Firearm Bottom Metal

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/645,519 filed May 10, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present disclosure pertains generally to firearms and firearm components. In particular aspects, the present disclosure pertains to repeating firearms including, but not limited to, rifles and shotguns. In certain aspects, the present disclosure pertains to firearms having a stock, a receiver, and a bottom metal.

Stocks often define one or more openings configured for receipt of the receiver, barrel, trigger assembly, and/or bottom metal assembly. For instance, the stock may define an upper opening for receipt of the receiver and barrel of the firearm, and the stock may define a lower opening (e.g., an inlet) for receipt of the bottom metal assembly.

Existing stocks are manufactured (e.g., cut) for either a bottom metal assembly configured to receive a detachable box magazine (DBM) or a bottom metal not configured to receive a detachable box magazine (e.g., a bottom metal with a hinged floor plate). Further, stocks are manufactured (e.g., cut) for either a short action or long action bottom metal assemblies. Accordingly, there is a lack of interchangeability between firearms having different styles and/or sizes of cartridge. For example, a stock for a bottom metal having a detachable box magazine may not be compatible as a substitute for stock manufactured for an ADL trigger guard or a bottom metal with a hinged floor plate, which does not have a detachable box magazine, or vice versa. Similarly, a bottom metal with a hinged floor plate may not be interchangeable with a bottom metal assembly for a detachable box magazine for a given firearm, or vice versa. Thus, there is a desire for improvement in this field.

In existing firearms, a lower opening in the stock is often larger for a bottom metal assembly configured to receive a detachable box magazine (e.g., an M5 DBM inlet, a Hunter™ DBM or a Hawkins Precision™ M5 Oberndorf DBM inlet) as compared to a bottom metal assembly that is not configured to receive a detachable box magazine (e.g., a Remington Model 700 BDL inlet). For example, a lower opening in a stock configured to receive a short action caliber detachable box magazine bottom metal may have a width of more than 1 inch (25 mm). However, a lower opening in a stock configured to receive a hinged floor plate bottom metal for the same caliber may have a width of less than 1 inch (25 mm). As another example, a lower opening in a stock configured to receive a long action caliber detachable box magazine bottom metal may have a length of more than 4 inches (100 mm). However, a lower opening in a stock configured to receive a hinged floor plate bottom metal for the same caliber may have a length of less than 4 inches (100 mm).

In firearms wherein the bottom metal assembly is not configured to receive a detachable box magazine (e.g., a bottom metal with a hinged floor plate), the bottom metal assembly or the stock may define a bottom wall of the cartridge-receiving area of the firearm. In some instances, bottom metal assemblies may have a bottom wall (e.g., a hinged floorplate) configured to close the bottom of a cartridge-receiving area inside of the firearm. The bottom wall (e.g., hinged floorplate) may support a follower spring connected to a follower which is useful to advance cartridges vertically towards the action of the firearm.

The lower opening in the stock may be larger (e.g., longer) for a bottom metal assembly configured for a longer cartridge (e.g., a long action cartridge) as compared to a shorter cartridge (e.g., a short action cartridge). For example, the opening in the stock for large action cartridges may have a length greater than 3.5 inches, while the opening in the stock for short action cartridges may have a length of less than 3.5 inches. Long action cartridges may have an overall length over 3 inches, whereas short action cartridges have an overall length of up to about 3 inches (about 8 cm). Magnum length cartridges can have an overall length of over about 3.34 inches (about 8.48 cm). The table below lists various cartridges with the cartridge overall length and the action length.

Advantageously, the present disclosure provides bottom metal assemblies that are interchangeable for a given action or cartridge length. For example, the present disclosure provides bottom metal assemblies (e.g., bottom metal assemblies with a hinged floorplate and that are not configured for use with a detachable box magazine) that are interchangeable in firearms having a DBM bottom metal (i.e., a bottom metal configured for a detachable box magazine). Further, bottom metal assemblies of the present disclosure are configured to fit a stock manufactured (e.g., cut) for a DBM bottom metal, thus reducing the need for unique opening sizes and dimensions in stocks.

A firearm of the present disclosure has a forward (i.e., muzzle) end, a rearward end, an upper side, a lower side, a left side, and a right side. The firearm includes a barrel, a receiver, a, a trigger assembly, and a bottom metal assembly.

The barrel has a chamber end and a muzzle end. The chamber end of the barrel is attached to the receiver of the firearm and is configured to receive cartridges for firing.

The receiver at least partially contains and supports the action of the firearm, which includes a bolt that can be reciprocated to load cartridges into the chamber of the barrel and unload spent cartridges from the chamber. In some firearms the bolt is reciprocated by hand (e.g., by operation of a lever) from a forward position (e.g., closed breach) to a rearward position (e.g., open breach). In some firearms, such as auto-loading firearms, the bolt reciprocates automatically rearwardly in response to the firing of a cartridge in the chamber-such as in a gas-operated, piston operated, and/or direct block back operated firearms.

In many firearms, as the bolt moves forwardly towards the forward/closed position, a portion of the bolt (e.g., a lug) contacts a base end of a cartridge and pushes the cartridge forward so as to load the cartridge into the chamber of the barrel for firing. After the cartridge has been fired, reward movement of the bolt from the forward position towards the rearward position may extract the spent cartridge from the chamber of the barrel.

The stock is configured to support the receiver of the firearm and, preferably, allow a shooter to comfortably support the firearm during operation. The stock extends at least partially beneath the receiver. In many instances, the stock extends rearwardly of the receiver and defines a grip portion, a cheek comb, and a butt portion, The grip portion is configured for grasping by a hand of a shooter hand to support the firearm. Additionally, the grip portion can aid in retaining the hand of a shooter hand in relation to the firearm—e.g., such that a finger (e.g., the index finger) of the hand may reach and actuate a trigger of the firearm. The cheek comb is configured for contact with a cheek of the shooter, and the butt portion is configured to contact the body of a shooter so as to aid in stabilizing the firearm for aiming as well as transferring recoil of the firearm during firing to the body of the shooter. Some stocks may include an adjustable cheek comb and/or butt portion. In many instances, the stock has a portion that extends forwardly of the receiver (e.g., a foregrip).

The bottom metal assembly is positioned on a bottom side of the stock and has a portion extending at least partially into the stock. The stock has an upper opening for receipt of the receiver and barrel of the firearm and a lower opening (e.g., an inlet) for receipt of the bottom metal assembly.

Preferably, the bottom metal assembly sandwiches the stock between the bottom metal assembly and the receiver. For example, fasteners may extend between the bottom metal assembly and the receiver and pull the bottom metal assembly and the receiver towards one another with the stock positioned therebetween. Preferably, the fasteners extend through one or more openings in the stock.

The bottom metal assembly may include a bottom metal body, a hinged floorplate closing a bottom of a cartridge receiving area of the bottom metal, a follower, a follower spring positioned within the receiving area of the bottom metal body, a latch selectively retaining the hinged floorplate of the bottom metal assembly in a closed configuration, and an optional spacer positioned within the cartridge receiving area of the bottom metal body. Preferably the bottom metal assembly is not configured for the receipt of a detachable box magazine. Preferably the bottom metal body is a monolithic piece. Preferably, the bottom metal body comprises aluminum.

The bottom metal body has a top side, a bottom side, a left side, a right side, a rear end and a forward end and a length extending along a direction from the rearward end to the forward end. The top side of the bottom metal body faces portions of the stock and or receiver when in the firearm assembly. The bottom side of the bottom metal body is opposite the top side and faces away from the stock of the firearm (e.g., faces downward during normal operation of the firearm) when positioned within the firearm. The rearward end of the bottom metal body is positioned further from the muzzle end of the barrel than the forward end of the bottom metal body.

The bottom metal body may comprise a reward portion defining an opening configured to allow access for a trigger on the firearm to project downwardly from within the stock of the firearm. In some instances, the bottom metal may define a trigger guard that extends substantially around the trigger. The trigger guard may be monolithic with the bottom metal body or may be a separate component attachable to the bottom metal body.

A forward portion is positioned forwardly of the rearward portion. The forward portion includes a first upwardly extending sidewall and a second upwardly extending sidewall on the top side of the bottom metal body. The first and second upwardly extending sidewalls each have a length, a height, and a thickness. The length of each of the first and second upwardly extending sidewalls is measured along the length of the bottom metal body. The height of each of the first and second upwardly extending sidewalls is measured along a direction extending from the bottom side to the top side of the bottom metal and orthogonal to the length of the bottom metal body. And, the thickness of each of the first and second upwardly extending sidewalls is measured between an inner surface, defining the cartridge receiving area, and an outer surface of each sidewall, respectively.

Between the first upwardly extending sidewall and the second upwardly extending sidewall is an area configured for the receipt of cartridges. This area is accessible from the top side of the bottom metal body between the first and second upwardly extending sidewalls. In embodiments disclosed herein, the area is also accessible through a bottom opening of the bottom metal body when the hinged floorplate is opened.

When assembled in the firearm, the first upwardly extending sidewall and/or second upwardly extending sidewall of the forward portion of the bottom metal body extends into a bottom opening defined by the receiver. In some instances, the first upwardly extending sidewall and/or second upwardly extending sidewall extends into the bottom opening along a portion of the length of the first upwardly extending sidewall and/or second upwardly extending sidewall. In other instances, the first upwardly extending sidewall and/or second upwardly extending sidewall extends into the bottom opening along the entirety of the length of the first upwardly extending sidewall and/or second upwardly extending sidewall.

The bottom metal body may include a first and/or second upwardly extending endwalls. The first and/or second upwardly extending endwalls may extend along a direction transverse to the first upwardly extending sidewall and/or second upwardly extending sidewall. For example, the first and/or second upwardly extending endwalls may extend orthogonal to the first upwardly extending sidewall and/or second upwardly extending sidewall. Preferably, the first and/or second upwardly extending endwalls connect the first upwardly extending sidewall and/or second upwardly extending sidewall.

The first and/or second upwardly extending endwalls preferably extend into the bottom opening defined by the receiver. The first and/or second upwardly extending endwalls may be positioned rearward of the cartridge receiving area and/or forward of the cartridge receiving area. When positioned rearward of the cartridge receiving area, the upwardly extending endwall preferably has a rearward-facing surface that faces and/or contacts a forward-facing surface of the receiver defining the bottom opening of the receiver. When positioned forward of the cartridge receiving area, the upwardly extending endwall preferably has a forward-facing surface that faces and/or contacts a rearward-facing surface of the receiver defining the bottom opening of the receiver.

Top ends of the first and second upwardly extending sidewalls and the first and/or second upwardly extending endwalls may each have an upward-facing surface. Preferably the upward-facing surfaces of the first and/or second upwardly extending sidewalls and/or first and/or second upwardly extending endwalls are preferably spaced from opposing downward-facing surfaces of the receiver. Advantageously, such an arrangement aids in transmitting all force between the bottom metal assembly and the receiver through the stock and fasteners extending between the bottom metal assembly and the receiver.

The wall thickness of the first and/or second upwardly extending sidewall and/or first and/or second upwardly extending endwall may vary along the height of the respective sidewall and/or endwall. For example, a portion of the sidewall and/or endwall extending into the bottom opening of the receiver may have a first thickness and a portion of the same sidewall and/or endwall outside of the bottom opening may have a second thickness. The first thickness may be less than the second thickness.

The first and/or second upwardly extending sidewall and/or first and/or second upwardly extending endwall are integral with the bottom metal body. For example, the first and/or second upwardly extending sidewall and/or first and/or second upwardly extending endwall may be monolithic with the bottom metal body. Preferably the first and/or second upwardly extending sidewall and/or first and/or second upwardly extending endwall comprise aluminum.

The first and/or second upwardly extending sidewall and/or first and/or second upwardly extending endwall preferably have a height sufficient to accommodate at least two vertically aligned cartridges received within the cartridge receiving area. Preferably cartridges within the cartridge receiving area can be arranged in an alternating (e.g., double stack) configuration.

The bottom metal assembly may include a spacer positioned within the cartridge receiving area, the spacer is separate from the follower and follower spring. The spacer is preferably removably fastened to the first and/or second upwardly extending endwall and/or the first and/or second upwardly extending sidewall. Preferably the spacer is fastened to one or more of these walls with a fastener such as a screw. Preferably the first and/or second upwardly extending endwall and/or the first and/or second upwardly extending sidewall define an opening for the fastener to extend therethrough.

The spacer may be used to reduce at least one dimension (e.g., length) and/or volume of the cartridge receiving area available to receive cartridges. Such an arrangement may allow for the cartridge receiving area to store cartridges of a smaller dimension (e.g., shorter length and/or smaller cross-sectional dimension) and reduce the space available for longitudinal and/or lateral movement of the cartridges while in the cartridge receiving area. For example, the bottom metal may be configured for 7 mm PRC without a spacer and 7 mm Remington Magnum with the spacer. Similarly, the bottom metal may be configured for 300 PRC without a spacer and 300 Winchester Magnum with the spacer.

Advantageously, the spacer can allow for the bottom metal assembly to reliably store and feed to the action of the firearm a greater range of cartridges (e.g., cartridges of shorter length) than existing bottom metals. Preferably, the spacer does not decrease the total number of cartridges (now of smaller size) that can be received within the cartridge receiving area. So, for example, if the cartridge receiving area can retain four cartridges of a first caliber with a follower and spring and without a spacer, the cartridge receiving area preferably can retain at least four cartridges of a second caliber with a follower, spring, and spacer—the second caliber being smaller in at least one dimension (e.g., length, cross-sectional dimension) than the first caliber.

The spacer has height measured from a bottom end to a top end of the spacer, a width measured from a first lateral side to a second lateral side, and a thickness measured from a rearward surface to a forward surface. When positioned within the firearm, the top end of the spacer is closer to the receiver of the firearm than the bottom end and the rearward surface of the spacer is further from the muzzle of the firearm than the forward surface of the spacer.

The top end of the spacer preferably does not extend above portions of the upward-facing surfaces of the first and/or second upwardly extending sidewalls and/or the first and/or second upwardly extending endwalls adjacent to the spacer. For example, the top end of the spacer may not extend above portions of the upward-facing surfaces of the first and/or second upwardly extending sidewalls along the thickness of the spacer. Similarly, the top end of the spacer may not extend above portions of the first and/or second upwardly extending endwalls contacting the spacer across the width of the bottom metal assembly.

Preferably, the top end of the spacer tapers downward towards a middle of the cartridge receiving area of the bottom metal assembly. For example, when positioned rearward of the cartridge receiving area, the top end of the spacer may taper downward along a direction moving towards the front end of the bottom metal assembly. When positioned forward of the cartridge receiving area, the top of the spacer may taper downward along a direction moving away from the front end of the bottom metal assembly.

The top end of the spacer may define a recess matching that of the first and/or second upwardly extending endwalls adjacent to the spacer. For example, the top end of the spacer may define a semicircular recess having a radius of curvature equal to or greater than a semicircular recess of the nearest first and/or second upwardly extending endwall. Preferably the recess of the top end of the spacer is aligned with the recess of the first and/or second upwardly extending endwall along the direction of the length of the bottom metal assembly.

The width of the spacer preferably approximates the width of the cartridge receiving area.

K its having a spacer and accompanying follower are envisioned. In such kits, the thickness of the spacer plus the length of the follower approximates the length of the internal area defined by the first and/or second endwalls and/or the first and/or second sidewalls. Kits may be provided with spacers and followers of different length so as to accommodate particular cartridges. For example, a first kit may have a thicker spacer and a shorter, in length, follower than a second kit. Advantageously, such arrangements may allow for bottom metal assemblies configured for one or more cartridges to be modified, by insertion of the spacer and replacement of the follower, to accommodate at least one cartridge or shorter length.

A trigger assembly is positioned within the stock, the receiver, and/or the bottom metal. The trigger assembly includes a trigger. When the trigger assembly is positioned within the firearm, the trigger that may extend downwardly through an opening in the bottom metal so as to expose a portion of the trigger for selective operation by a shooter. At least partially surrounding the trigger is a trigger guard. The trigger guard is configured to configured to resist inadvertent operation of the trigger (e.g., by the trigger becoming snagged on an object). Preferably the trigger guard is integral with the bottom metal. For example, the trigger guard and bottom metal may comprise a monolithic material. Alternatively, the trigger guard may be formed of a separately piece of material and attached to the bottom metal.

Preferably the bottom metal assemblies disclosed herein, such as the bottom metal assemblies with hinged floorplates, are sized and configured for receipt into a stock with a bottom opening (e.g., inlet cut) for a detachable box magazine (DB M) bottom metal. DBM openings are ordinarily greater in width than openings for existing style bottom metals with a hinged floor plate. Accordingly, the bottom metal assemblies disclosed herein are capable of replacing existing DBM bottom metal with a bottom metal having a hinged floor plate. This reduces the need to alter stocks and/or provide a different stock when changing a firearm from a DMB to a bottom metal with a hinged floor plate or vice versa. Further forms, objects, features, aspects, benefits, advantages, and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from a detailed description and drawings provided herewith.

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. One embodiment of the invention is shown in great detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not relevant to the present invention may not be shown for the sake of clarity.

With respect to the specification and claims, it should be noted that the singular forms “a”, “an”, “the”, and the like include plural referents unless expressly discussed otherwise. As an illustration, references to “a device” or “the device” include one or more of such devices and equivalents thereof. It also should be noted that directional terms, such as “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, and the like, are used herein solely for the convenience of the reader in order to aid in the reader's understanding of the illustrated embodiments, and it is not the intent that the use of these directional terms in any manner limit the described, illustrated, and/or claimed features to a specific direction and/or orientation.

illustrate a firearmof the present invention. The firearm has a forward (i.e., muzzle) end, a rearward end, an upper side, a lower side, a left side, and a right side. The firearm includes a barrel, a receiver, a stock, a trigger assembly, and a bottom metal assembly.

The barrel has a chamber endand a muzzle end. The chamber end of the barrel is attached to the receiver of the firearm and is configured to receive cartridges for firing.

The receiver at least partially contains and supports the action of the firearm, which includes a boltthat can be reciprocated to load cartridges into the chamber of the barrel and unload spent cartridges from the chamber. In some firearms the bolt is reciprocated by hand (e.g., by operation of a leverfrom a forward position (e.g., closed breach) illustrated into a rearward position (e.g., open breach). In some firearms, such as auto-loading firearms, the bolt reciprocates automatically rearwardly in response to the firing of a cartridge in the chamber-such as in a gas-operated, piston operated, and/or direct block back operated firearms.

In many firearms, as the bolt moves forwardly towards the forward/closed position, a portion of the bolt (e.g., a lug) contacts a base end of a cartridge and pushes the cartridge forward so as to load the cartridge into the chamber of the barrel for firing. After the cartridge has been fired, reward movement of the bolt from the forward position towards the rearward position may extract the spent cartridge from the chamber of the barrel.

The stock is configured to support the receiver of the firearm and, preferably, allow a shooter to comfortably support the firearm during operation. The stock extends at least partially beneath the receiver. In many instances, the stock extends rearwardly of the receiver and defines a grip portion, a cheek comb, and a butt portion, The grip portion is configured for grasping by a hand of a shooter hand to support the firearm. Additionally, the grip portion can aid in retaining the hand of a shooter hand in relation to the firearm—e.g., such that a finger (e.g., the index finger) of the hand may reach and actuate a trigger of the firearm. The cheek comb is configured for contact with a cheek of the shooter, and the butt portion is configured to contact the body of a shooter so as to aid in stabilizing the firearm for aiming as well as transferring recoil of the firearm during firing to the body of the shooter. Some stocks may include an adjustable cheek comb and/or butt portion. In many instances, the stock has a portion that extends forwardly of the receiver (e.g., a foregrip).

The bottom metal assembly is positioned on a bottom side of the stock and has a portion extending at least partially into the stock.illustrate perspective views of the stock with upper openingfor receipt of the receiver and barrel of the firearm and a lower opening (e.g., an inlet)for receipt of the bottom metal assembly.

Preferably, the bottom metal assembly sandwiches the stock between the bottom metal assembly and the receiver. For example, fastenersmay extend between the bottom metal assembly and the receiver and pull the bottom metal assembly and the receiver towards one another with the stock positioned therebetween. Preferably, the fasteners extend through one or more openings,in the stock.

The bottom metal assembly may include a bottom metal body, a hinged floorplateclosing a bottom of a cartridge receiving areaof the bottom metal, a follower, a follower springpositioned within the receiving area of the bottom metal body, a latchselectively retaining the hinged floorplate of the bottom metal assembly in a closed configuration, and an optional spacerpositioned within the cartridge receiving area of the bottom metal body. Preferably the bottom metal assembly is not configured for the receipt of a detachable box magazine. Preferably the bottom metal body is a monolithic piece. Preferably, the bottom metal body comprises aluminum.

The bottom metal body has a top side, a bottom side, a left side, a right side, a rear endand a forward endand a lengthextending along a direction from the rearward end to the forward end. The top side of the bottom metal body faces portions of the stock and or receiver when in the firearm assembly. The bottom side of the bottom metal body is opposite the top side and faces away from the stock of the firearm (e.g., faces downward during normal operation of the firearm) when positioned within the firearm. The rearward end of the bottom metal body is positioned further from the muzzle end of the barrel than the forward end of the bottom metal body.