#Patent

I just received a copy of the second court document which rejects Mossbergs claims a second time. While it indicates this is not a final decision it again calls into question the validity of the patent infringement lawsuit.

HexMag, known for their hexagonal magazines (who’d a thunk?), has been granted a patent for their “True Riser” magazine capacity reduction system. In short, the True Riser is an set of parts that when combined with a standard capacity magazine, reduces the capacity of the magazine to the designed size.

Apropos of Nathaniel F’s recent query: “ How Can We Break The Small Arms Plateau“, an interesting development may be taking place alongside the new prospect of guided ( DARPA’s EXACTO and Sandia’s self-guided bullet) small arms ammunition: limited range rounds that aerodynamically destabilize at a set range.  Much like DARPA’s EXACTO, proof of concept is being tested with .50 caliber rounds at first.  The safety capabilities of a round that limits its ballistic trajectory come to thought at first, not only limiting collateral damage in urban combat, but opening up more (military) range possibilities for heavy caliber usage.  Others questions arise as well: Would this round be banned from civilian ranges due to its pyrotechnic nature?  Can these rounds ignite fires?  Would they be considered an explosive?  Should they be mandatory for celebratory gunfire or given away as a door prize at certain weddings?  (Slightly kidding with those last ones…)  Press release from Picattiny Arsenal follows:

Kramer Defense, the company that introduced the 6.8x45mm UCC cartridge based on the .378″/9.6mm diameter case head of 5.56mm,  filed a patent on Aug 14, 2014 (approved Sept. 1, 2015) that has recently sent shockwaves through the 6.5 Grendel and cartridge wildcatting communities. The patent relates to bolts of larger diameter than the standard AR-15 bolt, coupled with cartridges of larger size and bore diameter. The most relevant section of the patent is below:

Here is an interesting patent ( US4019423) for an open bolt assault rifle which looks like a cross between a STEN and an M16. A large compression spring is depicted in front of the barrel assembly which in theory will slightly delay the breech opening when struck by the bolt as a round is chambered. A very simple concept on paper, though I can see a hang-fire not being too pleasant.

A reader sent this in to TFB when they stumbled across an odd patent for a type of “Vermin Control”, patented in 1882 by a certain James A Williams. It uses a lever that a rodent would feasibly step on and would be connected to a trigger, which would set it off. It specifically says the patent may also be used against burglars…

The Historical Firearms blog has a very interesting post on a forgotten John Browning patent for a (then-advanced) pump-action shotgun. The weapon features an enclosed hammer, dual extractors, and a tilting locking block reminiscent of the later M1918 automatic rifle. The gun in many ways foreshadows the “Perfect Repeater” Winchester 1912, but differs in a few tantalizing respects. First, the bolt locks via a separate block, like a BAR or MAG, not via tilting the entire bolt as in a Model 12. Secondly, the firing pin is raked at an angle, apparently to accommodate the low profile rear receiver. 

American Tactical Imports (ATI) is suing the Tennessee Arms Company (TAC) for patent infringement. ATI claims that TAC’s Hybrid Polymer Lower Receiver infringes on ATI’s patent 8,789,305 (“Hybrid lower receiver for a rifle”). This patent forms the basis for American Tactical’s OMNI Hybrid AR-15 Lower Receiver.

Gun artwork is very popular in some circles. An Etsy page is now selling gun patent drawings as posters. Pricing starts at $6.99 for a 5×7 and goes up to $34.99 for a 24×36. Some of the patent art being sold include the M1 Garand, Gatling Gun and Glock pistol.

A jury has found that Diamondback Firearms infringed upon patent # 5502914 that is held by Kahr Arms (Saelio Inc). The patent in question describes a striker and cocking mechnism invented by Kahr founder Justin Moon. Kahr made the following statement to the press when they filed the lawsuit in 2011 …

Jason Jackson has received a patent ( #8,176,837) for a AR-15 gas system that can be switched from piston-mode to direct impingement-mode by the operator. The piston itself is the gas tube. By adjusting the system, the piston can be locked in place and opened up to allow gas to flow through it into the bolt carrier.

Olin Corporation (which trades under the Winchester Ammunition brand) has just been granted a patent ( #8161886) for a 12 gauge shotshell design that would be used in conjunction with a barrel insert in order to allow the firing of small-caliber bullets through a rifled barrel from a 12 gauge shotgun.

James Hunter, Hank Gevedon and Rex McDonald have applied for a patent (# 20110283582) for a bullpup conversion kit for Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 pump action shotguns.

Robert B. Davies has applied for a patent (# 20110209377) for an interesting AR-15 modification. He proposes inserting a spring loaded counter weight into the back of the bolt carrier. This combined with a complicated hybrid spring/hydraulic bolt buffer should, according to the inventor, reduce muzzle rise.

Earlier this year American Handgunner ran a story about Walter Perrine’s interesting Pirahha Pistol. The pistol’s operating mechanism (Patent # 3861274. Issued Jan 2, 1975) bears a striking resemblance to the KRISS Vector submachine gun/carbine. The blowback-operated bolt is connected by a linkage to a mass that actuates downward in the pistol grip, deflecting some of the recoil in a downward direction. The KRISS has a similar system although the bolt is connected to a mass that sits forward of the pistol grip, rather than in it.