US3491473A

US3491473A - Cushioned gun stock

Info

Publication number: US3491473A
Application number: US697562A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward H Eastin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-01-08
Filing date: 1968-01-08
Publication date: 1970-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 1987-01-27

Description

Jan. 27, 1970 E. H. EASTIN CUSHIONED GUN STOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1968 INVENTOR. EDWHED 6 52577 gg a Jan. 27, 1970 E. H. EASTl-N I C USHIONED GUN STOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 8, 1968 INVENTQR. Ens w/v I CUSHIWED- sun s'rock Filed Jan. 8, 1968 V 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l I Eel I i 1 I I l '1 1 l 1 I INVENTOR.

Fawn/a2: b. 595w BY United States Patent 3,491,473 CUSHIONED GUN STOCK Edward H. Eastin, 254 Reilman Court, Rochester, Mich. 48063 Filed Jan. 8, 1968, Ser. No. 697,562 Int. Cl. F41c 23/00 US. Cl. 42--74 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The gun stock disclosed herein comprises a housing having two relatively telescoping sections one of which is adapted for attachment to the gun stock. Sealing means are provided between the two sections to produce a fluidtight seal. One of the two sections has a wall with at least one opening therein for the flow of fluid between sections extending transversely. A closure is adapted to progressively engage the opening of the wall to restrict the flow of fluids through the opening as the two sections are moved inwardly of one another due to the shock of firing the gun.

This invention relates to gun stocks and particularly to shock absorbing gun stocks. Among the objects of the invention are to provide a novel gun stock which will effectively absorb a great portion of the shock of firing a gun such as a shot gun; which is relatively Simple, has few moving parts, is easy to maintain, and can be readily adapted to older guns.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a part sectional fragmentary side elevational view of a gun embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a part sectional view taken along the line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a part sectional view taken along the line 33 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 44 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a part sectional view of a modified form of of the invention.

FIG. '6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary part sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a further modified form of the invention.

'FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 99 in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the gun stock 10 has mounted thereon the shock absorber assembly 11 embodying the invention including a base plate 12 that is fixed to the end of the gun stock by screws 13 extending through openings 14 in the plate. The plate 12 may be formed with deformed portions 15 that extend into openings 16 drilled into the gun stock to accurately locate the plate. The gun stock 10 is made of a shorter length than conventional construction or cut off in order to provide an overall length of the gun which will be in accordance with the design of the gun.

The shock absorber assembly 11 further includes a first telescoping section 17 which is generally cupshaped and fixed to the base plate 12 and a second relatively telescoping section 18 that telescopes over the section 17. An annular seal 19 is provided between the

sections

17, 18 that produces a fluid-tight seal so that hydraulic fluid can be provided within the section. An inner bearing 20 is mouned on the section 17 and an outer bearing 21 is mounted on the section 18.

A transverse wall 22 is mounted across the section 17 Patented Jan. 27, 1970 ice and has a plurality of spaced openings 23 therein with deformed seats 24 surrounding the openings. A spring carrier 25' is fixed at one end to the section 17 and extends upwardly toward the base of the section 18 so that in normal position it is as shown in FIG. 1. Carrier 25 has rotatably supported thereon a plurality of closure members 26. As shown closure members 26 are in the form of balls with spacer members 27 (FIG. 4) at spaced points along the carrier.

The area within the wall 22 is filled with a compressible closed cell body 28 forming a main spring structure and having a plate 29 thereon.

A resilient body 30 is fixed to the section 18 and forms the shoulder rest portion of the gun stock. An integral accordion folded diaphragm 31 extends from the body 30 and is fixed to the plate 12 by engaging the periphery of the plate.

The interior of the section 18 is filled with hydaulic fluid. When the gun is fired, the shock of the gun forces the gun stock 10 toward the shoulder of the user thereby forcing the fluid from the interior section 18 through the openings 23 and compressing the body 28. As the

sections

17, 18 telescope inwardly relative to one another due to the shock, the carrier 25 is forced and progressively moved to bring closure members 26 into engagement with the seat 24 restricting progressively the flow of fluid from the interior section 18 to the interior section 17. Finally all of the closure members 26 are brought into engagement with their respective openings and the condition is reached as shown in FIG. 3 where the fluid Within the section 17 is entrapped therein and the body 28 is compressed.

After the gun is shot, the forces tending to telescope the sections are removed or relieved and the compressed mass 28 tends to force th fluid back through the openings 23 into the section 18. When combined with the tendency of the spring carrier 25 to move the section 18 outwardly this forces the section 18 outwardly.

In making the shock absorber unit 11, the diaphragm 31 is hermetically sealed to the plate 12 with the shock absorber assembly in slightly compressed position so that when the shock absorber is in the position shown in FIG. 1 a slight vacuum will be present in the area surrounding the

sections

17, 18 thereby minimizing the distortion. When the full force of a gun shot is absorbed, the air pressure within the envelope 31 surrounding the

sections

17, 18 will exceed that of atmospheric pressure providing an air spring to facilitate the return to normal. In order to facilitate the return of fluid to the chamber 18 during the return stroke, the construction further includes a peripheral wall 32 at the periphery of wall 22 which has a portion thereof spaced from the wall of the section 17 to form a cavity 34 in which an O-ring 35 is positioned. Openings 36 are provided which in the retracting position permit free access of fluid at the O-ring into the interior of section 18. During compression or shock absorbing movement, the O-ring 35 seats on the wall 32 and prevents passage of fluids.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 5-7, the shock absorber assembly 40 comprises two telescoping sections 41, 42. The telescoping section 41 is set within the interior of the gun stock 43 and comprises three tubular portions 44, 45, 46. Similarly the section 42 comprises three

tubular portions

47, 48, 49 that telescope within the portions 44, 45, 46 respectively. Section 41 includes a transverse wall 50 and a chamber 51 that is filled with a body 52 of closed cell material. Passages 53, 54, 55 provide communication between the tubular portions 44, 45, 46 and the chamber 51.

Springs 56, 57 are provided in the

tubular portions

44, 47 and 46, 49 respectively and tend to extend the sections relative to one another. The base of each of the

tubular portions

47, 48, 49 are interconnected by

passages

58, 59 extending to a filling plug 60. A transverse wall or closure member 61 made of plastic is provided in the base of tubular portions 45 and has a plurality of openings 62 therein. A spring carrier 63 has one end thereof fixed to the wall 61 and the other end thereof engaging the base of the tubular portion 48. Carrier 63 supports a sinuous closure member 64 made of resilient material which is adapted to progressively engage the openings 62 and progressively restrict the flow from the interior of the tubular portion 45 to the chamber 51 when the gun is shot and the shock is being absorbed.

Tubular portion 48 supports a one-way check valve in the form of a ball 65 that seats against the seat 66 by the action of the spring 67 interposed between a perforated wall 68 and the ball 65.

As in the previous form of the invention, when the gun is shot, the gun stock 43 tends to move rearwardly against the shoulder forcing the fluid within the tubular portion 45 through the opening 62 into the chamber 51. As the fluid flows into the chamber 51, it compresses the body 52. During this interval the ball 65 is seated against the seat 66. As the section 42 moves inwardly of the section 41 the closure member 64 progressively closes opening 62.

After the full shock of firing the gun is completed, the springs 56, 57 will return the section 42 to its original position. The expansion of the body 50 will facilitate this return by forcing the fluid through the openings 53, 54, 55. The fluid through the tubular portions 44, 46 will return through the passages 58 and axial opening 70 unseating the ball 65 to fill the interior of the tubular portion 45.

As in the previous form of the invention, a shock absorbing pad 71 is provided on the outer section 42 and includes a tubular diaphragm 72 that has a bead 73 engaging a groove 74 in the gun stock 43. In this form of the invention an air vent 75 is provided for venting the interior of the diaphragm 72. As the sections 42, 43 move toward one another during shock absorbing action, the diaphragm rolls upon itself.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the shock absorbing assembly 80 mounted on the gun stock 81 comprises a section 82 that is mounted within the gun stock and a telescoping section 83. Section 82 includes three generally

tubular portions

84, 85, 86 and section 83 includes complementary tubular portions 87, 88, 89. A spring 90 is interposed in section 84 and extends between the base of the tubular portion 84 and the end of tubular portion 87. The base of each tubular portion 87, 88, 89 communicates with a chamber 91 that is filled with a body 92 comprising a mass of closed cell plastic material that is compressible.

The base of tubular portion 85 is formed with longitudinally spaced radial openings 93 that are progressively closed by the closure member 93a on the end of the tubular portion 88 during the shock absorbing action. The end of the tubular portion 88 has a seat 94 against which a ball 95 is seated during shock absorbing action. The shock absorbing assembly 80 further includes a shoulder pad 96 and an accordion-type diaphragm 97 integral therewith and sealingly connected with the end of the gun stock as in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

When the gun is fired, the gun stock 81 will move toward the shoulder. The fluid within the shock absorbing assembly will seat the ball 95 so that fluid in tubular portion 85 can only flow outwardly through the openings 93. The fluid flowing through the openings 93 will pass through the tubular portion 84 and then axially through the tubular portion 87 into and against the closed cell block of material 92 compressing the block. The fluid will also flow through the tubular portion 86 and tubular portion 89 against the block 92. As the sections 82, 83

further compress, the openings 93 will be progressively covered further restricting the flow of fluid.

After the full shock of firing the gun, the spring will retract the section 83 with respect to the section 84 at the same time the expansion of the previously compressed block 92 will turn the fluid in the reverse direction as well as forcing the fluid to unseat the ball and pass into the interior of the central tubular portion 85.

I claim: 1. For attachment to a gun stock the combination comprising a housing having two relatively telescoping sections one of which is adapted for attachment to the gun stock,

ealing means between said two sections producing a fluid tight seal,

one of said sections having a wall with a plurality of openings therein separating the interior of said section from the interior of said other section,

one of said sections having a closure thereon adapted to progressively engage the openings of said wall to restrict the flow of the fluid through said openings as the two sections are moved inwardly of one another clue to the shock of firing said gun,

a carrier comprising a spring member attached to one of said sections,

said closure comprising a plurality of closure members on said carrier adapted to engage said plurality of openings in the wall of said one section.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including collapsible spring means operable upon the flow of pressure fluid within said one section to reduce the volume in said one section and operable upon the fluid to return the fluid to the interior of said other section after the shock of firing the gun is relieved.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a body of closed cell resilient foam material.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 including a collapsible resilient wall surrounding said housing.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a diaphragm of the bellows type.

6. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a diaphragm adapted to fold on itself.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said carrier is sinuous,

said closure members comprising portions of an elongated body on said one carrier engageable with said plurality of openings.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing sections define two spaced tubular portions,

passage means in each said section providing communication between the tubular portions of the receptive section.

one of said tubular sections having a transverse wall therein, the other of said set of tubular sections having a compression spring therein adapted to return said sections to their original position after the gun shot.

9. The combination comprising:

a gun stock,

a housing having two relatively telescoping sections,

one of said sections being fixed on said gun stock,

sealing means between said two sections producing a fluid tight seal,

one of said sections having a closure thereon adapted to progressively engage the openings of said wall to restrict the flow of the fluid through said openings as the two sections are moved inwardly of one another due to the shock of firing said gun,

a carrier comprising a spring member attached to one of said sections,

said closure comprises a plurality of closure members on said carrier adapted to engage a plurality of openings in the wall of said one section.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 including collapsible spring means operable upon the flow of pressure fluid within said one section to reduce the volume in said one section and operable upon the fluid to return the fluid to the interior of said other section after the shock of firing the gun is relieved.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a body of closed cell resilient foam material.

12. The combination set forth in claim 9 including a collapsible resilient wall surrounding said housing.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a diaphragm of the bellows type.

14. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a diaphragm adapted to fold on itself.

15. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said carrier comprises a sinuous spring member,

said closure members comprising portions of an elongated body on said carrier engageable with said plurality of openings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 910,276 1/ 1919 Easdale 42-74 3,001,312 9/1961 Campbell 42-74 3,209,482 10/ 1965 Kuzma et a1 4274