Hexagonal Firearm Cleaning Patch Design to Reduce Material Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing firearm cleaning patches are typically circular, resulting in significant material waste during manufacturing and are limited in their ability to effectively clean a range of barrel diameters, as they require different sizes and folding methods for various firearms.
Innovation Solution
Manufacturing hexagonal firearm cleaning patches from fabric sheets, with strategically placed slits and marks to facilitate pinching and folding, allowing the patches to be used across a variety of barrel diameters and reducing material waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If circular patches are used for firearm cleaning, then the patches can be easily manufactured with simple cutting, but significant material waste occurs during manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The hexagonal patch is segmented into six triangular sections by three intersecting slits that divide the patch into wedge-shaped portions. This segmentation allows the patch to be folded and configured in multiple ways to fit different barrel diameters, enabling one patch to replace multiple patches of different sizes and reducing material waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The hexagonal patch with strategically placed slits and fold lines serves multiple functions: it can be configured for different barrel diameters, used with different cleaning tools (rod-based or cable-based), and reused multiple times by reconfiguring the folds. This multi-functionality eliminates the need to manufacture separate patches for different firearm calibers.
2Ease of manufacture
If circular patches of fixed size are used, then manufacturing is simple, but the patches are limited in their ability to effectively clean a range of barrel diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patch transitions from a static circular shape to a dynamic hexagonal configuration with movable folds and segments. The slits create flexible wedge portions that can be folded in different directions and configurations, allowing the patch to dynamically adapt its effective diameter to match various barrel sizes while maintaining simple manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
By dividing the hexagonal patch into six triangular segments through intersecting slits, the design enables flexible reconfiguration. These segments can be folded together or apart to create different effective diameters, providing adaptability across multiple barrel sizes without requiring multiple pre-cut patch sizes.
3Loss of substance
If hexagonal patches with slits and fold marks are manufactured, then material waste is reduced and adaptability to different barrel diameters is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slits, fold lines, and pinch marks are pre-formed during the manufacturing process rather than requiring field modification. This preliminary action ensures precise geometry and consistent performance while simplifying end-use operations. The pre-formed features guide the user through simple folding and pinching actions to achieve the desired configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The hexagonal patch design with pre-formed slits and fold lines enables the user to self-configure the patch for different barrel diameters without requiring complex tools or additional manufacturing steps. The geometric features guide the folding and pinching process, allowing the user to adapt the patch independently.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sizes of circular patches are manufactured to cover different barrel diameters, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single hexagonal patch design with pre-formed slits and fold lines serves as a universal cleaning patch that can be configured for multiple barrel diameters. This eliminates the need to maintain inventories of different sized circular patches for different firearm calibers, simplifying both manufacturing and distribution while maintaining broad adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manufacturing a firearm cleaning patch includes: providing a sheet of a material; cutting a plurality of hex shaped patches from the sheet of a material; and perforating or marking at least one slit on at least one hex shaped patch. A firearm cleaning patch and a method for cleaning the barrel of a firearm are also described.