KR20050083924A - Firearm and method for the production thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a firearm comprising a flat metal surface (9) on which a barcode (11) is placed which serves to record information and, at the same time, to camouflage. This barcode is incorporated into the metal in such a manner that the lines or the spaces of the barcode (11) are formed by fine grooves or ribs. This firearm is preferably designed as a self-loading pistol having a plastic grip (1), and the barcode (11) is placed on at least one side of the bare slide or breech (3). The invention also relates to a method for producing a firearm of this type. This method involves burning the barcode into the flat metal surface by means of a laser treatment.

Description

Firearms with Flat Metal Surfaces {FIREARM AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF}

The invention relates to a firearm having a flat metal surface according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a process for the manufacture of such a firearm according to the preamble of claim 4.

In the latter half of the 19th century, engraving of metal and wood on the pistol was not only model-specific identification information such as serial numbers and manufacturer names, but also personal identification such as names and dedications, especially in the case of military firearms. Or chiseling or branding was common. In formula firearms, you can often find a complete list of components, which allows you to read the tracks within a group of firearms.

Chiseling or branding takes up a lot of space, but many features are not discernible. However, it has the advantage of being permanent. Also, using personal chiseling or branding characters does not require a flat surface. This also applies to engraving, but is very complicated. In addition, the cut using the engraver can cause undesired stress concentrations in thin components under heavy load. Therefore, engraving is usually only performed on expensive civilian firearms.

More recently, so-called electrowriters have been used to engrave markings. This allows, for example, even modern filigree firearms such as automatic pistols to engrave markings without being broken down into individual parts, compressed by stamping or thermally damaged by discharge.

Recently, information including manufacturer information and sales information is applied in the form of bar codes. Such bar codes consist of rows of parallel bars having different widths or different distances from one another and are attached to the contrasting base, which base is attached to the gun packaging or to the gun itself. Bar codes are usually read using a reader device that can decrypt them without problems. The public cannot read the information on the bar code without the reader.

In general, bar codes should be applied to rather flat surfaces. In the present invention, the "flat" surface is sufficient to read the bar code applied to it quickly and without trouble.

Of course, this type of bar code is rather easily removed or corrupted and can no longer be read.

A recently proposed pistol (DE 100 62 239 A1) is introduced with a bar code in the milling for the engagement of slides, so that the user of the firearm is not noticed. Obviously only milling that is not damaged can be seen because milling has omissions.

However, these bar codes are relatively short and can only accept a few of the last numbers of the gun numbers.

Nevertheless, the problem is that the surface of military firearms should be as inconspicuous as possible, ie antireflective, with inconspicuous outlines. If a military firearm has a smooth, uneven surface, it should be designed to be as matte as possible. However, it should not be processed too roughly, otherwise material inaccuracies and errors may occur or remain undiscovered. Until now, this problem has been solved by first forming a surface with technically provided precision and machining the surface, which method is costly and time consuming. Reworking is usually done chemically so as not to stress parts of the material, which may be designed to be as thin as possible to minimize the weight of the gun.

Summary of the Invention

On the basis of this comprehensive problem, it is an object of the present invention to improve the above-described pistol, to have identification information that is permanent and easily readable and not easily noticeable.

This object is solved in accordance with the invention in which the bar cord is applied to a flat metal surface and processed into metal so that the space between the bar or bars of the bar cord is formed by fine grooves or bars (claim 1).

Bar code attachment is not new, but bar code insertion on metal surfaces is new. Barcodes of this type were not expected to be readable from the start because they lack color contrast.

However, the different reflections by the monotonous or more preferably engraved bars allow for reliable reading even without color contrast. Bar or space depth does not matter. In fact, they can be relatively flat. Nevertheless, surprisingly correct readings are possible.

At the same time, the bar code forms a raised surface arranged on the metal surface, thus preventing reflection of the metal surface and also changing the contour of the metal surface.

Mechanical ridges of surface sections for the purpose of reducing reflections and blurring contours are too time consuming to be used for mass production of formula firearms, and the bar code on flat metal surfaces is also too time-consuming for the same reason. Although the same bar code surface is used here for two completely different purposes, this surprisingly ensures a positive balance of costs and is too complex, engraved or otherwise constructed for personal purposes. Surfaces are sufficiently economical for both purposes.

Preferably, the bar code occupies or subdivids a surface occupying a touchable portion within the flat surface. Thus, the optical effect of the bar code surface is optimized to serve to camouflage a flat surface that is inherently visible.

In general, these bar code surfaces are suitable for any firearm. However, since the size of meaningful bar code surfaces is limited, the size of flat surfaces that can be camouflaged by such bar code surfaces is also limited. For this reason, the firearm is preferably an automatic pistol with a plastic handle, and the bar cord is applied or processed on at least one side of the open slide (claim 3).

In the case of pistols made of plastic or coated with plastic, the bar code cannot be inserted permanently enough into the handle, and above all, its material properties are not sufficient for the fine division of the bar or groove of the bar code. .

On the other hand, the bar code attached to the open-lying slide can be read easily and without problems using a reader device.

The slide surface provides a prominent surface that is ultimately exposed to high mechanical stress. For this reason, welding or milling bar codes means a high thermal or mechanical weakening of the strength of the slide that is not readily acceptable. Once attached, the bar code's permanence is guaranteed in this way.

In general, the bar code of the type described above may be inserted in various ways, for example, engraving. However, it has been found that the bar code is preferably branded on a flat metal surface via laser processing (claim 4).

First, a very complex laser device can be controlled completely electronically and automatically, so that the text of the barcode can be engraved without error at random by the operator. Since heating the metal on a flat surface reaches only very low levels, the material is extremely weakly branded, so that the material is only damaged to a shallow depth in a certain specific way. This material depth is within the allowable region of the material thickness. The formation of bars or grooves is very quick while being performed with high precision. The cost for the branding process is very low, so the cost of using the laser device is quickly compensated.

1 is a side view of a firearm in accordance with the present invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying illustrative drawings, which are top views showing the left side of a formula firearm.

If the pistol is properly gripped for horizontal fire, the firing direction points to "forward" (left in the figure), and "top" and "bottom" (top and bottom in the figure) relative to the original position of the firearm. do.

The bottom of the pistol has a handle made of reinforced plastic, which is embedded with an outwardly open metal plate (not shown) containing a serial number and, where applicable, firing properties.

The surface of the handle is practically designed (including fish scales, ridges and country crests if many buyers want).

As is generally known, a slide or lock 3 made of specially treated steel is movably attached to the top of the handle 1. The front part of the lock 3 has a manufacturer identification, firing characteristics and the like, and the rear part includes a hold 5 so that the shooter can securely hold the lock 3 for reloading. The discharge window 7 is located at the top.

Thus the front and rear portions of the lock are designed to sufficiently rise or prevent reflection. The middle part of the lock 3 has a different appearance. The rear part of the discharge window 7 is located here, i.e. at the position of the highest amount of stress during firing. Here, the lock 3 has a smooth and flat surface 9 capable of reflecting light rays. This surface 9 can be reworked, but it must be done with great care, as each sharp cut of steel can break. That is, as described above, high stress occurs here.

Most of this surface 9 is occupied by a bar code surface 11 which is briefly indicated by hatching.

This bar code surface 11 has a bar code that is relatively fine and flat branded using a laser. This ensures that undefined sharp edges are not formed in the bar code. Also, due to its fineness, the bar code accepts longer messages.

The bar code surface 11 is no longer recognized as the surface of the firearm, although it can be partially recognized by crushing and deforming the surface 9.

Since the bar code is not only a ridge but also a message bearer, its relatively high cost is still justified.

Claims (4)

In a firearm having a flat metal surface 9, A bar cord 11 is applied to the flat metal surface 9 and is inserted into the metal so that a bar or space between the bar cords 11 is formed by fine grooves or bars. Firearms with a flat metal surface. The method of claim 1, The bar code 11 is characterized in that it occupies a surface occupying a touchable part in the flat surface 9 or subdivids the flat surface 9. Firearms with a flat metal surface. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The firearm is designed as an automatic pistol with a plastic handle 1, characterized in that the bar cord 11 is attached to either side of a free-lying slide or lock 3. Firearms with a flat metal surface. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The bar code is branded to the flat metal surface by laser treatment. Firearms with a flat metal surface.