Abstract:
A gun cleaning device is provided in which a primed cartridge case is adapted to hold a bore cleaning means for cleaning the bore and to contain a propellant for propelling the bore cleaning means through the bore. The bore cleaning means has a bore-cleaning member and a back end having a base for mounting a rear end of the bore cleaning member. A method of cleaning a gun is provided in which a primed cartridge containing the bore cleaning means and sufficient propellant for propelling the bore cleaning means through the bore is fed into a chamber of a gun and the gun is fired causing the cartridge to be propelled through the bore and to thoroughly clean the bore.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/276,962 filed Mar. 19, 2001. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention is a device and a method for cleaning the bore of guns. The device cleans the bore as the weapon is fired and the device is propelled through the bore.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Current methods for cleaning pistols, rifles, shotguns, revolvers and other weapons include the use of a patches, cloths, solvents, rods, and bore brushes. Such tools and accessories are usually found in variety of gun cleaning kits. A couple of typical cleaning kits are Kleen-Bore Gun Cleaning Kits and Hoppe&#39;s Bench Rest™ Premium Gun Cleaning Kits.  
           [0004]    In a typical method for cleaning the bore includes soaking an adsorbent patch in a solvent, passing the soaked patch through the bore a number of times with a patch holder at the end of a rod, dipping a bore brush in the solvent and passing it through the bore several times and passing dry patches through the bore a sufficient number of times to assure all residue has been removed from the bore.  
           [0005]    There is a need for a simple device and method that greatly simplifies the foregoing gun cleaning method.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The device of the present invention greatly simplifies the prior art method for bore cleaning. One embodiment of the bore-cleaning device comprises a primed cartridge case adapted to hold a bore cleaning means for cleaning the bore and to contain a propellant for propelling the bore cleaning means through the bore. The bore cleaning means has a bore-cleaning member and a back end having a base for mounting a rear end of the bore cleaning member. The method of the present invention comprises feeding into a chamber of a gun the bore-cleaning device having the bore-cleaning member at its forward end and firing the gun causing the device to be propelled through the bore and thoroughly cleaning the bore. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following and more particular description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a top, rear and right side perspective view of one embodiment of the bore-cleaning device of the present invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the bore-cleaning device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 taken along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective top, rear and right side view of the embodiment of the bore-cleaning device of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-2;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a top, rear and right side perspective view of another embodiment of the bore-cleaning device of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the bore-cleaning device of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 taken along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 4;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective top, rear and right side view of the embodiment of the bore-cleaning device of the present invention shown in FIGS. 4-5;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a top, rear and right side perspective view of still another embodiment of the bore-cleaning device of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the bore-cleaning device of the present invention shown in FIG. 7 taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 7; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective top, rear and right side view of still another embodiment of the bore-cleaning device of the present invention shown in FIGS. 7-8. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 1-3 are illustrative of a typical configuration of bore-cleaning device  1  of the present invention. Bore-cleaning device  1  comprises primed cartridge  10  and a first bore-cleaning member in the form of metal brush  12  attached to the base  14  by fastener  16 . Fastener  16  consists of threaded female shaft  18  projecting from back end  20  of base  14  and threaded end  22  of male shaft  24  from which the plurality of bristles  26  project.  
         [0018]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a second bore cleaning member in the form of oil-saturated adsorbent  30  is shown in FIG. 3 mounted over the exterior of female shaft  18 . Washer  34  encircles male shaft  24  adjacent rear  36  of brush  12  and provides a spacer between adsorbent  30  and base  14 . Adsorbent  30  is secured to washer  34  by means of at least one tooth  38  and base  14  when threaded end  22  is tightened within threaded female shaft  18 .  
         [0019]    Base  14  comprises metal sleeve  40  having opening  42  in back end  20  for female shaft  18 . Sleeve  40  serves as the primary building block of base  14  and holder for shaft  18  while sleeve  40  is filled with plug  46 . One method of fabricating base  14  is to insert shaft  18  through opening  42  in front wall  48  so that head  50  of sleeve  40  abuts against wall  48  and the exterior of shaft makes snug contact with opening  42  as shown in FIG. 2. Molten metal, preferably lead, is then poured into sleeve  40  and allowed to cool forming plug  46  and to cause base  14  to become a unitary piece. Any imperfections on the exposed surface of plug  46  are removed. The latter fabrication step is not critical, since plug  46  does not come into contact with the weapon&#39;s rifling.  
         [0020]    Alternative methods can be used to fabricate base  14  that are well known to those skilled in the art. For example, sleeve  40  can be heated and plug  14  can be cooled and inserted into sleeve  40  to form a unitary piece after base  14  assumes room temperature. The exact amount and total weight of plug is varied according to the particular caliber of the weapon. Plug  46  is the primary variable to provide the necessary projectile weight and momentum for device  1 .  
         [0021]    Bore-cleaning device  1  is designed specifically for each type of gun or other weapon that is to be cleaned. The outside diameter of sleeve  40  matches the given caliber of each particular gun to be cleaned. This allows sleeve  40  to interact directly with the rifling of the particular gun bore to be cleaned. Sleeve  40  provides device  1  with the same rotation as the rifling of the barrel upon the firing of the gun. Sleeve  40  is pressed into opening  60  of cartridge  10  in the same manner as a ball projectile is pressed into a cartridge of a round of ammunition. Base  14  serves as a seal to hold the charged propellant  70  within primed cartridge  10  until primer  72  is stuck by the weapon&#39;s firing pin (not shown) to propel device  1  through the weapon&#39;s bore. Preferably, sleeve  40  consists of sub-tempered copper in accordance with the temper of the weapon. Base  14  also serves as a heat shield between the blast of the propellant and adsorbent  30  to prevent ignition of adsorbent  30 . The exact amount of propellant will be selected by one have ordinary skill in at the art based on the particular weapon and the total weight of device  1  to be propelled.  
         [0022]    Upon device  1  being propelled through the bore, brush  12  provides scouring contact with the bore&#39;s interior walls and rifling to loosen and remove the debris and residue that is left from previous fired rounds. The diameter of rear  36  of brush  12  is about 0.001 to 0.008 inch greater than the inside diameter of the barrel proving an aft flex to bristles  26  and a spring fit within the bore. As brush  12  is propelled through the barrel, the proper degree of scouring resistance is achieved between bristles  26  and the bore. Bristles  26  are of a predetermined temper and density to provide the desired degree of scouring resistance. The metal of bristles  26  is sub-tempered based on the temper of the barrel or rifling. The fine threads of treaded end  22  of male shaft  24  are opposite the direction of the rifling. This causes the threads to hold tight against the threads of female shaft  18  as brush  12  is propelled in a counter rotation through the barrel. Brush  12  is designed to clean all surfaces in direct contact with a projectile including the loading ramp of an automatic cocking pistol (ACP). Because of the torque and velocity forces applied to the threads of female shaft  18 , the integrity of the metal and the holding strength of the threads must exceed these applied forces. Preferable metals for female shaft  18  and male shaft  24  are titanium and alloys thereof.  
         [0023]    Adsorbent  30  preferably consists of high density, oil-saturated cotton, wool, or a synthetic material, e.g., 3M® Scotch-Brite™ hand pads, generally formed in the shape of a doughnut. The diameter of its hole  43  equals the outside diameter of shaft  18 . Adsorbent  30  is conical in shape with its small, inverted end  44  inserted first within cartridge  10  toward plug  46  as shown in FIG. 2. The diameter of the opposite large end of adsorbent  30  is slightly greater than the inside diameter of cartridge  10 , i.e., substantially the same the diameter as that of rear  36  of brush  12 . The large end of adsorbent  30  is compressed within cartridge  10  to provide a final cleaning action as it is propelled through the bore. On firing, adsorbent  30  rotates in conjunction with brush  12  to collect and extract debris from the barrel rifling that is left over from the cleaning action of brush  12 . The centrifugal force of the rotation causes adsorbent  30  to expand as it is propelled through the bore. In addition, adsorbent  30  lubricates the interior of the bore of the weapon.  
         [0024]    Female shaft  18  consists of titanium, engineering alloy or other hardened metals that are strong enough to withstand the applied torque. Shaft  18  is provided with a universal thread to accommodate a wide variety of applications to mate with threaded end  22  of male shaft  22 . The threads of shaft  18  are reversed in accordance with the rifling of the bore of the particular application. The exact dimensions of shaft  18  are dependent on the caliber of the weapon.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 4-6 show another embodiment of the present invention without brush  12 . In this embodiment, oil-saturated adsorbent  80  is shown mounted to male shaft  82  by an epoxy or other known means to weld adsorbent  80  to metal male shaft  82 . Spacer  90 , consisting of leather, wool or similar non-metallic material, can be placed between adsorbent  80  and base  14  to provide additional means for removing debris and residue from the bore. The only other major difference between the device shown in FIGS. 1-3 and FIGS. 4-6 is female shaft  94  for mating with threaded end  95  of male shaft  82 . In this embodiment, end  96  of shaft  94  through opening  42  is flush with back end  20 . After the lead has cooled during the fabrication of base  14 , the notches in head  96  become filled in and shaft  94  is within base  14  as shown in phantom in FIG. 6.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 7-9 show still another embodiment of the present invention without adsorbent  30 . In this embodiment, brush  112  having rounded nose  124  and straight walls  125  to provide the necessary contact with the bore for maximum cleaning efficiency. Bristles  126  project from male shaft  128  in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 except they are shorter in length adjacent spacer  90 . Threaded end  129  mates with female shaft  94  in the same manner as that of the device shown in FIGS. 4-6.  
         [0027]    The three embodiments of the device of the present invention described above give rise to a number of possible methods of the present invention.  
         [0028]    In one method of the present invention, device  1  shown in FIGS. 1-3 is fed into a chamber of a gun and fired to thoroughly cleaning the bore in one shot. In this method, device  1  can be included as the last round in a clip of ammunition. If the weapon is normally cleaned after every third clip, then the clip with device  1  will be that third clip.  
         [0029]    In a second method of this invention, device  100  shown in FIGS. 4-6 is fed into a chamber of a gun and fired after a conventional bore-cleaning brush is used to clean the bore.  
         [0030]    In a third method of this invention, device  130  shown in FIGS. 7-9 is fed into a chamber of a gun and fired and then the conventional steps of passing adsorbent patches through the bore to remove the residue left from use of devise  130  and lubricating the bore with proper lubricant.  
         [0031]    In a fourth method, device  130  is fed into a chamber of a gun and fired followed by feeding and firing device  100 . In this method, the next to last round of a clip of ammunition includes device  100  and the last round includes device  130  to provide for the complete bore cleaning operation to take place.  
         [0032]    The examples that follow illustrate the embodiments of this invention used in the cleaning of a .45 caliber revolver. The examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not meant to limit the scope of the claims in any way.  
       EXAMPLE A  
       [0033]    Brush  112  is made from bronze bristles  126  with the outside diameter being in the range of 0.451 to 0.458 inch or 0.001 to 0.008 inch greater than the barrel of a .45 caliber revolver. The length of brush  112  from rounded end  124  to the other end that is flush against leather spacer  90  is 0.3125 ({fraction (5/16)}) inch. Spacer  90  has a diameter 0.45 inch and a thickness of 0.0625 ({fraction (1/16)}) inch. The hole in spacer  90  is the same as the diameter of shaft  94 . Shaft  94  has a length of 0.3125 ({fraction (5/16)}) inch. Sleeve  40  has a diameter of 0.45 inch and a length of 0.3125 ({fraction (5/16)}) inch. Device  130  is fabricated by first placing sleeve  40  in a jig (not shown). Threaded end  129  of titanium shaft  128  is joined to titanium female shaft  94  with spacer  90  between brush  112  and sleeve  40 . Hot lead is then poured into copper sleeve  40  and allowed to cool. In the final step, base  14  is cooled and inserted into open end  60  of heated copper cartridge  10 . Upon cooling, the resulting device  130  is test fired in a .45 caliber pistol.  
       EXAMPLE B  
       [0034]    Adsorbent  80  consists of high density 100% cotton saturated with a quality gun lubricant with the outside diameter being in the range of 0.451 to 0.458 inch or 0.001 to 0.008 inch greater than the barrel of a .45 caliber revolver. The length of adsorbent  80  is 0.3125 ({fraction (5/16)}) inch. Adsorbent  80  is affixed to titanium male shaft  82  substantially as shown in FIG. 5. The other elements of device  100  are the same as those of device  130 . The method of fabricating device  100  is the same as those steps described above in connection with device  130 . The resulting device  100  is test fired after the .45 caliber revolver has been used to fire device  130  to result in a pistol ready for action.  
         [0035]    Without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, one of ordinary skill in the art can make various changes and modifications to the device and the method invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. As such, these changes and modifications are properly, equitably, and intended to be, within the full range of equivalents of the following claims.