US20110107646A1

US20110107646A1 - Firearm bore cleaning jag

Info

Publication number: US20110107646A1
Application number: US12/590,683
Authority: US
Inventors: Keith Alan Anderson
Original assignee: Western Powders Inc
Current assignee: Western Powders Inc
Priority date: 2009-11-12
Filing date: 2009-11-12
Publication date: 2011-05-12

Abstract

A firearm bore cleaning jag includes an elongated body defining an axis, with a first set of multiple fins and a second set of multiple fins positioned at first and second positions, respectively along the length of the body. Each of the fins has two opposed surfaces. Each of the opposed surfaces has an angle characteristic measured with respect to the axis. The opposed surfaces of each fin have different angle characteristics, such that one of the opposed surfaces is less acute than the other. The first set of multiple fins is arranged with their less acute surfaces facing in a first direction, and the second set of multiple fins are arranged with their less acute surfaces facing in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rifle bore cleaning jag that holds a cleaning patch both while the jag is pushed through a firearm's barrel and while it is pulled through a firearm's barrel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a firearm is fired, gunpowder residue, dirt, and lead and copper particles are deposited in its barrel. Failure to clean the gun barrel can damage it and adversely affect accuracy. Firearm bore cleaning jags are commonly used to clean gun barrels. They are secured to the end of a rod for insertion into a gun barrel. A cotton (or other material) cleaning patch, which receives a solvent that removes gunpowder residues and metal deposits, is pierced in the center or near the edge and wrapped around the jag. The rod is then used to push the jag and its surrounding cleaning patch through the gun barrel's bore.
A wide variety of cleaning jags have been developed for cleaning firearms. However, most are designed so that the cleaning patch drops from the jag when it exits the firearm's barrel after being pushed through. A bare cleaning jag then has to be pulled back through the gun barrel. Extreme care must be taken to ensure that the muzzle crown is not damaged by the exposed barbs of the jag as it is being drawn back into the gun barrel past the muzzle crown. Although a fresh patch could be applied to the jag prior to drawing it back into the gun barrel, prior art jags are not designed to hold a patch while the jag is being pulled. The patch either falls off of the jag as the jag reenters the bore, or the patch bunches together and becomes lodged in the bore. Therefore, there is a need for a firearm bore cleaning jag that holds a cleaning patch both while the jag is pushed through a firearm barrel and while it is pulled through a firearm barrel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved firearm bore cleaning jag, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an improved firearm bore cleaning jag that has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned above.
To attain this, the preferred embodiment of the present invention essentially comprises an elongated body defining an axis, with a first set of multiple fins and a second set of multiple fins positioned at first and second positions, respectively along the length of the body. Each of the fins has two opposed surfaces. Each of the opposed surfaces has an angle characteristic measured with respect to the axis. The opposed surfaces of each fin have different angle characteristics, such that one of the opposed surfaces is less acute than the other. The first set of multiple fins is arranged with their less acute surfaces facing in a first direction, and the second set of multiple fins are arranged with their less acute surfaces facing in a second direction opposite the first direction. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the current embodiment of the firearm bore cleaning jag constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the current embodiment of the firearm bore cleaning jag constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the current embodiment of the firearm bore cleaning jag constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and identifies locations A-W referenced in Table 1.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the firearm bore cleaning jag of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral 10.
FIG. 1 illustrates improved firearm bore cleaning jag of the present invention. More particularly, the jag 10 is a straight cylindrical body formed of a monolithic unitary block of material. In the preferred embodiment, it is formed as a brass turning from a body 12, with the turned body including all the features that run the entire length of the body. In the description, its form may be described in terms of discrete pieces in order to explain the structure more clearly. Brass is used because it is a soft metal that will not mar the interior of the gun barrel or any rifling that may be present. Other soft metals or plastic are also suitable.
The jag 10 is manufactured in a variety of sizes to fit different caliber gun barrels, as are cleaning patches. In the description, dimensions are given for a jag that fits a .22 caliber rifle. Dimensions for other embodiments of the jag for use with other rifle calibers are given in Table 1. The locations referenced by the letters A-W in Table 1 are depicted in FIG. 3.

TABLE 1

Application	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J

17 Caliber	1.840	0.328	0.278	0.069	0.203	0.075	0.203	0.040	0.204	0.075
20 Caliber	1.840	0.330	0.248	0.085	0.205	0.075	0.205	0.045	0.205	0.075
22 Caliber	2.325	0.299	0.278	0.154	0.240	0.185	0.240	0.097	0.240	0.185
6 mm/24 Caliber	2.325	0.299	0.279	0.258	0.240	0.120	0.240	0.100	0.240	0.120
25/26/6.5 mm Calibers	2.325	0.297	0.259	0.201	0.240	0.150	0.240	0.108	0.240	0.150
27/28/7 mm Calibers	2.800	0.297	0.303	0.359	0.288	0.180	0.288	0.112	0.288	0.180
30/32/8 mm Calibers	2.800	0.299	0.301	0.300	0.288	0.170	0.288	0.099	0.288	0.170
33/35/9.3 mm Calibers	2.800	0.299	0.275	0.298	0.288	0.180	0.288	0.100	0.288	0.180
37/38/40 Calibers	2.800	0.298	0.263	0.139	0.344	0.149	0.344	0.107	0.344	0.149
44/45 Calibers	2.744	0.299	0.232	NA	0.337	0.193	0.337	0.154	0.337	0.193
50 Caliber	3.000	0.299	0.443	NA	0.337	0.205	0.337	0.156	0.337	0.205

Application	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S

17 Caliber	0.204	0.161	0.164	150°	0.051	0.133	0.091	60°	0.015
20 Caliber	0.205	0.161	0.195	150°	0.051	0.165	0.123	60°	0.015
22 Caliber	0.239	0.167	0.205	150°	0.060	0.182	0.130	60°	0.015
6 mm/24 Caliber	0.239	0.190	0.205	150°	0.060	0.200	0.148	60°	0.015
25/26/6.5 mm Calibers	0.240	0.200	0.205	150°	0.060	0.213	0.161	60°	0.015
27/28/7 mm Calibers	0.288	0.217	0.258	150°	0.072	0.228	0.162	60°	0.015
30/32/8 mm Calibers	0.288	0.309	0.258	150°	0.072	0.258	0.192	60°	0.015
33/35/9.3 mm Calibers	0.288	0.316	0.258	150°	0.072	0.288	0.222	60°	0.015
37/38/40 Calibers	0.344	0.319	0.258	150°	0.086	0.315	0.235	60°	0.015
44/45 Calibers	0.337	0.327	0.253	NA	0.084	0.369	0.289	60°	0.015
50 Caliber	0.337	0.344	0.253	NA	0.084	0.449	0.369	60°	0.015

Application	T	U	V	W	Caliber	Thread

17 Caliber	R .031	0.050	30°	NA	0.174	5 × 40
20 Caliber	R .031	0.062	30°	NA	.198 thru .204	5 × 40
22 Caliber	R .0625	0.062	30°	NA	0.224	8 × 32
6 mm/24 Caliber	R .0625	0.062	30°	NA	0.243	8 × 32
25/26/6.5 mm Calibers	R .0625	0.062	30°	NA	.257 thru .264	8 × 32
27/28/7 mm Calibers	R .0625	0.080	30°	NA	.277 thru .284	8 × 32
30/32/8 mm Calibers	R .0625	0.080	30°	NA	.308 thru .325	8 × 32
33/35/9.3 mm Calibers	R .125	0.080	30°	NA	.338 thru .366	8 × 32
37/38/40 Calibers	R .125	0.080	30°	NA	.375 thru .416	8 × 32
44/45 Calibers	R .125	0.080	30°	150°	.429 thru .458	8 × 32
50 Caliber	R .125	0.080	30°	150°	.500 and larger	8 × 32

The jag 10 has a number of features along its length, which defines a body axis 50. The rear 40 of the body 12 consists of a threaded shank 42 that is designed to be screwed into the end of a cleaning rod. The jag has an overall length of 2.325 inches, and the shank has 8×32 male threads 44 and is 0.299 inches long in the illustrated embodiment. Except for the threads, all of the features of the jag are surfaces of revolution defined by the body axis.
A base portion 52 of the body 12 immediately in front of the shank 42 terminates in a taper portion 14 at its front. The base portion 52 is 0.278 inches in length and has a base diameter of 0.205 inches in the illustrated embodiment. The taper portion 14 tapers at an angle of 150° with respect to the body axis 50 to a neck diameter of 0.130 inches.
Forward of the taper portion 14, a pattern of alternating reduced diameter neck portions (60, 62, 64, and 66) and fin groups (32, 34, 54, and 56) proceeds toward the tip 46 of the body 12. The fin groups are arranged in pairs of adjacent fin groups (36 and 58) separated by a neck portion 64 of the body, which is 0.097 inches long and 0.130 inches in diameter. The first fin group pair 58 is separated from the front most end of the taper portion 14 by the neck portion 60 of the body, which is 0.154 inches long and 0.130 inches in diameter. There are two pairs of fin groups in the illustrated embodiment, although in alternative embodiments, there may be one pair, or more than two pairs, or groups of fins not arranged in pairs facing each other.
Each fin group pair includes a rear facing fin group (32 and 54) and a front facing fin group (34 and 56). The rear facing fin groups and the front facing fin groups in each fin group pair are separated from one another by neck portions of the body 62 and 66 that are 0.185 inches long and 0.130 inches in diameter. Each of the fin groups has a length along the axis of 0.240 inches. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the rear facing fin groups includes four rear facing fins 16, and each of the front facing fin groups includes four front facing fins 30. However, any suitable quantity of fins may be employed.
FIG. 2 illustrates improved firearm bore cleaning jag of the present invention. More particularly, all of the fins 16 and 30 are conic sections characterized by a surface of revolution defined by the body axis. The rear facing fins 16 have a tapered rear surface 18 and a perpendicular front surface 20. The front facing fins 30 have a perpendicular rear surface 26 and a tapered front surface 28. The rear facing fins 16 and the front facing fins 30 are mirror images of one another. Because each rear facing fin group is paired with a front facing fin group, the fin groups can be described as being geometrically opposed to another. Each of the fins has a total width of 0.060 inches. The tapered surfaces are tapered at a 30° angle with respect to the body axis and give the fins an outer diameter ranging from a minor diameter B of 0.130 inches to a major diameter A of 0.2054 inches.
All of the fins have a rim 24 that connects their front facing surfaces to their rear facing surfaces. The junctures of the perpendicular surfaces and the rims creates sharp corner edges 68. Each of the rims is a cylindrical surface about 0.015 inches wide and 0.182 inches in diameter in the illustrated embodiment. However, the rims could be a knife edge with a zero width, which may be suitable for some applications. Their width may range up to 0.042 inches for other applications. When the rims have a width, the tapered surfaces are tapered at an obtuse angle to the rim in the current embodiment. The perpendicular surfaces could also be an acute taper that creates an even sharper edge and a conically dished or concave surface. The perpendicular surfaces could also be provided with an obtuse angle that is within 25° of perpendicular, and significantly less obtuse than the tapered surface, preferably with an angle difference between 20° and 80°, with the 60° illustrated difference being preferred.
The body 12 terminates at its front 38 in a tip 46. The tip 46 has a radiused base 48 that at its widest point has a diameter equal to the minor diameter B of the adjacent fin in the illustrated embodiment. The radiused base has a radius (taken in a plane intersecting the axis) of 0.062 inches. However, this may range from 0.0 to 0.125 inches, and is preferably at least 0.5 to 4 times the radius of the tip along its cylindrical portion. The tip is 0.167 inches long and has a tip diameter C of 0.0625 inches. The radiused base is at least 1½ to 2½ times wider than the tip diameter C at its widest point because this is believed to provide the best protection from breakage of the tip. The tip tapers to a point at its front 38 at a 30° angle with respect to the body axis. However, the angle of tip taper with respect to the body axis may range from 20° to 45°.
The tip is used to spear a patch prior to wrapping the patch around the jag. It is believed to be preferable to spear the patch in a corner or an edge in the case of a round patch rather than the middle because this enables the patch to be wrapped completely around the jag. This eliminates the possibility of an uncovered portion of the jag damaging the gun barrel. The dimensions and angles of the fins are believed to encourage a portion of the patch to enter between the fins and become gripped by a barbed effect created by the sharp corner edges at the intersection of the perpendicular surfaces and the rims of the fins. The tapered surfaces are believed to invite portions of the patch to enter between the fins, and the perpendicular surfaces are believed to grab the patch.
Having both rear facing fins and front facing fins permits the user to both pull and push a patch attached to the jag in a gun barrel without risking the patch becoming detached from the jag. It is believed this is accomplished by arranging the rear facing fin groups and front facing fin groups in fin group pairs. The pairs are spaced apart so there is a rear facing group at both ends of the jag and a front facing group at both ends of the jag, the groups of each type being spaced apart significantly with a group of the other type intervening. This is believed to enable pushing and pulling to occur simultaneously at both the front and rear ends of a patch, which prevents the patch from becoming dislodged from the jag regardless of the jag's direction of movement.
While current embodiments of the firearm bore cleaning jag have been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A firearm bore cleaning jag comprising:

an elongated body defining an axis;

a first set of multiple fins at a first position along the length of the body;

a second set of multiple fins at a second position along the length of the body;

wherein each fin has two opposed surfaces;

wherein each of the opposed surfaces has an angle characteristic measured with respect to the axis;

wherein the opposed surfaces of each fin have different angle characteristics, such that one of the opposed surfaces is less acute than the other;

wherein the first set of multiple fins is arranged with their less acute surfaces facing in a first direction; and

wherein the second set of multiple fins is arranged with their less acute surfaces facing in a second direction opposite the first direction.

2. The cleaning jag of claim 1, wherein one of the opposed surfaces of each fin is perpendicular to the body axis.

3. The cleaning jag of claim 1, further comprising two first sets of multiple fins and two second sets of multiple fins.

4. The cleaning jag of claim 3, further comprising:

wherein the two first sets of multiple fins have an intervening second set of multiple fins; and

wherein the two second sets of multiple fins have an intervening first set of multiple fins.

5. The cleaning jag of claim 1, further comprising:

at least two first sets of multiple fins and at least two second sets of multiple fins;

wherein the first sets of multiple fins alternate with the second sets of multiple fins along the length of the body.

6. The cleaning jag of claim 1, wherein the difference between the angle characteristic of the less acute opposed surface and the angle characteristic of the more acute opposed surface is always positive.

7. The cleaning jag of claim 1, wherein the angle characteristics of the opposed surfaces differ by at least 20°.

8. The cleaning jag of claim 1, wherein the angle characteristics of the opposed surfaces differ by an amount in the range of 20° to 90°.

9. The cleaning jag of claim 1, wherein the opposed surfaces of each fin meet to define a rim having a width.

10. The cleaning jag of claim 9, wherein the rim width ranges from 0 inches to 0.042 inches.

11. The cleaning jag of claim 1, wherein each fin is a surface of revolution defined by the axis.

12. The cleaning jag of claim 11, wherein the first set of multiple fins is separated from the second set of multiple fins by a neck portion of the body having a diameter that is less than the diameter of a fin.

13. The cleaning jag of claim 1, further comprising a connector attached to the body, wherein the connector is adapted for connection to a cleaning rod.

14. A firearm bore cleaning jag comprising:

an elongated body defining an axis;

a first set of multiple fins at a first position along the length of the body;

wherein each fin has two opposed surfaces;

wherein each of the opposed surfaces has an angle characteristic measured with respect to the axis; and

wherein the opposed surfaces of each fin have different angle characteristics, such that one of the opposed surfaces is less acute than the other.

15. The cleaning jag of claim 14, further comprising a connector attached to the body, wherein the connector is adapted for connection to a cleaning rod.

16. The cleaning jag of claim 14, wherein the difference between the angle characteristic of the less acute opposed surface and the angle characteristic of the more acute opposed surface is always positive.

17. The cleaning jag of claim 14, wherein the angle characteristics of the opposed surfaces differ by at least 20°.

18. The cleaning jag of claim 14, wherein the angle characteristics of the opposed surfaces range from 20° to 90°.