GB2552364A

GB2552364A - Fore end release mechanism for a shotgun

Info

Publication number: GB2552364A
Application number: GB1612671.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Grubb Michael; Wood Andrew
Original assignee: James Purdey and Sons Ltd
Current assignee: James Purdey and Sons Ltd
Priority date: 2016-07-21
Filing date: 2016-07-21
Publication date: 2018-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2036-07-21
Also published as: GB2552364B; GB201612671D0

Abstract

A fore end release mechanism for selectively connecting and disconnecting a fore end 3 of a shotgun G comprises a fore end iron I, which is configured to be attached to a fore end wood 25. A fore end bolt B comprises a first fixation element 19 that is configured to interact with a second fixation element 27 attached to the shotgun G. The fore end iron I comprises a recess for receiving the fore end bolt B.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Fore end release mechanism for a shotgun Abstract Title: Fore end release mechanism for a shotgun (57) Afore end release mechanism for selectively connecting and disconnecting a fore end 3 of a shotgun G comprises a fore end iron I, which is configured to be attached to a fore end wood 25. Afore end bolt B comprises a first fixation element 19 that is configured to interact with a second fixation element 27 attached to the shotgun G. The fore end iron I comprises a recess for receiving the fore end bolt B.

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1/8

G

Fig. 1

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3/8

Fig. 3

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Fig. 4

Fig. 5

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Fig. 8

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Fig. 9

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Fig. 10

Fore end release mechanism for a shotgun

Technical Field

The invention relates to a fore end release mechanism for a shotgun and to a shotgun comprising the same.

Background Art to

Shotguns are typically held by a shooter with two hands. For example, a right handed shooter will typically hold a shotgun on a grip section of a stock of the shotgun with his right hand so that the shooter is able to pull the trigger of the shotgun with the index finger of his right hand, while holding a fore end with his left hand. The fore end -- also sometimes written fore-end or forend -- is generally located beneath a barrel of the shotgun. The fore end may for example comprise a longitudinal wooden handle bar also referred to as a fore end wood.

In order to properly clean and maintain the shotgun, it is necessary to remove the fore end from the shotgun, and therefore fore ends are equipped with a fore end release mechanism. Unfortunately, existing fore end release mechanisms suffer certain problems.

In particular, the release mechanism may render the connection of the fore end onto the shotgun somewhat unstable. This is because the release mechanisms are typically composed of a plurality of components that are movable in relation to one another. In particular, in many known fore end release mechanisms, a fore end bolt typically sits in a sliding channel in top of a fore end iron, and the bolt can free float back and forth in this channel, easily resulting in relative movements between the barrel and the fore end. This instability can be unpleasant and even painful for the shooter for the shooter, especially during a prolonged shooting session or a long day of hunting.

In addition, conventional fore end release mechanisms often are not sufficiently robust and are prone to reliability problems. Furthermore, conventional fore end release mechanisms are relatively complicated to assemble, leading to longer and more costly manufacturing times.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve or alleviate the abovementioned disadvantages. In particular, it is the objective of the invention to provide a fore end release mechanism which is reliable and robust, which holds the fore end well stably in place even during a prolonged shooting session and which is easy and straight forward to assemble in order to cut down manufacturing time and costs.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a fore end release mechanism for selectively connecting and disconnecting a fore end on a shotgun. The fore end release mechanism comprises a fore end iron, configured to be attached to a fore end wood, and a fore end bolt comprising a first fixation element that is configured to interact with a second fixation element attached to the shotgun. In accordance with the invention, the fore end iron comprises a recess for receiving the fore end bolt.

Preferably, the recess and the fore end bolt are dimensioned and configured such that the bolt can slide in a longitudinal direction within the recess between a locked position in which the fore end is attached to the shotgun and a released position in which the fore end is detached to the shotgun. Also preferably, the recess is located, within the vertical thickness of the iron, entirely between a top surface of the iron and a bottom surface of the iron.

In one embodiment, the first fixation element is a fixation tooth and the second fixation element is a hook. The fore end bolt may comprise an opening and the first fixation tooth may comprise an edge of that opening. In this case, the iron may comprise a first through hole for enabling passage of the second fixation element, and this through hole may pass through the recess.

In another embodiment, an actuating shaft that is fixed to the fore end bolt and extends longitudinally through the fore end, and the actuating shaft is further fixed to a command element, which is preferably a pushbutton. The command element extends out of the fore end wood so that it is actionable to move the fore end bolt within the recess. The fore end iron may comprise a main body comprising the recess, a fixing portion for connection to the fore end wood and a tube portion comprising a channel housing the actuating shaft. The fore end bolt may comprise a fixation block extending upwardly from a main body of the bolt and onto which the actuating shaft is fixed. In this case, the fore end iron can comprise a second through hole for enabling passage of at least part of the fixation block. Preferably, the fixation block comprises a fixation hole for receiving a bolt end of the actuating shaft, the fixation block further comprising a screw hole which is perpendicular to the fixation hole, the fixation hole and the screw hole intersecting to allow the bolt end of the actuating shaft to be fixed inside the fixation hole by means of a screw.

Advantageously, the fore end iron may comprise a series of first formations with recesses between them, the formations running above and along the longitudinal sides of the recess and thereby partly enclosing the recess. The fore end bolt may also in this case comprise a series of second formations extending outwardly from the sides of a main body of the fore end bolt. The o

J second formations are generally complementary in shape, though slightly smaller than, the first formations and recesses on the fore end iron, such that the fore end bolt can only be inserted into the recess when the bolt is in a predetermined relative position to the iron, while in other positions the first formations help serve to retain the bolt inside the recess. In this case, the recess may comprise a lower central base surface for receiving the main body of the bolt and two elevated side rail surfaces along which the second formations of the bolt are guided when the bolt slides within the recess.

The present invention also provides a shotgun comprising a fore end and a fore end release mechanism as descried above.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of an over-and-under shotgun;

Figure 2 is a perspective side view of a fore end iron from above;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the fore end iron shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side view of the fore end iron shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a zoom-in view showing the bottom of the fore end iron in more detail;

Figure 6 is a perspective side view of a fore end bolt from above;

Figure 7 is a side view of the bolt in Figure 6 depicted within the recess;

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-section view (top) and a horizontal cross-section view (bottom) through a fore end in its locked state;

Figure 9 is a vertical cross-section view (top) and a horizontal cross-section view (bottom) through a fore end in its unlocked state; and

Figure 10 is a partial vertical cross-section view through a shotgun.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

Figure 1 shows a side view of an over-and-under shotgun G comprising an upper barrel 4 and a lower barrel 5. The shotgun G further comprises a stock 1 having a grip section 2. A shooter typically holds the grip section with one hand and puts the index finger of that hand beside or on the trigger of the shotgun G. The shotgun comprises a fore end 3 located under a rear part of the lower barrel 5, i.e., the part of the lower barrel 5 that is closer to the stock 1. The fore io end 3 enables the shooter to hold the shotgun with the other hand, namely the one which is not holding the grip section 2. The fore end 3 comprises a release mechanism enabling it to be unlocked and released from the rest of the shotgun G by actuating a command element 6, which as illustrated in preferably a pushbutton 6 located underneath the lower barrel 5 on a front (i.e., muzzle) side of the fore end 3.

Figure 2 shows a perspective side view of a fore end iron I from above. The front end iron I comprises a fixing portion 7 for fixing the front end iron to a fore end wood 25 (shown in Figure 5), a main body 8 having a top surface 8A and a tube portion 9. The main body 8 comprises a first through hole 10 and a second through hole 11 which are both substantially rectangular in shape. The purpose of the first through hole 10 is to allow a hook 27 attached to the lower barrel 5 of the shotgun (see Figure 7) to reach a fore end bolt B, shown in Figure 4) inserted into the fore end iron I from below. As explained further below, the second through hole 11 allows a fixation block 22 of the fore end bolt B to extend or protrude through it which helps to keep the fore end release mechanism compact. The fore end iron I further comprises two fixing screw holes 12, 13 for securely fixing the fore end iron I to the fore end wood 25.

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the fore end iron I of Figure 2 showing in particular a bottom surface 8B of main body 8. In accordance with the present invention, the fore end iron I comprises a recess 14 of a longitudinal, substantially rectangular shape channel in which the fore end bolt B sits and slides. Figure 5 is a more detailed zoom-in bottom view of the fore end iron I in which the approximate outline of recess 14 including its sides 14 A are shown in broken lines. The through holes 10 and 11 are also visible in Figures 3 and 5, extending through the bottom surface 8B and through the recess 14. However, at least one through hole could alternatively be located in the main body 8 outside the recess 14.

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As best shown in the side view of Figure 4, the recess 14 (the outline of which is shown in broken lines) is preferably located, with the vertical thickness of the iron I, entirely between the top and bottom surfaces 8Aand 8B of the main body 8 of the fore end iron I. However, the recess could alternatively be formed directly within either the top or the bottom surface of the iron.

As shown in Figures 3 and Figure 5, the bottom surface 8B of the main body of the iron I preferably comprises a series of tooth-like formations 15 with cavities or gaps 16 between them. The formations 15 run above and along the longitudinal sides 14A of the recess 14, thereby partly enclosing the recess from below. As described below, the formations 15 and cavities 16 enable the bolt B to be inserted into or removed from the recess 14 only when the bolt B is in a predetermined position or specific alignment with the iron I, while in other positions the formations 15 help serve to retain the bolt B inside the recess 14.

Preferably, the formations 15 and cavities 16 have straight sides, and not rounded or tapered ones. In this way, they can be manufactured with conventional tools such as woodruff cutters, and no special tools for creating tapered surfaces are needed.

Referring again to Figure 3, a tube portion entry 17 located at the tipoff the tube portion is also visible. This tube portion entry 17 is the entry for a channel that runs all the way through the tube portion and receives and guides an actuating shaft 26, as described below.

Figure 6 shows a perspective side view of a fore end bolt B. The fore end bolt B comprises a fore end bolt main body 18. This main body has essentially the form of a cuboid and it is typically made from a metal such as steel. The main body 18 comprises a slanted fixation surface or tooth 19 configured to interact with the hook 27 of the lower barrel 5 (see Figure 7). The fore end bolt B further io comprises an opening 20 through which the hook 27 can partly protrude in order to interact with the fixation tooth 19. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixation tooth 19 forms an edge of the opening 20. In this way, the interaction between the fixation tooth and the hook determines whether the fore end 3 is attached to or detached from the lower barrel 5 of the shotgun. While the above described fixation tooth provides for a simple system of engagement with the hook 27, other types of fixation elements capable of cooperating with a corresponding fixation element on the shotgun G can also be used. In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, the first through hole 10 in the fore end iron I also enables a simple interaction between the fore end bolt and the hook even though the bolt B is inserted into the iron on the opposite side from the hook.

A series of tooth-like formations 21 are formed on the sides of the main body

18. In the illustrated embodiment, there are six such formations; three on each side and of which only five, 21.1 to 21.5, are visible in Figure 4. These formations 21 are generally complementary to, though slightly smaller than, the formations 15 and recesses 16 on the surface 8B of the main body 8 of iron I, and as such they allow the fore end bolt B to be inserted into the recess 14 only when the bolt B is in a predetermined relative position to the iron I, i.e., the two are in a specific alignment with the formations 21 above the recesses 16. As noted below, once the bolt B is operably positioned in the recess 14, the formations 21 and 15 help serve to retain the bolt B inside the recess 14 for all other relative positions as the bolt B slides longitudinally within the recess.

Figure 7 is a side view of the bolt B depicted as sitting in the recess 14 schematically. Preferably, the width of the bolt B at the widest point between two opposite formations 21 is only slightly smaller the width of the recess 14 between its sides 14A such that the bolt slides smoothly in the longitudinal direction within the recess with little play in the transverse direction. In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 7, the shape of the recess is undercut on both io sides such that it has a lower central base surface 14C for receiving the main body 18 of the bolt and two elevated side rail surfaces 14B along which the formations 21 are reliably guided as the bolt slides within the recess. Of course, the length of the bolt B is also smaller than the length of the recess 14 enabling the bolt to take up engaged and disengaged positions within the recess, as described below.

The fore end bolt in Figure 6 also comprises a fixation hole 23 for receiving and fixing an actuating shaft 26 to the fore end bolt B. The fixation hole partly runs through the main body 18 and through a fixation block 22 which sits on top of the main body 18. In one embodiment, a top half of the fixation hole 23 runs through the main body 18, and the other half runs through the fixation block 22. The fixation block 22 comprises a screw hole 24 which is generally oriented perpendicularly to the fixation hole 23 and forms an intersection (not visible) with the latter. In this way, the actuating shaft 26 can be secured in the fixation hole 23 by means of a screw. As will be appreciated, the actuating shaft may also be fixed to the fore end bolt B by other means, for example by soldering or clipping.

Once the bolt B is placed into the recess 14 and the actuating shaft 26 is fixed to the block 22 of bolt B, the bolt in operation slides securely with the recess 14 with little or no risk of inadvertent disassembly or jamming. Furthermore, the retention formations 15 and the dimensions of the recess 14 also preferably ensure that the bolt moves with minimal play in the vertical direction while sliding longitudinally in the recess 14.

Figure 8 shows both a vertical cross-section and a horizontal cross-section from the bottom through the fore end 3 in its locked state. In addition to the features already described above, the top vertical cross-section view shows the actuating shaft 26, a fore end wood 25 and a spring 28 located inside the tube io portion 9 of the fore end iron I of which also the main body 8 is visible in Figure

8. The actuating shaft 26 is either fixed to or manufactured as a single part with the push button 6. The actuating shaft 26 runs through the tube portion 9, and the spring 28 acts to bias the actuating shaft 26 and the button 6 out of the iron

I.

As shown in the horizontal cross section view of Figure 8, in the locked state of the fore end, the fore end bolt B is in contact with a fore end stop point 29 of the fore end iron I. The stop point 29 effectively corresponds to a closed end of the recess, although other means for stopping the course of the bolt B are also possible. Figure 10 further shows a partial vertical cut through the shotgun G with the fore end 3 mounted on the shotgun G in the locked position. In particular, Figure 10 illustrates the hook 27 in an engaged position with the fixation tooth 19.

When the shooter presses the pushbutton 6, the actuating shaft 26 acts on the fore end bolt so that it slide backwards, i.e. away from the tube portion 9. In this manner, the fixation tooth 19 can be disengaged from the hook 27, which is shown only in the horizontal cross section view of Figure 8. Similar to Figure 8, Figure 9 shows a vertical cross-section and a horizontal cross-section through the fore end 3 in its unlocked state. The pushbutton 6 is pressed in until a tube portion tip 30 blocks any further movement of the actuating shaft 26. Preferably, the maximum displacement of the pushbutton and pin when fully activated is only a few millimetres. The fore end bolt B thus slides backwards in the recess 14 of iron I, and the bolt B is no longer in contact with the fore end stop point 29.

The connection between the hook 27 and the fixation tooth 19 of the fore end bolt B becomes disengaged, and the fore end 3 is thus unlocked.

Preferably, the pushbutton is located a certain distance from the fore end bolt, and in particular the pushbutton 6 is preferably located on an external muzzle io end of the fore end wood 25. Such a design has the advantage of being particularly simple and easy to operate since it enables a shooter to easily remove the fore end from the rest of the shotgun with one hand by grabbing the fore end as if the shotgun was to be fired, pushing the pushbutton with the index finger and pulling the fore end downwards. However, other designs for activating the release mechanism are also possible. For example, the actuating shaft and the pushbutton could be replaced by a switch or the like, located somewhere close to the fore end bolt in the fore end wood.

By placing the fore end bolt B in a recess within the iron I, the bolt’s movement with respect to the iron is more carefully controlled and limited in comparison with conventional fore end release mechanisms. Substantially confining the movement of the fore end bolt to sliding along a longitudinal direction within the recess of the fore end iron is advantageous since this limits the freedom of movement of the bolt and thus avoids large or unintended displacements. As such, the fore end release mechanism of the present invention is more reliable and robust. In addition the fore end release mechanism is compact and easy to manufacture.

Reference list

2 io 7 8

8A

8B

10

12, 13

14A

14B

14C

17

18

21.1 -21-5 22

23

Stock

Grip section

Fore end

Upper Barrel

Lower barrel

Pushbutton

Fixing portion

Main body (fore end iron)

Top surface of main body bottom surface of main body Tube portion First through hole Second through hole Fixing screw holes Recess

Longitudinal sides of recess Side rail surface of recess Central base surface of recess Retaining formations Cavity

Spring tube entry

Main body (fore end bolt)

Fixation tooth

Opening

Formations

Fixation block

Fixation hole

Screw hole Fore end wood Actuating shaft Hook Spring

Fore end stop point Tube portion tip

Fore end bolt Gun

Fore end iron

Claims

Claims

1. A fore end release mechanism for selectively connecting and disconnecting a fore end (3) on a shotgun (G), the fore end release mechanism

5 comprising:

- a fore end iron (I), configured to be attached to a fore end wood (25),

- a fore end bolt (B), comprising a first fixation element (19) configured to interact with a second fixation element (27) attached to the shotgun (G), characterised in that the fore end iron (I) comprises a recess (14) for receiving io the fore end bolt (B).
2. The fore end release mechanism according to claim 1, characterised in that the recess (14) and the fore end bolt (B) are dimensioned and configured such that the bolt can slide in a longitudinal direction within the recess (14)

15 between a locked position in which the fore end (3) is attached to the shotgun (G) and a released position in which the fore end (3) is detached to the shotgun (G).
3. The fore end release mechanism according to any one of the preceding

20 claims, characterised in that the recess (14) is located, within the vertical thickness of the iron, entirely between a top surface (8A) of the iron (I) and a bottom surface (8B) of the iron.
4. The fore end release mechanism according to any one of the preceding

25 claims, characterised in that the first fixation element is a fixation tooth (19) and the second fixation element is a hook (27).
5. The fore end release mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the fore end bolt (B) comprises an opening (20),

30 and wherein the first fixation tooth (19) comprises an edge of the opening (20).
6. The fore end release mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the iron (I) comprises a first through hole (10) for

5 enabling passage of the second fixation element.
7. The fore end release mechanism according to claim 6, characterised in that the first through hole (10) passes through the recess (14).

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8. The fore end release mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an actuating shaft (26) that is fixed to the fore end bolt (B) and extends longitudinally through the fore end (3), the actuating shaft (26) being further fixed to a command element, preferably a pushbutton (6), extending out of the fore end wood (3), the command element (6) being

15 actionable to move the fore end bolt (B) within the recess (14)
9. The fore end release mechanism according to claim 8, characterised in that the fore end iron (I) comprises a main body (8) comprising the recess (14), a fixing portion (7) for connection to the fore end wood (25) and a tube portion

20 (9) comprising a channel housing the actuating shaft (26).
10. The fore end release mechanism according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the fore end bolt (B) preferably comprises a fixation block (22) extending upwardly from a main body (18) of the bolt and onto which the

25 actuating shaft (26) is fixed, the fore end iron (I) comprising a second through hole (11) for enabling passage of at least part of the fixation block (22).
11. The fore end release mechanism according to claim 10, characterised in that the fixation block (22) comprises a fixation hole (23) for receiving a bolt end

30 of the actuating shaft (26), the fixation block (22) further comprising a screw hole (24) which is perpendicular to the fixation hole (23), the fixation hole (23) and the screw hole (24) intersecting to allow the bolt end of the actuating shaft (26) to be fixed inside the fixation hole (24) by means of a screw.

5
12. The fore end release mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the fore end iron (I) comprises a series of first formations (15) with recesses (16) between them, the formations (15) running above and along the longitudinal sides (14A) of the recess (14) and thereby partly enclosing the recess (14).

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13. The fore end release mechanism according claim 12, characterised in that the fore end bolt (B) comprises a series of second formations (21) extending outwardly from the sides of a main body (18) of the fore end bolt (B), the second formations (21) being generally complementary in shape, though

15 slightly smaller than, the first formations (15) and recesses (16) on the fore end iron (I), such that the fore end bolt (B) can only be inserted into the recess (14) when the bolt (B) is in a predetermined relative position to the iron (I), while in other positions the first formations (15) help serve to retain the bolt (B) inside the recess (14).
14. The fore end release mechanism according to claim 13, characterised in that the recess comprises a lower central base surface (14C) for receiving the main body (18) of the bolt (B) and two elevated side rail surfaces (14B) along which the second formations (21) of the bolt (B) are guided when the bolt slides

25 within the recess (14).
15. A shotgun (G) comprising a fore end and a fore end release mechanism according to any of the preceding claims.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB 1612671.6