Patent Publication Number: US-10317167-B2

Title: Recoil reduction stock

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/508,032 filed on May 18, 2017. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to firearm stocks and devices for reducing recoil impact when a firearm is fired. More specifically the present invention provides a recoil reduction stock that can be affixed to an existing firearm stock, wherein the recoil reduction stock includes a compressed shock absorber that is configured to resist expansion and absorb recoil energy, thereby minimizing the transfer of recoil energy to the firearm user&#39;s body. 
     Many individuals utilize firearms for recreation, self-defense, or other purposes. When a firearm is fired, the force of the bullet being propelled from the firearm barrel causes a rearward force to be exerted on the firearm, which is commonly referred to as recoil. While recoil can be reduced via different internal components of the firearm, the reactive force that causes recoil will always occur to some degree when the firearm is fired. The recoil force causes the firearm to move rearward toward the user upon firing of the firearm, unless the user exerts an adequate counter-force to keep the firearm steady. It can be difficult to maintain steadiness in a firearm, particularly for weaker individuals or with firearms of a higher calibers that exert greater recoil forces when fired. 
     Longer firearms, e.g. shotguns and rifles, typically have a stock which rests against the user&#39;s shoulder when the user holds the firearm. The stock is typically a single, solid piece of metal, wood, or composite material. The stock absorbs some of the recoil energy when the firearm is figured, using the user&#39;s shoulder to steady the firearm and prevent excessive rearward movement thereof. While traditional firearm stocks reduce some recoil, a great deal of energy is still imparted to the user. The recoil energy additionally causes the gun to move upward, reducing the accuracy shots fired consecutively. Further, the recoil energy is ultimately absorbed by the user&#39;s body and may cause soreness or more serious injury to the user&#39;s shoulder or other body part. In view of the above concerns, it is therefore desirable to provide a recoil reduction stock that absorbs recoil energy in order to minimize the amount of recoil energy transferred to the user&#39;s body. 
     Devices have been disclosed in the known art that relate to recoil reduction stocks and stock attachments. However, these devices have several drawbacks. One example of such a device includes a rubber pad securable to the end of a firearm stock, which has a second rubber pad affixed thereto via one or more springs. The second rubber pad contacts the user&#39;s body while the springs absorb recoil energy. However, these devices lack a component that is biased toward the firearm barrel to a compressed position or configuration. The lack of such a component renders the device less effective than a recoil reduction stock that includes compressed layers that can resist expansion to more effectively absorb recoil energy. 
     In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing firearm stocks and recoil reduction devices. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of firearm stocks now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a recoil reduction wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when absorbing the recoil energy of a firearm and preventing the recoil energy from transferring to the user&#39;s body. The present system recoil reduction stock includes a shock absorber having a first end, a second end, and a spring channel extending between the first end and the second end. A coil spring is disposed within the spring channel. A spacer abuts the second end of the shock absorber, and the first end of the shock absorber contacts a rear edge of a firearm stock body. A lag stud is inserted through the spacer and the shock absorber, wherein a tip of the lag stud is configured to engage the firearm stock body, such that the spring is compressed between a rear edge of the firearm stock body and the spacer. A butt plate is affixed to the spacer, the butt plate including a hollow interior volume in which a head portion of the lag stud is disposed. The shock absorber is adapted to expand and absorb recoil energy when the firearm is fired. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the recoil reduction stock. 
         FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional side view of an alternate embodiment of the recoil reduction stock. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the recoil reduction stock. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the recoil reduction stock. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for absorbing recoil energy and preventing recoil energy from being imparted to the user&#39;s body upon firing a firearm. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the recoil reduction stock. The recoil reduction stock  10  generally includes a shock absorber  13 , a spacer  14 , and a butt plate  15 . A first end of the shock absorber  13  contacts a rear edge  12  of a stock body  11  of a firearm. In some embodiments, the shock absorber  13  is integral to the firearm stock body  11 . In other embodiments, the shock absorber  13  may be secured to a firearm stock body  11  which has had a rear portion thereof removed, such that the firearm stock body  11  defines a straight rear edge  12  which makes flush or continuous contact with the first end of the shock absorber  13 . 
     The shock absorber  13  includes a spring channel  23  extending therethrough along a longitudinal length of the firearm stock body  11 . The shock absorber is composed of a material that is configured to be compressible, such as a rubber material, for example. The compressible material allows the shock absorber  13  to absorb recoil energy when the firearm is fired. A coil spring  20  is disposed within the spring channel  23  for further absorption of recoil forces. In the shown embodiment, the recoil reduction stock  10  includes a pair of spring channels  23  and a pair of coil springs  20  disposed therein. However, alternate embodiments may include a greater or fewer number of spring channels  23  and corresponding coil springs  20 . 
     The spacer  14  abuts the second end of the shock absorber  13 . The spacer  14  is composed of a rigid, incompressible material, such as a rigid plastic, metal, or the like. A lag stud  18  is inserted through the spacer  14  and the shock absorber  13 , such that a tip  21  of the lag stud  18  engages the firearm stock body  11 . In the shown embodiment, the tip  21  comprises threading thereon, such that the tip  21  can be screwed into a wooden firearm stock body  11 . A head portion  22  of the lag stud  18  contacts the spacer  14 , such that the spacer  14  and shock absorber  13  are secured to and compressed against the firearm stock body  11 . In one embodiment, the head portion  22  comprises a lock nut secured to an elongated body of the lag stud  18 . The lock nut can be tightened or loosened to adjust the compression of the spring  20  and shock absorber  13 . The coil spring  20  is by default compressed between the spacer  14  and the shock absorber  13 , such that the shock absorber  13  resists expansion and potential energy is stored within the coil spring  20 . 
     In the shown embodiment, the lag stud  18  extends through an aperture  25  of the spacer  14  and a lag stud channel  19  of the shock absorber  13  that is disposed adjacent to the spring channel  23 . In the shown embodiment, the recoil reduction stock  11  includes a pair of lag studs  18  and a pair of corresponding lag stud channels  19 . However, in alternate embodiments, a greater or fewer number of lag studs  18  may be utilized. 
     The butt plate  15  is secured to the side of the spacer  14  opposing the shock absorber  13 . The butt plate  15  can be integral to the spacer or may be secured thereto via any suitable fastener, such as a screw, for example. The butt plate  15  includes a hollow interior volume  16  in which the head portion  22  of the lag stud  18  is disposed. The butt plate  15  is composed of a material that is configured to be compressible, such as rubber, for example. In the shown embodiment, the butt plate  15  comprises an arcuate rear edge  17 , such that the butt plate can comfortably rest against a user&#39;s shoulder and conform to the shape thereof. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a cross-sectional side view of an alternate embodiment of the recoil reduction stock. In the shown embodiment, the lag stud  18  is inserted through the center of the coil spring  20 , whereby the coil spring  20  encircles the lag stud  18 . In this embodiment, the lag stud  18  and the coil spring  20  occupy a common channel extending through the shock absorber  13 . In such embodiments, the lag stud aperture  24  is aligned with the spring channel  23 . This embodiment provides a more compact arrangement of springs and studs, allowing for less channels to be formed through the shock absorber  13 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the recoil reduction stock. When installed, the recoil reduction stock  10  provides a clean appearance resembling a typical firearm stock. For example, an outer surface  31  of the firearm stock body  11 , an outer surface  32  of the shock absorber  13 , an outer surface  34  of the spacer  14 , and an outer surface  33  of the butt plate  15  are continuous or flush with each other. Additionally, the rear edge  16  of the butt plate  15  may include the shape of any known rifle stock rear edge, such that the butt plate  15  rests comfortably against the user. 
     When the user fires the firearm, the recoil exerts a rearward force on the firearm. The shock absorber  13  and coil springs  20  are configured to absorb the recoil force, whereby the default compressed state of the shock absorber  13  and coil springs  20  serves to reduce the force that is ultimately imparted to the user&#39;s body. The compressible nature of the butt plate  15  allows the butt plate  15  to absorb additional recoil energy when the firearm is fired, whereby the hollow interior volume shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  permit travel of the butt plate  15 . In this way, the compressed shock absorber  13  and coil springs, in conjunction with the compressible butt plate  15 , are adapted to absorb recoil energy that would otherwise be imparted on the firearm user&#39;s body. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. 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.