Patent Publication Number: US-2006005446-A1

Title: Ramrod handle

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates to an improved handle for ramrods of the type as used with firearms of the muzzle-loading type.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      With muzzle-loading firearms, a ramrod is provided comprising a cylindrical tool having a diameter substantially similar to the bore of the barrel of the firearm. In use, the ramrod is inserted into the open end or muzzle of the barrel of the firearm for several purposes such as: tamping powder and a bullet previously inserted into the barrel; or, with the addition of appropriate removal means, removing a bullet or other unwanted material lodged in the barrel; or, with the addition of appropriate cleaning means, cleaning the bore of the barrel.  
      In view of the relatively small diameter of most ramrods, a handle for ramrod manipulation is a virtual necessity for accomplishing either the tamping function, or the removal function, or the cleaning function.  
      A wide variety of ramrod handles is disclosed in the prior art. However, most are either permanently affixed to the ramrod or, if removable therefrom, must be stored separately from the firearm, such as in a pouch or the like.  
      In addition, many prior art handles can function only with a particular ramrod or weapon and are not universally adaptable for use with a wide variety of ramrods or weapons.  
      Accordingly, a need exists for a ramrod handle, which is easily removable from and attachable to the ramrod, is readily storable upon the weapon with which the ramrod is used, and is universally adaptable for use with a wide variety of ramrods or weapons.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Among the objects of the invention is the provision of a ramrod handle which is easily removable from and attachable to the ramrod, can be readily stored upon the weapon with which the ramrod is used, and is universally adaptable for use with a wide variety of ramrods or weapons.  
      Another object is the provision of a handle, which may be releasably locked to the ramrod and, in a storage mode, to the barrel of the firearm.  
      A still further object is to provide a handle, which is so constructed that when it and a ramrod are locked in a storage mode relative to the barrel of a firearm, unwanted rattling of the ramrod against the barrel is precluded.  
      An additional object is to provide a handle which is so constructed that when it and a ramrod are locked in a storage mode relative to the barrel of a firearm, the interior of the handle is protected from becoming fouled by muzzle debris, while accidental movement of the handle to an open position, wherein it is disposed in front of the firearm muzzle, is also precluded.  
      The storage mode of the handle of the invention and a ramrod relative to a firearm is achieved as follows: 
          a. the handle is positioned adjacent the end of the ramrod and disposed in parallel relation thereto;     b. the handle is snapped onto the ramrod to bring the two members into a coaxial relationship;     c. the ramrod is threadedly engaged with a connector means which is sleeved by the handle and mounted for sliding rectilinear movement relative to an interior bore within the handle;     d. the connector means and attached ramrod are slid rectilinearly inwardly relative to the interior bore in the handle to a locked position wherein pivotal swinging movement between the handle and ramrod is blocked; and     e. the ramrod, and the attached handle, are slid rectilinearly inwardly relative to a storage means provided on the firearm barrel until an end of the ramrod bottoms relative to the storage means, with the handle now being in contact with an adjacent surface of the barrel of the firearm.        

      The use mode of the handle and ramrod relative to a firearm is achieved as follows: 
          a. the handle is grasped and, with the ramrod, is slid rectilinearly outwardly relative to the firearm whereby the ramrod is removed from the storage means and the handle is removed from contact with the barrel of the firearm;     b. the connector member and attached ramrod are slid rectilinearly outwardly relative to the handle to an unlocked position wherein pivotal swinging movement between the handle and ramrod may be effected; and     c. the handle is swung 90 degrees from its coaxial position relative to the ramrod to a position wherein it is perpendicular to the ramrod and ready for use by insertion of the ramrod into the bore of the barrel of the firearm.        

    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a handle embodying a preferred form of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view thereof;  
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view thereof;  
       FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view thereof;  
       FIG. 5  is an end elevational view thereof on an enlarged scale;  
       FIG. 6  is a front elevational view on an enlarged scale of the connector means of the handle of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the handle of the invention, a ramrod and a rifle barrel;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the handle of the invention following its attachment to a ramrod and its engagement with a rifle barrel in a storage mode; and  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the handle of the invention following removal of the ramrod from the storage mode of  FIG. 8  to a use mode, with one end of the ramrod now being positioned in the bore of the rifle barrel, and the handle having been swung 90 degrees relative to the opposite end of the ramrod to a position wherein it is perpendicular thereto. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring first to  FIGS. 7-9 , a handle embodying a preferred form of the invention is generally indicated by  10 ; a ramrod, shown fragmentarily, is generally indicated by  12 ; and a firearm, also shown fragmentarily, is generally indicated by  14 .  
      Firearm  14  includes a barrel  16  having a bore  18  which terminates at an outer free end in a muzzle  20 , the barrel having a storage sleeve  22  formed integrally therewith.  
      Storage sleeve  22  is spaced rearwardly of muzzle  20 , and is disposed in parallel relationship to bore  18  of barrel  16  for receiving and storing ramrod  12  therein, in a manner as shown in  FIG. 8 .  
      Ramrod  12 , which is of cylindrical cross section and has a diameter substantially similar to that of bore  18  of firearm  14 , is fabricated from thermoplastic, or metal, or wood, or composite material.  
      Handle  10  is fabricated from thermoplastic, or metal, or wood, or composite material, is substantially cylindrical in cross-section, and is of appropriate size as to be grasped readily by hand, as shown in  FIG. 9 .  
      As best seen in  FIG. 4 , handle  10  has an open end  23  and a closed end  25  and is provided on its central longitudinal axis with an interior bore  26  of circular cross section which has an open outer end  28  and a closed inner end  30 .  
      A primary slot  32  is provided in a lower face  34  of handle  10  and is of appropriate width as to receive ramrod  12  therein in the manner of a press or snap fit.  
      Primary slot  32  communicates with interior bore  26  and extends longitudinally from handle open end  23  for approximately one half the length of the handle and terminates in a closed inner end  36 .  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a pair of spaced, parallel, secondary slots  38  and  38 ′ is provided in handle  10 , with slot  38  being disposed in a side wall  40  of the handle and slot  38 ′ being disposed in a side wall  40 ′ of the handle.  
      Each slot  38  and  38 ′is positioned adjacent closed end  25  of handle  10  and communicates with bore  26 .  
      Secondary slots  38  and  38 ′ each extend along the approximate central longitudinal axis of the handle for approximately one-half the length of the handle with each slot having opposite, closed inner and outer ends  42  and  44 , respectively.  
      As best seen in  FIGS. 1-6 , a connector means, generally indicated by  24 , is mounted for rectilinear sliding movement in interior bore  26  of handle  10  and includes a semi-circular head  46  having a pin  48  extending transversely therethrough and outwardly from each side thereof on its approximate central transverse axis and a flat base  50  having a threaded stem  52  formed integrally therewith which extends outwardly therefrom on the central longitudinal axis of the connector means.  
      Pin  48  of connector means  24  is of appropriate size and configuration as to be receivable for sliding rectilinear movement in and relative to slots  38  and  38 ′ in side walls  40  and  40 ′ respectively of handle  10 , with pin  48  serving the dual functions of capturing the connector within handle  10  while limiting sliding movement of the connector relative to the handle.  
      Ramrod  12  is provided on one of its ends with a threaded bore  54  of appropriate size to accept therein threaded stem  52  of connector means  24 .  
      Stem  52  is of such size and thread design as to be receivable in the threaded bore provided in the ends of virtually all standard ramrods, whereby handle  10  is appropriate for use with a wide range of ramrods.  
      Handle  10  and ramrod  12  are joined by snapping the ramrod through primary slot  34  of the handle into interior bore  26  so that the handle and the ramrod are co-axially aligned, whereby stem  52  of connector means  24  may be threadedly engaged in bore  54  of the ramrod  
      Connector means  24  and ramrod  12  can now be slid axially relative to interior bore  26  of the handle, with pin  48  of the connector means sliding relative to secondary slots  38  and  38 ′ until head  46  of the connector means contacts closed inner end  30  of interior bore  26  and pin  48  contacts closed outer ends  44  of secondary slots  38  and  38 ′.  
      Closed inner end  30  of interior bore  26  and closed outer ends  44  of secondary slots  38  and  38 ′ together form stop means which limit the extent of axial movement of connector means  24  and ramrod  12  relative to handle  10 , with the handle and ramrod now being locked in co-axial alignment, while lower wall  34  of the handle blocks any swinging clockwise pivotal movement of the connector means and the ramrod relative to interior bore  26  of the handle.  
      Thus, when handle  10  and ramrod  12  are in a storage mode on firearm barrel  16 , accidental swinging movement of the handle to an open position in front of firearm muzzle  20  is precluded.  
      Following removal of handle  10  and ramrod  12  from a storage mode on firearm barrel  16 , the co-axial alignment of handle  10  relative to ramrod  12  can be changed simply by sliding the ramrod and connector means  24  axially relative to interior bore  26  of the handle until pin  48  of the connector means contacts closed inner ends  42  of secondary slots  38  and  38 ′ of the handle, with the connector means now being in the position as shown in  FIG. 4 , wherein it is clear of lower wall  34  of the handle and positioned immediately adjacent and clear of first slot  32   
      Connector means  24  and ramrod  12  now may be swung downwardly in a clockwise direction, with the ramrod snapping into and through first slot  32  and pin  48  pivoting relative to slots  38  and  38 ′ of handle  10 . The ramrod is now in a position wherein it is perpendicular to the handle, with one of its side faces contacting closed end  36  of first slot  32 , thereby effectively precluding further clockwise swinging motion of the connector means and the ramrod  
      Thus, closed inner end  36  of first slot  32  serves as a stop, which limits the range of clockwise swinging movement of the ramrod past 90 degrees.  
      To return the ramrod to a coaxial position relative to the handle, the operation is reversed, with the ramrod first being swung in a counterclockwise direction relative to the handle.  
      An upper face  56  of handle  10  is provided with an arcuate depression  58  which extends longitudinally for the length of the handle, with the depression permitting the engagement or marriage of the handle with gun barrel  16  of firearm  14 , as will appear.  
      Depression  58  is provided with a pair of spaced, parallel, upstanding, inwardly inclined ribs  60  and  62 , each of which extends longitudinally for the length of the depression in closely spaced parallelism to an adjacent side edge of the depression.  
      Ribs  60  and  62  permit the handle to seat relative to firearm barrel  16 , regardless of the cross-sectional shape of the barrel, be it round, hexagonal, oval or other shape, when handle  10  and ramrod  12  are placed in a storage mode on the firearm barrel.  
      For example, were ribs  60  and  56  not present, arcuate depression  58  of handle  10  would not seat properly relative to a firearm barrel of hexagonal cross-section.  
      In addition, when handle  10  and ramrod  12  are placed in a storage mode on firearm barrel  16 , ribs  60  and  62  preclude unwanted rattling of the ramrod relative to the barrel.  
      When the handle is in a storage mode as seen in  FIG. 8 , its closed end  25  is facing the muzzle end of the barrel, thereby effectively protecting interior bore  26  and connector means  24  from being fouled by debris which may be emitted from muzzle  20  when the firearm is fired.  
      Further, when handle  10  and ramrod  12  are in a storage mode on the firearm barrel, accidental swinging movement of the handle to a position in front of the muzzle, is precluded.  
      Based on the foregoing, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the handle of the invention is easily removable from and attachable to a ramrod, is readily stowable upon the weapon with which the ramrod is used, and is universally adaptable for use with a variety of ramrods and weapons.