Abstract:
Example handguns, such as pistols and revolvers, have specifically curved or contoured shapes that make them particularly suited for fitting comfortably within front, rear or side pants pockets. In some examples, the handguns can be completely concealed within standard pants pockets.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/651,505 filed on May 24, 2012 by the present inventor. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The subject invention generally pertains to handguns and more specifically to means for comfortably carrying and concealing a handgun. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Pistols and revolvers are examples of handguns. A cartridge is a combination of a bullet and a shell, wherein the shell contains the gunpowder that upon exploding within the firing chamber of a handgun blows the bullet as a projectile out through the barrel of the handgun. 
         [0004]    In the example of pistols, the firing chamber is generally integral with the barrel and usually a linear magazine within the handle grip of the pistol sequentially feeds a series of cartridges to the firing chamber. In the example of revolvers, a rotatable cylinder with a series of circumferentially distributed firing chambers align sequentially a series of cartridges with the revolver&#39;s barrel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example handgun. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a top view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a left side view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a right side view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a back end view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a front end view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a side view similar to  FIG. 4  but also showing additional geometric lines. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a front view similar to  FIG. 7  but also showing additional geometric lines. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a silhouette end view of  FIG. 7  with various geometric references. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a right side view of another example handgun. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a front end view of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a silhouette end view of  FIG. 12  with various geometric references. 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  shows an example pistol completely concealed within the pocket of a pair of pants. 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  shows an example revolver completely concealed within the pocket of a pair of pants. 
           [0020]      FIG. 16  is an end view of a prior art handgun with various geometric references. 
           [0021]      FIG. 17  is an end view of a prior art handgun with various geometric references. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]      FIGS. 1-10  illustrate an example handgun  10  in the form of a pistol, and  FIGS. 11-13  show an example handgun  12  in the form of a revolver. Both handguns  10  and  12  are specifically shaped to fit comfortably within a pocket  14  of a pair of pants.  FIG. 14  shows handgun  10  completely concealed within pocket  14 , and  FIG. 15  shows handgun  12  completely concealed within pocket  14 .  FIGS. 16 and 17  show prior art handguns  16  and  18 , wherein handgun  16  is based on U.S. Pat. No. 297,412; and handgun  18  is based on U.S. Pat. No. 1,898,368. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-10 , handgun  10  comprises a frame  20 , a barrel  22  defining a longitudinal centerline  24  (projectile centerline), and a handle  26  extending from longitudinal centerline  24  and terminating at a distal end  28 . Handle  26  extending from longitudinal centerline  24  does not necessarily mean that handle  26  intersects or touches longitudinal centerline  24 , but rather it means that handle  26  protrudes in a direction leading away from longitudinal centerline  24 . Distal end  28  is sometimes referred to as the butt of a handgun. In some examples, handle  26  comprises one or more various additional items including, but not limited to, one or more grips  30 , a magazine  32  ( FIG. 8 ), and a magazine well. In examples where handgun  10  includes magazine  32 , handle  26  has a magazine chamber within which magazine  32  is removably inserted. A magazine well provides the butt with a tapered lead-in that helps guide magazine  32  into the magazine chamber. 
         [0024]    In some examples, handle  26  is fastened to frame  20 , wherein handle  26  and frame  20  are two discrete pieces. In other examples handle  26  is an integral extension of frame  20 , wherein handle  26  and frame  20  are a single piece. In some examples, handle  26  is fastened to barrel  22 , wherein handle  26  and barrel  22  are two discrete pieces. In other examples handle  26  is an integral extension of barrel  22 , wherein handle  26  and barrel  22  are a single piece. 
         [0025]    Referring specifically to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , to make handgun  10  fit comfortably in the front or rear pocket of a pair of pants, some examples of magazine  32  have a cartridge feed path  34  that curves about an axis of curvature  36 , wherein the axis of curvature  36  is substantially parallel to or at least not perpendicular to the barrel&#39;s longitudinal centerline  24 . Cartridge feed path  34  is the direction in which magazine  32  sequentially conveys a plurality of cartridges  38  to the barrel&#39;s longitudinal centerline  24 . In some examples, longitudinal centerline  24  and axis of curvature  36  are coplanar in that they both lie in a common plane  40 . 
         [0026]    In some examples, the curved shape of handgun  10  is described with reference to  FIG. 10 , which is an end view geometric depiction and silhouette of handgun  10 . The end view of  FIG. 10  is viewed from an imaginary plane perpendicular to the barrel&#39;s longitudinal centerline  24 , thus longitudinal centerline  24  appears as centerline point  24 ′ in  FIG. 10 . In addition to  FIG. 10  showing the end view silhouette of handgun  10  (e.g., an end view silhouette of  FIG. 7 ),  FIG. 10  also shows various imaginary lines, circles, points, dimensions and other geometric references such as a first circle  42 , a first center point  44  of first circle  42 , a first diameter  46  of first circle  42 , a second circle  48 , a second center point  50  of second circle  48 , a main circle  52 , a main center point  54  of main circle  52 , a main radius  56  of main circle  52 , a linear distance  58  between first center point  44  and centerline point  24 ′, and an arc length  60  along the circumference of main circle  52  between first center point  44  and centerline point  24 ′. 
         [0027]    First circle  42  is inscribed within handle  26  touching distal end  28  and both side faces of handle  26 . Second circle  48  is inscribed within handle  26  such that second circle  48  touches both side faces of handle  26  with second center point  50  being equidistant from centerline point  24 ′ and first center point  44 . Second center point  50  being equidistant from centerline point  24 ′ and first center point  44  means the linear distance from second center point  50  to first center point  44  equals the linear distance from second center point  50  to centerline point  24 ′. Points  24 ′,  50  and  44  define main circle  52  in that all three points  24 ′,  50  and  44  lie on the circumference of main circle  52 . 
         [0028]    To provide handgun  10  with a shape that fits comfortably within pants pocket  14 , in some examples, main radius  56  divided by linear distance  58  is a value of within 1.1 to 1.7. In some examples, main radius  56  divided by linear distance  58  equals 1.4. 
         [0029]    To provide handgun  10  with a shape that fits comfortably within pants pocket  14 , in some examples, main radius  56  is within 6.4 cm to 20.3 cm. In some examples, main radius  56  equals 11.6 cm. 
         [0030]    To provide handgun  10  with a shape that fits comfortably within pants pocket  14 , in some examples, centerline point  24 ′ and first center point  44  with reference to main center point  54  are angularly spaced apart by 0.47 to 0.98 radians. In some examples, centerline point  24 ′ and first center point  44  with reference to main center point  54  are angularly spaced apart by 0.68 radians. 
         [0031]    To provide handgun  10  with a shape that fits comfortably within pants pocket  14 , in some examples, handgun  10  has a radial aspect ratio of 3.9 to 5.8, wherein the radial aspect ratio is defined herein as a quotient of main radius  56  divided by first diameter  46 . In some examples, handgun  10  has a radial aspect ratio of 4.9. 
         [0032]    To provide handgun  10  with a shape that fits comfortably within pants pocket  14 , in some examples, arc length  60  between points  24 ′ and  44  minus linear distance  58  between points  24 ′ and  44  is a delta length of within 0.7 to 3.0 mm. In some examples, the delta length equals 1.5 mm. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , handgun  12  in the form of a revolver comprises a frame  62 , a barrel  64  defining a longitudinal centerline  66  (projectile centerline), a cylinder  68  and a handle  70  extending from longitudinal centerline  66  and terminating at a distal end  72 . In some examples, handle  70  is an integral extension of frame  62 , wherein handle  70  and frame  62  are a single piece. 
         [0034]    In some examples, the curved shape of handgun  12  ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ) is described with reference to  FIG. 13 , which is an end view geometric depiction and silhouette of handgun  12 . The end view of  FIG. 12  is viewed from an imaginary plane perpendicular to the barrel&#39;s longitudinal centerline  66 , thus longitudinal centerline  66  appears as centerline point  66 ′ in  FIG. 12 . In addition to  FIG. 13  showing the end view silhouette of handgun  12  (e.g., an end view silhouette of  FIG. 12 ),  FIG. 13  also shows various imaginary lines, circles, points, dimensions and other geometric references such as a first circle  74 , a first center point  76  of first circle  74 , a first diameter  78  of first circle  74 , a second circle  80 , a second center point  82  of second circle  80 , a main circle  84 , a main center point  86  of main circle  84 , a main radius  88  of main circle  84 , a linear distance  90  between first center point  76  and centerline point  66 ′, and an arc length  92  along the circumference of main circle  84  between first center point  76  and centerline point  66 ′. 
         [0035]    First circle  74  is inscribed within handle  70  touching distal end  72  and both side faces of handle  70 . Second circle  80  is inscribed within handle  70  such that second circle  80  touches both side faces of handle  70  with second center point  82  being equidistant from centerline point  66 ′ and first center point  76 . Second center point  82  being equidistant from centerline point  66 ′ and first center point  76  means the linear distance from second center point  82  to first center point  76  equals the linear distance from second center point  82  to centerline point  66 ′. Points  66 ′,  82  and  76  define main circle  84  in that all three points  66 ′,  82  and  76  lie on the circumference of main circle  84 . 
         [0036]    To provide handgun  12  with a shape that fits comfortably within pants pocket  14 , in some examples, main radius  88  divided by linear distance  90  is a value of within 1.1 to 1.7. In some examples, main radius  88  divided by linear distance  90  equals 1.4. 
         [0037]    To provide handgun  12  with a shape that fits comfortably within pants pocket  14 , in some examples, main radius  88  is within 6.4 cm to 20.3 cm. In some examples, main radius  88  equals 11.6 cm. 
         [0038]    To provide handgun  12  with a shape that fits comfortably within pants pocket  14 , in some examples, centerline point  66 ′ and first center point  76  with reference to main center point  86  are angularly spaced apart by 0.47 to 0.98 radians. In some examples, centerline point  66 ′ and first center point  76  with reference to main center point  86  are angularly spaced apart by 0.68 radians. 
         [0039]    To provide handgun  12  with a shape that fits comfortably within pants pocket  14 , in some examples, handgun  12  has a radial aspect ratio of 3.9 to 5.8, wherein the radial aspect ratio is defined as a quotient of main radius  88  divided by first diameter  78 . In some examples, handgun  12  has a radial aspect ratio of 4.9. 
         [0040]    To provide handgun  12  with a shape that fits comfortably within pants pocket  14 , in some examples, arc length  92  between points  66 ′ and  76  minus linear distance  90  between points  66 ′ and  76  is a delta length of within 0.7 to 3.0 mm. In some examples, the delta length equals 1.5 mm. 
         [0041]    For comparison, prior art handgun  16  of  FIG. 16  shows a first inscribed circle  94  with a first center point  96 , a second inscribed circle  98  with a second center point  100 , and a centerline point  102  representing the barrel&#39;s longitudinal centerline.  FIG. 16  shows a nearly straight line  104  passing through points  102 ,  100  and  96 . Similarly, prior art handgun  18  of  FIG. 17  shows a first inscribed circle  106  with a first center point  108 , a second inscribed circle  110  with a second center point  112 , and a centerline point  114  representing the barrel&#39;s longitudinal centerline.  FIG. 17  also shows a nearly straight line  116  passing through points  114 ,  112  and  108 . 
         [0042]    Although the invention is described with respect to a preferred embodiment, modifications thereto will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The scope of the invention, therefore, is to be determined by reference to the following claims: