Abstract:
The present invention relates to a mechanism for bedding a receiver frame ( 3 ) and/or a barrel ( 1 ) in a stock ( 2 ) of a firearm, the mechanism having a bearing component ( 8 ) which can be attached to the stock ( 2 ) and which, on its upper surface, has a bearing surface ( 10,11 ) for bearing the receiver frame ( 3 ) and/or the barrel ( 1 ). To ensure permanent and reproducibly accurate positioning, the lower surface of the bearing component ( 8 ) comprises a guide profile ( 9 ) for seating the bearing component ( 8 ) free from play in the stock ( 2 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a mechanism for bedding a receiver frame and/or a barrel in a stock of a firearm. In addition, the present invention also relates to a firearm comprising such a mechanism. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In prior-art system beddings, a bearing component with bearing surfaces is inserted into a complementary recess on the stock where it is bolted or glued to the stock. In cases in which connection is implemented purely with bolts, however, a potential problem is that the connection between the stock and the bearing component may loosen, which can lead to a mutual displacement between the bearing component and the stock. If the bearing component is rigidly glued to the barrel, on the other hand, the bearing component can no longer be readily removed. 
         [0003]    DE 84 09 468 U1 describes a mechanism for bedding a barrel in a stock of a rifle. The mechanism has a bearing component which, on its upper surface, has a support surface for receiving the barrel and a guide profile for seating the bearing component free from play in the stock on the lower surface. The guide profile has the shape of a wedge-shaped comb, the wedge surfaces of which rest free from play against the corresponding wedge surfaces of a wedge-shaped groove in an abutment made of steel. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The problem to be solved by one embodiment of the invention is to make available a mechanism for bedding a receiver frame and/or a barrel in a stock of a firearm, as well as a firearm comprising such a mechanism, in which the bearing component can be readily removed, yet allows permanent and reproducibly accurate positioning between the bearing component and the stock. 
         [0005]    Beneficial improvements and useful advanced embodiments of the present invention are also set forth herein. 
         [0006]    The mechanism disclosed by the present invention has a guide profile that is formed by downwardly projecting rib-like guide members which are designed such that they can be forced into the stock. During mounting, the guide profile engages in the stock which is made, e.g., of wood or plastic, and thus ensures an interlocking connection. Thus, lateral spread can be prevented and optimum system bedding and barrel fixation to ensure stress-free mounting in the stock can be achieved. An additional advantage of the mechanism disclosed by the present invention is that it is possible to mount a different receiver frame or barrel on the stock without additional fitting expenditures. 
         [0007]    During mounting of the bearing component, the rib-like guide members that are disposed, e.g., along the edge of the bearing component are forced into the stock and ensure lateral guidance free from play. Because of the interlocking engagement of the rib-like guide members in the stock, it is possible to connect the stock to the receiver frame in such a manner that no displacement can occur and that reproducible accuracy is ensured for an accurate fixation of the barrel, without time- and cost-consuming preliminary preparative work on the stock. 
         [0008]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rib-like guide members have a wedge-shaped cross section. Because of this special wedge shape, the rib-like guide members are forced into the stock, which can be made, e.g., of wood or of plastic, which has the effect of creating an interlocking connection that is free from play. 
         [0009]    To support a hollow cylindrical front end of the receiver, the bearing surface can have the form of a prism-shaped support surface with oppositely slanted inside bearing surfaces on two rib-like bearing members that are disposed at a distance from each other. The bearing surface can also have the shape of a half shell or the like. If the front end of the receiver is not cylindrical, the bearing surface can also have a shape that conforms to the outer contour of the end of the receiver frame or of another part of the receiver frame. 
         [0010]    Disposed on the bearing component, next to the bearing surface, is an abutment section with an abutment element for transmitting the forces of the recoil that act on barrel to the shaft when the shot is fired. The abutment element can be an adjusting spring that is disposed in the bearing component so as to engage in a transverse slot on the lower surface of the barrel or receiver frame. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Other distinctive features and advantages of the present invention follow from the subsequent description of a preferred practical example that is based on the drawing. As can be seen: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a longitudinal sectional view of a part of a repeating rifle with a barrel, a stock, a receiver frame or system and a mechanism for bedding the receiver frame in the stock; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a cross section along line A-A seen in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows an enlarged detailed view of area B seen in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the mechanism for bedding the receiver frame as seen from above; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the mechanism for bedding the receiver frame as seen from below. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a portion of a repeating rifle with a barrel  1 , a stock  2 , a system or receiver frame  3  and a mechanism  4  for bedding the system or receiver frame  3  in the stock  2 . The system or receiver frame  3 , here designed as a chamber sleeve, comprises a front end of the receiver  5  in which the back end of the barrel  1  comprising a cartridge chamber  6  and locking elements  7  is disposed. 
         [0018]    The mechanism  4  for bedding the receiver frame  3  in the stock  2 , which mechanism is as separately shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , has an essentially cubic bearing component  8  which, on its lower surface, has rib-like guide members  9  that can be forced into the stock  2  so as to ensure that the bearing component  8  is seated free from play in the stock  2 . Because of the rib-like guide members  9  which engage in the stock  2  so as to interlock with said stock, a guide profile for lateral guidance is created on the lower surface of the bearing component  8 . As the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  indicates, two parallel rib-like guide members  9  are disposed along the edges of the bearing component  8 .  FIG. 3  indicates that the rib-like guide members  9  have a wedge-shaped cross section. Because of this special wedge shape, during mounting (which will be discussed in greater detail below), the rib-like guide members are forced into the stock  2  which is, e.g., made of wood or plastic, which leads to an interlocking connection between the bearing component  8  and the stock  2  that prevents lateral movement. 
         [0019]    As  FIGS. 4 and 5  indicate, the upper surface of the bearing component  8  has a posterior bearing surface for bearing the hollow cylindrical front end of the receiver  5 . In the embodiment shown, the bearing surface for bearing the front end of the receiver  5  is designed in the form of a prism-shaped bearing with two oppositely slanted inner bearing surfaces  10  on two rib-like bearing members  11  that are disposed at a distance from each other. It is, however, also possible for the bearing surface to have the shape of a half shell or the like. If the front end of the receiver is not cylindrical, the bearing surface can also have a shape that conforms to the outer contour of the front end of the receiver. 
         [0020]    The upper surface of the bearing component  8  furthermore comprises an anterior abutment section  12  with an adjusting spring groove  13  that runs at right angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the gun. An upwardly projecting adjusting spring  14  is disposed in the adjusting spring groove  13  so as to be able to engage in a transverse slot  15  on the lower surface of the barrel  1  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The posterior bearing surface with the slanted bearing surfaces  11  is designed to ensure that when the hollow cylindrical front end of the receiver  5  rests on the bearing surfaces  10 , the front end of the receiver  5  which is disposed on the barrel  1  does not rest against the anterior abutment section  12 . Only the adjusting spring  14  which is disposed in the anterior abutment section  12  engages in the lower transverse slot  15  of the barrel  1  so as to transmit the recoil forces via the adjusting spring  14  and the bearing component  8  to the stock  2 . 
         [0021]    As  FIG. 1  indicates, the adjusting spring  14  is held in place by a screw  16  which is disposed in a countersunk hole  17  that runs from the lower surface of the bearing component  8  to the adjusting spring groove  13 , with the threaded shaft  18  of said screw engaging in a complementary tapped hole  19  on the lower surface of the adjusting spring  14 . Between the two rib-like bearing elements  11 , an additional through-hole  20 , which again has the form of a countersunk hole, for a threaded bolt  21  and a threaded sleeve  22  is disposed so as to connect the bearing component  8  to the front end of the receiver  5 . The upper portion of the threaded bolt  21  is screwed into a threaded hole in the lower surface of the front end of the receiver  5 , and the upper end of the bolt engages in a cutaway section  24  of the stock  2 . The upper frontal area of the threaded sleeve  22  rests against an inside annular surface  25  of the through-hole  20 , which has the form of a countersunk hole. The threaded bolt  21  and the threaded sleeve  22  serve to screw the front end of the receiver  5  to the bearing component  8 . 
         [0022]    The bearing component  8  is inserted into a complementary recess  26  of the stock  2 , and the threaded sleeve  22 , which also serves as a spacer sleeve, engages in a hole  27  in the stock. On the lower end of the hole  27 , a cutaway section  28  for receiving the front portion of a magazine frame  29  is disposed in the stock  2 . Screwed into the lower end of the threaded sleeve  22  is a screw  30  by means of which the magazine frame  29  can be secured in the cutaway section  28  and tightened to the lower surface of the stock  2 . In addition, as the screw  30  is being tightened, the screw  30  and the threaded sleeve  22 , which also serves as a spacer sleeve, force the bearing component  8  into the recess  26  and press it against the upper surface of the stock  2 , with the result that the rib-like guide members  9  are also forced into the stock  2  so as to create an interlocking connection. The interlocking engagement of the rib-like guide members  9  in the stock  2  leads to the desired lateral guidance. 
         [0023]    The invention is not limited to the practical example described above. Thus, for example, it would also be possible to bed not only the front end of the receiver of a receiver frame which here is designed as a chamber sleeve, but also the barrel, or both, on the bearing component that has the guide profile disposed on it. 
         [0024]    All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. There are many different features to the present invention and it is contemplated that these features may be used together or separately. Thus, the invention should not be limited to any particular combination of features or to a particular application of the invention. Further, it should be understood that variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention might occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. Accordingly, all expedient modifications readily attainable by one versed in the art from the disclosure set forth herein that are within the scope and spirit of the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of the present invention.