Ambidextrous Folding Stock Assembly with Fold Lock Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional firearms with folding stocks lack ambidextrous capabilities, failing to efficiently reduce size for compact storage and concealment while maintaining ergonomic versatility.

Innovation Solution

An ambidextrous folding stock assembly for firearms, featuring a forward hinge fitting, central assembly with a hinge body, actuation portion, and latch portion, allowing the stock to fold to either side and incorporating a fold lock mechanism for secure positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a conventional collapsing stock is used, then the firearm can be stored more compactly, but the size reduction is insufficient for effective concealment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirearm storage volumeVSAvoidconcealment effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stock is designed with hinge joints that enable it to fold dynamically to either the left or right side, transforming from a static structure to a dynamic one that can change configuration based on storage or operational needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The stock is divided into multiple segments connected by hinge joints, allowing each segment to move independently and fold to different positions, achieving compact configuration for concealment while maintaining full functionality when deployed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If a folding stock capable of folding to one side is used, then the firearm becomes more compact, but versatility and ergonomic options are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirearm compactnessVSAvoidergonomic versatility

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The stock assembly is designed with ambidextrous capability, allowing it to fold to either the left or right side, making it universally adaptable to different user preferences and operational requirements while maintaining compactness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a folding stock assembly is designed to fold to either side, then versatility is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveambidextrous capabilityVSAvoidhinge and latch mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The latch mechanism is integrated into the hinge assembly, combining the folding and locking functions into a single unified mechanism, reducing the number of separate components while maintaining ambidextrous functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11906263B2Folding stock assemblies

Publication Date: 2024.02.20 UNDERWOOD JAMES MATTHEW

AI summary

An ambidextrous folding stock assembly for a firearm includes a forward hinge fitting attached to the firearm, a central assembly disposed on a rear side of the forward hinge fitting, and a rear hinge fitting disposed on a rear side of the central assembly. The central assembly includes at least one hinge body, an actuation portion including a lower portion disposed below the at least one hinge body, and at least one latch portion disposed below the at least one hinge body.