Firearm Muzzle Accessory

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/526,718, filed Dec. 1, 2023, entitled “Firearm Muzzle Accessory,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/680,067, filed Feb. 24, 2022, entitled “Firearm Muzzle Accessory,” now U.S. Pat. No. 11,874,078, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/300,001, filed Jan. 16, 2022, entitled “Muzzle Accessory.” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/526,718, U.S. Pat. No. 11,874,078, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/300,001 are assigned to the assignee of the present application.

It is common to attach different types of muzzle accessories to the barrel of a firearm, such as, for example, a handgun. One such muzzle accessory is a compensator (or muzzle brake). Compensators typically operate by redirecting a portion of discharge gasses upwardly from the muzzle of a firearm, thereby reducing (or compensating for) unwanted upward motion of the firearm caused by recoil forces. A flash suppressor is another type of muzzle accessory that reduces the visible signature of a firearm by cooling or dispersing hot discharge gases that exit the muzzle. A silencing muzzle accessory (also known as a silencer or suppressor) operates to modify and/or reduce the acoustic amplitude of a gunshot.

Typical methods for attaching muzzle accessories to firearm barrels have proved unsatisfactory. For instance, some muzzle accessories are provided with threaded holes that allow them to be screwed onto threaded barrels using high torque. Shims or crush washers are used to allow for proper alignment of such devices while maintaining adequate torquing force during installation. In other instances, one or more set screws are provided to apply lateral frictional forces to barrels to prevent rotation of muzzle accessories after alignment. These attachment methods, however, require specialized tools and bracing equipment to stabilize firearms during installation or removal of muzzle accessories. They are also time consuming, semi-permanent and may not be suitable in situations requiring frequent removal and/or replacement of muzzle accessories, as new shims/washers, careful alignment and retorquing are required for each installation. Repeated tightening of set screws after each installation may also result in stripping of the set screws and/or damage to barrel threads, rendering them ineffective for subsequent use. Such attachment methods also disadvantageously rely on frictional forces to maintain proper alignment of muzzle accessories, rendering them prone to inadvertent rotation or misalignment after repeated use.

There is thus a need for a removable muzzle accessory capable of being quickly and reliably aligned and affixed to a firearm in a tool less (or near tool less) fashion and without need for specialized bracing and other equipment.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide accessorized firearms and muzzle accessories that are capable of quick and easy alignment, installation and removal with little effort and without need for specialized tools. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the subject disclosure, an accessorized firearm is provided. The accessorized firearm includes a firearm including a barrel having a main firing tube, the barrel provided with an alignment key; and a muzzle accessory including an accessory body having a through-channel and a surface provided with an alignment groove, the through-channel receiving the barrel of the firearm, the alignment groove receiving the alignment key, the alignment key rotationally fixing the muzzle accessory relative to the barrel.

In accordance with an aspect of the subject disclosure, the alignment key is integrally formed with the barrel.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the barrel defines a receptacle, and the receptacle receives the alignment key.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the barrel defines a longitudinal axis; and the receptacle axially extends along a portion of the main firing tube relative to the longitudinal axis.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the alignment key rotationally fixes the muzzle accessory relative to the barrel about the longitudinal axis.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the barrel defines an outer surface; and the receptacle extends into the outer surface.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the barrel defines a transverse groove; and the muzzle accessory further comprises a locking member structured to engage the transverse groove to lock the muzzle accessory to the barrel.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the barrel defines a longitudinal axis; and the locking member locks the muzzle accessory to the barrel in an axial direction relative to the longitudinal axis.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the firearm further comprises a slide; and the accessory body defines an alignment tab structured to engage with a slot of the slide.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the alignment tab defines the alignment groove.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the barrel further includes a cylindrical barrel extension extending distally from the main firing tube, the through-channel of the accessory body includes a barrel receptacle sized to receive the main firing tube of the barrel and an intermediate channel distally of and in communication with the barrel receptacle, the intermediate channel sized to receive the cylindrical barrel extension of the barrel.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the through-channel further includes an exit channel distally of and in communication with the intermediate channel, the exit channel having a diameter approximately equal to a diameter of a firing channel of the barrel.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the barrel further includes a distally facing annular ledge, the accessory body further includes a proximally facing annular wall at a boundary between the barrel receptacle and the intermediate channel, and the muzzle accessory further includes an O-ring positioned within the barrel receptacle between the annular ledge of the barrel and the annular wall of the accessory body.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the O-ring is compressed between the annular ledge of the barrel and the annular wall of the accessory body.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the accessory body further includes a lateral through-bore aligned with a transverse groove of the barrel and a locking pin engaging the through-bore and the groove of the barrel.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, at least one side of the circumferential channel is tapered.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the locking pin includes a circumferential channel and the muzzle accessory further includes a detent spring to engage the circumferential channel.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the subject disclosure, a muzzle accessory for installation on a barrel of a firearm, a distal end of the barrel including a main firing tube, the barrel provided with an alignment key, the muzzle accessory comprises an accessory body having a through-channel and a surface, the through-channel sized to receive the barrel of the firearm, the surface provided with an alignment groove structured to receive the alignment key to rotationally fix the muzzle accessory relative to the barrel.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the barrel defines a receptacle, and wherein the receptacle receives the alignment key.

In accordance with an aspect of the subject disclosure, the barrel defines a longitudinal axis; and the receptacle axially extends along a portion of the main firing tube relative to the longitudinal axis.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the alignment key is structured to rotationally fix the muzzle accessory relative to the barrel about the longitudinal axis when received by the receptacle and the alignment groove.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the barrel defines a transverse groove; and the muzzle accessory further comprises a locking member structured to engage the transverse groove to lock the muzzle accessory to the barrel.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the accessory body defines an alignment tab structured to engage with a slot of a slide of the firearm.

In accordance with another aspect of the subject disclosure, the alignment tab defines the alignment groove.

In accordance with still another aspect of the subject disclosure, the locking pin includes a circumferential channel and the muzzle accessory further includes a detent spring positioned to engage the circumferential channel when the locking pin is inserted into the through-bore.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the subject disclosure, the accessory body further includes a retention receptacle sized to receive the detent spring.

In accordance with still another aspect of the subject disclosure, the accessory body further includes a threaded bore, the muzzle accessory further comprising a set screw within the threaded bore for maintaining the detent spring within the retention receptacle.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the subject disclosure, the accessory body further includes an access channel and the detent spring extends proximally from the retention receptacle into the access channel.

In accordance with still another aspect of the subject disclosure, the through-bore intersects the through-channel and the access channel.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the subject disclosure, the locking pin includes tapered ends and at least one side of the circumferential channel is tapered.

In accordance with still another aspect of the subject disclosure, the accessory body further includes an alignment tab structured to engage with a slot of a slide of the firearm.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the subject disclosure, the alignment tab includes a lower surface provided with an alignment groove sized to receive an alignment key of the barrel.

In accordance with still another aspect of the subject disclosure, the accessory body includes a sight-receipt hole to receive a front sight.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the subject disclosure, the accessory body includes an access window sized to receive a tool for affixing the front sight to the access body using a sight screw.

Reference will now be made in detail to an exemplary embodiment of the subject disclosure illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same or like reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like features. It should be noted that the drawings are in simplified form and are not drawn to precise scale. In reference to the disclosure herein, for purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as upper, lower, top, bottom, above, below and diagonal, are used with respect to the accompanying drawings. Such directional terms used in conjunction with the following description of the drawings should not be construed to limit the scope of the subject disclosure in any manner not explicitly set forth. Additionally, the term “a,” as used in the specification, means “at least one.” The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

“About” as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, is meant to encompass variations of +20%, +10%, +5%, +1%, or +0.1% from the specified value, as such variations are appropriate.

“Substantially” as used herein shall mean considerable in extent, largely but not wholly that which is specified, or an appropriate variation therefrom as is acceptable within the field of art.

“Exemplary” as used herein shall mean serving as an example.

Throughout the subject application, various aspects thereof can be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the subject disclosure. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 2.7, 3, 4, 5, 5.3, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages and characteristics of the exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more exemplary embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the subject disclosure can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular exemplary embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain exemplary embodiments that may not be present in all exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring now to the Figures, there is shown an exemplary accessorized firearmand muzzle accessoryin accordance with the present invention. Accessorized firearmincludes a firearm or handgunwith muzzle accessory(e.g., a compensator, flash suppressor or silencer) coupled to handgun. Muzzle accessoryillustrated in the Figures is a compensator (or muzzle brake), though it should be appreciated that muzzle accessorymay be a flash suppressor, silencer or other muzzle device, and that various embodiments described and claimed herein are not intended to be limited to any particular type(s) of muzzle accessories. It should also be appreciated that muzzle accessorymay be used with other types of firearms, such as, for example, rifles and shotguns, and that various embodiments described and claimed herein are not intended to be limited in use to any specific type(s) of firearms.

As best shown in, handgunof accessorized firearmincludes a standard receiver assemblyhaving a top side, a slidecoupled to top sideof receiver assemblyand having a U-shaped slotand barrel receipt hole, a barrelpositioned within slideand extending distally through barrel receipt hole, and a recoil spring assemblypositioned within slide. Handgunalso includes other well-known components and structures that are not shown or described herein.

Barrelof handgunincludes a proximal endhaving a chamberfor receiving rounds/projectiles to be fired and a distal endhaving a substantially cylindrical main firing tube, a transverse grooveon a bottom outside surface of main firing tubeextending transversely to the longitudinal axis of barrel, and a cylindrically shaped barrel extensioncoaxial with main firing tubeand extending distally therefrom by a predetermined length L(see). As best shown in, an outside diameter Dof barrel extensionis less than an outside diameter Dof main firing tube, thereby forming a distally facing annular ledgeat the boundary between main firing tubeand barrel extension. In some embodiments, outside diameter Dof barrel extensionis approximately equal to 0.425 inches, outside diameter Dof main firing tubeis approximately equal to 0. 570 inches and length Lof barrel extensionis approximately equal to 0.095 inches, though it should be appreciated that any or all of these features may be dimensioned differently. The inside diameters of main firing tubeand barrel extensionare substantially identical and together form a continuous longitudinal and rifled firing channelterminating at a tapered outlet.

In the embodiments illustrated in the Figures, transverse grooveintersects the bottom outside surface of barrel, has a semi-circular cross section and extends approximately perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of barrelwithout intersecting firing channel. It should be appreciated, however, that transverse groovemay have a different cross-sectional shape (such as square or triangular) and may be wider and/or longer, depending on the dimensions of barrel. It should also be appreciated that transverse grooveand barrel extensionmay be formed during manufacture of barrel(such as when barrelis designed specifically to engage with muzzle accessory) or, alternatively, may be formed by milling material from the distal end of a standard handgun barrel (or other firearm barrel) to provide after-market compatibility with muzzle accessoryand other muzzle accessories described and/or contemplated by the subject disclosure.

As best shown in, muzzle accessoryincludes an accessory body, a front sightsecured to accessory bodywith a sight screw, and various mating parts for removably affixing accessory bodyto barrelof handgun, including locking-pin, O-ring, detent springand set screw.

Accessory bodyof muzzle accessoryincludes a proximal end, a distal end, a top outer surfacehaving a sight-receipt holesized to receive a keyed portionof front sight, a through-channelextending longitudinally between proximal and distal ends,, a transverse and upwardly facing ventcommunicating with through-channelat distal end, a bottom portionhaving an access windowcommunicating with a blind access channelextending distally and substantially parallel to through-channelfrom proximal end, a sloping lipprotruding downwardly from a top sideof access channeland forming a retention groove, a blind retention receptaclecommunicating with and extending distally from retention groove, a threaded boreintersecting retention receptacleand extending transversely therefrom to an outside curved surfaceof bottom portion, a through-boreextending laterally and completely through proximal endbetween and intersecting through-channeland access channel, and a U-shaped alignment tabat proximal end.