Firearm Stock Assembly Alignment and Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current firearm stock assemblies often result in inaccurate shooting due to loose tolerance standards, excessive weight, and insufficient drop strength, and they can be cumbersome to assemble, with many requiring multiple components and complex assembly procedures.
Innovation Solution
A stock assembly design featuring a receiver extension assembly with a distal and proximal end, an outer tube, and an end plate that aligns with the receiver, combined with a lower stock assembly including a lock box and pawls for adjustable length, which reduces parts count, enhances rigidity, and simplifies assembly by eliminating the need for a castle nut and end cap.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current replacement stocks are used, then flexibility in adjusting length of pull is achieved, but firing accuracy deteriorates due to loose tolerance standards
Solution Approach 1:
The stock assembly is divided into multiple segments including receiver extension, outer tube, end plate, and lock assembly that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured to tight tolerances individually while maintaining overall adjustability and firing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock assembly includes pre-configured pawls and rails that are positioned to engage with specific teeth on the outer tube at predetermined locations. This preliminary positioning of locking features enables accurate length adjustments to be pre-established during manufacturing, ensuring consistent firing accuracy across different stock configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If current replacement stocks are used, then adjustability is provided, but weight increases and structural strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The end plate and outer tube are designed as integrated components that work together to provide both adjustability and structural strength. The end plate engages with the receiver while the outer tube provides the adjustable length mechanism, merging two functional elements into a unified structure that reduces overall weight compared to separate replacement stocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The stock assembly utilizes composite construction with the outer tube made from aerodynamic materials and the lock assembly incorporating elastic elements. This composite approach allows the structure to maintain high strength-to-weight ratio while providing the necessary adjustability through the elastic lock mechanism.
3Reliability
If current designs with castle nut and end cap are used, then locking mechanism is provided, but assembly complexity and difficulty of access increase
Solution Approach 1:
The castle nut and end cap components are extracted and replaced with a simplified lock assembly that integrates the locking function directly into the outer tube structure. The pawl-based locking mechanism is built into the outer tube itself, eliminating the need for separate castle nuts and end caps, thereby reducing parts count and simplifying assembly while maintaining reliable locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock assembly is designed to be self-contained with the pawls and rails integrated into the outer tube structure. The elastic elements automatically engage the pawls with the teeth on the outer tube without requiring external fastening operations, making the assembly self-servicing and eliminating the need for complex castle nut tightening procedures.
4Ease of manufacture
If three-component design (receiver extension, end cap, screw fastener) is used, then assembly is provided, but manufacturing precision and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The end cap and screw fastener components are merged into an integrated lock assembly that is built into the outer tube. This integration eliminates the need for separate end cap and screw fastener assembly steps, simplifying the manufacturing process while the built-in alignment features of the integrated design ensure precise alignment between components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design improves firing accuracy, reduces weight, and simplifies assembly while maintaining strength and adjustability, providing a more reliable and user-friendly firearm stock system.
Implementation Method 1
a fore body and an aft body biased away from each other by a first elastic element
Implementation Method 2
a second elastic element shaped and positioned to buffer motion of the lock assembly relative to the outer body
Implementation Method 3
a release mechanism biased away from the fore body by a third elastic element
Data Source
AI summary
A stock assembly and method are disclosed. The stock assembly may have a receiver extension assembly and a lower stock assembly removably and slidingly attached to the receiver extension assembly. The receiver extension assembly may have a receiver extension including an outer tube shaped to fit around the receiver extension, and an end plate. The end plate may be shaped to at least partially fit around the receiver extension and engage a distal end of the outer tube and a proximal end of a receiver to maintain the outer tube in alignment with the receiver. The lower stock assembly may have a lock box including at least one rail shaped to slidingly engage at least one rail in the outer tube, and at least one pawl biased towards selective engagement with one or more teeth in the outer tube.