Abstract:
A firearm cleaning device with a cartridge-shaped handle and a slotted cleaning connector for securing a disposable cleaning patch, both of which are removably engaged with an extendable ramrod. The cleaning device can be securely stored in the barrel of firearms of different action types and the cartridge-shaped handle fits in the chamber to allow the innocuous release of the hammer when a live cartridge is not present. Thus, the firearm cleaning device is conveniently stored while protecting the firearm and acting as a safety device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 61/529,236 filed Aug. 30, 2011, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to guns and, more specifically, to an improved cleaning and safety device for firearms. 
         [0003]    The majority of modern firearms are breech-loading, meaning the ammunition is loaded into the end of the barrel closest to the user (breech end), as opposed to muzzle-loading firearms where the ammunition is loaded from the front end or the muzzle. Breech-loading firearms use a variety of mechanisms for placing the ammunition in the barrel. These different mechanisms are known as the type of action. 
         [0004]    Break-open action firearms are those in which there is a hinge between the barrel of the firearm and the portion that holds the firing mechanism, which is also known as the stock. When the action is opened, the breech end of the barrel is exposed. Spent rounds can be removed and new live rounds can be loaded. Because the break action completely exposes the breech end of the barrel, the barrel can be cleaned from both the muzzle end and the breech end. 
         [0005]    There are a variety of actions that do not completely expose the breech end of the barrel, but employ a mechanism for loading the ammunition. These include bolt-action, pump-action, and semi-automatic actions among others. While these actions allow for limited access to the breech end through an opening called the chamber, they do not open the breech end sufficiently to insert a ramrod-type cleaning device into the barrel. Thus, the barrel is cleaned from the muzzle end in assembled firearms without break-open actions. 
         [0006]    Previously, guns were cleaned with implements that had to be left at home or carried separately from the firearm. One such implement consists of a large handle opposite a ramrod with a loop at the end. A patch of cleaning material, usually an absorbent cloth, is placed through the loop and inserted into the barrel. However, when inserted into the barrel, the patch is too small to remove the considerable amount of gunpowder residue that tends to accumulate. For this reason the patch may need to be replaced several times to complete the job. It also may still leave behind residue because it has insufficient surface area to reach all surfaces of the barrel. 
         [0007]    Another cleaning implement consists of a ramrod surrounded with wool, which is also known as a “wooly rod”. After repeated uses, the “wooly rod” is too filthy to hold additional debris and must be replaced. Brushes are also often used to clean the chamber or the muzzle end of the barrel, sometimes known as the choke. These brushes are separate devices that require bulky handles and must be stored in addition to all the other required cleaning implements. In general, these implements needing constant replacing can be expensive and thus provide for inefficient and ineffective cleaning. 
         [0008]    A striker cartridge or “snap cap” is a device that is commonly used to replace the cartridge in the gun&#39;s chamber and allows the hammer inside the shotgun to release without damaging the hammer or firing pin. It is known in the art to combine the snap cap with a cleaning device. Typically, the striker cartridge is connected to the ramrod before being inserted into the barrel, making it suitable for only break-open action firearms where the breech end of the barrel is completely exposed. In such break-open action firearms, the ramrod can be inserted through the breech end and the striker cartridge put in place, then the action closed to safely store the device inside the firearm. However, firearms that do not have break-open actions do not allow for the striker cartridge to be inserted while connected to a ramrod because the ramrod cannot be inserted through the breech end of the barrel. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, cleaning solvents and oil are also needed for cleaning the firearm. These gun cleaning ramrods, oil, cleaning solvent and striker cartridges are sold separately and all must be carried in addition to the firearm, adding bulk to the transport of the firearm. 
         [0010]    Currently used cleaning implements do not include a firearm cleaning assembly that comprises a manner of connecting the striker cartridge to the ramrod in a way that would allow for installation in firearms that are not break-open action. There remains the need for a more efficient and effective cleaning device that would also combine the striker cartridge and the ramrod in a manner suitable for storage in firearms of all different types of actions. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The invention provides for a firearm cleaning device and method of use that is suitable for storage inside the barrel of the majority of firearms. The device comprises a telescoping rod that can be shortened to store inside the gun&#39;s barrel and then elongated and locked in place to clean the barrel. 
         [0012]    The device has a handle at one end and a cleaning adapter that holds a disposable cleaning element at the other, which are interconnected by the rod. The handle is essentially the same geometry as that of a cartridge or ammunition round. Thus, if the device were to be used in a 12-gauge shotgun, then the handle would be roughly that size of a 12-gauge cartridge, which is roughly 0.73 inches in diameter. The handle is detachable from and attachable to the rod in such a way that it may be installed in the chamber of a firearm without a break-open action. The rod may then be inserted through the muzzle end of the barrel and quickly and easily attached to the handle for safe storage. In one embodiment it has been contemplated that the handle is hollow in order to contain cleaning liquids or oils. The handle may be configured to protect the gun from dry firing with a snap cap. 
         [0013]    At one end of the device is a cleaning adapter, a flexible elongated cylinder with a slot milled through the center to allow for the insertion of a disposable cleaning element of a pliable nature, such as a cotton patch, paper napkin, or paper towel. The cleaning adapter is also detachable from the rod and can be engaged to the handle for use in cleaning the chamber and choke tube of the gun. 
         [0014]    Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description which, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, illustrates by way of example the principles and structure of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Taking the following specifications in conjunction with the accompanying drawings will cause the invention to be better understood regarding these and other features and advantages. The specifications reference the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a firearm cleaning assembly. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cleaning adapter of the firearm cleaning assembly. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of a handle of the firearm cleaning assembly. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a view of the cleaning device inserted into a break-open action assembly. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating the process for using the invention to clean a firearm. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating the process for storing the assembly in a firearm with an action other than a break-open type. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    While describing the invention and its embodiments, various terms will be used for the sake of clarity. These terms are intended to not only include the recited embodiments, but also all equivalents that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same manner to achieve the same result. 
         [0023]    In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a firearm cleaning assembly or device  100  comprises a cleaning adapter  110 , a rod  22 , a sleeve  24 , and a cartridge-shaped handle  120 . The cleaning adapter  110  can be engaged, then disengaged and engaged again with the sleeve  24  at the first end of the rod  22 . The cartridge-shaped handle  120  includes a conical adapter  20 , which too can be engaged, then disengaged and engaged again with the second end of the rod  22 . The assembly  100  can be assembled and disassembled within a gun barrel (not shown) and assembled and disassembled as a stand alone device  100 . In non-limiting embodiments, the device  100  may be assembled and disassembled using threads, set screws, bolt fasteners, cotter pins, mechanically-keyed locks, and spring-loaded ball bearings in detents. 
         [0024]    Now referring to  FIG. 1 , a firearm cleaning assembly or device  100  is used to clean the barrels of guns. The device  100  includes a rigid rod  22  for pushing a disposable cleaning element (not shown) through the barrel of the firearm (not shown) for cleaning. One end of the rigid rod  22  of the cleaning device  100  includes a cartridge-shaped handle  120 . The rod  22  connects to the handle  120  by connecting mechanisms  21  and  21 ′. The rod  22  can be coupled and decoupled from the handle  120  through a stop  21  and stop adapter  21 ′. In a non-limiting embodiment, stop adapter  21 ′ is one or more spring-loaded ball bearings  23  (only one shown) extending from the rod  22 . The ball bearings  23  engage detents (not shown) on the inner wall of a conical adapter  20  (see  FIG. 3 ) to form a friction lock, allowing the rod  22  and the conical adapter  20  to be engaged together and also disengaged from one another. In this example, the detents are simply indentations or a groove to accept the spring loaded-ball bearing  23  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0025]    The rod  22  is a cylindrical tube having an external diameter slightly smaller than that of the diameter of the outer sleeve  24 . Thus, the rod  22  may slide in and out of the sleeve  24  in a telescoping fashion to vary the overall length of the firearm cleaning assembly  100 . In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the length of the firearm cleaning assembly  100  is locked in place by a set of holes in the sleeve  24  with a spring-loaded button  56  protruding from the rod  22  in a pin and spring configuration. A cleaning adapter  110  connects to the sleeve  24  through a threaded cap  27 . 
         [0026]    Now referring to  FIG. 2 , the cleaning adapter  110  includes a proximate end  30  and distal end  34  of a cylindrical body  36  with a slot  32  traversing the body  36  of sufficient size and width to allow for a cleaning element (not shown), such as a paper towel to pass through. Small protrusions  37  along the edges of the slot allow for better securing of the cleaning element. An O-ring  38  keeps the device  100  from contacting the inside of the barrel (not shown) of the firearm when loaded for storage and thus eliminates a rattling noise during transport. The distal end  34  terminates as male threads to be affixed to either the cartridge-shaped handle  120  (see  FIG. 1 ) for cleaning the chamber of the gun or to the threaded connector  27  on the sleeve  24  (see  FIG. 1 ) for storage and barrel cleaning. The proximate end  30  terminates in a female threaded connector that is suitable for attaching various cleaning implement (not shown) attachments, such as a bristle brush, wooly-rod, or similar cleaning implements. In another non-limiting embodiment, knurling the cylindrical body  36  has been contemplated to allow for better securing of the cleaning patch. In yet another non-limiting embodiment it has been contemplated to use a flexible material such as plastic or rubber-like material. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the handle  120  is similar in geometry to a live-round cartridge (not shown) and includes a top pin case  10  and a lower pin case  15 , which holds a movable pin  12 . A spring  14  resides at the end of the pin  12  and both the spring  14  and the pin  12  are housed by the pin cases  10  and  15 . The lower pin case  15 , together with a pin  12  and a spring  14 , is connected to a bottle  16 . The bottle  16  is a hollow body that is dimensioned to be the size of the cartridge used by the gun, so that it may rest in the gun&#39;s chamber as a live round would. When loaded into the chamber of a firearm, the handle  120  acts as a spring-loaded cap to allow the innocuous release of the firing pin, similar to the function of a snap-cap or false round. The spring  14  will absorb the shock of the firing pin without causing any damage to the firearm. It has been contemplated that the bottle  16  is made of a durable, flexible material such as nylon or other plastic suitable for holding liquids such as gun oil or cleaning solvent. A washer  18  made of a soft material resides inside the first or bottle-end of a conical adapter  20  and provides the seal necessary for the bottle  16  to hold a liquid such as oil or cleaning solvent. Thus, the handle  120  may act as an oil or cleaning solvent storage reservoir. The bottle  16  is connected to the pin case  10  through a male-female threading combination at one end and the other end is threaded and is connected to conical adapter  20 . 
         [0028]    The second end of the conical adapter is made of structures for accepting the stop adapter  21 ′ ( FIG. 1 ) in such a way that the complete handle  120  is detachable from the extendable rod  22 . Because the handle  120  is detachable from the extendable rod  22 , the device  100  may be stored in the barrel of firearms with actions other then break-open type. Furthermore, because the handle  120  is easily detachable from the rod  22  it is contemplated that a single rod  22  may be used with a variety of handles  120  of different gauges. 
         [0029]    In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention it has been contemplated to further incorporate a locking mechanism between the rod  22  and the conical adapter  20  so that once the two parts  22 , 20  are joined they cannot rotate independently. This rotational locking would provide for a more stable ramrod for cleaning and the simplest way to achieve this would be to include a male/female threaded interface that can be used to screw the two parts  22 , 20  together. In another non-limiting embodiment, it is contemplated that both a detent-style locking mechanism  21 ′ and a rotational locking mechanism could be included to provide for secure locking for use in cleaning applications and quick locking for use in storage applications. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the firearm cleaning assembly  100  is shown inserted into a break-open action shotgun  400  for the purpose of cleaning. In an alternate configuration, the adjustable rod  22  (see  FIG. 1 ) would be shortened so that when the handle  120  is placed completely inside the barrel to act as a striker cartridge, the cleaning adapter  110  of the device would remain inside the barrel of the gun for safe and convenient transport. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the method of use for cleaning a break-open action firearm  500  has been contemplated as a series of steps to assemble and insert the device  100  to remove the residue in the barrel. The method includes removing the cleaning assembly  100  from the barrel  510 , then attaching a disposable cleaning element to the cleaning adapter of the device  520 . Next, the user can adjust the length of the rod to be greater than the length of the barrel  530 . By holding the firearm cleaning assembly  100  by the handle and inserting the cleaning device into the breech end  530 ,  540 , the user may push the cleaning adapter with disposable cleaning element through the barrel  550  and out the muzzle end, thereby removing residue from the barrel  560 . 
         [0032]    In order to use the liquid or oil held in the chamber, the user disengages the cartridge-shaped handle from the conical adapter. Then, the user dispenses the liquid from the cartridge-shaped handle into the barrel and re-engages the cartridge-shaped handle to the conical adapter. 
         [0033]    The device  100  may be converted into a sturdy chamber and choke tube cleaning tool by disengaging the cleaning adapter from the rod, then disengaging the rod from the conical adapter, and engaging the cleaning adapter to the conical adapter. Next by attaching a disposable cleaning element to the cleaning adapter device, then holding the firearm cleaning device by the handle and inserting the cleaning device into the breech end or the muzzle end, in order to remove any residue buildup. In a non-limiting embodiment, a cleaning implement may be used, too. The cleaning adapter can receive the cleaning implement for use in either end of the barrel. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the method of use for storing in a non-break-open action firearms  600  has been contemplated as a series of steps to correctly assemble and insert the device into the barrel to be stored. First, disengage the conical adapter from the rod  610 , then insert the cartridge-shaped handle and conical adapter into the chamber of the non-break-open action firearm as if it were a live round  620 . Next, engage the cleaning adapter to the first end of the rod  630  and adjust the length of the rod to be longer in length than the length of the barrel  640 . Insert the second end of the rod into the muzzle end of the barrel  650  and push the rod through the barrel  660  to engage the second end of the rod to the first end of the conical adapter  670 . The cap end of the cleaning adapter should protrude from the end of the muzzle enough to allow a firm grip when the assembly  100  is ready to be removed from the firearm. 
         [0035]    The invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiment. One skilled in the art will recognize that it would be possible to construct the elements of the present invention from a variety of means and to modify the placement of the components in a variety of ways. While the embodiments of the invention have been described in detail and shown in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident that various further modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 
         [0036]    While the example embodiment is most suitable for use in shotguns of 12, 16, or 20-gauge, the invention is not limited to this size of firearms. It may be adapted to be suitable for use in firearms of all sizes including but not limited to pistols and handguns, rifles, shotguns, and cannons.