Interchangeable rib assembly for rifles

Abstract: An interchangeable rib assembly for rifles includes engagement portions (207) adapted to cooperate with respective posts (205) provided on the barrel (203) of a rifle so as to detachably fix the rib to the barrel. The rib can be advantageously made of plastic, carbon fiber, or the like, and have different shapes, each shape being appropriate for the contingent requirements (hunting, target practice, et cetera).

Description: The present invention relates to an interchangeable rib assembly for rifles. Sighting ribs are generally applied to semiautomatic rifles, and to rifles having two superimposed barrels, with the purpose of aiming more precisely by facilitating the visualization of the aiming line. These ribs are often knurled to reduce reflection and glare. It has been observed that ribs of different type should be applied according to the user's requirements and according to the specific circumstances (hunting, target practice, et cetera). However, conventional ribs are usually permanently factory provided on the guns, by welding for example, and only in a few cases they can be substituted with a different type. The substitution however requires time and the professional skill of a gunsmith. FR-A-1268890 (preamble of claim 1), for example, discloses a ventilated rib having a U shaped section and applied to the barrel of a rifle by means of profiled inserts associated with the barrel. The rib is welded to the profiled inserts and by this construction deformation of the barrel is prevented. Also US-A-2620583 discloses a ventilated sighting rib anchored firmly to a post, rigidly associated with the barrel, and longitudinally slidable relative to another post, whereby compensation is made for the unequal thermal expansion rates of said gun barrel and rib. US-A-4000574 and US-A-3556889 disclose further systems for permanently mounting the rib on the barrel. The aim of the present invention is to provide an interchangeable rib that can be disassembled and reassembled with an extremely quick and easy operation. Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a rib that is particularly suitable to be made of light materials such as plastic, carbon fiber, or synthetic materials in general. A further object of the invention is to provide a rib that can be easily industrialized. Still a further object of the invention is to provide a rib that can be substituted even by a user lacking the professional skill of a gunsmith. This aim, these objects, and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by an interchangeable rib assembly for rifles as claimed in the appended claims. Further characteristics and advantages will become apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the rib according to a first aspect of the invention; FIG. 2 is a side section view of the rib of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a side partial section view of the rib applied to a rifle barrel; FIG. 4 is a plan view of the rib of the preceding figures, applied to the rifle barrel; FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged-scale bottom view of the rib of the preceding figures; FIG. 6 is an enlarged-scale partial sectional side view of the rib of the preceding figures; FIG. 7 is a view that is similar to the preceding one, with the rib applied to the barrel; FIG. 8 is an enlarged-scale front sectional view of the rib; FIG. 9 is a lateral elevation view of the rib according to a second aspect of the invention, applied to a rifle barrel; FIG. 10 is a sectional side view of the rib of FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the rib of FIGs. 9-10; FIG. 12 is an enlarged-scale front view of the rib of FIGs. 9-11; FIG. 13 is a sectional view, taken along the plane XIII-XIII of FIG. 9; FIG. 14 is a sectional view, taken along the plane XIV-XIV of FIG. 9; FIG. 15 is a rear view of the rib of FIGs. 9-14. FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the rib according to a third aspect of the invention; FIG. 17 is a side section view of the rib of FIG. 16; FIG. 18 is a side partial section view of the rib applied to a rifle barrel; FIG. 19 is an enlarged side partial section view of the gun barrel of FIG.18; FIG. 20 is an enlarged bottom view of the rib of FIG. 16; FIG. 21 is an enlarged longitudinal section view of the front part of FIG. 18; FIGs. 22-23 are enlarged cross section views respectively according to lines XXII-XXII, and XXIII-XXIII of FIG. 18; FIG. 24 is an enlarged partially cross section view of the barrel, according to lines XIV-XIV of FIG. 19. With particular reference to FIGs. 1-8, the rib according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, is suitable to be applied to a barrel 3 of a rifle, not shown, by means of a plurality of posts 5 fixed to the barrel itself. Rib 1 is advantageously made of plastic and includes an engagement means constituted by a plurality of blocks 7, each having a slot 9 adapted to accommodate an elastic thin strip or blade 11. Elastic blade 11 is adapted to engage a tooth 13 formed on each post 5. Rib 1 also includes longitudinal ridges 19 which are adapted to engage below a wider upper portion 17, provided on each post 5. The operation of the rib according to the invention is very simple: it is in fact sufficient to place the rib on the barrel, elastically deforming its sides so that ridges 19 pass beyond wider portion 17 of the posts, and so that blocks 7 are arranged in front of the respective posts. By then sliding the rib backward, blade 11 is engaged with tooth 13 of each post. FIGs. 9-15 illustrate a rib 101, according to a further aspect of the invention, which is advantageously made of carbon fibers. Rib 101 has a U-shaped cross-section and includes engagement portions 107 provided with an internal raised portion 109 that is adapted to engage a wider upper portion 117 of each post 105, provided on barrel 103. To prevent the axial sliding of the rib, the front post is provided with a locking means, constituted for example by a screw or pin 121, that engages a hole 123 of rib 101. Rib 101 can be mounted on the barrel with a quick and simple operation by placing the rib on the barrel so that engagement portions 107 are in front of the respective posts and then slide the rib backward to lock it. Pin 121 ensures that the rib cannot slide during use. FIGs. 16-24 illustrate a rib 201 according to still a further aspect of the invention. Rib 201 is very similar to the above described rib 101, having a U-shaped cross-section and including engagement portions 207 provided with an internal raised portion 209 that is adapted to engage a wider upper portion 217 of each post 205, associated with barrel 203. Unlike rib 101, however, rib 201 is prevented from sliding longitudinally on the barrel by a first post 255 which is snugly inserted in a seat 277 provided at the front portion of rib 201. Rib 201 can be associated with posts 205 by elastically deforming the sides of the rib, for engaging engagement portions 207 on the T-shaped posts. Front post 255 may be provided with a screw (not illustrated in the drawings) for preventing the front part of the rib from raising and possibly disengage from front post 255. The front portion of rib 201 is also provided with a hole 223 for the sight (not illustrated in the drawings) normally provided at the muzzle. It has been observed in practice that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, an interchangeable rib having been provided which can be applied to the barrel with an extremely simple and quick operation. The rib can of course be just as easily removed to be replaced with another one. In this manner, the user can easily apply the most suitable rib to the contingent requirements (either hunting, target practice, et cetera). The rib according to the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; all the details may furthermore be replaced with technically equivalent parts. The materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may of course be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Claims: An interchangeable rib assembly for rifles comprising a rib provided with snap-action means (7, 107, 207) for engaging anchoring means (5, 105, 205) on a rifle barrel (3, 103, 203) in a snap-lock fit so as to detachably fix said rib (1, 101, 201) to said barrel, said rib having elastically deformable sides for releasably coupling said snap-action means to said anchoring means; said anchoring means including a plurality of blocks (105, 205) fixed to said barrel, characterized in that each of said blocks has a substantially T-shaped cross section with a wider portion (117) at a free end of the respective block; said rib having a U-shaped cross section; said snap-action means including inwardly projecting portions (109, 209) on said sides, said projecting elements being engageable with respective ones of said blocks, between the wider portions thereof and said barrel. The rib assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said rib (201) further comprises a seat (277) provided at a front portion of said rib for snugly engaging a front post (255) associated at the muzzle portion of said barrel, to prevent a longitudinal sliding of said rib with respect to said barrel (203). The rib assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said blocks comprises a slot (4) adapted to accommodate a flexible blade (11). The rib assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that each post comprises a tooth (13), said blade (11) being suitable to engage said tooth formed on each one of said posts. The rib assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that in order to avoid a longitudinal sliding of said rib (101) with respect to said barrel, at least one of said posts (105) is provided with a locking means constituted by a screw or pin (121) adapted to engage a corresponding hole formed in said rib (101).

Inventors: SCARAMUCCI SERGIO, SCARAMUCCI, SERGIO
Applicants: BENELLI ARMI SPA, BENELLI ARMI S.P.A.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: F41A21
IPC codes: F41A21