Firearm Sound Suppressor

Abstract

A firearm sound suppressor incorporating a tieback clamp having an axially extending tie, the clamp having a muzzleward jaw attached to the axially extending tie, and the clamp having a breechward jaw extending circumferentially about the tie's breechward end; and incorporating a bullet passage bore through the tie; and incorporating outwardly opening sound reflection channels which communicate with the bore; incorporating a sleeve which closes the sound reflection channels; and incorporating screw threads attached to the axially extending tie, wherein, upon screw turning the tie onto a gun muzzle's threads, the sleeve is clamped between the jaws.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The instant invention relates to firearm sound suppressors which are attachable to a gun muzzle as an auxiliary component. More particularly, the instant invention relates to such suppressors which incorporate multiple mechanical parts and components.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Firearm sound suppressors commonly incorporate a multiplicity of mechanical parts and components which are arranged in a cylindrical configuration to form an interior bullet passage bore. Such suppressors commonly incorporate further parts and components which surround the bore with multiple sound reflection chambers which are defined by baffles, vanes, and partitions. Such firearm sound suppressors also commonly incorporate an outer shell component and multiple breech end components which facilitate attachment to a muzzle of a firearm.

[0003] Such multiplicities of firearm suppressor parts and components undesirably cause excess mechanical complexity, resulting in difficulties in fabrication, assembly, and disassembly of the suppressor. A suppressor's inclusion of multiplicities of mechanical parts may also defeat or reduce cost economies which are desirably pursued in the fabrication and assembly of a firearm sound suppressor.

[0004] The instant inventive firearm suppressor solves or ameliorates such common drawbacks, deficits, and deficiencies of commonly known firearm sound suppressors by adapting interior, breechward, and muzzleward components of a suppressor to constitute and to additionally function as a sleeve capturing tieback clamp, while preserving the suppressor's ability to perform the traditional and conventional functions of firearm muzzle blast sound suppression.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A first structural component of the instant inventive firearm sound suppressor comprises a tieback clamp of the type which has a central and axially or longitudinally extending member, wherein such central member functions as a clamp jaw drawing tie. The tie component of the instant invention's tieback clamp is preferably cylindrical and is specially configured to include an axially extending bullet passage bore. The tie preferably further includes a plurality of radially outwardly extending channels which open radially inwardly in communication with the bullet passage bore. Such channels further open radially outwardly at the radially outer surface of the tie.

[0006] In operation of the tieback clamp's tie component, explosively expanding gases emanating from a firearm's bore may, upon entering the suppressor, outwardly expand from the bore into the tie's radially extending and inwardly opening channels or chambers. Portions of the explosively expanding gas are captured and reflected within such channels, reducing the weapon's muzzleward blast and report.

[0007] A further structural component of the instant inventive firearm sound suppressor comprises a muzzleward jaw which is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the muzzleward end of the axially extending tie. In a preferred embodiment, the muzzleward jaw is configured as a circumferentially extending and radially outwardly protruding ridge. Such ridge preferably presents an annularly extending and breechwardly facing land or surface which may perform a sleeve clamping function.

[0008] A further structural component of the instant inventive firearm sound suppressor comprises a breechward clamp jaw which is preferably fixedly held at the breechward end of the axially extending tie. In a preferred embodiment, the breechward jaw component comprises a centrally apertured disc or washer, the eye or aperture of such disc being sized for receipt of the helically threaded portion of a gun muzzle which is adapted for screw-on attachment of a sound suppressor.

[0009] Where a firearm's muzzle is adapted for screw-on suppressor attachment, the weapon's muzzle commonly presents male helical threads which are formed via rotary application of a die configured helical groove cutting tool. Such die cutting modification of a gun muzzle commonly forms an annularly extending and muzzlewardly facing land at the breechward end of the die cut male helical threads. The instant inventive firearm sound suppressor utilizes such muzzlewardly facing land as a mechanical stop which resists breechward motion of the tieback clamp's washer configured breechward jaw. In operation, the tieback clamp's breechward jaw is anchored at the breechward end of the tie via abutting contacts of the washer configured breechward jaw and such die formed annular land with each other.

[0010] A further structural component of the instant inventive firearm sound suppressor comprises a tubular sleeve whose inside diameter is closely fitted for facilitation of a breechwardly extending sliding receipt of the tieback clamp's cylindrically configured tie component.

[0011] A further structural component of the instant inventive firearm sound suppressor comprises female helical screw threads which are fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the tieback clamp's tie component, such threads being situated at the tie's breechward end.

[0012] An operator or assembler of the instant inventive firearm sound suppressor may initially grasp the bored and channeled tie component in one of his or her hands while grasping the tubular sleeve in the other hand. Thereafter, the operator may slidably extend the breechward end of the tie into the tubular sleeves' muzzleward opening. Thereafter, the operator may continue such sliding insertion of the tie until the muzzleward lip of the sleeve abuts and stops against the muzzleward's jaw's breechwardly facing surface, such surface constituting a breechward aspect of such jaw's preferred annularly extending ridge configuration.

[0013] Thereafter, the operator may extend the washer configured breechward jaw component over the male helical threads of a silencer attachment adapted gun muzzle, such washer extension causing the radially inner end of the washer's breechward face to abut the muzzlewardly facing land which is typically presented at the breechward end of the gun muzzle's die cut male helical threads.

[0014] Thereafter, the operator may engage the gun muzzle's male helical threads with the axially extending tie's female helical threads, thereby arranging those components for a screw-on attachment of the tie to the gun muzzle. Subsequent clockwise turning of the tie with respect to the gun muzzle's threads advantageously breechwardly draws the sleeve component breechwardly via the abutting engagement of the muzzleward jaw's ridge with the muzzleward lip of the sleeve.

[0015] Continued screw turning of the tie, as described above, breechwardly moves the breechward lip of the sleeve until it abuts the radially outer end of the muzzleward face of the washer configured breechward jaw. Such screw actuated rearward motions of the muzzleward jaw and the sleeve advantageously compressively clamp the sleeve between the tieback clamp's muzzleward and breechward jaws, securely holding and positioning the sleeve at and about the axially extending tie. While at its jaw clamped position, the sleeve conventionally functions as a sound reflecting ceiling component of the sound reflecting chambers and channels which are formed within the inner matrixes of tieback clamp's tie.

[0016] The instant inventive firearm sound suppressor advantageously, and with enhanced parts and cost economies, incorporates as few as three mechanical parts, they being a wholly formed combination of the axially extending tie and the muzzleward jaw, the sleeve, and the washer configured breechward jaw. By limiting its parts and components to as few as three, the instant inventive suppressor may be manufactured with less expense than would otherwise be required in the manufacture of a conventional sound suppressor. The instant invention's limited number of mechanical parts typically additionally provides mechanical simplicity which allows a user or operator to easily and conveniently assemble and disassemble the firearm suppressor for parts cleaning and maintenance.

[0017] Accordingly, objects of the instant invention include the provision of a firearm sound suppressor of the type which incorporates structures as described above, and which arranges those structures in relation to each other in the manners described above for the performance of beneficial functions as described by the.

[0018] Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the instant invention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review of the detailed description which follows, and upon review of the appended drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the instant inventive firearm sound suppressor.

[0020] FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the structure of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a sectional view as indicated in FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 4 is an alternate sectional view as indicated in FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 5 presents an alternate configuration of the structure of FIG. 3.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a side view of the structure of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 7 is an opposite side view of the FIG. 6 structure.

[0026] FIG. 8 presents a further alternate configuration of the structure of FIG. 3.

[0027] FIG. 9 presents an alternate embodiment of the FIG. 1 structures.

[0028] FIG. 10 presents an alternate embodiment of the FIG. 3 structures.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, firearm sound suppressor is referred to generally by reference arrow 1. Referring further simultaneously to FIG. 2, the inventive firearm sound suppressor 1 is intended to be mounted upon, for example, a firearm having a gun barrel 58, such barrel being adapted for screw threaded mounting of a silencer by means of male or external helical threads 60 formed at barrel's muzzle end. Rotary die cutting of such threads 60 typically forms a muzzlewardly facing annular land or shoulder 62. In operation of the instant invention, such land 62 functions as a mechanical stop which facilitates a clamping function of the suppressor.

[0030] Referring further to FIGS. 9 and 10, structures identified by a reference numeral having a Suffix “B” are configured similarly with similarly numbered structures appearing in other figures. In the FIG. 9 structural alternative, an alternatively configured rifle barrel 66 includes an annularly extending an and muzzlewardly facing laned 70 which steps radially inwardly to silencer mounting shoulder 68. In place of the completely circumferentially extending helical threads 60 of the FIG. 3 embodiment, the embodiment of FIG. 9 presents circumferentially segmented or intermittent helical threads 72. Such intermittent helical threads 74 are interrupted by a circumferential series of bypass channels 74, the functions of which are further discussed below.

[0031] A core structural and functional component or sub-assembly of the instant inventive firearm sound suppressor comprises a tieback clamp which is adapted to securely compressively hold and position a tubular sleeve 2. In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve 2 is composed of steel or an aluminum alloy. The tieback clamp assembly comprises, referring to FIG. 2, an axially extending tie which is referred to generally by reference arrow 8. Such tie 8 inwardly defines a longitudinally extending and axially positioned bullet passage bore 16. The extension of such bore between openings at the tie's muzzleward and breechward ends facilitates through passages of bullets.

[0032] A plurality of sound reflection chambers or channels 14 extend radially into and through the axially extending tie 8, such channels 14 having radially inner ends which open at and communicate with the bore 16. The channels 14 further have radially outer ends which open outwardly, and which, upon the tie's nesting receipt within the hollow bore 5 of the sleeve 2, are closed by the sleeve's inner surface.

[0033] The axially extending tie component 8 may suitably incorporate helically extending vanes 10 which form the circumferentially facing walls or boundaries of the sound reflection chambers 14, such vanes suitably being of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,874,418 entitled Sound Suppressing Gun Barrel and issued Jan. 23, 2018. Muzzleward and breechward ends of the sound reflection chambers 14 may be suitably formed and bounded by conical baffles 12.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 8, an alternatively configured axially extending tie 39 may suitably form differently configured sound reflection chambers 44 through provision of axially extending vanes 40 and orthogonally extending baffles 42. The axially extending ties 8 and 39 shown in FIGS. 2 and 8 are intended as being representative of ties having numerous other geometric configurations and which may present and form variously configured sound reflection chambers. While the axially extending tie component of the instant invention necessarily constitutes and functions as a linkage capable of muzzlewardly translating to the tie's muzzleward end a pulling force applied to the tie's breechward end, the geometric configurations of the sound reflecting chambers formed within the inner matrixes of the tie are not restricted by the scope of the invention.

[0035] A further structural component of the instant invention's tieback clamp assembly comprises a muzzleward jaw which is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the muzzleward end of the axially extending tie. As shown in FIG. 2, the muzzleward jaw is preferably configured as an annularly or circumferentially extending ridge or shoulder 20, such ridge forming and presenting a breechwardly facing land 22.

[0036] A further structural component of the Instant Invention's tieback clamp assembly comprises a breechward jaw which is fixedly positioned at the breechward end of the axially extending tie 8. As shown in FIG. 2, the breechward jaw suitably comprises a washer configured disc 54 which has a central aperture or eye 56. Such washer is suitably composed of steel or an aluminum alloy. The washer's aperture 56 is preferably fitted for extension over and mounting upon the helical threads 60 of the gun barrel 58. Upon a complete breechward extension of such breechward jaw 54 over threads 60, the radially inner end 57 of the jaw's breechward surface may abut in the manner of an extension stop against the gun barrel's muzzlewardly facing annular land 62. Accordingly, the interconnected combination of the breechward jaw 54 and the threaded gun barrel 58 operatively fixes, stops, and holds the breechward jaw 54 at the gun barrel's muzzle.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 3, the instant inventive firearm sound suppressor preferably further comprises female screw threads or internal helical threads 19 which form and define a threaded breechward extension of the axially extending tie's bullet passage bore 16. Where the axially extending tie 8 is composed of a relatively soft material such as heat-resistant plastic, the breechward end of such tie may not be suitable for presentation of functional screw threads. To accommodate for the relative softness of such plastic tie, a cylindrical bushing 30 may be fixedly and adhesively embedded within the breechward end 18.

[0038] Where such bushing 30 is composed of steel or a hardened aluminum alloy, its internal helical threads 19 may be more securely threadedly mounted upon the gun barrel's threads 60. Alternatively, referring to FIG. 5 (wherein reference numerals having the suffix “A” identify structures configured similarly with similarly numbered structures appearing in other figures) the breechward end 61 of the depicted axially extending tie 8A which is composed of a harder material, may itself include the helically threaded breechward extension of the bullet passage bore 16A, such end 61 presenting female or internally helically threaded screw threads 63. Where such relatively hard axially extending tie component 8A is composed of steel or another durable metal such as an aluminum alloy, its breech end female screw threads 63 may suitably be directly tap formed within the metal matrix of the breechward end 18 of the tie 8A.

[0039] Referring further to FIGS. 9 and 10, the internally helically threaded bushing 30 of FIG. 3 may be replaced with a bushing 76 which presents segmented or intermittent female helical threads 78. In the alternative configuration of FIG. 10, a circumferentially arrayed series of outer passage channels 80 interrupt such intermittent female threads 78. Upon a rotary alignment of the intermittent male threads 72 presented at the muzzle of the alternative gun barrel 66 with such outer passage channels 80, and upon concurrent alignments of the intermittent female helical threads 78 with the barrel's inner passage channels 74, the alternatively configured tie 8B may be freely slidably moved and mounted breechwardly over shoulder 68, such mounting action continuing until the breechward face of washer 54B abuts the gun barrel's muzzlewardly facing land 70. Thereafter, an angularly quick and compact turn of approximately 90° may be imposed upon the tie 8B, causing the circumferentially interrupted male and female helical threads 72 and 78 to engage each other. Accordingly, the longitudinally channeled and intermittent helical threads 72 and 78 of the FIGS. 9 and 10 structural alternative are able to perform the same jaw clamping function as the threads 60 and 19 of the FIGS. 2 and 3 configuration. The configuration of FIGS. 9 and 10, through its provision of circumferentially interrupted helical threads 72 and 78, and through its provision of longitudinally extending bypass channels 74 and 80, may additionally perform a suppressor quick-connect and quick-disconnect function.

[0040] Instead of a direct modification of the circumferentially extending male threads 60 of the FIG. 2 configuration to include the circumferentially intermittent male threads 72 and channels 74 of the FIG. 9 configuration, and instead of a direct modification of the circumferentially extending female threads 19 of the FIG. 3 configuration to include the circumferentially intermittent female threads 78 and channels 80 of the FIG. 10 configuration, a similar quick-connect and quick-disconnect function may be achieved via utilization of a two-piece linking adapter (not shown within views) having breechward and muzzleward halves, wherein the breechward half includes breechward and muzzleward ends respectively presenting female threads matching threads 19 and intermittent male threads and channels matching threads 72 and channels 74, and wherein the muzzleward half includes breechward and muzzleward ends respectively presenting female threads and channels matching threads 78 and channels 80, and male threads matching threads 60. Where such a two-piece linking adapter is provided and utilized to attach the instant inventive suppressor to the muzzle of a firearm, such adaptor's intermittent female threads and channels are considered to constitute the tie's breechward threads, and such adaptor's intermittent male threads and channels are considered to constitute the gun muzzle's male threads.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 2, it may be seen that the tubular sleeve 2 has a cylindrical wall 7 having a radial thickness. In the preferred embodiment, the diameter of the axially extending tie 8 closely matches the inside diameter of such wall 7. Also in the preferred embodiment, the radial height of the ridge or flange configured muzzleward jaw 20 above the radially outer surface of the tie 8 is preferably equal to the radial thickness of the wall 7. Such equation of wall thickness and ridge height advantageously allows the radially outer surface of the muzzleward clamp 22 to constitute a cylindrical continuation of the cylindrical outer surface of the sleeve 2. To allow the sleeve's cylindrical outer surface to similarly continue breechwardly, the outside diameter of the breechward jaw 54 is preferably equal to the outside diameter of the sleeve 2.

[0042] An operator of the instant inventive firearm sound suppressor may initially execute two slidable mounting functions, a first slidable mounting function nestingly extending the breechward end of the axially extending tie into the hollow bore 5 of the sleeve 2, and the second slidably extending the washer configured breechward jaw 54 over the gun muzzle's helical threads 60. Upon a complete breechward insertion of the axial tie 2 into such bore 5, the breechwardly facing surface 22 of the ridge 20 stops against the muzzleward lip of the sleeve 2. Correspondingly, a complete breechward extension of the washer 54 over the gun barrel's threads 60 causes the radially inner end 57 of the washer's breechward face to stop against the gun barrels muzzlewardly facing land 62.

[0043] Following such component extensions, the operator may axially align the breechward end of the axial tie 8 with the gun barrel 58, and may engage the tie's female helical threads 19 with helical threads 60. Thereafter, upon clockwise turning of the axial tie 8, the muzzleward clamp jaw 20 is progressively drawn breechwardly toward and against the muzzleward lip of the sleeve 2. Such drawing action breechwardly moves the sleeve 2 with the tie 8. Continued screw turning of the tie 8 draws and drives the breechward lip of the sleeve 2 against the outer periphery of the muzzleward face of the disc or washer 54, driving such washer breechwardly against the gun muzzle's muzzlewardly facing annular land 62. Accordingly, such screw turning actuation of the tie 8 compressively clamps and holds the sleeve 2 between the muzzleward and breechward jaws 20 and 54.

[0044] Means for screw turning the tieback clamp's tie component 8 are preferably provided. In a suitable embodiment such means may comprise, referring to FIG. 1, oppositely oriented crescent or socket wrench engaging lands of a hexagonal muzzleward protrusion 26. Accordingly, an operator wielding a common crescent wrench may engage the tool's head with protrusion 26 and may turn the tie element 8 with respect to the gun barrel 58, thereby screwing or unscrewing the suppressor onto or from the gun barrel's helical threads 60. Alternatively, the paired pins of a pin wrench may be inserted into recesses 28 formed within the extreme muzzleward end of the tie, similarly facilitating screw turning of the tie.

[0045] The hexagonal protrusion 26 and the recesses 28 are intended as being representative of variously configured protrusions and recesses which are capable of engaging a wrench tool. However, to facilitate toolless hand actuated screw turning mount of the silencer 1 onto the gun muzzle threads 60, a key and slot combination may be incorporated into the tie 8 and sleeve 2. As shown in FIGS. 2, 6, 7, the muzzleward lip of the sleeve 2 may be adapted to include forwardly opening slots 4 and 6, such slots respectively nestingly receiving key protrusions 24 and 25 which are wholly formed at the muzzleward end of the tie 8. Upon engagements of the keys 24 and 25 within slots 4 and 6, the operator may simply grasp and turn the sleeve 2, allowing the muzzleward end of the sleeve to function in the manner of a wrench for turning the inwardly underlying tie element. Through provision of such key and slot components 4, 6, 24, and 25, the instant inventive sound suppressor may screw onto or unscrew from gun muzzle threads in a manner similar to conventional screw-on / screw-off sound suppressors.

[0046] Referring in particular to FIG. 5, the instant inventive firearm sound suppressor may include and incorporate as few as three components, they being the channeled tie component 8A with its wholly formed muzzleward jaw ridge 20A, a sleeve 2A, and a breechward jaw functioning washer 54A. By eliminating parts numerosity, and by limiting the number of parts to as few as three, the instant inventive firearm sound suppressor advantageously achieves mechanical simplicity and cost economies.

[0047] While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the above illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modifications to the structure, arrangement, portions and components of the invention without departing from those principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention be given a scope commensurate with the appended claims.

Claims

1. A firearm sound suppressor for mounting upon a gun muzzle, the gun muzzle having male screw threads, the firearm sound suppressor comprising:a. a tieback clamp having a muzzleward end and a breechward end, the tieback clamp further having an axially extending tie having a muzzleward end and a breechward end, the tieback clamp further having a muzzleward jaw fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the axially extending tie, wherein the muzzleward jaw has an outer end extending circumferentially about the axially extending tie's muzzleward end, the tieback clamp further having a breechward jaw having an outer end, wherein the breechward jaw's outer end extends circumferentially about the axially extending tie's breechward end;b. a bullet passage bore extending axially through the tieback clamp's axially extending tie, wherein the bullet passage bore opens muzzlewardly at the tie back clamp's muzzleward end, and wherein the bullet passage bore further opens breechwardly at the axially extending tie's breechward end;c. a plurality of sound reflection channels, wherein each sound reflection channel has an inner end and an outer end, wherein the bullet passage bore further opens outwardly at the sound reflection channels' inner ends;d. a sleeve having a muzzleward end and a breechward end, wherein the sleeve closes the sound reflection channels at their outer ends; ande. female screw threads fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the axially extending tie, wherein, upon an engagement of the female screw threads with the gun muzzle's screw helical threads, and upon a rotation of the axially extending tie with respect to the gun muzzle, the muzzleward jaw moves breechwardly toward the sleeve's muzzleward end, and the sleeve's breechward end moves breechwardly toward the tieback clamp's breechward jaw.

2. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 1, wherein the axially extending tie is cylindrically configured.

3. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 2, wherein the axially extending tie's muzzleward jaw comprises a circumferentially extending ridge.

4. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 3, wherein the axially extending tie's muzzleward jaw comprises a disc having a central aperture, wherein said aperture is fitted for receipt of the gun muzzle's male screw threads.

5. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 4, wherein the tieback clamp's axially extending tie has a diameter, wherein the disc has another diameter, and wherein said diameter is less than said another diameter.

6. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 5, wherein the tieback clamp's muzzleward jaw has a second other diameter, and wherein the axially extending tie's diameter is less than said second other diameter.

7. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 6, wherein the sleeve has an outside diameter and an inside diameter, and wherein said inside diameter is equal to the axially extending tie's diameter.

8. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 7, wherein the another diameter, the second other diameter, and the outside diameter, are substantially equal to each other.

9. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 3, wherein the circumferentially extending ridge has a height, wherein the sleeve has a thickness, and wherein said height is equal to said thickness.

10. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 4, wherein the disc has a breechward surface having an inner end, and further comprising a stop adapted for resisting breechward motion of the disc, wherein the stop comprises the inner end of the disc's breechward surface.

11. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 1, further comprising rotating means connected operatively to the tieback clamp, wherein the rotating means are adapted for actuating the rotation of the axially extending tie with respect to the gun muzzle.

12. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 11, wherein the rotating means comprise a key and slot combination.

13. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 11, wherein the rotating means comprise a pair of wrench engaging lands.

14. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 11, wherein the rotating means comprise a pair of recesses.

15. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 4, further comprising a bushing fixedly embedded within the axially extending tie, wherein the female helical threads extend inwardly from the bushing.

16. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 15, wherein the sleeve is composed of steel or an aluminum alloy.

17. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 16, wherein the axially extending tie is composed of a plastic material.

18. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 17, wherein the bushing is composed of steel or an aluminum alloy.

19. The firearm sound suppressor of claim 18, wherein the disc is composed of steel or an aluminum alloy.

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