Abstract:
Systems and methods for firearm receivers are described. Systems may include a receiver body, a tail; and a connection for coupling the receiver body to the tail. The receiver body and the tail may be made from different materials. A receiver system coupling apparatus may include one or more protrusions on a receiver body; and one or more one or more protrusions on a tail. The one or more protrusions on the receiver body may be coupled to the one or more protrusions on the tail to secure the receiver body to the tail. A method for producing a multiple component receiver system may include creating a receiver body from a first material; creating a tail from a second material; and coupling the receiver body to the tail with a connection.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/751,797, filed Jan. 11, 2013; the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to systems and methods for firearm components and, more specifically, to systems and methods for firearm receivers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Receivers are present in nearly every firearm. Existing systems typically are based on single piece receivers. 
         [0004]    Production methods for rifle and other firearm receivers vary. In common processes, a number of individual operations are undertaken to reduce a solid metallic block to a finished receiver. Integral to these processes is a heat treat process that anticipates the necessity of machining the intermediary product to a finished form. These processes also typically incorporate a final step to provide a structural form sufficient to contain axial loads transferred from the impulsive ignition sequence to and including interfacing receiver-bolt lugs as dynamic load transfer members to the shoulder of a shooter. 
         [0005]    In some rifle and other firearm receivers, a tail section on a receiver body is provided as part of the receiver system. In the past, the receiver and corresponding tail were generally produced from a single block of metal. This may increase production costs and complexity due to machining of the final product. Furthermore, the structural and performance requirements of the receiver body and the tail may differ considerably, resulting in less than optimal design choices being made about materials and configuration of the receiver system and wasted costs due to production. 
         [0006]    Needs exist for improved systems and methods for improving performance of a receiver and reducing manufacturing costs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Embodiments of the present invention solve many of the problems and/or overcome many of the drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art by providing systems and methods for firearm components. 
         [0008]    Embodiments of the present invention may include systems and methods for firearm receivers. Systems may include a receiver body, a tail; and a connection for coupling the receiver body to the tail. The receiver body and the tail may be made from different materials. A receiver system coupling apparatus may include one or more protrusions on a receiver body; and one or more protrusions on a tail. The one or more protrusions on the receiver body may be coupled to the one or more protrusions on the tail to secure the receiver body to the tail. A method for producing a multiple component receiver system may include creating a receiver body from a first material; creating a tail from a second material; and coupling the receiver body to the tail with a connection. 
         [0009]    Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention are set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  is a left side perspective view of an exemplary multiple component system for a rifle receiver in an operational arrangement. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  is a right side perspective view of an exemplary multiple component system for a rifle receiver in an operational arrangement. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1C  is a top view of an exemplary multiple component system for a rifle receiver in an operational arrangement. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1D  is a back end view of an exemplary multiple component system for a rifle receiver in an operational arrangement. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1E  is a front end view of an exemplary multiple component system for a rifle receiver in an operational arrangement. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1F  is a left side view of an exemplary multiple component system for a rifle receiver in an operational arrangement. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1G  is a bottom view of an exemplary multiple component system for a rifle receiver in an operational arrangement. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2A  is an exploded left side perspective view of an exemplary multiple component system for a rifle receiver in an exploded view. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2B  is an exploded right side perspective view of an exemplary multiple component system for a rifle receiver in an exploded view. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3A  is a left side perspective view of an exemplary tail system. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3B  is a right side perspective view of an exemplary tail system. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3C  is a top view of an exemplary tail system. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3D  is a back end view of an exemplary tail system. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3E  is a front end view of an exemplary tail system. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3F  is a left side view of an exemplary tail system. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3G  is a bottom view of an exemplary tail system. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4A  is a left side perspective view of an exemplary receiver system. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4B  is a right side perspective view of an exemplary receiver system. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4C  is a top view of an exemplary receiver system. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4D  is a back end view of an exemplary receiver system. 
           [0031]      FIG. 4E  is a front end view of an exemplary receiver system. 
           [0032]      FIG. 4F  is a left side view of an exemplary receiver system. 
           [0033]      FIG. 4G  is a bottom view of an exemplary receiver system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    Systems and methods are described for firearm components. More specifically, firearms, such as rifles, may include a receiver system. While a rifle receiver system is described herein for exemplary purposes, it is understood that the present application may be applicable to any system that includes a receiver system. A receiver and bolt system is a basic component of any bolt action rifle. Fire control components, barrel, and magazine are all attached to the firearm in relation to the receiver and bolt, which allow for the feeding, lockup, firing, and extraction/ejection of a cartridge. 
         [0035]    In certain embodiments of the present invention, the receiver system may be made of multiple components.  FIGS. 1A-1G  show an exemplary multiple component system for a rifle receiver in an operational arrangement.  FIGS. 2A-2B  show an exemplary multiple component system for a rifle receiver in an exploded view.  FIGS. 3A-3G  show an exemplary tail system.  FIGS. 4A-4G  show an exemplary receiver system. 
         [0036]    Separating the receiver system into a receiver body and a tail may provide benefits over existing systems. For example, splitting the receiver system into two or more components may provide improved efficiency in a manufacturing process due to less wasted material and shorter machining cycle time. A multiple component system may also permit use of different technological processes for each component, e.g., machining the receiver body from a bar stock and using an investment casting for the tail, plus one or more secondary machining operations, if necessary. A multiple component system may also allow for different heat treatment of each component, creating a different hardness for each component. Furthermore, different materials may be used for each component. Different finishing processes may also be used for each component, e.g., polishing for the receiver body and leaving the tail as cast. A multiple component system may also provide for modular design, such as allowing use of different variants of the receiver body, including different lengths or aesthetic variants, with the same tail, or vice versa. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 1A , the receiver system  101  may include a receiver body  103 , a tail  105  and a connection  107 . In general, the receiver body  103  may include an ejection port  109 , a bolt stop location  111 , a scope attachment  113 , a bolt lug  115 , as well as other features. The receiver body may include a surface  116  for a mechanical lock with the tail  105  and/or a tail locating surface  118 . 
         [0038]    A tail  105  may include an extension aft of the receiver body  103 . In certain embodiments, the tail extends in an aft direction central to the receiver body in a plane of rotation around which a bolt handle rotates to either open or close the action and proceeds rearward. A trigger group mechanism may be applied by fastener or other connection to a surface of the tail, such as the lower surface. A multiple component system could also be applied to other action designs like semi-automatics, rimfires, etc. In general, the tail may include a safety button location  117 , a sear pivot pin location  119 , a trigger sear pivot location  121 , a joining pin hole  123 , a sear spring location  125 , a bolt guiding surface  127 , a cocking piece groove with lead angle  128 , a bolt stop hole  129 , a spring pocket  131 , a trigger sear blocking lever pivot  133 , a safety spring pivot  135 , as well as other features. 
         [0039]    The receiver body and the tail mechanism may be coupled together by a connection  107 . The connection may include one or more pins  137 . The one or more pins  137  may pass through joining pin holes  139  on one or more protrusions  141  on the receiver body  103  and/or through joining pin holes  123  on the one or more protrusions  143  on the tail  105 . In certain embodiments, the tail may include one, two, three or more protrusions. The one or more pins may extend through one of the protrusions, through a protrusion on the receiver body and couple to the second protrusion on the tail. Other types of connections may be used to couple the receiver body to the tail. In certain embodiments, the receiver body and the tail may be welded together or heat treated or induction shrink fitted. In other embodiments, no welding may be used to couple the receiver body to the tail. Other connection methods may include, but are not limited to, adhesives, screws, bolts, a mechanical lock created by geometry, such as, but not limited to, a dovetail, keyway, or interference fit, etc. Furthermore, combinations of the described connection methods may be used. 
         [0040]    The receiver body and the tail may be manufactured from different materials and coupled together. In alternative embodiments, the receiver body and the tail may be manufactured from the same or similar materials, but coupled together. Materials for the receiver body and the tail may include heat treatable steels, with many different hardness characteristics and heat treat methods possible. The different characteristics may be inherent to the starting material or may result from heat or other types of treatments. For example, the different materials of the receiver body and the tail may be heat treatable steels with different hardness characteristics and/or be treated with different heat treatments. Preferably, the differences may result in different performance characteristics of the receiver body and the tail. Other materials for the tail may include, but are not limited to, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, plastic, or polymer depending on the interaction with the receiver body. Also, different receiver body material, such as, but not limited to, aluminum, titanium, plastic, or polymer may be used. 
         [0041]    Each component of the receiver system may be manufactured from materials that have preferred characteristics for that component. For example, the receiver body and the tail may be manufactured from materials that have differing hardness values. In existing systems, it is difficult to address the various needs all components of a receiver system that are confined to a relatively small volume of material. Further, it may be important to consider structural integrity requirements of the various components of the receiver system. For example, heat treating the entire receiver system to achieve some minimum threshold value for meeting structural integrity requirements may be difficult owning to time requirements, expense and distortion and/or warping concerns upon quenching and tempering of a comparatively long slender member, such as the tail. 
         [0042]    The receiver body may have structural requirements for housing the bolt and ensuring a necessary hardness to prevent galling given the bolt locking functions to the rear, together with structural requirements for the fore section of the receiver that incorporates the locking lugs and their vital role containing high load impulse. Therefore, the receiver body preferably is properly manufactured to provide wear resistance and make the receiver system load capable. 
         [0043]    The tail may operate under an entirely different set of criteria. The tail may serve a function unrelated to that of the main body of the receiver in that it provides a platform for containment and mounting of the trigger mechanism and safety housing. Therefore, the structural requirements of the tail differ from those for the receiver body. For example, the tail may create a surface for the cocking piece to be operated against while turning the bolt and cocking the striker. The tail may also provide structural support and strength for the fire control components so that the operational integrity of the firearm may be retained, even in adverse conditions such as a jar, drop, or other unusual loading. 
         [0044]    In addition, an exposed base of the tail may serve as a mounting interface to the stock and housing onto which the stock may be affixed to a rifle barrel. 
         [0045]    Certain embodiments of the present invention may include processes for manufacturing of the multiple component receiver system described herein. The process for making the receiver body may include machining from bar stock material. An advantage of the multiple component system of the present invention is elimination of a large block of machining from the rear of the receiver body. This may allow for the possibility of using a turn-milling machine, which increases the throughput capacity for manufacture. A heat treatment process may be a local induction process and/or a global process. For example, the tail may be a cast part that is then machined. Alternatively, the tail may be fully machined. Furthermore, the tail may use metal injection molding or a powder metal process, or similar process, or a combination of processes. The heat treatment may be a case hardening for components or a global treatment or a combination. 
         [0046]    Although the foregoing description is directed to the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is noted that other variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Moreover, features described in connection with one embodiment of the invention may be used in conjunction with other embodiments, even if not explicitly stated above.