Patent Abstract:
A firearm cleaning tool and method of use is disclosed in which multiple firearm components may be cleaned using a single tool. The tool includes cutting or scraping edges to ream residue, such as carbon deposits through a scraping action. The proximal end includes a scraping head with a scraping edge, and the distal end includes pivotable scraper arm and longitudinally extending insertion pin. A method of use is also contemplated.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of co-pending patent application Ser. No. 12/655,939 filed 11 Jan. 2010, which claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/204,885, filed 12 Jan. 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain firearms, such as the M4, M16, SR-25, AR-10 and AR-15 weapons are fired using gas operation. The act of firing the weapon subjects certain operating mechanisms to the build up of residue due to exposure to the operating gases of the weapon. As a result, carbon residue accumulates on and around the operating mechanisms, such as the bolt and bolt carrier. Over time, the residue becomes detrimental to operational firing of the weapon. Therefore, it is important to keep operating mechanisms which are prone to residue build up clean, and to periodically remove the residue therefrom. 
     One of the most residue prone areas of a firearm includes the bolt and bolt carrier. However, the contours of the bolt and bolt carrier create unique difficulties in proper and complete cleaning of the relevant surfaces. Further, once the carbon residue is adhered to a surface it is difficult to remove. In view of these problems, certain tools have been improvised and developed to aid the user in cleaning a firearm, particularly the bolt and bolt carrier. 
     Known cleaning tools include brushes, dental tools, screwdrivers, and solvents. Use of these types of tools is ineffective at best, and sometimes damaging to the weapon. Other known tools used to remove carbon residue from the bolt and bolt carrier include those sold by NCStar, Brownells, ADCO Firearms, and AR15.com, for example. While these tools may improve the manner of carbon removal from the bolt carrier, none of them adequately addresses removal of carbon from both the bolt tail and the bolt carrier in a single tool. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a firearm maintenance tool for use in cleaning bolts and bolt carriers of certain weapons such as the AR-15, M4, M16, SR-25, or AR-10, and method of using same. A tool according to the present invention is a compact device including cutting or scraping edges to ream residue, such as carbon deposits through a scraping action, and is adapted to clean both a bolt carrier and a bolt, especially the bolt tail in a single tool. The tool preferably includes a proximal end having a scraping head provided with a scraping edge. The scraping head is preferably dimensioned to fit into the bore of a selected bolt carrier to be cleaned and is adapted to ream carbon deposits through an axial rotational scraping action. The tool further includes a distal end having pivotable scraper arm and longitudinally extending insertion pin. The pin is adapted to be inserted into the bore of the bolt tail to be cleaned, while the scraper arm is rotatable for positioning adjacent a bolt tail surface. A method of use is also contemplated. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved firearm cleaning tool which may be easily manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved firearm cleaning tool which is of durable and reliable construction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tool according to the present invention and used for cleaning bolts and bolt carriers of weapons. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment tool according to the present invention and used for cleaning bolts and bolt carriers of weapons. 
         FIG. 4  is a view of a tool according to the present invention with proximal end being inserted into a bolt carrier bore to be cleaned. 
         FIG. 5  is a view of a tool according to the present invention with proximal end inserted in a bolt carrier bore to be cleaned. 
         FIG. 6  is a view of a tool according to the present invention with proximal end inserted in a bolt carrier bore to be cleaned, and showing axial movement of the tool. 
         FIG. 7  is a view of a tool according to the present invention and showing the distal end thereof being inserted into a bore of a bolt to be cleaned. 
         FIG. 8  is a view of a tool according to the present invention, with the distal end thereof inserted into a bore of a bolt tail and pivotal scraper arm moving into contact with the bolt tail. 
         FIG. 9  is a view of a tool according to the present invention, with the distal end thereof inserted into a bolt tail, pivotal scraper arm in contact with the bolt tail and showing axial movement of the tool. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 , the present invention provides a firearm maintenance tool  10 . The tool  10  is particularly adapted for use to clean both a bolt carrier  12  (seen in  FIGS. 4-6 ) and a bolt  14 , especially the bolt tail  16  (as seen in  FIGS. 7-9 ), of a firearm such as large caliber AR-10, SR-25, MK-11, or M-110, (not shown in these views) by way of non-limiting example. The tool  10  of the present invention preferably includes a proximal end  18  having a scraper head  20 , wherein the scraper head  20  is preferably provided with a scraping edge  22 . As may be seen particularly in  FIGS. 4-6 , the scraper head  20  is preferably dimensioned to fit into the bore  13  of a selected bolt carrier  12  to be cleaned and is adapted to ream residue (not shown) by scraping action. 
     As may be further seen, a tool  10  according to the present invention further includes a distal end  24 . The distal end  24  is preferably provided with a longitudinally extending insertion pin member  26 . The pin member  26  is adapted for insertion into an end of a bolt  14  to be cleaned. As seen particularly in the views of  FIGS. 7-9 , the pin  26  is adapted to be inserted into the bore  15  of a bolt tail  16  of the bolt  14  to be cleaned. The distal end  24  further preferably includes a pivotable scraper arm  28 . As seen in  FIGS. 7-9 , the scraper arm  28  is pivotally affixed to the distal end  24  by acceptable means, such as the screw  30  shown, although other means may be envisioned. As illustrated, the scraper arm  28  may include a relatively flat anchor portion  32  and an extending arcuate portion  34 . As will be described, the distal end  36  of the arcuate portion  34  is adapted for scraping removal of residue from the bolt  14  and bolt tail  16 . 
     Cleaning of the bolt  14  and bolt tail  16  may be seen particularly in the views of  FIGS. 7-9 . As illustrated, the pin member  26  is inserted into the bore  15  of the tail  16  of the bolt  14  in the direction of arrow A. The scraper arm  28  is rotated in the direction of arrow B to a position in which the distal end  36  of arcuate portion  34  is in contact with the tail  16  or other portion of the bolt  14  to be cleaned. As seen in  FIG. 9 , cleaning of the bolt tail  16  is accomplished as the bolt  14  and tool  10  are axially rotated relative each other in the direction of arrow C while the end  36  of arcuate portion  34  is in frictional contact with the bolt tail  16  to be cleaned. It is to be understood that the exact dimension and size of the tool  10  may be varied to accommodate cleaning weapons of different caliber, as for example the smaller caliber AR-15 or M-16, by way of non-limiting example. For example,  FIG. 3  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a tool  10 A according to the present invention. As seen, the tool  10 A may be formed having various dimensions to thereby allow use with other firearms (not shown). 
     A method of cleaning a bolt and bolt carrier of a firearm according to the present invention may include the steps of: 
     providing a bolt  14  and a bolt carrier  12  to be cleaned; 
     providing a cleaning tool  10 , the cleaning tool  10  including a proximal end  18  and a distal end  24 , the proximal end  18  being of a predetermined size capable of being inserted into a bore  13  of the bolt carrier  12  to be cleaned; 
     providing the proximal end  18  with a scraper head  20 , the scraper head  20  including at least one radially extending scraping edge  22 ; 
     inserting the proximal end  18  into a selected bolt carrier bore  13  to be cleaned, such that the scraping edge  22  is in contact with an inner wall of the bolt carrier bore  13 ; 
     axially rotating the tool  10  and the bolt carrier  12  relative to one another to thereby move the scraping edge  22  relative to the bore  13  to be cleaned; 
     providing the distal end  24  with a longitudinally extending pin portion  26  and a radially extending pivotal arm member  28 , the arm member  28  including an arcuate member  34  having a distal end  36 ; 
     inserting the pin portion  26  into the bore  15  of a selected bolt  14  to be cleaned; rotating the arm member  28  until the distal end  36  contacts an outer portion of the bolt  14 ; 
     axially rotating the tool  10  and bolt  14  relative to one another such that the arm member distal end  36  removes residue from the bolt  14 . 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, 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. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1