Adjustable AR Buttstock Assembly Using Segmented Aluminum Buffer Tube
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing AR type firearm buttstock assemblies are overly complex, require dedicated tooling, and are costly due to the need for injection molding, limiting adjustability and durability.
Innovation Solution
A simplified buttstock assembly using five essential elements: an aluminum buffer tube, a cheek piece, a spacer, a butt plate, and a threaded rod, allowing for easy adjustment and production, with components fabricated independently and using standard materials like polymer resin and aluminum, enabling adjustable length, angle, and position without specialized tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional injection molding processes are used to manufacture buttstock assemblies, then production precision and component strength are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The buttstock assembly is divided into five independent components (buffer tube, cheek piece, spacer, butt plate, threaded rod) that can be manufactured separately using simple processes and assembled without specialized tooling. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex injection molding while maintaining component precision through straightforward fabrication methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive, complex injection-molded polymer components with simpler, cheaper alternatives that can be manufactured using basic machining and fabrication processes. The aluminum buffer tube and machined components provide durability without requiring costly dedicated tooling.
2Strength
If complex injection molded components are used, then structural strength is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly combines aluminum (buffer tube, mounting block) for structural strength with polymer resin (cheek piece, butt plate) for comfort and adjustment. This composite approach achieves robust structural integrity while allowing simple fabrication methods for each material type, eliminating the need for complex injection molding.
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates adjustable elements (threaded rod for length of pull, cheek piece position) that allow the structure to be modified by the user. This dynamic capability is achieved through simple threaded fasteners rather than complex molded mechanisms, maintaining strength while improving ease of manufacture and adjustment.
3Manufacturing precision
If dedicated tooling and injection molding machines are required, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to limited adjustability
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the assembly into five independent components manufactured through simple processes, the system eliminates bottlenecks associated with complex injection molding. Each component can be fabricated independently using basic tools, significantly improving production efficiency while maintaining precision through straightforward machining and assembly.
4Ease of manufacture
If simplified components are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to reduced adjustability
Solution Approach 1:
The design incorporates multiple adjustment capabilities despite using simple components: the threaded rod allows length of pull adjustment, the cheek piece can be repositioned vertically and angularly, and the butt plate tilt can be modified. These dynamic features provide comprehensive adjustability for different users and applications while maintaining ease of manufacture through basic threaded fasteners and simple geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable AR type buttstock assembly is taught that incorporates a buffer tube with internal threads for attachment to the frame of an AR action. A U-shaped cheek piece, with opposed extending legs is adjustably attached to the buffer tube permitting a shooter's cheek to be in a comfortable position when sighting the firearm. The cheek piece is adjustably attached with at least one threaded fastener that extends through the legs to secure it to the buffer tube. A spacing member is positioned between the opposed cheek piece legs to maintain constant tension between the buffer tube and cheek piece. A butt plate assembly is adjustably disposed into the buffer tube, providing overall buttstock length adjustment, the cheek piece position and butt plate assembly orientation.