“COUPLING DEVICE FOR A FIREARM ACCESSORY”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a coupling device for a firearm accessory.

In particular, the coupling device allows a quick coupling with firearms such as guns and rifles of various types and firing capacity, also in a volley.

By way of example, by accessories we mean devices to suppress/silence noise, line throwing devices, tear gas launchers, device launchers, anti-riot devices, and suchlike.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of firearms, it is known to associate a flash suppressor with the barrel of the firearm, which has the function of dispersing part of the unbumt powders due to firing and of reducing the flame of the shot.

The flash suppressor is normally always installed on the barrel of the firearm of military origin and, if necessary, it is possible to associate accessories with the firearm, for example those mentioned above.

Coupling devices are also known which allow to connect an accessory and the flash suppressor of a firearm with each other. For this purpose the flash suppressor is usually provided with circumferential grooves to facilitate this coupling.

One of the problems that arise is that of the stable and rigid connection of the accessory and the firearm, that is, between the flash suppressor associated with the firearm, whether it is a pistol or a rifle, even a repeating firearm.

If the coupling is not stable and rigid, that is, such as to create a single stable body of the weapon and the accessory, when it is fired it will generate reciprocal movements of the latter that can compromise the directionality of the projectile.

Moreover, the non-stability of the connection also determines the onset of vibrations that are transmitted to the user and which, at times, can cause unwanted separation of the accessory from the firearm, with consequent problems of safety of the users.

It is also known that in certain situations of use, the user of the firearm has more than one accessory and, if he/she is operating in a dynamic environment, he/she is often required to install the various accessories on the firearm quickly and in a selectively removable manner.

A coupling device is also known from document US-A-2011/0154711, for accessories to be installed on an A2 flash suppressor, but this requires complex installation operations.

Another coupling device is also known from document US-B-8.291.805, for accessories to be connected to the flash suppressor, which is provided with a quick connector suitable to couple with flat parts of the flash suppressor. This solution, however, includes rather high mechanical plays between the coupling device and the flash suppressor which entail technical problems as described below. In particular, this coupling device includes high axial plays with the flash suppressor which can compromise the accuracy of the shot, and can also induce excessive vibrations on the weapon that are transmitted to the user. Moreover, the coupling device described in this document requires the user to orientate the coupling device precisely with respect to the flash suppressor so as to dispose the flat parts of the latter in correspondence with the zone in which the inserts are coupled.

US-B-8,499,676 describes a coupling device for connecting an accessory, such as an adapter for volley fire or a noise suppressor, to the flash suppressor of a firearm. The device is inserted on the flash suppressor until some flat surfaces of the flash suppressor are aligned with holes in the device. Snap-in elements are disposed in the holes of the device. The device is provided with a collar which is made to advance by screwing it with respect to the device until it reaches a locked position, in which it presses the snap-in elements against the flat surfaces of the flash suppressor. The unscrewing of the collar determines the release and allows the snap-in elements to move radially, freeing themselves from the flat surfaces of the device. A spring lock prevents the collar from rotating during use, particularly when the firearm is fired, but it can be released to rotate the collar between the lock and release positions.

However, even this solution does not ensure a stable and secure connection between a firearm and an accessory and therefore causes the onset of the problems mentioned above.

Moreover, this solution is rather complex to obtain and requires a long time to install the coupling device on the barrel of the firearm, that is, on the flash suppressor.

One purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide a quick and safe coupling device for different types of flash suppressors, among which the A1 and A2 type that are supplied as standard to semi-automatic rifles of the Colt AR15- M16A1-A2 family.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a coupling device between an accessory and the flash suppressor that is stable and rigid.

Another purpose is to obtain a coupling device suitable for application to any type of firearm.

Another purpose is to obtain a coupling device that is quick and safe to install.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, the invention concerns a coupling device for a firearm accessory comprising:

- a tubular body, provided with an axial cavity that develops along a longitudinal axis and in which part of the firearm can be positioned during use, and with at least one radial aperture through toward the axial cavity;

- at least one insert positioned in the at least one radial aperture; and

- an actuation member associated with the tubular body and configured to move the at least one insert in the at least one radial aperture and take it to at least a position protruding inside the axial cavity.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the actuation member is configured to assume, on the tubular body and by means of an axial movement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, a first axial position in which the insert is located outside the axial cavity, and a second axial position, translated along the longitudinal axis, in which the insert is located at least partly protruding into the axial cavity.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the device comprises a closing body with which the firearm accessory can be connected and provided with a tubular aperture having an abutment wall on which, during use, said part of the firearm is positioned. The closing body is screwable on the tubular body to move the abutment wall in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and axially toward/away from said at least one insert.

In this way, by screwing the closing body with respect to the tubular body it is possible to recover the axial play that is normally generated between the flash suppressor, that is, part of the firearm, and the coupling device. Indeed, by screwing it is possible to close the coupling device on the flash suppressor pack- wise, between the inserts and the abutment wall of the closing body.

The end edge of the flash suppressor is positioned in abutment against the abutment wall, while the insert is positioned inside an attachment groove normally provided on the flash suppressor.

With the first axial movement of the actuation member it is therefore possible to define a first axial coupling of the flash suppressor and the coupling device, thanks to the cooperation of the inserts with holding portions provided on the flash suppressor itself. However, this first axial coupling still maintains axial plays between the flash suppressor and the coupling device, which are cancelled by screwing the closing body onto the tubular body.

In particular, the movement of the actuation member allows to carry out a rapid axial movement, by means of a simple axial sliding, while the movement of the closing body, by screwing, allows to carry out a precise adjustment of the axial position. This solution allows to obtain a coupling device that can be installed or uninstalled very quickly onto or from a firearm by combining the two axial movements, which ensure that there are no axial plays between the coupling device and the firearm.

This solution allows to couple the coupling device with the flash suppressor without the user having to orient the coupling device circumferentially with respect to the firearm.

Embodiments of the present invention also concern a firearm comprising a coupling device as defined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a perspective view of a coupling device not yet installed on a firearm;

- figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the coupling device installed on the firearm;

- fig. 4 is an exploded view of the coupling device in fig. 1 ;

- fig. 5 is another perspective view of fig. 2, from a different angle;

- figs. 6 to 8 are cross section views of the coupling device in fig. 1 in different installation steps on a firearm;

- fig. 9 shows a possible variant of fig. 1 ;

- fig. 10 is a partly exploded view of the device of fig. 9;

- fig. 11 is a completely exploded view of the device in fig. 9;

- figs. 12 to 14 are cross section views of the coupling device in fig. 9 in different installation steps on a firearm.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the attached drawings, a coupling device for a firearm accessory is indicated as a whole by the reference number 10.

The coupling device 10 according to the present invention can be installed on part of a firearm, for example a flash suppressor 11.

The coupling devices 10 described here can be installed, for example, on flash suppressors 11 of the A1 and A2 type supplied as standard on semi-automatic rifles of the Colt AR15-M16A1-A2 family. By way of example only, not restrictive of the present invention, the flash suppressors 11 can also include A2 compensators, A2 Flash hiders, Birdcage, A2 Style (Solid Bottom) for rifles of the M16A1-A2 family.

It is not excluded, however, that the present coupling device 10 can be installed on other flash suppressors 1 1 supplied with any other firearm.

The flash suppressor 11 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is provided with a through-channel 12 through which, during use, the projectile passes. The flash suppressor 11 is also provided with an attachment portion 13 configured to allow to connect the flash suppressor 11 to a barrel 14 of the firearm.

The attachment portion 13 can comprise a threaded hole, coaxial with the through channel 12, and screwable on a threaded portion of the barrel 14 of the firearm.

The flash suppressor 11 is also provided with through apertures 15, made radially in the body of the flash suppressor 11 , transverse to the through-channel 12, and in communication with the latter. The through apertures 15 allow the passage of the flame and of the powders deriving from the shot.

The flash suppressor 11 is also provided with at least one attachment groove 16, in this case two attachment grooves 16, made on the external surface of the flash suppressor 11 and configured to allow the coupling device 10 to be coupled, as described below.

The attachment grooves 16 can extend circumferentially over the entire external perimeter of the flash suppressor 11.

The coupling device 10, according to the present invention, has a substantially tubular shape and is provided with a tubular cavity 17 which extends along a longitudinal axis Z of the coupling device 10 itself.

The tubular cavity 17 is substantially aligned and coaxial with the through channel 12 of the flash suppressor 11.

The tubular cavity 17 has sizes suitable to accommodate the flash suppressor 11 inside it.

In particular, it can be provided that the tubular cavity 17 of the coupling device 10 has a diameter equal to or greater than the external diameter of the flash suppressor 11.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the coupling device 10 comprises a tubular body 18 provided with an axial cavity 19 which develops along the longitudinal axis Z.

The axial cavity 19 defines at least part of the tubular cavity 17 of the coupling device 10.

Part of the firearm can be positioned during use in the axial cavity 19, in this case, the flash suppressor 11. The tubular body 18 is provided with at least one radial aperture 20, in this case a plurality of radial apertures 20 which are made through toward the axial cavity 19 of the tubular body 18.

In the case shown in the drawings, the tubular body 18 is provided with four radial apertures 20 angularly distanced from each other on the perimeter of the tubular body 18.

In the tubular body 18, and between the radial apertures 20, lightening apertures can also be made (fig. 11), with the aim of reducing the overall weight of the coupling device 10.

In accordance with a possible solution, the coupling device 10 also comprises at least one insert 21 positioned in the at least one radial aperture 20. In this case, the coupling device comprises a plurality of inserts 21, equal in number to the number of radial apertures 20, and each of which is inserted into the latter.

In particular, each radial aperture 20 has a shape and size substantially similar to those of the insert 21. In this way, the radial aperture 20 is configured to guide the radial movement of the insert 21 in the radial aperture 20.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the coupling device 10 comprises an actuation member 22 associated with the tubular body 18 and configured to move the at least one insert 21 into the radial aperture 20 and take it into at least one position protruding inside the axial cavity 19.

In particular, it can be provided that the actuation member 22 is installed coaxially with the tubular body 18 and is mobile axially, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis Z, to determine the movement of the inserts 21 in the radial apertures 20.

In accordance with a possible embodiment of the invention, the actuation member 22 is configured to assume, on the tubular body 18, a first axial position (figs. 6 and 13) in which the inserts 21 are located outside the axial cavity 19 and a second axial position (figs. 7, 8, 12, and 14), translated along the longitudinal axis, in which the inserts 21 are located at least partly protruding into the axial cavity 19.

According to a possible solution of the invention, holding means 50 (figs. 1-3, 7, 8 and 12-14) are associated with the tubular body 18 and with the actuation member 22, and are configured to keep the actuation member 22 in the first axial position and in the second axial position.

In possible solutions (figs. 1-8), the holding means 50 comprise a holding element 23 associated with the actuation member 22 and configured to hold the actuation member 22 in the first axial position and, respectively, in the second axial position.

In some embodiments of the invention, the tubular body 18 is provided, on its external perimeter surface, with at least two holding hollows 24 (figs. 1-8), axially distanced from each other, and in which at least part of the holding element 23 can be inserted on each occasion to define the first and second axial positions.

The holding element 23 (figs. 1-8) can comprise, for example, a lever 25 pivoted on the actuation member 22 and provided with a coupling tooth 26 which can be inserted into one or the other of the holding hollows 24.

The holding element 23 is also provided with an elastic element 27 configured to keep the coupling tooth 26 inserted into one or the other of the holding hollows 24.

In particular, by acting on the lever 25, a user can release the coupling tooth 26 from the holding hollow 24 in which the actuation member 22 is positioned and can translate with respect to the tubular body 18. Releasing the lever 25, the elastic element 27 returns the coupling tooth 26 to the other holding hollow 24.

In accordance with a possible embodiment of the invention, the actuation member 22 comprises at least one support ring nut 28 inserted coaxially on the tubular body 18, and provided to support the inserts 21.

According to possible solutions, the actuation member 22 also comprises a covering ring nut 29 inserted coaxially, in turn, on the support ring nut 28 to cover the latter.

The support ring nut 28 and the covering ring nut 29, moreover, are configured so as to close the radial apertures 20 with respect to the outside. This prevents, for example, during a shot, the gases from escaping directly outside, and therefore it allows to reduce the noise generated by the escape of the gases.

According to a possible solution, the support ring nut 28 and the covering ring nut 29 are connected to each other.

According to a possible solution (figs. 1-8), the support ring nut 28 and the covering ring nut 29 can be connected integrally with each other, for example but not exclusively, by threaded elements, not shown and associated with respective holes 30 made in the support ring nut 28 and in the covering ring nut 29.

In accordance with another solution (figs. 9-14), the support ring nut 28 and the covering ring nut 29 can be connected in such a way as to prevent reciprocal axial movement, and allow reciprocal rotation around their axis, preferably limited by a predefined angular sector, for example an angle comprised between 10° and 60°.

By way of example only, it can be provided that the covering ring nut 29 has an abutment edge 51 positioned, during use, resting against a shoulder 52 made in the support ring nut 28.

The abutment edge 51 defines a through hole 53 through which a portion of the tubular body 18 is positioned.

The abutment edge 51 is provided with through eyelets 54 which extend for a predefined angular sector. Screws 55 are fixed on the shoulder 52 of the support ring nut 28, located during use in the through eyelets 54 and which axially hold the covering ring nut 29 and the support ring nut 28, preventing their axial movement, and allow reciprocal rotation thereof.

The through hole 53 is also provided with radial seatings 56 which extend radially with respect to the through hole 53 and are suitable to cooperate with respective protrusions 57, only one of which is visible in figs. 10 and 11. The protrusions 57 and the radial seatings 56 together define a bayonet-type coupling, and perform the function of the holding means 50 described above, that is, they allow or prevent the reciprocal axial sliding of the tubular body 18 and the actuation member 22.

The support ring nut 28 is provided with at least one housing seating 31, in this case a plurality of housing seatings 31 , each configured to at least partly receive one of the inserts 21.

The support ring nut 28 is also provided with a plurality of transverse holes 32 made in correspondence with the housing seatings 31 and into which respective holding pins 33 can be inserted, to hold the inserts 21, which are positioned inside the housing seatings 31.

In particular, in each of the housing seatings 31 at least two pins 33 are positioned which cooperate with a respective insert 21.

The insert 21 is provided with at least one holding tooth 36 (figs 4 and 6), in figs. 11-14 two holding teeth 36, located during use protruding in an incident direction with respect to the longitudinal axis Z, and able to be positioned in one of the attachment grooves 16 of the flash suppressor 11.

According to possible solutions, the insert 21 is provided with at least one guide cavity 34 in which a first of the pins 33 can be positioned.

The guide cavity 34 is made in a transverse direction, that is, inclined, with respect to the longitudinal axis Z, that is, to the direction of protrusion of the holding tooth 36.

The insert 21 is also provided with an inclined wall 35 and on which the other pin 33 is positioned resting. The wall 35 can be substantially parallel to the direction of the guide cavity 34.

The wall 35 and the guide cavity 34, during use, are inclined by a predetermined acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis Z, thus defining an inclined plane which allows a radial movement of the insert 21 in the housing seating 31 in which it is inserted.

In particular, by sliding the actuation member 22 with respect to the tubular body 18, a respective movement of the pins 33 is also determined. The pins 33, in turn, cooperating with the guide cavities 34 and the walls 35 of the inserts 21, determine a radial movement, that is, in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Z, of the latter.

Moreover, the radial movement of the inserts 21 is guided by the radial apertures 20 of the tubular body 18.

The assembly of the inserts 21 on the support ring nut 28 and in the radial apertures 20 of the tubular body 18 can provide the following operating sequence:

- insertion of the support ring nut 28 on the tubular body 18;

- for each housing seating 31 of the support ring nut 28, the insertion of one of the pins 33 which, during use, is positioned resting on the walls 35 of the inserts 21 ;

- insertion of one of the inserts 21 into each of the housing seatings 31 , through the axial cavity 19 of the tubular body 18; - insertion, into each of the housing seatings 31, of the other pin 33 which is positioned in the guide cavity 34 of the insert 21 to hold the inserts 21 in the tubular body 18.

After inserting the inserts 21 into the housing seatings 31, it is provided to insert the covering ring nut 29 on the support ring nut 28 and to constrain the latter on the support ring nut 28.

The cooperation of the pins 33 with the inserts 21 determines a maximum sliding travel of the actuation member 22 with respect to the tubular body 18, preventing the latter from separating completely from the actuation member 22.

The tubular body 18 is provided on its external surface with a threaded portion 37, to allow the connection of a closing body 38.

The coupling device 10 according to the present invention comprises, in fact, a closing body 38 with which an accessory, not shown in the drawings, for the firearm can be associated.

The accessory can be chosen from a group comprising one of either a noise suppression/silencing device, a line throwing device, a tear gas launcher, a device launcher, an anti-riot device.

The closing body 38 can be provided with a connection portion 58, for example threaded portions, provided to allow the connection of the accessory to the coupling device 10 according to the present invention. The connection portion 58 is disposed in a position opposite to the threaded portion 42 that connects the closing body 38 to the tubular body 18.

According to a possible solution, the connection portion 58 is associated with the tubular aperture 39.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the closing body 38 is provided with a tubular aperture 39 provided with at least one abutment wall 40 on which a part of the firearm is positioned, during use, that is, the flash suppressor 11.

The abutment wall 40 can have a circumferential development.

The abutment wall 40 can be substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Z (figs 6-8), or it can be inclined by an angle comprised between 20° and 60° with respect to the longitudinal axis Z (figs. 12-14). This last disposition of the abutment wall 40 allows to self-center the flash suppressor 11 in the tubular aperture 39 of the closing body 38. This configuration of the abutment wall 40 combined with the presence of a plurality of inserts 21, for example three or more, allows the coupling device not only to self-center but also to self-regulate on the flash suppressor 11, compensating for any possible variations in the diameter of the latter, due for example to machining tolerances.

The tubular aperture 39 defines part of the tubular cavity 17 of the coupling device 10.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the closing body 38 is screwed onto the tubular body 18 to move the abutment wall 40 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis Z and axially toward/away from the at least one insert 21.

In accordance with a possible solution of the present invention, it can be provided that the tubular aperture 39 is provided with at least an axial portion 41 having sizes substantially equal to or slightly greater than the external diameter of the flash suppressor 11. The axial portion 41 allows to define a guiding action for the insertion and holding in position of the flash suppressor 11 in the tubular aperture 39.

Embodiments of the present invention can provide that the abutment wall 40 is defined by a circumferential shoulder which extends radially or orthogonally with respect to the axial portion 41 of the tubular aperture 39.

The closing body 38 is provided in its tubular aperture 39 with a threaded portion 42 suitable to screw onto the threaded portion 37 of the tubular body 18.

Screwing or unscrewing the closing body 38 on the tubular body 18 causes a reciprocal translation of the closing body 38 and of the tubular body 18. This also results in a simultaneous movement of the abutment wall 40 of the closing body 38 toward or away from the inserts 21, that is, the holding tooth 36 of the latter.

This solution, as will be evident from the following description, allows to recover the reciprocal axial play between the flash suppressor 11 and the coupling device 10, guaranteeing the directionality of the projectile and the reduction of the problems related to the onset of vibrations.

According to a possible solution, between the closing body 38 and the tubular body 18 a limiting element 43 can be interposed, provided to limit the screwing travel of the closing body 38 on the tubular body 18. The limiting element 43, in fact, allows to move the closing body 38 axially, by a predetermined travel, with respect to the tubular body 18 to allow the flash suppressor 11 to position itself resting against the abutment wall 40, and therefore to recover the axial play present between the closing body 38 and the tubular body 18.

The axial movement travel of the closing body 38 with respect to the tubular body 18 can be comprised between 2mm and 6mm. By way of example only, it can be provided that the closing body 38 can rotate by a fraction of a round angle before defining the resting position of the abutment wall 40.

Therefore, on the tubular body 18 where the flash suppressor 11 is inserted, there are both the actuation member 22 which can move axially with respect to the tubular body 18 between the first and the second axial position, and also the closing body 38 which can move axially with respect to the tubular body 18 by means of controlled, limited screwing.

According to one solution, the limiting element 43 can comprise a pin 44 inserted into at least one through hole 45 made transversely in the closing body 38 and located tangent to the tubular aperture 39.

The tubular body 18 can be provided on its periphery with a circumferential groove 46 in which during use the pin 44 is positioned, substantially tangent.

The width of the circumferential groove 46 defines the amplitude of the screwing travel of the closing body 38 on the tubular body 18.

The closing body 38 can also be provided, on its surface that is external during use, with gripping portions, for example surface irregularities, suitable to allow the user to grip the closing body 38 and to screw/unscrew the latter with respect to the tubular body 18.

According to possible solutions, between the closing body 38 and the actuation member 22 there is an anti-unscrewing device 47 configured to selectively constrain the circumferential positioning of the closing body 38 with respect to the actuation member 22 and to the tubular body 18, when the flash suppressor 11 is integrally coupled with the coupling device 10. The anti unscrewing device 47 prevents an involuntary unscrewing of the closing body 38 with respect to the actuation member 22 due, for example, to the stresses/vibrations which arise during firing. The anti-unscrewing device 47 can comprise a circumferential toothing 48 and a positioning tooth 49 provided respectively on the closing body 38 and on the tubular body 18, or vice versa.

The positioning tooth 49 can be elastically mobile with respect to the body on which it is provided, to allow it to cooperate with the teeth of the circumferential toothing 48.

The functioning of the coupling device 10 is described below.

In its unassembled condition (figs. 1, 6, 9 and 12), the actuation member 22 is positioned, with respect to the tubular body 18, in a position suitable to keep the inserts 21 in a non-interfering position inside the axial cavity 19.

In this condition, the coupling device 10 can be inserted on the flash suppressor 11. The particular conformation of the coupling device 10 does not require the user to orient the latter angularly in a particular way, but only to insert it axially.

Subsequently the axial movement of the actuation member 22 on the tubular body 18 (figs. 2, 3, 6) is commanded, determining the radial translation of the inserts 21 into the attachment groove 16 of the flash suppressor 11. The actuation member 22 is therefore taken from its first to its second axial position.

The holding in position of the actuation member 22 on the tubular body 18 is obtained by means of the holding means 50.

The holding teeth 36 of the inserts 21 are therefore inserted into the attachment grooves 16 of the flash suppressor 11, causing a reciprocal connection of the latter and the coupling device 10.

In this condition the coupling device 10 is made integral with the flash suppressor 11 but, in any case, there are reciprocal axial plays present, identified by arrow G in figs. 7 and 13.

Subsequently, by acting on the closing body 38 and on the actuation member 22, it is possible to screw them, one onto the other, to move the abutment wall 40 toward the inserts 21.

The screwing of the closing body 38 allows to recover, that is, to cancel, the plays between the flash suppressor 11 and the closing body 38, avoiding the possibility of axial movements between them.

During the screwing of the closing body 38, the anti-unscrewing device 47 provides the cooperation between the positioning tooth 49 and the teeth of the circumferential toothing 48.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts can be made to the coupling device for a firearm accessory as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of coupling device for a firearm accessory, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.