Abstract:
A firearm includes a barrel that has a central axis, a receiver fixedly supporting the barrel, a gunstock that is connected to the receiver and that comprises a longitudinal axis, and a shoulder stock extending in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gunstock. The gunstock and the receiver may each be configured to provide for angular movement of the gunstock relative to the receiver and, in turn, the barrel whereby the central axis of the barrel varies in a generally radial direction extending from the longitudinal axis of the gunstock. In this way, the firearm may be discharged by a warfighter, standing adjacent to a corner, around the corner.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/288,068 entitled “Rotating Fore Grip For Small Arms”, filed on Nov. 23, 2005, by the same inventor and which, in turn, is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/288,064, entitled “Rotating Hand Grip Trigger Assembly For Small Arms”, filed on Nov. 23, 2005, by the same inventor. This Continuation-In-Part is being filed under 37 CFR. § 1.53 and priority from the Nov. 23, 2005 effective date of the Parent Case (11/288,064) is hereby claimed. 
   GOVERNMENT INTEREST 
   The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, imported, sold, and licensed by or for the Government of the United States of America without the payment of any royalty thereon or there for. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to firearms and, more particularly, to guns for use in urban combat. 
   2. Related Art 
   During urban warfare, many times a warfighter may be faced with a situation in which, in taking a position for cover, the warfighter may be located immediately adjacent a building corner, a doorway corner or some other obstacle that blocks line of sight to a target. While imaging devices, such as scopes and the like, are flexible enough to be used to generate a suitable image of the target regardless of line of sight, a conventional firearm lacks an ability to be effectively fired at the target from behind the corner or obstacle without exposing a substantial portion of the warfighter&#39;s body to return fire. 
   One solution employed by warfighters is to, while standing adjacent a corner and holding a firearm in a ready to fire manner, rotate a conventional firearm such that a transverse axis of a gunstock of the gun is disposed generally parallel to the ground and then to extend the firearm around a corner while using a thumb to actuate the trigger. While this solution reduces the area of the warfighter&#39;s body to return fire, it has several disadvantages including that of reduced control over actuation of the trigger and over the recoil of the firearm. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a firearm comprises a barrel that has a central axis, a receiver fixedly supporting the barrel, a gunstock that is connected to the receiver and that comprises a longitudinal axis, and a shoulder stock extending in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gunstock. The gunstock and the receiver may each be configured to provide for angular movement of the gunstock relative to the receiver and, in turn, the barrel whereby the central axis of the barrel varies in a generally radial direction extending from the longitudinal axis of the gunstock. In this way, the firearm may be discharged by a warfighter, standing adjacent to a corner, around the corner. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following detailed description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1(   a ) is a schematic diagram showing a top view of a firearm having a gunstock, a receiver and a barrel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 1(   b ) is a schematic diagram showing the firearm of  FIG. 1(   a ) with the gunstock rotated with respect to a longitudinal axis of the barrel; 
       FIG. 2(   a ) is a top view of the gunstock of  FIG. 1(   a ); 
       FIG. 2(   b ) is a side view of the gunstock of  FIG. 1(   a ); 
       FIG. 3(   a ) is a schematic diagram, in cross section, showing the receiver and the gunstock, which comprises a trigger assembly and a trigger, of  FIG. 1(   a ); 
       FIG. 3(   b ) is a schematic diagram, in cross section, showing actuation of the trigger assembly of  FIG. 3(   a ) with the trigger depressed adjacent the gunstock; 
       FIG. 3(   c ) is a schematic diagram, showing the receiver of  FIG. 1(   a ); 
       FIG. 4(   a ) is a schematic diagram showing a top view of a firearm having a gunstock, a receiver, a barrel and a fore grip in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4(   b ) is a schematic diagram showing the firearm of  FIG. 4(   a ) with the gunstock and the fore grip rotated with respect to a longitudinal axis of the barrel; 
       FIG. 5(   a ) is a top view of the fore grip of  FIG. 4(   a ); 
       FIG. 5(   b ) is a side view of the fore grip of  FIG. 4(   a ); 
       FIG. 6(   a ) is a schematic diagram showing a top view of a firearm having a gunstock, a receiver, a barrel and a shoulder stock in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6(   b ) is a schematic diagram showing the firearm of  FIG. 6(   a ) with the gunstock and shoulder stock rotated with respect to a longitudinal axis of the barrel; 
       FIG. 7(   a ) is a top view of the gunstock and shoulder stock of  FIG. 6(   a ); and 
       FIG. 7(   b ) is a side view of the gunstock and shoulder stock of  FIG. 6(   a ). 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   One embodiment of the present invention concerns a firearm which is configured to fire at a target from behind a corner or an obstacle without exposing a warfighter&#39;s body to return fire. More particularly, the firearm is configured such that it may be discharged along an axis at a relatively large angle to its conventional discharge axis, without requiring the warfighter who discharges the firearm, to be contorted while manipulating a trigger. In one particular embodiment, a fore grip and a gunstock including a trigger assembly may also be pivotal relative to the receiver thereof. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1(   a ) and  1 ( b ), a firearm, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated generally at  10 . In this embodiment, the firearm  10  comprises a barrel  12 , a receiver  14  and a gunstock  16 . The barrel  12  may be machined in a known manner from a suitably strong and durable material such as steel. The barrel  12  may be integrally connected to the receiver  14  as shown and comprises a central axis  18 . 
   The receiver  14 , which is best seen in  FIGS. 3(   a ) and  3 ( b ), may comprise a suitably strong material such as steel and also comprises walls  20  which define compartment  22  and an aperture  24 . The aperture  24  comprises a shoulder portion  26  having a bearing surface  27 . 
   Referring in particular to  FIG. 3(   b ) for a moment, the receiver  14  may also comprise a hammer  28  and a sear  30 . The hammer  28  is rotatably mounted to the receiver  14  via a pin  32  and has a grooved portion  34 . The sear  30  is rotatably mounted to the receiver  14  via a pin  36  and is biased by a spring  38 . The sear  30  may comprise an arm portion  40  and a catch portion  42  with the latter being configured to mate with the grooved portion  34  of the hammer  28 . Arrows  44  and  46  make clear the rotational movement of the hammer  28  away from the sear  30  and rotation of the sear itself as evident from a comparison of  FIG. 3(   a ) with  FIG. 3(   b ). 
   The gunstock  16  may be composed of a similar material to that of the receiver  14  and comprises a trigger guard  48  and trigger assembly  50  located within a cavity  51 . The trigger assembly  50  may comprise a trigger  52  which is rotatably mounted to the gunstock via a pin  54  and to a reciprocable member such as rod  56  via a pin  58 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 3(   a ) and  3 ( b ), as the trigger  52  is pulled, the rod  56  pushes against a bearing surface  59  of the arm portion  40  of the sear  30 , in turn, releasing the hammer  28 . 
   In accordance with the present embodiment, and as best seen in  FIGS. 2(   a ) and  2 ( b ), the gunstock  16  may comprise a member  60  that may be cylindrical in outer configuration and extends from a contact surface  62 . The member  60  may comprise a body portion  64  and a head portion  66  that provides for a rotatable connection between the gunstock  16  and the receiver  14 . 
   A pair of arms  68   a ,  68   b , may be located on the gunstock  16  and may be engageable by a thumb of either a left handed or right handed warfighter (not shown), to provide for releasable movement of the gunstock  16  relative to the receiver  14 . The arms  68   a ,  68   b  may each extend from opposing ends of a rotatable rod  69 . Referring to  FIGS. 2(   b )  3 ( a ) and  3 ( c ), a reciprocable pin  70   b  may be moved by the arm  68   b  and may be reciprocated into and out of a plurality of bores  71   a - 71   i  through movement of either of the arms  68   a ,  68   b  and rotation of the receiver  14  relative to the gunstock  16 , as described below. Another reciprocable pin (not shown) may be connected to the arm  68   a  and function similar to the reciprocable pin  70   b.    
   Referring again to  FIGS. 3(   a ) and  3 ( b ), the receiver  14  may be assembled with the gunstock  16  such that the body portion  64  and the head portion  66  of the member  60  engage the aperture  24  and shoulder  26 , respectively, of the receiver. In this way, the body portion  64  is rotatable within the aperture  24  while the head portion  66  is supported by, and slideably rotatable against, the shoulder  26 . 
   In operation and as shown in  FIGS. 1(   a ) and  1 ( b ), after release of the arms  68   a ,  68   b , the gunstock  16  may be rotated with respect to the receiver  14  and barrel  12  whereby an axis  72  of the gunstock, that is transverse to a longitudinal axis  74  ( FIG. 2(   b )) of the gunstock, may be disposed at an acute angle to the central axis  18  of the barrel  12 . 
   In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, and with reference to  FIG. 4(   a ), a firearm is shown generally at  110 . The firearm  110  may be similar to the firearm  10  described above and, as such, similar elements are referred to with like reference numbers excepting that a one proceeds the reference number. In this embodiment, the firearm  110  comprises a barrel  112 , a receiver  114 , a gunstock  116  and a fore grip  117 . The barrel  112  and gunstock  116  may be similar to those described above in all aspects, excepting that it will be understood that each may vary in dimensional parameters as the firearm  10  is illustrated as a handgun while the firearm  110  is illustrated as a rifle. 
   The receiver  114  may comprise a similar material to that of the receiver  14 , described above, and comprises an aperture  124 , although, the receiver  114  also comprises a second aperture  125  for rotational connection with the fore grip  117 . 
   The fore grip  117  is best seen in  FIGS. 5(   a ) and  5 ( b ) and may comprise a similar material to that of the gunstock  16 . The fore grip  117  may comprise a grip portion  180  and a member  182  that, may be similar to the member  60  and as such, may be cylindrical in outer configuration and extends from a contact surface  184 . The member  180  may comprise a body portion  186  and a head portion  188 . A pair of arms  168   a ,  168   b , similar to arms  68   a ,  68   b  and, engageable by a thumb of either a left handed or right handed warfighter (not shown), may be provided for releasing the gunstock  116  for movement relative to the receiver  114 . Also similar to the arms  68   a ,  68   b , the arms  168   a ,  168   b  may each extend from opposing ends of a rotatable rod  169  and a reciprocable pin  170   b  may be moved by the arm  168   b  into and out of a plurality of bores (similar to those shown in  FIG. 3(   c )) of the receiver  114  through movement of either of the arms  168   a ,  168   b  and rotation of the receiver relative to the gunstock  116 , as described below. 
   In operation and as shown in  FIGS. 4(   a ) and  4 ( b ), after release of the arms  168   a ,  168   b , the gunstock  116  may be rotated with respect to the receiver  114  and barrel  112  whereby an axis  172  of the gunstock, may be disposed at an acute angle to a central axis  118  of the barrel. Similarly, after release of the arm  190 , the fore grip  117  may be rotated with respect to the barrel  112  whereby an axis  192  of the fore grip also may be disposed at an acute angle to the central axis  118 . In this way, a warfighter (not shown) may discharge the firearm  110  around a corner (also not shown). 
   In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention and now referring to  FIG. 6(   a ), a firearm is illustrated generally at  210 . The firearm  210  may be similar to the firearm  10  and the firearm  110  described above and, as such, similar elements are referred to with like reference numbers excepting that a two proceeds the reference number. In this embodiment, the firearm  210  comprises a barrel  212 , a receiver  214 , a gunstock  216  and a shoulder stock  219 . Each of the barrel  212  and receiver  214  may be similar to those described above in all aspects to either barrel  12 ,  112  and either receiver  14 ,  114  excepting that it will be understood that each may vary in dimensional parameters. 
   Referring now also to  FIGS. 7(   a ) and  7 ( b ), the gunstock  216  may comprise a similar material to that of either of the gunstocks  16  or  116  described above and is connected to the shoulder stock  219  at a neck portion  294 . The shoulder stock  219  may comprise an end  295  which comprises an arcuate surface  296  that may correspond with an arcuate surface  297  of the receiver  214  for smooth slideable contact therebetween. 
   A pair of arms  268   a ,  268   b , similar to arms  68   a ,  68   b  and, engageable by a thumb of either a left handed or right handed warfighter (not shown), may be provided for releasing the gunstock  216  for movement relative to the receiver  214 . Also similar to the arms  68   a ,  68   b , the arms  168   a ,  168   b  may each extend from opposing ends of a rotatable rod  269  and each may comprise a protrusion  298   a ,  298   b  into and out of a plurality of bores (similar to those shown in  FIG. 3(   c )) of the receiver  214  through movement of either of the arms  268   a ,  268   b  and rotation of the receiver relative to the gunstock  216 , as described below. 
   Operation of the firearm  210  is similar to that of the firearm  10  described above and as shown in  FIGS. 6(   a ) and  6 ( b ), after release of the arms  268   a ,  268   b , the gunstock  216  may be rotated with respect to the receiver  214  and barrel  212  whereby an axis  272  of the gunstock, may be disposed at an acute angle to a central axis  218  of the barrel. In this way, a warfighter (not shown) may discharge the firearm  210  around a corner (also not shown). 
   While the present invention has been described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to these herein disclosed embodiments. Rather, the present invention is intended to cover all of the various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.