Gun barrel cleaning device with quick-detachable cleaning implement

Abstract

A gun barrel cleaning device includes a quick-detachable coupling mechanism releasably coupling a handle to a cleaning implement for cleaning a gun barrel bore. A thrust bearing is preferably provided for supporting the cleaning implement on the handle and for facilitating axial rotation of the cleaning implement relative to the handle. The gun barrel cleaning device may comprise part of a gun barrel cleaning kit, which may include a variety of different cleaning implements. A novel sheath for storing a gun barrel bore-cleaning implement is also disclosed.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This application relates to gun barrel cleaning devices. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Known gun barrel cleaning devices include a handle connected to an elongate rod or flexible cable, cord, or other length of material supporting a brush, swab, or other type of cleaning jag that is pushed or pulled through the bore of the gun barrel to remove residue or debris. In most known cleaning devices, the rod or other cleaning implement is either permanently connected or threadably attached to the handle. To prevent damage to rifled surfaces of the bore, the cleaning implement should be allowed to rotate as it moves through the barrel. In some bore cleaning devices, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,556,494 of Cooper and 3,208,302 of Lewis et al., the handle includes one or more bearings for reducing frictional resistance to rotation of the cleaning implement about its longitudinal axis relative to the handle under axial loading conditions that occur wh...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] A gun barrel cleaning device includes a quick-detachable coupling mechanism releasably coupling a handle to a cleaning implement that may be sized for insertion into and cleaning of a gun barrel bore. The quick-detachable coupling mechanism includes a male part having an axis, a female part receiving the male part coaxially therein, and a latching device slidably movable between an unlatched position and a latched position. When the latching device is in the unlatched position, the cleaning implement is readily detachable from the handle. When the latching device is in the latched position, the cleaning implement is prevented from being detached from the handle. A thrust bearing is preferably provided for supporting the cleaning implement on the handle and for facilitating rotation of the cleaning implement about its axis relative to the handle.

Problems solved by technology

However, the threaded connection used in these systems is somewhat inconvenient, subject to inadvertent loosening during use, and prone to damage or stripping of threads.

The various sizes of tools and collets required to fit cleaning rods and implements of various diameters are subject to being misplaced or lost due to their small size.

However, the cleaning tool of Sipple et al. is not suitable for cleaning the bore of a gun barrel and, due to the structure of the latch mechanism, the cleaning implements are not rotatable relative to the handle when attached thereto.

Images