proximate said second longitudinal edge and extending downward; and a third plate transversely coupled to and between said first and second plates. According to a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for increasing the rigidity of a conventional pre-existing rifle action receiver of the type which includes a receiver port, having first and second longitudinal edges and front and rear edges, for receiving a cartridge magazine, an ejection port, a bolt which reciprocates within said receiver so as to engage a cartridge and urge it into a chamber at the rearward end of a barrel which is secured into a threaded opening in a front wall of said receiver, comprising coupling a first plate along an edge thereof to said receiver proximate said first longitudinal edge and extending downward therefrom; and coupling a second plate along an edge thereof to said receiver proximate said second longitudinal edge and extending downward therefrom. According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided an improved rifle action receiver of the type which includes a receiver port having first and second longitudinal edges and front and rear edges for receiving a cartridge magazine through an aperture in a single and continous stock, said aperture having first and second side surfaces, and receiver also including an ejection port, and a bolt which reciprocates within said receiver so as to engage a cartridge and urge it into a chamber at the rearward end of a barrel which is secured into a threaded opening in a front wall of said receiver, the improvement comprising first plate fixedly coupled along an edge thereof to said receiver proximate said first longitudinal edge and extending downward therefrom adjacent said first side surface and a second plate fixedly coupled along an edge thereof to said receiver proximate said second longitudinal edge and extending downward therefrom adjacent said second side surface. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a rifle action receiver in according with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the receiver shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rifle action receiver shown in Figures 1 and 2 taken along line 3-3; Figure 4 is a bottom view of the receiver shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the rifle action receiver of the invention; Figure 6 is an isometric partial view of a rifle of the single and continuous stock variety having therein a receiver in accordance with the invention; and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus in Figure 6 taken along line 7-7. Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a rifle action receiver 10 includes an ejection port 12, a magazine port 14 having front and rear edges 16 and 18, respectively, and first and second longitudinal edges 20 and 22, respectively, and a threaded aperture 24 in a front wall 26 for receiving a barrel (not shown) having a chamber into which a cartridge may be urged by a reciprocally movable bolt (not shown). A pair of spaced apart plates 28 and 30 are fixedly coupled to the underside of the receiver proximate edges 20 and 22, respectively, and extend downward therefrom in parallel forming relationship to each other. Plates 28 and 30 may be manufactured from, for example, steel, brass, titanium, aluminium, etc., and may be secured to the receiver by welding, brazing or soldering. Of course the plates may be formed integrally with the receiver during manufacture of the receiver. The plates may be generally trapezoidal in shape and may be formed by casting, forging or machining. It should be noted that with the exception of plates 28 and 30, Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a conventional commercially available receiver. It has been determined that by adding plates 28 and 30 in the manner described above, the vertical rigidity as calculated midway along the loading port may be increased as much as twenty-seven times that which exists without the plates. That is, without the plates the rigidity was calculated to be 0.27 x 106. The addition of plates 28 and 30 raised the rigidity to 7.4 x 106. In both cases, calculations were made from the centerline that passes through the centre of the rifle bore. The plates used each weight approximately three ounces. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment wherein the rigidity is even further increased due to a transverse lateral plate 32 fixedly coupled between vertical plates 28 and 30. Furthermore, by properly positioning plate 32, it serves as a loading platform such that a cartridge placed thereon will be engaged by the bolt and urged into the rifle's firing chamber. One of the distinct advantages of the receiver of the invention is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. That is, when the inventive receiver is used in conjunction with a weapon having a single and continuous stock 34 and a trigger assembly 36, plates 2 and 30 may be inserted down through stock 34 and hidden thereby. The cartridge magazine 38 is then inserted between plates 28 and 30 as is shown in Figure 7. Thus, rigidity has been increased without detracting from the overall appearance of the weapon. Also seen in Figure 6 is barrel 40 engaged with threaded opening 24 and presenting firing chamber 42 at front wall 26.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for increasing the rigidity of a conventional pre-existing rifle action receiver of the type which includes a receiver port (14), having first and second longitudinal edges (20, 22) and front and rear edges (16, 18), for receiving a cartridge magazine, an ejection port (12) and a bolt which reciprocates within the receiver so as to engage a cartridge and urge it into a chamber at a front wall of the receiver characterised in that the apparatus comprises a first plate (28) capable of being fixedly coupled along an edge thereof to the receiver proximate the first longitudinal edge (20) and extending downward therefrom, and a second plate (30) capable of being fixedly coupled along an edge thereof to the receiver proximate the second longitudinal edge (22) and extending downward therefrom. 2. A rifle action receiver comprising a receiver port (14), having first and second longitudinal edges (20, 22) and front and rear edges (16, 18), for receiving a cartridge magazine, an ejection port (12), and a bolt which reciprocates within the receiver so as to engage a cartridge and urge it into a chamber at a front wall of the receiver, characterised in that it also comprises a first plate (28) fixedly coupled along an edge thereof to the receiver proximate the first longitudinal edge (20) and extending downward therefrom, and a second plate 930) fixedly coupled along an edge thereof to the receiver proximate the second longitudinal edge and extending downward. 3. A receiver according to Claim 2, characterised by a third plate (32) transversely coupled to and between the first and second plates (28, 30). 4. A receiver according to Claim 3, characterised in that the third plate (32) is positioned btween said first and second plates (28, 30) so as to permit a cartridge placed thereon to be engaged by said bolt. 5. A receiver according to Claim 2, 3 or 4, characterised in that each of the first and second plates (28, 30) is trapezoidal in shape with a first parallel edge thereof coupled to the receiver (10). 6. A receiver according to any of Claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the first and second plates (28, 30) are parallel to each other. 7. A receiver according to any of Claims 2 to 6, characterised in that said first and second plates (28, 30) are welded or soldered to the receiver (10). 8. A rifle action receiver comprising a receiver port (14) having first and second longitudinal edges (20, 22) and front and rear edges (16, 18) for receiving a cartridge magazine (38) through an aperture in a single and continuous stock (34), the aperture having first and second side surfaces, the receiver (10) also including an ejection port (12), and a bolt which reciprocates within the receiver so as to engage a cartridge and urge it into a chamber (42) at a front wall (26) of the receiver, characterised in that it also comprises a first plate (2) fixedly coupled along an edge thereof to the receiver (10) proximate the first longitudinal edge 920) and extending downward therefrom adjacent the first side surface, and a second plate (30) fixedly coupled along an edge thereof to the receiver (10) proximate the second longitudinal edge (22) and extending downward therefrom adjacent the second side surface. 9. A receiver according to Claim 8, characterised in that the first and second plates (28, 30) are concealed by the stock (34). 10. A method of increasing the rigidity of the conventional pre-existing rifle action receiver of the type which includes a receiver port (14), having first and second longitudinal edges (20, 22) and front and rear edges (16, 18), for receiving a cartridge magazine, an ejection port (12), and a bolt which reciprocates within the receiver so as to engage a cartridge and urge it into a chamber at a front wall of said receiver, characterised in that it comprises coupling a first plate (28) along an edge thereof to the receiver (10) proximate the first longitudinal edge (20) and extending downward therefom, and coupling a second plate (30) along an edge thereof to the receiver (10) proximate the second longitudinal edge (22) and extending downward therefrom. 11. A method according to Claim 10, characterised by further comprising coupling a third plate (32) to and between the first and second plates (28, 30) and transversely thereto.

Inventors: BROWN, EDWARDS JNR.
Applicants: STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC.
Application year: 1984
Main classification: F41C7
IPC codes: F41C23, F41A3