Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This Application claims priority as a non-provisional perfection of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/647,421, filed May 15, 2012 and incorporates the same by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of firearms and more particularly relates to a fixed butt stock. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]    Since the invention of the firearm, stocks have been used to manipulate and support the weapon for firing. Often, these stocks have been doubly used for the storage of small, useful items. Stocks have been created for various purposes, including stocks that are adjustable for length, collapsible, and stocks for precision shooting. Many of these special purpose stocks are regulated, so there is a need for fixed stocks, stocks that do not adjust, for civilian use. Like all stocks, the shape of a fixed stock is based on personal preference and, regardless of shape, ease of installation, compatibility with the host firearm, and other useful features, like item storage, are also concerns. 
         [0004]    The present invention is a fixed butt stock for a long firearm, particularly a rifle having a receiver extension tube or similar structure. The stock features a simple slip-on geometry based on the size and shape of the receiver tube and a cam plug that is inserted into the back end of the stock. The back end is structured for a storage compartment and a door added to seal said compartment. The present invention represents a departure from the prior art in that the butt stock of the present invention allows for easy interface and connection to a given rifle or other firearm and simple attachment thereto by a cam feature residing within a contained and shielded, but easily accessible, storage compartment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of firearm butt stocks, this invention provides an easily installed butt stock with integral storage. As such, the present invention&#39;s general purpose is to provide a new and improved butt stock that is easily manufactured for various types of firearms, easily installed and provides easily accessible storage for accessories. 
         [0006]    To accomplish these objectives, the butt stock comprises a stock body that slides onto a firearm&#39;s receiver extension tube or similar structure. The stock body has an open chamber in its hind section. A cam plug is inserted within the open chamber and fastened to the rear of the receiver extension tube. It should be noted that, when installed, the cam plug forms a part of the exterior of the stock. The stock then is completed with a door that closes over the open chamber. 
         [0007]    The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
         [0008]    Many objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. 
         [0009]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0010]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a right elevation of a firearm utilizing an embodiment of a fixed stock with integral storage according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a left elevation of the firearm of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the fixed stock used on the firearm of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a right elevation of the fixed stock of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a left elevation of the fixed stock of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a rear elevation of the fixed stock of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a front elevation of the fixed stock of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the fixed stock of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of the fixed stock of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of the fixed stock of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of the fixed stock of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the fixed stock of  FIG. 6 , taken along line A-A. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of the door assembly utilized on the fixed stock of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a rear perspective view of the door assembly of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is an exploded view of the door assembly of  FIG. 13 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]    With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the fixed stock with integral storage is herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0027]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the fixed stock with integral storage  10  is mounted upon the receiver extension tube of a firearm  1 . The depicted firearm is a standard M16/AR15 firearm with lower receiver component  4  and an upper receiver component  6  which are united to form an entire receiver structure from which barrel  2  extends. The receiver contains the internal workings of the firearm  1  and also features a receiver extension tube  8  ( FIG. 3 ), projecting in a direction opposite the barrel  2  and upon which the stock  10  resides. The invention will be described in this Application in relation to this type of firearm and known variants of this system; however, it is to be understood that the fixed stock may be adapted to other types of firearms with similar structures for use in mounting a stock. This would include AIRSOFT rifles. The term “receiver extension tube” is defined to include equivalent structures in other firearm types and similar structures upon which stocks are mounted. 
         [0028]    In reference to  FIG. 3 , the stock  10  is a relatively simple construction. A stock body  12  is provided. The stock body  12  may be of any shape or design with the following requirements: first it must fit over the receiver extension tube or otherwise interface with mounting structure in the firearm&#39;s stock mounting paradigm; second, the hind end terminates in a circumferential flange which at least partially defines a hollowed chamber and terminates with a rear edge  14 . A cam plug  16  is also provided. The “cam plug” is superior to simpler bolt constructions. Where the shoulder of a bolt head may serve to secure pieces together by preventing one piece from sliding off of a bolt, a cam plug, as used in this Application, is a structure that not only holds two pieces together, but significantly interfaces with the surfaces and/or edges of at least one of the pieces joined. Cam plug  16  is designed to interface with the rear edge  14  and the chamber while also attaching to the mounting structure, in this case a receiver extension tube  8 , by use of bolt  18 . By interfacing with the rear edge  14  of the stock body  12 , the cam plug  16  securely anchors and not only joins, but actually cams the stock body  12  between itself and the lower receiver  4  into a more secure mounted relationship than is seen in the prior art. This cam relationship, anchoring the edges  14  of the stock body  12  and filling a portion of the chamber, reduces rotational moments and wobble of the stock body  12  in relation to the lower receiver  4 . 
         [0029]    It is important to note that the preferred interface of the cam plug  16  with the rear edge  14  of the stock  10  is best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  where a triangular portion of cam plug  16  is visible on both sides of the stock  10 . Positioning an interface in this area, behind the receiver extension tube and as broad as possible across the stock body, adds stability and strength to the stock and its connection to the firearm. It is entirely conceivable to not have the cam plug  16  interface with the rear edge  14 , and instead be contained within the chamber of the body  12  of the stock, but this is not preferred. Generally, the greater the external interface, the more stable the interface. This must, however, be balanced with the cost to manufacture the components. To this end, a simple interface, as illustrated in the figures, generally a wedge shape on either side of and behind the receiver extension tube and across the stock body  12  will suffice for securement purposes. Having the cam plug  16  interface with the edge  14  also allows the cam plug  16  to be easily used in assembling the door  20  to the stock body  12 , as described below. 
         [0030]    Finally, a door  20  is attached to one side of the rear edge  14  and the cam plug  16 . Door  20  is connected to the stock  10  by a hinge assembly and selectively held in place by latch  26 . While any construction for the door may suffice, it is preferred the door  20  be a two part construction comprising a door chassis  22  and a rear butt pad  24 , as shown in  FIGS. 4-11 . A set of screws  29  then secures the butt pad  24  to the door chassis  22  ( FIG. 6 ). This allows customization of the butt pad  24 . Internal construction of the door  20  is shown in  FIGS. 12-15 . As can be seen, the latch  26  is biased in a closed position by two springs  28  and resides in a latch cage  25  on the door chassis  22 . It is positioned to project from one side of the door chassis  22  and engage a portion of the rear edge  14  of the stock  10  to selectively secure the door  20 . A hinge structure  23  is provided to the other side of the door chassis  22  and houses a hinge rod  27 . Hinge rod  27  is slightly larger than hinge structure  23  and nests its ends in the rear edge  14  of the stock  10  and in the cam plug  16  ( FIG. 11 ). To assemble the stock, the cam plug  16  is mostly inserted into the stock body  12  and the hinge rod  27  into the hinge structure. Ends of hinge rod  27  are inserted into provided holes in the stock body  12  and the cam plug  16 . The cam plug  16  is then fully inserted into the stock body  12  and secured by bolt  18  to the receiver tube  8  or other stock mounting body, thus securing the door in place  20 . In use then, the latch  26  is disengaged and the door opened to access the internal compartment of the stock  10 , which includes not only general storage, but also the cam plug  16  for installation and removal of the stock  10 . The internal structure of the stock may also include specialized areas for storage of common elements, like batteries, or modules which may be constructed to fit within the compartment. 
         [0031]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.

Technology Category: 2