US20060277811A1

US20060277811A1 - Gun barrel cleaning device with quick-detachable cleaning implement

Info

Publication number: US20060277811A1
Application number: US11/150,841
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas Peterson
Original assignee: Michaels of Oregon Co
Current assignee: Michaels of Oregon Co
Priority date: 2005-06-10
Filing date: 2005-06-10
Publication date: 2006-12-14

Abstract

A gun barrel cleaning device includes a quick-detachable coupling mechanism releasably coupling a handle to a cleaning implement for cleaning a gun barrel bore. A thrust bearing is preferably provided for supporting the cleaning implement on the handle and for facilitating axial rotation of the cleaning implement relative to the handle. The gun barrel cleaning device may comprise part of a gun barrel cleaning kit, which may include a variety of different cleaning implements. A novel sheath for storing a gun barrel bore-cleaning implement is also disclosed.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to gun barrel cleaning devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known gun barrel cleaning devices include a handle connected to an elongate rod or flexible cable, cord, or other length of material supporting a brush, swab, or other type of cleaning jag that is pushed or pulled through the bore of the gun barrel to remove residue or debris. In most known cleaning devices, the rod or other cleaning implement is either permanently connected or threadably attached to the handle. To prevent damage to rifled surfaces of the bore, the cleaning implement should be allowed to rotate as it moves through the barrel. In some bore cleaning devices, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,556,494 of Cooper and 3,208,302 of Lewis et al., the handle includes one or more bearings for reducing frictional resistance to rotation of the cleaning implement about its longitudinal axis relative to the handle under axial loading conditions that occur when pushing and pulling the cleaning implement through the gun barrel.
Many gun cleaning devices include cleaning rods comprising multiple rod sections threadably attached end-to-end. Some known cleaning systems provide for a variety of cleaning implements of different sizes and types that are selectively threadably attachable to the handle for cleaning guns of different calibers and types. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,674,218 of Boftomly and 4,901,465 of Hsu disclose examples of such interchangeable implement systems. However, the threaded connection used in these systems is somewhat inconvenient, subject to inadvertent loosening during use, and prone to damage or stripping of threads.
Other known detachable connections between handles and implements of a gun cleaning device require the use of collets or other attachments specially sized to fit the particular size of cleaning rod or implement selected. The various sizes of tools and collets required to fit cleaning rods and implements of various diameters are subject to being misplaced or lost due to their small size.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,223 of Sipple et al. describes a gun cleaning tool having a handle and multiple removable tip elements for cleaning various hard-to-reach surfaces of a gun. The handle includes an axial bore sized to fit a shank portion of each tip element, and a spring-clip latch mechanism that moves transversely of the axis of the handle to engage a recess in an outer side of the shank to thereby retain the tip element within the handle. To release the tip from the handle, a push-button mechanism in the side of the handle is depressed and moved transversely of the handle axis to displace the spring clip from the recess. Sipple et al. provides for a threadless, quick-detachable connection between the handle and various interchangeable implements. However, the cleaning tool of Sipple et al. is not suitable for cleaning the bore of a gun barrel and, due to the structure of the latch mechanism, the cleaning implements are not rotatable relative to the handle when attached thereto.
The present inventors have recognized a need for improved gun barrel cleaning devices and systems.

SUMMARY

A gun barrel cleaning device includes a quick-detachable coupling mechanism releasably coupling a handle to a cleaning implement that may be sized for insertion into and cleaning of a gun barrel bore. The quick-detachable coupling mechanism includes a male part having an axis, a female part receiving the male part coaxially therein, and a latching device slidably movable between an unlatched position and a latched position. When the latching device is in the unlatched position, the cleaning implement is readily detachable from the handle. When the latching device is in the latched position, the cleaning implement is prevented from being detached from the handle. A thrust bearing is preferably provided for supporting the cleaning implement on the handle and for facilitating rotation of the cleaning implement about its axis relative to the handle.
In a preferred embodiment, one of the male and female parts of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism includes an axial bore and a detent ball movable along a radially extending passage in response to sliding movement of a latching device for engagement or disengagement with a circumferential groove in the other of the male and female parts of the quick-detachable coupling device. In a preferred embodiment, the latching device is slidably movable axially between an unlatched position wherein a recess of the latching device is aligned radially with the passage to permit movement of the detent ball and release of the coupling, and a latched position wherein the latching device interferes with movement of the detent ball to prevent the coupling from releasing. In other embodiments, the latching device is movable rotatably or in another direction or manner for releasing the quick-detachable coupling mechanism.
A gun barrel cleaning kit may include a variety of different cleaning implements, each of which typically includes one of the male and female parts of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism sized to engage a corresponding mating part of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism in the handle. A novel sheath for storing a cleaning implement is also disclosed herein. The sheath includes an inwardly extending mounting shoulder that engages an outer circumferential groove of the cleaning implement, to thereby support the cleaning implement such that its working end does not touch the bottom of the sheath.
Additional aspects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a gun cleaning kit including a handle, a padded handle grip, multiple interchangeable gun barrel cleaning implements, and a sheath for storing one of the gun barrel cleaning implements;
FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the handle of FIG. 1 connected to a cleaning implement via a quick-detachable coupling mechanism;
FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the gun cleaning device of FIG. 2A shown with a latching mechanism of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism depressed axially to an unlatched position;
FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the gun cleaning device of FIG. 2B shown with the latching mechanism moved further axially so as to eject the cleaning implement from the handle; and
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of one of the cleaning implements stored in the sheath of FIG. 1. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, a gun cleaning kit 10 includes a handle 12 and a variety of gun cleaning implements 14 interchangeably connectable to the handle. Each cleaning implement 14 may be inserted into a protective storage sheath 16 for storage and shipping, as described below in detail with reference to FIG. 3. Cleaning implements 14 may be provided in a variety of different lengths and gages sized to clean firearms of different calibers and various types of gun barrel bores. In addition, cleaning implements 14 may be equipped with a variety of different brushes, swabs, or jags at their working ends 18 for different cleaning applications. An optional grip 20 is press fit or otherwise secured around handle 12 to provide a comfortable and slip-resistant gripping surface for handle 12. Each of the cleaning implements 14 is preferably formed of a rigid, one-piece rod 34 for precision and durability. However, in some embodiments (not shown), cleaning implements 14 include collapsible multisection rods or flexible shafts or cables for compact storage and improved portability. Cleaning rod 34 may be made of any of a variety of materials, such as brass, aluminum, stainless steel, or plastic, for example, and may be coated with protective coatings. In some embodiments, a threaded brass fitting (not shown) is swaged onto the working end of the rod, shaft, or cable, for replaceably fastening standard-sized cleaning brushes, jags, and other standard or nonstandard cleaning attachments thereto.
Grip 20 is preferably formed of a plastic or elastomeric material coated with a soft foam material. However, other materials may be used for grip 20. An outer surface of grip 20 may be of a simple cylindrical shape, as shown, or may include contours for providing a more ergonomic gripping surface. When grip 20 is installed on handle 12 (not shown), a closed end 22 of grip 20 preferably covers a latch release button 24 of handle 12. The closed end 22 of grip 20 is sufficiently flexible so as to allow latch release button 24 to be manually depressed from the outside of grip 20 for actuating a quick-detachable coupling mechanism 30, which is described below with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C. In some embodiments (not shown), grip 20 may be open at both ends, so that latch release button 24 is directly accessible through one of the open ends of the grip. In still other embodiments (not shown), the latch release mechanism used is operable in a different manner and grip 20 is substantially rigid at its closed end 22.
FIG. 2A shows an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a gun barrel bore cleaning device 26 comprising handle 12 and one of the cleaning implements 14 of FIG. 1 coupled via a quick-detachable coupling mechanism 30. FIGS. 2B and 2C show how cleaning implement 14 is detached from handle 12. With reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, cleaning implement 14 is shown truncated to omit a working end 18 thereof (FIG. 1). Rod 34 of cleaning implement 14 is preferably rigidly connected to a female part 38 of coupling mechanism 30. Preferably, several transverse grooves 40 are provided in cleaning rod 34 near its mounting end 42 and inserted into a mounting bore 44 of female part 38 before a neck portion 46 of female part 38 is swaged around mounting end 42. The swaging process causes some of the material of neck portion 46 to flow into grooves 40 to form a strong mechanical connection between female part 38 and cleaning rod 34. The swaging process may leave distinctive pattern of swage marks 48 (FIG. 3) around the outer diameter of neck portion 46. Other attachment means, such as adhesives, welding, and threaded fasteners may also be utilized. In still other alternative embodiments, cleaning rod 34 and female part 38 may be formed of unitary construction.
Female part 38 includes a bore 52 (FIG. 2C) sized to receive a male part 54 of quick-detachable coupling mechanism 30 coaxially therein. Axes 56 a, 56 b (FIG. 2C) of respective male and female parts 54 and 38 are coincident with centerline 56. Male part 54 is supported at an end of handle 12 and preferably comprises an end portion of a sleeve section 60 of handle 12. At least one, and preferably four, detent balls 66 are supported by male part 54 in one or more radially extending passages 70 for movement between a first position (FIG. 2A), seated in a circumferential groove 74 formed within bore 52 of female part 38, and a second position (FIG. 2C), retracted from the circumferential groove 74. In a preferred embodiment, four radially extending passages 70 are symmetrically arranged in a cross pattern lying in a plane perpendicular to the centerline 56 of sleeve section 60; however, in other embodiments, passages 70 may be at an incline relative to sleeve section 60. In the first position, detent balls 66 engage circumferential groove 74 to prevent cleaning implement 14 from being detached from handle 12. In the embodiment shown, radial passages 70 communicate with an axial bore 76 of sleeve section 60. A latching device 80 of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism 30 preferably includes an elongate plunger 84 axially movable within the axial bore 76 between a latched position (FIG. 2A), wherein plunger 84 interferes with movement of detent balls 66 to maintain detent balls 66 in the first position, and an unlatched position (FIGS. 2B and 2C), wherein a recess 88 of plunger 84 is aligned radially with passages 70 to permit movement of detent balls 66 from the first position (FIG. 2A) to the second position (FIGS. 2B and 2C) and to thereby allow decoupling of the female and male parts 38, 54 of quick-detachable coupling mechanism 30.
A spring 92 is provided for biasing plunger 84 toward the latched position (FIG. 2A) relative to sleeve section 60 and relative to a handle body 94 in which sleeve section 60 is mounted. Plunger 84 is actuated and moved toward the unlatched position (FIGS. 2B and 2C) by grasping handle body 94 and manually depressing the latch release button 24, which comprises an end of plunger 84 that projects from handle 12. In the preferred embodiment, spring 92 is captured in a counterbore 96 formed in a butt end 98 of sleeve section 60 between the bottom of counterbore 96 and a spring retaining snap-ring 102 that seats in an outer circumferential groove (unnumbered) in plunger 84. The travel of plunger 84 and spring retaining snap-ring 102 is limited in the latching direction (toward the top of FIGS. 2A-2C) by stop washer 106, which is retained by an outer retainer snap-ring 108 seated in an inner circumferential groove 112 formed in sleeve section 60. Stop washer 106 and counterbore 96 define an axial travel “B” of plunger 84 that is greater than a distance “A” between a distal end 116 of plunger 84 and a floor 118 of female part 38 when female and male parts 38, 54 are coupled, so that plunger 84 is movable an axial distance sufficient to press distal end 116 against floor 118 and forcibly eject female part 38 from male part 54, i.e., to force the female and male parts 38, 54 apart.
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the male part (rather than the female part) of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism is mounted to the end of cleaning implement 14 for seating in axial bore 76 of sleeve section 60, and the latching device comprises a collar or sleeve slidably supported around sleeve section 60 and movable axially to selectively inhibit or allow radially outward movement of detent balls 66. The quick-detachable coupling mechanism and collar type latching device of this alternative embodiment may be similar to the quick-detachable coupling mechanisms described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,663,796 of Helling et al. and 6,070,501 of Braun et al., for example. In still other alternative embodiments (not shown), latching device 80 is a plunger or collar that is rotatably actuated (rather than axially movable) to selectively inhibit or allow movement of detent balls, as described for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,152,645 of Sanford and 6,511,100 of Le Clinche. In still other embodiments, female and male parts 38, 54 may be formed in shapes other than cylindrical, such as rectangular, for example. In yet other alternative embodiments, detent mechanisms not employing balls or circumferential grooves may be used to perform the same operational functions of the ball detent quick-detachable coupling mechanisms described above. For example, circumferential groove 74 may be replaced by one or more sockets each aligned radially with one of the passages 70. Thus, the scope of the terms “quick-detachable coupling mechanism” and “detent mechanism” should be construed expansively unless otherwise indicated by the context.
Sleeve section 60 is rotatably supported on handle body 94 via a first thrust bearing 132 and a second thrust bearing 134 located near opposite ends of handle 12. Thrust bearings 132, 134 facilitate axial rotation of cleaning implement 14 relative to handle 12 as cleaning implements 14 pass through a rifled gun bore, thereby preventing damage and wearing of rifling surfaces inside a rifle bore. Two sets of thrust bearings are provided in the preferred embodiment, to facilitate axial rotation during both pushing and pulling of cleaning implement 14 through a gun barrel bore.
First and second thrust bearings 132, 134 include respective first and second sets of ball bearings 142, 144 retained in respective first and second counterbores 152 (FIG. 2C), 154 formed in opposite ends of handle body 94 via first and second bearing retaining rings 162,164 that snap into first and second outer circumferential grooves 172, 174 in sleeve section 60. First and second shoulders 182,184 of respective counterbores 152, 154 form inner bearing races for thrust bearings 132, 134, and retaining washers 192, 194 form outer bearing races of thrust bearings 132, 134. Retaining washers 192, 194 also cooperate to hold sleeve section 60 to handle body 94. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), ball bearings 142, 144 are replaced by solid bushings, such as flat washers formed of a low-friction material like DELRIN® acetal resin sold by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. Skilled persons will appreciate that a solid bearing material could also be used to provide thrust bearing functionality in two opposing loading directions via a single bearing, by using a structure such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,302 of Lewis et al. at column 2, lines 6-13 and FIG. 3 thereof.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of cleaning implement 14 shown inserted into and stored in sheath 16. With reference to FIG. 3, sheath 16 includes a tube 302 that is preferably formed of a transparent extruded plastic material that allows cleaning implement 14 to be examined from outside sheath 16. A cap 306 is provided at one end of tube 302. At the other end is a collar 310 including an inwardly extending shoulder 314 formed of a resilient material. When cleaning implement 14 is inserted into sheath 16, shoulder 314 seats in an outer circumferential mounting groove 320 formed in female part 38, to thereby support cleaning implement 14 so that its working end 18 does not touch cap 306 at the bottom of sheath 16, thereby protecting working end 18 from damage during storage and transport.
Throughout the specification, reference to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “some embodiments” means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment. Thus appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or “in some embodiments” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the described features, structures, characteristics, and methods may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or not described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the embodiments.
It will be apparent to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the claims.

Claims

1. A gun barrel cleaning device, comprising:

a handle;

an elongate gun barrel cleaning implement sized for insertion into a gun barrel; and

a quick-detachable coupling mechanism releasably coupling the handle to the cleaning implement, the quick-detachable coupling mechanism including a male part having an axis, a female part receiving the male part coaxially therein, and a latching device, located within the handle, slidably movable axially between an unlatched position in which the cleaning implement is detachable from the handle and a latched position preventing the cleaning implement from being detached from the handle.

2. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1, further comprising a thrust bearing supporting the cleaning implement on the handle and facilitating rotation of the cleaning implement relative to the handle.

3. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1 wherein, further comprising a spring for biasing the latching device toward the latched position.

4. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1 wherein:

the quick-detachable coupling mechanism includes a detent ball;

one of the male part and the female part of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism is supported at an end of the cleaning implement and includes a circumferential groove; and

the other of the male part and the female part is supported on the handle and includes an axial bore and radially extending passage along which the detent ball is movable between a first position seated in the circumferential groove and a second position retracted from the circumferential groove.

5. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 4 wherein the latching device includes a recess aligned radially with the passage to permit movement of the detent ball from the first position to the second position and a latched position wherein the latching device interferes with movement of the detent ball from the first position to the second position.

6. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 4 wherein the male part is supported on the handle, the axial bore is formed in the male part, and the latching devise is supported in the axial bore.

7. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1 wherein an outer circumferential mounting groove is formed in an end of the cleaning implement.

8. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the latching device is axially movable to force the male and female parts of the quick-coupling mechanism apart.

9. A gun cleaning kit including the gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1.

10. A gun barrel cleaning device comprising:

a handle;

an elongate cleaning implement having an axis;

a quick-detachable coupling mechanism releasably coupling the handle to the cleaning implement, the quick-detachable coupling mechanism including a latching device slidably movable between an unlatched position in which the cleaning implement is detachable from the handle and a latched position preventing the cleaning implement from being detached from the handle; and

a plurality of thrust bearings at a first end of the handle and a plurality of thrust bearings at a second end of the handle supporting the cleaning implement on the handle and facilitating rotation of the cleaning implement about its axis relative to the handle.

11. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 10 wherein the thrust bearing includes ball bearings.

12. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 10 wherein the thrust bearing includes a first thrust bearing part that bears the load of axial movement of the cleaning implement in a first direction and a second thrust bearing part that bears the load of axial movement of the cleaning implement in a second direction opposite the first direction.

13. (canceled)

14. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 10 wherein:

the quick-detachable coupling mechanism includes a male part having an axis, a female part receiving the male part coaxially therein, and a detent ball;

one of the male part and the female part is supported in an end of the cleaning implement and includes a circumferential groove; and

the other of the male part and the female part is supported on the handle and includes an axial bore and a radially extending passage along which the detent ball is movable between a first position seated in the circumferential groove and a second position retracted from the circumferential groove.

15. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 14 wherein the latching device includes a recess aligned radially with the passage to permit movement of the detent ball from the first position to the second position and a latched position wherein the latching device interferes with the movement of the detent ball from the first position to the second position.

16. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 10 wherein the latching device is axially movable to force the male and female parts of the quick-coupling mechanism apart.

17. A gun cleaning kit including the gun barrel cleaning device of claim 10.

18. A gun barrel cleaning device, comprising:

a handle;

a cleaning implement sized for insertion into a gun barrel; and

a quick-coupling mechanism releasably coupling the handle to the cleaning implement, the quick-coupling mechanism comprising a male part having an axis, a female part receiving the male part coaxially therein, and a detent ball, one of the male part and the female part supported at an end of the cleaning implement and having a circumferential groove, and the other of the male part and the female part supported on the handle and having an axial bore and a radially extending passage along which the detent ball is movable between a first position seated in the circumferential groove and a second position retracted from the circumferential groove, the quick-coupling mechanism further comprising a latching device, located within the handle, slidably movable relative to the other of the male part and the female part between an unlatched position wherein a recess of the latching device is aligned radially with the passage to permit movement of the detent ball from the first position to the second position and a latched position wherein the latching device interferes with movement of the detent ball from the first position to the second position.

19. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 18, further comprising a thrust bearing supporting the cleaning implement on the handle and facilitating rotation of the cleaning implement relative to the handle.

20. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 18 wherein the latching device is axially movable to force the male and female parts of the quick-coupling mechanism apart.

21. A gun cleaning kit including the gun barrel cleaning device of claim 18.

22-25. (canceled)