Patent Publication Number: US-2010107466-A1

Title: Anchor for vest mounted assault weapon

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application relies for priority upon the Provisional Patent Application filed by Jeffrey Paul Whittle entitled True anchor point stock system vest mounted assault weapon mount true point, Ser. No. 61/198,059, filed Nov. 3, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to combat gear and more specifically to a device which provides a stable, releasable, mount on a protective vest for an assault rifle. 
     2. Background Information 
     In the United States and throughout the world, thousands of soldiers, police officers, and others in similar positions wear some type of body when proceeding into potentially dangerous situations. Most often, this body armor is in the form of an armored vest. Although there are various types of body armor, most often the armor is in the form of a vest which includes armored portions which cover the chest and back and various straps to secure the armor to the user including shoulder straps. 
     Nearly all rifles, including automatic assault rifles, are designed to be carried and used by a person not wearing body armor. Although there are a number of ways to shoot a rifle, most commonly, the rifle includes a stock and a shooter presses one cheek against the stock such that the shooting eye is generally aligned with the front and rear sights of the rifle. The rear of the stock is most often pressed against the hollow of one shoulder to provide a solid shooting position and to absorb the recoil in a relatively harmless manner when a rifle is shot. Body armor is currently relatively thick (about one inch). Most body armor, when correctly worn, intrudes upon the hollow of the shoulder. A shooter wearing body armor cannot press the rear of the stock into the hollow of the shoulder, because the body armor is in the way. Because the rifle is effectively an inch or so further from the body of a shooter wearing body armor, it is also very difficult to press the cheek against the stock and align the eye with the sights as is conventionally done when shooting without body armor. In most instances, a shooting attempting to shoot in body armor is able to secure the assault rifle against the body only by pressing the very bottom tip of the rear of the stock against the top portion of the body armor. This does not provide a solid shooting base. 
     The anchor for vest mounted assault weapon of the instant invention solves a number of problems which arise when a shooter attempts to shoot a rifle or automatic assault rifle while wearing body armor. The instant invention provides a device for removably affixing a rifle or assault rifle (hereafter, assault rifle is deemed to include any weapon which is often fired with the stock against one shoulder) to body armor such that the assault rifle is held securely to the body armor in a good shooting position. This solves several problems relating to firing an assault rifle while wearing body armor. Most importantly, the assault rifle is automatically positioned in a good shooting position such that a shooter may properly align the sights with the shooting eye and recoil is appropriately absorbed because the stock is held securely against the shoulder. 
     The ideal anchor for vest mounted assault weapon of the instant invention solves the above problems by removably securing the stock of the rifle to the shooter in an appropriate shooting position. The ideal invention should also insure that the end of the stock is secured against the body to absorb recoil. The ideal invention should also provide a method for quickly and simply releasing the assault rifle from the securing device. The ideal invention should also provide a convenient method of carrying an assault rifle when not in use. It should also be simple, reliable, inexpensive, and easy to operate and maintain. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The anchor for vest mounted assault weapon of the instant invention is made to be used with conventional body armor which ordinarily includes armor over the front and rear of the body of a user which is secured in place using a number of straps including shoulder straps which connect the front and rear armor over the shoulders of a user. As will be seen, the instant invention could also be used with a non-armored hunting vest or similar garment. 
     The instant invention includes a clip which may be removably affixed to the appropriate shoulder strap of body armor. With left-handed people, for instance, this is typically the shoulder strap over the left shoulder. The clip includes the ball portion of a ball and socket joint which protrudes slightly outward from the shoulder. A connector is also provided. The connector includes the socket portion of the ball and socket joint at the rear of the connector. (Rearward is considered to be toward a shooter.) The forward end of the connector includes a receiver which may be removably affixed to the rear of the stock of an assault rifle. The socket of the connector may be removably affixed to the ball of the clip such that the connector my rotate freely about the ball. 
     The receiver portion of the connector is configured such that it may be removably affixed to the rearward end of the stock of an assault rifle. This connection may be accomplished either by modifying an existing, conventional stock or by manufacture of a stock specific to the instant invention. 
     The clip is positioned on the shoulder strap such that the assault rifle is in the appropriate shooting position when the stock of the rifle is affixed to the connector. Not only is the assault rifle positioned appropriately for aligning the shooting eye with the sights of the rifle, but the rifle is secured to the body appropriately to absorb recoil. When not in use, the assault rifle can be carried, leaving both hands free, by letting the rifle dangle from the connector. The assault rifle may be quickly and easily released from the connector and may still be used in a conventional manner. 
     One of the major objects of the present invention is to provide a secure shooting position by removably securing the stock of the rifle to the shooter in an appropriate shooting position. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to insure that the end of the stock is secured against the body to absorb recoil. 
     Another objective of the present invention to provide a method for quickly and simply releasing the assault rifle from the securing device. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a convenient method of carrying an assault rifle when not in use 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide an anchor for vest mounted assault weapon which is simple, reliable, inexpensive, and easy to use and maintain. 
     These and other features of the invention will become apparent when taken in consideration with the following detailed description and the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an orthographic view of the clip portion of the instant invention secured to an armored vest; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the clip portion of the instant invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of connector portion of the instant invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the connector portion of the instant invention taken along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the stock portion of the instant invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the stock portion of the instant invention taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the stock portion of the instant invention taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a buffer tube which is typical of many assault rifles and generally connects the rest of the assault rifle to the stock of the rifle; and 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the buffer tube taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-7  there is shown an anchor for vest mounted assault weapon of the instant invention.  FIG. 1  also shows portions of typical body armor employing a vest configuration and is not considered part of the invention.  FIGS. 8 and 9  show a buffer tube which is typical of many conventional assault rifles and is also not considered a part of the invention. An example of an assault rifle having such a buffer tube is the Bushmaster XM15 M4A3 Type Carbine made by Bushmaster Firearms, Inc. of Windham, Me. The buffer tube is not considered to be either a part of or necessary to the instant invention and is included only to illustrate one method of securing the rest of an assault rifle to the stock. The instant invention may be adapted to be used with nearly any rifle which has a stock. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 1 , an orthographic view of the clip portion of the instant invention secured to an armored vest is shown. A portion of a conventional vest  2  is shown. Armor  4  of the vest  2  is shown. This is intended to depict a portion of a typical body armor vest and is not considered part of the invention. The armor  4  in this Figure is that portion of the armor which would cover the upper, left chest of a wearer, but the instant invention would work equally well with the right portion of said armor  4  or with any vest or clothing. A shoulder strap  6  protrudes upward from the top of said armor  4 . The left shoulder  8  of a person wearing said vest  2  (a shooter) is also shown to indicate the position of said vest  2  relative to the body of a wearer. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , a clip  10  is removably affixed to the shoulder strap  6  near the top of said armor  4 . (Toward the shooter is considered rearward and away from the shooter is considered forward.) The clip  10  has the general shape of a “C” such that it may be pushed onto said shoulder strap  6 . Said clip  10  may be secured to said shoulder strap  6  by tightening a clip bolt  12  which passes through the open ends of said clip  10  using a wing nut  14 . A ball  16  is affixed to the forward surface of said clip  10  and protrudes forward from said clip  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a side view of said clip  10  of the instant invention is shown. This view better shows the manner of attachment of said clip  10  to said shoulder strap  6  and the configuration of the ball  16 . This view shows that the clip bolt  12  passes through an aligned pair of clip holes  18  through the sides of said clip  10  at the open end of said clip  10 . The sides of said clip  10  may be pressed together by tightening the wing nut  14  to secure said clip  10  the said shoulder strap  6 . As may be seen, the position of said clip  10  may be adjusted to the appropriate position on said shoulder strap  6 . Said ball  16  is offset from the forward surface of said clip  10  by a ball stem  20  which is affixed to the forward surface of said clip  10  and the rearward edge of said ball  16 . It may be readily understood that the instant invention is shown in this embodiment with said clip  10  and consequently the ball stem  20  being affixed to an existing, conventional version of said vest  2 . However, in a second embodiment, said vest  2  could just as easily be manufactured such that said ball stem  20  and said ball  16  are made as a part of said vest  2 . That is, the instant invention is shown as being an attachment to said vest  2 , but it could easily be adapted such that said ball stem  20  and said ball  16  are made a part of said vest  2  which would eliminate the necessity for said clip  10 , said clip bolt  12 , the clip holes  18 , and said wing nut  14 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a side view of connector portion of the instant invention is shown. A connector  26  is provided which has a socket  28  at its rearward end and a receiver  30  at its forward end. The connector  26  has the general shape of a cylinder split into two halves. The two halves are held together by a connector bolt  32 . The connector bolt  32  passes through a hole in one of the halves of said connector  26  and screws into a connector nut  34  in the other half of said connector bolt  32 . The connector nut  34  is embedded into said connector  26  such that it does not turn. A connector spring  36  on said connector bolt  32  tends to press the two halves of said connector  26  apart. The two halves of said connector  26  may be forced together by tightening said connector bolt  32 . The socket  28  is a spherical hollow on the interior of said connector  26  slightly larger than said ball  16 . Said connector  26  may be removably secured to said clip  10  by loosening said connector bolt  32  and inserting said ball  16  into said socket  28  and tightening said connector bolt  32 . Said connector bolt  32  is tightened enough to secured said ball  16  within said socket  28 , but not so tight that said ball  16  cannot rotate within said socket  28 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the receiver  30  has a generally cylindrical shape, but has a connector keyway  40  protruding outward from one side. The connector keyway  40  has a generally rectangular cross section and runs the length of said receiver  30 . The forward end of said connector keyway  40  slants inward. There is a connector hole  42  in said connector keyway  40  near the forward end of said connector keyway  40 . The connector hole  42  is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said receiver  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a sectional view of said connector  26  taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  is shown. This view shows the cylindrical shape of said receiver  30  and the configuration of said connector keyway  40 . This view also better shows the position and configuration of said connector hole  42 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a side view of a typical assault rifle stock is shown. A stock  50  is affixed to any conventional assault rifle and is not considered a part of the instant invention except for the method of attachment to said connector  26  as described below. The rest of the assault rifle is not considered a part of or relevant to the instant invention. A new stock  50  could be manufactured to accommodate the instant invention or an existing stock could be modified to use the instant invention. The following description of removably affixing said connector  26  to an assault rifle is illustrative of one method of affixing said connector  26 , but a variety of other methods could be used. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 5 , the stock  50  includes a hollow, cylindrical stock tube  52  which runs the length of said stock  50 . The interior diameter of the stock tube  52  is slightly larger than the exterior diameter of said receiver  30 . Said stock tube  52  includes a stock keyway  54  which is complementary to said connector keyway  40 . That is, said receiver  30  and said connector keyway  40  may be slid into said stock tube  52  and said stock keyway  54 . A stock pin  56  protrudes into the interior of said stock keyway  54 . The stock pin  56  has a stock pin head  58  at its outer end and a stock pin tip  60  at its interior end. The stock pin tip  60  protrudes into the interior of said stock keyway  54 . The diameter of said stock pin tip  60  is slightly smaller than the diameter of said connector hole  42 . The diameter of the body of said stock pin  56  is slightly smaller than the diameter of said stock pin tip  60 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 5 , The inner surface of the stock pin head  58  abuts a stock pin plate  64 . A stock pin spring  66  on the body of said stock pin  56  is interposed between the stock pin plate  64  and the inner surface of said stock pin tip  60 . Thus, the stock pin spring  66  tends to force said stock pin tip  60  inward toward said stock tube  52 . Said receiver  30  and said connector keyway  40  may be pressed into said stock tube  52  and said stock keyway  54 . The slant on said connector keyway  40  makes this insertion easier. Said stock pin tip  60  engages said connector hole  42  and holds said connector  26  in place within said stock  50 . Stock pin head  58  may be pulled outward against the force of said stock pin spring  66  which disengages said stock pin tip  60  from said connector hole  42  and allows said connector  26  to be removed from said stock  56 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 5 , there is a buffer tube pin  70 , buffer tube pin head  72 , buffer pin tip  74 , and buffer tube pin spring  76  forward of said stock pin  56  which are all configured and operate in the same manner as the complimentary elements which make up the said stock pin  56  and its similar associated elements. The only difference between the buffer tube pin  70  and said stock pin  56 , is that rather than abutting a plate like said stock pin plate  64 , said buffer tube pin  70  abuts a buffer tube pin trigger  80 . (While said stock pin  56  and its associated elements are considered a part of the instant invention, said buffer tube pin  70  and its associated elements are conventional and a well known part of many assault rifles.) The buffer tube pin trigger  80  is held in place by the buffer tube pin head  72 . The rearward portion of said buffer tube pin trigger  80  is angled downward and rearward from the forward portion. Pulling rearward and upward on the rearward portion of said buffer tube pin trigger  80  causes the buffer tube pin head  72  to be withdrawn from said stock keyway  54 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a sectional view of said stock  50  of the instant invention taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5  is shown. This view perhaps better shows the interaction and configuration of said buffer tube pin  70 , said buffer tube head  72 , said buffer tube pin tip  74 , said buffer tube pin spring  76 , and said buffer tube pin trigger  80 . Said buffer tube pin trigger  80  encloses the lower, forward end of said stock  50  and is held in place by said buffer tube pin head  72 . When said buffer tube pin trigger  80  is pulled, the forward end of said buffer tube pin trigger  80  pulls said buffer tube pin head  72  downward which pulls said buffer tube pin tip  74  downward and out of said stock keyway  54 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a sectional view of said stock  50  of the instant invention taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5  is shown. This view perhaps better shows the relationship and configuration of said stock pin  56 , said stock pin head  58 , said stock pin tip  60 , said stock pin plate  64 , and said stock pin spring  66 . There is a stock pin opening  84  shown between said stock pin plate  64  and the bottom, outer surface of said stock keyway  54 . The stock pin opening  84  is not critical to the function of the instant invention, but makes it easier to retrofit the instant invention to an existing assault rifle stock. Said stock pin opening  84  makes it easier, for example, to place said stock pin spring  66  on said stock pin  56 . Said stock pin plate  64  does not exist on a conventional stock and must be fastened in place when a conventional assault rifle is retrofitted to accommodate the instant invention. In addition, the material of said stock  50  around said stock pin head  58  must be removed in most cases when a conventional assault rifle is retrofitted as well. Of course, when said stock  50  is purpose built for the instant invention, these elements may be built into said stock  50 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a side view of a buffer tube which is typical of many assault rifles and generally connects the rest of the assault rifle to the stock of the rifle is shown. Again, this element, a buffer tube  90  is not considered a part of the invention and is shown to illustrate the functionality of the instant invention. The rest of the assault rifle is not shown. The buffer tube  90  is often threaded at the forward end to provide fastening means for fastening said buffer tube  90  to other elements of the assault rifle. Said buffer tube  90  also includes a buffer tube keyway  94  which is very similar to said connector keyway  40 . The buffer tube keyway  94  also includes a buffer tube keyway hole  94  which serves a function similar to that of said connector hole  42 . The rearward end of said buffer tube  90  may be inserted into the forward end of said stock tube  52  and is held in place within said stock tube  52  when said buffer tube pin tip  74  engages the buffer tube keyway hole  94 . Said buffer tube  90  may be removed by pulling back on the rearward portion of said buffer tube pin trigger  80  which acts to disengage said buffer tube pin tip  74  from said buffer tube keyway hole  94 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 9 , a sectional view of said buffer tube  90  taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8  is shown. This view, perhaps, better shows the interaction and configuration of said buffer tube  90 , said buffer tube keyway  92 , and said buffer tube keyway hole  94 . 
     In operation the anchor for vest mounted assault weapon described above works as follows. Said clip  10  is removably affixed to said shoulder strap  6  of said vest  2  as described in detail above. Said connector bolt  32  is loosened if necessary such that said ball  16  may be inserted into said socket  28  at the rearward end of said connector  26 . Said connector bolt  32  is then tightened sufficiently to secure said ball  16  within said socket  28  without the connection being so tight that said ball  16  will not rotate smoothly within said socket  28 . The forward end of said receiver  30  is inserted into the rearward end of said stock tube  52 . The assault rifle and said stock  50  is then pressed rearward until said stock pin tip  60  engages said connector hole  42 . Said stock pin spring  66  forces said stock pin  56  into connector hole  42  and securely, but removably, affixes the assault rifle to said connector  26 . The assault rifle may then be fired in s proficient manner because the assault rifle is firmly secured to the body of the shooter with the shooter&#39;s shooting eye properly aligned with the sights of the assault rifle. The shooter may let the assault rifle dangle from the instant invention to provide a convenient method of carrying the assault rifle. The assault rifle may easily and quickly be removed from said connector  26  by pulling down on said tock pin head  58  which disengages said stock pin tip  60  from said connector hole  42 . The assault rifle may then simply be pulled away from the instant invention. As may be seen, the functionality of the assault rifle is not changed in any manner when used apart from the instant invention. 
     All elements of the variable anchor for vest mounted assault weapon are made of steel except for those described below, but other material having similar strength, weight, and weather resistance could be used. Said stock  50  is molded from tough, high impact plastic which is weather resistant. 
     While preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. That is, the device could be used for a wide variety of purposes either in combination or separately.