Patent Publication Number: US-2023146977-A1

Title: Retractable Suppressor

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from a previously provisional application, Ser. No. 63/223,533, filed Jul. 19, 2021, entitled “Actionless Rifle,” by the same inventor, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to firearms. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Firearms serve both recreational and functional purposes in the private sector as well as in the military. Shooting is performed at a competitive level with many tours and events being held every year. Long range and precision shooting also offers tactical advantages in a military setting. For many reasons, excellence is a premium in the field. 
     Excellence in long range and precision shooting is dependent on skills that require extensive training and practice. However, elements of the weapon system can also contribute to firing effectiveness on both primary and secondary levels. Rifles can be long, heavy, and provide physical recoil as well as gaseous discharge. Minimizing weight, recoil, gaseous discharge, and versatility can provide the shooter a highly desirable advantage. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of an actionless rifle may include a magazine well, a barrel detachably coupled to the magazine well, and a suppressor detachably coupled to the barrel. The barrel may include a forward barrel portion on an end of the barrel opposite the magazine well. The forward barrel portion may include a muzzle locking mechanism. The suppressor may be configured to be retractable. 
     One embodiment of an actionless rifle may include a magazine well, a barrel detachably coupled to the magazine well, a muzzle break detachably coupled to the barrel by a muzzle locking mechanism, and a suppressor detachably coupled to the muzzle break. The barrel may include a forward barrel portion on an end of the barrel opposite the magazine well. The forward barrel portion may include the muzzle locking mechanism. The suppressor may be configured to be retractable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective image of a side of an actionless rifle; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective image of a second side of an actionless rifle; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective image of a rear side of an actionless rifle; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective image of a front side of an actionless rifle; 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective image of a top side of an actionless rifle; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective image of a side of an actionless rifle in a collapsed state; 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional perspective image of a side of an actionless rifle in a deployed mode; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective image of a side of an actionless rifle with an open bolt; 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective image of a side of an actionless rifle with a closed bolt; 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective image of a side of an actionless rifle with an adjustable magazine well; 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective image of a barrel of an actionless rifle; 
         FIG.  12    is a perspective image of a barrel of an actionless rifle with a tube cover; 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective image of a muzzle brake; 
         FIG.  14    is a cross-sectional perspective image of a side of a muzzle brake; 
         FIG.  15    is a cross-sectional perspective image of a retractable suppressor in a deployed state; 
         FIG.  16    is a cross-sectional perspective image of a retractable suppressor in a collapsed state; and 
         FIG.  17    is a diagram of a reticle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Those of ordinary skill in the art realize that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the invention. 
     In this detailed description of the present invention, a person skilled in the art should note that directional terms, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” and other like terms are used for the convenience of the reader in reference to the drawings. Also, a person skilled in the art should notice this description may contain other terminology to convey position, orientation, and direction without departing from the principles of the present invention. 
     Furthermore, in this detailed description, a person skilled in the art should note that quantitative qualifying terms such as “generally,” “substantially,” “mostly,” and other terms are used, in general, to mean that the referred to object, characteristic, or quality constitutes a majority of the subject of the reference. The meaning of any of these terms is dependent upon the context within which it is used, and the meaning may be expressly modified. 
     The foregoing is directed to an actionless rifle according to embodiments of the invention. Referring now to  FIG.  1   , an image of a side of an actionless rifle  100  is described. The actionless rifle  100  may comprise an exo-bolt  102  configured to travel along a barrel  104 . The actionless rifle  100  may further comprise an adjustable magwell  106 . In some embodiments, the actionless rifle  100  may further comprise a sleeve  108  around a portion of the barrel  104 . The actionless rifle  100  may further comprise a muzzle brake  110 , a suppressor  112 , and a collapsible stock  114 . 
     The exo-bolt  102  may be configured to travel along an exterior of the barrel  104 . The exo-bolt  102  may be further configured to stabilize itself on the exterior of the barrel  104 . The exo-bolt  102  may be fully extended toward the collapsible stock  114  in order to grab a round and then pushed fully forward toward the barrel  104  in order to chamber the round. The barrel  104  may comprise a raceway, as further described hereinbelow with regards to  FIG.  8   . The exo-bolt  102  may travel along the barrel  104  as guided by the raceway. 
     One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that an action is not necessary in the current configuration. As a result, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a reduction in weight is achieved due to the absence of an action. Additionally, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that an action will not need to be machined during the manufacturing of the rifle. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  2   , an image of a second side of an actionless rifle  200  is described. The actionless rifle  200  may be the actionless rifle  100  according to  FIG.  1   . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  3   , an image of a rear side of an actionless rifle  300  is described. The actionless rifle  300  may be the actionless rifle  100  according to  FIG.  1   . The actionless rifle  300  may comprise a scope  302 . The scope  302  may comprise an ocular lens  304  and an objective lens opposite the scope  302  from the ocular lens  304 . The scope  302  may further comprise a reticle internal to the scope, such as reticle  1700  described further hereinbelow with regards to  FIG.  17   , configured to assist a user with aiming the actionless rifle  300 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  4   , an image of a front side of an actionless rifle  400  is described. The actionless rifle  400  may be the actionless rifle  100  according to  FIG.  1   . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  5   , an image of a top side of an actionless rifle  500  is described. The actionless rifle  500  may be the actionless rifle  100  according to  FIG.  1   . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  6   , an image of a side of an actionless rifle  600  in a collapsed state is described. The actionless rifle  600  may be the actionless rifle  100  according to  FIG.  1   . The actionless rifle  600  in collapsed state may comprise a stock  602  fully pushed forward toward a barrel of the actionless rifle  600  and a suppressor  604  fully pushed back toward the barrel of the actionless rifle  600 . The collapsible stock  602  and suppressor  604  may be the collapsible stock  114  and suppressor  112  according to  FIG.  1   . 
     In one embodiment, an exo-bolt of the actionless rifle  600  is pushed forward along the barrel prior to pushing forward the collapsible stock  602 . The suppressor  604  may be a retractable suppressor and discussed further hereinbelow with regards to  FIG.  16   . One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the collapsed state of the actionless rifle  600  is significantly shorter than that of a traditional rifle. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  7   , a cross-sectional image of a side of an actionless rifle  700  in an extended state is described. The actionless rifle  700  may be the actionless rifle  100  according to  FIG.  1   . The actionless rifle  700  may comprise a bore  702  that runs down a central portion of a barrel of the actionless rifle  700 . A round may be fired by being propelled down the bore  702  and out a front end of the barrel. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  8   , an image of a side of an actionless rifle  800  with an open bolt is described. The actionless rifle  800  may be the actionless rifle  100  according to  FIG.  1   . The actionless rifle  800  may comprise an exo-bolt  802  and a barrel  804 . The barrel  804  may be configured to comprise a raceway  806  on an external portion of the barrel  804 . The exo-bolt  802  may be configured to travel along the raceway  806 . The exo-bolt  802  of  FIG.  8    may depict an open bolt that may be ready to grab a round from a magazine in a magwell and chamber the round into the barrel  804 . The exo-bolt  802  and barrel  804  may be the exo-bolt  102  and barrel  104  according to  FIG.  1   . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  9   , an image of a side of an actionless rifle  900  with a closed bolt is described. The actionless rifle  900  may be the actionless rifle  100  according to  FIG.  1   . The actionless rifle  900  may comprise an exo-bolt  902  and a barrel  904 . The exo-bolt  902  may be put into a closed bolt position by pushing the exo-bolt  902  forward along the barrel  904  by following a raceway. At the end of the raceway, the exo-bolt  902  may rotate clockwise to complete the closed bolt position. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  10   , an image of a side of an actionless rifle  1000  with an adjustable magazine well  1002  is described. The actionless rifle  1000  may be the actionless rifle  100  according to  FIG.  1   . The actionless rifle  1000  may comprise an adjustable buttstock configured to come forward to adjust a length of the adjustable magazine well  1002 . One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the adjustable magazine well  1002  may be configured to receive a plurality of different magazine sizes. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  11   , an image of a barrel  1100  of an actionless rifle is described. The barrel  1100  may be the barrel  104  according to  FIG.  1   . The barrel  1100  may comprise a main body  1102  of the barrel  1100  configured to receive and support an exo-bolt. The main body  1102  may be machined to have a raceway  1104  that may be configured to guide the exo-bolt between an open bolt position and a closed bolt position as described hereinabove. The barrel  1100  may further comprise a forward barrel portion  1106 . The forward barrel portion  1106  may comprise a bore  1108 , a plurality of perpendicular barrel support structures  1110 , a plurality of parallel barrel support structures  1112 , a muzzle thread  1114  for receiving a muzzle brake, a channel wall  1116 , and a closed channel wall  1118 . 
     In one embodiment, the perpendicular barrel support structures  1110  the channel wall  1116 , and a sleeve as described hereinbelow with reference to  FIG.  12   , create three channels running a full length of the forward barrel portion  1106 . Two of the three channels may be open channels  1120  with the third channel being a closed channel that ends at the closed channel wall  1118 . In response to a round being fired, gas that is propelling the round forward may be discharged, in part and in response to a muzzle brake as described hereinbelow with regards to  FIGS.  13 - 14   , back down the two open channels  1120  to a segment of the forward barrel portion  1106  that is contiguous between the two open channels  1120  and the closed channel. The discharged gas may then route back forward along the closed channel and out of a gas discharge port as pictured hereinbelow with reference to  FIG.  12   . A remainder of the gas may discharge forward out of the bore and towards at least one of a muzzle brake, a suppressor, and open air. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a reduction in discharged gas at the exit of the round will reduce damage to hearing, reduce visibility of a shooter as a result of reduced muzzle flash, reduce discharged gas being toward the shooter as well as dust printing, and reduce recoil, among other benefits. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  12   , an image of a barrel  1200  of an actionless rifle with a sleeve  1204  is described. The barrel  1200  may be the barrel  104  according to  FIG.  1   . The barrel  1200  may comprise a main body  1202  and a forward barrel portion. The sleeve  1204  may be removably coupled to the forward barrel portion. In one embodiment, the sleeve  1204  may be temporarily coupled to the forward barrel portion. In another embodiment, the sleeve  1204  may be permanently coupled to the forward barrel portion. The forward barrel portion may be the forward barrel portion  1106  according to  FIG.  11   . The sleeve  1204  and forward barrel portion may create a plurality of channels. At least one of the plurality of channels may be configured to be an open channel  1206 . At least one of the remainder of the plurality of channels may be configured to be a closed channel. The at least one open channel  1206  may be the open channels  1120  according to  FIG.  11   . The sleeve  1204  may be configured to have a cut out at a forward that covers the closed channel. In one embodiment, the cut out may be configured to be a gas discharge port  1208  as described hereinabove with regards to  FIG.  11   . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  13   , an image of a muzzle brake  1300  is described. The muzzle brake  1300  may be the muzzle brake  110  according to  FIG.  1   . The muzzle brake  1300  may comprise a muzzle brake housing  1302  and suppressor threads  1304 . The muzzle brake  1300  may function as an extension of a suppressor. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  14   , a cross-sectional image of a side of a muzzle brake  1400  is described. The muzzle brake  1400  may be the muzzle brake  1300  according to  FIG.  13   . The muzzle brake  1400  may comprise a muzzle brake housing  1402 , an initial structure  1404 , barrel threads  1406 , and suppressor threads  1406 . The initial structure  1404  may block a portion of gas and particulates propelling a round forward from being propelled out of the muzzle brake  1400 . The blocked portion of gas may be discharged back toward open channels around a bore of a barrel. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the muzzle brake  1400  with initial structure  1404 , particularly when connected to a suppressor, creates a blast chamber and effectively extends the suppressor by the length of the muzzle brake  1400 . One of ordinary skill in the art will also recognize that the muzzle brake  1400  acting as an extension of the suppressor allows the suppressor to be shorter in length resulting in reduced profile and weight while seeing maintained, or increased, performance. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  15   , a cross-sectional image of a retractable suppressor  1500  in a deployed state is described. The retractable suppressor  1500  may be the suppressor  112  according to  FIG.  1   . The retractable suppressor  1500  may be removably coupled to a muzzle brake  1502 . The retractable suppressor  1500  may comprise a main suppressor body  1504  and an end cap  1506  internal to the main suppressor body  1504 . An end of the main suppressor body  1504  opposite an end of the main suppressor body  1504  housing the end cap  1506  may comprise deployed state threads  1508  that may be configured to be removably coupled to threads of the muzzle brake  1502 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  16   , a cross-sectional image of a retractable suppressor  1600  in a collapsed state is described. The retractable suppressor  1600  may be the retractable suppressor  1500  according to  FIG.  15   . The retractable suppressor  1600  may be configured to be removably coupled to a muzzle brake  1602 . The retractable suppressor  1600  may comprise a main suppressor body  1604 . The main suppressor body  1604  may comprise an end cap  1606 . The end cap  1606  may comprise collapsed state threads  1608  that may be configured to be removably coupled to threads of the muzzle brake  1602 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  17   , a diagram of a reticle  1700  is described. The reticle  1700  may comprise a crosshair  1702 , a ranging section  1704 , and a targeting section  1706 . The ranging section  1704  may comprise a plurality of target height chevrons  1708  and a target shoulder width guide  1710 . The targeting section  1704  may comprise a plurality of center mass ballistic solution chevrons  1712 , a plurality of known length (KL) box shoulder bars  1714 , a plurality of KL box upper torso bar  1716 , a density altitude guide  1718 , and a wind compensation guide  1720 . The density altitude guide may comprise a plurality of lines that correspond with distances from target. Each of the lines may comprise a bottom of the line  1722 , a middle of the line  1724 , and a top of the line  1726 . 
     The target height chevron  1708  is configured to estimate a distance of a target with the target&#39;s feet approximately at the crosshair  1702 . In one embodiment, the target height chevrons  1708  represent hundreds of yards of distance away from the target. For example, a target with feet at the crosshair  1702  and with a top of the target head approximately at target height chevron  1708  number 3 is approximately 300 yards away. The target shoulder width guide  1710  is configured to correspond with a distance from target that approximately corresponds with the target height chevron  1708  just above the target&#39;s head when the target&#39;s shoulders are approximately lined up flush with a left and right side of the target shoulder width guide  1710 . 
     In one embodiment, the ranging section  1704  is configured to correspond with a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) target size. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the ranging section  1704  can be configured to correspond with any target size established by a user. 
     One of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that the ranging section  1710  is configured to obtain multiple measurements simultaneously, such as distance based on approximate height of a target and distance based on approximate shoulder width of a target. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a target can be ranged according to shoulder width if the target is sitting down, for example. Additionally, the target can be ranged according to height if the target is facing a side and not presenting a full shoulder width to the shooter. 
     The targeting section  1706  may be configured to utilize a known length box, density altitude (KL Box Delta) guide. The plurality of center mass ballistic solution chevrons  1712  may represent a location of an approximate shot, also referred to as a center mass shot, on a target at various distances, such as, but not limited to, a hundred yards for every number represented next to the center mass ballistic solution chevrons  1712  when the target fills a KL box corresponding to the center mass ballistic solution chevron  1712 . One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the center mass ballistic solution chevrons  1712  may represent a ballistic drop compensation, also referred to as a bullet drop compensation. 
     The KL box shoulder bar  1714  and KL box upper torso bar  1716  may combine to form the KL box. The various KL boxes in the targeting section  1706  may be configured to be KL boxes that correspond to a target at various distances, such as, but not limited to hundred yards for every number represented next to the center mass ballistic solution chevron  1712  that is in a center of the KL box. 
     The KL box shoulder bar  1714  is configured to correspond to a target&#39;s shoulder width at a distance determined by the center mass ballistic solution chevron  1712  just below the KL box shoulder bar  1714 . The KL box upper torso bar  1716  is configured to correspond to a target&#39;s waist to shoulder height at a distance determined by the center mass ballistic solution chevron  1712  just inside the KL box upper torso bar  1716 . For example, a target with a shoulder width and waist to shoulder height that fill the KL box created by KL box shoulder bar  1714  and KL box upper torso bar  1716  would be approximately 400 yards away. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that chevrons of the ranging section  1704  and the targeting section  1706  can be configured to represent any increment of distances determined by the user. One of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that the targeting section  1704  allows a user to simultaneously target using height and width with a ballistic drop compensation represented on the reticle  1700 . 
     In one embodiment, a user may range a target using the ranging section  1704  and then target in the corresponding region of the target section  1706  based on the distance approximated in the ranging section  1704 . In another embodiment, the user may range a target by estimating distance using the KL boxes of the target section  1706 . In yet another embodiment, the user may use a separate piece of equipment, such as, but not limited to, a laser range finder to capture distance to target, and then use the appropriate region of the target section  1706  corresponding to that distance. 
     The density altitude guide  1718  is configured to compensate for ballistic travel affected by air density at various altitudes. The plurality of lines in the density altitude guide  1718  correspond to density altitude compensations over various distances from the target, such as, but not limited to, a hundred yards for every number represented next to the line. The bottom of the line  1722  may correspond to sea level. The middle of the line  1724  may correspond to an altitude of 5,000 feet. The top of the line may correspond to an altitude of 10,000 feet. Dotted lines running vertically through the density altitude guide  1718  may correspond to a compensation of wind, for example, a compensation of 10 miles per hour at that altitude and distance from target. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the lines may be configured to cover any range of altitudes determined by the user. 
     One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the density altitude guide may also be represented as a firing solution card, also referred to as a data card, even if a rifle does not comprise the density altitude guide in its optic. One of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that the density altitude guide may be extended for further distances and may also comprise additional data points such as, but not limited to, the ballistic curve, also referred to as a drag curve, of a particular bullet. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the reticle  1700  may be represented in any form of angular measurement such as, but not limited to, minute of angle reticles and mil-radian reticles. 
     One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that threads are referenced throughout the disclosure, however, any locking mechanism including, but not limited to, spring loaded locking mechanisms, cam locking mechanisms, and other locking mechanisms common to rifles, are anticipated. 
     Some of the illustrative aspects of the present invention may be advantageous in solving the problems herein described and other problems not discussed which are discoverable by a skilled artisan. 
     While the above description contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presented embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best or only mode contemplated for carrying out this invention. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.