BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to automatic and semi-automatic hand weapons and more particularly to submachine guns. Still more particularly, this invention relates to submachine guns having elements and subasse blies which are easily interchangeable at the field level.

Submachine guns are well known in the prior art. Several well known examples of such weapons are manufactured by Thompson, UZI and Ingram. Most of the well known submachine guns are fired by the operator using both hands to control the weapon. In each instance, these known designs provide a pistol grip for the trigger finger and a forearm grip or straps for the second hand to hold onto and secure the weapon. Cartridge case rejection of these weapons is fixed at a single point such that empty cartridge cases are ejected away from a right-handed firer. Consequently, a left-handed firer frequently finds himself hit in the upper torso and face with one or more hot cartridge cases which are being ejected from such standard weapons.

Recently, a submachine gun having a pistol grip which is rotative with respect to the barrel has been disclosed in United States Patent No. 4 ,327 ,626. This weapon permits 360° rotation of the grip with respect to the magazine and cartridge ejection port and thus permits a high degree of adaptability to an individual user's personal preferences and physical requirements. The complexity required to permit this flexibility in weapon configuration results in a weapon

which has a higher degree of complexity than other known weapons and which does not lend itself readily to field level maintenance.

It should therefore be apparent that a need exists for a highly adaptive submachine gun which lends itself readily to field maintenance and which does not have the complexity and unreliability problems of known weapons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved submachine gun.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved submachine gun having a grip which is rotative with respect to the barrel.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved submachine gun having a grip which is rotative with respect to the barrel and which is easily maintained in the field.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved submachine gun having assemblies and subassemblies which may be simply and easily interchanged at the field level.

The foregoing objects are achieved as is now described.

Each major assembly and/or subassembly of the submachine gun of the present invention is threaded together or dovetailed into place permitting interchangeability at the field level. The submachine gun includes a barrel threaded into a muzzle nut and a breech assembly. A forward housing surrounds the barrel and a forward bolt and includes dovetail slots for receiving a grip assembly and the cocking mechanism. A rear housing comprising two nested tubular members is utilized to receive and restrain a selected magazine housing and the rear housing and forward housing are rotatably coupled at the breech assembly to permit the magazine and grip assembly to rotate independently to multiple firing positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself; however, as well as a preferred mode of use , further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed

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description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a prospective view of the novel submachine gun of the present invention showing the rotative nature of the grip and body pad;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the novel submachine gun of the present invention showing the components thereof just prior to firing a cartridge;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the novel submachine gun of the present invention showing the components thereof after firing a cartridge;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the novel submachine gun of Figure 2 taken along line 4 - 4 of Figure 2 ;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the novel submachine gun of Figure 2 taken along line 5 - 5 of Figure 2 ;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the novel submachine gun of Figure 2 taken along line 6 - 6 of Figure 2 ; and

Figures 7a, 7b and 7c are sectional views of the trigger mechanism of the novel submachine gun of the present invention.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the figures and in particular with reference to Figure 1 there is depicted a perspective view of novel submachine gun 10 of the present invention showing the rotative nature of the grip and body pad. As can be seen, submachine gun 10 consists of a forward housing 14 and a rear housing 28 which are rotatably coupled together utilizing flange nut 26 , in a manner which will be explained in detail herein.

Forward housing 14 includes two dovetail slots which are utilized to receive cocking mechanism 16. and grip assembly 18. Grip assembly 18 includes trigger mechanism 22 and grip 20 and may be completely removed from forward housing 14 during disassembly of submachine gun 10. As can be seen in Figure 1, grip assembly 18 may be rotated through 360° with respect to rear housing 28. In this manner, submachine gun 10 may be adapted to fire from a multitude of positions and may be utilized simply and easily by both left-handed and right-handed shooters.

Rear housing 28 includes cartridge ejection port 30 and magazine housing 32. Magazine housing 32 is mounted within rear housing 28 in a novel manner which permits magazine housing 32 to be removed and replaced to accommodate various different types of magazines. Magazine 34 is inserted into magazine housing 32 and held in place utilizing magazine catch 36 in a manner well known in the art. Also included with rear housing 28 is adjustable stock 40.

Adjustable stock 40 comprises two telescoping tubular members which are adjustable to a plurality of positions and which may be rigidly fixed in such positions utilizing knurled knob 46 to selectively restrain movement of the two telescoping tubular members. Body pad 42 is mounted on the rearward end of adjustable stock 40 at pivot point 44 and rotates to accommodate various shooting stances and styles.

Referring now to Figure 2 , there is depicted a sectional view of submachine gun 10 of the present invention which shows the components thereof just prior to the firing of a cartridge. As can be seen, forward housing 14 encloses barrel 58 which is threaded at both the muzzle end and breech end thereof. The muzzle end of barrel 58

is threaded into muzzle nut 12 which rotatably adjoins the forward edge of forward housing 14. The breech end of barrel 58 threads into breech assembly 68.

Breech assembly 68 includes a shoulder which rotatably engages forward housing 14 and a plurality of detent elements 70 is provided in forward housing 14 to permit the relative rotation therebetween to be temporarily restricted at a plurality of selected points. Breech assembly 68 also includes a truncated conical chamber 72 for receiving and guiding cartridge 80. The truncated conical nature of chamber 72 enhances the operating efficiency of submachine gun 10 and minimizes the possibility that cartridge 80 may jam or otherwise malfunction during entry into breech assembly 68.

The bolt assembly of submachine gun 10 includes a forward bolt which is divided into the front end 60 and the spring end 62. As can be seen, front end 60 includes a plurality of circumferentially disposed groves which may be heat treated to enhance the_ durability thereof. Front end 60 is then threaded into spring end 62 which serves as a receptacle for bolt spring 64. Bolt spring 64 is mounted between the forward bolt assembly and breech assembly 68 and serves to dampen the recoil generated by the operation of cartridge 80.

A pair of hardened guide rails 78 extend from spring end 62 through a pair of longitudinal slots in the side of breech assembly 68 and are mounted, utilizing pins or screws , into the side of rear bolt 74. Rear bolt 74 includes a firing pin and a cartridge ejector mechanism for ejecting spent cartridges through cartridge ejection port 30 in combination with a standard ejector bar which is an integral part of magazine housing 32.

As those skilled in the art should appreciate upon reference to these figures, the method in which breech assembly 68 , barrel 58 and the entire bolt assembly are constructed will permit these inner assemblies of submachine gun 10 to be readily removed and interchanged to permit various alternate caliber cartridges to be utilized. Once muzzle nut 12 and flange nut 26 have been unthreaded and removed, forward housing 14 may be removed and breech assembly 68 , barrel 58 and bolt 74 may be replaced to permit submachine gun 10 to operate utilizing almost any desired caliber of ammunition. This is particularly important in those instances in

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which a small tactical force is operating without logistic support and must forage and utilize ammunition and supplies obtained from irregular sources. By utilizing the threaded assembly methods depicted herein, the user of submachine gun 10 will be able to adapt 5 his weapon to fire various calibers of ammunition without a requirement for specialized tools or materials.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is depicted a sectional view of the novel submachine gun of the present invention taken along line 4 - 4 of Figure 2. As can be seen, forward assembly 14

10 includes two dovetail slots 76 and 66 which are adapted to receive dovetail keys on cocking mechanism 16 and grip assembly 18. In the manner depicted herein, grip assembly 18 and cocking assembly 16 may be simply and easily removed from forward housing 14 for repair or cleaning. Side rails 78 are also depicted within forward housing

15 14 and serve to rigidly mount forward bolt spring end 62 to rear bolt 74.

Referring again to Figure 2 , it can be seen that rear housing 28 comprises two nested tubular members 28a and 28b. Each nested tubular member includes an aperture and indentation which are

20 adapted to receive magazine housing 32 when these apertures are aligned for maximum overlap. Thus , by rotating nested tubular members 28a and 28b with respect to one another, magazine housing 32 can be restrained in its proper position within the apertures therein. The relative rotation of nested tubular members 28a and 28b

25 may be simply restrained by utilizing set screw 38 which is threaded through tubular members 28a and 28b .

In this manner, magazine housing 32 may be removed and various alternate magazines may be accommodated by inserting and utilizing an alternate magazine housing. The novel mounting method

30 of the present invention permits rapid and simple changing of magazine housing 32 , at the field level, without specialized tools or techniques. Cartridge ejection port 30 is also present in rear housing 28 and permits the spent cartridge to be ejected in a direction opposite to the direction of entry of cartridges through

35 magazine housing 32.

Finally, the rearward end of rear housing 28 includes an adjustable stock 40. As can be seen, adjustable stock 40 is

comprised of two telescoping tubular members. Knurled knob 46 is utilized to restrain the relative movement between these two nested tubular members at a position selected by the operator of submachine gun 10. Rotating body pad 42 is also pivotally mounted in the end of adjustable stock 40 utilizing bolt 44.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 , the rotative nature of rear housing 28 with respect to forward housing 14 may be illustrated. As can be seen, forward housing 14 includes a plurality of detent elements 70 which are disposed around the circumference thereof. Breech assembly 68 , as depicted in Figure 6 , includes a shoulder having a plurality of detent receptacles 70 which permit the rotation of rear housing 28 , with respect to forward housing 14 , to be halted at a plurality of selected points through a full 360° rotation. As can be seen in Figure 2 , a guide pin 76 extends from rear housing 28 into a guide hole within breech assembly 68 and restricts rotational movement between rear housing 28 and breech assembly 68. However, breech assembly 68 is rotatably coupled to forward housing 14 and when flange nut 26 is tightened, coupling rear housing 28 to breech assembly 68 in a nonrotative manner, rear housing 28 may then rotate with respect to forward housing 14.

Referring now to Figure 3 , there is depicted a sectional view of the novel submachine gun of the present invention showing the components thereof during firing of a cartridge. As can be seen in Figure 3 , the recoil generated by the firing of cartridge 80 will drive bolt 74 rearward, compressing bolt spring 64 between forward bolt spring end 62 and breech assembly 68. In the semiautomatic mode of operation spring 51 , in trigger assembly 22 , will urge sear 52 upward, causing sear 52 to engage one of the plurality of circumferentially disposed grooves on forward bolt front end 60 , causing bolt 74 to be restrained in it depicted position.

Referring now to Figures 7a, 7b and 7c, the operation of trigger assembly 22 may be illustrated. As can be seen, trigger assembly 22 includes a trigger 48 mounted at pivot point 50 and a sear 52 which is spring biased by spring 51 in an upward direction. Figure 7a depicts the trigger mechanism while mode selector 24 is in the semiautomatic position. As can be seen, a depression of trigger

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48 will pull down sear latch 54, causing sear 52 to move downward, disengaging from the circumferentially disposed ring grooves on forward bolt front end 60. Sliding block 56 is positioned sufficiently rearward such that point 55 of sear latch 54 will engage the extension thereof and permit sear 52 to reengage sear latch 54 under the urging of spring 51.

In contrast, Figure 7b depicts trigger mechanism 22 in the safety mode. In the safety mode sliding block 56 is positioned such that sear 52 is restrained in its upper position and no amount of pressure of trigger 48 can rotate sear 52 down into the firing position.

Finally, Figure 7c depicts trigger mechanism in the full automatic position. As can be seen in this figure, point 55 on sear latch 54 will not engage sliding block 56 and sear 52 may be held in the downward position so long as trigger 48 is depressed.

Those skilled the art will appreciate upon reference to the foregoing description that submachine gun 10 is assembled utilizing only threaded or dovetailed connections and that each major assembly of submachine gun 10 may be removed and interchanged with similar assemblies without a requirement for special tools. In this manner submachine gun 10 may be simply and easily maintained at the field level and may also be rapidly and easily modified to accommodate various alternate calibers of ammunition without the necessity for extensive reworking. Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiment as well as alternative embodiments of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention.

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