Patent Abstract:
A short bolt rifle that enables increased barrel without an increase in weight. A longer barrel increases bullet velocity, which increases the range and accuracy of the weapon and the bullet impact energy. In this action, the bolt is simply pulled back and pushed forward. The design includes a loader mechanism that ejects spent cartridges and loads a new cartridge. This happens while the bolt is drawn back and pushed forward. A rotating lock secures the bolt in the firing position. A second version of the action uses a pistol grip. A lock holds the pistol grip, which can be released. After it is released, the user pulls down and back on the grip to open the action. The grip is pushed forward and upward, to load a shell, while the bolt is moved forward and locked. The action also can easily be adapted to fully automatic operation.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to bolt operated rifles and particularly to short bolt operated rifles. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     For years, the Mauser operated rifle has been the standard firing mechanism for civilian hunting weapons. This rifle has an action that is simple to operate and reliable to use. Despite these advantages, it has some drawbacks. First, the action uses a long bolt. The length of the bolt forces the barrel to be shorter than it could be. This is due to weight and overall length of the rifles. The second drawback is the operation of the bolt. In this action, the bolt has a small handle. The handle must be rotated between 60 and 90 degrees, then pulled back the full length of the bolt to load a shell in the chamber. Then the bolt must be pushed all the way back into the firing position. Finally, the bolt handle must be rotated back between 60 and 90 degrees to lock the bolt in place for firing. These movements were designed to prevent gun jamming. Because the Mauser was designed as a military weapon, troops under fire often caused gun jamming by moving the action too quickly. The Mauser design prevented this by making the user slow down the action. Since then, military weapons have become fully automatic, and the need for the Mauser action has disappeared. The action has survived in civilian rifles, however. 
     Since the invention of the Mauser action, other efforts have been made to improve the speed and efficiency of this action. Some examples are found in U.S. Patents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,270,456 teaches an improved breech bolt mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 3,257,749 teaches a straight pull bolt action rifle that uses a pivoting handle and a cross pin to release the bolt, unlike actions that turn the bolt to release it. U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,988 teaches a bolt locking system that uses lugs and grooves to lock the bolt in place. U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,963 teaches a double barrel bolt design. U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,369 teaches a system whereby the bolt diameter is reduced when used in a short throw action. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,677 teaches a non-rotating bolt. Despite the differences between them, all these patents have one thing in common-a full-length bolt. Full-length bolts have been used since the first bolt action rifle was invented. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Unlike the patents discussed above, the instant invention is a rifle that has a short bolt. Using the short bolt enables the barrel length to be increased. Increasing the barrel length increases the velocity of the bullet. For example, in a typical rifle, such as the Remington 7 mm magnum model 700, the overall length is 44.5 inches. This rifle has a 24-inch barrel and a 7⅜ inch bolt. If the bolt length was reduced from the 7⅜ inches to 1⅜ inches, the barrel could be increased from 24 inches to 30 inches with no increase in weight. The increase in bullet velocity coming from the longer barrel length increases both the range and accuracy of the weapon as well as the impact energy of the bullet. 
     The short bolt design is also easier to operate. Instead of having to rotate the bolt handle, the bolt handle is simply pulled back and pushed forward. Loading of the cartridges is also simplified. The design includes a loader mechanism that ejects spent cartridges and loads a new cartridge at the same time. All this is done while the bolt is drawn back and pushed forward in one easy motion. The bolt action includes a rotating lock to secure the bolt in the firing position. This lock is released when the bolt catch is rotated out and the lock rotates by sliding along a cam. After the lock is released, the bolt can be pulled back. The process is reversed when the bolt is moved forward. 
     A second version of the action uses a pistol grip. Here, a lock holding the pistol grip is released. After it is released, the user just pulls down and back on the grip. This causes the bolt to rotate, unlock and withdraw. The spent shell is then ejected. When user then pushes the handle forward and upward, a new shell is loaded, the bolt is seated and locked. The gun is then ready for firing. 
     A safety mechanism has been designed for each type of action. 
     This action can easily be adapted to fully automatic actions, such as those used by the military. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation, cut-away view of the action with the bolt being pulled back after firing and the cartridge being removed. 
     FIG. 2 is a top detail view of the bolt lever in the locked position. 
     FIG. 3 is a top detail view of the bolt lever rotated 30 degrees, and now in the released position. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective detail view of locking lugs on the bolt. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the locking lug receptors in the gun barrel. 
     FIG. 6 is a front view of the bolt showing the locations of the ejector and extractor mechanisms. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the bolt in position for loading, with a shell in position for entry into the chamber. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the action with the shell advanced onto the chamber. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the action showing a shell fully seated in the chamber and the bolt set in place, ready for firing, with the safety on. 
     FIG. 10 is a detail view of the hammer at firing, showing the released hammer and the firing pin in contact with the cartridge primer. This view shows the safety off. 
     FIG. 11 is a side detail view of the invention with the bolt set and the safety on. 
     FIG. 12 is a side detail view of the invention with the loading gate open, ready to receive a cartridge into the magazine. 
     FIG. 13 is an end view of the action taken along lines  13 — 13  of FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 14 is an end view of the action taken along the lines  14 — 14  of FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 15 is a rear end detail view of the rifle action showing the unlocking mechanism. 
     FIG. 16 is a side detail view of the safety mechanism showing both the on position and the off position. 
     FIG. 17 is a top detail view of a key used with the safety mechanism. 
     FIG. 18 is a top detail view of the sliding safety mechanism, with the key removed. 
     FIG. 19 is a front detail view of the sliding safety mechanism, with the key removed. 
     FIG. 20 is a side detail view of the sliding safety mechanism, with the key removed. 
     FIG. 21 is a side cut-away view of the second embodiment of the invention showing the bolt open. 
     FIG. 22 is a detail view of the center section of the handle of the second embodiment. 
     FIG. 23 is a detail view of the side piece of the handle of the second embodiment. The right side piece being a mirror image of the left side piece. 
     FIG. 24 is an end detail view of the pistol grip portion. 
     FIG. 25 is top detail view of the cam mechanism in the pistol grip. 
     FIG. 26 is a detail view of showing the bolt in contact with the cam, which turns the bolt for release. 
     FIG. 27 is a front view of a mounting plate for the trigger, latch, hammer and tracking pins in the pistol grip of the second embodiment. 
     FIG. 28 is a side view of the action ready for firing. 
     FIG. 29 is a side view of the action with the safety on. 
     FIG. 30 is a side view of the action with the hammer having hit the firing pin. 
     FIG. 31 is a side view of the third embodiment taken along the lines  31 — 31  of FIG.  32 . 
     FIG. 32 is a front view of the bolt gears of the third embodiment with the bolt in the locked position. 
     FIG. 33 is a top view of the bolt gears of the third embodiment with the bolt in the unlocked position. 
     FIG. 34 is a top view of the bolt gears of the third embodiment with the bolt in the locked position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, a side view of my new action is shown. This design is a limited throw, short bolt. Title bolt  10  is approximately 1⅜ inches long. FIG. 4 shows the bolt  10 . The bolt  10  has a cylindrical body  11 , a number of locking lugs  12 , and a rear ring  13 . The lower portion of the rear ring  13  has a number of gear teeth  14  as shown. See also FIG.  6 . As shown in FIGS.  2  and  3 ,the bolt is connected to a lever  15  that releases the bolt and is used to lock it in place for firing. Note that in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front of the bolt is marked F and the back of the bolt is marked R. The lever  15  has a set of gear teeth  16  formed on the top of one end as shown. These teeth mesh with a curved set of teeth  14  on the bottom of the rear ring  13  of the bolt See also, FIG.  15 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hammer  20  sits in a wide slot  21  and is surrounded by the bolt lever  15 . The lever  15  also has a ramp  17  (see FIG.  15 ). This ramp  17  cocks the hammer  20  when the lever  15  is rotated back. FIG. 3 shows the bolt lever  15  rotated back by an angle α. In the preferred embodiment, the angle α is about 30°. This is discussed further, below. 
       15  is advanced (see FIG. 2) in to the locked position. As the lever is moved forward, the bolt rotates 30 degrees. This rotates the locking lugs  12  until they no longer align with the slots  32 . In that position, the bolt cannot be removed or pulled back, effectively locking the bolt in place. After the gun has been fired, the bolt lever  15  is pulled back, which rotates the lugs  12  until that are aligned with the slots  32  at this point, the bolt can be pulled back from the barrel. 
     FIG. 1 also shows the firing mechanism. A trigger  35  is mounted on a pivot pin  36  as shown. A rocker arm  37  is positioned above the trigger  35  as shown. The rocker arm  37  also pivots on a pin  38 . A spring  39  is attached to the rocker arm  37 . 
     The spring  39  is positioned as shown. A second spring  39   a  is also shown. Their use is discussed below. 
     FIG. 1 also shows a magazine  40  that holds additional shells  100 . The magazine is also shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, and is discussed in more detail below. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a reloading spring  41 . This spring slides under the top shell in the magazine when the bolt is slid forward. When the bolt is retracted, the spring  41  is pulled back. It causes the shell to be pulled back as well. Once the shell clears the magazine, it is pushed up by the spring  41 . This is shown in FIG.  7 . The shell is then aligned with the barrel so that it can be loaded when the bolt is moved forward. 
     FIG. 4 shows the bolt  10 . It shows the lugs  12 , and the gear teeth  14 . It also shows the shell extractor  43  and shell ejector  44 . These devices are standard components in the industry and are used in the ordinary manner. 
     FIG. 1 shows the action after it has just been fired. The bolt has been released by pulling back on the bolt lever. FIG. 2 shows the bolt lever in the locked position. FIG. 3 shows the bolt lever rotated back 30 degrees, in the unlocked position. As the bolt level is rotated, the gear teeth cause the barrel lugs to rotate. FIG. 15 shows the gears in the locked position. When the lever is fully rotated, the lugs  12  on the bolt (see FIG. 4) are aligned with the slots  32  in the barrel (see FIG. 5) for removal. At this point, the bolt can be pulled straight back. FIG. 1 shows the beginning of this rearward movement. 
     As mentioned above, as the bolt is pulled back, a cartridge extractor  43  pulls the spent cartridge from the chamber and an ejector ejects the spent cartridge. As the spent cartridge is ejected, a new cartridge  100  is pulled from the magazine by means of a loading spring  41 . This shown in FIG.  7 . FIG. 8 shows the bolt in the process of being pushed forward, unloving the new cartridge into the chamber. In FIG. 8, the loading spring  41  is being compressed under the shell in the magazine. When the bolt is fully forward, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, the reloading spring  41  is fully compressed under the shell in the magazine. 
     When the bolt is fully seated, the bolt lever is rotated forward 30 degrees. This turns the locking lugs into the locked position. This is shown in FIGS. 9 and 15. As shown in FIG. 15, moving the lever forward rotates the bolt counterclockwise. The ramp  17  cocks the hammer for firing, as discussed above. As shown in FIG. 15, when the lever  15  is fully rotated forward, the ramp  17  is clear of the hammer  20 . This allows the hammer to move forward when the gun is fired. 
     FIG. 9 shows the gun is loaded and ready to fire. However, the gun cannot be fired because the safety latch is on. Moreover, the operational lever is removed from the gun. The safety system is discussed in greater detail below. However, FIG. 9 shows the sliding safety pin  50  in place. When the pin is in this position, the top of the trigger cannot pivot forward to fire the gun. 
     FIG. 17 shows the action after the gun has been fired. This view also shows the safety lever  51  installed and the safety turned off. When the safety lever  51  is in the off position, the safety pin  50  is lifted above the face of the trigger as shown. In this position, the trigger can be pulled. As the trigger is pulled back, the top of the trigger is moved forward. Once the top notch  60  clears the bottom of the rocker arm  37 , the spring  39  pushes the back of the rocker arm  37  upwards. This pushes the hammer forward against the firing pin, firing the gun. A lower notch  61  is provided on the trigger to catch the front end of the rocker arm  37  to prevent it from falling between the trigger and the spring. FIG. 10 shows the front end of the rocker arm  37  resting in the lower notch  61 . 
     Once fired, the bolt lever is rotated back. As discussed above, rotating the bolt lever does several things. In FIG. 10, one can see how the ramp  17  works to cock the gun. The ramp  17  is sloped as shown in FIG.  15 . As the lever  15  is rotated, the ramp pushes against the top of the hammer  20 , which is now in the upwardly tilted position. The ramp  17  forces the back of the hammer  20  down until it is fully cocked. Pushing the hammer down forces the rocker arm  37  to compress the spring  39 . Eventually, the front of the rocker arm clears the upper notch  60  on the trigger and the action is held in place, ready for firing, as shown, for example, in FIG.  1 . 
     FIGS. 11-14 show details of the magazine. FIG. 14 shows a sectional view through the magazine. There is an open chamber  70  to receive the shells. A gear  71  is used to operate the loading system. A gate  72  is used to open and closed the magazine. The gate  72  runs the length of the magazine. 
     A sliding gear rack  73  is attached to the gate as shown. When the gate is pulled open, the gear rack  73  engages the gear  71 . This gear rotates the loading arm  74 . The loading arm  74  runs the length of the magazine. As shown in FIG. 14, the gear  71  is rotates the loading arm to the most rearward position. Now, a number of shells can be loaded into the magazine. When the magazine is full, the gate  72  is closed. Closing the gate moves the gear rack  73  past the gear  71  as shown in FIG. 13. A spring  75  (see FIGS. 13 and 14) provides a counter force on loading arm  74 . 
     The spring tries to force the loading arm  74  back. When the gun is loaded as shown in FIG. 13, the spring cannot move the loading arm because it is blocked by the shells. As a shell is ejected from the gun, however, the spring  75  can push the last shell towards the gate, this aids in moving the first shell into the loading position and ensures that the next shell in line is in position for the next loading operation. 
     FIGS. 16-20 show details of the parts of the safety mechanism. FIGS. 9 and 10 also show details of the safety. FIG. 17 shows the safety lever  51 . As shown, the safety lever  51  has a long end  81 , a perpendicular shaft  82  a middle portion  83  and an end portion  84 . FIGS. 18-20 show the sliding safety mechanism  85 . FIG. 18 is a top view of the mechanism. FIG. 19 is a front view of the mechanism and FIG. 20 is a side view of the mechanism. In these views, the safety lever is not shown in place. The safety mechanism has a housing  86  that has a “t” shaped slot formed in it to receive the sliding safety pin  87 . The sliding safety pin  87  has a groove  88  formed in the front portion as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. This groove receives the end portion  84  of the safety lever  51 . The safety pin  87  is slid into the housing  86 . Housing  86  also has a vertical slot  89  in the back of the housing as shown. 
     This slot receives a retaining spring  90  that holds the sliding safety pin in place when the safety lever is removed from the mechanism. Otherwise, the pin can drop free of the mechanism if the gun is turned over and the gun can then be fired. The safety mechanism is located in the physical center of the action. It is shown in FIG.  9 . The safety system also has a machines key way  91  formed in the action that directs the safety lever into the center of the gun. The key way has a hole  92  and a slot  93 . The safety level aligns so that the middle portion  83  of the lever  51  aligns with the slot  93 . With this alignment, the safety lever slides into position until the end  84  fits into the groove  88 . This direction is shown by the arrow on FIG.  17 . When the safety lever is installed, hole  92  acts as a pivot point for the safety lever. The end  81  remains outside the action and is moved by the user to activate the safety. When the safety is on, the safety lever  51  is horizontal and the sliding safety pin is in the on position. In this position, the safety pin extends just past the face of the trigger, preventing the trigger from moving forward. See, FIG.  9 . Also, in this position, the safety lever can be removed. When removed (as shown in FIG.  9 ), the gun is locked and cannot be fired. The spring  90  acts to hold the sliding safety pin in position when the safety lever is removed. Otherwise, it is possible to take the gun off safety by turning the gun over. When the safety lever  51  is in position, it can be rotated as shown in FIG. 16 (to the position shown by the dashed lines). In the rotated position, the lever lifts the sliding safety pin upwards, past the face of the trigger. This is also shown in FIG.  10 . Of course, once the safety pin is lifted, the gun can be fired. 
     Second Embodiment 
     FIGS. 21-30 show a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the action is similar to that of the first embodiment except that the bolt lever is incorporated into a pistol grip. This shifts the plane of the bolt lever from the horizontal to the vertical. Despite the different structures, the pistol grip bolt operation does the same things that the bolt lever operation does. First, it rotates the bolt to align the locking lugs for bolt operation. Second, it cocks the hammer to prepare it for firing. Third, it is used to slide the bolt backwards and forwards for the loading and unloading operation. In this embodiment, the bolt and hammer have been modified to accommodate the new mechanisms. These changes are discussed in detail below. 
     FIG. 21 shows the action open. Here, the bolt  200  is pulled back. A cartridge  101  is ready to be loaded into the chamber. As shown in the figure, the pistol grip assembly  201  is rotated back. This backward rotation causes the bolt to turn and be released from the barrel. It also cocks the hammer. These actions are accomplished by the structure of the pistol grip. 
     The parts of the pistol grip assembly  201  are shown in FIGS. 22-27. FIG. 22 shows the inner grip form  202 . The lower portion of the inner grip form  202  has the shape of the pistol grip as shown. This form also has the trigger guard  203  formed as part of it as well. Two holes  204  and  205  are provided. These holes have pins  206  placed in them that fit in guides for the pistol grip when the pistol grip is being opened and pulled back and forth. See, e.g., FIGS. 21 and 24. This mechanism is discussed below. The inner grip form also has a first ear  207  that extends above the trigger guard as shown. This ear engages a locking latch to secure the action for firing. This latch is discussed below. The inner grip form also has a second ear  208  that engages a contact member on the hammer that cocks the hammer. This feature is also discussed below. 
     FIG. 23 shows an outer grip member  210 . Like the inner grip form, the bottom portion of these members have a pistol grip form. Note that FIG. 23 shows two end of a cam  212 . FIG. 25 shows a top view of this assembly. This figure shows that the cam  212  is slanted as shown. The cam is anchored at the rear of the right outer form as indicated by the reference numeral  212   a . The cam is anchored at the front of the left outer form as indicated by reference numeral  212   b . FIG. 26 shows the placement of the rear ring  220  of the bolt  200  on the cam  212 . Unlike the first embodiment, the bolt in this embodiment does not have a set of gear teeth on the bottom. Rather, it has a cam follower. In the preferred embodiment, the cam follower is a hole in the extended portion of the bolt ring as shown. The cam passes through this hole and is held in place. As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, As the pistol grip is pulled down, the bolt ring follows the cam. FIG. 26 shows that the cam ring is at an angle in the closed position. As the handle is rotated, the bolt ring turns as it follows the cam. This turning aligns the locking lugs with the locking slots, thereby allowing the bolt to be extracted from the gun barrel. Obviously, when the motion is reversed, the bolt turns in the opposite direction, locking the bolt in place. 
     FIG. 27 shows a mounting plate  225 . There are two plates used in this embodiment. FIG. 24 shows the position of the plate in a longitudinal placement to the handle. FIG. 21 shows the placement of the plate within the action of the gun. FIG. 27 shows that the plate  225  has several holes. These holes support pins that acts as pivots for various components. Hole  225   a  supports pin  226  on which the hammer  230  pivots. See FIGS. 21 and 23. Hole  225   b  supports pin  227 , in which the pin  227  supports the locking latch  231 . Hole  225   c  supports pin  228 , which supports the trigger  232 . Finally, hole  225   d  supports a pin  229  which acts a the forward guide for the inner grip form. This pin fits in hole  205  on that form. Note that all these pins are shown on FIG.  21 . 
     FIG. 28 shows the bolt moved forward into the firing position. In this position, the pistol grip is rotated forward and upward into the standard firing position. Moving the pistol grip upwards and forward causes the bolt to turn in the barrel, thereby locking it in place for firing. In this view, the hammer  230  is restrained by the top of the trigger. Spring  250  is used to push the hammer forward for firing after the hammer is released by the trigger. 
     FIG. 29 shows the second embodiment with the safety system in the on position. In this position, the trigger is locked and the gun cannot be fired. The safety system is identical to that described above, for the first embodiment. FIG. 30 shows the position of the safety lever  270  in the off position. In this position, the gun can be fired. 
     FIG. 30 shows the action just after the trigger has fired the gun. Here, the hammer is moved forward to strike the firing pin. This figure also shows that the trigger is moved almost full back against the grip. As shown, the second ear  208  of the inner grip form is in contact with the back of the hammer. The spring  250  is extended. The top of the trigger is resting against the locking latch  231 . To open the action, the user must pull the trigger back slightly more. That causes the top of the trigger to press against the locking, latch  231 . That causes the first ear  207  to be released by the locking latch. That in turn, permits the pistol grip to rotate downwards. Rotating the grip downwards does three things simultaneously. First, it rotates the bolt until the locking lugs align with the barrel lugs. Second, ear  208  pushes the hammer down until it cocks by resting in the notch at the top of the trigger. Third, it forces tracking pin  280  upwards until it aligns with the sliding track  281 . Note that pin  229  rides in the sliding track  285 . This restricts the amount of rotation of the pistol grip, to ensure proper operation. When pin  280  is aligned in track  281  the action can be slid backwards until it reaches the position shown in FIG.  21 . As the bolt is moved back, the spent shell is ejected using the same equipment as described for the first embodiment, and a new shell from the magazine is moved up to the loading position, using the same techniques as that of the first embodiment. Once the new shell is in position, the action is slid forward until the bolt seats. At that point, the pistol grip is rotated forward and upward until the ear  207  locks in  13  place under the locking latch  231 . At this point, the gun is ready for firing. 
     Third Embodiment 
     FIGS. 31-34 show details of the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the bolt action is automatic and is gas operated. FIG. 31 shows the side view of the rifle action. All of the parts are the same as in the first embodiment, except for the bolt lever, and the addition of a gas plunger tube. The gas plunger tube  301  is placed under the barrel in the manner common to the art. This plunger is the same type found on many automatic rifles available today. The end of the gas plunger fits into a recepticle in the lever  302 . In this embodiment, there is no external bolt handle. 
     Escaping gas from the barrel pushes the lever  302  backward, rotating the gear rack  303  into the open position as before. The gas then pushes the bolt backwards, thereby causing the spent shell to be ejected and a new shell to be loaded as before. A return spring  304  pulls the bolt back into its closed position and causes the bolt to rotate back into the locked position. Once locked, the rifle is ready to fire. All other aspects and operations of the action are exactly as described above. The gas system only replaces the manual bolt lever. The actions need to turn it, pull it back, push it forward and to rotate it back into a locked position are the same as before. The only difference is the use of gas instead of a hand-operated lever. 
     FIG. 32 shows the front end of the bolt. FIGS. 33 and 34 show the top of the lever in the unlocked and locked positions. As discussed above, the plunger tube engages the lever as shown. The escaping gas forces the lever backwards, unlocking the bolt and pushing it back. The spring then pulls the lever forward into the locked position in a totally automatic process. 
     The present disclosure Should not be construed in any limited sense other than that limited by the scope of the claims having regard to the teachings herein and the prior art being apparent with the preferred form of the invention disclosed herein and which reveals details of structure of a preferred form necessary for a better understanding of the invention and may be subject to change by skilled persons within the scope of the invention without departing from the concept thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5