Abstract:
A device to attach a sound suppressor to a firearm includes a muzzle brake that attaches to a muzzle of the firearm; a suppressor attachment that attaches to an interior surface of a suppressor tube of the sound suppressor; a suppressor lock that comprises: an extending part on an end of the muzzle brake, having a first attachment point near the muzzle for both sealing and locking, and a second, distal attachment point for locking; a corresponding ending part on the suppressor attachment, having a third attachment point for both sealing and locking, and a fourth attachment point for locking; and a threaded, rotating ring within the suppressor attachment. The suppressor tube is driven toward the firearm, and the attachment points wedges and lock together, thereby providing both a gas seal and a two locks.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/305,339, filed Feb. 17, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to firearms and more specifically to a device to attach a sound suppressor to a firearm. 
         [0003]    A sound suppressor or “silencer” is a device attached to the barrel of a firearm to reduce the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon. Currently available sound suppressors utilize screw threads or spring means to attach to the firearm. If current sound suppressors are not attached correctly, harm may occur, especially when the weapon is fired. 
         [0004]    It would be desirable to have a sound suppressor that helps avoid harm due to incorrect attachment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect of the present invention, a device to attach a sound suppressor to a firearm includes a muzzle brake that attaches to a muzzle of the firearm; a suppressor attachment that attaches to an interior surface of a suppressor tube of the sound suppressor; a suppressor lock that comprises: an extending part on an end of the muzzle brake, having a first attachment point near the muzzle for both sealing and locking, and a second, distal attachment point for locking; a corresponding ending part on the suppressor attachment, having a third attachment point for both sealing and locking, and a fourth attachment point for locking; and a threaded, rotating ring within the suppressor attachment; wherein, when the suppressor tube is rotated relative to the muzzle, the suppressor tube is driven utilizing the rotating ring toward the firearm, the first attachment point wedges to and locks with the third attachment point, thereby providing both a gas seal and a first lock, and the second attachment point is in contact with the fourth attachment point, thereby providing a second lock. 
         [0006]    In another aspect of the present invention, a device to attach a suppressor to the muzzle of a firearm includes a muzzle brake that attaches to the muzzle of the firearm and comprises a extending part of a suppressor lock and a gas flow-directing opening; an internal alignment guide that attaches to the muzzle brake and guides the insertion of the suppressor to the muzzle brake; an internal locking device that attaches to the muzzle brake and comprises a feextending part of the suppressor lock; a tensioning ring that attaches to the internal locking device and is fastened to the suppressor; and a rear cap that attaches to the rearmost part of the suppressor body and cooperates with the gas flow-directing opening of the muzzle brake to seal in gases. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of an attachment device according to the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  shows a side view of a mount muzzle brake of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2B  shows a perspective view of the mount muzzle brake of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows an internal alignment guide the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4A  shows a perspective view of an internal locking device of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4B  shows an end view of the internal locking device of  FIG. 4B ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5A  shows a cutaway view of a tensioning ring of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5B  shows an end view of the tensioning ring of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6A  shows a perspective view of a rear cap of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6B  shows an end view of the rear cap of  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a suppressor tube and a firearm barrel; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  shows a cross-section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a suppressor tube and a firearm barrel in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0020]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a device that can attach a sound suppressor to the muzzle end of a firearm without employing conventional screw threads or spring means. 
         [0021]    As depicted in  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of an attachment device  100 , also called a suppressor mount, may include a muzzle brake  10  or flash hider that may attach to the barrel of a firearm, and a suppressor attachment  64  that attaches to a suppressor tube. Suppressor attachment  64  may include an internal alignment guide  20  that facilitates the insertion of the suppressor to the firearm utilizing the muzzle brake  10 , an internal locking device  30  that holds a part of a locking mechanism, a tensioning ring  40  that may be mated to the internal locking device  30  and may also be fastened to the suppressor, and a rear cap  50  that may seat against the muzzle brake. A part might be “internal” to the sound suppressor in that it is part of the suppressor attachment  64  and therefore inside the sound suppressor. Other parts might be “external” in that it is part of the muzzle brake  10 , which is attached to the firearm. A direction might also be “:rear” or “rearward”, which is against the direction that the firearm will shoot, which is proximate and toward the user, or at an otherwise distal, remote position, which is in the same direction the firearm will shoot. 
         [0022]    As depicted in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , an embodiment of a muzzle brake  10  may provide a mount for the suppressor that is either removably or permanently attached to a firearm barrel. The muzzle brake  10  may have a rear external gas check  12  or gasket that may provide gas-flow sealing means when mated up to an internal gas check  34  or seal (on the rear cap  50  depicted in  FIG. 6A ). The muzzle brake may comprise gas ports  14  that can be slots or any shape opening designed to reduce flash. There can be an external alignment key  16  comprising a contour of flats and shapes that provide alignment as well as the male part or an otherwise extending part of a suppressor lock to lock the suppressor in place when the muzzle brake is mated to the internal locking device ( 30 ). These flats and shapes can be machined into the front of the device in the case that muzzle brake  10  is a muzzle brake, or on the back of the device in the case the muzzle brake  10  is a flash hider. The shape can be made to allow the suppressor to be mounted one way only or two ways 180 degrees apart. The muzzle brake can also have a locking slot  18  that can mate to a matching shape in the internal locking device  30 . When the internal locking device  30  rotates, this locking slot  18  can stop the rotation, allowing the suppressor to tighten up on the mount. 
         [0023]    When completed, the suppressor may be in contact with the muzzle brake  10  in two locations, rear external gas check  12  and external alignment key  16 . Having two points of contact counteracts leverage and keeps the suppressor aligned, to avoid improper mounting. When a user rotates the muzzle brake  10  inside the suppressor, the suppressor moves rearward until external gas check  12  and an internal gas check (on the rear cap  50  of the suppressor attachment  64 ) make contact, and external alignment key  16  and an internal locking surface  26  (on the locking receiver  30  of the suppressor attachment  64 ) make contact. Further rotation may cause tension between the two points of contact, so that the muzzle brake  10  (which attaches to the firearm) and the suppressor attachment  64  (for the suppressor tube) wedge and lock together. 
         [0024]    As depicted in  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of an internal alignment guide  20  may ease the insertion of the suppressor muzzle brake onto the firearm. Alignment guide  20  may include an end part  23  tapering inward and forward with an angle of from about 30 to 60 degrees, for example 45 degrees from the exterior to the interior that can act as a guide for the external alignment key  16  of the muzzle brake  10  (shown in  FIG. 2A ). The diameter of a smooth outside surface  22  may match with an inside diameter of the suppressor tube. 
         [0025]    As depicted in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , an embodiment of an internal locking device  30  may have an internal diameter  24  that can receive and hold the female part of the locking point  16  of the muzzle brake  10  (shown in  FIG. 2A ). Internal diameter  24  may allow the external alignment key  16  to pass through and can have a shaped internal locking surface  26  that can mate to a locking slot  18  of muzzle brake  10  ( FIG. 2A ), which is a cut out shape stop. 
         [0026]    The cutouts on internal locking surface  26  may match the shape of the external alignment key  16  on the muzzle brake  10 , which may be a triangle or have a slight angle. The female part (internal locking device  30  of  FIG. 4A ) may go over the front male part of the muzzle brake  10  until it contacts the back of locking slot  18 . As the suppressor is rotated, the internal locking device  30  rotates counterclockwise into locking slot  18 . As the suppressor continues to rotate, since internal locking device  30  and tensioning ring  40  are mated by threads, the suppressor moves rearward until the female rear external gas check  12  or internal gas check  34  contacts the male gas check or seal that is part of the brake or is machined as part of the barrel. 
         [0027]    As depicted in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , an embodiment of a tensioning ring  40  may mate up with an internal locking device  30  (shown in  FIG. 4A ) by means of internal screws threads  32  that match with the external screw-threaded surface  28  of the internal locking device  30 . The tensioning ring  40  can be fastened at its extreme end to the inner or outer shell of the suppressor body at a smooth outer surface  33 , for example, by welding or any other acceptable method. The outside diameter of tensioning ring  40  may be from about 1 to 6 inches and can be threaded with appropriate sized screw threads  28  to mate up with an internal threaded surface of tensioning ring  40 . 
         [0028]    As depicted in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , an embodiment of a rear cap  50  may seat against the muzzle brake  10 . Embodiments of a rear cap  50  may comprise an internal gas check  34  that has an angle matching the external gas check  12  of the muzzle brake  10  (shown in  FIG. 2A ), and together gas check  34  and gas check  12  may seal the gases. Embodiments may also comprise an internal step  36  that matches the internal diameter of the suppressor tube into which rear cap  50  can be inserted or attached. Rear cap  50  has an outer diameter  38  that may match the outer diameter of the suppressor tube, to provide a matching surface to weld and which may improve appearance. The rear cap  50  may be fastened to the body of the suppressor by methods including welding or screw threads. 
         [0029]    As depicted in the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , an embodiment of an attachment device  100  may include a muzzle brake  10 , which screws onto or otherwise attaches to a firearm  62 , and a suppressor attachment  64 , which attaches to a suppressor tube  60  with an internal locking device  30  and a tensioning ring  40 . 
         [0030]    As depicted in the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , an embodiment of an attachment device  100  may allow a suppressor tube  60  with a suppressor attachment  64  to removably attach to a firearm  62  with a muzzle brake  10 . 
         [0031]    Embodiments of a muzzle brake may be made of steel, for example type  4150 , but may be made of any metal. Embodiments may range in diameter from about 0.625 to over 3 inches. The length may be from about 1.5 to over 20 inches. The mount may be part of the muzzle device or may be machined directly into a rifle barrel. The internal alignment guide, internal locking device, tensioning ring, and rear cap may be made of a material that matches the suppressor body. Elements of the device may be manufactured on a lathe with sections to be machined being processed with a milling machine. 
         [0032]    Embodiments of the invention may be used by first mounting the muzzle brake to the host weapon. The suppressor may then be mounted by placing the suppressor over the muzzle brake and rotating it until it stops. To remove the device, the suppressor may be rotated in the opposite direction. The muzzle brake may remain on the weapon, while other parts may be inside and/or part of the suppressor, and may be removed with the suppressor. The internal structure may be designed so that if an operator does not properly attach the device, no harm results. When the device is on the weapon, it may be in alignment whether it has been tightened or not. 
         [0033]    Embodiments of a device to attach a suppressor to the muzzle of a firearm may include: a muzzle brake that attaches to the muzzle of a firearm and comprises a male part of a suppressor lock and a gas flow-directing opening; an internal alignment guide that attaches to the muzzle brake and guides the insertion of the suppressor into the muzzle brake; an internal locking device that attaches to the muzzle brake and comprises a female part of the suppressor lock; a tensioning ring that attaches to the internal locking device and is fastened to the shell of a suppressor body; and a rear cap that attaches to the rearmost part of the suppressor body and cooperates with the gas flow-directing opening of the muzzle brake to seal in gases. 
         [0034]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.