Modified bolt carrier for automatic recoil rifles and pistols

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to firearms and more specifically to a modified bolt carrier for automatic recoil rifles and pistols, which allows a greater variety of stocks to be attached to the automatic recoil rifles and pistols.

[0003] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,956 to Hudson discloses a recoil gas system for rifle. U.S. Pat. No. 8,584,575 to Crommett discloses a firearm having a new gas operating system. It appears that the prior art does not teach or suggest eliminating the need for shortened buffer tubes, which allows automatic recoil rifles and pistols to accommodate a greater variety of stocks including folding stocks, telescopic stocks, wire stocks, or any other buffer-less type of stocks.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a modified bolt carrier for automatic recoil rifles and pistols, which allows automatic recoil rifles to accommodate a greater variety of stocks including folding stocks, telescopic stocks, wire stocks, or any other buffer-less type of stocks.

[0006] The present invention provides a modified bolt carrier for automatic recoil rifles and pistols, which allows a greater variety of stocks to be attached to the automatic recoil rifles and pistols. The modified bolt carrier for automatic recoil rifles and pistols (modified bolt carrier) preferably includes a shortened bolt carrier, a shortened buffer tube, a modified bolt key and an end cap. The shortened bolt carrier is shortened by cutting-off a prior art bolt carrier, adjacent an end of the bolt key. A prior art bolt tube carrier includes a straight portion and a threaded portion. The straight portion extends from the threaded portion. The shortened buffer tube is created by cutting-off the straight portion of a prior art buffer tube, such that the straight portion has a length, which is about the same as the diameter thereof.

[0007] The modified bolt key includes a prior art bolt key, a rod yoke, a pair spring rods, a pair of compression springs, a spring support disc and a spring plug. The rod yoke extends from an end of the prior art bolt key. The spring plug extends from the spring support disc. The pair of spring rods are preferably pressed into an end of the spring support disc, but could be threaded, welded or secured with any other suitable method. The rod yoke includes two rod holes to slidably receive the pair of spring rods. The pair of compression springs are slid on to the pair of spring rods. The pair of spring rods are slid into the two rod holes and axially retained with any suitable device.

[0008] The end cap includes a buffer tube bore and a buffer plate projection bore. The buffer tube bore is sized to slidably receive an end of the shortened buffer tube. The buffer plate projection bore is sized to receive a projection of a buffer plate. A lock hole is formed through the buffer plate projection bore, substantially perpendicular to an axis of the buffer plate projection bore.

[0009] Installation of the modified bolt carrier includes the removal of the prior art buffer tube from a lower receiver of the automatic recoil rifle. The prior art bolt carrier is replaced with the shortened bolt carrier and the modified bolt key. The shortened buffer tube is screwed into the lower receiver. A rifle stock or a folding interface is attached to a rear of the end cap. Finally, a bolt spring is inserted into the shortened buffer tube and the end cap is secured to the buffer plate projection by inserting a lock pin through the lock hole and the buffer plate projection.

[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a modified bolt carrier, which allows automatic recoil rifles and pistols to accommodate a greater variety of stocks including folding stocks, telescopic stocks, wire stocks, or any other buffer-less type of stocks.

[0011] These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.

[0021] With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 2, there is shown a side cutaway view of upper and lower receivers of an automatic recoil rifle 100 with a modified bolt carrier 1 installed therein. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3-5, the modified bolt carrier 1 preferably includes a shortened bolt carrier 10, a shortened buffer tube 12, a modified bolt key 14 and an end cap 16. With reference to FIG. 6, the shortened buffer tube 12 is shortened by cutting-off a straight portion 18 of a prior art buffer tube, such that the straight portion 18 preferably has a length, which is about the same as an outer diameter of the straight portion 18.

[0022] With reference to FIGS. 4-5, the modified bolt key 14 preferably includes a prior art bolt key 102, a rod yoke 20, a pair spring rods 22, a pair of compression springs 24, a spring support disc 26 and a spring plug 28. The rod yoke 20 may be secured to an end of the prior art bolt key 102 with a pair of fasteners 32 or the like. However, the rod yoke 20 may also be formed as an integral part of the prior art bolt key 102. A pair of rod bores are formed in a bottom of the rod yoke 20 to slidably receive the pair of spring rods 22. One end of the pair of spring rods 22 are preferably pressed into one end of the spring support disc 26, but could be threaded, welded or secured with any other suitable method.

[0023] The pair of compression springs 24 are slipped over the pair of spring rods 22. The other end of the pair of spring rods 22 are inserted into the pair of rod bores. The other end of the pair of spring rods 22 are retained axially in the rod yoke 20 by peening, fasteners or any other suitable method. The pair of rod bores are located in the rod yoke 20, such that there is enough clearance for the pair of spring rods 22 to freely travel, under a bottom of the shortened bolt carrier 10, when the pair of compression springs 24 are compressed.

[0024] The spring plug 28 is preferably tapered to receive an inner perimeter of a bolt spring 103. The spring plug 28 extends from the other end of the spring support disc 26. A centerline of the spring plug 28 is concentric with a centerline of the shortened bolt carrier 10. With reference to FIG. 3a, a prior art bolt key 104 is shown. The prior art bolt key 104 is used to receive a piston rod (not shown). With reference to FIG. 2, the modified bolt carrier 1 is retained in a lower receiver 106 and an upper receiver 108 of the automatic recoil rifle 100.

[0025] With reference to FIGS. 6-8, the end cap 16 includes a cap portion 34 and a tube portion 36. The tube portion 36 is formed on a bottom of the cap portion 34. A buffer tube bore 38 is formed in an inner perimeter of the cap portion 34. The buffer tube bore 38 is sized to slidably receive the straight portion 18 of the shortened buffer tube 12. A buffer plate projection bore 40 is formed in an inner perimeter of the tube portion 36. The buffer plate projection bore 40 is sized to receive a buffer projection 112 of a buffer plate 110. The buffer projection 112 includes a buffer lock hole 114. A lock hole 42 is formed through the buffer plate projection bore 40, substantially perpendicular to an axis of the buffer plate projection bore 40.

[0026] Installation of the modified bolt carrier 1 includes unscrewing the prior art buffer tube from the lower receiver 106. The prior art bolt carrier is replaced with the shortened bolt carrier 10 and the modified bolt key 14 attached to the shortened bolt carrier 10. The lower receiver 106 may be separated from the upper receiver 108 to install the shortened bolt carrier 10 and the modified bolt key 14. A rifle stock 116 or a folding interface 118 is attached to a rear of the end cap 16. With reference to FIG. 1, the bolt spring 103 is inserted through the shortened buffer tube 12 and the end cap 16 is secured to the buffer projection 112 by inserting a lock pin 44 through the lock hole 42 and the buffer lock hole 114.

[0027] While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.