Firearms – Muzzle loaders
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-28
2001-10-23
Ark, Darren W. (Department: 3643)
Firearms
Muzzle loaders
C042S041000, C042S069010, C042S070050, C042S075010, C042S075020, C042S083000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305113
ABSTRACT:
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a muzzle-loading rifle having a laterally arranged nipple assembly, as classic muzzle-loading rifles do, and a takedown breech for the firearm to be easily cleaned.
The rifle has been specifically devised to be used as a hunting weapon and, in this sense, in addition to allowing the barrel and breech to be taken down for an easier cleaning, an additional safety system is fitted which is very silently activated, in order for sucb activation not to be perceived by the game.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Classic muzzle-loading rifles are known to have a side nipple assembly and a fixed breech, and are therefore cleaned without taking the firearm down, using a rod that is inserted through the mouth of the barrel.
These classic muzzle-loading rifles began to be reproduced in recent times, endeavouring to faithfully reproduce the original firearm, albeit incorporating new details provided by the new technologies, as concerns materials, accessories, constructional systems, etc.
In recent years, muzzle-loading rifles have been marketed with the striker in line with the breech and barrel, which striker originally consisted of a mass which struck, as a bolt, against the breech.
These new muzzle-loading rifles, so-called in-line rifles, were convenient in that the barrel and breech could be taken down to be cleaned.
More recently, muzzle-loading rifles, which are similarly of the in-line type, have emerged in which the bolt looks like and indeed works essentially as modem rifle bolts, such as the Spanish “Mauser” or those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,606,817 and 5,718,073.
These in-line muzzle-loading rifles have moreover been fitted with elements peculiar to modem arms, such as ranges, telescopic sights, etc., to such an extent that their resemblance with the original or classic muzzle-loading firearms is almost non-existent, not only as to the outward appearance but also as to their effectiveness and results.
There is however a large sector of consumers, as with hunters in given countries, particularly in the United States, where muzzle-loading firearms are used for hunting during a certain time of the year, or in certain places or areas, who would like their firearm to be an accurate as possible a classic muzzle-loading rifle, particularly with the nipple assembly laterally arranged as in the laiter rifles.
Furthermore, muzzle-loading rifles are fitted with a firing system in which a hammer is provided, mounted on a cam pushed by a shuttle upon firing, the cam working with a safety which may fit in a housing in the cam to define a safety position matching the cocked position of the hammer, at the same time as a spring keeps the safety proper in a safety or firing position.
When changing from the safety to the firing position, a click sounds which, when the rifle is used as a huting weapon, may be heard or perceived by the game, causing them to run off, which results in many hunters carrying their firearm in the firing position with the ensuing likelihood of accidents.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The muzzle-loading rifle disclosed herein has been devised and structured in order to fully solve the two sides of the drawbacks set forth above, i.e. in order to enable the same to be easily taken down to be regularly cleaned, in spite of having a side nipple assembly, as with classic muzzle-loading rifles, and in order to include a safety system enabling the firing position to be silently changed to.
More specifically, and in order to achieve the above, the rifle is fitted, in accordance with the characteristics of the invention, between the classic barrel and breech, an intermediate casing that fulfils a double purpose, namely on the one hand serving as a means for coupling the barrel and breech in line, which members may therefore be easily assembled and taken down in order for the firearm to be cleaned and maintained, and on the other hand substantially reinforcing the area of the nipple assembly, thereby for the rifle to be able to work with two or more gunpowder pellets, limited only to the recoil effect the user is able to withstand on his or her shoulder.
In order to complement the above, said casing is provided with a throttling at its midpoint, separating the breech from the barrel and standing as the area in which the nipple assembly is established, and is thus laterally arranged.
This throttling of the casing can be achieved by means of an independent part, specifically by means of a washer coaxially arranged between the barrel and the breech and fixed by these elements upon the same being screwed to the casing.
This “breech-casing-barrel” assembly is mounted on the firearm stock through a rear shank, provided with a front through bore whose shape and size matches the breech area projecting from the casing, which it is to receive snugly, moreover provided with a rear arm which it is duly embedded in the stock and is in turn provided with a bore that allows the relevant fixing screw through, fixing being complemented with a fastener fixing the barrel directly to the front end of the stock.
To complement the above structure, the shank is provided with a small front projection that fits in a slot in the breech, acting as a key defining the exact position to be taken up by the assembly upon being assembled.
In accordance with another of the characteristics of the invention, the rifle is provided with an additional safety, which could be called rib safety, and which allows the firearm to be carried in the firing position. This additional safety comprises a rib or lever attached to a cross shaft ending in a semicylindrical sector, defining an end support for the safety, and therefore when the safety is disengaged through its other end from the conventional safely, it comes to lie on this semicylindrical element, whereupon the firearm will be cocked and in the firing position, although firing will not be possible since the safety is held still by the additional safety. Upon firing, pivoting of the rib or lever causes the semicylindrical end to turn, thereby for the latter to cease being a cam stop and the cam may pivot upon pulling the firing trigger. Obviously, the said rib or lever of the additional safety may be full silently driven.
Finally, and in accordance with another of the characteristics of the invention, a small change can be made in the firing system cam, consisting of a small mobile part pivoting on a shaft, controlled by a small spring, the purpose of which part is to be able to have the safety arranged in the cam safety position and simultaneously the rear rib or lever safety, i.e. to allow both safeties to take up a working position at the same time In accordance with this construction, if the hammer is cocked in the fixing position, without disengaging the lever safety, this mobile part or cog retracts to allow the safety through. When the firing position is surpassed, the cog, driven by the spring, lies in a cocked position, the cam being cocked in the firing position.
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Ardesa S.A.
Ark Darren W.
Helfgott & Karas P.C.
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