Patent Publication Number: US-8539706-B1

Title: Recoil reducing firearm system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a recoil reducing firearm system and more particularly pertains to the reducing of force necessary to initially manually pull back the slide prior to a first shot being fired and the minimizing of recoil during all shots and for the returning of energy as a counterbalancing force during use, the reducing of force and the minimizing of recoil and the returning of energy being done in a safe, convenient and economical manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the disadvantages inherent in the known types of firearm systems of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved recoil reducing firearm system. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved recoil reducing firearm system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
     To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a recoil reducing firearm system. A frame is adapted to be held by a user. A barrel is coupled to the base. A slide is slidably received on the barrel and adapted for rearward movement in response to firing. A full-time spring is operable for abating recoil during the entire rearward movement of the slide including primary and secondary portions of the rearward movement. A recoil reducer includes a part-time spring. The part-time spring is operable for abating recoil during the primary portion of the rearward movement. The recoil reducer also includes an engager. The engager is operable in response to movement of the slide between the primary and secondary portions of the rearward movement to terminate operation of the part-time spring. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved recoil reducing firearm system which has all of the advantages of the prior art firearm systems of known designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved recoil reducing firearm system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved recoil reducing firearm system which is of durable and reliable constructions. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved recoil reducing firearm system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such recoil reducing firearm system economically available to the buying public. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a recoil reducing firearm system for the reducing of force necessary to initially manually pull back the slide prior to a first shot being fired and the minimizing of recoil during all shots and for the returning of energy as a counterbalancing force during use, the reducing of force and the minimizing of recoil and the returning of energy being done in a safe, convenient and economical manner. 
     Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved recoil reducing semi-automatic pistol system for the reducing of force necessary to initially manually pull back the slide prior to a first shot being fired and the minimizing of recoil during all shots and for the returning of energy as a counterbalancing force during use, the reducing of force and the minimizing of recoil and the returning of energy being done in a safe, convenient and economical manner. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a recoil reducing firearm system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the system taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of a portion of the system taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the system taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the system similar to  FIG. 4  but with the slide withdrawn. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective illustration of the recoil reducing assembly of  FIGS. 4 and 5  with compression occurring. 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the recoil reducing assembly at rest prior to firing. 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the recoil reducing immediately after firing. 
         FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11  are perspective illustrations of the recoil reducing assembly showing the components at various locations during slide movement,  FIG. 9  at the start of engagement during the primary portion of the slide movement,  FIG. 10  between the primary and secondary portions of the slide movement,  FIG. 11  during the secondary portion of the slide movement. 
     
    
    
     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various Figures. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1  thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved recoil reducing firearm system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     The present invention, the recoil reducing firearm system  10  is comprised of a plurality of components. Such components in their broadest context include a frame, a barrel, a slide, a full-time spring and a recoil reducer. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. 
     First provided is a frame  14 . The frame has a grip  16 . The grip is adapted to be held by a user. The frame has a trigger  18 . The trigger is adapted to be squeezed by the user. In this manner a bullet is fired. 
     A fixed barrel  22  is provided. The fixed barrel is coupled to the frame. The barrel has rifling. 
     A slide  26  is provided next. The slide is slidably received upon the barrel. In this manner reciprocable movement is allowed. The slide is adapted for an opening rearward movement in response to firing. The slide is adapted for a closing forward movement following the rearward movement. The rearward movement includes a primary portion and a secondary portion. 
     Further provided is a coil spring  30 . The coil spring surrounds the barrel. The coil spring functions as a full-time spring. The coil spring is of a reduced value operable for reducing to a maximum of 10 pounds the force necessary for an initial manual pull back of the slide prior to a first shot. The coil spring is adapted to assist in the abating of recoil during the entire rearward and forward movement of the slide following firing. 
     Provided last is a recoil reducing assembly. The recoil reducing assembly includes a housing  34 . The housing has a plurality of cupped spring washers  36  within the housing. Cupped spring washers are also known as Belleville washers, coned-disc springs, conical spring washers, and disc springs. The cupped spring washers are provided in combinations of series and parallel for functioning as a part-time spring operable for the abating of recoil during at least a part of the primary portion of the rearward movement of the slide and for the not abating of recoil during the secondary portion of the rearward movement of the slide. The recoil reducing assembly also includes a pendulum/pawl  38 . A horizontal pivot pin  40  is provided. The horizontal pivot pin is mounted in the slide. The pendulum/pawl is coupled to the slide for linear and rotational movement about the horizontal pivot pin. The pendulum/pawl is operable to initiate operation and compression of the cupped spring washers in response to movement of the slide. 
     The recoil reducing assembly also includes a blade/piston  44 . The blade/piston operatively couples the pendulum/pawl and the cupped spring washers when the slide moves during the primary portion of the rearward movement of the slide. Laterally spaced left and right projections  46  are provided. The projections are provided in the housing. Laterally spaced left and right initial upper raceways  48  are provided. Final lower raceways  50  are also provided. Angled intermediate raceways  52  are provided. The intermediate raceways are provided in the pendulum/pawl. The intermediate raceways slidably receive the projections. A central recess  54  is provided. The central recess is provided between the left and right raceways. A firing of the firearm functions to pivot the pendulum/pawl downwardly. In this manner a first rearward movement of the slide will be with the upper raceways receiving the projections and the recess receiving and pushing the blade/piston the cupped spring washers. In this manner recoil is abated. In this manner a second rearward movement of the slide will be with the angled intermediate raceways. The intermediate raceways receive the projections to pivot the pendulum/pawl upwardly for disengaging the blade/piston from the cupped spring washers to decompress the cupped spring washers. In this manner a third rearward movement of the slide will be with the projections in the final lower raceways. 
     Additional springs  56  are provided. The additional springs tend to pivot the pendulum/pawl upwardly. The slide and the pendulum/pawl and the blade/piston and the cupped spring washers are adapted to return energy to the frame as a counterbalancing force during at least a part of the secondary portion of the rearward movement of the slide. The initial manual pull back of the slide is with the projections in the lower recesses and with upper recesses not receiving the projections and with the cupped spring washes not being compressed. 
     Although a few weaker calibers do not, most semi-automatic self-loading pistols have excess energy to operate the slide. 
     1. As the slide opens, the problem is excess slide velocity, excess recoil, and excess shock of stopping the slide mass at the end of its stroke. This makes the pistol difficult to control. 
     2. Pistol designers select very strong recoil springs in an attempt to control slide velocity. This makes the pistol difficult to operate by hand. 
     3. As the slide closes, its mass is returned with excess force by the excessively strong spring. The problem here is that the sight alignment for the next shot is disturbed at the worst possible time of closing. 
     Typical recoil spring systems are substantially linear in force/deflection. That is, the more the spring is compressed, the stronger it gets. It is weakest in battery/closed position and strongest at full stroke/open position. This the nature of a compression spring. Pistol designers recognize this and often augment the force of the compression spring with tilting barrels, rotating breeches, or gas retard pistons. Although they can help, none of these methods really solves the problems. 
     The present invention solves all three of these problems by having the greatest resistive force earlier in the slide stroke followed by a lessening of force as the slide approaches end stroke. We reduce strength of the typical recoil spring for ease of hand operation and reduced closing shock. This minimizes recoil during the opening stroke and minimizes shock at the end of the stroke. 
     The present invention accomplishes this with a new part-time secondary spring system working in conjunction with a relatively light full-time recoil spring. An inertia control device makes the strong part-time spring engage only during live fire. This same mechanism ignores the part-time spring during hand cycling and the operator only encounters a pleasantly light recoil spring. 
     In a typical semi-automatic pistol, the slide converts most or all of its opening energy into compressing the recoil spring, and then, the compressed spring returns that same energy back into the closing slide. The present invention takes the energy from the part-time spring and releases it forward of the frame while the slide is still moving rearward. This becomes a counteracting force. When weight is added for the part-time spring to return, it becomes a counterbalanced force. The two fold difference here is returning energy to the frame, not the slide, and doing it while the slide is still traveling rearward. 
     Attributes that collectively define the present invention are as follows: 
     1. Part-time spring works in conjunction with typical full-time spring. 
     2. Part-time spring is positively activated and positively deactivated by an inertia control device working with a raceway. 
     3. Stored energy is returned forward to the frame, not to the slide. 
     4. This stored energy is returned forward to the frame while the slide is still moving rearward thereby counteracting without weight or counterbalanced with weight. 
     5. The slide encounters more resistance early/mid stroke than at the end of the stroke as is typical. 
     6. There is an operational distinction between live fire and hand cycling. The part-time spring does not function during hand cycling. 
     7. The inertia control module is independently slide fixed. 
     8. The part-time spring module with engagement/disengagement raceway is independently frame fixed. 
     9. The strength and duration of the part-time spring may be easily altered. 
     As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.