Abstract:
The composite forend construction replaces a portion of the metal in the forend with composite materials thereby reducing overall height and weight of the firearm while increasing strength, cooling capabilities and resistance to moisture and chemicals.

Description:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to firearms and more particularly to improvements in forend construction through the use of composite materials, wood and metal.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
       [0002]     Traditionally firearm forend construction, the wooden hand grip in front of the frame which insulates the hand from the barrel, were constructed from wood and used the metal forend iron to provide solid locking of the forend stock to the firearm&#39;s barrel lug. Variations of this have been in use since the 1800&#39;s in firearms construction.  
         [0003]     In prior art, the use of substantial metal support in the forend provides solid lock-up of the forend to the firearm, but this method increases the overall weight and height of the firearm. The prior art forends of total plastic or composite material still rely on substantial metal support in their designs presenting the same limitations as mentioned before.  
         [0004]     The composite forend construction in this patent application uses lightweight composites in addition to wood and metal to significantly reduce weight and height while increasing overall forend strength and providing a added barrier against heat, moisture, and chemicals.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     This invention improves forend construction by replacing a portion of the metal in the forend with composite materials. The overall height of the firearm can be reduced which provides the shooter with a more naturally pointing firearm. The shape and nature of the composite material used in this forend construction provides extremely high strength and rigidity with very low weight versus the amount of metal normally used in forend construction. The shape and physical characteristics of the composite material used in this forend construction provides a cooling channel for the barrels around the portion of the barrels that radiate the most amount of heat from discharging ammunition from the firearm while creating an impermeable barrier against moisture, cleaning chemicals and oils that may, over time, weather or breakdown the wooden part of the forend. By placing the composite material inside the wooden forend using a bonded or laminated composite form construction produces the esthetic beauty of fine wood with the high strength and rigidity of composites with less weight (over a 50% reduction in weight) and overall height (substantially lower by 0.1 to 0.375 inches).  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the forend construction.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the forend construction.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a cutaway view of the forend construction. 
     
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0009]      1  Wooden forend  
         [0010]      2  Forend iron  
         [0011]      3 A Composite form  
         [0012]      3 B Composite form recoil boss  
         [0013]      4 A Forend latch retainer  
         [0014]      4 B Forend latch retainer screws  
         [0015]      4 C Forend latch retainer barrel lug slot  
         [0016]      4 D Forend latch retainer alignment holes  
         [0017]      5  Forend iron attachment rails  
         [0018]      6  Forend latch housing  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     This invention improves forend construction by replacing a portion of the metal in the forend with composite materials. Using of composite construction in addition to wood and metal allows a significant reduction in weight and height while increasing overall forend strength and providing a added barrier against heat, moisture, and chemicals.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the forend construction illustrating the major components of this composite forend construction. The wooden forend  1  is shown with the forend iron  2  at the breech end and the composite form  3 A inserted in the wooden forend  1 . The forend latch retainer  4 A is molded into the composite form recoil boss  3 B during the molding process in making the composite form and provides a washer effect to spread the recoil shock load evenly over the composite form recoil boss  3 B. The shape of the composite form recoil boss  3 B is blunt on both ends and fits into a corresponding pocket in the wooden forend  1  again to spread recoil shock evenly over all parts of the forend. The forend latch retainer screws  4 B go through the forend latch retainer  4 A and secure the forend latch housing  6  to the wooden forend  1 .  
         [0021]     The composite form is molded to shape and cured. The composite form is comprised of multiple composite layers arranged and shaped to provide maximum strength and rigidity for the particular composite used. In doing so, the composite form is U-shaped, wrapping around the barrel channel and extending up the sides of the wooden forend to provide maximum strength and rigidity to the forend. Composite materials suitable for use include pre-preg carbon fiber, fiberglass, Kevlar, and other related composites in various forms such as sheet, fiber, matting, etc.  
         [0022]     The composite form has an air gap allowance that provides a non-contact area between the composite form and the barrel assembly enhancing the air flow and optimizing cooling of the barrel assembly when firing the gun. This air gap is located on the breech end of the wooden forend and extends past the forcing cone area into the bore so that it cools the area of the barrel assembly where the most heat build-up occurs during shooting the firearm.  
         [0023]     An important feature of the composite form is the composite form recoil boss  3 B, a rectangular shape on the bottom of the form that contains the forend lug plate. The rectangular shape provides a registration surface for the composite form with the wooden forend that is blunt to dissipate recoil shock from firing the gun but does not induce cracks in the wooden forend.  
         [0024]     The wooden forend  1  is shaped or relieved inside to accept the composite form plus an allowance for adhesive determined by the adhesive manufacturer&#39;s application specifications. The relief also allows for the composite form to be inserted and drop into the wooden forend  1 . The composite form  3 A is bonded with adhesive to effectively laminate the composite form to the inside of the wooden forend.  
         [0025]     Forend iron attachment rails  5  are encased between the composite form and the wooden forend with bonding adhesive agents. The forend iron attachment rails have barbs and or other engagement surfaces that promote enhanced bonding strength.  
         [0026]     The forend iron  2  attaches to the wooden forend with fasteners that thread into the forend attachment rails  5 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the forend construction. Provides more complete views of the major components of this construction. Illustrated are the wooden stock  1 , the forend iron  2 , composite form  3 A with the composite form recoil boss  3 B visible, the forend latch retainer  4 A, the forend latch retainer screws  4 B that holds the forend latch housing  6  in the wooden forend  1 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a cutaway view of the forend construction. This gives a different dimension of clarity especially of the forend attachment rails  5  and composite form recoil boss  3 B and forend latch retainer  4 A positioned in the Composite form recoil boss  3 B. The forend latch housing  6  is inserted in the wooden stock  1 .  
         [0029]     In summary, the composite forend construction provides a high strength rigid forend with lower overall height and weight. This is a major factor in achieving a very low profile firearm that has a natural pointing characteristic. This is essential for a competitive shooting gun.