Patent Publication Number: US-10317155-B2

Title: 1911 bushing wrench and recoil spring plug catcher

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an improved tool for assisting in the dis-assembly and reassembly of a firearm; particularly 1911 pattern automatic pistols reducing potential injury and damage from accidental release of the recoil spring plug/guide rod plug, which us under considerable spring pressure. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The Colt Model 1911 was designed by John Browning, designer of various modern firearms. In 1906 the US Military, under the direction of General William Crozier of the Ordinance Department, began evaluating several pistol designs along with the suitability of a new cartridge that was designated the .45 Automatic Colt Pistol (or .45 ACP for short). As these military tests continued over the next several years, the John Browning designed pistol began to emerge as the clear favorite. 
     In March 1911, the Browning-designed .45 automatic pistol, manufactured by Colt was selected as the official sidearm of the armed forces of the United States of America and was designated the Model 1911. Because of its speed, reliability and distinguished history, the 1911 firearm is still popular today with gun enthusiasts and collectors. Various models of the 1911 have been produced by virtually all firearm manufacturers. 
     To disassemble the 1911 to clean or repair the firearm, the procedure for various manufacturers is basically the same. The procedure involves the rotation and removal of the barrel bushing and the recoil spring plug/guide rod plug. Rotation and dis assembly of these parts can be accomplished by hand without the use of any tools. However, such procedure may be difficult and awkward as a normal procedure is to depress the recoil spring plug and at the same time rotate the barrel bushing by approximately ¼ turn. After barrel bushing has been rotated, the barrel bushing and the recoil spring plug/guide rod plug can be removed. The too less procedure may be difficult because of the necessity to depress the recoil spring plug as it is under spring pressure and rotate the barrel at the same time. The recoil spring plug/guide rod plug can slip off the thumb launch the plug as a projectile—injuring the person, other persons nearby or causing damage to nearby objects. Therefore, a tool is recommended to assist the user when rotation of the barrel bushing and removing the spring plug. The tool, called a “barrel bushing wrench,” is a wrench having an aperture generally in the shape of the barrel bushing that is fitted on the barrel bushing and turned to rotate the barrel bushing. However, there is still no provision to secure the recoil spring plug/guide rod plug on these tools. 
     The prior art discloses several other types of tools for this purpose. U.S. Design Pat. No. 407958 shows a lockout, safety and bushing removal tool for an automatic handgun. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,411 discloses a tool for rotating a barrel bushing or spring plug in a 45 caliber pistol. The tool has a flange to prevent the uncontrolled ejection of the plug and spring. The tool includes a recess for partially receiving the ejected plug. Studs are positioned to control the amount and/or direction of rotation of the bushing or plug. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,174,667 B2 also discloses a tool for rotating a barrel bushing or spring plug on a 1911 45 caliber pistol. A tool to facilitate the removal of a barrel bushing on a handgun such as the 1911 automatic pistol. The tool has a handle which fold-able receives a wrench having an aperture conforming to the shape of bushing. In the extended position, the wrench is provided with ridges or serrations to friction-ally engage the fingers or hands of the user. 
     While tools, as described above, are suitable for the intended purpose, they generally are single purpose tools not having the capability to disassemble other parts of the pistol, nor do they have a provision for the secure reassembly of the spring recoil plug/guide rod plug—barrel bushing assembly. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a multi-tool which can which can disassemble and reassemble a 1911 pistol safely and easily for the end user. 
     The invention disclosed here positively retrieves the recoil spring plug at the precise time the barrel bushing loses contact with and releases the recoil spring plug/guide rod plug. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention consists of a multi-tool having a flat handle with its barrel bushing aperture combined with its recoil plug catcher/installer on one end a ¼ inch hex insert on the other end to accommodate various ¼ inch hex tool bits. 
     The wrench is made of suitable strength material such as a high density polymer plastic. The wrench defines an opening conforming to the shape of the barrel bushing and recoil spring plug. The lower end of the wrench is generally rounded with a ¼ inch hex bit insert. 
     The present disclosure also provides a firearm tool that includes: an elongate member extending from a first end to a second end and defining opposing planar surfaces; at least two openings defined about the first end of the elongate member and extending between the opposing planar surfaces; one of the two openings configured to engage a bushing; another of the two openings configured to receive a recoil spring; and wherein the at least two openings overlap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other advantages and objects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, claims and drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a view of a firearm tool according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is-another view of the firearm tool of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A  is a depiction of a portion of a firearm. 
         FIG. 3B  is a depiction of the firearm tool of  FIGS. 1 and 2  set to engage the portion of the firearm of  FIG. 3A . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     A tool to facilitate the removal of a barrel bushing and recoil spring plug/guide rod plug and re-install them on (Model) M1911 type self loading, magazine fed pistols (hereafter referred to as “1911”). 
     This invention relates to an improved 1911 barrel bushing wrench. The object of this invention to provide a recoil spring plug/guide rod plug catcher and ¼ inch hex insert socket on the heel of the tool to accommodate screwdrivers, pin removers and other ¼ inch hex tool bits. The recoil spring plug/guide rod plug catcher allows the user to easily contain the spring loaded recoil spring plug/guide rod plug without accidental launching the plug, which, upon striking a person or object can cause injury or damage. The tool also allows the user to safely and easily re-install the recoil spring plug/guide rod plug back into the pistol with the spring loaded thumb plunger. The ¼ inch hex insert socket on the heel of the tool along with the necessary accessory bits allows the user to to have just one tool in order to further disassemble the 1911 pistol. 
     Turning now to the drawings ( FIGS. 1-3B ), the tool of the present invention includes a flat handle  12 , which can also be referred to as an elongate member. The wrench or tool  10  has a generally flat bodied handle and made of high density polymer or suitable material. The bushing aperture or opening  14  fits snugly over the barrel bushing of the 1911. The Recoil Spring Plug/Guide Rod Plug Catcher or opening  16  captivates the recoil spring plug/guide rod plug when released by rotation of the barrel bushing. The Plunger  18  may be biased and utilized in assembly to safely depress the recoil spring plug/guide rod plug into its proper position to allow the barrel bushing to be turned to its proper position. The Plunger Spring  20  keeps the Plunger  18  in position or biased so that: 1) the cavity remains free to “catch” the recoil spring plug/guide rod plug, and 2) to give the end user a “tactile” feel in the reassembly process. The Thumb Dimple  22  allows a more comfortable and secure grasp of the tool. The Recessed Hex Tool Socket  24  is utilized for standard and/or specialized hex bits to be inserted for further dis-assembly of the 1911. 
     In accordance with example implementations at least two openings  14  and  16  can extend between opposing planar surfaces  30  and  32  of member  12 . As described, opening  14  can be configured to engage a bushing and the other of the two openings  16  can be configured to receive a recoil spring of a fire arm. These two openings overlap at  40  and can be lateral to one another. Opening  14  can be defined by a pair of opposing sidewalls  50  as well as a curved sidewall  52 . 
     Opening  16  can be operatively aligned with a tube  60  that extends normally from one of the opposing planar surfaces  30  or  32 . An interior diameter of the tube  60  can be equal to a diameter of opening  16 . 
     Dis-Assembly and Assembly Procedure 
     This tool, as previously mentioned, is intended to be used with 1911 pattern handguns. Although there are various manufacturers and variants of this model, the 1911 Bushing Wrench And Recoil Spring Plug Catcher Tool is suitable for use in all of them. The following is a description of the inherent design of the 1911 as pertains to this tool. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the barrel of the representative 1911 handgun is generally represented by the numeral  100 . A bushing  110  is at the forward end of the barrel. Below the bushing is a hole that extends parallel to the barrel having a spring  114  retained by a recoil spring plug/guide rod plug  116 . To clean or repair the firearm, the barrel  100 , the barrel bushing  110  must first be removed. The tool of the present invention is used for this purpose and the procedures are further described below. 
     For dis-assembly, when fitted over the bushing  110  and the tool is rotated clockwise in order to disengage the recoil spring plug/guide rod plug  116 , the recoil spring plug/guide rod plug  116  ejects into the cavity of the Plunger  18 . The recoil spring plug/guide rod plug  116  can now be safely removed from the recoil spring  114  and set aside. To reassemble, the recoil spring plug/guide rod plug  116  is inserted into the cavity of the Plunger  18 , while the wrench or tool  10  is fitted over the barrel bushing  110 . The Plunger  18  is now depressed, pushing the recoil spring plug/guide rod plug  116  into the firearm, while compressing the recoil spring  114  enough so that it will not interfere with the counterclockwise turning of the barrel bushing  110 . While keeping the plunger  18  depressed, the wrench or tool  10  is rotated counterclockwise unto the recoil spring plug/guide rod plug  116  “snaps” into place, which is tactility felt by the thumb which is depressing the Plunger  18 . At this point, reassembly of the barrel bushing  110 —recoil spring plug/guide rod plug  116  assembly has been accomplished.