GB2222384A - Method and apparatus for molding firearm stocks - Google Patents

Description

7L;-:'EAF'.! STOCKS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOL 1he invention relates to

a method and apparatus for molding firearm stocks.

Plastic rifle stocks formed of shell halves joined along a longitudinal seam have been proposed (U.S. Patent No. 3,011,283). Bolts have been used to hold molded stock halves in assembled position (U.S. Patent No. 3,023, 527). A stacking arrangement of plate mold sections for forming a variety of gears has also been described (U.S. Patent No. 3,724,803).

In blow molding of plastic containers the shape and size can be varied by the use of mold inserts (U.S. Patent No. 4,330,248) and mold inserts having (ifferent projecting configurations can be use( in side-hy-side mold sets to form hinged food containers (U.S. Patent 'No. 4,551,084).

T Ihe present invention provides a mold for molding an elongated firearm stock including a butt section, a mid receiver section and a barrel support section comprising a) a first movable mold portion having a first cavity therein; b) a second movable portion having a second cavity therein, the first and second cavities forming a stock exterior forming cavity when the first and second mold portions are positioned together; c) an insert receiving cavity in the mold; and d) a plurality of inserts having an insert bearing 292 2 3 8 4 portion and a core portion, each capable of insertion in said insert receiving cavity and with the core portion of each insert variable to create stock cavities of differing size and shape.

The invention also provides a method for molding plastics rifle stocks having cavities of selected sizes therein in which a) selecting a mold shape to provide the external configuration of the rifle stock7 b) providing a plurality mold core means for creating a plurality of varying sized cavities in the rifle stock as molded7 C) inserting mold core means in the mold to provide the size cavities desired; d) filling the mold with plastic resin to form the rifle stock; and thereafter inserting other mold core means in said mold to create a rifle stock having differing sized cavities.

Broadly, the present invention envisages a firearm stock mold having a plurality of mold sections that create a mold cavity and selected external shapes when such sections are positioned for molding. The size and shape of stock cavities and recesses (for receivers, barrels, other mechanism or for reduced weight) can be varied by insertion of removable mold inserts. A single set of mold sections together with a plurality of mold inserts make -3 possible the molding of a plurality -)4- mci( stocks differing in internal cavities to accommo-11ate differing firearm mechanisms.

It is an advantage that the method of selecting, assembling and arranging the mold sections and inserts creates a versatile and novel stock molding procedure to create an entire line of firearms.

It is a further advantage that cavities can be created to both receive firearm mechanism or to receive lightweight decorative panels.

There now follows a detailed description of a plurality of example of a method and mol(Hs according to the invention. The description is given by way of example only.

in the drawings:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a firearm stock molded in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a two (2) piece mold positioned on guide rods; Fig. 3 is a section along line 3-3 of Fig. 6 through the mold showing a butt end section of the molded stock; Fig. 4 is a section along line 4-4 of Fig. 6 through the mold showing a forward stock section of the molded stock, Fia. 5 is a section alona line 5-5 of Fig. 6 through the mold showing a mid stock section of the molded stock; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the one-half of the mold; -4 Fig. 7 Fig. 8 8-8 of Fig.

Fig. 9 Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. insert; Fig. Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a partial view of a second floor plate mold insert; Fig. 19 is a partial plate mold insert7 and Fig. 20 is a partia mold showing sprue and is is 9 is 10 is 11 is 12 is 13 is 14 is 15 is 16 is a plan view of the other half of the mold; a partial cross-sectional view along line a partial sectional view of the mold; an alternate insert for the mold; plan view of a first molded stock; plan view of a second molded stock; plan view of a third molded stock; plan view of a fourth molded stock bottom view of a molded stock; partial view of a first floor plate mold 17 is a sectional view taken along line 17-17 of side.lview of the second floor cross-sectional view through the gating.

Referring to Figs. 1-7, a plastic moldea rifle stock 10 is shown with butt section 11, receiver section 12 and barrel support section 13, allintegrally formed by molding. Molding of stock 10 is accomplished using mold 16 having right half 16a and left half l6b mounted on pairs of upper and lower horizonEal support or guide rods l7r, 171 (Fig. 2).Stock 10 includes cross support mounts 20a-20e and sling holes 9a, 9b, and- Further with respect to Fig. 2, mold 16 forms an internal cavity 18 having a size and shape which determines the overall exterior size and shape of the stock 10. Additional interior cavities which define particular parts of stock 10 include right and left curved panel insert cavity recesses 19r, 191; receiver cavity 21; barrel support cavity 22; and forward right and left elongated panel recesses 23r and 231. Each of these 33b not shown. Also recesses and cavities is created by a removable mold insert core as further explained. Recesses 19r, 191 are created by right and left curved panel cores 26r, 261 held in position by bolts 27 and elonpated recesses 23r, 231 are created by cores 28r, 281 held by bollts 29. Finally butt section 31 forms butt side hollow 33a (FiQ. 1) and shown is butt core 25.

Turning to Figs. 5, 6 and 8, vertical core insert A extends down into the forward receiver area of the stock of receiver cavity 2-1. In the vertical insert B forms barrel cavity 36 and lower insert C cooperates with insert A to form receiver cavity 21. Inserts A and B are carried on pull core 40 along rods 40a and 40b.

Turning to Figs. 3 and 6, horizontal core insert 31 extends into upper area lla of butt section 11 to maintain uniform wall thickness necessary in obtaining structurally sound part without cooling warpage around pin core 37.

section to form the upper part Fias. 4 and 6, it is seen that -6 Pin core 37 forms hole 9c for sling swivel through lower butt area llb which includes body portion 37. Also shown in Fig. 6 are hole pin core 38 and retractable angled subinsert 40 with pin core 40a. Turning to Fig. 8, inserts A and B are shown mounted in pull core 40 through connector bolts 42. Insert C with its pins 38 and 49a is also shown.

Figs. 11-14 show stocks 10 and 10' in which insert A has a selected length to create a receiver cavity and in which stocks 10'' and 10... have a shorter receiver cavity 45 created by insert Al (Figs. 13 and 14). Figs. 11-14 also show several different barrel contours B and Bl which can be interchanged with either short or long receiver cavity sections.

Figs. 15-19 show lower receiver cavity opening 46 including insert area 47 forming the bottom flat contour of stock 10 and inserts C and Cl for creating such opening and surface includes subinsert 39 for either C or Cl while subinsert core 40 forms the area where a stock bolt (not shown) fastens to the receiver upon assembly.

Finally, in Fig. 20 molded butt section 11 has a butt end recess 40 for receiving a recoil pad. Recess 49 is formed by retractable core 51 carried on movable core block 52 having sprue 53 and gate 54. Sprue 53 is fed orifice 56, nozzle 57 and heating cylinder 58.

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Claims (6)

CLAIMS:

1. A mold for molding an elongate,-7 stock including a butt section, a mid receiver section and a barrel a) support section comprising a first movable mold portion having a first cavity therein; b) a second movable portion having a second cavity therein, the first and second cavities forming a stock exterior forming cavity when the first and second mold portions are positioned together; C) an insert receiving cavity in the mold; and d) a plurality of inserts having an insert bearing portion and a core portion, each capable of insertion in said insert receivina cavitv and with the core portion of each insert variable to create stock cavities of differing size and shape.

2. The method for molding plastics rifle stocks having cavities of selected sizes therein in which a) selecting a mold shape to provide the external configuration of the rifle stock; b) providing a plurality mold core means for creating a plurality of varying sized cavities in the rifle stock as molded; C) inserting mold core means in the mold to provide the size cavities desired; d) filling the mold with plastic resin to form the rifle stock; and e) thereafter inserting other mold core means in said mold to create a rifle stock having differing sized cavities.

3. The mold of claim 1 having panel recess core means for creating panel recesses in the barrel support section.

4. The mold of claim 1 having a core insert which is movable longitudinally to the elongated stock into and out of thebutt section to create a recess therein during molding.

5. A mold for molding an elongate firearm stock constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.

6. A method of molding an elongate firearm stock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

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