Patent Publication Number: US-6708438-B1

Title: Corrosion inhibitor for firearms

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to corrosion inhibitors and more particularly to a volatile corrosion inhibiting device for firearms. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Corrosion inhibitors are well-known in industry. They retard the corrosive effects of moisture and other destructive environmental elements. Corrosion inhibitors are of two general types: contact and volatile. Contact corrosion inhibitors protect surfaces from the destructive nature of corrosives which lay in contact with an item&#39;s surface, and hence volatile corrosion inhibitors protect an item&#39;s surface from the corrosive chemicals and vapors. 
     Corrosion inhibitors are particularly suited to retarding the pitting and tarnishing of metal objects. Most individuals are familiar with volatile corrosion inhibitors, also known as VCIs, in the form of desiccants packets found in the packing materials of metal objects and electronics. Corrosion inhibitors can also be found in impregnated materials such as paper, or chemicals or oil can be used to coat an item. 
     Until now, corrosion inhibitors have been used almost exclusively by manufacturers when packaging their goods. Corrosion inhibitors are not generally used by the end-user of a product despite the fact that it is after the end-user has a product that it is exposed to the most severe environmental conditions. Instead, the desiccants or other form of corrosion inhibitor found in packing material or applied to a product, is discarded. The resulting rust and pitting decreases product life and can be dangerous. This is especially true in the case of firearms inasmuch as rust or pitting on the interior of a firearm barrel can lead to serious injury or death. 
     Historically, firearm owners have oiled both the exterior and the interior of their firearm barrels to create a protective barrier between the metallic parts of the firearm and the volatile corrosives found in moisture containing air. This system has several drawbacks. First, if the oil is not evenly applied, uncovered spots on the metallic surface of the firearm can rust or pit. Second, before using the firearm, the firearm owner must generally wipe away any excess oil. Third, oil is difficult to work with and can soil clothing, the interior of gun cases, or other objects. 
     Thus, there is need for a convenient and easy to use volatile corrosion inhibiting device for use by firearm owners to protect the metallic portions of their firearms. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention is to provide a device that protects firearms from corrosion. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a corrosion inhibiting device for firearms which provides protection to the barrel interior. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a corrosion inhibiting device for firearms in which the release of the corrosion inhibiting material can be adjusted. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above objects are provided for in a corrosion inhibiting device for firearms which can fit into the chamber of a firearm or stand on its end. According to the invention, the Device has three main sections. The first section is an inner sleeve having a base which approximates the size of the rim of the shell or cartridge of a particular firearm. Extending upwardly from the rim are a plurality of arms which are circumferentially curved to approximate the shape of a firearm chamber. In between each arm is a space through which a volatile corrosion inhibitor material vapor can expell. 
     The second section of the Device is an outer sleeve. The outer sleeve is columnar in shape and sized to approximate the circumference of the shell or cartridge of a particular firearm. One end is open and fits over the upwardly extending arms of the inner sleeve, and is held in place by an O-ring found near the base of the inner sleeve. The opposite end of the outer sleeve is covered, with the exception that it has a hole formed into it. The wall of the outer sleeve is smooth and has slots formed into it which equal in both size and number the spaces found in between the upwardly extending arms of the inner sleeve. 
     The third section of the Device is a volatile corrosion inhibiting material. The material is essentially columnar in shape preferably having a plurality of flanges extending from a central core. 
     The Device is used by placing the material inside the inner sleeve, then placing the open end of the outer sleeve over the inner sleeve until it comes in contact with the base of the inner sleeve. Turning the outer sleeve adjusts the amount of volatile corrosion inhibitor vapor released into the firearm chamber by varying the alignment of the spaces of the inner sleeve and the slots of the exterior sleeve. The Device is then placed into the chamber of a firearm or stood on its end near the item to be protected from corrosion. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts a core sleeve. 
     FIG. 2 depicts a side view of an inner sleeve. 
     FIG. 3 depicts a cutaway view of an inner sleeve illustrating the flat bottom and inner depression. 
     FIG. 4 depicts an exterior sleeve. 
     FIG. 5 depicts a side view cutaway of an assembled Device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning to FIG. 1, a core sleeve of corrosion inhibiting material  20  is seen. The material must be capable of retaining sufficient amounts of corrosion inhibiting ability such that the device will remain in an activated state for several months. The material chosen must also be able to retain its shape for smooth operation of the device. 
     Volatile corrosion inhibiting materials such as Fero-Park, MPI  50 # kraft paper manufactured by Cromwell-Phoenix of Chicago, Ill., is an example of a preferred corrosion inhibiting material. It has the properties of good shape retention, low odor, long lasting corrosion inhibiting effectiveness, and is effective for a wide range of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys. 
     The core sleeve preferably has an inner cylindrical portion  22  which extend the full length of the device. Protruding from the inner portion are a plurality of flanges  24  which are co-formed to the center core. The core sleeve can be impregnated with a volatile corrosion inhibiting substance or, preferably, will have a corrosion inhibiting paper affixed to it. 
     While a cylindrical-flanged core sleeve is preferred, other shapes are also contemplated, including a free-form wad of material such as cotton. However, as noted above, these alternate shapes are not as effective as a cylindrical-flanged core sleeve for the reasons that they decrease the effectiveness of the Device. 
     Turning to FIG. 2, an inner sleeve  26  is depicted. The inner sleeve has a base  28  from which a plurality of arms  30  upwardly extend. The base is circular in shape and should approximate the size of the base of the shell or cartridge that would normally be used in a particular firearm. As seen in FIG. 3, the bottom of the base  34  is flat so that the Device may be stood on its end if use is desired outside of a firearm or for storage. The upper surface  36  of the base has a depression molded into it to prevent liquefied corrosion inhibiting material from leaking out of the Device when it is stood on end. 
     The upwardly extending arms  30  are co-formed to the base  32  at a distance from the center  38  of the base such that the outer sleeve (described below) can fit over them, leaving a portion exposed, creating a rim  32 . When the Device is inserted into the chamber of a firearm, the rim  32  prevents the Device from becoming lodged into the barrel of the firearm (not shown), where it cannot be extracted. 
     In between the upwardly extended arms  30  are found spaces  42  through which the volatile corrosion inhibiting material vapors are expelled. Near the base end of the upwardly extending arms  30  is found an O-ring  40  which fits over the exterior of the upwardly extending arms  30  near the rim  32 . The O-ring functions to hold the exterior sleeve (described below) in place. 
     Turning to FIG. 4, the exterior sleeve  44  is depicted. The exterior sleeve is cylindrical in shape, the shape approximating the exterior circumference shape of the shell or cartridge of a particular firearm. One end of the exterior sleeve is open  46 , while the other end is closed  48 , but does have a hole  50  formed through its entirety. The outer surface  52  of the exterior sleeve  44  is smooth. The exterior sleeve has slots  54  formed into it. Slots  54  are of a number and size to equal the spaces  42  of the inner 
     As depicted in FIG. 5, during use of the Device, as the exterior sleeve  44  is rotated about the interior sleeve  26 , are formed by the spaces  42  in between the upwardly extending arms of the interior sleeve  26  and the slots of the exterior sleeve  44 . By rotating the exterior sleeve against the interior sleeve, the size of the exposed channel, and thus the amount of volatile corrosion inhibiting material released from the device, can be adjusted. 
     To practice the Device, O-ring  40  is placed around the outside of the upwardly extending arms into a molded into the outer surface of the inner sleeve  26  near its base  28 . Core sleeve  20  is then placed inside of inner sleeve  26 . Exterior sleeve  44  is then fit over the upwardly extending arms  30  of the inner sleeve and slid down until its open end  46  meets the base  28  of inner sleeve  26 . The O-ring holds the exterior sleeve in place, yet allows rotation of the exterior sleeve about the inner sleeve. 
     The Device can be adjusted by rotating the exterior sleeve about the inner sleeve, creating a channel size sufficient to handle the corrosion inhibiting needs of the user. Once the channel is adjusted, the Device is merely slipped into the chamber of the desired firearm. The corrosion inhibiting materials found within the inner core then expel through the channels. 
     The Device will be manufactured in various sizes to accommodate particular firearms. For example, the device may be manufactured in a size to fit a 12 gauge shotgun, a 20 gauge shotgun, 30-.06 rifle, or a handgun. Relying on the flat bottom of the Device, it may also be stood on its end and placed inside of a gun cabinet to prevent corrosion of the outer surfaces of firearms. The depression in the base of the Device will prevent liquefied corrosion inhibiting material from leaking. 
     The Inventor also contemplates use of the Device outside of the realm of firearms. For instance, by use of a Velcro® strap, the Device may be adhered to the interior of a fishing tackle box to keep moisture from corroding expensive lures and fishing tackle. Alternatively, the Device may merely be set into one of the internal compartments of a fishing tackle box. Another non-limiting example is use of the device by adhering it inside of a golf club case for the prevention of corrosion to golf clubs. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be used to protect other metallic objects such as tools, tool boxes, and other metallic objects which may be exposed to corrosive vapors. 
     The above description of the preferred embodiment is for illustration purposes only. Those skilled in the arts will readily see additional uses for the device which should be limited only by the appended claims.