Patent Publication Number: US-11022397-B2

Title: Firearm cleaning patch

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of co-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/712,536, FIREARM CLEANING PATCH, filed Jul. 31, 2018, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE APPLICATION 
     The application relates to a firearm cleaning patch and particularly to an efficient method of manufacture of firearm cleaning patches. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The bore of a barrel of a firearm should be cleaned periodically to remove undesirable residues of gunpowder, copper, and lead that can corrode the bore or otherwise impede operation of the firearm. Common firearms used in the military, law enforcement, hunting and sport shooting include various types of pistols, handguns, shotguns, bolt action and semi-automatic rifles, assault rifles, machine guns, and grenade launchers, referred to herein collectively as “firearms.” 
     A swab formed from a flexible material such as cloth can be inserted into a slotted tip or folded over a tip of a plug and pulled or pushed through the barrel of a firearm to clean the barrel. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect, a method for manufacturing a firearm cleaning patch includes: providing a sheet of material; cutting a plurality of hex shaped patches from the sheet of material; and perforating or marking at least one slit on at least one hex shaped patch. 
     In one embodiment, the step of providing includes, providing a sheet of a fabric. 
     In another embodiment, the step of cutting includes, cutting the sheet of a fabric into a plurality of hex shaped patches having a diameter in a range of about 1″ to 2″. 
     In yet another embodiment, the step of cutting includes, cutting the sheet of a fabric into a plurality of hex shaped patches having a diameter in a range of about 2″ to 4″. 
     In yet another embodiment, the step of cutting includes, cutting the sheet of a fabric into a plurality of hex shaped patches having a diameter in a range of about 4″ to 6″. 
     In yet another embodiment, the method further includes a step of, marking or scoring the at least one hex shaped patch to facilitate pinching or folding of the at least one hex shaped patch. 
     In yet another embodiment, the step of marking includes, marking by colored lines. 
     In yet another embodiment, the step of providing includes, providing a sheet of a cotton fabric. 
     According to another aspect, a firearm cleaning patch includes a piece of material which is hex shaped when flat. At least one slit marking or slit is disposed on or in the hex shaped piece of material. At least one mark or score is disposed on or in the hex shaped piece of material as denoting a fold or pinch point. The hex shaped piece of material is adapted to have a wadded swab shape when folded and installed on a tool bit to pull through a barrel of a firearm. 
     In one embodiment, the hex shaped piece of material includes a hex shaped piece of fabric. 
     According to another aspect, a method for cleaning the barrel of a firearm, includes providing a hex shaped cleaning patch; attaching the cleaning patch to a first end of an elongated member by passing a portion of the elongated member through a slit in the hex shaped cleaning patch, pinching the cleaning patch at a marked location on the cleaning patch, and pulling a portion of the hex shaped cleaning patch through a slot in the elongated member; passing a second end of the elongated member through a barrel of a firearm; drawing the hex shaped cleaning patch into the barrel; and drawing the first end and the hex shaped cleaning patch through the barrel. 
     The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages of the application will become more apparent from the following description and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features of the application can be better understood with reference to the drawings described below, and the claims. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles described herein. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views. 
       Rough drawings of hex patches were made from original pictures of round patches, any round patch shapes in the rough drawings should be ignored with respect to the solid lines showing the new hex shaped patches. 
         FIG. 1  shows a hexagonal fabric cutting pattern according to the Application; 
         FIG. 2  shows a diagram of a small caliber cleaning patch; 
         FIG. 3  shows a diagram of a medium caliber cleaning patch; 
         FIG. 4  shows a diagram of a large caliber cleaning patch; 
         FIG. 5  shows a drawing of another exemplary hex patch cut from a sheet of fabric, where the slits and marks are indicated by scoring; 
         FIG. 6  shows a drawing of the exemplary hex patch of  FIG. 5 , where the slits and marks are indicated by black lines; 
         FIG. 7A  shows a drawing of a slotted tool bit passed through a slit of the hex patch of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 7B  shows a drawing of a pinch of an edge of the hex patch of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 7C  shows a drawing of the pinched part threaded through the slot of  FIG. 7B ; 
         FIG. 7D  shows a drawing of the wadded swab pulled tight; and 
         FIG. 7E  shows a drawing of a re-use of the hex patch of  FIG. 7A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As described hereinabove, the bore of a barrel of a firearm should be cleaned periodically to remove undesirable residues of gunpowder, copper, and lead that can corrode the bore or otherwise impede operation of the firearm. Common firearms used in the military, law enforcement, hunting and sport shooting include various types of pistols, handguns, shotguns, bolt action and semi-automatic rifles, assault rifles, machine guns, and grenade launchers, referred to herein collectively as “firearms.” 
     A swab formed from a flexible material such as cloth can be inserted into a slotted tip or folded over a tip of a plug and pulled or pushed through the barrel of a firearm to clean the barrel. Typically, the patch of flexible material such as a cloth is inserted into a slotted tip or folded over a tip of a plug having a fixed diameter designed to form a wadded swab to apply to a relatively narrow range of weapon calibers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,673, FIGS. 8 a - e  show perspective views of a cleaning patch and a gun barrel cleaning tip having a patch receiving slot. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 7,356,961, FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of components that form a patch related firearm cleaning device, and &#39;961, FIG. 1A a perspective view of the device. Because of the varying diameters of the bores of barrels on different types of weapons, the patches are manufactured in different sizes, and used folded in different ways to form a wadded swab. The &#39;673 and &#39;961 patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 
     The &#39;673 patent described use of a circular patch where for large diameter gun barrels, the end of a cleaning tip was placed through a first hole, and for small diameter gun barrels, it was placed through a second hole close the edge of the circular patch. By attaching the patch cleaning tip through the hole near the edge, a greater portion of the patch could trail the cleaning tip when in a gun barrel, thereby reducing the effective diameter of the cleaning tip and patch combination. 
     Patches are typically made and sold in circular shapes. Unfortunately, punching or cutting circles from a sheet of material, typically a sheet of fabric, leaves a significant amount of wasted material. 
     An efficient method of manufacturing a gun cleaning patch is needed to reduce the amount of patch material waste created in manufacturing. The new patches, while making more efficient use of the raw sheets of material from which they are cut, typically from sheets of fabric, should be useable in place of and as easily as the round patches of the prior art. 
     It was realized that patches can be more efficiently produced with far less wasted material as hex shaped patches.  FIG. 1  shows an exemplary hexagonal pattern outlining the sides of hexagonal patches to be cut from a section of fabric during the manufacture of cleaning patches according to the Application. 
     It was also realized that by locating the slit for a pulling tool away from the center of the patch, a hex patch can be used to clean a range of bore diameters (e.g. a range of caliber firearms) by pinching the patch at one of a plurality of marks, such as printed marks, or scored marks (e.g. visible marks made by any suitable scoring technique) around the perimeter of a hex patch at varying distances from the slit through which the tip of the cleaning tool passes at least part way through. After pinching the hex patch at the desired pinch mark, as described hereinbelow in more detail, a portion of the hex patch is pulled through a patch receiving slot in a tip of the pulling tool. 
     Definitions 
     Diameter of a hex shaped patch—The diameter of a hex shaped patch is defined in the traditional manner as the diameter of a circle that bisects each vertex of the hex shape. The exemplary diameter dimensions of the hex shaped patched described hereinbelow refer to the dimensions of a flat hex patch, before threading, pinching, and/or folding (e.g. when flat on a table top). 
     Swab—A hex shaped patch once pinched or folded and installed on a tool bit, such as, for example, a slotted tool bit, is referred to hereinbelow as a swab. The dimensions of a wadded swab hex patch are made suitable for a particular sized bore of a firearm to be cleaned. The fold or pinch points can be marked or scored onto the surface of the hex patch. As known to those skilled in the art, the wadded swab shape can be further modified by addition of a plug on the tool bit in addition to the folded hex patch, typically threaded through a slot thereof. 
     Method of manufacture—As shown, for example, in  FIG. 1  a section of any suitable material, typically a fabric  100  is cut into hexagonal patches  102 . The new method can be used to manufacture the exemplary hex patches shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4  (i.e. small caliber cleaning patches  202 , medium caliber cleaning patches  302 , and large caliber cleaning patches  402 ). The cuts are made following a hexagonal pattern  104  so that the cuts result in the formation of the sides  106  of the hexagonal patches  102  cut from the fabric  100 . 
     The fabric  100  can include natural materials, such as cotton or wool, artificial materials, such as polyester, or any combination thereof. 
     Hexagonal patches  102  (substantially regular hexagons) are positioned so that each side  106  of one of the hexagonal patches  102  in the form of approximately regular hexagons cut according to the pattern  104  is shared with a side  106  of another hexagonal patch  102  in the form of an approximately regular hexagon in the pattern  104 , except where the side  106  of a hexagonal patch  102  is on the outer perimeter  108  of the overall pattern  100 . 
     Hexagonal patches  102  can be cut from the fabric  100  manually by fabric shears or any suitable manual fabric cutting tool. Alternatively, the hexagonal patches  102  can be cut from the fabric by use of any suitable fabric cutting machine including, for example, water jet cutting, laser cutting, punching, etc., including any suitable automated cutting machine. Hexagonal patches  102  can be produced in a variety of sizes. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , small caliber cleaning patches  202  can be produced from hexagonal patches  102  with a diameter in the range of about 1″ to about 2″ for example, for cleaning .177-.27 firearms. Medium caliber cleaning patches  302  can be produced from hexagonal patches  102  with a diameter in the range of about 2″ to about 4″ for example, for cleaning .22-.45 firearms. Large caliber cleaning patches  402  can be produced from hexagonal patches  102  with a diameter in the range of about 4″ to about 6″, for example, for cleaning 0.45″-60 mm firearms. 
     Patch slits—At least one slit  204  or similarly restrictive hole is formed in a hexagonal patch  102  to produce a small caliber cleaning patch  202 , medium caliber cleaning patch  302 , or large caliber cleaning patch  402 . The slit  204  accommodates a pulling tool  206 . Any suitable pulling (or pushing) tool can be used, including, for example, a cable, rod, jag, brush, etc. and any combination thereof. The cleaning patch  202 ,  302  or  402  is affixed to the tool by any suitable tool bit (e.g. a slotted tool bit). By positioning the slits  204  in different positions, different parts of a cleaning patch  202 ,  302  or  402  can be exposed to the wall of the bore of a firearm. Typical means for attaching a cleaning patch  202 ,  302 , or  402  to the pulling tool  206  include slotted (e.g. the exemplary slotted tip of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 ), pinching, and/or clamping devices. Exemplary pulling tool  206  includes a cleaning tip having a patch receiving slot. 
       FIG. 2  shows a diagram of a small caliber cleaning patch with a pulling tool and a slotted tool bit. Markings on the diagram of the small caliber cleaning patch show where perforations and/or scoring marks can be formed in the manufacture of a small caliber cleaning patch, and where a small caliber cleaning patch should be pinched for folding during use in cleaning. A small caliber cleaning patch is typically used to clean the barrels of .17, .22, or .223-.25 caliber firearms. 
     In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 , a small caliber cleaning patch  202 , three slits  204  are disposed in the small caliber cleaning patch  204 . The first of the three slits  204  is formed between the center  110  of a hexagonal patch  102  used to make the small caliber cleaning patch  202  and nearest point on a side  106  of the hexagonal patch  102 . The other two of the three slits  204  are formed on the hexagonal patch  102  so that they, together with the first of the three slits  204  are about symmetrically disposed about the center  110  of the hexagonal patch  102  to form a small caliber cleaning patch  202  with three about symmetrically disposed slits  204 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a diagram of a medium caliber cleaning patch with a pulling tool, with markings on the diagram of the medium caliber cleaning patch showing where perforations and/or scoring marks are to be formed in the manufacture of a medium caliber cleaning patch, and where a medium caliber cleaning patch should be pinched for folding for particular sized barrel bores. A medium caliber cleaning patch is typically used to clean the barrels of 223-.25, or .27 caliber firearms. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , a medium caliber cleaning patch  302 , six slits  204  are disposed in three pairs in the medium caliber cleaning patch  302 . The first of the three pairs of slits  204  is formed between the center  110  of a hexagonal patch  102  used to make the medium caliber cleaning patch  302  and nearest point on a side  106  of the hexagonal patch  102 . For each pair of slits  204  of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3 , one slit  204  is formed approximately one-third of the distance from the center of the hexagonal patch  102  to a side  106 , and a second slit  204  is formed approximately two-thirds of the distance from the center of the hexagonal patch  102  to that same side  106 . The other two pairs of slits  204  are formed on the hexagonal patch  102  so that they, together with the first of the three slits  204  are symmetrically disposed about the center  110  of the hexagonal patch  102  to form a medium caliber cleaning patch  302  with three symmetrically disposed pairs of slits  204 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a drawing of another exemplary medium caliber cleaning hex patch cut from a sheet of fabric, where the slits and marks are indicated by scoring.  FIG. 6  shows a drawing of the exemplary medium caliber cleaning hex patch of  FIG. 5 , where the slits and marks are indicated by black lines. There can also be three additional marks of slits as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a diagram of a large caliber cleaning patch with a pulling tool, with markings on the diagram of the large caliber cleaning patch showing where perforations and/or scoring marks are to be formed in the manufacture of a large caliber cleaning patch, and where a large caliber cleaning patch should be pinched for folding during use in cleaning. A large caliber cleaning patch is typically used to clean the barrels of .30, .35, .38, .40, .45, .50, 7.6 mm, and 9 mm) caliber firearms. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , a large caliber cleaning patch  402 , six slits  204  are disposed in three pairs in the large caliber cleaning patch  402 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the first of the three pairs of slits  204  is formed between about the center  110  of a hexagonal patch  102  used to make the medium caliber cleaning patch  402  and a nearest point on a side  106  of the hexagonal patch  102 . For each pair of slits  204 , one slit  204  is formed approximately one-third of the distance from the center of the hexagonal patch  102  to a side  106 , and a second slit  204  is formed approximately two-thirds of the distance from the center of the hexagonal patch  102  to that same side  106 . The other two pairs of slits  204  are formed on the hexagonal patch  102  so that they, together with the first of the three slits  204  are symmetrically disposed about the center  110  of the hexagonal patch  102  to form a large caliber cleaning patch  402  with three symmetrically disposed pairs of slits  204 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 , in manufacturing the small caliber cleaning patches  202 , medium caliber cleaning patches  302 , and large caliber cleaning patches  402 , the hexagonal patches  102  are typically marked (or scored) with marks  208  to instruct a user and facilitate the pinching and folding of the small caliber cleaning patches  202 , medium caliber cleaning patches  302 , and large caliber cleaning patches  402 , during use. The marks  208  can be printed on the hexagonal patches  102  prior to cutting the hexagonal patches  102  from the fabric  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , during cutting, or after cutting, and can be printed or marked by any suitable manual or machine means. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , one embodiment of a small caliber cleaning patch  202  is manufactured with at least three marks  208 , disposed so as to indicate to a user the location for pinching and folding the small caliber cleaning patch  202  for cleaning firearms of .17 caliber, .22 caliber, or .223-.25 caliber. As shown in  FIG. 3 , one embodiment of a medium caliber cleaning patch  302  is manufactured with at least two marks  208 , disposed so as to indicate to a user the location for pinching and folding the medium caliber cleaning patch  302  for cleaning firearms of .223-.225 caliber or .27 caliber. As shown in  FIG. 4 , one embodiment of a large caliber cleaning patch  402  is manufactured with at least six marks  208 , disposed so as to indicate to a user the location for pinching and folding the large caliber cleaning patch  402  for cleaning firearms of .30 caliber/7.62 MM, .35 caliber, .38 caliber/9 MM, .40 caliber, .45 caliber, or .50 caliber. 
     In summary and with reference to the hex patch of exemplary  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a method for manufacturing a firearm cleaning patch  102  includes: providing a sheet of a material  100 ; cutting the sheet of a fabric into a plurality of hex shaped patches  102 ; and perforating or marking at least one slit  204  on at least one hex shaped patch  102 . 
     In some embodiments, and with reference to the hex patch of exemplary  FIG. 2 , a firearm cleaning patch  102  includes a hex shaped piece of material when flat. At least one slit marking or slit  204  is disposed on or in the hex shaped piece of material. At least one mark or score  208  is disposed on or in the hex shaped piece of material as denoting a fold or pinch point. The hex shaped piece of material  102  is adapted to have a wadded shape when folded and installed on a tool bit to pull through a barrel of a firearm. 
     Cleaning methods 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a small caliber cleaning patch  202  can be used in the cleaning of a .17 caliber, .22 caliber, or .223-.25 caliber firearm. A pulling tool  206  is passed through a slit in the small caliber cleaning patch  202 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Depending on the caliber of the firearm to be cleaned, the small caliber cleaning patch  202  is pinched at a mark  208  corresponding to the appropriate pinching location for cleaning a .17, .22, or .223-.25 caliber firearm. The pinched portion of the small caliber cleaning patch  202  is then pulled through a slot  210  in the pulling tool  206  in order to secure the small caliber cleaning patch  202  to the pulling tool  206 . Then, the portion of the small caliber cleaning patch  202  that was not passed through the slot  210  is pulled and folded over the portion of the small caliber cleaning patch  202  that was passed through the slot  210 . The folded small caliber cleaning patch  202  is then pulled through the barrel bore of a firearm as a waded swab, to clean the firearm. 
     Re-use, multiple use—Where a small caliber cleaning patch  202  with more than one slit  204  is used, the small caliber cleaning patch  202  can then be unfolded and detached from the pulling tool  206  and later re-used utilizing a different slit  204  in the process than a previously-used slit  204 . Alternatively, the small caliber cleaning patch  202  can then be unfolded and detached from the pulling tool  206 , flipped over, and later re-used by inserting the pulling tool  206  through a previously utilized slit  204  so that the pulling tool  206  passes through the slit  204  from a different direction relative to the direction in which it passed through the slit  204  during a prior use. This allows for a small caliber cleaning patch  202  with three slits  204  to be used at least about six times, where each time accounts for the combination of a particular slit  204  being used with the pulling tool  206  passing through the slit  204  for one of two uses, each use from a different direction. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a medium caliber cleaning patch  302  can be used in the cleaning of a .223-.25, or .70 caliber firearm. A pulling tool  206  is passed through a slit in the medium caliber cleaning patch  302 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Depending on the caliber of the firearm to be cleaned, the medium caliber cleaning patch  302  is pinched at a mark  208  corresponding to the appropriate pinching location for cleaning a .223-.25, or .70 caliber firearm. The pinched portion of the medium caliber cleaning patch  302  is then pulled through a slot  210  in the pulling tool  206  in order to secure the medium caliber cleaning patch  302  to the pulling tool  206 . Then, the portion of the medium caliber cleaning patch  302  that was not passed through the slot  210  is pulled over the portion of the medium caliber cleaning patch  302  that was passed through the slot  210 . The folded medium caliber cleaning patch  302  is then pulled through the barrel bore of a firearm as a wadded swab, to clean the firearm. 
     Where a medium caliber cleaning patch  302  or large caliber cleaning patch  402  with more than one slit  204  is used, the medium caliber cleaning patch  302  can also be unfolded and detached from the pulling tool  206  and later re-used utilizing a different slit  204  in the process than a previously used slit  204 . Alternatively, the medium caliber cleaning patch  302  can be unfolded and detached from the pulling tool  206 , flipped over, and later re-used by inserting the pulling tool  206  through a previously utilized slit  204  so that the pulling tool  206  passes through the slit  204  from a different direction relative to the direction in which it passed through the slit  204  during a prior use. This allows for a medium caliber cleaning patch  302  with three slits  204  corresponding to measurements for a particular caliber of firearm to be used at least about six times, where each time accounts for the combination of a particular slit  204  being used with the pulling tool  206  passing through the slit  204  twice, each time from a different direction. 
     Similar methods can be used with the large caliber cleaning patches of  FIG. 4 . 
     Multiple use—A small caliber cleaning patch  202 , medium caliber cleaning patch  302 , or large-caliber cleaning patch  402  can be used more than once, utilizing a different slit  204  in a subsequent use than a slit utilized during a previous use., or by using a previously used slit by passing the pulling tool  206  through the a slit  204  from a different direction than the as previously used. During such use, the pinching and folding of the small caliber cleaning patch  202 , medium caliber cleaning patch  302 , or large-caliber cleaning patch  402  is done in the same way as was done during the prior use, except that the portions of the cleaning patch  202 ,  302 ,  402  that are pinched and folded are selected so that the pinches and folds made during the subsequent use are geometrically analogous to those made during the prior use. That is, positions and locations of the pinches and folds are geometrically translated across the contours of the cleaning patch  202 ,  302 ,  402  to correspond with the change in location of the slit  204  being used (and the way in which the slit  204  is being used) on the cleaning patch  202 ,  302 ,  402 . 
     In the examples hereinabove as shown, for example, in  FIG. 2-4 , the slits are generally made on a reference line from about the center of a hex patch to about a center of a side of the hex shape. The slits of the examples are about perpendicular to the reference line. 
     In the examples hereinabove as shown, for example, in  FIG. 2-4 , the pinch marks for different bore sizes can be made by marks or scoring at a location along a side of the hex shaped patch. The location of each pinch mark can be marked by any convenient measurement, such as, for example, a distance from a vertex of one of the six vertices of the hex shape, an angle from line drawn from the center of the hex shape an adjacent vertex, or a perpendicular distance from a line drawn from the center of the hex shape to an adjacent vertex to where the perpendicular line intersects a side of the hex shape. 
     The pinch mark location varies with respect to the slit, for different bore sizes. For example, in  FIG. 2 , where the slit  204  in use (as shown by pulling tool) is just past half way on a reference line drawn from about the center of the hex shaped patch to about the center of the side  106  (top side,  FIG. 2 ), the pinch mark for a .17 Cal. bore is about at the vertex nearest the slit  204 . The pinch marks move around the outside or the perimeter of the hex shape away from the slit  204  as the bore size increases. For example, by .22 Cal, the pinch mark  208  is almost the next vertex on a line about perpendicular to the reference line on which slit  204  is made. By .223 Cal, the pinch mark  208  is about at the next vertex (bottom right,  FIG. 2 ). 
     Similarly, for example, in  FIG. 4 , the slit  204  in use (as shown by the pulling tool) is just below half way on a reference line drawn from about the center of the hex shaped patch to about the center of the side  106 , the pinch mark for a .30 Cal. bore is just past about the vertex nearest the slit  204 . The pinch marks move around the outside or the perimeter of the hex shape away from the slit  204  as the bore size increases. For example, by .40 Cal, the pinch mark  208  is about at the next vertex on a line about perpendicular to the reference line on which slit  204  is made (right side,  FIG. 4 ). By .50 Cal, the pinch mark  208  is just before the next vertex (bottom right,  FIG. 4 ). 
     While any suitable pinch mark can be used, in the examples, the pinch marks  208  are generally shown as short lines about parallel to a line from about the center of the hex shape to a vertex which is perpendicular to the reference line on which a slit  204  is made. 
     In summary and with respect to exemplary  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 7A  to  FIG. 7E , a method for cleaning the barrel of a firearm, includes providing a hex shaped cleaning patch  102 ; attaching the cleaning patch  102  to a first end of an elongated member by passing a portion of the elongated member through a slit  204  in the hex shaped cleaning patch ( FIG. 7A ), pinching the cleaning patch at a marked location  208  on the cleaning patch ( FIG. 7B ), and pulling a portion of the hex shaped cleaning patch  102  through a slot in the elongated member ( FIG. 7C , and tightening the resultant swab by pulling on the tops of both parts,  FIG. 7D  to create a wadded swab); passing a second end of the elongated member through a barrel of a firearm; drawing the hex shaped cleaning patch  102  into the barrel; and drawing the first end and the hex shaped cleaning patch through the barrel.  FIG. 7E  shows a drawing of hex patch of  FIG. 7A  reused a second time. 
     It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, can be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein can be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.