Patent Description:
In a general manner, a grenade launcher is already known which is mounted in a permanent or detachable manner under the barrel of a gun and which is provided with its own trigger so as to be able to fire grenades, whereby said trigger is situated in front of said chamber. An exemplary grenade launcher is described in <CIT>.

Certain grenade launchers are provided with their own grip, which enables a shooter to hold the gun with his strong hand at the grip of the gun and with his weak hand at a grip of the grenade launcher, thus forcing him to use his weak hand to operate a trigger of the grenade launcher. Many prior art grenade launchers are dimensioned for comparatively power full grenade with a diameter of at least <NUM>-<NUM>. Such launchers may reach up to and ever beyond <NUM> and may cause physical injuries on persons at far distances.

From the above it is understood that there is room for improvements and the invention aims to solve or at least mitigate the above and other problems.

Additional features and advantages of the concepts disclosed herein are set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the described technologies. The features and advantages of the concepts may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the described technologies will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims or may be learned by the practice of the disclosed concepts as set forth herein.

The disclosed tube launcher or grenade launcher is configured to receive at least one grenade that can be launched or fired by igniting a primer of a primer cartridge. The grenade launcher comprises a support that can be attached or connected to and released from a carrier device, such as a gun.

In a first aspect there is disclosed a grenade launcher comprising at least one barrel for receiving a grenade, a support for releasably mounting the grenade launcher to a carrier, and a receiving slot receiving a removable primer cartridge; wherein the primer cartridge when received in the receiving slot holds a primer in position for firing the grenade in the barrel.

The grenade launcher can be launched by manually cocking a spring biased cock followed by releasing the spring biased cock to hit the primer.

In order to best describe the manner in which the above-described embodiments are implemented, as well as define other advantages and features of the disclosure, a more particular description is provided below and is illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting in scope, the examples will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:.

Further, in the figures like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures.

Various embodiments of the disclosed methods and arrangements are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only.

In the description and claims the word "comprise" and variations of the word, such as "comprising" and "comprises", does not exclude other elements or steps.

Hereinafter, certain embodiments will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments herein are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept.

The word grenade will be used for different types of bullets, shells, stun bombs, flash grenade, flashbangs, thunder flashes, sound bombs and similar devices comprising some kind of pyrotechnical composition and an effect composition. It will normally have a delay after being ignited to allow it to be launched or thrown some distance where the effect composition will be activated or ignited after the delay. Normally, the grenade in this context is less-lethal.

The grenade launcher according to embodiments may be a grenade launcher for close quarter combat or other short-range firing of grenades or the like. The grenade launcher may be a grenade launcher for indoor launching of grenades. In particular, the grenade launcher may be used with low impact grenades.

The embodiment shown in <FIG> comprises a grenade launcher <NUM> with two barrels <NUM> and a support <NUM> designed for attachment to a guide rail, such as a Picatinny rail, on a gun or another type of carrier, such as a helmet or vehicle. In the shown embodiment, the support <NUM> comprises a first fixed clamp portion <NUM> and a second sliding clamp portion <NUM>. The clamp portions <NUM>, <NUM> are designed to engage a dovetail section on the guide rail. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the sliding clamp portion <NUM> can be slid in the direction of arrows F by pressing a spring biased knob <NUM>. By pressing the spring biased knob <NUM> it is possible to slide the support <NUM> over a guide rail mounted for instance under the barrel of the gun, c. The support <NUM> and consequently the complete grenade launcher <NUM> will be locked in position when the spring biased knob <NUM> is released. The grenade launcher <NUM> will be locked against movements in the longitudinal direction of the barrel by a boss <NUM> that will fit in a notch of the guide rail.

The barrels <NUM> are formed with an inner diameter which is matched to an outer diameter of a grenade <NUM>. When a grenade <NUM> will be used it is slid into the barrel <NUM> in the direction of arrow X. In various embodiments, the grenade <NUM> is provided with a weather seal <NUM> that will engage the barrel <NUM> when the grenade is inserted in a front side of the barrel and keep the grenade dry.

In some embodiments, the support <NUM> is provided with a first bore <NUM> and a second bore <NUM> extending from a mounting recess <NUM> to an inside of each barrel. The bores <NUM>, <NUM> have a threaded portion and in each bore a screw <NUM> is screwed down to a position where each screw extends into a barrel <NUM>. The screws <NUM> will keep the grenades <NUM> in position when they have been inserted into the barrels <NUM>. In alternative embodiments, a steel wire is provided along the barrels <NUM> and extending into in interior of the barrels <NUM> to lock grenades <NUM> disposed therein.

A spring biased cock <NUM> is arranged at rear side of the barrels <NUM>. The cock <NUM> rotates around shafts or pins <NUM> that are mounted in fastening wings <NUM> extending from a rear section of the support <NUM>. The function of the cock <NUM> will be explained further on below. Springs <NUM> for biasing the cocks <NUM> are shown in <FIG>.

At the rear side of each barrel <NUM> there is provided a slot <NUM> designed to receive a primer cartridge <NUM>. Each primer cartridge <NUM> can hold one primer <NUM> in a primer pocket <NUM>. The primer <NUM> normally contains a charge such as a small amount of gun powder. When hit by the cock <NUM> it will provide a primer flame that ignites a pyrotechnical composition of a delay train of the grenade <NUM>. When the primer cartridge <NUM> is fully inserted into the slot <NUM> the primer <NUM> will be located in front of the barrel <NUM>, normally at a central position. It should be noted that two primer supports <NUM> already are in position in the slots <NUM>. The primer cartridge <NUM> is moved into position in the slot <NUM> in a direction indicated by arrow Y.

In various embodiments, the primer <NUM> is replaceable in the primer cartridge <NUM>. When the primer <NUM> has been fired, it can be replaced by a new primer. In other embodiments, the primer cartridge <NUM> is integral with the primer <NUM>. In such embodiments, the primer cartridge <NUM> including the primer <NUM> is exchanged after firing the primer <NUM>.

In <FIG> a grenade launcher <NUM> is shown armed, with the cock <NUM> rotated into an armed upper position. The cock <NUM> is spring biased to a lower position as shown in <FIG>. The rotation of the cock <NUM> can be made by the person handling the grenade launcher with a finger (no finger shown in the drawings). The person handling the grenade launcher maintains the cock <NUM> in this position until either firing of the grenade launcher or re-positioning the cock <NUM> to the lower non-armed position is decided. By releasing the cock <NUM> it will rotate back to a lower position as shown in <FIG>, and a firing pin <NUM> impacts the primer <NUM>. This will ignite a pyrotechnical composition of a delay train of the grenade <NUM> immediately, and the grenade <NUM> is fired and launched from the barrel <NUM> in the direction of arrow L as indicated in <FIG>. The delay train burns and ignites an effect composition of the grenade after a predefined delay time. A gun <NUM> supporting the grenade launcher <NUM> indicated by dash-and-dot lines in <FIG>.

In various embodiments, the delay train will provide a delay time of at least one second and not longer than five seconds. Different types of pyrotechnical compositions can be used for providing the intended delay time.

The effect composition can comprise or combine different effects, such as one or a plurality of bangs, flashbangs, smoke, colored smoke, training shells without a bang or a low-level bang,.

The embodiment shown in <FIG> has two barrels <NUM>. The barrels are shown empty and in <FIG> the primer <NUM> is shown to be centered in the barrel <NUM>. A steel wire <NUM>, such as piano wire, extends at a lower section inside and along each barrel <NUM>. The steel wire <NUM> will lock the grenade when inserted into the barrel <NUM>.

A safety arrangement is provided for preventing unintentional firing of the grenade launcher. One embodiment of the safety arrangement is shown in <FIG> and comprises a locking pin <NUM> arranged at a rear side of the barrels <NUM> between the primer cartridge <NUM> and the cocks <NUM>. In this position, the locking pin <NUM> will prevent the cocks <NUM> from hitting the primers <NUM>. When the grenade launcher <NUM> is intended to be used, the locking pin <NUM> is pulled out from the position shown in <FIG> in the direction of arrow M.

An alternative embodiment of a safety arrangement is shown in <FIG>. This safety arrangement comprises a sliding carriage <NUM> mounted below the barrels <NUM>. When the safety arrangement is put at safety, as shown in <FIG>, the sliding carriage <NUM> is locked in a rear position where the firing pins <NUM> of cocks <NUM> are prevented from reaching or impacting any of the primers <NUM> (not shown in this figure). In this position, the cocks <NUM> with the firing pins <NUM> will be engaging a rear side of the sliding carriage <NUM>.

The bottom view in <FIG> shows a groove <NUM> provided at an underside of the support <NUM> of the grenade launcher. The sliding carriage <NUM> is inserted into the groove <NUM> from behind as shown in <FIG> and can slide in a forward direction to an unlocked position. As shown in <FIG>, the groove <NUM> ends before a rear end section of the grenade launcher. The sliding carriage <NUM> is provided with two spring biased release buttons <NUM> arranged opposite each other. Both release buttons <NUM> need to be depressed for moving the sliding carriage forward to the unlocked position. In some embodiments, only one release button is provided. The sliding carriage <NUM> comprises an elongated slide <NUM> that is configured to slide in the groove <NUM>. In various embodiments, the slide <NUM> is T-shaped.

In <FIG>, the sliding carriage <NUM> is shown before being mounted to the grenade launcher. Two longitudinally spaced apart locking recesses <NUM> are formed in transverse directions in longitudinal side sections of the T-shaped slide <NUM>. The spring biased release buttons <NUM> extend from side sections to a central position of the sliding carriage <NUM> and are each provided with an upright locking peg <NUM> at an inner end. As shown in <FIG>, each upright locking peg <NUM> fits in one locking recess <NUM> and is spring biased to the position shown in <FIG>. Each of the locking pegs <NUM> is connected to one release button <NUM> and can be slid towards a central line A of the T-shaped slide <NUM> by depressing the associated release button <NUM>. In this position, the locking pegs <NUM> will be received in the locking recesses <NUM> and will not extend out from the longitudinal side sections of the T-shaped slide <NUM>. In embodiments where only one release button is used there is provided only on locking peg <NUM>.

When the sliding carriage <NUM> is to be mounted in the grenade launcher, both release buttons <NUM> are depressed to move the locking pegs <NUM> into the locking recesses <NUM> to allow sliding of the T-shaped slide into the groove <NUM>. It is necessary also to rotate the cocks <NUM> from the position shown in <FIG> shows the sliding carriage <NUM> fully mounted and set into the unlocked position.

<FIG> shows a bottom view of the grenade launcher <NUM> with the sliding carriage <NUM> fully mounted and set into the unlocked position. A rear section of the groove <NUM> is open at a rear side of the support <NUM>. A first indentation <NUM> and a second indentation <NUM> are provided in the rear section of the groove <NUM> at longitudinally spaced apart positions. The indentations <NUM>, <NUM> are each configured to receive one of the locking pegs <NUM> when the sliding carriage <NUM> is locked in a rear position and the safety arrangement is put at safety. The safety arrangement is set to the unlocked position by depressing the release buttons <NUM> to displace the locking pegs <NUM> from the indentations <NUM>, <NUM> and then sliding the sliding carriage forward on the support <NUM>.

<FIG> shows yet another alternative safety arrangement. <FIG> and <FIG> show the safety arrangement in an unlocked position, and <FIG> and <FIG> show the safety arrangement in a locked position.

The safety arrangement comprises a rod <NUM>. The rod <NUM> may be arranged at a rear side of the barrels <NUM> between the primer cartridge <NUM> and the cocks <NUM>. The rod <NUM> may extend behind one or more of the barrels <NUM> of the grenade launcher <NUM>.

The rod <NUM> is rotatably arranged such that the rod <NUM> can be rotated around a longitudinal axis of the rod <NUM>. The axis of rotation may also be referred to as a rotational axis. The longitudinal axis may be any axis extending along the length of the rod <NUM>. For example, the longitudinal axis may be a central longitudinal axis extending along the centre of the rod <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the rod <NUM> may be a substantially flat rod. The flat rod may have a width W1 in a first direction and a width W2 in a second direction. The width W1 may be larger than the width W2, or vice versa.

In the locked position as shown in <FIG>, the rod <NUM> is rotated to a first rotational position. In the first rotational position, the rod <NUM> extends towards the cock <NUM> (and/or the path of the cock <NUM>) along its width W1. The width W1 is sufficiently large to cause the rod <NUM> to intersect with the path of the cock <NUM> as the cock <NUM> moves towards the primer <NUM> (not shown). Thus, the rod <NUM> prevents the cock <NUM>, and in particular the firing pins <NUM>, from reaching and/or impacting said primers <NUM>. Hence the safety arrangement is at a "safe" position.

In the unlocked position, as shown in <FIG>, on the other hand, the rod <NUM> is rotated to a second rotational position. In the second rotational position, the rod <NUM> is rotated such that it extends towards the cock <NUM> along the width W2. Because the width W2 is smaller than the width W1, the rod <NUM>, in the second rotational position, may not intersect with the path of the cock <NUM>. Thus, the cock <NUM> can move freely towards the primer <NUM>, and hence the firing pin <NUM> can impact said primer <NUM> causing a grenade to be launched.

It will be appreciated that although a flat rectangular rod is shown in <FIG>, embodiments are not limited to such a rod shape. Embodiments include any rod shape that can be rotated to cause intersection with the cock path in a first rotational position, and to cause no intersection with the cock path in a second rotational position.

The rod <NUM> may for example be a substantially symmetrical rod provided with a protrusion <NUM> at an angular portion thereof as seen in <FIG>. The protrusion <NUM> may be provided along the entire length of the rod <NUM>, or along portions of the rod <NUM> corresponding to the locations of the cock(s) <NUM>. For example, there may be provided no protrusions <NUM> at longitudinal positions of the rod <NUM> corresponding to the firing pins <NUM>, such that the rod <NUM> only interacts with the cock <NUM> and not the firing pin <NUM>. When the rod <NUM> is rotated to the locked position as shown in <FIG>, the protrusion <NUM> may protrude towards the cock <NUM> so as to intersect with the path of the cock <NUM> preventing the cock <NUM> from reaching the primer <NUM>. When the rod <NUM> is rotated to the unlocked position as shown in <FIG>, the protrusion <NUM> may protrude at least partially away from the cock <NUM> so as to allow the cock <NUM> (and/or firing pin <NUM>) to reach the primer <NUM>.

The safety arrangement may further comprise a handle <NUM> allowing a user to rotate the rod <NUM> between the first and second rotational positions. For example, the handle <NUM> may be pivoted around the rotational axis of the rod <NUM>. The handle <NUM> may be provided on an outer side of the grenade launcher <NUM> to allow a user to easily access the handle <NUM>.

<FIG> show a grenade launcher <NUM> with modular barrels <NUM>. The grenade launcher <NUM> with modular barrels <NUM> may also be referred to as a modular barrel grenade launcher. The modular barrels <NUM> may be used removed from the grenade launcher <NUM> and interchangeably inserted into the grenade launcher <NUM>. Thus, a user may choose their desired barrels <NUM>, and/or their desired order of barrels <NUM>, when loading and/or mounting the grenade launcher <NUM>.

Each modular barrel <NUM> comprises on a first side one or more male connectors <NUM> (e.g. studs), and on a second side opposite to the first side one or more female connectors <NUM> (e.g. holes) in corresponding positions. Thus, a plurality of modular barrels <NUM> may be connected, and secured, in sequence.

The barrels <NUM> are shown empty and in <FIG> the primer <NUM> is shown to be centered in each barrel <NUM>. Each barrel <NUM> comprises a first end side and a second end side. The primer <NUM> is located at the first end side, and the second end is configured to receive the grenade <NUM>.

The barrels <NUM> also comprise engaging flanges <NUM> for engagement with the grenade launcher <NUM>. The engaging flanges <NUM> are preferably located at or on the same end side of the modular barrel <NUM> as the primer <NUM>, i.e. at the first end side. The engaging flanges <NUM> preferably comprise two or more parallel flanges. A first and second flanges may preferably extend in a direction perpendicular to the first and second sides. For example, a first flange may be provided at an upper portion of the first end side, and a second flange may be provided at a lower portion of the first end side.

The grenade launcher <NUM> comprises a barrel slot <NUM> for receiving one or more modular barrels <NUM>. The barrel slot <NUM> may be arranged to accommodate one, two, three or more modular barrels <NUM>. The barrel slot <NUM> comprises a slide rail <NUM> arranged to engage with the engaging flanges <NUM> of the modular barrels <NUM> such that the modular barrels <NUM> can be slid into, and along, the barrel slot <NUM>.

The barrel slot <NUM> preferably comprises an inlet <NUM> for receiving the modular barrels <NUM>. When inserting the modular barrels <NUM>, the modular barrels <NUM> may be inserted into the barrel slot <NUM> at the inlet <NUM>, made to engage with the slide rail <NUM>, and slid into position in the barrel slot <NUM>. Preferably a plurality of modular barrels <NUM> may be inserted at the same time. That is, a plurality of modular barrels <NUM> may be connected in sequence away from the grenade launcher <NUM>, and then the connected plurality of modular barrels <NUM> may be slid into the barrel slot <NUM> with one smooth sliding motion.

The modular barrel grenade launcher <NUM> also comprises one or more triggering mechanisms (one triggering mechanism for each modular barrel) for triggering the primers located in each barrel. The triggering mechanism shown in <FIG> in relation to the modular barrel grenade launcher <NUM> is substantially the same as the previously described spring-loaded cock <NUM>. It should be appreciated though, that although the modular barrel grenade launcher <NUM> is shown in combination with the previously described spring-loaded cock <NUM>, the modular barrel grenade launcher <NUM> may be used in combination with any suitable triggering mechanism.

The modular barrel grenade launcher <NUM> may comprise a safety arrangement for locking the triggering mechanism so as to prevent the triggering mechanism from triggering the primer(s). Preferably, the safety arrangement is substantially similar to the safety arrangement with a rotatable rod <NUM> of <FIG>.

The safety arrangement preferably comprises a handle <NUM> for actuating the safety arrangement. The handle <NUM> may be moveable between a first handle position and a second handle position. The first handle position may correspond to a position where the safety arrangement locks the triggering mechanism (i.e. where the safety arrangement prevents the triggering mechanism from triggering the primer <NUM>). The second handle position may correspond to a position where the safety arrangement ensures that the triggering mechanism is in an unlocked state (i.e. where the safety arrangement allows the triggering mechanism to trigger the primer <NUM>).

Preferably, the handle <NUM> is pivotably arranged such that a pivotal motion on the handle can move the handle <NUM> between the first and second handle positions. For example, the handle <NUM> may be pivotably arranged to allow a user to rotate the rod <NUM> (as previously described).

The handle <NUM> is preferably provided on the same side of the grenade launcher <NUM> as the inlet <NUM> to the barrel slot <NUM>. The handle <NUM> may then be arranged such that the handle <NUM>, in the second handle position shown in <FIG> (corresponding to an unlocked state of the triggering mechanism) at least partially blocks the inlet <NUM> to the barrel slot <NUM>, while when the handle <NUM> is moved to the first handle position shown in <FIG> (corresponding to a locked state of the triggering mechanism), the handle <NUM> is moved away from the inlet <NUM> to the barrel slot <NUM>. Thus, when the handle <NUM> is in the second handle position (i.e. the triggering mechanism being in an unlocked state) and at least partially blocking the inlet <NUM>, the handle <NUM> prevents modular barrels <NUM> from being removed from and/or inserted into the barrel slot <NUM>. Hence, modular barrels <NUM> can only be removed and/or inserted when the triggering mechanism is in a locked state, reducing the risk of accidents happening in assembling and/or manipulating the modular barrel grenade launcher <NUM>.

The handle <NUM> of the safety arrangement thus performs two functions, the first function being transitioning the safety arrangement between a locked and unlocked state, and the second function being ensuring that modular barrels <NUM> can only be inserted when the safety arrangement is in a locked state.

Although the modular barrel grenade launcher <NUM> is shown in combination with the safety arrangement of <FIG>, it will be appreciated that the modular barrel grenade launcher <NUM> may be used in combination with the safety arrangements of <FIG>, the safety arrangement of <FIG>, or any other suitable safety arrangement.

<FIG> shows a normal arrangement of the disclosed grenade launcher <NUM>,<NUM> attached to a guide rail at a front part of a gun <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the grenade launcher <NUM>, <NUM> comprises one barrel <NUM> only. In other embodiments, the grenade launcher <NUM>, <NUM> comprises a plurality of barrels <NUM>. One barrel can comprise a flashlight or be exchanged with a flashlight.

Claim 1:
A grenade launcher (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising a support (<NUM>) for releasably mounting the grenade launcher (<NUM>, <NUM>) to a carrier, at least one cock (<NUM>) that is spring biased to a lower grenade impacting position,
wherein the at least one cock (<NUM>) is configured to be rotated manually to an upper armed position, maintained manually in the upper armed position with a finger of a person handling the grenade launcher (<NUM>; <NUM>), and manually released from the upper armed position to the lower grenade impacting position.