Quick-Disconnect Positive Muzzle Mounting Mechanism

This application is a non-provisional application U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/633,883, filed Apr. 15, 2024, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

This invention relates to mounting of removable devices, such as sound suppressors (silencers) or blast shields, to the muzzle of a firearm barrel.

Various devices can be attached to the muzzle of a firearm barrel that that affect its use or the auditory/visual effect of it being fired. Examples include muzzle brakes, compensators, and flash hiders/reducers. Typically, these are threaded onto the muzzle and secured permanently or semi-permanently. A “blast shield” can be used to redirect sound away from the user without actually reducing the sound produced.

Sound suppressors can be directly threaded onto the muzzle by many turns of standard threads, but are usually readily removable by hand. Sound suppressors (and blast shields) can also be removably attached to a mount fixed to the muzzle. These mounting mechanisms require two cooperating portions: one fixed to the muzzle, and one that is either built into or adapted onto the suppressor body. The mount fixture may have either just one to two turns of acme threads or can have two or three lugs that require only part of a turn to attach or detach the suppressor. These are generally referred to as a “quick-disconnect” or QD mount mechanism. The mount fixture may incorporate another functional feature, such as a brake or flash hider, that is covered by and/or cooperate with the attached suppressor, or may function solely as a mount. Acme thread mount devices often have a rachet mechanism to hold the suppressor in place and prevent unthreading. Lug mounts may have a spring detent to hold the suppressor in the engaged position. Need for improvement in these mechanisms remains.

The present invention provides a quick-disconnect mounting mechanism for attaching a device, such as a blast shield or sound suppressor, to the barrel of a firearm.

The mounting mechanism has a mount fixture and a coupling assembly. The mount fixture is fixable to the muzzle end of a firearm barrel and includes a plurality of substantially radial lugs. The coupling assembly is fixable to a muzzle device and includes a first part with a non-round opening adapted to axially receive the lugs of the mount fixture and a second part axially adjustable relative to the first part to clamp the lugs therebetween.

The mechanism attaches in two-stages: the first with a partial turn over lugs and the second to clamp the parts together firmly and rigidly.

Other aspects, features, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to a person of skill in the art from the detailed description of various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, all of which comprise part of the disclosure.

With reference to the drawing figures, this section describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. Throughout the specification, reference to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “some embodiments” means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic may be 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, and characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In view of the disclosure herein, 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, or the like. In some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or not described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the embodiments. “Longitudinal” will mean the axial direction of the forearm/barrel. “Forward” will indicate the direction of the muzzle and the direction in which projectiles are fired, while “rearward” will indicate the opposite direction. “Lateral” or “transverse” indicates a side-to-side direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the barrel. Although firearms may be used in any orientation, “left” and “right” will generally indicate the sides according to the user's orientation, “top” or “up” will be the upward direction when the firearm is gripped in the ordinary manner.

Referring first to, therein is shown a mounting mechanismaccording to one embodiment of the present invention. The mounting mechanismincludes two cooperating portions: a mount fixtureattached to the muzzle, and a coupling assemblythat is either built into or adapted onto the body of a blast shieldor suppressor (not shown). In, the mount fixtureis illustrated with the muzzle end of a barrel(shown in phantom line) and the coupling assemblyis shown connected to a rearward end of a blast shield(shown in phantom line). Specific structure of the blast shield(or of a sound suppressor) is not relevant to this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mount fixtureis attached onto the threaded muzzle end of the barrelin a well-known manner. The attachment lugscan be, but do not have to be, “clocked” to a particular rotational orientation. In the drawing figures, the lugsare illustrated positioned in an up and down, twelve o'clock and six o'clock, orientation for consistency of illustration and description. The coupling assemblycan be integrated into the rear end of a suppressor body or, as shown, be a separable unit threaded into a suppressor body or blast shield.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mount fixtureincludes a flash hiderat its forward end, which is positioned in the blast shield(or in the blast chamber of a suppressor body) when the mount fixtureand coupling assemblyare assembled together. Instead of a flash hider, the mount fixturecould be configured to include, for example, a muzzle brake or to be a mount only with no additional function feature. The structural details or function of a flash hider or brake feature of the mount fixtureare not important to the present invention.

Referring still to, the coupling assemblyincludes a hub, a guide ring, guide pins, an annular abutment, a spring means, a collar, and an adapter. At its rearward end, the huband guide ringhave non-round openings,sized and shaped to receive the mount fixturewhen the lugsare aligned with the orientation of the openings,. Inside, the guide pinsprevent the hub, guide ring, and abutmentfrom rotating relative to each other while allowing relative longitudinal (axial) movement therebetween. The forward exterior surface of the adaptercan have threadsthat mate with internal threads at the rear end of a blast shieldor suppressor body (not shown). The hubhas exterior threadsthat mate with interior threadsat the rear end of the collar. The abutmentand adapter are fixed together, such as by mating threads,. The coupling feature of the adaptercould be integrated into a suppressor body (not shown) such that the features of the adapter memberthat operably engage with the abutmentare integral or permanently attached to the suppressor body, such as by welding. When connected, the adapterand blast shieldor suppressor body act as an integral unit, even if separable. When the coupling assemblyis assembled, the spring meansis captured inside collarby the abutmentand adapter. The spring meanscan be a waffle spring, as shown, a coil spring, or any other suitable resilient biasing member or device.

Attachment of the coupling assembly(along with the blast shieldor a suppressor body) to the mount fixtureis accomplished in two steps or stages. The first stage is illustrated in, and also in. These figures show how the lugsfirst are aligned with the non-round openingin the hub. The mount fixtureand coupling assemblyare then moved axially together so that the lugsof the mount fixturepass through the non-round opening, as shown in. The entire coupling assembly(and blast shieldor suppressor body) are then rotated 90 degrees, as indicated by the arrow a in. As shown in, this rotation allows the lugsto be received by and seat in internal recessesinside the rear wall of the hubto prevent further rotation of the hubrelative to the mount fixture.show the internal structure of the hubrotated 90 degrees relative to the view shown in.

The second stage of attachment, after rotating the coupling assemblyto seat the lugs, illustrated in, involves clamping the lugsfirmly in place. InC, andC, the lugsare seated into the recesses, but the connection may have some remaining play and the parts can be disconnected simply by rotating the coupling assemblyback 90 degrees so the lugsagain align with the non-round openings,of the huband guide ring. When used with a suppressor, it is especially important that the attached device be firmly fixed in axial alignment with the barrel bore. Thus, the present invention provides a positive lock-up feature.

Rotating the collaras shown by arrow b in, the collaris then threaded further onto the hubto the position shown into clamp the lugsin place and assure a positive lock connection. The collar has internal annular shoulderthat captures the spring meansagainst a forward surface of the abutmentThis forces the abutmenttoward the forward lugs. At the same time, internal surfacesof abutmentmate against external surfacesof the mount fixture.

Referring to, and also again to, and, the mount fixturecan include an annular bevel or frustoconical portionhaving an angle that mates against an internal bevel or frustoconical portionof the abutment. These surfaces,are forced together as the collaris threaded further into the hub. This causes the parts to maintain axial alignment and provides an effective seal against back-pressure leakage until the threaded connection is purposefully reversed.

To disassemble the coupling assemblyand blast shield(or suppressor body) from the mount fixture, the steps are reversed. The collaris partially unthreaded from the hubby hand, allowing the lugsspace to disengage from the recessesso that the whole coupling assembly(and blast shieldor suppressor) can be removed with a quarter turn rotation and axial displacement.

Referring now to, therein is shown a mounting mechanismaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention. The mounting mechanismincludes two cooperating portions: a mount fixtureattached to the muzzle, and a coupling assemblythat is either built into or adapted onto the body of a blast shieldor suppressor (not shown). In, the mount fixtureis illustrated with the muzzle end of a barrel(shown in phantom line) and the coupling assemblyis shown connected to a rearward end of a blast shield(shown in phantom line). Specific structure of the blast shieldor of a suppressor is not relevant to this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mount fixtureis attached onto the threaded end of the barrelin a well-known manner. This embodiment includes three radial attachment lugs, which can be evenly circumferentially spaced apart or can be, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, unevenly spaced so as to assure attachment will always be in the same orientation and the attached device (such as a suppressor) will be repeatably “clocked” to a particular rotational orientation. The coupling assemblycan be integrated into the rear end of a suppressor body or, as shown, it can be a separable unit threaded into a suppressor body or blast shield.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mount fixtureincludes a flash hiderat its forward end, which is positioned in the blast shield(or in the blast chamber of a suppressor body) when the mount fixtureand coupling assemblyare assembled together. Instead of a flash hider, the mount fixturecould be configured to include, for example, a muzzle brake or to be a mount only with no additional function/feature. The structural details or function of a flash hider or brake feature of the mount fixtureare not important to the present invention.

Referring now also to-D, andA-D, the coupling assemblyincludes an outer hub, a spring means, a clutch ring, and an adapter body. The spring meanscan be a waffle spring, as shown, a coil spring, or any other suitable resilient biasing member, device, or material. As described later, the adapter bodymay include a radial socketconfigured to receive a detent ballthat is biased by a springto releasably engage a recess or openingin the outer hub. The adapter bodyis attachable, either permanently, integrally, or as shown detachably to a device, such as a suppressor body as described for the first embodiment. The illustrated embodiment shows a threaded engagement, though the specific connection may not be important to the present invention. The outer hubhas a non-round openingsized and shaped to receive the mount fixturewhen the lugsare aligned with the orientation of the opening.

The coupling assemblycan include an internal clutch mechanism to detain the rotational position of the outer hubrelative to the adaptor bodyin any position. In the illustrated example, the forward-facing surfaceof the clutch ringand the reward-facing surfaceof the adapter bodywith which it interfaces may include detent features to releasably retain the two parts in rotational relationship. The detent features can be, for example, a series of ridges and grooves, splines, detents, or similar structures. As shown, the clutch ringincludes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial ridgeson its forward-facing surfacethat engage with a corresponding series of radial notcheson the rearward-facing surfaceof the adapter body. These detent features,are biased into engagement by the spring means.

In the illustrated embodiment, the clutch ringand outer hubinclude corresponding features to keep them rotationally aligned while allowing relative axial movement between them. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the clutch ringhas flatson its outer periphery that are configured to engage corresponding landsinside the outer hub.

The outer hub has interior threadsthat mate with exterior threadson the adapter bodyto allow axial adjustment by relative rotation of the parts. In the illustrated embodiment, the detent ballwill engage the openingin the outer hubwhen the adjustment has reached a predetermined end point so as to deter inadvertent disassembly without preventing intentional disassembly.

Attachment of the coupling assembly(along with the blast shieldor a suppressor body) to the mount fixtureis accomplished in two steps or stages. The first stage is illustrated in.shows how the lugsfirst are aligned with the non-round openingin the outer hub. The mount fixtureand coupling assemblyare then moved axially together so that the lugsof the mount fixturepass through the non-round opening, as shown in. The entire coupling assembly(and blast shieldor suppressor body) are then rotated, as indicated by the arrow c in. As shown in, this rotation allows the lugsto be received by internal recessesinside the rear wall of the outer hubto prevent further rotation of the hubrelative to the mount fixture.

The second stage of attachment is illustrated, for example, in.shows the mount fixtureaxially inserted into the coupling assembly, with the coupling assemblyand blast shield(or suppressor body) subsequently rotated to align the lugswith the internal recesses. In this view, the lugsare seated into the recesses, but the connection may have remaining play and the parts can be disconnected simply by rotating the coupling assemblyback so the lugsagain align with the non-round openingof the outer hub.

When used with a suppressor, it can be especially important that the attached device be firmly fixed in axial alignment with the bore of the barrel. Thus, the present invention provides a positive lock-up feature. Referring now to, the outer hubis then rotated, releasing the detent ball, by threading further onto the adaptor body, clamping the lugsinto the recessesagainst the springand clutch ringto provide a positive lock connection.

Referring again also to, the mount fixtureincludes an external annular bevel or frustoconical portionhaving an angle that mates against an internal bevel or frustoconical portionof the adapter body. These surfaces,are forced together as the outer hubis threaded further onto the adapter body. This causes the parts,to maintain axial alignment and provides an effective seal against back-pressure leakage until the threaded connection is purposefully reversed.

To disassemble the coupling assembly(and blast shieldor suppressor body) from the mount fixture, the steps are reversed. The outer hubis partially unthreaded from the adapter bodyby hand, allowing the lugsroom to disengage from the recessesso that the whole coupling assembly(and blast shieldor suppressor) can be rotated to align the lugswith the non-round openingof the outer huband axially removed.

As depicted in, the three lugscan be asymmetrically circumferentially spaced to assure repeatable positioning of the device being mounted. Additionally, the shape/configuration of the internal recessesallows the coupling assemblyto rotate only one direction (shown by arrows in) for assembly/disassembly onto the lugs.

As shown in, the detent ballis biased by a springinto a detent recess or openingin the periphery of the outer hub. In the illustrated embodiment, the detent openingis formed at a non-radial angle so as to make it easier to rotated the outer hubin one direction and deter rotation in the opposite direction. This detent mechanism is intended to prevent over-rotation of the outer hubout if the clamping position, or to at least provide a tactile indication when the outer hub has been sufficiently loosened. If the coupling assembly is to be disassembled. The detent ballcan be manually displaced/pressed to allow the outer hubto be further threaded off of the adapter bodyand completely removed.

While one or more embodiments of the present invention 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. Therefore, the foregoing is intended only to be illustrative of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not intended to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be included and considered to fall within the scope of the invention, defined by the following claim or claims.